THARU DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: August 2015

Sunday, August 30, 2015

MAHAJAN BROTHERS' "PEDAL-TO- SUCCESS" IN WORLD'S TOUGHEST CYCLE RACE

MAHAJAN BROTHERS' "PEDAL-TO- SUCCESS"

IN WORLD'S TOUGHEST CYCLE RACE

Many big achievements are being accomplished, many great records are being made, many great heights are being scaled but most of them do not hit the headlines for one reason or the other.

Negative stories are being highlighted for getting TRP but inspiring stories remain low-lighted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in "Man Ki Baat" talked about Mahajan brothers and their incredible achievement in America for a noble mission.

Image result for mahajan brothers cycle race

Courtesy:newsnation.in

Two brothers from Nashik, both doctors Hitendra (44) & Mahendra(39) have the distinction of completing 4800km Race Across America(RAAM)) which is considered to be world's toughest cycle race.

Courtesy:the hindu.com

Braving extreme heat, storm and rain, the Mahajan brothers pedalled their way to success after crossing the finish line at Annapolis, Maryland on the Atlantic Coast. They took 8 days, 14 hours and 55 minutes after being flagged off from Oceanside, California on the US West Coast.

Courtesy:ibnlive.com

RAAM is a multi-day event where the participants have to cycle continuously for hours together which tests them physically & mentally unlike the Tour de France which is a stage race.

Courtesy:livestream..

It is the cruelest race where all the hostilities conspire to test one's stamina. This has really been a proud moment for Indian cycling because after four attempts our tricolour fluttered across the finish line.

Courtesy:firstpost.com

Mahajan brothers' "Team India: Vision for Tribals" is riding for the charity Kalpataru Foundation. Every 100 km of cycling will result in 5 cataract surgeries and 1 corneal transplant. Cumulatively the ride will help 240 cataract surgeries and 48 free corneal transplants for the tribals.

RAAM is one of the most prestigious and toughest cycle races in the world. Started in 1982 with only four participants, it now attracts sports enthusiasts all around the world

Saturday, August 29, 2015

DO WE KNOW WHEN IS NATIONAL SPORTS DAY?

DO WE KNOW WHEN IS NATIONAL SPORTS DAY?

How many of us know when is National Sports Day? Perhaps hardly a few. There is need to make this day known to every house. There is need to make people specially youth aware of this day as sports is necessary not only for winning medals but for making our citizens healthy.

Courtesy:inspiria.edu.in

It will not be out of context to mention what Swami Vivekanand has once said about the importance of playing football:

"First of all, our young men must be strong. Religion will come afterwards. Be strong, my young friends; that is my advice to you. You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita. These are bold words; but I have to say them, for I love you. I know where the shoe pinches. I have gained a little experience. You will understand the Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger. You will understand the mighty genius and the mighty strength of Krishna better with a little of strong blood in you. You will understand the Upanishads better and the glory of the Atman when your body stands firm upon your feet, and you feel yourselves as men. Thus we have to apply these to our needs."

Many of us may be knowing when is the "Valentine Day", may be knowing when is the birthday of "the King of Pop" Michael Jackson. In a country where even the big leaders fail to recognize and differentiate between Chandrashekhar Azad & Bhagat Singh then what should we speak of common people. We are so much busy with cheap issues, petty politics & self interest that we fail to think about nation, nationality. This is really a matter of immense concern which will lead to the increasing of centrifugal forces thus driving the nation towards disintegration.

Courtesy:tnpsc.wordpress.com

August 29 is not only the birthday of the great Michael Jackson but also one of the greatest hockey players of India known as hockey wizard Dhyan Chand. The birth of the legendary hockey player is celebrated as National Sports Day. Dhyan Chand won gold medals for India in 1928, 1932 and 1936. The National Stadium in Delhi is named after him.

Major Dhyan Chand's birthday and the country's National Sports Day became extra special today as India's women's team booked only their second qualification ever for the Olympic Games.

"KOREAN WAVE" (HALLYU) OF "KOREAN POP" (K-POP)

"KOREAN WAVE" (HALLYU)

OF "KOREAN POP" (K-POP)

(All the images are subject to IPR)

A term now widely used to refer to the popularity of Korean entertainment and culture not only across Asia but even other parts of the world is Hallyu or the "Korean Wave".

Korean pop music, specially dance music, began to gain popularity among the Chinese teenagers. The 'Korean Wave' craze has expanded to Korean traditional culture, food, literature and language, creating more and more enthusiasts.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

One area that is growing more rapidly is 21st century K-Pop or Korean pop music. K-Pop spans dance-pop, pop ballads, techno, rock, hip-hop, R&B and so on. K-Pop has grown from a musical genre into a subculture among teenagers and young adults. The spread of K-Pop to other parts of the world is through the Korean Wave.

Image (C) Korean Culture Centre, Lajpat Nagar Delhi

The meteoric rise of K-Pop on the global stage is best represented by Psy's Gangnam Style. Gangnam Style has swept the world as soon as it was released in 2012.The YouTube video of the song has been watched by more people than any other.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The popularity of K-Pop singers is largely based on their excellent vocal abilities, dazzling stage presence and well-choreographed, impeccable dance performances among other things.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Korean Pop Concert is being organized in India also for the last four years. This year it is being held on 29th and 30th August. Incidentally 29th August is the birthday of "the King of Pop" Michael Jackson. Under "Feel Korea 2015" there will be K-Pop concert alongwith K-Pop Contest in which many groups of India will take part and these groups coming from different corners of the country will sing Korean Pop only.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Mr Kim Kum-pyoung, Director/Counsellor of Korean Cultural Centre India is very enthusiastic after observing massive response of last year's K-Pop in India and that is why he is organizing this event on a larger scale this year.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The worldwide popularity of K-Pop culture has also resulted in the re-emergence of Hallyu (Korean Wave) movie stars.

It would not be out of place to mention looking at the growing Indo-Korean cultural interaction & interest that Busan International Film Festival, one of the most significant Film Festivals in Asia will open with an Indian Film this year. This time this festival will begin from 1st October in Busan Korea with the screening of the Musical Drama Film "Zubaan". This will be the second time that the festival will open with an Indian film. For the first time in 2000, the festival began with the screening of Bangla Film "Wrestler" of Buddhadeb Dasgupta.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Quickly becoming a top Asian film festival after its launch in 1996, the Busan International Film Festival provides the Asian movie community to present, watch, discuss and trade new films, documentaries, commercials, and independent films, both digital and analogue.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

KOREANS - WARM WELCOME TO HOSPITABLE HOST

KOREANS

WARM WELCOME TO HOSPITABLE HOST

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image(C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

WINDOW TO EYE-CATCHING NATURAL PAINTINGS AT SUNSET IN SKY

WINDOW TO EYE-CATCHING NATURAL PAINTINGS

AT SUNSET IN SKY

"The world is always in perfect harmony, a photographer serves only as a recorder of that orchestra." Oh Chulman

So I cannot resist my temptation of capturing the orchestra of breathtakingly beautiful natural paintings created in the sky at sunset from the window of China Southern Airlines while on way to Delhi from Guangzhou China.

Actually I was returning from Anseong Korea after covering 2015 Asian Youth Football Festa & 2015 Asian Youth Football Development Conference. I took the flight from Incheon International Airport Korea via Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to New Delhi.

(All the images are subject to IPR)