Monday, February 27, 2006

Pisa lies on the famous River Arno, as does the historic city of Florence, aka Firenze


100N-1776_DSC
Originally uploaded by Juan_de.
L'Italia

Cities to know in their European spelling:
Milano
Venezia
Pisa
Firenze
Roma
Napoli
Pompeii

3 great rivers: Po R., Arno R., Tiber R.
Adriatic Sea
Mediterranean
Sardinia and Sicily are both regions of L'Italia.

vocab

* amphora / bulbous jars used for storage in the Roman era.
* camapanile / medieval bell tower, such as the one of Pisa. It leans because of subsidence (sinking earth).
* olive oil & balsamic vinegar / sweet and tart accents often poured on foccacia, flat bread.
* bona opera / Latin for "good works." To be promised to oneself during Lent.
* Sotto voce / "soft voice," Italian.
* Prego." / "Please."


Independent writing:
Research and write a comparison of the situation between Muslims and Hindus during Gandhi's time and the Sunni Muslim vs. Shiite Muslims in current Iraq.

The Po River valley, the richest region of Italy


Navigli - Second edition
Originally uploaded by *Ivan*.
The Po River traverses Northern Italy and the farms that arose along this valley created the wealth that led to Italy's early success among the nations of Western Europe.

Fertile land, wealthy farmers, high education, skilled work; the value of the lands around the Po are connected to achievements in banking, architecture and technology. The powerful cities of Milano (see illustration) and Venice are adjacent to the Po.

This week we will examine the relationship of the people and the terrain of L'Italia.

Milan has a notable business center called the Galleria. It is the elegant original downtown shopping center. Built in the 1800's. it is the model for the Gallerias of Houston and Dallas and elsewhere.

Venice has a connection to Louisiana: Carnevale. The masks and balls of Venice represent one of the world's oldest celebrations of what we call Mardi Gras.


Tues: open notes test on Italy from its Infoplease.com profile, the atlas and textbook.

The 9 weeks ends on March 11.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Historic Torino (Turin): comparing Italy to India (and the US)


Holga - Turin
Originally uploaded by Reggio.
Wealth and literacy and health will be examined via Infoplease.com as we move from a study of the subcontinent of India to the relatively tiny nation of Italy.

The design and manufacturing resources of Italy are symbolized by companies such as
Ferrari
Lamborghini
Fiat
Maserati
Benelli
Ducati
Motoguzzi
Beretta
Versace
Prada
Gucci
and more.

We will see places and regions that are comparable, despite the Asian-European contrasts.

Independent work -
Research and compare Gandhi and the late Pope John Paul or Mother Theresa.


Feb 22
1. How many times smaller is Italy than India? Graph their a) population b) area.
2. List 3 ways in which Italy and India are alike in terrain.
3. Create graphs that coompare 3 cities' populations of India and of Italy.
4. Three-nation Per Capita Income graph.
5. "" " literacy graph.
6. " " " life expectancy graph.
7. Map the trading partners of India and Italy. See map, pp. 2 - 3. Identify nations. Connect by dotted lines.
8. Write 5 mult choice questions that compare Italy and India.
9. Compose a brief comparison paragraph using 3 demographic items.
(10 pts.)

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Taj / Hinduism / Gandhi review notes


The Taj Mosque and Yamuna River
Originally uploaded by murky.
* Principal gods of Hinduism: Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu.
* Diego Garcia atoll (ring-shaped island) is in the Indian Ocean. It is a launching port for B-52s whose job it is to bomb Afghanistan and Iraq.
* Gandhi: Asia, Europe, Africa.
* Taj: 1654, Shah Jahan, as a white marble mausoleum for his spouse.
* Persians, Indians, Egyptians and Ceylonese were the craftsmen and designers of the Taj.
* Mosque, minarets, Arabic calligraphy and arabesques identify it as Muslim.
* Tombs of the Shah and Mumtaz are the only things in the Taj.
* Shah imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb.
* Shah Jahan and Gandhi, some 300 years apart, were alike in power and interest in planning and family. Gandhi had little interest in architecture; the Shah built many fine buildings besides the Taj.
* Samsara is the Hindu concept of man's endless cycle of rebirths, or reincarnations. Your reincarnation type is governed by the law of karma, wherein your holiness is governed your actions.
* Brahmin is generally considered the highest caste, or class, says Wikipedia, and Sudras (Shudras) the lowest. Sudras includes the untouchables.
* A guru, teacher, will give you a mantra, or holy word, for meditation. The classic mantra is Om, a word written in Sanskrit, the holy language of India.
* Hinduism is the oldest religion and has the most freedom of ritual. Most Hindus do their prayer at home shrines. Some 800 million people, 81% of India, profess the religion.
* Gandhi's independence struggle struck at British textiles - he suggested everyone wear homespun - and the British tax on salt.
* British Empire (selected nations):
- Central Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesah, Sri Lanka, Burma.
- Mid East: Kuwait, Iraq, yemen, Egypt.
- Far East: Australia, New Guinea, Hong Kong.
- Caribbean: Jamaica, Cayman Is, Bahamas.
- Sikhs (Punjab region, city of Amritsar) and Jains ate notable minority religions of India.


Independent work:
Research, document and compare the Taj mahal and St Peter's Basilica, vatican City / Rome.


Pajamas, khaki, juggernaut, bungalow and jodphurs are words derived from the Hindi.


Why was the Taj Mahal built on the edge of the Yamuna River? Does it remind you of grand structures in Louisiana built along the Mississippi? It certainly reminds us of great cities, such as New Orleans and Roma, and their rivers. What reasons were there for riverside construction besides the beauty of the water?

Basmati rice and jamun: gifts from Dr. Moona Prasad-Tanga to 2nd hour class


Red Turban Buffet 5
Originally uploaded by the food pornographer.
Basmati rice and the fried cakes called jamun were the taste treats brought to 2nd hour by Dr. Moona Prasad-Tanga, CMHS parent. "This basmati was flavored with cumin, bay leaf, onion and ghee - which is clarified butter," said Dr. Tanga.

She is from the city of Bangalore, today famed as a high-tech city of the south of India (Microsoft and Dell are employers in Bangalore). But she was raised in Pennsylvania and New Jersey from the age of one, when her father migrated in search of a better life. Her marriage of 18 years took place in Bangalore and was "sort-of arranged by a matchmaker," she explained. Her son in CMHS first-year Suparsh Tanga.

We appreciate her gifts of food and time for enriching cultural studies at CMHS.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Himalaya Mountains


Himalaya Mountains
Originally uploaded by Heartkins.
The story of guru Neelkanth was the narrative thread in the IMAX movie Mystic India. The theme of this colorful movie was that India has unity despite its stupendous diversity (geographically, in languages and religions, etc).

Here are 2 sites on the movie:
http://www.mysticindia.com/
and
http://www.dmns.org/main/en/Professionals/Press/CurrentPressReleases/Press+Releases/IMAX/mysticBackground.htm

India & other impoverished nations: how to provide affordable electricity & clean water


P A P U. Pushkar
Originally uploaded by Claude Renault.
San Francisco (Business 2.0) - Dean Kamen, the engineer who invented the Segway and developed the heart aid called the stent, is puzzling over a new equation these days. An estimated 1.1 billion people in the world don't have access to clean drinking water, and an estimated 1.6 billion don't have electricity. Those figures add up to a big problem for the world—and an equally big opportunity for entrepreneurs.

To solve the problem, he's invented two devices, each about the size of a washing machine that can provide much-needed power and clean water in rural villages.

"Eighty percent of all the diseases you could name would be wiped out if you just gave people clean water," says Kamen. "The water purifier makes 1,000 liters of clean water a day, and we don't care what goes into it. And the power generator makes a kilowatt off of anything that burns."

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Yamuna River, the mosque and walls surrounding the Taj Mahal



Originally uploaded by Sizif.
Taj Project:
1) Tint and affix the 2-leaf taj mahal sketch in your notebook.
2) Annotate the project; ie, surround it with notes.
3) On another page, write 5 multiple-choice questions.
4) Make a presentation to a classmate, sibling or parent and record their answers.
10 pts. Due Friday.
Notes -
* Shah Jahan, a Mughal Emperor, constructed the Taj mahal as a mausoleum and monument to his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
* 1654
* Designers and crafstmen came from Persia, Italy, Egypt, China, Ceylon and India.
* Inlaid with jade, amber, rubies, onyx, lapis and agate.
* Decorated with Arabic script.
* the 42-acre walled complex includes the Taj, minarets, a mosque, rest house, gardens, and gatehouse.
* The Shah's son took over the kingdom and imprisoned his father. he accused the father of misusing the kingdom's resources.
* The Shah's plan was to build a mirror image black-stone mausoleum across the Yamuna R. as his resting place. He was buried in the Taj alongside his wife, Mumtaz.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Cutting out and tinting a representation of the Taj Mahal


Return to India !
Originally uploaded by Mana Atashfaraz.
Teaching a lesson on the Taj Mahal will be easier, I believe, if you have a colorful, active teaching aid. We shall make one in class tomorrow.

Scissors! Colors. Imagination. Information.


Here's an amazing, 360 degree view of the Taj. The site also has an array of notable sights from across the globe. Please explore. panoramas.dk. Also, there is a terrific tour at Taj-mahal.net.

Also, please scrowl down for info on the SciPort IMAX film on India Feb 18 & 19. Bonus points!

Torino & the Olympics demand that we make a map of Italy and sample some Nutella


Sun and gallery
Originally uploaded by angelocesare.
Sketch a map of L'Italy. Please include:

Torino
Milano
Venezia
Roma
Sicily

Tunisia (African nation)
France
Monaco
Switzerland
Slovenia
Austria


Near Torino is the town of Alba, Italy, where Nutella was created. Try some of this chocolaty hazelnut spread and write an evaluation of it for geo class.


Independent writing:

Registration Essay
Reflect on what you learned about yourself and the school via this year's electives. Use examples. Discuss which elective(s) you might take next year, and why.


Performers!
CMHS Coffeehouse is a night of unplugged performances - poetry, folk & classical music, dance, comedy, etc - that is produced by Mrs. Morehead and the GT Dept. It is open to All students. See Mrs. Morehead for details.

Ti amo!

Mystic India,IMAX film, at SciPort this weekend only, Feb 18-19

Mystic India: an Incredible Journey of Inspiration, a big-screen film showing a land of many mysteries and fascinations, and shot in more than 100
locations, will show one weekend only at Sci-Port Discovery Center’s three story IMAX
Dome Theatre on Saturday, February 18, and Sunday, February 19, 2006.
Presented in partnership with The Multicultural Center of the South, the film.
reveals India’s ancient civilization, incredible architecture, colorful festivals,
and fascinating peoples and landscapes. The new release from Giant Screen Films will
be presented as a two-for-one double feature with the following schedule:


(Film will be paired as 2-for-1 double feature with 4 other choices.)

Saturday, February 18
Mystic India/Top Speed 10:30 am
Mystic India/Lewis & Clark 12:30 pm
Mystic India/Dolphins 2:30 pm
Sunday, February 19
Mystic India/Lewis & Clark 2 pm
Mystic India/Space Station 4 pm

Traditional Indian folk and classical dancers will perform in the IMAX Dome
Theatre during the intermissions of each double feature.
Narrated by legendary British actor Sir Peter O’ Toole, Mystic India takes
audiences on a journey through the frigid peaks of the Himalayas to the nation’s blazing
deserts and tropical rainforests; across fields and rivers and to small remote villages, all
along witnessing the sheer natural beauty of India and the incredible achievements of its
people. The film explores India’s extensive and accomplished history such as its
contributions to the world from astronomy and aviation to atomic physics, geometry, and
mathematics.

Mystic India also takes an interesting look at the amazing power of yoga and
meditation as it follows Neelkanth, a young boy who walked for 7 years and 8,000 miles
across the vast majestic land. He struggled through many hardships, enduring extremely
cold temperatures and encountering wild beasts in the forests—carrying no more than a
handkerchief—all because he wanted to help people learn to live good lives. Neelkanth’s
survival is a phenomenon that Harvard scientists researching modern day yogis’ in India
has proven to be possible.
More than 45,000 volunteers helped recreate authentic scenes for the film.
Festivals seen in Mystic India are large and spectacular. Massive crowds celebrate the
2500-year-old Festival of Chariots. Thousands take part in the celebrations including the
annual Festival of Lights and Festival of Colors.
India is a single nation as large as all of Europe, with a population of a billion
people that comprises one-sixth of the world. A sequence in the film documents the
‘Faces of India’ and the diversity among its inhabitants. India is the only country that has
18 different languages and more than 1,600 dialects.

IMAX Ticket prices for the February 18-19 Mystic India double feature are:
$ 8.50 General Admission
$ 7.00 Children (3-12), Seniors and Military
$ 6.00 Groups 15+

Sci-Port Discovery Center is a 67,000 square-foot science and entertainment
center in Shreveport-Bossier, featuring over 200 hands-on science exhibits, daily
changing programs, an IMAX Dome Theatre, demonstration theater, gift shop and café.
Sci-Port is located at 820 Clyde Fant Parkway on the downtown Shreveport-Bossier
Riverfront. For information call (318) 424-3466, toll-free (877) 724-7678 or visit
www.sciport.org.

Bonus credit:
5 pts. for attending film.
5 to 15 pts. for essay comparing this movie to the movie Gandhi.

Sadhu in Assam state, India / also, a practice quiz


Assam 2
Originally uploaded by babasteve.
India, Hinduism, Taj Mahal & Gandhi Review

1. The three principal gods of Hinduism are Brahma, __ and __.
2. USAF bombing flights directed at Iraq and Afghanistan are mostly launched from __ __.
3. Gandhi's life was lived on 3 continents: Asia, __ and __.
4. The Taj Mahal (TM) was built about the year __ by the __ Jahan, Mughal emperor of Northern India.
5. It was built of white __ (stone) for Mumtaz Mahal, his principal __.
6. A building that is a tomb is called a __.
7. The designers of the Taj were from the nations of __ and __.
8. There are three items of the Taj Mahal complex that identify the Shah's culture as islamic: the mosque, the towers called __ and the decorative designs on the walls, called __.
9. Aside from the decorated caskets of the emperor and his wife the interior of the Taj Mahal is empty. T / F
10. In the final chapter of his life the Shah's son made sure his father was __.
11. In their devotion to famil, interest in planning and architecture, and the extent of their power we can say that Shah Jahan and Gandhi were alike.
T / F
12. Gandhi and Shah Jahan lived about __ years apart. a) 300 b) 500
c) 600 d) 800.
13. Hindus believe that man is contained in a nearly endless series of a) rebirths b) conflicts c) religions d) yoga's called samsara.
14. Hinduism teaches that the soul never dies. The continuous process of the soul's rebirth is called ___.
15. The highest of the castes is the brahmin. T / F
16. Hindus believe that the bad actions of your life - or of your past lives - may hamper you in this life. This is the law of __.
17. ___ is your social, job-oriented placement in life.
18. Doing the work that Indian society sees as unclean is the responsibility of the __ caste.
19. The Hindu word for teacher or wise man is a) guru b) rupee c) Sanskrit d) dharma.
20. The word __ is the eternal word and is written by an Indian character that resembles the numeral 3.
21. Hinduism is probably the world's oldest living religion, according to World Book. T / F
22. Hinduism is practiced by about a) 50 million b) 100 million c) 800 million people.
23. Most Hindu worship takes place a) in the temples b) at home c) under
a Bodhi tree.
24. Gandhi led protests against two of the ways in which the British took unfair profits from the people of India. He struck back at the English sale of __ goods and at their tax and monopoly on __.
25. 4 nations of Central Asia that were controlled by the British during the empire: __, __, __ and __.
26. In the Middle East the English exerted wide control. Two of the nations they controlled were __ and __.
27. Two British properties in the Far East: __ and __.
28. Two of the British colonial properties in the Caribbean: __ and __.
29. The elephant-headed god of the Hindus: __.
30. Two religions of India with small numbers of adherents: __ and __.

Monday, February 13, 2006

CMHS parent Charles Chaniyara from Lakhtar, India, near Porbandar, Arabian Sea

Charles Chniyara, father of my outstanding student, Anuj, came to 1st hour class to discuss life in India and share home-made potato vadas, gota and vegetarian samosas. We dipped them in a red or green chutney and they were delicious. Thank you, Mrs. Chaniyara!

Don't forget the importance of an outing to eat at Utsav or India's Cuisine.

Gandhi vocab -
* repudiate
* "India Is British."
* "100,000 Englishmen vs. 350,000 Indians."
* peaceful non-cooperation
* homespun
* martial law
* sedition
* "An eye for an eye will just make the whole world blind."
* censorship
* advocate

Notebook project map of Gandhi's life in 3 continents, 3 nations:
- Porbandar, London, Pretoria, Mumbai, Kolkata

Independent work
Timeline of Afghanistan's Last 15 Years -
* USSR invasion
* mujahadin
* Osama
* Taliban
* al qaeda
* 9-11-01
* US invasion
* rebuilding

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Yoga Day, guided by guru Ken Womack


IMG_0401.JPG
Originally uploaded by trudeau.
Yoga Day elicited a terrific response from my classes. Hats off and thanks to our guru, YMCA yoga teacher Ken Womack.

Students presented excerpts from their brief research papers on yoga between demonstrations by Mr. Womack. Afterwards, everyone got involved in the asanas, as you see.


Tuesday
Open notes test on India and Gandhi. Having a print-out of website notes would be smart.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Pakistan: brief profile


Pakistan 1
Originally uploaded by babasteve.
Pakistan is a new nation; why was it established so recently (1947)?

It was part of the solution to the eternal conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Established as an Islamic nation, Muslims from across India trekked to this haven some 60 years ago. Also established at that time was Bangladesh (originally called east Pakistan).

Caught in the situation were the Hindus of the Indus Valley. They had to move east to get to the new borders of India. And split by the division was the region called the Punjab. The Sikhs were pained by the process.

Karachi is a city of 11 M but the capital of Pakistan is the much smaller city of Islamabad.

Comparison to India:
Per capita income: Pak., $2200 India, $3100
Literacy: Pak., 46% India, 60%
Pakistan is a military dictatorship; India is a democracy.
The 3 great languages are Punjabi, Sindi and Pashtun.
Pakistanis are notable for their abilities in digital, high-tech work. Sadly, they are also known for pirating American software, acc to the NYTimes.

Gandhi vocab:

servitude
apathy
insurgents
exploitation
oblivion
liberal / conservative

OPEN NOTES TEST ON GANDHI & INDIA
TUES, FEB 14

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Monika Kumar, CMHS student of the year, being interviewed by 1st years

Monika is a fascinating and lively student who was a vivid source of Magnet wisdom for my students. She discussed study styles ("Organize, prioritize!"), special programs (SMART / science research) and her family background (Hindu). I was happy with the questions and interest demonstrated by my students.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Varanasi on the Ganges: site of Hindu cremation and floating of funeral pyres


Varanasi boat trip
Originally uploaded by Paki Nuttah.
The flickr.com respondent said of this photo from a Varanasi boat trip: "Took a boat trip down the Ganges; this is the "ghat" (riverside steps) that they burn the dead bodies at. 24/7. Thats a lot of dead people."

Sikhism, an Indian religion / the Golden Temple of Amritsar at night


Golden Temple at night
Originally uploaded by Paki Nuttah.
Sikhism, pronounced SEE kihz uhm, is one of the religions of India. Its believers call themselves Sikhs, which means disciples.

About 14 million Sikhs live in India, the majority of them in the northern state of Punjab, says World Book.

The first Sikh guru criticized Hindu and Muslim religious practices that he said emphasized outer forms over inner spiritual awakening. He instructed his followers to be aware of God's presence by rising early, bathing, meditating on the divine name, and directing each day's activities to God. By remembering God in this way, and by living a good and simple life, people could free themselves from the cycle of reincarnation. According to Sikh belief, a person's actions (karma) determine whether the soul will enter the next life as a plant, animal, or human being.

In 1526, northern India was conquered by Muslims from what is now Afghanistan, who founded the Mughal Empire. The Sikhs had to defend themselves from Muslim persecution. The ideal of the Sikh became the "saint-soldier."

In the early 1800's, Ranjit Singh established a Sikh kingdom in northern India. In 1849, the kingdom was conquered by the British, who controlled much of India. When India and Pakistan became independent nations in 1947, almost half the Sikhs lived in the area that became Pakistan. Many Sikhs fled to India to escape persecution.

By the 1960's, the Sikh community was playing a leading role in India's agriculture, business and professional work, and military life. Sikh farmers led the "green revolution" that helped increase India's food production.

Many Sikhs demanded more control of Punjab. In 1984, Sikh rebels occupied the Golden Temple and the surrounding sacred buildings in Amritsar. An Indian army action to remove the Sikhs caused great damage and many deaths. Some radical Sikh groups continued to carry out acts of violence and terrorism as part of their movement.

Other points of Sikhism:
* hair & beard not cut.
* steel band, comb, dagger and fighting bloomers are worn.
* Amritsar, site of the Golden Temple, is their capital city.
See more photos of Sikhs atFlickr.com.


Yoga notes:
* compare the American practice of yoga with the popular, if extremely demanding, Pilates. See Joseph Pilates, the German founder of the regimen.

Gandhi:
* Was Gandhi a barrister or barista?

Monday, February 06, 2006

The ineffable sound and beauty of the sitar


strf_Sitar_
Originally uploaded by trudeau.
See that ivory plate near the bottom of the gourd body of the sitar? Looks a bit like a transducer. I'm given to undertstand that this wide plate is the source of the celestial buzzing of the strings.

Some of my background is derived from Houston-based sitarist David Courtney, who studied in India. His wife is Chandrakantha Courtney, an estimable singer of Indian melodies.

His helpful web site is chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/sitar/parts.html

The award-winning movie Gandhi endures as a great biography

Gandhi vocab from the eponymous movie:

loincloth
humility
simple truth
colored / non-whites were referred to by the turn-of-the-century British as "colored" or even "black."
kaffir
coolie
children of god
barrister
Sikh
defiance of injustice
ashram
benefactor
bapu
Mahatma

Map showing trade routes connecting India and East Africa. Both the nations of India and South Africa were British colonies.

Progress reports will be issued to my students by Wed. Sorry for the delay.


See more on the Mahatma at Gandhi. His keys to social action were to use
* the British courts and law.
* the press
* Christian principles (though a Hindu, Gandhi was well read in the Koran and Bible)
* diplomacy.

In this movie one of my pleasures is watching the many varieties of beautifully-tied turbans.

Physical geo:
* Hindu Kush / the major range on the Pakistani side of India. Is this where Osama hides?
* plate tectonics / continental drift / collision of earth's plates results in the continental uplift called the Himalayas and Hindu Kush.
* Why so many languages across India? There are 20 major languages, each reflecting a region.

Young barrister Mohandas K Gandhi, 1906, Johannesburg


barristergandhi
Originally uploaded by taruntej.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 - 1948

1. Gandhi's nation? a) India b) Pakistan c) Afghanistan d) Iran.
2. The era of his greatest work? a) late 1800's b) early 1900's c) middle 1900's d) late 1900's.
3. His style of political action was emulated by a famous American. a) JFK b) LBJ c) MLK d) FDR.
4. Gandhi fought against the __ control of his nation. a) French b) British c) Belgian d) German.
5. Gandhi also tried to change the ancient social system which divided the people of India by their inherited __. a) aristocracy
b) region c) skin color d) caste.
6. Gandhi attempted to bring peace to two warring sides of India: a) Hindu & Christian b) Hindu & Muslim c) Muslim & Christian d) Hindu & Buddhist.
7. Gandhi was a) Hindu b) Muslim c) Christian.
8. He was educated in London in a) medicine b) journalism c) psychology d) law.
9. Gandhi's early struggle for fair treatment of the people of India was in a nation where poor Indians worked as miners: a) S. Africa b) Kenya c) Yemen.
10. Gandhi's unremitting efforts for India's independence finally brought him wealth and political office. T / F

Friday, February 03, 2006

Cooking of Goa, India, comes to Magnet via Parent Yeona D'Acosta-Auld

Chicken curry with coconut is typical of the south of India, students learned from CMHS parent Yeona D'Acosta-Auld. She also served the class nan and rice; students found it quite palatable.

More notes on Goa, a Portuguese colony - until 1961 - on the Arabian Sea coast.
* St Francis Xavier
* kutha
* monsoon
* pickled fish & meat
* cashews
* difs in the cuisine of south and north of India.


From my student Anuj Chaniyara, a native of Gujurati province:
Hello in Gujurati language: kem chho!

Class work:
5 colorful graphs comparing the demographics of India and the US (5 pts.).

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Ravi Shankar, sitarist and one of the greatest artists of India, with daughter Anoushka Shankar, also a gifted sitarist


Picture 093
Originally uploaded by Revanta.
Indian music
The great sitarist Ravi Shankar has 2 musical daughters: Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones.
Ms Jones sold 14 million copies of her 1st album, "Come Away with me." Anoushka has also made several albums.

The basic group of Indian music may include
sitar
tabla (small drums)
harmonium (bellows-powered keyboard)
tambura (drone instrument)
vocals


Shiva
creation&destruction
fertility&aesceticism

Law of Karma / rebirth is guided by your virtue.
Nirvana.

Jains / minority religious group of India / ahimsa: not to kill any living thing.

mendicant (beggar)
puja (devotion ritual)

Mohandas K Gandhi

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Namaste! Hinduism and other Indian background


Bright eyes and a warm smile ...
Originally uploaded by lapidim.
From Pakistan to Sri Lanka: India map quiz Th / sketch by hand.

* Bollywood
* Mother Teresa / Kolkata
* Arthur C. Clarke, sci-fi writer, resisdent of Sri Lanka

* jewelry and style of India: nose rings, toe rings, anklets, midriff, turbans, sari, sandals.
* bindi / forehead dot
* chakras / centers of bodily energy
* Vedas / world's oldest books / holy Hindu texts.
* curry / mixture of peppers and spices.
* sadhu, yogi, fakir: names for holy men
* sword-swallowing, sitting on a bed of nails / ancient India.

Hinduism
Brahma: greatest god; force of the universe.
Lord Ganesh: popular if minor god.

Indian cooking:
India's Cuisine, Youree
Utsav, Bert Kouns at Fern

Movies:
Monsoon Wedding
Bombay Salaam