Leela Mishra

Today is the death anniversary of Leela Mishra, a Bollywood actress of bygone era.In a career spanning five decades, she appeared in about 200 films playing mainly character roles.

She is also known as the quintessential Mausi or aunt of Hindi Cinema.
Our humble tributes !

Muhammad Ali

Today is the birth anniversary of Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest sports figures of the 20th Century .Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. this day in 1942. He was World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and virtually a 'lord of the ring'. Post boxing career he became an activist fighting apartheid and discrimination.

I Am The Greatest ' is the title of his autobiography.

He died on June 3, 2016 aged 74.

Our humble tributes !

Kamal Amrohi

Today is the birth centenary of Kamal Amrohi, the noted film director,producer, screenwriter and dialogue writer of Hindi cinema.Born Syed Amir Haidar Kamal Naqvi this day in 1918, he started his career in 1938 with Sohrab Modi's Minerva Movietones and was associated with movies like Jailor, Pukar, Bharosa and Shahjahan. He made his debut as a director with the 1949 film Mahal starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala, which was a musical hit.He wrote dialogues for the film Mughal -e- Azam and received an award for this.

He directed only four movies namely Mahal, Dayara, Pakeezah, and Razia Sultan and left his mark. In fact, Pakeezah was conceived as early as 1958 but could see the light of the day only in 1972, with Meena Kumari as the lead actress and Raaj Kumar replacing Ashok Kumar who was earlier envisaged as the hero.The movie immortalized Meena Kumari and this was her swan song as well . This was the best Amrohi could have done for Meena Kumari, who was his estranged wife too.

Kamal Amrohi died on 11 February, 1993 aged 75.

Our humble tributes to the great film personality !

Prem Nazir

Today is the death anniversary of Prem Nazir. the leading hero of Malayalam Cinema.He was born Abdul Khader on 7th April 1926. He is a Guinness Book of Records holder for acting as a lead hero in 725 films and also for appearing opposite the same heroine. Sheela in 130 films.He also holds record for appearing opposite 80 heroines and for appearing as a lead hero in 41 films released in a single year.

Regarded as the evergreen hero, he was a rage between '50s and early '80s.
He was a recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
He died this day in 1989 aged 63.
Our humble tributes to the great Actor !

Madan Puri

Today is the death anniversary of Madan Puri, the popular villain and character actor of Hindi and Punjabi cinema. A first cousin of the actor- singer K.L.Saigal, he made his debut with the film Ahinsa in 1946.He was more active during the '60s and '70s when he played villain and also had character roles.In a career spanning four decades, he appeared in 400 plus films.

His filmography includes films like Ahinsa, Vidya, Jeet, Anmol Rattan,Deewana, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje,Aabroo, Nau Do Gyarah, Baarish,Taqdeer, Howra Bridge,Dilli ka Thug,Kanhayya,Insaan Jaag Utha,Singapore, Kala Bazar,Jaali Note, Pyaar ka Saagar,Bees Saal Baad, Ziddi, Kohra, Kashmir Ki Kali,Waqt, Shaheed, Ayi Milan Ki Bela,Sawan Ki Ghata, Phool Aur Patthar and many many others.

His younger brother Amrish Puri was also a popular film actor.

Madan Puri died this day in 1985 aged 69.

Our humble tributes !

Swami Vivekananda

Today is the 155th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest spiritual leaders that India has produced. Born Narendranath Dutt this day in today's West Bengal in 1863, his spiritual quest led him to search for a Guru. Ultimately he found a Guru in Ramakrishna Paramhans .He travelled to Chicago to participate in the Parliament of World Religions in 1893 and in his marvellous epoch making address introduced Hindu religion and philosophy to the world. Travelling across America and Europe he preached Vedanta and disseminated the wisdom of Upanishads. Many prominent personalities became his followers including Margaret Nobel, also known as Sister Nivedita, the name given her by Swami Vivekananda.

A propounder of Karma Yoga and Gyan Yoga,he also became a symbol of renaissance in colonial India.

He founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.

His birthday is celebrated as the National Youth Day or Yuva Diwas.

Our humble tributes to great sage !

My canine friend from the neighbourhood  !

चल चला चल

चल चला चल

लेखक: जगदीश बाली

प्रकाशक : Authors Press, नई दिल्ली

ISBN 978-93-87281-02-8

पृष्ठ संख्या: 252

मूल्य : रु॰ 350/-

यह अभिप्रेरक पुस्तक ‘चल चला चल’ लेखक जगदीश बाली की दूसरी पुस्तक है । इससे पूर्व अङ्ग्रेज़ी में लिखी उनकी पुस्तक ‘The Spark Is Within You’ भी आ चुकी है जो काफी लोकप्रिय रही है। दोनों पुस्तकें अभिप्रेरक हैं इसलिए विषयवस्तु में समानता तो है पर ‘चल चला चल' अङ्ग्रेज़ी पुस्तक का मात्र अनुवाद नहीं है ।

‘चल चला चल’ शीर्षक पढ़ कर मेरे जेहन में सबसे पहले फिल्मी गीत ‘फकीरा चल चला चल .....’ व स्कूल में पढ़ी H.W.Longfellow रचित कविता ‘Excelsior’ आयीं। पुस्तक में कुल 37 अध्याय हैं जिनके शीर्षक अनायास ही ध्यान आकर्षित करते हैं ।इससे पाठक को यह सुविधा भी है और स्वतन्त्रता भी कि वह अपनी रुचि के अनुसार पढ़ने का क्रम निर्धारित कर सकता है । यों पूरी पुस्तक ही अपने आप में पठनीय भी है और ग्राह्य भी क्योंकि लेखक ने भाषा के स्तर को बनाए रखने के साथ साथ सामग्री को रोचक बनाने में कोई चूक नहीं की है।पुस्तक के आरंभ में ईश्वर की अपरिहार्यता दर्शा कर लेखक ने मानव की सीमाओं का भी परोक्ष रूप में उल्लेख किया है । पुस्तक में जहां सफलता के सूत्र सुझाए गए हैं, वहीं चरित्र निर्माण पर भी भरपूर ध्यान दिलाया गया है । पुस्तक अध्ययनरत विद्यार्थियो से ले कर जीवन के हर क्षेत्र में कार्यरत व्यक्तियों के लिए है तथा सार्वजनिक एवं निजी जीवन में गुणात्मक सुधार लाने में सक्षम है । पुस्तक में लेखक ने अपने निजी जीवनानुभावों, घरेलू वार्तालाप, भारतीय एवं पाश्चात्य मनीषियों,धार्मिक ग्रन्थों, शीर्ष लेखकों,दार्शनिकों , कवियों,उर्दू शायरों,कलाकारों , फिल्म कलाकारों , वैज्ञानिकों, खिलाड़ियों के जीवन से उदाहरण एवं उद्धरण प्रस्तुत कर अपनी बात पाठकों के सम्मुख रखने का श्रमसाध्य भागीरथ प्रयास किया है जो कि प्रशंसनीय है। पुराने व समसामयिक संदर्भों का समावेश पुस्तक को अधिक पठनीय बनाता है।पुस्तक में तुलसीदास, रहीम, ग़ालिब, शेक्सपियर...आदि के संदर्भ मौजूद हैं । लक्ष्य निर्धारण, एकाग्रता, अथक परिश्रम , निर्भयता, दयाभाव, विनम्रता, बच्चों के सामने अपने आचरण द्वारा उदाहरण प्रस्तुत करना, कार्य में टालएमटोल न करना, आज का काम कल पर न छोड़ना, आत्मविश्वास पैदा करना,ईमानदारी, सदाचार, उम्र में बड़ों व छोटों को यथोचित सम्मान देना- हर प्रकार के गुणों के समावेश को सोदाहरण प्रस्तुत किया गया है ।

द्विभाषी लेखक होना कोई आसान काम नहीं है पर लेखक की दोनों भाषाओं पर भरपूर पकड़ और अधिकार है । लेखक ने अपने पत्रकारिता व अध्यापकीय अनुभव का भरपूर लाभ उठाते हुए यह ऊत्कृष्ट लेखन कार्य किया है ।

पुस्तक चूँकि हिन्दी पाठकों को ध्यान में रख कर लिखी गयी है, अत: आशा ही नहीं बल्कि विश्वास है कि यह अधिकाधिक पाठकों के बीच पहुंचेगी और वे इससे अवश्य ही लाभान्वित होंगे ।

Louis Braille

Today is the death anniversary of Louis Braille , the French educator and inventor who invented the tactile code for learning reading and writing known after him as the Braille system , used world wide by the visually impaired.
His birthday on 4th January is commemorated as the World Braille Day.
He died this day in 1852 aged 43.
Our humble tributes to this great benefactor of humanity !

C. Ramchandra

Today is the death anniversary of Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar, better known as C. Ramchandra a popular and highly talented composer and music director.He composed music for more than a hundred Hindi films alone besides some Marathi and Tamil films and gave some unforgettable timeless melodies.

The films for which he composed music include Anarkali,Albela, Azaad, Navrang, Parchhain, Patanga, Aanchal, Amardeep,Asha,Bahurani, Devta,Insaaniyat, Jhamela, Nadiya ke Paar,Nausherwan-e- Adil, Paighaam, Rajtilak, Rootha Na Karo, Samadhi,Samrat Chandragupt, Yasmin and many many others.

He sang a few songs also under the name Chitalkar, notable among them the ones he sang for Azaad and Albela.

The Anarkali songs in particular catapulted him to fame.

Born on 12th January, 1918, he died this day in 1982, seven days short of completing 64 years on the planet Earth.

Our humble tributes to the maestro !

Chetan Anand

Today is the birth anniversary of Chetan Anand,the Indian Film producer, director and screenwriter.His debut film Neecha Nagar was awarded the Palme d'Or at the first Cannes Festival in 1946.He cofounded the Navketan Films along with his younger brother Dev Anand in 1949 .
Our humble tributes !

मोहन राकेश

हिन्दी साहित्य में नयी कहानी आन्दोलन के प्रणेता, प्रसिद्ध नाटककार मोहन राकेश की आज पुण्यतिथि है। उनके द्वारा रचित ' आषाढ़ का एक दिन ' को हिन्दी का प्रथम आधुनिक नाटक होने का गौरव प्राप्त है, जिसके लिए उन्हें 1958 में सन्गीत नाटक अकादमी पुरस्कार से सम्मानित किया गया था ।नाटक और कहानियों के अतिरिक्त उनने उपन्यास, यात्रा विवरण, संस्मरण, आलोचना आदि के क्षेत्र में भी योगदान दिया !
मात्र 46 वर्ष की आयु में इस सन्सार को अलविदा कहने वाले महान साहित्यकार को हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि !