Author: millennialmatriarchs

Hussain-Doshi Gufa

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

I was recently on a nostalgia trip to Ahmedabad, visiting/re-visiting haunts of yore. One of these was Ambadvad ni Gufa (Hussain-Doshi Gufa for old-timers like me). This is an underground art gallery where both the structure and ‘contents’ are works of art

Born of a collaboration between the renowned architect Balkrishna Doshi and MF Hussain, it exhibits works of MF (Maqbool Fida) Husain, in a unique structure designed by Doshi. It is and unusual juxtaposition of architecture and art—a situation where a work of art contains works of art.

Hussain and Doshi both belonged to and loved Gujarat, and hence the decision to create a permanent structure in Ahmedabad which could showcase both their work.

The underground gufa (cave) has a roof made of multiple interconnected domes which are covered with a mosaic of tiles. As one descends a not-so-obvious staircase, the inside opens up. It has irregular and inclined tree-like columns supporting the domes. The roof and walls are painted by Hussain. Light enters the cave though snouts, creating spots of light on the floor. The lighting is thus very different at different times of the day, and creates a mystique of its own. The cave spans across 1000 square metres.

The inside walls serve as a canvas, on which Hussain painted with bold strokes and in bright colours. There are depictions of human figures and animals, including of course, his iconic horses. The idea was to recreate ancient cave-type paintings in a modern environment. A few metal sculptures of human figures are also placed in the niches between the columns.

However, the largest artwork is on the mosaic outside surface of the gufa. This is a depiction of the Sheshnag (divine serpent), winding across the surface over a length of 100 feet, and is visible at eye-level as one walks past the structure.

The Gufa is considered a milestone in collaborations across disciplines. When Hussain visited Ahmedadab once, he asked Doshi, who was a close friend, to design a permanent art gallery for his works. Doshi said he would design something unique but Hussain would need to rise to his structure in his artwork! The planning was a process of interplay of ideas.

The objective was to develop something contemporary, but based on ancient design ideas, and in sync with the natural environment.

Given Ahmedabad’s high temperatures, it was designed as an underground structure. The white porcelain mosaic tiles covering the outside reflect sunlight and reducing the heat reaching the inside of the structure. The Buddhist caves of Ajanta and Ellora inspired Doshi to design the interior in the form of circles and ellipses. The domes are inspired by tortoise shells (kurma avatar) . The mosaic tiles on the roof are similar to those on the roofs of Jain temples at Girnar. Hussain’s wall paintings are inspired by Palaeolithic cave art, and serpent by the Seshnag of Hindu mythology.  The interior columns resemble columns at Stonehenge.

The Gufa has been attacked and vandalized several times—ironic for something designed as a syncretic work. In the very first attack on October 11, 1996, Bajrang Dal activists damaged 23 tapestry items and 28 paintings which were on display. The excuse for the attack was Hussain’s depiction of Hindu goddesses.

What is nice today is that there is a lively café around it, and young people throng the place. The Gufa is a part of a cherished hangout. They look on to the mosaic domes and the Sheshnag as they munch on their snacks and sip on their iced tea. And hopefully, through the process, imbibe an appreciation of the art so close to them, and moved to cherish both the art and the spirit behind the work.

–Meena

 

Avian Ambassadors: National Birds

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

A news item that President Joe Biden had signed a bill on Christmas Eve 2024 that designated the bald eagle as the national bird of the USA was confusing, to say the least. One had always assumed that this had always been so, given that it was seen on all official US documents, and indeed even the US passport. It turns out that while the bald eagle has been the national symbol since it appeared on a copper cent in 1776, and has been appearing on the Great Seal of the US since 1782, the bird had never been legally recognized as the national bird till 24 December 2024.

Behind this lies an old story. On 4 July 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed whereby the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. Following this it was decided that the new nation should have an official seal. It took three committees and six years before the seal was finalized on20 June 1782. The seal denoted a bald eagle grasping an olive branch and arrows in its talons. The significance of this is explained thus: ”The olive branch and the arrows held in the eagle’s talons denote the power of peace and war. The eagle always casts its gaze toward the olive branch signifying that our nation desires to pursue peace, but stands ready to defend itself”.

The bald eagle lives only in North America and to the people of the newly-born republic this bird was a symbol of courage, strength and freedom. It soon became a cultural and political symbol appearing on official documents, US currency, military insignia, and popular merchandise. Thus the bird remained a national emblem in the US for nearly 250 years, but it had not been officially designated to be the national bird until Congress passed the bill.

Many countries have a national bird. These are usually representative, in one way or another, of the country that they are the designated symbol of. The designation is done in different ways. The approaches range from the official, semi-official or unofficial, ranging from government decrees to popular vote. The choice is usually from among birds that have a high recognition factor.

Some countries in Central and South America have selected flamboyant birds as their national symbols, while some have selected bird species that are unique to their country. Among these are Gautemala’s Resplendent Quetzal and Papua New Guinea’s Raggiana Bird-of-paradise, which are spectacularly colourful. A beautifully matched choice is that of the Cuban Trogon or Tocororo whose colours exactly match the colours of Cuba’s flag. These birds cannot survive in captivity, and thus symbolizes the people’s love of freedom.

Some countries have selected threatened species in the hope to promote their conservation measures, like Bermuda’s Cahow or Bermuda Petrel (endangered) and Cambodia’s Giant Ibis (critically endangered). While Dodo is the unofficial mascot of Mauritius, seen as a symbol everywhere, it is sadly extinct. Thus the country has officially adopted the Mauritius Kestrel as its national bird. This is a rare bird of prey, endemic to the island and its recovery from near extinction (only four known individuals in the wild in 1974) to over 350 kestrels today, is a successful conservation story.  

Some Arab states have also designated other species of falcons as national birds. These birds represent grace, elegance, ability and alertness, and are considered a symbol of bravery. A variety of eagles have been a favoured choice of several countries for these very attributes. These include golden eagle (national bird of Albania, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Scotland, Serbia, and Germany), African fish eagle (Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe), harpy eagle (Panama), Javan hawk-eagle (Indonesia), Philippine eagle (Philippines), and the white-tailed eagle (Poland).

The raptor with the largest wing span in the world, the Andean condor of South America has been designated the national bird by several countries in that continent for its different qualities–Bolivia (for boundary-less pursuit), Chile (for strength), Colombia (for liberty and order), and Ecuador (for power, grandeur, and valour).

Whereas Japan could have adopted the Red-crowned crane as its national bird because of its scientific name Grus japonensis, it has chosen the kiji or Green pheasant. This bird is said to be particularly sensitive to earthquakes, to which Japan is prone. It is also features in many literary works.

Curiously, Grus japonensis was selected to be the national bird of China through an internet survey which was launched by the Chinese Wildlife Animals Protection Association and about 20 news organizations in 2004. The Red-crowned crane was the choice of about 1.3 million Chinese netizens to be the national bird.

Britain was pretty late in the naming of its national bird. In 2015 there was an online poll of over 200,000 people in Britain to vote for a national bird in response to a campaign started by ornithologist David Lindo. From an original list of 60 birds, online voters arrived at a shortlist of 10 birds. The Robin won first place with 34% of the vote, followed by the barn owl and blackbird.  

Another popular vote led to the change in Denmark’s national bird. Till 1984, the Skylark was the national bird, but a poll held by a TV show indicated that the more popular choice was the mute swan. The mute swan’s Danish name (Knopsvanen, literally meaning ‘the knob swan’) refers to the black knob it has over its orange beak. This selection was not based on natural history criteria but rather the association of the bird with Hans Christian Anderson’s famous fairy tale about the ugly duckling that grew into a swan.

Thus there are many reasons and many avenues that make a national bird. Closer to home, there is an interesting tale. In the 1960s the Government of India was encouraged by international bird conservation organisations to select a national bird. It was suggested that this could be a bird species that was in immediate need of protection, and thus attention. The most obvious choice at the time was the Great Indian Bustard that was already endangered then, with less than 1300 individuals in the wild. The famous ornithologist Salim Ali emphasised that this spectacular bird required “an urgent, nation-wide effort” to save it from its impending doom. As the story goes, in this respect, the Bustard was a logical choice. But there was a concern that its name could easily be misspelt or mispronounced, leading to much embarrassment! Whether this is just jest or a fact, it was the peacock which made the title in 1963, not because of its conservation status, but because of its cultural significance, religious and legendary associations, beauty, and widespread distribution in the country. 

–Mamata

High in the Sky, Celebrating the Sun

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

Today is Makar Sankaranthi. It marks the day the Sun starts moving from the South to the North, and coincides with its transition from the zodiac of Sagittarius (dhanu) to Capricorn (makara). Dedicated to the Sun, the day is observed across India in many different ways, but all signifying thanks-giving and a new beginning.

Kite-flying marks the day, especially in Gujarat. The sky is full of colour, with myriad shapes and sizes of kites, and fierce battles to bring down opponents’ kites.

Since media is full of reports of kites, kite-festivals and other sundry related topics, I thought I would mark Sankaranthi by writing about another flying object which is used to denote joy and celebration—balloons!

Definitionally, a balloon is a flexible membrane bag. It is inflated using a gas. At the most basic level, it is about filling it with as much air as our lung-power allows.  But otherwise, a range of gases is used– helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen etc. Balloons can also be filled with smoke, liquid water, small solids like sand, flour or rice.

Though in everyday life, we go out to buy balloons for birthdays, parties and events, the rubber balloon was invented for scientific experiments by the great scientist Michael Faraday in 1824. He came out with these for use in the lab for experiments with various gases.

Even today, apart from their use in fun and games and as decoration, more serious uses include meteorology, medical treatment, military defence, or transportation. The fact that a balloon is low cost and has a low density, makes it useful in several situations.

The use of balloons for decoration has extended into balloon modelling or balloon twisting where special balloons are twisted into various shapes, often animals, by artists called twisters, balloon benders or balloon artists. 

Balloon or Inflatable Art museums and exhibitions too dot the world. Artists who work with this medium are fascinated with the concept of how the air element can fill various shapes. They translate this fascination into installations, inflatable sculptures, interactive and digital artworks.

Prime among these is Balloon Museum– a curatorial team that designs contemporary art exhibitions with specific works in which ‘air’ is a distinctive element. Their ‘The Pop Air Tour’, with the tagline ‘Art is Inflatable’ has been travelling across Europe. It has several immersive exhibits: ‘A Quiet Strom’ in which infinite white spheres fall to the ground, as tiny soap bubbles caress the audience. ‘Aria’, a ‘digital interpretation of inflatable art in which the visitor finds himself enveloped, in a tight space, surrounded by a multitude of balloons lost in the sky, involving visitors in the journey through the metaphysical experience of suspension. This exhibit like many others has immersive sound design ‘intended to bring back in sound the sensations created around the visitors with the same intensity and depth of a breath taken miles high with the unique intention of experiencing a space without limits.’ Apart from these serious exhibits, there are also fun ones like  the independent inflatable maze, and The Goof — an entourage of inflatable Monsters that are taking over the world, but how they got here and what their motives are is unknown! 

The US has its share of Balloon Museums, including the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation with a ‘mission to uplift’!

So this Sankaranthi, let us be uplifted along with the kites (or balloons), pay homage to the Sun, and wish for a healthy, happy, prosperous year for all!

–Meena

Contested Hedges

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

Contested borders are in the news every day. You can’t miss the claims and counter-claims between neighbouring countires—in our case, mainly China.

But it seems that disputes between neighbours on humble garden hedges are as serious. In the UK, disputes between neighbours on this issue have even resulted in deaths, with one Mr. Wilson of Lincolnshire, dying from gunshot wounds sustained during an argument over hedges, and a Mr. Reid dying of a heart attack after a heated dispute with his neighbour on the same subject. While not so drastic, many people have been levied stiff fines on the charge of trespass for cutting their neighbours’ encroaching hedges. In all, there were 1,00,000 hedge disputes in the UK prior in 2003.

Why do these disputes arise? A major reason is that the hedge blocks too much light to a neighbour’s house or garden; or that the hedge blocks a view. Or a neighbor’s overgrown hedge may encroach on your property. Also, branches or roots may cross into your property from a neighbor’s property or a public road.

This serious situation led to the passing of laws to manage the situation. In 2003, UK passed laws to manage disputes related to hedges. The UK Law essentially is about ‘high hedges’ defined as those over 2 meters in height. Transgressions of hedge-related law come under the definition of Anti-Social Behavior, since 2003!

The situation is understandable, given the extent of hedges in the UK. Laser scanning has shown that the UK has 390,000 km of hedges and hedgerows (1-6 metres tall) on field boundaries– enough to go round the world almost 10 times.

A step back. What is a hedge? A hedge is a line of shrubs (and occasionally trees), planted closely (3 feet or closer) which form a barrier or mark the boundary of an area, such as between neighbouring properties. Hedgerows on the other hand are hedges used to separate a road from adjoining fields, or one field from another, and which may incorporate larger trees. Apart from demarcating boundaries, hedges and hedgerows may serve as windbreaks to improve conditions for crops, as. A hedge is also called a “live fence”.

Under the UK Law, these disputes don’t go to court. Neighbours are encouraged to reach negotiated settlements. If this does not work, a written complaint may be given to the local Council, which will look into both sides of the argument and give a decision. Either the Council will reject the complaint, or they will give an order to cut the hedge to the mandated height. The cutting has to be done keeping in mind The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to destroy any bird’s nest that is either in use or being built!

Few other countries have such elaborate laws on the subject. However, some local authorities in the US do regulate the height or placement of hedges. For example, a resident of Palo Alto was arrested for allowing her xylosma hedge to grow too tall.

So go ahead. Do grow your Photinia, Duranta, Golden Cypress, Nerium, Hibiscus, Copper Leaf, Ixora, Tecoma, Vilayati Mehendi or whatever else takes your fancy. But make sure they don’t inconvenience your neighbours and get your behaviour labelled as anti-social—at least under the UK laws!

If everyone could plant hedges and learn to maintain them with discipline, maybe we will also learn to manage other boundary disputes without resorting to violence.  It could make for a world where boundary disputes become a thing of the past!

–Meena

Welcoming the New Year

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

Happy New Year! This is the day when many will be recovering from the feasting and celebrating that saw out the old year and ushered in the new. In some parts of the globe it may still be the time that family and friends gather for a New Year dinner. This is also the week when many New Year resolutions are made! Many of these, nowadays, relate to the intentions of going on a diet which eschews certain foods, or one that limits to certain foods. Instead, why not begin the year with some mouth-watering traditions of feasting rather than fasting!

While the entire world collectively celebrates the transition from the old to the new, different cultures and different countries have their own traditions that mark this passage. Food is an important component of these celebrations. Here is look at this interesting smorgasbord of dishes that define the festivities.

In Spain the old year is ushered out with a tradition called Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte or The Twelve Grapes of Luck. As the clock strikes at midnight people mark each chime by eating a single grape. The twelve grapes thus eaten symbolize good luck for each month of the coming year. The tradition dates back to 1909 when there was a surplus harvest of grapes in Spain and people were encouraged to eat extra grapes for luck. The tradition continues to this day; people gather in public squares with bunches of grapes and eat twelve at midnight for good luck through the year.    

Mexico also has a similar twelve grapes tradition where a grape is eaten at each stroke of midnight with a wish for the coming twelve months. New Year’s Day lunch is a family celebration with traditional tamales (corn dough filled with meat, cheese or beans) wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves and steamed. The tamales are prepared at family tamaladas (tamale making parties) where the members get together to wrap the tamales. The sweet touch is added by Rosca de Reyes, a ring-shaped bread garnished with candied fruits.

In Japan, New Year’s eve known as Oshogatsu is marked by eating a dish called Toshikoshi Soba, made of buckwheat noodles. These year-end noodles are extra-long, and it is believed that slurping these down without breaking or chewing them will bring longevity to the consumer. Families come together to slurp on the long noodles; it is a ritual that also symbolizes the act of letting go of the hardships of the year gone by, and a positive approach to welcome new opportunities. A New Year’s Day tradition is the exchange of beautiful bento boxes with an assortment of delicacies, each with its special meaning, called Osechi-Ryori, as wishes for health and prosperity in the year ahead.

In South Korea families come together for a meal that includes a soup made with thinly sliced rice cakes. The soup called Tteokguk is believed to symbolize growing a year older, as well as grant good fortune.

Italians feast on lentils and Cotechino (spiced pork sausage) both of which are symbolic. In the past Romans would give a leather bag of legumes to their loved ones with the wish that each lentil would translate to a gold coin in the New Year. Even today, the lentils symbolize wealth and prosperity, and the sausage represents the richness of life. The combination of flavours, and the symbolism makes this a special family meal that ushers in the New Year.

In Greece a special cake called Vasipolita is baked with a coin hidden inside. The cake is shared by family and friends and the one whose slice contains the coin is believed to be lucky, and considered blessed throughout the year. Onions are also a part of the traditional culinary tradition. Greeks believe that the onion’s many layers represent shedding the old to reveal the fresh start of a new year. They also found that even when onions were left alone that they would sprout, which they believed was a sign of rebirth, growth and fertility. Thus the tradition of hanging a bag of onions on the front door.

A similar tradition in Armenia is to bake a large, sweet flat loaf known as tarehats, darin or gata in which is put a single coin or walnut which is baked in the bread. The family member who finds this in their slice is expected to have the best luck that year.

Denmark, Germany and Austria have a tradition of exchanging edible marzipan pigs (made of almond paste and sugar) as tokens of good luck and prosperity in the coming year. Each pig is artfully crafted and it is believed that the more detailed the crafting, the greater the fortune it brings. Once again symbolizing a positive exchange of wishes and goodwill.

In the Netherlands people enjoy oliebollen. Literally meaning ‘oil balls’ these are meant to line the stomach with oil as a shield against the sword attack of a mythical evil goddess. In fact, these are a kind of delicious doughnuts.

In Poland, a popular New Year’s tradition is eating pierogi, a type of dumpling filled with a variety of ingredients like meat, cabbage, mushrooms, or even sweet fillings like fruit. The dish reflects Poland’s rich agricultural traditions and the importance of a good harvest for a successful year. Pierogi are seen as a symbol of good luck, health, and prosperity. In some families, a coin is hidden inside one of the dumplings, and the person who finds it is thought to have a particularly lucky year.

A tradition in Turkey is for people to smash pomegranates in the doorways of their homes. It is believed that that number of seeds that fly out of the fruit indicate how much good fortune will come in the year ahead.

Greece has a similar tradition invoking pomegranates which are believed to be a sign of luck, prosperity and fertility. During the Xmas week households hang pomegranates from their door. On New Year’s Eve all the lights are shut and everyone leaves the house. One member is sent to re-enter the house putting the right foot in first, so that the family gets good fortune all year. This custom is called Podariko which roughly translates to ‘good foot’. Then a second family member takes the pomegranate in their right hand and smashes it against the front door; the greater the number of seeds that spill out, the greater the luck that the New Year will bring.

The Scots have a similar Foot First custom. The first person to enter a household after midnight (the First Footer) brings gifts including traditional ones like shortbread, a rich fruitcake, and whiskey that symbolize abundance and good fortune. The First Footing tradition as it is called blends hospitality with culinary tradition.

In Ireland, bread is an important new year’s food. Buttered bread symbolizes abundance and the absence of hunger. New Year’s Day is known as the Day of Buttered Bread. Another tradition is to wait till the bread from the Xmas week gets stale and hard and the bang it on the walls of the house on New Year’s Day to get rid of bad luck and evil spirits. Perhaps the most significant tradition is setting an additional plate at the dinner table for any loved ones lost in the previous year. 

All these traditions are marked by a sense of common sharing, a feeling of togetherness, and thanksgiving. The dishes, with the combination of sweet and savoury, are a reminder that life has its share of flavours, and that these are best enjoyed with the love and support of family and friends. May the year ahead give us all many opportunities for this.

Wishing for a year of Hope, Peace and Joy.

–Mamata

Doomsday Book

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

No, not a book with dire predictions for 2025 aka Nostradamus, Baba Yaga etc.

The Domesday (or Doomsday) book is the 1200+ year survey record! Covering most of England and parts of Wales, it was commissioned by William the Conqueror. The survey started on Christmas of 1085 (exactly 939 years ago!) and was completed in1086. It is the oldest government record held in The National Archives of the UK.

It is an amazing piece of work, in that it surveyed almost every property in England and Wales. Using a fixed format, the survey tried to elicit who owned which property, who lived there, the livestock, how much the land was worth etc. It traced the history of the property—who had owned it before the time of William the Conqueror and who owned it now.

The whole purpose was to ensure that the King had a record of how much land was owned by whom, and therefore how much tax could be charged! It provides definitive proof of land rights and tax obligations, making it a crucial legal document even today. It covered over 13,000 places. Not only was it a foundational document for land rights, it also the socio-economic landscape of 11th-century England.

But why on earth was it called the Doomsday Book? This evolved from its association with the Last Judgment (or Doomsday). The book was the last word–once recorded, its contents could not be contested! It was the source of evidence of land titles, and hence served as a legal reference for resolving disputes over land ownership. It was the final arbiter!

Data collection for the Book was monumental for its time. Royal Commissioners travelled across the kingdom, collecting information from local juries composed of nobility and citizens convened for the purpose. These people swore in court to give correct and accurate information to the Commissioners.  They answered several questions including:

  • Who owned the land.
    • How much land there was.
    • The value of the land.
    • The number of tenants and their obligations.
    • Livestock counts.
    • How many plough teams.
    • How much wood, meadow and pasture.
    • How many mills and fisheries.

The responses gathered by the juries were meticulously recorded in Latin by one set of scribes, and checked by a second set. The data was probably cross-verified with other records and follow-up inquiries.

The information was recorded in two books—The Great Domesday, and the Little Domesday (covering different geographies). Each is arranged by county, and within each county, by landholder. Each landholder is given a number, which is written in red in roman numerals as the heading of their entry. There is a table of contents at the beginning of each county, which lists the landholders with their numbers.

The Doomsday Book is not a census of the population, but has influenced surveys and censuses down history. The Indian census is considered a model for gathering reliable data across a large country (not of course land ownership—that is a problem yet to be cracked).  The Doomsday Book has probably also influenced our census indirectly.  Hopefully, we will have our long-delayed census in the coming year—aided by smart phones, tabs and the like. Let us hope the information collected is as authentic as the Doomsday Book managed.

In 1789 Benjamin Franklin said, ” In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” The Doomsday Book was indeed proof of that!

So here is to a Happy 2025, even though we will still have to pay our taxes!

–Meena

nationalarchives.gov.uk

Pic: Historic UK

Christmas Island: Galapagos of the Indian Ocean

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

This week the focus revolves around the numerous facets of Christmas–from festive decorations, to feasts and family gatherings. An appropriate week to share something that does not really share much in common with these facets except for its name. That is Christmas Island; so named because it was first discovered on Christmas day.

The island however may have been there millennia before its formal discovery and christening. A small speck in the Indian Ocean, Christmas Island is the peak of a steep basalt volcanic seamount that rose 5000 metres from the ocean floor about 60 million years ago. Located in the Indian Ocean 2600 km northwest of Perth in Australia and 350 km off Indonesia, this island is today a part of Australian territory. However it has a chequered history of human settlement.

For centuries the small island’s isolated location and its rugged coasts provided a natural barrier to human intrusion. Its sighting was recorded in the charts of British and Dutch navigators in the early seventeenth century. But it was named by Captain William Mynors of the Royal Mary a vessel of the East India Ship Company when his ship approached the island on 25 December 1643; but he was unable to land on the island. The first recorded landing on the island is believed to be by the English ship Cygnet under Captain Swan in 1688.

It was in the 19th century that several explorers visited Christmas Island. Some of these were naturalists who collected plant and animal species from the island which was rich in biodiversity. It was in 1887 during one of these collecting expeditions that the crew of a ship called HMS Egeria also discovered that the island had rich resources of phosphate which was a valuable fertilizer. This led the British to annex the island in 1888. Human settlement of Christmas Island began in 1888, when George Clunies-Ross, the owner of the Cocos Islands, sent his brother Andrew and a small party of Cocos Malay workers to form a settlement at Flying Fish Cove. He did this to pre-empt any other claim to the island’s phosphate resources.

The British leased the island to John Murray, a naturalist who had first predicted the presence of phosphates and George Clunies-Ross who initiated the first settlement on the island. Together the two set up the Christmas Island Phosphate Company which started mining and exporting phosphate from the island from 1900. The operation needed a large labour force for which they brought in Chinese, Malays and Sikhs as indentured migrant labourers. These were the early settlers who, over time, grew into a multicultural community. However at that time these workers lived in appalling conditions, and in the early years, hundreds of them died from beri-beri caused by malnutrition. But conditions gradually improved and the island’s phosphate industry continued to flourish in the period till the First World War, with Japan as the biggest customer.

During the Second World War, the island was targeted by the Japanese who wanted to capture the phosphate deposits. In 1942 Japanese troops took over the island and the phosphate mining provided rich fertilizer for the Japanese Empire. The island was an arena for several acts of war between the Allied and the Japanese forces until 1945 when Japan surrendered. The island was re-occupied by the British in October 1945.

The Australian and New Zealand governments purchased the Christmas Island Phosphate Company in 1949, and administrative responsibility for the island shifted from the UK to the British colony of Singapore. When Britain was giving up many of its colonies after World War II Australia expressed an interest in acquiring Christmas Island. In 1958, sovereignty of the island was transferred to Australia. As part of the transfer, Australia paid Singapore £2,800,000 as compensation for lost phosphate revenue. Christmas Island became an Australian Territory on 1 October 1958. This day is celebrated on the island as Territory Day.

The centuries of mining and exploitation for phosphate had left huge scars on this island which with its unique geology supported rare species of endemic plants and animals not found anywhere else. Many of the flora and fauna unique to this ecosystem had reached the point of being endangered. In the 1970s it was realized that this exploitation could have a serious impact on the Abbot’s booby a bird that nests only on Christmas Island. In 1974 a committee recommended that conservation of such endangered species was critical. This resulted, in 1980, in the creation of a national park on the south-western part of the island. This was further expanded in 1986 and 1989 to create the Christmas Island National Park. Today the park extends over 64% of the island’s land area as well as extending 50 metres offshore. The area protects rainforests, wetlands, freshwater mangroves, sea cliffs and coral reefs, each harbouring a rich diversity of life.

Red crab migration on Christmas Island

Perhaps the most significant of this is the great variety of crabs that have earned it the sobriquet as the kingdom of crabs. Among these crustaceans is the enormous robber crab, and the red crabs whose annual migration from the rainforest to the ocean in an unforgettable spectacle. Every year, millions of red crabs move from Christmas Island’s interior rainforests to the ocean to breed and lay eggs. A single female can lay up to 100,000 eggs. Red crabs must keep their bodies moist, so they wait for the rainy season to provide conditions that are ideal for the difficult journey. During migration, red crabs climb over and around obstacles in their way, following the same migration paths every year. 

The island’s 80 km coastline is an almost continuous sea cliff rising up to 20 metres in height. In a few places the cliff descends to shallow bays with sand and coral shingle beaches. The island is surrounded by a narrow circling reef teeming with swarms of tropical fish species. Dolphin, whale sharks, turtles and manta rays are easy to spot.  Today Christmas Island has become a naturalist’s paradise. Often described as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, Christmas Island has replaced phosphate mining with ecotourism. A heartening case of exploitation transformed into caring conservation.

–Mamata

Merry Christmas with Amigurumi

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

‘Tis the season of good cheer and brotherhood.

Of celebrations and togetherness.

Of Christmas trees and ornaments.

And this last is what we are talking about today.

Photocredit: amigurumi.com

The tradition of decorating trees with ornaments is thought to have originated in Germany in the 1800s.  An enterprising gentleman by the name Hans Greiner began making glass ornaments called baubles for hanging on trees. These were the first mass-produced Christmas ornaments and were a huge commercial success.  Woolworths was the first company to import these types of decorations into the United States in 1890, from where  the custom spread to other parts of the world.

Common ornaments include globe ornaments, angels, egg ornaments, figurines, snowflakes, icicles and stars. They are made from a variety of materials, including glass, plastic, porcelain, metal, wood, and expanded polystyrene

A trend that has been popular in recent years is amigurumi Xmas ornaments. If like me, you haven’t a clue what this is, amigurumi is the art of creating crocheted or knitted stuffed creatures and objects, which has its roots in Japanese culture.

While the exact origins are not clear, it is believed to have developed from multiple influences over time. Japan has a long history of hand-made dolls and toys, such as “temari” (decorative balls made from thread) and “daruma” dolls. Amigurumi probably grew from these traditions. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), European knitting and crochet techniques were introduced to Japan and became popular. Japanese crafters combined these techniques with their traditional doll-making skills to create amigurumi,which comes from the Japanese words “ami” meaning crocheted or knitted, and “nuigurumi” meaning stuffed doll.  

Amigurumi grew more popular in Japan in the post-World War II era. As the country’s economy grew stronger, it led to increased income and leisure time, and a resurgence in crafting hobbies. It was during this time amigurumi gained recognition as a distinct art form.

A major impetus to the growth of this craft was the rise of “kawaii” culture. This Japanese aesthetic emphasizes cuteness and adorableness—think Hello Kitty.  Amigurumi lends itself to the creation of cute, whimsical, and anthropomorphic designs and hence appealed to the kawaii aesthetic.

Internet and social media brought amigurumi international attention and today, amigurumi enjoys a global following including in its use as Xmas ornaments. Amigurumi angles, cherubs, stars, elves and reindeers decorate trees across the world. Many people take pride in crocheting or knitting figures either on their own or with the help of popular amigurumi kits which include patterns, instructions, wools and needles.

A popular Xmas tree ornaments also rendered in crochet, which we are not very familiar with in India, is the Christmas Pickle. This is an American tradition. A decoration in the shape of a pickle is hidden on a Christmas tree, with the finder receiving an extra gift. It is also thought that he or she will enjoy good fortune for the next year. (While for us Indians, a pickle brings thoughts of mangoes and limes, in the West, it is often a cucumber, and that is what Christmas Pickle ornaments represent).  

The origin of the Pickle ornament is not known. Americans think it came from Germany, but Germans have no clue about this tradition. But here is one story: During the American Civil War, Bavarian-born Private John C. Lower had enlisted in the Pennsylvania Infantry. He was captured in 1864 and taken to the prison camp. On Christmas Eve he begged a guard for a pickle because he was starving. The guard provided the pickle, which Lower later credited for saving his life. After returning to his family in Bavaria, he began a tradition of hiding a pickle on their Christmas tree each year.

Even if it is not true, it is surely a story that captures the Christmas spirit!

Christmas wishes, Peace and Goodwill among all!

–Meena

The Ultimate Flower-Clock

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

Wouldn’t it be beyond-beautiful if we had a clock which did not tell time by mundane numbers and needles, but by a particular flower blooming? Imagine if you peeped out of the window and you could look at this clock, and tell if it was 12 noon, or 1 pm or 2 pm by the flower that was blooming!

This was the kind of clock that Carl Linnaeus dreamed of.  Linnaeus’s flower clock or Horologica Floræ is a garden-plan thought up by Linnaeus that would take advantage of plants that open or close their flowers at particular times of the day, to accurately indicate the time.

As most of us would remember from school-biology, Linnaeus was the Swedish naturalist who laid down the principles for defining genera and species of organisms, and created a uniform system for naming them (the binomial nomenclature). His book, Systema Naturae (The System of Nature) consisted of only 11 pages but laid the foundations of taxonomy. It presented a hierarchical classification or taxonomy, of the three kingdoms of nature: stones, plants, and animals. Each kingdom was subdivided into classes, orders, genera, species, and varieties. All modern classification systems in biology have their roots in the Linnaean classification system which is based on similarities—for instance, Linnaeus grouped together organisms that shared obvious physical traits, such as number of legs or shape of leaves.

The Linnaean system of classification consists of a hierarchy of groupings, called taxa (singular, taxon). Taxa range from the kingdom to the species. The kingdom is the largest and most inclusive grouping. It consists of organisms that share just a few basic similarities. Examples are the plant and animal kingdoms. Then come the phylum, then the class, order, family, genus, and finally the species–the smallest and most exclusive grouping. It consists of organisms that are similar enough to produce fertile offspring together.

Linnaeus greatest contribution to science was his method of naming species. This method, called binomial nomenclature, gives each species a unique, two-word Latin name consisting of the genus name and the species name. An example is Homo sapiens, the two-word Latin name for humans, literally meaning “wise human.”

But if Linnaeus saw order in the natural world around him, he saw beauty too. In around 1748 he started thinking about the flower-clock. It builds on the fact that there are species of plants that open or close their flowers at set times of day. In his publication Philosophia Botanica, he gives 46 examples of flowering plants that are open during particular parts of the day. He brought together 43 of these under the heading Horologium Florae, or Floral Clock, arranging them in a time sequence from 3 am to 8 pm. The time at which each flower opens and closes is given in whole and half hours.

To give you a glimpse, here are a few rows from Linnaeus’ table:

Botanical nameCommon nameOpening timeClosing time
    
Tragopogon pratensisGoat’s-Beard3 a.m.–
Cichorium intybus L.Chicory4–5 a.m.–
Reichardia tingitana (L.) RothFalse Sow thistleby 6 a.m.10 a.m.
Taraxacum officinale WeberDandelion5 a.m.8–9 a.m.
Crepis alpina L.Hawk’s beard5 a.m.11 a.m.
Hieracium umbellatum L.Hawkweed6 a.m.5 p.m.

Though Linnaeus worked for years on this, the observations and hence selection and organization of flowers were not complete.  Linnaueus’ son Carl the Younger was given the task for completing the table so that the clock could be built. Unfortunately, Linnaeus the Younger’s floral clock was never completed, and his observations on the opening and closing of flower have not been found among his surviving papers.

Alas, no one has actually built such a clock, and it is not even clear that it is possible.  There are many practical issues to overcome. For instance, it would only function for part of the year since plants don’t flower through the year; the time shown would be indicative at best since blooming times are in a range and would vary with specifics like weather and other atmospheric conditions; many of the plants that Linnaeus observed and selected were wildflowers from Sweden and may not be found in other places, or would behave differently in other places. And then, the clock may not work at all in some seasons, if there are not enough flowers which bloom then.

Well, in this digital age, there are some ingenious people who have created an app based on the idea. They have selected 24 flowers, one for each hour that would normally flower at that time of the day or night. Floræ – Linnaeus’ flower clock app is free on appstore for Apple and iPhone.

So maybe we have make do with that, till some genious actually builds the Horologica Floræ to blow our minds!

–Meena

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/curious-questions-what-is-linnaeuss-flower-clock-259032

Wikipedia

Wikimeida Commons (Picutre)

Colours of the Year

~ millennialmatriarchs ~ Leave a comment

This is the time of year to look back upon the months gone by, of the highlights and the nadirs that marked the passage of time. Of the many exercises that have become a regular part of this stock-taking is the announcement of the Words of the Year by different dictionaries. Meena has just described the history, as well as the process for this selection.

There is another announcement that is perhaps not as much noticed. That is the one of the Colour of the Year. This selection is not the outcome of as long, and oftentimes, as participatory a process that the different dictionaries undertake prior to the announcement of the Word of the Year; and perhaps its history does not date as far back. The Colour of the Year is declared by the Pantone Company which is best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS). This is a colour order system used in a variety of industries including graphic design fashion design product design and printing. Today Pantone has become the worldwide standard for selecting communicating and matching colours.

Pantone began as a commercial printing company of the Levine brothers, two advertising executives in 1950, in New Jersey. In 1956 the Levine brothers hired Lawrence Herbert who used his knowledge of chemistry to systematically order and simplify the company’s stock of pigments and production of coloured inks. By 1962, Herbert was running the ink and printing division, and was able to buy out the original owners. He renamed the company Pantone which was a combination of the words Pan (meanng All) and Tone (meaning colour).

The company’s primary products include the Pantone Guides, which consist of a large number of small (approximately 6×2 inches or 15×5 cm) cardboard or plastic sheets, printed on one side with a series of related swatches of colours in different shades and tones. Pantone colours are described by their allocated number (For example, PMS 130). The samples are bound into a deck that opens out into a fan.   

The idea behind the PMS is to allow designers to “colour match” specific colours when a design enters production stage, regardless of the equipment used to produce the colour. This system has been widely adopted by graphic designers and reproduction and printing houses. The standardization of colours is very helpful because different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colours match.  

The idea of declaring a Colour of the Year was initiated by the Pantone Colour Institute in 1999 as a way to mark the entry into a new millennium, and in keeping with Pantone’s belief that colour “has always been an integral part of how a culture expresses the attitudes and emotions of the times”.

The colour selected each year was envisaged as one that captured a moment in time, tapped into collective values, and heralded the year ahead. It was also meant to reflect people’s changing attitudes and aspirations. Thus it is not randomly selected but an outcome of research that finds its way into discussions by representatives from various nation’s colour standards groups. These are at secret meetings hosted twice a year by Pantone in a European capital. The colours are chosen after two days of deliberations. With a database of thousands of colours at their fingertips, Pantone’s challenge is to narrow down a colour family and explore within it to find a hue that best expresses a widespread feeling. As the company says “We don’t simply come up with our thoughts about it; we look into our research and see what people are telling us they’re looking for.” The results of the meeting are published in Pantone View, which fashion designers, florists, and many other consumer-oriented companies purchase to help guide their designs and planning for future products.

Pantone’s Colour of the year 2024 was Peach Fuzz which was described as a light, delicate shade between pink and orange. The soft hue expresses the desire to nurture kindness, compassion, and connection. All of this helps foster a peaceful future and everlasting cosiness.

In 2024 more than ever before the world needed to be reminded of these qualities which alas were sadly lacking.

However continuing its hopeful optimism Pantone has just announced its colour for the Year 2025. It is a shade of brown that is called Mocha Mousse which, as the company reminds us, is all about thoughtful indulgence. The warm shade reflects a desire for nourishment in every facet of our lives, especially through simple pleasures like morning coffee, a chocolate treat, or taking a walk. And it’s not solely about treating ourselves but also the possibility of sharing those sweet moments with others. 

While fashion designers and architects play around with the colours of the year, for every one of us, Nature is the best reminder that every colour has its own shade and season. All we need to do is look around and marvel at its unmatchable palette.

And who better to remind us of this than the gentle author Ruskin Bond.

The Colours of Life are Everywhere

Colours are everywhere,

Bright blue the sky,

Dark green the forest,

And light the fresh grass;

Bright yellow the lights

From a train sweeping past,

The flame tree glow

At this time of year,

The mangoes burn bright

As the monsoon draws near.

A favourite colour of mine

Is the pink of the candy-floss man

As he comes down the dusty road,

Calling his wares;

And the balloon-man soon follows,

Selling his floating bright colours.

It’s early summer

And the roses blush

In the dew-drenched dawn,

And poppies sway red and white

In the invisible breeze.

Only the wind has no colour;

But if you look carefully

You will see it teasing

The colour out of the leaves.

And the rain has no colour

But it turns the bronzed grass

To emerald green,

And gives a golden sheen

To the drenched sunflower.

Look for the colours of life –

They are everywhere,

Even in your dreams.

–Mamata