Railbandhu August 2017

AUGUST 2017

VOL 7

THE ON-BOARD M AGAZINE OF INDI AN RAILWAYS

PLUS

A salty

affair Sambhar Lake of Rajasthan

Arts of

Agra The royal grandeur

celebrating freedom Revisiting the past through light and sound shows

THE MAGAZINE IS FOR ON-BOARD READING ONLY. KINDLY DO NOT TAKE AWAY. READ IT ONLINE AT WWW.RAILBANDHU.IN OR DOWNLOAD THE RAILBANDHU APP ON YOUR DEVICE.

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MINISTER'S MESSAGE

LOOKING AHEAD

Bringing Transformation Dear Traveller, Sharing my views through this column of Rail Bandhu imbues me with pleasure and delight. I convey my best wishes to you and your family on the occasion of Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi.

Indian Railways is embarking swiftly on its path of transition and reformation. I am happy to share that Indian Railways has recently launched â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rail Saarthiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, an integrated app for its travellers. This app is a one-stop destination which caters to every requirement of a traveller, be it reserved class or unreserved, PNR enquiry, train time-table, train fare, complaint management or e-catering, all you need is to download this app. Also, Indian Railways has rolled out Solar DEMU, which is running in Northern Railways between Delhi Sarai Rohilla & Farukhnagar.

This DEMU train with Solar-powered Coaches is a path-breaking leap towards greener environment.

This solar power DEMU train with six trailer coaches, will save about 21,000 lts of diesel per year. On energy conservation front, we are striding ahead on Mission 41k, which aims at saving `41,000 crore in ten years.

SURESH PRABHU

Hon'ble Minister of Railways Government of India

Station redevelopment, rapid electrification, elimination of meter-gauge, safety, enhancing passenger amenities, implementation of ongoing projects & freight reforms, are our key areas for constant endeavour and review.

I am sure with the co-operation of our fellow passengers, we shall be able to provide the revamp of Railways, making it a world-class transporter. I once again convey my best wishes for everyone.

The DEMU train with Solar-powered Coaches is a path-breaking leap towards greener environment

Scan this QR code from your smart phone to read more about the two-year achievements of the Indian Railways

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 5

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RAIL BANDHU MAGAZINE IS PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY PRAKASH JOHARI ON BEHALF OF MAXPOSURE MEDIA GROUP (INDIA) PVT. LTD. (MMGIPL) FOR THE INDIAN RAILWAYS AND PUBLISHED AT MMGIPL, #THEADDRESS, PLOT NO. 62, OKHLA PHASE-3, NEW DELHI-110020, INDIA. RAIL BANDHU MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE WRITING, ARTWORK AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE USED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MMGIPL. MMGIPL / INDIAN RAILWAYS DOES NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF UNSOLICITED PRODUCTS, MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTWORK, TRANSPARENCIES OR OTHER MATERIALS. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE MAGAZINE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER OR THE INDIAN RAILWAYS. ALL EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE WHILE COMPILING THE CONTENT OF THIS MAGAZINE, BUT WE ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EFFECTS ARISING THERE FROM. MMGIPL / INDIAN RAILWAYS DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS ADVERTISED HEREIN. ALL ADVERTORIALS HAVE BEEN MARKED AS 'IN FOCUS' IN THE MAGAZINE. FOR INQUIRIES | MMGIPL TEL: +91.11.43011111, WWW.RAILBANDHU.IN, WWW. MAXPOSURE.IN

8 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

www.railbandhu.in

CONTENTS

TRAVEL

RAIL UPDATE

30 COVER STORY

Revisit the fascinating past of India through light and sound shows

28

38

ENTRY TICKET

SILVER RAKE

Plan your trips around these days and events

14

18

Women in Blue, won a billion hearts

Initiatives to improve Catering services of IR

Interview with renowned folk singer Malini Awasthi

CULTURE

46

52

ART CONNECT

HERITAGE HALT

Know more about the art and heritage of Agra 10 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Admire the historic town of Orchha and its artistic grandeur www.railbandhu.in

56

RAIL JOURNAL

A sneak peek into the salt making process at Sambhar lake

CONTENTS

DISCOVER

LIFESTYLE

58

78

DREAM SCAPE

Kolkata wears a vibrant look during monsoon

STYLE FILE

Spinning the hues of colour with silken yarn

82

thou 'kSyh

STAR TRACKER Your tarot predictions for this month

83

90

SHORT TAKES

lSj likVk

Books to read and movies to watch this month

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86 93 94 12 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

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ON THE COVER The dramatic tale, ‘Ishq-e-Dilli’ unfolds on the walls of Purana Qila in New Delhi.

Pic credit: Nirdesh Singh

Overseas

Householders

Personal Accident

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

14 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

www.railbandhu.in

The Tenacious

WOMEN IN BLUE The title slipped out of their grasp, but the Indian Women’s Cricket Team earned plaudits aplenty for their gritty performance at the ICC Women’s World Cup. Proud of their achievements, Indian Railways has awarded a sum of `1.30 cr to 10 members of the team who are IR employees

W

hile team India lost their chance of winning their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title by a whisker, there’s no doubt that the Women in Blue won a billion hearts.

Social media has been flooded with love

for the Indian Women’s Cricket Team. Their extraordinary run to the final, defeating giants like six-time champion Australia, in the semis and teams such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies in the group and knockout stages, dazzled one and all.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 15

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

Blocks of Information

Diana Fram Edulji Former Indian cricketer and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, Diana Edulji became the Indian team’s first ODI captain in 1978. Edulji took 120 wickets during her career and ranks third in world’s highest wicket-takers.

Union Minister of Railways Shri Suresh P Prabhu addressing the Indian Women’s National Cricket Team

As a matter of fact, the Indian women had beaten three-time champion, England, in their opening group stage match ROAD TO THE FINAL The last time India was in the final, was in 2005 Women’s World Cup, where it was up against Australia and were decimated by 98 runs. India has reached the final after winning six of their eight matches -- the two losses coming against South Africa and Australia in the league stage.

This year, however, the gap was only nine runs and according to experts, another day the game could have been won by India. As a matter of fact, the Indian women had beaten three-time champion, England, in their opening group stage match. Captain Mithali Raj’s team had outplayed England in every department and defeated them by 35 runs.

In their second game, India bowled first and restricted West Indies to 183 runs, owing largely to a disciplined bowling performance and defeated their opponent with 45 balls still 16 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

remaining. After decimating Pakistan with a thumping 95-run victory in their third group stage match, Mithali’s team went on to outplay Sri Lanka in the fourth.

While they lost consecutive matches against South Africa and Australia in their group stage, their biggest win came against New Zealand after they put up a mammoth total of 265 runs and getting the Kiwis bundled out for 79.

They further shocked the world after defeating Australia in the semis by 36 runs.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS A captain should always lead by example and Mithali Raj has done just that. The Indian skipper had led from the front scoring 392 runs in 8 matches, including three half centuries and a hundred. She also shattered records while becoming the highest run-scorer in women’s ODI cricket and the first and only woman cricketer to score 6,000 runs in the ODI format.

Experienced campaigner, Jhulan Goswami, who was leading the Indian bowling attack, scalped 7 wickets in 8 matches with a magnificent economy rate of only 4.48 that helped in putting a halt to the flow of runs of the opponent team. Meanwhile, her prodigy, www.railbandhu.in

Mithali Raj Mithali Raj is the first captain to lead India to an ICC ODI World Cup final twice - 2005 and 2017.

Harmanpreet Kaur Harmanpreet Kaur lives and swears by her idol Virender Sehwag’s mantra of ‘see ball, hit ball.’ She is the first Indian to sign with Surrey Stars in ECB’s Kia Super League.

Indian Women’s National Cricket Team posing with the Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh P Prabhu and other dignitaries at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi

Deepti Sharma, surprised everyone after she took 12 wickets in 8 matches and became India’s highest wicket-taker in this tournament.

All-rounder, Harmanpreet Kaur, was another surprise package who scored a total of 308 runs and took 5 wickets in the entire tournament, including that blistering innings of 171 not-out against the Aussies in the semis.

Meanwhile, opener, Punam Raut, was solid throughout the tournament scoring 295 runs, including a century and a half-century.

LOVE AND APPLAUSE Team India’s outstanding performance won hearts everywhere. Love and praises flowed in from all corners of the country, especially from politicians, celebrities, sports personalities and even the men’s cricket team. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the most popular cricket legend in the world, Sachin Tendulkar, were amongst the first to hail the team for their overall performance in the tournament.

REWARDS AND ACCOLADES With two-third of Indian Women’s Cricket Team comprising employees of Indian Railways, Union Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh P Prabhu, was overwhelmed by their stunning performance. Speaking at a felicitation

function to honour the Mithali Raj-led squad for its runners-up finish, at the 2017 ICC World Cup on July 27, Prabhu said he is, in fact, confident that some years down the line people will ask “do men also play cricket?”. He went on to say, “This is a definite sign of changing times, not just for women’s cricket but it also gives a new sense of confidence to all women in India. We are used to celebrating achievements by the men’s cricket team but our women have shown they can play better cricket than men.”

QUICK FACTS Women’s international cricket was first played

in 1934,

when a party from England toured Australia and New Zealand. The match was won by England.

From 2000-2007, Mithali Raj went without being dismissed for a duck.

The eleven World Cups played to date have been held in five different countries, with India and England having hosted the event three times.

The Minister of Railways also went on to announce a cash reward of `1.30 crore for 10 members of Indian Women’s Cricket Team for their stellar performance. All-rounder, Harmanpreet Kaur, and skipper, Mithali Raj, will also be given gazetted officer’s post.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), had also rewarded the team with a cash prize of `50 lakh to each player, and `25 lakh each for support staff.

The Indian PM also hosted the team to congratulate them on their amazing achievement.

Telling the players that they had not ‘lost’, the Prime Minister said that 125 crore Indians carried their defeat in the final on their shoulders and this was, in fact, their greatest victory.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 17

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

INITIATIVES

UNDERTAKEN TO

IMPROVE

CATERING

SERVICES IN INDIAN RAILWAYS

M

ore than 23 million passengers travel with Indian Railways (IR) on a daily basis. It provides approximately 1.1 million meals to passengers every day. Besides that meals are also sold through various static units.

Catering services on Indian Railways can be classified into two broad categories, viz., Mobile catering and Static catering. At present, there are 359 pairs of trains with pantry cars, which include 22 pairs of Rajdhanis, 25 pairs of Shatabdis, 18 pairs of Duronto trains and 294 pairs of Mail/ Express trains. There are about 9878 Major and Minor Static Units of Indian Railways, which include 52 Jan Ahaar outlets and 210 Food Plazas/Fast Food Units.

To improve the catering services on trains, Minister of Railways announced unbundling of food production and food disbursement through a revamped New Catering Policy. Under this policy, ultra modern mega kitchens with partnership of private sector would be established, which would use the most hygienic and latest equipment for food preparation.

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

NEW CATERING POLICY, 2017 New Catering Policy has been issued on February 27, 2017. IRCTC has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by creating a distinction, primarily between food preparation and food distribution. The salient features of the new Catering Policy 2017 are as under:

IRCTC to manage catering service on all mobile units. Pantry car contracts awarded by zonal railway to be reassigned to IRCTC.

Meals for all mobile units to be picked up from the nominated kitchens owned, operated and managed by IRCTC.

Allotment of General Minor Units at all category stations to be done through open, competitive, two-packet tendering system from the eligible bidders by divisions.

IRCTC cannot outrightly outsource or issue licenses for provision of catering services to private licensees. IRCTC to retain the ownership and be fully accountable for all the issues pertaining to setting up and operation of the Base Kitchens and quality of food.

The setting up/ development/ refurbishment of new or existing Base Kitchens/Kitchen units to be undertaken by IRCTC.

Zonal railway to manage static unit (catering stall/milk stalls/ trolleys, etc.) except base kitchens and kitchen units to be handed over to IRCTC.

33%

20 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

IRCTC to be responsible for management of Food Plaza, Food Courts, Fast food units within the ambit of this policy.

Tenure of all static units (except kitchen units and Food Plaza) shall be 5 years only. Tenure of Food Plaza shall be for a period of

9 years

IRCTC to engage service providers from hospitality industry for service of food in trains.

sub quota for women in allotment of each category of minor catering units at all category of stations to be provided.

IRCTC to involve/empanel Self Help groups for providing catering-related services.

Kitchen structures/land/space to be handed over by zonal Railways to IRCTC, for a period of 10 years extendable for another period of 5 years, on a token license fee.

In view of change in the role of IRCTC in terms of management of catering service, the existing MoU between Ministry of Railways and IRCTC is to be redefined. www.railbandhu.in

E-Catering E-catering service on IR is managed by IRCTC. The scheme has been re-oriented to make it ‘Station Based E-Catering’. It is available on 310 stations and the average supply of meals is around 5,000 meals per day.

IRCTC is facilitating booking of meals through a specified phone number/ website/SMS/ Mobile Apps, etc. CoD facility to passengers under this scheme has also been made available.

IRCTC has established a call centre and has also operationalised website www.ecatering.irctc.co.in.

Passengers can pre-order the meal from the different options available as per the choice, for delivery at the opted stations.

has also been launched

by IRCTC. Mobile app – ‘Food on Track’ is available on Android and IOS.

The Payment gateways integrated on E-Catering Portal:

Mobikwik

E-wallet, Net Banking and Credit/Debit cards on Portal and Mobile app

Wallet in Mobile app

c) T raining of staff of the vendors being made mandatory

f) Unbundling in food preparation and food distribution is being implemented in the SBD

1323

COD

b) E conomic viability of base kitchens is being worked out to make vendors avoid short cuts.

e) R oute approach is being adopted to ensure good quality on the entire route.

Mobile App along with four digit

COD

a) T wo packet system is being strictly implemented to allow only those vendors who have good credentials.

d) I RCTC to supervise the base kitchens by recruiting professionals

Revamp of E-Catering services in September 2015 also permitted Food Aggregators to join the E-Catering initiative.

Aggregators like Foodpanda, Yatri Bhojan, Railrestro, Zoop, Comesum, Mera Food Choice and Rail Darbar have been integrated through API covering 529 vendors. 244 offline vendors have also been incorporated for e-catering services across 357 stations.

PAYTM

International consultants Pricewaterhousecoopers has been engaged to develop the SBD for Base Kitchens and Servicing on board trains.

The main features of the new contract are:

g) U se of Technology is being mandated to prevent overcharging by issue of electronic receipts and tracking of food h) P rior approval of IRCTC is being mandated to ensure food from reputed brands and at the right price. i) S BD mandates supply of janta khana to cater to the demand of the poor j) M andating pre-booking of food in all trains to avoid overcharging k) M andating regular feedback from passengers and linking the performance to payment to the vendor

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 21

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

Water Vending Machines The rates of dispensed water are as under:

1106

WVMs have already been commissioned at 345 stations.

1000 more WVMs are to be installed at stations shortly.

Quantity

Refill (Amt. in Rs.)

With Container (Amt. in Rs.)

300ml

1

2

500ml

3

5

1 ltr

5

8

2 ltr

8

12

5 ltr

20

25

The project of setting up WVM was launched on December 7, 2015 with an objective to provide potable water at nominal rates, water vending machines have been installed at stations.

Present status of WVMs Total No. of stations where WVMs are in operation 345

Total No. of WVMs in operation

Estimated Employment generated through WVMs

1106

2000

Average annual License fee per WVM

Total No. of WVMs planned to be installed during 2017-18

Total No. of Stations where WVMs are planned to be installed during 2017-18

74,000

1100

450

Ready to Eat (RTE) Meals

In order to provide more options to passengers in trains RTE meals like veg biryani, masala upma, poha, idli sambhar, etc., are being provided to passengers.

As a pilot, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dehydrated Meal Technologyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; being used in Airlines has been introduced in Railways.

This technology will ensure provision of hot food to passengers merely by adding hot water.

IRCTC has prepared approx 36,000 Ready to Eat (RTE) packets and distributed /sold it through IRCTC managed departmental/licensee mobile/static units and other CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities.

During the trial period, IRCTC produced various types of Retort food products in Retort pouches such as veg biryani, rajma rice, lemon rice, tamarind rice, etc.

The average cost of production of these items was `21.51.

22 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

The mobile catering will be unbundled by having separate contracts for onboard service & food production /supply.

www.railbandhu.in

Self Help Groups (SHGs) Empanelment of Self Help Groups (SHGs) to provide healthy, wholesome regional cuisine at an affordable cost to the travelling public through e-catering has been initiated.

9 SHGs have been empaneled at 8 stations. The groups empaneled are as follows:

SHG at Sawantwadi - MAHER LOKSANCHALIT SADHAN KENDRA • Started on December 3, 2016.

• Kitchen at Malgaon, Sawantwadi • SHG comprises of 15 women • Menu specialty - Malvani Cuisine •M eals per day – Approx. 8 to 10 priced at `25 to `515 •M ode of transportation for supply of food from kitchen to train - bike or auto.

2 in Andhra Pradesh: Shri Vani (Vijayawada) Sri Srinivasa (Visakhapatnam)

1 in Karnataka Spoorthy Janaabhivrudhi Samsthe (Mysore)

2 in Kerala Café Kudumbashree (Ernakulam and Ernakulam Town)

3 in Madhya Pradesh Laxmi Mahila Mandal (Saugor) Sanskar Mahila Mandal (Saugor) Prayas Swa Sahayata Sangatham (Saugor)

1 in West Bengal

Proposed Initiative to proliferate SHGs IRCTC has been asked to create an IT portal on its website for empanelling more and more SHGs across India for sale of catering items and handicrafts, artefacts, etc.

Janani Sewa & Children’s menu Janani Sewa introduced on April 27, 2016 to ensure provision of baby food, milk and hot water from nominated catering stalls.

Manorma Pariseba Sambay Samity (Adra)

1 in Maharashtra Maher Lok Sanchalit Sadham Kendra (Savantwadi)

IRCTC has been advised to ensure availability of children’s menu through e-catering.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 23

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

Optional On-board Catering

‘Vikalp’ should be given to passengers as an option for opting out of mandatory food service in Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains.

The trial of optional catering services to passengers has been completed on the following two trains – AG Kranti Rajdhani and Pune – SC Shatabdi Exp.

Optional onboard catering would be rolled on all Mail express trains. This would help in better caliberation of meals required and hence lesser wastage.

This scheme was undertaken for

45 days

Catering services are included by default

Passengers have to ‘opt out’ from the mandatory food option. The catering apportionment charges are excluded from the total ticket fare accordingly.

Percentage of passengers opting out of mandatory catering services on the above mentioned two trains during the trial period was

This opt out option has been recently provided in Tejas Train between Mumbai and Goa

5.15%

Third Party Audit Third Party Audit of catering services are to be conducted at periodic intervals by independent and reputed auditing agencies accredited by

NABCB (National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies) as empanelled by the Zonal Railways.

The third-party audit of the catering service to examine the quality of food, hygiene and cleanliness in the pantry car and base kitchen, which will be carried out alongside the inhouse audit.

Empanelment of Food Audit Agencies has been completed on Western Railway. www.railbandhu.in

Food Safety & Hygiene Audits are being conducted regularly in Base Kitchens, both Departmental & Licensee owned, Food Plaza/ Fast Food Units and Pantry Cars of IRCTC managed Trains by Third Party Auditors.

Menu and Tariff Committee

Fixation of tariff for standard menu/food items on the list of menu items given by IRCTC.

Calculation of empirical formula so as to calculate annual or periodical escalation with regard to increase in price of the components leading to preparation of meal.

Components like ensuring hygiene, hiring of professional agencies, ingredients as per laid down norms, etc., to be taken into consideration so as to ensure quality and hygiene of food prepared.

Proliferation of Train side vending Train side vending is a concept where a person boards the train, takes order and conveys the same in the kitchen (before meal time), picks up the food as per order from the station and serves.

As per 2017 policy, TSV has been given to IRCTC and will take care of problem of storage of food in train.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 25

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

Centralised Catering Grievance & Complaint Monitoring Cell Operation of all India helpline number

138 for rail users in the moving train.

A twitter

A Centralised Catering Services Monitoring Cell (CSMC) has been set up in the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office having a toll free number

1800-111-321

handle with the address of

@IRCATERING

for prompt redressal of the passenger grievances related to the catering activities for real time assistance to travelling public.

has also been established to cater to the complaints/ suggestions.

Zero Tolerance Policy A policy of zero tolerance towards poor quality of food served to passengers and overcharging is being followed. During last six months, 14 contracts have been terminated on account of poor quality of food served and breach of contract term.

Around

40,000 inspections done by railway officials to improve the catering services.

Disciplinary action has been taken against 21 railway officials in the last one year.

26 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

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A fine of `4.56 cr has been imposed during Jan to June 2017 as compared to `4.04 cr imposed during 2016, `2.61 cr in 2015 and `1.73 cr in 2014.

Smt. Rashmi Mital, President, RWWCO, planting a sapling

Making a

difference In an effort to promote clean and sustainable environment, RWWCO organised a tree plantation drive in Railway premises

T

o promote environment conservation and to foster a responsibility towards nature, the Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organisation conducted a Tree Plantation Drive on July 6, 2017, at railway premises in New Delhi. Smt. Rashmi Mital, President, RWWCO, along with other Executive

Members of RWWCO planted various flowering and fruit-bearing trees in Railway premises. The drive was conducted keeping in consideration the benefits of trees and their pivotal role in preventing soil erosion, maintaining ecological balance and reducing the effect of global warming.

QUICK FACT RWWCO is an apex body of the chain of women’s welfare organisations spread over all Indian Railways, engaged in the task of welfare of railwaymen and their families through various need-based socio/welfare activities.

The organisation has always risen to the call of the society and the nation — be it environmental awareness, family welfare drives, disturbances on the borders or the natural calamities.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 27

ENTRY TICKET

block your dates Special days and events that call for a quick trip to be a part of them

KRISHNA JANAMASHTAMI (AUGUST 14, 2017) The festival celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. People set up swings in the courtyard of their houses and temples to welcome Lord Krishna to their homes. Jhankis are made, which are clay modelled figures on display, wherein scenes depicting various stages of Krishna’s life are showcased.

Most of the celebration takes place at night with devotional songs, dance and rocking of the cradle of Lord Krishna.

Venue: All across India How to reach: Mathura is the most important place to observe Janmashtami. The destination is well-connected by rail.

BARKHA RITU (JULY 7 – SEPTEMBER 9, 2017)

WHISPERING TORSOS (AUGUST 18 – 23, 2017)

The annual monsoon music festival, Barkha Ritu, enthralls music lovers across eight cities of India. The best talents present monsoon ragas during this national thematic music festival, keeping alive the rich musical legacy of India.

A solo show by artist Kanchan Chander exhibits drawing and painting on canvas, paper and mixed media. The highlight of the show is a bold, funky and vibrant installation of paper collage on plastic mannequin torsos. The show is a culmination of different works, which are vibrant and refreshing arrested forms of the torso.

Venue: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chennai How to reach: All the cities are wellconnected by a dense rail network.

28 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi How to reach: Regular trains connect Delhi to all destinations of India. www.railbandhu.in

MOUNTAIN ECHOES LITERARY FESTIVAL (AUGUST 25 – 27, 2017) The 8th edition of the festival is scheduled for 3 days at 7 venues. The major themes include Natural History and Environment, Business and Leadership, Fashion, Magic and Mentalism, Food, Spirituality and Buddhism.

Venue: Bhutan How to reach: Hasimara in West Bengal is 17kms from Indo-Bhutan border.

Hasimara railway station is wellconnected to some major cities of India.

NHP INDIA

Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda Hon’ble Union Minister Health and Family Welfare

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India

National Health Portal Gateway to Authentic Health Information www.nhp.gov.in

World Mosquito Day, 20th August, 2017

B IG Threat Small

ITE

Mosquito borne diseases Aedes - Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika , Yellow fever Anopheles - Malaria Culex - Filaria, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile fever

NHP Toll free no.

Protect yourself and your family by taking simple measures • Use bed nets/ repellants while sleeping even during day time • Wear cloths covering full body • Drain stagnant water • Remove water from coolers and small containers at least once in a week • Participate in keeping your vicinity clean • Take Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis if living in endemic areas As the fight against Vector Borne Diseases, especially Dengue, can be won only with effective community participation, this App empowers the community members how to contribute towards prevention of Dengue.

Features: 1. User can check Dengue Symptoms.

2. User gets nearest Hospital / Blood bank information as per current geographical location.

3. User can share feedback via email.

Available on Mobile Application is available freely on google play store and IoS.

1800-180-1104

COVER STORY

Gleaming and Vocal

VISIT TO PAST On the occasion of 71st year of independence, discover the glorious history and visit the fascinating past of India through the light and sound shows conducted at various forts in the country Text: Kritika Dhawan

T

he forts of India have played an important role in the struggle of freedom and their story is charted out through the light and sound shows in a very artistic manner. The tales of history, etched in the walls of these forts, are interestingly narrated through the mix of light and sound effects. The dramatic interplay is sure to turn back the clock and take the spectators on a tour to the historical land of India highlighting the episodes of its past.

30 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

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On this Independence Day, visit the architectural marvels of the country and explore the glorious heritage through the intriguing shows that are sure to leave the visitors awestruck.

GOLCONDA FORT, TELANGANA Hyderabad never misses an opportunity to amuse the tourists with everything from food to architecture. The glorious past of the city is visible in the gigantic Golconda Fort built by Qutub Shahi kings during 16th century. The audio-visual extravaganza depicts the interesting story behind the grand fort. The splendid past with an interplay of audio-visual effects is worth watching. The rulers, kings and

officials come in action with the scintillating illuminations on the walls.

The palace was originally called ‘Golla Konda’ in Telugu meaning shepherd’s hill. It is believed that a shepherd boy found an idol on hill called Magalavaram. The boy gave it to the then king, Kakatiya who built a mud fort around it. The Qutub Shahi rulers transformed the mud fort into a marvellous palace. However, after the invasion of Mughals, the architectural marvel turned into ruins.

The Qutub Shahi rulers built the fort for defense with an acoustical system in which the sound of the clap at the fort’s main gate or grand portico was heard at the citadel on the 300ft high granite hill. The light and sound show is sure to amuse the visitors with an engrossing tale of the past.

When: 1st show in English on all days 2nd show in Telugu on Monday, Wednesday & Friday, and Hindi on Tuesday & Thursday, Saturday & Sunday Timings: 1st Show 6:30pm, 2nd Show 7:45pm in winter 1st Show 7:00pm, 2nd Show 8:15pm in summer

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 31

COVER STORY

When Everyday Timings 7:45pm (Hindi) & 8:45pm (English) in summer 6:30pm (Hindi) & 7:30pm (English) in winter In 17th century, the Jhansi fort was built by King Bir Singh Judeo of Orchha on top of a hill as an army stronghold

The show at Jhansi Fort, dubbed in the voice of late actor Om Puri, elaborates the valour of Rani Laxmibai JHANSI FORT, UTTAR PRADESH On the Bangira hilltop in Uttar Pradesh stands the beautiful fortress known as Jhansi ka Kila. The fort witnessed the first revolution of Indian independence and played an important part in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

It was a spectator to the famous escape of Jhansi ki Rani on the horse with infant tied on her back during the British attack.

The history of Jhansi comes alive during the light and sound show at the fort. The story dubbed in the voice of veteran actor Om Puri elaborates the valour of Rani Laxmibai and the scenes from the revolt of 1857.

32 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Other important places Aga Khan Palace, Pune

Built in 1892 by Sultan Aga Khan III, Mahatma Gandhi and other prominent nationalist leaders were kept here by the British for about two years following Gandhi’s Quit India resolution in 1942.

Red Fort, Delhi

Converted to a barracks by the British, this fort is the place where Pandit Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, hoisted the Tricolour on Aug 15, 1947.

www.railbandhu.in

PURANA QILA, NEW DELHI The dramatic tale, ‘Ishq-e-Dilli’ unfolds on the walls of Humayun gate of the Old Fort bringing to life the period of anarchy and the rise and fall of dynasties over centuries. Romanticising the city, the one hour experience recreates many episodes from Delhi’s 5,000-year-old history. Starting with the fall of Prithviraj Chauhan and discussing the Sufi heritage of Delhi with songs dedicated to Amir Khusrau and Nizamuddin Aulia, the laser and light beam projections transfer you to the Mughal era and end with Pt Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech and the resultant celebrations.

The drama is a pragmatic mix of lighting effects and intense soundtrack making the whole experience unforgettable.

Purana Qila offers a chance to walk back in time and watch the legends like Prithviraj Chauhan, Razia Sultan, Humayun and Bahadur Shah Zafar during the show. The realistic scenes, like Humayun tripping down the stairs of his library, are a major highlight of the spectacle. The colourful show uses pillars,

Pic by: Nirdesh Singh

COVER STORY

When Everyday except Friday Timings 7:30pm – 8:30pm (Hindi) 9pm – 10pm (English) The ‘Ishq-e-Dilli light and sound show in progress at the Old Fort in New Delhi

alcoves and gates to emphasise the majestic and imperial past of the city. Random forays of Mahabharata and Indraprastha and kathak dance sequences are intermixed with historical line up of the show.

CELLULAR JAIL, PORT BLAIR, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS The silent witness to the story of freedom fighters, the Cellular Jail is called so because it is made up of individual cells for confinement.

Originally the building had a central tower with seven puce-coloured buildings. Today, only three out of seven are intact and the jail has been declared a National Memorial.

Started in 1989, the show depicts the plight of freedom fighters and atrocities of Britishers.

What fascinates the tourist is the voice of veteran actor Om Puri and an old banyan tree and gallows describing the story of confined martyrs with stunning light and sound effects.

The story of independence struggle echoes in both Hindi and English in the honeycomb-like corridors of the jail.

34 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

When Two shows in Hindi on all days except Monday, Wednesday & Friday, when there is a show in English Timings 6:00pm and 7:15pm (Hindi) 7:15pm (English)

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National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)

(ISO 9001:2008 Certified)

An Autonomous Institution under MHRD, Govt. of India, A-24-25, Institutional Area, Sector-62, Noida-201309, Website: www.nios.ac.in

ARE YOU IN-SERVICE UN-TRAINED TEACHER? If you are in-service and do not have a certificate/diploma in teaching then now is the opportunity to get the essential training.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India has taken initiative and made provision for all such in-service teachers in public as well as private schools.

RIGHT OF CHILDREN TO FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2017 The government introduced in the Lok Sabha a bill seeking to amend the Right to Education Act to allow elementary teachers time till 2019 to acquire minimum qualifications as mandated under the 2010 law.

As per the existing Act which came into effect from April 1, 2010, these teachers were to acquire minimum qualifications within five years by March 31, 2015.

To bring in the required changes, HRD Minister Sh. Prakash Javadekar introduced the 'The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017'. This amendment will allow Teachers time until 2019 to gain minimum qualification.

NIOS FOR IN-SERVICE UNTRAINED TEACHERS (D.EL.ED.)

Promotion

In pursuance of Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, Ministry of Human Resource of Development (MHRD) identified NIOS as one of the Nodal Agency with due approval by National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE) to train the untrained in-service teachers who are working at Elementary level in government schools. The Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) Programme in ODL mode is envisaged and formulated by NIOS for the untrained in-service teachers at the elementary level.

For more information

On Courses, Subjects, Fee, Eligibility, State-wise list of NIOS Study Centres, Addresses of NIOS Regional/ Sub-Centres, Prospectus and Application Form etc., visit website: www.nios.ac.in or contact Learner Support Centre (LSC)

Toll Free No. 1800-180-9393, email : Isc@nios.ac.in

INTERACTIVE

postcards Readers write back and share their memories with us

FEEDBACK I got a chance to come in touch with this bundle of knowledge, Rail Bandhu magazine. The article regarding ‘Glory of the Rain’ was great. Keep it up!

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Rail Bandhu is a very informative magazine and it has become an integral part of my rail travelling.

I really loved its articles. Enjoyed reading the magazine during my journey in Dibrugarh Rajdhani.

Thank you and keep doing the good work.

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Overall satisfactory content.

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Railbandhu is an amazing magazine. It has a bit of everything for everyone. I loved reading all the articles. Keep up the good work team.

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Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 37

SILVER RAKE

The

ound

OF MUSIC ‘When you want something, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it’.

Author Paulo Coelho’s this quote sums up the ardour and zest with which, folk singer and Padma Shri awardee, Malini Awasthi has pursued her passion for music Text: Shillpi Singh

M

alini Awasthi is better known for her unflinching faith and untiring efforts that have given a new lease of life to the once dying folk and traditional music from the eastern parts of the country and moved it out from the so-called ghar-angaan (households) to national and international stage.

Highly acclaimed for singing diverse folk forms – thumri, dadra, sohar, banna, jhoola, jajri, holi, chaiti, vivaah, dhobiya and nirgun – Awasthi mainly sings in local dialects such as Awadhi, Bundelkhandi, Braj and Bhojpuri. Her songs have touched a chord, among the masses and the connoisseurs alike, regaling audience spread across the urban and rural pockets, and belonging to different age groups, spread across the country and also the globe. They help the older generation relive the days of yore when these songs were sung at home by the womenfolk, and provide a link to the younger generation for staying connected with the rich and varied musical heritage.

38 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

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Awasthi mainly sings in local dialects such as Awadhi, Bundelkhandi, Braj and Bhojpuri NOTEWORTHY CONTRIBUTION A native of Uttar Pradesh, Awasthi spent her early years learning the nuances of classical music from a guru at home. “My parents were not singers but had a taste for music. We (elder brother, sister and I) grew up listening to LP records at home, mostly classical renditions of musical stalwarts, thanks to our father. My sister used to take lessons from a guru who used to come over at 5.30 am. I joined his early morning class when I was barely five,” she says, fondly reminiscing her initiation into the world of music. Her father, a doctor by profession, who was then serving at the government hospital at Mirzapur, made it a point never to miss a classical music concert if it was happening at Banaras or Allahabad. “He took all of us along.

The performances inculcated a deep love and understanding for music,” she says, recalling the days when her father used to pack them in a car and drive them to attend concerts. Even her mother played a great role in developing her musical taste. “She couldn’t sing but had once heard a song (Bindiya ka rang uda jaaye) by Siddeshwari Devi. She liked it a lot and asked my music teacher to help me with it,” she recalls.

MUSICAL TUTELAGE As her father had a transferable job, he was posted next in Jhansi and from there he moved to Gorakhpur and then Lucknow. These places only added to her musical training and gave her the much-needed exposure. “In Gorakhpur, I had the privilege to receive musical training from two renowned gurus - Shujaat Husain Khan and Rahat Ali Khan. I received lessons in folk, classical, Sufiyana and ghazals from Rahat Ali. I was barely 14 then and to get an opportunity like this only helped me hone my voice and perfect the nuances,” she informs.

Awasthi is revered for her fluency in ghazal and Sufi singing that comes from the sound

DID YOU KNOW Malini Awasthi has formed an organisation called Son Chiraiyya to promote young and budding talents.

“The name is symbolic of our rich heritage, and it aims to preserve, conserve and promote singers and artistes.” And whenever her NGO organises a programme, she doesn’t perform but chooses to anchor the show. “My job is to present other talented artistes,” she quips.

knowledge of Urdu received from these two legendary teachers. For the uninitiated, Rahat Ali Khan had trained only two students in his life, one was Awasthi and the other one being Punjabi pop singer Daler Mehndi.

By then, she had started giving programmes on radio and performing on stage. “My first appearance on radio was for Bal Jagat where I recited a poem and then sang a bhajan,” she says. She took to stage soon after and recited a song based on Raag Desh at a doctors’ conference in Gorakhpur. “I had no inhibitions and I was fearless because that is what my gurus had taught me. A performer on the stage attracts attention of audience so one must always respect that; appreciation and criticism that come a performer’s way mould him as an artiste and help him improve his art.” When her father moved to Lucknow, she got an opportunity to pursue a degree in Hindustani classical music from Bhatkhande University. A high-grade artiste of radio, she had already performed at festivals across the country and had also started doing television shows for Doordarshan.

SILVER RAKE

CHANGING TRACK It was during one such performance at Bhatkhande, that legendary Hindustani classical singer Vidhushi Girija Devi, whom she fondly calls Appajee, heard her sing. Impressed with her voice, Appajee asked her if she would like to accompany her to Kolkata and learn music.

Overwhelmed at this offer, Awasthi almost jumped with joy. But her wedding with Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, was fixed by then and she couldn’t go with Appajee.

After marriage, she accompanied her bureaucrat husband as he served in different districts but all along, she relentlessly pursued her passion for music. “I am blessed to have a life partner who has supported and encouraged me all through,” she says about her husband. As luck would have it, he was posted in Varanasi, and during this stint, Awasthi once again got a chance to continue her music lessons from Appajee. She read and researched extensively on rural folk art forms and keenly observed how the folk music was slowly withering away for lack of attention and appreciation. The exposure strengthened her knowledge base and made her resolute in pursuit of music. “The strings of a musical instrument rust if left unused. I didn’t want my vocal chords to rust, so I kept honing it by practising and singing. I didn’t sing for money. I didn’t care if the stage was big or small. I didn’t want to lose touch with the audience. I just wanted to perform,” she says.

PERFORMER AT HEART At times, Awasthi carried her children along, travelled in trains and buses to perform at All India Radio, and at other programmes across the country. “There used to be chain bookings in those days. I had performances at three places - Raipur, Raigarh, and Ambikapur - and I carried my daughter who was four and son who was one and a half to these places, with my mother and mother-in-law in tow because I didn’t want to miss it. Such was my level of attachment to music,” she reminisces. It was at one such cultural function at Azamgarh that Gajendra Singh heard her sing and requested her to participate in a music reality show, Antakshari. “It was a life-changing experience, and I realised that one could create a space for 40 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Awasthi received musical training from two renowned gurus - Shujaat Husain Khan and Rahat Ali Khan Songs Sung by Malini Awasthi

Dil Mera Muft Ka Agent Vinod

Sawan Jaanisaar

Sunder Susheel Dum Laga Ke Haisha

Bhagan Ke Rekhan Ki Issaq

Mann Ki Asha Bumm Bumm Bole

oneself in public memory by sticking true to one’s musical roots,” she says about her first TV show.

One thing led to another, and she did two other music-based shows (Sa Re Ga Ma and Junoon) and won the hearts of judges and audience alike.

The best takeaway was a word of mention by none other than Lata Mangeshkar who called her a promising singer.

The film offers started pouring, but that didn’t excite her to move bag and baggage to the city of dreams. She did lend her voice to many songs in Hindi films, most recent being Mano ya na mano in Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deewana that hit the theatres in April this year. “My heart is here, and even though I go for recordings to Mumbai, I rush home because there is a sense of belonging and connect with my land,” says Awasthi.

POWER OF POPULARITY “With great power comes great responsibility,” she says on what it means to be a celebrity, adding, “I am thankful for all the praise and popularity that has come my way. It is a matter of great honour and I am trying in my own small way to use it to benefit folk music and other artistes.” Awasthi is clear about her goals. A true daughter of the soil, she wants to popularise the songs, culture and language which she says, “if not revived may become obsolete, and extinct.” She is doing her bit, giving folk music its long-awaited due and respect. “As a singer, I am trying to make my songs relatable and relevant for my audience so that folk never becomes redundant for them.”

That’s the passion and true sound of music that has touched the chords of so many hearts, on home ground and foreign shores alike, keeping Awasthi on her toes, and her calendar chock-ablock with shows, concerts, music festivals, in India and abroad.

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IN FOCUS

MALARIA ELIMINATION

MISSION 2030

National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22)has been launched by Union Health Minister for achieving the ultimate goal of elimination of malaria by 2030

Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J.P. Nadda addressing at the launch of the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination in India (2017-22), in New Delhi on July 12, 2017.

M

inistry of Health & Family Welfare has been making various efforts to make India malaria free by 2030.

The National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination in India (2017-2022), developed by Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme with the support of World Health Organisation is one such effort.

VECTOR BORNE DISEASES INCREASING THREAT With the arrival of monsoon in the country, the risk of transmission of 42 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

The government would like to eliminate malaria by 2027. Intersectoral coordination is the key, we have to work together with the other Ministries and Municipal Corporations to achieve the desired results.

J.P. Nadda Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare

malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and other vector-borne diseases has also increased. Globally more than one billion people are infected and www.railbandhu.in

more than one million people die from vector-borne diseases every year. Still many people who survive infection are left permanently disabled.

Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare reviewed the preparedness of the Ministry for prevention and control of vector borne diseases (dengue, malaria, chikungunya) in the country prior to rainy season. Shri Nadda urged all the stakeholders to start rigorous awareness campaigns regarding the preventive steps to be taken by the people in their communities as community participation and empowerment are the most crucial areas in prevention.

Ministry has initiated several awareness programmes through print and electronic media for controlling these diseases.

WHAT ARE VECTORS? Vectors are living organisms such as mosquitoes, bugs, ticks, flies and freshwater snails that can transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans and place to place.

Many of these vectors are blood sucking insects. Mosquitoes are well known vector for causing more human suffering than any other organism.

Vector-borne diseases pose an increasing threat to public health both in terms of the number of people affected and their geographical spread. Many diseases like dengue and chikungunya have neither a vaccine nor an effective treatment and changes in climate, ecology, land-use patterns, and the rapid and increased movement of people and goods favour their spread to new areas.

Vectors are living organisms such as mosquitoes, bugs, ticks, flies and freshwater snails that can transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans and place to place.

One year back, in June 2016, Dengue was declared as notifiable disease by Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Government of India. All health care providers whether government, private or NGO have to notify all dengue cases to local health authorities so that preventive measures can be taken in the affected areas. India is approaching towards elimination of Kala –Azar and Filariasis by 2017.

National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22) is launched by Union Health Minister for achieving the ultimate goal of “elimination of malaria by 2030”. Speaking at the launch, Shri Nadda said that the government would like to eliminate malaria by 2027 and urged the states for active cooperation. “Intersectoral coordination is the key, we have to work together with the other Ministries and Municipal Corporations to achieve the desired results, Shri Nadda added.

India is also cooperating with other countries in the field of Health.

Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved several activities with Germany and Palestine.

NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR MALARIA ELIMINATION (2017-22) OBJECTIVE The overall objective of the NSP 201722 is to consolidate the achievements of the previous National Strategic Plan (2012-17) and sustain its impacts. The overall objective of the strategic plan will be attained through the following specific objectives: •A chieve universal coverage of case detection and treatment services in endemic districts to ensure 100 per cent parasitological diagnosis of all suspected malaria cases and complete treatment of all confirmed cases.

•S trengthen the surveillance system to detect, notify, investigate, classify and respond to all cases and foci in all districts to move towards malaria elimination.

•A chieve near universal coverage of population at risk of malaria with an appropriate vector control intervention.

•A chieve near universal coverage by appropriate BCC activities to improve knowledge, awareness and responsive behavior regarding effective, preventive and curative interventions for malaria elimination.

•P rovide effective programme management and coordination at all levels to deliver a combination of targeted interventions for malaria elimination.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 43

TALE SPIN

Showcasing

ART AS HISTORY New Delhi-based installation artist, Farhat Jamshed, is also known as one of South Asia’s most visceral experimental artists, who has spent over twenty years pushing the boundaries of wood, metal, clay and paint, through her installations, furniture and paintings

F

arhat Jamshed had recently showcased her work, The End of History, in New Delhi. This exhibition came after an extended period of contemplation, during which she perfected working with wood in its natural form, and it came in response to the artistic demands of an age in flux. The exhibition was formally inaugurated by renowned filmmaker, Muzaffar Ali, and exponent of Indian classical dance, Padma Vibhushan, Sonal Mansingh. Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhu and Minister of State for Communications, Shri

44 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Manoj Sinha honoured the exhibition at the India Habitat Centre with their visit.

The End of History brought together a selection of Farhat’s work in abstract, wood and metal, in three dimensional dialogue with architecture, history, visual design and nature. Strolling through her new series, one experiences a fascinating conflict of intent – between making the natural contours of the wood speak unsullied for themselves, and turning them into art that tells a story. Her work signifies the experimental aesthetic that

www.railbandhu.in

(Clockwise from above) Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhu with Farhat Jamshed; few art works that were on display at the exhibition; Sonal Mansingh with the artist

rings in tree trunks and layers in rock stand witness to the rise and fall of thousands of years of civilisations. Every piece of wood I work with is bursting with a story.”

is shaping India’s bourgeoning post-modern art scene. But with over two decades of work in her repertoire, Farhat is not a product of this zeitgeist, but has been one of its shapers. The highlight of the exhibition was a 16 ft long raw city scape.

Jamshed uses wood in its most natural state, often unpolished, uprooted, and uncut, in conjunction with muted colour, debris and metal to create mixed-medium pieces that invite the audience to think of interior space as more than walls.

“I am inspired by the medium”, Jamshed informs, referring to the Constructivist tradition in art and philosophy she is moulding for the 21st century, “the world has always been a natural medium for stories –

DID YOU KNOW Farhat Jamshed has previously exhibited solo in Delhi and Mumbai, in exhibitions attended by several prominent personalities, including Parmeshwar Godrej and Akshay Kumar among others.

Over the last twenty years, Farhat has created hundreds of art works, inspired by the zeitgeist and her travels across Asia and Europe, and follows in the traditions of Constructivism and new movements in installation and immersive experiments in modern art.

“Installation art, to me, is more like architecture than painting. Painting is documentation. Installations, like buildings, are monuments to our ideas, conflicts and achievements, as a society. It is not the documentation of history, but history itself,” Jamshed explains.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 45

ART CONNECT

Arts of

AGRA Agra, the city of love, has countless heritage structures like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Tomb of Imad-ud-Daulah and Buland Darwaza. These architectural marvels and tourist attractions have impacted the city deeply Text & Photos: Viney Rao

T

he art and culture of Agra city has been deeply inspired by its heritage structures and monuments, and vice versa. Two main examples of art are - marble inlay and hand-knotted carpets.

While marble inlay is present in almost every heritage structure, designs of hand-knotted carpets are inspired from these heritage structures.

MARBLE INLAY People visiting Agra, more often than not, pass-off the art on heritage structures as mere paintings. But they are semi-precious stones, which have been inlaid into white marbles. The art is locally referred to as Parchinkari. It is an art of inlaying semi-precious stones into marbles with such neat craftsmanship that it looks like a painting. There was an evidence of a similar art form being present in Italy in the 17th century by the name of Pietra Dura, in which stones inlaid were not necessarily semi-precious.

The different types of semi-precious stones, which are used in Parchinkari, are Lapis lazuli, Malachite, Carnelian, Turquoise, Coral, Pearl Jasper, Shell and Onyx. Most of these stones are imported in the form of a rock and then 46 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

manually cut into desired shapes and sizes.

The different types of marbles used in this art are white Makrana marble, green Udaipur marble and black South Indian Kadapa marble.

The first process of Parchinkari is to cut these stones as per design, which is done through roller blades. After cutting, these stones are placed on marble surface for tracing. Marble is first coloured with mehndi/henna. Based on tracing, cavities are made in the marble for inlay. These cavities are made through diamond, chisel and tungsten carbide. Â Stones are then inlaid into marbles by pasting them with natural homemade glue. The natural glue is produced with tragacanth gum (gond), slurry soil (gara mitti) and wax. For better pasting, at times, chemical glue is also used. Lastly, sandpaper polishing is done to remove the colour of henna. Â It takes months, or even years, to make a single piece of inlaid marble, depending upon the design and level of workmanship involved.

The artisans are descendants of those artists who were a part of the team, which constructed the Taj Mahal and this art has www.railbandhu.in

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 47

ART CONNECT

(Left) A handknotted carpet of Agra; (Right) Artisan operating the loom during the making of a carpet

Carpets of Agra are handknotted with around 180 knots in a square inch been passed on to them through generations.

Marble inlay souvenirs include table tops, plates, coasters and show pieces.

HAND-KNOTTED CARPETSÂ Carpets of Agra are famous across the globe as they are hand-knotted with around 180 knots in a square inch. Each knot represents a pixel, which makes up the whole image or design.

The first step in the entire process is drawing of a design on a graph paper, in which one square (1x1) unit of a graph paper represents a single knot on the carpet. Based on design, quality and size of the carpet, requirement of wool in different colours is determined and the wool is then dyed accordingly.

After dyeing, knotting is done on a wooden structure called loom. The loom works on the concept of warp and weft, which is also known as Tana and Bana in local language.

48 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Warp is the lengthwise vertical thread that is held in tension on the loom and weft is inserted and knotted around warp to make a knot.

Cotton thread is used as base and merino wool is used for knotting. Each single knot makes up the entire design, so utmost care is taken to ensure that the right colour wool is knotted in the right string. After an entire line of knot is completed, a cotton thread is passed between lines to lock them.

For a small carpet of 3x5 ft, one artisan can operate the entire loom but for a large carpet of around 9x12 ft, it requires three artisans to operate the loom. Once knotting of the complete carpet is done, knots are sealed from the reverse side through blow torch by singeing (burning) the extra fiber. Carpets are then washed with normal soap and water and dried in the sun. After that, trimming is done by cutting extra fringes or tassels of carpet from front side with sharp scissors and border binding is done with an iron needle using the same colour wool. Different colour piles are then separated to make the pattern more prominent. To avoid any kind of design distortion, carpets are placed in a stretched state on a wooden floor or an iron frame. www.railbandhu.in

INTERESTING FACT The tools used in carpet making process include a sickle-shaped sharp knife used for plucking of wool and making a knot, an iron comb to push locking thread and scissors, in which blades are bent at 60 degrees from finger holes for trimming.

It takes around three and half months to make a small carpet. Handknotted woolen carpets last for more than 100 years.

Warp is the lengthwise or longitudinal thread in a roll, while weft is the transverse thread.

IN FOCUS

AFFORDABLE

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL Ensuring access to quality medicines, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has been designed to provide health security to the citizens of India

I

ndia is one of the leading countries to export world-class generic medicines to more than 180 countries. Out of every 7 medicines consumed in the world, 1 is

from India. The branded medicine’s market in India is of 1 lakh 20 thousand crores. The irony is that only 40 per cent of Indian population is able to afford the branded medicines.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a scheme designed to bridge the above dichotomy. It is dedicated to provide quality medicines at an affordable price to every citizen of the country, irrespective of cast, creed and economy.

Shri Ananth Kumar, Hon,ble Minister, Chemicals & Fertilizers inaugurated stall of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana during MODI FEST under Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas Sammelan at Bangalore

THE BEGINING With an objective to provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all, ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ was launched by the

• Create awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity

Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry

• A public programme involving Government,

of Chemicals & Fertilisers, Government of

PSUs, Private Sector, NGOs, Societies, Co-

India in November 2008 across the country.

To give impetus to the scheme and for greater

operative Bodies and other Institutions • Create demand for generic medicines

amount of savings for the people. It gives self-employment as it helps unemployed pharmacist & individuals to start a business.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PMBJP KENDRAS

outreach, it was renamed as ‘Pradhan Mantri

by improving access to better healthcare

Following financial assistance has been given to

Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana’ (PMBJP) in

through low treatment cost and easy

the applicants for opening of PMBJP Kendras:

December 2016.

availability wherever needed in all

(a) For opening PMBJP Kendra by State

therapeutic categories

government or Government agencies in any

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE SCHEME:

government buildings owned by government

• Ensure access to quality medicines

PMBJP seeks to keep the product price

bodies like Railways/ State Transport

• Extend coverage of quality generic medicines

within 50 per cent of branded product price

Department/ Urban local bodies/ Panchayati

so as to reduce and thereby re-define the unit

to make it affordable for all, especially

Raj Institutions/ Post Offices/ Defence/PSU’s

cost of treatment per person

the poor. It has resulted in substantial

etc. Government Hospitals / Medical College premises, one-time financial assistance up to `2.50 lakh is provided as per the details

The scheme is creating a silent revolution in achieving health security to all by providing affordable, quality medicines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing affordable, quality medicines to all can only be achieved through the Janaushadhi Pariyojana.

Ananth Kumar Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs

50 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

www.railbandhu.in

given below: (i) `1 lakh reimbursement for furniture and fixtures. (ii) `1 lakh by way of free medicines in the beginning. (iii) `0.50 lakh as reimbursement for computer, internet, printer, scanner, etc.

2000

2040

The year-wise progress and present status of PMBJKs opened in the country spread over 31 States/UTs is as under:

1500

1080 1000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana is a very noble mission; it empowers all to have health security. Such noble project needs support from all. Our humble request to all citizens, this yojana is for all of us.

Come…Join this movement!

Biplab Chatterjee

CEO, BPPI

500 0

80

99

As on 31.03.14

As on 31.03.15

269 As on 31.03.16

As on 31.03.17

As on 21.07.17

provided medicines worth `50,000/- in advance

Narendra Modi has also said that there should

within the incentive of `2.5 lakhs which will be

be a law on low-cost medicines. MCI has

provided in the form of 15 per cent of monthly

advised doctors to follow its 2016 notification,

sales subject to a ceiling of `10,000/- per month

in which it has amended Section 1.5 of the

up to a total limit of `2.5 lakhs.

Indian Medical Council Professional Conduct, Etiquettes and Ethics Regulation 2002.

(b) For PMBJP Kendras run by private

‘SABKA SATH SABKA VIKAS’

entrepreneurs / pharmacists / NGOs /

As per Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble PM of

Hon’ble Union Minister for Chemicals &

Charitable organizations that are linked with

India, “The poor must have access to affordable

Fertilisers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri

BPPI headquarters through internet (using

medicines; the poor must not lose their lives

Ananth Kumar has recently said that the

BPPI provided software) will get incentive up

because of the lack of medicines… That’s why

scheme is creating a silent revolution in

to `2.5 lakhs. This will be given at 15 per cent

Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been planned

achieving health security to all by providing

of monthly sales subject to a ceiling of `10,000/

across the country”

affordable, quality medicines. Prime Minister

per month up to a total limit of `2.5 lakhs.

Narendra Modi’s vision of providing affordable, To facilitate this scheme, country’s apex medical

quality medicines to all can only be achieved

(c) In north eastern states, naxal affected areas

regulatory body, the Indian Medical Council

through the Janaushadhi Pariyojana. As a

and tribal areas, the rate of incentive will be

(MCI) had issued guidelines in 2016 to all

future expansion plan of PMBJKs in the

15 per cent and subject to monthly ceiling of

practicing medical practitioners of the country

country, the Ministry of Railways has also

`15,000/- up to a total limit of `2.5 lakhs.

for writing generic medicines with brand

come on board to open Janaushadhi Kendra at

names of the medicines in legible handwriting.

over 1000 railway stations across the country in

(d) The applicants belonging to weaker

Action will be taken against the doctors if they

collaboration with the Ministry.

sections like SC/ST/Differently-abled are

do not follow the instructions. Prime Minister The Hon’ble Minister of State for Road

Price Comparison Chart – Jan Aushadhi Generic Vs Branded Sl. No.

Name of Medicines

Pack Size

Average price of top 3 leading brands

Jan Aushadhi Kendra MRP

Price differences

Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya who spends a considerable amount of time and energy in the Pariyojana shares, “PMBJP Stores have brought smile

1.

Amlodipine 5 mg and Atenolol 50 mg film coated Tablets

10’s

16.50

3.54

5 times

2.

Ramipril 5 mg Tablets

10’s

74.93

9.68

8 times

3.

Glimepiride 2 mg Tablets

10’s

46.76

5.05

9 times

4.

Metformin HCL 500 mg Tablets

10’s

13.87

5.15

3 times

5

Azithromycin 500 mg Tablets

10’s

187

86.60

2 times

6.

Ofloxacin 200mg Tablets

10’s

52.16

14.80

4 times

on million faces”.

For more details about Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, call us at 0124-4556750/ 1800 180 8080 (Toll Free) 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (Monday to Saturday) OR please visit our website: janaushadhi.gov.in

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 51

HERITAGE HALT

Murals of

ORCHHA Cloudy mornings and red sunsets, along with the ferociously flowing Betwa river, can make anyone fall head-over-heels in love with the deserted Bundelkhandi empire. But there is much more to explore...

Text: Svetlana Baghawan

52 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

www.railbandhu.in

T

he historic town of Orchha, nestled on the banks of river Betwa, was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput Chief, Rudra Pratap Singh. The ancient town seems frozen in time, with its many monuments continuing to retain their original grandeur even to this day.

The captivating ambience and flavour of a bygone era invites one to travel back in time.

Orchha is a short drive away from the Jhansi Railway Station and the slight effort is worth it. An erstwhile glorious medieval kingdom, Orchha was built by the mighty Bundelas.

They ruled from this rugged terrain, which was criss-crossed by the lively Betwa river. It was a kingdom of power, myths, love stories and blood-stained politics. Such was the grandeur, that even the Mughal emperor, Jahangir, paid it a visit and a grandiose palace was built in his honour.

Sadly, not much of Orchha’s glory remains preserved and the Bundela kingdom has indeed epitomised its name. Today Orchha, which means ‘the hidden one’, is an exotic ruined ghost town where dhak forests have nearly tangled the derelict palaces, havelis, temple shikharas and sandstone cenotaphs out of existence. The skyline is truly unforgettable and gorgeous ruins loom over a sea of trees. It is a time-warped place, forgotten by most, and signs of having slipped through the cracks of history are clearly visible. No long queues or blatant tourism awaits the traveller here and Orchha lulls one into loosening-up and doing nothing.

THE HIDDEN JEWEL When heavy rain makes outdoor explorations difficult, it offers a wonderful opportunity to spend long hours inside every individual monument. It’s here where the treasure lies.

Explore their quiet niches - the gorgeous world of Bundel Kalam or Bundeli paintings.

Orchha’s murals are one of the finest examples of Bundeli Kalam and they rank high in the fresco map of India. The paintings reveal the fascinating glimpses of various aspects of the prevailing Bundeli culture of that time. Mostly religious in nature, the subjects include the life stories of Rama and

Krishna. Puranic tales also feature among them along with scenes from the royal court.

QUICK FACTS Orchha has two palaces – The Raja Mahal and the Jehangir Mahal. Adjacent to each other, these palaces are built in a blended architectural style combining Mughal and Bundela architecture.

Ram Raja temple is the only place where Lord Ram is worshipped, both as a god and as a king.

The image of Lord Krishna romancing the gopis on the banks of the Betwa with the rugged terrain serving as a backdrop for depicting battles or hunting expeditions has been painted many times. The most beautiful murals of Orchha are found at the Laxmi Narayan temple. Built by the charismatic Bundelkhand ruler, Vir Singh Deo, the Laxmi Narayan Temple is an architectural gem. Famous for elaborate carvings and imposing structure, it also had galleries of the excellent 17th and 19th century murals. One of the most famous fresco depicted the battle of Jhansi with the valiant queen fighting with the musket armed British soldiers. Stories of Lord Krishna, delicate vines and flowers too decorated the temple Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 53

HERITAGE HALT

Murals of Orchha are marked by an exuberant use of colours like red, ochre, blue, green, yellow and grey and the decaying colours cried pitifully for better preservation.

The grand royal palace or the Raj Mahal also contained some remarkable paintings and they showed various avatars of Lord Vishnu, court scenes and festivals. Rag Ragini dominated the walls and mystical animals, beauties with birds and lotuses, flowers mingled in their midst. Beautiful murals decorated the interiors of the Rai Parveen Palace, where the highly esteemed courtesan has been depicted in various dance poses.

Orchha’s murals are extraordinarily beautiful.

Marked by an exuberant use of vivacious and bold colours. Striking black boundaries bring out the subjects from a palette consisting of red, ochre, blue, green, yellow and grey and on a rain-splattered day.

Splash of colours can uplift a cloudy mood anytime and Orchha‘s murals are more than just paintings. They are precious tangible heritage, history in living colours and ‘a love which cannot live, but never dies’. Today, though meaningless graffiti and lack of active preservation threaten the longevity of the murals of Orchha, as long as the tiniest scrap of colour remains on those old walls, Bundela’s glory will continue to be remembered.

OTHER PLACES TO SEE

Phool Bagh is a garden complex and was resting place of the Bundela rulers.

54 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Shahid Smarak is a monument that commemorates the martyrdom of Chandreshekhar Azad. www.railbandhu.in

Chaturbhuj temple is a piece of architecture and was built to house the idols that are now inside the Ram Raja temple.

RAIL JOURNAL

For A Pinch of

SALT

While most of the visitors know about the royal splendour of palaces and opulent hotels in Rajasthan, none have ventured into the hinterland where life continues unchanged for hundreds of years. Here is a sneak peek Text & Photos: Prasad NP

QUICK FACTS

C

olourful Rajasthan suddenly goes white for miles, so white that it hurts the eyes. As you move closer, your eyes get some relief from the blinding white surface and you start noticing some workers moving around on the salt pans in their colourful attire. They are all busy loading the railway carriage with the salt that is naturally created by the evaporation of water of Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan. Far from the must-visit tourist attractions of Jaipur and Udaipur, Sambhar is a 56 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

nondescript town about 72 km and 1.5 hours away from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan.

SALTY AFFAIR Nobody is sure when the salt was first produced from the saline water of the Sambhar Lake, for it finds mention even in epic Mahabharata. During the British time, a salt processing factory was set up here and now a Salt Train carries salt to the Salt Factory to refine it. This salt train is the only modern feature of Sambhar Lake. www.railbandhu.in

Sambhar lake receives water from an endorheic basin with 5,700 sqkm catchment area. The lake produces 1,96,000 tonnes of clean salt every year, which equates to around 9 per cent of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salt production.

The Sambhar wildlife sanctuary is spread across

24,000 hectares and is among the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan. It is a bird paradise and popular species of birds that are sighted here are coots, black-winged stilts and redshanks.

It is believed that the salt from Sambhar lake due to its unique composition makes the food taste better Most of the workers are local Bawaria and Bheel tribals.

DID YOU KNOW

It is said, that the Mughal emperor Babar noticed how the rainwater flowing into the Sambhar lake in Rajasthan, turned brackish after the capillary action caused by evaporation pulled up salt from underground deposits. Since then the lake has been a major source of salt.

The lake is only about half a meter deep in the dry season but spreads over an area of 200 sqkm. The salt-making process has not changed in centuries. The workers make small dams to isolate salt pans and over days, most of the water evaporates leaving salt crystals with a slight pink tinge behind. Then the pans are dried and salt is collected in mounds. To increase the salt content of water, brine is pumped out with diesel pumps as electricity supply over here is erratic. You may wonder, why no solar panels are installed in this sunny landscape, may be the salt will not let them survive for long, you try to justify.

The dry salt is uploaded in the salt train, which carries it to the factory, a few kilometers away, where it is processed and iodized for human consumption. It is believed that the salt from Sambhar lake, due to its unique composition, makes the food taste better and is highly prized. THE MAGICAL TRAIN In the terrain, there is nothing around for miles except for salt pans. Nothing grows where land and water are saturated with salt. The salt train is the lifeline that connects the salt pans to the town and factory. The wagons are made of wood as metal will not sustain the erosion caused by salt for long. It is a small train with around 10 wagons attached to it. Once the wagons are filled, the engine whistles at full blast and starts the journey towards the salt factory. The placid waters of the Sambhar lake form a perfect mirror and capture the reflection of the moving train. There is something special about watching a passing train that negotiates the curves like a slithering serpent, it reminds you of your childhood. The Salt Train of Sambhar lake is no exception and you are equally in awe of this little train.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 57

DREAM SCAPE

QUICK FACTS Until

1911,

Kolkata was the capital of India.

In terms of frequency of trains, Kolkataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Howrah Station

is the busiest in India.

58 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

www.railbandhu.in

KOLKATA’S Misty Lustre

Rains fill people of Kolkata with an infectious enthusiasm and bring out the city’s unparalleled side Text: Partha Mukherjee & Priyanka Mukherjee

M

onsoon induces a peculiar kind of camaraderie and zest among the people of Kolkata. As the orchestra, created by the falling raindrops, starts playing on rooftops and asphalts, accompanied by the claps of thunder and flashes of lightning across the sky, the city wears a vibrant look. While walking on the streets, it is common to hear tunes of Indian classical music resonating in the air.

MONSOON FUN Hours of bingeing on fritters, aloo chop, beguni, etc., playing indoor games,

watching old classics, listening to soul music, going for long drives and more, are some major activities that keep the locals engaged throughout the monsoon season. Another thing that keeps sports enthusiasts on their toes during monsoon is football. One of Kolkata’s favourite sports, football literally takes centrestage in the rainy season. The Kolkata maidan thumps with excitement, as football players fight it out against each other and crazy fans cheer them with pride, while the showers lash through the length and the breadth of the city. For people of Kolkata, there’s Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 59

DREAM SCAPE

(Right) The Hooghly river; (Below) The sport of football is thoroughly enjoyed during monsoon in Kolkata

nothing more enjoyable than playing football matches against neighbouring Paras (localities) on a rainy day. Kicking a football in the rain-soaked muddy fields is one of the best times spent in the rain for Kolkata residents.

DOWN THE MEMORY LANE Even the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history holds an interesting incident related to the monsoon season.

When Job Charnock, administrator of the East India Company and traditionally regarded as the founder of the city of Kolkata, squelched ashore on the mud-flats of the eastern bank of the Hooghly along with his companions, on August 24, 1690, there was a heavy downpour. That day, in the rainbathed afternoon, an important meeting between a group of local traders called as Bysak or Basak, dealing in cotton bales, and the Englishman (Charnock) took place under a banyan tree. To add to it, the shape of the banyan tree from afar, gave the illusion of an open umbrella covering the group!

60 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

DID YOU KNOW The beauty of Princep Ghat, which is located along the Hooghly river, is enhanced during the monsoon. Built in 1841 during the British rule, the ghat is one of the most popular shooting locations of the film fraternity. The romantic song from Bollywood film Parineeta, Piu bole piya bole, has been shot here. www.railbandhu.in

CHERISHABLE MOMENTS As rain induces a general feeling of wellbeing, it also brings out the caring nature in people. Be it an aged taxi driver, driving an old couple stranded in rain, back to the warmth of their home; someone sharing his/her umbrella with a stranger while crossing the road; a group of boys voluntarily pushing a car stuck in water bringing a smile on the face of its owner; or a rickshaw-puller who draws chirpy kids back to their home after school; such comforting scenarios are common in the city during monsoon.

It is also a heartening sight in monsoon to witness children, who live on the streets, jumping with joy in mud puddles or making paper-boats and floating them in water streams. They are often seen rescuing little kittens and pups drenched in water and carrying them to safe places reflecting the purity of their innocent minds.

KIDS ZONE

Yarn Orbs

This summer make your house enviably beautiful and decorate them with artsy yarn orbs. You can choose from a variety of size options, from big size party balloons to small size water balloons Step 1 Blow up the balloons according to the size required

Step 2 Make a mixture of glue and water.

Soak in a big bunch of yarn into the glue mixture, avoid tangling of the yarn

Step 4 Let the balloon dry overnight, Poke the balloon once it becomes completely stiff

Step 3 Wrap the glued yarn around the inflated balloon making designs

Step 5 Remove the residue balloon from within the stiffened yarn and you have beautiful yarn orbs ready to decorate your house

MATERIAL REQUIRED Balloons

Yarn

Scissor

Glue

Bowl

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 61

IN FOCUS

DAWN OF A

NEW ERA

The new government of Uttar Pradesh has initiated many pro-people schemes to bring about a transformation in the state

A

new era has been dawned upon Uttar Pradesh. Riding on a huge popular mandate and immense public support, the Uttar Pradesh Government headed by the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, has brought about major changes in just 100 days in all aspects of governance, touching the people’s lives.

Working diligently on the guiding principle of Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas (Support of all, development for all), the UP government has initiated some schemes and projects that will change the face of the State in the coming days. To begin with, the Government now enjoys the trust of all sections of society.

The rapid transformation covers areas as diverse as industrialisation, agriculture, health, education, transport, electricity and women empowerment.

EASE OF DOING BUSINESS – MAKE IN UP The recently approved new industrial policy named as Uttar Pradesh Industrial

We are satisfied with the work we have done in the first 100 days of our Govt. We want to assure people that government has started several initiatives to take Uttar Pradesh forward on path of development.

Also, we will observe 2017 as ‘Garib Kalyan Varsh’.

Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

62 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Investment and Employment Promotion Policy, 2017 has been thrown wide open for the investors in Uttar Pradesh. This new policy is also aimed at creating jobs and stresses upon its commitment to solve problems of entrepreneurs through a single window and time-bound manner.

The state government has also proposed a policy of ‘Make in UP’ for which a special department would be created. This ‘Make in UP’ will be in line with Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Promoting employment for SC/ST/ Women/Differently Abled and BPL families Units with more than 400 workers in Paschimanchal UP or more than 200 workers in Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal and Madhyanchal will be provided additional incentives in the form of 10 per cent www.railbandhu.in

reimbursement of net VAT/CST/amount deposited in State’s account vis-a-vis share of the state under GST in each of the following cases: • Industrial units employing minimum 25 per cent workers from BPL families • Industrial units employing minimum 40 per cent female workers • Industrial units employing minimum 25 per cent workers belonging to SC/ST category Industrial units providing employment to differently abled workers will be provided payroll assistance of `500/month for each such worker.

POWER FOR ALL Keeping up its commitment, the State government is providing 24-hour electricity supply to district headquarters, 20-hour

electricity supply to Tehsil headquarters and 18-hour electricity supply to rural areas. An MOU ‘Power for All’ has been signed with the government of India to provide electricity to all households by October 2018.

The facility of free electricity connection to families below poverty line (BPL) in urban and rural areas has been started. The work of electrification has been completed in 18,000 majras (localities). As many as 6,06,319 power connections have been given in 100 days of the government. Orders have been issued to replace damaged transformers within 48 hours in rural areas, and within 24 hours in urban areas. A state-wide Helpline ‘1912’ for electricity consumers has been expanded and upgraded.

TOWARDS BETTER HEALTHCARE In the area of healthcare, the State government has put into operation 150 advance life support ambulances, which marks a big step towards better healthcare for the people. Also, Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Kendra (retail medicine sale counters) has been set up to provide medicines at low prices to the people.

In order to meet the shortage of doctors, the retirement age of doctors has been increased from the existing 60 years to 62 years, and it will ensure availability of quality medical advice to patients. Also, the Government has decided to recruit 1000 doctors all over the state.

Nearly 90 lakh children have been vaccinated at the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Health Camps all over the State.

At the same time 88.62 lakh children have been vaccinated in 38 districts affected by encephalitis/J.E.

MUCH NEEDED RELIEF TO FARMERS One of the first actions taken by the Government was to waive the agricultural loans amounting to about `36,000 crores of more than 86 lakh small and marginal farmers. It has brought about much-needed

relief to the small farmers of the State. The Government has also purchased 36.99 lakh metric tonnes of wheat from farmers under the Wheat Support Price Scheme, and this is 4.5 times higher than the figure of last year.

Under the Wheat Support Price Scheme, the minimum support price of wheat has been fixed at `1625 per quintal.

For sugarcane farmers, the State Government has announced a major relief in terms of payment of sugarcane dues amounting to `22,517.52 crore. A toll-free number (1800121-3203) has been made operational for dealing with complaints of cane farmers.

For the benefit of farmers, the facility of E-Trading has been introduced in 34 mandis (agricultural market places) in the State.

TAKING CARE OF EDUCATION The State government is committed to conduct copying-free examinations in educational institutions. All relevant measures have been taken to stop the use of unfair means in school, college, university and other examinations.

It has been decided to implement a 220-day educational calendar in the state’s educational institutions, and school children will be provided uniform, shoes, textbooks and bags between July 1 to 10. The honorarium of Shikshamitra has been raised to `10,000 per month. The Rani Lakshmi Bai Award has been given to 147 meritorious boys and girls.

Judo training is being provided to children of government schools under the Rani Lakshmi Bai Girls’ Self-Defence Training Programme.

INDUSTRIALISATION The focus of the State government is on making the State a manufacturing hub with a view to generate employment.

It has been decided to set up a special ‘Make in UP’ cell in the state. The E-Tendering system has been introduced in all departments, and it will increase transparency in the tendering process.

In order to speed up the industrial investment in the state, an investment of `4,915 crore by Samsung under the Super-Mega category and another `372 crore by Intex under the Mega Category have been approved.

EFFICIENT AND FAST TRANSPORTATION Several measures have been taken to provide speedy and efficient transport to the people.

An inter-state Transport Agreement has been signed between Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and it will provide faster and more frequent road transport links between cities in the two states.

Bus services of the UP State Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) have been started in 3725 villages in the state. High-end air-conditioned Scania and Volvo buses and general air-conditioned Jan Rath bus service have also been introduced.

Work on the first phase of the Lucknow Metro is expected to be completed by 2019.

The DPR (detailed project report) of the Kanpur and Varanasi Metro Service has been submitted to the Centre. The DPR of Jhansi Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 63

IN FOCUS BENEFITTING PILGRIMS

RULE OF LAW

A series of measures has been taken for the benefit of pilgrims in Uttar Pradesh. The State Government has enhanced the subsidy amount for those undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (pilgrimage) from the existing `50,000 per person to `1 lakh per person. The subsidy for Sindhu Darshan Yatra has been changed to `10,000 per person. It has been decided to construct Kailash Mansarovar Bhawan in Lucknow and Ghaziabad. and Gorakhpur Metro projects has been prepared, and work is continuing on DPR of Meerut, Agra and Allahabad Metro.

At the completion of all measures, cities within the state will have excellent, fast, convenient and safe transport for all people.

TRANSPARENCY IN ADMINISTRATION To create an overall environment of accountability and transparency, the State Government has constituted Anti-Land Mafia Task Force. A portal in this connection has also been set up. In all 1,53,808 land-mafia encroachers have been identified and cases have been registered against 16,505 of them.

Several decisions have been taken in keeping with the aspirations of the people.

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64 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

In a major crackdown, a racket in large-scale under-measurement of petrol with the use of an electronic chip has been unearthed. Action has been initiated against those found guilty in this connection. A ban has been imposed on unauthorised slaughter houses and strong action is being taken against those involved in cattle smuggling.

PEOPLE-FRIENDLY POLICIES

EMPOWERMING WOMEN

An informer scheme (Mukhbir Yojna) has been started to keep a check on female foeticide.

A four-year work plan has been prepared to fill about 4 lakh vacant posts of Inspectors and SubInspectors in the state police force.

Additional resources have been made available to reduce the response time in the UP-100 scheme.

A Website of the Dharmarth Karya Vibhag (Department of Religious Affairs) has been launched for the benefit of the general public. It has also been decided to revive and develop the Bhajan Sandhya Sthal in Ayodhya and Parikrama Path in Chitrakoot.

A Bhajan Sandhya Sthal will be constructed in Chitrakoot also.

For the first time, the application process has been made online for making mutation (change in owners’ name) speedy and transparent in revenue cases.

To provide better security to girls and women, an anti-romeo squad has been set up to check incidents of eve-teasing and harassment.

Further, it is planned to set up/expand Aapki Sakhi-Asha Jyoti centres in the remaining 64 districts of the state under the Women Empowerment Mission. In the first phase, the task of making available a rescue van in the 64 remaining districts has been completed.

This van service is equipped with the GPS system and will be connected with the 181-Women Helpline Service.

The State government is committed to create a crime-free, injusticefree and fear-free environment in the state and establishment of the rule of law. Officers have been appointed at Zone and Range levels to ensure expertise and accountability in policing.

The Gorakhpur Airport will be named as ‘Mahayogi Gorakhnath Civil Terminal.’ The Central Government has given in-principle approval to construct an international airport at Jewar (Noida). The Agra Civil Terminal will be renamed as ‘Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Civil Terminal.’

Jhansi, Allahabad and Aligarh have been included in the Smart City list, and the status of Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) has been accorded to Vrindavan-Mathura and Ayodhya-Faizabad. Door-to-door garbage collection has been started in 579 additional wards.

A helpline for dealing with problems of the specially-abled people has been set up at 1800-180-1995, and the monthly pension of the disabled has been enhanced from the existing `300 to `500.

Collective Yoga exercises were organized in Lucknow and elsewhere in the state on June 21, 2017, observed as International Yoga Day. www.railbandhu.in

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Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Rural) 6.37 lakh families have been registered and 5.04 lakh houses have been approved. Job cards and employment for 90 days will be given to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Rural).

About 80,000 km of roads all over the state have been made pothole-free.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Rural Roads Scheme, 9808 km roads have been made pothole-free and work on 62 roads lying incomplete has been completed.

It has been decided to observe ‘Uttar Pradesh Diwas’ on January 24.

With so many pro-people schemes and initiatives, the State Government has rapidly won the trust of the people. It is committed to bring about a transformation in the state.

Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Government of Uttar Pradesh

OFF TRACK

M

AGICAL

ONSOON in Sikkim

Monsoon is a season of rejuvenation. In Sikkim, various Buddhist festivals are celebrated during this period to brighten the melancholic monsoon ambience and stir the soul Text: Rajesh Verma

M

onsoon engulfs Sikkim from mid June to the end of September.

It rains on and on for days together. The orchids and the flowers that bloom in spring, wither away.

The blue skies take on a grey and gloomy hue in sharp contrast to the lush green hills.

Clouds descend to the earth and also swirl up from the valley as mist, submerging the surroundings, lending a surreal ambience. The scent of the monsoon rain is intoxicating. Even the normally stark high altitude landscape is coaxed by the rains to take on a green attire.

different years of his life, Lord Buddha took birth, achieved Enlightenment and passed away attaining Nirvana, the three important events celebrated during the festival of Saga Dawa. This festival is held on the full moon of the fourth month of the Buddhist calendar around mid June.

At Gangtok, Saga Dawa commences with early morning prayers at the Tsuklakhang Monastery. A procession then forms up, with monks carrying the statue of Lord Buddha on a palanquin preceded by drummers and trumpeters, followed by volunteers, mostly

During the monsoon, all you can hear is a continuous lullaby of pitter-patter of rain on the rooftops. For those who want to get away from it all and spend a quiet sleepy holiday, a monsoon sojourn in Sikkim is definitely an experience worth trying.

FESTIVE GALORE In Sikkim, there are four festivals that fall during the monsoon - Saga Dawa, Rumtek Tse Chu (Lama Dances), Drukpa Teshi and Pang Lhabsol. They bring a sort of magic that brightens up the melancholy of gloomy monsoon days.

Saga Dawa is considered as the holiest of the holy Buddhist festivals. On this day in 66 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

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school children carrying the holy books of the teachings of Buddha on their shoulders.

the fourth day (Teshi) of the sixth Tibetan month (Drukpa) around August.

Rumtek Chaam (Lama Dance) is a religious dance celebrated at the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center. It is performed on the 10th day of the fifth month in the Tibetan calendar, which falls in June. The chaam presents the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava, the lotus-born, who was responsible for the growth of Buddhism in Tibet. A procession carrying the statue of the Guru is carried out around the town of Gangtok. In the evening, dramas and concerts depicting the life of the Guru take place.

Pang Lhabsol festival is quite unique to Sikkim.

It was popularised by the third King of Sikkim, Chakdor Namgyal in 18th century. During this festival, the snowy range of Kachendzonga is worshipped for its unifying powers. On this day, the guardian deity is portrayed by masked Lama dancers as a fiery red-faced deity with a crown of five skulls, riding a snow lion. This festival is held on the 15th day of the 7th month around August and September.

Drukpa Teshi celebrates Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first preaching of the four Noble Truths to his first five disciples at a deer park in Sarnath. The first is the noble truth of suffering, second is the truth of the origin of suffering, third is the cessation of the suffering and fourth is the truth of the Eight Fold Path, leading to Nirvana. The day falls on

FLOWERY TRAIL A visit to the high altitudes of Sikkim like the Tsomgo Lake, Nathula area, or the Cholamu plateau in North Sikkim is advisable during the monsoon. From July to September, the high altitude landscape metamorphoses to a riot of colours. The hillside is carpeted with alpine vegetation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; acononites, the rare blue poppies, rhododendrons and a lot of other colourful flowers.

How to reach The nearest railway station to Gangtok is about 148 km away in New Jalpaiguri.

The station is well-connected to major cities like Kolkata and New Delhi.

From New Jalpaiguri you can take a taxi/ Bus to Gangtok.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 67

TALE SPIN

Exploring Balasinor THE PRINCELY TOWN OF GUJARAT Gujarat is known to attract all kinds of travellers. For adventure seekers there is Gir forest, for religious visits there is Somnath, Dakor, Dwarka and Pavagadh and for history buffs, there is this world of kings & queens, palaces and an ornate lifestyle Text & Photos: Ravikiran Rangaswamy

B

alasinor is a small city, located 87 km east of Ahmedabad, in Mahisagar district, Gujarat.

Formerly a princely state of the Babi Dynasty, the Royal Babi family resides here. The Babi clan came to India in 1654 from Babi Khel village in Afghanistan.

After the collapse of the Mughal empire, 68 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

the Babis retained sovereignty over the princely states of Junagadh, Radhanpur, Balasinor and Manavadar.

EXPLORING THE PAST Years ago the Babi royal family used to live in a palace called the Navchowkia Palace in Balasinor. The palace was

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Members of the Babi family have been known for preserving the culture and heritage of the family

grand with 172 rooms, libraries and the royal treasure, but it was burnt down during a court intrigue by the British, who were in power at the time. It took seven days for the fire engines to arrive from Baroda, and three months to douse the fire. Most of the ancestral history was lost. The locals claim that if you are lucky, you may find a gold coin from the old treasure that was burnt down. The Babi family had to then shift to the ‘The Garden Palace’ at Balasinor, which was originally built for the Diwan of Balasinor in the year 1883, by Nawab Mohammad Manowar Khanji Babi.

LAND OF DINOSAURS Paleontologists believe that at least seven species of dinosaur lived here and researchers have uncovered fossils of about 10,000 dinosaur eggs, making Raiyoli the third-largest hatchery in the world.

In 2003, a new species was discovered here, which belonged to the Tyrannosaurus Rex family. It was given the name Rajasaurus narmandensis, meaning princely reptile from the Narmada.

A FAMILY WITH CREATIVE EXCELLENCE Members of the Babi family have been known for making a mark in the field of literature and sports and also for preserving the culture and heritage of the family.

In the good old days, the kings used to support and patronise art and the artists.

Similarly, Nawab Jamiat Khan Babi, son of Nawab Mohammad Manowar Khanji Babi, supported musicians and theatre artists. Nawab Jamiat Khan wrote poems, plays and even ghazals. A notebook, in which he had penned all the ghazals, is kept well preserved at the Garden Palace of Balasinor. He was a theatre artist and is said to have taught the renowned theatre actor and director, Jaishankar Bhojak (better known by his theatre name Jaishankar ‘Sundari’), how to tie a sari, in an era when men would don the role of women in theatre. Unfortunately, the British were not very happy with the plays that he performed and the Nawab lived in exile for a long time in Baroda state. While Nawab Jamiat Khan was a literary figure, his son

The living room of the palace is adorned with French Louis XIV style furniture, portraits of family members and a leopard that had been hunted down, among other things

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 69

TALE SPIN

(Above) Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park; (Right) Nawabzadi Aaliya shows the ‘Special Masala Egg’

DID YOU KNOW

Nawabzadi Aaliya Sultana Babi has been collecting and preserving dinosaur eggs and tracing down history of the species for last some years.

There have been weird incidents where a few villagers mistook the egg of a dinosaur for a cannon ball and Nawabzada Sultan Salauddinkhan Babi rescued an egg that was being used as a grinding stone. That is why it is called a ‘Special Masala Egg’!

70 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

Nawab Salabat Khan Babi was more into sports. He played cricket and established the Babi Cricket Club. Interestingly, he was crowned the king of Balasinor when he was only eleven months old!

PRESERVING THE HERITAGE Today the Garden Palace has been converted into a homestay by the name, Garden Palace Heritage Homestays. The Babi family still continues the tradition of receiving the guests with folk music and dance. One can live and touch the history of Balasinor in the living room of the Garden Palace. The room is adorned by furniture that is French Louis XIV style, the black and white portraits of all the family members, a cupboard full of awards and accolades belonging to Nawab Salabat Khan Babi, and many more prized possessions. One framed portrait that catches the eye is that of Nawab Jamiat Khan Babi, posing in front of his 1929 Buick LX car at the Navchowkia www.railbandhu.in

Palace at Balasinor. One can have a thrilling experience of touching the royal weapons kept for display. The experience of holding a cannon ball in hand, which is now being used as a paperweight, would surely instil a feeling of living the past in the present.

INDIA’S JURASSIC PARK At Balasinor, apart from the royal history, one can explore the pre-historic era of dinosaurs, dating back to more than 65 million years. About twelve km away from

(Above) The succulent shammi kebab-e-Balasinor; (Right) Ingredients for the signature dish murgh-e-khushroo

The Babi family still continues the tradition of receiving the guests with folk music and dance Balasinor, in a village by the name Raiyoli, fossils and eggs of dinosaurs have been found. The site has now been converted into a dinosaur park. The drive towards the park is pleasant with sloping roads that curve after every hundred metres and with absolutely no traffic. This place has discovered the existence of a different species of dinosaur, Rajasauras Narmadensis that was found only in this particular region and nowhere else in the world. It is an exciting experience to identify the limbs of these beasts that have fossilised into rocks, and to hold an egg of a dinosaur in your hands!

Another interesting and historical place near Balasinor is Timba Tua. This place has hot water sulphuric springs (kund) and it is said that the water has medicinal value. There is also a Swayambhu

QUICK FACTS The famous bollywood actress, Parveen Babi, belonged to the Babi Clan.

Nawabzadi Aaliya Sultana Babi, travelled to Ingatestone, a village in Essex, England, in 2009 to participate in BBC Three’s reality TV show, Undercover Princesses. Her brother Nawabzada Sultan Salauddinkhan Babi also participated in a similar show in the Netherlands, in 2010, called ‘Coming to Holland’. The show was based on the Undercover Princesses.

(mysteriously self-manifested) Shiva temple just opposite this spring. As per a folklore associated with this temple, it is said that the Pandavas had spent some time at this place during their exile and Bhima (one of the Pandavas) had married Hidimba here. The place also has Bhima’s footprints.

THE ROYAL CUISINE Balasinor is also known for its unique and ‘Shahi’ cuisine. Begum Farhat Sultana, wife of Nawabzada Muhammed Salabat Khanji II, takes care of the culinary culture of the palace and promotes the cuisine of Balasinor. They have signature dishes like the soft and succulent shammi kebab-e-Balasinor, chicken biryani and murgh-e-khushroo, makai bharwan tamatar and the special dessert, zarda-ejamiat. Few preparations, like the shab-ebaraat ka halwa, take about two to three days to prepare.

Balasinor is a place for anyone who would like to take a short break on a weekend from a hectic life and also for someone looking forward to a heady mix of adventure and princely experience.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 71

NUMBER GAME

INTERESTING FACTS

about 108

The number 108 is considered auspicious in Indian culture and has its significance in many rituals followed in India. Know more about the number Text: Shyam Sunder Gupta

T

he number 108 is considered holy and auspicious in Hinduism. Not only Hinduism, number 108 has its profound significance in Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism. In the Jain religion, 108 denotes the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25 and 27, respectively. The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.

1082 = 11664, where 1, 16 and 64 are squares.

1082 = 11664, 1 + 16 + 64 = 92, 1082 = 11664, 11 + 6 + 64 = 92, 1082 = 11664, 11 + 66 + 4 = 92.

1082 = 11664, 1292 = 16641 and 2042 = 41616.

It can be noted that all these three squares contain same digits.

Let us see how fascinating the number 108 is from the mathematical point of view: • 108 is the product of the first three numbers raised to themselves: 108 = 11 . 22 . 33. So it is the hyperfactorial of 3 since it is of the form .

• 108 is the smallest number whose divisors contain every digit at least once.

The divisors of 108 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 27, 36, 54 and 108.

• 108 is the smallest positive integer, which can be written as a sum of a cubic number and a perfect square in two distinct ways, i.e., 108 = 2^3 + 10^2 = 3^3 + 9^2 • 108 is the largest known number and such that the decimal expansion of 2^n does not contain the digit 9. 2^108 = It can be noted that 2^108 contain all digit from 0 to 8 but not 9 while each number 2^n for n = 109, 110, 111, etc., contain it.

108 is sandwiched between 107 and 109 which are twin primes. The concatenation of 108 with 107 and 109 is prime, i.e., 108, 107 and 108, 109 are primes.

72 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

QUICK FACTS Vedic sages of later era devised a Vyjanti mala (rosary) with 108 beads/ stones to keep count of mantras (hymns) in their daily ritual of meditation. The sacred rosaries have 108 beads/ stones. Mantras like Mahamritunjay mantra and Gayatri mantra are chanted 108 times. Most popular of all malas, i.e., Rudraksha has 108 sacred beads.

The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108 bead mala, which is called su-chu, and has three dividing beads, so the mala is divided into three parts of 36 each.

Chinese astrology says that there are 108 sacred stars. Some Buddhists carve 108 small Buddhas on a walnut for good luck. Some ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year.

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• 108 is the smallest number, which consists of digits which are all distinct cube digits. The cube digits are 0, 1 and 8.

• The number of palindromic numbers less than 1000 is 108.

• 108 is the smallest number which can be partitioned into six distinct primes such that the sum of any five is prime: 108 = 5 + 7 + 11 + 19 + 29 + 37. It can be noted that sum of any five out of 5, 7, 11, 19, 29 and 37 is always prime.

5 + 7 + 11 + 19 + 29 = 71 5 + 7 + 11 + 19 + 37 = 79 5 + 7 + 11 + 29 + 37 = 89 5 + 7 + 19 + 29 + 37 = 97 5 + 11 + 19 + 29 + 37 = 101 7 + 11 + 19 + 29 + 37 = 103 It can be seen that 71, 79, 89, 97, 101 and 103 are all primes. 108 equals the sum of the first 9 multiples of 3, viz. 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24.

The interior angles of a regular pentagon measure 108 degrees each.

• A chord of a circle, with an angle of 108º, is in golden proportion to the radius of the circle.

If the radius i.e. side AC or BC has unit length,

The distance between earthsun and earth-moon is about 108 times sun-diameter and moon-diameter, respectively A

C

then the chord AB has a length equal to Golden Ratio, i.e., 1.61803...

108° B

• There are 108 different types of free heptomino, a shape made by fitting together seven squares.

A heptomino (or 7-omino) is a polyomino of order 7, that is, a polygon in the plane made of 7 equal-sized squares connected edgeto-edge. When rotations and reflections are not considered to be distinct shapes, there are 108 different free heptominoes, i.e., 108 free polyominoes of order 7. This is the smallest polyomino to contain a hole as shown below. It is in the form of a 3x3 square with one corner and the central square missing.

108 AND FIBONACCI SEQUENCE: The digital root of an integer is obtained by summing the digits repeatedly till a single digit remains. For example, the digital root of 473 is 5 (4+7+3=14, 1+4=5). The first 24 numbers of the Fibonacci Sequence are: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584, 4181, 6765, 10946, 17711 and 28657. The digital roots of the sequence of Fibonacci numbers yields a pattern that repeats as follows: (0), 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 4, 3, 7, 1, 8, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 4, 1, 5, 6, 2, 8, 1.

The first term in the sequence is a zero in the first cycle but becomes a 9 every cycle thereafter. This difference is shown below: First sequence – (0), 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 4, 3, 7, 1, 8, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 4, 1, 5, 6, 2, 8, 1 Every sequence thereafter – (9), 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 4, 3, 7, 1, 8, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 4, 1, 5, 6, 2, 8, 1

On adding the repeating 23 digits , surprisingly the number 108 is obtained.

1+1+2+3+5+8+4+3+7+1+8+9+8+8+ 7 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 5 + 6 + 2 + 8 + 1 = 108 ASTRONOMICAL COINCIDENCES OF THE NUMBER 108 Do you know why sun and moon look equally big in the sky?

The distance between the earth and the sun equals about 108 (actually 107-odd) times the sun’s diameter. Likewise, it so happens that the distance between the earth and the moon equals about 108 (actually 110-odd) times the moon’s diameter. So the sun and moon look equally big in the sky because of having almost the same ratio between distance and diameter.

It is just a coincidence that the solar and lunar distances happen to match the number 108. Many ratios in moon-earth-sun astronomy coincidentally converge near the number 108.

Some of these are: •T he ratio of the earth-sun distance to the sun’s diameter is about 107.5. So the distance between earth and sun is about 108 times sun-diameter.

•T he ratio of the sun’s diameter to earth’s diameter is about 109.1. So the diameter of the sun is about 108 times the earth diameter. The ratio of the solar diameter (km 1,392,000) to Earth diameter (km 12,756) is 109.1, close to 108 with an error less than 1 per cent. Increase of solar diameter is suggested by measurements taken during over a century at Greenwich Observatory; hence, in earlier times, the above ratios could have been much closer to 108.

•T he ratio of the earth-moon distance to the moon’s diameter is about 110.5. So the distance between earth and moon is about 108 times moon-diameter. It has been discovered that the moon’s radius is literally shrinking over the years. Hence, in earlier times, the ratio could have been much closer to 108.

The author is Principal Chief Engineer in NW Railway, Jaipur.

INTERESTING FACTS 108 degrees Fahrenheit is the internal temperature at which the human body’s vital organs begin to fail from overheating.

The first manned space flight on April 12, 1961, by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, lasted for 108 minutes in his Vostok 1 spacecraft.

Wat Pho is the world famous temple in Bangkok for the huge image of the reclining Buddha (made of gold leaf). The soles of the feet of Buddha are each divided into 108 unique sections, displaying 108 auspicious symbols by which Buddha can be identified, such as flowers, dancers, white elephants, tigers, etc.

There are 12 zodiac signs based on the movement of sun and moon. There are 9 planets whose positions represent the events that will occur in our life. Multiplying 12x9, we get 108. There are thus 108 possible ways the planets can be placed.

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DREAM SCAPE

E

Where

ADVENTURE

meets faith

Bhimashankar, located in Sahyadri hills, is one of the most popular treks in Maharashtra Text & Photos: Abhinav Singh 74 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

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very monsoon, trekkers flock to the Sahyadri region in Maharashtra to enjoy the bounty of nature. During monsoon, the western ghats come alive with rain powered greenery, mist and pleasant weather. One of the most favoured routes of trekking enthusiasts is the Bhimashankar trek, located in Bhavagiri, 50 km from Khed village, and in close proximity of the cities of Mumbai (210 km) and Pune (110 km).

The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 131 sqkm and is rich in flora and fauna.

Established in 1984, with an intent to protect the habitat of the Giant Malabar Squirrel, the deciduous forest is home to nine tribal villages.

Wild animals such as Mongoose, Leopard, Sangai and Barking deer, Sambar, Wild Boar, Indian Palm Civet, Porcupine, Wild Hare, etc.,

Snails leisurely move around the tiny red mushrooms and small termite homes make their presence felt are found here. Clove and black plum trees are common to this region.

BHIMASHANKAR TREK BEGINS Kathewadi is the base village of Bhimashankar from where the trek begins. Simple yet beautiful, Kathewadi steals your attention. Vast green fields prompt you to spend time here. There are plenty of small water streams in the area and translucent, yellow-coloured crabs scurrying around them is a common sight. Flowers of multiple hues fill the trees. In the far distance, mountains enveloped in mist loom large.

As you proceed through the rough rocky patches, you will find no dearth of small hut-like shops selling refreshments. Sights of herdsmen leading their cattle (goats) welcome you.

SIGHTSEEING & LUNCH At a shot distance from this point, a small waterfall offers the opportunity for clicking pictures. Several hutments here serve jhunkabhakri, a staple food of rural Maharashtra that is made on the clay oven fuelled by wood fire. It’s a good spot to halt for lunch.

After the meal, start trekking again. A surprise lies in store at the next corner as a series of seven waterfalls, located next to each other on a large mountain, await you. This spot is one of the main reasons why people choose the Bhimashankar trek.

BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS Going ahead, the forest becomes denser and bird calls more concentrated. Rocks are covered in green moss, and so are the branches of the trees. Some trees are so tall that you have to crane your neck to admire their beauty. Snails leisurely move around the tiny red mushrooms and small termite

The pretty-looking tiny red mushrooms commonly found in Bhimashankar

homes make their presence felt. This patch of Bhimashankar trek slows you down as you tend to stop and admire nature’s bounty.

QUICK FACTS Bhimashankar is also known as the source of the Bhima river, which merges with the Krishna river near Raichur.

A unique bell (Roman style) can be seen in front of the Bhimashankar temple. This bell has an idol of Mother Mary with Jesus. This large bell was presented

by Chimaji Appa (Brother of Bajirao Peshwa I). On May 16, 1739, Chimaji Appa collected five large bells after he won a war against the Portuguese from the Vasai Fort and offered one here.

CHALLENGING TIMES Now comes the most difficult patch of the trek. There are two trek routes - Ganesh Ghat and Shidi Ghat. Shidi Ghat is slightly tricky and difficult, hence, opt for the Ganesh Ghat route.

It’s relatively easier yet demands caution and energy. Skillfully cross the narrow path, one person at a time. The rain makes the rock slippery so maneuver the way with great caution.

ANCIENT DWELLING After one more hour of trekking through the dense forest, you arrive at the ancient Bhimashankar temple that is forever bustling with activity due to visitors and shops in the area. The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas located across India, making it a prominent pilgrimage site for Hindus. Famous for its Swayambhu Lingam, one can’t ignore the awe inspiring scenes from mythology carved on the pillars and door of the temple. At 3,250 ft, the temple is built in the Nagara architectural style.

Your trek comes to a culmination at this point, but not before you make-up your mind to visit this soul-stirring place yet again.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 75

CITY BEAT

UDAIPUR THE VENICE OF INDIA

Serene lakes, splendid palaces and the lyrical Aravallis have earned Udaipur the tag of the most romantic spot on the continent of India Text & Photos: Jagdev Singh

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daipur in first impression sweeps you with its rich aura of royal palaces and lakes. Maharana Udai Singh laid the foundation stone of Udaipur in 1557 AD and made it the capital of Mewar kingdom. Set amid the lyrical Aravallis, Udaipurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s romantic landscape is as enticing as the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s majestic monuments.

76 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

The lake city appeals to travellers with its placid waters, boats moving in serenity, heritage havelis, lofty palaces, ancient temples and elevated hills on all its sides. The city grew on the banks of Pichola lake in the south, along with the City Palace and Fort that rises from its edge with a floating palace, the Lake Palace, with Aravallis in the backdrop. Located in the

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TRIVIA

Udaipur is popularly known as the ‘City of Lakes’.

The city has an interconnected lake system which helps in the regeneration of ground water and regulates the climatic conditions.

Fateh Sagar Lake, Jaisamand Lake, Lake Pichola, Lake Badi and Doodh Talai Lake are some of the famous lakes here.

intricate carvings. Built in 1651, a short walk from the City Palace brings you to this temple.

Huddled streets around the temple form the old city. They are home to several guest houses, rooftop restaurants, art schools and art shops selling miniature paintings along with other souvenirs. The paintings are extremely detailed and elaborate, reflecting Udaipur’s truly unique craft. The painstaking artworks are created on paper and silk cloth. Owing to stiff competition, the art shops offer few standard postcard paintings for a meager amount of `10.

heart of the city, Pichola lake, is the oldest and one of the largest lakes of Udaipur.

How to reach Udaipur lies on vast network of rail that connects it to major cities like Jaipur, Delhi, Kolkata and others. The luxurious, Palace On Wheels, makes a scheduled stop in Udaipur.

The floating Lake Palace is splendidly located on the Jag Island of Pichola lake. Several scenes of the 1983 blockbuster film, Octopussy, starring James Bond were filmed here. It’s exclusively accessible by boat only to guests. Non-guests are only able to admire from afar.

Jagdish Temple in the old city stands against time with splendour and grace. A long flight of stairs lands to the entrance of this magnificent example of Māru-Gurjara architecture, carrying

City Palace is a spectacle of Udaipur’s royalty.

This imposing palace, built in granite and marble over a period of 400 years, covers hanging gardens, courtyards, terraces, corridors, rooms and pavilions. The palace offers a splendid view of the lake from all its hanging balconies and towers. The exquisite art in its mirror work, murals, wall paintings and silver work is a feast to eyes for all the tourists.

One for sure gets lost in this mesmerising city, romancing its lakes and exploring its palaces.

Highly acclaimed for its history, culture, scenic lakes and the Rajput era palaces, Udaipur is rightly batted around as the Venice of India.

Rail Bandhu - August 2017 | 77

STYLE FILE

Spinning a

SILKEN YARN

Assam is popular in the world, not only for the Kaziranga National Park and the mighty Brahmaputra river, but also for its thriving sericulture industry

I

Text: Adnan Hamid

ndia is the second largest global producer of silk after China. The country enjoys the unique position and distinction of producing all the four known varieties of silk, namely, domesticated Mulberry silk (Bombyx mori), semi-domesticated Eri silk (Philosamia cynthia ricini), wild Tussar silk (Antheraea mylitta) and the golden Muga silk (Antheraea assamensis). China produces about 80 per cent of the world’s silk and India over 10 per cent.

HISTORY Assam is the only place in the world which produces three types of silk – golden Muga, white Pat and warm Eri silk. The State’s silk industry is weaved around the hamlet of Sualkuchi (in the Kamrup district of Assam and about 40km from Guwahati), one of the largest weaving villages in the world and rightly known as the ‘Manchester of the East’.

The history of Assam silk dates back to as early as the 11th century when the Pala King, Dharmapala, sponsored the craft of 26 silkweaving families from nearby Tantikuchi and brought them to Sualkuchi. When the Shan invaders defeated the Mughals in the 17th century and occupied Assam, they encouraged 78 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

traditional weaving that was popular among the locals. During the British rule, Sualkuchi exported its fabric to many cities around the world. Today, the industry in Assam has more than 13 lakh handlooms and is one of the largest employment generators, providing livelihood to more than 2.5 million people.

WEAVING A COMMUNITY Sericulture occupies an important part in the social and cultural fabric of the local www.railbandhu.in

INTERESTING FACTS Chanakya, in Arthashastra, praised the richness of Assam silk thus: ‘As red as the sun, as soft as the surface of the gem’.

The tradition of spinning Muga yarn was made known to the world by the French traveller Jean Joseph Tavernier

Assamese tribes. All of them have their respective looms and weavers are experts in their artistic sensibilities, that is evident in their geometric motifs and exquisite formal designs. It is said that during the olden days, prospective grooms would not ask their brides-to-be of her culinary or housekeeping skills. The principal question they would ask was ‘Can you weave?’.

When one considers factory-made silk to the hand-woven variety, it will be a given that the latter is much richer in design and texture.

Surprisingly, no two hand-woven silks are ever exactly alike! The woven silk of Assam is judged on the basis of the hereditary traits and the overall personality of their weaver, as also their sense of colour and balance!

VARIETIES AND CHOICES Muga is among the finest silks in the world and the best produced in India. It is also known as the ‘pride of Assam’ and is produced by the Antheraea assamensis caterpillar. This lustrous variety is a golden yellow or light brown. The golden hues of this delicate silk variety are popular throughout the world. As many as nine districts of Assam produce the Muga yarn. The tradition of spinning this variety is nearly three centuries

old with the skills made known to the world by the famed French traveller, Jean Joseph Tavernier, in 1662. Silk was extensively used by the Ahom kings as their royal fabric.

The Pat variety of silk (also known as Mulberry silk) comprises as much as 90 per cent of all the silk produced in Assam. It is produced by the Bombyx mori species of caterpillar, feeding solely on Mulberry leaves.

The silk is light and is especially worn during the summers.

Ericulture is also produced mainly in Assam.

Eri silk is obtained from the caterpillar of the Samia cynthia moth. It is creamy white in colour and the sari made of the silk is generally worn during the winter because its strong thermal properties and ability to blend with wool has made it popular in colder climes.

The craftsmen in Assam weave delicate designs of flowers in Muga and Pat silk, while geometric shapes and bold designs are made on Eri silk. With the sheer variety of apparel that can be made out of silk including saris, towels, winter-wear and the famed Mekhela chador (traditional Assamese dress), one can be spoilt for choice with silk!

IN FOCUS

IMMERSE INTO THE WORLD OF MUSIC WITH ZEBRONICS ‘ETERNITY’ BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES Eternity promises to bring an eternal music experience

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ebronics India Pvt. Ltd, one of India’s leading suppliers of IT peripherals, audio/video and surveillance products, unveiled its newest product - Eternity Bluetooth headphones.

The new headphones are aesthetically designed to provide highest ear comfort.

Eternity sports a clutter-free, seamlessly integrated design for instinctive use. The double layered ear shells add comfort. Making every rhythm count is the closed ear-cup design. Crystal-clear highs, powerful and deep bass, and a detailed midrange are some of its other unique features. Commenting on this new product, Pradeep Doshi, Director, Zebronics, says, “Zebronics has carved a niche for itself in the audio category. Each of our products are tailor-made to meet the needs of the customers.”

Available in silver, gold and rose gold hues, the Eternity Bluetooth headset is already available in leading retail stores across India.

ABOUT ZEBRONICS

The headphone has a 300mAh built-in battery, that lets you enjoy five hours of non-stop music and 200 hours of standby.

If you still run out of battery, it comes with wired mode! Dedicated media controls let you pause/play, change tracks and adjust the volume even via its touch-sensitive controls. A built-in Mic function allows you to answer calls.

Established in 1997 and headquartered at Chennai, Zebronics has one of the industry’s widest line-up of products, computers peripherals and consumer electronics totalling to 25 product categories and more than 350 SKUs. Zebronics has received more than 52 industry awards.

For further information: ​Contact: Rahul Sharma, PR Head; Call: +91-44-4000-0007/Ext. 268, +91-98-84988500; Mail: rahul.sharma@zebronics.com; Website: www.zebronics.com | www.facebook. com/zebronics

INTERNATIONAL MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DAY CELEBRATED

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inistry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises today celebrated International Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day, at India Centre for Migration, New Delhi. It was attended by businessmen from all over India and other guests. Dignitaries present included Cabinet Minister, Shri Kalraj Mishra, Giriraj Singh and Haribhai Parthibhai. Businessmen from the medium scale were felicitated. Mishra boosted the morale of the businessmen by awarding them. Under Medium Scale Production category, Madhya Pradesh’s Asha Confectionery stood second for which Asha Daryani accepted the award. Her grandson Nikhil Daryani was also present on the occasion. The government organises such programmes to boost the morale of businessmen.

80 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

EXQUISITE CANDLE HOLDERS

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ive your room a warm glow with lantern candle holders and add to the rustic look of the home. The Whiteteak Company offers beautifully crafted candle holders combining a mix of wood and glass. The lantern candle holders adorn features like majestic silver domes, leather handles and hemp rope. Brighten you room, foyers, hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen with the lighting fixtures.

Available at: The Whiteteak Company Price: `2,100 onwards

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WORLD’S FIRST UNIVERSITY FOR LIFE TRANSFORMATION Dr Vishwanath Karad

Maharashtra Academy of Engineering & Educational Research (MAEER) was started in the year 1983 by Prof. (Dr) Vishwanath D. Karad, Founder, Executive President & Managing Trustee, MAEER’s MIT Group of Institutes. Spread over sprawling 54 acres, MIT is the most preferred destination for over 54,000 students every year. MAEER MIT’s journey in the last 34 years has been a continuous process in the pursuit of quality & excellence in education and research. The state of the art infrastructure, competent faculty, strong interaction with leading business leaders, student centric amenities and spectacular campuses, all provide a conducive environment for teaching, learning, research, innovation and character building. MAEER’s MIT is blazing the trail of 71 institutes in the field of Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Medicine and Political Leadership

Programme (Masters Programme in Government). Our education institutes are ranked by NIRF, accredited by national agencies like NAAC and NBA. About MIT WPU Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT-WPU has been now granted the status of State Private University. The university is focused on

bringing the change that is needed in the world today by sensitizing and understanding the human dimensions of conflict, and developing a toolbox of transferable skills such as negotiation, peace building, technology and management. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programme in engineering, management, arts, science, commerce, economics and doctoral faculty.

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A supernatural thriller, and part horror story, the book announces the arrival of a ferociously gifted storyteller. Deep within the peaceful land of Kerala lies a small village called Chottanikkara where Devi, a demon hunter, fights the monsters. The author narrates the story of Devi’s final showdown with the demon, who is immune to every weapon and magic, and the art that Devi possesses.

THE DEMON HUNTER OF CHOTTANIKKARA

BY SV SUJATHA ALEPH BOOK COMPANY PRICE: `499

ys[kd dk flusek ys[kd% dqaoj ukjk;.k jktdey izdk’ku ewY;: `495

STAR TRACKER

the Month ahead Be it love, career or health, here’s what August and your stars have in store for you Aries (Mar 20 - Apr 18)

Taurus (Apr 19 - May 19)

Gemini (May 20 - Jun 20)

The disappointments which you have been facing since a few weeks is now over. You need to put in a lot of hard work this month. Financially a good period but again, don’t squander whatever you have. You will have gains around midmonth. A good time for people in love.

This month you will receive tremendous amount of happiness & possibly an addition to the family. Let go of any surplus clutter in the mind. Dontate a little to charity. Minor health issues may irritate you.

A very important time to lay base for your career. You will be facing a lot of competition in your field of work so put up that fight and emerge as a champion! A prospect at work will enhance your career in a big way. Do not spend unwisely this month.

Lucky Colour Jade Green Lucky No. 2

Lucky Colour Green

Lucky Colour Violet Lucky No. 8

Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 21)

Leo (Jul 22 - Aug 21)

Virgo (Aug 22 - Sep 21)

A major patch of destruction is over. A lot of overseas travel is indicated for you with new ventures coming into form. Health seems good. You could be stepping into a new life with someone

Overdue issues will get resolved this month, which will help release all the tensions in the mind. Its time to give up old issues because they have no positive outcome. You need to move on to more new dimensions now.

A person you trusted betrays you. But don’t worry, it will be an eye opener. This month will be a roller coaster ride of the good and bad.

You might face heavy competition at your workplace. A major opportunity towards the end of month will ease the financial issues.

Lucky Ccolour Amber Lucky No. 4

Lucky Colour Lemon Yellow

Libra (Sep 22 - Oct 22)

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 20)

Sagittarius (Nov 21 - Dec 20)

You would be entering into a new venture during this time, maybe a second business will do good for you in future. For single people, there is some good news. An emotional anchor is expected in your life. Be careful of one of your friends.

Very good month for you financially & career wise.

People in jobs can be assured of an increment or a better opportunity and businessmen can await a lot of new ventures coming their way. An addition to the family is also seen.

You might be getting into some venture which has you transacting with the overseas market. Frequent travel is on the cards for you. The month also shows stability in work & finances. There is a possibility of a love triangle.

Lucky Colour Orange

Lucky Colour Indigo

Lucky Colour Black Lucky No. 5

you love.

Lucky Colour Purple

Lucky No. 2

Lucky No. 3

Lucky No. 9

Lucky No. 9

Lucky No. 1

Capricorn (Dec 21 - Jan 19)

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 19)

You may suffer agonies of the mind as you imagine the worst, but nothing is real or happening, so let go of the anxiety.

The cards show beginning of a new life & you can be rest assured that you will have sufficient monetary gains. Be wise.

Career wise a better period for you. Grab all the opportunities coming to you. Some work nears completion successfully.

For people entangled in court cases, divorces, etc., justice is around the corner and that too in your favour.

A very busy month ahead.

Keep taking work-related risks to have sudden gains.

Monetary gain could come through a long lost matter. Be satisfied or else your dissatisfaction could trouble you. Make sacrifices as far as your health is concerned.

Lucky Colour Pink

Lucky Colour Yellow

Lucky Colour Blue Lucky No. 7

Lucky No. 6

Lucky No. 7

Poonam Sethi is an internationally-acclaimed Tarot card reader, Reiki healer, colour therapist, Feng Shui practitioner, crystal healer, a specialist in removal and balancing the negative evil eye energies and a rudraksha consultant. She can be contacted at poonamsethi27@hotmail.com 82 | Rail Bandhu - August 2017

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SHORT TAKES

Entertainment Calling We bring you a selection of movies for the month

JAB HARRY MET SEJAL

TOILET: EK PREM KATHA Director: Shree Narayan Singh Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Bhumi Pednekar Release date: August 11, 2017

Director: David F. Sandberg Cast: Stephanie Sigman, Miranda Otto, Alicia Vela-Bailey Release date: August 18, 2017

Sejal experiences new found freedom, security and solace in Harryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company during the search for her engagement ring.

Story of a newlywed couple from a village near Mathura where most households are without any access to lavatories.

A nun and several girls become the target of the dollmakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possessed creation, Annabelle.

Director: Imtiaz Ali Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma Release date: August 4, 2017

ANNABELLE: CREATION

FOOD YARD

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Ma d cM+k [+krjk ePNj tfur jksx ,Mht & Msaxw] fpduxqfu;k] t+hdk ,oa ;syks QhojA ,uksQ+syhT+k & eysfj;k D;qysDl & Qkbysfj;k] tSiuht+ bUlsQsykbfVl] osLV ukby QhojA

,u,pih Vksy Ýh ua-

vius ,oa vius ifjokj dks ljy mik; viukdj lqjf{kr j[ksaA • lksrs le; ;gka rd fd fnu esa lksrs le; Hkh ePNjnkuh ,oa ePNj Hkxkus okyh Øhe dk mi;ksx djsaA • 'kjhj dks iwjh rjg <adus okys diM+s igusaA • ikuh dks bdV~Bk u gksus nsaA • lIrkg esa de ls de ,d ckj dwyj ,oa NksVs daVsujksa ls ikuh fudkydj lkQ+&lQ+kbZ djsaA • vius ifjos'k dks lkQ+ j[kus esa lg;ksx djsaA • ;fn vki LFkkfud {ks=ksa esa jgrs gSa rks tSiuht+ ,UlsQykbfVl ds f[+kykQ+ Vhdkdj.k djk,aA ePNj tfur jksx fo'ks"kdj Msx a w ds f[k+ykQ+ yM+kbZ dks dsoy izHkkoh lkeqnkf;d Hkkxhnkjh ls thrk tk ldrk gSA ;g ,si leqnk; ds lnL;ksa dks l'kDr cukrk gS] fd Msx a w dh jksdFkke esa dSls ;ksxnku djs\a fo'ks"krk,a% 1- mi;ksxdrkZ Msaxw ds y{k.kksa dk irk yxk ldrk gSA 2- mi;ksxdrkZ orZeku HkkSxksfyd fLFkfr ds vuqlkj fudV ds vLirky@jDr cSd a lacfa /kr tkudkjh izkIr dj ldrk gSA 3- mi;ksxdrkZ bZ&esy ds ek/;e ls izfrmÙkj lk>k Hkh dj ldrk gSA ;g eksckby ,fIyds'ku xwxy Iys LVksj ,oa vkbZvks,l ij fu%'kqYd miyC/k gSA

1800-180-1104

gekjh ijaijk

vke dh dye vkSj xzkf¶+Vax rduhd fyLcu gksrs gq, nqfu;k ds fofHkUu ns'kksa esa tk igqaphA blls yksx Qyksa ds jktk dk Lokn p[k lds bl iwjs lQ+j esa vke dh feBkl mudh thHk ij rSjrh jgh vkSj bl Lokfn"V Qy ds fdLlksa us mudh ;knksa esa ?kqliSB 'kq: dj nh FkhA mÙkj esa efygkcknh n'kgjh p[krs gq, mUgksaus tkuk fd vke dh lcls mEnk fdLe dk mldk nkok det+ksj Fkk D;ksafd ,sls Hkh yksx Fks tks bl flagklu ij cukjlh yaxM+s dks cSBkrs FksA dk'kh ds ,d yaxM+s Q+dhj us bl fdLe dks mxk;k Fkk vkSj rHkh ls bldk uke yaxM+k iM+ x;kA gYds gjs jax okys bl vke ds ftLe ij xk<+k ihyk xwnk viuh ​xk<+h feBkl ls fdlh dks Hkh nhokuk cuk ldrk gSA dkO; jl esa vke lkfgR; esa vke jl Vidrk jgk gSA iqjk.kksa ls ysdj ek?k] Hkkjfo ds dkO; esa] laL—r xzaFkksa esa] fet+kZ x+kfyc ds fdLlksa esa] vYykuk bdcky dh 'kk;jh esa] ukxktqZu ds miU;kl esa Hkh vke vDlj [k+kl cudj Vaxk jgk gSA laL—r esa bls Bhd gh e/kq&nwr ¼olar dk nwr½] dke&oYyHk ¼dkenso dk fç; ;k çseh½] dkekax ¼dkenso dk lg;ksxh½ dgk x;k gSA vke dh Qqufx;ksa ij eatfj;ksa dk te?kV olar dks tSls U;ksrk nsrk gSA ml vkea=.k dks lqudj olar dh nsfo;ka ;kuh e/kqefD[k;ka [kqn&c&[kqn pyh vkrh gSaA dgrs gSa olar esa f[kys lSdM+ksa Qwyksa esa ls e/kqefD[k;ksa dks vke ij ynk ckSj gh lcls T+;knk yqHkkrk gSA bl chp] dks;y dh dwd ls vejkb;ksa dh jkSudsa pkSxquh gks tkrh gSaA vkSj vke dh Mkyksa ij eVdrh&dwnrh dks;y Hkh rks vkejl pwldj engks'k gksus yxrh gSA vke vkSj dks;y dk fj'rk ml ^en* dks c[+kwch trkrk gS tks olar ds ekSle esa gj rjQ+ lqxa/kh cudj QS+yk gksrk gSA vkez&eatfj;ksa dks dkenso dk ikapoka ck.k ;ksa gh ugha dgk x;k! bl ekSle ds mYykl esa vkeksa dh egd] jl] Lokn] jax] :i] vkdkj dh lkft+'ksa fdl ls fNih gSa! ^eSaxks Vªsy* & vke dh nhokuxh dk lQ+j ;ksa rks vke ij iwjs ns'k dk bf[+r;kj gS] nf{k.k ls iwjc&if'pe rd] e/; Hkkjr ls ysdj lqnwj rjkbZ ds bykds ^eSaxks csYV* ds uke ls e'kgwj gSa] ysfdu D;k dhft, vxj vki ns'k dh jkt/kkuh ;k mlds vklikl gSa\ ckxir ds jVksy esa [kM+s ckxkuksa esa pys vkb,] mlh ,sfrgkfld jVksy vke ds nj[+rksa 88 |

- vxLr 2017

ls fey vkb, ftlds fdLls xaxk fdukjs ls gksrs gq, ykgkSj&bLykekckn rd tk igqaps gSaA x<+eqDrs'oj] eqjknkckn] jkeiqj] cjsyh rd Q+jkZVk nkSM+rs gkbos ij t+jk Bgfj, vkSj lM+d ds nksuksa vksj [kM+s cxhpksa ls xq¶+rxw dj vkb,A xkft+;kckn&eqjknkckn gksrs gq, esjB ds fdBksj dLcs dh rjQ c<+ tkb,A ;gka 'kkgtgkaiqj esa [kM+h uokcksa dh gosfy;ka vkSj muds fxnZ iljs ckxkuksa esa ^eSaxks gsfjVst* ls :c: gksus dk [+;ky dSlk jgsxk\ chrs eghus tc fnYyh esa xehZ dk ekSle 'kckc ij Fkk vkSj vjc lkxj ls mBh ekulwuh gokvksa us gekjs 'kgj dh vksj c<+uk 'kq: fd;k Hkj Fkk] tc ckt+kjksa ls lQs+nk] n'kgjh] flanwjh] dslj fonkbZ ys jgs Fks vkSj rksrkiqjh] pkSlk dh [k+ud ns[krs gh curh Fkh] rks ge fganqLrku dh lkaL—frd /kjksgjksa dh ^baVjçsVj* M‚- uohuk tkQ+k dh ^eSaxks Vªsy* dk fgLlk cus FksA uohuk dh dgkfu;ksa esa vke fganqLrku ds fdlh dksus esa feyk og 4]000 lky iqjkuk thok'e ¼Q+‚fly½ Fkk ftlds ne ij ;g lkfcr gks pqdk gS fd fganqLrku gh vke dh tUeLFkyh jgk gS] rks fdlh iy ;g Qy cukjl ?kjkus dh dtjh] >wyk vkSj J`axkj&jl dh eksgdrk ls tqM+ tkrk gSA eSaxks Vªsy ds cgkus dkenso dh yhyk] f'ko&ikoZrh feyu] fganqLrkuh dyk esa vke ds cwVksa ls ysdj vfEc;ksa ds uewuksa ¼eksfVQ½ dh cgkj] vkeksa ds bfrgkl vkSj muls tqM+s lSdM+ksa fdLls&dgkfu;ksa dks lquuk gSjr esa Mkyrk jgk FkkA lkaL—frd xfy;kjksa esa >kadus ij irk pyrk gS fd laL—r dk vkez&Qy rfey esa vkeds vkSj fQ+j fcxM+dj ekeds gks x;kA dsjy esa ;g ekaxk dgyk;k vkSj ekykckj rV ij iqrZxkyh tc Qyksa ds bl ckn'kkg ds eqjhn cus rks bls ^eSaxks* uke fn;kA cs'kd] vke vkt nqfu;k ds dbZ fgLlksa esa mxrk gS ysfdu fganqLrku dh vkcks&gok esa mxus okys vke dh ckr gh dqN vkSj gSA www.railbandhu.in

jkspd tkudkfj;ka ^eSaxks Vªsy* ds cgkus isM+ksa ij >wyrs vke tc yypkus yxsa rks uokch gosfy;ksa ds vkaxu esa fcNh pkjikb;ksa ij ilj tkb,A vke ds nhnkj ds ckn mu ij VwV iM+uk rks curk gS! th&Hkjdj vke dk yqRQ+ yhft, vkSj bl chp fo|kifr ds xhrksa ij uohuk ds vfHku; vkSj u`R; ls Hkh rks vkejl Vidrk jgsxkA vke dh fojklr dk ,d fgLlk mu xhrksa vkSj inksa esa fNik gS ftUgsa ;g eSaxks Vªsy c[kwch ^fMdksM* djrh gSA xehZ dh nqigfj;k esa gqDdk xqM+xqM+krs uokcksa ds eqag ls muds vQ+xkuh iqj[k+ksa ds vke çse ds fdLls] y[kuÅ ds uokc okft+n vyh 'kkg dh vke dh egfQ+ysa] eqx+y ckn'kkgksa dh vke dh nhokuxh ls tqM+h fnyQ+jsc dgkfu;ka vkidks Hkh nhokuk cuk nsaxhA

lSj likVk

ijaijkvksa ls

izkphu

cukjl esa i;ZVdksa ds ns[kus yk;d cgqr dqN gSA ogka tkdj vkidks tks vuqHko izkIr gksxk mls ’kCnksa esa c;ka ugha fd;k tk ldrk ys[k% j.ker flag

f’k

oxaxk ,Dlizsl tSls gh bykgkckn ls vkxs c<+h jkeckx vk x;kA jsyos ds fygkt+ ls ns[ksa rks cukjl eaMyA ;kuh f’ko dh uxjh cukjl vk x,A rHkh laxe ds n’kZu gq, vkSj ;kn vk;k fd jsyos dqN Hkh dgs exj ge vHkh xaxk&;equk ds nksvkc vFkkZr bykgkckn esa gh gSaA ebZ ds var esa tc cukjl tkus dh vdLekr ;kstuk cuh rks ftl ckr dh fpark lokZf/kd Fkh og Fkh Hkh"k.k xehZ dhA pwafd eSa bykgkckn dk jgus okyk gwa blfy, eSnku ds bl Hkkx dh xehZ ls Hkyh&Hkkafr okfdQ+ gwaA ysfdu bl ckj eSa viuk t+:jh ljdkjh dke fuiVkus ds vykok fo’oukFk esa ckck Hkksys ds n’kZuksa ls oafpr ugha jguk pkgrk Fkk] lkFk gh lkjukFk Hkh eSa igys dHkh x;k ugha Fkk] blfy, cSx rS;kj dj fy;kA 90 |

- vxLr 2017

vuks[kk vuqHko eSa ;|fi blls igys Hkh cukjl nks ckj tk pqdk Fkk] ysfdu gj ckj ogka tkuk fdlh ijh{kk ds flyflys esa gh gqvkA rc ,d csjkst+xkj ;qok gksus ds ukrs esjs fy, cukjl dk blds flok vkSj dksbZ [k+kl egÙo ugha FkkA ,d vQ+lksl vkSj Fkk fd f’koxaxk ,Dlizsl okjk.klh ds ctk; eaMqokMhg LVs’ku rd gh tkrh Fkh] tks esjh ut+j esa cukjl ls FkksM+k ckgj vis{kkd`r NksVk LVs’ku FkkA ysfdu] tc ogka mrjk rks tks igyk vglkl gqvk] og ;g Fkk fd bl ckj eSa cukjl vk;k ugha gwa cfYd ckck us cqyk;k gSA fjef>e ckfj’k ds chp eaMqokMhg LVs’ku dh [kwclwjrh ns[krs gh curh FkhA ,dne lkQ+&lqFkjk] pdkpd! jsyHkou] ubZ fnYyh esa cSBdj LVs’kuksa dks ;kf=;ksa ds fy, T+;knk lqfo/kktud cukus ds lkFk&lkFk muds lkSan;hZdj.k www.railbandhu.in

bu O;atuksa dk ysa Lokn cukjl ds iku yksxksa esa viuh fo'ks"k txg cuk pqds gSaA vki ;gka BaMkbZ] yLlh] [kLrk dpkSfM+;ksa o tysch dk Hkh Lokn p[k ldrs gSaA cukjl esa feyus okyh VekVj pkV rks yktokc gksrh gSaA vki dqYgM+ dh t+k;dsnkj pk; ds lkFk cu&eykbZ [kk ldrs gSaA yk¡x&yrk] eykb;ks] eykbZ Nsuk jksy] cwfu;k vFkok cwanh vo'; p[ksaA

^^cukjl bfrgkl ls Hkh iqjkru gS] ijaijkvksa ls Hkh iqjkuk gS] fdaonafr;ksa ls Hkh izkphu gS vkSj tc bu lcdks ,d= dj nsa] rks ml laxzg ls Hkh nksxquk izkphu gSA** &ekdZ V~osu] izfl) vesfjdh ys[kd ij [k+pZ dh tkus okyh jde ij flQZ+ cgl dh tk ldrh gS ;k vankt+k gh yxk;k tk ldrk gSA mldk izHkko fdruk xgjk gksrk gS] ;g eaMqokMhg LVs’ku ij mrjus ds ckn irk pykA gesa crk;k x;k fd blds f}rh; izos’k}kj ds fuekZ.k vkSj vk/kqfudhdj.k ds ckn eaMqokMhg LVs’ku dh NVk vyx gh gksxhA eu gh eu geus lqgkus ekSle ds fy, Hkksys ckck dks ueu fd;k vkSj lqanj jsy ifjlj ds fy, Lo;a ds jsyos ls tqM+s gksus ij xoZ Hkh gqvkA gesa gksVy ^flVh bu* esa Bgjuk Fkk] tks okjk.klh jsyos LVs’ku ds Bhd lkeus gSA jsyos dh fo’ks"krk gS fd blds LVs’ku LFkkuh; laLd`fr vkSj okLrqdyk ds |ksrd Hkh gksrs gSaA okjk.klh LVs’ku dks ckgj ls ns[kdj ,slk yxrk gS fd ge fdlh jsyos LVs’ku ij ugha cfYd eafnj esa tk jgs gSaA ;gka ls gesa ’kke dks xkt+hiqj igqapuk FkkA lks geus fu’p; fd;k fd gksVy esa vkjke djus ds ctk; FkksM+k tYnh fudy fy;k tk,A jkLrs esa fo’oizfl) lkaLd`frd] iqjkrkfRod ,oa /kkfeZd egÙo dk LFky lkjukFk gks fy;k tk,A Luku djrs gq, ;kn vk;k fd ge dk’kh esa gSa blfy, gesa xaxk ugkuk pkfg,A xaxkLuku geus vxys fnu ij Vkyk vkSj ugk&/kksdj uk’rs ij VwV iM+s rkfd lkjukFk esa T+;knk le; fcrk;k tk ldsA lkjukFk dk egÙo Kku izkfIr ds i’pkr~ Hkxoku cq) us viuk izFke mins’k lkjukFk esa gh fn;k FkkA bls /kEkZ pØ izorZu Hkh dgk tkrk gSA lkjukFk dk izkphu uke e`xnko Hkh Fkk] ftldk vFkZ gS fgj.kksa dk taxyA e`xnko dk vglkl fnykus ds fy, orZeku esa Hkh ,d NksVs ls ou dk fuekZ.k ;gka fd;k x;k gS] ftlesa fgj.k ns[ks tk ldrs gSaA lkjukFk dks ^lkjaxukFk* ¼e`xksa ds ukFk½ dk viHkza’k ekuk tkrk gSA fdaonafr gS fd cksf/kRlo iwoZtUe esa tc e`xksa ds jktk Fks] rc mUgksaus vius izk.kksa dh cfy nsdj xHkZorh fgj.kh dh tku cpkbZ FkhA blh dkj.k bl ou dks lkjaxukFk dgk tkus yxk] tks dkykarj esa lkjukFk gks x;kA fo[;kr Hkkjrh; iqjkrRofon n;kjke lkguh ds vuqlkj f’ko dks ikSjkf.kd lkfgR; esa lkjaxukFk Hkh dgk x;k gSA tSu /keZ xzaFkksa esa bls flagiqj dgk x;k gSA ekuk tkrk gS fd tSu /keZ ds 11osa rhFkZadj Js;kalukFk dk

ckS) /keZ ds vuq;kf;;ksa dh lkjukFk ds izfr xgjh vkLFkk gS

okjk.klh jsyos LVs'ku ;g okjk.klh Nkouh jsyos LVs’ku ds uke ls fo[;kr gSA ;g Hkkjr esa lcls vf/kd jktLo izkIr djus okys LVs’kuksa esa ls ,d gSA ;gka izfrfnu 250 ls vf/kd jsyxkfM+;ka gksdj xqt+jrh gSa rFkk Ms<+ yk[k ;k=h vkrs&tkrs gSaA blesa ukS IysVQ+kWeZ rFkk 13 jsy dh iVfj;ka gSaA bldk fu;a=.k Hkkjrh; jsy ds mÙkjh jsyos {ks= ds y[kuÅ izHkkx rFkk mÙkj iwohZ jsyos {ks= ds okjk.klh vapy }kjk fd;k tkrk gSA vki 12436 ubZ fnYyh&fMczqx<+ jkt/kkuh ,Dlizsl] 12282 ubZ fnYyh&Hkqous’oj nqjarks ,Dlizsl ls igqap ldrs gSaA

tUe ;gha gqvk FkkA tks Hkh gks orZeku esa lkjukFk dk lokZf/kd egÙo ckS) rhFkZLFky ds :i esa gSA gkykafd fganw vkSj tSu /keZ ds fy, Hkh lkjukFk dk i;kZIr egÙo gSA lkjukFk esa v’kksd dk prqeqZ[k flag LraHk] tks fd jk"Vªh; fpºu ds :Ik esa vaxhdkj Hkh fd;k x;k gS] Hkxoku cq) dk eafnj] pkS[kaMh Lrwi] /keZjkftdk Lrwi] ewyxa/kdqVh fogkj] /kes[k Lrwi] jktdh; laxzgky;] tSu eafnj bR;kfn n’kZuh; LFky gSaA v’kksd ds LraHk dk eq[; Hkkx vc lkjukFk laxzgky; esa gSA lkjukFk ds ,sfrgkfld lanHkZ dh tkudkjh loZizFke rc gqbZ tc dk’khujs’k psr flag ds nhoku txr flag us /keZjkftdk Lrwi dks vKkuo’k [kqnok MkykA blds ckn 1815 esa duZy dSdsath us] fQ+j 1835&36 esa dfua?ke us] 1851&52 esa estj fdVksbZ us ;gka mR[kuu djok;k ftlesa /kes[k Lrwi] pkS[kaMh Lrwi ,oa ewfrZ;ka vkfn feyhaA ckn esa n;kjke lkguh us ikap o"kksZa rd mR[kuu djok;kA blesa dq"kk.kdkyhu eB vkSj vU; vo’ks"k feysA lkjukFk ls xqIrdky vkSj dq"kk.kdky ds ckjs esa ;Fks"V tkudkjh feyrh gSA ;gka gekjs LFkkuh; lkFkh lq’khy mik/;k; th tks la;ksx ls ea>s gq, Q+ksVksxzkQ+j Hkh gSa] us gekjs dqN ’kkunkj Q+ksVks mrkjsA Lokn dh cgkj ;gka ls ckgj fudys rks gekjs LFkkuh; lkFkh v’kksd th gesa usrkth iku HkaMkj ys x,] ftuds ckjs esa e’kgwj gS fd og vkfej [k+ku vkSj v{k; dqekj tSls vfHkusrkvksa dks vius iku ds t+k;ds ls viuk dk;y cuk pqds gSaA eq>s FkksM+k vQ+lksl gqvk fd eSa iku D;ksa ugha [kkrk] fQ+j lkspk iku rks os Hkh ugha [kkrs Fks] lks ,d ehBk iku [kkus dh bPNk trkbZA iku okdbZ t+k;dsnkj FkkA vki Hkh tc ogka tk,a rks ;g t+k;dk ysuk u HkwysaA ;gka ls ge xkt+hiqj ds fy, c<+s rc jkLrs esa xaxkth ds n’kZu gq,A ;g jkLrk dkQ+h pkSM+k fd;k tk jgk gSA lM+d ds dqN fgLls dks NksM+dj] - vxLr 2017 | 91

lSj likVk

'kke dks gksus okyh xaxk vkjrh ns[kdj vykSfdd 'kkafr dk vuqHko gksrk gS

ftlds vxy&cxy ?kuh vkcknh gS] ’ks"k jkLrk ’kkunkj gSA vxj vki dHkh b/kj ls tk,a rks jkLrs esa yLlh vkSj dpkSfM+;ksa dk Lokn ysuk u HkwysaA xkt+hiqj esa jsy ds fodkl dk;ksZa dk tk;t+k ysuk FkkA ;gka loZizFke VªSfQ+d foHkkx gsrq cu jgs {ks=h; izf’k{k.k dsanz dk tk;t+k ysus x,A blesa ykbczsjh] dEI;wVj :e] ekWMy :e bR;kfn fo’oLrjh; lqfo/kkvksa ds lkFk eq>s ;g tkudj lq[kn vk’p;Z gqvk fd ogka efgyk izf’k{kkfFkZ;ksa ds fy, 24 dejs vkSj iq#"kksa ds fy, 50 dejs dk ,d Nk=kokl cuk;k tk jgk FkkA ;kuh fd izR;sd l= esa 24 efgykvksa ds vkus dh vk’kk gS] tks bl ckr dk Li"V |ksrd gS fd ns’k esa efgyk,a fdruh rst+h ls vkxs c<+ jgh gSaA blds ckn uohd`r xkt+hiqj jsyos LVs’ku dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA lkSan;hZdj.k ds ckn ;g LVs’ku bruk [kwclwjr gks x;k gS fd vxj dksbZ nks lky Hkh ckn vk jgk gks] rks mls yxsxk fd og xyr LVs’ku ij mrj x;k gSA ’kke dks ge cukjl okil vk x,A vykSfdd vglkl vxys fnu ge lqcg dk’kh fo’oukFk x, vkSj ckck ds fof/kor~ n’kZu fd,A eafnj ds izkax.k esa igqapuk Hkh fuf’pr :Ik ls ,d vykSfdd vglkl ntZ+ djkrk gSA ;gka ls ge uxj dksroky ;kuh fd dky HkSjo 92 |

- vxLr 2017

eafnj x,A dgk tkrk gS fd uxj dksroky dh eaT+kwjh ds fcuk cukjl dk ,d IkÙkk Hkh ugha [kM+drkA bl eafnj ds dikV ckck fo’oukFk ds eafnj ds dikV can gksus ds ckn gh can gksrs gSaA blds ckn ge Mht+y jsy batu dkj[kkuk x,A cukjl dh ppkZ bl dkj[k+kus ds fcuk v/kwjh gSA ,d iwjk uxj clk gS bl dkj[k+kus esaA edku] nqdku] ckt+kj] Ldwy] dkWyst] flusekgkWy] LiksV~lZ LVsfM;e] xksYQ+ dkslZ lc dqN gS] vkSj HkO; gSA bl dkj[k+kus dh lcls cM+h [kwclwjrh gS fd ;g viuk ,d cwan xank ikuh xaxk unh rks D;k ukys esa Hkh ugha MkyrkA 300 gsDVs;j {ks= esa QS+ys bl dkj[k+kus dk 40 izfr’kr {ks= gfjr gSA bl ij ,d yk[k ls vf/kd isM+ gSa] ftldh otg ls ;gka dk vkSlr rkieku ’kgj ds vU; fgLlksa ds lkekU; rkieku ls 5 fMxzh rd de jgrk gSA ;gka ey&ty ’kks/ku ;a=] vkS|ksfxd fu%lzko ’kks/ku la;a= vkSj viuk ty iqupZØ.k la;a= gS tks dkj[k+kus dks vlk/kkj.k cukrs gSaA vkSj ;gh otg gS fd iz/kkuea=h tc Hkh cukjl vkrs gSa] ;gha Bgjrs gSaA ;gka ge iznhi eYgks=k th ls feysA muds gkFk dh cuh pk; ds nhokuksa esa iz/kkuea=h Hkh ’kkfey gSaA geus muls iz/kkuea=h ds ckjs esa dqN jkspd laLej.k lqus vkSj og dejk Hkh ns[kk tgka vdlj iz/kkuea=h Bgjrs gSa! fugk;r gh lk/kkj.k! dksbZ fn[kkok ughaA ’kke dks ge n’kk’oes/k ?kkV x,A eksVj cksV ls igys geus ukSdk fogkj dk vkuan fy;k vkSj fQ+j xaxk vkjrh esa lfEefyr gq,] ftlds fcuk cukjl dh ;k=k laiw.kZ ugha gks ldrh FkhA vkjrh ds nkSjku ;gka ,d vykSfdd ’kkafr dk vuqHko gksrk gSA ea= vkSj ?kafV;ksa dh /ofu ds chp vkjrh dh T;ksfr eu&efLr"d dks T;ksfreZ; dj nsrh gSA nsj ’kke tc ge okilh dh xkM+h idM+ jgs Fks] rks ckj&ckj ;gh iafDr fnekx esa vk jgh Fkh& ^^[k+kd Hkh tgka dh ikjl gS] og ’kgj cukjl gSA** www.railbandhu.in

jkspd tkudkfj;ka /kkfeZd uxjh gksus ds lkFk&lkFk cukjl f'k{kk dk Hkh izeq[k dsanz gSA uxj esa fLFkr cukjl fganw fo'ofo|ky; ,f'k;k dk lcls cM+k fo'ofo|ky; gSA cukjl vusd lkfgR;dkjksa ,pa cqf)thfo;ksa dk x<+ jgk gSA eqa'kh izsepan rFkk rqylhnkl Hkh ;gha ds jgus okys FksA cukjl esa dbZ fo[;kr dykdkjksa] laxhrKksa ,oa urZdksa us tUe fy;kA buesa iz[;kr flrkjoknd iafMr jfo 'kadj FksA 'kgukbZ oknd mLrkn fcfLeYyk [+kku us dkQ+h le; ;gka fcrk;kA cukjl ;gka feyus okyh cukjlh lkfM+;ksa ds fy, Hkh dkQ+h e'kgwj gSA bu fo'ks"k lkfM+;ksa ds pkgus okys nqfu;k Hkj esa gSaA

Hkk

fo'ks"k miyfC/k

jrh; jsy ds bfrgkl esa 16 vizSy] 2017 dk fnu i;ZVu {ks= esa Lo.kZ v{kjksa esa fy[kk tk,xkA bl fnu jsy ea=h lqjs’k izHkq us vka/kz izns’k esa okrkuqdwfyr foLVkMkse dksp okyh ns’k dh igyh jsyxkM+h dks gjh >aMh fn[kkdj jokuk fd;k FkkA jsyos us fo’kk[kkiÙkue&fdjaMqy iSlsatj jsyxkM+h esa foLVkMkse dksp yxk;k gSA bl dksp ls ckgj dk ut+kjk csgrj <ax ls ns[kk tk ldrk gSA jsy ea=h us Hkqous’oj ls ohfM;ks dkaÝsaflax ds ek/;e ls jsyxkM+h dks jokuk fd;k FkkA ;g jsyxkM+h fo’kk[kkiÙkue ls fdjaMqy ¼NÙkhlx<+½ ds chp pyrh gSA ;k=k ds nkSjku jsyxkM+h vjkdw ?kkVh ls gksdj xqt+jrh gSA bl izdkj ds vYVªk yXt+jh dksp Xykl izwQ gSaA f[kM+fd;ksa o Nr dk vf/kdrj fgLlk dkap dk gksus ds dkj.k 128 fdyksehVj yach ;k=k ds nkSjku ;k=h izkd`frd ifjn`’;ksa dk vkuan mBk ldrs gSaA dkap dh Nr okyh fLoV~t+jySaM dh jsyxkfM+;ksa dh rtZ ij ;s yXt+jh dksp fMt+kbu fd, x, gSaA jsyea=h us bl jsyxkM+h dks jokuk djus ds ckn dgk] ^^i;ZVu dks c<+kok nsus ds fy, ns’k esa igyh ckj foLVkMkse dksp dh ’kq#vkr gqbZ gSA ;gka fQygky ,d dksp yxk;k x;k gS dqN fnuksa i’pkr nwljk Hkh yxsxkA blds vykok iwoksZÙkj dh dqN jsyxkfM+;ksa esa Hkh bl izdkj ds dksp yxk, tk,axsA**

vk/kqfud dksp dh lokjh

vc vkidks jsyxkfM+;ksa esa foLVkMkse dksp dh lokjh dk volj feysxkA ;s dksp uohu lqfo/kkvksa ls lqlfTtr gSa ys[k% foeys’k panz

jsy i;ZVu dks c<+kok bafM;u jsyos dSVfjax ,aM VwfjT+e dkWiksZjs’ku ¼vkbZvkjlhVhlh½ ds v/;{k ,- ds- eukspk us dgk] ^^ifj;kstuk dk mn~ns’; i;ZVu dks c<+kok nsuk gSA blls ?kjsyw o fons’kh i;ZVd vkdf"kZr gksaxsA i;ZVdksa dh lqfo/kk dks ns[krs gq, fo’ks"k dksp fMt+kbu djk, x, gSa rkfd ;k=k vkjkenk;d vkSj #fpiw.kZ gksA** bu dksp dks vkbZvkjlhVhlh] fjlpZ fMt+kbu ,aM LVsaMMZ vkWxZukbts+’ku vkSj baVhxzy dksp QSDVjh us feydj cuk;k gSA ,fj;y O;w dh lqfo/kk okyh iwjh Lis’ky jsyxkM+h pykus dk fu.kZ; ckn esa fy;k tk,xkA dkap dh Nr okyh jsyxkfM+;ka fLoV~t+jySaM tSls dqN ns’kksa esa pyrh gSaA mEehn gS fd blls yksxksa dks fLoV~t+jySaM dh jsyxkfM+;ksa esa ;k=k djus tSlk vglkl gksxkA blls Hkkjr esa Hkh jsy i;ZVu dks dkQ+h c<+kok feysxkA lkFk gh yksxksa dks ns’k ds ckjs esa vf/kd tkudkjh feysxhA dksp dh fo’ks"krk,a bl vYVªk yXt+jh dksp esa 360 fMxzh ij ?kweus okyh dqflZ;ka yxkbZ xbZ gSa rkfd ;kf=;ksa dks ,fj;y O;w dk vkuan fey ldsA dksp ,lh vkSj Xykl izwQ gSaA buesa ,ybZMh ykbV~l] eYVh&fV;j yxst jSd vkSj Lopkfyr LykbfMax Mksj vkSj thih,l vk/kkfjr ekWMuZ buQksVsaesaV flLVe yxk;k x;k gSA ,d dksp ij yxHkx 3-38 djksM+ #i, [kpZ gq, gSaA ,d dksp esa 40 yksx cSB ldrs gSaA blesa cM+h&cM+h f[kM+fd;ka vkSj ut+kjs ns[kus ds fy, ,d ykmat Hkh gSA - vxLr 2017 | 93

gekjh fojklr

d`".k yhykvksa dk voyksdu

dq#{ks= fLFkr Jhd`".k laxzgky; vkidks dkUgk ls lacaf/kr ?kVukvksa dks tkuus dk egÙoiw.kZ ek/;e fl) gksxkA d`".k tUek"Veh ij vki ;gka vo’; tk,a ys[k ,oa Nk;kfp=% MkW- vkseizdk'k dkn;ku

dq

#{ks= ds fuekZrk xqyt+kjh yky uank ds ln~iz;klksa ls ^Jhd`".k laxzgky;* dh LFkkiuk 28 tqykbZ] 1987 esa dh xbZA o"kZ 1991 esa ^Jhd`".k laxzgky;* iw.kZr% cudj rS;kj gqvkA Hkkjr ds rRdkyhu jk"Vªifr jkekLokeh osd a V jeu us bl laxzgky; dk mn~?kkVu fd;kA Hkxoku Jhd`".k ds vkn’kksZa o f’k{kkvksa }kjk yksxksa esa uSfrd] pkfjf=d o lkaLd`frd tkxj.k djuk 94 |

- vxLr 2017

gh bl laxzgky; dk mn~ns’; gSA isgok jksM ij fLFkr ^Jhd`".k laxzgky;* tgka ,d vksj dq#{ks= dh le`) fojklr dh fuf/k gS] ogha ;g i;ZVdksa ds vkd"kZ.k dk izeq[k dsna z cu x;k gSA ;g laxzgky; nks Hkou [kaMksa esa fLFkr gS rFkk blesa dqy N% ohfFkdk,a gSAa

izFke ohfFkdk% d`".k dFkk ij vk/kkfjr bl ohfFkdk esa iznf’kZr dykd`fr;ksa esa fofHkUu dkyksa o ’kSfy;ksa esa

www.railbandhu.in

vksfM'kk dh iV~Vfp= 'kSyh esa cuh dykd`fr esa fot; dqekj ijhMk us d`".k dks izk.k R;kxrs fn[kk;k gS

dk"B ,oa gkFkhnkar ds mRdh.kZu o /kkrq fufeZr ewfrZ;ka gSaA izkphudky ls gh ydM+h vFkok dk"B dk mi;ksx Hkkjr esa Hkou fuekZ.k ,oa vyadj.k gsrq fd;k tkrk jgk gSA dk"B dh fo’ks"krkvksa dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, f’kYidkjksa us fo’ks"k ’kSyh viukbZA bl ohfFkdk esa vksfM'kk] dukZVd] rfeyukMq ,oa vka/kz izns’k ls izkIr dk"B dh ewfrZ;ka gSaA ;gka iznf’kZr dk"B dykd`fr;ksa esa vksfM'kk ls izkIr 18&19oha bZloh dh ’kSyh esa fufeZr pkj dk"B Qyd gSaA buesa Hkxoku fo".kq ds n’kkorkj o Jhd`".k dh cky yhyk,a n’kkZbZ xbZ gSaA vksfM'kk ds vU; dk"B mRdhZ.kksa ,oa ewfrZ;ksa esa vfj"Bko/k] dslh o/k] ngheaFku] dqCtkuqxzg ,oa iwruk o/k vkfn izlaxksa dk fp=.k gSA jk/kk ,oa d`".k dh ckalqjh ctkrh gqbZ vksfM'kk dh izfrek Hkh mYys[kuh; gSA rfeyukMq ls izkIr dk"B mRdh.kksZa esa ’kSyhxr LFkwyrk ds n’kZu gksrs gSaA buesa ls ,d os.kqxksiky }kjk fufeZr dk"B dh ewfrZ gS ftlesa Jhd`".k ds euksgkjh oa’khoknu dk fp=.k gSA ;gka iznf’kZr /kkrq f’kYi ds uewuksa esa rfeyukMq ls izkIr dkfy;kenZu] vksfM'kk ls izkIr ;’kksnk ds lkFk d`".k cyjke o ojkgkorkj dh ewfrZ;ka fo’ks"k :i esa mYys[kuh; gSaA blh ohfFkdk esa iznf’kZr vksfM'kk ls feyh gkFkhnkar ij cuh dykd`fr;ksa esa f=Hkax eqnzk esa [kM+s Jhd`".k o d`".k yhyk ls lacaf/kr izlax lfEefyr gSaA ;gka iznf’kZr gkFkhnkar ds irys Qyd ij xkso/kZu/kkjh d`".k dk mÙkj eqx+y ’kSyh ¼18&19oha bZloh½ esa fufeZr vR;ar euksgj y?kqfp= gSA jFk ij Jhd`".k vkSj vtqZu] xkso/kZu ioZr mBkrs gq, d`".k ,oa ckyd`".k dks MkaVrh ;’kksnk vkfn izfrekvksa dk lkSan;Z eq[; vkd"kZ.k gSA

;gka gSa cgqewY; ikaMqfyfi;ka bl laxzgky; esa iznf’kZr ikaMqfyfi;ksa esa xq#eq[kh esa fyfic) nqyZHk ;ksx of’k"B] Q+kjlh esa fyf[kr vFkok fpf=r Hkkxor iqjk.k] Q+kjlh fyfi o cztHkk"kk esa fy[kk x;k fpf=r Hkkxor] laLd`r esa fy[kh Hkxon~xhrk o egkHkkjr dh 18&19oha bZloh dh ikaMqfyfi lfEefyr gSaA

f}rh; ohfFkdk% blesa eq[;r% izkphu dq#{ks= Hkwfe rFkk gfj;k.kk ds vk|&,sfrgkfld dky ds iqjkrkfRod LFky tSls dq.kky] cukoyh vkfn ls izkIr lkexzh dh izfrd`fr;ka o e`nH~ kkaM] }kjdk ¼xqtjkr½ ls feys iqjko’ks"k] fo".kq&d`".k dFkk ij gfj;k.kk ds vusd Hkkxksa rFkk eFkqjk ls feyh izLrj ewfrZ;ksa dk laxgz gSA ;gka iznf’kZr e`ni~ k= gM+Iik] Fkwlj fpf=r ,oa ,sfrgkfld dkyksa ls lacfa /kr gSAa blds vfrfjDr ;gka gfj;k.kk ds fofHkUu Hkkxksa rFkk eFkqjk ls feyh igyh ls 10oha bZloh rd dh ewfrZ;ksa dk Hkh laxgz gSA ;gka iznf’kZr ewfrZ;ksa esa la?ksy ¼Q+jhnkckn½ ls feyh izFke bZloh esa fufeZr ,dka’kk dh ewfrZ ckyqdk iRFkj ls fufeZr rFkk gfj&firkeg dh 9&10oha bZloh dh la;Dq r ewfrZ gS tks vR;ar nqyHZ k gSA

gekjh fojklr

dq#{ks= esa 2002 esa okf"kZd xhrk t;arh egksRlo dks egkHkkjr mRlo ds :i esa euk;k x;k Fkk r`rh; ohfFkdk% blesa eq[; :i ls y?kqfp=] rkM+i= ij cus fp= rFkk Hkxon~xhrk] egkHkkjr rFkk Hkkxor dh ikaMfq yfi;ka iznf’kZr gSAa bl ohfFkdk ds ize[q k vkd"kZ.kksa esa jktLFkkuh o igkM+h y?kqfp= rFkk ohfFkdk ds chp esa cuh v"Vdks.k nhokj ij iznf’kZr Hkkxor o egkHkkjr ds izlx a ksa ij vk/kkfjr iV~Vfp= gSAa mÙkj eè;dky esa tEew] clksyh] ekudksV] dkaxM+k] xqyjs ] pEck] uwjiqj rFkk fVgjh x<+oky esa vusd y?kqfp= dyk&dsna z vfLrRo esa vk,A ;s lHkh dsna z oS".ko er ls cgqr izHkkfor FksA bl ohfFkdk ds ize[q k vkd"kZ.kksa esa 26 dkaxM+k y?kqfp=ksa dk ,d lewg gSA blesa eq[;r% Jhen~Hkxon~xhrk ds mins’kksa ,oa egkHkkjr ;q) ds dqN izlx a ksa dk lqna j fp=.k gSA ;gka vU; iznf’kZr oLrqvksa esa vksfM'kk ls izkIr rkM+i=ksa ij d`".kyhyk ,oa fo".kq ds n’kkorkjksa dk fp=.k ize[q k gSA bl ohfFkdk ds eè; Hkkx ds Åij cuh v"Vdks.k eqM a js ij Hkkxor ,oa egkHkkjr dFkk ds izlx a ksa ij vk/kkfjr vkB iV~Vfp= iznf’kZr gSAa prqFkZ ohfFkdk% blesa d`".k dFkk ij vk/kkfjr >kafd;ka gSAa buesa uotkr d`".k dks ;equk ikj ys tkrs oklqnos ] ek[ku pksjh izlx a ] d`".k }kjk cdklqj o/k] xksoèkZu /kkj.k djrs gq, Jhd`".k] dkfy;kukx dk eku&enZu djrs Jhd`".k] jklyhyk] dalo/k] lw;x Z gz .k ds volj ij dq#{ks= esa jk/kk&d`".k feyu rFkk dq#{ks= esa egkHkkjr ;q) ls iwoZ Jhd`".k }kjk vtquZ dks fn, x, vej xhrk lan’s k dk euksgkjh fp=.k gSA ;gka fn[kkbZ xbZ ekuokd`fr;ka yksgs ds <kaps ds Åij dkx+t dh yqxnh o eghu feV~Vh ds feJ.k dks yxkdj cukbZ xbZ gSAa iape ohfFkdk% nf{k.k Hkkjr dh ratkoqj fp=dyk esa pVd o xk<+s jaxksa rFkk vkHkw"k.kksa gsrq Lo.kZ i=ksa dk iz;ksx fd;k tkrk gSA bl fp=dyk ds eq[; fo"k;oLrq ckyd`".k gh jgs gSAa laxgz ky; dh bl ohfFkdk esa ckyd`".k ls lacfa /kr vusd fp= iznf’kZr gSAa laxgz ky; dk uke Jhd`".k ds uke ij gksus ds dkj.k bl laxgz ky; dk y{; ,oa mn~n’s ; Jhd`".k dFkk ij vk/kkfjr /kjksgj dk laj{k.k ,oa izn’kZu gSA egkHkkjr :ih egkdkO; Jhd`".k dFkk dk vewY; dks"k gSA egkHkkjr ds eq[; ik= gksus ds dkj.k Jhd`".k ds pkjksa vksj gh lHkh dFkk izlx a ?kwers izrhr gksrs gSAa blfy, bl ohfFkdk esa egkHkkjr ls lacfa /kr izlx a ksa dk fp=.k fd;k x;k gSA NBh ohfFkdk% Hkh"e egkHkkjr dky ds vlk/kkj.k O;fDrRo gSAa mudh ioZr tSlh vfMx uSfrdrk] vuqie Kku o ohjrk vkus okyh ihf<+;ksa ds fy, lrr~ izjs .kk cuh jgsxhA ekuo thou esa bUgha uSfrd ewY;ksa dk egÙo iznf’kZr djus 96 |

- vxLr 2017

;gka nf{k.k Hkkjrh; 'kSyh esa cus vusd vkd"kZd fp= ns[kus dks feysaxs

ds mn~n’s ; ls gh bl laxgz ky; esa Hkh"e&’kj’k¸;k ds izlx a dks fn[kk;k x;k gSA bl izlx a esa egkHkkjr ;q) ds i’pkr~ Hkh"e firkeg ;qf/kf"Bj dks jktèkeZ ,oa vuq’kklu dh f’k{kk nsrs gq, fn[kk, x, gSAa iwoksÙZ kj dk ef.kiqj jkT; oS".ko /keZ dk ,d ize[q k dsna z jgk gSA ;gka d`".k iwtk dh izkphu ijaijk jgh gSA bl ohfFkdk esa lkr ekuokd`fr;ksa }kjk iznf’kZr clar jklyhyk fn[kkbZ xbZ gSA blesa u`R;jr xksfi;ka Jhd`".k ds izfr J)k Hkko ,oa izes iznf’kZr djrh fn[kkbZ xbZ gSAa blh ohfFkdk esa vfHkeU;q o/k dh >kadh iznf’kZr gSA blesa ohj ckyd vfHkeU;q ds vrqyuh; ijkØe o ’kkS;Z dk fp=.k gSA >kadh esa lkr ;ks)kvksa nzk.s kkpk;Z] nq;ks/Z ku] d.kZ] ’kY;] nq%’kklu] d`i o t;nzFk }kjk pØO;wg esa vfHkeU;q dks ?ksjrs gq, fn[kk;k x;k gSA bl >kadh dks dukZVd dh izfl) ;{kxku ’kSyh esa fn[kk;k x;k gSA bl yksd ukV~; ’kSyh esa u`R;] laxhr o laoknksa dk vfrlqna j la;kstu gksrk gSA Hkkjr esa dBiqryh u`R; izkphudky ls gh ukV~; ijaijk ds ,d fo’ks"k :i dk izfrfuf/kRo djrk gSA dBiqryh dyk lkadfs rd gSA blesa pfj= fo’ks"k ds fy, [+kkl fdLe dh dBiqryh cukbZ tkrh gSA ;gka iznf’kZr ;s peZ dBiqrfy;ka vka/kz izn’s k dh gS]a ftuesa egkHkkjr ds ize[q k ik=ksas dk fp=.k gSA vkidks vxj ekSdk feys rks vki vius ifjokj lfgr bl vuks[ks laxgz ky; dks ns[kus vo'; tk,aA www.railbandhu.in

jkspd tkudkfj;ka iV~Vfp= vksfM'kk dh yksd fp=dyk gSA bUgsa cukus ds fy, iz;qDr diM+k u vf/kd iryk vkSj u gh vf/kd eksVk gksuk pkfg,A diM+s ij iRFkj ds pw.kZ o beyh ds cht ls cus xksan dk ysi fd;k tkrk gS rkfd ;g fp=ksa ds jaxksa dks vklkuh ls lks[k ldsA ;gka fn[kk, x, izlaxksa esa #fDe.kh gj.k] Hkh"e }kjk tjkla/k o/k] f’k’kqiky o/k] lw;Zxzg.k ds volj ij dq#{ks= esa mifLFkr Jhd`".k vkfn izeq[k gSaA

gekjs R;ksgkj rj.ksrj dk esyk

dh NVk

gekjs ns’k esa fofo/k izdkj ds ioZ euk, tkrs gSa rFkk esys vk;ksftr fd, tkrs gSaA blh izdkj ds dqN vk;kstuksa ds laca/k esa tkudkjh izLrqr gS

fdlkuksa ls tqM+k iksyk iksyk vxLr eghus esa [ksrh dk dke lekIr gks tkus ds ckn Hkknz i{k dh vekoL;k dks R;ksgkj euk;k tkrk gSA fofHkUu vapyksa esa bls iksyk ikVu o dq’kksRikVuh vkfn uke ls tkuk tkrk gSA iksyk Hkh gjsyh dh gh rjg d`f"k deZ ls izsfjr yksdioZ gSA eq[; :i ls iksyk NÙkhlx<+ rFkk e/; o iwohZ egkjk"Vª esa euk;k tkrk gSA bl o"kZ ;g 21 vxLr dks euk;k tk,xkA gjsyh esa ftl izdkj ls d`f"k vkSt+kjksa dh iwtk izfr"Bk djds d`"kd vius o vius i’kq /ku ds LokLF; dh eaxy dkeuk djrk gS Bhd mlh rjg ls iksyk Hkh /ku&/kkU;] y{eh o d`f"k deZ ds lg;ksxh cSyksa dh iwtk ls lacaf/kr ,d egÙoiw.kZ ioZ gSA bl le; [ksrksa esa vafre fujkbZ yxHkx iwjh gks tkrh gSA [ksrksa esa /kku ds ikS/ks ygygkrs gSaA ;s ikS/ks fd’kksjkoLFkk dks ikj dj ifjiDo gksus dh fLFkfr esa gksrs gSaA Qly dks yksdHkk"kk esa y{eh dgk tkrk gSA ;g vUuiw.kkZ Hkh dgykrh gSA y{eh dk vk’k; le`f) gSA y{eh vFkkZr vUuiw.kkZ dk ckyiu csVh vkSj izkS<+iu eka ds :i esa iwtk tkrk gSA /kkU; y{eh tc [ksrksa esa gS rks og csVh gSA [ksr ls [kfygku vkSj [kfygku ls dksBh esa vkdj eka dh izfr"Bk ikrh gSA ,slh yksd ekU;rk gS fd iksyk ds fnu /kku dh Qly ^xHkksV* esa vkrh gS vFkkZr xHkZ /kkj.k djrh gSA blfy, yksd e;kZnk ds vuq:i bl fnu [ksr esa tkuk oftZr gSA blds ihNs dkj.k tks Hkh gks ysfdu yksxksa dh ;gh ekU;rk gSA yksd&lekt esa e;kZnk ikyu dh ijaijk dsoy euq"; ds fy, ugha vfirq i’kq] i{kh o ikS/kksa ds fy, Hkh gSA bl fnu d`"kd ifjokj }kjk viuh csVh /kkU; y{eh ds xHkZorh gksus dh fLFkfr esa fo’ks"k O;atu cukdj l/kkSjh dk Hkksx yxk;k tkrk gSA iksyk ds fnu uanh vFkkZr ukafn;k iwtk dh ijaijk gSA uanh f’ko dk okgu gSA vkfndky ls f’ko dks ;gka cM+snso] cw<+knso o nwYgknso ds :i esa iwts tkus dh ijaijk gSA &MkW- v#.k ,l- fuukos

jax&fcjaxh ikjaifjd os’kHkw"kk esa lts&/kts NSy&Nchys ;qod vius gkFkksa esa dykRed Nrfj;ka Fkkes gq, tc fdlh r#f.k dks vkdf"kZr djus esa lQy gks tkrs gSa rks lef>, fd mudk esys esa vkuk lkFkZd gks x;kA th gka] ;g rj.ksrj dk esyk gSA ;gka vkfnoklh ;qod&;qofr;ka dsoy euksjatu ds fy, gh ugha vkrs vfirq vius thou lkFkh dh ryk’k Hkh iwjh djrs gSaA xqtjkr ds lkSjk"Vª bykds esa ,d NksVk lk xkao gSa rj.ksrjA gj o"kZ ;gka x.ks’k prqFkhZ ds ekSds ij rhu fnolh; esyk yxrk gSA bl o"kZ ;g esyk 25 ls 27 vxLr dks vk;ksftr gksxkA egkHkkjr dky esa vtZqu us Lo;aoj lekjksg esa eNyh dh vka[k dks fu’kkuk cukus dh izfrLi/kkZ esa fot; izkIr dj ikapky ujs’k dh iq=h nzkSinh ds lkFk fookg jpk;k FkkA fookg ds i’pkr tks vkuanksRlo euk;k x;k mldh Le`fr esa vkt Hkh ;g rj.ksrj dk esyk meax Hkjs ekgkSy esa vk;ksftr gksrk gSA lkSjk"Vª ds vkfnoklh ;qod&;qofr;ksa ds fy, rks ;g esyk Lo;aoj dk gh Lo:i izLrqr djrk gSA esys esa ;qod&;qofr;ka jax&fcjaxh os’kHkw"kk esa ’kkfey gksrs gSaA ;qod jaxhu /kksrh o vkd"kZd d’khnkdkjh ;qDr tSdsV igus gksrs gSa rFkk flj ij ixM+h o ’kjhj ij pkanh ds vkHkw"k.k Hkh /kkj.k djrs gSaA ;qofr;ka lrjaxh ifj/kkuksa esa lt&/ktdj esys esa Hkkx ysrh gSaA esys dk izeq[k vkd"kZ.k fpÙkkd"kZd dkap&d’khnkdkjh ;qDr fofHkUu jaxksa dh Nrfj;ka gksrh gSaA fof’k"B izdkj dh ds’k lTtk ,oa pV[k jaxksa ds oL= igus vfookfgr ;qod bu Nrfj;ksa dss uhps cSBdj vius vfookfgr gksus dk ladsr nsrs gSaA vfookfgr ;qofr;ksa dh Vksfy;ka mu Nkrk/kkjh ;qodksa ds vklikl ?kwerh fn[kkbZ nsrh gSaA Nkrk/kkjh ;qod dks buesa ls tks ;qorh ilan vk tkrh gS] cl mlh ds lkFk ckr vkxs c<+rh gSA esys esa cSyxkM+h dh nkSM+ Hkh gksrh gSA &’;ke lqanj tks’kh

- vxLr 2017 | 97

INDIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

No.1 Best On-Time Performance in the year 2016-17

Highest Occupancy Rate for 27 consecutive months

The results were announced on 20th November, r 2016. r,