The 21st century Holocaust

"Let us go out."

"I am tired."

You know you are a person surviving (read : just surviving) in this gigantic, difficult world when, atleast once in life, you've had a conversation like this. Raise your hand, YES DO. Raise it high. Let me observe as to how many of you genuinely try to reach out to your families and long distant friends? How many of you actually, like, for a change, end up meeting your grand mother on her birthday? Aha. Caught you.

We are not busy. We just propagate the notion of being extremely pressured and occupied. You work for 24 hours, are you kidding me? There are times when the organ that controls your intellect cannot take up the idiocy and fails to deliver mind-boggling results. That is when you are supposed to keep those electronic gadgets away, allow yourself the luxury of a cup of coffee and get charmed by the voice of your mother who longs to hear a single 'hello' from the other side!

Life is not to be blamed. The very meaning of 'living' has changed incredibly. The two strings of an earphone are enough for a brilliant yet temporal bliss. By the way, "humming tunes" is quite an extinct phrase now. Ain't it?

Whatsapp makes you the 'busy-bee', busy replying to like 10 people at a time and facebook is accountable for the 'oh-so-popular' tag you have just achieved. Why would you leave Instagram? That app would surely be the make up artist for all your #instaclicks and #instauploads ?

Writing on the colourful diary that your father presented must be so out of fashion because, phones have their in built note pads. Trying to get in touch with your friends from the landline number must be very strenous because the smartphone can handle the pressure of the vigorous typing of prolonged texts.

Sitting under the sun would just provide me with a tanned skin, no freshness as such. Roofs are just meant to take selfies with vibrancy and not to sit, relax and talk out loud.

Well. Phenomenon, may I call it so?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR :-

Srijani Roychowdhury is a Potter-head and a foodie, pursuing English honours from Lady Brabourne college, Kolkata. Her other interests lie in music, dance and abstract art.


P.S :- PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO SHARE IF YOU LIKE OUR POSTS READERS. WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, CHEERS!

JOURNEY

Laughing , giggling cradling in the pram,

She peered through the eyes those spark .

Yet no words of joy were mentioned ,

Just a girl ---- that's why such apprehension ?


In Her little mind , She wished upon a little star 

In a land away far ,


To have a life like in a fairytale,

And there'll be nothing dark and pale.


No need of school , no need of books,

Why disburse on Her , who'll ultimately cook?


Stories of bride, customs those blind ,

''Freedom'' , She chanted in Her mind.


How Her deepest expressions were hidden so well,

From the wicked gape of unenlightenment .

On Her wedding night, leaving all behind

Realising her responsibility -- She bore the stories of plight .


Slowly She encountered the life of a wife ,

Presenting sheer happiness through another life .

Wiping away Her tears ,invisible as air ,

She learnt to live and give in to life ,so unfair .


"For the good of my family", She mourned 

And with the passing years it helped Her soul to grow.


She has built herself as strong as her heart

Which beats with a feel of empowerment , setting Her apart.


Perceiving the many flavours of life ,

She has grown immune to the precarious strifes .

Bringing up Her inside warrior, day by day 

No longer She agrees to be anyone's prey.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes ,

 She has risen from a life , heaped on with trashes .

With a fading beauty and a stretch of wrinkles ,

She tells many a tale with Her eyes, those still Sparkle.

The many difficult paths She has followed ,

Which were way more difficult for others to swallow.


It's time for Her to embark on a new path,

It's for sure, with emanating inner beauty She wins over the wraths .

The Empowered Woman , now walks in search of Her heavenly abode,

Where she'll live 'Her Life' of creation , without a twinge of hesitation .


ABOUT THE AUTHOR :- 

 Shreya Basak, first year student pursuing Journalism and Mass communication in Shri Shikshayatan College . Dance is her passion and life is a stage to her 

The Blues take on The Reds

2004 marked a great year in the history of Premier League, not just because of Arsenal's golden unbeaten run, but also because of the appointment of Jose Mourinho as next to the throne of newly powerful Premier League side, Chelsea. Not only did the manager secure two back to back but formed a competitive but respectful rivalry with his contemporary Sir Alex Ferguson ( the then manager of Manchester United).

Years have passed since then. Manchester United and Chelsea have been the indisputable forerunners of English football. Immensely successful in both European and domestic competitions, these two clubs and especially their fanbases grew what we now call one of those modern-animosities in club football. Extremely fierce, passionate and attractive, the Reds and the Blues go head to head in a couple of hours at Old Trafford.

The Chelsea duo Fabregas and Costa will be missing their trip to Manchester

A dismal start from the last years champions, this season has been nothing short of a nightmare for Chelsea. Losing to Bournemouth, Leicester city, Southampton was too much to digest for the footballing nation. So much so that it actually led to the sacking of the most successful manager in their club history, Jose Mourinho. It's too early to say that Guus Hiddink ( the interim manager ) has turned things around, but it has been an improvement from the former lacklustre Blues. Diego Costa's brace came as a  much needed respite in last matches 2-2 draw against modest Watford.

Is he the next person poised for United's managerial positon? Only time will tell

Manchester United on the other hand are in a similar tumultuous position. With the fans questioning veteran Louis Van Gaal's reign and a lot of rumours about Mourinho being appointed as his successor if he gets sacked, things have never been tougher for the Red Devils. Without a win in their last 5 premier league games and an unprecedented exit from the Champion League, the fans and the authorities are desperate to turn things around for the 20-time league champions. They come into this match after an embarassing defeat at the hands of low lying Stoke City.

With 8 goals, Juan Mata has been United's top scorer this season

So the stakes are high and the pressure is on, it's a must needed win for the men in red and a desperation to keep the momentum going for the men from London. 

Louis Van Gaal

Mistakes shall be very very costly!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR :- 

A movie aficionado and a football fanatic ,Anubhav Chakraborty is pursuing his graduation in English from Maharaja Manindrachandra college.The Founder and Editor of ExPRESS magazine, Anubhav is also an avid traveler and a Social activist. 



P.S :- We can't survive without you readers, please share the articles if you like it, thanks for your time. Cheers!

Star Wars :- The Story

                         

                               "May the force be with you"

Know it or not, that is one sentence almost everyone on this planet has heard at least once in their lives. Star Wars. That's where it came from from. In 1977, George Lucas (before he turned to the dark side) gave birth to his vision, aka, the motion picture - Star Wars. Now known as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, this film changed the face of cinema in the blink of an eye. Set a long time ago in a galaxy far far away, the Star Wars Saga has become a global phenomenon. Lucas initially had ideas for 4 trilogies, but he worked on one of them, and that became the Original Trilogy consisting of Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Spanning from 1977-1983, this trilogy changed the way people looked at special effects. Lucas changed the impossible into a world of wonders, and gave us some of the MOST iconic characters ever created, namely -  Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, R2D2, C3PO, Princess Leia. 

STAR WARS IV

One film that stands out in the trilogy is Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. The perfect sequel! The best Star Wars till date. One of the GREATEST films ever made (and in my top 10), this second installment of the Original Trilogy is everything one could ask for. Lawrence Kasdan and Lucas did a tremendous job with this one. And the big reveal - *SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T WATCHED IT*

                   "Search your feelings, Luke. You know it to be true. I am your father."

HARRISON FORD AS HANS SOLO

Hands down. 

Leaving the Original Trilogy's territory, 16 years after the release of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, began the Prequel Trilogy. Some hate it, some abhor it, some really like it, and some like it. I come in the latter. In 1999, the Prequel Trilogy began its journey with Episode I: The Phantom Menace. To most, the film is the single most terrible Star Wars ever, maybe with an exception of the Holiday Special. Telling us the story of how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader, the trilogy proved to us that Lucas is not a very good screenwriter.

THE LEGENDARY DARTH VADER

 The next installment, Episode II: Attack of the Clones was an improvement over The Phantom Menace for some people but not for me. Attack of the Clones is my least favourite Star Wars. Then comes its conclusion, and the one I really like - Episode III: Revenge of Sith. This is the Prequel Trilogy's best outing, and certainly a very good movie.

Remember how Lucas had ideas for 4 trilogies? Over the years, he said he has ideas for only 3. But we never saw it come to reality, until Disney bought Lucasfilm. And now, with JJ Abrams in the director's chair, co-writing with Lawrence Kasdan, we have STAR WARS EPSIODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS! The film is set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi and is also the first installment of the Sequel Trilogy. With John Williams returning to give the film's score, this couldn't be any better. Released worldwide on 18th December 2015, this cinematic spectacle is receiving rave reviews from audience and critics alike, with some calling it the best one since The Empire Strikes Back! Have'nt watched it yet? IT'S HIGH TIME YOU DO! 

                                         
                                            May the force be with you.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR :-

Aditya Vyas, from College of Medical Sciences, Nepal, is a big movie buff, a comic fan and a TV-series follower. This Tech-addict is also a columnist for ExPRESS MAGAZINE. Some of his other articles being :- 

http://express5515.blogspot.in/2015/12/2016-oh-you-enchantress.html


P.S :- DON'T FORGET TO SHARE THE ARTICLES IF YOU LIKE IT, WE CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT YOU READERS, THANK YOU! CHEERS! 

Love And its Asymmetrics

"What you should look out for in a healthy relationship":

1) Trust, cooperation and lack of self-doubt.

2) Comfort with intimacy and dependence.

3) Accepting the partner as a fallible human being with his/her own set of strengths and weaknesses.

4) Friendship and mutual exchange of ideas and feelings.

5) Lack of anxiety about relationship.

6) Scaling down unrealistic expectations from the partner.

7) Lastly, be confident of and proud of who you are.
Unless you are in terms with yourself, you can never contribute heartily to a relationship. Few tips kept in mind and you are all set for a healthy (if not a kickass) start to a lasting and fulfilling relationship.



Love!! Well, the mere mention of the word calls forth a burst of positive energy, a plethora of crushes and heartbreaks woven into sweet memories…that girl with the sweetest smile..the childhood heartthrob with rosy, plump cheeks….the homely coziness exuded by the boy next door….even the moon making love with the star-studded sky for that matter…a feeling of freshness overwhelms you..all-pervasive warmth grips you tight as a smile lightens up your face…a smile which shots straight from the heart. No doubt Robert Burn’s outpourings are justified when he rides high on the wings of ecstasy and is proud to declare:”O my luve’s like a red,red rose./That’s newly sprung in June;/O my luve’s like a melodie/That’s sweetly played in tune.”

When I asked my fifteen-year old brother “What’s Love?” the changes in his facial expressions were way too prominent to escape my eye for detail.Nonetheless, he tried to keep it short and terse, and shot back almost instantaneously, “It’s complicated.”When I probed for more, he opened up a bit further and disclosed, “Sharing and Caring.”And the silent exchange of gazes, the wordless conversation which followed told him that I had got what I wanted as an answer.

You see, love being an emotion, has an impermeable aura of subjectivity around it and I would never dare intrude into that, waxing eloquently about what is love and how it is felt and expressed. It would be a rather foolish endeavour on my behalf, because, then, I would pass for a trespasser into your privacy, whom you would be ever ready to prosecute. My sole purpose of writing this article therefore, is to help you, in my own little way, to understand love better so that your satisfaction from a romantic relationship is maximized. Understanding when and how love happens, is a question which intrigues psychologists till date as:

”Love seeketh not Itself to please; /Nor for itself hath any care; /But for another gives its ease, /And builds a Heaven in Hell’s despair.”[The Clod and the Pebble,William Blake]

Is it the spirit of self-sacrifice, the urge to do something good for others or sheer lust and raw eros which causes us to shed our egoistical self and give in?Well, nobody knows what it is. Do shame, guilt and inhibition go down the drain when we are in love? I raise this question because there are many confused souls, racking their brains out there, thinking whether losing their virginity was the “Forbidden Fruit” of their life. Sex is certainly as much a part of love as affection and compassion and Donne makes its crystal clear when he celebrates his mistress’ body, bubbling with sensual energy and giving way to occasional fits of passion:

”Licence my roving hands, and let them go,/Before, behind, between, above and below.”[To his Mistress Going To Bed]

The eroticism in Rich’s “The Floating Poem: Unnumbered” takes a bolder turn, churning out a rhythmic collision between two bodies as it were: " Whatever happens with us, your body/will haunt mine-tender, delicate/your lovemaking…. /the live, insatiate dance of your nipples in my mouth….” Pablo Neruda pours in more graphic detail to his erotic love in his sonnet xx( the two xx’s are suggestive enough for someone acquainted with smiley and emoticons and adding another x would have completely sealed the deal):”Ugly: where did you hide your breasts?/They’re meager, two little coops of wheat./I’d much rather see two moons across your chests,/two huge proud towers.”

With poets so divided in their opinions about love, almost bordering on platonic and physical extremes, the compassion-passion conflict is raging in the minds of psychologists with no less intensity. Compassionate love is characterized by mutual respect, affection, attachment and trust, while passionate love is characterized by heightened emotions, sexual attraction and vulnerability coupled with anxiety. To what extent love should be sexual or compassionate is a question best left open to subjective interpretation. Being a student of psychology, I would suggest that a healthy balance between the two is the “spark/chemistry” that works in a relationship.

Not intending to strain my readers with loads of psychological jargon, I would deliberately cut short on the theoretical part of love. But Robert Sternberg’s theory stands indispensable in this regard because it identifies the three major components of love: intimacy, passion and commitment and mixed together in the right proportion, it can ignite the most consummate love affair you can ever dream of. I would dedicate extracts of poems to each of the three concepts so that you can develop a holistic understanding of what I am hinting at.

Intimacy-“And to the leading Love-throb in the Heart, /Thro’ all my Being, thro’ my pulse’s beat; /You lie in all my many Thoughts…” reinforcing the equation:”You +Me =Us”.

Passion-“And looking to the Heaven that bends above you, /How oft! I bless the Lot that made me love you.” which is primarily concerned with aesthetics and appreciation coupled with carnal fantasies.

Commitment-Being rooted to the lover, working for the relationship by setting common goals, which gets intertwined with role expectancies and provides the soil on which the relationship flourishes.”Till a’ the seas gang dry, my Dear,/And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:/I will luve thee still, my Dear, While the sands o’ life shall run.”

These components coexist harmoniously to ignite a sense of fulfillment and purpose, without which any romantic relationship is rendered futile. Due to the spatial constraints set by the editor, many areas under this topic were left unexplored, but if you request the editor for a full-fledged column on this we can all celebrate the day to day nuances of life under one roof and enlighten each other so that we all are well-equipped to deal with life situations more effectively. What say?



ABOUT THE AUTHOR :-

A FASHION FANATIC BY HEART, ARITRA CHATTERJEE IS PURSUING HIS BACHELORS IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM ASUTOSH COLLEGE, KOLKATA. THE PART TIME PAINTER AND GRAPHOLOGIST IS ONE OF THE CHIEF COLUMNISTS FOR ExPRESS MAGAZINE. SOME OF HIS OTHER ARTICLES ARE AS FOLLOWS :- 


http://express5515.blogspot.in/2015/11/wings-of-change.html

http://express5515.blogspot.in/2015/12/bibi-prodigy.html

http://express5515.blogspot.in/2015/12/from-gasket-of-goli-memories-aritra.html

Rajmohan's wife

In the busy humdrum of day to day living, do we end up losing ourselves in life's labyrinth? Or do we unknowingly, ( notwithstanding our choices ), gravitate towards a pre ordained conclusion? How much of life is ruled by fate and how much can we succeed in forging our own destiny? 

Rajmohan's wife abounds in all of these and more. 

On a foggy December evening, I found her in one of the bookshelves in BCL; hard pressed and jostled amidst the overpowering presence of works of Elizabethan bards. Like a fish out of water she gasped for space and I picked her up. "First Indian novel in English", ( the first work of the author in English literature) the book cover read. The thin ribbed book, wrapped in scraps of antique cover, and with yellow, dog-eared pages offered a rather bland first impression...

But appearances can be deceptive and one should never judge a book by its cover !

The novel was serialized in 1864, in the weekly serial edited by Kishori Chandra Mitra
A moving narrative of the life of a women trapped in the mud-bricked domestic, confines of 19th century patriarchal society, Matangini dwindles in the cross currents of deliverance from her marital bondage and the responsibilities that life has pinned her down with.

The Legend

Bruised with blows from invoking the wrath of her husband-Rajmohan, Matangini, lying in a pool of tears ruminates about her life; how the sails of destiny blew her up to this foreign shore, married to a man she hardly knew. The colourful memories of the salad days of her life spent with her sister Hemangini clouded her mind, when suddenly outside the little window in her room she hears voices- one uncannily familiar! What does the voices outside her window reveal? Or so eavesdropping, is she able to foil a cataclysmic endeavour without compromising her husband's modesty?

The sudden employment of archaic language just to convey romance and the abrupt ending makes it  somewhat stilted. However the book is unique for its portrayal of women in the olden days and the strong, resilient character of the heroine who fights against the caprices of the society and who's undaunted spirit manifests itself in the challenges she throws at her captor:

"Look; I am a full grown woman and atleast your equal in brute force. Will you call in allies?"

Bankimchandra's vivid descriptions of the routine of Bengali household provides a revealing portrait of life in 19th century. Rajmohan's wife continues to be relevant for its universal themes of love and romance and resonates even today for its portrayal of strong women"


The book jacket sums up its entirety in a nutshell: " The beautiful and passionate Matangini, married to a villainous man and in love with her sister's husband, represents the vitality of women who remain strong in the face of brutality and the confining expectations of middle class society."


                    Happy Reading. :)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR :- 

A staunch bibliophile, a travel-head and an occasional painter, Ahona Das is pursuing her graduation in English
from Presidency University, Kolkata. The columnist for ExPRESS Magazine is very interested in photography as well.

HIS LAST WORDS

 He was playing. His Ammi was busy preparing the dinner. His Abbu was reading a book. They were engrossed, they were happy; they were momentarily freed from the rapacious clutch of terror which could engulf them any day, any minute, any second. But, They were happy. They were not the family who left. They stayed….counting days, minutes, and moments. Every night his Ammi and Abbu exchanged words “Aaj bach gaye, kal shaayad ( We are saved today, Maybe tomorrow)……”. He observed his abbu’s worried but calm expression. He understood something. He did not contemplate. He slept. He dreamt. That night, they lived.

                                                 “Kal shaayad ( Maybe tomorrow) "...



There was a knock at the door.Abbu and Ammi exchanged looks. Abbu opened the door. Two men, armed, veiled--their faces covered in black cloth; appeared.  “Accompany us!”, their cold, ruthless voice roared. They did. They had to.



                      “Yeh hamein kahan le jaa rahein hain, Ammi?”
                        “Pata nahin beta. Hamein kuch nahin hoga.”

                                                         Hope.

They were taken to a camp. People around looked scary. Tall bullies with heavy dark instruments in their hands. He didn't know what they stood for. He kept quiet. He just followed.

Three of them were locked up . They were brutally beaten up; their body parts were sliced off.

His Ammi, shrieked while a  few men groped her, tortured her, shred her clothes and... 

His Abbu, half-dead.

 And he—just observed. After nothing other than life was left in them, they were shot. The lifeless body of his parents lay on the floor. He watched. He shivered. His hands were tied.


                                His lips were burnt.

                            His tears were dry.

                            His limbs were broken.

                              He was bleeding.

                              
Before the last ray of life extinguished, he only said, “I shall complain to God."

                                                         

About the author :- 

Shayantani Kundu is a high school student from Hem Sheela Model school, Durgapur. She's a travel-head, and a bibliophile who wants to become a journalist.

HELLO, HELLO, HELLO, HOW LOW?

The title sounds familiar? If yes, this article is for you, Nirvana lover, if not, then there’s no better way to know about them, take a look.

BAND THIS WEEK – Nirvana

GENRE -  Alternative rock

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who joined the band in 1990.there were at least five different drummers in the band before Dave Grohl. Despite releasing only three full-length studio albums in their seven-year career, Nirvana has come to be regarded as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the modern era. With chartbusters like Smells Like Teen Spirit and Come As You Are, Nirvana has been one of the all time classic rock favourites for us music lovers.

Kurt Cobain is remembered as one of the most iconic rock musicians in the history of alternative music (Happens to be one of the favourite rock musicians of the writer herself). Most of Nirvana’s songs feature themes of depression and bipolar syndromes.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 songs by Nirvana :-


10. Something in the way ( Nevermind, 1991) – 

This is the kind of song which brings tears to your eyes. Kurt’s soulful voice and the acoustic guitar touches our heart. As stated by Kurt, he wrote this about his life. His living under a bridge when he was kicked out of his house. He expresses his feelings and emotions by saying "something in the way" - he thought everything was in the way every time he tried to feel better. A live version of this song appears on the 1994 MTV Unplugged in New York album which happens to be equally popular and amazing.


9. About a Girl (Bleach, 1989) - 

Cobain penned the track for his then girlfriend, using some of their disagreements for inspiration. Though it wasn't a hit when included on 'Bleach’, 'About a Girl' got a second life when included on the band's 1994 'MTV Unplugged' collection, which happens to be better than the original version. The Guitar solo that starts from the middle of the song is what keeps this song in the 9th position.

8. Rape me (In Utero, 1993) - 

Kurt Cobain conceived "Rape Me" as a life-affirming anti-rape song. This song got a ‘Teen Spirit’ feeling but with a deeper message. A wonderful combination of outstanding melody, meaningful and deep lyrics and heavy guitar riffs that makes you feel something you can't even describe in simple words, Cobain wrote this from the perspective of a victim replying to a rapist. The title and composition of this song raised quite a few controversies but that could not stop this song from being a hit, thereby deserving a place in this list.



7. Aneurysm (From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, 1996) - 

A bombastic intro makes the song a winner even before it has actually started. Cobain wrote the lyrics to "Aneurysm" about his ex-girlfriend, musician Tobi Vail. Cobain's lyrics  makes fun of pop conventions and drug usage. With dark vocals, it also happens to describe how the break-up devastated him. The line "Love you so much, it makes me sick”, is a reference to when Kurt would throw up just thinking about the breakup.


6. In Bloom (Nevermind, 1991) -

 The song addresses people outside the underground music community who did not understand the band's message. Like many Nirvana songs, "In Bloom" shifts back and forth between quiet verses and loud choruses. Nirvana first made a music video for "In Bloom" in 1990 which is quite famous and played on all TV music shows at that time. With great guitar riffs, chords, a catchy chorus line and heart pumping drums, this is the kind of song which will definitely make you hit the replay button.


5. All Apologies (In Utero, 1993) - 

One of Nirvana's more introspective tracks is easily one of their best. The Song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1995, and has since been included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of "The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Curt’s painful, drained voice is haunting. There has been much speculation about the lyrics of this song, some think it’s related to his marriage, some say that this song is sort of a suicide note and the debate continues still now BUT WAIT, that doesn’t matter, the song is a treat for the ears.


4. Lithium (Nevermind, 1991) - 

‘I love you - I'm not gonna crack, I killed you - I'm not gonna crack’ – did you sing along too? Nirvana's 'Lithium' has it all. The track begins with Cobain noodling and Grohl keeping a steady beat, but by the end it’s filled with the furious instrument-smashing glory and it's a must for the 10 Best Nirvana Songs list. Cobain stated that lyrically the song, inspired by a relative, is about a guy whose girlfriend has died and turns to religion to give him a reason to live. Lithium peaked at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and is an all time hit by them.


3. Heart Shaped Box (In Utero, 1993) -

 Great lyrics, amazing guitar and Kurt Cobain's hauntingly depressing voice at its best is in this song. Even the short but mighty guitar solo is great. Lyrically, the track offers one of the most unlikely declarations of love, with Cobain exclaiming, "I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black.", Cobain said the song was inspired by documentaries about children with cancer and so the song merges the theme of love with disease. The video for this song begins and ends with the band in a hospital setting watching an old man being administered medication through an IV drip. Nevertheless this song is for all the broken hearted people out there.



2. Come As You Are (Nevermind, 1991) - 

Yes, yes, that song with the epic Nirvana solo. When it comes to memorable riffs, Kurt Cobain's unaccompanied darkly moody intro to 'Come As You Are' is as recognizable as they come. Lyrically, the song is filled with contradictions throughout, leaving listeners with many interpretations over the years. However, Cobain said the song was about "people and what they're expected to act like". The song is is melancholic and subdued but Once the band reaches the chorus, the song reaches full volume. The video features the band in a dark room, where the appearance of falling water in front of the band distorts and blurs the band members' face. This song, undoubtedly, wins the heart of all the people who like heavier songs.



1. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nevermind, 1991) - 

The obvious choice for number one, eh? Never has a single rock song changed the face of music as instantly as Smells Like Teen Spirit one did.  The song uses a verse-chorus form to create an alternating loud and quiet dynamic which is quite remarkable. This was Nirvana's biggest hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 . The lyrics to this song were often difficult for listeners to decipher, both due to the gibberish and because of Cobain's slurred, guttural singing voice. "Teen Spirit" is widely interpreted to be a teen revolution anthem, an interpretation reinforced by the song's music video. Cobain came up with the song's title when his friend Kathleen Hanna, spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Teen spirit was a deodorant) on his wall, Cobain interpreted the slogan as having a revolutionary meaning. Musically this song has all the things to make it great- good guitar riffs and Cobain’s amazing voice. This song can easily be stated as one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

Hey! Wait! I've got a new complaint (got the reference?) , which is,  only 10 songs are not sufficient to describe this band’s greatness, so the ‘special mention’ section for the other deserving ones.

SPECIAL MENTIONS  -

The Man Who Sold the World – With a mesmerizing guitar piece, this song is written and performed by David Bowie and covered by nirvana which became an instant hit.

Breed - With Great riffs and intro, the band developed this song during live performances in 1989 when they toured Europe. Each chorus begins and ends with the line "she said," implying that the song was meant to capture spoken dialogue, which is often overlooked.

Silver  - The song about a fussy youngster longing for his parents, ‘Sliver' is the perfect blend of melody and aggression that Nirvana built their career on.

Negative creep - The song was written by Kurt Cobain about himself, and how he claimed that he always saw himself as a negative person. The song has been described as "creepy" which works quite well with the title. Musically this song is described as grunge.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR :- 

Medha Bhattacharya is a music aficionado, a proud metalhead and an avid follower of "SHERLOCK HOLMES". She is pursuing her B.TECH from B.P.PODDAR INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT and is the music-columnist for ExPRESS Magazine. Some of her other articles are :- 

http://express5515.blogspot.in/2015/12/heavy-metal.html

Folk Dances

SIMPLICITY. EASY. ENERGETIC. BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED. 

In a country with a tradition as rich as India's, we boast of numerous folk dances coming down the generations. Performed at social gatherings, marriage ceremonies and sometimes to pacify the deity during a natural calamity, these dances are basically "a spontaneous overflow of joyous revelry" .

Some of the folk dances of India are listed below:

• Kolattam (Andhra Pradesh) : -

Also referred to as Kolannulu or Kokolannalu, it is the "stick dance". It is a rural art performed during village festivals, comprising performers ranging from the age of 8 to 40. The dancers, led by a leader, are grouped in pairs and arranged in concentric circles. The inner circle recieves blows on its sticks by the outer circle. The main rhythm is provided by the colliding sticks.

• Chow (West Bengal) : -

Chow belongs to the area in and around Jhargram. Normally performed during the 'gajan' festival of March, This dance is characterised by bold and vigorous movements made to the beats of the 'dhaak' or 'dhol'. The costume includes elaborately designed masks.

• Bordo Chham (Arunachal Pradesh) : - 

This folk dance belongs to the Sherdukpens, a small community of the West Kameng district of the state. It involves the depiction of the victory of good over evil. The background of this dance form is interesting. Localites believe that every year, twelve different types of things, representing evil forces, appear each month and come together. The Shardukpen people dance vigorously to the beat of drums and cymbals to battle this accumulated evil.

• Bihu (Assam ) : -

Bihu is related to the festival of the same name. It is performed by both men and women, and includes rapid hand movements and short steps. The costumes of this form are very colourful. The girls wear saris of mustard and red, whereas the boys wear dhotis and headbands of the same colour . This dance is accompanied by beats from the dhol, pepa (horn) and gangana (instrument made of bamboo) .

• Jhumur (Assam) : -

This is the traditional dance form of the natives. It is performed either by both men and women together, or by women alone. The dancers use light footsteps while clasping each other's waists tightly. It is performed to the beat of a drum-like instrument called the mandar.

• Raut Nacha (Chattisgarh) : -

Traditionally a folk dance of the Yadavas (a caste which considers itself to be a part of Krishna's lineage), Raut Naach is performed at the time of Dev Udhni Ekadashi (the period during which the Gods awaken after a short sleep). The dance is almost akin to Raas, in which Lord Krishna dances with the village belles.

• Dhumal (Jammu and Kashmir) : -

The men of the Wattal tribe perform this dance on specific occasions and  at particular locations.The performers wear long robes and tall, conical, bead-studded hats. The group moves in a procession carrying a banner, which is dug into the ground. Thereafter the men begin to dance around the banner. The dance is accompanied by the vocal singing of the performers and the beats of a drum.

• Tarangamel (Goa) : -

On the occasions of Dusshera and Holi, young Goanese men and women rush out into the streets carrying colourful streamers(tarang), encouraging one and all to imbibe the festive spirit in themselves, while vivacious chants of "Ho!Ho!" fill the air, echoing the beats of the dhol, romur and tasha. The rainbow hued costumes of the performers and the multi coloured flags and streamers make Tarangamel a visually appealing affair.

• Garba (Gujarat) : -

This dance is generally performed during Navaratri, customarily by women. It includes circular movements and rhythmic clapping. The name originates from the word "garbha deep " which means the lamp, placed either in the inner sanctum of a temple or inside a perforated pot.

• Bhangra  (Punjab) : -

 Initially performed during the harvest time, India's most popular folk dance is an extremely energetic dance of celebration. The performers wear traditional Punjabi costumes and jive to the beats of the dhol, chimta and alghoza. Giddha is the female version of Bhangra, performed by women only.

• Ghoomar (Rajasthan) : -

This traditional dance of the womenfolk was developed by the Bhil tribe of Mewar, and later adopted by the entire Rajasthani community. It comprises of women in flowing skirts called ghagaras, dancing to songs sung by men and women together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR :- 

Debopriya Samanta, is an English Honours student from Loreto college, Kolkata. Her interests lie in music, books and movies. Apart from being a dance enthusiast, she is a trained classical dancer herself! Some of her other articles are as follows :-

http://express5515.blogspot.in/2015/12/the-indian-schools-of-dance.html