Questions of the Week: May 31, 2006

1. Which is the largest city in India?

2. Who was Vallabhbhai Patel?

3. What was Tansen famous for and when?

Answers:

1. The city of Bombay or Mumbai, now the capital of Maharashtra state, occupies about 25 sq mi (65 sq km) on Bombay and Salsette islands. Bombay Island was created in the 19th century by reclamation projects that combined seven basaltic islets and is a peninsula of the larger Salsette Island to the north.

Bombay has the only natural deepwater harbor in W India, and is a transportation hub and industrial center. Manufactures include automobiles, machinery, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronic equipment, and refined petroleum. It is home to India's largest banks and financial houses and is also the center of India's domestic film and entertainment industry, the largest in the world. Shipbuilding and fish processing are also important industries.

Bombay Univ. (founded 1857), the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, and the Indian Institute of Technology are among the educational, medical, scientific, and technical institutions in the city. The National Centre of Performing Arts and Jahangir Art Gallery are some of the many cultural attractions. The Victorian-style India Gate near the waterfront commemorates a 1911 visit by King George V. On Salsette Island are Buddhist caves, and the nearby small island of Elephanta is noted for its hewn-stone temples.

The area of the city was ceded (1534) to Portugal by the sultan of Gujarat. Bombay, after it passed to Great Britain in 1661, was the headquarters (1668�1858) of the East India Company in W India. During the American Civil War, it expanded to meet the world demand for cotton and became a leading cotton-spinning and weaving center.

2. Vallabhbhai Patel (1875�1950) was a freedom fighter and Indian political leader. He was admitted (1913) to the bar in England and set up a lucrative practice in India. In 1915, he met Mohandas Gandhi and within a short time became one of his closest associates, a staunch nationalist and a supporter of the Indian National Congress. A talented organizer, he successfully directed the civil-disobedience campaigns of the 1920s and 30s; several times, he suffered imprisonment. He was mayor of Ahmedabad (1924�28) and was elected (1931) president of the Indian National Congress. In 1942, he was imprisoned, with other Congress leaders, for refusing to support the British war effort in World War II. After his release (1945), he initiated a purge of Communists (who had supported the war) from the Congress. Patel played an important role in the negotiations that led to independence. In 1947, he was made deputy prime minister of India and minister of state affairs. Holding these offices until his death, he effected the complex and difficult feat of integrating the many princely states into the new Indian political structure.

3. Tansen is considered to be one of the greatest musicians that ever lived. He was the court musician of the famous Mogul Emperor Akbar (16th century).  He was so highly valued in the court that he was called one of the "Nine Jewels" in his court (navarathna).

The details of Tansen's life are incomplete.  He was born in a Hindu community and had his musical training under the great Swami Haridas.  He then went to the court of the Raja Ram Baghela, a great patron of the arts.  From there he migrated to the court of Akbar.

It is said that Tansen could work miracles with his singing.  This is called nada siddha in Sanskrit.  He is supposed to have acquired such supernatural abilities through the association with the saintly Swami Haridas.  It is said that on occasion he could create rain by singing the monsoon rag Megh Malhar.  It is also said that he could create fire by singing rag Dipak.

Many ragas are ascribed to Tansen.  Such rag as Mian ki Malhar, Mian ki Todi and Darbari Kanada are the most famous.  Today his followers are refered to as "Senia Gharana"