The spirit of the Korean race the light of the world
Aug 14, 2022At that time in 1910, lots of Koreans who had antipathy against Japanese colonial government crossed the national border into the territory of China. Although they faced with a lot of difficulties. All of them were the descendants of independence fighters and the grass-roots for livelihood. After settling down there, the roots of strong vitality have been laid down. Today, their descendants have provided the fatherland with everlasting labor force for the economic development and also have shown their diligence for global village.
The Wongok market located at Wongok-dong, Ansan city is well known as international tourist destination. The background photos below show the health-care activities of Korean Residents from China who have the living quarters at Ansan and others. Jang Jin-hwa is president of Korean-Chinese folk dance group. And Oh Sunggon is president of Korea-Dokdo-Love.
------------------------
Influence of Sanskrit in Naming the Eight Sisters of North East India
By Madhu Chandra
Originally known as the Sven Sisters of North East India and Sikkim was added to its eighth state recently and soon after India got independent, the first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was assigned the task of unifying the independent kingdoms into the union territory of India and successfully it was done to the north-eastern states as well.
The statehoods were given to Assam in 1947, Nagaland in 1963, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Sikkim in 1975, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram in 1987. Earlier Manipur and Tripura were merged in the Union Territory of India in 1956 and Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh in 1971. The name of the place, people, and things and languages are the identities of the people and tribe and these names and languages identify the nationality. The names adopted by the North East states identify the nationality of these states. These names were given many years before the North-Eastern states were merged into Indian territory and many of them have Sanskrit connotations. These names might have made Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's job is easy.
The states like Kachin, Chin in Myanmar, whose names have no connotation with Sanskrit names and they were never questioned about bringing them under Indian territory and they do not have any similar identity with India. One should find the Sanskrit connection of the names of India's North-East states, among eight states, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya have similar connotations with Sanskrit names. Whereas Assam, Mizoram, and Sikkim retained their identity ethnically with their state names and Nagaland is unique with one English word and one, which is debated hotly.
Mizoram retains its state name with its ethnic background. "Mi" means people," Zo" is their ethnic name and Ram means land, which means the land of Zou people. We did not see any influence of Christianity as per the choice of their state names and no Sanskrit connotation as well. Assam is the gateway to the rest of the states in the region in the aspects of political, social, economic, education and trade affairs. Stronghold of majority Hinduism and mixture of tribal religions. As per the name of their state - Assam, which does not have any connection with Sanskrit's name.
Latter Assam was changed to Asom by the state assembly a few years ago. The name Assam is believed to be derived from the word “Asama,” which means “peerless” in the Ahom language. Though the Assam is heavily influenced by Indian politics and Hinduism, the identity of their name kept with their own ethnic identity, like the way Mizoram did. Nagaland falls in uniqueness with English in the last word "land", which could have been influenced by English education brought by the Christian missions. Having said this, the first part of the name "Naga" is the most debated term. There are two theories in an attempt to interpret the name “naga”. One is from the Hindi perspective, it means “naked” and there is a high chance of people living at the Naga foothill during the British time, calling the tribal from these surrounding hill regions as “naga manu” meaning the naked people. Naga scholars have critically denied this concept without giving reliable sources to deny the leakage with Hindi.
The second theory lately came across, this too without the reliable sources, suggesting the name “Naga” is derived Kachin tribe of Myanmar. They suggested the Kachin tribe has the word “Naka,” which means people, whose ears are pierced. This theory is based mostly without any written source, which can be considered authentic. One has to come up with a reliable source, even the work “Naka” or “naga” is found in any Burmese people, whereas the word “naga”, is very familiar, and there is less doubt to use the Hindi word “naga” for naked people. Naga was one of the naked people. Sikkim was included into eight sisters of North East states not a long time ago. Like Mizoram and Assam, they have their unique name, which is believed to have derived from the Limbu tribe. The name has two Limbu words "su" meaning new and "khyim" palace. It neither reflects any particular tribes of the state, nor any Sanskrit connotation.
The remaining four states - Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura, have Sanskrit names. Arunachal Pradesh has a large religious group of Buddhism. It is also unique in terms of the language used in the state. Hindi is used and spoken in the state and among inter tribes. It is unlike in other states. The rest of the states speak the local language commonly. Assam speaks Assamese, Nagamese in Nagaland, Meeteilon in Manipur, Mizo in Mizoram, Kokboro or Bengla in Tripura, Khasi and Garo in Meghalaya. The original name of Manipur is debated at large without finding any specific original name. Undoubtedly, Manipur had its name, which was replaced with the current name. It is believed to have formed from two Sanskrit words - "mani" - gems and "pur" - land, which possibly means the land of gems.
From the early tune of poetry, Sana Leibak (golden land) is used to name the glory of the state. The concept also seems to be borrowed from the concept of Sonar Bengal. No doubt how the art and culture of Bengal have influenced Manipur and other states in the region. Meghalaya and its state capital Shillong is considered the Switzerland of India. Meghalaya had the highest influence on British India, compared to the rest of the eight sister states. The Presbyterian mission had strong influences at Jaintia hill and the Baptist mission in Garo hill. It seems considered least, in terms of naming their state name with the influence of British India as well as Christian missionaries. Sanskrit seems to have its way of naming the state. The Sanskrit word "mega" for cloud and "laya" means abode. Politically, Meghalaya is the center among the eight sister states. But Sanskrit has influenced in naming the state, yet very little influence on the social and religious aspects.
Tripura among the eight sister states, particularly among the scholars in Manipur, use to name Tripura, losing the ethnic identity of the state under the heavy influence of Bangali. The state has two face identities – Kokboro the local tribe and Bengali. Bengalis are considered mostly migrated from neighboring. Among the scholars, the original name of Tripura is derived from two words '"tui" which means water, and "pra" near. It may originally mean the name “Near the Water.” “Tui” is a word for water among Zou people in the region and it suggests the original name of Tripura, which is derived from the ethnic identity.
But the present form of a name, Tripura, undoubtedly connected with Sanskrit, specifically in the second part of the name "Pura", which seems closely connected with the word "Pur". Manipur and Tripura had a close connection in history, the two words "Pura" and "Pur" were used in the names of two states. The usage of Sanskrit names in naming the names of the eight sister states has huge impacts on social, political, and religious life. Social, political, and religious influences on the people of eight sister states of North East India would have been less without the influence of Sanskrit. Madhu Chandra is a Hyderabad based freelancer and founder spokesperson of North East Helpline New Delhi
------------------------
World Culture in Ansan city
Dec 5, 2020
A small city of South Korea in Ansan has numbers of Multicultural population living there. They are from all continents of the world, including Africa, Europe, America and other parts of Asia. There are many multicultural restaurants and shops in Wongok market nearby Ansan station. This is a perfect place where they can eat and buy stuffs of their own multicultural things. Usually, they meet together with their own culture society there in weekend. They also do dancing at the park and other events.
Oh Sunggon(right)
In amidst of Covid19, they have more restricted to meeting people except only their close society people. This multicultural location is unique only for foreigners. Local Koreans are distance away from this multicultural society. In fact, there are many Chinese-Koreans resident there. Going back to 1910, due to Japanese occupation in Korean peninsula, they left to China. Now, they are coming back to Korean peninsula for earning money.
----------------------------------
A Trip to the Daegu City
At the Seomun Market
The Global Digest has visited at the Daegu City, which includes the famous locations such as Seomun Market, Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine, Guam Farm Stay(Experience), Kim Gwangseok-gil Street, Dongseongno Street, Donghwasa Temple and Mt. Palgongsan Cable Car....See more photos
----------------------------------
Ex-students congregate at Makhibaha School
Former students of high school
Guwahati: An emotional moment with pensive discourses embraced nearly hundred participants as they assembled at Makhibaha HS School (formerly High School) on 16 April 2017 on the occasion of Satirtha Samaroh, which was organized for the first time in the pioneer educational institution of Assam’s Nalbari district in northeast India.
Over fifty former students belonged to 1982-83 high school leaving certificate examination participating batch along with their family members attended the function that witnessed various programs like plantation in the school premise, commemoration to few of their batch mates, felicitation to former teachers, vivid interactions among all the participants etc.
The felicitated teachers including Trailokya Narayan Choudhury, Prafulla Goswami, Narayan Sarma, Yogesh Chandra Sarma, Naren Das, Rameswar Kalita, Mathur Thakuria, Umesh Chandra Kalita etc fondly remembered the old days. They revealed that the school possessed lot of expectations with the batch, which the students materialized under the mentorship of the then head master Malin Chandra Sarma. The ageing teachers, charged with emotions, blessed the former students from their hearts. They also asked the ex-students to continue supporting the institution and help maintaining its standard of teaching & learning for thousands of students from the non-urbanized locality.
Few students of the bright batch had expired untimely following various reasons and the participants in Satirtha Samaroh paid their sincere tributes to Bhupen Bhattacharya, Phatik Thakuria, Aswini Thakuria, Prahlad Barman, Sivakanta Thakuria, Gopal Das, Dinesh Deka and Dilip Kumar Deka (who has been missing for over a decade) in presence of their close relatives. The meeting, presided over by Hareswar Dutta, was also graced by the school principal Pratibha Devi, community leader Harsih Bhattacharya, former school employees Rashik Sarma & Jali Haloi, former students including Nabadip Bharali, Niren Thakuria, Hitesh Deka, Saroj Haloi, Pradip Kumar Sarma, Pramod Barman, Golak Pathak, Pankaj Talukdar, Navajyoti Thakuria etc.
A chorus penned by the former students was also performed by Narayan Majumdar, Harendra Kalita, Kishor Sarma, Pradip Pathak, Rina Deka, Gopeswar Haloi, Utpal Bhattacharya, Kalyan Sarma, Gopinath Haloi, Ashok Sarma, Hemen Medhi, Dwijen Thakuria etc. Other programs were joined by Kiran Deka, Subhas Deka, Hemanta Deka, Haripad Haloi, Gopal Choudhury, Niren Sarma, Sailen Sarma, Subhash Talukdar, Subhash Pathak, Hatem Ali, Hemanta Kalita, Gagan Pathak, Srikanta Deka, Dilip Barman, Pulendra Dutta, Harekrishna Kalita, Ranjit Pathak, Girish Haloi, Gadadhar Barman, Tankeswar Deka etc.
Presently based in different parts of India, former students namely Ghameswar Kalita, Aswini Sarma, Dhiren Sarma and Anil Sarma extended their advance greetings to Satirtha Samaroh, which was also missed by Shishir Thakuria, Lakshmi Barman, Khiroda Kakoti, Daiboki Dutta, Manomati Thakuria, Phukan Choudhury, Nibaran Deka, Niren Haloi, Dharani Pathak, Dipak Thakuria, Khagen Deka, Narendra Deka, Tarun Kalita, Sadananda Kalita, Manoj Dutta, Jagannath Haloi, Kunja Ram Kalita, Nabin Haloi, Aswini Dutta, Mrinal Sarma, Kamal Dutta, Niranjan Deka, Hitesh Sarma, Bhupen Baruah, Rajani Rajbonshi etc.
The participants resolved to support the institution in particular and the Makhibaha locality as a whole in the coming days. Moreover they decided to assemble at the same school once again in 2020 with more programs and participations. Till then they resolved to encourage the local community students with their full personal capacities.
----------------------------------
Jocelyn Akwaba-Matignon ‘Ixchel the Goddess of the moon‘
At the Exhibition
This is the individual Exhibition of the French Artist Jocelyn Akwaba-Matignon – called ‘Ixchel the Goddess of the moon‘. The event detail as followed, Exhibition: Ixchel the Goddess of the moon, Period: Feb 1st ~ Mar 25th, Place: L153 Gallery (서울시 서대문구 연희동 116-5), Contact: L153 Gallery (02-322-5827).
Exhibition Introduction
This is the 2nd individual Exhibition in Korea of the French Artist Jocelyn AKWABA MATIGNON whom 1st exhibition took place at the KF Gallery where he has been invited by the Korea Foundation, last year October, 2016.
Being in relation with diverse cultures and civilizations of the continents on earth, the artworks of the French Artist Jocelyn AKWABA MATIGNON which express the enlightened truthiness, is set of mysterious shapes, rare colorful and color combination. The artwork “Ixchel the Goddess of the moon”, main piece of the Exhibition, honors the goddess Ixchel, the symbol of abundance and fertility, to the Mayans. We can notice the artist mindset and interest in symbols, signs, myths, universe, life, etc…as well as in the other exhibited artworks.
THE ARTIST
Artist Painter living in Guadeloupe, born in 1961, titular from the Higher National Diploma of Visual Art, Jocelyn Akwaba-Matignon has realized, regularly for twenty-five years, exhibitions here and elsewhere, where it reveals his artistic research on the multiple facets of his origins. His triangular course (Europe-Africa-America) with the image of his logo, is a quest of Being, a research and a permanent questioning on the magic of the world and the mystery of the life.
Currently, it offers us an American crossing with the Native American part of our “Being Caribbean”. Jocelyn Akwaba-Matignon is a great reader, it also conducts research on sacred geometry, the myths of Mesoamerica, the Native American spirituality, the alchemical quest, symbolic numbers, the strength of Mother Earth, the mystery of the masks, on the unseen or revealed to our consciousness, the illusion of the visible world. He takes us into the space of the subtle and the unspeakable. THE SYMBOLISM OF HIS LOGO At first sight, his triangular logo symbolizes his journey between Europe, Africa and America. No doubt, too, it symbolizes water, female, the trinity, the three alchemical principles, the perception of the invisible.
HIS CHARACTER: “KIOUKAN”
His “Kioukan” (Who—Where—When) imaginary character with multiple members and a strange head, became in his painting mystical consciousness who questions about our place in space and time, and is used to reveal or hide what we call reality, appearances. It is WhoWhereWhen the WWW circulating on the web....See more photos
----------------------------------
World intangible cultural heritage and The Light Rose Garden
Dobong Mountain
Special Concert in the Dobong Mountain in Seoul about the Korea traditional World intangible cultural heritage. Next is the Light Rose Garden located in Central Park, Songdo in Incheon. It was as like walking through a dream...See more photos
----------------------------------
Onam celebrations by MASCONN showcases Indian culture in Trumbull, CT
Special ContributionBy Ajay Ghosh
Maveli, the legendary King is being welcomed by women dressed in Kerala's traditional attire
(Trumbull, CT: September 18th, 2016): Over 400 people from Fairfield County in the state of Connecticut participated in the 9th annual Onam celebrations organized by Malayalee Association of Southern Connecticut (MASCONN) at Madison Middle School, Trumbull, CT on Saturday, September 17, 2016. Men, women, children and youth dressed in traditional attire, were welcomed with a colorful Pookoalm and the traditional lamp at the entrance of school, giving them a warm traditional Indian welcome.
Onam celebrations at the Madison Middle School auditorium began with the lighting of the traditional Nailavilakku or lamp by honored guests of MASCONN and the executive committee members. Legendary King Mahabali was welcomed to the stage with “Pancha Vadyam” and a warm traditional welcome by a dozen beautiful women dressed in traditional attire, who later on performed Thiruvathirakkali, a folk dance, typically a Keralite dance, well known for its essence, grandeur and simplicity. In this traditional dance form, women clad in traditional Kerala attire with gold brocade attached to it and wearing jasmine garlands on their heads, rhythmically moved around a lighted Nilavilakku, singing and clapping their hands, to the tune of a particular genre of songs called Thiruvathirappaattu, which is meant solely for this graceful dance.
“Onam awaits one very special visitor, Kerala's most loved legendary King Maveli. He is the King who once gave the people a golden era in Kerala. The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the nether world to see his people living happily. It is in honor of King Mahabali, affectionately called Onathappan, that Onam is celebrated,” a young child on stage explained the story behind this cultural festival of Kerala, a southern Indian state.
The cultural events consisted of several live dances, classical Bharatnatyam, fusion, Bollywood, folk and contemporary dances, live music and songs, sung in Malayalam, a language spoken by Malayalees around the world. Children from the ages of five to older adults delighted the audience with their melodious voices, and several dances both cinematic and traditional, showcasing the rich variety of dance forms prevalent in India. Through “Ottam Thullal” another traditional art from Kerala, the evolution of MASCONN into a strong organization today, was explained. “MASCONN an offshoot of the natural growth of the Indian-American especially Malayalee Community in the southern Connecticut region,” said Unni Thoyakkattu, President of MASCON, in his welcome address. “In a very short period, we have grown by leaps and bounds and we strive to meet the growing needs of our community.
In his Onam message, Mahabali told the audience that the “beauty of the festival lies in its secular fabric. People of all religions, castes and communities celebrate the festival with equal joy and verve. Onam also helps to create an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood by way of various team sports organized on the day,” he added.
The whole ambience was filled with nostalgia since it was an occasion for all the Malayalees in Connecticut to cherish their childhood memories, especially everyone enjoyed the sumptuous Onam Sadhya (meal), the most important and main attraction of the day with different traditional dishes and ''payasam'' that was served on banana leaves. Living in countries that are far away from their homeland, in the midst of different cultures, busy with the day-to-day mundane work and home tasks, the Non Resident Indian (NRI) community made this "land of opportunities" their home, have brought with them these cultural traditions and have sought to pass them on to their children, who are often born and raised here.
Onam is a festival celebrated in the south-western state of Kerala, India. The Keralites or the Malayalees, the illustrious people of the beautiful state are known around the world, celebrate the festival of Onam wherever they are. The celebration of Onam festival provides them with a perfect opportunity to encourage the new generation of children of Indian origin to witness, learn and appreciate these rich traditions, even while it offers the first generation NRIs to stay connected and cherish the rich cultural heritage they hold so dear to them.
This fast growing presence of the Indian American community was evident when more than four hundred people from across the southern state of Connecticut came together to participate in and cherish their rich cultural heritage and be part of the annual Onam celebrations organized by the Malayalee Association of Southern Connecticut (MASCONN) on Saturday, September 17th, 2016 at Madison Middle School, Trumbull, CT. The more than four-hours long cultural extravaganza was in many ways “reliving the culture and traditions” and a “cherishing the past with a view to pass it on to the future generation.” Malayalee Association of Southern Connecticut (MASCONN) which was formed less than ten years ago, the cultural extravaganza was in many ways “reliving the culture and traditions” and a “cherishing the past with a view to pass it on to the future generation.”
----------------------------------
Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Aditya Narayan To Enthrall Audience At AAPI’s 34th Annual Convention in New York
Shankar Mahadevan and his team performing
New York, NY: Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Aditya Narayan and Indian Idol Juniors, are all set to take the AAPI delegates by storm during the 34th annual convention organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) at the Marriott Marquis, Time Square in New York from June 30-July 4, 2016.
"Each of the three mega stars will lead a group of talented artists and stars from Bollywood and from the United States," said Dr. Ratan Mirchandani, Chair of the Entertainment Committee for AAPI Convention. "With 12 leading stars to entertain in one weekend during AAPI convention in the Big Apple, this mega event will truly be historic," he added.
“In addition to live entertainment by famous Bollywood stars, the 2016 AAPI Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly offers an exciting venue to interact with leading physicians, health professionals, academicians, and scientists of Indian origin,” said Dr. Seema Jain, President of AAPI. “Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country will convene and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year.” The annual convention this year is being organized by AAPI’s New Jersey Chapter. Elaborating on the efforts and preparations that have been devoted to put together this unique event, Dr. Rita Ahuja, Chairwoman of the 2016 Annual Convention, says, “We are expecting to have a record attendance of more than 2,000 delegates including Physicians, Academicians, Researchers and Medical students at the convention,” she adds.
Shankar Mahadevan will be accompanied by his son Sidharth Mahadevan, along with Antra Mitra and Sukriti Kakkar, who are well known in the Music industry as the “Young Generation Artists.” They will perform live at the much anticipated AAPI’s annual convention. An accomplished musician in Tamil cinema, Shankar is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that provides music to Bollywood films. Though a software engineer by profession and having worked with Oracle Corporation, Shankar's interest in music made him venture into the field of music. He got his first award as a playback singer in Chennai film music, collaborating with A. R. Rahman and winning a National Film Award for his song in Kandukondain Kandukondain. Since then, he has given hundreds of enchating numbers to the Bollywood world. The grand finale of the AAPI convention will be by Shankar Mahadevan and his team, who will take the audience to the memory line of Bollywood music on the final night, before a packed audience.
Sunidhi Chauhan, the young and talented artist behind the hit evergreen numbers like 'Dhoom machale dhoom', 'Sheila ki jawaani', 'Beedi jalaile' and many more, will be performing live on Friday, July 1st. Sunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer, who is famous for her songs in Bollywood. She has also recorded songs for Oriya, Punjabi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Assamese and Nepali films. She first got recognized through the music show Meri Aawaz Suno. She entered into the world of playback singing with the 1996 Bollywood film, Shastra. Later she sang for the films like Gang, Veergati, Dahek, Bade Dilwala, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat and Samar. Just at the age of nineteen, Chauhan had lent her voice to over 350 songs. She made her International debut with the song Heartbeat, a collaboration with Enrique Iglesias.
Aditya Narayan, an actor, television host, music composer and singer, made his first screen debut with Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela in which he also got an opportunity to sing with Asha Bhonsle, will anchor the show by the Indian Idol Juniors. “For the first time in history, the winners of the Indian Idol Juniors are performing on a stage program,” said Dr. Mirchandani. Ananaya Narayanan, Nityashree, Nahid, Moti Khan, and Vaishnav, the last five finalists on the Indian Idol show will performed live, showcasing their talents on July 2nd. Aditya Narayan, who was born in Mumbai, was raised into a musical family as his father, Udit Narayan, the famous playback singer and mother Deepa Narayan. Zee TV is working on launching the next season of its most popular singing talent show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. And the iconic show will be once again hosted by singer-actor Aditya Narayan.
Fashion Show by talented young artists from across the country will cake walk on July 3rd. Dr. Seema Jain, who assumed charge of this premier ethnic organization representing 100,000 physicians and residents, gave credit to the support of AAPI executive committee, hard work of local Chapter members, and the organizing committee chaired by Dr. Rita Ahuja. “Success of credit goes to the entire national organizing committee, AAPI executive committee, and Board of Trustees and all the AAPI members,” she said.
AAPI is a forum to facilitate and enable Indian American Physicians to excel in patient care, teaching and research and to pursue their aspirations in professional and community affairs. For more details, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org and www.aapiusa.org
----------------------------------
Dr. Ajay Lodha Receives Ellis Island Medals Of Honor
Dr. Ajay Lodha with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
New York, NY: May 9th, 2016: Dr. Ajay Lodha, President-Elect of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical society, representing the interest of over 100,000 Indian American physicians, was honored with the prestigious Ellis Island Medals of Honor on Saturday, May 7th, this year. Dr. Lodha, who was the past president of Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA),Rajasthan Medical Alumni Association (RAJMAAI) and AAPIQLI received the award during the 30th annual Ellis Island Medal of Honor ceremony, held on Ellis Island in New York.
“I am humbled for being chosen to receive this prestigious award,” Dr. Lodha said soon after receiving the award. “I feel there are lot more Indians here in the United States, who are doing outstanding job and make us feel very proud. This award is for all of them.”
Dr. Lodha, a former Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Caritas Health Care System representing St. John's Hospital and Mary Immaculate Hospital, is an Internist by profession. A graduate of RNT Medical College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, DR. Lodha completed his residency at Flushing Hospital, NY. , a primary care practice with two locations serving Queens, NY since 1995 and is a partner in Hillaire and Nesconset Nursing homes and is a partner of ACO.
In 2008, Dr. Lodha was part of a coalition that built a state-of-the-art 11 bed Surgical Intensive Care Unit for Government Hospital located in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India - free care is given to all the patients. Dr. Lodha in his commitment to the health of the community has organized numerous Health Fairs, Blood Pressure Screenings, and Medical Awareness programs as well as the delivery of educational materials at churches, temples and senior centers. Dr. Ajay Lodha was appointed a member of the Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos’s MWBE Advisory Council last year.
Dr. Lodha will assume office as the President of AAPI during the AAPI Convention on July 3rd, 2016. His vision for AAPI ‘is to increase the global awareness of APPI. “I would like to see us lobby Congress for an increase in the number of available Residency Positions so as to help alleviate the shortage of Doctors. That younger physicians and MSRF members feel fully integrated into AAPI and take a more active role.” His experiences in organizing conferences and meetings which help to bring members together and attract new members which is vital to the success of the organization. Dr. Lodha lives on Long Island, New York with his wife Dr. Smita and their two children Amit and Shweta.
Ninety distinguished individuals were bestowed with the honor this year, amonf them were five, who are of Indian origin. Padma Lakshmi, an author, actress, model, television host and executive producer, and Dr. Rekha Bhandari, an internist in Brooklyn, New York and is affiliated with Brooklyn Hospital Center and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, were among other Indian Americans who received the award last week.
To date, nearly 2,000 U.S. citizens have received the medals. The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations awards Ellis Island medals to Americans who “embody the spirit of America in their celebration of patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity.” NECO recognizes “individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America.”
----------------------------------
Goodbye Dipak Mahanta
Special ContributionBy Nava Thakuria
Dipak Mahanta
It was early Nineties, when I was assigned to report about a theatre production at Tezpur, small town in central Assam. I was then a novice journalist and when my editor CP Saikia asked me to cover the play by Dipak Mahanta, I agreed readily. Tezpur, a cultural center of northeast India, was around five hours drive from my workplace in Guwahati. I started my journey by a morning bus to arrive there by noon on the day of performance.
The play was an Assamese adaptation of Arthur Miller’s classic play ‘All My Sons’. Mahanta directed the all-time great American literary piece, whose story is based on the post-Second World War era. The production was a refreshing experience for me and I tried my level best to appreciate the play with all authenticities for our Assamese newspaper.
Slowly I became more familiar to Mahanta and his family. Life went on accordingly. After years of print journalism, I was offered to work for a newly launched satellite news channel. When I went to join the channel as its roving editor, a pleasant surprise was in store. It was Dipak Mahanta, whom I found as my new colleague with few others. We spent several enjoyable months in the Assamese news channel right from its beginning. We used to visualize, portray and debate before going for some fine productions in the channel. I always acknowledge that many promos and short features, which were conceived and produced by Mahanta single-handedly for us, turned out to be instantly popular among viewers. My engagement with the channel was however cut short due to some unsavory circumstances. I departed with a heavy heart, for I was leaving behind some of my finest friends and well-wishers there. But Mahanta continued to be a close acquaintance for me even though we met infrequently thereafter. Later Mahanta too left it and joined another satellite news channel as a senior producer. In the course of his work, he went to Jamugurihat, which is nearby to his residence at Tezpur, with a shooting schedule. On his return journey with three other colleagues to Guwahati, their vehicle met with a tragic accident on 2 December 2015 past midnight at Deoshal near Jagiroad.
Seriously injured Mahanta was taken to Guwahati Medical College Hospital, but the doctors declared him brought dead. The accompanying three co-workers namely Ajmir Saikia, Pradesh Rabha and Atul Morang, however, survived the road mishap with minor injuries. The sad news broke the next morning. All of a sudden, the region lost a hugely talented playwright who excelled in preaching serious messages with an unparalleled comic touch. A dedicated theatre director, an eloquent performer, a passionate cultural worker and a sensitive journalist ended his material life before the dawn turned-up.
A journey that began on 14 November 1961 at Sonitpur culminated untimely in Guwahati. But with the short span of time, Mahanta penned, designed and directed a number of Assamese plays including ‘Ulanga Roja’, ‘Malati Mem’, ‘Holi’, ‘Pinhole Camera’, ‘Gajapuria’, ‘Bhotaram Totaram’, ‘Aadipath’, ‘Dhaniramor Theatre’, ‘Kurma Avatar’, ‘Tejimola’, ‘Dhodar Alir Tender’, ‘Jadughar’ etc.
He also prepared scripts for many documentaries relating to various socio-cultural issues. Graduating from Biswanath College in 1979, Mahanta was partially involved with the profession of journalism during his productive days through different newspapers like ‘Mohajati’, ‘Agnigarh’, ‘Boodhbar’, ‘Natun Dainik’, ‘Dainik Pratibimba’ and ‘Asomiya Pratidin’. A soft-spoken gentleman, Mahanta was even put behind bars for his active involvement with the student’s movement in late Eighties against illegal migrants from Bangladesh to India. But he did not join active politics, unlike many of his contemporary student leaders of Assam, only to remain active in the cultural field.
Mahanta left behind his wife Kalpana Sarma, only son Parthadeep Mahanta and a host of relatives and well-wishers. He was paid rich floral tributes by numerous colleagues on his last journey from the hospital to the cremation ground at Tezpur. Hundreds of media-persons and cultural workers joined in his funeral procession with brief stopovers at PratidinTime (formerly NewsTime Assam), AssamTalks and Guwahati Press Club.
On his Adyashraddha on 12 December, Mahanta’s family and close relatives observed the rituals at Tezpur, where as his colleagues and admirers paid tributes to the departed soul at a memorial meet in Guwahati. The speakers including Manas Kumar Mahanta, Raman Bora, Sanjib Phukan, Mrinal Bora, Rupam Barua, Jagadindra Raichoudhiry etc, while paying homage to Mahanta, emphasized on preservation of his entire creations for the benefit of future generation. Rest in peace, my friend.
----------------------------------
Hoengseong Hanu Festival
Making beef into different categories
Hanu (Korean native cattle) Festival takes places in Hoengseong County, where the climate and the environment are said to be perfect for raising cattle.
Korean native cattle
Many people come to try the usually expensive Hoengseong hanu beef at affordable prices, along with another specialty of Hoengseong County, deodeok (mountain bellflower).
At the Festival
Moreover, the festival holds diverse agriculture experience programs, while offering access to nearby attractions such as Hoengseong Hot Springs and Jucheongang River Natural Forest Lodge.
Different shows at the tents
In additional, stone lifting, Traditional Korean wrestling and many show with at the tents.
----------------------------------
Masterpieces of Early Buddhist Sculpture, 100BCE-700CE
Buddha Triad - Baekje and Longxingsi Temple site(R)
The National Museum of Korea (director: Kim Youngna) is holding a special exhibition on ancient Buddhist sculpture entitled Masterpieces of Early Buddhist Sculpture, 100BCE-700CE from September 25 to November 15, 2015. The exhibition is planned as part of the commemoration of the tenth year since the relocation of the National Museum of Korea (NMK) to its present Yongsan site, as well as to fuel momentum for future growth. In terms of theme, this exhibition is related to two major special exhibitions from the past: Buddhist Sculpture of the Three Kingdoms of Korea (1990) and Echoes of Life, the Enduring Tradition of Unified Silla Sculpture (2008). While these previous exhibitions were designed to explore the full range of ancient Korean Buddhist sculpture, this year’s effort is unique for its illumination of the traditions of Korean Buddhist sculpture in relation to the active cultural exchanges of the day among Korea, India, China, Vietnam and Japan. This direction for the exhibition is in line with the ongoing efforts of the NMK to promote better understanding of Korean culture around the world. Since its 2005 reopening at its present site, the NMK has been regularly introducing the arts and culture of diverse civilizations, and has expanded exchanges with museums and art galleries across the world.
This special exhibition on Buddhist sculpture guides visitors to the moment when the main subject of worship of a religion was created and diffused to diverse regions. The 210 works on display span the period from the emergence of Buddhist sculpture in India to the seventh-century peak of the creation of pensive bodhisattva statues on the Korean Peninsula. Among the various forms of Buddhist sculpture, this exhibition focuses on independent statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, which constitute the core of the genre. The exhibition consists of four sections, each focusing on the distinct approaches taken in respective Asian regions towards the creation and promulgation of Buddhist sculpture, as well as the unique local characteristics and preferences which emerged through the process of localization.
The first section, “Buddhist Sculptures of India: The Beginning of a Long History,” focuses on the purpose and methods of the initial creation of Buddhist sculpture in India. Early Buddhists held the remains of the Buddha sacred and for over four centuries after Shakyamuni’s entrance into nirvana they avoided the practice of worshiping anthropomorphic images. Around the first century CE, this aniconic phase of Buddhist art came to an end with the nearly concurrent emergence of Buddhist sculpture in Gandhara and Mathura, where distinct styles of Buddhist sculpture were respectively developed under local cultural conditions. By means of both narrative reliefs and statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, this section of the exhibition illuminates the distinct approaches and interests demonstrated in the two regions as they fashioned this new type of religious icon.
The second section “Buddhist Sculpture of China: From its Beginning to the Sui Period” shows Buddhist sculptures from stages of Chinese history ranging from the Sixteen Kingdoms (304-439) to the Sui Dynasty (581-618). When Buddhist sculpture was introduced to China alongside Buddhism itself during the Later Han period, Chinese people began to craft small gilt-bronze statues of Buddha in an attempt to transform the exotic Indian icons into more familiarly Chinese images. Buddhist sculptures of later periods, including those excavated from the ancient sites of Wanfosi Temple in Chengdu, Sichuan Province and Longxingsi Temple in Qingzhou, Shandong Province, show the continual process of the Sinicization of Buddhist sculpture which took place across various regions through a series of dynasties. These works reflect the manifestation of Chinese aesthetics while maintaining the essential iconography of the original Indian examples. In a special portion of this section, Chinese Buddhist sculptures will be presented alongside contemporaneous Buddhist sculptures from Vietnam and India of the Gupta period in order to provide a visual illustration of how Asian peoples encountered sources of inspiration for Buddhist sculpture through constant exchanges with neighboring countries.
The third section, “Buddhist Sculpture of the Three Kingdoms Period of Korea,” offers a glimpse into the early history of Korean Buddhist sculpture during the Three Kingdoms era and the inevitable controversies surrounding the genesis of the early Buddhist sculptures modeled after foreign originals. The Buddhist sculpture of the Three Kingdoms period originally maintained a close association with the Southern and Northern Dynasties of China, but gradually developed its own style starting from the sixth century. The comparison of Korean works with nearby Chinese examples will allow visitors to clearly observe the flow of stylistic similarities and the selection of particular aesthetic elements by the Korean sculptors. In addition, the role of Korean Buddhist sculpture in introducing Buddhism to Japan and sparking the production of the first Japanese Buddhist sculptures is visible in small gilt-bronze Buddhist sculptures from the ancient collection of Horyuji Temple in Japan.
The fourth section “Development of Pensive Bodhisattva Statues” pays special attention to the motif that came to be known as ‘pensive bodhisattva’ and emerged among Koreans’ preferred forms of Buddhist sculpture due to its considerable religious and artistic value. This iconography originates in the Indian tradition of depicting a human figure pondering existence, and was widely produced in China, Korean and Japan. Pensive bodhisattva statues make up a remarkable portion of the body of Korean bodhisattva statues, indicating the regard in which they were held in Korean Buddhism. The works on display in this section include a gigantic stone bodhisattva statue excavated in 1965 from Bukji-ri in Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province. Estimated to have reached up to three meters in height, the original statue is thought to have been enshrined as the main Buddha of a temple, which suggests that pensive bodhisattva statuary was central to the Buddhism of the time. It is significant that this statue left the collection of Kyungpook National University for the first time in fifty years to join this exhibition. In addition, National Treasures nos. 78 and 83 will be presented side by side for the first time since 2004.
With its remarkable powers of propagation and assimilation, Buddhist sculpture has embraced a wider diversity of cultures compared to any other genre of Asian art, as evidenced by the works in this exhibition. Through the medium of Buddhist sculpture, the NMK intends to show the power entailed by cultural exchange and integration, which are also among the foremost aims of the NMK today. Through active exchanges with museums in the United States, Europe and Asia, the NMK has been offering diverse opportunities to better comprehend the cultures of other civilizations. This exhibition showcasing over two hundred Buddhist sculptures drawn from twenty-six museums and institutions across eight countries is another of the successful outcomes of mutual understanding developed through years of exchange among museums.
To provide visitors with insight into the exhibition, a guided tour will be offered four times per day on weekdays (10:00, 11:00, 15:00, and 16:00) and twice a day during the weekend (11:00 and 16:00). In addition, detailed explanations will be offered at the “Curator’s Talk” session every Wednesday during the weekly late-night opening hours. Diverse education programs tailored to particular groups of attendees, including families, children, adults and international visitors, are currently being prepared, and special lectures for the general public have been scheduled for September 30 and October 7. Finally, discussions by renowned experts from home and abroad at an international symposium on October 30 will further promote a deeper appreciation of the exhibition.
----------------------------------
A visit to a local Goengdok market
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jul 9, 2015
Korean Kimchi
A group of foreigners had visited a local Goengdok market on July 7 2015. Goengdok market is located in Mapo district, Seoul.
Ready-made Korean curries
First, a group did survey on tourism office in Hongkik station. Though, a little bit language barrier and not much information on MERS was provided.
A group having dinner at Ichu restaurant(above) and Mapogu officer(below)
Then, the group went to Ichu Korean restaurant next to Geongdok station. There were already waiting by Mapogu office members and foods are ready on the table. We had a typical Korean traditional foods with rice.
Fruit and garlic at the market
After dinner, the group went to Goengdok market. Although the market is not that big, but you can get some stuffs enough for cook. There are various vegetable and ready made Korean curries.
Chicken and vegetables in the market
At the end of walk in the Market, we saw Chung Hak Dong shop. The shop has various Korean fried foods and Korean wine. It is more look like snack foods. The group members selected different fried foods and tasted for a while in the shop.
Cooking tteokbokki(above) and tofu made from soybean
There were full of Korean customers in Chung Hak Dong shop. Drinking is common in Korea. Then the group left to subway station by 9pm.
Ichu restaurant(above) and Chung Hak Dong shop(below)
Fried snack food
----------------------------------
A tour for Nanji Camp in Mapo-gu
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jun 29, 2015
Korean traditional fried snack foods
A group of foreigners had camping at Nanji camp in Mapo-gu, on the bank of Han River. On that day, June 28 was sunny and slow windy, a good atmosphere to go out.
Inside Mangwon market
Though, a good day is usually crowded the same happened in Nanji camp. A lot of people couples and kids are full in the camp. As a weekend, more office workers came to get relaxed with their families. Before a group went to the camp, they brought foods for making BBQ and drinking stuffs at Mangwon market.
So far, government has didn't report MERS from Mapo-gu area. Mapo is still free deadly MERS and a good place to visit tourist in there.
Fried chicken shop (above) and meat shop(below)
The group brought various foods since they are from Africa, US, Burma, Hong Kong, China and Korea. They mixed them up and cooked as BBQ and enjoyed a meal with different tastes. Although, it was not easy to mixed up and eat together from different backgrounds, but is the way they live in here, part of lifestyle.
Fruits(above) and differen kind of beans(below)
Then a group gather inside a camp for playing games and making fun, smile, enthusiastic, shock, so on. Usually, American or European want a little bit higher standard than other, and followed by Chinese, it is OK if they can make a space for themselves among them, otherwise other friends will kick them out.
Different kind of nuts(above) and Kimchis(below)
Indeed, language barrier and skin colors distinguishing are common in multi-culture society. Some of group members are poor in Korean and some Chinese don't want to speak English, etc.
Different kind of Korean rice cakes(above) and baking machine(below)
A camp tour was ended around 9 pm, before too night, the group hurried to catch subways. The tour was organized by Mapo-gu Office and its Tourism department.
Nanji Camp
----------------------------------
Steadfast Love: The Prophet—A Man of Hope
Special ContributionBy Richard Sherrer
Apr 30, 2015
God's love in natural forest
The reason I can still find hope, Because I keep one thing in mind; The toils and troubles I cope, Since the mercy of God is kind.
We are not completely wiped out, His steadfast love never ceases; And I will never hold a doubt, That His grace always increases.
His love never comes to an end, Compassion is not limited; Having enough strength to defend, By anyone uninvited.
It is new every morning, Because His faithfulness is great; So refreshing without warning, As it is driving out the hate.
For the Lord is my lot in life, That is why I find hope in Him; Since He handles all of the strife, So my life is no longer grim.
The Lord is good to all of those, Who are patient enough to wait; Down from Heaven His love flows, Allowing it to compensate.
It is good when you continue, To hope and to wait silently; With perseverance to pursue, So you can win confidently.
It is good for you to endure, The burdens while they are new; Able to know the Lord for sure, Spit them out after He does chew.
Let Him sit alone in silence, Let Him put His mouth in the dust; And He will bring deliverance, From the temptation of the lust.
----------------------------------
Self-Respect Jehee Sheen’s FW15 collection at Seoul Fashion Week 2015
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Mar 24, 2015
Jehee Sheen group
South Korean brand name Jehee Sheen was presented FW15 collection “Self-Respect” on Mar. 20th at DDP, Seoul. Seoul Fashion Week 2015 started from March 20 to 25, 2015.
Fashion Week is one of the largest events for Jehee Sheen where we could communicate with people who take fashion little bit more serious. We try very hard to communicate with every single viewer in our show through our clothes which expresses Jehee Sheen’s philosophy on life and humanity, said Jehee Sheen's statment.
Contemporary fashion has become maybe too commercial and is hardly perceived as a medium to express artistic values anymore. Jehee Sheen believes fashion is a perfectly balanced mixture of Art and Commercialism. Runway to designers is equivalent to galleries to painters and stage for performing artists. Fashion show for us is not just about models walking down runway wearing our clothes but rather it is a space filled with details that represent who we are.
Jehee Sheen is currently working on number of projects to communicate with the world and this very show is the first chapter of our new journey. Jehee Sheen has always been deeply inspired by Eastern Philosophy and the inspiration is interpreted in his own way and expressed through his collections. Jehee Sheen’s design is also influenced by fundamental beauty of Human being and the enormity of the great nature.
Jehee Sheen starts his research based on current issues that are largely acknowledged by people in our society. The concept of FW15 show is called the ‘Self-Respect’. Self-respect is a relative sense of feeling. It is about acknowledging one’s being and by that process, one could start being aware of others and to respect them.
The catastrophic incidents that took lives of many that have happened and are happening around the world are, we believe, caused by the absence of ‘self-respect’ which ultimately leads to absence of respect for others. And Jehee Sheen wants to address this very core value of human nature which seems forgotten.
Inspiration for FW15 came from close surrounding; stones and animals. Every stone has its unique shape and therefore they all have unique value. It is based on the oriental philosophy and the shape of stones is key design for this collection.
The animals in the wild especially the predatory ones that are lonely hunters have influenced Jehee Sheen for the collection. Lions have high self-respect which we believe is one of the reasons why lions could exist as a king of the wild. Leather and fur were used around the neck line and as a main fabric of the collections to amplify manliness.
We are presenting 27 outfits with 27 models wearing only one outfit each. All models symbolize self-respect by this unconventional presentation.
----------------------------------
Life of Women in Coffee Shop
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Mar 16, 2015
Oh Sunggon(L), Park Seon-yeong and Lee Kyoung Soon(R)
The Global Digest has interviewed with Daeseong Coffee shop owner Park Seon-yeong and her staff member Lee Kyoung Soon at their shop in Ansan city on February 15, 2015. Park had been opened this coffee shop since 10 years, with the support of her friend, Park said, and now she has 5 employees at the shop. She is a resident of Ansan city for 30 years with her husband and two sons, they already completed 2 year military service and right now they are working at company, Park explained.
Lee is a Chinese-Korean one of Daeseong Coffee shop employees, originally, her grandfather move from Ulsan city to China. Before she came to Korea, Lee had been in Australia for 10 years, she worked 5 years at Sydney city illegally, so police caught her and arrested for 40 days. During in jail, she has no money, so authority provides flight ticket fare to return back to China, Lee said smiling. She feels so kindness of Australian police. Lee has a daughter, she is working in China.
Park Seon-yeong and Lee Kyoung Soon are also members of Korea-Dokdo-Love. And then, they are going to be theirs best activity for Korea-Dokdo-Love in Ansan area.
----------------------------------
Seoul Fashion Week 2015 S/S wass held
By Fanny Yun-Fan LinStaff Reporter
Nov 7, 2014
Model at the fashion show
Annually, Seoul Fashion Week held in March and October is the biggest fashion event in Korea. Hosted by Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by Seoul Design Foundation, Seoul Fashion Week 2015 Spring/ Summer took place at DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) from 17th Oct. from 22nd October. SFW is divided into three parts: Seoul Collection, Generation Next and Seoul Fashion Fair. Seoul Collection is a high-end fashion show for Korean designers to promote their design and new collections. Generation Next is a stage for up-and-coming designers. Seoul Collection is held inside the building of DDP, which is officially opened on March 17th, whereas Generation Next set up the show inside a transparent structure. Since it is transparent, people who didn’t get the ticket stood outside and try to take a look at how’s the show going on.
The participants are restricted to the designers of independent fashion brands that only have 1 to 5 years of history. This is the opening gate for new designers who want to shine in the fashion industry. Seoul Fashion Fair is a fashion market which providing opportunities for participants to expand their business internationally. During the fashion week, people dressed not only finely but one-of-a kind. We can see different style of fashion outfit around DDP. There are also a lot of photographers waiting to taking pictures of those well-dressing people. Especially when the shows ended, they all rushed to take picture of the audience. Some female students even chased after some models, who are handsome or have appeared on TV series like K-pop idols.
SFW has gained more prestige since it attracted not only Korean but more and more foreigners to watch the show. Moreover, overseas buyer flushed to SFW to seek for partners and import these Korean fashion brands. Korea fashion industry has had more and more influence on other countries’ trend, especially in Asian countries. There is also a great amount of apparel being exported to other Asian countries, like Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. We can expect that SFW will become an important fashion indicator in a near future.
----------------------------------
2015 S/S Seoul Fashion Week ended in success
By Mony HoStaff Reporter
Nov 4, 2014
2015 S/S Seoul Fashion Week event
2015 S/S Seoul Fashion Week was held in Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) for six days, from October 17 to 22. With the aim of become well-known fashion weeks of the world, Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Design Foundation organized the Seoul Fashion Week. There were totally 2 collections including Seoul Collection, Generation Next presenting fashion shows by top Korean designers and next generation designers respectively. Seoul Fashion Week also introduced the Seoul Fashion Fair which was a fashion market for domestic designers to expand their business towards potential customers around the world.
Designer Jain SONG, introduced the theme “Moony Sunday” in the collection “Seoul Collecton” on 21th October in 2015 S/S Seoul Fashion Week. Continuing the brand Jain Song theme, striving with harmony of city life and the nature, the collection used mainly simple color with cotton to present the concept of “small glowing objects of night transform into street styles during the day”. Models were wearing light make-up to bring out the natural beauty with a combination of nature and everyday city life.
It is not rare to find flowers as pattern in the collection. One of the impressing things was that the guests received a potted plant and it marked the unique color of the brand Jain Song. Korean Actress Park Shin Hye attended Jain Song fashion show. Designer DaeKyum LEE, who launched CARNET DU STYLE in 2010, is a up-and-coming designer. He presented “Rock of sailor” in the collection “Generation Next. While keeping his signature, which is men’s tailoring but reshaping menswear to be better suited for women, Lee implied the concept “sailor” in the collection to show more with feminine sophistication. The striped white and navy blue tops made variety of elegant looks.
Designer HangChi PARK, who launched the brand BAKANGCHI, started his collection “Gracefulness comes from 500 years of history” in a unique way that the men models remained static as statues. "We were impressed by our ancestors’ wisdom of creating such an unchangeable style 500 years ago, so we put our collection under four themes: Free, Fit, Future and Fabulous,” the brand explained the concept on 2015 Seoul Fashion Week.
The registration of the fashion show had been ended before the fashion week began and it was not available to buy the ticket on the spot. For those who were interested in the show, they could have a taste by standing outside of one of the venue which was covered by glass. Fashion is not very far for the public.
----------------------------------
14th Seoul International New Media Festival held in Seoul
Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Aug 21, 2014
Kim Jang Jen Yeun-ho
South Korea based the 14th Seoul International New Media Festival held in Seoul, from August 7 to 15, 2014. The organizer of the 14th Seoul International New Media Festival, Kim Jang Jen Yeun-ho, established Seoul International New Media Festival in 2000, as annual festival, but they skip in 2001 due to financial difficulty, Kim clarified. Kim is also a PhD candidate from Chuang-ang University, with a culture study.
Around 1990, various video art started came into South Korea. Before 2000, there were many films can produced by directors only, so other talented and ordinary people have no chance to expressed on film, Kim explained. So Seoul International New Media Festival is a room for everybody to show their films easily and very cheap program. And, since 2000, digital culture is explored in South Korea and around the world, Kim wants to focus for minority voice including feminist, women, gay & lesbian issues through film art, fiction, video, and such as celluloid deployment in 35mm film. This is a kind of independent video festival performance to focus for those who want to expressed.
Japanese Lily Tap Dancer
14th Seoul International New Media Festival has 140 films and video arts displayed from 160 artists or directors, from 24 countries out of 80 countries applied. The films were screened in English and Korean mostly, so other languages from different countries couldn’t joined the event, Kim confessed. There are 5000 people attended for fees charged programs, and about 30000 people attended for free charged events, since Hyundae has many travelers and visitors. Similar media events are organized in America and Europe and other places by their own companies. At 14th Seoul International New Media Festival, special Spanish festival was offered and many foreigners attended.
According to Kim Jang Jen, Kim Lee-chang’s Discipline is the most popular among Korean movie films, and Jean Rawh directed “I, a Negro” is the most popular among foreign films.
French ethnographer-turned-filmmaker Jean Rawh was the father of modern cinéma vérité. Rouch had degrees in literature and engineering before he became fascinated by African cultures in the early '40s. He saw the camera as a means to accurately and objectively record the lives of West African tribesmen and so went there in the mid-'40s toting a 16mm camera. He has been developed the potential power of filmed ethnographies. Jean Rouch asked young Nigerian immigrants in the Treichville slum of Abidjan in Ivory Coast to make a film together. These Nigerians are unskilled and inexperienced workers who left their country to find work in the city and take every job they can find in order to make living in the modern world.
At the closing ceremony of the event
A master of martial arts, who’s homeless and jobless, spends his days alone at a martial arts center. KIM Lee-chang looks for work, but it’s difficult to find, as he is now in his late 30s. When his loneliness gets too hard to bear, he thinks back on days he had with his mother when he was younger. Those good times are a trip down memory lane, and through that, he finds peace of mind. But reality is what it is; it doesn’t change. He practices alone in the deserted gym and tries to survive this hard life in the repetition of the routine. The practice through repetition is his attitude to life and film. Kim Lee-chang has made this auto-biographic film almost by himself in production, performance, script, camera, direction, etc. he really is a martial arts master and made the film as if he trained the body and spirit through repeated action. It consists of his actual daily life shot by himself and the re-enactment of actual happenings.
14th Seoul International New Media Festival is sponsored by 17 organizations. Seoul International New Media Festival has 20 staffs and approximately 80 volunteers, except moderators or reviewers.
----------------------------------
Interview with Ganzi Hair Salon president Jae ho Yoon
Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jun 30, 2014
Ganzi hair salon
Ganzi Story Co., Ltd has 5 branches across Seoul city. Dongdaemun branch is a speical focusing for foreign customers as booms of foreigner visitors at the market. It's the best area for international hair salon. Our Ganzi hair salon is the first to introduce internationalized hair salon among competitors throughout Korea peninsula. It is one of the most busiest place in Seoul City, people from all over the world for travelling and trading of huge shopping city. Our Ganzi hair salon opened 24 hours a day as the area so many merchants and tourist come and go the whole day there.
Speciality of our Our Ganzi hair salon is- variety of choice for hair style and colors. At their hair salon, there are a total 150 hair colors available. According to Youn, popular hair style in nowadays are 20 colors, among them, including light-broom color, maji lift (type of hair style) and mouganic specific colors. Hair style is frequently changed because trend is changed. For man dandy hair style is popular. For woman, cutie style, long hair, natural long hair in summer and so on.
President Jae ho Yoon
On line and off line marketing is our special one for informing Ganzi hair to anonymous consumers, Mr. Yoon expressed. International customers are always welcome as it has special service for them with more convenient way. They have international hair designer so he warmly welcomes foreign customers, and different foreign hair designs are also available. At the hair salon, they have also running a cocktail bar which would be proud of our different characteristic one. The interior of hair Salon is environmental friendly, as it is made of wood materials that is reason why we want to supply relaxation, get rid of stress(stress reduction) and comfort.
Jae ho Yoon’s mother and elder sister have worked as hair stylists so I have naturally had a dream growing as a hair stylist, said Mr. Yoon. Since then I have tried to do myself to become as a most valuable hair stylist regardless of day and night. Jae ho Yoon’s advice for juniors - please love your job then enjoy it. If you have such open mind, your dream will comes true explicitly.
Jae ho Yoon, president of Ganzi hair salon, believes fostering my juniors as owner as well. I wish I will like to make to open each member`s hair salon in the near future. He and Ganzi hair salon team want to open a hair academy to offer education opportunity to every member, since it has just opened on May 1st 2014.
Jae ho Yoon and Ganzi hair salon’s future plan is as so many foreigners keep drop by at Dongdaemun area can seen after successfully construction of Dongdaemun history and culture park. Therefore, as possible as I can, I would like to invite a lot of foreign guests to get their hair cut at Ganzi hair salon and export our beauty talent to around the world, said Mr. Yoon. Finally I wish I make hair salon to build as a cultural content as a Korean currency.
----------------------------------
Meeting with Who Loves Natural Mr. Shin Hong-jae, a landscape architecture
Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jun 5, 2014
Mr. Shin Hong-jae
Mr. Shin Hong-jae has a 37 year experience in landscape architecture and a professional. He owns landscape architecture training center in Sihueng city. And he teaches and trains around 150 people at his center, they are from various background including government employees.
Every day, around 10 trainees come at his center for practical, starting from 9 am to 6 pm for one year. If they want to be a master in landscape architecture, at-least three years required to train, Mr. Shin said. Like this, professional landscape architecture centers are very few, approximately three centers only in South Korea.
Mr. Shin Hong-jae and his wife Son Hyun-deok
He studied at Korea National Open University in Seongbook-gu, Dongsung-dong, Seoul. His study subject is landscape architect from faculty of Agriculture. He did filming the title is called a bonsai “Geumseong” . He is also a member of Korea-Dokdo-Love since one year ago.
Representative Mr. Shin Hong-jae or Son Hyun-deok
Contact number: 031-317-9124
----------------------------------
Korean based the 1st Global Hackathon held in Seoul
Salai ThangStaff Reporter
May 25, 2014
Leaders of team 17 and 9, Sevak Petrosian(C) and Hojun Park(R)
Supporters of the 1st Global Hackathon gathered at the DDP(Dongdaemun Design Plaza), Seoul, from 19 – 23 MAY 2014. They discussed the subject – How can Information Technology solve the Global Issues? And find out new or better solutions for Global Issues. Everything else, such as survey, communication between participants, all interesting questions and brilliant answers, including social, life, welfare, culture, environment, energy and etc. with Information Tech.
According to team number 9, we need a companion emotional lamp as a signal or identifying a person’s emotion. The team’s title is “Emotional Lamp: To Save a Life”. Emotional lamp is to communicate with people via through color as a signal. Emotional lamp will shows many colors according to your emotion, and it can understand and read your emotion through diverse sensing way or digital way.
For example, Human Emotion Detection from image, video or text message (such as day-to-day activity from Twitter or Facebook communication). Human Emotion Detection tool can gives you an appropriate your emotion by video analysis and text analysis. Moreover, Human Emotion Detection tool can indicate stress and excitement, heart beat and temperature, so on.
Emotional lamp will display relevant color after emotion detection. Emotional lamp can also identify atmosphere or house temperature, hot or cold, so on. In addition, emotional lamp can make the environment cooler and make people’s feeling better and comfort.
The team tries to solve problems such as aging people, handicapped people, lonely people, blood pressure patient, drunk driver, who attempts for suicide, so on, those people need urgent help. To prevent an accident, nearby people should know how to help or move away the victim from danger and problem, that’s why we need the emotional lamp to make an alarm.
According to survey among Global Hackathon participants, 32 out of 42 persons said Dangerous represents Red color, 17 persons said Sad represents Blue color and Hate represents Dark Blue color respectively, 16 persons said Happy represents Green color, and so on.
Similarly, Team 17 developed idea about Building Sustainable Communities which focuses on housing problem. A well known designer Sevak Petrosian said he wants to solve common people problem as this event’s purpose. But their team was not select although his idea is focused on society’s problem for many people, Sevak Petrosian complained.
At the networking party in the last event night, the participants went to Asian museum with Korean tradition performance. In the middle of performance, nearby a Korean resident comes and disrupted the group and it was ended up without finishing Korean tradition dance.
----------------------------------
EcoBrush, what is the difference
Mar 10, 2014
EcoBrush
Not only are there have many different kinds of tooth paste and brush in the market, items that replace the activity of tooth brushing such as oral cleansing and oral cleansing chewing gum are being imported into the market. Nevertheless, the number of patient with cavity is increasing. Brushing teeth at the right timing would be the greatest oral cleaning method, however, it is sought to be difficult to carry a brush and tooth paste at all time. Furthermore, it is a fundamental cause of cavity to share tooth paste in a group.
In addition, current method of brushing teeth of putting tooth paste on a tooth brush would not provide sufficient pharmacological action and is considered as the main cause of an over-consumption of tooth paste. However, it cannot be solved with the current method of tooth brushing, the industry is putting large amount of efforts, in the form of research, to solve this problem. To improve the current standard of tooth brushing that are unsanitary and inefficient, the people of Apol have invented a rechargeable "ecoBrush" in which they have used PSWB method driven by the "Pascal Principle". As a result, they tried to create better oral sanitary environment through more convenient and effective tooth brushing.
JK Park(C)
With a unique smart tooth brush that is practicing “PSWB(Paste-spreading With Brushing)” method, the paste that is stored in the handle will automatically discharge after perceiving the movements of the brush, and effective ingredients in the paste will be distributed thoroughly. It is maximizing the effect of pharmacological action that effective tooth-brushing can be experienced with minimum paste and a damage by an over-use of the paste can be avoided.
The installation of the paste in the handle of the brush promotes individual usage instead of using the paste in a group. This blocked the cause of cavity infection and fundamentally solved inconvenient and insanitary way of tooth brushing. Also, it realized the effective tooth-brushing regardless of place and time as the inconveniency of putting paste on a brush has removed. Just like all other product development process, the development of Eco Brush had also experienced the difficult times. With PSWB (simultaneous paste discharge at the time of brushing that paste is distributed and spread directly onto the teeth) method brush, nipple(valve) is a core component that controls the discharge of the paste and is a critical success factor which can determine the success or failure of "Eco-Brush" development.
Mechanically, it is surely possible to combine the discharging control into the brush. However, in this case, it will increase the price and cause many inconveniences that the competitiveness is likely to be diminished. Thus, the development of the nipple was inevitable.
Watch demo of EcoBrush
----------------------------------
Interview with Mins Hair Salon’s Manager of Bundang branch
Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Mar 3, 2014
Mins Hair Salon’s staffs at Bundang branch
Min In Sook is a manager and owner of Mins Hair Salon in Bundang and Suhe branches. Bundang branch was newly opened in September last year and Suhe branch was started in 14 years ago. In Bundang branch, the Salon has café inside the shop for customer convenience, and along with bookshelves, they also asked their customer to read a book to enhance thinking ability. Approximately 40-50 customers in weekdays and 70-80 customers in weekends were visited in their Mins Hair salon. Most of their customers are age between 40 and 50.
At the moment, popular hair colors are maple color for old people and whity ash color for young people. Hair style and design is varying for different new trends and colors depend on individual head and face, no limited.
Since 1988, Min In Sook started joining in beauty salon field without any talent and no aptitude, by the times go on though experience and endurance, she was able to get skill and master in beauty salon professional work. She has 23 staff members in two branches, including 3 managers, 7 or 8 designers, other assistances and intern staffs. Most of the staffs’ ages are between 20 and 30. At Mins Hair Salon, it required 4-5 years experience to become a junior designer and approximately 15 years required for a senior designer. Once become a senior designer, he/she can able to handle all kinds of skills of hair salon. Assistance has to do minor hair cutting and washing hair with shampoo or so on, mostly learning by experience. At-least, they have to present 150 hours a year at hair salon.
Min In Sook(C)
The staffs are occasionally having training program for communication skill and how to receipt the customer. And they have to read a book per month, to get knowledge and idea, and learn communication method from the book. Usually, they have learned English speaking course 2 hours a month and no limited learning in private time.
Min In Sook also has a few foreign customers, approximately 40/50 customers a month. She expressed she will like to warmly welcome foreign customers at her hair salon with optimistic service to all, and try to get a better service with a new idea and excellent skill from the staff. They are there for customer’s satisfaction and make a good psychological atmosphere and friendship, as a kind of spreading K-beauty around the world.
Min In Sook is a PhD candidate with major in Hair and Beauty at Seokyung University. She graduated from the same university with the same major in MA and BA. Her husband is Landy Park.
----------------------------------
Unveiling of Judy and Joshua’s Fashion Design
Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Feb 6, 2014
Judy(R) and Joshua in front of their shop
Judy and Joshua's Brand Company is the name of the owners Judy and Joshua, the Brand is part of Design Studio Sam, the couple explained to Global Digest. Both of these designing companies were started in 2008 with these three persons Tony Seo, Judy Seo and Joshua Myung, where Tony is finance in-charge, Joshua is designing in-charge and Judy is Oversea Business in-charge, Judy speaks Korean, Chinese, Malay and English. They have a big dream for future enlarging their business.
Judy and Joshua’s Brand Company has partnership in Hong Kong and China. Most of their products are textile, clothes, Jacket, one-piece, blouse, panta and other wearing products. They also plan to design more other items, such as bag, shoes and etc. In Hong Kong, one-piece and blouse are popular as a warmer weather in there, said Judy.
Designer Joshua
Before they start their own business, Joshua worked at a textile company for 12 years, and Judy was a teacher at international school in Daichi-dong for 12 years, respectively. Eventually, they met at the church and got married and developed a new brand company.
Joshua started get idea of designing since in his teenage, such as a hobby in drawing, wearing new clothes and shopping, basically, he interests in Art and Fashion. So he graduated in a Bachelor Degree major with Advertisement Designing from Woosong University in Daejeon city. Joshua produces designing item based on seasonal, he got idea from the natural and reading a book. Judy and Joshua’s Brand popularity rate of their designing are above medium level in South Korea, in Hong Kong, they have many fans for their design. It has a big potential, Joshua said.
At their Judy and Joshua’s Brand shop, customer visited 50 to 100 persons a day, due to their shop location is in popular Dongdaemun shopping area in Seoul City. They also have online shopping, and they used to have 6 more shops in different places at department stores. In this year, they are going to open 2 or 3 more shops.
The couple expressed that thier Judy and Joshua’s Brand has a good purpose and reason. Joshua admitted that fashion is a kind of tool to help people whatever in their circumstances including poor people. He determined that he will try to be a better designer to help other people.
----------------------------------
Pinch of Love: Chocolatier & Patisserie
Seungyun Lee at COEX exibition
The owner of Pinch of Love: Chocolatier & Patisserie, Seungyun Lee started it in Aungust 2013 to sell origin of chocolate and teach how to make chocolate in South Korea. With a small kitchen, the start-up company is producing a small amount of chocolates as a self supported business. Seungyun Lee has a hobby of Chocolate making since 2001, and making patisserie by self study from book and internet. In 2007, she went to Australia for a training at Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School in Melbourne city for a month, and then she worked there as assistance position for 4 years. In 2011, she won for the 4th position in International Chocolate Competition at Paris, after she won for the first position from Asia, a regional level, and Australia, a country level.
After the international competition, she came back to South Korea to have a break time. During that time, she was an ambassador of South Korea of Callebout Chocolate, a Belgium company, where she had participated for many Asian events. Chocolate was popularly introduced in the early time in South Korea by US soldiers when they came for peace keeping the peninsula. South Korea chocolate market is still small, compare to Japan, which has a bigger market.
According to Seungyun Lee, chocolate products in Asia were mostly not like an origin chocolate taste. For example, most Korean chocolate entrepreneurs are just doing for profit regardless of quality. So she wants to focus on an origin chocolate quality and trendy chocolate. Later, people realized the better of an origin chocolate taste, she witnessed.
Mostly, young people like chocolate as a modern snack but still the number is low, where Korean old people don’t interest much chocolate, may be they don’t know the taste and information of chocolate, Seungyun Lee explained. And Korean people buy chocolate usually for a gift to other. On the other hand, Australian people buy chocolate for their own consumption.
There are approximately 100 of chocolate brands in South Korea. At Pinch of Love: Chocolatier & Patisserie, you can get original chocolate taste, 1 pralind or bonbon – 2200 KRW, and 1 caramel which related to chocolate (a bag) – 5000KRW.
You can contact at: 02-2075-6339, Email: monsterpastrychef@gmail.com, Website: pinchoflove.co.kr
----------------------------------
Jul 2012 - Dec 2013
----------------------------------
Jan 2011 - Jun 2012
----------------------------------