THE STORY OF OTTLA KAFKA, SISTER OF FRANZ KAFKA

                                           

                              ( Ottla Kafka )

                        ( Parents of Franz Kafka )

                    ( Sisters of Franz Kafka )

                 ( Franz Kafka with sister Ottla ) 

THE STORY OF OTTLA KAFKA, SISTER OF FRANZ KAFKA.

 

Franz Kafka was born in 1883 and died in 1924, and some of his most famous works were published posthumously. It is believed that he destroyed some important manuscripts, fearing his readers might not like them. He also left instructions for all of his work to be burned after his death, which his friend Max Brod disobeyed.

 Kafka's writing style is distinct, unique, and, in a way, unusual.  It is characterised by its particular atmosphere and unsettling imagery. This is precisely the reason for the birth of the term "Kafkaesque", which is used to describe situations that are bizarre, illogical, and oppressive.

 Today, I will not be speaking about Metamorphosis, The Trial or The Castle or about the subject matter of his short stories. My mind goes to Ottla Kafka, his younger sister, for reasons which most of us don't know. In the US, I read a book on Ottla and also read some letters that Kafka and Ottla exchanged. The letters to Ottla reveal a new Kafka, hitherto unknown to the readers of his books. Through his letters, Kafka is unbelievably compassionate, helpful, and frequently humorous. As a brother, he provides a wonderful company to his sister Ottla.  Kafka wrote to Ottla for nearly 25 years, till his death, the only person in whom he had entire faith.

 Franz Kafka belonged to a German-speaking Jewish family originally from Germany, which had settled in  Czechoslovakia. Like Austria and many other countries of Europe, Czechoslovakia also had a sizeable population of German-speaking people. Kafka's father was a rich businessman of Prague. Franz Kafka had a complicated relationship with his father, which significantly influenced his writing.

 Kafka often felt alienated and oppressed by his father's domineering personality. Kafka disliked his parents because his father was autocratic and his mother supported him. Many critics believe that this lack of emotional support became pivotal in shaping the literary themes of Kafka. Apart from this, Kafka also had a deep-seated fear of inadequacy and societal rejection, often stemming from a difficult relationship with his father that also brought a sense of alienation in his personality. He also feared physical and mental collapse, which is reflected in his literary works, particularly in "The Metamorphosis". Add to that, he also struggled with social anxiety, insomnia, and other health issues, which further contributed to his anxieties. He also suffered repeated illnesses due to tuberculosis, which finally proved fatal for him. Antibiotics had not arrived in the world then.

Kafka also had ethical concerns about eating animals. Accordingly, he maintained a strict vegetarian diet. Franz was somewhat terror-stricken by his father's behaviour, a fact that made him seek emotional support from Ottla, his younger sister. Ottla encouraged her brother towards reading and writing when his father wanted him to join his business. Like her brother, Ottla also had a permanent conflict with her father. It was Ottla who temporarily housed her brother, Franz, in her house, so that he could write in peace and recover from his tuberculosis. Kafka never married.

 Ottla (real name Ottilie) was born in 1892. Franz's two brothers, Georg and Heinrich, died in infancy before Franz was seven. He had three sisters: Gabriele ("Elli") (1889–1942), Valerie ("Valli") (1890–1942) and Ottilie ("Ottla") (1892–1943). All three were murdered in the Holocaust of World War II by Nazi Germany after the invasion and occupation of Czechoslovakia.

 WHY GERMANY INVADED CZECHOSLOVAKIA

  In his book Mein Kampf (published in 1925), Adolf Hitler advocated the need for Lebensraum (living space) for the German people. Lebensraum meant occupying new lands to create one nation for the prosperity of the Germans. In a way, it was also meant to do away with some impositions put on Germany under the Treaty of Versailles that brought an end to World War I. Accordingly, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), the leader of Nazi Germany, put all his energy into creating a 'Greater Germany', which included all German-speaking areas of Europe. Once in power from 1933, Hitler pursued an aggressive foreign policy that aimed to recover Germany's territorial losses following the Treaty of Versailles.

Hitler started the process of annexation of the Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia which had a German-speaking population. The Munich Conference concluded that the Sudetenland territory would be ceded to Germany. In addition, Hitler would take over portions of Czechoslovakia provided he did not seek further expansion. The Czechoslovakian government was told that it could challenge Hitler to war, but it would do so without any support. In 1938, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia. In the Munich Agreement of September 1938, Britain, France, and Italy agreed to recognise Germany's claim over the Sudetenland.  Possibly, this was an appeasement done by countries that never wanted to develop again a World War I-like situation in Europe. In March 1939, Hitler invaded and occupied the Bohemian and Moravian regions of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia became a German client state, and Hungary and Poland grabbed what was left of the old Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia was under German occupation from September 30, 1938, until May 8, 1945, with the end of World War II in Europe.

 The expansionist policies of Germany under Adolf Hitler were intertwined with Nazi racial ideology, which viewed certain populations as inferior and deemed them unfit to live in the territories that the Nazis coveted. This ideology fueled the Holocaust, the systematic genocide of European Jews. Hitler also invaded Austria. Hitler's aggressive foreign policy resulted in the outbreak of World War II in September 1939.

 During the Holocaust, the Germans and their collaborators killed approximately 263,000 Jews who had resided on the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1938.

 THE DARING ACT OF OTTLA KAFKA

 Born on October 29, 1892, in Prague, Ottla was an independent, spirited woman. Despite being nearly a decade younger, she shared a deep bond with her brother Franz Kafka. Franz often entrusted her with his thoughts, once writing, "You are the only one who understands my chaos." Ottla defied societal norms, working on her family’s farm while Franz pursued his passion for writing. Their letters reveal a relationship filled with warmth and understanding.

With the encouragement of her brother and despite opposition from her parents, Ottla pushed through her own career choice and in 1920, she married a non-Jewish Czech (Christian). In the following years, Ottla gave birth to their two daughters: Vera (1921) and Helene (1923).

 In 1942, when the Holocaust began to tear lives apart, Ottla divorced her non-Jewish husband, Joseph David, to shield him and their two daughters from Nazi persecution. Her selfless act, however, placed her in even greater danger. Very soon, Ottla was deported to the concentration camp in Terezín, where she worked as a caregiver in an infant home. It was an orphanage which had Jewish children. On October 7, 1943, she volunteered to accompany a group of orphaned children from the Terezín (Theresienstadt) ghetto to the Gas Chambers. Ottla chose compassion over self-preservation and entered the Gas Chambers in Auschwitz with the children, refusing to abandon them. Survivor accounts tell of Ottla’s comforting presence on the transport—holding hands, singing Czech lullabies, and offering solace until the very end. Ottla and the children were murdered upon their arrival at Auschwitz.

Ottla’s letters to Franz, preserved by her daughters, provide a glimpse into her tender and resilient spirit. Ottla’s legacy lives on through her stories, which highlight unprecedented bravery and selflessness during one of history’s darkest periods. A memorial plaque at Kafka's family grave commemorates Ottla and her sisters, who were also killed in concentration camps.

                                         

 In the 2024 film," The Glory of Life"  (German: Die Herrlichkeit des Lebens), Alma Hasun has played the role of Ottla Kafka. Directed by Judith Kauffman, the film centres on the love story of Franz Kafka and Dora Diamant.

 

( Avtar Mota)

 PS

Approximately six million Jewish people were murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators during the Holocaust. Adolf Hitler, as the leader of the Nazi Party, was the central figure responsible for initiating and overseeing the persecution and extermination of Jews in Europe. The Holocaust was a systematic and organised act of genocide, driven by a hateful ideology that targeted Jewish people for their perceived race and led to the murder of nearly two-thirds of all Jews in Europe. 

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APPLYING OWNERSHIP TO A RELATION IS THE KEY ISSUE

   

                                                             

OWNERSHIP IS THE KEY  ISSUE 

Sometimes I feel  :

" In love, the real issue is ownership.Applying ownership is also allowing the other person  the freedom to be what he is . Ownership is about recognising that each person's reality and feelings are valid, even if they differ from your own.In a healthy relationship, this sense of ownership brings mutual respect and support .It is the ownership that creates  a willingness to compromise and make sacrifices for the relationship's well-being. It is not  about possessing or controlling another person or his actions.In a relationship, ownership  implies understanding impact of one's spoken  words ,actions, emotions and  conduct  on  the other person . If one understands this simple fact, there comes a willingness to take responsibility for these actions, emotions and conduct .The blame game has no place in such relation  .

Ownership in a relation   brings trust and mutual respect  whereby individual demands become lesser, genuine and  realistic. It is similar to Hydropincs ,a  method in which  plants grow, flourish and bear flowers  without making demands for  soil or peat moss.

Applying ownership on 'as is where is basis'  works wonders. Should a plant own even a stone, it can not stop growing or blooming  .A rock remains a rock, a plant remains a plant  and one notices life , mutual dependence and flowers. 

Ravindra  Jain wrote....

"Boota pathraan  te ugdaa hai pyaar da

 Tainu vaasta hai dil di pukaar da

Le ja le ja sandesha sone yaar da.."

....,......

.

"A plant of love may even sprout out from a stone ."

Let him be assured   about this sincere cry of the heart , 

Carry this message to that loveable friend.)" 

(Avtar Mota)

PS

It is a random feeling . The reader is at liberty to agree with this feeling or disagree altogether. 

.
CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

THE LE MONDE : A HISTORIC NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED FROM PARIS

                                            

 

                                                 ( The New Headquarters of The Le Monde )

                                                     ( The New Headquarters of The Le Monde )

                                               ( The New Headquarters of The Le Monde )

                                                 ( The New Headquarters of The Le Monde )

                                                        ( President Mitterrand  and Mrs Gandhi)  

                                                            (Hubert Beuve Mery )                    

( President Mitterrand  reading The Le Monde )

                                                         ( Old Headquarters of Le Monde ) 

 

                                                 ( Jean-Paul Descombey with Le Monde)

THE LE MONDE: A HISTORIC NEWSPAPER 

PUBLISHED FROM PARIS

Le Monde and Le Figaro are two main French newspapers read in France. Both are being published from Paris. Le Monde has a good readership on account of its international news and a little centre-left editorial stance. Le Figaro, the second-largest national newspaper in France, after Le Monde,  has a centre-right editorial stance and is headquartered on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The Liberation (centre-left editorial stance), Le Parisien,  and Les Echos are also some prominent newspapers of France. Founded by famous philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and journalist Serge July, Liberation started with a rather revolutionary stance following the protests of May 1968. Founded in 1942 as the newspaper of the French Resistance, Le Parisien (The Parisian) is dedicated to news of the Paris region is the best newspaper to follow if one is interested in Paris-related news and events. Les Echos newspaper is focused on business and economics. Founded in 1908, it is owned by the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. The paper is known for its liberal economic stance and its readership of decision-makers. 

Published in French and English, Le Monde is one of the most trusted newspapers in France. It was also one of the first French papers to establish an online edition. In 2023, lemonde.fr served 20 million pages a day, reaching an audience of more than 500,000 subscribers. The English edition of Le Monde was started in 1969 and faced many difficulties and had to be closed down.  Since its re-launch in April 2022, the English edition of 'Le Monde' has offered a selection of articles that reflect the richness of the French editorial staff's journalism. Throughout its history, Le Monde has proclaimed its European convictions, but without making Europe the beating heart of its editorial line.

Founded by Hubert Beuve-Méry at the request of Charles de Gaulle (as Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic) on 19 December 1944, shortly after the Liberation of Paris from the German army, it has published continuously since its first edition. Le Monde took over the format of Le Temps because the latter ceased publication in November 1942, shortly after German forces occupied the entire territory of France during World War II. Le Temps was the most important newspaper of the French Republic, particularly among the French political and economic elite.

Beuve-Méry rarely rubbed shoulders with politicians. He had little interest in dinners where the gossip of the times was gleaned, and didn't seek out the company of celebrities or the powerful. He was known as a firm, fair and fearless journalist in France.

Among many thousands of some VVIPs and important people, some prominent readers of the Le Monde could be listed as Pablo Picasso,  Albert Camus, Zhou Enlai, Jean-Paul Descombey, Andre Malraux, Charles de Gaulle, Francois Mitterrand, Nicolas Sarkozy and actor Jean-Paul Belmondo,  Mrs Indira Gandhi, JRD Tata, artist SH Raza and Shashi Tharoor. And in 1981, when Sorbonne University decided to honour  Mrs Indira Gandhi with the doctorate honoris causa, Le Monde brought out an Indian supplement for the event. And Mrs Gandhi surprised all at the Sorbonne by her flawless speech in French. During this visit, one of Mrs Gandhi's most off-beat programmes was a meeting with a select group of intellectuals at the gorgeous Pompidou Centre in Paris. Speaking fluent French, Mrs Gandhi mingled with them in a closed session to which journalists were not invited.

The 'Le Monde'  has lately moved to a New building that is also an architectural wonder. With the completion of its new headquarters, the 1,600 employees of the Le Monde Group have been brought together under the same roof in a generously arching building on 67-69 Avenue Pierre-Mendes-France in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. The previous headquarters were located at Boulevard Auguste-Blanqui, also in the 13th arrondissement. With its bold new plaza and semi-transparent outer skin, the new building creates connections to the general public and surrounding transit while also offering citizens and passersby a generous respite in the city. A translucent, dynamic façade and expansive public plaza express the building’s openness to its surrounding context. The  Snohetta Architects, a reputed company from Norway, designed the new building for the headquarters of Le Monde. The architecture of the new headquarters is guided by concepts of openness and transparency of the Norwegian society and reflects a unified Paris.

My friend Kamal Hak informs me this:-

"In 1993, Le Monde was perhaps the first European newspaper to carry a story on the exodus of the Kshmiri Pandits. I recall talking to its correspondent for a long time. It all happened due to the efforts of M.L. Kotru, who was the editor of the  Statesman newspaper then. The exodus story was immediately followed by the German newspaper 'Der Spiegel' with the help provided by M L Kotru ." 

And I am informed by a friend that M L Kotru paid a heavy price for supporting hapless Kashmiri Pandits at that critical juncture. The management at the Statesman newspaper fired him for his open support to the cause of the Kashmiri Pandits, who became the soft targets of the Pakistan-trained terrorists and their sympathisers in the Kashmir valley.Although the newspaper management  did not mention that he was being dismissed because of the Kashmiri Pandit story, but the Press Club of India was convinced that this highly reputed editor was dismissed , so suddenly and disgracefully only for his explicit support to the cause of the Kashmiri Pandits.

In Paris, I bought a copy of the newspaper in French from a bookstore for 5.50 Euros; a souvenir to carry back to India. It is cheaper monthly and quite cheap for online reading. The price of a digital subscription to Le Monde in English is €3.99/month for the first year, then reverts to €14.99/month. There is also a yearly plan for €43.99 for the first year, then €109.99 per year. I conclude this story of the Le Monde newspaper with a quote from Thomas Jefferson, former President of the United States of America:-

“Were it left to me to decide if we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.

( Avtar Mota )

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THE VALIANT DOGRA SOLDIERS IN PARIS DURING WORLD WAR I

                                                                          

                           ( Wounded Dogra soldiers  convalescing in the Brighton Pavilion in the UK )

THE VALIANT DOGRA SOLDIERS IN PARIS

 

In the freezing month of December 1841, Wazir Zorawar Singh, the Dogra General, moved to Tibet to fight the Tibetans in the deadly conflict in the high Himalayas. Under the worst freezing conditions, he demonstrated the saying of Napoleon Bonaparte, ‘Offence is the best form of defence.’ His military campaigns helped in the process of assimilation of Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan into the erstwhile Dogra state in Jammu and Kashmir. We have another warrior, Brigadier Rajinder Singh Jamwal (MVC), who is also remembered as the Saviour of Kashmir in 1947. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra independent India’s second-highest military decoration. Maj. Somnath Sharma, another valiant Dogra who fought Pakistani infiltrators and saved Srinagar Airport, was the first recipient of India's highest military decoration, Param Vir Chakra (PVC). There are unending bravery stories of the valiant Dogras of Jammu. In the 1965 war, Dogra soldiers saw action on many fronts in J&K and won many battle honours. In the 1971 war, Dogra soldiers saw action in East Pakistan and the Khem Karan Sector. For their bravery in East Pakistan, 9 Dogra was awarded the battle honour of Suadih. The 5th Dogra Battalion fought in the Kargil War to capture Tiger Hill. The Dogra Regiment has not only contributed to the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in the Gaza Strip, Korea, and Congo but has also contributed to providing various military observers in various peacekeeping operations around the globe. Under British command, the Dogra units served in numerous colonial military campaigns across Asia and Africa. They participated in the Second Afghan War (1878–80), where their familiarity with mountainous terrain made them effective against Afghan tribesmen. They were also involved in the campaigns in Abyssinia, Burma, and Tibet. In World War II, the Dogra Regiment was extensively involved across various theatres of war. The regiment contributed multiple battalions, which served in Burma, North Africa, Italy, and Malaya. Dogra troops fought the Japanese during the Burma Campaign, notably in the Battle of Kohima (1944) and the Battle of Imphal, which were turning points in halting Japanese advancement into India. Before Indian independence, the Dogras had to their credit two Victoria Crosses and 44 Military Crosses besides 312 other awards, including 2 Unit Citations.

                                                           

                                                                                                        

                                              ( Indian soldiers marching in Paris during World War I)                                                                        

                                                           ( General Wavell inspecting Dogra soldiers )                                          

       

(Scottish Highlanders and Indian Dogra soldiers sit side by side in a trench fortified with makeshift shelters during World War I. Captured in Fauquissart, France, this photograph from 9 August 1915 reflects the diversity and solidarity of the Allied forces on the Western Front.)

                                                                                  

DOGRAS IN WORLD WAR I

In Paris, I came to know that during World War I, Maharaja Partap Singh had sent the Dogra troops to fight alongside the British soldiers. The Dogra Regiment played an important role in World War I with its battalions deployed in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.  The 41st Dogra regiment saw action in France during World War I (1914-1918), and this is mentioned in the books and literature relating to World War I. The Dogra and Sikh soldiers are remembered for their heroic deeds in the Battle of La Bassee, which was fought by German and Franco-British forces in northern France. The Dogra soldiers also joined the action in the Aubers, Neuve-Chapelle and Festubert areas of France. Lance Naik Lala (No. 501) of the 41st Dogra Regiment was conferred the Victoria Cross for his exemplary bravery in World War I. In France, the Dogra troops were commanded by Capt. PH Myles of the 41st Dogra Regiment, who was later killed in Action in *Mesopotamia in January 1916. In this war, the Ottoman Turkey had allied with Germany. The Dogra soldiers also saw action in Palestine and Egypt, supporting the British-led offensive against the Ottomans in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The Dogra soldiers joined British soldiers in the campaign against the Ottoman Empire in Iraq, where Indian troops bore the brunt of fierce resistance and logistical hardships. Throughout the war, the Dogra soldiers earned accolades for their bravery, and several were awarded the Indian Order of Merit and Distinguished Service Medal. Working their way through mangrove swamps, the Dogra soldiers surprised the European army with their bayonet charge, something not heard of in bush warfare. Many times, the Dogras led from the front. After protracted international discussions held mainly at Versailles ( France ), a peace treaty was signed between the Allied and Associated Powers (which included Great Britain, France, United States of America, Russia, Japan and some more countries ) and the  Central Powers ( which included Germany, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria). After the war was over, many injured Dogra soldiers were admitted to special convalescent homes for the wounded soldiers set up in Paris and the UK by the British authorities. Most of the Dogra soldiers were sent to the Brighton Pavilion. The Royal Pavilion, also known as the Brighton Pavilion, was a former royal residence located in Brighton, England. The Royal Pavilion was transformed into the first Indian hospital in Brighton. The former palace, along with the Dome and Corn Exchange, was converted into a state-of-the-art medical facility in less than two weeks. New plumbing and toilet facilities were installed, and 600 beds were set up in the newly created wards. The  Brighton Pavilion was used for Indian troops from 1914 to 1916.

The wounded soldiers were visited by Queen Mary and King George V, who handed over some gifts to the injured soldiers. King George V and Queen Mary were also active in the war effort. The King first visited the Western Front in November 1914, and he returned five further times during the war. His engagements included meeting Allied heads of state, inspecting troops and visiting the wounded. Queen Mary felt she should accompany her husband, and her first visit to France was in July 1917, where she visited hospitals, aerodromes, nurses' hostels and casualty clearing stations. At home in Britain, they undertook similar visits to wounded and disabled soldiers, sailors and airmen in hospitals and convalescent centres; discharged soldiers and sailors were even invited to entertainments at Buckingham Palace. They were sent back to India only after all possible medical treatment. 

A major portion of the Jammu Kashmir State Forces under Maharaja Partap Singh participated in World War I (1914-1919). Their war trophies included the German insignia, the Brass Eagle and the German flag captured by the 2nd battalion, amongst other German artillery.  

An Army magazine on World War 1 wrote this about Dogra soldiers:-

 "More solid than brilliant, they are full of quiet and resolute courage when face to face with danger. Law-abiding and well-behaved, steady and resolute, though not showy of courage, their virtues shine forth in moments of peril when they will face certain death with a calm and determination to do before they die."

Another magazine published in India wrote this on Bastille Day in France:-

“The association of the Indian and the French Armies dates back to World War I. Over 1.3 million Indian soldiers participated in the war, and almost 74,000 of them fought in the muddy trenches to never return, while another 67,000 were wounded. Indian troops valiantly fought on French soil also. Their courage, valour, and supreme sacrifice not only thwarted the enemy but also significantly contributed towards winning the war.”

Perhaps the best compliment given to the Dogra soldiers  has come from Field Marshal Sir William Slim, who wrote this:-

“The Dogra proved themselves yet again a hardened and courageous fighter. Like his predecessors, he has been proud of his military heritage and has shown himself well-versed in the art of war. Nor did he fail to live up to his age-old reputation of combining courage with modesty and good manners as a gentleman should. I know from personal experience that in an army with many fine battalions, the Dogras have not merely upheld their brilliant reputation, but have added lustre to the pages of history of both their own regiment and of the Indian Army.”

 

                                                   ( A Dogra Rajput soldier in uniform, 1916)

The origins of the Dogra Regiment can be traced back to the late 19th century when the British Indian Army recognised the martial competency of the Dogra people. The regiment was initially raised as part of the Bengal Army in 1877, with the establishment of the 37th Dogra Regiment of Bengal Infantry. The 37 Dogra, 38 Dogra and 41st Dogra regiments saw action in World War I.

Enrolling in the army has long been the ambition and career motivation of the hill regions of the Dogras. Soldiering has not only become a substantial part of the economic structure of the Dogra Hills, but created social and cultural traditions built on the people's association with the army. After 1947, the Dogra Regiment became a prominent infantry regiment of the Indian Army. Dr Karan Singh, the last Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, wrote the Dogra Regiment’s regimental song, ‘Dikhi Lai Dogra Desh‘.General Nirmal Chander Vij, the 21st Chief of the Army Staff, was from the Dogra Regiment. And so were Lieutenant General M S Pathania PVSM, Major General Mohan Lal PVSM, Lieutenant General P N Hoon PVSM, AVSM, SM, Lieutenant General V K Jetley PVSM, VSM, Lieutenant General V K Sood PVSM, AVSM, PhD, Lieutenant General Sher Amir Singh PVSM, AVSM Lieutenant General H.S. Bedi PVSM, VSM, Lieutenant General Surjit Singh PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Lieutenant General S S Sanga PVSM, AVSM, VSM, SM, Lieutenant General J K  Mohanty PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, SM, ADC, Lieutenant General Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Lieutenant General A K Singh PVSM, AVSM, VSM, SM, Lieutenant General G S Dhillon PVSM, VSM, YSM, SM, Brig Jagmohan Varma, SM, VSM, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh AVSM, YSM, SM, ADC, Lieutenant General Jai Singh Nain AVSM, SM, ADC, Lt General VM Bhuvana Krishnan AVSM, YSM.

And in the field of sports and games, it produced six national-level players and twelve service-level players.

( Avtar Mota)

 

PS

The name Mesopotamia means "the land between the rivers" in Greek; meso is "middle" or "between" and "potam" is a root word for "river," also seen in the word hippopotamus or "river horse." Mesopotamia was the ancient name for what is now Iraq, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. It has sometimes also been identified with the Fertile Crescent, although technically the Fertile Crescent took in parts of what are now several other countries in southwest Asia

 

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
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SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY : THE HISTORIC BOOK SHOP IN PARIS

                                            

                                       

( The blogger outside the book store in Paris ) 

 ( The blogger outside Notre dame church ,Paris)

SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY : THE HISTORIC BOOK SHOP  IN PARIS 

"I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, and I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations." —George Whitman

 Close to Notre Dame across the  Seine River ,  lies the iconic and historic  book store of Paris known as "Shakespeare And Company' . This more than 100 year old book shop sells books,novels and the literature created by  English authors from every corner of the world . Perhaps the only English book store in France selling books of reputed authors. Its hallowed halls have welcomed literary luminaries like Allen Ginsberg, Ernest Hemingway, and many  more. It has been a meeting place for anglophone writers and readers, becoming a Left Bank literary institution.

Visitors to this book shop  prefer to go up the creaky wooden stairs into the reading room.  The steps hold  one's attention as each one has words painted onto them written by a 14th-century Persian poet, Hafiz. From the reading room, one  can see Notre Dame church which is still under some repairs and renovations after the major fire incident some years back.

The  book store was  opened in 1919 by an American bookseller, Sylvia Beach, originally at 8 rue Dpuytren. It moved a couple of years later to rue de l’Odéon, and it was here, in 1922, that Sylvia published James Joyce’s book, Ulysses, when nobody else would touch the manuscript.About Sylvia Beach , Hemingway wrote this :-

“Sylvia had a lively, sharply sculptured face, brown eyes that were as alive as a small animal's and as gay as a young girl's . . . She was kind, cheerful and interested, and loved to make jokes and gossip. No one that I ever knew wa nicer to me.”

 Unfortunately, during the German occupation of Paris in 1941, the shop was closed and Sylvia never opened it again . She is believed to have been asked by the German soldiers to close the shop after she refused to give them some books . However, Sylvia kept persuading George Whitman,another American in Paris  to set up the book shop once more . In 1959, Beach published her memoir, "Shakespeare and Company", which begins with her childhood in America and ends with the liberation of Paris after the Second World War. Beach passed away in 1962 in Paris.

George Whitman had arrived in Paris after got himself  enrolled at the Sorbonne, studying psychology and French civilization. He  took up residence at the Hôtel de Suez on Boulevard Saint-Michel, where he began a lending library of sorts. He had a thousand titles, his door was always left unlocked, and anyone could come in to read or borrow a book. In 1951,George founded his bookstore-cum-lending library in a former Algerian grocery shop,  directly across the Seine River near Notre-Dame. Originally called Le Mistral, George’s bookshop quickly became a meeting point for the great Paris-based writers of the time.For Whitman though, it was never about making money, it was more about providing generations of writers a chance to hone their craft. He offered something unusual to the authors.  He invited  them to the book store  for completing their manuscripts and also allowed them to sleep inside  the business premises. Some famous names amongst them included Henry Miller, James Baldwin, Ray Bradbury, Lawrence Durrell and Gregory Corso.They were affectionately nicknamed “The Tumbleweeds” by George as he likened them to the plant of the same name. It’s estimated, that 30,000 plus aspiring writers have slept in between the bookcases of this legendary store. The Tumbleweed programme continues to  this day.  It offers  a unique opportunity to unpublished writers to stay at the  bookshop in the heart of Paris, and to contribute to the city's rich and extensive literary culture. The book shop  in Paris is a must-visit destination for book lovers, history enthusiasts, and literary romantics alike.

 Located at 37 rue de la Bûcherie in the 5th arrondissement on the left bank of the Seine River, directly opposite the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the store is visited by tourist from every corner of  the world .The nearest metro station  to this iconic book shop is Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, just a short walk away. The bookstore was a haven for the 'Lost Generation' of writers, and one could often find literary greats such as Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S Elliot and Ernest Hemingway, to name but a few, hanging out there regularly.

In 1981, George's only daughter was born in Paris and she was given the name Sylvia in honour of Sylvia Beach, the original owner of the  Shakespare And Company. And In 2002, George Whitman ( 1913-2011) handed over the reins to  Sylvia, his daughter, and she  runs it today. Sylvia introduced several new literary endeavors. In June 2003, Shakespeare and Company hosted its first literary festival, followed by three others. Participants over the years have included Paul Auster, Will Self, Marjane Satrapi, Jung Chang, Philip Pullman, Hanif Kureishi, Siri Hustvedt, Martin Amis, and Alistair Horne, among many others.

On December 14, 2011—two days after his 98th birthday—George Whitman died at home, in the apartment above his bookshop. He was buried at Père Lachaise cemetery, surrounded by many of the writers, artists, and intellectuals who inspired his life and his bookshop.

The  sales clerk in this bookstore  stamps   every book with the "Shakespeare and Company" logo upon its sale. That is something fascinating  . And books are shipped to any corner of the world.One can buy a  second-hand or a  new book of  any  well- known author  and  also sell one's old book.On the  display,  I saw books of many new authors  apart from those written by  many  well known authors  of  the 20th and  the 21st century .The shop’s latest projects include a Shakespeare and Company publishing arm.

The book store is open from Monday to Wednesday from 10:00 to 20:00, Thursday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 and on Sunday from 12:00 to 19:00. "Shakespeare And Company "is a brand now. Apart from books, the store sells T-shirts ( Bookshop- Facade)  , tote-bags, stationery items, key rings, pochettes ,mugs ,bottles and many more gift items.Since 2015,  the new promoter diversified the business to survive.  Shakespeare and Company Café has been started in the bookstore to serve special coffee and  tea to the  locals and the visitors alike, alongside a blend of anglo-style sweets and french patisserie. So come in, have your tea or coffee as you read your favourite author with uninterrupted views over Notre Dame and the Seine River. The cafe is open on all days from 9.30 to 19.00 .

In Paris , the bouquinistes are also  the iconic booksellers along the Seine River. They have  set up their green boxes along the quays and offer a diverse collection of new and used books, vintage posters, postcards, and prints to tourists.

( Avtar Mota )

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