Reflections from the Village Bard
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Mighty Zulu called Shaka When we think of Africa, we think of war and famine, poverty and inter-tribal rivalry that lead to many conflicts and deaths. This has not changed since the time of Shaka so many countries like Somalia, Burundi, Rwanda, Congo and many others suffer but most of their sufferings are man-made and…
Who does not know the joys of festivals? This is the time when we all let down our guards and purely enjoy the colors, the sounds and the rituals that the festivals offer in every country. Life would be boring without the festivals. When I was in Algeria working in Mostaganem, I was…
The true valor of a people lies in their resolve to overcome all challenges and their willingness to pay the ultimate price for it with their lives the way the Vietnamese did to regain their freedom. When anyone cares to write about what it takes to win a war so that they can gain their…
Most people have no clue about the origin of thousands of words they use in their language but the languages borrow heavily from the original sources so this gives some interesting examples in how the English language has borrowed words. It is always amusing to learn the etymology of words that have been assimilated…
We all love to remember the good times we had with good people and try to forget the bad people who leave no impression in our lives. I remember those who made a big impression in my life and who I miss. Have you ever stopped to think about the people you met often…
Kashmir is a paradise where the dark shadow of curse has descended, making people there suffer daily. It is a political and military stand off between two adversaries who seem to be at an impasse since 1947. No one knows when this curse will be lifted for the people to regain their paradise. A…
We often see this phenomenon called culture shock when people visit other countries where the culture, language, food, clothes and mannerisms are different from their own and have a hard time adjusting so they get a shock. This deals with this subject and suggests how to overcome them. I think there are two types…
Gypsies who are also called Roma Not many people know much about the Roma people of Europe or in other countries but show racial discrimination toward them. This looks at their history and the continuing injustice they suffer in many countries where they live. When you are in Rome and just come out…
We all love to laugh at jokes and feel good but often fail to realize the purpose of the jokes we hear which may be hidden or not so hidden. If the purpose is to put down others through jokes then it cannot be a good thing and should be condemned. Have you ever…
Food is what people eat so what they do not eat is not food even if it may be food to others. We see a tremendous variety of food in every country that shows the special way they prepare it with exotic herbs and spices but some simpler food are also delicious. People often…
DjurDjura mountains in Kabylie of Tizi Ouzou Independence and freedom come at a heavy price that we in India know only too well. The Vietnamese and the Algerians too know how much they had to sacrifice to get their freedom This is about Algeria and its violent struggle to gain their independence. I…
It is quite interesting to study the evolution of clothes, food and religion in different parts of the world over a long period of time and it is still ongoing. Humankind descended from our ancestor called Lucy whose skeleton or parts of it was found in the Great Rift Valley in Africa purely by…
Slavery is an ancient scourge that bedevils humankind even today although it has been in practice since ancient times. Laws have been enacted to ban it but people still practice slavery where the laws are weak and poorly implemented. Now women are lured into prostitution through the promise of jobs but they end…
The indomitable spirit of Africa and the Africans made me write this, long overdue. I have tried to explain this spirit in Africans and make you aware of the beauty of Africa and its people though they may be quite diverse in their languages, art, culture and traditions. One thing that is universal…
The role the NGOs play in the development work, animal rights, human rights and numerous other fields are very important because they fight for the rights of people, animals and the environment where the governments fail. They help with free medical aid to the very poor, set up sanctuaries for orphaned animals and rescue…
There are people you meet for the first time and find them very friendly and sincere if you just say hello. But most people do not take the first step so 7can not find them and think that people are unfriendly. In this I discuss this issue and encourage people to open up and…
Queen Hatshepsut This post brings to you in vivid colors the story of five most important queens in Egypt who helped shape their history. They were beautiful, very intelligent and educated who had a majestic personality and acumen to rule.They had the gift of diplomacy that helped them make Egypt richer and self-sufficient in…
The first experience of flying can not be pleasant for anyone but we now are in the era of mass air transport where people of all classes fly often in budget airlines that has diminished the service and pleasant company the older era provided.Flying then was mostly limited to more polished travellers. I miss…
Map of Algeria Algeria is the largest country in Africa that is four times larger than France that occupied Algeria and called it one of its departments and not a colony. The French built the roads and some infrastructure to serve its interest and developed agriculture to export its produce to France. The…
Humanity suffers from continued cultural and religious imperialism that degrades the native culture and its religions. This is about how to face such threats in a sensible way and yet assimilate what is beautiful in other cultures. Cultural and religious imperialism is the practice of promoting the culture,religion and language of one nation in…