Movies as on 23-10-2009
7:50 AM Posted by ukmad
Theatre | Movie | Timings |
Big Cinemas | Blue | 12.30,3.30,6.30,9.30 |
All the Best | 12.15,3.15,6.15,9.15 | |
Ritz Srikrishna | 12.30,3.30,6.30,9.30 | |
Nirmal | Abhay | 12.15pm,3.15,6.15,9.15 |
Huns | Do knot Distrub | 12,3,6,9 |
Arun | 12.30,2,4,7 | |
Roopali | Yardu (K) | 12.15, 3.15,6.15,9.15 |
Balkrishna | Aihwarya | 12.30,3.30,6.30,9.30 |
Chitra | Mansare | 12,3,6,9 |
Swaroop | All the Best | 3,6,9 |
Wanted | 12 | |
Hira | Blue | 12.15,3.15,6.15,9.15 |
Prakash | Wanted | 3,6,9 |
Main aur Mrs Khanna | 12.15 | |
Wake upsid | 6,9 | |
Nartaki | All the Best | 12 |
Hai kai ani nai kai (M) | 6,9 | |
Main aur Mrs Khanna | 3.15 | |
Santosh | Gilli | 12.15pm,3.15pm,6.15pm,9.15pm |
Globe | 12.15,1.45,3.45,6.45 | |
Kindly check the excat timings with the theatres |
Crush Love Jehad Pramod Muthalik
4:20 PM Posted by ukmad
Pramod Mutalik, founder of Sri Rama Sene, announced that his Srirama Sene will outfox and drive out 'Love Jehad' within a year. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday October 21, he said that the Sene will achieve the objective by creating awareness among the Hindu girls.
An all India level awareness campaign against this Love Jehad will be launched. The aim behind this campaign will be to create awareness amongst the girls of the plans of Love Jehad. Already the Sene has intervened and stopped 25% of such activities, he claimed.
Karnataka High Court directed the state and Kerala to probe the "Love Jehad movement" where young non-Muslim girls are allegedly trapped into marriage and converted into Islam, the government today decided to convene a meeting of top police officials soon to discuss ways of countering it.
Source: Outlook & Dajiworld
Stamp paper now only at Sub registrar office
10:14 AM Posted by ukmad
The State bank of Mysore had an agreement with the Govt of Karnataka to distribute Stamp papers and same finished on 1-10-2009. From then no Stamp papers are being sold in the bank.
In Belgaum State bank of Mysore was the main bank which was supplying the stamp papers.
Now that the distribution of the stamp papers has been stopped from the bank people have now to approach the sub registrar office in the court premises with their documents ready and pay the requisite fees and get the document stamped from the Sub registrar office.
E franking has been planned but when the same will commence is still not known.
From the beginning getting stamp papers in Belgaum has been very difficult and not so easy and with having to approach the sub registrar office will make things even thornier.
GSS College Re-Accredited by NAAC A grade
5:37 PM Posted by ukmad
GSS (Govindram Seksaria science) College was Re-Accredited by NAAC “A” grade recently.
NAAC is National Assessment and Accreditation council, a body which evaluates higher education institutes in India. NAAC works independently and is connected body formed by University Grants commission.
Many institutes use this gradation for funding the research projects including UGC. Also companies HR Departments recruit the students from these institutes. It is like ISO 9000, or sixth sigma in industries.
GSS was the first college in this area to be evaluated in 2002 and college got 4 stars (equal to "B")
RPD and Gogte College of commerce also got "B" in 2002-3.
Last month all the three colleges were re-accredited GCC and RPD got "B" and only GSS got "A" grade.
RLS and BK, and Lingraj College will undergo re-accreditation process in this year.
The alumni of GSS are requested to fill the form so that can be informed about Alumni meets in the future. Are you a GSS Alumni, Fill out the form here.
Know more about NAAC
Belgaum fort as described by Mrs GUTHRIE
10:58 AM Posted by ukmad
Bramhanand Chipre got a hand on this one and it’s worth a read. The history of the Belgaum fort and Belgaum as well linked to it. It’s quite lengthy but all has to read to understand the entire Belgaum fort.
No additions or deletions have been made here.
The Belgaum history as written by: MRS. GUTHRIE
In Mahratta, although there are many forts which play a more important part in history than that of Belgaum, still its crumbling walls, ancient sites, and picturesque ruins tell of an eventful story, which is not without interest.
Placed upon no lofty plateau, and defending no mountain pass, but situated in an obscure part of Western India, it owed its former celebrity to the fact of its being a border fortress, situated amidst territories which were constantly at war with one another, and frequently changing masters. It derived not a little of its strength from the deep jungle by which it was until lately surrounded. The natives still consider Belgaum to be in the jungle, and within twenty years bison have been shot close to the ramparts.
Tradition declares that the fort was founded by a certain Jaina King called Jaza Rajah, who built a large mud fort, surrounded by a ditch, on the site of the existing fortifications, and the existence within the enceinte of three Jaina temples of great beauty and interest tends to favour the idea. There is, however, no positive record as to the foundation of the existing fort, but we learn, from an inscription on copper, the date of which is 1294, in which many names are recorded, and which was found in the fosse, that at one period a certain family, who were Jains, held, for seven generations, the hereditary chieftainship of Belgaum. After this period we have more information regarding the history of this place, for the district is remarkably rich in inscriptions in the Canerese character, beautifully cut in relief, upon large slabs of compact black basalt, which takes a beautiful polish, and resists the influence of the weather. Many petty wars, and events of local interest, are recorded upon these stones, but nothing of general interest until the year 1472, when it is stated that Belgaum fort was besieged by Mohammed Shah, the Mohamedan King of the Deccan. It must at that time have been a place of strength, as it is mentioned in history as being protected by strong towers and lofty walls, guarded by a deep wet ditch, and by a pass near to it, the only approach to which was fortified by re doubts. When Mohammed Shah set himself down to subdue it, he commanded the fire workers, as they valued their own safety, to affect a particular breach in fourteen days, and ordered his soldiers to throw quantities of wood and earth into the ditch. The enemy in the night, however, always removed them, upon which he placed his guns in another position, but only finally succeeded, by mining, in forming three breaches. The troops of Birkana Ray, Rajah of the fortress, advanced gallantly to defend the place, and nearly two thousand of the king's troops fell in the attempt to storm. The besieged had nearly repaired the works with wood and stones when the Shah, advancing to the assault, drove the enemy before him, and gained the ramparts. When opposition had ceased, the King entered the citadel, and gave thanks to God for the success of his arms. One of his first acts was to expel the image of Dymavavera, the tutelar goddess of the fort, but the sorrowing Hindoos were allowed to place it in a little temple outside the walls, which still exists.
The history of Belgaum remained intimately connected with that of Bijapur until the decline of the Mussulman power in Western India, when it relapsed into the hands of the Hindoo princes. The king bestowed Belgaum and its dependencies upon Mahmoud Gavan, a very distinguished general, of royal blood, being connected with the Shah of Persia. His career was one of curious vicissitudes. He first served in the Deccan, to which he came in the year 1461, and where he was successful in many campaigns, rendering his royal master great services, for which he was made Governor of Bijipur, was given a seat in the Council of Regency, and was appointed a guardian of the young prince, Nizam Shah. He also rose to the dignity of Vizier, and distinguished himself at the siege of Goa, but was finally murdered by Mohammed Shah in 1481. He was very famous for his learning, justice, and munificence, and left. Once in every twelve years a great festival is held in honor of Dymavavera, when buffaloes, sheep, and goats are sacrificed to her. The slaughter takes place on a platform outside the little pyramidal building erected to her. The jubilee took place shortly after M.'s arrival in Belgaum.
In the same year the Mussulman king again visited Belgaum, probably for the purpose of resuming his full authority over it. He inspected the city and examined the fortifications. Thirty years of petty warfare ensued, and then the golden age of the old fort commenced.
Ismael Khan Shah began his reign at Bijapur in the year 1511, when he was a minor, and the attempt at usurpation made by his guardian was the means of bringing conspicuously forward Khoossan Toork, a Persian, who, as he took part in the deliverance of the young king, was honoured with the title of Azad Khan, and the Government of Belgaum was conferred upon him. He was far the greatest man who ever reigned over it; and even to this day his name is a household word among the people, who love and revere his memory. It is to his wise measures that the town has ever owed, and still continues to owe, its comparative immunity from cholera. He altered and repaired the walls of the fortress, every inscription on which is in the Persian character. He also erected a grand palace, which, with its offices and stables, covered a large space of ground. There are existing records of the magnificence which he maintained. His household servants — Georgians, Circassians, Abyssinians, and Hindoos amounted to two hundred and fifty. He had sixty large elephants, and one hundred and fifty of a smaller size. In his stables were four hundred and fifty Arabian horses, exclusive of those of mixed breeding foaled in India. Two thousand seven hundred pounds of rice were every day prepared for his household, in addition to fifty sheep, and one hundred fowls. It was he who first introduced the fashion of wearing the waistband of cloth of gold, and the dagger, a custom which has since been adopted by persons of rank in this country. He also attempted to ride elephants with bridles instead of managing them with the goad ; but as these animals are rather unsteady, in consequence of the sudden vicious starts to which they are frequently prone, this mode of guiding them was, according to the old chronicle, not found to answer.
Years flew by, during which Azad Khan was constantly at war, and proved himself a most successful general, acquiring great riches, in the form of gold, jewels, and elephants. On one occasion, it is related that, after a battle, the King of Bijapur presented him with five large and six small elephants ; and at another time, when he had taken a large quantity of baggage and twenty elephants, the king gave him all these animals but one, which he reserved for himself, and called Alia Baksh (the Gift of God). Towards the end of his life, when very ill, he succeeded in frustrating the design of a neighboring chief, Nizam Shah, who had a great wish to possess himself of Belgaum, with which design he entrusted a large sum of money to a Brahman, who was directed to employ it in corrupting the soldiers of the garrison, in the hope that they would deliver the fort into his hands, in case of Azad's death. The Brahman had nearly succeeded in his commission, when the plot was discovered, and the chief agent in it, in spite of his high caste, was put to death, along with seventy of the soldiers whom he had bribed. Old age having rendered Azad too weak to contend with a deep-seated malady, he prepared to meet death, and in lines (of which the following is a translation), he entreated the King of Bijapur to honor him with a farewell visit. "Come like the morning breeze to the bower of friendship, Come like the graceful cypress to the garden." Ibraham assented to the request, and on his arrival finding his old friend had breathed his last, he administered consolation to his family by attaching all the late Khan's estates and treasures. The fine old chief died in the year 1549, having held Belgaum during thirty-three prosperous years. He left a name not only dear to his people, but celebrated in the history of the period; and we have heard that his standard, on which was embroidered an angry lion, was bestowed as a great honour upon Kishwar Khan.
In the year 1557, the treacherous King of Bijapur lay on his death-bed. He had, on religious grounds, quarreled with both of his sons, the eldest of whom, his heir, was under surveillance in Miraj, whilst the youngest was in confinement at Belgaum, under the charge of Kishwar Khan, the governor, where, upon the accession of his brother, he was still kept prisoner. Though treated with kindness and generosity, he determined to rebel, and having persuaded the governor and the garrison to assist him, he took possession of the fort, and raised the standard of rebellion, upon which a renowned general, Elias Khan, was sent with five thousand men to besiege the place. Great confusion followed, and in order completely to quell the insurrection, a further force of twenty thousand horse and thirty thousand foot, was sent against Belgaum, under Ein-ul-Mulk, who, treacherously pretending to be the friend of the young prince, persuaded him to take the field, with those who were willing to espouse his cause, and march upon Bijipur. The unfortunate Ismael fell into the trap laid for him, and was taken prisoner and executed. Nor did it fare better with the double traitor, Ein-al- Mulk, who was also put to death, his head being sent to Bijapur, where, for a certain time, it was exposed upon a pole in front of the palace, and afterwards blown from a great gun.
The next important prisoners confined in the fort were the Portuguese ambassador and his suite. About this time, in consequence of a change of territory, Belgaum ceased to be a frontier fort, and no particular mention of it appears until 1673, when the renowned Sevaji, with his famous light cavalry, swept down and sacked both town and fort. At the fall of Bijapur, in 1688, the fort reverted to the Mahrattas, and was in the possession of Aurangzib, second son of the powerful Prince A'Zam, at which period it acquired the name A'Zamnagar. After the lapse of some years the name was changed to Mustafabad, after a Kiledar who thoroughly repaired and strengthened the ramparts; and this appellation it still retains.
The English were unable to obtain accurate intelligence as to the state of the ditch, which was the great defense of the place; otherwise the attack would not have been made from the points selected. On the fifteenth, the fort was invested, but nothing particular occurred until the twentieth, when the force marched to the north of the fort, and encamped about two miles and a half from it. On the twenty-second, the first battery opened on the defences, and on the following day the pioneers broke ground, and began opening trenches. On the thirty-first, the magazine belonging to one of the batteries, in which there was a considerable amount of ammunition, blew up. The garrison took immediate advantage of this misfortune, and making a sally, succeeded in passing over the battery, but was immediately repulsed. During the following days such steady progress was made by the English that on or about April 9th, the Kiledar (acting governor) sent out a flag of truce to propose terms, but General Munro did not accept them. Next day all the batteries kept up a heavy fire on the fort, and the breach, though not exactly practicable, began to have a more favorable appearance, in consequence of which the Kiledar found himself under the necessity of accepting the condition offered by General Munro, which was that he should give up possession of the gateway, the garrison being allowed to march out with their arms and private property. This they did on the following day, to the number of one thousand six hundred, having lost seventy men. The loss of the besieging army amounted to twenty three killed and wounded. By the capture of the fort, General Munro obtained possession of thirty-six guns of large calibre, sixty smaller guns, and numerous wall pieces, besides stores of every sort.
The two breaches effected by the English were near the main guard, and are plainly visible, "the masonry which fills the gaps being still ungnawed by time. Count is abstracted without mentally fighting the battle of the fort, and wishing for the success of its brave garrison. The fall of Belgaum completed the conquest of the Peishwa's territory south of the Krishna. The breaking out of the Mutiny found Belgaum garrisoned by two native regiments, a battery of European artillery, and the depot of an English regiment, withdrawn to serve in Persia. The native troops were believed to be ripe for revolt; all the European women and children were brought into the fort, and the small English garrison had good reason to take every measure to provide for their safety. The walls, which had been somewhat neglected, were put in a state of defence, the breaches were repaired, and the artillery were quartered in the fort. It was thought necessary to make an example of certain emissaries of the rebels, who were taken in the act of corrupting the native soldiers, and they were blown from guns. People have told me that they stopped their ears in order to deaden the horrible sound. Fortunately, no actual outbreak took place here.
The fort of Belgaum is situated in the midst of an extensive undulating plain. As it now stands, it forms an irregular oval, enclosed by a deep ditch, still full of water, which is cut out of a softish red stone, which hardens on being exposed to the air. The exterior of the fort is surrounded by a fine broad esplanade; the revetment rises about thirty-two feet above the bottom of the ditch. The interior is level, and extends about a thousand yards in length, by eight hundred in breadth. The original entrance was made between two magnificent battlemented bastions, which still exist, although the gate, which once opened upon a bridge, has been walled up. The present main gate, which is a solid pile of building, is considered to be a fine specimen of Indian architecture. There is an open guard-chamber, with a groined roof, which has once been ornamented by pendants, and the exterior is elaborately decorated with grotesque representations of animals and birds (rather curious ornaments for a Mahomedan building, but a Brahman architect is said to have been employed). The effect has been somewhat destroyed by time, and the frequent application of various coats of colour ; but the ostriches still run races, cats with open mouths still conduct water from the roof, and one elephant has been drinking for centuries out of the same bottle. The little niches scattered about, intended to receive lights, and slippers, and water-bottles, are very graceful. The shrine of the many-armed Durga, the goddess of castles and of war, is an excrescence placed in a corner by the Hindoos when they regained the fortress. “Let not/' say the most ancient laws of Manu, “foes hurt a king who has taken refuge in his Durgar." The exterior of this curious shrine is covered with richly-coloured mythological figures. Some of the unpopular gods, like the pictured celebrities of other nations, have had their faces scratched out, and their noses destroyed. Passing under a lofty unguarded archway, we reach the outworks, and then come to a fine gateway, with solid iron-plated doors, which have once been thickly studded with iron spikes, like those at Poonah, and with the same intention. Under the arch is an inscription in relief, sculptured in Persian characters, to the following effect : " Jakub Ali Khan, who is a joy to the heart, by whose benevolence the world is prosperous, built the wall of the fort from its base as strong as the barrier of Sicardis." From every point of view these gates and outworks present a most picturesque appearance. The fine red colour of the battlements, the peeps obtained down into the deep ditch, where the still water lies in shade, and, like a black mirror, reflects the walls it protects, and the tall palms which fringe its outer bank, the mysterious light which gleams through the fretwork in the doors enclosing the cruel goddess, all tend to give this spot a romantic charm which I have rarely found equalled. It is most beautiful by moonlight, but when fantastic shadows are thrown around, it looks a weird place, where one almost expects to see the tall forms of long-dead warriors.
On the western side of the fort there is a more modern egress, a substantial archway, which is gained by a descending road, and a sharp turn leads to a narrow causeway which bridges the fosse. It is guarded only by low loops of thick chain, attached to ricketty old cannon, and I confess that in crossing it I have often sat behind the fresh young Arabs with a beating heart and closed eyes, thankful when the sound of their hoofs on the hard road told
me that the dangerous spot was passed. The walls of the fort are crowned by lofty scalloped battlements, standing clear of one another, and pierced with long loop-holes, just so wide as to have admitted the muzzles of the old jangals (literally teazers), which now lie rusting in the arsenal.
Completely shut out from the exterior world, there could not, to my mind, exist a more delightful and romantic spot than that enclosed by the old red walls. The grassy ramparts, which are banked up until the rounded battlements alone are visible, make a charming walk which commands a panoramic view of the surrounding country, of the undulating plain, with its woods, cultivated fields, green pastures, and little villages, sheltered by lofty mango-trees, the distant mountains, the jungly hills, the rolling downs, ever-changing, peaceful in the sunshine, purple and threatening in the storm. Not even water wanted to enhance the charms of the landscape. The tank, in reality a lake of some extent, lay glittering within a stone's throw of the main gate. Banked up on one side by a lofty wall with a stone coping, it was otherwise at liberty to lie at rest, calm and blue, or to swell out into a turbid inland sea, specked with unfamiliar islands. At morn and eve the tank was a busy scene. I had favorite nooks from which I often watched the great herds of cattle which were brought up to water. The buffaloes delighted in their early bath, and waded about with just their noses out of the refreshing element. They are docile creatures, obedient to their owner's call, not half so difficult to manage as the fierce little untamable cows. Serene-looking bullocks drank, and gazed about them, and drank again. Some pet animal was readily distinguished by its brass collar, garland of flowers, or necklace of cowrie shells, put on to ensure good luck. Occasionally a great black elephant came slowly down, and dabbled its “lotus feet " in the water, whilst it was scrubbed by its driver. One of these sagacious creatures had a curious trick of bending its ears forward with its trunk, in order that the skin behind might come in for its share of the washing. Camels came striding down in long file, they alone looking discontented, for not even the cool morning's draught could please these peevish creatures.
Another favourite resting-place was the top of the flag-staff, or Chevalier battery, a stronghold built by Azad Khan, within the walls, but towering far above them. From its summit the flag with the angry lion had floated for many a year. It was a delightful spot at the hour of sunset, when the western sky was flooded with amber or rosy red, and the mala was heard from the minaret of the musjid in the Durga camp, in which the old Khan's bones repose, calling the faithful to prayer. While the cattle slowly crossed the plain to their rest, and the short twilight deepened, ghostly bands of white robed people would glide along, and disappear beneath the deep shade of the mango-trees.
Occasionally a procession might be seen returning from some ceremony, the shrill notes of the musicians toned down by distance, and red robed women, bearing fire in their brass vessels, on their way to sometime-honored temple. How beautiful must this plain have been when covered up to the very foot of the distant hills with a waving sea of green, a jungle of palms, and bananas, and bamboos! Many a time have I lingered, until suddenly it was dark, and I had to descend and cross the pathless grass, in mental fear of the snakes. There is a tradition that three hundred and sixty Jaina temples were pulled down, in order to supply materials for building the present walls of the fort.
Vishwa Kannada Sammelan might be postponed again
10:29 AM Posted by ukmad
The scheduled Vishwa Kannada Sammelan(World Kannada Meet) to be held at Belgaum in January 2010 is set to be postponed once again this time due to North Karnataka Floods.
MES says Chalo Subhash Maidan on Oct 26
10:27 AM Posted by ukmad
“Chalo Subhash Maidan” is the call given by the MES (Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti) on October 26. Subhash Maidan is Lele Ground where a similar Melava was planned when the Assembly session was held in Belgaum for the first time. Well-known Marathi leaders and politicians from Maharashtra are expected to participate.
The MES has called for this particular Mahamelava or convention to keep alive the burning flame of the 53-year-old struggle of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti for merger of Marathi-majority areas of Karnataka with Maharashtra. The organizers say it is not a show of strength but for a cause of the Marathi people to come together and fight back on the atrocities made by the Karnataka Govt. MES also wants all the rights under the linguistic minorities to be adhered to by the state Govt. like all forms and other documents be given in Marathi along with Kannada.
The KRV and other Kannada organizations have criticized the govt. for giving permission for the convention at a time when North Karnataka is reeling under flood fury. The state govt. has asked that the Rajostsav be celebrated on a simple note because the flood havoc caused, the why permission has been given for this convention, asks Raj Toppannavar of KRV.
Belgaum and the border issue and such conventions and bandhs have been part of Belgaum life for 53 years now. In addition, this will go on until the Supreme Court decides on the matter.
The success of the convention will depend upon the results of the Maharashtra elections as well. If the Shiv Sena BJP combine can form a govt. one could expect huge fireworks from big leaders but if it is otherwise we could just see one or two leaders coming in.
For common Belgaumites does Marathi or Kannada matter?
Many would call this just a political stunt and others may call it struggle for their rights, always the coin has two sides, doesn’t it.Belgaums rich antiquity
5:36 PM Posted by ukmad
While searching for information about Belgaum’s history and monuments around Belgaum city and in the district, it was amazing to find 36 monuments under the protection archeological survey of India.
Many of these monuments have been under protection from 1910.
Like the Belgaum fort – Old Jain temple (Kmal Basti), Jain temple outside the Commissariat store yard and remains of an old Hindu Temple.
Degaon (Kittur) - Temple known as Bastigudi
Huli - Temple of Panchlingdev
Konnur - Ruined temple
Wakkund - Jain temple of Mukteshwar
Nanandgad (Khanapur) - Old Jain temple in the jungle
Take a look at the list of the 36 monuments listed on the ASI website which are stated to be under their protection.
ASI
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Now that’s called a great piece of history for Belgaum.
But how many are aware of these names at least, leave the places. And what is the condition of all these is also to be seen. As this is all part of the “Governments work is God’s work” one could see only an ASI sign board near these places and no protection of any sort to the monument.
Some of the temples have been restored by the ASI like the Kamal Basti, The Halshi temple etc but these is just a few and majority lie un attended and taking the climates toll. See the Belgaum fort, no doubt Kamal basti is protected but what about the fort see the walls of the fort, one day will come when we will be forced to tell our children this was a fort with high walls.
On a frank note I personally never knew so many monuments existed, so we need to look after our heritage, if we lose this now we can’t rebuild it, it is gone.
So what can we do Belgaumites!