Tag: biography

The Girl With a Pearl Earring: What Made It So Famous

The Girl With a Pearl Earring (1665) by Johannes Vermeer

Introduction

Nicknamed the “Mona Lisa of the North“,the Girl with a Pearl Earring, is one of the masterpieces by famed Dutch painter, Johannes Vermeer. It hauntingly engages the viewer with enhanced realism, showcasing the electrifying gaze of a young girl adorned with a blue and gold turban. Created by Vermeer in 1665 during the Baroque period, the upper bust of the girl against a dark background has a three-dimensional effect that sets off her glowing appearance.

Historic Background

In Vermeer’s era, paintings were considered to be craftsmanship instead of art. Vermeer, a Dutch master painter at his peak, dedicated his life to developing his craft. By 1665, when the Girl with a Pearl Earring was created, Vermeer had begun to depict women, demonstrating a deep interest in their socio-cultural roles. The subject in this painting is believed to be Vermeer’s daughter, Maria.

Self-Portrait of Johannes Vermeer

Subject of The Painting

The Painting was basically crafted with oil Painting on canvas and is categorized in Dutch Realism Movement arts. Although many art critics contend that the Girl with a Pearl Earring is a portrait, the prevailing argument is that it is a tronie, which is a study of the facial expressions of a living model. The composition of Girl with a Pearl Earring is delightfully simple. Unlike most of the other paintings by the Delft master, the subject here is only a simple head of a girl looking over her shoulder at the viewer. In Girl With a Pearl Earring, the young female model appears to be startled by something, while glancing taciturnly over her shoulder.No hint of a setting is provided, other than its atmospherically dark tone. This too is unusual for the mature Vermeer. The unusually direct contact between subject and spectator, and the slightly parted position of the lips, presents a sense of immediacy so great as to imply significant intimacy. The girl is wearing a simple brownish-yellow top, which contrasts strongly with her bright white collar. A further contrast is offered by her blue and yellow or turban (or chaperon) which gives the picture a distinctly exotic effect. During Vermeer’s time, the turban was a popular prop for tronies because of its deep folds and robust shades, which allowed artists to show off their skills and abilities.

Discussing the Painting: The uniqueness

Utilizing the technique of under-painting, or a monochromatic ground, Vermeer made the Girl with a Pearl Earring seem to lift from the canvas. Through careful use of his palette, he created the deep, rich tones of the girl’s headdress and gown. Then, to give her skin a glowing appearance, he used pigments to create light and shadow effect that contrasted the background. The Pearl Earring, status symbol of the period , worn by the subject, composed by only two brush strokes. The two whites, one on each corner of her mouth, helped to enliven the subject’s pensive smile.

Scarlett Johansson in Girl With a Pearl Earring movie (2003)

The Painter’s Touch: The Cinematic Adoption

Although now a highly regarded artist, Vermeer was not well known outside of his native city of Delft during his lifetime or in the decades after. Historians credit the 19th-century French critic Étienne-Joseph-Théophile-Thoré (under the pseudonym of William Bürger) for reassessing the artist’s work, which eventually led to Vermeer’s distinguished reputation. Even so, Girl with a Pearl Earring became one of Vermeer’s more famous pieces only around the turn of the 21st century, with the 1995 blockbuster exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, Washington,D.C. and the publication of the best-selling novel Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier in 1999. The book fashioned the painting’s subject into a housemaid named Griet who works in Vermeer’s home and becomes his paint mixer. It was adapted into an Oscar nominated movie in 2003 starring Scarlett Johansson as the fictional Griet and Colin Firth as Vermeer.

Scarlett Johansson as Griet and Colin Firth as Vermeer in Girl With a Pearl Earring movie (2003)

Where at Present Day

Mauritshuis, Den Haag, Netherlands

As the buildings of Mauritshuis Museum ,Hague underwent renovation in 2012, Girl with the Pearl Earring travelled to Japan, Italy, and the United States. It drew crowds in each location, attesting to its now firm place in audience regard. When Girl returned to the Netherlands in 2014, the Mauritshuis announced it would no longer lend out the painting, assuring visitors that the museum’s main attraction would always be in its home.

Princess Kate Middleton of England came face-to-face with one of the best-loved paintings in the world — “Girl with a Pearl Earring” — during a visit to the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague.
 

Conclusion

Humans have always adored paintings as one of the highest form of visual arts, and few of such arts can truly surpasses the inertness of still lives and remains immortal forever. The Girl With a Pearl Earring, poses the appeal of simplicity to rethink of life and consider the fact that beauty of life can also be found in the simplest joys around us.

FATHER OF OUR CONSTIUTION- DR. B.R AMBEDHKAR

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was brought into the world on 14 April 1891,also known as Babasaheb , was an Indian legal scholar, market analyst, legislator and social reformer, who propelled the Dalit Buddhist development and crusaded against social segregation towards the untouchables. He was British India’s Minister of Labor in Viceroy’s Executive Council, Chairman of the Constituent Drafting board, free India’s first Minister of Law and Justice, and thought about the main engineer of the Constitution of India.

Ambedkar Jayanti: Some interesting facts about the architect of Indian Constitution, Babasaheb Ambedkar

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar showed all Indians Equality and Fraternity through the drafting of the Constitution of India, the prelude of which expresses that all Indians are equivalent according to the law and that all Indians are a tremendous family through the possibility of Fraternity.

He encouraged individuals to battle for what is correct. He advanced changes that inspired the most minimal of the projects, the Dalits. He coordinated a few developments like Anti-standing development, Dalit Buddhist development, and so forth.

Bhimrao Ambedkar Quotes: Dr. BR Ambedkar Inspirational Quotes, Speech, Famous Thoughts on Death Anniversary

In the wake of turning into the primary Law Minister of the nation, and through the drafting of the Constitution of India, he changed the future by attempting to allow everybody an equivalent opportunity. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar held the good post of head at the Government Law College in Mumbai for a very long time. He was additionally the main Indian to have a Doctorate in Economics abroad. Following his model, many individuals left Hinduism for Buddhism since Buddhism doesn’t partition individuals into projects. He was the representative for all oppressed and neediness stricken lower projects like the Dalits.

Because of his enthusiasm in the Dalits’ upliftment, he established separate held seats for individuals of lower projects, which was pointlessly gone against by Gandhiji. He was against section 370 of the Indian Constitution, giving select rights to the province of Jammu and Kashmir. Segment 370 has been abolishes an year ago. It shows how exact and ground breaking his arrangements were. He was offered with Bharat Ratna in 1990 for this excellent work in Indian Reforms.

His works and thoughts keep on impacting the mass of individuals. His ground breaking and goals are as yet appropriate today. Many admire him as a good example, as do I. He is really a diamond to our country.

RESOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._R._Ambedkar

ARUNIMA SINHA

Arunima Sinha was born on 20 July 1989 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. She is the World’s first female amputee to scale Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Mount Elbrus (Russia), Mount Kosciusko (Australia), Mount Aconcagua (South America), Carstensz Pyramid (Indonesia) and Mount Vinson, she is additionally seven time Indian volleyball player.

EARLY LIFE AND TRAIN ACCIDENT

Arunima preferred football and furthermore was a public volleyball player. She needed to join paramilitary powers. Be that as it may, when she was going to Delhi in a train a few burglars entered in train mentor to take her pack and gold chain. She had a go at opposing yet they pushed her out of the train and fell on the track. She attempted to get up yet couldn’t and afterward the train run over her leg.

She was raced to the clinic with genuine leg and pelvic wounds and lost her leg after specialists removed it to save her life.

She was offered remuneration of ₹25,000 (US$350) by the Indian Sports Ministry. Following public shock, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken declared an extra ₹200,000 (US$2,800) remuneration as clinical help, along with a suggestion for a task in the CISF. The Indian Railways additionally extended to her an employment opportunity.

On 18 April 2011, she was brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for additional therapy, going through four months at the Institute. She was given a prosthetic leg liberated from cost by a private Delhi-based Indian organization.

MOUNT EVEREST ASCENT

While as yet being treated in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, she set out to climb Mount Everest. She was propelled by cricketer Yuvraj Singh (who had effectively struggled malignant growth) and other TV programs, “to accomplish something” with her life. She dominated in the essential mountaineering course from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, and was urged by her mom to ascend Everest. She climbed Mount Everest with a prosthetic leg, which was orchestrated by raising assets with the assistance of a master of Ramakrishna Mission, Vadodara.

She reached Bachendri Pal. When she met Pal and Arunima disclosed to her story to her, Bachendri Pal said to Arunima “My youngster You chose to climb Mount Everest in these circumstances with Prosthetic (Artificial) leg. You had climbed, accomplished Mount Everest my youngster now the date is staying to the World to know”.

Furthermore, after that Arunima join essential mountaineering course from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and TATA Steel Adventure (TSAF) in Uttarkashi (India) and she was energized or roused by her senior sibling Omprakash to ascend Mount Everest.

Sinha climbed Island Peak (6150 meters) in 2012 as groundwork for her rising of Everest.

Sinha and Susan Mahout, a USAF educator, who had together climbed Mount Chaser Sangria (6,622 meters or 21,726 feet) in 2012 under the direction of Hendrick Pal began their rising of Mount Everest.

After a hard work of 17 hours, Sinha arrived at the highest point of Mount Everest at 10:55 am on 21 May 2013, as a component of the Tata Group-supported Eco Everest Expedition,becoming the primary female amputee to scale Everest. She required 52 days to arrive at the highest point. She composed a little message saying thanks to the Almighty on an enveloped fabric and squeezed it by the snow. Relating the occurrence, she said:

It was my recognition for Shankara Bhagawan, and Swami Vivekananda who has been a motivation for the duration of my life.

The Chief clergyman said that Sinha had made history, because of her persistent effort and assurance, by climbing Mount Everest. She was complimented by the Indian Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on her accomplishment.

Arunima Sinha is presently devoted towards social government assistance and needs to open a free games foundation for poor people and distinctively abled individuals. She is giving every one of the monetary guides she is overcoming grants and courses for a similar reason. The foundation would be named Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Vikalang Khel Academy.

She composed the 2014 book Born Again on The Mountain.

She is a motivation to every one of the ladies and individuals with handicap. She demonstrated that one requires difficult work and energy to achieve objective. She has a solid resolve which caused her to achieve her objective even get-togethers around her pity her. She genuinely demonstrated that “the sky is the limit”.

Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is often treated as god of investors. He is one of the most successful investors in the world. Warren Buffett is a American business magnate, and a investor. As of now April, 2020 his net worth is $100.6 Billion making him world’s seventh wealthiest person in the world. Currently, he is the CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. In this blog, we are going to see the success story of Warren Buffett.

Early life

Warren Edward Buffett was born on August 30, 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska. He is the second oldest child to his father Howard, a stock broker and his mother Leila. He has two sisters. At a very young age he developed a interest in business and stock market. While other children of his age were playing, he was making money. At eleven years old, he purchased three shares of Cities Service at $38 per each. Soon after buying it, it price fell down to $27. Then after, he waited for the stock to made $40 and sold it. He said that it was a mistake because the stock went unto $200. This taught him the principles of investing.

Education

He began his career at Rose Hill elementary school. In 1942, he finished his elementary school and joined Deal junior high school. In 1947, when he was 17 years old, he graduated from Woodrow Wilson high school. After that, he got admitted into Wharton school of the University of Pennsylvania, after two years he transferred to University of Nebraska, complaining that he known better than his professors. Then he graduated from University of Nebraska with Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. Then, he applied to Harvard business school and was rejected because he was too young. Then he admitted to Columbia Business school of University of Columbia. In 1951, he graduated with Master of Science degree in economics.

Investment career

In 1947, when he was 17 years old, he started a company Wilson coin operated machines with his friend Donald. The business was to buy a pinball machine at $25. The business makes $50 per week for Buffett and Donald. After a year they sold it for $1200. From 1951 to 1954, he worked as a investment salesman for Buffet-Falk. In 1954, Buffett got a job at Benjamin Graham’s partnership and his starting salary was $12,000 per year(around $116,000 today). In 1956 Benjamin Graham retired and closed his partnership. At that time Buffett’s saving reached to $176,000(around $1.66 million today). Then he started Buffett Partnership Limited. By 1960, He operated six partnership. In 1962, he became a millionaire because of his partnership of total 7,178,500 in which 1,025,000 belongs to him. In 1965, he started purchasing the stock of Berkshire Hathaway. By 1967, Buffett Partnership owns 59.5 shares of Berkshire Hathaway. By May 1990, he had became a Billionaire when Berkshire Hathaway started selling there shares of class A. Apart of Berkshire Hathaway, he had also have shares in Apple, Bank of America, Coco cola, American Express, and etc.

Additional Information

Being a Billionaire, he still lives in the same house, which he bought in 1957 for $31,500. In 2006, He announced that he will donate majority of his wealth to Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. In 2010, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates started giving pledge campaign to encourage extremely wealthy people to contribute majority of wealth for philanthropic causes. In that, Buffett donated 99 percent of wealth to philanthropic causes.

Subhash Chandra Bose-an unsung hero

Subhash Chandra Bose was a great Indian nationalist. People even today know him by love for his country. This true Indian man was born on the 23rd of January in 1897. Most noteworthy, he fought with bravery against the British rule. Subhash Chandra Bose was certainly a revolutionary freedom fighter.

Contribution of Subhash Chandra Bose in the Indian Independence

The participation of Subhash Chandra Bose took place with the Civil Disobedience Movement. This is how Subhash Chandra Bose became part of the Indian Independence movement. He became a member of the Indian National Congress (INC). Also, in 1939 he became the party president. However, this was for a short time only because of his resignation from this post.

The British put Subhash Chandra Bose under house arrest. This was because of his opposition to British rule. However, due to his cleverness, he secretly left the country in 1941. He then went to Europe to seek help against the British. Most noteworthy, he sought the help of Russians and Germans against the British.

Subhash Chandra Bose went to Japan in 1943. This was because the Japanese gave their agreement to his appeal for help. In Japan Subhash Chandra Bose began the formation of the Indian National Army. Most noteworthy, he did the formation of a provisional government. The axis powers during the Second World War certainly recognized this provisional government.

The Indian National Army attacked the North-eastern parts of India. Furthermore, this attack took place under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose. Also, the INA was successful in capturing a few portions. Unfortunately, there was the surrender of INA due to weather and Japanese policies. However, Bose made his Refusal to surrender clear. He escaped on a plane but this plane most probably crashed. Due to this, Subhash Chandra Bose died on 18 August 1945.

Ideology of Subhash Chandra Bose

First of all, Subhash Chandra Bose strongly supported the complete independence of India. In contrast, the Congress Committee initially wanted independence in phases, through Dominion status. Furthermore, Bose was elected president of Congress for two consecutive terms. But due to his ideological conflicts with Gandhi and Congress, Bose took resignation. Bose was against Mahatma Gandhi’s approach of non-violence. Subhash Chandra Bose was a supporter of violent resistance.

Subhash Chandra Bose saw 2nd World War as a great opportunity. He saw this as an opportunity to take advantage of British weakness. Also, he went to USSR, Germany, and Japan to seek help. He led the INA to the fight against the British.
Subhash Chandra Bose was a strong believer in Bhagwat Gita. It was his belief that Bhagwat Gita was a great source of inspiration for the fight against the British. He also held Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in high-esteem.

In conclusion, Subhash Chandra Bose is an unforgettable national hero. He had tremendous love for his country. Furthermore, this great personality sacrificed his whole life for the country.

Neerja-the fearless and eternal girl!

Inside a Hijack: The Story Of Neerja Bhanot
Neerja Bhanot

Neerja Bhanot, the braveheart flight attendant was never one to run away from a crisis

Flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, an ardent Rajesh Khanna fan, often found herself dreaming up scenarios in which she played a role. For one such hypothetical situation, she asked her mother to suggest a plan of action in case of a hijack.

Her mother told her, “Agar aisa kuch hua toh bhaag jaana (If something like this ever happens, escape).”

To which a confident Neerja replied, “Mummy, tumhari jaisi maa hongi toh desh ka kya hoga? Mar jayungi lekin bhagungi nahin” (If all mothers think like you, then what will happen to the country? I’d rather die than run away).”

Those words came true on 5 September 1986 when Bhanot died while saving passengers on Pan Am Flight 73, which had been hijacked during a stopover in Karachi.

But, the ‘Heroine of the Hijack’ had seen her share of troubles already.

Born to Harish and Rama Bhanot on 7 September 1963 in Chandigarh, she was the darling of her family, which included two brothers, all of whom called her their ‘lado’. She studied in Chandigarh and later in Mumbai, which was where she became a model, endorsing brands like Binaca toothpaste, Forhans and Godrej. 

At the age of 19, she was married to a marine engineer and moved to Sharjah, UAE. After two months of abuse, including starvation, verbal taunts and threats, Bhanot left her husband, returned to Mumbai and decided to become a flight attendant. 

Bhanot was appointed the senior flight purser on Pan Am Flight 73 flying from Mumbai to the United States on that fateful September day. 

During its stopover in Karachi, four armed Palestinian men belonging to the Abu Nidal Organisation hijacked the aircraft, which was carrying around 380 passengers and 13 crew members. Bhanot quickly alerted the cockpit crew by using the hijack code, which allowed the American pilots to escape and thus, ground the plane.

The enraged hijackers ordered her to collect the passengers’ passports. Sensing that the hijacker’s key targets were Americans, Bhanot and her crew hid those passports under the seats and in the trash chute.

Her calming presence also, it is said, kept the passengers’ and crew members’ anxieties in control for 17 hours as she served sandwiches and beverages and tried to boost their morale, even as the terrorists killed a passenger and threw him out of the plane.

When the hijackers eventually decided they had had enough and opened fire, Bhanot worked fast to evacuate as many passengers as she could via the emergency exit. She was shot dead as she shielded three American children from the terrorists.

Out of the 44 Americans on board, 42 were saved owing to Bhanot’s presence of mind. The survivors of the attack conferred the monicker ‘Heroine of the Hijack’ upon her.

Bhanot’s legacy

Bhanot’s calm courage and quick instincts led to a slew of posthumous awards, including the Ashoka Chakra — India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. She was the first woman and youngest recipient of the award. Her citation states: “Her loyalties to the passengers of the aircraft in distress will forever be a lasting tribute to the finest qualities of the human spirit.”

Her story continues to inspire young women, and in order to commemorate her courage, Bhanot’s family used the funds from Pan Am to set up the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust. The trust recognises Indian women who overcome social injustice and airline crew members who go beyond the call of duty in a crisis.

Among other honours, Bhanot was conferred with the Tamgha-e-Insaniyat award by Pakistan, and in 2004, the Indian Postal Service released a stamp in her memory.  

In 2016, Ram Madhvani directed a biopic starring Sonam Kapoor as Neerja. The biopic is a stylised thriller with a few lovely glimpses into Bhanot’s personal life, especially her relationship with her mother (played by Shabana Azmi). The film, too, won a number of awards, including the National Award for the Best Feature Film in Hindi.

reference-https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35800683