247 items in this section. Displaying page 6 of 25
Instrument with a Human Tone
A family of musicians in the city of Mysore, in Karnataka, has a unique family heirloom — a beautiful 300-year-old veena. The veena is India’s most ancient Indian stringed instrument. Instrument with a Human Tone [Illustration by Shiju George] The veena is a poly chord instrument, that is, it is made of several strings. Each string produces a certain tone, which other strings cannot duplicate. Melody is produced when the strings are plucked....
Why do Ears Pop?
Recently I went to the top of a skyscraper in a lift. After I had gone up a few stories, I felt a funny sensation in my ears. My eardrums seemed like they were growing and were about to burst. As I went a little higher, the sensation was worse. My fellow passengers in the lift told me to swallow a few times. This would help the sensation pass, they said. And, it did. This happens to a lot of people when they are flying, or skiing downhill at very high speeds, or going deep into a mine well....
River Talk
The rivers were a disgruntled lot. They had started out as tiny clear streams high up in the mountains and meandered through valleys and plateaus and plains. Their waters had swollen up during monsoons and had then reduced to a trickle during summer. But on the whole, they had flourished. And now, at the end of their journey, they had to merge with the sea. They would lose their precious freedom forever. River Talk [Illustration by Shinod AP] And yet, they couldn’t stop themselves from flowing, could they?...
Message in the bottle
I watched the tide From my little house by the seaside I didn’t have to wait long to find what the waves had brought along a bottle with a message in it, it looked like a message, at least I ran to pick up the bottle And took out from it a coiled paper As I smoothened it, And peered deep Message in the bottle [Illustration by Shinod AP] The yellowing paper came apart...
The Lion's Share
One day an ass and a fox entered into an agreement with the lion that they would assist each other while hunting for food. They felt that their combined efforts would ensure that none of them would have to starve. Of course, both the ass and the fox were a little nervous about accompanying the lion in the hunt. But the thought of the game they would acquire with his help, made them salivate. They put the nervousness down to nerves....
The Woman who Jailed Bihar's Dons
Bihar is known for its vast coal mines. It is equally well known for the mafia lords or dons who control these mines and carry on all kinds of illegal activities. But the same mafia lords are trembling in their boots today. The reason for their fear is a young woman called Shobha Ohatker. After becoming the Superintendent of Police in Hazaribagh, Shobha has put the biggest names in the coal mafia in jail – most of them, anyway....
The Writer
The Writer [Illustration by Anup Singh] December 9: Stanley “Tookie” Williams is an American writer of children’s books. His books are cautionary tales, warning children to stay away from drugs, guns and gangs so common to certain sections of poor America. Williams has won wide acclaim and two literature prizes. But then Williams is no ordinary children’s writer. He is a four-time murderer on death row (waiting to be executed) in California’s San Quentin prison....
Boy who Became a Golfer by Accident
July 22: Eighteen-year-old Ashok Kumar is a golf champion in the making. But barely six years ago, he was accused of stealing at the same club where he plays winning game after game, today. He has won many golfing titles in the junior category and also amateur or beginners titles in prestigious golfing events. Ashok was a poor boy from a village in Bihar. He came to Delhi to earn some money for his family back home....
The Hospitality of a True Blue Nawab
April 21: Nawab Mir Jafar Abdullah entertains guests in the celebrated Awadhi style of his forefathers. The nawab (title of former rulers of princely states), hosts elaborate traditional dinners for foreign tourists at his grand palace called Sheeshmahal (glass palace), in Lucknow, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow flourished in the 18th century as the capital of the nawabs of the principality of Awadh. It became an important cultural centre for art, music, crafts and etiquette based on the idea of graciousness that may seem excessively laidback today....
The Big Leap
One day a newly married couple threw a party. Among those who attended, was a man who claimed to be a seasoned traveller. He was an interesting-looking man with a weatherbeaten face. So, by his appearance, he did look like a well-travelled person. But once he started talking, there was no stopping him. He bragged to anyone who would listen, about his exploits in countries across the world. He spoke of many wonderful and heroic feats he had accomplished....