Discourse has declared an International Design Competition entitled as ‘Draupadi’s Residece’.
Draupadi is one of the most important characters of Mahabharata. She was the wife of five pandavas in the story.
Text from Wikipedia:
“While in exile, Kunti, mother of the Pandavas often advised her sons that they share everything they have (or obtain) equally amongst themselves. During that time, Arjuna attended Draupadi’s swayamvara and won her hand in marriage. When he returned, he triumphantly declared “Look mother, what I have brought!”. Kunti, unmindful of what Arjuna was referring to, unassumingly asked her son to share whatever it is with his brothers. Thus, in order to obey their mother’s order all five accepted Draupadi as their wife. This is fraternal polyandry.

According to another source, when Sage Vyasa visits the family, he explains to Draupadi that her unique position as the wife of five brothers results from a certain incident in her previous birth. She had in that lifetime prayed to Lord Shiva to grant her a husband with five desired qualities. Lord Shiva, pleased with her devotion, tells her that it is very difficult to get a husband with all five qualities that she desired. But she sticks to her ground and asks for the same. Then Lord Shiva grants her wish saying that she would get the same in her next birth. Hence she gets married to five brothers each who represents a given quality. Nevertheless Draupadi always favoured Arjun above the rest of his brothers, she loved him with all her heart. And Draupadi too was Arjun’s favourite out of his four wives

None of the Draupadi’s children survived by the end of the epic. Parikshit, grandson of Subhadra and Arjuna, was the sole Kuru dynast who survived at the end of Mahabharata.”
Follow these links to know more about the stories of Draupadi:
>Draupadi: in Wikipedia
>Draupadi: Icon of True Indian Woman
>Draupadi: Epitome of Feminism

More links and information about the competition will be published very shortly.

Today a review will be held in the Discourse on the competition by Architect Nurur Rahman Khan. And he will present his design of Draupadi’s Residence in today’s lecture. Please be present in todays Discourse to know more about the competition details. Discourse98.com will publish the review of todays discussions.

When: at 17:30, on 17th May, 2007
Where: Open Studio, Department of Architecture,
The University of Asia Pacific.

Architect Bashirul Haq Lectured on Discourse on Monday 27th november 2006.
It was about his works, architectural philosophy and his ultimate commitment towards the profession. Here is the lecture for listening or for download:
Listen to the Lecture here>

bashirulhaq.mp3

CLICK HERE to download the lecture as an MP3 file.

(We are sorry for not to update the news of the last Discourse on last Thursday… however here’s the review of what happened there:)
Yesterday we talked about the progress of the Dhaka Workshop.
Jumu sir instructed some new jobs like collecting the satellite images of some areas of Dhaka from google earth and seaming them into one big image, translating the lectures by Dr. Abu Sayeed M. Ahmed into English after listening them from the recording, taking photographs of few more areas including Karwan Bazar and Chakbazar area etc.

Mehrab did a great job. He scanned a whole book comprising all the important works during 1970 to 1980 and he has made a PowerPoint presentation virsion with all the drawings and texts in a CD. We watched the entire digital book.
It is declared and requested to everyone of Discourse to collect the copy of the CD for 100 TK by the next week, and everyone is requested to sell a copy of this CD to other interested people also. This will help us to grow our own fund. So that from the next Discourse may hold our own events like public seminars or exhibitions or publications by our own fund. And of course everyone is encouraged to do something what Mehrab did alone. These works will help Discourse to set more milestones like muzharulislam.com and Muzharul Islam Archive, Dhaka Workshop etc.

We saw the design chronology of some projects by Tanya Karim NR Khan and Associates. It was really amazing to see some experimental projects like those which are built by these days!

However, after the next discourse on coming Thursday we will meet at TKNRK office on Friday (11th August 2006) morning to do the final works of Dhaka Workshop. It will be a day long session from morning till over the next night… as we worked during making the muzharulislam.com . People who are working (or willing to work) with Dhaka Workshop are requested to come that day with all the works done. And take a preparation to fasten your belts tight with the working desks in the office to give tight fight for the best out-come of the Dhaka Workshop.

Discourse recalls the memories of the honorable martyrs of 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh.

Today it was the black night (25th March 1971) of the cruel genocide over Bangladeshi people by Pakistani Army. Pakistani Army tried to eliminate the movement of independence of Bangladesh. It started from 25th March. Between March 25 and December 16, 1971, estimated 3 million Bengalees were killed, 200000 women raped and 10 million were displaced by Pakistani Army. This was the worst genocide after Second World War. Visit this page to know more about the genocide of 25th March 1971:
liberationmuseum.org.bd/genocide_n_atrocities.htm

Tomorrow it is the independence day of Bangladesh. After the historic speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 7th March 1971,

Bangalees were prepared to jump in the fight for their motherland.
Salute to those fighters who fought against those Pakistani hyenas and Deshi Razakars to save our motherland. See the Heros of Bangladesh