Category: Culture and History

Cultural history brings to life a past time and place. In this search, cultural historians study beliefs and ideas, much as intellectual historians do. … These are reflected in the products of deliberately artistic culture, but also include the objects and experiences of everyday life, such as clothing or cuisine.

Sagrada de Familia: The controversial church

We humans always have an impeccable liking for controversies. They give us something to put the gray cells of our brain to work. Let’s exercise them today by taking a look into the world’s tallest church(basilica), Sagrada de Familia, constructed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi(1852-1926). The God’s architect, started the construction of Sagrada de Familia in the year 1882. Be prepared for this statement. The basilica is still under construction and will not be completed until 2026! That’s a whooping 135 years of construction! If it is a famous church, which can be funded abundantly, why is it still under construction after over a century?

Sagrada de Familia and its private funding

The construction of the basilica has been carried out with the help of private funding and donations and is not funded by any government or church. Now you may ask why a church has shortage of funds. The answer to this is the beginning of the controversy. Before divulging into it, it is important to note that it isn’t a church, but rather a basilica. It was originally designated as a cathedral but then in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI declared it a basilica. What’s the difference between a basilica and a church?

Antoni Gaudi drew inspiration from nature

Before answering the question of why it is considered controversial, let me give you a brief tour of the basilica. The basilica is to have eighteen spires out of which only eight has been constructed as of now. These spires symbolize the Twelve Apostles, Virgin Mary, Four Evangelists, and Jesus Christ. They also differ in their heights accordingly to denote the hierarchy, with Jesus Christ’s spire the tallest of all at an astounding 560 feet.

Antoni Gaudi was an admirer of nature. He often finds inspiration for his works from mother nature herself.

The great book, always open and which we should make an effort to read, is that of Nature.

-Antoni Gaudi

This can be reflected in his basilica too. To showcase it to you, let me show you a staircase inside the Sagrada Familia. You will notice that the staircase spirals, not ordinarily, but rather ‘scientifically’. The spirals represent the famous Fibonacci spiral. The Fibonacci spiral is a logarithmic spiral whose growth factor is φ, the golden ratio 1.69, which is the ratio which is found almost everywhere. In flowers, sea shells and even the human body. You may now understand Gaudi’s love for nature.

Spiral Staircase
Spiral staircase(Left), a sea shell on the right.

Also, the basilica incorporates curved lines rather than straight ones. This can be observed in the pillars of the basilica, curved and giving the illusion of many trees huddled together to form a forest. According to Gaudi, nature did not give us straight lines. So it is to do justice to nature by incorporating curved lines in his temple.

The straight line belongs to men. The curved one to God.

-Antoni Gaudi

Not only in this basilica, Gaudi’s work reflects nature in many of his other art works and buildings.

Ceiling of Sagrada Familia
Ceiling of Sagrada Familia, resembling trees in a forest
Freemasonist?
magic square
The magic square in the passion façade.

His fascination for nature is co-walked by his fascination for something strange too. Interesting right? Next to the passion façade, near his tomb(yes, Gaudi is buried inside the basilica)there lies a 4×4 magic square with 15 numbers inscribed on it. Even bizarre. These numbers are positioned in such a way that when you add the numbers horizontally, vertically or diagonally, they add up to the number 33!

Now, 33 is not any number. There is symbology in play here. 33 is said to be the highest rank that a freemasonist can go. There exists a controversy that Gaudi was a masonist and that he achieved the 33rd rank. But 33 maybe a coincidence, you may think. But note that his other work Parque Guëll, has staircase whose steps sum to 33 too. Now this is far too real to be ignored as a mere coincidence. One more thing, Gaudi’s friend Eduard was a freemasonist and his patron Guëll was also a freemasonist. These facts make it difficult to ignore ’33’.

Addressing the elephant of the room

So what does all this have to do with the controversy. Gaudi’s nature inspired works were frowned upon during his days. The basilica had undergone many attacks, also a reason for its delayed construction. George Owens, in his novel Homage to Catalonia, wrote:

I went to have a look at the cathedral—a modern cathedral and one of the most hideous buildings in the world. Unlike most of the churches in Barcelona it was not damaged during the revolution—it was spared because of its ‘artistic value,’ people said. I think the Anarchists showed bad taste in not blowing it up when they had the chance.

Alongside this, there was the freemasonist theory. Christianism and freemasonry were not exactly the friendly combo. In 1983, the Church issued a new code of canon law, which stated: ‘A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; one who promotes or takes office in such an association is to be punished with an interdict‘.

Such was the heat between these two groups. And having said that Gaudi may have been a masonist, poses no doubt in churches denying funding to Sagrada de Familia. Even though it is addressed a basilica, by now you can be sure that it isn’t seen as one by many Catholics. This can be contradicting and confusing. Like an oxymoron, propagating absolutely different ideas: Science and Religion. These two have always been like oil and water. No matter how hard you try to mix, they will stand separated.

Thus, I leave you all with questions lingering in your minds. May your quest begin!

Note: More information regarding the intertwining of science and religion symbolism can be read in the book ‘Origin’ by Dan Brown. Meanwhile, you can check another article which revolves around the ideas of the book here.

 

 

 

 

Tribal community of Andaman and Nicobar(Sentinelese)

The sentinelese tribe of India most commonly found in Andaman islands are considered as the most vulnerable tribes among all the tribes of India . they mostly resides in north sen ital island of bay of Bengal . as compared to the other tribes they prefer no interactions with the outsiders or non – tribes because they think if somebody from outside or they themselves connect with outside world then there are chances of getting their aura and identity contaminated or they might feel danger for their lives from outside people.

talking about their physical appearance they are generally of short height maximum ranges to 5 foot 3 inch , because of geographical conditions they are dark in color with well aligned teeth. there are no signs of obese because their work labor. the government tries to protect their cultural heritage as it understands the importance of them in Indian culture. the reason behind their being hostile is that they had been vulnerable for a long period of time even from colonial times because of the less commercial attraction to the place as it does not have any pre- developed kingdoms or any other infrastructure so as to attract the outside world and the also reason behind tnheir less attraction is due to geographical location. then it arises a moral question to all the human civilization that if a community does not provide commercial attraction should it be forgotten or left alone?

The Govt. of India issued the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 to declare the traditional areas occupied by the tribes as reserves, and prohibited entry of all persons except those with authorization. Photographing or filming the tribe members is also an offence. The rules were amended later to enhance penalties. But restricted area permits were relaxed for some islands recently. now here  also arises a big question that if they are being isolated by these regulations in the name of protection and conservation then how would they socialise with the society and will they achieve social, economic and political growth in the society as trhe developing civilization India should look up to the upliftment of these tribes and shall make some necessary amendments so that people and tribes both would communicate and socialize with each other. due to social isolation they are forced to get food and living from hunting, fishing, and wild plants  and according to anthropological survey of India there is a decline in the population of this tribe.

but at the same time there exist the co-existence theory which signifies on the co-existence from both the sides beyond all the efforts made by the governments the tribe have made it clear that they do not want any contact to prove this there are many instances that have been recorded for example In 2006, two Indian fishermen, who had moored their boat near North Sentinel to sleep after poaching in the waters around the island,were killed when their boat broke loose and drifted onto the shore. Poachers are known to fish illegally in the waters around the island, catching turtles and diving for lobsters and sea cucumbers.

Conclusion

tn the conclusion we can say that after developing so much becoming a global family still there are parts where tribal groups like senitelese living in patches. now as humans it is our duty that if we have let them alone for such a longer period of time and now they had developed their own habitat of living we should not disturb them for any any kind of resource or any other purpose.

Indian Superstitions with their facts | Myths in India

Indian Superstitions with their facts

Myths in India

1.  Do not cut nails after sunset:

This has been a famous superstition in almost every home in India. But yes, it is just a myth we can definitely cut nails on any day, whether it is sunset or not. This myth was generated by our ancestors and it is believed that if we cut our nails before sunset then it will be hygienic and the particles you cut won’t get stuck to your feet. Also in the daylight, we can easily cut the nails, but if we do the same at night we may get some cut, to avoid that we must cut before sunset.

2.  Take a bath after attending the funeral:

After the death of the person, the bacteria can easily flow in the air and can stick to the person attending the funeral, to avoid such conditions it is advised to take bath as soon as you come after attending the funeral to get bacteria to wash off.

3.  The mourning family of a dead person should not cook food until shraddha :

This ritual is almost followed by every Indian house after the death of their loved one. The reason for following this is just to give rest to the family. Obviously, family members are very sad during the interval some crying, some arranging and calling people to meet. So this practice of not cooking food for around 14 days (Hindu religion) until shraddha is to provide rest to the family helping them to cope with the death of their loved one.

4.   Swallow Tulsi leaves, never chew:

Tulsi is considered to have powerful medicinal properties and is worshipped by Hindu devotees. It is also believed that Tulsi is Lakshmi’s avatar. It is suggested to swallow Tulsi leaves and not to chew them, the main reason for this is Tulsi contains some amount of mercury which is harmful to our teeth. mercury is considered harmful for teeth which can degrade the enamel and make your teeth yellow. When you chew the tulsi leaves then mercury content can get dissolved in your teeth and can harm them.

5.    Eat curd and sugar before heading out:

Curd contains calcium and proteins and is also easy on the stomach and the digestive system, whereas sugar provides instant glucose, making them good options for consumption before stepping out. Curd has a cooling effect on the stomach and is highly recommended to have it in regions like India. Curd also has some unique health properties which distinguish it from any other milk product, it contains calcium and protein which is easy to digest and provides cooling, and therefore it is considered to have curd before you step out as good luck.

6.    Crush the head of a snake after killing it:

“Snakes, in general, are well known for retaining reflexes after death,” said Steven Beaupré, a biology professor at the University of Arkansas. The Head of the snake should be crushed, burned, or buried after killing it. A snake can bite a person with a detached head. Snake is a cold-blooded organism, and all the cold-blooded organisms have this property as snakes do. So it is advised to crush its head before it harms any person.

7.    Lemon and green used chilies to avert Buri-Nazar :

This is almost seen in every shop in the market and also in many Indian homes. Nimbu-Mirchi totka is a well-known superstition. The main reason for this is lemon and chilies are rich in nutrients like vitamins and absorb the bacteria not allowing them to enter inside your home or the place you tie them out. Chilies also have several medicinal strengths. Lemon and green chilies have pesticide properties killing germs keeping insects and pests away and used by farmers.

Newton’s 4th law and a new perspective

Note: This article does not take a scientific spin on Newton’s 4th law rather, a metaphorical one.

How often do you come across reels in your Instagram with aesthetically pleasing setups, where people showcase their productivity by fancy stationary, an iPad and their flawless note taking skills? Quite often right! It makes you question yourself. Am I of any good? Why am I wasting time scrolling on social media? I am worthless. While social media influencers with a fancy lifestyle ask you to motivate yourself with positive affirmations, it can give you a temporary boost of confidence but later you will see yourself slumped on the couch too tired to do work, too tired to rest. But believe, you are not alone.

Newton’s 4th Law

I’d like to call it Newton’s 4th law. The first three laws rule the world. The 4th law also is ruling the world, but no one explicitly acknowledges it. The fourth law states that ‘The value of a person is directly proportional to his/her productivity’. Yes, that is it. This single statement is the sole destroyer of the mental health of people, and ironically the destroyer of their productivity too.

Giving the statement a first glance, you will be virtually staring at me and saying what’s wrong with that. But by the end of this article, I assure you I’d have sparked something in you. The societal rules say that you have to be productive every single moment of your life. You would have heard your parents asking you to read books during your summer break so you can improve your vocabulary. Go to music class, you can be the next Shreya Ghoshal. Go to dance class, chess class and what not. The world basically says to shove skills into your throat so that you can be ‘valued’ as a man in the society.

So what is productivity?

What no one says you is that, productivity is not something measured by the time you spend before a laptop doing ‘work’ or the number of pages read in a book. It is not juggling multiple tasks by half-focusing on each task. It is a feeling of satisfaction that fills your heart. A feeling that cannot be measure by time or effort. You should feel happy that you did something new today. That work can either be a progress or a rollback, doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, all that matters is that your person you are today knows something more than the person you were yesterday. Happiness inspires productivity.

So am I saying that you should lessen the time of work or read fewer pages? Not essentially. You can still say that you are productive without feeling guilty of not crossing your intended checkpoint. You can take breaks instead of working 3 hours straight. You can do a few jumping jacks. You can sit idle for a while and do nothing. By idle, I don’t mean you can catch up on Netflix or scroll your phone.

Just sit idle and don’t do anything at all. Try not to think of anything. When you try not thinking, I can bet that your mind will reel great philosophies which you never would’ve thought about otherwise. It will think about that embarrassing incident that happened 2 years ago. No kidding. Try it and you will be amazed if you follow your train of thoughts. These small techniques not only improve productivity, but also improve your overall physical and mental health.

 

work hours and productivity
Time and Productivity
What isn’t productivity?

This list can include things which you previously thought belonged to the other list.

  • Working for longer hours=More productivity
  • Multitasking
  • Hoarding up more number of tasks together
  • Not planning on what to do before actually starting to do work
  • Trying to do everything by yourself
  • Neglecting social life

Be careful and identify these red flags. Once you identify it, try to change your mindset. As the old saying goes, mind is THE master.

Concluding remarks

I lined up for you what productivity is and how its definition has been corrupted by the society. Lead life one moment at a time, for life is nothing but the amalgamation of moments silver lined with emotions. I leave you with the quote of a great man.

Improved productivity means less human sweat, not more.

  -Henry Ford

 

 

 

Taylor Swift: The new Pop poetess of the 21st century

Taylor Swift, the pop phenomenon, took the world by surprise when she dropped her albums Folklore and Evermore during the grim days of humanity. The albums were released during 2020 without much commercialization. From being a teenage icon to a pop star, the ‘cardigan’ song writer recently revealed her poetic side by the release of her two acclaimed albums.

Taylor Swift and her wise strategy

Unlike other prominent artists who spend huge sums for advertising their albums, Taylor Swift did not follow it this time. Instead, she surprised her fandom by announcing on all her social media handles that her 8th studio album Folklore would be released midnight.

While people had little to no time digesting the fact, it did not prevent them from buying the album, thus making it the best sold album of 2020. Now, without pressing foot on the brakes, by using the same strategy, she announced the release of her 9th studio album Evermore, naming it the sister album of Folklore.

The very short span between the release of the two albums (5 months) not only made fans happy, but boosted the sales of both of the albums. While folklore turned out to be the best sold album of 2020, Evermore, following it took the 2nd place. She once again proved that she herself is her sole competitor.

Follow the link to know the other time she proved the world that she was her competition:

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9428290/taylor-swift-folklore-billboard-200-number-1

Folklore-Evermore album cover
Folklore(on the left) and Evermore album covers

Hands down, the best lyricist

It is safe to say that we all had ‘Darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream‘ as our Instagram bio during the 1989 era. Taylor swift is not known just for her dreamy vocals, but also for her irresistible lyrical talent. She can write ‘Shake it off, I shake it off’ and she can write ‘But I’m a fire and I’ll keep your brittle heart warm , if your cascade ocean wave blues come’.

If you do not believe my words, take a peek at the second verse of her song ‘This is me trying’ from folklore:

They told me all of my cages were mental
So I got wasted like all my potential
And my words shoot to kill when I’m mad
I have a lot of regrets about that
I was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere
Fell behind all my classmates and I ended up here
Pourin’ out my heart to a stranger
But I didn’t pour the whiskey

She explains her fallout so gracefully and honestly, I didn’t know until now that it can be written so!

The mental calm her albums gave during this pandemic

This pandemic broke down even the toughest of people. Being bound within four walls, not able to interact with your loved ones and more importantly, not able to even visit our sick friends and family took a devastating toll on the mental health of people regardless of the age factor. For students, the burden of online classes. For homemakers, the everlasting kitchen duty. For employees, the fear of being laid off.

To lament about these effects, I’d have to write a book! Us people, we create safe havens personal to us. Be it listening to your favorite music, reading your favorite book or even having a sound sleep, we try our best to cope up with a gloomy situation. For many people including myself, music has been the last resort. So Taylor did save my 2020!

Particularly, her song ‘Epiphany’ from Folklore details the calamitous experience faced by our frontline medical workers. It says that medics were taught to save lives, not hear the wailing of daughters and sons. Hearing the song made me want to question the mere existence of God if all this suffering is to be endured by people. Words have power. And Taylor meticulously used them to heal people.

Something med school did not cover
Someone’s daughter, someone’s mother
Holds your hand through plastic now
“Doc, I think she’s crashing out”
And some things you just can’t speak about

-Epiphany, album Folklore

So here’s to the queen who consumed our nights through her music. Someone who stripped every shred of the veil concealing the soul, making even the unbreakable ones, vulnerable. Achingly beautiful are the only words that remind me of the albums Folklore and Evermore.

Grateful to you Taylor, for, without you we wouldn’t have been able to believe that light exists at the end of the tunnel.

 

Are underground cities the answer to climate change?

   Underground cities are not unknown to humankind. Mankind has planned, made, and inhabited underground cities from ancient times. The most fascinating of them is the underground city of Derinkuyu in Turkey which was discovered in 1963. The underground city of Derinkuyu was made in the 8th century to hide from continuous wars and extreme climatic conditions. It is an eighteen-storied underground town containing living rooms, schoolrooms, kitchens, wells, and even a winery that could hold 20,000 people inside. Ventilation, water, and light could reach every level and there were systems to seal each level during an attack. Such subterranean cities can be a solution to changing climatic conditions. As surface temperatures are increasing, governments are devising underground city master plans.    

 Extreme weather events like harsh winters and scorching summers can be avoided in such subterranean cities where ambient temperatures will be maintained throughout the year and heat loss is also significantly reduced. Drinking water sources are comparatively purer than surface water contaminated by runoffs and moreover, with the ever-growing population, there will be a shortage of land in the very near future. These could be some of the reasons why many countries around the globe have started focussing on such subterranean architecture.    

  Helsinki is an underground city that covers a massive area of 214 square kilometers containing tunnels, museums, swimming pools, and other recreation areas. This underground master plan was made to avoid extreme winters, war threats from Russia. Further such examples in today’s world can be seen in the Earthscraper in Mexico City, The Subtropolis Kansas city, and the proposed underground science city in Singapore.    

 Therefore, with the increasing risk of global warming and its consequences, it is very logical to plan underground spaces that can help to save both space and energy on the surface. With more and more countries showing interest in such architecture, underground plans could be the future of cities.