THE FASTING BRIGADE

BHARAT IN RAMAYAN 

Hunger strikes are quite familiar to the world. This has been a best practice by national leaders and social activists to protest against their governments. Hunger strikes have roots in ancient Hindu mythology from Ramayana. Bharat went on a fast to get Sri Ram back to Ajodhya. Fasting had shown greatest impact several times in Indian freedom struggle. Gandhi used it several times to put pressures on the British government. In 1924 Gandhi went on fast considering the penance of the Hindu Muslim violence continued for 21 days.

After independence the same trend was adopted in south India by Sri Potti Sriramulu against the congress government fast on 19 October 1952 at Chennai to form a separate Telugu speaking state. Sriramulu continued his fast until he died on 15 December 1952. 

 This lead to the formation of language based states in India. The same scenario repeated in 20089 by telangana rastra samiti head Chandrasekhar rao to form a separate state of telangana. He went on fast for 11 days and the government agreed to form a separate state of telangana but the    formation is still pending at central and state levels and is pending at consultations.

Thileepan on 15 September 1987 at 9.30 a.m at the Nallur Murugan Temple, Thileepan began his fast. His main objective was to bring awareness and action to a list of public demands made by himself and the Tamil Tigers, considered to be a terrorist group.

IROM SHARMILA

In the northeast part of India Irom sharmila The 'Iron Lady of Manipur' has been on hunger strike from November 2000 demanding the Indian government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Swami Nigamanand went on a fast unto death to protest against illegal mining on the bank of the Ganga in Haridwar. He started his fast on February 19 from Haridwar.and died after 115 days of continuous fast. His cause and hunger strike was quite and far from the 24/7 media. 

ANNA HAZARE

Anna Hazare fasted for about 12 days against corruption in forest management in Maharashtra which put pressures on the government to take action against 42 officers.

Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev's recent fasts are well known to all Indians as they have got prime time media attention at all levels. It’s been 12 days Mr. Hazare fasting for janlokapal.

There has been a humongous criticism over hunger strikes, some say its arrogance and some say it is blackmailing tactics but many times this method convinced or compromised the governments to give assurances and many times issues which have seen hunger strikes are still on their way for solutions.

Anish Kapoor- an artistic genius of Modern Art

Anish Kapoor  Who gained fame with his creations like Sky Mirror, Cloud Gate, Mother as Mountain. The architectural inventions of Mr Kapoor have brought the deepest thoughts of an Architect.

Anish kapoor (born 12 March 1954) is a British sculptor of Indian origin Born in Mumbai, has lived and worked in London since the early 70’s. His early influence of Art and music came from his mother.  

British Council in association with Louis Vuitton Initiated to bring Mr.Aneesh kapoors First Exhibition in India at Jaipoor House New Delhi. The president of Congress Party Sri Sonia Gandhi Inaugurated the Exhibition.

Kapoor’s unique style and Indian heritage have combined to make him one of the most engaging and a distinctive artist in the world. The exhibition is the first ever showcase of his work in the country of his birth.

Mallika Sarabhai Dancer and Art lover who visited the exhibition says” Kapoor’s Exhibition Describing the potential of Indian sculptures, The Indian Government must take initiative to give space to the Modern art “.

Kapoor’s  art  and sculptures Depicted his interest towards Monochromatic colours which described his deepest thoughts  and The defined Geometric  frames  in his creation has shown  the intense .

Documentary on kapoors creations was a master piece of audio visual work which included Kapoor’s biography and his sculptures all over the world. The video inspired the spectators to understand the creations more in detail.

Kapoors design CLOUD GATE at Chicago Millennium was inspired by liquid mercury and the sculpture's surface reflects and distorts the city skyline.  His pieces relied on powder to cover the works and the floor around them.

His another creation Sky Mirror a six metre wide concave mirror of polished stainless steel angled up towards the sky continuously reflects the moving clouds and has become a regular visiting place outside the theatre in Wellington Circus,  London .

Most of his works concentrate on the usage of naturally available sources like wax, steel and wood.  Architecture principles of the sculptures utilised natural Light on illusion, reflection and refraction. Models presented in the gallery articulated the process of making those sculptures

Kapoors Upcoming project “ORBIT” a vast, snaking steel structure will dominate in 2012 Olympic Park in London. And the exhibition leaves the spectators in a sail of imaginary world.

                                                                                                                                                                Rajkamal Rao