Mira Nair film proposal revives interest in Beatles visit to Rishikesh
<http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6280/2256/1600/george%20harrison%20brithday%20hall.jpg> Photo: The hall where George Harrison celebrated his 25th birthday in 1968 at Rishikesh (Photo: Mangesh Kumar)
By Raju Gusain
http://uttarakhandnews.blogspot.com
Rishikesh, 30 Oct: Renowned film maker Mira Nair has announced her intention to make a full-length docu-feature on the Beatles’ visit to this holy township. The news has once again brought fresh the memories of the tour of the band to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Ashram in 1968 to learn meditation.
Mira’s decision comes at time when the 15 acre Mahesh Yogi Ashram, located here, has almost totally become derelict. The Ashram is now an abandoned place. It is now part of the Rajaji National Park and its entire infrastructure has been vandalised. It also represents the failure of the state government to utilise this extraordinary asset to boost tourism.Mira is expected to come here to shoot her film on the Fab Four.
The 1968 visit was significant in the life of the Beatles. Stating this, UK’s legendary folk singer Donovan Leitch says, “The 1968 visit with the Beatles was the foremost influence on the western world that brought Eastern Yoga to the west in the 20th century.”
It is shocking that Uttaranchal Tourism has failed miserably to take advantage of the Beatles visit to Rishikesh (Please recall, ‘Boosting tourism: Taking advantage of the Beatles visit to Rishikesh, Garhwal Post, 19-25, 2004). Incidentally, the visit of the music group that created headlines worldwide in the 60s is not even mentioned in the Tourism Department’s brochures. Last year, Uttaranchal Tourism hosted a Beatles Festival (Token start to Beatles festival in Rishikesh, Garhwal Post, 13-19, 2005) at the Parmarth Niketan on the concluding day of the International Yoga Week. But, this year, the festival has not been organised so far.
The Beatles visited the Indian Himalayas and the tour gave mass popularity to Yoga and spirituality in the West. The Fab Four’s time at the Ashram was the single most productive capsule of time in their careers. They wrote 48 songs while they were in Rishikesh. Among the Beatles, Ringo stayed at the Maharishi's Ashram for 10 days, Paul for 5 weeks, John and George, for 8 weeks, each.
During the visit George Harrison celebrated his 25th birthday at the Mahesh Yogi Ashram. The birthday function took place at a big assembly hall in the Ashram (See photo). The celebration began with the Maharishi applying sandalwood on George's forehead. Local artists were invited to perform at the birthday party. Mike Love, leader of the Beach Boys, sang a hymn about meditation and Donovan also gave a small performance. The celebration lasted for some three hours. It was an unforgettable day!
The hall where the birthday party took place has been vandalised badly. Stray animals can be found loitering in the campus.
Emmy Award winner producer-director Paul Saltzman stayed at the Ashram with the Fab Four during the India tour. Paul says, “When I visited the Mahesh Yogi Ashram for the second time, I discovered that the bungalows where the Beatles stayed were no longer there. The old buildings were demolished for new constructions.”
Presently, tourists are not allowed to enter the erstwhile Ashram of the Mahesh Yogi. A forest guard bars the way. The tourists can visit the Rajaji National Park by paying a nominal entry fee. But, not the Ashram. So many opportunities lost!
Garhwal Post
31 October, 2006
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