Dance bar (India)

Dance bar is a term used in India to refer to bars in which adult entertainment in the form of dances by relatively well-covered women are performed for male patrons in exchange for cash. Dance bars used to be present only in Maharashtra, but later spread across the country, mainly in cities. Dance bars were banned in the state of Maharashtra, in August 2005, with the passing of the Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Act, 2005. Subsequently, the government shut down dance bars. However, many continued to flourish as late as 2011, although in a clandestine way in Mumbai and its outskirts.[1] Mumbai alone had 700 dance bars, at their peak in April 2005 when it was banned, though officially only 307 dance bars existed, the rest were illegal, while the figures for rest of the state was 650 dance bars in total. In all they employed 150,000 people, including 75,000 bar girls.[2][3] These bars functioned as fronts for prostitution. After the ban was enforced, no rehabilitation program was initiated for the nightclub dancers, known as bar-balas. Many moved to Dubai and other Middle Eastern countries, while others went to New Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad.[4][5]

The ban was first struck down by the Bombay High Court on 12 April 2006, and the verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court in July 2013.[6] The Hindu reported that the number of women employed in bars in Maharashtra was around 20,000 in September 2013. Most of them were waitresses or singers at orchestra bars.[7]

The Maharashtra government banned dance bars again in 2014 by an Ordinance, but this too was found "unconstitutional" by the Supreme Court in October 2015, allowing Mumbai dance bars to reopen.[8]

History

The first dance bars were in Khalapur in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, in the early 1980s.[9] The first dance bar in Pune district was hotel Kapila International.[10]

Mumbai Police carried out a raid on 52 dance bars throughout Mumbai on 24 February 2004,[11] in an overnight operation. This was the first ever large scale raid on dance bars.[12] This was followed by another raid on 27 March 2004. The two raids scared bar owners, who claimed that they paid regular bribes to policemen to keep their business running, and alleged that either the police "want us to hike haftas or they want us to fund election campaigns of certain politicians."[11]

On 25 February 2004, following the raid, the Maharashtra government issued a notification restricting persons below the age of 21 from entering dance bars, discothèques and pubs. Bars violating the law would face fines and possible cancellation of licences. The ban, under the Bombay Prohibition Act, was effective from 1 April 2004.[13]

Ban

On 30 March 2005, then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister RR Patil announced in the Maharashtra State Assembly that dance bars in the state, except those in Mumbai, would be shut with immediate effect.[14] He was replying to complaints from Vivek Patil, and two other MLAs from the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP),[15] who complained that dance bars were "corrupting the youth".[3] Patil claimed that "dance and ladies' bars are wreaking havoc in rural Maharashtra" and "corrupting the moral fibre of our youth".[16] He also announced that a committee of key IAS officials would report within three months.[14] Patil also stated that the government would not issue any new licences.[17] Dance bars in Mumbai went on strike to show solidarity.[18]

The Maharashtra State Assembly adopted the Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Bill 2005 amending the Bombay Police Act, 1951, banning "holding of performance or dance of any kind" at "eating house, permit rooms or beer bars"[19] across the state, on 22 July 2005.[20] On 23 June 2005, Maharashtra Governor SM Krishna had sent back the ordinance to ban bars, stating that he saw "no immediate reason" to sign the ordinance,[21] and demanding that the issue be discussed in the State Assembly.[22][23] The ban was criticized by MP from Mumbai north-west Sunil Dutt who expressed concern over the future of about 75,000 bar girls who would be unemployed as a result of the ban. Dutt emphasised, "We should leave it to the people whether they want to visit a bar or not. We should not decide for them." The ban also opposed by Congress MP Govinda.[24] Bar girls protested the ban, shouting slogans alleging bias and discrimination, and demanding a rehabilitation package.[25] At the time of the ban, there were an estimated 1,400 dance bars in the state (700 in Mumbai, 32 in Raigad district[26]), which employed more than 100,000 bar girls.[21]

Aftermath

Starting 15 August 2005, the ban was implemented across Maharashtra.[27] As a result of the ban, the government lost ₹ 1-1.2 million per annum in revenue from each licensed dance bars.[28] In Mumbai alone 150,000 people, including 75,000 bar girls went out-of-work.[3] Then Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil had initially stated that bar girls would be "rehabilitated", but he backtracked and later stated that since 75% of the bar girls were from other States and as well as Bangladesh, only the Maharashtrian girls would be rehabilitated. However, he did not clarify what "rehabilitation" entailed.[29] Due a lack of a rehabilitation program, within a few short months hundreds of bar girls (bar-balas) mostly illiterate young women sending income back to their families, were out of work, and were forced to move to Gulf countries and South-East Asian countries.[30][31]

"The girls are very vulnerable now, pimps are selling the bar girls to other countries, because they don't have any work."

“
”

- Varsha Kale, Womanist Party of India, 2006.[5]

Some bar girls started dancing at mujras.[32] For example, by November 2005, some 5,000 former bar girls from across Mumbai leased out rooms with the help of brothel madams and brokers in and around Foras Road, near Kamathipura, and started performing improvised versions of the mujra every night. Another hub that crept up during this period was Congress House near Kennedy Bridge, on Grant Road, which has been city's oldest address of mujra performers, which embraced the bar girls' into their folds.[32] Some bar girls are called to dance at private parties, where they often provide sexual favours.[33] Most bar girls are illiterate.[34]

In many cases, girls who could not find other modes of income moved to outright prostitution in Mumbai's red-light districts like Kamathipura.[5] Some even committed suicide,[35] as they did not receive rehabilitation from the state.[33] The dance bars themselves had to attempt to make ends meet by hosting live singing troupes or live bands.

Following the ban, there were sporadic raids on dance bars, with arrests being made. The largest raid on dance bars since the 15 August ban, occurred on 3 March 2006, when Mumbai Police raided Commando Bar in Chembur and Natraj Bar in Tilak Nagar,[36] and arrested 53 dancers and 89 men, including patrons and staffers[37] on charges under the IPC sections for obscenity.[36] In the following years, most known dance bar were either demolished or shut down by municipal corporation, but they moved into the outskirts of the main Mumbai city, into areas like Kashimira on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway 8, Vasai and Mira Road in Mira-Bhayandar suburb, where numerous illegal dance bars mostly in residential areas also serve as pick-up joints, were demolished in an extensive drive in late 2010, and numerous arrests were made including bar girls, customers and employees of bars.[38]

Livelihoods that were affected by the ban on dance bars included tourism in general, beauty parlours, taxi drivers, and the tailors that stitched Indian ghagras worn by most bar girls.[34]

Supreme Court verdicts

On 12 April 2006, the Bombay High Court struck down the amendment as "unconstitutional".[39] The ban had been challenged by nine petitioners including the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHAR), Dance Bar Owners' Association (DBOA), and Bharatiya Bar Girls' Union (BBGU)[40] Dance bars were not allowed to re-open immediately,[41] as the state government was allowed an eight-week appeal period.[42]

RR Patil told the Maharashtra State Assembly on 13 April 2006 that the government would appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.[43] The Supreme Court admitted the state government's petition challenging High Court verdict on 10 May 2006, and also continued the stay on grant of licences permitting dance bars.[44][45][46] The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court verdict on 16 July 2013. The Court vacated its stay order on implementation of the High Court judgement and permitted bars to reapply for their licences and reopen.[47][48][49]

Bar owners began applying to the police for the restoration of licences required to run dance bars from 20 July 2013. As of 5 September 2013, at least 200 bar owners had applied for licences to operate dance bars. However, the licences were not processed by the police, which prompted the owners of 200 bars to send a reminder notice to the police department on 14 August 2013, asking why they were being denied the licences even after the Supreme Court had lifted the ban. Dance bar owners have also threatened to file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court. The deputy commissioner of police (headquarters-I) stated that they were awaiting "suitable guidance from the state regarding the SC order" and assured that they would "process the applications expeditiously" upon receiving the instructions.[50]

In October 2015, the Supreme Court declared the 2014 law as unconstitutional, allowing Mumbai dance bars to reopen.[8]

Ordinance and Legislation Attempts

Patil stated that his department received a draft on 5 September 2013, prepared by the advocate general, to ensure that dance bars are banned in the state.[51] On 2 June 2014, the Maharashtra State Cabinet decided against an ordinance to ban dance bars. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan informed his cabinet that they could not overrule the Supreme Court's judgment. He instead proposed a regulatory authority to monitor and control dance bars. However, the plan was shelved after members of the cabinet told Chavan that it would be a "futile exercise". DNA quoted a senior minister who attended the cabinet meeting as stating that dance bars could re-open after obtaining mandatory approvals. He also stated that they "should ensure there is no vulgarity on the part of the dancers", saying, "Customers will not be allowed to throw money at bar girls. Also, these girls should not be exploited".[52] However, on 13 June 2014, the cabinet passed an ordinance banning dance bars. On the same day, a Bill to amend the Maharashtra Police (Second Amendment) Bill, 2014[53] to abrogate the Supreme Court ruling was introduced and passed in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.[54] The Bill re-introduced the previous ban on dance bar and extended the ban on dance performances to three-star and five-star hotels, as well as cultural events and festivals held in luxury hotels. The Bill was tabled in the Legislative Council on the same day.[55] The law banning dance bars was enacted in June 2014.

In September 2014 the Maharashtra state-appointed committee headed by former Judge Chandrashekhar Shankar Dharmadhikari recommended a "complete ban on bar girls in hotels and restaurants" as well as "curbs on social media" as these have a "corrupting influence", in order to reduce crimes against women.[56] The committee recommended an "improved legislation" more than an ordinance.

Further in September 2014, based on a petition filed by the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (Ahar) challenging the 2014 ban, the Supreme Court issued a notice directing the Maharashtra Government to reply to the petition. The petition stated that the State Government had disregarded the Supreme Court ruling, and included some provisions which the Court had previously held to be unconstitutional. The Association also alleged that the amendment was the result of "personal vendetta" and introduced with "great haste as some politicians who made it a prestige issue and want to defeat the SC judgment, also want to shield themselves from willful contempt of court". However, the Government failed to reply to the petition. On 6 February 2015, the Supreme Court issued a second notice to the Maharashtra government seeking its reply.[57]

In October 2015, the Supreme Court stayed the 2014 law also as unconstitutional, similar to the 2005 ban.The court ruled that dance bars could now reopen, but said that licensing authorities had the power to regulate "indecent" dance performances. A final hearing is set for 5 November.[8]

Clothing

Bar dancing in India, markedly differs from erotic dancing and nightclub dance in the Western world and some parts of the Eastern world. In a way, it is more similar to bellydancing performed as entertainment. The dancers, known as bar girls, remain significantly clothed[2] throughout the performance, showing at most some midriff, part of the back, and bare arms. Therefore, the erotic aspect of bar dancing is mostly achieved through suggestion. In Maharashtra, bar dancer attire is often ethnic Indian (sari or lehenga-choli), whereas in some other places, such as Bangalore, it may include Western garb. The bar dances are often compared to mujras, wherein women would dance to live classical Indian music, traditionally performed by tawaif (courtesans) during the Mughal era.[5][32]

Dancer protocol

"The dance, per se, is not pernicious, but it's the dance in that particular place, where liquor is served and clients are sitting getting boozed. Then the whole atmosphere becomes conducive for men to tease girls, or to book girls for further prostitution."

“
”

- Deputy Police Commissioner of Mumbai in 2006.[5]

Bar girls dance to Bollywood[42] and Indipop numbers on a colourfully lit dance floor, in the central focus of a dance bar's seating arrangement.[58] Patrons sit in chairs lined up against the walls of the room. The dancing is minimalist kind and features no pelvic thrusting and bosom heaving seen typical Bollywood dance, nor any belly-dancing or suggestive gyrations.[59] Most of the time, bar girls reservedly sway to music, in a movement designed for the conservation of energy, until they find a patron whose attention they wish to attract, or are called upon by a patron. They then dance in front of the patron, making fleeting eye contact, pointing, gesturing, or generally making their targeted patron "feel special". No bodily contact between the two is allowed,[58] and the bar dancers often stay within the confines of the dance floor. Male waiters hover over patrons and dancers who get too close to each other, both to oversee transactions between the two as well as ostensibly to prevent sex-for-money deals being made.[5] Patrons sometimes shower bar girls with currency notes, which generally results in more animated dancing.[59]

Income

The patron showers his favoured dancer with currency notes. He does this either by handing over nominal denominations of cash (10 or 20 rupee notes), or through an act known as "scratching", where he holds a wad of currency notes above his dancer and rubs notes off the wad down upon the dancer. In some cases, he would even garland the dancer with rupees. Many bar dancers are able to make hundreds of rupees a night in this way, thanks to generous, well-off, and possibly inebriated patrons. At the end of the day, each girl's earnings are counted and split in some predetermined proportion between the dance bar and the girls. The dance bars also make money through the sale of alcohol and snacks. Most women earned up to ₹10,000 (US$150) a month, this attracted women from all over India and even as far away as Nepal and Bangladesh, especially as dance bars was considered by them as a safer way to make a living, than working in the Mumbai's red-light district.[2]

Income depended on the popularity and status of the bar girl.[60] The Hindustan Times reported that the less popular girls were given 60% of the amount showered on them. It also stated that popular girls received a monthly salary of ₹ 100,000-300,000, while the bar owner kept all the money showered on them.[60]

Social and economic aspects

Dance bars closed at midnight, but in 2000, the government changed the rule to permit them to stay open until 1:30 am. However, this was changed to 12:30am, following the rape of a minor at Marine Drive, Mumbai in 2005,[34] although the rape was committed by a police constable inside a police chowki (station).[61]

Policemen and local thugs also make money off regular haftas from the dance bars.[62] Dance bars serve as a meeting place for criminals, making them a hub for intelligence gathering by police.[63]

Controversy

Dance bars have also drawn the ire of the infamous Indian moral police, especially in the state of Maharashtra. They have been charged with morally corrupting society, exploiting men and siphoning money away from the latter's families, having connections with criminal elements , as well as being fronts for prostitution . The dance bars and their supporters have countered with the demand that dances by women as performed in elite hotels, clubs, public shows, and gymkhanas, presently exempted from the government's list of targets, be tarred with the same brush . Some have even pointed out the racy item numbers of Bollywood films as examples of hypocrisy on the part of the state and their other opponents.

Dance bars outside Maharashtra

Dance bars exist in other parts of India, although they are illegal.

On 4 June 2006, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police busted the El Dorado dance bar in Hotel Rajdoot on Mathura Road,[64] and arrested 13 dance bar girls and one of the hotel owners on charges ranging from obscenity to immoral trafficking and abetment. The girls were aged between 20 and 30 and came from lower-middle-class families. Four of them were from Delhi, two each were from Bihar, Noida and Punjab and one each from Kolkata and Allahabad. The girls had previously been employed in Mumbai dance bars, but shifted to Delhi after those establishments were banned.[65]

Notable incidents

In popular culture

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bars may lose licence for flouting dance ban". The Times of India. 22 February 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dance bars outlawed in Mumbai". The Scotsman. 14 April 2005.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mumbai's dance bars banned too". The Times of India. 13 April 2005.
  4. ↑ "Bar girls: Banned in Mumbai, trafficked to Dubai". DNA. 2 October 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Watson, Paul (26 March 2006). "Prostitution beckons India's former bar girls". San Francisco Chronicle.
  6. ↑ "Mumbai dance bars: India Supreme Court overturns ban". BBC News. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  7. ↑ Rajput, Rashmi (7 September 2013). "Dancers restive as Mumbai bars remain closed". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  8. 1 2 3 "India Supreme Court allows Mumbai dance bars to reopen". BBC. 15 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Quaid Najmi (16 July 2013). "Dance bars were the zing in Mumbai's night life". Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  10. ↑ Sandip Dighe (17 July 2013). "Pune dist may have 10 dance bars this time". DNA. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Police raid bars again". The Times of India. TNN. 29 March 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Bombay's 'dancing' bars raided". BBC News. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Vote at 18, but enter dance bars only at 21". Rediff.com. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  14. 1 2 "It's curtains for dance bars outside city". The Times of India. TNN. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Why they gang up to stifle Mumbai's spirit". The Indian Express. 17 April 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Axe falls on Mumbai dancing bars". BBC News. 13 April 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Dance bars in the state to close; Mumbai excluded". news.outlookindia.com. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Only Mumbai to have dance bars in Maharashtra". Rediff.com. 31 March 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "HC strikes down act banning dance bars in Maharashtra". news.outlookindia.com. 12 April 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Dance bar bill passed". The Indian Express. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  21. 1 2 "India state bans dancing bars". BBC News. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Maha Governor refuses to sign bar ordinance". The Indian Express. PTI. 23 June 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  23. ↑ "Mumbai's Bar Show Goes On – For Now". Ipsnews.net. 23 June 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Now, Dutt raps ban on dance bars". The Times of India. TNN. 18 April 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Maharashtra dancing girls protest". BBC News. 4 April 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  26. ↑ "Unethical for state but ethical for Mumbai?". The Economic Times. TNN. 31 March 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  27. ↑ "Dance Bar Owners' Association chief gets 90 days in jail". The Times of India. PTI. 12 April 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  28. ↑ "Dancing with Sena, Cong govt bans Mumbai bar girls". The Indian Express. 13 April 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  29. ↑ "Morality check in Mumbai". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  30. ↑ "Uprooted bar dancers heading for Gulf, South-East Asia". The Tribune. 1 February 2006.
  31. ↑ Chadha, Monica (23 September 2005). "Dance-bar women transfer to Goa". BBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  32. 1 2 3 "It's time for mujra re for bar girls". The Times of India. 1 November 2005.
  33. 1 2 Chandrima S. Bhattacharya (2 January 2006). "RR Package: A 'tribute' to minister from bar girls pushed into one-night stands". Calcutta, India: Telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  34. 1 2 3 "The price Mumbai paid in 8 years since the dance bar - Indian Express". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  35. ↑ http://www.dailyindia.com/show/16729.php/Maharashtras_dance_bar_girls_see_ray_of_hope
  36. 1 2 "Police swoop on dance bars". Calcutta, India: Telegraphindia.com. 4 March 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  37. ↑ S Balakrishnan (4 March 2006). "2 bars revive dancing, 53 girls held". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  38. ↑ "Dance bars in Mira Rd face the music". The Times of India. 25 November 2010.
  39. ↑ "SC lifts Maharashtra dance bar ban, says it is unconstitutional". The Indian Express. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  40. ↑ Anshika Misra (12 April 2006). "Anxious dance bars look at court today". Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "HC raises the bar". The Times of India. TNN. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  42. 1 2 "Court strikes down dance bar ban". BBC News. 12 April 2006.
  43. ↑ "Maharashtra govt to approach SC on dance bar ban". The Times of India. PTI. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  44. ↑ "Ban on dance bar licences to continue: SC". The Indian Express. 11 May 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  45. ↑ "SC admits appeal, dance bar ban stays". The Times of India. TNN. 11 May 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  46. ↑ "Dance bar girls, owners hope for a favourable judgement". news.outlookindia.com. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  47. ↑ "Supreme Court clears way for running dance bars in Maharashtra". Business Line. PTI. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  48. ↑ "Mumbai dance bars can run again, Supreme Court lifts ban in Maharashtra". The Indian Express. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  49. ↑ "Mumbai dance bars: India Supreme Court overturns ban". BBC News. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  50. ↑ "As cops drag feet over licences, dance bar owners may move SC - The Times of India". The Times Of India. 5 September 2013.
  51. ↑ "Maharashtra firm on decision to ban dance bars: RR Patil - The Times of India". The Times Of India. 7 September 2013.
  52. ↑ "Dance bars can open again in Maharashtra; acche din aa gaye, say hotel owners - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 3 June 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  53. ↑ "Time for change - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 27 June 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  54. ↑ "Maharashtra Cabinet passes law banning dance bars in state". 13 June 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  55. ↑ "Maharashtra Assembly passes bill to ban dance shows in star hotels". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  56. ↑ "Ban bar girls to reduce crime against women, Dharmadhikari Committee tells Maharashtra government". The Times Of India. 1 September 2014.
  57. ↑ "SC seeks state reply on dance bar ban - Times of India". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  58. 1 2 "Dance bars and bar girls of Mumbai". Dancewithshadows.com. 16 July 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  59. 1 2 "Mumbai no bar, Morality bar bar - Express India". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  60. 1 2 3 4 http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Adamant-on-dance-bar-ban-Maharashtra-govt-to-file-review-petition/Article1-1093638.aspx
  61. ↑ "Six years on, Marine Drive rape case hearing soon - Times of India". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  62. ↑ Syed Firdaus Ashraf (25 February 2004). "Vote at 18, but enter dance bars only at 21". Us.rediff.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  63. ↑ Gadgil, Makarand. "Maharashtra ban on dance bars unconstitutional, rules apex court". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  64. ↑ "13 dance bar girls arrested". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  65. ↑ "Police swoop on S Delhi 'dance bar'". The Times of India. TNN. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  66. ↑ "U.P. MLA among six held in Panaji dance bar raid". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 28 August 2013.
  67. ↑ "At `mundans` or `mujras`, it's OK to watch women dance: SP MLA". 11 September 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  68. ↑ IANS (11 September 2013). "'I am not ashamed', says India lawmaker arrested in dance bar". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  69. ↑ "Bar girl dies during police raid in Borivli - The Times of India". The Times Of India. 1 September 2013.
  70. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Deepika-Padukone-to-play-bar-dancer-in-Happy-New-Year/Article1-1118260.aspx

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/21/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.