VOL 1 | ISSUE 6 | NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
`10 ges 24 Pa
`355 Cr Ghy water
project
may need additional
`82 Cr
Work in progress delayed due to financial and natural snags. The project, which was expected to be completed by September 2011 has been allotted an extra 29 months with February 2014 as the new target
pg
02
Lady Gaga
Catching Up, Pg 24
Spaced Out
GUWAHATI
GOES TRAVELLING
Where does Guwahati go during the vacations?
pg 04
MRITYUNJOY records 25,28,534 emergency calls
pg 05 Wassup @
WARD
NO 26
PG 09
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Lead Story
Work in progress delayed due to financial and natural snags
South-West Guwahati Water Supply Project When did the project start? Detailed Project Report submitted
December 2007
RAHUL CHANDA
Date of commencement of works
W
18 – 03 – 2009
ater, water everywhere, not any drop to drink! Hopefully, Coleridge’s lines will not hold stead for Guwahatians after a few months if the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority’s (GMDA) effort to implement planned water projects gets completed on time. Government of Assam has taken up three new water supply projects, viz., a JNNURM funded project for the South West region, a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) funded project for the North and South Central regions and ADB (Asian Development Bank) funded project for the South East region of Guwahati Metropolitan Area (GMA). The three on-going projects are designed to provide reliable and safe supply of water all round the clock. Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is implementing these three projects through the Independent Project Management / Implementation Units (PMU/PIU), with the support of Project Management Consultants (PMC) appointed for each project.
Present status Progress –
80% average
Area covered South West Guwahati –
100.95 sq Km
Total population (estimated) Year
Population
2001
201005
2007
298673
2010
324666
2025
582749
2040
895977
Number of wards covered
17 (As per previous ward numbers)
Intake Well at Pandu
Number of MLA constituencies
2
(Jalukbari and Guwahati West)
Major areas covered
Projects
Implementing Agency
Consultants
Expected Commissioning in
South West Guwahati Water Project - JNNURM
GMDA- PMU – JNNURM
PMC - Tahal Consultants
April 2014
Jalukbari Maligaon Borjhar Mirzapur Bharalumukh, Santipur
JICA assisted Guwahati Water Supply Project
GMDA-PIU – JICA
PMC – Nihon Psuido, LBG, STC.
June 2015
JICA assisted Guwahati Water Supply Project
GMDA-PIU – JICA
ICDC – NJS Consultants
August 2016
ADB Assisted Assam Urban Infrastructure Project (AUIP)
GMDA-PIU – ADB
PMC - Tetra Tech, Poyry & Vision India // DSC STC & SMEC
2016
Fatashil
Total pipeline in kilometres
507
Designed WTP capacity
107 MLD
MLD – Million litres per day
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Lead Story
Time frame Started – April
2009
Initial completion target
September 2011
Project extended for 17 months to
February 2013
Present completion dream
February 2014
Water treatment plant at Jalukbari
First in the go Comparing all the existing water supply projects, it seems like the South West Guwahati Water Supply Project will be the first to be completed. Recently, an awareness meeting was held on the new water supply project being implemented in the southwest part of the city by the GMDA, at the Chandra Prabha Borah Girls’ High School in Azara. A documentary film, based on the project, was screened on the occasion along with a multi-media presentation. An interaction session was also held by the project team, during which the local pub-
Fact talk
lic raised various issues like area coverage of the project and house connection charges. The team also had to face questions related to the bad road conditions which are a result of the pipe laying work, the coverage of the project and the road restoration process. The project engineers clarified the queries from the public.
GMDA says
GMDA chief engineer Dilip Pathak said that the South West Guwahati Water Project work is in full swing and is expected to be completed by April 2014. The project was expected to be completed by June 2013, but there was delay
South West Water Supply Project
Estimated cost
`355 crore
Central government sanctioned
`280.90 crore
90% funds issued by central government `252.81
crore
Expected increase for completion of project
`82 crore
because of lack of fund. Speaking to G Plus about this, Pathak said, “The fund is a major problem. The estimated cost of the project was 355 crore in which 280.90 crore was sanctioned by the Central government. 90% (252.81 crore) has been released till date and we are waiting for rest of the funds. Meanwhile, because of various reasons and the delay in work, the expenses have also increased. There might be an additional expense of Rs 82 crore.” He further added that Planning Management Consultancy, Tahal Consultants are managing the project and Gammon India Limited (GIL) is in charge of the construction of the project. According to the engineer, water from the Brahmaputra will be used for supply and there is an intake well at Pandu. The reservoir is at Kamakhya hilltop and the Water Treatment plant is at Jalukbari. About the, delay Pathak further added that, “It takes a lot of time to take permissions from various departments like the Railways, electricity and so on. We have already paid Rs 4 crore to the railway department for Way Leave Permission as we have to install the pipes below the railway tracks and railway land.” Regarding the road restoration chaos, Pathak said, “As this is the first project, in the Detailed Project Report (DPR), road restoration was not mentioned. So, after the completion of the work, the PWD is responsible for road restoration. Nowadays though, the road restoration work is also mentioned in other project DPR’s which makes the project initiators responsible for the restoration work after any given project is completed.” The South West Guwahati Water Supply Project funded by JNNURM will cover areas from West
Elevated water reservoir at Borjhar
Fatasil Road till Azara. The South Central Guwahati Water Supply Project funded by JICA will cover areas from Fatashil to VIP road. The Guwahati South East Water Supply Project funded by Asian Development Bank will cover areas from VIP road to all the eastern sides of the VIP road.
Other problems Planning Management Consultant, Tahal Consultants team leader Dilip Kumar Das discussed about the management of the project and the main reasons of the delay in the project. He said, “The project started in the month of April 2009 and at that time, the estimated time for completion of the project was September 2011. The project was not completed till then and an extra time period of another 17 months was allotted which ended in February 2013. Unfortunately, because of various reasons the project did not get complete in 2013 as well. Now, another year’s time has been alloted to complete the project and we expect it to end in the month of February 2014.” Discussing the
main reasons for the delay, the team leader mentioned that main reasons which delayed the process was land acquisition for constructing reservoirs and water treatment plant. He also mentioned that in Assam, during rainy seasons, it is difficult for people to work. Because the level of the Brahmaputra river flows above the danger level during that season, construction of intake well was a big challenge. Constructing the reservoirs, water treatment plant and also the laying of pipe line is pretty tough during that period and therefore, almost all important work happens during the winter. It is true that due to various natural obstructions and our departmental drawbacks, work gets delayed in India. Almost all of the major projects fail to be completed on time and this results in delays and ultimately, increase in allotted budgets. This indirectly effects the citizens not only in terms of services but financially as well. No doubt that the project, once completed, would be a major boost for the people of Guwahati, but until then the concerned authorities need to make sure that there are no further delays in the process.
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
City
GOES GUWAHATI TRAVELLING W Mrinmoyee Hazarika
ith the festive season, comes the time to pack your bags and scuttle away to an exotic and exhilarating getaway, to find yourself amidst a beautiful and carefree world that exists outside your daily mundane routine. Places like Europe, America, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have become household names for the people of Guwahati nowadays and the city in particular and the Northeastern region as a whole, has gradually been witnessing a changing trend of people going out on vacations. The number of outbound passengers has been increasing during the festival seasons too. Likewise, after the opening of Kaziranga National Park and some other wildlife sanctuaries for visitors since November 1st, the state has already witnessed an inflow of tourists into Assam. According to the data available with the state tourism department, the year 201112 saw a total number of 44, 24,996 tourists visit the state of Assam. This year too, till the month of May, a total number of 20,88,015 tourists had already visited the state. Here, in this piece, we are about to explore the favourite destinations of the city people who would like to go out and explore the world in their own way.
Destinations
There is a saying or a belief that Assamese people do not like to spend on travelling and would rather spend or invest their money to buy a plot of land. But all that is on the verge of changing and in fact, instead of the national destinations the Assamese now prefer to visit the international destinations more. “The people of the state as well as the NE region prefer to go to places like Europe, Australia, South Africa, Mauritius, Thailand, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Far East. Because of the hike in air tariffs, the price of an international ticket is not too high when compared to a domestic one. Sometimes, the cost of travelling abroad is lesser than the fare of Mumbai or Delhi,” said Pradip Baruah, Senior Manager, Jungle travels India, a local tour operator which has been inexistence for nearly 25 years in the region. But the recent depreciation of the value of the Rupee and some other foreign currencies against the US dollar has diminished the enthusiastic of the people a bit.
“The recent rupee depreciation has seen a drop in the number of outbound tourists from the state and Guwahati. Contrary to that, the domestic and inbound flow of tourists has increased. Among the domestic destinations, people like to visit the Andaman and Nicobar islands and Kerala and after ‘3 idiots’ became a hit, the name of Ladakh has also become very popular. Though the season becomes a factor to visit Ladakh, every month, around 18 families from the entire NE Region and 2 to 3 families from Guwahati go out through our agency,” Baruah added. Another old player in the field of tourism of the state, Iora holidays has also agreed to the fact that the number of the local people visiting international places has been increasing over the years. “Apart from the recent fall in rupee, the city people as well as the people of the whole region like to visit abroad. The costing of visiting an international destination is less than the costing of a national one. Moreover, most of the Asian countries provide visa on arrival, which makes it easier to visit those countries. During the season time, 60-70% of the city people go out via our agency,” Murchana, Assistant Manager, Iora holidays told G plus. Regarding the destinations preferred by the city people, she mentioned that Asian countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and other European places like Italy, Switzerland, Paris had attracted the people most. Amrit Kakati from D’trenz tours, another agency of the state, which mostly does the inbound and domestic tourism, stated that the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Puri and Bhubaneswar are some of the domestic destinations, which the city people like to visit. “Now, Thailand and Malaysia are the most preferred tourist destinations for the local people. Slowly, China and Hong Kong are gaining attention too. The first time travellers prefer to visit South East Asian countries in group-tours and the more seasoned ones prefer to visit Dubai and other European and American countries. Some sections of people from the high income group prefer to visit European countries on individual trips, the price of which is higher than the group trips,” Joint secretary of Tour Operators Association of Assam (TOAA) as well as the proprietor of Luit holidays, Bhaskar Jyoti Barua told G Plus.
G Plus explores the travel habits of the modern day Guwahatians
20,88,015 tourists have visited the state this year
Top destinations (international)
Europe
Australia
South Africa
Mauritius
Far East
Malaysia
Thailand
Hong Kong
Sri Lanka
`99,500 per person for a group tour of Europe
Packages
Different agencies provide different tour packages and offers to the tourists of the state. It is up to the people to choose according to their budgets and choices of destinations. “Primarily, there are two types of tour packages available with us – Group Independent Travellers (GIT) and Frequent Individual Travellers (FIT). The GIT packages are cheaper than the FITs. In GITs, we make a group of some families who want to visit a particular place and they have to follow the rules as provided by us. Because they are
“Apart from the recent fall in rupee, the city people as well as the people of the whole region like to visit abroad. The costing of visiting an international destination is less than the costing of a national one.” travelling in a group, the cost of travel comes down. The situation is an opposite one in case of FITs,” Pradip Barua of Jungle travels said. Mentioning about the categories of the travellers, Baruah also said that there are mainly three types of tourists – newly married couples, middle-aged people with children and aged or retired people. “We also conduct corporate and student tour packages. The months of October to February, when the climate is moderate, and the summer season are the peak time for tourists. The minimum cost of a group tour to Europe comes at Rs 99,500 per person and the minimum cost of an individual trip to Far East costs around Rs 30,000,”
Baruah said. Murchana from Iora holidays said that the costs of travel keep fluctuating based on time and the season of travel. “We offer different packages at different times of the year. During the festive seasons like Puja, Diwali and summer vacations, people prefer to visit in group packages, since the cost of these are cheaper. The average cost of a trip to Thailand might cost Rs 20,000 - 25,000 per person in the off-season, whereas this goes up to Rs 40,000-48,000 per person in the peak season. Likewise, if somebody wants to go on an individual trip, he has to bear an average cost of Rs 36,000-40,000 per person in the off season even for the shortest destination and it goes up to Rs 48,000 - 52,000 per person in the peak season,” Murchana elaborated. It is definitely a good sign that the people of the city and state have started taking a break to refresh themselves in places like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. At the same time, the concerned authorities should also try to increase the number of inbound tourists into the state projecting it as a touristfriendly destination in the international arena. Guwahatians no longer stay confined to their homes or travel only to those clichéd destinations in and around the country. The spirit of the adventurer and the explorer has certainly crept into the mental makeup of the average citizen and they look forward to new and alternative destinations. If money is not a problem, then many of them even embark on themed vacations exploring old worlds and naturally historic places too. While the number of inbound tourists has increased over the years, we must also ensure that the city and the state as a whole, does not project a tourist unfriendly image and promote it as a safe and hospitable destination. Everything cannot be left to the authorities and it is also the duty of the citizen to ensure that the state remains one of the most exciting places to visit always.
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
City
MRITYUNJOY
Mrinmoyee Hazarika
D
uring its five years of existence in Assam, the GVKEMRI 108 ‘Mrityunjoy’ service has received a total number of 25,28,534 emergency calls. The service was first initiated in the state on November 6, 2008 and till October 31, 2013 it had attended 14,65,284 emergencies and saved more than 64,068 lives. On November 7th of this year, the service celebrated its 5th anniversary of saving lives in Assam at Guwahati where Health Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma and various other guests were present. According to the data provided by GVK-EMRI, a total number of 9,817 births were recorded inside Mrityunjoy – 108 ambulances during the period of November 6, 2008 till October 31, 2013. In addition to that, 5,53,536 pregnancy cases were also handled during the same period. It has handled a total of 91,655 road accident cases. “No targets are set for us. We try to save the maximum numbers of lives on the basis of the calls received by us,” Dhurjoti Prasad, an official of GVK EMRI told G Plus. This service was made available to the people of Assam, upon signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by the Government of Assam and GKV-EMRI on July 8, 2008. After its inaugural launch by the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on November 6, 2008, district launches were executed in a phased manner in all the 27 districts of the state. Currently, it has 380 road ambulances and 5 boat ambulances across the state. GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI) was born on April, 2005 to provide integrated emergency response services in a Public Private Partnership mode with a vision to provide leadership to save 1 million Lives per annum nationally by 2011 and establish GVK EMRI as a Premier Research and Training Institute in Emergency Management in Public Private Partnership framework. It is a free service provided to anyone, anywhere in the operational states and people can call the toll free number 108 for any emergency. 108 is accessible from a landline, mobile phone, local telephone booth and can be dialled without any prefix or suffix.
108 records 25,28,534 emergency calls
Snapshot of 108 ‘Mrityunjoy’ services Details from 6th Nov’08 to 31st Oct’13 No of existing Surface Ambulances
380
No of Boat Ambulances operational
5 25, 28,534
Emergency Calls received
14, 65,284 Emergencies attended
# More than
64068 Lives Saved
9817
# Births inside Mritunjoy-108 Ambulances
91,655 Road Traffic Accident cases handled
5, 53,536 Pregnancy cases handled “Within a short span of five years it has became a lifeline for the people of state and helped to change the attitude and perception in health delivery mechanism and created an environment for building the competency in providing pre-hospital care. It has generated ample opportunity for accessibility and timely emergency service in organized way and saved thousands of lives in the state since inception,” Prasad further emphasised.
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
City
VOX POP
RAPE FESTIVAL SATIRE IRKS GUWAHATI
Beautification of Guwahati
W
hen atrocities against women have increased so rapidly, how can people think of celebrating a “Rape Festival” in any state? The write-up, titled “The Assam Rape Festival In India Begins This Week”, has caught the attention of the entire northeast and the whole of India at large. “Is the news relevant?” is the question which is being asked. Was there proper authentication before publishing this article?’ The news posted five days ago on a website “nationalreport.net”, reported that every unmarried girl aged between 7 and 16 will have the chance to flee to safety or get raped. It has also been reported that this is a long time tradition in Assam dating back thousands of years and is done to rape the evil demons out of the girls. I am born and brought up in Assam but I have neither heard about this festival nor got any hint of it till date. Suddenly a journalist from another country comes up with this kind of alarming news without any proper evidence. When rape is considered as a heinous crime, can any girl be raped just to “get rid of the devil” so that “she never cheats on her husband”? The write-up also quoted the organiser of the festival and the ones who take part in this event. The point to be pondered is why people are making fun of this heinous crime called “Rape”. Is the media somewhere responsible for this because we are good at raising up issues but do not come up with a definite solution or we do not cover the story fully till its end? Or is it the social networking sites which post fake stories and the news gets shared within a couple of minutes with billions of people? The issue is not who is to be blamed or held responsible for these rumours, rather the focus should be on how to stop these fake stories? The journalists’ forum should condemn and take stern action by protesting against those who produce false news because this news has become a sort of a taboo to not only the people of Assam but to the entire Northeast and people of India at large. It is not only the responsibility of the media but also the responsibility of each and every sensible citizen to strictly condemn such news and know how to respect women because we are born from a woman. The write-up is identical to a similar story posted by the same website. Only that time, the state targeted was Punjab. In a state where we worship the Goddess Kamakhya and where women symbolise power, how can such a report be published? The credibility of news is almost dead. Anyone can report anything and it gets published. The quench for TRP is what prevails in today’s news sense. Everything & anything becomes a BREAKING NEWS. This is not a single case that has been posted and several more issues went unnoticed. Sexual assault on women is on the rise in Assam after Delhi and other states. The recent Maligaon case and the alleged ‘rape’ and murder of two women in Guwahati, triggering mob violence, have left this city crying for justice. However, the Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Jayanto Narayan Choudhury, on Thursday ordered a probe after the writeup was posted on Facebook. Meanwhile, on condition of anonymity, a senior CID official posted in Assam said “It is a sad issue. We are working on this. No girl will say that I was raped by these many men (as quoted in the report).” The probe will now be handled by the CID’s cyber crime cell.
CITIZEN JOURNALIST
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T
he look of the city is changing and so is the proximity towards the things that have come and made their homes in it. The beautification process of the city has turned heads and can be noticed everywhere. It is getting upgraded and vying for a spot amongst the leading metros. However, even after such great efforts, some of the basic amenities are missing and there are problems galore. Garbage dumps are increasing at an unbelievable rate, roads are broken and pavements are in shambles and water supply is nil in some areas. These are just some of the issues and there are others which are unaccounted for. Is the idea of a growing metro a farce and the beautification a diversionary tactic, making us look away from the basic day-to-day problems?
Hari Prasanna Mahanta, Sattriya Nritya Exponent
In Guwahati, almost 50 percent of the people do not have the sense to appreciate beauty. So, the repairing and beautification work done by the GMC doesn’t matter. The result would not turn out to be fruitful, as most citizens would not understand its value. The painting of the walls, relief works being incorporated and the erection of statues look new only for a few months as most of them get damaged after a year due to lack of regular maintenance. No doubt I appreciate and encourage the efforts of the GMC in beautifying the city, but they must also take some initiatives to protect and preserve these creations otherwise it would not be counted as a step forward.
Kinshuk Kashyap, Web Developer
In any situation, organising comes before decorating. If we take the example of our house then, we plan it before decorating it. Similarly, the city first must go through the basic organising process before the GMC actually starts beautifying it. Moreover, the citizen too should follow the rules and regulations in keeping the city clean and pollution free. This time, although some people wanted to celebrate a Green Diwali by contributing towards a pollution free environment, majority of the people burst high decibel crackers in spite of knowing its adverse effect. Similarly, people have converted the Deepor Beel into a dumping zone instead of knowing that it is a seasonal home for the migratory birds.
Dipali Mahanta, Housewife
I do not think that painting the walls adjacent to the pavements is a sensible decision when nothing is being done for the drainage. If the drains overflow due to blockages caused by red mud and silt, and garbage, the painted walls would definitely get affected as they would get discoloured. In addition, the streetlights should be checked and maintained regularly as without them people would not be able to appreciate the city’s beautification work during the evenings and more importantly with the absence of the streetlights, a lot of crime has risen.
Rintu Prakash Das, Dispatch Officer, Prime Cabs
Beautifying the city with artistic creations is undoubtedly a great way of expressing creativity but in addition to that, we should not forget about the basic problems that the Guwahatians are facing in their day-to-day lives. At present, since the GMC claims of not having sufficient funds, whatever they have in their account must be spent on the basic requirements rather than spending on beautification. Moreover, it is our responsibility to provide a helping hand to the GMC to maintain the beautiful landmarks of the city, as we cannot always keep blaming them by forgetting our duties as responsible citizens and doing nothing for our city. And with that, I request some of my fellow citizens not to damage the valuable landmarks and make the city dirty as it is their city and their home.
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
City
EXHIBITNG LIVES
A painting by Noni Borpujari
Subhrajit Roy
T
hrill on a sea beach, enveloped in deep blue where the sea and the sky meet in the horizon as well as the red of blood signifying the pain and fear of death portray the different aspects of life. When such aspects are presented on canvas, it brings out a series of life events that make creativity livelier. Such masterstrokes by noted painter Noni Borpujari are exhibited in the ongoing Sangria 2013 (November 4-9, 2013) organised jointly by Little Hands Production and Contemporary Art Group at the State Art Gallery in Guwahati. Similiarly, the phases of the human mind painted in yellow, red and blue as well as its travel through imagination are some of the other creations on display. Sangria 2013, a unique combination of paintings and photographs, exhibited on a single platform also displays photographs by popular singer Zubeen Garg. Most of Zubeen’s clicks are based on his travelling apathies where he captured the high rising skyscrap-
A photograph by Hemanta Debnath
ers of the foreign lands as well as the condition of the street singers there who sell their recordings at $20. Technically sound, his ‘Tornado beats’ speaks about the wheeling gown of a dancing lady at high speed. Similarly, the tradition of a buffalo fight in Assam during Bihu brings out the local flavour. The picture named ‘In a world of their own’,
where two destitute children playing with a dustbin reflects reality. Candles burn themselves but illuminate the surroundings, which speak about the reality of sacrificing own self for the goodwill of the society. Hemanta Debnath, the third man in the trio whose photographs are on exhibition as well, presents this philosophy through his ‘Burn
GHY REVELS IN CHHATH PUJA L mrinmoyee hazarika
ike every year, this year too, the people belonging to the Bihari community have prepared themselves for Chhath Puja. Celebrated six days after Diwali, Chhath is dedicated to the Sun God and hence its name Chhath (meaning the number six in Hindi) and ‘hath’ refers to Hath Yog (austerities). The term Chhath also refers to consciously making an attempt to obtain solar energy through six stages involved in the methods of Hath Yog. The festival, once limited to Bihar, is fast becoming popular across India due to the large scale migration of workers from the state. Today, the festival is widely celebrated in metros like Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad and states like Assam, Punjab, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and even Tamil Nadu. The city of Guwahati too has
been witnessing the fervour of the festival over the years and the people from the tea tribes, living in the tea gardens of upper Assam too have been celebrating it.
The celebration
In order to promote well-being, prosperity and progress, the god of energy and of the life-force, the Sun, is worshiped during the Chhath festival. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends and elders. The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days and this year it starts from November 6 and ends on November 9. This includes holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in
water for long periods of time, and offering prashaad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun. During the festival, married women observe fast for 36 hours, and devotees offer wheat, milk, sugarcane, bananas and coconuts to the sun god, who is considered the god of energy and life-force. The river ghats of Brahmaputra, spreading from Machkhowa to Rajghat situated near the Governor’s house, become filled with devotees during the four days of Chhath celebration. “More than a lakh of devotees offers prayer at the ghats, namely Sukleswar and Kachari ghat situated along the river Brahmaputra during the days of Chhath puja. Devotees come to these ghats before dawn and sunset and offer prayer to the Sun and take holy baths in the river,” Anil
A photograph by Zubeen Garg
the self to light the world’. Kids occupy a special space in Hemanta’s creations as he displays the innocence of a boy, the sorrow of a crying kid and the red painted face of a kid. The fingers of a monk over a religious manuscript, the wait of a fisherman near the river, a buffalo cart on a village road are some of the other photographs, which por-
tray the different dimensions of life. The silence of the dawn where the red of the rising sun gets reflected in water as well as the crowded marketplace of Kolkata bring forth different flavours. Both Zubeen and Hemanta paid their homage to Bhupen Hazarika and Hiren Bhattacharyya with some of their memorable frames.
Choudhury, general secretary, Purbattar Hindustani Jubak Samaj said. The organisation, Purbattar Hindustani Jubak Samaj also organises various cultural programmes as a part of the festivities. “We have been organising cultural evenings at Sukleswar ghat during the days of Chhath puja. Last year, singer Kalpana Patowary had come to attend programme. This time too, we have invited local artistes to perform on the occasion,” Choudhury told. Considering the heavy traffic observed during Chath puja, the city traffic police too has taken necessary measures to control the movements
of vehicles inside the city. A press release issued by the office of the city traffic police stated that temporary prohibition is imposed in the movement of all inter district, long distance and rural bus service buses including the buses operating under ASTC, except the city buses on D.G. Road, M.G. Road, A.T. Road, G.S. Road, G.N.B. Road, M. R. Dewan Road, R.G. Baruah road, B.K. Kakati Road, AK Deb Road, AK Azad Road, Dr. B.N. Saikia Road and Dr. R.P. Road from 7 am on 8th November. On 9th of November, the restriction will start from 1 am and continue till the departure of the devotees from puja locations.
People offering prayer to the Sun God
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Society
Do you have a question GARGEE BARUAH
Y
oungsters and adults alike browse through the newspaper every morning. It is almost an inevitable routine part of our daily lives as important as tea and biscuits in the morning! The quizzing zone sees a lot of enthusiasm in the budding talents. Why are quiz competitions important? Well, when there are all kinds of competitions stealing the limelight, why shouldn’t nerds have any fun (And yes, ‘nerd’ is not a negatively connoted word!)? The kids ardently following the news, views and trivia from around the world should also have a platform to showcase their talent. Indeed, quiz competitions serve as a means to encourage the youth into developing the spirit of competitiveness, intellectualism and creative/reasoning prowess. Come November 17th and there is a lot one can expect to be educated as well as entertained with since the Brain Jam 2013 Open Quiz is going to be held at ITA, Machkhowa, Guwahati. G Plus takes a look at the quizzing scenario in Guwahati. Anoop Khanna of Priya Communication who has been organizing the Brain Jam for a long time says that he began his journey as a quizzer but, since the enthusiasm of quiz was dying down, he took to promoting quiz events. The method Brain Jam follows is that of ‘edutainment’ which is the culmination of both ‘entertainment’ and ‘education’. Quizzing took a new turn with the entertainment factor initiated into it and this also drew the masses’ attention. Brain Jam every year has a theme for its quiz and this year the theme is “Nurturing culture, preserving harmony”. It has two special rounds this yearHundred years of Indian Cinema and, a tribute to Sachin Tendulkar. The quiz master is Barry O’ Brien. The USP of Mr. Brien is the way he connects to the audience balancing his sense of humour with meaningful messages for the youth. Mr. Anoop Khanna adds that he as well as the entire quizzing community owes a lot to Neil O’ Brien- the father of quizzing. He acknowledges the fact that local quiz masters like Abhra Das, Sailen Baishya, Dilip Baruah has done a great job in promoting the spirit of quizzing in our region. Not to forget Dilip Baruah who has been the kingpin of quizzing in Assam and Anoop Khanna concludes that he has a lot of respect towards him. Barry O ‘Brien is one of the leading quizmasters in the country who has been conducting quizzes for schools, colleges and the corpo-
?
Why are quiz competitions important? Well, when there are all kinds of competitions stealing the limelight, why shouldn’t nerds have any fun (And yes, ‘nerd’ is not a negatively connoted word!)? The kids ardently following the news, views and trivia from around the world should also have a platform to showcase their talent. rate sector for the last 29 years. He has conducted over 2500 live quizzes in India, the Middle East, Nepal and Pakistan. “He has enthralled quizzing crowds from Pilani to Patna and Powai, Kathmandu to Kharagpur and Karachi, Dubai to Delhi, Guwahati to Goa, and down South.” He has conducted several quiz shows on television and radio. Mr. O’Brien is also a skilled motivational speaker and conducts workshops and interactive sessions. Mr O’Brien is all praise for quizzing in Guwahati: “There are some excellent quizzers in Guwahati. Some of them participate in quizzes that I do, some don’t – but I salute each one of them!” Talking about quiz, it is futile if one does not recall Neil O’Brien who was an early pioneer of quizzing in India. O’Brien conducted the first quiz in 1967 at Christ the King Church Parish Hall in Calcutta (now Kolkata). O’Brien, who had recently returned from England and had been exposed to the Pub quiz culture there, brought quizzing first to the AngloIndian community before it became popular among a wider audience. O’Brien remained active in quizzing, later hosting popular quiz show broadcasts, including the “North Star Quiz.” On 12 April 1972, Bournvita Quiz Contest became the first quiz show to be broadcast on television; it was among the most popular programmes in the region. Hamid Sayani, followed by his brother Ameen, were the show’s first quizmasters. The first quiz show to become nationally popular was “Quiz Time,” which be-
Manimugdha Sharma
According to journalist, quiz- master Manimugdha Sharma the quizzing scenario in Guwahati right now is fabulous. Talking about his journey he recounts that there has been tremendous changes in the scenario. He talks about how he adhered to the established notions of quizzing when he first started out as a quiz- master and gradually, he realized this made the quiz too predictable as one could tell by the colour of the quiz cards in the quizzer’s hand what questions were contained in a particular card. He began experimenting with new methods to make quiz more interesting. Also, the game show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ as a new happening thing in television brought a unique trend to quizzing zone. He also says that even teams from Assam had gone to popular quiz shows elsewhere and had won. So, ten years down the lane, it was good but now things are much better. Even the old format has been revived in quizzes now since some people think that due to the new format the serious quizzing had taken a backseat.
Mr Barry O’Brien adds: “What Mr Chaudhury says is true - I do very few quizzes in Kolkata, but many all over the country…I think it’s the same with singers, cricketers…people always seem to make much of those who are from elsewhere!”
Few of the quiz competitions Guwahati had this year Tata Crucible Campus Quiz 2013 The Colosseum by Assam Tribune Sports Quest 2013 Reflux 2013, IIT Guwahati
gan broadcasting in the late eighties. Vikramaditya Chaudhury who is a well known motivational speaker and quiz master and of course, the charmer says, “In the Northeast, local quizmasters are shunned and paid a pittance, whereas, ‘imported’ quizmasters from other parts of the country are marketed better and command a much higher price. What people don’t realise is that our local quizmasters command handsome remunerations outside the region. I think the idiom “ghar ki murgi, dal barabar”. I have immense respect for Dilip Baruah- the Father of Northeastern Quizzing”. While there is a set of differing opinions about the quizzing scenario in Guwahati, the established truth remains that it is not defunct. Quiz competitions and game shows are seen to be conducted with much enthusiasm and interest in the city. Down the memory lane of my Alma mater, I remember Quiz being conducted by ‘Maggi’ and also, other such product companies. This used to be a promotional feature for the companies as well as served the purpose of a quiz competition. Bournvita Quiz hosted by Derek O’ Brien used to be a popular quiz show among the lot. Siddharth Basu’s Kaun Banega Crorepati modelled af-
ter the popular show ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?’attracted much zeal among the masses once it got aired on television and there was a new approach to quizzing all together. The show’s preceding quiz contents penned by the master Siddharth Basu who is known as the ‘grandfather of the quiz- game in India’ himself also came in a book format to be sold in the market like hot cakes! The compulsory subject of General Knowledge in primary and middle school also kept the interest and enthusiasm towards quiz alive. Various teams from Assam have participated in national and international quiz competitions and shows and have brought laurels to the state. Dilip Baruah, Abhra Das, Sailen Baishya, Manimugdha Sharma, Vikramaditya Choudhury are among the best quiz masters that the city boasts of. Now? Pull up your sleeves and get set for a new show which is on the way –Brain Jam 2013 with Barry O’ Brien. Brain Jam is one event which is eagerly awaited every year by the quiz lovers of the city. This event is not just open to quiz lovers but also, others who would like to take a glimpse of the extravaganza as the event is a lot more than just a couple of brain teasers and questions.
9
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Ward Watch
Still Believe In A Place Called Hope PRATIK DHAR
Ward No.
26
Rukminigaon area (part) Barmataria area (part) Capital Complex area Jatia area (part) Kahilipara area (part) Dakhingaon area (part) Hatigaon area (part) Basisthapur area (part) Sarumataria area (part)
Councilor’s Version
Manjula Kakoty, Councilor, Ward no. 26 The new street lamps have not arrived till now but repairing of these have been completed in most areas of the ward including Dakhingaon, Bhagadattapur, RukminiNagar, Udayan Path, Sinaki Path, Rukminigaon (Main Road), Ajanta Path. The sudden strike by the labourers last week called a halt to the repairing work but the situation was controlled immediately and they will resume their work from this week. Also, GMC do not have sufficient number of vans with bigger ladders to replace the bulbs of the tall lamp posts but replacements will be done gradually. Regarding the drains we have already started carrying out the cleaning drives and we are doing it in a systematic manner so areas which are not covered till now will be covered soon. About RAMKY, we too are personally not happy with their performance and hence we are planning to start our own garbage collection operation. Again, most of the builders do not bother to dump their raw materials on the road so, the councilors have demanded the GMC Commissioner and Mayor to provide the documents containing information regarding permission of all the flats in Guwahati by March, 2014. Also, we have gained permission for two water supply projects from the PHE (Public Health Engineering) for Rukmini Nagar and Banphool Nagar and one for Bhagadattapur. Recently, the government has also released a fund for road development and for that we have forwarded the name of Udayan Path in Rukminigaon, Puberun Path in Dwarka Nagar and Sinaki Path near Wireless, as these areas need immediate renovation.
TOTAL RESIDENCE: 40 - 42 (approx.) ELIGIBLE VOTERS: 100 - 130 (approx.)
A
s our journey continues with ward watch, Sadhani Path, Bye-lane no.- 3 of ward number 26 is another spot where we stopped to initiate discussions with some of the residents living here. They talked about their endless problems that they face in their everyday lives.
Resident’s View Rita Das, Housewife Street lamps here do not work most of the time as majority of them are not functioning. Today, Sadhani Path is witnessing a lot of criminal activities as the entire stretch of the road has only a few working street lamps lighting up the area in patches while other areas remain dark and prone to criminal activity. The gold chain snatching incidents have become a common problem now with news of thefts emerging regularly in our locality. In recent times, people have seen a growing number of apartments being constructed here on very small sized plots bringing in unknown faces to the locality which to an extent has interfered with the privacy and safety of the residents living here. Moreover, the raw materials for construction, which are dumped on the road make it difficult to commute. The locality is often insecure for students returning from tuitions and the women folk. Das’s Suggestion: Street lamps must be replaced immediately and if possible, police patrolling should also be introduced to check the growing nuisance of thefts and burglary.
Dhaneswar Baruah, Contractor The road was reconstructed not a long time back but the condition of the drains on both sides of the road are not healthy. Not only disposed garbage but a lot of wild grasses have grown in most part of the drains. These drains were supposed to be cleaned a long time back but not a single cleaning drive has been carried out till now. Though the residents might not feel the trouble at this point in time since the winter has arrived, the scenario would be quite different during the monsoon season as the drains would definitely overflow with dirt water in most part of the road. Baruah’s Suggestion: Something must be done regarding the security of the locality. And water supply connections must be also provided as the population in Rukminigaon is on the ever increasing side and with that shortage of water has become a crucial problem to tackle.
J. Kakoti, Senior Citizen Though the construction of the drains were done a long time back, perhaps prior to the GMC elections, these drains were either not properly constructed or were not being cleaned regularly because of which a situation has emerged where water never flows through it and is always stagnant. Another reason for it may be that the bigger drain just beneath the main road has not been cleaned and this has led to such a disastrous situation. The garbage collecting agents must also collect garbage on a daily basis as otherwise people start disposing their garbage in the drains making it a problem for other residents. There is no proper water supply provision in this part of the city where residents are still managing with their personal wells and tube-wells. Kakoti’s Suggestion: Every basic amenities must be provided as we are looking forward to these.
Ritu Rajkhowa, Housewife We have neither seen the Councilor nor any developmental work all these while. There are a lot of problems that continue to grow here and which cannot be ignored every time. To be precise, the locality seriously lacks street lamps in some important locations and which should be repaired immediately. Moreover, the absence of a proper dust bin has become a major problem now as the alternative option which is the garbage collectors are also not regular in their duties. They come after an interval of two or three days, so, where do we dispose the garbage in the meantime? But most shockingly, there are few people who instead of keeping their locality clean, often dispose the garbage in the drains and its adjacent areas creating the unwanted block. Rajkhowa’s Suggestion: The authorities must take a step to make the garbage collecting agents more regular in their work.
10
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Space
THE CONSTRUCTION BASICS
Materials to construct a house
PRATIK DHAR
D
ifferent building materials are used to build houses and other structures. The aim of using such building materials is not only to have a beautiful and sophisticated design but also to have a strong structure necessary to be immune against earthquake and other natural calamities. Here are few but important building components needed to build a strong house.
GLASS
Main concerns like safety, security, and environmental protection to convenient functions are necessary aspects expected from the glasses of a building. Proprietor of ‘Swastik Glass’, Mr. Bikash Agarwal says decorative glasses have slowly gained popularity among the customers. He said, now-a-days most of the dealers in Guwahati sell branded glass as non branded glasses are not available in the market. With Saint Gobain, MNG and few others being some of the highest selling, demand for black glass, coloured glass, fostered glass, reflective glass and toughened glass have gradually increased over the years. The glasses are usually sold at rupees per square feet value and are available at (3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12) mm thick options. However, there is also 18 mm thick glass available on requirement. Two sizes which usually comes to dealer are- 8’x4’, 6’x4’ Types of glass
BRICK
As we all know a brick is a block made of clay burnt in a kiln and is one of the primary building materials. They are mainly being used as filler materials for framework structures and to construct load bearing structures. The process of making a brick has not changed much over the centuries and involves the basic traditional steps like-
Tempering Moulding Drying
SAND
Sand which is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles is an important construction agent as it is a primal part of the concrete mixture needed for any type of construction. There are three types of sand available mainly ‘coarse’ used for ‘Dhalai’, ‘medium’ used for plastering and binding ‘Gathni’ and the fine cement used as substitute of ‘medium’. The rate of sand keeps on fluctuating but the present rate is Rs 1,300 per cubic metre. In, Guwahati a truck comes at (5, 8 and 14) cubic metre. C.M. (cubicmetre)
Sorting Though the overall procedures remain the same, however there are certain regional variations based on the type of the local soil and the climatic conditions of different areas. In Guwahati, there is a high demand for good quality bricks as the house structures here are mainly bricks and concrete made. A city based dealer of such construction materials, Mr. Bapukan Kalita of ‘Bagala Maa Enterprise’, says that they deal with good quality bricks as it is the most important component of a building structure and also advised the two things that should be looked upon while purchasing bricks; the colour and the clinking sound produced while slightly striking them together. However, these are their qualities but they are also sold at different rates according to their class and grades.
Steel is an alloy consisting of iron and also contains carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight. It is a major part of construction because it is much strong and durable. It is a major component for any kind of construction, be it the roads, railways, other infrastructures etc.
TMT bars of various sizes, like 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm, is currently available in the market in a range of Rs 45,000-48,000 per tonne.
Price (Rs.)
5 CM
6,500
8 CM
10,400
14 CM
18,200
Firing
STEEL
TIMBER
However the price of the TMT bars under the category of long product has increased by Rs 500 -1000 per tonne.
Wood has a high durability as an appropriate material for windows, doors and flooring even in the toughest climates. It also has an elegant appearance and required for construction. In Assam, particularly Sal Wood, Chegun Wood and Gomari Wood are used for making window and door panels, because of their long lasting advantage. To make strong panels, carpenters usually prefer the measurement of 6 inch width wall with 4 inch wood batam (frame). The present market rate of the above mentioned woods are
TMT or Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel comes in various sizes as mentioned above and are not sold in cut pieces. Though their prices often keep on fluctuating but at present, it is available at `46 - 48 per kilogram.
Sal Wood
1,500
Gomari Wood
1,400
Chegun Wood
1,800
PRICE (in Rs)
Piece per Truck
14,500
2,500 pieces
2nd Grade Broken Bricks Pickets
13,500
2,500 pieces
6,000
Broken pieces
13,500
2,500 pieces
Thickness (in mm)
Price (in Rs.)/per sq. ft.
3,4,5,6
Rs. 5 extra (then normal) Rs. 40 extra
“
Reflective glass
3,4,5,6
Rs. 15 extra
“
Fostered glass
3.5
Rs. 32
Coloured glass
3,4,5,6
Similar with black
PORTLAND CEMENT
There are mainly two types of Portland cement being sold in the markets of Guwahati, the OPC or Ordinary Portland Cement and PPC or Portland Pozzolana Cement. Mr. Bapukan Kalita who is also a dealer of cement says, usually PPC goes for public supply while OPC is more ordered for government supply. Apart from these, there is also the slag which works synergistically with portland cement to increase strength, reduce permeability, im-
prove resistance to chemical attack and inhibit rebar corrosion. Today, there are cements from both national and regional brands. While in the national level, the frontrunners are the Lafarge, ACC, Birla Gold, Ultratech and Ambuja cement, in the regional level we have brands like Star, Topcem, Surya Gold and Best cement. Usually their price too keeps on fluctuating but cements from national level brands and regional brands are presently priced at
National Brand Regional Brand
Rs 380 - Rs 390 per bag Rs 340 - Rs 350 per bag
TILES
Vitrified tile is produced using vitrification by which the tiles created have very low porosity, making it stain-resistant and strong, which is an alternative to marble and granite flooring. There are mainly two types of tiles, the wall tiles and the floor tiles, their prices varies according to the colour as the price of light coloured tiles are less than coloured or designed ones. Wall Tiles
Rs. (in per cubic foot)
Brick
Price (in Rs.)/per sq. ft. Rs.25 Rs.35 Rs.42 Rs.55 Rs.110 Rs.135 Rs.250-300
8-12
Size (in inches) 12x8
Wood
1st Grade
Black glass
Price chart for normal glassThickness (in mm) 3 4 5 6 10 12 18
* The above mentioned rates are standard market rates. These might vary with respect to dealers, sources, areas and other factors.
Piece (box) 15 pc.
Price (in Rs.) Min – 220, Max – 310-350
Branded – 8 pc.
(plain-upto 500, design-upto 650)
12x18
Non- Branded – 6 pc.
(plain 350-400, design- Rs. 50-100 more than plain)
10x13
(6-8) pc.
Min - 240, Max - 350
Apart from these there are also sizes like 24”x12” and 36”x12” available in the market. Floor Tiles Size (in inches) 12x12 16x16 24x24
Piece (box) 10 pc. 6 pc. 4 pc.
Price (in Rs.) Min – 270, Max - 350 Min – 400, Max - 500 Min – 680, Max – upto 1,700
Some of the branded and high quality tiles to choose from are (Bell, Somany, TAG, Kajaria etc.)
11
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Business
GUWAHATI TO GET CLEANER FUEL Euro-IV grade petrol likely to hit the city
SHAMBHAVI
C
leaner fuel, Euro-IV grade of petrol is likely to be available in Guwahati by 2015. Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s (IOCL) Guwahati refinery is working towards rolling out this grade of petrol with an investment of Rs 123 Crores. The Auto Fuel Policy had prescribed a road map for the introduction of Bharat stage (BS)-IV and BS-III grades of petrol and diesel (equivalent to Euro–III and EuroIV petrol and diesel) in the country. The government of India instituted Bharat stage emission standards to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment, including motor vehicles. The standards and the timeline for implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment & Forests. The refinery is investing around Rs 123 Crore in the the ‘INDAdept-G’ project which will produce 35,000 MT per annum of Euro-IV grade of petrol. The General Manager of Guwahati Refinery, J. Barpujari said, “We will use indigenous technology developed by IOCL’s research and development team for petrol grade project. Euro - IV grade of petrol will cater to the demands of Guwahati.” To diversify its product portfolio, the refinery is planning to set up wax units. The general manger added the refining planning to initiate the wax project as there exists
a good market for the product. The country is facing a shortfall of wax. Northeastern crude has high wax content. The refinery in the last fiscal processed 0.956 MMTPA of crude. Guwahati Refinery will also have a new Tank Truck Loading Bay, being built at an estimated project cost of Rs 8.8 crores. The project is expected to be completed by December
next year. The refinery will construct pipeline linking the refinery and Lokpriya Gopinath International airport in Guwahati for supplying aviation turbine fuel. Sources said necessary clearances for the 35 km long pipeline have been obtained. “ There are some minor issues which we will sort out soon.”
12
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Health
Dr. Bikash Rai Das,
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, GNRC Hospitals, Dispur Ph: 9859273504, E-mail: drbrdas@gmail.com
M
any of us know the common causes of heart attacks, but do we really know what to do if we are with someone who is having a heart attack? First off all, it helps to understand what is happening when a person is having a heart attack. The heart’s function is sustained by coronary arteries that supply it with nutrition and oxygen. If those arteries fail to deliver nutrition and oxygen to the heart, then the heart gets damaged. A heart attack usually occurs when there is blockage in one of the heart’s arteries. This is an emergency that can cause death. It requires quick action. Immediate treatment lessens heart damage and saves lives.
How to know that someone has a heart attack?
Heart attack symptoms vary from person to person. Not all heart attacks begin with the sudden, crushing chest pain that many people picture when they think of a heart attack. In fact, some heart attacks cause no symptoms at all. This is more common in people who have diabetes. Chest discomfort that feels like pressure, fullness, or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest; it lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. Pain and discomfort that extend beyond the chest to other parts of the upper body, such as one or both arms, back, neck, stomach, teeth, and jaw Unexplained shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort Other symptoms, such as cold sweats, nausea or vomiting, lightheadedness, anxiety, indigestion, and unexplained fatigue If someone has a heart attack, there may be only a few minutes to act before it is too late. It is vital to know what to do beforehand. To perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and artificial respiration (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) effectively, training and frequent practice on resuscitation dummies are essential. I think everybody should take a course on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). They are fun, and it’s only by learning what to do in the calm environment of a
course that you can reliably deliver care in the highly charged situation of a heart attack.
How can you tell if someone is having a heart attack?
If the person is unconscious and breathing: Look at the patient’s chest to see if it is rising and falling. If they are breathing, place them in the recovery position, and then call for help from the emergency services.
Heart attack
Recovery position What if the person is unconscious and not breathing?
If the person is not breathing, the person is in respiratory attack and the current advice states that in this situation, the person is also likely to be in heart attack (it is a condition where the heart has stopped beating effectively). It’s best to treat the person as if the person is in heart attack, rather than waste valuable time looking for a pulse. The latest guidelines suggest that non-medical persons should not try to find a pulse. Instead, CPR should begin immediately on anyone who is unresponsive and not breathing normally
What to do?
stops body from 1 Knee rolling onto stomach
2 Hand support head
1 since even a delay of just a minute or two spent looking for a pulse can have a very substantial detrimental effect on the outcome.
How to do CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)?
The aims of cardiopulmonary resuscitation are twofold. Firstly, to artificially pump blood out of the heart and round the body – this is provided by the chest compressions. And secondly, to artificially
2 blow oxygen into the lungs – this is done by artificial respiration. CPR is the combination of both chest compressions, to support the heart, and artificial respiration, to support the lungs. If anyone is not trained in CPR, then hands-only CPR is to be provided. That means uninterrupted chest compressions of about 100 a minute until paramedics arrive. The procedure to perform chest compressions is to kneel by
the side of the victim, place the heel of one hand in the centre of the victim’s chest (the lower half of the sternum, or breastbone), and now place the heel of your other hand on top of the first. Interlock your fingers together, keep your elbows straight and bring your bodyweight over your hands to make it easier to press down vertically. Press down firmly and quickly to achieve a downwards movement of 4 to 5cm, then relax and repeat the compression. After each compression, release all the pressure on the chest without losing contact between the hands and the sternum. The aim is a rate of compression of about 100 per minute. You can help your timing and counting by saying out loud ‘one, two, three, four...’ and onwards. Continue until the ambulance arrives or the patient gets a pulse and starts to breathe again. If the pulse returns and breathing begins but the person remains un-
conscious, roll them gently onto their side into the recovery position. This way mucus or vomit can get out of the mouth and will not obstruct the patient’s breathing. It also prevents the tongue from falling back and blocking the air passage. Make sure the patient continues breathing and has a pulse until the ambulance arrives. If you succeed in resuscitating the person who has been taken ill, he or she may be confused and alarmed by all the commotion. Keep the patient warm and calm by quietly, but clearly, telling them what has happened. Again, it needs to be emphasised that the only way to provide proper first aid and resuscitation is through learning the technique, then regular practice and guidance. (If anyone is interested to know how to do CPR, they can contact the author for a free demonstration.)
13
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Classifieds TO LET
PROPERTY
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Booking open for comfortable n luxury flat at last gate, beltola. For Details
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14
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Life
THE BLISS OF SINGLEHOOD RAHUL CHANDA
M
arriage may be a socially approved choice for people to stay with a partner for the entire life and the way the idea is projected, it seems like human responsibilities are not over unless one gets married. But there are also some people who choose to remain single irrespective of the dictums outlined in religious texts and principles about its importance. The decision to go in or to remain single is essentially personal in nature where the questions of scriptures or rules of theologians should not come into play. In Guwahati too, there are many who remain single forever, but what makes them revolt against the cultural teachings of our ancestors?
Doubt
Because marriage is such a huge commitment, some people worry that drama might develop later on in their relationship and thus they prefer to remain single. It also seems that men are more likely to be doubtful about a relationship then women. A city based, 32-year-old businessperson, Manoj Deb is single and asserts that he will never get married. He said, “I am not sure about my earnings and my parents feel that I am very irresponsible. Some months I earn around Rs 50,000 while sometimes it is around Rs 15,000. Now I am single so, I can manage, but if I get married, I will have to think about my wife, then kids and so on. So, it’s better to be single and have fun.”
Career
Some people are more family-oriented while others are more business-minded and that’s a fact. It turns out that some careerdriven people opt to stay out of wedlock to ensure their marriage life will not interfere in their corporate-ladder climbing. A 28-yearsold sales executive Manav Chakravorty said, “I have to travel almost all over the country for my work and hardly get time for my family. I had a relationship but things did not work out because my girlfriend was fed up of my busy schedule. I don’t think that I will ever be able to get married as my career is more precious to me than a family.”
Freedom
As human beings we love to be free, yet unfortunately, as more time goes by, we are chained by society, governments, censorships, jobs, money, religion and a thousand other things. Choosing not to marry is one of the few things that most of us can decide, without anything forcing us to choose otherwise. There are scores of examples of modern men and women living single as they love their freedom and do not encourage any kind of restrictions
“
I have to travel almost all over the country for my work and hardly get time for my family. I had a relationship but things did not work out because my girlfriend was fed up of my busy schedule.”
in their lifestyles. Anna Hazare, Atal Behari Vajpayee are some examples who claim that because they wanted to do something for the country freely, they did not get married.
ELLA DIABLO if you are abstaining because of religious reasons, t hen it’s completely your ca ll, but if t hat’s not t he case t hen why on eart h should you deprive yourself of self love. Think about it!
Past memory
There are also some people, who opt to remain single, as they have had bad experiences in their past relationship. A 30-years-old man who does not wants to be named said, “I had a five year long relationship with a girl which did not last for certain reasons. I cannot forget her and still love her a lot. During my relationship with her, I was committed and I will never get married to anyone else. So, my decision of not getting married is just being true to my soul and the commitments I had once made.”
I answer all your questions on life, love and sex
Sexuality
In some parts of the world (including Guwahati), gays and lesbians aren’t allowed to get married, meaning that some people want to get married but can’t. Although this amounts to only a small percentage of those who do not get married, this demographic still exists.
Statistics
Many marriages end up in divorce. Many feel that marriage, as an institution, is failing. Some people, therefore, are choosing to remain single or unmarried to save themselves the drama and the expenditure. These were just some of the reasons, which rule people’s decision to remain single forever. But with changing times and differences in the male female sex ratio in the city, how many will find true and compatible companions in the city? How many will decide to remain single and who will take care of them when they finally reach a stage where they require someone’s care and love?
Dear Ella. For personal reasons I want to abstain from masturbating, but recently I am finding it increasingly difficult to control my thoughts, especially when I am in bed or alone. I’m only 13 and I’ve not been able to find any advice as most websites say it is ok and I don’t agree. Please help. -Name withheld Hi Sweet heart. I would second what most websites have to say, coz I feel solo sex or masturbation is pure, hea lt hy and har mless. Till t he time you’re not sexua lly active, I guess t his is t he best stress buster/ mood enhancer. Look,
I am 27 and my parents are pressurizing me to get married. I do not understand what’s the point of getting married when everyone nowadays seem to get divorced, have flings etc? How can I convince my parents against the same or if not, then please help me see the brighter side of getting married? -Pankaj Well dear, I love t he fact t hat you have a fairly open mind and are ready to give marriage a t hought, even if it is for t he sa ke of your parents. To be honest, human beings aren’t w ired to spend t heir entire life w it h a single indiv idua l; hence t he divorces/f lings are a rea lit y. But t he societ y we live in opposes t he t hought; hence we have t his institution of marriage in place. So if you have t he conv iction, bend t he r ules or else you might just have to follow t he herd. A nd yea h, regarding t he “brighter side of marriage”, Google. Maybe t he t wo crore odd search results help you!!
If you have any queries for ELLA DIABLO, mail it to diablo@g-plus.in
15
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Career
THE WORLD OF FILM AND TELEVISION PRATIK DHAR
Duration:
3
years
degree program
Eligibility
(Graduate Level) Candidate must be a 10+2 passed from a recognised board. Any candidate can pursue the course irrespective of stream. Some colleges conduct their own entrance examination.
Candidate must be a 10+2 passed from a recognised board Some colleges conduct their own entrance examination
Duration:
2
Educational Bachelor of Arts in filmmaking and television production is a three year degree program that helps a student to develop ideas on film and learn the technical as well as the aesthetic aspects of films and television. The course is highly practical based and creative in nature. While the Master of Arts in films and television is a two year post graduate degree course that helps in understanding the whole process of film making from the initial developments to the finishing of the film. The course also throws light on new technologies being introduced, the entire frameworks of the film and television etc.
years
master degree program
Eligibility
(Post Graduate Level)
Subjects at the undergraduate level
Students who have passed B.A., B. Sc. and B.Com or any other equivalent qualification with a minimum of 50% marks can apply. Some of the reputed universities and institutes conduct entrance examination to get admission to the degree course.
History of films and television Cinematography Basics of Scriptwriting
Subjects at the post-graduate level
Film appreciation
Techniques of cinema and television Methods of shooting
Direction Sound Editing Promotion and marketing of films and television and many more These are few of the subjects from the entire course and these may vary from institute to institute.
Television techniques Short films and documentaries Audio and visual aspects Projects on subjects and many more These are few of the subjects from the entire course and these may vary from institute to institute.
PQQ Candidates must posses the required passion needed to work in the media field.
An Overview
Candidate must be a graduate with minimum 50% marks in graduation Some of the reputed universities and institutes conduct entrance examination
Benefits of the Course The course offers exciting opportunities for candidates wishing to enhance their knowledge in films and television as it provides an in-depth learning experience in filmmaking and television production. Apart from the job prospects in media related industries, candidates also have opportunities to be employed in media institutions as faculties and other officials along with scope for jobs in government sector undertakings. In addition to that, the course provides the candidate with conceptual and theoretical knowledge necessary to work in film and television industry. The course also helps a candidate to have up-todate knowledge regarding the latest developments in media industry.
A film and television study involves historical, textual and critical approaches to film and television. The course prepares students for the developments and challenges of these two confluent yet separate media. Using research and resources, including the modern high tech digital technologies, the course provides a creative bridge in the study of film and television through a beautiful mix of theory and practical experience that is essential to work in the contemporary film and television industries.
Some of the Best Colleges
Employment Areas
Asian Academy of Film and Television, NOIDA
Major Broadcasters Advertising Agencies
Amity University, NOIDA
Media Institutes and many more
Cinematographer
They should also have far-sighted outlook.
Storyboard Editor
The course demands for strong interpersonal communication skills needed to work in the media industry.
Production Coordinator Visual Effect Producer
Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata
Center for Research in Art of Film and Television, Delhi
Production Companies
Job Types
Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
Production Houses
Candidates must have a strong presence of mind.
The candidate must be smart and presentable and should have creative skills.
F
ilm and television provides a prosperous career opportunity and various courses are available for the same. The aim of such courses is to allow a candidate to learn a range of filmmaking and production work that provides the candidate with vital skills for pursuing a career in the field. There are new and advance techniques that are constantly coming up in the media industry and to know about such innovations one should undertake the course under experienced guidance. A candidate can join this domain where there is an option for further studies and research and that which would further help him to grow in the industry.
Film Researcher Consultant Photographer Freelance film maker Faculty and many more
16
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Web Watch
Soon, internet without servers!
Megan Fox Appears in Call of Duty: Ghosts Trailer
S
cientists have designed a revolutionary architecture that aims to make the internet more ‘social’ by eliminating the need to connect to servers and enabling all content to be accessed on a peer-to-peer basis. The prototype, which has been developed as part of an EU-funded project called ‘Pursuit,’ is being put forward as a proof of concept model for overhauling the existing structure of the internet’s IP layer, through which isolated networks are connected, or ‘internetworked.’ The Pursuit Internet would enable a more socially-minded and intelligent system, in which users would be able to obtain information without needing direct access to the servers where content is initially stored. Instead, individual computers would be able to copy and republish content on receipt, providing other users with the option to access data, or fragments of data, from a wide range of locations rather than the source itself. Essentially, the model would enable all online content to be shared in a manner emulating the ‘peer-topeer’ approach taken by some file-sharing sites, but on an unprecedented, internet-wide scale. This would potentially make the internet faster, more efficient, and more capable of withstanding rapidly escalating levels of global user demand.
Android 4.4 KitKat: 10 new features SMS in Hangouts, emoji icons
D
on’t bother Megan Fox right now – she’s busy shooting enemies and saving lives in the live-action trailer for a new game, Call of Duty: Ghosts, The game was released on Tuesday, 5th November. The trailer, titled “Epic Night Out,” follows four friends as they make their way through a war zone formerly known as Las Vegas. In Call of Duty: Ghosts, gamers will immerse themselves into a new storyline, written in part by Oscar-winning screenwriter Stephen Gaghan, who wrote Traffic and Syriana. Following a devastating attack by The Federation that leaves the U.S. a wasteland, Elias Walker and his sons Hesh and Logan and Riley, a militarytrained German Shepherd, embark on a series of missions that take them from the dangerous deep sea to the weightlessness of outer space to icy Antarctica.
Dhoom 3 trailer crosses 6 million mark on Youtube
The SMS app is now a part of the Hangouts application in Android 4.4. Therefore, you can use three key messaging functions – SMSs, MMSs and GTalk chats – via the same app. The stock Android keyboard now features emoji icons by default.
Made for low-cost gadgets
Google has optimized Android 4.4 for low-end devices that have 512MB RAM or less. The operating system will work more smoothly on smartphones and tablets with weaker hardware. This means that the vast majority of Android phones by the likes of Micromax, Karbonn, Lava and others will give a much better user experience.
Smarter caller ID
Caller ID gets a major overhaul with KitKat. It will prioritize contacts based on the people you talk to the most and if the caller is not in your contact list, the app will look up the numbers on local listings of Google Maps to identify it. Not only contacts, you can now look up nearby places, establishments and people in Google Apps in the app.
User interface tweaks and app redesigns Google has tweaked the user interface of Android with KitKat update. The status and navigation bars are now translucent instead of solid black and the icons are coloured white. Apps like Email and Downloads have been redesigned to make them more streamlined. The wallpaper can now be seen even when you pull down the notification bar.
QuickOffice integration
KitKat integrates QuickOffice document editor, which Google recently purchased, with the Android platform. This brings a free and efficient document reader and editor to the OS by default, just like Apple has done with its iWork suite.
Always-on voice control
Android KitKat features always-on voice control that allows users to send text messages, locate places on Google Maps, play songs etc without ever touching the phone.
Screen recording
You can record whatever you do on your phone with Android KitKat. The screen recording function lets you capture videos of whatever functions you perform on the phone and save it as a MP4 file. This feature can prove to be useful while creating tutorials, marketing videos, testing materials etc.
Sportlobster, a new social network for sports fans
Support for cloud printing
Android KitKat supports cloud printing, allowing you to print photos, documents and web pages right from your smartphone or tablet. Currently, the Google Cloud Print function is limited to the HP ePrint range and printers that have apps in the Play Store marketplace.
counting Google Now improvements Step Fitness freaks rejoice! Android 4.4 comes with a
Google Now has also been updated with Android 4.4 and is now 25% more accurate. It introduces cards for local shopping attractions and finally talks back when you ask it a question.
D
hoom 3 is an upcoming Hindi action thriller film, written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and produced by Aditya Chopra. It will be the third installment of the popular Dhoom series starring Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Uday Chopra, Jackie Shroff
function called Moves that operates as a pedometer that counts your steps. Google says this is a battery friendly way to measure your daily activity level.
S
portlobster.com, a new sports social network launched last month has secured a further $1 million (£634,000) in funding ahead of its iOS app launch this month. Sportlobster aims to be a ‘one-stop shop for sports fans’, with news, rumours, photos and videos, events scheduling, predictions and blogs all on a single online platform. ‘The app is going to dramatically improve the experience of sports fans both in the way they receive relevant information and how they interact with fellow fans around the world.’, said CEO Andy Meikle.
17
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Fashion
GARGEE BARUAH
W
ith the wedding season comes excitement galore. As it is a dream for every bride to live this day like a princess, we recommend you some make- up tips to help you carry through. Since the humidity has begun to drop, your face would require some amount of moisture. Vogue recommends Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint as the chosen one for this as it has an oil- free formula, sun protection agents and imparts a light luminosity. Yves Saint Laurent Touché Eclat (Radiant Touch) remains the best for concealer. MAC Heavenly Creature Mineralize Skinfinish in Earthshine as a finishing powder is recommended. Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Foundation is a good one for a long lasting foundation for winter. Pink colour blusher is not for the wedding day. Try bronze under the cheek-bones instead. However, since winter is here, rosy hued blusher would be the look if it’s a day time wedding or maybe, for the ‘jurun’ ceremony for the Assamese bride. Lotus Herbals PureStay blusher is a good one. Bright colour lipstick/lip colour should be applied such as warm colours like red, orange- gold, copper and warm beiges, or cool colours like fuchsia, magenta, blue-reds, shades of lilac and pink to make your lips look plusher and fuller. Also, deep cool shades like plum, deep purple and bluetoned burgundy would suit the look. Try the red lipstick by Inglot. Also, applying a better gloss to any lip colour makes it look more vibrant. Purples have been a runway favourite for this season and Maybelline has a lovely rich berry shade in its new Vivid Electra collection. Doing the eyes is the most important part. Someone blessed with naturally beautiful eyes need not ruin the simplicity of it by applying too much eyeliner. What she can do is apply a combination of light and dark eye shadow to make the eyes look brighter. Try colours in metallic gold and bronze to team up with the ethnic wear. The ones with big beautiful eyes better not worry at all. Small eyes can be made to look bigger and brighter by applying kajal thickly and eyeliner. Follow the ‘crazy, creative eye-liner art’ which is in buzz this season. Mascara is a must for the wedding day! In order to keep a subtle look,
apply a combination of light and dark eye shadow to make the eyes look brighter
Try bronze colour blusher under the cheek-bones
use the air-brush a lot and stick to lighter shades such as cream, gold, lime- green and brown for warm undertones and lilac, plum, soft pink for cool undertones. Also, it is recommended not to overdo when the bride is naturally beautiful enough because at times, make- up ruins the look! So, keeping it neutral is always the best. What your make- up is depends on your overall look. Apply it according to the look you carry.
shades of lilac and pink to make your lips look plusher and fuller
18
G PLUS NOV 02 - NOV 08, 2013
Reviews
Satya 2
Cast: Sharvanand, Mahesh Thakur, Mrunal Jain, Anaika Soti and Puneet Singh Ratn Director: Ram Gopal Varma
P
Thor: The Dark World Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston Directed by Alan Taylor
B
eing a god must be tough as it is. Being a god thrust with the challenge of playing out a Hollywood superhero must be tougher. Most of the comicbook lot that come with super powers wrapped in their capes are nothing short of screen gods anyway. Chris Hemsworth’s hammer-brandishing heroics as Thor, the Norse god of thunder, primarily draw saleability from an exotic origin. The series also finds a USP in Tom Hiddleston’s act as Loki, Thor’s adoptive brother and the god of mischief who continues giving the franchise a wicked edge. There’s the hard fact that everything old isn’t necessarily new again just because the bottom line wishes it so. That’s the skinny on the big-budget Thor: The Dark World, a sequel to 2011’s surprisingly passable Thor and 2012’s surprisingly better The Avengers (thanks, Joss Whedon), featuring a large chunk of Marvel superheroes. The new Thor just has Thor (and one surprise cameo). Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth, who proved he could do more than just pose in Rush, is back – hair flowing, muscles rippling, hammer at the ready – as that flying Norse god from the planet Asgard, dodging plot bullets from a trio of screenwriters from the planet Familiar. Director Alan Taylor, whose ace TV credits on Game of Thrones suggest a welcome nonconformity, conforms here to the Marvel rule of “don’t fix what’s not broken.” Damn. Box office is one cruel taskmaster. Let’s catch up. The universe is in danger. Still. The dark elves, led by the baddie Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), are fixing to unleash the longdormant force of Aether that’s taken up residence in the body of Black Swan Oscar winner Natalie Portman. Not really. The Aether is inside Thor’s lady love, Jane Foster, the scientist now based in London and again played winningly by Portman. Just when yawning sets in and you think that Loki, Thor’s dashing, demented brother, will never show up, scene-stealing Tom Hiddleston rides in. Even in prison, Loki’s poison-tipped one-liners fly like arrows, especially at Thor and their Big Daddy, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). This Thor sequel is way funnier than any movie subtitled The Dark World has a right to be (thanks, Hiddleston). And the blowout climax pitting Thor against Malekith and the elves is excitingly staged. It’s just that waiting for the good stuff can be a real mood-killer. You’ve been warned. My work here is done.
acked with catatonic acting, cheap sets, tacky songs, hilarious drama and more GoPro action than you can digest; Satya 2 is yet another nail in Ram Gopal Varma’s professional coffin, or another laurel in his filmmaking wreath, depending on your cinema sensibility. If you take the original Satya and eliminate every visible aspect of filmmaking know-how, you’d still get a better movie even if it is very similar to this quasi-sequel. ‘Satya’, which was released in 1998, changed Ram Gopal Varma’s fate in the Hindi film industry. His talent came to the forefront with full force with a film that dared to showcase the gloomy world of crime in a new light. It was one of those rare films which didn’t glamourise the crime and gangsters. RGV has now come up with another underworld based film ‘Satya 2’, which features Puneet Singh, Anaika Soti and Aradhna Gupta in important roles. ‘Satya’ and ‘Company’ are the two films which have interested several scholars around the world as these films have also acted as the case study on the dark underbelly of Mumbai. The spectacularly untalented Puneet Singh Ratn stars as the titular character, a mysterious young man who lands up in Mumbai with a plan of one day ruling it. After getting a taste of some money and making connections with shady people, he embarks on his spree of plotting, laundering, manipulating and murdering – all to establish a social context of crime lords being more humanitarian and effective than the government. With the synopsis out of the way, I struggle to figure out where to begin describing the film. Let’s start with writer Radhika Anand who seems to have been hustled into letting RGV direct her script. I find it impossible to believe that Ms. Anand would pen a slutty female character named ‘Special’ who bends over and whispers ‘Mera naam Special hone ki ek bahut badi kahaani hai’, so I assume she wrote a good story treatment, which the venerable RGV promptly mangled into his own trademark Penthouse-like script. Remember the memorable acting, awesome camerawork, gritty frames, Bhiku Matre and all the stunning thrills like the movie theater bust out from the original Satya? Yeah, all that stuff is not in this sequel. The Mumbai underworld concept is given casual lip service in the beginning, and for some moronic reason, Satya 2 simply reuses scenes from the original film, Company, D, Sarkar, Bhindi Bazaar and countless other D-company movies made over the past ten years. It’s very unsettling to see the self-references RGV makes in Satya 2 – he does it in a grotesque manner, assembling all his previous glorious creative outputs together in an outlandish horrifying design, and watching the film really does feel like stepping inside the mind of a demented man. RGV seemingly has no qualms about having his name dragged through the dirt. With Phoonk, Agyaat, Dongala Mutha, Not a Love Story, Department, 26/11 and now Satya 2, it is clear that he loves to revel in the ineptness of his movies, like it’s a badge of honour to be called India’s worst working film director. He’s clearly here to stay and in no hurry to make a good film.
NOW
SHOWING Anuradha Cineplex Apsara Cinema Fun Cinemas
KRRISH 3 Daily at 10.45 AM, 2.00, 5.15, 8.30 PM Daily at 11.00 AM, 2.00, 5.00, 8.00 PM Daily at 9.30 AM, 12.20, 5.30, 8.30 PM
THOR- The DARK WORLD
Daily at 3.15 PM
20
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Your weekly dose of HOROSCOPE ARIES
It’s Monday and you’re feeling a little sluggish. You’re lost in your own thoughts and everyone else seems to be lost in their own thoughts, too. It’s unusual for you to feel so introverted, but it’s nothing to worry about. Later in the week — beginning around Wednesday and continuing into Thursday — your mood is going to change considerably. Friday, you’re going to realize that a ton of people are following your lead and looking to you to make the next move. Being a pioneer is somewhat daunting, but stick to the main trails (especially this weekend) and you’ll do fine.
CANCER
Should you stay or should you go? Are you feeling under the weather or on top of the world? Why can’t you figure your own mood out? Every time you have to make a decision on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, you’re going to be stalled by indecision. That’s why you shouldn’t commit to any longterm plans. Not yet, at least. On Thursday, someone is going to ask a favor of you, and even though you’ll be happy to oblige, it’s going to make you realize you haven’t done a favor for yourself in so long. What are you waiting for? Do something for yourself this weekend!.
TAURUS Whatever you feel Monday, you’re going to feel it intensely. If something seems deep, it’s going to seem unbelievably profound. Likewise, if someone says something funny, you’re going to laugh uncontrollably for what seems like hours. Passions run deep through midweek, and that’s perfectly okay. (Just try not to be too sensitive or moody.) Later in the week, someone is going to want you to commit to a financial deal, but you’re going to feel too tentative about it to sign the dotted line just yet. You have other things on your mind. Take the weekend to think it over.
GEMINI Your powers of observation are unmatched, and Monday or Tuesday you’re going to see something that to your mind changes everything. People are so complicated. Share what you know with a good friend. Get a second opinion. (As perceptive as you are, there’s no sense in rushing to judgment.) On Thursday and Friday, you’re going to feel closer to a certain friend than ever before. There’s a chance you may confide one of your own big secrets. All kinds of things are coming to the surface these days. If the weekend seems a bit confusing, it’s just because you’re processing a bunch of new information.
LEO Things may not be as they seem on Monday. On the surface, everyone is happy and getting along just fine, but dig a little and you’ll find a different story. You’re smart enough not to take things at face value. (You’re also smart enough to be on the lookout for anyone who might have a private agenda midweek.) Friday and Saturday, you’re going to be distracted from the giddy whirl that is your social life by a sudden surge in romantic energy. Someone really likes you. And they have something genuine to tell you. Listen.
VIRGO Even though you don’t flaunt it, you have a pretty analytical mind. You know what’s really going on here. Share your insight on Monday with a good friend — someone who doesn’t have a stake in this situation, someone you can trust. And listen to what they have to say. (Their perspective is going to be pretty illuminating.) In fact, you’re going to spend Tuesday through Friday listening to what other people have to say. Your family, for instance. (Your best bet? Just go with the flow. Don’t try to argue.) This weekend, you’ll be happily distracted from everything else by romance.
TIMEPASS
LIBRA
Monday and Tuesday (and probably the rest of the week, too) are all about business and money. It’s all you’re going to be able to think about. Someone you know might want to start a business together, or they may have a money-making scheme they want you to be a part of, and even though it all sounds a bit far-fetched, you’re going to at least entertain the idea. The truth is, you’re really good at expressing yourself and getting things done, and maybe this is the kind of leadership role you’ve been waiting for. You’re going to continue thinking about your career and your future this weekend.
SCORPIO You can’t help it. You have this aura that people are drawn to. Especially at the start of this week, you’re going to find yourself surrounded by more friends than you ever realized you had. People are attracted to your energy and your confidence. So, whatever you do midweek, especially in social situations, be energetic and confident. Don’t be afraid to state your opinions, even if you know other people disagree. (And don’t be shocked if you find some of your own opinions changing somewhat, based on what other people have to say.) You get along well with people. You’re going to be reminded of that all weekend
SAGITTARIUS You’ve been having these crazy dreams lately, and they’re all you can think about Monday. What could they possibly mean? Are they just bizarre and absurd or is there something to them? (And anyway, your normal life has been feeling a bit absurd lately.) People like hearing about your dreams, and Wednesday and Thursday, someone you know might be in the mood to be entertained by one of your wild stories. This weekend, you and your friends have so much fun just sitting around and talking, who needs to spend money?
CAPRICORN Monday is all about your friends. There’s a chance you may need to call on someone for help, but everyone always calls on you for help, so there’s no need to feel guilty. There is a lot you want to get done by midweek, and some of it is going to seem impossible. Rest assured, it’s not. When you and your best pals put your heads together, there’s really not very much you can’t do. Persevere and you will prevail. Even this weekend, an unexpected (and positive) outcome is going to prove that the world is aligned in your favor.
AQUARIUS You were all gung-ho about your career just a couple days ago, but at the start of the week, you’re not so sure. The thing is, you haven’t really figured out what you want yet, so it’s hard to know if you like what you have. You’re in a good place, but could you be in a better place? Hard to say. Midweek, it’s worth asking a friend you respect (and who is in love with their career) for some advice. On Friday and over the weekend, plan to spend some time with people who have nothing to do with your professional life whatsoever. Take your mind off things. Have some fun.
PISCES You’re happy to help people out on Monday, but you’re not exactly thrilled about your suspicion that people are perhaps taking advantage of you. Is that what’s happening? Or are you just being over-sensitive? Friends — they can be so confusing. Just keep your wits about you, and the moment you feel like someone might be taking you for a ride, call them on it, especially Wednesday. (Nothing commands more respect than just being upfront with people.) On Friday or possibly over the weekend, someone you adore is going to ask you for some help, and you’re going to be perfectly happy to do whatever they need.
JUST FOR LAUGHs A priest who was walking through a small town saw a blackboard outside the front door of a school. It had been washed and put out to dry in the open air. There was a piece of chalk at the foot of the blackboard. The priest took the chalk and wrote in large letters, “I’m a priest and I pray for you all.” A lawyer happened to pass next and when he saw
SUDOKU
what the priest had written, he added under it, “I’m a lawyer and I defend you all.” Then, a doctor came by, took the piece of chalk, and wrote on the blackboard, “I’m a doctor and I cure you all.” Finally, an ordinary citizen stopped, looked at what the others had written, thought for a few seconds and then added, “I am an ordinary citizen and I pay for you all.”
Solutions (Last Issue)
Fun
21
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Travel
NEPAL
Home of the Everest
G Plus feature
T
he autumn breeze hints towards the arrival of winters and before experiencing the chill, you should plan a trip to some beautiful places, before it gets too cold. It is not that easy to get some time out for vacations in Guwahati, as people are pretty busy with their personal and professional lives. So if someone were to plan an immediate trip outside the country, without the hassle of getting a visa done, Nepal can be an option. It is not too far from the Northeast and is easily reachable without a lot of hassle people have to take while travelling to other countries. So, here are some of best places to visit in Nepal.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and situated in a valley, approximately at a height of 4,600 feet, surrounded by four major mountains namely Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. The city is the gateway to Nepal Tourism and the centre of the country’s economy. Its history dates back to over 2000 years ago and it was on the ancient trade route between India and Tibet which caused a fusion of artistic
and architectural traditions of other cultures that can be witnessed even today.
Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath is Nepal’s most important Hindu temple and stands on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. The temple is located 100m away from the end of the runway at Kathmandu’s International Airport and is a powerhouse of Hindu spiritual power to where, devotees of Shiva and Sadhus flock from across the entire sub-continent. The surrounding complex of Shaivite shrines, Lingams and Ghats (stone steps) is fascinating and definitely worth the visit.
Bouddhanath
Famed for its Stupa, Bouddhanath pulsates with life as thousands of pilgrims gather daily to make a ritual circumnavigation of the dome beneath the
watchful eyes of the Buddha. This is one of the few places in the world where Tibetan Buddhist culture is accessible and unfettered. The lanes around the Stupa are crammed with monasteries and workshops that make butter lamps, ceremonial horns, Tibetan drums, singing bowls and plumed hats for Lamas and other essential Buddhist paraphernalia.
Swoyambhunath
Swoyambhunath is a place that offers one of the definitive experiences in Kathmandu. This sacred locale, a monkey temple, is always mobbed by monkeys and is a chaotic jumble of Hindu and Buddhist iconography. A gleaming white Stupa makes for its centre and is topped by a gilded spire painted with the eyes of the Buddha. What makes it an absorbing experience are the ancient carvings made into every spare inch of space and the smell of incense and butter lamps hanging heavy in the air.
Budhanilakantha
The stone circa of 8th century of sleeping Narayana (God Vishnu) with the larger size than human life body, on the coils of cosmic serpent on the infinite ocean from which the world emerges located in the North part from central Kathmandu in Nepal is known as Budhanilakantha. The Lord is shown lying down on a thousand-headed snake named Shesha Nag (Ananta- Nag) means timeless or ageless snake. This primal insight into the dreamlike nature of the world of appearances has an oddly contemporary resonance given the direction of modern scientific thought.
Pokhara
The beautiful city widening of the Seti Gandaki valley in eastern region of Nepal located in the mid hill (Madhya Pahad) of the Himalayas in Nepal is known as Pokhara. The elevation of this area rises very quickly from about 1000m to over 7500m within 30km distance. Hence, the precipitation rate in the area is the highest in Nepal. The Seti Gandaki (White River) is the main river flowing through the city heart and the tributaries have created several gorges and canyons in and around the whole city which gives interestingly long sections of terrace features to the city and surroundings. The Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake, Rupa Lake and 5 others including Patle Chhango (David’s fall), Mahadev Cave, Mahendra Cave and the deep forest (Rani Ban) are the major attractions for tourists. The lowest elevation of the city is 827m from where the views Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m), Mt. Annapurna (8087m), Mt. Manaslu (8305) including the virgin peak Mt. Fishtail (Machhapuchhare) can be observed clearly. Bindabasini temple, Barahi temple, Kalika temple, Tibetan camps and monasteries are other cultural and religious attractions for the tourists. Hence, Pokhara is the most popular natural, cultural and adventurer international tourist destination in Nepal. There are also some other places in Nepal like the Chitwan National Park, Lumbini and so on, but for this autumn, the above mentioned places are quite enough to explore. Book your flights or the train tickets and the best part is that even you can plan a road trip, which will be more exciting. Enjoy the trip and plan for the next.
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
G-Talk
Is the present education system to blame for decreasing readership among youth? Santichaya Saikia
Retired teacher, Namrup college of education
POINT
I
Prabin Thakuria Sr. Journalist
COUNTERPOINT
believe that the present system of education has become examoriented and be it the student, the parents or the teachers, all of are just concentrating on how to attain high marks in the exams. Because of this, there is no atmosphere, even in the schools, where a student gets to learn things out of his or her course curriculum. Today’s children only read those portions of their course books, which they think are necessary for appearing for an exam. They do not even bother to read or learn the complete course curriculum prepared for them and just follow their course partially, let alone the books outside course curriculum. This is what I have realised from my practical experiences. I have seen that the students tend to forget the knowledge gained from their course curriculum after they pass an examination. For instance, a class one student forgets about his course once he gets promoted to class two. Another thing that I have noticed is that once a student attains good marks in the HSLC examination, he or she is overwhelmed with felicitations pouring in from various local and other organisations. It is not a bad thing to acknowledge merit, but after receiving such huge praise and attention from various quarters, the students acquiring good marks tend to consider themselves as the highly meritorious ones. Because of this mentality, they do not try to learn anything else later in their lives apart from reading the course books only. This sets a bad example for the other children too. Because, when they see their seniors being felicitated, the juniors too try hard to score good marks in the examinations and prepare themselves accordingly. Even the parents do not want their children to ‘waste’ time in other things, which are irreverent to the course syllabus. Therefore, the teachers in the schools also make themselves busy by teaching the students how to score more in the exams. This system can be attributed to the memorising capacity of the children, especially the ones studying in English medium schools. However, the Assamese medium schools have failed in that sector too. A lot of school and college going youth are seen strolling at the book fairs but hardly buy any. Some of them might buy a book, but they never go through it. The small children like to look at the coloured picture books and want to buy but, their parents often cajole them to buy them something else instead of books. Today’s students do not show any willingness to learn things. I, like some other teachers, want to teach about subjects and topics which are not included in the course curriculum. Currently, I am working as an honorary principal of a Jatiya Bidyalay in Jorhat and I speak about a lot of things before the students during assembly. The students do listen to me, but when asked about it, they cannot answer, which implies that they do not pay any attention to it. Some of them have even articulated their views by saying that these things will not be asked in their exams. The present system is just preparing the students to be money-spinning machines.
A lot of school and college going youth are seen strolling at the book fairs but hardly buy any. Some of them might buy a book, but they never go through it.
I
t won’t be right to say that education system in Assam is responsible for the decrease in readership among the youth. Reading might be important for children to gain knowledge but with the changing times, the process of learning is also changing. It was an age old concept that the more you read, the more you learn. Even today, in schools and colleges, teachers make sure that students read a lot of books to be aware of various issues and gain knowledge on any given subject. But, with the present youth it’s a bit different. During my childhood, to get entertained, I used to read comics like Archies and Tinkle and at present, my 6-year-old son is quite addicted to cartoons and knows which channel to surf for a particular programme. Some cartoon channels are also very informative and disseminate good information in an entertaining way. It’s not only Guwahati, Assam or India, the entire world sees a decrease in the sale of books. In various international schools and colleges, education is imparted using multimedia and students are also expected to be familiar with the technical approaches towards learning and accessing learning materials easily. With the advent of internet and smart phones, youths are more eager to portray an image that they are knowledgeable and know about things around them. If we say that there is a decrease in the readership than we might not be totally correct, but yes, we can say that there is a decrease in book sale and that is because learning materials are easily accessible without buying a book or going to a library. The recent book fair has also seen a downfall in the demand because I feel that youths do not visit such fares these days. If there were a techno fest then may be the foot fall would have been different. People are also very busy socialising these days. Once, the print media used to have a strong effect on the readers and people used to crave reading books and newspapers to stay updated. After 1991, the liberalisation of the Indian economy resulted in creation of many private news channels. So, people are bombarded with various news for which the print media has become an option now. The way print media is slowly losing its importance, books too are becoming an option for the youth. It is also true that the intense knowledge which books can provide is difficult to acquire from other modern options, but at the end knowledge is what matters.
With the advent of internet and smart phones, youths are more eager to portray an image that they are knowledgeable and know about things around them. If we say that there is a decrease in the readership than we might not be totally correct, but yes, we can say that there is a decrease in book sale and that is because learning materials are easily accessible without buying a book or going to a library.
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
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Print Media
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Barowari, Guwahati – 781003 Phone No – 98641-11147, 9707080879
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Sonek Arts studio
Amulya Building Below Blues Bar Zoo Road Tiniali, Guwahati – 781021 Phone No – 99542-13380
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G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
Catching up
Headlining acts!
Allah-Rakha Rahman WHO’S HE?
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta WHO’S SHE?
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born on March 28 in 1986, better known by her stage name Lady Gaga is an American singer, songwriter, activist, record producer, businesswoman, fashion designer, philanthropist and actress.
SO WHAT?
Continually experimenting with new musical ideas and images, her musical and performance style is the subject of much analysis and scrutiny from critics. She professes that she is liberating herself by constantly reinventing her sound and image.
NOW WHAT?
Allah-Rakha Rahman was born as A. S. Dileep Kumar on 6 January 1966 and is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist.
SO WHAT?
Skilled in Carnatic music, Western classical, Hindustani music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahman has been noted to write film songs that amalgamate elements of these music systems and other genres.
NOW WHAT?
He got a street named after him in Markham, Canada, close to downtown Toronto. The board announcing the name of the street proudly reads – ‘Allah-Rakha Rahman Street’. The Mozart of Madras was in Canada to attend a ceremony organised by the Indian International Film Festival of Toronto (IIFFT) in association with the local city government.
She will soon become the first artist to sing in outer space as the 27-year-old singer will board a Virgin Galactic ship in 2015 during the Zero G Colony festival and sing one song while in space. She has to do a month of vocal training because of the atmosphere and will be joined by her glam squad in the shuttle.
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Sharon Stone join hands with the Bachchan’s Sharon Stone will get together with Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan to host the first fund-raising gala in Mumbai for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. The high profile event will take place in November and the Tik Tok pop star Kesha will perform on the occasion.
pick of the week India has been awarded the 2018 men’s hockey World Cup, the second time in a span of eight years the country will be hosting the event having successfully organised the previous edition three years ago. The 2018 edition will see an expanded field with 16 teams competing in both men’s and women’s events. The 2018 women’s World Cup will be held in England. The women’s tournament is scheduled to take place from 7-21 July, with the men’s event planned for 1-16 December.
What did I just hear? In a curious judgement, the Gauhati High Court has struck down the resolution through which the Central Bureau of Investigation was set up and held all its actions as “unconstitutional”. The judgement by the division bench, comprising justices I A Ansari and Indira Shah, came on a writ petition filed by one Navendra Kumar challenging an order by a single judge of the high court in 2007 on the resolution through which CBI was set up.
Pitbull to host the American Music Awards Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull, will touch down in Los Angeles to host the American Music Awards. The rapper will also perform his new song “Timber” alongside Kesha. Pitbull’s hosting duties will in part pay tribute to the AMAs tradition of highlighting Latino artists over the past 25 years. This year, they’ll celebrate the 25th anniversary of Gloria Estefan’s groundbreaking performance at the 1988 AMAs, as well as the 15th anniversary of the Favorite Artist – Latin category.
Medical Milestone A breakthrough in genetics has created intense excitement among DNA experts around the world who believe the discovery will transform their ability to edit the genomes of all living organisms, including humans. The development has been hailed as a milestone in medical science because it promises to revolutionise the study and treatment of a range of diseases, from cancer and incurable viruses to inherited genetic disorders such as sickle-cell anaemia and Down syndrome.
Kamur of the week Media terror. Away from the glamour and glitz of tinsel town Mumbai, Bollywood’s perfectionist, Amir Khan planned a trip to celebrate his wife and filmmaker Kiran Rao’s birthday at the Wild Mahseer Resort in Balipara in Tezpur, but as soon as he arrived, he was gheraod by the media and had a tough time coming out of the car and get into the resort. Celebrities do face such situations, but one thing is proven that even local media is following the path of paparazzi.
Printed & Published by Sunit Jain on behalf of Insight Brandcom Pvt. Ltd. and Printed at Arkashish Publications (P) Ltd., Katahbari, Garchuk, Guwahati and Published at H/No. 34, K. C. Choudhury Road, Chatribari, Guwahati - 781008, Editor: Koushik Hazarika. Email: info@g-plus.in, RNI No: ASSENG/2013/52641