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M.S. Subbulakshmi (1916-2004)

By Samyukhtha Sunil 

Illustration: Rakesh C.S.

Imagine a voice so divine that it captures the heart of the Mahatma himself. Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, fondly known as MS, was a talent whose compositions could make every Indian swoon with devotion. In the 88 years that she lived, MS Subbulakshmi proved time and again that she was not just a melodious voice, but also a pioneer and pathbreaker for women everywhere, breaking down countless barriers of a patriarchal society and paving the way for India to evolve from its orthodox ways of thinking. 

BORN INTO A PERFORMER FAMILY

Born in Madurai on September 16th, 1916, and known as Kunjamma to her family, MS was born into a family belonging to the ‘Devadasi’ community. The Devadasis came from a lineage of performers who were highly skilled in music, dance and theatre. With her grandmother being a renowned violinist and her mother being an impeccable vocalist in her own right, it was only natural that this musical gene was passed on to MS right when she was born. 

CONQUERED THE STAGE YOUNG

Growing up in an environment where the stage became your second home, MS naturally took the spotlight and never failed to charm her audience. Having trained under Carnatic legend, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, she gave her very first public performance when she was just eleven years old at the Rockfort Temple in Trichy. Her major break in the performance industry happened in 1965, when she was invited to perform at the prestigious Madras Music Academy. That was just the start of her climb on the ladder of success! By the time she was 17, she had already notched up several stellar performances across the state and many more at the music academy. 

CARVING OUT A CAREER FROM SCRATCH

Watching her young daughter become the talk of the town, MS Subbulakshmi’s mother was under pressure to get her married. However, the Devadasi community faced a lot of persecution from society at large, making an alliance difficult. In any case, while her mother was busy plotting ways to get her daughter married off, MS had other, brighter plans for her future. After having tasted success with her maiden performances, she only wanted to go further and further on this musical journey. She wanted to create a career in a field that not many women had ventured too deep into. So she took a leap of faith and did the unthinkable, setting out in the dead of the night and hopping onto a train to Madras. This one action of hers set in motion a whole new chapter that changed her life and ours forever! 

WELCOME TO THE MOVIES!

After arriving in Madras, MS found a mentor in K. Sadasivan. Just like everyone else, he too had a strong admiration for MS’s voice and impeccable talent. Putting his strong connections to use, K. Sadasivan helped MS find her feet in the Indian film industry. MS then went on to act in numerous films in Tamil, Telugu and even Hindi! Her debut film, ‘Sevasadanam’ proved to be a turning point in Tamil film history. Her most popular role was, however, that of Mirabai in the Hindi film, ‘Meera’, which also featured a devotional song sung in her own voice and catapulted her onto the national stage.

A LIFETIME OF RECOGNITION

Illustration: Rakesh C.S.

By now, MS had become a household name across the country. While the entire nation remained in awe of her voice, MS had become a wife and a mother of two girls. Along the way, she became an unofficial cultural ambassador for India, travelling the world spreading joy through her melodies. She was the first Indian singer to perform at the United Nations Assembly in 1966. Her best-known renditions are Suprabhatam (Morning Melodies), Bhaja Govindam (Paeans to Lord Krishna) and her recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa, all evergreen classics played by millions even today! It was at this juncture that the awards and appreciations started pouring in. She won the Padma Vibhushan in 1975 and the prestigious Bharat Ratna in 1988, the only female Carnatic singer to win this honour. She is also the only Indian Carnatic singer to have also won the Ramon Magsaysay award, which is the Asian equivalent of a Nobel Prize! 

The musical legend was laid to rest on December 11th, 2004, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of immense power, talent and strength for Indian women everywhere. She broke innumerable barriers and obstacles set by society for women and set the stage for countless women performers to take their spot in the limelight and shine. For this and for much, much more, we bow down to her. 

Amar Chitra Katha’s retelling of M.S. Subbulakshmi’s life story is now available on the ACK Comics app, Kindle and other major platforms. 

The Festival of Dolls

Illustration: ACK Design Team

Bommai Golu, also known as Bommala Koluvu, Kolu, or Gombe Habba, is a festival of colourful dolls celebrated in the South. During this festival, women in South Indian households bring out their collections of colourful dolls and set them on steps, to celebrate the nine days of Navaratri. Every house follows a different tradition based on the kind of dolls that have been collected over the years. Pride of place is given to the dolls that have been handed down for generations, from mothers to daughters. Depicted here are the popular Chebbiar Bommai dolls, an elderly couple symbolising prosperity, long married life and the wisdom of age.

The Story Of Sikkim

An ancient mountain kingdom that sits aloft the snow-capped Himalayas, Sikkim is the perfect antidote to the wanderlust-stricken traveller, with its tall alpine forests, traditional Buddhist monasteries, and warm and welcoming people. It is also home to the third highest peak in the world; the majestic Kanchenjunga. The state, which became a part of India in 1975, has been of utmost importance to the country because of its strategic location, sharing several important international borders with countries like Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.

Sikkim is home to a harmonious co-existence of Tibetan-Buddhism and Hinduism, two very culturally rich religions. Legends have it that the fabled Yeti is believed to have roamed the hills of this mountain kingdom. This is not surprising, given that the storied history of the region that can be traced as far back as the 13th century.

Emblem of Sikkim
Illustration: Wikimedia | Design: ACK Design team
Chogyal Dynasty

The state’s name is derived from a Nepali expression, ‘sukhim’, which translates to happiness. The earliest known inhabitants of this land were of the Lepcha tribe who assimilated several other tribes from the neighbouring region, becoming native inhabitants of the state. Soon, a Himalayan ethnic group called the Bhutias began to migrate southwards from Tibet into Sikkim. In 1642, the Chogyal dynasty had established its rule with Phuntsog Namgyal as their king. The state was mainly ruled by spiritual tribal chiefs who propagated Buddhism. Though this kingdom maintained a largely peaceful co-existence with its neighbouring states, there were occasional bouts of violence between local tribal communities. Under the rule of the Chogyals, the kingdom saw a shift in its capital from Yuksom to Rabdentse.

Sikkim under British India

The Sikkimese have had a long drawn rivalry with the Gorkha kingdom of Nepal which only worsened upon the arrival of the British, who quickly gained the Sikkimese’s trust, allying against their common enemy. The infuriated Nepalese invaded Sikkim taking the kingdom by surprise, setting in motion the events that led to the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814. Slowly but surely, the power of the Chogyals reduced over the region as British rule came into place. By 1890, all of Sikkim had come under British rule and it was given the title of a protectorate state. This meant that Sikkim was to act as a buffer state between China and British India, and was under the control and jurisdiction of the British government.

The East India Company went on to annex Darjeeling which was originally a part of Sikkim. This move by the British certainly did not go down well with the Sikkimese people. The Namgyal dynasty, who were the successors of the Chogyals, brought this issue up with the East India Company, and after a long drawn struggle, the British finally recognized Sikkim as a princely state under their rule. The sovereignty of the state was however still undefined, as the British continued to exercise their control over the region.

Illustration: Rajib Das
Sikkim and independent India

As India tasted freedom in 1947, many political parties began to form in Sikkim and the country decided to become an unofficial part of the newly independent nation. The state, however, had a newfound sovereign status and still continued to operate under the Namgyals. After signing the Indo-Sikkimese treaty in 1950, Sikkim agreed to become a protectorate state of India that operated under the king’s rule. However, its external affairs would be entirely handled by the Indian government.

As the last monarch of the state, Palden Thondup Namgyal, ascended the throne of Sikkim, the state was beginning to lose its royal control over its people. Newly formed political parties began to overshadow the Buddhist monarchy and clergy. As elections began to take place regularly, the royalty began to realise they were losing control over its people and eventually asked the Indian administration to take over. In 1975, Sikkim officially became the 22nd state of India, under the rule of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sikkim became the only state in the country at the time to have a co-state special status.

Sikkim today

Today, Sikkim is a thriving tourism destination, and its capital Gangtok is constantly bustling with visitors from across the globe. The state is still a spiritual center for several Buddhists, and its traditions and cultures are prominently practised till date. Sikkim is also considered a doorway to Tibet, and has the only direct road to China through Nathu La Pass. It also happens to be an ecological hotspot in the southern Himalayan region and is constantly monitored by the forest department. The state is clean, green and has been declared as 100% organic as of 2016. With winding roads and a surreal view of the Himalayas at every turn, Sikkim is every travel enthusiast’s dream come true!

Famous Quotes #9

Our mind has an infinite capacity to learn, comprehend and understand, and can go beyond the confines of language, sight, hearing and experience. This quote beautifully expresses this thought.

Illustration: Upasana Govindarajan

The Many Benefits Of Honey

Some ancient cave paintings depict humans searching for honey more than 8,000 years ago. It isn’t surprising given this sweet syrup has a host of benefits for the mind and the body.

Illustration: Ritoparna Hazra

The Downfall Of The Nandas

By Samyukhtha Sunil

Not too far from the Indo-Gangetic plains somewhere in modern-day Bihar, there lies a forgotten region that witnessed the rise and fall of some of India’s most powerful kingdoms in history. Magadha was not only the heartland of some of the most successful kingdoms in India at the time, but also one of the most prosperous cities in the subcontinent.

One of the strongest empires to have ever ruled over this region was the Nanda Dynasty whose capital was in Pataliputra, where modern-day Patna stands today. Founded by Mahapadma Nanda, this lineage of rulers saw a rapid rise and an equally rapid decline in fortunes. Most of ancient India’s political activity was concentrated in this region and Magadha became the nucleus for several other Indian kingdoms that sprouted in neighbouring regions.

By the time the last ruler of the Nandas, Dhana Nanda, came to power, the kingdom had grown exponentially in its geographical expanse, wealth, and military conquests. Magadha’s army was believed to have over 20,000 cavalry, 200,000 infantry, 2,000 chariots, and 3,000 elephants. This army was so powerful that when Alexander the Great invaded India, his own army feared the might and control of the Nandas to an extent they were forced to cut short their conquest and return to Persia. The Nanda dynasty had successfully established itself as one of the strongest Indian kingdoms of its time.

Illustration: Ram Waeerkar | Script: Yagya Sharma

However, the overall prosperity of the kingdom and the power that came with it was intoxicating enough to turn some of the Nanda rulers, especially Dhana Nanda, against his subjects. Despite being a powerful king, Dhana Nanda was viewed as a cruel king who imposed severe taxes on his population, most of whom could not afford to bear the brunt of this rule. His unpopular method of administration and his poor management of the kingdom’s finances set the fall of the Nandas in motion. Of course, he wasn’t the only figure to have impacted the decline of the Nandas. Here are some other personalities who also played a part in the proceedings.

Sakatala

According to the book ‘Jainism: The World of Conquerors’ by Natubhai Shah, Dhana Nanda had four able ministers – Bandu, Subandu, Kubera and Sakatala. Sakatala became the chief minister of the last Nanda. He was a popular, well-respected and faithful chief minister. However, one day, the king thought that Sakatala was manufacturing weapons so that he could take over the kingdom. Little did the king know that those weapons were actually a gift for him for the royal wedding. Sakatala quickly tried to defuse the situation by asking his son, Sriyaka, to chop off his head in front of the king. However, to save his son from committing such a horrendous sin, he had already taken a poisonous pill.

However, a more popular version of the story tells us that Sakatala had emptied Dhana Nanda’s coffers in a bid to broker peace with foreign invaders. However, he had not done this with the king’s approval. Infuriated by this act, Dhana Nanda punished Sakatala by throwing him into a dungeon with minimum food and water. Years later, when Dhana Nanda sought Sakatala’s advice on foreign invasions, Sakatala cut off all ties, pledging his allegiance to Chanakya, who played a pivotal role in dethroning the Nandas. Just like Sakatala, the wise Chanakya had been a victim of Dhana Nanda’s rude behaviour.

Chanakya
Illustration: Ram Waeerkar

After being insulted for his appearance by the Nanda ruler, Chanakya swore to take revenge and topple the Nanda dynasty altogether. He began to study the flaws and shortcomings of the Nandas in terms of administration and military prowess, realising their vulnerability when it came to foreign invasions. Using his knowledge and expertise to his advantage, Chanakya found a strong ally in the young Chandragupta Maurya and decided to mentor him and conquer Magadha.

Chandragupta Maurya

Faced with the looming threat of a possible foreign invasion, the people of Magadha looked to their king to plan ahead. However, thanks to his selfishness and arrogance, Dhana Nanda belittled those who advised him of these possible threats, choosing to live in denial instead. The stage was set for a young prince who was well trained and equipped in warfare and administration. Chandragupta Maurya trained with his guru Chanakya in Taxila, working out a plan to lay siege to the kingdom of Magadha. Chanakya eventually zeroed in on the right time for the Mauryan army to attack, and Chandragupta set out accordingly to conquer Magadha and its states.

Illustration: Ram Waeerkar | Script: Yagya Sharma

Thrown off guard by the Mauryan attack on his kingdom, Dhana Nanda prepared his army for a war he had not anticipated. The Mauryan forces besieged the city of Pataliputra using guerrilla tactics. In spite of being outnumbered, Chandragupta Maurya was able to lead his small army to victory against the enormous army of the Nandas, using his wits and military expertise.

After the death of Dhana Nanda, Chandragupta Maurya continued to rule from Pataliputra which became the capital of the Mauryas. He eventually expanded the kingdom to the south along the Deccan plateau and went to establish the most extensive empire India has ever seen in the course of its history.

Read our titles ‘Chandragupta Maurya’ and ‘Chanakya’ on the ACK Comics app and Kindle. It is also available on Amazon, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers. 

The Marwar Festival

Illustration: Ritoparna Hazra

Every year, during the two full moon days of Sharad Poornima sometime in the months of September and October, the Marwar festival of Jodhpur commemorates the sacrifices and legacies of Rajasthan’s great heroes and rulers. Places like the Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mandore come alive with performances by local folk dancers and singers, dressed in colourful traditional Rajasthani attire. The festival also features other cultural events like the unique camel tattoo show, turban tying competitions and polo matches, as well as displays of some of the finest Rajasthani handicrafts and artefacts. This year, the festival will be celebrated on October 12th and 13th.

Kamini Roy (1864-1933)

Illustration: Ketan Pal

October 12th marks the birth anniversary of Bengali poet and social worker, Kamini Roy.

Kamini was born in 1864 in the village of Basanda in present-day Bangladesh. Although a child prodigy in mathematics, she developed an interest in Sanskrit after spending many hours in her father’s library. Later, she joined Bethune School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with Sanskrit Honours, becoming one of the first two female Honours graduate in British India, the other being eminent physician Kadambini Ganguly, who was three years her senior.

In 1889, Kamini Roy published her first collection of verses, Alo Chhaya, and went on to become a leading Bengali poet and social worker. In 1921, she fought hand-in-hand with Kumudini Basu, née  Mitra, and Mrinalini Sen for educational and voting rights for women. For her immense contributions to the betterment of women and society at large, the Calcutta University honoured her with the Jagattarini Gold Medal. She passed away in 1933 at her home in Hazaribagh in West Bengal.

15 Things You Should Know About The IAF

Illustration: Samhita Sonti

By Samyukhtha Sunil

The Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8th, 1932, by the British Empire. Post-Independence, it was renamed as the Royal Indian Air Force and the Royal prefix was removed after India became a republic in 1950. Air Force Day is celebrated every year on October 8th to commemorate the warriors who put their lives and safety on the line every single day to protect the people of this nation. A spectacular aerial show is conducted at the Hindon Airbase, which starts with flag-bearing skydivers appearing out of the clouds sporting colourful canopies. As we celebrate India’s 88th Air Force Day this year, here are some interesting facts about our guardians in the sky.

  • Following the U.S., Russia and China, the Indian Airforce is the fourth-largest and seventh-most powerful in the world in terms of military capability. The entire division comprises over 1,70,000 personnel and 1,500 aircraft.
  • With over 60 airbases across the country, the IAF’s Hindon base situated in Ghaziabad is the largest in Asia and the seventh-largest in the world!
  • The highest air force station in India is situated in the Himalayas, all the way up at the Siachen glacier at a whopping height of 22,000 feet above sea level.
  • In the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, the IAF managed to take out 79 Pakistani tanks and a train!
  • The air force has set a world record for accomplishing the highest landing on Ladakh at a height of 16604 ft above sea level.
  • The IAF is the only airforce in the world that operates the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Super Hercules, and Il-76, three of the world’s largest transport aircrafts in existence.
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited developed the Tejas for the Indian Air Force. It was the second supersonic light combat aircraft that they came out with after the HAL HF-24 Marut.
  • In an unimaginable act of bravery, the IAF airlifted hundreds of Indian troops from the Siachen glacier during Operation Meghdoot in 1984.
  • The IAF set an incredible world record while rescuing 20,000 civilians during the Uttarakhand flash floods under Mission Raahat.
  • As most of Northern Kerala was cut off from the rest of the country during the 2018 flash floods, it was the IAF that rescued and airlifted hundreds of people and dropped off 300 kg of food and relief materials.
  • Air Marshal Arjan Singh is the first and only Indian Airforce officer with a 5-star rank.
  • Flying officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was the first and the only IAF officer to be honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery in the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
  • Air Marshal Padmavathy Bandopadhyay is the only female IAF officer to be promoted to the 3-star rank.
  • The IAF has over 300 female fighter pilots serving currently.
  • The IAF has only one airbase in a foreign country, all the way in Tajikistan.

The Village Without Doors 

Illustration: ACK Design Team

Ever imagined living in a house with no doors whatsoever? Well, the entire village of Shani Shinagpur village in Maharashtra lives exactly like that. 

35 kilometres from the Maharashtrian city of Ahmednagar lies a village called Shani Shingnapur. The village houses a temple of Lord Shani, the god that rules the planet Saturn. The temple has no idol but instead a five and a half feet high black rock called Swayambhu, which means self-evolved deity. There is an interesting legend associated with it. 

When one of the shepherds of the then local hamlet touched this stone with a pointed stick, it started to ‘bleed’. The news spread like wildfire and the entire village community gathered to witness the miracle. On the very same night, in the dream of the most devoted and pious of the shepherds appeared Lord Shaneeshwara. He said, “This black stone is my form. Pray to it daily and perform ‘Tailabhishekam’ (a ritual where devotees pour oil on the idol) every Saturday.” The shepherd asked if he should build a temple around the stone. To this, Shani replied, “The open sky is the roof and I prefer it that way. There is no need for any other shelter or protection as I will be around to shield you all. I promise there will be no theft or dacoity in this hamlet for as long as I am here.” 

The legend has been passed on for generations through word of mouth. It is because of this conviction of the villagers that the houses, shops, temples, and post offices do not have a single door or a door frame even today. On his part, the god of Saturn was holding up his promise till very recently; the village has not registered a crime till 2010!  Impressed by the near-zero crime rate, the United Commercial (UCO) Bank has opened India’s first ‘lock-less’ branch here! Today, Shani Shingnapur has been dubbed ‘The Village without Doors’ among tourists, with a lot of devotees visiting to worship Lord Shani in this chosen sanctuary.