Buddhism's silent harmony: Influence on traditional music in North East India



International Desk
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The vast mosaic of Indian culture has long been shaped by the spiritual, the philosophical, and the transcendent. Yet, few forces have been as profoundly influential as Buddhism, an ancient tradition born on this very soil around the 6th century BCE. Unravelling the threads of this influence reveals an intricate web where cultural expressions and spiritual ideals intertwine in beautiful harmony, especially in the realm of music. The serene landscapes of North East India, in particular, echo with the subtle strains of Buddhism, spun into melodies that have shaped the region's traditional music.

This article explores the deep, enduring influence of Buddhism on North East India's music, a silent harmony that binds the spiritual and the sonic. Buddhism in India is more than a mere collection of teachings and philosophies—it's an integral aspect of India's cultural fabric. This religion, which thrives on the concepts of compassion, mindfulness, and the impermanence of life, has subtly woven its principles into various facets of Indian life, including art, architecture, literature, and, most notably, music. In North East India, home to the Himalayan foothills, misty valleys, and the world-famous tea gardens, Buddhism's influence reverberates through the region's musical heritage, as diverse as its geographical terrains.

A central tenet of Buddhism is the idea of silence and tranquillity, of finding peace within oneself. This pursuit of inner harmony echoes in the music of North East India, where silence often holds as much significance as sound. For instance, the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh uses periods of silence in their folk songs to imbue them with a meditative quality, mirroring the Buddhist practice of silent meditation.

These pauses in melody create a resonance, a space for listeners to reflect and contemplate, turning music into an instrument of mindfulness. Another characteristic of Buddhism is the journey towards enlightenment, a theme often translated into the music of the region. The Buddhist notion of 'Samsara'—the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth—and 'Nirvana'—the ultimate state of liberation—are regularly portrayed in the lyrics and melodies of the North East's traditional songs. An excellent example is the music of the Bodos of Assam, where the use of metaphoric lyrics conveys the journey of the soul through Samsara towards Nirvana. The Bodo's folk music, enriched with the Buddhist ethos of liberation, is a testament to the spiritual influence on their sonic expressions.

The influence of Buddhism extends to the very instruments used in North East India's music. The Buddhist religious practice often involves the use of unique instruments, and these have found their way into the region's musical vocabulary. The Tibetan singing bowl, also known as 'rin gongs,' is a quintessential Buddhist instrument that's been adopted in various musical forms across the region. The distinct harmonic tones produced by these bowls are believed to promote healing and well-being, infusing the music with a transcendental quality.

The melody of Buddhism permeates the music of North East India, a testament to the lasting impact of this spiritual path on the region's cultural life. The exploration of these influences offers a glimpse into the profound interplay between spirituality and music, a silent harmony that gives voice to the soul's deepest yearnings. Whether through the thoughtful use of silence, the metaphoric journey towards enlightenment, or the sacred instruments, the imprint of Buddhism on North East India's traditional music is undeniable. This silent harmony not only shapes the sonic landscape but also elevates music from mere entertainment to a conduit of spiritual expression, mindfulness, and inner peace. (ANI)

   

Hamas says 'yes' to Gaza ceasefire



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt. But so far nothing has been reported from Israel in this regard. They are looking into the matter.

On Monday (May 6), Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this information.

According to a statement by Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, the head of Hamas' political wing, Ismail Haniya, called Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and informed him that Hamas had approved the proposal for a ceasefire agreement. Ismail Hania also said the same thing to the Minister of Intelligence of Egypt, Abbas Kamal.

Meanwhile, the residents of Gaza expressed joy at the news of Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire.

It should be noted that at least 34 thousand 737 people have been killed and 78 thousand 108 people have been injured in the Israeli attack on Gaza since October 7. And the number of dead in Israel is 1 thousand 139 people.

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Campuses can be battlegrounds around graduation ceremonies in the United States



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Protests against the Israeli attack on Gaza have erupted in several US universities. The student protests there have entered their second week. Last Saturday (May 4), police arrested at least 25 more pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Virginia.

Al-Jazeera reported that more than two and a half thousand students have been arrested from campuses across the United States. In the meantime, graduation ceremony in universities is approaching.

It is feared that various university campuses in the United States may turn into battlefields around graduation ceremonies in the coming days.

At 47 US universities, students are protesting against Israeli aggression and genocide in Gaza. This protest has been going on since April 17. Since the beginning, the police have used excessive force to suppress this peaceful protest.

In this way, the rights activists protested the suppression of the protest and the arrest of the protesting students. They demanded to ensure the freedom of expression of the students.

Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for the end of this week at four universities hit by protests. The event is scheduled to take place this month or next June at several other universities, including New York's Columbia University, the epicenter of the protests.

The university authorities fear that the protesting students may disrupt the graduation ceremony. For this reason, the authorities are taking initiatives to strengthen the security system.

The protesting students have threatened that if their demands are not met, they are thinking of alternative programs including boycotting these events and walking out of the venue. In such circumstances, some universities have canceled these programs. Some are procrastinating.

The peaceful protests at the University of Virginia continued until Saturday morning. At that time a video spread among the students. In the video, police are seen detaining some protesting students from the campus lawn.

Apart from this, the police are using chemical sprays to quell the protests. After that the protest turned into a riot.

In a statement, University President Jim Ryan said that the protesters were detained when campus security informed the police that they would be protesting in tents last Friday night. However, it is not clear how many university students are among those detained.

Pro-Palestinians protest in front of the stage at the graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan. But this protest was peaceful. Campus police quickly surrounded the protesters and escorted them to the back of the stadium. But dozens of students dressed in flags, kaffiahs and graduation caps staged a university graduation ceremony.

A day later, Northeastern University and Ohio State University were supposed to hold the closing ceremony on Sunday, but the commencement ceremony was disrupted.

Meanwhile, apart from the United States, this protest has now spread to new countries. Students from France, UK, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, Lebanon, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and Mexico have come to protest for the Palestinians.

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Israel launched a ground attack in Rafah amid ceasefire talks



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Israel launched a ground attack in Rafah in the midst of Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks in Gaza.

A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas is in the Egyptian capital for ceasefire and prisoner-release talks. Sources said Ceasefire talks have progressed.

International media Al Jazeera reported in a report that despite the negotiations, Israel continued its ground attack on Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday to meet with mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States to negotiate a 40-day ceasefire, according to reports published by the United Kingdom.

The talks are at a critical stage, sources told Al Jazeera, as a Qatari technical team is working out the details of a potential deal with the Egyptians.

As technical teams indicate, we are moving into the operational side of a deal. They are monitoring the issues in detail in this agreement.

A senior Hamas spokesman, Osama Hamdan, told Al Jazeera, "It is clear that we are moving forward. There are some good points.

"So far we are still talking about the main issue, which is a complete ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from Gaza," he said. We hope to find some good and positive answers today.

Israel said it will continue to attack Rafah despite talk of a possible deal with Hamas. UN agencies and aid groups have long warned that the ground operation would spell disaster for the 15 lakh people taking refuge there.

Hamdan said, "Unfortunately, Netanyahu has made a clear statement that no matter what happens, if there is a ceasefire or not, he will continue to attack." That means there will be no ceasefire, and that means that the offensive will continue.

Al Jazeera's Ahlbara said the talks were focused on convincing Hamas that it should refrain from demanding a permanent ceasefire from Israel during the first phase of the deal because it is unlikely to happen.

On October 7, Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people. During this time, more than 240 people were captured by Hamas.

Later, more than 34,600 Palestinians have died in Israel's attack on Gaza. More than 70 percent of Palestinian territory has been reduced to rubble, pushing the region toward famine.

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Attacks on environmental journalists are on the rise worldwide: UN



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According to a recently published report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, 44 environmental journalists from 15 countries around the world lost their lives in violent attacks from 2009 to 2023; And 24 people managed to return alive.

This information was reported in the report of the news agency Reuters on Friday (May 3).

According to the report, attacks on environmental journalists are increasing around the world. UNESCO representatives interviewed 905 environmental journalists from 129 countries to prepare the report.

In the interview, 749 out of 905 journalists (more than 70 percent) said that they had to face physical attacks or intimidation, threats, and pressure at some point in their lives to perform their professional duties. Many have also had to deal with the legal problems of detention and defamation cases.

Analyzing the cases of assault-harassment, it has been found that the cases of physical assault have occurred more among male journalists. On the other hand, women journalists are more victims of harassment.

Journalists have been attacked and harassed while reporting on various environmental issues. These issues include various mining irregularities, land tenure conflicts, deforestation, extreme weather related disasters, pollution and environmental damage, fossil fuel sector and its trade etc.

All of these attacks and harassment have come from individuals and groups associated with the power structure of the state. In this context, the UNESCO report said, 'Police, army, government officials and employees, people of local government authorities are responsible for these attacks and harassment. 

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