Best Soul Poetry Podcasts (2024)

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37. Bachchan's Madhushala: Abhi to Main Jawaan Hun / मधुशाला में यौवन की बातें 17:53

23d ago17:53

17:53

Welcome to The Madhushala Podcast (मधुशाला मंथन), based on Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry. In this, we explore the soul and essence of Hindi poetry, poet's life-stories, philosophy and a bit of India's history. In the ⁠previous episode⁠, we told you about a road accident of Bachchan family and how Madhushala came to her poet’s rescue. Today, …

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36. Bachchan's Madhushala: When the poem rescued her poet / मधुशाला ने अपने कवि को बचाया 13:21

2M ago13:21

13:21

In the previous episode, we had talked about the importance of dissatisfaction in life and told why Bachchan had to leave his well-organized life and go for military training, and some poems related to the same. Today let us tell you an incident about the Bachchan couple's road accident and how his poetry saved them. पिछले अंक में बात की थी जीवन मे…

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35. Bachchan's Madhushala: Fascination of what’s difficult / अंतिम साकी, अंतिम मधुशाला 16:40

3M ago16:40

16:40

In the ⁠⁠previous episode⁠⁠, we had talked about the fragility of life, a small discussion on the ornaments of poetry called “Alankar”, and told why Bachchan's family members used to hide certain things from him. Today’s episode talks about the inherent dissatisfaction of man and why our poet had to undergo military training at one time. (⁠⁠⁠Read m…

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34. Bachchan's Madhushala: Fragility of life / काल प्रबल है पीनेवाला, संसृति है मधुशाला 16:02

3M ago16:02

16:02

In the ⁠previous episode⁠, we spoke about the comic side of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan and some of the lighter shades in the poet’s life, especially the ones from his university days. Let’s talk about the volatility of life in today’s episode and a discussion on Alankars (⁠Read more here⁠). Also a reference to Yuval Noah Harari's Homo Deus and a doc…

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33. Bachchan's Madhushala: Poet's comic introduction / मैं हूँ बच्चन जी मस्ताना, गाता मस्ती का गाना 12:33

4M ago12:33

12:33

In the previous episode, we spoke about Bachchan’s meeting with Sarojini Naidu and introduction with Nehru – Indira family. There was also a poetic introduction of Mr Bachchan. In this episode, a comic intro of the poet and little more bit from his life experiences (Read more here) पिछले अंक में बात की थी कि कैसे कवियों का परिचय भी कविता जैसा ही हो…

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28. Shakespeare’s Character is Destiny in Madhushala | मिलने का आनंद न देती मिलकर के भी मधुशाला 13:37

6M ago13:37

13:37

In the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠previous episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, we spoke about poet’s unquenched thirst and about his work as a special officer of Hindi at the Ministry of External Affairs (Videsh Mantralaya). In this episode, a poem about why people worry much. (⁠⁠⁠read more here⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠पिछले अंक⁠⁠⁠ पिछले अंक में हमने बात की थी कवि की अधूरी प्यास की, मधुशाला के प्यास बुझाने स…

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32. Bachchan’s poetic introduction with Sarojini and Nehru-Indira / सरोजिनी नायडू, इंदिरा नेहरू से बच्चन का कविताई परिचय (Madhushala) 16:49

7M ago16:49

16:49

In the ⁠previous episode⁠, we spoke about the insults that Bachchan has to endure during his Pioneer Press days and how later in his life, he took a sort of revenge on society for such old insults. In this episode, we speak about an interesting introduction with Sarojini Naidu and the India-Nehru family. (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠read more here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)⁠पिछले अंक⁠ मे…

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31. After Life’s hard knocks, I found Madhushala / दुनिया भर की ठोकर खाकर पाई मैंने मधुशाला 15:12

8M ago15:12

15:12

In the previous episode, we spoke the games fate or ‘Niyati’ plays, and a story about Bachchan’s first independent and important decision in life when he was barely a teenager. We also read two poems by Maithilisharan Gupt and Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’. (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠read more here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)पिछले अंक में बात की थी बालक हरबंस राय के जीवन के पहले महत्वपूर्ण और स…

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30. Bachchan’s first important decision and destiny / भाग्य प्रबल, मानव निर्बल का पाठ पढ़ाती मधुशाला 20:46

9M ago20:46

20:46

In the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠previous episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, we spoke about a story from Bachchan’s childhood and what his father’s family Guru had predicted about Bachchan’s future. There was also a Nazm by Nazeer Akbarabadi – “Sab thath pada rah javega, jab laad chalega Banjara”, on the games fate plays. In today’s episode, some more discussion on fate and Niyati, abo…

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29. Madhushala on Luck, Destiny, Hitler / सब ठाठ पड़ा रह जाएगा, जब लाद चलेगा बंजारा 17:07

9M ago17:07

17:07

In the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠previous episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, we spoke about why people worry much about life and destiny. We also discussed Shakespeare’s “character is destiny” and the initial days of Amitabh Bachchan practicing his hands on acting. In this episode, we discuss some more about the role luck and destiny play in one’s life. (⁠⁠⁠⁠read more here⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠पिछले…

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27. Madhushala: To quench poet’s oceanic thirst | प्यास बुझाने को बुलवाकर प्यास बढ़ाती मधुशाला 12:19

11M ago12:19

12:19

In the ⁠⁠⁠⁠previous episode⁠⁠⁠⁠, we spoke about the mannerism and the beautyof language in Lucknow and why ‘Saaki’ got bored of the poet. There was also a story of Bachchan’s encounter with illness. In this episode, we speak about poet’s unquenched thirst and a little about Bachchan’s work as a special office of Hindi at the Ministry of External Af…

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26. Madhushala: Lucknow and her poetic mannerism | बंद लगी होने खुलते ही मेरी जीवन-मधुशाला 13:55

12M ago13:55

13:55

In the ⁠⁠⁠previous episode⁠⁠⁠, we spoke about what Bachchan used to say about the men-women relationship and discussed a controversy often attached to a line by Goswami Tulsidas (⁠read more here⁠) ⁠पिछले अंक⁠ में हमने बात की थी कि बच्चन बाबू स्त्री-पुरुष संबंधों के बारे में क्या कहते थे और चर्चा की थी गोस्वामी तुलसीदास जी की एक पंक्ति पर, जिसका सहा…

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Bonus Episode - Work from Himalayas - Poetic Travels in the Hills (पहाड़ों की कविता यात्रा) 16:28

1y ago16:28

16:28

WFH could well be Work from Himalayas, or Working remotely from Hills! That’s what we did before COVID wave surged again. In this episode, we travel to a small village called Jibhi, in Himachal. We talk about the experience of working remotely, and life in the hills with some short poems inspired by these pristine hills, waterfalls, simple living p…

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25. Madhushala: Men-Women relations and Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas | ढोल, गँवार, शूद्र, पशु, नारी, सकल ताड़ना के अधिकारी 13:11

1y ago13:11

13:11

In the ⁠⁠previous episod⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠, we told a story from the Cambridge University days and how Bachchan was often mistaken for being younger, and of romance in Madhushala. In this episode, we talk about romance, of beauty and an analysis of Tulsidas’s line from Ramcharitmanas- “Dhol Ganwar Shudra Pashu Naari”. (read more here) पिछले अंक में हमने बात क…

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24. Madhushala: Youth of Cambridge University | खुले प्रणय की मधुशाला 6:42

1y ago6:42

6:42

In the ⁠previous episod⁠⁠e⁠, we spoke about the extreme criticism faced by Madhushala and how Bachchan was threatened to be shot in Patna once. There was another story of the friendship of Sumitranandan Pant and Bachchan. Today, a story from Cambridge University and how Bachchan was often mistaken for being younger, and some discussion on the men-w…

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23. Madhushala: Benipuri’s Yogi and Sumitranandan Pant | उल्लास-चपल, उन्माद-तरल, प्रति पल पागल – मेरा परिचय 11:50

1y ago11:50

11:50

In the previous episode, we spoke about the social boycott of Bachchan family for attending a wedding, alongside a poem from Madhushala on the topic. Today, a story of Madhushala’s extreme criticism and Bachchan’s poetic reaction to that, and a story of Bachchan-Pant friendship and of their hairstyle. You can read the full script of the episode her…

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22. Madhushala: Social boycott of Bachchan family | ठुकराते मंदिर मस्जिद, पलक बिछाती मधुशाला 10:19

1+ y ago10:19

10:19

In the previous episode, we shared a story from the life of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s father, that how he alone stood up to a mob to stop a communal riot in their colony and was successful too. There was also a story about how adamant or determined Bachchan himself was as a young boy. Today, let’s hear another one from those days, essence of whic…

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21. Madhushala: is a great equalizer | एक तरह से सबका स्वागत करती मधुशाला 13:18

1+ y ago13:18

13:18

In the previous episode, we spoke about hesitation and moving beyond that, and if a someone is capable enough, there is nothing she/he can’t achieve. Now there are plenty of poems on caste/religion in Madhushala, so let’s hear about an experience from the life of Dr Bachchan’s father. You can read the full script of the episode here. पिछले अंक में …

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20. Madhushala: Hole in the Bucket and Introverts | मधुशाला में संकोच, स्वाभिमान, साकी से छेड़छाड़ 12:02

1+ y ago12:02

12:02

In the previous episode, we spoke about ‘Rambha’, one of the apsaras (nymph, fairy) from Indralok (heavens), and Apsaras in the life of Dr Bachchan. There was also a story of Yagna and Som-Sura and a word Dron-Kalash. Today, we talk about the initial hesitation, self-respect, moving beyond and that humans can do anything with their own abilities. Y…

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19. Madhushala: Apsara Rambha, Yagya, Dron-Kalash | मधुशाला में अप्सरा रंभा, यज्ञ, द्रोण कलश 12:39

1+ y ago12:39

12:39

You can read the full script of the episode here. In the previous episode, we spoke about nostalgia and augmented reality, how we see some old faces and visuals in a different context. We also told a beautiful story of Emerald island (Markat). Do you recall which country we were talking about? Today, we are talking about the nymphs of the heaven an…

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Bonus Episode - Women in Bachchan's Life - Champa and Iris | मधुशाला - आइरिस, चंपा, मृग तृष्णा 13:22

1+ y ago13:22

13:22

Mrig Trishna or Mirage - this is the story of two women in Mr Bachchan’s life and the reflection of these experiences on his poetry. Circa 1925, Champa who was Karkal’s wife, and a dream-world that a young Harivansh and his best friend Karkal had weaved together with Champa, followed by two tragic deaths. Fast forward to 1939, then comes Iris, one …

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18. Madhushala: Nostalgia and Emerald Island "Ireland" | मधुशाला में मरकत द्वीप की कविता 10:43

1+ y ago10:43

10:43

In the previous episode, we spoke about the deep and strange relationship between the arid sandy deserts of Sahara and the dense green rainforests of Amazon, the Yin-Yang of it and why we discuss this in Madhushala. One more story was from Bachchan’s childhood, of his birthday and Chamarin Amma (shout out episode 12). Today, we will talk about Bach…

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17. Madhushala: Yin-Yang, Butterfly Effect | मधुशाला में वर्षा ऋतु, पर्यावरण, बचपन 11:42

1+ y ago11:42

11:42

In the previous episode, we time-travelled to Mahabharat era where Guru Drona was testing his students and then we spoke about Koyal’s penance, how it turned white to black. In this episode, we take a walk in the nature and how far and distant objects in the universe are all linked with each other – as displayed in the first Rubaai today. पिछले एपि…

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16. Madhushala: Karn Arjun, Koyal's penance | मधुशाला में कर्ण अर्जुन और कोयल की तपस्या 11:09

1+ y ago11:09

11:09

You can read the full script of this episode on Madhushala Blog here. In the previous episode, we talked about the the Bachchan's struggles for publishing Madhushala as a book for the first time, and then the blessings that he received. We also spoke about "Wants vs Needs". In this episode, let's take a walk towards Hastinapur and meet Karna and Ar…

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Bonus Episode - अभी तो मैं जवान हूँ | Bachchan's Comic Introduction / Robert Browning Rabbi Ben Ezra (Madhushala) 13:11

2y ago13:11

13:11

In 1954, when Bachchan ji landed in Mumbai after sailing for 18 days on his return journey from London, there was a Kavi Goshthi organized in his honor. He was asked to recite some poems, but he recited a fun parody instead, rhyming with the names of his most popular poems :-) such as - मैं हूं बच्चन जी मस्ताना, लिखता हूँ मस्ती का गाना, मैंने खोली …

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Bonus Episode - Madhushala aur Baat Bareilly Ki | बात बरेली की और मधुशाला 11:54

2y ago11:54

11:54

Bareilly has played a very important and dramatic role in Bachchan’s life. Circa 1938, it’s just been about a year since the death of Shyama, the first wife of Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan. He has not written any new poem since her passing but attends poetry events (Kavi Sammelan) for his own peace (स्वांत: सुखाय). One such invite came from Bareilly…

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Bonus Episode - OSHO Rajneesh and Bachchan's Madhushala | ओशो रजनीश और बच्चन की मधुशाला 15:03

2y ago15:03

15:03

Circa 1950s to 1970s – That there was a bond between Acharya Rajneesh aka OSHO and Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan is not a common knowledge. There were similarities between Osho’s preaching and the messages from Madhushala even though Madhushala was written when Osho was a toddler. It is said that he was inspired by Madhushala and other poems of Bachcha…

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15. How Madhushala became a book | मधुशाला का पहली बार किताब रूप में आना 11:54

2y ago11:54

11:54

You can read the full script of this episode on Madhushala Blog here. In the previous episode, we discussed the idea of “Life is a long weekend” in Madhushala and what Dr Bachchan said about the convergence of happiness and sorrow in one’s life – and how that reflects in Madhushala. In this episode, let’s talk about the struggles behind publishing …

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14. Madhushala - Life is a long weekend | दिन को होली रात दिवाली रोज़ मनाती मधुशाला 8:46

2y ago8:46

8:46

You can read the full script of this episode on Madhushala Blog here. In the previous episode, we shared a ‘shayarana’ banter between Ghalib, Iqbal, Faraz, et al. We also discussed the story of Professor Amarnath Jha, who was a mentor to Dr Bachchan and how he had decided about his last rituals even when he was alive. In this episode, let’s talk ab…

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13. Ghalib, Iqbal, Faraz in Madhushala | मधुशाला में ग़ालिब, इक़बाल, फराज़ 11:00

2y ago11:00

11:00

You can read the full script of this episode on Madhushala Blog here. In the previous episode, we shared the story of ‘Chamma’ (Lachhminiya aka Chamarin Amma), who was she to newly born Harivansh Rai and what effect she had on his poetry, written much later. There was another story of Bachchan’s birth in ‘Mool Nakshatra’ and what happened because o…

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12. Madhushala and Chamarin Amma | बच्चन और चमारिन अम्मा (मधुशाला) 10:31

2y ago10:31

10:31

You can read the full script of this episode on Madhushala Blog here. In the previous episode, we discussed the story behind the name “Harivansh Rai” and of a bad experience Bachchan had as a kid for being a Kayasth, and how this experience impacted his poetry. We continue talking about some of Bachchan’s childhood memories in this episode, especia…

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11. Madhushala - Story of name "Harivansh Rai" | कहानी हरिवंश राय नाम की, मधुशाला 9:42

2y ago9:42

9:42

You can read the full script of this episode on Madhushala Blog here. We can also connect on Instagram In the previous episode, we discussed what is Marsiya, when it's read and why are we talking about it in Madhushala. There was also a story of Lucknow's adab, naaz and nakhara. Today we are talking about the origin of Bachchan's first name - Hariv…

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10. Muharram, Marsiya, Holika, Madhushala | मुहर्रम का तम, होलिका की ज्वाला, मधुशाला 9:14

2y ago9:14

9:14

You can read the full script of this episode on my blog here. We can also connect on Instagram :-) In the previous episode, we talked about the reaction of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi when he heard Madhushala for the first time and also what Madhushala says about the caste and religion. Today, an interesting story from Lucknow, but before that a bit…

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9. Gandhi Mandir Masjid Madhushala | मधुशाला की गाँधी से शिकायत 8:53

2y ago8:53

8:53

You can read the full script of this episode on my blog here. We can also connect on Instagram :-) In the previous episode, we discussed Shiv Ki Pratima in the context of Madhushala, along with what Bachchan says about Fever, Raag and Aag. In this episode, we talk about how Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi reacted when he heard Madhushala for the first t…

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8. Bachchan gets nostalgic about Madhushala | मैं शिव की प्रतिमा, मंदिर हो मधुशाला 8:21

2y ago8:21

8:21

You can read the full script of this episode on my blog here. We can also connect on Instagram :-) In the previous episode, we discussed what's common between the movie "Midnight in Paris" and Madhushala. We also spoke about the types of Nostalgia. Let's take another journey down memory lane in this episode... पिछले अंक में हमने बात की थी मधुशाला क…

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7. Midnight in Paris, Madhushala and Nostalgia | पीड़ा में आनंद जिसे, आए मेरी मधुशाला 9:53

2y ago9:53

9:53

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here. We do a live session of Madhushala every Sunday on Mentza, please follow on Instagram to check out :-) What is common between Madhushala and Midnight in Paris movie? We are also talking about two types of Nostalgia - Restorative and Reflective. Let's check out :-) आज के एपिसोड में हम सुन रहे…

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6. Agnipath, Madhushala, Alankar | कलकल, छलछल़, अग्निपथ, मधुशाला 6:54

2y ago6:54

6:54

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here. We do a live session of Madhushala every Sunday on Mentza, please follow on Instagram to check out :-) In this episode, we are talking about some musical lines in Madhushala, decorated with Alankar and then the next Rubaai talks about being a Finisher, with an example of 'Agnipath' जरा बताइए…

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5. Crossroads and Writers' Block in Madhushala | किंकर्तव्यविमूढ़ मुझे कर दूर खड़ी है मधुशाला 6:48

2y ago6:48

6:48

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here. We do a live session of Madhushala every Sunday on Mentza, please follow on Instagram to check out :-) In this episode, Madhushala talks about hitting the Crossroads (say Writers' Block) when one doesn't know what to do! And an interesting Hindi word - किंकर्तव्यविमूढ़. आज की मधुशाला कविताएं…

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4. Alice in Wonderland, Philosophy of Compensations in Madhushala | राह पकड़ तू एक चला चल, पा जाएगा मधुशाला 5:32

2y ago5:32

5:32

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here. We do a live session of Madhushala every Sunday on Mentza, please follow on Instagramto check out :-) What’s common between #Madhushala, MBA and Alice in Wonderland? And, what is the philosophy of compensations? इस एपिसोड में मधुशाला की दो कविताएँ पढ़ रहे हैं, पहली कविता की कहानी और भावार्थ म…

1
3. Madhushala - Lord Shiva like penance? मधुशाला जैसे शिव का नृत्य 6:32

2y ago6:32

6:32

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here. What did Dr Bachchan call #Madhushala a penance? From the grapes of experiences and imagination - the poet has created this wine called Haala and welcomes the world to his House of Wine, aka Madhushala. मृदु भावों के अंगूरों की आज बना लाया हाला, प्रियतम, अपने ही हाथों से आज पिलाऊँगा प्याला, …

1
2. What is Madhushala? मधुशाला क्या है? 8:41

2y ago8:41

8:41

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here. What is Madhushala really? What inspired Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan to write Madhushala? Why did it become so controversial? Was it a copy of Rubaaiyat -e- Umar Khayyam? We answer all these questions, and more :-) take a listen. बड़े-बड़े नाज़ों से मैंने पाली है साकीबाला, कलित कल्पना का ही इस…

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1. Madhushala's First Public Appearance | मधुशाला पहली बार, शिवाजी हाल 7:50

2y ago7:50

7:50

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here. December 1933 - the very first public recitation of Madhushala, at Shivaji Hall – Kashi University and the magical effect it had on the audience. First day was common for several poets but by the end of the day, Madhushala became such a rage that everybody wanted a day dedicated only to Bach…

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