VOL 01 | ISSUE 07 | NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
`10 ges 24 Pa
This Sunday
VOL 01 | ISSUE 07 | NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
`10 ges 24 Pa
LPG
Cooking gas is still creating problems for the citizens and the non-subsidised cylinder is out of sight.
STILL BURNS A HOLE IN PG 04 GUWAHATI’S POCKETS ld i h c r is youedge ? on the
Lingerie Love
High on boots pg
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pg
13
In conversation with
Barry O’ Brien
PG 06
Are parents laying too much pressure on their children to perform higher than their optimal levels?
Selena Gomez
Catching Up, Pg 24
pg
12
illustration by Priyanka Goswami
When God retires!
Wassup @
WARD
NO 11
PG 11
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Lead Story
Cooking gas is still creating problems for the citizens and the non-subsidised cylinder is out of sight.
LPG STILL BURNS A HOLE IN GUWAHATI’S POCKETS
rahul chanda
A
s an upcoming city, Guwahati is marching along with other metros in various aspects and also planning certain other things to keep up with the developed capitals. The price rise and the bandh culture however, keeps Guwahatians away from development and with the increasing fuel prices, the locals keep feeling the pain. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or cooking gas is one such product which is always an issue for Guwahatians. In fact, in June 2012, Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri had constituted a complaint cell to deal with public grievances of registered consumers of cooking gas. The cell was then running under the leadership of Kamrup (Metro) additional DC Nareshwar Upadhaya. It was expected to act upon receipt of complaint from registered LPG consumers regarding delay in delivery of refills against booking. The direction was to act immediately if any case of charging high price by distributors or delivery boys for LPG refills is detected and ensure home delivery of cylinders to registered consumers within the stipulated time of 21 days from the date of receipt of the earlier refill.
Present scenario
The government had, in September last year fixed a quota of six subsidised LPG cylinders per household in a year. This was increased to 9 cylinders in January 2013. Any requirement over and above this entitlement has to be bought at market price. A 14.2kilo LPG cylinder that consumers will have to buy after they exhaust their enhanced quota of 9 subsidised bottles in a year, will cost above Rs. 900, according to Indian Oil Corp (IOC). According to various agencies in Guwahati, the cost of one non-subsidised domestic cylinder refill costs approximately Rs 1000. The price also depends upon the import parity which keeps on changing from time to time.
Consumers’ woes
The government and the district administration might have come up with many initiatives for the consumers, but the fact remains that economic offences do take place in Guwahati. According to a city-based businessman Kedar Nath, the cylinder service provided by his agency is not up to the mark and he spends a lot in buying non-subsidised cylinders. He said, “I have a family of six and with my in-laws staying with me, we have around 10 people living together. I require a single cylinder for 20 days so by the 21st or 22nd day, I need to get my empty cylinder refilled. I make it a point that I book the refill after 15 days of refilling my previous cylinder, but still, I never get the next cylinder refilled by 21st or 22ndday, as the agency says that the stock is empty. I end up buying cylinders from different sources for Rs 1300 – Rs 1400. I later get the subsidised refill after 30 to 45 days. I am aware that we can call and complain at the toll free number available in the agency, but when we call, we are mostly kept on hold and sometimes I don’t get time. So, I think the government should do something to make the cylinders available easily.” Similarly, a government employee staying in Uzan Bazaar, Babul Das, is also unhappy with the LPG distribution system and the price he pays sometimes. He expressed, “We never get the cylinders on time. Also, for non-subsidised cylinders, the delivery boys charge Rs 1200-1300. I know that we are supposed to get it for Rs
4.03 lakhs
IOCL’s customers in Guwahati
Gas supplied in 2012-13 Cylinders supplied per month
2.40 lakhs
2.43 lakhs
Requirement of cylinders per month
Refill limit of an individual distributor
8800
900 from the agency, but agency people always say that they don’t have stock. So, finally we have to buy from the delivery boys. If we complain about this, they will stop supplying to us.” N. Jaya Devi, a lecturer by profession said, “Forget about the non-subsidised cylinders, getting the subsidised cylinders itself is a pain. I have an Indane connection and never get the cylinders on time. After booking the LPG, the agency always comes up with excuses that they are running short on stock. We even have to pay some extra money to the delivery guys to get the cylinder delivered at home. The cost is Rs 450 approximately, but it costs us around Rs 500 including the money we pay to the delivery boys. The irony
If we analyse the claims made by IOCL, the supply seems more than the required monthly demand, but the irony is that consumers still do not get the cylinders on time and in the price they are expected to. This hints towards the existence of a flourishing black market.
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Lead Story This table shows a data of detection of some cases in Assam, for contravention of the provisions of the LPG (Regulation of Supply & Distribution) 2000, which took place in some months last year. Article seized Dist/Sub-div
Period
No of cases
No of LPG cylinder
No of pressure regulator
No of people arrested
Kamrup(M)
March to May 2012
37
106
27
Nil
Dibrugarh
April 2012
2
3
3
Nil
Dhubri
Jan to March 2012
0
0
0
Nil
Golaghat
Jan to March 2012
35
42
0
Nil
Hojai
Jan to April 2012
8
11
0
1
Tezpur
Jan to May 2012
37
248
0
Nil
Tinsukia
Jan to May 2012
32
57
32
Nil
Sivasagar
Jan to May 2012
20
51
0
Nil
Morigaon
Jan to May 2012
1
1
0
Nil
Rangia
Jan to May 2012
1
2
0
Nil
Bajali
Jan to May 2012
11
53
0
Nil
Goalpara
Jan to May 2012
4
4
0
Nil
Barpeta
Jan to May 2012
6
14
3
Nil
Nagaon
Jan to May 2012
11
23
0
Nil
N. Lakhimpur
Jan to May 2012
4
4
0
Nil
Nazira
Jan to May 2012
8
8
0
Nil
217
627
65
1
Total
The study of a few months’ data shows that people are indulging in economic offences and are also taking risks by retaining cylinders illegally, which is against the explosives act. But, the question raised is why there has been so few arrests made.
is, in spite of paying extra money, we don’t get the cylinders on time.”
Administration
Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri said, “The consumers’ grievances cell is still active, where people can complain about the irregularities they face while acquiring the cylinders at their door steps. But, we do not get too many complaints maybe because the consumers are unaware or not too confident about the process.”On being asked about the black market, which exists in the city for buying and selling of the non-subsidised cylinders, the DC said, “Black marketing comes into existence when people buy a particular product at a higher price for their personal requirement. So if we come to know about such economic offences, we will certainly act and bar the process. People should raise their voices and inform us about such problems and we will certainly act against the offenders.” Additional deputy commissioner Debo Goswami said, “It’s been many months since we received any complaint from any consumer. The distribution is satisfactory now but there was a problem during the months of September and October, which happened due to production scarcity. There are five bottling plants in Assam. They are located in Dhaligaon, North Guwahati, Sarpara, Numiligarh and Cachar.”
Enforcement squad
Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs have an enforcement squad which from time to time, conducts raids and seizes cylinders which are illegally retained by unscrupulous persons for profit. The squad makes sure that safe gas cylinders are provided to the consumers. It is difficult to figure out who a black marketer is as it can be anyone from a distributor to a delivery boy or other middleman. For
Name and address of IOCL distributors Pragjyoti Gas Agency Bhaskar Gas Agency Shankardev Gas Agency Sandhan Gas Service PS Gas Agency City Gas Service Dipti Gas Agency Keshab Indane Padmaja Gas Agency Sikha Shyama Gas Service Mahalaxmi Gas Service Blueflame Agencies Deep Jyoti Gas Agency Hangsa Gas Agency Jyoti Gas Agency Nabajyoti Gas Agency Navadeep Gas Service Pinakshi Gas Service Sivam Gas Service Technico
Sarumataria, Dispur Rehabari, Guwahati Six Mile, Panjabari Road Chatribari Hatigaon, Near Bhetapara Basistha Road, Beltola Kahilipara Road, Jatia Magazine, VIP Road Lachit Nagar, GS Road Bharalumukh Eastern Huts, Noonmati By-lane 4, Srimantapur RG Baruah Road, Rongpur Port Road, Anandanagar, Pandu Hengerabari Road, Ganeshguri MC Road, Uzanbazar Hatigaon Chariali Goshala, Maligaon Chandmari Railway Gate no 1, Maligaon Uzan Bazaar
21
Number of IOCL agencies Number of captive IOC distributors
3
IOC toll free numbers – 1800233555 Contact no. for emergency leakage complains after office hours
03612331247, 18003453710
example, in places like Kharguli, there are some 200 houses at the top of the hills. For certain transportation problems, if a person takes the responsibility to obtain all the cylinders and deliver them to the consumers according to their convenience and charges some extra money from them for his hard labour, the person retaining so many cylinders is an offender according to the explosives act while charging extra money is an economic offence as well. So for the law he is a black marketer, but for the people in the hill-top he is a saviour. Similarly, the delivery boys, charging extra money is an offence. Distributors extracting gas from a filled cylinder and refilling it into an empty cylinder using gadgets is also an offence. There are cases when people have complained that they received halffilled cylinders, and that happens when the gas of one cylinder is divided into two or more cylinders.
The Market
Three companies rule the Guwahati LPG market. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) enjoys 88 percent of the share; the rest of the 12 percent is equally distributed among HPCL and BPCL. IOC chief area manager Jayanta Madhav explained that there are eight field officers in Guwahati to take care of the consumers’ grievances’ and in every agency, their toll free numbers are highlighted so that the consumers can complain if they are facing any problems. He said, “We have 21 agencies in Guwahati and in addition to that, we have 3 captive distributors who serve to the railways and the refineries. In the year 2012-13, we have supplied 2.43 lakh cylinders per month against the average monthly requirement of 2.40 lakhs cylinders per month. We have 4.03 lakhs customers in Guwahati.”
Guwahati market share
*approx
IOCL
88%
HPCL
6%
BPCL
6%
6
G-View
G PLUS NOV 09 - NOV 15, 2013
n o d l i h c r u o Is y the edge?
Are parents laying too much pressure on their children to perform higher than their optimal levels?
“Since, it is not possible for the school authorities to take care of all the activities, I have to enrol my child into other private institutes after school,”
“The aspect of ‘peer pressure’ is playing a significant role in it. If a child’s friend is going to dance classes, then the parents of that particular child want him or her to go to the same classes. Because, no parents want their child to miss out on anything.”
Mrinmoyee Hazarika
T
he endless debates on whether to send your wards to private coaching classes, music classes, dance classes, swimming classes, sports classes and so on even after spending a hectic day at school is yet to reach a logical conclusion. In the wake of ever growing competitions across the globe, today’s children find hardly any time to relax and the helpless clueless modern parents, with no proper idea about their child’s abilities, compel their children to attend many other classes and courses outside the school courses and syllabi. Of course, they do not do it to make life tough for their children, but to make their children capable in every aspect of life. But, should the parents do it just to make sure that their children can develop in every area and hence be competitive at everything? Do they have to attend the classes, which their friends are attending too? Is there a way by which the children do not feel the pressure and at the same time, parents can be satisfied too?
Take a break Every parent wants their children to be the best. But, while pursuing their dreams, the parents should not push their children according to their own momentum. Because of the undue pressures from the parents, the children tend to snap. This has become one of the root causes of suicidal tendencies found among the youth in recent times.
The scholars and experts have always asked parents to take a break, and gauge and understand the potential in their children, instead of encouraging them to take part in the rat race. “It is true that the pressure being put on the kids by their parents is increasing and it is happening not only in Guwahati, but across the country. The aspect of ‘peer pressure’ is playing a significant role in it. If a child’s friend is going to dance classes, then the parents of that particular child want him or her to go to the same classes. Because, no parents want their child to miss out on anything. As a result, the children have no free time to relax. Therefore, the parents should insist on doing all the activities inside the school itself,” Professor Gautam Barua, mentor director of Indian Institute of Information Technology, Guwahati told G Plus. Barua, who headed the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati for a period of 10 years until he retired from his position last June, also feels that the school authorities themselves should take care of the extracurricular activities of the students. “May be it is a part of the mar-
keting and advertising by various institutions, because of which the parents want their children to be taken special care of. But, if the parents insist on the same activities happening inside the school itself, then a child would have time to relax by the evening,” Barua said. Even after being pushed hard to concentrate on their studies from a very tender age, the number of students getting admission into IITs and other reputed institutions of the country from Assam is very less. In this regard, the academician said, “The number is increasing over the years, but compared to the other states like Hyderabad, Kota in Rajasthan etc, the number of students getting into IITs from Assam is very small. I think the coaching institutes in Guwahati are playing negative roles. Although, a lot of such institutes are coming up in the city, the quality of education or the qualities of the teachers teaching in those institutes are questionable. There is still time for the ambience to grow in the city.” Barua also expressed that various well-to-do parents of the city as well as the state send their children out and enrol them in renowned coaching institutes. But, here too
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
G-View
they should look into the capabilities of their children first. The parents should gauge how good their children are or how meritorious they are. Based on these factors, they should take the decision of the future of their children. Loya Agarwala, a city based psychological counsellor also agrees to the views and opinions of Gautam Barua. “Instead of enrolling their children into various other classes, the parents should understand the potential and capabilities of their children first. Only then should they push their children towards directions suitable for them. Because, if a student of Arts is forced to take up Science, then obviously he or she will not be able to perform well. It will be counter-productive and it is a fact of nature that undue pressure produces no good results,” Agarwala told G Plus. At the same time though, Loya also believes that the parents are not to blame, because every parent wants their children to be the best. But, while pursuing their dreams, the parents should not push their children according to their own momentum. Because of the undue pressures from the parents, the children tend to snap. This has become one of the root causes of sui-
“It is wrong to push the children according to our momentum. We should push our children into the path where they show competency. I believe every student has inherent flairs and qualities. The only thing they need is a little push. Otherwise, they won’t be able to perform at their optimum,”
cidal tendencies found among the youth in recent times. “It is wrong to push the children according to our momentum. We should push our children into the path where they show competency. I believe every student has inherent flairs and qualities. The only thing they need is a little push. Otherwise, they won’t be able to perform at their optimum,” Agarwala opined.
Parent’s take Even after being fully aware of the burden of pressure being put on their children, the modern par-
ents of the city cannot seem to find a way to come out of it. Abdul Sajid, the father of a four year old girl of the city said, “I know that my child is under pressure from her studies and other extra-curricular activities. Even at this tender age, she has to attend private tuition classes after her school. I have seen her dozing off during their private coaching classes. But, what am I supposed to do? Because, all her fellow classmates go to the private tuition and I do not want my child to be lagging behind. I have to take extra care of my child and send
her to the private tuitions.” Another young parent, Nilakshi Bora who has a 10-year-old boy finds it difficult to help her child’s overall development alone. “I do not want to put undue pressure on my child. But, the conditions have compelled me to do so. Although, I can help my boy in his studies, I cannot help him in his sports and other activities he is interested in. Therefore, at this age of competition, I have to take him to a good sports academy or a drawing school. Since, it is not possible for the school authority to
take care of all the activities, I have to enrol my child into other private institutes after school,” Bora said. It is high time for the parents to chalk out a plan for the overall development of their children by considering the potentials and proficiencies of their children. In this regard, they can try out the advice and suggestions provided by the experts. It is only the parents who know the virtues and shortcomings of their children. Therefore, they should be acting as a guide to the future generations of the country.
8
G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
City
VOX POP
AWAY FROM HOME
I
t’s been two years and a few odd months since I left Guwahati and came to Bangalore looking for greener pastures. Today, I have a job and I have developed my own network through my work. But is this what is called satisfaction? This is not the first time I have been away from my hometown. To start with, I was 7 months old when my dad was transferred to Mumbai, and we shifted along with him. I still remember the 3-day-long train journeys we used to take, to visit Guwahati during the summer vacations. It used to be so much fun to meet cousins, relatives and our grandparents. But honestly as a kid I always used to crave to be back in Mumbai. Given the fact that I had grown up in Mumbai and had made friends there, I never really understood the value of being in my own hometown. After being there for more than 13 years, we relocated back to Guwahati, my own place. I could see that glow and happiness in my parents’ face. For them, Mumbai was never the place where they would have ever wanted to grow old. They always craved to be back amidst their own people, their own home. Initially I used to cry and be upset very often for having shifted back to Guwahati. I didn’t like my new school and neither did I like my school mates. But that was a temporary phase. A period which I needed to adjust myself - from a very fast moving life to a relaxed one. But once I got used to it, I didn’t seem to like any other place any more. There is always something special about living in a place where your cousins, your best friends are, where the moment you step outside home you still feel that you are at home because you get to hear familiar voices and meet people who speak in your mother tongue. Having been spent a good part of my life in one of the fastest and the busiest cities of our country, I have always felt that the people of Assam are much more relaxed and lack the sense of punctuality. Whenever you approach any person for any work, they reply “Hoi Jabo, olop time laagibo.” But today when I am staying away from my hometown, I think – ‘ isn’t that a specialty in itself?’ Nobody is in a hurry and there is a lot of time to relax. Those evenings spent with friends, the addas that I miss the most. The fresh local fish, my mom’s maasortenga, the insane driving without any rules which almost psyches my dad every second . I love the Uruka with all relatives and all the ladies in the house showing off their cooking skills, those visits to our village where we walk by the pond and enjoy fishing in the evenings - aren’t these things enough to make my hometown special and worth living? Even today, I come across people who very often ask me: is Assam safe to live? Aren’t there terrorists? I have just one answer for those people - visit the place once and you will want to live there and never come back again. For me even if there are flaws, I am happy to be an Assamese from Assam and take pride in being a part of that society.
LAND POLICY AND PATTA CLAIM
A
long-standing demand for land patta by a considerable number of people living in the non myadi lands of Guwahati is yet to be fulfilled by the government. The families who have been living in these lands for 15-25 years have nowhere else to go if evicted. The government though assured the landless residents that it would give them land pattas as recommended by the Bhumidhar Barman Committee but what remains in question is whether this would turn into reality. While the Guwahati Mati Pattakaran Sangram Samiti is busy spearheading the movement to demand land for landless people in the city, the Akhil Gogoi led KMSS on the other hand is rigid in its efforts to continue its struggle to acquire land for the indigenous people who have been living in government lands for all these years.
Jitu Saikia, Employee, Private Firm
Even after granting patta to the non myadi lands, the encroachment or dakhal problem will not stop and still continue to grow in every corner of the city. Encroachments of green belt or government land have become the easiest way of gaining land ownership. In such a case, the government should take strong action while granting pattas and make sure that such a decision does not affect the nearby areas. It has been often observed that illegal settlements gradually tend to harm and change the nearby as well as surrounding areas of a vast landscape. As more illegal settlement is happening regularly in the green zones, it is nature that comes under threat.
Mantu Chetia, Student
Although many people are fighting for their right and the patta of their land, at the same time it is also important to realise that the majority of these demands are coming from the hilly areas that surround the city. So, if pattas are granted to these areas, then there is a probable chance that more people would settle down in these patches of land, creating difficulties for residents living in the plains, as uncontrollable soil erosion while building houses could initiate perilous problems. Moreover, unplanned and rapid constructions of the houses in higher altitudes have threatened the entire ecosystem and more importantly, these have also attributed to the occurrence of earthquakes in the region that we are witnessing more frequently now-a-days.
Ratul Ahom, School Teacher
Pattas should be given out in a fair manner and the government should follow stern methods while handing over the grants. Particularly, pattas should not be given to those who claim to own plots in the green belt or forestlands as residing there is not legal. In addition, there are many people who forcefully encroach lands with a motive to sell it further to other clients to gain monetary profit and the best part being, they do not have to invest a single penny for the entire process. The government should also scrutinise it repeatedly while granting the patta and making sure that the most rightful person receives it.
Biswajit Balari, Employee, Private Firm
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Pattas must be given to the families who are claiming it for their lands because these families have been living on these non myadi lands for decades and evicting them would not turn out to be a logical solution. Most of the people who are living on these eksonia lands belong to the lower income group, so the grant must be given to them in order to secure their lives as they would never in their life be able to purchase myadi lands within the posh locations of the city. Moreover, no one else, especially people from the higher income group would go and settle down in these lands other than the people already living there. But again on the government’s part, it should ensure that after granting pattas no further problem emerges regarding the matter in future.
9
G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
City
GUWAHATI TO HAVE POLICE COMMISSIONERATE BEFORE LS POLLS
G
uwahti is all set to have a police commissionerate in the beginning of the next year before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. A Police commissionerate, which had not materialised till now, even as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had announced to set it up soon after the infamous GS Road molestation case to tackle the growing law and order problems of the premier city of the Northeast. Sources at Dispur said paper work related to setting up of the commissionerate is almost complete
mrinmoyee hazarika
and it is awaiting the final approval from the Chief Minister’s office who is also in-charge of the home department and after that it will be sent for the cabinet’s approval. Sources informed that if everything goes as per the plan then it is certain that Guwahati will have its police commissionerate before the Lok Sabha polls which is tentatively scheduled on March-April, 2014. Once the commissionerate is set up the whole law and order of the city will be looked after by a police commissioner, who will be an officer
Under the commissionerate, the whole Guwahati city will be divided into four zones and each zone will be headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), an officer in the rank of SP. The police commissionerate at Guwahati will vastly reduce the power of the district magistrate.
in the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP). Under the commissionerate, the whole Guwahati city will be divided into four zones and each zone will be headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), an officer in the rank of SP. Two Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP), an officer in the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) will assist the police commissioner. State Government’s announcement related to setting up of police commissionerate first came in 2008 after the October 30th bomb blasts at Guwahati. All the major cities of the coun-
try have the police commissionerate system to control the law and order activities. Sources at the Assam secretariat told G Plus that the police commissionerate at Guwahati will vastly reduce the power of the district magistrate. “Once a police commissionerate is set up the, the power of the deputy commissioner will be vastly reduced and he will lose the enforcing power. Also, the DC will be reduced to only a collector as he will lose power over several departments, and departments such as excise as well,” said a senior official of the Assam home department.
GOA ‘FOCUSES’ ON NORTH EAST
IFFI will be having a special screening of Northeast films.
mrinmoyee hazarika
I
n its first ever attempt to showcase the North east through the lens, the 44th edition of International Film festival of India (IFFI), to be held from November 20th at Goa, will be having a special screening on the films produced in the eight states of the North east. Titled as “Focus: North East”, the section will have a total of 17 films. Besides, there will be a musical film in the same section and one feature and three documentary films will be screened in the Indian panorama section. Altogether 22 films from the entire North east region will be screened in IFFI, Goa. “Though the festival will start from November 20, the ‘Focus: North East’ Section will be inaugurated on November 22 with a special opening ceremony. Opening film of this section is “Khawnlung Run” (Dir: Mapuia Chawngthu), the first-ever Mizo film to be screened in any international film festival,” Utpal Borpujari, awardwinning film critic who is curating the North East film package to be screened in IFFI told G Plus. Renowned actress Seema Biswas and actor Adil Hussain will be present at the opening ceremony of “Focus: North East”. There will be special performance by Naga folk fusion band Purple Fusion from Dimapur, Nagaland. The section will be closed on November 27 with a special closing ceremony. “The closing film of NE Section will be the Arup Manna-directed Assamese film “Aideu”, a biopic on Joymoti’s heroine Aideu Handique, which will be held on November 27.
Films to be screened in this section The closing ceremony will also have a special performance of Manipuri martial arts Thang Ta. Besides, ‘EK Pal’ will have a special screening during the festival as a sign of paying homage to Hemendra Prasad Barooah, who was the producer of the film,” Borpujari said. He will also moderate a panel discussion on the region’s cinema. Among the participants in the discussion will be Sahitya Akademi Award-winning author Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi from Arunachal Pradesh, Aribam Syam Sharma, social activist-author-editor Patricia Mukhim from Meghalaya, actress Meena Debbarma from Tripura, Manju Borah from Assam, Mapuia Chawngthu from Mizoram, Prashant Rasailly from Sikkim and Tianla Jamir from Nagaland. Veteran Assamese film director and painter Pulak Gogoi will be acting as the festival’s overall art director. There will be cultural performances of Northeastern folk dances every evening during Nov 22-27 apart from handicraft exhibitions and Northeastern food stalls.
ASSAM “Panoi Jongki” (Dir Dilip Doley & Narayan Seal, language Mising), “Papori” (Dir Jahnu Barua), “Hagramayo Jinahari” (Dir: Jwngdao Bodosa, language Bodo), “Agnisnaan” (Dir: Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia), “Baibhav – A Scam in Verse” (Dir: Manju Borah), “Wosobipo” (Dir: Gautam Bora, language Karbi), Arup Manna-directed Assamese film “Aideu” a biopic on Joymoti’s heroine Aideu Handique
MANIPUR “Matamgi Manipur” (Dir: Deb Kumar Bose), the first film in the Manipuri language made in 1972, “Ishanou” (Dir: Aribam Syam Sharma) , “Songs of Mashangva” (Dir Oinam Doren)
ARUNACHAL PRADESH “Sonam” (Dir. Ahsan Majid, Monpa language)
In Indian panorama section Manju Borah’s Mising language feature film “Ko:Yad” and documentaries “Manipuri Pony” by Aribam Syam Sharma, “Resonance of Mother’s Melody” by Dip Bhuyan and “By Lane No. 2” by Utpal Datta
In musical section “Chameli Memsab”, for which Bhupen Hazarika had won the National Award for Best Music in 1975.
NAGALAND “Going the Distance” (Dir: Tianla Jamir)
TRIPURA “Yarwng” (Dir: Joseph Pulinthanath, language Kokborok)
MIZORAM “Khawnlung Run” (Dir: Mapuia Chawngthu)
MEGHALAYA “Ka Lad” (Dir: Dondor Lyngdoh & Gautam Syiem)
SIKKIM “Kathaa” (Dir: Prashant Rasailly)
Documentaries “Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Aru Joymoti” (dir Dr Bhupen Hazarika), a documentary on the making of “Joymoti”, the first film in the North East made in 1935 by Jyotiprasad Agarwalla. The documentary contains the only surviving portions of “Joymoti”. Haobam Paban Kumar’s documentary “The First Leap”, on how “Matamgi Manipur” was made, on the memory of actors of the Matamgi Manipur as they watch the film after 30 years of its making, will also be shown.
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Society
A Ray of
GARGEE BARUAH
L
ike a baby needs protective warmth, a loner needs escapism, an old man needs his childhood, an escapist needs her coffee, life needs survival! The survival of humans hang in a thin thread suspended in the air of uncertainty. An individual is conditioned to live a life or should I say ‘survive’ a life in accordance with the guidelines which a particular society appropriates. However, human beings are subject to disintegration in their own system, their own body malfunction. One such disease which is a cause of such malfunction is Cancer. It is a tragic thing to see how people become victims of this disease and battle in a life and death situation.
The positive side of uncertainty- HOPE
Deepsikha is one cancer- care foundation which has been contributing immensely to the society. G Plus takes a glimpse of this Cancer combating force. “Till date, Deepsikha has organized innumerable awareness camps in the North Eastern States of India. These have been organized with the help of the respective district administrations, doctors from B. Baruah Cancer Institute (BBCI), local hospitals and Deepsikha’s dedicated group of volunteers”, says the foundation. Deepsikha has also received assistance from many artistes of repute in spreading awareness about cancer through conducting of street- shows which have been staged in remote villages. Pamphlets printed in local language have been distributed and
Hope
awareness talks being delivered by experts in a simple way so as to be comprehended by the illiterate and the partially educated masses. “Deepsikha continues its fight against the use of tobacco by distributing handbills and pamphlets to thousands of people, putting up posters in the schools, colleges and hospitals, and conducting awareness camps in places where a lot of footfalls occur daily”, the foundation claims. The foundation has also been recognised for its efforts towards its objectives. It had been awarded with the Rangdhalee Award in the field of social activity in 2010 and Assam Chief Minister’s Best Community Action Award in 2011, among others. The organisation strives to organize awareness and screening camps in the rural areas of India. It provides all round assistance to cancer patients during the course of their treatment. It engages in anti- cancer and anti- tobacco advocacy. The foundation also provides psychological assistance and counselling to cancer patients and their families. It provides back- up support and organizes accommodation facilities for patients. The foundation is engaged in the efficient management of the hospice (under construction) in Guwahati, Assam. Deepsikha also provides financial assistance to economically weak patients and has shouldered the responsibility of their complete treatment and rehabilitation. Deepsikha runs Stop Tobacco centres at Deomornoi in Darrang district of Assam and the other one
at Pathsala. Counselling facilities are available in the Guwahati office also. “More than 100 screening camps have been organized by Deepsikha in the last two years where more than 200 to 300 people have been screened per camp. Several people have been diagnosed with full blown cancer in these camps. Those identified would otherwise have been totally unaware of their disease”.
Vision
• Taking cancer awareness and care to the remotest corner of every Indian village. • Making cancer care and treatment available (cost of treatment, etc) to poor patients who do not undergo any treatment for the lack of funds. • Establishment of equitable, pain, control and palliative care network throughout the country. • Conducting cancer awareness and screening camps throughout rural India. • Working towards a cancer free world
Ambulance Service
Deepsikha in association with Airtel has launched a cancer helpline for the North Eastern States. The helpline number 9954054000 functions from 7 AM in the morning to 9 PM in the evening. “Deepsikha aims to conduct atleast 10 monthly screening and awareness camps with its own mobile units and trained personnel. With its wide network in the North
Eastern states, Deepsikha aims to penetrate into the remotest areas of the states, spread awareness about cancer and facilitate proper screening amongst the rural masses”, says the foundation. Deepsikha was registered in 2007 under the Indian Trust Act. Their first Help Desk was set up on 9th March, 2007 at B. Barooah Cancer Hospital. Deepsikha’s screening camps were started much before the Help Desk was set up. The foundation is the brainchild of Debasish Sharma. On being asked about the collection of funds, Dr. Mrinmoyee Baruah (Secretary, Deepsikha cancer care foundation) says that it is quite a difficult task although they have received funds now and then. They organise a fund raising event ‘Priti Enajori’ every year to generate mass awareness about cancer. The strength of Deepsikha lies in its team which consists of committed members. The upcoming projects of Deepsikha include an integrated cancercare centre to come up in Titabor and Shishu Ashray Sthal at Six- mile, Guwahati. These plots of land have been donated to Deepsikha by people who have undergone treatment of cancer earlier. Dr. Baruah also mentions that a Hospice is under construction at Mirza. On being asked to elaborate on the Shishu Ashray Sthal project, Dr. Mrinmoyee Baruah says, “It will be a care- centre for children suffering from cancer. Since leukaemia is a disease that takes a lengthy treatment procedure, the child’s parents’ continuous support is important. In this, many parents even lose their jobs because the child’s treatment requires full attention and it gets difficult for a parent to juggle between the job and the treatment. Due to this, Shishu Ashray Sthal will have facilities for a cancer suffering child to stay with his mother so that things can be balanced. Also, during the treatment, children lose an academic year. Therefore, the care centre will have a minimum facility for a child to continue with his/her studies in the care centre itself and Father B.M Thomas of Don Bosco has agreed to let these children take exam from Don Bosco School so that they do not have to compromise an academic year for their treatment”. Deepsikha’s Fourth Arogya Bhawan has come up in Mumbai. It has all the required facilities. Also, the Jain community of Mumbai has taken up on their shoulders to provide food to the patients in the ‘arogya bhawan’ free of cost. They believe in the philosophy of ‘anna-daan’. The arogya bhawan has bus facilities for the patients and their families. The
Activities in Mumbai
• Receiving cancer patients at the railway station/airport and transporting them to suitable accommodations, keeping in view their financial status. • Helping the patients in the process of registration in the hospitals of their choice and guiding them during the initial days of their investigation. Deepsikha volunteers are present at the Tata Memorial Hospital every working day from 9AM to 5PM. • Providing manpower and back up support in case a patient has to undergo an operation. • Organizing blood for cancer patients as and when required. • Helping in the transportation of mortal remains. • Liaison with specialists on behalf of patients who cannot come to Mumbai. • Providing medicines at concessional rates. • Helping the patients in obtaining railway reservation in accordance with their concession forms. • Deepsikha has been organizing several concerts for the entertainment of the cancer patients in Mumbai.
bus charges a very nominal fare of Rs.30 per person to and from the bhawan to the hospital. Donors can donate money for the patients either directly to Deepsikha or whenever Deepsikha has a new patient and a person who had confirmed earlier that he/she would want to donate, Deepsikha contacts the donor and then, the donor transfers the money directly to the hospital where the particular patient has been undergoing treatment. Deepsikha believes in acknowledging the donor’s support and good will and therefore, there is a transparency between the donor and the patient. Overall, Deepsikha is about team work where people from all walks of life come together to give voice to a cause. “It has helped me as a person as it gives me immense personal satisfaction to be of some service to others. As an individual, it is one’s duty to be aware of the pain of others and work towards bringing a change. People almost know and are aware of the things but somewhere, the sensitivity is lacking”, says Priyanka Bhattacharjee, member and a student of M.A. Psychology in Guwahati University. Little is enough if a contribution is made for a good cause. Deepsikha has been garnering hope in the hearts of so many patients and their families. Such steps are not just a contribution of a particular institution/ organization but, also an inspiration for many others to follow.
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Ward Watch
Uzan Bazar Barawari area Happy Villa area Rajbari area Latasil area (part) Jahaz Ghat area Jorpukhuri area Uzanbazar Rly. Colony. Chenikuthi area Kharguli area (part) Hedayatpur area
LOCALITY M.C. Road AREA Uzan Bazar LANDMARK Near Barawari Puja Mandap
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Councilor’s response Residents’ response
PRATIK DHAR
WARD
NO
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ard watch, this time ventured out to the M.C. Road of Uzan Bazar, which is one of the oldest areas of the city and where one of the GMC offices itself is located. But despite it being one of the oldest and having a culturally rich background, the residents of M.C. Road still long some of the basic amenities. G PLUS discussed a few of them trying to understand the problems. Area covered: From M.C. Road charali to M.G. Road (including Ward Street and Padum Pukhuri bylane)
Jayanti Bharali Saikia, President (BJP), Ward No.11 Not only M.C. Road, but M.G. Road, Islampatty, Upper Pani Kol, Lower Pani Kol and many adjacent areas have not seen any development since the GMC elections got over in the month of June. There are no proper street lamps in this busy area of Uzan Bazar where we have the official residence of the Governor of Assam and the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro). Moreover, in ward no. – 11, there is a ‘basti’ where there is not a single water supply connection and shockingly the people residing there have to bring water from other sources. Also, the mosquito nets provided during the dengue menace were not distributed properly. The condition of the garbage disposal system is also pathetic as the garbage collecting agents are never regular in their work. Islampatty area does not have a single dustbin so, where do the people dispose their garbage? Mrs. Saikia’s Suggestion: There is a drain flowing parallel to the M.C. Road and as far as I know, it has not been cleaned for more than three decades now. So, I request the authorities to carry out a cleaning drive as soon as possible, otherwise the drain will continue to make the lives of people miserable.
Local unity Councilor’s Version
300-350 (approx)
ELIGIBLE VOTERS
Anjali Saikia, Housewife The drain that flows behind our house is in pathetic condition as it is overburdened with unwanted garbage disposed by the people living in the Uzan Bazar area. We are the worst sufferer because our house is immediately next to the drain. Often there is foul smell due to the blockage caused by the garbage. During the monsoons, the drain overflows with dirty water which enters our house as there is severe seepage problem in the walls of the drain. This drain was initially 8 to 10 feet in depth but now, it is hardly 2 feet below. We had also carried out a cleaning drive of our own to clear the garbage from the nearby area but it is not possible every time and we expect people from the GMC to come in and take responsibility as it is their duty to perform the task. Mrs. Saikia’s Suggestion: We expect GMC to be fast and prompt in its action. They cannot escape their responsibilities without noticing the plight of the of people here.
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GP rating
Deepa Hazarika, Councilor, Ward No. – 11
TOTAL RESIDENCES
1000-1200 (approx)
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We have already repaired the streetlights in areas of Happy Villa, Rajbari, Kharguli, Jahaz Ghat, Ward Street and repair works are still going on in other areas of the ward. The councilors of all 31 GMC wards are supposed to receive a sum of Rs 30 lakhs individually for the development of their respective wards. With that amount I am planning to take up three major renovation projects mainly starting with the Rajbari stretch of 120 meters including the construction of drains, Bankuar (West) which is approximately 50 meters and developmental works in M.L. Baruah Road. In Harijan Basti, the force of the water may be low but it is not true that the connection has been withdrawn. Moreover, with the help of M.L.A fund of around Rupees 50,000, we have constructed a well in Arikati area of the ward and an extension from the main GMC water pipeline connection will be also introduced in the area within a stipulated time of 30 days. Regarding garbage collection and RAMKY, we are planning to terminate their contract as not a single councilor is happy with their performance and in ward no. 11, we are thinking about engaging the local Harijan youths for the purpose and providing them with employment opportunities.
Pratibha Rajbongshi, Senior Citizen Earlier, the streets were regularly cleaned by the GMC workers and the garbage collected was carried away by their vehicles. But now we do not see such timely work. In addition, the GMC has to take care of the growing number of street dogs but now neither the dogcatchers nor the vans are seen on the streets of Guwahati which has led to an increase of these dogs over the years. Earlier we used to feel safe in the city but now that feeling is no longer there. The streets look dark even during the evenings and there are no sufficient street lamps to tackle the problem. But amidst all these, we should also not forget about the fogging drive because the dengue fear is still not over yet and the authority must make it more regular to contain the problem. Mrs. Rajbongshi’s Suggestion: The area must be provided with new street lamps or else it will give rise to criminal activities and more importantly, it makes the locality unsafe.
Hari Narayan Bhuyan, Businessman We are still expecting that big change to happen in our ward because not a single developmental activity has been initiated here. The area itself has become a dumpster as there is no proper garbage disposal system and that is why many people are disposing their garbage into the nearby drains and beneath the pavements. Although promised before the GMC elections, the drains have not been cleaned till now. Even during the time of need, we do not have the GMC representatives to stand here with us and listen to our problems and grievances. Moreover, the benefits of the government schemes are enjoyed by a few while majority of us are deprived of these. Mr. Bhuyan’s Suggestion: GMC should start working on M.C. Road. Though they are saying that repairing and renovation works are going on, it can progress only with the allocation of funds. But we have been hearing this for months now and I want to know when these funds will actually arrive.
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G PLUS NOV 02 - NOV 08, 2013
Special
WALL OF FAME
When God retires! Bidisha Singha
illustration by Priyanka Goswami
A
s I sat down to pen my thoughts on Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, aka God, this morning, he had moved on to yet another half century. Thus living up to all the hope and hype that this farewell test, his 200th, has ignited. Being a self confessed Rahul Dravid fan(atic) I may not be the right person to write about Tendulkar because there were moments when I’d get a little jealous of what this man would evoke at the expense of all other cricketers who played around him, including Dravid. But as he came out to bat for one last time on Thursday evening I couldn’t help but feel the monstrosity of the moment. That’s when it hit me! Oh my, Sachin is retiring, Sachin won’t be seen again on a cricketing field, Sachin might not bat ever again! And that’s as frightening a thought as the thought of a nuclear holocaust. For the last 24 years, as Tendulkar went about his business of putting bat to ball, we have lived our lives. When he started out in 1989, I was just a toddler learn-
ing the A, B, Cs that are today assisting me to write this tribute. When he made those brilliant back-to-back hundreds in Sharjah (1998) against the belligerent Aussie attack of those days, I was just into college, and I remember how thrilled we were to watch him hit that straight six over Shane Warne’s head. When he made that resilient century against a Wasim Akram led Pakistan team in Chepauk and still ended up in the losing side, I remember shedding copious tears in the confines of my room. As Tendulkar went from one milestone to the other, we too have moved from one phase of our lives to the other. Every single century of his could be linked to one or the other momentous occasion in our lives. This generation, my generation, cannot think of the last 20 years without this man. He has been with us through the tediousness of school, the ‘devil-may-care’ days of college, and the dreariness of work life. He has been with us through those days of ‘first crushes’ and ‘first heartbreaks’. He has been
there to help us break the ice with the most reluctant of talkers. He has been a part of almost every ‘adda’ that we have ever had. A discussion on him has encouraged even the introverts among us to argue vehemently. As he piled up on his runs tally year after year, we added up on our life experiences. All this, though, now comes to an end. This week that connection will be forever broken. Sportspersons have always had fan followings. Be it in tennis, soccer, F1 or even athletics. But the mass hysteria that follows a Sachin Tendulkar is something that’s unseen and unheard of. No doubt he is an exceptional cricketer, the best this sport has to offer. Much like a Pete Sampras is to Tennis or a Michael Schumacher is to F1 or a Pele is to football. So what is it that makes him evoke such love and such fanaticism? So much so that even Barack Obama, the president of a non-cricketing nation, had to sit up and comment. Why is he the darling of India? Why is he what he is?
• Highest run getter in test matches (15,921 as on 15 November 2013). • Highest run getter in ODIs (18,426). • 15,310 of his runs came while opening the innings with the aid of 45 centuries and 75 fifties in 340 innings- most by an opener. • Most number of centuries in Test matches – 51. • Most number of centuries in ODIs – 49. • Most number of man of the match awards (62) in the ODIs. • Most number of man of the series awards (17) in ODIs. • First cricketer to reach 10,000–11,000– 12,000–13,000–14,000–15,000–16,000– 17,000–18,000 runs in the ODIs. • Only player ever to cross the 14,000–15,000– 16,000–17,000 and 18,000 run marks in ODIs. • He is the highest run scorer in World Cups (2,278 at an average of 56.95) • Most number of the man of the match awards in World cups. • Most number of runs in the 1996 World cup – 523 runs at an average of 87.16. • Most number of runs in the 2003 World cup – 673 runs in 2003 Cricket World Cup, highest by any player in a single Cricket World Cup. • Most number of Fifties in ODIs – 96. • Highest number of 50+ scores in ODI’s – 145 (49 Centuries and 96 Fifties). • First player to have scored over 100 innings of 50+ runs in ODIs. • Appeared in most number of tests – 200. • Appeared in most number of ODIs – 463. • First player to score 200 runs in an ODI.
I got the answer to it when I met him for an interview in 2009. Those days I was working with the Hindustan Times in Mumbai and I have had the opportunity to interact with several celebs but this meeting became the biggest moment of my life. And I gloated over this for quite a while. In fact I’m shamelessly doing so even now. Most popular personalities disappoint when you meet them. They are either too proud or too dumb. But Tendulkar was quite the opposite. This man was exactly what you would expect him to be. An absolute gem! While the interview was given out to promote a watch brand, Tendulkar patiently answered every cricketing query with honesty and frankness. He wasn’t even reluctant to answer queries about his kids or about his association with too many brands or the frivolity of the IPL. Even the slightly off-putting queries were played with a straight bat. And I wouldn’t say he was being diplomatic or boring. Here was a man who was quite intelligent and articulate. Once the
work was over he could have easily walked out but he stayed on and obliged my photographer with some of his most candid shots. The ‘off the record’ conversations were even more delightful. And I was telling myself, “OMG! This man is a charmer.” And he didn’t do it on purpose. He was simply like that — warm, generous and polite! A true blue gentleman, you hardly meet those anymore. And that’s the reason this week has turned out the way it has. That’s the reason why our FB walls are filled with Sachin dedications, that’s the reason why #thankyouSachin has clouded the online space, that’s the reason why most of us have switched on our TVs at 9am sharp these days, that’s the reason why most Indians are availing their sick leaves today so they could catch him in action one last time, that’s the reason we want India to be bowled out soon enough so we could see the master bat again. And that’s also the reason why a Dravid fan is writing a Tendulkar tribute! Thank You Sachin!
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Special
“Never do something that makes you famous or a millionaire when in reality, you know people do not love and respect you” Barry O’Brien to youth You have been involved with ‘Brainjam’ for quite a few years now. Could you share with us your quizzing experience in Guwahati?
The interest and excitement is very high here. What I like the most is that many families turn out for the event. Young boys and girls, schoolchildren, teenagers and their parents come as a family, which is a very good sign. I do not think that we, in modern India now-a-days go out too often as families other than during festivals. Moreover, the standard of quizzing is going up, the quizzers are doing really well and they are competing with rest of the country. As for ‘Brainjam’, it is more edutainment where there is knowledge as well as it is fun, interactive and entertaining with a high energy level. Like Kolkata, there is scope for quizzing in Guwahati as well. In Kolkata, there is a lot of traditional quizzing with hours of quizzing, with very knowledgeable people participating and pitting their knowledge against each other as well as the more fun and commercial form of quiz. Both these types of quizzing should exist. It is a bit like the test cricket and one dayers.
Have you noticed any difference with rest of India in
relation with the behaviour of the quizzers here?
I would rank Guwahati amongst the top five quizzing cities. Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Guwahati and Delhi are according to me, the top cities for quizzing, in terms of both the traditional test cricket form (as I mentioned earlier) and the T20/One day one. I do not think that Guwahati lacks behind in any way. A lot of serious quizzing is going on over there and Guwahati too is the same.
How do you go about preparing yourself before a quiz? As a quizmaster you must be requiring some time to ready yourself?
To be honest, we do not prepare for a particular quiz. I am an author of school books, but I being a teacher myself constantly try to dabble with my books, trying to improve them, getting feedback and meet the principals and teachers. Similarly, with quizzing, it is a year round preparation. Of course, if a man, who has sixteen thousand plus runs, hundred international centuries and played two hundred test matches can retire, it is a huge message that everybody has to move on and step aside. Likewise, I will also move on. There are
The popular quizmaster, who is going to be in the city to conduct Brain Jam 2013, speaks exclusively to G PLUS and shares his experiences KOUSHIK HAZARIKA
younger quizmasters coming forward but the so called research or preparation will go on, even if I am not in quizzes. It has become a habit - reading, and collecting things. My father does one quiz a year and he is eighty years old but he still has the habit. Moreover, when there is a particular subject related quiz, then we go deep into the subject so that we get a month or two to prepare. As I grow older, I would prefer to do these themes or subject based quizzes more.
How does one go on finding new quiz after quiz, event after event?
There has been a huge transformation for somebody like me. Few years ago, I was a technoplegic - afraid of technology. It has been in the last five or seven years that I have realised that technology or internet can really supplement and quicken what people like me want to do. Five or six years ago every question was written in diaries and then into cards – hand-written by me. Now I download all stuff and it has become more of an online process. The internet also is lot more reliable today as compared to five or ten years ago.
Have you had any favourite quizmasters out in the television shows?
I salute Mr. Neil O’brien, my father who brought this concept to India. Then I must give credit to two persons for making quizzing big - Siddharth Basu and Derek O’
Brien. Siddharth Basu brought quiz into the drawing rooms with Quiz Time and BBC Mastermind. Derek O’Brien managed to commercialise it to make it a profitable career. And then, Amitabh Bachchan for taking it to the millions of people. If it was not him then only a handful of people would have watched it. So, these are the four people who have made their contributions and the fifth person in a small way can be me, who has managed to do two things - one is popularising school quizzing and the other by making quiz on stage a popular three, four hour learning extravaganza. I would also give credit to those hundreds of quizmasters from Delhi, Guwahati, Chennai and other places who have done a great job.
Quizzing is one trend or hobby that has never died. So, do you have any apprehension about its future?
Quizzing can never die because quizzing is an art form that may have started in the late sixties in India but the ‘Proshno-Uttor’ has been going on in all education system for years, since the time man was born. So, it will never die down. I just hope that each language has serious and proper quizes. My second hope is that we need to come up with quizzes for young people in schools and colleges, which prepare them for life.
Are you also involved with parenting?
I am a communicator and a teacher first. I have spent most of my
time either meeting parents or writing school-books. Therefore, I spend lot of time interacting with parents and helping them.
Do you feel that today’s parents lay too much stress on their children?
There are many reasons for this. One is the joint family system, which has broken down and has virtually made the child lonely. There is also the pressure on children because there are parents who are trying to live their unfulfilled dreams through their children and those parents are who are also trying to put their fulfilled dreams into their children. A Parent’s job is not to decide what the child has to be in the future but instead support the child in his decision of career selection. Their role is to create a suitable environment for their children to flourish. Parents should also have an open relationship with their children as this helps them to really grow up well.
Your message to today’s youth.
Don’t put pressure on yourself. Relax and unwind a little more. Don’t make anything and anybody rule your life. Never do something that makes you famous or perhaps a millionaire when in reality, you know people do not love and respect you. My message to today’s youth would also be, that in a country like India, we need to look back at our past, history, strength, tradition, and heritage and look forward with confidence.
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Space
The Design Objective PRATIK DHAR
D
esign objectives are developed with a view to meet the demand for housing that caters better to the people’s needs. A sustainably designed home reduces environmental and social impacts whilst saving money on the cost of living over the life of the house. The aim of the design objectives is to increase the supply of sustainability in houses.
The purpose of Design Being Cost-Effective Buildings today are life support systems, communicaObjectives is to tion stations, data centres and much more. They are inProvide design assistance to building designers and to new or existing homeowners, as well as strategies to design and build homes that are more comfortable to live in, suited for a diverse range of people, have less impact on the environment and are cost effective to maintain and run. Provide a tool to measure the sustainability of the home’s design. Within the different categories of the design objectives, there are ‘Essential’ criteria which must be addressed and ‘Desirable’ criteria which, if met, will further increase the level of sustainability. The design objectives provide a framework of goals for sustainable housing with examples of acceptable solutions and briefly explain the sustainability element for each objective. These can be applied to either new housing or renovation of existing housing. The design objective describes what it takes to achieve a successful project. A truly successful project implies to all the project goals that are being identified at an early stage and where the interdependencies and interrelationships of all building systems are coordinated simultaneously from the planning and execution phase. Proper design objectives aim to enhance following characteristics.
Being Operational
A clear understanding of the functional and physical requirements of a project is essential for ensuring its success. A client’s/owner’s intent to develop a project is derived from a need, a purpose or mission, and a desired result. When the design of a facility satisfies the emotional, cognitive, and cultural needs of the people who use it and the technical requisites of the programs it houses, the project is functionally successful.
credibly efficient tools that must be constantly adjusted to function effectively. Every owner wants a cost-effective building and that is enlisted with properties like lowest operating and maintenance costs, the building’s life span and productivity. In a precise economic term, a building design is meant to be cost-effective or economical if its resulting benefits are equal to those of alternative designs and has a lower whole life cost or total cost of ownership.
Being Productive
Wise use of space means creating the right context for concentration, learning and communication. Organisations, business houses, educational establishments have changed dramatically in the past few years. Technological advancements, demographic shifts, and the constant demands for innovation and excellence have created pressures for environments to catch up with the changing nature of lifestyles of people and work. The concept of productivity support sustainable design principles and should be taken into account for the longevity of all the issues considered.
Being Secure
The design and construction of secure and safe buildings continues to be the primary mission for owners, architects and engineers. Designing buildings for security and safety requires a proactive approach that predicts and then protects the building occupants, resources, structure, and continuity of operations from multiple hazards. Consistent with the idea of proficient responsibility, it is useful to identify the following principles of all-hazard building design. These being -
Plan for Fire Protection
Planning for fire protection for a building involves a systems approach that enables the designer to analyse all of the building’s components as a total building fire safety system package.
Occupant Safety and Health
Some injuries and illnesses are related to unsafe or unhealthy building design. In such a case a proper design objective must be taken into account to prevent the problem.
Natural Hazard and Security
If buildings are properly designed, they do lower the risk associated with major natural hazards which in other circumstances may affect the building and its properties.
Security of the Occupant
Secure building design involves detections and delaying of any unwanted activity carried out as a result of negative human behaviour. It is prevents probability dealing with catastrophic damages.
Positives of Good Design
Good design involves more than just assembling the various parts of the house, but it is important to understand how the various parts contribute to the overall design. The positive features of a good design plan arranges the following aspects in line-
Durability Long lifespan Helps in going green Secured environment Enables easy movement Catering to the specific needs of the residents
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
(DIS) ADVANTAGE GUWAHATI?
Business
Look East policy looks to be an unfulfilled dream SHAMBHAVI
F
or all these years people of Northeast India have been hearing the catch phrase “Look East policy”. The policy was meant to foster India’s greater involvement with South East Asian countries with Northeast India as its focal point generated enthusiasm in Northeast as Guwahati was expected to be the biggest beneficiary if trade ties with neighbours improve. However now there is systematic attempt to bypass the Northeast India, the closest landmass of India with South East Asia. Land locked Northeast India will continue to be so as the policy makers continues to bypass the region and its vibrant city Guwahati in terms of international engagement. On 22 February 2013, a group of people from Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) - in a convoy of twenty cars, undertook the first leg of a historic journey that took them all the way from Kolkata to Kunming via Dhaka and Myanmar. The stated purpose of this journey was to highlight road connectivity in the four countries of the region (BCIM). The new silk route as it appears now will not include the Northeast India. Assam government stated that there is need to push for a Northeast-Kunming Trade Corridor.
GUWAHATI’S ADVANTAGE • The city has an international airport • Big entrepreneurs & cosmopolitan culture • Vibrant waterways • Good connectivity of roads
Union ministry of external affairs organised the ASEAN-India Car Rally from November 27 to December 17 2012. The rally, which started from Indonesia traversed 9 countries covering a distance of 8,000 kms and culminated in New Delhi. In 2004 the first car rally was flagged off from Guwahati. Assam Power and Industry Minister Pradyut Bordoloi said:
“The recent communiqué in the aftermath of the visit of Dr. Manmohan Singh to China only says about Kolkata-Kunming Economic Corridor, which is little disappointing for us in the Northeastern region. Not that we do not want Kolkata to be an economic corridor to Kunming but then, is it an exercise to bypass the northeastern region?” Cham Prasidh, Cambodian Minister of Trade and Commerce
and ASEAN economic ministers’ chair, described Northeast India as the gateway to ASEAN. North Eastern Region with a population of 45 million and a GDP of $59 billion share a long land border with Myanmar, making it contiguous with ASEAN. With euphoria rising, Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi said Assam has the potential to emerge as a strategic base for foreign and
domestic investors and can serve as an ideal link between rest of India and contiguous markets of Myanmar, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia and other East and South East Asian countries .” Gogoi said that Assam’s proximity to the SAARC countries of Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan would enable foreign investors to take advantage of the expanding opportunities for regional integration. He suggested that for overall development of trade and commerce of the North Eastern part of India with ASEAN countries, direct flights to Guwahati International Airport at Guwahati would increase the possibilities of enhancement in volume of trade, commerce, investment as well as tourism in the entire North East region. Gogoi also suggested that ASEAN countries having their consulate offices at Kolkata can consider extension of their visa offices in Guwahati to facilitate greater people-to-people contact as well as trade and commerce. However, Guwahati’s dream of becoming the hub of North East India is dashed and the region will continue to remain bystander while big ticket international trade will take place in its close vicinity.
16
G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Reviews
Mythological elegance
S
Ram Leela
SLB returns with a bang Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone,Gulshan Devaiah, Supriya Pathak, Richa Chadha and Sharad Kelkar Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
S
et against the backdrop of revenge, goons and a feud between the families of Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, ‘Ram Leela’ sets out to explore formidable problems the lovers combat to realise their dream. While Ram, the desi Romeo, plays a brat who disapproves of love and brutality, Leela, as SLB had said in one of his interviews, epitomizes beauty, fire and light. Yes, the film may have set off heated discussions, an outright ban order which was rejected by Delhi HC, and urged director Sanjay to replace provocative words, but every dispute is helping ‘Ram Leela’ make buzz and encourage people to watch it to make their own judgments. So while the film’s socalled controversial content perpetuates discussions, it also guarantees its financial success. As the promos suggest,’Ram Leela’, which is set in the rustic Gujarat, is an entertainer which includes all key elements - romance, action, comedy. And the fact that the crackling chemistry between Ranveer and Deepika has become the talk of the town, the director hasn’t missed the mark in picking his lead. So whether it is about gelling well, looking comfortable during intimate scenes, and being funny or genuine even as they open to the throes of dejection and angst, the actors’ onscreen rapport makes their performance so believable. Ram Leela has the soul of a cynical old noir peppered with a few small glimmers of masala. We all know the story by now. Borrowing a few pages from Shakespeare’s play and more so from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, this movie is the epitome of formula. The setting is a crazy ‘Bhansalized’, fantastical trigger happy version of a place in Rajasthan-Gujarat, where a guy and a girl from two rival, constantly-clashing mob gangs’ fall for each other while the others are spraying bullets and shedding blood. Therein lies the simple appeal of the film, but Bhansali subverts your expectations with some unexpected twists and even a shrewd political turn that makes the film a compelling watch. It helps that the leads Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have terrific chemistry to complement Bhansali’s frenetic direction and the truly gorgeous set pieces. Even in the opening sequence during which a shootout breaks out, Bhansali finds the faint line
between arthouse, commercial and populist. It’s evident that even he’s tired of an industry that’s becoming more and more standardised and heartless with every passing year. He brings a lot more style and passion to a film that, in the hands of a less accomplished commercial Bollywood director, would be a hollow mess. A scene where a bunch of hoodlums pull out their guns and start shooting bottles has the comic irreverence you generally expect in a Vishal Bharadwaj movie, and it offers a glimpse of how commercial Bollywood cinema is capable of tipping the scales, just a bit, in a new direction. Sure there are a few things the film could’ve done without, like three to four songs, and Raza Murad’s hammy cameo, but there are enough goodies in the film (especially the dialogues) to make you overlook the rough spots. The direction, outstanding production design, gorgeous cinematography are supported by a surprisingly strong cast, and Padukone is a wild-eyed anchor in a sea of formula. Three years ago you’d never have expected her to improve so drastically and command the kind of energy she does now. Ranveer, on the other hand, is a weak link. It’s a whole different movie whenever he isn’t in a scene. It’s not that he doesn’t try, but that he tries too hard to chew scenery and he just doesn’t have the effortless charm of someone like Ranbir Kapoor. Their co-stars do a fine job of bringing the typical stereotypes to life – Gulshan Deviah, Richa Chadda, Abhimanyu Singh, Sharad Kelkar each have their own moments and at least a semblance of wit and colour. But Supriya Pathak as a god-fearing matriarchal mob boss is awesome here, with a rascally twinkle that intermittently threatens to turn villainous. Watch the scene early on in the film where she shouts at her fumbling masseuse and you’ll know that she should do more movies. By the time Ram Leela winds down with a finale that would make Luhrmann proud, Bhansali does a pretty good job of winning his intended audience over. It would have been so easy for the film to wallow in opportunistic schmaltz or obvious sentimentality but instead Ram Leela is a slyly fun movie, and one that is best appreciated on big screens.
ome similarities between two ancient civilizations of the world, namely Indian and Greek, which unveil the deeper philosophy behind their mythologies though they are far apart geographically, were displayed on a single platform recently in Guwahati. Eminent cultural legend Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh and her team presented ‘When the Gods Meet- a unique confluence of Indic-Greek myths’ on November 12, 2013 at Pragjyoti ITA, Machkhowa. Organised by Department of Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Assam and Ministry of DoNER, Federation of Industries & Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) & FINER Ladies Emerging Wing (Flew), the evening was formally inaugurated by Pawan Singh Ghatowar, Union Minister for DoNER. Various epic sagas presented in the performances include KrshnaKalia (India) depecting Shri Krishna’s victory over King Cobra for restoring ecological balance, Psyche and Eros (Greece) with the moral, ‘Distrust can spoil relationships’, Mohini-Bhasmasura (India) shows the elegance of Mohini, the female avatar of Lord Vishnu, who shatter the arrogance of Bhasmasura and burn himself into ashes and Europa and Zeus (Greece) and the belief behind the creation of the constellation Taurus. The final presentation of the evening was the ‘Divine Marriage’ (Indian & Greek) presenting the culmination of the Feminine and the Masculine, the two elements responsible for creation. Presented in the pattern of Jugalbandi, this particular piece says that the marriage of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, the Cosmic pair of Indian mythology runs parallel to the Greek myth of marriage of Earth Goddess Gaiia with Sky-God Uranus. Before the presentation of each dance number, Dr. Mansingh gave an overview of each in her own elegant narrative style. Reflection of her belief in Divinity could be observed on stage as her expressions caught the spectators’ attention. She expressed her happiness at being in Guwahati when she said that her intimacy with land of Kamakhya has existed since the seventies. Though she was the overall director of the creations, the Indian dance pieces were co-choreographed by Sanjib Bhattacharya. On the other hand, Internationally renowned choreographer Sandip Soparrkar directed the Greek portions. Sandip also played the roles of the Greek Gods. The elegance and beauty of popular glam diva Jesse Randhawa as the Greek Goddess and Anusua as the Indian Goddess were truly eye soothing. The different ballads presented by Jesse and the Odissi by Anusua showed the falovours (Navarasa) of the dances of both the countries. The acoustics of the music and narrations associated with the subjects created a heavenly atmosphere inside the auditorium. Similarly, as the lighting effects designed by Ritwik Ghosh made the stage immensely chromatic and spectacular. Dr. Mansingh, who is the emissary of Indian culture in 91 countries of the world through her performances, lectures and workshops over five decades, had the spectators spell bound through this creation which depict and symbolise the legacy of values and traditions of these two countries.
Subhrajit Roy
NOW
THOR- The DARK WORLD
SHOWING
Ram Leela
KRRISH 3
Anuradha Cineplex
Daily at 10.45 AM, 5.15, 8.30 PM
Daily at 2.00 PM
Apsara Cinema
Daily at 11.00 AM, 5.00, 8.00 PM
Daily at 2.00 PM
____ ____
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17
G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Events
Eclectic Model Hunt Date: 10th November 2013 Venue: ITA Machkhowa
7days
Next DATE 16th Nov
VENUE Club DMD
16th Nov
India Club
17th Nov 17th Nov 17th Nov 17th Nov
Terra Mayaa ITA, Machkhowa Royal Global School Silver Streax
18th Nov
State Art Gallery
20th Nov
Racquets and Billiards
22nd Nov
The Chocolate Heaven
EVENT Desi EDM Nite Retro Unplugged by Moonwind Akhu Live Brainjam 2013 Essay Competition 2013 Masquerade Ball Solo Exibition by Dr. Irshad Ali Unwind and Relax with Bee Gees A chocolaty moment with Facebook friends
Want your event to be featured on this page? Just mail us at info@g-plus.in
Northeast Fest Date: 8th & 9th November 2013 Venue: New Delhi
People going through some books at the Guwahati Book Fair
18
G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Fashion
High on boots
GARGEE BARUAH
We care about the shopaholic’s fetish for boots. G Plus takes you on a shopping guide to help you look hot this winter!
Ankle- length boots These boots vary in colours, designs and shapes. If you’re petite, go for them. They are easy to carry and one can have different pairs of such boots to suit different occasions. There are some which give a formal look such as the black ones (the boring ones). However, there are also the ‘other’ black ones (with buckles and high- heels) which remind you of those ‘high school’ movies like ‘The confessions of a teenage drama-queen’, ‘Freaky Friday’, ‘Mean girls’ etc. The black, brown or tan (plain) ones can be pulled through for formal as well as casual occasions. The pretty pink ones make you feel like a princess when you put on that little pretty light-coloured dress and hang a floral printed or designer jacket (should be simple and not too loud) around it. The red ones are sensuous as they are totally party wear! And hey, the animal -print ones, not everyone can carry them best!
Knee- length boots The knee-length boots are sexy and they make you feel all the more confident. You can wear it to office as well as to a party. The advantage of this pair of boots is it has no disadvantage, be it during the rainy season or the winters. You can don it with a pair of jeans or a short pretty dress. The knee- length boots look best in black, brown and tan. If you need to own a pair of boots, this pair is a must! Also, it makes you look taller.
Calf- length boots GET THE LOOK This pair of knee- length boots in dark blue is a stunner! Wear the pretty little black dress and team it up with a maroon jacket. Do not forget to wear a smoky look on your eyes donned with the smudge of kajal. Keep the hair messy and leave it the way it is! Fringes would add to it. You don’t need to do anything else to perfect the look you’re carrying. “So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life’s a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about!”- Marilyn Monroe. Now, all you have to do is make yourself cosy this winter, feel stylish and stay beautiful. Happy winters!
If you’re short in height, go for these boots. The high-heeled ones are better. They look amazing and suit the look whatever occasion you hop towards. Apart from the brown and black ones which would become boring every now and then, go for maroon. The maroon calf-length boots look prettier and complete the look when you go out partying or for casual hang-outs. They won’t look loud even if you wear them to office provided you keep the rest of your clothes simple like a formal black/dark brown short dress along with a decent grey or striped jacket with a firm shoulder-line. Don’t wear light-coloured or multi-coloured dresses with this pair of boots as it kills the look. Don’t even wear grey for that matter because grey is too formal and maroon would not be able to balance the look!
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Web Watch
Pune teenager wins Google doodle contest The Std X student’s art celebrating Indian women will feature on the homepage on Children’s Day
T
he doodle titled ‘Sky’s the limit for Indian women’ has been designed by Gayatri Ketharaman for the fifth edition of Doodle4Google competition with the theme celebrating Indian women. Celebrating Indian women: Gayatri Ketharaman, the winner of the contest, said that each alphabet in the doodle depicts the various traits — grace, elegance and a gogetter attitude — of Indian women. “Each letter of the doodle depicts the trait of Indian women. She is graceful and elegant, adept at balancing work and home. She is a go-getter and also personifies mother hood,” said Gayatri Ketharaman, a student of Bishop’s co-education school in Pune. The winner was selected by the national jury comprising Kir-
I ron Kher and cartoonist Ajit Ninan. “The competition is the perfect platform for the Indian youth to showcase their talent on an international platform. It allows youngsters not only from the metro cities but tier II, III and even IV to participate,” said Rajan Anandan, managing director, Google India.
Chrome 32 lets you easily find and close those noisy tabs
F
rom finding noisy tabs to Windows Metro to protecting you from malicious downloads, the latest Chrome Beta has solutions for several browser problems
If you’ve ever wondered which of your 200 browser tabs is making all that racket, the latest Chrome Beta can lend an ear. When a tab is streaming audio in Chrome 32 Beta, an indicator will appear next to the close tab X. The indica-
Idea Cellular reduces data tariffs by up to 90%
tors will change depending on the source, so streaming audio will be denoted by a speaker icon, a red circle will indicate a Web cam, and Chromecast’s box icon will notify you when you’re broadcasting a tab to your television. Another change in Chrome 32 Beta gives some attention to Windows 8 Metro mode. The new look of the browser is nearly identical to the look of the Chromebook, complete with Web app launcher and multiple-window support.
n a bid to promote mobile broadband penetration, Idea Cellular on Tuesday slashed 2G data tariffs by up to 90 percent across the country and 3G tariffs by as much as 33 percent for six months starting November 15. The reduced tariffs will be available to existing and new prepaid and postpaid users, the company said in a statement. At the new rates, 3G data tariffs are now on par with 2G across all 10 Idea 3G circles. Users can access 2G and 3G data at 2 paise per 10 KB.
mPassport Seva mobile app now on Windows, Apple iOS platforms
T
he ministry of external affairs has launched the mPassport Seva mobile app on Windows and Apple iOS platforms as well. Earlier, the ministry had launched the mobile app onAndroid platform. The app provides passport-related information on smartphones. This is an extended service of the Passport Seva Project, executed in publicprivate-partnership mode with Tata Consultancy Services. mPassport Seva enables Indian citizens to access passport related information on their smartphones. This application provides a wide variety of services such as status tracking, locating a passport office and other general information. The application provides information on passport related services and related phone numbers in case of queries or concerns. Users will be able to search for a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or District Passport Cell (DPC) in a district where a passport application can be submitted. This can also be searched based on PIN code. For certain states and districts, the users can search for police stations as well.
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Your weekly dose of HOROSCOPE ARIES
Take the first few days of the week for yourself and relax as much as possible. It’s a great time for light socializing or puttering around the house, but not for big emotional business. Wednesday through Friday are much more intense, and you should find yourself letting go of some old baggage that you’re only now realizing has been holding you back for quite some time. Once that’s out of the way, the weekend will be clear for great, energetic fun. You ought to impress someone important with your (possibly newfound) talents.
TAURUS Monday and Tuesday are perfect for any detail-oriented task, as your willingness to take extra time and look at things closely is peaking. This is happening just as your life is starting to feel more cluttered! The second half of the week is much more focused on family and romance, and your intuitions should mostly be spot-on. You may want to sit back a bit and see if you can learn a thing or two about the people who are most important to you. Watch out for gratuitous displays of ego this weekend — yours as well as others’!
GEMINI Don’t worry about responsibilities on Monday or Tuesday, because your easy energy should make life roll along without any serious effort. Have fun with it, and share the wealth with family or friends. In contrast, you’re much more focused during the latter half of the week, especially when you’re dealing with work or school-related projects. You may find that you achieve quite a bit more than you had expected. Fun banter and conversation fill your weekend, though you may want to watch out for others who could take your opinions more seriously than you do.
CANCER
TIMEPASS
LIBRA
Drink an extra cup of coffee on Monday and Tuesday, or do whatever else it takes to keep your brain buzzing, because it’s vital that you pay attention at all times — there are just too many signals you could miss otherwise. Sometime on Wednesday morning, your natural energy picks up enough to float you through the rest of the week pretty easily. You may want to take time out to help a friend or your sweetheart with an emotional issue. The weekend brings a major purchase or huge party — something big and memorable.
LEO
CAPRICORN
Your brainpower is revved up and ready to go as the week begins, so tackle tough work problems, school papers or just some crazy Sudoku puzzles at the first opportunity. You should surprise everyone, even yourself. Spend extra time with friends and family on Wednesday and Thursday, as they need you more than they’re letting on. You may want to try to bring them out a little, but don’t push it. The weekend should be way more fun and lighthearted — a party of some kind would suit you perfectly.
The people you meet or hang out with on Monday and Tuesday may drive you a little crazy with their inability to focus — it’s as if you’re surrounded by hummingbirds! Just roll your eyes and get on with your own business. Wednesday through Friday are much more direct for you, your friends and your coworkers, and you should make sure you address big issues while you’ve got everyone’s attention. The weekend might be kind of a slog for you, with too many social engagements or appointments. Try to pace yourself so you don’t end up exhausted!
SCORPIO
You’re at your best in the middle of a group — almost any group — early this week. Try not to go solo if you can help it, and look around for teams to join or lead. Your efforts should be rewarded handsomely. Wednesday through Friday are great for romance or family, as your natural warmth is as obvious as it is comforting. Reach out to the right person. The weekend is full of positive, fiery energy, and you suddenly realize that you’ve regained your confidence in an important area of your life.
Look closely at every document you come across on Monday and Tuesday. It’s not that people are trying to cheat you; rather, the details intrigue you and get you thinking differently. Your confidence and emotional energy are quite strong later in the week, and it’s a great time to improve your romantic situation in some way. Dating and long-term relationships should each bring new satisfaction. Ego issues could arise this weekend, so take a little extra care with those who seem more sensitive than usual.
SAGITTARIUS
VIRGO Focus on work or school issues early this week, as your mindset should be perfectly in line with whatever task you find in front of you. Take as long as you need and try not to let anyone dissuade you from your work. You and your friends finally reconnect on Wednesday, and you should find that your social energy keeps you moving through the next couple of days at high speeds. The weekend is a good time to kick back and let others take the limelight — but remember that your time is coming up for the spotlight, too. Get ready!
Other people are a bit more trouble than usual early this week, but not in any scary or crazy way. Just expect more complaining and backbiting than usual — and yes, that’s certainly possible! Your display of flexibility breaks the ice midweek and makes Thursday and Friday much more bearable for everyone involved. Make sure you’re ready to lead the way. Your good energy over the weekend manifests as devotion between you and your friends, family or sweetheart, so make the most of it. It’s a great time to improve a personal situation.
SUDOKU
AQUARIUS You’re full of creative energy early this week, and should definitely make use of it in some positive way. Maybe you’re exploring art or finding new ways to please your sweetie — do whatever works for you. Emotions start to well up from deep within you on Wednesday morning, and the next few days may be filled with some long-buried issues you need to deal with. Don’t let them dominate your life, but don’t ignore them, either. Your friends or family are pushing you in one direction this weekend, but you may be able to talk them into a compromise if you’re firm.
PISCES Things are surprisingly mutable on Monday and Tuesday, so if you’ve been meaning to make some changes in your life, go for it! People might be a little shocked, but don’t let that hold you back. Waves of creative energy wash over you midweek, and you may find that you’re much better able to handle emotional issues that have been on the back burner for just a little too long. You need to focus on something this weekend, though you may not know what it is until you see it sitting in front of you.
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Santa was caught by police. Police: How did you kill 20 people? Santa: Main gaadi tez chala raha tha par jab maine brake lagaya, toh pata laga ki brake fail ho gaya hain. Phir main ne samne dekha toh ek taraf 2 aadmi ja rahe the aur dusri taraf 1 barat ja rahi thi. Ab aap hi batao main gaadi kidhar modta? Police: Of course, jis taraf 2 admi the. Nuksaan kam hota. Santa: Exactly. Maine bhi yahi socha tha par woh 2 aadmi meri gaadi dekh kar barat me ghus gaye..!!!
21
G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Classifieds TO LET
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22
G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
G-Talk
Is the Gauhati High Court’s recent judgement on CBI a justified one? Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury
Prasant N Choudhury
Senior Advocate, Gauhati High Court
POINT
T
he honourable Gauhati High Court, in a historical judgement held that the CBI is not constitutionally valid. Now, if somebody has to act as per CRPC (Criminal Procedure Court), Indian Evidence Act or other procedures, they must act in accordance with the law. Here what the High Court states is that CBI has come into existence by a resolution adopted by the Executive, which is by the Home Department in 1963. Since the President of India did not issue any ordinance on the subject and the Parliament did not pass any law on it, with simply the executive order, the CBI may have some effect only on the investigative matter. So, the court is saying that CBI can be held as an investigative agency, similar only to a private detective and not a prosecuting agency. If it is an investigative agency, it cannot prosecute, arrest or file any charge sheet that it is presently doing. Prosecuting agencies are empowered to prosecute someone if found guilty and file charge sheet and put it before the court and then the court decides according to law. It has been claimed that the CBI has come in terms by the Delhi Police Establishment Act 1946. But the matter raised in the writ petition by the Gauhati Writ Petitioner is
that the CBI has not come in terms of Delhi Police Establishment Act. Though the body claims to have come in to existence in terms of the Act but were unable to prove it. The NIA (National Investigation Agency) came into effect in 2008 with the Parliament passing an act. Since it is a creation of the Parliament, it was done legally. If a legal procedure was followed with NIA then why was the same not done in the case of CBI? So the question that arises is whether the CBI is legally constituted does it have any legal footing? The High Court, after taking reference of many provisions from different acts and rules finds that its birth is not based out of any parliamentary act or ordinance of the President. But in the last part of the judgement, the High Court also held that though CBI was declared to be unconstitutional, there is no bar in proceeding with those cases handled by the CBI and the police can do it as well. As now the Supreme Court has given a stay order on the matter, this means that the High Court order has been kept in hold until the declaration of final decision comes on 6th December of 2013. The Supreme Court has served a notice to the CBI and the central government for the purpose.
Sr. Retainer Counsel, CBI Gauhati High Court
G
oing through the judgement given by the division bench, headed by justice IA Ansari and Dr Indira Shah of the GHC (Gauhati High Court), we found that the division bench had held that the formation of the CBI was unconstitutional. It was based on the memorandum resolution issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the 1st of April, 1963 and that was not in consonance with the Delhi special police establishment act, 1946. The Delhi Police Special Establishment act, 1946 also known as DSP act, was held to be constitutional. Now, based on that, the memorandum resolution was quashed by the division bench and even the proceeding against the accused was quashed. The weaknesses in the judgment were very blatantly apparent. The division bench of GHC had ignored the constitutional bench of the SC (Supreme Court) which gave validity to the CBI. So in fact, there is article 141, where a subordinate court cannot question a superior court as was done by the division bench. You cannot question a superior court. The Superior court has held the finding. Whether it is correct or not, you are supposed to be bound by it. You cannot overwrite the judgment, you cannot write into the judgment and you cannot read beyond that. You cannot explain what was in the mind of the constitutional bench when they passed it and you cannot hold it to be wrong. Secondly, the division bench here was
COUNTERPOINT of the view that the matter was not being raised in any other court. That was also incorrectly followed by the division bench, because an identical matter was raised by the Rajasthan High Court and the case was disposed in favour of the CBI. Another point is that the division here never looked into the section 2 of Delhi special police establishment act, which allows the executives to form a special police establishment or a police force. So, having ignored that aspect, they misguided themselves. The question of CBI’s validity has been raised a number of times and practically, it is a standard question because nobody wants the CBI to investigate. Unlike the Assam police, what would happen is that once CBI investigates, either it submits a closure report or they will find enough evidence to accuse. CBI over the years has been expanding; they have scientific methods of investigation, which is not available to many people. We have narco map, good forensic laboratories, good ballistics and some of the cases have been ordered to be investigated by the court too. The court had ordered us to investigate the assassination cases of Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandi. We were also asked to recover the sword of Tipu Sultan. Now, what happens is once you get the investigators to look into those matters, they do not give up. We do not use third degree like a normal police force. The accused do not want the CBI. They want to paralyse the court and they will use any means to do it.
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Travel AIZAWL
Romancing with your partner G Plus feature
Aizawl, pristine and beautiful, is located amidst the Lushai Hills near the Burma border. The hamlets, the glorious churches, the bamboo woods all spell of magic. Some of the popular tourist attractions here are the Vantawng Water falls (137 km away) surrounded by forests, the Palak Lake - one of the most beautiful lakes of the world, the Pukzing Cave etc. Not to miss is the shopping for traditional costumes at the main shopping centre called Bora Bazaar.If you are planning to pack your picnic baskets and spend the morning with your sweetheart amidst the twittering of the birds and the serene calmness of the hills then go to Bung located 15 km away from the main town.
BANDHAVGARH With an area of over 105 sq km the Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most well-known national parks of India especially for the high possibility of spotting the wild cat in this jungle. The nearest railhead is Umaria, 32 km away. One can also reach the national park via Jabalpur which lies 190 km away. If you are planning to travel by air, however, the nearest airport is Khajurao which is over 270 km (a drive of 6 hours) away from Bandhavgarh.One of the best hideouts that this jungle has to offer is the Taj property called MahuaKothi. It has 12 cottages where you can unwind at the pool, indulge in massages and enjoy the adventures of a jungle safari.
GOKARNA
E
very couple has a dream to spend some quality time together and be alone from the glitz and glamour of everyday Guwahati city life. When couples go out of the city, the mise-en-scene of the location visited by the couples should be romantic to feel romance in the air. There are many places which provide such backdrop which turns even the most unromantic person romantic. From Kamasutra to Khajurao, TajMahal to seas of Goa, India is full of romance and this time we explore some of the most romantic places in India.
AGRA
Agra is enchanting and more so if you are with your loved one viewing the Taj Mahal on a full moon night. And while you are there don’t miss the beautiful marble worked tomb of Itimadud-Daulah, the imposing Agra Fort and a few stolen moments at the Mehtab or the Anguri Bagh. Although Agra offers innumerable accommodation options, if you want romance then the place for you is the Oberoi Amarvilas. Its structure, inspired by Mughal architecture, together with the landscaped lawns and fountains create love.
If you want peace of mind and peace of soul then head to Gokarna - a 12-hour/overnight journey by bus from Bangalore. Other than being a pilgrimage spot, it also has secluded (they get more remote as you head south) beaches that offer scenic views. The four beaches of this town are - Kudlee, Om, Half Moon and the Paradise beach. To experience the perfect romantic ambience, stay at the SwaSwara. Not only will the serenity of the place, the green hills and the walks through the woods fill you with peace, you can also try your hand at the canvas painting for your loved one or just hold hands as you take a walk through their organic vegetable garden.
KHAJURAHO Khajuraho is synonymous with erotic architecture. It is a unique and a perfect place to visit with your loved one on Valentine’s Day. Of the original 85 temples, today only 22 remain. But the stupendous carvings to the point of almost being lyrical will leave you enthralled. Also, don’t forget to visit the Crafts Emporium to pick up iron or brass sculptures in various sensual poses. Khajuraho has an airport and is well connected with the cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Varanasi. The best accommodations here are the Hotel Chandela of the Taj, the Lalit: Temple View or the Raddison, Jass Hotel. These were some of the best romantic places to visit in India with your partner, but the list is not complete yet. For the time being you can plan a romantic trip to any of these places and in future we will let you know about some more. Enjoy.
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G PLUS NOV 16 - NOV 22, 2013
Catching up
Headlining acts!
Shahrukh Khan WHO’S HE?
Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart are planning a wedding Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart went away to discuss their future and and decided they can’t live without each other. They also discussed to get married and make a commitment to each other. Kristen is looking forward to spending some quality time with Rob before he leaves the country after Thanksgiving to begin filming Queen of the Desert.
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Hawaii legalizes same-sex marriage
Shahrukh Khan was born on November 2 in 1965 and is an Indian film actor.
SO WHAT?
He has acted in 75 Hindi films. His work in India’s film industry have garnered him numerous achievements, including fourteen Filmfare Awards from thirty nominations. His eighth Filmfare Best Actor Award win made him the most awarded Bollywood actor of all time in that category, tied only with actor Dilip Kumar.
NOW WHAT?
Shah Rukh Khan has ranked the highest in a poll of India’s ‘most attractive personalities’. The survey was carried out by the Trust Research Advisory, which specialises in assessing the popularity of brands.
Hawaii’s governor signed a bill into law making same-sex marriage legal in one of the first states where gays and lesbians couples sought the right to wed more than 20 years ago. Weddings can begin from December 2nd in the Aloha state, which is the 15th to grant same-sex marriage. Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who supported the right of gays and lesbians to wed, had called the legislature into a special session to vote on the issue.
Selena Gomez WHO’S sHE?
Selena Marie Gomez was born on July 22 in the year 1992 and is an American actress and recording artist.
SO WHAT?
Oprah Winfrey to get Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama
US President Barack Obama is to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to luminaries including former president Bill Clinton and talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is America’s highest civilian honour, along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by the Congress.
Gomez first lead single, ‘Come & Get It’, was released in April 2013 and became her first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was also certified double platinum by the RIAA. Outside of her work in the entertainment industry, Gomez is involved in philanthropic activities through charity work and various social and environmental causes.
NOW WHAT?
A new behind-the-scenes video from the 21-year-old singer’s recent photo shoot for ‘Flaunt’ magazine has just been released in which the pop star is filmed in bed with a very handsome man. The former Disney darling looks stunningly beautiful in the 3-minute black and white video
pick of the week The much-awaited $2.3-billion (Rs 2,641 crore in current exchange rates) aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, is finally inducted into the Indian Navy. Defence minister AK Antony, who arrived in Russia on Friday evening, inducted the aircraft carrier into the force in the presence of Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and senior government and naval officials from the two countries.
What did I just hear? Another allegation of sexual harassment against a Supreme Court judge, who has since retired, has surfaced with a second law intern leveling a similar charge that he had misbehaved with her. The second intern narrated her ordeal on a social networking site on November 11 under her own name but the comments have now been removed from it, reported the website Legally India, which first came out with the fresh allegation.
Kamur of the week
Salt price rise rumour. A sudden wave of rumours about the scarcity of salt in entire country led to its retail prices skyrocketing to around Rs 200 per kg in many districts of states like Bihar and Delhi. The irony is that even Guwahatians were scared and started buying salt at rates of Rs 50, 60 and 80. The city shop owners started stocking salt in bulk so that they can earn maximum profit like the shops in Bihar and Delhi did on Thursday.
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