Louis Armstrong in desert glare, 1961
Category Archives: photography
Famous Performers in Unusual Light
Louis Armstrong in desert glare, 1961
Murali Reddy’s Frontline Access to the War Zone in May 2009
Shenali D Waduge, reproducing here an old article in Lankaweb from 22 December 2013 which I had not seen even though I had interacted closely with Murali in Colombo in May-June 2009 (as well as subsequently) and been commissioned to write pieces for Frontline; while also been privileged to chat with Kanchan Prasad in mid-2010 after Murali introduced me to her, after which I gained access to her invaluable snaps of the Nandikadal war zone. These I placed in a special site, viz. http://www.flickr.com/photos/thuppahi/sets/72157626797805167/ et seq.
Waduge’s article is entitled “Sri Lanka’s War had Witnesses : Indian Journalist B. Murali Reddy”. In the reproduction below, the highlighting in red [as distinct from black] is my imposition as Editor, Thuppahi. Also see my SPECIAL NOTE at the end
Murali at entrance to LTTE bunker hospital at Last Redoubt –Pic by Kanchan Prasad
Firstly Sri Lanka’s war did have witnesses. The witnesses were however NOT – Gordon Weiss, Francis Harrison, Channel 4, the Darusman Panel, Charles Petrie and a whole list of others who have promoted themselves as witnesses when they are not because they were never inside the war zone. They were only passing between themselves a version they have contrived that fits well within a different agenda that has nothing to do with what they claim it is. Questioning their credibility further is their sources – who happen to all be pro-LTTE. However, there was a witness throughout. He was foreign and his name is B. Muralidhar Reddy, an Indian journalist working for The Hindu/Frontline and his account “Final Hours – An eyewitness account of the last 70 hours of Eelam War IV’ gives a real eyewitness account of what he himself saw. http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2612/stories/20090619261200900.htm Continue reading
Filed under accountability, gordon weiss, historical interpretation, Indian Ocean politics, landscape wondrous, law of armed conflict, life stories, LTTE, military strategy, photography, politIcal discourse, prabhakaran, Rajapaksa regime, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, Tamil Tiger fighters, terrorism, the imaginary and the real, unusual people, war crimes, war reportage, world events & processes
Has Assad been Tarred with a Sarin Brush? A False Flag Stratagem at Play?
in Daily Mirror, 8 May 2017, with title “False-flag chemical weapons attack: Re-play of an old US ploy to smash Syria? – See more at:
As the fallout of the April 4th chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhun in Syria continues to unfold, contradictory reports on the incident have produced more questions than answers as to what really happened. The only certainty seems to be that sarin or a similar poison was used. This was confirmed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons according to Reuters, but OPCW was not mandated to assign blame.
Filed under accountability, american imperialism, arab regimes, life stories, Middle Eastern Politics, news fabrication, photography, politIcal discourse, propaganda, Responsibility to Protect or R2P, terrorism, the imaginary and the real, trauma, truth as casualty of war, war crimes, war reportage, world events & processes
The War Dead in Sri Lanka: Deceit and Ignorance Rule the Air Waves
Both these images are from TamilNet and were part of the extensive stock sent to me in 2009/10 by “Citizen Silva” aka IDAG. The first is dated 6 April 2009 and the second 28 April 2009
ONE = Michael Roberts: “Introduction”
When I presented an essay on “Missing Persons” in Groundviews in March 2013 the reactions were, as usual, mixed and included a derisive dismissal from one “Velu Balendran”.[1] However, one individual named Nathan inserted a dose of common sense and also introduced readers – as well as myself – to a pertinent article by two Indians, Ajay Sahni & S. Binodkumar Singh in the Indian magazine Outlook.
I do not know Nathan and where he resides, but am deeply grateful to him. As I am now returning to this topic, I believe that readers should be introduced to his brief thoughts and be led to the article he recommended. I will thereafter insert key bibliographic references on the topic from my original essay and its companion piece; while also embellishing this ‘compendium’ with images that provide a glimpse of the context and assorted outcomes in indelible ways beyond words.
TWO = Nathan, 1 April 2013, extract from http://groundviews.org/2013/03/28/a-missing-person-in-sri-lanka-heartfelt-issues-ground-realities/
It’s a shame that people have failed to read and grasp the thrust of Dr Michael Robert’s article . Continue reading
Filed under accountability, authoritarian regimes, disparagement, doctoring evidence, governance, historical interpretation, Indian Ocean politics, life stories, LTTE, photography, politIcal discourse, power politics, press freedom & censorship, propaganda, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, slanted reportage, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, Tamil Tiger fighters, the imaginary and the real, truth as casualty of war, UN reports, vengeance, war reportage, world events & processes
Kill Any Sikh: The Anti-Sikh Pogrom of 1984 in Delhi in Bhawan Singh’s IMAGES
1= agitated Indians try to scale gates of the All-India Medical Institute, 31 October 1984
@= Deep Anguish etched in every face
Michael Roberts on Bhawan Singh’s Pictorial Images
The first two images reveal the agitation and anguish of Indian citizens in Delhi who had rushed to the entrance of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on the 31st October where Indira Gandhi had been rushed to in hopes of her resuscitation after she was shot by her own Sikh bodyguards. Two more pictures below underline the emotions coursing through the minds and bodies of these patriot citizens of India who were so moved by the prospect of her death that they rushed to her side so to speak. Continue reading
Traditional Drum Making In Sri Lanka: Beats down the Ages
David Blacker, courtesy of SERENDIB, December Issue 2016 … http://serendib.btoptions.lk/article.php?id=1914
On display (L-R) a Tabla, Hand Rabana, Bummadiya, Thammetama, and Geta Bera
The hands and fingers seemed to work to an inner beat, to a pulse, only the drum-maker himself could hear. As wood was smoothed, leather cords tightened, and cowhide stretched, they would be periodically tested, plucked, tapped, thrummed by the fingers, searching for a quality defined by sound. Ironically, in the gloom of the small stall that doubled as a workshop, there was no music whatsoever; not even a transistor radio. The only sounds were those of the tools, the muted conversation, underlined by the tapping.Nimal Wickramasiri is an artist. And his art is the beat. Nimal is not a musician, but the drums he makes are sought after by musicians all over Sri Lanka. Now middle-aged, Nimal has been making drums all his life. His father, awarded by three Presidents, had done the same, as had his grandfather, and for generations before, now lost in the rhythm of time. Nimal’s son, Kasun, is a skilled drum-maker in his own right. The beat in this family’s blood shows no sign of drying up.
Undermining the Burqa: The Fish Net Garment
Among like minds Front-On
Topless: Devastating! Striking! Alluring! et cetera et cetera
Filed under accountability, commoditification, doctoring evidence, growth pole, landscape wondrous, medical marvels, performance, photography, psychological urges, pulling the leg, Responsibility to Protect or R2P, slanted reportage, taking the piss, the imaginary and the real, tolerance, trauma, unusual people, world affairs
An Innovative Global Map
Keeping Abreast of All Countries
Filed under female empowerment, gender norms, governance, growth pole, heritage, landscape wondrous, life stories, performance, photography, power sharing, psychological urges, pulling the leg, rehabilitation, Responsibility to Protect or R2P, taking the piss, terrorism, the imaginary and the real, tolerance, wikileaks
A British Bike-Man’s Bike Ride in Sri Lanka
A Beautiful tale … with British humour … and stunning pictures …. disguising the hard yards
A MUST SEE: http://www.elakiri.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1687848
