Rail Bandhu May 2017

MAY 2017

VOL 7

ISSUE 1

THE ON-BOARD M AGAZINE OF INDI AN RAILWAYS

PLUS

A Symbol of

MUMBAI

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

History on wheels Mysore Railway Museum

Spiritual vibration The joyous spirit of fluttering Prayer Flags

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MINISTER'S MESSAGE

THE NEW RESOLVE

Expanding Rail Infra Dear Travellers, It is my pleasure to share my views with fellow passengers.

Our government under the visionary leadership of Shri Narendra Modi ji is completing three years. In past three years, the governance agenda has been development of the country Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas.

In past three years, we have been striving to reform Railways. Many significant initiatives have been taken in this regard. Some of the major ones are Cleanliness Campaign, New Catering Policy, Fitting Bio toilets, Introduction of New Segment of Trains like Antoyodaya and Humsafar Express, Station Redevelopment, Digitalising Railways, WiFi at Railway Stations, VIKALP Scheme and Social Media, which aim at ameliorating passenger experience during the travel. The endeavour is to transform Railways into modern, efficient and best in class transporter.

I assure the fellow passengers that Indian Railway is committed to provide safer travel. On punctuality of trains, I would like to inform that Indian Railways is taking necessary steps to avoid any delay. Out of all Zonal Railways, seven Zonal Railways have punctuality of more than 90 per cent and five have more than 80 per cent. Remaining five Zonal Railway with less than 80 per cent punctuality are ECR, NCR, ECOR, NER & NR. Cumulatively, across all these five Zonal Railways, more than 76 per cent of sections on high density network are highly congested with capacity utilisation of more than 100 per cent. We are working on removing bottlenecks by augmenting Rail Infra. All these efforts in concert would go a long way in ensuring better punctuality in this summer season.

SURESH PRABHU

Hon'ble Minister of Railways Government of India

Indian Railways is determined to serve in a better way and we shall continue to receive your co-operation in revamping Railways.

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

I assure the fellow passengers that Indian Railways is committed to provide safer travel Rail Bandhu - May 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 - May 2017

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CONTENTS

TRAVEL

RAIL UPDATE

32 LEAD STORY

14

29

IRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three-year performance report

Awarding Scholarships

Buddhist prayer flags

30

36

ENTRY TICKET

RAIL TRAVEL

Plan your trips around these days and events

An unusual train journey by three filmmakers

CULTURE

46

52

DREAMSCAPE

HERITAGE HALT

A visit to Gurudongmar lake in North Sikkim 10 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

History on wheels in rail museum of Mysore www.railbandhu.in

60

HOT SPOTS

An exclusive photo story on horses and their bond with humans

CONTENTS

DISCOVER

LIFESTYLE

74

88

STYLE FILE A fashionable ode to train memories

GREEN CARD

Satpura National Park offers peace and solace

98

thou 'kSyh

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SHORT TAKES Books to read and movies to watch this month

102 STAR TRACKER Your tarot predictions for this month

108 114 116 12 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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ON THE COVER Prayer flags carry positive vibrations and blessings

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

INDIAN RAILWAYS

3

YEAR PERFORMANCE REPORT

In last 3 years Indian Railways has made commendable progress and initiated a slew of structural reforms

Desh ko Gati bhi rail se milegi, aur Pragati bhi SHRI NARENDRA MODI | Prime Minister

We needed to convert the vicious cycle into a virtuous cycle SHRI SURESH PRABHU | Minister of Railways

CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

24,307

45,979

58,718

93,795

1,11,000

1,31,000

AVG 2004-09

AVG 2009-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18 (PLAN)

INVESTMENT `CRORE

INFRASTRUCTURE CREATION BROAD GAUGE LINES COMMISSIONED (KMS)

ELECTRIFICATION COMPLETED (KMS)

1,528 2015-16 2,828 2016-17 2,857 2017-18 (PLAN) 3,500 AVG 2009-14

1,184 2015-16 1,730 2016-17 2,013 2017-18 (PLAN) 4,000 AVG 2009-14

BROAD GAUGE LINES COMMISSIONED ACROSS NORTH EAST INDIA (KMS) AVG 2009-14 AVG 2014-16 2016-17

100 411 481 Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 15

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

NEW FREIGHT TERMINALS

28

55

45

35

2017-18 (PLAN)

2016-17

2015-16

AVG 2009-14

NO. OF PVT SIDINGS AND PRIVATE FREIGHT TERMINALS COMMISSIONED

SAFETY-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE NO. OF UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS ELIMINATED AVG 2009-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

NO. OF RAILWAY OVERBRIDGES/ UNDERBRIDGES CONSTRUCTED

1,139 1,148 1,253 1,503

AVG 2009-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

762 1,108 1,024 1,354

SPEEDING UP INTRODUCED INDIA’S FASTEST TRAIN- GATIMAAN EXPRESS @ 160 KMPH

Formed ‘National High Speed Corporation’ to undertake high speed railway construction between Mumbai & Ahmedabad

Sanctioned `17,000 crore to develop Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata as integrated semi high speed corridors.

Contracts to be awarded this year

LEVERAGED THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE Approved 2 new loco factories in Bihar, one of the largest FDIs in India with combined order book of over `40,000 crore. Factories currently under construction are targeted to be inaugurated by next year 16 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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Provided high speed Wifi at more than 130 stations.

Target to reach 400 by year end – Largest public Wifi programme in the entire world

WiFi

MODERNISING STATIONS

FREIGHT PERFORMANCE TONNAGE MN TONNES

1,051 2013-14

Contracts awarded and construction commenced for Habibganj and Gandhinagar Railway Stations

Highest ever loading by Indian Railways

1,109 1,095 1,104

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

LONG-TERM CALLS TO IMPROVE MODAL SHARE For the first time ever in Indian Railways, freight rates were reduced

25+ Stations under various stages of bidding – The entire Station Redevelopment programme would entail investment of more than `1,00,000 crore

• Port congestion charges dropped • Dual pricing policy of iron withdrawn

LIBERALISATION OF THE FREIGHT SECTOR

Multi-point loading introduced

Siding policy liberalised

Automatic freight rebate scheme in traditional empty flow direction introduced

Last mile connectivity through Roadrailers, Roll-on-Roll-offs

Goods terminals opened up for handling containers

Time-tabled freight services introduced

Container sector opened up for more commodities

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 17

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

CUSTOMER-FRIENDLY

Appointed Key Customer Managers to serve as single point of contact for all major freight customers. Introduced long-term contracts, which are being signed by key customers

Structured dialogue between Railways and Customers christened ‘Samvad’ started

Electronic registration of Demand and Electronic transmission of Railway Receipts started

FOCUSING ON REDUCING COSTS AND LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF REVENUE Significant cost savings planned Launched Mission 41K - Save `41,000 crore in 10 years through energy efficiency and procurement optimisation Achieved `10,100 crore of non-fare revenue in 2016-17, almost 80 per cent increase in one year Various initiatives lined up to boost Non Fare Revenues further: •T rain Branding – Both external and internal advertising on trains •R ailway display network – Creating a new medium for advertising and information dissemination • Sole advertising rights for the entire zonal Railway • On Board entertainment

18 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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‘SWACHH RAIL’ INSPIRED FROM ‘SWACHH BHARAT’ NO. OF BIO-TOILETS Over 800 trains with OBHS service

34,014

1,917

AVG 2009-14

NO. OF OBHS TRAINS

198 146

62 2016-17

AVG 2009-14

2015-16

2016-17

1st independent cleanliness ranking for Indian rail stations launched; developing an online portal to receive continuous feedback from passengers Revised contract structures for cleaning e.g., OBHS – leading to induction of bigger, professional players

PASSENGER AMENITIES RESERVED ACCOMMODATION CAPACITY [NO. OF BERTHS IN CRORE] End of 2014 Present

37.1 50

Launched new trains to meet targeted customer needs – Tejas, Humsafar, Deendayalu coaches and Antyodaya trains

Launched new catering policy: Food to be prepared largely at sophisticated, world-class base kitchens; Big push on E-Catering and Ready-to-Eat meals – offers more choice to passengers

STRUCTURAL REFORMS Set up an independent regulator – Rail Development Authority. One of the biggest reforms in Rail Sector

Created distinct Rolling Stock and Traction Departments – Led to capture of massive synergies and improved operational efficiency

Piloted merger of Rail Budget and Finance Budget

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 19

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

‘ONE-OF-ITS-KIND’ COMPLAINT REDRESSAL MECHANISM IN THE WORLD INPUTS

PROCESS

23 Million

passengers travelling

OUTPUT

24x7 operations via a centrally managed cell

Average response time of less than 30 mins

Tweets classified as critical, noncritical, suggestions & others For every actionable tweet, a ticket is opened in the system

6,500

Critical tweets are communicated via SMS or phone calls

tweets/day

Each ticket is monitored at various stages in the system until resolution

IMPROVED GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY

IMPROVING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE BY GOING DIGITAL

AVERAGE PROJECT APPROVAL DURATION (MONTHS) EARLIER

6

NOW

Percentage of CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS

24

68%

99%

Largest ever online recruitment in the world conducted by Indian Railways Passenger Business

1,20,000

Delegation of powers to functional levels

Freight Business

Number of simultaneous internet users handling capacity

Key result areas defined for General Managers & DRMs

100%

e-procurement established. Complete digitisation of supply chain catering to annual procurement of more than `25,000 cr

20 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

System capability improved by 3 times

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REFORMS UNDERTAKEN IN

INDIAN RAILWAYS Clear, measurable goals have been set in the Budget Speech for 2020 namely:

Time-tabled freight trains Reserved accommodation on-demand

Semi high speed trains along Golden Quadrilateral

Zero direct discharge of human waste

Train punctuality to reach

95%

Elimination of unmanned level crossings Average speed of freight trains at

50 kmph 80 kmph

and Mail/Express trains at

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 21

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

INDIAN RAILWAYS HAS TAKEN UNPRECEDENTED REFORMATIVE INITIATIVES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. SOME OF THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS ARE:

REFORMS Administrative 1. Delegation & De-centralisation of powers at functional levels: All tenders for works and procurement contracts to be approved by Zonal Railways, which earlier used to come to Railway Board. Further, power to sanction all cost escalations in estimates has also been delegated to Zonal Railways. This is leading to significant reduction in time taken for project approvals. In some cases, cycle time for procurement of material, reduced from 500 days to 88 days.

2. Monitoring of zonal railways through MoUs & quantifiable performance parameters (KRAs): Right delegation has been accompanied with right accountability to ensure effectiveness. Overall vision and targets have been broken down to individual level targets for General Managers, PhoDs and DRMs, which are monitored on a monthly basis. Performance is evaluated relatively to each other, which leads to a fair and objective evaluation.

• Implemented corridor-based infrastructure planning to ensure tangible outcomes from investments – Delhi – Mumbai and Delhi – Kolkata corridors are being developed to enable 200kmph trains through this approach.

Transparency

5. E-Procurement: 100 per cent procurement worth `50,000 crore is routed through e-platforms making it completely paperless. This is the

APPRAISAL

• Developed outcome-based contract management for outsourcing contracts such as On Board House Keeping, which would lead to significant improvements in cleanliness levels on trains.

22 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

6. E-recruitment: • 100 per cent online recruitment for all staff posts. Created a world record for conducting the largest ever online exam in the world, which saw participation of more than 92 lakh applicants.

• No interviews for the recruitments of staff.

2

1

3

3. Revised performance appraisal: Formats of performance appraisal for all officers have been revised to make it more objective.

4. Revamped contract management: • Increasing use of EPC mode in construction. More than 10 projects worth `5,500 crore in various stages of award through EPC bidding.

biggest supply chain digitisation initiative by any government institution.

4 5

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6

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Long-term contracts signed with key customers

Implemented one-of-a-kind complaint redressal mechanism by leveraging social media.

RAIL TICKET

I mplemented the next generation ticketing system, which enhanced ability of IRCTC website to handle 15,000 concurrent users from the previous 2,000 users.

Rationalisation of tariff to win back lost modal share.

Busy season surcharge removed, port congestion charges withdrawn, ironore dual pricing removed.

FREIGHT & PASSENGER REFORMS

ey Customer K Managers appointed to serve as single point of contacts for freight customers.

Introduced new train products for various passenger segments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Antyodaya and Humsafar express.

Non-fare revenues to be enhanced to 10-25 per cent of the total revenue in five years through station redevelopment, monetisation of land and soft assets, advertising, Rail Display Network, on-board entertainment and overhaul of parcel business.

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 23

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

STRUCTURAL REFORMS Extra Budgetary Resources Big push to capital investments in Railways made possible only due to availability of extra budgetary resources.

Most notable achievement being tying up with LIC for a loan of `1.5 lakh crore with attractive terms.

Rail Development Authority Set up to promote competition, protect customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interests, determine efficiency benchmarks and enable fare pricing.

State Joint Ventures 10 companies conceptualised and implemented Joint Ventures with State Governments to expedite the pace of infrastructure development in States. Could contribute almost 10 km/day of new line commissioning.

Railway Planning and Investment Organisation Setting up of Railway Planning and Investment Organisation to determine scientific planning process, professionalise preparation of project DPRs and financing of projects.

Research & Development Organisation Setting of SRESHTHA, a new world-class R&D organisation.

Commenced the largest digitisation and ERP initiative in Railways, called as One-ICT. This would lead to savings of more than `55,000 crore.

Accounting Reforms Expanded the scope and expedited the implementation of accounting reforms in Indian Railways.

Open-Access Procurement Implemented open-access procurement of electricity through long-term PPAs which along with other energy efficiency measures would yield savings of `41,000 crore in the next 10 years.

24 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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GOVERNANCE AND ORGANISATIONAL RESTRUCTURING

The process of selection of DRMs revamped to ensure only deserving candidates are selected

The process of transfers and postings of General Managers made absolutely transparent

Creation of cross-functional directorates to expedite progress in languishing areas such as cleaning, non-fare revenues, speed enhancements, etc.

Re-organisation to have distinct Rolling Stock and Traction departments

Creation of secretary level posts for each department/cadre

BUILDING PLATFORMS FOR FUTURE High Speed Rail – MumbaiAhmedabad project is being taken up with assistance of Government of Japan. This would bring Indian Railways at par with the major passenger railway systems in the world and help train Indian engineers in the technology as well as indigenous manufacture of the hi-tech equipment through a Makein-India component.

to take up North-South, East-West & East Coast freight corridors through innovative financing including PPP.

DFCs – In addition to ongoing Eastern and Western DFCs, proposal

Seven Missions on 25 tonne axle load, zero accidents, efficient

National Rail Plan 2030 - To be prepared in consultation with State governments, public representatives and other relevant ministries for harmonious and integrated development of rail network in synergy with other modes.

procurement, speed raising, 100 sidings/ PFTs, capacity utilisation and accounting reforms to aid rational and evidence-based decision-making.

Station Redevelopment – Launched one of the largest transit oriented development program across the world worth `1,00,000 crore.

Habibganj and Gandinagar stations to be inaugurated before December 2018. More than 25 stations to be bid out by the end of next year.

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 25

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

Concession list in Indian Railways

1

Indian Railways provides subsidy of approx `36,000 crore in freight and passenger business

S. No

2

IR provides 53 major types of concession ranging from 10% to 100% on basic fares

CATEGORY OF PERSONS

I

3

IR recovers only 57% of the cost in non-suburban tickets and 36% of the cost in suburban tickets

PERCENTAGE OF CONCESSION* DISABLED PASSENGERS

1

Orthopaedically Handicapped/ Paraplegic persons who cannot travel without escort – for any purpose

2

Mentally retarded persons who cannot travel without escort - for any purpose

3

Blind persons travelling alone or with an escort - for any purpose

4

Deaf & Dumb persons (both afflictions together in the same person) travelling alone or with an escort - for any purpose

II

• 75% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair car • 50% in 1AC and 2AC, •2 5% in 3AC & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains •5 0% in MST & QST •O ne escort is also eligible for same element of concession •5 0% in 2nd, SL and 1st Class •5 0% in MST & QST •O ne escort is also eligible for same element of concession

PATIENTS

5

Cancer patients travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/ periodic check-up

• 75% in 2nd, 1st class & AC chair car • 100% in SL & 3AC • 50% in 1AC & 2AC •o ne escort eligible for same element of concession (except in SL & 3AC where escort gets 75%)

6

Thalassemia patients travelling alone or with escort for treatment/ periodic check-up

• 75% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair Car

7

Heart patients travelling alone or with an escort for heart surgery

• 50% in 1AC and 2AC

8

Kidney patients travelling alone or with an escort for kidney transplant Operation/Dialysis

•O ne escort is also eligible for same element of concession

9

Haemophilia Patients – severe & moderate form of disease travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodical check up

•7 5% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair Car •O ne escort is also eligible for same element of concession

10

T.B./Lupas Valgaris patients travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodical check-up

• 75% in 2nd, SL and 1st Class •O ne escort is also eligible for same element of concession

11

Non-infectious Leprosy patients - for treatment/periodical checkup

•7 5% in 2nd, SL and 1st Class •O ne escort is also eligible for same element of concession

12

AIDS patients - for treatment/check-up at nominated ART Centres

•5 0% in 2nd Class

13

Ostomy patients - travelling for any purpose

• 50% in MST & QST •O ne escort is also eligible for same element of concession

14

Sickle cell Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check-up

•5 0% In Sleeper, AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes

15

Aplastic Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check-up

III

16

•5 0% In Sleeper, AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes

SENIOR CITIZENS Men- 60 years and above travelling for any purpose

• 40% in all classes

Women- 58 years and above travelling for any purpose

• 50% in all classes • Also in Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ Duronto trains

26 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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IV

AWARDEES

17

Recipients of : (i) President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, (ii) Indian Police Award for Meritorious service - of age 60 years and above, travelling for any purpose

• 50% for men • 60% for women • in all classes & Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi

18

Shram Awardees - Industrial Workers awarded the Prime Minister’s Shram Award for Productivity and Innovation - travelling for any purpose

75% in 2nd and SL class

19

National Awardee Teachers –honoured with National Award by the President of India for exemplary service in the field of education travelling for any purpose

50% in 2nd and SL class

20

Either of parents accompanying the Child Recipients of National Bravery Award - travelling for any purpose

50% in 2nd and SL class

V

WAR WIDOWS

21

War Widows - travelling for any purpose

75% in 2nd and SL class

22

Widows of I.P.K.F. Personnel killed in action in Sri Lanka - travelling for any purpose

75% in 2nd and SL class

23

Widows of Policemen & Paramilitary personnel killed in action against Terrorists and Extremists - travelling for any purpose

75% in 2nd and SL class

24

Widows of defence personnel killed in action against terrorists & extremists - travelling for any purpose

75% in 2nd and SL class

25

Widows of Martyrs of Operation Vijay in Kargil in 1999 – travelling for any purpose

75% in 2nd and SL class

VI

26

STUDENTS Students going to hometown & educational tours - General Category

•5 0% in 2nd and SL class • 50% in MST/QST

- SC/ST Category

• 75% in 2nd and SL class • 75% in MST/QST

Girls up to Graduation Boys up to 12th standard (including students of Madrasa) travelling between home & school

Free second class MST

27

Students of Govt. schools in rural areas - for study tour - once a year

75% in 2nd class

28

Entrance exam - Girls of Govt. schools in rural areas travelling for national level entrance exam for medical, engineering, etc.

75% in 2nd class

29

Concession to students appearing in main written examination conducted by UPSC & Central Staff Selection Commissions

50% in 2nd class

30

Foreign students studying in India - travelling to attend camps/ seminars organised by Govt. of India and also visit to places of historical & other importance during vacations

50% in 2nd and SL class

31

Research scholars up to the age of 35 years - for journeys in connection with research work

50% in 2nd and SL class

32

Students and non-students participating in Work Camps

25% in 2nd and SL class

33

Cadets and Marine Engineers apprentices undergoing Navigational/ Engineering training for Mercantile Marine - for travel between home and training ship

50% in 2nd and SL class

VII

YOUTHS

34

Youths attending National Integration Camps of : (a) National Youth Project (b) Manav Uththan Sewa Samiti

50% in 2nd and SL class 40% in 2nd and SL class

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 27

RAIL ACHIEVEMENT

35

36

Unemployed youths : (i) to attend interview for job Statutory Bodies, Municipal Corporation, Govt. Undertaking, University or Public Sector Body)

• 50% in 2nd and SL class

(ii) to attend interviews for jobs in Central & State Govt

• 100% in 2nd class • 50% in SL class

Bharat Scouts & Guides - for scouting duty

50% in 2nd and SL class

VIII

KISANS

37

Kisans and Industrial Labourers - for visit to agricultural/industrial exhibitions

25% in 2nd and SL class

38

Kisans travelling by Govt. sponsored Special trains

33% in 2nd and SL class

39

Kisans & Milk Producers - visit to National level Institutes for learning/Training

50% in 2nd and SL class

40

Delegates for attending Annual Conferences of : (i) Bharat Krishak Samaj and (ii) Sarvodaya Samaj, Wardha

50% in 2nd and SL class

IX

ARTISTS & SPORTSPERSONS • 75% in 2nd & SL Class • 50% in 1st, AC Chair Car, 3AC & 2AC •5 0% in Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ Jan Shatabdi AC Chair Car, 3AC & 2AC

41

Artists - for performance

42

Film technicians - travelling for film production related work

• 75% in SL • 50% in 1st, AC Chair car, 3AC & 2AC • Incl Rajdhani/Shatabdi

Sportsmen participating in : (i) All India and State tournaments

• 75% in 2nd and SL class • 50% in 1st class • 75% in 2nd, SL and 1st class • 50% in 1st class

43

(ii) National tournaments 44

Persons taking part in Mountaineering Expeditions organised by IMF

• 75% in 2nd and SL class • 50% in 1st class

45

Press Correspondents accredited to Headquarters of Central & State Governments/Union Territories/ Districts - for press work.

Spouse/companion/dependent children (upto 18 yrs)

50% in all classes of Mail/Express, Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ Jan Shatabdi trains.

50% concession twice every financial year.

X

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

46

Doctors – Allopathic - travelling for any purpose

10% in all classes of Mail/Express, Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ Jan Shatabdi trains

47

Nurses & Midwives - for leave and duty

25% in 2nd and SL class

XI

Others (Conference, Camps, Tours etc)

48

Delegates for attending Annual Conferences of certain All India bodies of social/cultural/educational importance

25% in 2nd and SL class

49

Bharat Sewa Dal, Bangalore – for attending camps/meetings/rallies/ trekking programmes

25% in 2nd and SL class

50

Volunteers of Service Civil International - for social service

25% in 2nd and SL class

51

Teachers of Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools - for educational tours

25% in 2nd and SL class

52

Members of St. John Ambulance Brigade and Relief Welfare Ambulance Corps, Kolkata - for ambulance camps/competitions

25% in 2nd and SL class

XII 53

IZZAT MST Izzat MST to persons with monthly income not exceeding `1500, working in unorganised sectors – for journeys up to maximum 150 Kms

28 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

www.railbandhu.in

`25

Awarding scholarships RWWCO grants scholarships to students to recognise academic achievement and encourage children to pursue higher education

RWWCO President Smt. Rashmi Mital awarding scholarships to beneficiary Railwaymen

A

s part of its annual activities, the Railway Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Welfare Central Organization (RWWCO) distributed merit scholarships to wards of non-gazetted employees working in the Ministry of Railways. Smt. Rashmi Mital, President, RWWCO, awarded scholarships to the beneficiaries on April 27, 2017. The purpose of these scholarships was to encourage children of railway employees to excel in education especially technical education courses like BTech, BE, MBBS and also other forms of higher education.

QUICK FACT RWWCO started its activities in 1962. While the primary concern of the organisation is the welfare of Railway employees and their families, it has always risen to the call of the society and the nation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; be it environmental awareness, family welfare drives or the natural calamities.

RWWCO President Smt. Rashmi Mital inaugurating a fashion boutique

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 29

ENTRY TICKET

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

MUMBAI UNDERWATER FESTIVAL (MAY 6-7, 2017) Bringing together the adventure loving community in Mumbai, the underwater festival hosts unique activities like underwater hockey, scuba diving, skateboarding, diver’s obstacle course etc. The other highlights of the festival include interaction with speakers from India and the global community of adventure enthusiasts.

Venue: Mumbai How to reach: The railway network connects Mumbai to all destinations of India.

A(VOID) (TILL MAY 20, 2017) This presentation by two Indian contemporary artists – Dilip Chobisa & Tanmoy Samanta comprises layered mixed-media canvases and works on paper and assemblages in subtle monochromatic palette. Chobisa’s graphite on paper works are vignettes constructed from memory. Samanta prefers to subtract sentiment or nostalgia in favour of a more complex evocation of belonging.

Venue: New Delhi How to reach: New Delhi has regular trains available from all cities of India.

30 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

INTERNATIONAL FLOWER FESTIVAL (MAY 1 – 31, 2017) The festival brings together fun-filled activities and the beauty of flowers. The highlights of the festival include a range of regional delicacies, river rafting and yak safari. Seminars and lectures about indigenous plants are also conducted during the festival.

Venue: Gangtok How to reach: The nearest railway station to Gangtok is about 148 km away in New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri and is wellconnected to major cities like Kolkata and New Delhi. www.railbandhu.in

JUSTIN BIEBER - THE PURPOSE WORLD TOUR IN INDIA (MAY 10) Pop sensation Justin Bieber is touring in support of his fourth studio album Purpose. The 22-year-old Grammywinning singer’s set is expected to include hits like Where Are U Now, Boyfriend, Love Yourself, Company, As Long As You Love Me, What Do You Mean?, Baby, Purpose and Encore: Sorry among others.

Venue: DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai How to reach: Mumbai is well-connected to rest of India by trains.

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

NIOS

GLOBAL LEADER IN

24x7 Online

Admission

DISTANce EDUCATION Do you know someone who is not pursuing education?

Please share this with him/her.

eDuCATING INDIA - CHANGING lIveS Secondary (Class X) • Senior Secondary (Class XII) Admission Open Now Stream-1

Block-I: 16 March to 15 September 2017 Block-II: 16 September to 15 March 2018

elIGIbIlITy CRITeRIA • For Secondary 14 years as on 31st July 2017 . Class VIII pass or Self Certificate (as prescribed in the Admission Form). Address proof • For Senior Secondary 15 years as on 31st July 2017 .

Secondary (Class -X) passed from any recognized Board.

Address proof Secondary (Class X)

Sr. Secondary (Class XII)

Male

`1485

`1650

Female

`1210

`1375

Exempted Categories SC, ST, EX. Servicemen & PWD

`990

`1075

ADMISSION Fee

• Transfer of Credit Fee `150 (per subject) • In addition to the above fee `50/- will be added as the cost of online application form

Extraordinary fEat by thE nioS divyang lEarnErS Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi said, “They have one or more organs which have divinity, where divine power flows.” NIOS have always been prioritising its various activities for the Education of its important Target Group 'Divyangs'. To cater Dviyangs in more effective way and reaching to them directly NIOS has accredited about one hundred institutions to provide education and cater to the needs of these very Special Learners. This category of study centres is called Special Accredited Institutions for Education of the Disadvantaged (SAIEDs),where these learners can enroll them self for their Secondary (10th) and Senior Secondary (12th) Courses.

Five NIOS Divyang learners not only brought laurels for NIOS but also made country proud in recently concluded Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017, Austria by winning medals. These learners were mentored and their talent was nurtured by the Army Public School, Delhi Cantt. under the leadership of Principal Ms. Neetu Kapoor.

The following Divyangs who excelled in different discipline were facilitated by Prof.

C.B. Sharma, Chairman, NIOS on 25th April, 2017 at a Special Function organised at Army Public School, Delhi Cantt..

1. Mr. Monu Gold in Floor Ball

Salient features for admission of divyang learners

2. Mr. Mukul Panwar Bronze in Snow Shoeing

• Additional time of 20 minutes/hour for each subject • Free services of amanuensis, reader and assistant • Care taker/near relative/guardian allowed inside examination hall • Study centres as examination centre for learners with specific needs

3. Ms. Ranjali Basumatary Bronze in Floor Hockey

For more information

• Interpreter using sign language allowed in examination for hearing impaired • Examinations conducted at home for learners with extreme disability • On demand examination • Sign language glossary (being developed)

4. Ms. Pooja Vth position in Floor Ball 5. Mr. Sudhir Prasad, Coach/Special Educator On this occasion Sh. Lt Gen M M Naravane, AVSM, SM, VSM , General Officer Commanding Hqs, Delhi Area was the Guest of Honour.

These winners were awarded cash prize, momento and a Certificate of Appreciation.

NIOS salutes the extraordinary feat of its Divyang learners.

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

WIDE ANGLE

SILENT

Blessings

Buddhist prayer flags carry positive vibrations and blessings with the breeze, for all Text: Brinda Gill

T

he joyous sight of scores of square or rectangular pieces of coloured cloth, strung across long horizontal strings and lofty poles, instantly speaks of a Buddhist presence. Keeping company along pilgrim trails, mountain passes and bridges, gracing stupas and monasteries in different parts of the country - specially in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Bylakuppe in Karnataka - as well as in Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, they infuse a space with sanctity, colour and beauty.

Along with rows of glistening Buddhist prayer wheels, an organic pile of stones, rocks carved or painted with mantras, these colourful flags instantly soothe the spirit with their joyous spirit of fluttering unfettered in the breeze. And their presence speaks of centuries-old traditions, faith and symbolism bringing peace to devotees and pilgrims, and sending wishes of good fortune to all sentient beings.

STEEPED IN SYMBOLISM Buddhist prayer flags are hoisted at sites open to the elements, where the breeze can

32 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

blow over them carrying the sentiments they bear afar. The flags are composed of fabrics of five colours that are displayed in multiples of five in a particular sequence.

The number and colours of the flags bear significance: the number five speaks of the five basic energies that manifest in the physical world, namely, earth, water, fire, air and space. Buddhism believes that the human body and all matter is composed of these five basic elements. The sets of five flags are a reflection of this fundamental belief as each colour bears a symbol: yellow symbolises earth, green-water, red-fire, white-air or clouds, and blue-space. And spanning earth to space, these flags are displayed in an order that reflects this world - yellow, green, red, white and blue, in vertical and horizontal displays.

AN ANCIENT TRADITION The origins of Buddhist prayer flags are traced to Tibet and the blending of two traditions; that of pre-Buddhist Bon shamanism (that existed in Tibet before Buddhism arrived in the seventh century AD) and Buddhism. The Bons worshipped the forces and elements of nature, and it is stated that Bon priests

www.railbandhu.in

TRIVIA

Getting prayer flags as a gift from someone and not buying them is how you should acquire a prayer flag. Therefore, telling friends who visit Buddhist places to get you prayer flags is the right thing to do.

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 33

WIDE ANGLE

Prayer flags are hoisted at sites open to the elements, where the breeze can blow over them

used cloth flags of primary colours to heal.

These flags were believed to balance the five elements within a person as well as between a person and his/ her environment and thus usher in a state of well-being of mind, body and spirit.

A legend states that Indra, the Hindu God of the Heavens, requested the Buddha for guidance to overcome the asuras, who were troubling the gods. The Buddha gave Lord Indra the Victory Banner Sutra saying it should be repeated for success. Lord Indra subsequently won the battle. This sutra practised by Buddhists in India later made its way to Tibet, and came to be featured on flags, thus creating prayer flags to bring peace and success.

SPREADING BLESSINGS Over the time, the flags came to bear sacred symbols, mantras, sutras, invocations and prayers; these sentiments are expressed for the well-being of all sentient beings and not individual boons. Flags came to be hoisted on auspicious days, days of pilgrimage and travel, during festivals, weddings and special occasions. Incense may be lit before a flag is hoisted and prayers said while they are being hoisted.

SYMBOLS AND PRAYERS An important motif on prayer flags is the wind horse carrying a wish-fulfilling jewel on its saddle, placed in the centre of the flag; it signifies blessings being carried swiftly across by the flag. At the four corners of a flag may be motifs of the Four Dignities- the garuda (fire), the dragon (water), the snow lion (earth) and tiger (wind/air) that represent the attributes 34 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

DID YOU KNOW

There are two kinds of flags – horizontal and vertical. The horizontal ones are called Lung Dar and the vertical ones are Dar Cho.

QUICK FACTS Colour fading from the flags is considered auspicious.

It is

considered disrespectful if the flags touch the ground.

Prayer flags are replaced with new ones each year.

www.railbandhu.in

of wisdom, power, fearlessness and confidence. Composite mythical creatures are created by fusing two animals regarded as rivals (lion and garuda), to symbolise harmony. Another important symbol is the vajra, the symbol of indestructibility and irresistible force.

There are eight auspicious Buddhist symbols – the right coiled white conch, lotus, dharma wheel, parasol, endless knot, pair of golden fish, victory banner and treasure vase that also feature on prayer flags. The eight precious possessions of a monarch that comprise the minister, queen, wish fulfilling jewel, vase, horse, general, golden wheel and elephant also feature on prayer flags.

Then there are images of the Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava and various Bodhisattavas, mantras like ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ or ‘Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum’.

Other mantras are of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of wisdom; Tara, the goddess of compassion; and Vajrapani, the protector, the Bodhisattva of power; and praise to the 21 Taras, that is to Green Tara goddess and her twenty manifestations. Sutras or short texts based on discourses of the Buddha such as the Victory Sutra also feature on the flags.

RAIL TRAVEL

Three filmmaker friends covered more than a quarter of the Earth’s circumference via train and captured the lives of rail travellers in a documentary feature

TOTAL DISTANCE 25,000 KM

10 TRAINS 17 DAYS

Discovery of

INDIA An unusual journey by three filmmakers presenting a riveting view of the vast nation through its people who often travel in unreserved compartments Text: Shillpi A Singh 36 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

I

n March 2016, three filmmaker friends — Samarth Mahajan, Omkar Divekar and Rajat Bhargava — embarked on an unusual journey to explore the unheard, unseen and unknown India, and take a sneak peek into the lives of ordinary people and their extraordinary stories. The trio chose to discover India through the Indian Railways and its general compartments. The biggest takeaway for these filmmakers from this epic journey is an hour-long documentary on the subject — The Unreserved — that was released on YouTube in February this year.

BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHER The three friends hail from diverse academic backgrounds but what unites them is their passion for story-telling and filmmaking. www.railbandhu.in

QUICK FACT In their 265-hour journey of over 17 days in 10 trains, they touched the farthest points served by the Railways — Baramulla in the north, Dibrugarh in the east, Okha in the west, and Kanyakumari in the south.

RAIL TRAVEL

“Let the people... who generally travel in superior classes, without previous warning, go through the experiences now and then of third class travelling.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Third Class in Indian Railways, 1917 Mahajan first made a minute-long ad film while pursuing a course in engineering at IIT Kharagpur. The film was well-received and the adulation that followed got him hooked to the craft. His first short documentary film, Kazwa - A Million Lanterns, was screened at multiple international film festivals, and he is currently studying liberal arts at the Young India Fellowship Programme of Ashoka University.

Like Mahajan, Divekar too holds a degree in engineering and a diploma in filmmaking from the Xavier’s Institute of Communications,

Mumbai, while Bhargava is a commerce graduate with a diploma in filmmaking. They stumbled upon each other in Mumbai. “The idea behind 10 train sojourn, touching all the extreme points of the rail network, was to explore the class of travel which carries almost 95% of its passengers, some of whom travel unreserved out of choice, a few by chance and others out of compulsion.

Everyone has made a compromise sometime, either in the past or now, and we wanted to talk about those sometimes sans prejudices,” says Mahajan, director and the brain behind this project. He was assisted by Bhargava while Divekar took care of the camera work for this project.

TRAVEL SMART A major inspiration behind the idea was Mahajan’s previous experience of Jagriti Yatra, an 8000-km journey in the sleeper class of the Indian Railways across India to promote social entrepreneurship. “The 15-day journey made me quite attached to trains. I also read up an article titled ‘Third Class in Indian Railways’ by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917 and was shocked to know that the description and perception of the General Compartment and its travellers haven’t

Morning view of Banihal station

38 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

www.railbandhu.in

INTERESTING FACTS During the course of their journey, the trio ended up talking to more than 100 people, listening to their stories, and capturing the sights, sounds, fragrance, flavour, fun and fervour of the third-class travel. The stories were about people, their love, longing, life, living and learning in the raw, crude and bland format. “The 25,000 km journey gave us 40 hours of footage.

Editing took over three months.” says Mahajan, with a chuckle.

RAIL TRAVEL

Their research included a study of the art of conversation and the socio-economic conditions of different compartments of a train changed over the last century. The revelation made me take up this project,” says Mahajan.

DATA WISE They did a lot of legwork before embarking on their ambitious journey. Their research included a study of the art of conversation and also of the socio-economic conditions of different compartments of a train. Bhargava compiled a database of each and every station on the entire route, along with relevant news, facts and recent developments about the places that they would come across during their trip. His hard work came in handy for the team as these facts triggered some of the conversations with strangers on the train. But if starting a conversation was the easiest thing to do, the toughest part was jostling for space, competing with luggage and people alike, in the general compartment. Divekar, who had to wade through a sea of people to shoot on the move, says, “For 17 days, I followed Samarth and captured his conversations with fellow passengers. Personally, it was a huge challenge to carry around a camera in those jam-packed compartments, but it is the one that I ended up relishing towards the end.”

TAKING SOCIAL MEDIA BY STORM It was Omkar who started live tweeting, and the journey soon became a rage on Twitter, trending at times. The team began posting updates and photographs of their journey.

The updates caught the attention of Netizens, who started following their trip developments with bated breath. Homesick after days of uninterrupted travel, the filmmakers even made a fervent appeal for good food on social media. They were pleasantly surprised to receive an inventory of three days at Hijli station from a set of college juniors from IIT 40 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

A musical journey with renditions of popular Bollywood songs

TRAVEL STORIES

For Divekar and Bhargava, the story of an Assamese woman living in Delhi, who fell in love with a truck driver from Uttar Pradesh, and learned Hindi just to be with him was a simple story of love, that touched their hearts.

But Mahajan relates most to the story of a family of four, which includes parents and two daughters, travelling from Delhi to Punjab. “The story has so many layers — parenthood, patriarchy, love, fear — that it left me in tears while I was conversing with the family. It reminded me of patriarchal attitude of people in my hometown,” he says with a heavy heart. www.railbandhu.in

Kharagpur, who thought it would be a good idea to feed their hungry alumnus. The tribe of travel lovers grew by leaps and bound, and the film was eventually released to a rousing welcome by the Netizens on YouTube.

UNRESERVED VIEW Though the crew had travelled in the general compartment on more than one occasion earlier, the journey this time around was nothing short of an eye-opener. “The journey changed my perception about India because between the chaos and crowd, there is a lot of adjustment and understanding, which creates an environment of harmony and peace among the passengers,” says Bhargava. Mahajan seconded his view, “Though consensus was missing in those conversations on many occasions, but everyone was game for a healthy discussion.” All three agree that the experience of travelling in the unreserved compartment had been humane as the conversations were honest. Rightly so as their film succeeds in presenting a riveting view of the vast nation and show its breathtaking beauty, unified diversity, infinite complexities and startling contrasts, through its people who often travel in the unreserved compartment, sometimes by choice and sometimes by chance.

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

TOBACCO

WORLD

NO TOBACCO

3 MAY

A THREAT TO DEVELOPMENT

DAY

• To make world aware about the health risks associated with tobacco use • Advocating for effective control measures to reduce tobacco consumption • Tobacco injurious to health • Tobacco use is a major preventable cause of premature death and disease worldwide • Causes cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, gangrene, impotence, respiratory problems, and in females infertility, different problems during pregnancy.

• Children, family members, friends exposed to second hand smoke are at increased risk of various diseases.

• Smoke still present after smoking in small closed space such as car, is also harmful.

• “mCessation (tobacco) Programme”-Quit Tobacco for life

NHP Toll free no.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with World Health Organisation and International Telecommunications Union has started an initiative mCessation (Tobacco) utilizing mobile technology for tobacco cessation.

It aims to reach out to tobacco users of all categories who want to quit tobacco use and support them towards successful quitting through constant text messaging on mobile phones.

Register to mcessation (tobacco) Programme Visit

https://www.nhp.gov.in/quit-tobacco Or Give a missed call on

011-22901701

1800-180-1104

INTERACTIVE

postcards Readers write back and share their memories with us

FEEDBACK Rail Bandhu gives a lot of information on different tourist places in India and the measures taken by Railways in different aspects of travel comfort and safety.

Baidyabati station Pic shared by:

BISWAJIT PATRA via e-mail

SOUMYA DIP ROY

In April issue, the article on ‘Train Tales’ particularly caught my eye. It was indeed interesting to learn about many small railways all over India, now part of the main network. Keep up the good work, keep us entertained and informed.

AKSHOBH SINGH via e-mail

View from Shimla-Kalka Himalayan Queen Pic shared by:

It was a good experience to read the magazine. It is an informative magazine that provides a lot of information about rail expansion and innovation.

SUJIT NANDI

VIJAY GOYAL via e-mail

The recent edition attracted my attention while travelling in KLK Shatabdi. It was really a ‘fairy-tale book’ to satisfy a reader for delving into hidden facts & stories of our railways of bygone era. Besides the uniquely beautiful coverage on various topics with lucid language and colourful foliages running over the eyes, the style & amp and synchronous get-up was immaculate. The imprints reverberated in memory even after the journey was over.

Rail Bandhu Magazine at Borivali Pic shared by:

SOHAIL AHMED

A journey to the Land of Teak Woods Pic shared by:

AMAL MANDAL via e-mail

NIKHIL N A

Rail Bandhu is a great initiative.

Edition by edition it gives us immense knowledge about our pride, Indian Railways. I got a chance to read the magazine on-board New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express.

SAURABH BARANWAL via e-mail

42 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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View from Shivalik Deluxe Express Pic shared by:

SUDARSAN RAMACHANDRAN

Near Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh Pic shared by:

VIVEK BAJAJ

Katra railway station Pic shared by:

SATISH GOSWAMI

Sunrise at Howrah Junction Pic shared by:

NISCHAY SHRIVASTAVA

LET US KNOW WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING Journeys are best remembered through postcards. Next time you travel by a train, do remember to take a picture of your journey or anything that catches your eye.

We will publish the best entries here.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK ABOUT THE MAGAZINE WRITE TO US AT

railbandhu@maxposure.in

JOIN, LIKE AND SHARE AT

www.facebook.com/railbandhu

FOLLOW US ON

www.twitter.com/Rail_Bandhu

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 43

DREAM SCAPE

GURUDONGMAR LAKE Where Earth meets Heaven For those adventure lovers, who have limited time in their hands, a visit to Gurudongmar Tso (Lake) in North Sikkim, a few kilometres short of the India-Tibet border, will prove to be the most rewarding experience Text: Sanjoy Mookerjee, IRAS (Retired)

L

ocated at an altitude of over 17,000 ft above mean sea level, Gurudongmar Lake provides one of the source streams of the turbulent Teesta River, which cascades down from these icy heights, through the verdant valleys of Sikkim and touches the plains at the Doors region of North Bengal at Sevoke, near Siliguri.

traditional Sikkimese cottages with curved roofs and Tibetan motifs. Buddhist prayer flags flutter atop wooden poles surrounding colourful Gompas and whitewashed Chortens with golden tops. As one travels, one can see the roaring Teesta way below, while right in front, one is wonder-struck by the awesome splendour of the Kangchenjunga massif.

From Gangtok, the drive to Chungthang via Mangan, the headquarters of the North Sikkim district takes one through green hills interspersed with picturesque hamlets,

The drive to Chungthang, located at the confluence of the Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu rivers, takes around five hours. One can stay the night here; but it would be a good idea to drive

46 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

www.railbandhu.in

on for a couple of hours more alongside Lachen Chu to the small town of Lachen for the night halt. At 8,500 ft altitude, night stay at Lachen provides the required opportunity for tourists to acclimatise, in preparation of the sharp ascent to Gurudongmar Lake the following day.

THE GRANDEUR OF NATURE The travails of the mountain road are amply compensated by the visual splendour of the upper Himalayan topography. Surrounded by mighty snow-capped peaks, the road steadily rises to Lachen, a quaint town, one of the last

surviving habitats of the Lepchas in Sikkim.

Moving through one green valley after another, one is spellbound by the number of waterfalls cascading down the steep mountainsides, some of them having a sheer drop of more than a thousand feet, ultimately flowing onto the white waters of the roaring Lachen Chu. The climb from Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake has to start well before daybreak, if one wishes to return to Lachen and back to Gangtok the same evening. As dawn breaks, one realises that the surroundings are rapidly changing.

TRIVIA

The lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava, also referred as Guru Rimpoche. This sage had passed through the lake during the Eighth Century AD, while returning from Tibet, where he had gone at the invitation of the Tibetan Emperor, Trisong Detsen.

DREAM SCAPE

(Left) The Army road bisects the plateau like a black ribbon; (Below) A number of waterfalls cascade down the steep mountain sides

The road is much steeper and rough. The skills of the car drivers are put to challenging tests on every twist of the treacherous terrain. The snowy peaks, which were seen high above on the previous day, suddenly confront the traveller at eye level. And without any prior notice, all vegetation except grassy shrubs, disappear. The track through high passes is dust-laden and the hills around turn ochre. A few miles further, one touches the cold desert on the southern edge of the Tibetan plateau, beyond the northern slopes of Mount Kangchenjunga.

The last inhabited village on this route is Thanggu at an altitude of 12,500 feet, about an hour’s drive from Lachen. As one climbs higher, gradually the last of the Himalayan peaks withdraw and the plateau expands on all sides, with the Army road bisecting it like a black ribbon.

INTERESTING FACT Gurudongmar lake lies Km north of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. At Gangtok, tourists need to obtain the mandatory permits for visiting North Sikkim.

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The last checkpoint on this route is Giagang, a forward outpost of the Eastern Command at an altitude of 15,000 ft. An army medical unit is also stationed here, that willingly helps civilians in case of need.

A PAINTING ON CANVAS From Giagang, the road gently moves up the sloping plateau to Gurudongmar. The buff coloured hills, capped with powdery snow and the intense sun shining through an indigo sky, is strangely reminiscent of Marco Polo’s description of his travels along the silk route during the middle ages. Here, it would appear as if time has indeed stood still over centuries. www.railbandhu.in

Driving along this spectacular landscape, one can observe the fast receding Himalayan skyline in the south. All round, yaks graze at leisure, on pastures fed by frozen rivers and glaciers, while our valiant jawans of the Indian Army keep strict vigil upon the border beyond.

A small rise to the right of the border road finally takes the visitor to the shimmering, azure lake, partly covered by a transparent ice sheet. Fed by glaciers from the surrounding mountains to its south and east, this ethereal lake has a circumference of 5.25 km. Visitors and pilgrims undertake a walk around its periphery, a Parikrama followed by a holy visit to the Gompa to its north. The Gompa is dedicated to Guru Rimpoche, as it is believed that during his visit in the 8th century, the Guru, in order to provide drinking water to the local people during winter, placed his hand on a part of the lake; this portion has miraculously stopped freezing ever since. It is said that Guru Nanak also visited this lake during his travels.

This makes the lake sacred for the Sikhs too.

Sitting along the water’s edge, as one enjoys the breathtaking vista all around - the soothing touch of the gentle breeze on one’s cheeks, the playful reflection of the golden sun upon the lake, the tinkling of the yaks’ bells, the distant aroma of the camphor lamps in the Gompa and the rhythmic flutter of the prayer flags around the lake - the visitor is at once transported to a state of heavenly bliss - to Shangri-la; only to be brought back to the earth, when the hour of return arrives!

IN FOCUS

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY TOBACCO – A THREAT TO DEVELOPMENT

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has launched various programmes to curb the tobacco consumption in India

W

orld No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31st to make world aware about the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective control measures to reduce tobacco consumption. The theme of this year is ‘Tobacco – a threat to development’.

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of premature death and disease worldwide, causing 6 million deaths every year. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), chronic lung diseases & stroke. Side effects of tobacco use can occur to any person, regardless of gender, age, race, and cultural or educational background.

It brings suffering, disease, and death to impoverishing families.

Tobacco products are made entirely or partly of leaf tobacco as raw material, the two main forms of use are chewing and smoking. Tobacco products are either used as smokeless tobacco like Khaini, Zarda, Gutka or as smoking. Apart from cigarettes, people from India smoke tobacco using bidis, hookahs and chillums among several other forms of smoking.

More than 4,000 different types of chemicals have been found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Over 60 of these chemicals have been classified as carcinogens (cancer causing agents) by International Agency on Research in Cancer. All tobacco products contain the highly addictive psychoactive ingredient - nicotine.

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TOBACCO USE: PROBLEM IN INDIA • I ndia is the second largest consumer and third largest producer of tobacco in the world.

• Global adult tobacco survey (GATS) revealed that 48% of males and 20% of females in the age group of 15 years and above in India consume tobacco in some form or the other.

• Smokeless tobacco use is more common than the use of smoked tobacco.

• Smoked tobacco use is more in men compared to women who are more likely www.railbandhu.in

to use smokeless (chewed) tobacco.

•B eedis are smoked more than cigarettes.

• National Sample Survey Organization of the Indian Government showed that 20 million of children between 10 to 14 years of age are addicted to tobacco and about 2 million new users are added every year.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TOBACCO Tobacco use affects almost every major organ and system in the body. Tobacco use in any form can cause cancers in

Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda

Hon’ble Union Minister Health and Family Welfare different organs in human body including mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), lungs, esophagus, breast, brain, gall bladder, and kidney. Nearly 45% of all cancers among males and 17% among females in India and more than 80% oral cancers are directly related to tobacco use.

Most of the Tobacco users don’t know that tobacco use narrows their arteries causing them to become clogged and can lead to heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, gangrene of the feet and impotence.

In women users, infertility and different problems during pregnancy such as ectopic pregnancy, low birth weight baby, congenital anomalies, premature birth are related to tobacco use.

Passive smoking or second-hand smoke (breathing in someone else’s cigarette smoke) even if a person is non-smoker also increases the risk of respiratory problems, lung cancer, coronary heart disease (heart attack, angina, heart failure), stroke, etc.

Breathing in second-hand smoke is particularly harmful for children and pregnant women. Children exposed to second-hand smoke are at increased risk

of sudden death syndrome and various other respiratory problems. Children who grow up with a parent or family member who smoke are three times more likely to start smoking themselves.

Smoke may still be present in large amount even after the person has stopped the smoking especially in small enclosed space such as in cars.

control measures and tobacco control laws, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has launched ‘National Tobacco Control Programme’(NTCP) in 2007-08 during the 11th five year plan. NTCP is implemented with health care delivery system at state and district level under National Health Mission and in phase-wise manner it will cover the entire country.

TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAMME IN INDIA

mCESSATION (TOBACCO) PROGRAMME

It is not only government who can step up tobacco control efforts, people can contribute on an individual level to make a sustainable, tobacco-free world.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, in partnership with World Health Organization and the International Telecommunications Union has started an initiative for utilizing mobile technology for tobacco cessation. It aims to reach out to tobacco users of all categories who want to quit tobacco use and support them towards successful quitting through constant text messaging on mobile phones.

People can commit to never take up tobacco products. Those who do use tobacco can quit the habit, or seek help in doing so, which will, in turn, protect their health as well as people exposed to second-hand smoke, including children, other family members and friends. Money not spent on tobacco can be, in turn, used for other essential uses, including the purchase of healthy food, healthcare and education.

In order to bring about greater awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and to implement effective tobacco

Register to mCessation(Tobacco) Programme visit www.nhp.gov.in/quittobacco-programme or give a missed call on 011-22901701 Tobacco smokers are at greater risk of developing cancers than non-smokers.

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 51

HERITAGE HALT

The museum was established in

1979

by Indian Railways

History on

WHEELS The railway museum tucked away in Mysore is a surprising showcase of a rich legacy. We take you on a historical ride of the Indian Railways Text: Ganesh Vancheeswaran

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www.railbandhu.in

W

alking on the pavement, looking for a board that announces the Railway Museum, you tend to almost miss it. But the lush greenery on the other side of the road catches your eye and holds you in a grip.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR The museum stands quietly at the corner of two roads, with a no-fuss gate. A steady stream of vehicles passes by at a pace that is perfectly in tune with Mysoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laid back life. The ticket counter here is the most amusing space. Instead of a tiny window in which you thrust some bills and extricate the ticket, this oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a repurposed guard van of an old goods train. This simplicity comes across as a breath of fresh air in comparison to other museums.

HERITAGE HALT

The museum is an outdoor display of classic locomotives, including old trains and steam engines REMARKABLE AND WELL-PRESERVED Once inside, the first thing that you spot is vintage locomotives and passenger coaches standing on bits of railway track, with narrow paved paths leading up to them.

Start the tour with a narrow gauge E Class steam loco bearing the badge number 119 E. It is remarkably well-preserved. With its small size and gleaming paint, it looks like a newly-painted toy. The builder’s plate reveals that this loco is a 116 years old and was manufactured by W.G. Bagnall Ltd. in Strafford, England. The same company supplied several steam locos to the many private railway companies in India until the early 20th century, including a few to the Kolar Gold Fields.

Walk over to a narrow gauge coach that initially belonged to the Mysore State Railway, but was subsequently taken over

by Southern Railway after the railways were nationalised. Built in 1927, this coach has a body made of thick plyboard. The coach has dim interiors and hard wooden benches

arranged parallel to the tracks, different from the seating arrangement of today.

Climbing down from the coach, move to a meter gauge steam loco marked ‘37338 TS’, another product of W.G. Bagnall. Built in 1932, it pulled coaches for the Mysore State Railways for many years before being discontinued. The most striking feature of this loco is not any of its manufactured parts, but the three lines of sacred ash on its forehead. Steam loco drivers and yard keepers of the railways were known to be intensely fond of their ‘wards’. They would give them pet names, wash them thoroughly every day, perform puja for their wellbeing and even mark their foreheads with the sacred ash.

A SHOWCASE OF HISTORY Next up is the Chamundi Gallery, which showcases the history and evolution of locomotives. The mesmeric black and white photos of vintage locomotives streaking through different landscapes, the steam billowing proudly from their chimneys is a capturing sight.

There are photos of certain key moments in railway history too. This gallery is sure to warm the cockles of avid photographers.

ALL CUED UP Moving on, spend some time at the section dedicated to signals. Did you know that the earliest signaling mechanism for trains involved a man on horseback riding ahead of the train, carrying a flag? Then came the ball

Steam engines including the first steam engine and signaling accessories from the beginning of the railways in India are showcased here.

A steam water pump of 1934 and a hand-operated crane of 1885 are also displayed.

Mysore Rail Museum has a captivating collection of locomotives. Most of the exhibits were earlier placed at the Mysore Palace which were later shifted here.

The 1925 Austin was restored from a scrap dealer and was later used for inspection purposes

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Blocks of Information

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HERITAGE HALT

signal, the fingerpost signal and a long line of other mechanisms before the current sensorbased electronic system was adopted.

Walk around the gallery, taking in old newspaper clippings on the railways, official memos issued by railway companies and postage stamps.

ROYAL INDULGENCES Exit the gallery and walk a few paces to the Sriranga Pavilion. This is a huge hall with a high ceiling. Its centerpiece is undoubtedly the saloon of the Maharani (queen) of Mysore.

You will find its ‘consort’, the saloon of the Maharaja of Mysore, in the National Rail Museum, New Delhi. The Maharani’s saloon is a metre gauge, B Type coach that was custom-built to her preferences in 1899.

Back then, the saloon cost the kingly sum of `29,000; so, imagine how much it would have cost now! The emblem of the Mysore state is affixed onto one side of the saloon.

Three steps lead to a small landing and a glass partition from which you see a bed, a writing desk by the window, a dressing table and an en suite bathroom. Though the upholstery has faded and a few fittings are missing, the vision of a luxurious life is trapped inside the saloon even after all these years. Attached to the saloon stands a private kitchen cum dining coach, complete with a larder, gas line and berths for the staff to sleep on.

ANTIQUE PIECES Elsewhere in this huge hall is a long line of memorabilia from railway stations of the past.

There is antique wooden furniture from the Srirangapatna railway station in Karnataka, grandfather clock, a magneto telephone and a telegraph machine. And, most interestingly, there is a Neals Ball Token instrument too.

In the good old days, different ‘key’ systems were used by the railways. The key was meant to ensure the smooth passage of trains and prevent accidents. The Neals Ball token was one such system.

Walk over railway tracks to the rear part of the open museum. On the way, you will pass an old 56 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

Model of a train at Mysore Rail Museum

signal, a set of levers that serve to switch trains from one track to another and a quaint steamdriven rail carriage. There is a toy train too, and it start its rounds daily at 2:30 pm.

QUICK FACTS MUSEUMS, NOW JUST A CLICK AWAY Indian Railways is using Internet to create pan-India virtual museums to showcase its 160-year-old heritage. The British era steam locomotives and wooden body coaches, among others, will be displayed online to make them accessible for a wider range of people. For this The Railways is collaborating with technology partners.

The virtual museums shall also feature a ‘contributory or crowd sourcing mode’ for soliciting contributions from a large group of people, and especially from online communities. www.railbandhu.in

TIME BUBBLE Clamber aboard a railbus, one of the few that were deployed in all of India, and spend a few minutes inside it. This one used to run between Shimoga and Talaguppa in Karnataka. The information board reveals the quirky history behind this railbus. It was one of the few trains in India that used to have conductors on board; you could, therefore, clamber aboard even at the last minute, knowing you would get tickets on the train itself. And secondly, a mobile gateman used to travel along. His job was to get down before every level crossing, close the gates, open them after the railbus had passed and then hop onto the railbus again.

Another steam loco greets you through the trees. This one is standing at the farthest end of the museum and looks like a WP. The maker’s plate reveals that it’s a majestic YP. For several decades, WPs and YPs were the chief work horses of our railways, hauling thousands of passengers across the length and breadth of the network. Whereas the WP was a broad gauge loco, the YP was its meter gauge counterpart.

After the tour, as you glance back one last time, you get the strong impression that you are about to step out of a time bubble.

IN FOCUS

HOSPITALITY TRAINING PAR EXCELLENCE

N

IPS School of Hotel Management, Kolkata affiliated to All India Council for Technical Education, is a prestigious institute of higher learning, producing meritorious students with excellent career growth and universal recognition. The students get the best of opportunities in the form of highly advanced hospitality degree, diploma and MBA courses, eminent faculty members and immense facilities to excel in training and development.

TRAINING & PLACEMENT The dedicated Training and Placement is focused on quality placements all across the globe that enables the students to achieve their most cherished ambitions. NIPS has won the best placement Awards 2012, given

by South Asian Academy, New Delhi and has been continuously providing 100 per cent quality placement in 5 star and above category properties in places like United

States, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, France, United Arab Emirates and so on.

OVERSEAS INTERNSHIP NIPS provides its students with opportunities to complete their internship abroad so that they can experience a new country with incredible new outlooks, customs and activities and different styles of education; so that they become more marketable to higher institutes and employers because of the intangible life skills they pick up along the way, highlighting one’s ability to adapt to a new environment. Organisations around the world continue to invest in the global market, and prefer to hire employees who have international experience - NIPS paves the way for such lucrative opportunities.

KNOWLEDGE & OPPORTUNITIES NIPS reflects a combination of strong academic and hands-on training activities.

Both complement each other and the students under the able guidance of the faculty members maintain this brilliant combination and help the institute to reach the zenith of knowledge and innovation. NIPS alumni have made a mark for themselves in illustrious properties and non-hotel organisations like the Oberoi Group, TAJ, Welcome Group, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Hyatt, Le Meridian, Swissotel, Sheraton, Pantaloons, Emirates, Jet Airways, Royal Caribbean, and so on.

The initiative to conceive a grand design for hospitality education in India and implement the concept true to its spirit in the form of NIPS is one of the greatest hallmarks of visionary development. NIPS strives to maintain its leadership role not only at the national but also at the international level.

DEVELOPING OUTSTANDING CITIZENS

R

EVA University has been established under the Government of Karnataka Act 80 of the year 2012. The University, located in Bengaluru, is spread over 45 acres of land, built with the state-of-the-art infrastructure creating an environment conducive for higher learning and research.

The founders of REVA University believe in the motto ‘Knowledge is Power’. Driven with philanthropic vision and a missionary zeal, the campus is built to transform students into outstanding citizens. The University currently offers 18 full-time post graduate programs, 5 part-time post graduate programs, 15 graduate degree programs

and several post graduate diploma programs in engineering, architecture, science and technology, commerce, management studies, law, arts and humanities. Above all, the University facilitates research leading to doctoral degree in all disciplines.

The Choice Based Credit System and Continuous Assessment and Grading Pattern (CBCS – CAGP) of education has been introduced in all programs to facilitate students to opt for the subjects of their choice in addition to the core subject of study.

Recognising the fact that research and innovation along with entrepreneurial skills are instrumental, REVA University vividly supports and sponsors research in various disciplines.

Key Strengths •T he University has over 900+ well qualified, and experienced faculty members and equal number of supporting staff.

• It has 12000+ students hailing from different corners of the world, studying in various branches of knowledge at

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graduate and PG level and 256 scholars pursuing research leading to PhD in 18 disciplines.

• Learner-Centred Teaching and Learning Process embedded by CBCS and CAGP pattern of education with equal weightage to LTP.

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• Outcome-based education with an emphasis on Project based learning, skill development and entrepreneurship training.

• Collaborations with international universities and premier institutions/corporates for innovation and research.

R

NIPS Hotel Management Approved by : AICTE, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India

International Internship & Placement Student’s Most Preferred Private Hotel Management Institute

3

The Pioneer Newspaper,2016

Best Hospitality Management Institute in Kolkata

7

Brand Achiever Award 2015

4

5

Awarded by Brands Academy, New Delhi - 2015

Holder of Limca, Asia, & India Books of Records Winner 8th National Education Award

4

1

Awarded by NEA, New Delhi - 2014

Best Institute of the Year Award

6

Presented by CMO, Asia, Singapore,2015

World Record Holder

RANKED

1

No.

**Condition applied

Eastern India’s Best Hotel Management College

2

Eastern India

4

The Pioneer Newspaper,2016

World Record Academy- 2013

Option to Study 3 - 4 yr CANADA, AUS, NZL

Degree, Diploma, MBA in Hotel Management Eligibility:

Degree - Class 10 pass / appeared, Diploma - 10 + 2 pass / appeared Masters - Graduation in any stream Prospectus: Admission kit can be collected from the campus against payment of 500/By Post : send a DD / MO of 600/- drawn in favour of “NIPS School of Hotel Management” Tie-up with

for Education Loan

Campus: 297, Mahishbathan, Sector V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700 102

Follow us on :

Email: nipscal@vsnl.com

Web: www.nipsgroup.in

ADMISSION OPEN

Call: 033 2367 5128 / 29

1.Awarded by CMAI for Excellence in Hotel Management 2. Students' Most Preferred Private HM Colleges in India. 3.Chosen by the Student Community.4. For Most Varieties of Omelets cooked in10 Mins.5. Awarded by Brands Academy< New Delhi 2015 6. Presented By CMO, Asia, Singapore, 2015 7. Brand Achiever Award 2015

HOT SPOTS

Poetry of

Speed Since times unknown, horses have played a very significant role in human civilisations across the world. Known for their enormous power, stamina, speed and benevolence, they have the term ‘horsepower’ attributed to them. Here’s presenting an exclusive photo story on this majestic creature and his bond with humans Text & Photos: Jagdev Singh 60 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

www.railbandhu.in

BOND OF LOVE Horses have been a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best friend since ages. The bond of love between humans and horses unfolds many aspects of the deep and subtle connection between the two species.

They share a relationship that is beyond time. Horses had been vital to human societies as mode of transport up until the advent of the engine. In times of war as well as peace, they have been the most reliable and closest companions of the human race. Experts say, no animal has contributed more to the spread of civilisation than the horse.

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ONE OF A KIND

There are some peculiar facts about horses. They can sleep both while lying down and standing up. They can run shortly after they are born and they have a lifespan of around 25-30 years. The oldest surviving breed of horses is the Arabian, which first appeared about 4,500 years ago. There is only one species of domestic horse and around 400 different breeds that specialise in everything from pulling wagons to racing. All horses are grazers.

SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PRIDE While the sport of polo is older than the times of Kings and Queens, we know that its origin lies in the inspirational relationship between humans and horses. The unique amalgamation of athletic talents between the horse and the horse rider has helped polo evolve into an elite sport.

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HOT SPOTS

HARBINGERS OF FORTUNE Interestingly, the horse represents freedom and power in many different cultures. Riding horses is considered as a symbol of power, travel, movement, and desire. In some cultures white horses stand for the balance of wisdom and power. In native American tribes, the number of horses in a tribe was directly proportional to their wealth; the Romans linked horses with Mars, the god of the fury of war. Horses were also seen pulling the chariot of Helios, the sun god. In the Celtic mythology, horses were considered as harbingers of good fortune. In mythology, the horse is ever present.

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HOLA MOHALLA Hola Mohalla is a oneday Sikh festival that marks the beginning of Sikh New Year. The festival also celebrates the deep and intricate connection of horses with their human masters as the Sikh men display horse riding skills during the celebration. Every horse rider has a couple of horses assigned to him for more than 10 years! Horses react to every little command of their masters and the masters understand every subtle gesture of this beautiful mammal.

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IN FOCUS

ITS DOTS OF

TECHNOLOGY

C-DOT has been committed to provide a wide range of indigenously developed, cost-effective and state-of-the-art telecom solutions suited to Indian conditions

A

t a time when the nation gears up for its unprecedented digital overhaul, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has been steadfast in its commitment towards realising the overarching objectives of the flagship mission of the Government of India, ‘Digital India’. The centre has been instrumental in developing telecom systems that are transforming India into a digitallyequipped and technologically-sound nation. C-DOT’s indigenously developed Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology is the communications driver of the prestigious BharatNet program, that aims to provide high speed Broadband to even the most inaccessible and inhospitable rural parts of India.

With the path-breaking development of long distance and solar-powered WiFi systems, the centre is poised to address connectivity issues in rural areas, hilly terrains, highways in dense vegetation and tunnels, even in the absence of electricity supply which is common in the Indian villages. This green power-based solution will help accelerate the reach of India’s national broadband network, BharatNet, beyond panchayats to the remotest corners of India.

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C-DOT is an established name when it comes to Research and Development and indigenisation of new technologies like Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON), Broadband Wireless Terminal (BBWT), Solar wifi, Terabit Router, IoT/M2M Communication, etc.

In its initial years during the late eighties and early nineties, C-DOT was responsible for ushering in an indigenous telecom revolution in rural India that paved the way for an all-round socio-economic development. It was the centre’s relentless effort that led rural India gain access to a whole new world of opportunities as they got connected globally.

Thanks to C-DOT, little yellow STD booths sprang up all across India, not only providing a livelihood to millions but also connecting an entire generation of Indians. At that period of time, only one in 100 Indians had a telephone connection and Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) was a really big deal.

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But C-DOT changed the whole world of telephony in India. This doesn’t end here, the centre’s journey has been stupendous.

Today, it is an established name when it comes to Research and Development and indigenisation of a wide spectrum of technologies and solutions comprising Optical communication, Switching & Routing, Wireless Networks, Machine-to-Machine (M2M)/Internet of Things(IoT), Security, Network Management, etc. The Centre has been committed to provide a wide range of indigenously developed, cost-effective and state-of-the-art telecom solutions suited to the diverse Indian conditions.

In this era of digitisation, C-DOT has emerged as a key player for meeting the broadband infrastructural requirements to transform India digitally. In its three decades plus history, the centre has been playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the rural and urban population. With its immaculately dedicated service towards building a Digital India way back from 1984, it has come a long way.

C-DOT has been instrumental in the evolution of a Telecom Manufacturing Eco-system based on its Technology-Transfer

M2M COMMUNICATION C-DOT has developed its Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications platform and is a key member of the global oneM2M initiative that aims to build a common standard platform for M2M/IoT applications. programme to facilitate manufacturers in the bulk production of high-quality Telecom products and solutions. The centre has diversified its R&D focus on a multitude of Telecom technology areas spanning Optical Switching, Wireless Security, Network Management, etc., which will help the country in achieving self-reliance in the telecom sector, nation-building and growth of Indian economy. Some of C-DOT’s technological milestones have been described below:

C-DOT’s technologies being launched by Shri Manoj Sinha, Minister of Communications, during its 33rd Foundation Day

massive share of C-DOT exchanges in the rural sector comprising a large percentage of the installed capacity.

MAX-NG, through its innovative design approach provides a very cost-effective solution by leveraging on the existing line interface modules and the external copper media and replacing only the select modules that would result in maximum power savings. The project is currently being rolled out for approx. 10 million lines in the BSNL Network.

GPON – FUELING THE BHARATNET, NATIONAL OPTICAL FIBER NETWORK Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology forms the backbone of the largest ever rural connectivity endeavour, BharatNet that aims to connect 2.5 lakh village panchayats in the country.

CONNECTING INDIA TO THE NEXT-GENERATION NETWORK (NGN) MAX-NG, C-DOT’s Next-Generation Network (NGN) solution addresses the needs of the changing telecom scenario and enables a smooth transition from Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) to NGN based Voice-over-IP (VOIP).

C-DOT’s monumental telecommunication journey is corroborated by the huge presence of the centre’s technology in the presently existing fixed line infrastructure in the nation. Many exchange lines in the state provider BSNL’s network are based on the centre’s indigenous technology with a

GPON network aims at the ubiquitous penetration of broadband services (FTTX), including the rural areas, catering to the diverse requirements of the end users viz.

Internet, WiFi, IPTV, Cable TV, Camera Surveillance and other e-services through specially-designed Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for residential and business applications, for small offices as well as large enterprises.

• GPON technology is providing high speed broadband connectivity to village panchayats of India through National Optical Fibre Network (NoFN), BharatNet, thus ensuring the benefits of e-Governance and other e-Services to the citizens of country.

• C-DOT’s indigenously designed and manufactured GPON equipment

Solar Wi-Fi developed by C-DOT for rural areas

deployed in the Government’s ambitious BharatNet programme, comes at a cost more than 2-fold lower than that of foreign manufacturers.

BROADBAND WIRELESS TERMINAL (BBWT) – AN ALLENCOMPASSING SOLUTION FOR DIVERSE INDIAN LANDSCAPE

(LONG DISTANCE WIFI AND SOLAR WIFI)

The long distance WiFi system will provide internet connectivity to far-flung rural areas with a speed of up to 100Mbps. The solarpowered WiFi is exclusively designed for use in outdoor locations where there is no guarantee of continuous power flow.

C-DOT Broad Band Wireless Terminal (BBWT) provides a cost-effective solution for ensuring seamless wireless connectivity

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IN FOCUS

Innovation and R&D are the cornerstones of the national development in the long run. It generates economic independence and builds capabilities for the nation. C-DOT is at the forefront of Broadband technologies and state-of-the-art infrastructure for Rural India, Smart Cities, Urban Locations and futuristic solutions.

The centre’s technologies are indigenously developed by young engineers, made by Indian manufacturers and deployed in India.

Shri Vipin Tyagi I would call it ‘Make in India’ creating ‘Digital Executive Director, C-DOT India’ for ‘New India’. to remote and rural areas. It can also be used for backhaul link for WiFi hot spots, cellular base stations and base station controllers, ATMs, Database servers, etc. It can provide horizontal last–mile connectivity up to 10 kilometers beyond the BharatNet enabled Panchayats.

• C-DOT Broadband Wireless Terminal (BBWT) provides a cost-effective solution for extending IP connectivity to remote areas through wireless network.

•T he system provides hot-spot capability and also works as a wireless backhaul.

C-DOT BBWT can interconnect educational institutes, hospitals, hostels, buildings, offices, etc., on Point-to-Point and Point-to-multipoint (P2P & P2MP) basis using different configurations and antennas. Based on LoS (Line of Sight) availability and requirements, the BBWT can prove to be extremely cost-effective, secure and easy to manage.

C-DOT’s BBWT provides both cost-

effective and quality of service solution for wireless transmission of voice, video and data signals.

• C-DOT BBWT is WiFi based on an indigenously designed Green Power Source.

• It can also be customised for the provisioning of Long Distance WiFi up to a distance of 60 km in the inaccessible and inhospitable terrains as well with backhaul on fiber.

• Common Service Centers (CSCs), for providing e-Services in villages, have also been using this technology.

TOWARDS ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ Most of the equipment installed in Indian telecom network are imported. ‘Make in India’, the Government’s landmark initiative has given the much needed impetus to encourage local manufacturers to work towards the indigenisation of technology.

• C-DOT with a long list of indigenised innovations has been on the forefront of Make in India programme.

GYANSETU: Enabling Digital Literacy and Digital Empowerment GyanSetu promises to bridge digital gap in rural areas. It is aimed at bringing large number of Indian people in rural areas onto the Internet world and help them derive its benefits.

ticket booking, e-Education, etc. This common infrastructure will be able to serve the entire village population and can be accessed easily due to its simplified design.

GyanSetu (Knowledge Bridge) is an Internet based real-time ICT system designed by C-DOT primarily to provide various e-services to the under privileged rural population of India. Due to the lack of education, the rural population is not able to benefit from the available Internet technology. To bridge this gap, GyanSetu provides advanced yet simplified applications that can interact with the rural population, in a way comfortable to them.

GYANSETU SERVICES

Specially developed platform for rural population, it has numerous services and applications for the users. With the use of GyanSetu, farmers can check online prices of agricultural commodities, can avail

Each installation of Gyansetu system can be customised to provide location specific services and languages that are more appropriate.

FEATURES

• Multilingual support • Audio Announcements • Less text, high visual-based • Driven by simplified numeric keypad • Internet access through remote device • Internet access through flash of an easy card • Power optimised rugged platform • Possibility of being powered through small solar and wind turbine sources

Such systems are envisaged to be deployed in Gram Panchayat as a carrier of information and knowledge along with traditional other government e-services like e-Governance, e-Market, e-Services,

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agriculture tips and training videos, can check the ticket availability and PNR status. From the educational point of view, one can check exam results and marks. The other benefits of this service is online lectures and doctor consultations and public grievance logging and status tracking.

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• C-DOT’s gears for WiFi services have been approved by the Indian Railways for providing free WiFi services at busy stations across the country.

• BSNL has upgraded its telephone exchanges to Next Generation Network (NGN).

NGN technology has been designed and manufactured locally by C-DOT’s manufacturers, as part of the government’s ‘Make in India’ programme.

C-DOT PUBLIC DATA OFFICE (PDO) It aims at extending the benefits of Internet to the rural populance thus promoting the village-level entrepreneurship. This will pave the way for retailing of data at a very low cost.

SECURING DIGITAL INDIA To complement the idea of ‘Digital India’, C-DOT’s indigenously designed and developed Terabit Router and solar powered & long range WiFi solutions are worth mentioning.

The solar powered WiFi hotspots can be easily installed in the rural schools, hospitals and Panchayats, extending broadband connectivity to remote and unconnected places. These products also hold a huge potential in building the cost-effective world-class network infrastructure for the future ‘Smart Cities’.

C-DOT’s products have been specially designed for customisation, as required, for deployment in strategic sectors viz. Defence where security is a prime concern.

LENDING SKILLS C-DOT has been on a spree of signing Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreements with Indian manufacturers for various telecom products. The solutions developed by the local manufacturers will be cost effective.

The process of ToT followed by the centre is based on providing training, prototype development and follow-up services as part of its ToT package.

A glimpse of C-DOT’s indigenous state-ofthe-art lab facility

The model demonstration of C-DOT PDO

TERABIT ROUTER

C-DOT has indigenously developed Terabit Router and transferred the technology to multiple manufacturers.

These technologies are under deployment in the field. Further, the latest switching technologies have been developed and transferred to a number of manufacturers. They are assured to be free of any Malware, Trap Doors, Trojans or other forms of embedded intentional or unintentional sniffing/ interception software.

Terabit router can take care of the entire traffic data and can be deployed in strategic networks and ‘Smart Cities’ mission in a cost-effective and efficacious manner.

AWARDS

•C -DOT’s GyanSetu won the Recognition of Excellence Award at ITU Telecom World 2015 as it was adjudged the best product capable of bridging the gaps in connectivity and meaningful communication dissemination in the vast rural parts.

• C-DOT won the award for top R&D institution/organisation for patents.

Constituted jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Indian Patents Office (IPO), the National Intellectual Property Awards are given every year since 2009 recognising the use of IPRs as a strategic tool in commerce and industry.

C-DOT has signed ToT agreements with a number of manufacturers for the production of its indigenous state-of-the-art telecom solutions.

RURAL VISION One lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) are being connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) to set up a broadband network infrastructure to serve the rural masses.

C-DOT has recently launched its rural centric innovation, Public Data Office (PDO) to extend the Internet services in the far flung areas. PDO enables the small shop owners/VLEs to sell customised data vouchers to customers wishing to avail Internet services. This will further promote village-level entrepreneurship and generate better employment opportunities in rural and semi-urban areas.

With a current vision of transforming India into ‘Digital India’ and encouraging people for a cashless economy, telecommunication technology has to be at par in achieving these visionary goals. C-DOT’s diversified Research and Development (R&D) focus on the innovative telecom technology areas spanning Optical Switching, Wireless Security and Network Management will help the country in achieving self-reliance in the telecom sector.

C-DOT has been unrelenting in its efforts towards aligning its telecom R&D initiatives with the objectives of national development.

C-DOT’s GyanSetu and MAX-NG technologies have proven to be the stepping stones towards taking the benefits of Internet services to the masses of the country. C-DOT is also keen to provide other cost effective and sustainable telecom solutions to take the country ahead in the race of communication technology.

C-DOT is working with a missionary zeal towards making ‘Digital India’ a reality by bridging the digital divide between rural and urban India, thereby paving the way for ‘Digital Empowerment’ and rejuvenate the Indigenous Telecom R&D and Manufacturing Eco-system. And with its relentless contributions in revolutionising the telecom sector since decades, C-DOT has been at the helm, delivering cutting-edge telecom solutions.

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RAIL JOURNAL

A Well-spun History of

INDIAN RAILWAYS Indian Railways’ vast network connected the far corners of this subcontinent, making travel, communication and commerce simpler than ever. The latest book Indian Railways — The Weaving of a National Tapestry offers an anecdotal version of the rail network’s historical evolution Text: Shillpi A Singh

Shri Suresh P Prabhu, Minister of Railways, launched the book at a function in National Rail Museum

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hen Bibek Debroy (Member, NITI Aayog), Sanjay Chadha (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce) and Vidya Krishnamurthi (researcher with Indicus Foundation) came together to write a book on the railways, titled 72 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

Indian Railways — The Weaving of a National Tapestry, it is because they wanted to create a cross between an academic book (well-written with facts) and a coffee table book (rich in photographs and light in text) on the most written about subject, ‘the Indian Railways’.

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The book is a great chronicle of voices and vignettes, trains and tracks, over a century

DID YOU KNOW Three of India’s mountain railways — the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1999), the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (2005) and the Kalka-Shimla Railway (2008) — have obtained the World Heritage status from UNESCO. Bibek Debroy at the book launch

PORTRAYING THE JOURNEY The book is a great chronicle of voices and vignettes, trains and tracks, over a century.

The narrative starts from railways’ early beginnings in the 1830s and ends with India’s Independence.

The book doesn’t have an overrunning theme, but it follows a chronological template that determines its five neatly segregated chapters. The opening chapter talks about the plans for building railways in the Indian sub-continent during the 1830s and the history of Red Hill Railroad.

In the subsequent chapters, it moves on to the discourse and debates in the 1840s and the advent and expansion of the railways in the 1850s and 1860s. The second last chapter covers the period of consolidation and change during the 1870s and is the most exhaustive of all as it has lots of useful information liberally sprinkled over to delight a curious mind. There is a fascinating account of the controversy of the railways-vs-inland waterways in a dialogue between the anonymous ‘P’ and ‘C’, and how the railways won in the end. The last chapter covers the period from the beginning of 20 th century until independence.

QUICK FACTS The cover of the book has a steam loco P 31652, which used to haul meter gauge loco in RajputanaMalwa Railway. In 1876-77, the Rajputana Malwa Railway established a workshop in Ajmer for the manufacture of steam locos, carriages and wagons.

The first indigenous locomotive was built in 1895 by the Ajmer workshop. It was the metre gauge F1 734, F signifying mixed traffic. It was retired during 1950s and is now housed at the National Rail Museum.

Today, there are 1,38,912 bridges in the Indian Railways system. Some of them are old bridges that go back to the second half of 19th century; 54,000 are more than 100 years old and 75,000 are more than eighty years old.

Though the authors have confined the book to the story up to the time of independence, they have touched upon many issues such as the question of ‘public versus private management of infrastructure’, ‘infrastructure financing’ and ‘if at all the Railways made money’. According to the authors, the cumulative losses of the Railways until 1884, exceeded half a million pounds. The book also raises another pertinent question — should infrastructure make money? Yes, if the institution does not have to lose money.

JOTTING THE FIGURES Railways weave a nation together. In 2015-16, IR sold 8.6 billion tickets, which translates into roughly seven journeys per person per year. If our nation of a billion is on the move, the credit goes to the Railways.

The rail tickets here are cheaper than almost anywhere in the world. The authors have also pointed out the bias against freight, how the tariffs are competitively high that made the railways lose out to road transport.

The trio has succeeded in putting together railways’ glorious past in an engaging and conversational style. They have ‘unearthed’ facts which have not been reported elsewhere ever. As a result, the book is a treasure trove of interesting nuggets such as early movies with railways as its themes, iconic trains, stories behind the wellknown railway booksellers AH Wheeler and Higginbotham’s, and the history of railway police forces. These amusing facts must have caught a train traveller’s fancy but had been never documented so exhaustively.

The book is a treat for a reader who is keen to learn more about Indian Railways and its history.

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STYLE FILE

A Fashionable Ode to

TRAIN MEMORIES Fashion designer Samant Chauhan pays tribute to his railway memories by showcasing his collection titled, ‘The Eye has to Travel’, in Muga silk at the National Rail Museum Text: Shillpi A Singh

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s a part of the Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2017, Delhi-based fashion designer Samant Chauhan chose to showcase his collection at the National Rail Museum. The innovative off-site show held against the backdrop of the rail heritage was a befitting ode to Chauhan’s growing up years in Jamalpur in Bihar, and much like the ringing, roaring, rattling railway workshops in that nondescript town, his collection too made the right noises for being ‘unadulteratedly’ railways.

THREADBARE DREAMS A native of Bihar, Chauhan comes from a family of railwaymen. His grandfather, father and uncles, almost everyone served in the railways, and he spent his childhood in Jamalpur, “the station entirely made by, and devoted to, the use of those untiring servants of the public, the railway folk,” as noted by eminent author Rudyard Kipling in Among the Railway Folk. But like Kipling’s observation of how “a father who has worked for the line expects the line to do something for the son, and the line is not backwards in meeting his wishes where 74 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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possible…”, Chauhan’s father was in a way responsible for his son’s success. “My father taught me to dream, and dream big and beyond the ordinary,” says Chauhan. In 2002, after completing his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Bhagalpur University, he came to Delhi to join the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) for a postgrad course in Textile & Fashion Designing. The burden of nostalgia remains a dominant force, and the weaves and crafts of his native place find prominence in all his collections.

A CUT ABOVE THE REST At NIFT’s graduating show, Chauhan bagged the coveted awards for the Most Innovative Fabric Development and Best Design Collection. It was followed by the ‘Best Design Collection’ award amongst all centers. He made a stunning debut in the international arena by winning the Asian Young Designer Contest for his collection ‘Changing Patterns of Buddhism along the Silk Route’, at the Singapore Fashion Week in 2005. Since then, there has been no looking back. In 2007, he participated in the London Fashion Week, and presented his Spring Summer ’09 collection as a solo show at Carrousel Du Louvre in Paris in 2008. Passionately working for the cause of his native Bhagalpur master weavers, he received the Young Entrepreneur Award by the British Council in 2009. A regular at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week since 2005, he penetrated into the Indian wear market in a grand way by launching his Rajputana collection at WIFW’s Spring Summer ’12. His biggest reward till date is the one bestowed upon him by his alma mater — he is one among the 12 selected star alumni of NIFT. FASHION FUNDAS His line seems simple, clean-cut, and basic.

“However, each and every garment’s look goes back to yarn stage with multiple treatments given not only to the garment but also yarns and fabric to add uniqueness,” the designer says. Fashion to him is not just a popular trend, but a very basic form of representation that is always conceptual.

A strong believer in the versatility of Bhagalpur weaving techniques and skilled

Models at the fashion show walk around the vintage trains

craftsmanship, Chauhan gives credit to the Bhagalpur craftsmen for his ever evolving and innovative fabrics. The colours remain earthy and have a rustic charm capturing the nature and its beauty. His label, ‘Samant Chauhan’ has come a long way and is globally available.

“The USP of my label is its use of handloom silks that is produced without harming any silkworm. It is known for the use of silk fabrics and keeping it in its natural and raw state,” he adds.

THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL Chauhan has borrowed the title of his collection from a documentary ‘The Eye has to Travel’ on the life and work of an influential fashion editor, Diana Vreeland.

The memory keepers The accessories

trunk, messenger bag, duffle — were all in Muga silk; the leather was vegetable tanned and the finish was oil pull-up.

STYLE FILE

He drew inspiration for his collection on Muga silk from Brahmaputra Mail, the train that he always dreamt of taking as a child

Right: Samant Chauhan revisits his train memories; Below:The collection in white and gold showcases motifs of wheat stalks, maize and flowers

Through his collection on Golden Threads of Assam, Chauhan showcased the versatility of Muga silk. His line consisted of overcoats, jackets, tunics, tapered churidars and floortouching dresses. The collection was in white and gold, his signature concept, and Chauhan liberally used motifs of wheat stalks, maize and flowers. He also experimented with different necklines and models flaunted off-shoulder dresses and ensembles. The dresses also had conical hemlines and asymmetrical cuts.

“The show is an ode to Indian Railway and Jamalpur, where I come from. It is an homage to memory — imagined and factual. Everything in this collection can be traced to what I saw from the windows of trains when I began to travel.

The window frame was my reference.”

The designer drew inspiration for his collection on Muga silk, which is on the brink of extinction, from Brahmaputra Mail, the train that he always dreamt of taking as a child. And years later, he has woven those dreams in golden threads. To add to the mood and moment, the models at the fashion show sashayed around the vintage trains as jazz music played in the background and the audience sat on wooden benches, sipping piping hot tea served in a kulhad, all to make them revisit their train memories.

DESIGNER DREAMS Home is where his heart is. He yearns to go back to his village Dharhara, in Munger, Bihar, and set-up a garment factory that does it all — from the production of yarn, weaving the fabric, cutting, washing, stitching, to producing the final garment and selling the finished products around the world at high-end multi-designer stores. “It will help create jobs for these villagers and bring awareness to the craft,” he says. An avid traveller, he prefers to take a train and relive his childhood memories and also create some fresh ones. His most memorable one being the train trip from Bangalore to Delhi. “It took 35 hours or so to reach Delhi. I made the most of the available time by designing a menswear shirt, and till date, those are being sold. They are the only men’s shirts collection that I have designed in my career.” The best takeaway of a train travel is the real-time exposure to the lives and stories of common people, the passengers, and that is an interesting subject for Chauhan and his camera. The three loves of his life — fashion, travel and photography — intertwine creatively, and often, for he travels by train for fashion and when he travels, he photographs. “Someday, I will hold an exhibition of my photographs,” he says, yearning to travel to faraway land but wanting to return to that one place from where he came from to tell stories of encounters and friendships, of snow, mountains, towns and cities, of love, hope and faith.

OFF TRACK

COORG The Perfect Weekend Retreat Apart from rich coffee and spices, Coorg offers breathtaking sights and memorable experiences Text: Sugato Tripathi

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magine reserved sightseeing points at hill stations for royalty! The kings of Kodagu (anglicised version of Coorg), from as early as the 17th century AD had earmarked a vantage point (Raja’s Seat) in Madikeri (Coorg’s capital) to watch the sun perform its daily ritual. A view of the picturesque and breathtaking sunsets with a silhouette backdrop of the Western Ghats was the reason why the kings sought to romance their queens under this twilight sky. Situated in South Western Karnataka bordering Kerala, Coorg (often referred to as the ‘coffee cup’ of India) is a major center for coffee and spice production.

With Talacauvery, a revered Hindu pilgrimage at one end and Bylakuppe, an obscure Tibetan settlement on the other, it provides for the perfect diversity for the quintessential traveller.

Let’s embark on a tour of the most prominent spots of the city: RAJA’S SEAT Situated towards the south of the Madikeri Fort, the spectacular sunset view from Raja’s 78 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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Seat seems magical as it illuminates the various layers of hills with distinct shades of grey and black drenched in a crimson hue.

The contrast is remarkable. It’s a daily ritual of which we have no clue sitting in our enclosed offices and which invokes a hush among the onlookers enjoying nature’s elemental beauty.

A small pavilion made up of brick and mortar and built on a higher ground supported by four pillars, Raja’s Seat is surrounded by a manicured garden with seasonal flowers and musical fountains. It is one of the most-visited places of Coorg and is replete with several street side shops selling souvenirs, trinkets, food items, pickles, toys, etc.

TALACAUVERY Cauvery river in South India is considered to be one of the most sacred water bodies in the country. Talacauvery, at 1276 m above the sea level, at the foot of Brahmagiri hills, is the origin of the river and thus is a revered place of pilgrimage. Though it’s like any other small temple pond typical to South Indian temple architecture, the religious sentiment attached to it is immense, which is evident from the lakhs of devotees who throng this place every year.

A long stairway takes you to the summit of Brahmagiri hill which provides unhindered vista of the surrounding mountains and adjoining valleys. On the way back from Talacauvery, lies the Triveni Sangam. It is the confluence of three rivers – Cauvery, Kannike and the mythical river Sujyoti. In lieu of this holy spot, a temple was built in the early 11th century by the Cholas. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and his sons Subrahmanya and Ganesha along with Lord Narayana, the structure doesn’t look venerable.

The copper tiled roofs, the decorated walls and ceilings with sculpted murals painted with

vegetable dye and wooden idols, adorn this beautiful temple complex.

QUICK FACTS Coorg was named as the ‘Scotland of India’ during the time of

colonial rule.

Around

70,000

Tibetans are said to be living in the Bylakuppe regions of Coorg.

NAMDROLING MONASTERY Located in Bylakuppe (30 kms from Coorg), this is one of the largest Tibetan settlements in South India. Also referred to as the Golden Temple due to its appearance, it was set up in 1963 by the Tibetan monk Pema Norbu Rinpoche. It is the largest teaching institute in the world for Nyingmapa – a lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Huge golden statues of Buddha in the prayer hall, unique Tibetan thangka

Virajpet, one of the main towns of Coorg, is

Asia’s largest producers of honey!

St.Anne’s Church at Coorg is a

220-years old architecture.

A traditional Kerala-style house in Coorg

Cauvery river in South India is considered to be one of the most sacred water bodies in the country

OFF TRACK

Linga from Kashi and had it installed at this place. He then later built a temple complex around it.

KAVERI NISARGADHAMA An island located 30 kms from Madikeri on the Cauvery River, it is spread across 64 acres of bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak forests. A hanging bridge connects the island to the main land. The tourism department offers boating, tree houses, elephant rides, deer feeding and trekking here. With a few eateries inside, it is easy to spend a whole day exploring and enjoying the island. Connoisseur of coffee or not, a packet of roasted and grounded coffee powder from the shops here is a must. It provides a heavy flavour which is typical to the aroma of fine Arabicas and Robustas.

The Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara at Namdroling Monastery

INTEREST FACTS

Best Time to Visit: November to May

To Eat: Non-Veg: The Coorg Pandhi Curry (Chilly Pork Curry) is considered a delicacy in Coorg and is very popular among locals and tourists.

Veg: The Bamboo Shoot curry usually prepared during monsoon is a vegetarian delight

To Buy: Coffee: Coffee Arabica and Coffee Robusta are grown organically here.

Spices: Pepper, Cardamom, Cumin, Mint, Oregano, Sage, Basil, Bay Leaves, Thyme, Garlic and Rosemary are the popular organic produce here.

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paintings across the temple walls and a beautiful garden adorn the monastery complex. There is something endearing about the ubiquity of maroon robes with clean shaved heads everywhere in different shapes and sizes. The subtle giggles of cherubic young monks, the intermittent clinging of the prayer bells and monastic hymns emanating from the prayer hall conjures to offer the sweetest euphony on the planet. Close to 5,000 monks and nuns reside here. There is a market complex outside the monastery, mostly run by the Tibetans, selling locally made handicrafts, thangka paintings and variety of other souvenirs. Few restaurants in the complex offer typical South Indian cuisine. Monks can be seen enjoying the customary idli, dosa and sambhar portraying more than 50 years of cultural assimilation.

OMKARESWARA TEMPLE Built in 1820 by King Lingarajendra, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an ancient shrine of Lord Shiva situated in the heart of Madikeri. The quirky architecture of the temple makes it special. Despite being a Hindu temple, it has shades of Islamic architecture. A dome-shaped structure in the middle of the pond with four small Moorish type turrets on all sides, substantiates the view of Islamic influence.

Legend has it that the king bought the Shiva www.railbandhu.in

MADIKERI FORT The Madikeri fort expresses solidarity with its counterparts when it comes to passing of the baton from one ruler to another in its history of existence. Built in 17th century by the Muddu Raja, it went on to be captured by Tipu Sultan and then reconquered by a Hindu king Lingarajendra Wodeyar II, before falling into the hands of the British Empire, which precisely explains the presence of a church (St. Marks Church) inside the fort complex. Though crumbled at most parts, the fort walls still stand tall and offer some vantage points to see the town of Madikeri.

ABBEY FALLS Located 8 kms from Madikeri, it is one of the most visited places of Coorg. The narrow pathway to the fall is flanked by coffee, cardamom and pepper plantations. The renowned Coorg coffee is shade-grown under Wild Fig and Rosewood trees. During the harvest season, the fruit laden trees attract many visitors like the giant Malabar squirrel and the great Indian pied hornbill who eventually make it their home. Part of river Cauvery, Abbey is a small waterfall gushing from a height of around 60 feet. A hanging bridge built across the falls offers an unimpeded view to the visitors.

HERITAGE HALT

CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI TERMINUS

A Historical Edifice

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai, awes the onlooker with its stunning scale, architecture, and ornamental and symbolic details Text: Brinda Gill

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sense of expectancy sets in as the long distance train rushes past suburban stations heading towards its final stop at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai. The crowds, density, pace and energy of Mumbai — the city that never sleeps — are palpable even whilst seated in an air-conditioned compartment 82 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

TRIVIA

with sealed windows! Captivated by the scenes outside the window, a traveller to the city can hardly wait to disembark at the terminus.

Yet, it would be prudent to tarry awhile for one has reached a terminus like no other in India! For a few steps from the platform leads www.railbandhu.in

CST is one of the most impressive stations in the world, the largest public building in Mumbai and one of India’s most photographed monuments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a tribute to architecture, to art, to the city and the country.

one to the interiors of the heritage structure graced with elegant arches and columns, decorative details, tessellated floor tiles and high vaulted ceilings. And stepping out the building, its grandeur from its impressive scale to the elegance of its arches at each level, rose windows, pointed turrets, graceful corner domes and imposing central dome, and the wealth of decorative details from gargoyles to friezes on the facade, takes the breath away of travellers who have arrived at the city of dreams!

The UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage Site as it exhibits an important interchange

CST exhibits an important interchange of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture

(Clockwise from extreme left) Front view of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; The high vaulted ceiling

of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture.

TRANSFORMATION OF A SITE If the building stuns 21st century onlookers, one can only imagine its impression on those who witnessed its emergence back in 1888 for the area bore a very different atmosphere then.

“The site where Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus stands today was just outside the fort walls.

The Mumbadevi temple, after which the city is named, originally stood here. It was shifted to Pydhonie in the mid-18th century where it stands today”, says Rajan Jayakar, Mumbai-based solicitor, a passionate collector of memorabilia related to old Bombay. Jayakar explains that in the 19th century, the site was called Bori Bunder as there was actually a bunder or a port where boris or sacks of goods were unloaded.

The most momentous occasion at the site occurred on April 16, 1853 when India’s first passenger train of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (incorporated in 1849, the predecessor of Central Railway) set off from Bori Bunder and traversed a distance of 21 miles (34 kms) till Thane. At that time a small shed marked the terminus! In a fitting commemoration of the pioneering train—of 14 carriages drawn by three steam locomotives—there was a 21-gun salute, the Governor’s band played God Save The King, and some members of the crowd broke coconuts and offered flowers in front of the train! And the train with 400 guests set off and chugged its way into history books!

The commencement of railway services in Bombay brought in people and goods, and also ferried people who travelled by ship to India to explore the country by train.

These developments ushered a revolution in transport and communications, and it was decided to build a station that would accommodate the volume of passengers and goods, and make a statement of British presence and authority. And in this way a majestic station was built. On the Golden Jubilee year 1887 - that marked fifty years of Queen Victoria’s reign - it was named Victoria Terminus in her honour.

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HERITAGE HALT

Left: The Victorian-style interiors of CST; Right: The magnificent tri-colour lighting at CST on Independence Day

AN IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE Federick William Stevens (1848-1900), from the Public Works Department who had worked on projects in Mumbai, was selected by the GIP Directors to design a new terminus and offices for the GIP Railway; he also designed the impressive Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, across the road. After receiving the assignment, he embarked on a ten-month study tour to Europe to study stations and public buildings.

Stevens designed an impressive structure with a frontage (including train shed and platform bays) stretching 1500 ft along the main road, with well-planned offices within. The work commenced in 1878 and was completed a decade later; Stevens was assisted by SK Vaidya, Assistant Engineer and MM Janardhan, Supervisor. The students of JJ School of Art were involved in working on the models of the embellishments under the guidance of their professors and principal.

Thus emerged the impressive terminus and office in just ten years (1878-88)! The main office block is U-shaped with two wings that stand at right angles to it at either end of the 84 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

domed central block surmounted by the statue of Progress. The block is fronted by a garden and within has a grand staircase, breezy corridors and a wealth of details.

STATION FACTS CST serves as the headquarters of the Central Railway. It is the railway terminus for Central Railway trains as well as for the Central and Harbour lines of the Mumbai suburban railway.

Every year, CST is beautifully illuminated on Independence Day. In 1996, Victoria Terminus was renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus after the 17th century warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, leader of the martial Marathas. www.railbandhu.in

The three prominent gables bear sculptures representing Engineering, Commerce and Agriculture. And flanking the gate to the office block are a seated lion and tiger, the former represents Britain and the latter India.

WITNESS TO HISTORY Apart from being witness to the ebb and flow of passengers, CST has been witness to additions and events of history. A new station was added in 1929 to take care of long distance trains, with the original structure handling suburban trains.

Into the 21st century, CST continues to witness the arrival and departure of lakhs of passengers every day. Standing here and observing the beauty of the structure and the purposeful movement of passengers, and specially Mumbaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed dabbawallas around noon, offers an insight into the psyche of the metropolis.

IN FOCUS

INSTILLING THE BEST IN ACADEMICS Ranked as one of the top colleges, the IMS Engineering College imparts quality education

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MS Engineering College was established in 2002 in Ghaziabad.

Since then it has been imparting quality technical education in a competitive and an innovative environment with 100 per cent placement assistance. The institution is known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, in-campus hostel facility for 3000+ students in a fully CCTV secured and safe campus. Excellent technical training and value-added courses are imparted by a team of experienced professionals. The institution has made excellent progress in placing students in reputed national and international companies with multiple offers. A few important highlights of the college are:

NAAC ACCREDITATION: The College is NAAC Accredited with highest Grade ‘A’ for imparting quality education at National Level.

NBA ACCREDITATION: • Two programmes - Computer Science & Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, have been Accredited by National Board of Accreditation, India, which is a signatory of Washington Accord.

• The membership of Washington Accord is an international recognition of the quality of undergraduate engineering education.

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE WITH UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, KY, USA: • IMS Engineering College has entered into an international collaboration with the University of Louisville, KY, USA in the field of research as well as student exchange program.

CONN Centre for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, has agreed to take seven students from IMS Engineering College for summer internship program during June-July 2017.

ADVANCED ROBOTICS CENTRE: •T he College has established Advanced Robotics Centre with most advanced Industrial Robot with 20 kg payload.

This would lend students a hands-on experience in Robotics.

• Besides Industrial Robot, the centre also has Programmable Humanoid, Drone and Lego Kits.

STRONG INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL: A team of qualified and experienced professionals has contributed to the development of the students leading to superb university result with various scholarly achievements.

PLACEMENT: •T he Career Development Centre having deep-rooted corporate connect has created a platform, which helps the students to get placed in leading companies with high pay scales, adding on to the placement milestones year-after-year.

• Students have been placed in top companies like TCS, Steria, HCL Technologies, Tech Mahindra, IBM, Sopra, Mphasis, Headstrong, Cognizant, Aon Hewitt, Cummins, Samsung, Nestle, Hindustan Coca Cola, JBM, Asahi Glass, Thyssen Krup, Veriozon, etc., with multiple offers.

TBI (TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATOR) AND CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE: • I MS Engineering College has been approved by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise to set up Business Incubation centre.

• 06 ongoing start-up projects.

• The institute has also established Centres of Excellence in PLC & SCADA through ABB and Texas Instruments.

STRONG RESEARCH ORIENTATION: •P hD (Approved Research Centre), MTech Programmes, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IEDC) and TBI (Technology Business Incubator) provide strong foundation towards Research and Development.

• Approximately 100 Research Papers have been published per year by the faculty members in Journals of international and national repute.

ACHIEVEMENTS: •R anked 4th in India amongst ‘Outstanding Engineering Colleges of Excellence’ by GHRDC-2016.

• Recognised as ‘Asia’s Greatest Brands-2016’ Asia One, Process Reviewer PWC.

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SILVER RAKE

ALIA BHATT Standing firmly on ground Alia Bhatt has become synonymous with success in Bollywood and there is no denying that she has proved her mettle as an actor in such a short span in the industry Text: Pratishtha Malhotra

A

lia Bhatt has been stronger than most people in the town. She accepts that she cries like a child when she is not fed or is extremely tired. Her recent film Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya has been loved by the audience. Here is a heart-to-heart chat with the girl who is rising in the right direction but with her feet on the ground. Hope the journey is a smooth one.

Excerpts: All your films have not been clones of each other. Is it a conscious decision from your side?

Yes. I do it because I like it that way. I am not strategising, I think like that. I get bored very easily and don’t want to do a serious film now but won’t mind a biopic, which will be different and have a true story to tell. I want to do comedy, I am waiting for somebody to offer me one. I want to satisfy my needs, my cravings. Your first film chooses you and you choose your next film. But it was the reaction to Udta Punjab that encouraged me to take up roles that are risky. Had people not reacted to my part, I would have decided not to do such roles. But I don’t understand why people think it’s such a big risk in the first place. It is just a character.

You’ve proved your mettle at such a young age but do you lose sleep over anything just yet?

I don’t know how the audience is looking at me, or what they think of me. I am the same 86 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

person, I am just working. My achievements are the by-products of that. I don’t give myself that pressure from a third person’s point of view. I give that pressure to myself from my own point of view. I challenge myself.

Rapid Fire Do you fight with your directors on set?

No, I am a good student.

Whose biopic would you want to do?

Nazia Hassan Who are the directors on your bucket list?

Raju Hirani, Nitesh Tiwari because I loved Dangal, and Abhishek Varma because I want someone to tell me I am bad.

How do you unwind?

I take time off and travel.

Things on your bucket list…

To learn playing the piano, cooking and taking Kathak lessons — especially do those things that I don’t get time to do as an actor. www.railbandhu.in

Your next film is with Amitabh Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor. Are you pinching yourself everyday or prepping for it extensively?

Mr Amitabh Bachchan is obviously fabulous. I hope I have some scenes with him but I don’t know if I will have any. There will be extensive prep for the film. Ayan (Mukherjee) told us there is just one character in the film and we need to stop thinking that there’s Ranbir and Alia in it. We are just a character and I am excited.

After that you’re also lined up to do Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boys with Ranveer Singh.

How’s that shaping up as he has been promoting you ever since on social media?

It was Ranveer’s idea. He was like ‘I am totally into cross promotion!’ He even told me ‘Alia, are you ready for our viral video even before its gone viral?’ He decided it’s viral already… much before anything. But honestly, I have done enough ads with Ranveer to know that he is a ‘united-we-stand-divided-we-fall’ kind of person. I admire his energy. He always remains in character and never comes out of it. With his kind of energy, it will be great to work with him. It will keep me on my toes and that is what I am looking forward to.

It was the reaction to Udta Punjab that encouraged me to take up roles that are risky. Had people not reacted to my part, I would have decided not to do such roles

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GREEN CARD

Admiring wildlife in

SATPURA

The offbeat Satpura National Park offers peace, solace and a close encounter with the unique flora and fauna of Madhya Pradesh Text & Photos: Abhinav Singh

S

atpura National Park is the right solution for nature & wildlife lovers to appreciate the peaceful jungle, beautiful hilly terrains, deep gorges, rivulets and virgin forest locations, away from hustle & bustle of city life. Nurtured in the Satpura Ranges of Hoshangabad district in center Madhya Pradesh, this is an ideal place for wildlife conservation. As mananimal conflict is on rise in wildlife parks across India and beyond, such secluded wildlife havens are the need of the hour.

A DAY IN THE JUNGLE The access to the Satpura reserve through Madhai gate is scenic. Denwa river separates

88 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

the forest from human settlements. It can only be accessed via a boat which runs across the voluptuous Denwa river. This wildlife reserve is known for the most dramatic and scenic entry. As we entered the forest, we were greeted with vast grassland.

Large group of spotted deers dominated either sides of the track. Langurs fooled around in the knee-length grass. A little ahead, we spotted a crocodile babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s snout camouflaged by abundance of white lotus in the pond. Birds of many varieties made music with their chirps.

Here, it is easy to spot gaur, Malabar squirrel, leopard and sloth bear apart from

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How to reach Bhopal is the nearest big city and is well connected via train.

From Bhopal, one can book a cab to Satpura National Park. Apart from Bhopal, Piparia and Sohagpur are the closest rail head at 55 kms and 20 kms, respectively.

QUICK FACTS Satpura is a Sanskrit word, which simply means Seven-hills. It is part of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve and covers an area of

524 sqkm.

Satpura National Park was established in 1981. This unexplored hill station was first explored by Captain James Forsyth of British Army in

1857.

the ubiquitous deer species. However, the immense beauty of the forest will easily high-jack your desire to spot wildlife. The crisp, fresh air, silence and solitude of this place are therapeutic to body and mind.

As we moved ahead, the path got narrow, flanked with tall trees on either sides.

Suddenly we saw a big ball of unkempt fur moving across the green grass. It was a sloth bear who was foraging alone near a larger pond. Shy and unwilling to show us the face, the bear went about his/ her business ignoring our presence. We watched silently from a distance as the bear disappeared in the bushes. It’s easy to see a black sloth bear in Satpura. We moved on to find a large group of gaur robbing trees of its leaves. It is the largest bovine species of the world. Flying fox, dhole, fox, leopard, wild boar, tiger, porcupine, crocodile, black buck, chinkara, nilgai, chital, barasingha,

What makes Satpura special is that it is not commercialised like other wildlife parks of North India

Indian muntjac, mousedeer, hornbill and peacock are also found here.

Satpura is a deciduous forest. Ponds, narrow gorges and ravines dot its landscape.

Satpura hills lend it added beauty. A large variety of trees, plants and shrubs are found here in abundance. The forest is moist and dense. There is an interesting tree known as the Ghost Tree. Locally named as kulu, it is called so due to its shiny white bark which glows on full moon and starlit nights. Saaj is another tree dominant here. Thanks to its bark which resembles a crocodile’s back, it is also known as Crocodile Bark Tree. The other trees found here are mahua, bel, sal, teak, tendu, etc.

When you go for a safari in Satpura National Park, don’t keep tiger-spotting on your agenda. By doing this, we often miss appreciating and observing the jungle and other majestic wildlife minutely in our quest to spot tigers. Though, it is always exciting to spot a tiger in wild, stressing over sighting one takes the fun out of a jungle safari.

What makes Satpura special is that it is not commercialised like other wildlife parks of North India. It is easy to lose yourself in the tranquility of the place.

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 89

IN FOCUS

MAHARASHTRA The Smart State of India With rapid infrastructure development, industrial boom and consistent financial growth, Maharashtra is one of the key States to contribute towards ensuring that India is the second fastest growing economy of the world

M

aharashtra is arguably India’s biggest state economy with a literacy rate of 82.3 per cent. Over the decades, it has emerged as a key hub for IT and ITeS, electronics and captive business outsourcing industries. As a whole, Mumbai accounts for over 35 per cent of India’s automobile output by value. The State is amongst the country’s most well-developed infrastructure. It has four international airports and seven domestic airports in addition to 53 ports.

Maharashtra also has one of the most comprehensive and evolved power supply grid in India.

The state’s infrastructure sector has grown significantly over the last decade, with a substantial rise in the number of industrial

clusters and public-private partnership (PPP) projects. According to the Economic Survey Report 2016-17, Maharashtra fares well on all parameters of GDP - Agriculture, Industry and Services. In agriculture, it is the 10 th; in industry, it is 5th and in services, it is 5th in terms of per capita GDP component of all states and UTs in India.

URBANISATION It is also the third most urbanised state with over 45 per cent of people living in urban areas like Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Nagpur. Its capital city, Mumbai, is the commercial hub of the country for decades as most of the banking and financial sector operations, be it domestic or global corporations, have their base set in this port city. In fact, both National Stock

Maharashtra is India’s leading industrial state contributing 13 per cent of national industrial output Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange also operates out of Mumbai.

Pune, another major city in the state, has emerged as the educational hub. A rising number of immigrants want to make Pune their home. It also has the highest number of software companies in India, after Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT Maharashtra is India’s leading industrial state contributing 13 per cent of national industrial output. The six important industries in the state are IT, cotton textiles, food processing, chemicals, machinery, automobile, electrical, transport and metallurgy. It has secured the future investment of 10,97,337 crore industrial investment under Make In India project, according to reports.

Maharashtra ranks first nationwide in coalbased thermal electricity as well as nuclear

electricity generation with national market shares of over 13 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. The State is connected through a 6,103 km railway track and 2,99,368 km roads, which also helps various industries like tourism and real estate.

E-GOVERNANCE Meanwhile, the State’s government has undertaken several e-governance initiatives to enhance the adoption of Information Technology in day-to-day functioning.

Initiatives like Sarthi- computerisation of driving and vehicle registration, LMIS – making land records digital, Rojgar Wahini and Digital Payment System for farmers in the State are a few of the award-winning e-governance initiatives.

BOLLYWOOD The Hindi film industry, primarily based in Maharashtra, is also an integral contributor towards the Indian economy. According to a 2013 report, Bollywood contributed `50,000 crore which was equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the GDP of the country.

DID YOU KNOW • Every year, Maharashtra Diwas is celebrated on May 1. The day commemorates the formation of the State of Maharashtra from the division of the Bombay State on May 1, 1960.

This year, the Indian consulate in Germany will, for the first time, organise a two-day programme on May 1 to celebrate Maharashtra Day at Stuttgart and Munich. Stuttgart is designated as the sister city of Mumbai since January 2015.

• Maharashtra is larger than many countries, including Luxembourg, Bhutan, Fiji, Cyprus, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Qatar, Mongolia, Panama, Kuwait, Oman and Ireland.

• It is the largest cotton producer in India with largest area under cultivation for cotton.

IN FOCUS

TOWARDS DIGITAL

MAHARASHTRA

As Maharashtra celebrates its foundation day on May 1, Vijay Kumar Gautam, Principal Secretary, Directorate of Information Technology, Government of Maharashtra, talks about various digital initiatives taken by the state government to make it one of the most digitally advanced states of India Aaple Sarkar Portal – It is a single integrated platform for the people of Maharashtra for multiple solutions including; redressing their grievances, availing government services, getting information on various government schemes and engaging them to collaborate with the government by providing suggestions to achieve ‘Minimum Government Maximum Governance’.

Vijay Kumar Gautam, IAS Principal Secretary IT, Government of Maharashtra Maharashtra has been working towards digital empowerment on a large scale.

Tell us more about your various digital initiatives that are in line with Prime Minister’s ‘Digital India’ dream?

Government of Maharashtra (GoM), being one of the leading states in implementing e-Governance projects, has already capped many feathers of IT initiatives in their e-Governance hat. To provide efficient and enhanced service delivery to the citizens, GoM has always focused continuously on Government Process re-engineering, digitisation of the processes and quick implementation of the same.

Government of Maharashtra has taken various IT initiatives and citizencentric projects for digital empowerment of citizens. The key initiatives are as follows: 92 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

Aaple Sarkar Mumbai WiFi Project – Launched on January 9, 2017, it is India’s largest Public WiFi project and one of the largest in the world, covering 500 locations and benefitting about 2,50,000 users daily, primarily to students, traders, workers and slum dwellers by 24x7 access to Government websites and G2C services.

Since this project launch, more than 450 Terabytes of data has been consumed by citizens till now.

Maha DBT Portal – Maharashtra is the first state to introduce State Aadhaar Act, 2016 in line with the Central Aadhaar Act, 2016, providing Aadhaar number as ‘Sole Identifier’ for establishing the identity of the individual for delivery of benefits/subsidies/ services to the intended beneficiaries. This is end-to-end portal which provides for online application/ registration, online verification and disbursement to the Aadhaar seeded bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

Thus this portal will be a major milestone www.railbandhu.in

Nagpur has become the first digital district of the State, connecting all 776 Gram Panchayats with broadband connectivity which can be tapped for services like WiFi Hotspot for Internet access to all in introducing transparency in delivery of benefits/subsidies/services to the people, thereby empowering the masses. In the first phase, 43 individual beneficiary schemes for which expenditure is incurred out of the consolidated fund of Maharashtra has been selected for implementation. State is planning to route all the individual beneficiary schemes through this portal at the earliest.

Digital District/Village – Nagpur has become the first digital district of the State, connecting all 776 Gram Panchayats with broadband connectivity which can be tapped for services like WiFi Hotspot for Internet access to all, connecting PHC to leading hospitals, setup of virtual classroom in schools, etc. e-Examination Portal – It is a State-wide end-to-end examination portal, envisaged with an aim to integrate and streamline

DIGITAL MAHARASHTRA Digital Dharavi: Boosting educational outcome; enabling local innovation and entrepreneurship Nagpur: Deployment of India’s largest smart city framework

Launches manufacturing operations e-Examination Portal State-wide roll out of broadband infrastructure

Maharashtra

Fetri Digital Village: WiFi, smart education, smart healthcare

Maharashtra

Today

by 2030 112 mn population

10 cities with over 1 mn population

the recruitment process of various Government posts across the State and conducting of exams for nearly 60 lakhs of candidates. To bring transparency and efficiency, online exam shall be conducted on transaction based model. For initial years, the realistic target of examination will be almost 10-15 lakh candidates.

Maharashtra State Urban Geo Spatial Portal for Decision Support System – The objective of this project is to create a web-based GIS platform for spatial data enriched with locational information in the form of attributes. Image data to be used as a Decision Support System for enhanced governance having updated base maps with various natural and man-made features extracted from latest satellite images. Conducting field survey to capture buildings/property data for all the areas of urban local bodies of Maharashtra and interactive web-based platform for MIS report generation and analysis by various departments should be capable of:

The e-Examination Portal is a State-wide end-to-end examination portal, envisaged with an aim to integrate and streamline the recruitment process of various Government posts across the State and conducting of exams for nearly 60 lakhs of candidates

•S upporting huge number of simultaneous transactions • I ntegrating with other Enterprise Systems (like Property tax system, water billing solutions) •C omply with OGC Standards to enable easier integration with other systems

60% urbanized

Today Mumbai’s $245 bn economy bigger than Malaysia’s

(preferred) reusable functionality across Desktop, Web and Mobile platforms.

The state government has also set up an IT company to boost e-governance.

What are the major highlights of this IT Company?

The Maharashtra IT Corporation Limited is the nodal implementing agency of Government of Maharashtra. The major highlights are: •T o design and implement end-to-end ICT solutions • Devising and implementing strategies, policies, guidelines, processes to develop ‘Smart Cities’, ‘Digital Villages’, ‘BharatNet’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Cyber Security’ and similar projects under the respective programmes initiated by the Government of India •P lanning, designing, operations and management of State CERT and State Security Operations Center (SOC) Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 93

IN FOCUS

• Pioneer in undertaking, benchmarking and setting standards for emerging technologies and public services delivery and government administration practices • Develop a Centre of Excellence for researching, developing and implementing solutions involving innovative technology; breakthrough concepts in public services delivery and government administration • Undertake all essential measures to develop specialised skills for ensuring availability of skilled manpower in the State to undertake, support and sustain ICT initiatives planned and implemented by the State in Maharashtra In an effort towards cashless economy, Maharashtra government was planning to launch its own e-wallet.

How successful have you been in implementing this digital initiative?

94 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

Maharashtra has envisaged its own e-Wallet called Maha Wallet, which shall primarily have features like user-friendly interface from techno-savvy users to new users, to make hassle-free and secure transactions like shopping, utility payments, paying governmental revenues and fund transfer across other wallets In line with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, State Government has devised an Action Plan for Cashless Maharashtra Initiative. State is establishing last mile Digital Financial hub in the form of Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendras at 30,000 Gram panchayats for education, engagement and G2C services along with installing Acceptance hardware infrastructure i.e, 30,000 Point of Sale (POS) machines at these 30,000 Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendras. Further, Awareness cum engagement campaign was launched on December 8, 2016 which includes

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training of 5 digital payments systems to State Government officers at various levels as well as training master trainers, student volunteers, VLEs, etc. The master trainers till now have given training to more than 15,00,000 persons, shopkeepers/merchants/ traders/businessmen regarding these 5 digital payment systems including AEPS, debit/credit cards, UPI, USSD and Mobile Wallets. State has also organised Digi Dhan Melas at various locations.

Maharashtra has envisaged its own e-Wallet called Maha Wallet, which shall

Nagpur Smart & Safe City Project City –wide solutions City Network

“Smart –Strip” Intervention

City Kiosk

IT enablement & installation of Smart sensors & devices in each of the listed domains

Smart Transport 1200 km of Fibre based citywide connectivity

City Wi-Fi

Internet connectivity for the general public and businesses at 136 locations

ICT based SWM Command

100 Smart Kiosk Terminal (Manned & Unmanned Kiosks)

City Surveillance

CCTV surveillance covering 700 locations with approx. 3800 cameras, advanced analytics, Mobile Vehicle and Drone based surveillance

primarily have features like user-friendly interface from techno-savvy users to novice users, to make hassle-free and secure transactions like shopping, utility payments, paying governmental revenues, fund transfer across other wallets, etc.

Apart from these digital initiatives, how is the state going to bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban population? What initiatives have you taken in this direction?

Hon’ble Chief Minister has emphasised that ‘technology’ alone has potential to bridge the gap between India and Bharat and hence, the Government, through IT department has envisaged implementation of Pan-State Applications/Solutions based on Enterprise Architecture. BharatNet, Aaple Sarkar portal, Maha DBT Portal, Land records modernisation programme and Digital District/Village programmes are some of the initiatives. Through these programmes, Government is digitally empowering the people and providing them easy/reliable access to information, grievance redressal platform, providing the people digital connectivity through BharatNet and Digital district/village programme, apart from simplifying and bringing transparency in Government processes through Maha DBT portal.

Control Centre's

Smart Lighting

Smart Parking

Smart Traffic

Environmental Sensors

Maharashtra has adopted a unique model of using ICT for building Smart and Safe cities. In this model, we are laying focus on putting in place a ICT network backbone based on optic fibre. All smart and safe city interventions will use this network backbone which will terminate in the City Operations Centre and City Command and Control Centre Through Maha DBT portal, Government is envisaging to stop ghost beneficiaries, thus saving the precious Government funds which then can be used for the welfare schemes.

How is Maharashtra working towards ‘Smart City’ project?

Maharashtra has adopted a unique model of using ICT for building Smart and Safe cities. In this model, we are laying focus on putting in place an ICT network backbone based on optic fibre. All smart and safe city interventions will use this network backbone which will terminate in the City Operations Centre and City Command and Control Centre.

Control Centre - for law enforcement

City Operation Centre – for civic operations & emergency response

This model ensures a secure, robust and scalable model while opening the possibility of providing minimum 10 Mbps of Internet bandwidth on demand to all the households in the city.

Maha IT has taken up this model in Nagpur with a project cost of `520 crore. In this project, the interventions of City WiFi, Citizen Kiosk, City surveillance and IoT on Smart Strip are planned using the core infrastructure of the ICT network backbone.

This project involves laying of 1200 km of optical fibre network backbone, creating 136 City WiFi hotspots at key locations, establishing 100 digital interactive kiosks and developing city surveillance systems with 3800 IP-based cameras covering 700 locations.

Further, as an avant-garde endeavour, the city has identified a strip of approximately 6 km (from Japanese Garden Square to Orange City Hospital Square) to be developed as a ‘Smart Strip’ with state-of-the-art systems powered by smart ICT interventions like smart transport, solid waste management, smart lighting, etc., which can be leveraged in a phased manner to ultimately cover the entire city.

The State plans to replicate this model in all the 10 smart cities of the State. In phase-1, we are taking up Amravati, Nashik and Aurangabad.

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HELPING HANDS

From Ganaur

WITH LOVE From learning how to place a yarn on the loom to bringing out trendy organic home decor products, the Ganaur community has come a long way

I

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not everyday that we get an opportunity to do something meaningful for the society. In the year 1960, when a group of women expats learnt that a leprosy community in Ganaur, Sonipet was in dire need of rehabilitation, they went out of their way to make a difference. Initially, the expats volunteered to provide basics like housing, medication and education facilities to the people affected by leprosy, the handicapped and their children. With passage of time, they initiated an organisation called Maximising Employment to Serve the Handicapped (MESH), which was channelised towards creating employment opportunities for the people, one of the biggest challenges faced by the community. The main motive of MESH was to train the community to make products/things and to sell them, which would help the community sustain.

A NEW BEGINNING When people in Ganaur begun learning handloom weaving, it was the beginning of a new dawn. The cotton bedspreads, tablecloths and napkins crafted by them were liked and appreciated by friends of the women expats in Canada and USA. The products also found a market at exhibitions. This handicraft business soon motivated the registering of MESH as a society and purchasing its first outlet in 1981.

GROWING BIG The honest efforts of the women expats paid off. Today, MESH is an established Fair Trade 96 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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(Clockwise from left) A tablecloth design inspired by nature and wildlife; Napkin holder and table mats; Bedcover and stuffed toys

Above all, MESH has been successful in providing daily bread and butter for many less fortunate families. Like Uma, a member of the leprosy community who is a tailor, says, “We might be less educated or from the leprosy colony, but considering all these drawbacks, MESH is able to give us work. We are treated equally, which is difficult to find in other places of work.”

Today MESH is an established Fair Trade firm operating out of Uday Park in New Delhi firm operating out of Uday Park in New Delhi.

It sells home décor, fashion accessories, soft toys and gifts that are sourced from groups across India that employ people affected by leprosy or people with disabilities. As many as 30 groups that are autonomous, rehabilitation centres, self help groups, women’s groups, leprosy colonies, etc., are bought by MESH in a year. Their products are exported around the world mostly to Fair Trade businesses.

FACING CHALLENGES HEAD-ON With fierce competition and limited resources, it has been a challenge for the volunteers of MESH to maintain their standards of quality and safety that make the products acceptable in international and Indian markets. It is only their dedication and willingness to extend support to the less fortunate that has helped them sail through tough situations. Although MESH works within the government’s framework, it does not seek monetary support from the government. The organisation is registered to receive foreign donations to run a studio or to upgrade machinery for producers.

LOOKING AHEAD MESH also provides design and quality/ technical support to the artisans so that they are equipped to interpret international buyer demand. Apart from this, capacity building trainings are held to teach artisans how to manage their businesses, i.e., costing and pricing, stock control, quality control, etc., and how to function within the framework of fair trade. The MESH family now wants to go a step ahead and establish a marketing agency to promote the products thereby providing a link between the artisans and the consumer.

SPECIAL TALK Tenzin Jamyang I was born in 1982 with cerebral palsy.

Between 2001 and 2011, I learnt painting. People’s Action Group for Inclusion and Rights PAGIR (which is under MESH), gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills by appointing me as an artist. This has added colour to my life and now I have started participating in painting competitions and workshops.

Mani Mehala

We never had enough money and I was always hungry and sick as a child. I developed a spastic hand because of fever.

After joining the Blue Mango Trust (which is under MESH) I now live in a rented oneroom house with my parents and brother. I had never dreamt that one day I will earn and save money.

SHORT TAKES

Reading Corner Grab a copy and transport yourself to the world of books The book deals with the dilemmas that confront all of us. It is the story of Shubhojit Singh who is at the pinnacle of his career as a civil servant and his personal life is in shambles. His wife has left him and he has become a stranger to his own children. When a sudden health crisis brings the whole family together, Shubhojit is left reminiscing about his younger days in the village.

Just four years short of his retirement, he decides to go back to his roots, to a life where he is free and unencumbered. The story reflects the anonymous men and women in government service and their timeless sacrifices for the country.

TOURIST SEASON

BY JAINA SANGA SPEAKING TIGER PRICE: `299

The duet of novellas, in prose, captures the nuances of time and place, each one featuring a protagonist who is at heart a dreamer. Tourist Season features a small-time shopkeeper in a Himalayan hill station, whose quiet existence is disrupted when a tourist woman finds a 17th century antique amidst the paraphernalia of his shop. In The River, a middling professor of Hindu mythology nurtures a secret ambition of becoming a renowned novelist.

SCENT OF THE SOIL: A CIVIL SERVANT RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS

BY SUCHITA MALIK RUPA PUBLICATIONS PRICE: `495

The book is an autobiography in which the author delves into her childhood and her experiences as India’s first Wiccan priestess. She also recounts various instances with very prominent personalities in politics and cinema. The book is her journey in which she both proves and dispels notions of the ‘wicked witch’, bringing to the fore witchcraft’s power to both heal and destroy.

UNRESOLVED: A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER SHOBHA NIHALANI HACHETTE BOOK PUBLISHING PRICE: `350

98 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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BELOVED WITCH IPSITA ROY CHAKRAVERTI HARPER COLLINS PRICE: `299

The book is about the deep secrets relationships are sometimes based on, and a marriage gone terribly wrong. It is the story of Maya who is content living the life of a newlywed, but there is something about Deepak, her police-officer husband, that makes her restless.

Maya begins to suspect her husband and overhears a conversation which involves a murder. The engrossing thriller ventures into the dark corners of the human mind.

BIRDS OF INDIA BIKRAM GREWAL, SUMIT SEN, SARWANDEEP SINGH, NIKHIL DEVASAR, GARIMA BHATIA OM BOOKS INTERNATIONAL PRICE: `1,500

Birds of India covers over 1,300 species and distinct subspecies of birds found in the Indian subcontinent.

It contains over 4,000 colour photographs including depictions of flight, plumage, hunting style and much more. The text provides vital and new information on voice and habits of each species. It enables accurate field identification in one of the world’s most diverse avifaunal regions and is an indispensable guide for all bird lovers.

WINNING LIKE VIRAT: THINK & SUCCEED LIKE KOHLI

BY ABHIRUP BHATTACHARYA RUPA PUBLICATIONS

UPCOMING RELEASE

The book understands the secrets of Virat Kohli’s phenomenal success and tells the reader how best to emulate these in life.

It analyses the traits that make him a great role model to follow. The author highlights his leadership skills, the ability to keep his cool under pressure, a fearless attitude, a desire to win every game and all other traits that have shaped him as he is today. Off the field too, his maturity in handling the media and business acumen testify to his excellent leadership and man-management skills. It is a book of Kohli’s relentless hard work and a dedicated goal to succeed.

KIDS ZONE

Paper Mache Bowl Decorate your house with pretty artsy paper mache bowls. You can choose from endless options of tissue paper mache, newspaper or decorative wrapping paper for beautiful results

Step 1 Blow up the balloon to whatever size you want your bowl to be.

Step 2 Cut the tissue paper into squares about 2 inches wide.

Step 4 Let the balloon dry for approximately 24 hrs. If you have used white tissue then colour it. Poke the balloon when it is completely dry.

Step 3

Step 5

Dip the tissue squares in to the glue and paste in over the blown balloon.

Cover most of the balloon with the tissue paper.

Cut around the dry tissue to give it the shape of a bowl and it is ready for use.

MATERIAL REQUIRED 1 Balloon

100 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

Water Colours

School Glue or Mod Podge

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Tissue paper

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

MERI PYAARI BINDU

HALF GIRLFRIEND

SACHIN

Director: Akshay Roy Cast: Parineeti Chopra, Ayushmann Khurrana, Aparajita Adhya Release date: May 12, 2017

Director: Mohit Suri Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor Release date: May 19, 2017

Director: James Erskine Cast: Mayuresh Pem, Sachin Tendulkar Release date: May 26, 2017

The story of a writer who returns to his roots to write an old-fashioned love story and finds himself being pulled back into the centre of the crazy thing called love.

The love story is based on lives of Madhav, and Riya. The plot revolves around the compromise suggested by Riya when she agrees to be Madhavâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s half girlfriend.

A tale of a small boy with dreams and his journey to become the God of Cricket and the most celebrated sportsperson in the country.

STAR TRACKER

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

Taurus (Apr 19 - May 19)

Gemini (May 20 - Jun 20)

The work that you ordinarily love to do will become an unbearable chore and you will be frustrated. You will suddenly receive more money but you will have to be more assertive or you’ll lose out. Wait a while before you invest your money in property.

A letter or package you’ve been waiting for will arrive. Financial gain will come through time, investments, speculations or a well thought out plan of action. You need a vacation from work and will soon take one.

A sudden surge in your business or career and a call from a lover will come as a much-welcomed surprise. Expect to hear some good news soon. You will have good luck in metaphysical pursuits, mending hurt feelings and attracting romance.

Lucky colour Yellow Lucky No. 5

Lucky colour Red

Lucky colour Teal Lucky No. 3

Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 21)

Leo (Jul 22 - Aug 21)

Virgo (Aug 22 - Sep 21)

New ideas will come to the fore. Your financial situation will be especially good because you will acquire money through a new project/ business deal.

New avenues will spring from old, in both your business and your personal affairs.

A fixed attitude, unworkable environment, or unpleasant experience will come to an end and in its place will come a new perspective and an uplifting turn of events. You will want to share your deepest feelings but will keep them to yourself.

You will have to deal with very unpleasant people or circumstances in your work and will feel that you are wasting your time and effort. You will experience a lack of energy and will be subject to clumsiness or small accidents.

Lucky colour Purple

Lucky colour Green Lucky No. 9

Lucky colour Violet

Libra (Sep 22 - Oct 22)

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 20)

Sagittarius (Nov 21 - Dec 20)

Some areas will be at a standstill while you wait for things to develop. You may also be considering a new line of work or money making venture. A sudden travel overseas will come up. You will get relief from legal problems.

You will try to put off work for a while or schedule business appointments for a later date. Get in touch with your feelings. Expect a postponement or delay in affairs concerning finances, but the money is forthcoming.

You will be receiving money from something that was held up. You will be unhappy with your present partner and will want to come together with someone else.

If already involved you will wish your partner would be more loving or responsive.

Lucky colour Pink

Lucky colour Magenta

Lucky colour Burgundy Lucky No. 1

Lucky No. 6

Lucky No. 7

Lucky No. 2

Lucky No. 8

Lucky No. 4

Capricorn (Dec 21 - Jan 19)

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 19)

You will feel uplifted, renewed and in a sociable mood. Someone will help you collect money that is owed to you, or you’ll soon begin a new enterprise (or retrieve a past one) that will bring in more money or supplement your income.

You’re going to be overworked and over-tired but will complete the projects you set out to do successfully. Watch out for some nasty headaches. Be determined to get what you want; the goal is within reach.

You won’t feel capable of mastering the steps it takes to succeed, but someone or something will come along that will help you or make your work easier. There will be small gains in your finances. Be cautious with your health.

Lucky colour Turquoise

Lucky colour Blue

Lucky colour Brown Lucky No. 7

Lucky No. 2

Lucky No. 2

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 102 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

www.railbandhu.in

raMaDan KareeM

TRENDY

LUXURY

COLLECTION

COLLECTION

PREMIUM COLLECTION

In the age of superfoods and powerhouse ingredients, the humble Date (Khajur) with its natural sweetness is finding its own fan following. Dates are now a preferred fruit throughout the year advocated for its nutritional value.

This wholesome fruit contains much-needed minerals and energy necessary to our health and well-being. We at JKC General Trading Co., are proud to introduce Falcon Dates, our flagship brand of premium quality dates that are packaged to conserve their nourishing goodness.

Available now

PIoneers In Dates MarKetIng sInce 1954

Available at

Registered Office:- E-27, APMC Market Complex-I, Phase - II, Turbhe, Navi Mumbai - 400 705. Tel: +9122 2788 0011 / 22 / 33. E-mail: sales@jkcgeneral.com Log onto www.khajur.in to view our full range of products

OFF TRACK

104 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

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Pics by: Deepak Oinam

QUICK FACTS

Rail Bandhu - May 2017 | 105

IN FOCUS

DID YOU KNOW Singhal’s work has been featured in the best-selling graphic design book called Graphic Design: The New Basics penned by author Ellen Lupton.

Archaeology of Tea, Hedonist Monk and The Jazz Age are some of his other prominent projects.

Designing

IMAGE MAKEOVERS Graphic designer Hitesh Singhal talks to RB about how contemporary graphic media can be a strong way of visual communication Text: Pooja Kulkarni

W

ith an aim “to come up with fresh approaches to design that can hold people’s attention”, image-maker and award-winning graphic designer, Hitesh Singhal, is all set to make a mark. India born and trained, before he completed his education in fine art at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), United States, Singhal’s works have won him the Adobe Design Award 2015 in Exhibition Design, one of the United States’ highest distinction in the field.

106 | Rail Bandhu - May 2017

CONTEMPORARY IDEAS Singhal’s area of specialisation is art, architecture, education and culture. Combining a conceptual and strategic approach with progressive modes of visual communication, his practice encompasses the full range of contemporary graphic media for interactive experiences. Talking about the thoughts behind his designs, he says, “I strive to go beyond the superficiality of a design and explore how it can tackle real, social, political and economic issues.” www.railbandhu.in

TRAIN CONNECT Hitesh has been associated with the Indian Railways through some of his projects. He says, “I have spent a lot of time around trains, stations and other related spaces. Indian Railways has more than a few stories to tell! On my many journeys, I met colourful and eclectic characters. I have photographic memories of various destinations and sights of India, and also ephemera like tickets, clay tea cups, sketches of people, etc. I’ve combined all of this in the form of infographics, posters, illustrations, photography and motifs along with the text in all my rail projects.”

RAILWAY PROJECTS His 500-page book titled Everywhere Child Project provides extensive information on travelling and trains, particularly Indian Railways. His coffee table book Experience India, introduces India to a first-time traveller. While the Treks and Dialect Poster project showcases a biodiagram depicting all the stations the train crosses on its way, the India by Rail book illustrates the typical characters one encounters on a rail journey.

FORTUNE MOCCASINS

C

elebrate individuality. Escape from the suffocating closets with the new elegant Fortune in smart colours that permit you to expand your social and professional circle as you indulge in celebrating yourself. The Mocassins allow you to enhance your appearance, be it at a formal setting or in casual surroundings, and in outfits that allow comfort and style. These are non-leather shoes and high on comfort and fashion quotient.

AIMING HIGH

F

ounded in January 2014, Intec was launched with the aim of becoming the leading marketing company for white goods consumer products. Initially, the company launched a wide range of commercial and domestic air conditioners in the market and then gradually added geysers and LED television in their product category. Now, Intec plans to launch semi-automatic and fully automatic washing machines in Indian market.

Today, the company has presence in 7 States of India but it is planning to expand its operation at Pan India level by opening branches and service centres with its own expert team. The company intends to add more distributors and increase its point of sales across Indian states and penetrate the market.

MP GETS NEW WINGS

W

ith regional air connectivity gaining momentum in the aviation sector, Prabhatam Aviation has launched Madhya Pradeshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive regional airline â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fly Divine, which will connect the heart of incredible India, Madhya Pradesh, to various hubs inside and outside MP. Apart from Indore, which will be the base city, Fly Divine will also have daily flights from Jabalpur. In the 2nd phase of its flying operations, the airline has ambitious plans to expand its reach to Nagpur, Khajuraho, Kota, Ahmedabad, Raipur, Datia, Gwalior and Varanasi.

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DohalySaM MªkW fczt jsyos ØkWflax vkWLVªsfy;k ds DohalySaM esa jkWdgSEiVu ’kgj esa nks uSjksxst ykbusa ;gka ij ,d nwljs dks ØkWl djrh gSaA uhps okyh jsy ykbu ij ls tc jsyxkM+h xqt+jrh gS rc Åij okyh jsy ykbuksa dks tksM+us okys [kaM mBk fn;s tkrs gSaA blh rjg ls tc Åij okyh jsy ykbu ls jsyxkM+h xqt+jrh gS rc bl jsy TokbaV dks uhps djds jsy ykbu dks lkekU; dj fn;k tkrk gSA blesa eq[; ykbu vFkkZr uhps okyh ykbu fo|qrhd`r gSA bl ij ukWFkZ dksLV ykbu dh 160 fdyksehVj izfr?kaVs dh rhoz xfr okyh bysfDVªd fVYV Vªsu pyrh gSA nwljh ykbu ;kuh fd Åij okyh ykbu LFkkuh; phuh fey dh vksj tkrh gSA bl {ks= esa xUuk izpqj ek=k esa mRiUu gksrk gS rks ;g jsyxkM+h xUus dh <qykbZ djrh gSA ;g nks QqV pkSM+kbZ okyh uSjksxst jsy ykbu gSA ;g MªkW fczt jsy batu esa yxs fjeksV daVªksy ls lapkfyr gksrk gSA 108 |

- ebZ 2017

www.railbandhu.in

NHP INDIA

Jh txr izdk'k uM~Mk ekuuh; dsna hz ; ea=h LokLF; ,oa ifjokj dY;k.k ea=ky;

LokLF; ,oa ifjokj dY;k.k ea=ky; Hkkjr ljdkj

jk"Vªh; LokLF; izos’k}kj LokLF; dh izkekf.kd tkudkjh ds fy, izos’k}kj

www.nhp.gov.in

fo’o rackdw fu"ks/k

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rackdw fodkl ds fy, ?kkrd gS

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• fo’o dks rackdw lsou ls tqM+s LokLF; tksf[k+eksa ds ckjs esa tkx:d djuk

• rackdw lsou dks de djus ds fy, izHkkoh fu;a=d mik;ksa dks izksRlkfgr djuk • rackdw LokLF; ds fy, gkfudkjd

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,u,pih Vksy Ýh ua-

LokLF; ,oa ifjokj dY;k.k ea=ky; us fo’o LokLF; laxBu vkSj varjjk"Vªh; nwjlapkj la?k dh Hkkxhnkjh esa eksckby izkS|ksfxdh ds mi;ksx ls rackdw NksM+us ds fy, ,e lsls’ku ¼rackdw½ dk;ZØe dh ’kq#vkr dh gSA bldk mn~ns’; mu lHkh Jsf.k;ksa ds rackdw miHkksDrkvksa rd igqapuk gS] tks rackdw dk mi;ksx NksM+uk pkgrs gSa rFkk mUgsa lQyrkiwoZd rackdw NksM+us ds fy, eksckby Qksu ij fujarj lans’k ds ek/;e ls lg;ksx nsuk gSA ,e lsls’ku ¼rackdw½ dk;ZØe esa jftLVj djus ds fy,

https://www.nhp.gov.in/quit-tobacco tk,a ;k

011-22901701 ij feLM dkWy djsaA

1800-180-1104

vuks[kh jsy lajpukvksa esa #fp j[kus okyksa dks ;g ØkWflax vkdf"kZr djrh gS

Åijh jsyekxZ 3 ehy yack gS tks tsEl unh ds mÙkjh fdukjs ds lekukarj esa cuk gS bldk fuekZ.k pslfid ,aM vksfg;ks jsyos us fd;k Fkk rd c<+k;k x;kA rRi’pkr ;g nf{k.kh jsyos iz.kkyh dk fgLlk cu x;kA orZeku esa ;g ukWjQ+ksYd lkmnuZ dk fgLlk gSA ;g jsy ykbu othZfu;k ds iwoZ ls if’pe fn’kk esa tkrh gSA vkjaHk esa ;g ykbu 38 ehy yach cuh Fkh ftls 1859 esa ifjpkyu ds fy, [kksyk x;kA e/;ry jsyekxZ bl jsyekxZ dks loZizFke fjpeaM ihVjcxZ ,aM dsjksfyuk jsyekxZ }kjk 1897 ls 1900 ds e/; cuk;k x;k FkkA bls ebZ 1900 esa [kksyk x;k FkkA ;g e/;ry okyk jsyekxZ 1920 esa lhcksMZ ,;jykbu jsyekxZ dk fgLlk cu x;k tks vc lh,l,Dl VªkaLiksVsZ’ku dk fgLlk gSA bls ^,l* ykbu ds uke ls tkuk tkrk gSA ;g esuLVªhV LVs’ku ds rqjar nf{k.k esa fLFkr gSA bls vc lkmFk bZLV gkbZ LihM jsy xfy;kjk dk fgLlk cuk;k tkuk izLrkfor gSA Åijh jsyekxZ ;g jsyekxZ rhu ehy yack gS tks tsEl unh ds mÙkjh fdukjs ds lekukarj esa cuk gSA bldk fuekZ.k pslfid ,aM vksfg;ks jsyos us fd;k FkkA ;kf=;ksa ds fy, ;g ekxZ 24 twu] 1901 dks [kksyk x;k FkkA bls 110 |

- ebZ 2017

lkekU; tkudkjh Hkkjr esa Hkh Mcy Msdj jsy ØkWflax iqy fo|eku gSaA Hkkjr esa djhc 80 ØkWlvksoj iqy gSaA Hkkjr esa fdlh ,d LVs'ku ij lcls vf/kd ikap ØkWl vksoj jsy iqy ukxiqj {ks= esa cus gSaA www.railbandhu.in

igys ds fjpeaM ,aM vys?kuh jsyjksM rFkk isfuulqyk lc&fMfot+u dks U;wiksVZ U;wt+ ds chp dks;yk <qykbZ ds fy, cuk;k x;k FkkA ;g Åijh jsyekxZ vc ppZfgy Vuy jsyekxZ dh txg ij ,d oSdfYid jsyekxZ ds :i esa mi;ksx gksrk gSA bl jsy iqy ij vkjaHk esa Hkki ds batuksa ls jsyxkfM+;ksa dks pyk;k tkrk FkkA o"kZ 1949 ls bl ij Mht+y batuksa ls jsyxkfM+;ksa dh ’kq#vkr gqbZA ;g ,d jkspd ckr gS fd rhu jsy ykbuksa ij ,d lkFk rhu jsyxkfM+;ksa dh rLohjsa [khapus ds fy, o"kZ 1949] 1960] 1983 rFkk 1990 esa Qk+sVks ls’ku vk;ksftr fd;k x;k FkkA ;s rhuksa jsyekxZ fctyhd`r jsyekxZ ugha gS] bu rhuksa ij Mht+y batu ls pyus okyh jsyxkfM+;ka gh pyrh gSaA blh rjg dk ,d vkSj iqy o"kZ 1906 esa byhLVksu] bafM;kuk esa okbV fjoj ij cuk;k x;k Fkk tks o"kZ 1935 esa [+kjkc gks x;k Fkk vkSj 1937 esa ck<+ esa cg x;k FkkA bl izdkj ls ;g jsy iqy u dsoy vius izdkj dk fo’o dk ,dek= iqy gS vfirq jsy iqyksa esa #fp j[kus okyksa dks vpafHkr dj nsus okyh ,d jkspd txg Hkh gSA

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3 metro stations within 500 metres

24/7 security

Ample parking space

24/7 surveillance

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PRE-REGISTER NOW For leasing queries, contact: info@threehands.in

THREE HANDS INFRASTRUCTURE (INDIA) PRIVATE LIMITED An ISO 9001:2008 Certified company Plot No 62, Okhla Phase-3, New Delhi-110020

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info@threehands.in

011.43011111, 97187 44474

gekjh fojklr

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laxzgky; Hkksiky fLFkr nwjlapkj laxzgky; dks ns[kdj gj dksbZ gSjku jg tkrk gSA ;gka gesa VsyhQ+ksu ls lacaf/kr Kkuo/kZd tkudkfj;ka izkIr gksrh gSa ys[k% oh.kk lcyksd ikBd

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112 |

- ebZ 2017

bfrgkl dh tkudkjh bl laxgz ky; esa Hkkjrh; lapkj O;oLFkk ds jkspd bfrgkl dks Q+kVs ks o ;a=ks& a mi;a=ksa ds ek/;e ls flyflysokj rjhds ls n’kkZ;k x;k gSA ;gka vkidks jk;cgknqj ’kkyhxzke ds lac/a k esa lai.w kZ tkudkjh izkIr gksxhA bUgsa fczfV’kdky esa igys Hkkjrh; iksLVekLVj ds in ij igqp a us dk xkSjo izkIr gqvk FkkA ;g laxgz ky; yxHkx lk<+s pkj gt+kj oxZ QqV ds {ks=Qy esa QSy + k gqvk gS tks gekjh lapkj O;oLFkk dh jkspd ,oa yach xkFkk c;ka djrk izrhr gksrk gSA ;g rks ge lHkh tkurs gSa fd izkphudky esa lapkj O;oLFkk dk vFkZ gksrk Fkk ;k=k djuk vFkok dcwrjksa ds ek/;e ls viuk lan’s k igqp a kukA gekjs lan’s kokgd de nwjh ds lan’s k nsus ds fy, izdk’k LraHkks]a /kq,]a irkdk Qgjkus tSls rjhds viukrs FksA 18oha lnh rd nwjlapkj O;oLFkk blh izdkj ds vthcks&xjhc lk/kuksa ij fuHkZj FkhA ckn esa bZLV bafM;k daiuh us viuh www.railbandhu.in

jkspd rF; jk"Vªfirk egkRek xka/kh vk/kqfud e'khuksa dks ukilan fd;k djrs FksA mudk ekuuk Fkk fd ;s e'khusa euq"; dks vkylh cuk nsrh gSaA fdarq mUgsa ?kM+h ,oa VsyhQ+ksu ekuo dh enn ds dkjxj ;a= yxrs FksA

bl laxzgky; esa vkidks Lora=rk iwoZ ,oa vkt+knh ds i'pkr dh nwjlapkj lacaf/kr tkudkjh izkIr gksxh

1857 ds xnj dh tkudkjh vaxt sz k+ as us Vsyhxzke }kjk vEckyk o jkoyfiaMh fLFkr lsuk Nkofu;ksa dks nh FkhA bl dkj.k ;g foQy gqvk ’kklu O;oLFkk c<+kus ds fy, Hkkjr ds ize[q k ’kgjksa dks dydÙkk ¼orZeku esa dksydkrk½ ls tksMu+ s gsrq Mkd dk vknku&iznku djuk vkjaHk fd;k x;kA fdarq ;g Mkd lsok ’kkldh; vkSj dqN fof’k"V yksxksa rd gh lhfer FkhA izR;sd jkT; ;g lsok viuh lqfo/kkuqlkj pykrk FkkA bl ij dsna hz ; fu;a=.k ugha FkkA lu 1855 esa Mkd lsok dks laxfBr :i fn;k x;kA blls igys 1850 esa ns’k esa igyh fctyh rkj ykbu dydÙkk ds fy, bZLV bafM;k daiuh us viuh lqfo/kk gsrq ’kq: dh FkhA Hkkjr esa VsyhQ+kus vkSj VsyhxzkQ+ O;oLFkk vkjaHk djus dk Js; MkWDVj fofy;e dks tkrk gS tks yksd fuekZ.k foHkkx esa dk;Zjr FksA Kku dk HkaMkj tuojh 30] 1881 dks ckWEcs ¼orZeku esa eqacbZ½ esa igyk VsyhQ+ksu ,Dlpsat vkjaHk gqvk FkkA blesa eSXusVks uked ;a= ls ckrphr dh tkrh FkhA blds ckn dkuiqj esa lsaVªy cSVªh iz.kkyh ;qDr VsyhQ+ksu ,Dlpsat ’kq: fd;k x;kA rRi’pkr f’keyk esa [kqys vkWVkseSfVd ,Dlpsat us lapkj lk/kuksa dk ifjn`’; gh cny fn;kA

;g laxzgky; blh izdkj dh Kkuo/kZd tkudkfj;ksa dk HkaMkj gSA bldh fo’ks"krk ;g gS fd ;gka lapkj O;oLFkk ls tqM+s vf/kdka’k midj.kksa dk izn’kZu Hkh fd;k x;k gSA ok;ljk; ykWMZ bfoZu us ok;jysl }kjk igyk rkj baXySaM dh egkjkuh dks tqykbZ 23] 1927 dks Hkstk FkkA blh izdkj Lora=rk ds ckn fnlEcj 1947 dks ns’k ds igys iz/kkuea=h iafMr tokgjyky usg: us fnYyh ls tEew ds chp igyh VªaddkWy lsok dk vkjaHk fd;k FkkA vDVwcj 11] 1950 dks Hkkjr ds jk"Vªifr MkWDVj jktsanz izlkn us Hkkjr ls baMksusf’k;k ds chp jsfM;ks lapkj ek/;e ls lh/kh VsyhQ+ksu lsok dk mn~?kkVu fd;k FkkA bl rjg ds nqyZHk nLrkost+ Hkh ;gka ij lgstdj j[ks x, gSaA ns’k ds ,dek= ,sls laxzgky; esa 1880 esa iz;ksx fd, tkus okys midj. kksa ls ysdj vk/kqfuddky rd ds VsyhQ+ksu midj.kksa dk izn’kZu rks fd;k x;k gS] lkFk gh rduhd ls tqM+s reke midj.kksa dks Hkh flyflysokj n’kkZ;k x;k gSA vkjafHkd nkSj esa tgka gj Q+ksudkWy ds ckn tujsVj ls pkch Hkjdj Q+ksu fd, tkrs Fks] ogha esufVuks ,Dlpsat] dkWMZysl ihch,Dl ,Dlpsat] dscy Vkbi ihch,Dl ,Dlpsat] igyk dEI;wVd`r Vªad ,Dlpsat] isaVkdksVk ØkWlckj ,Dlpsat vkfn dk Hkh bl laxzgky; esa ltho fp=.k fd;k x;k gSA blh izdkj ls fofHkUu izdkj dh Vªad cksMZ fjaxj e’khusa] xzqi lsysDVj VsLVj] vkWfIVdy Qkbcj dscy] vaMj xzkmaM dscy VªkalehVj flLVe ds fofHkUu ekWMy VsyhQ+ksu fizafVax e’khu bysDVªkWfud VsyhxzkQ+h rFkk vU; VsyhxzkQ+h midj.k ekuks ;gka ij lkdkj gks mBrs gSaA 1920 dh f’keyk DykWd Hkh bl laxzgky; dh fo’ks"krk gSA

gekjh ijaijk

;gka fn[ksxh

n'kZuh; LFky vjkoyh dh lcls Åaph pksVh xq#f’k[kj ds uke ls tkuh tkrh gSA ’kgj ls yxHkx 15 fdyksehVj nwj bl igkM+h pksVh ij Hkxoku fo".kq ds vorkj nÙkk=S; dk eafnj gSA bl eafnj esa 14oha lnh ds /keZlq/kkjd Lokeh jkekuan ds pj.k fpºu Hkh LFkkfir gSaA

jax&fcjaxh laLd`fr

ekmaV vkcw esa Xkzh"edkyhu egksRlo 9 o 10 ebZ dks vk;ksftr gksxkA blesa vkidks LFkkuh; yksdlaxhr] yksdxhrksa ,oa laLd`fr dh >yd ns[kus dks feysxh Yks[k ,oa Nk;kfp=% ’;kelqanj tks’kh

n

f{k.k&if’peh jktLFkku esa vjkoyh ioZr Ja[` kyk ds loksPZ p f’k[kj ij fLFkr ioZrh; Ik;ZVu LFky ekmaV vkcw dk uSlfxZd lkSna ;Z ns[krs gh curk gSA xxupqEch ’kSy Jsf.k;ka] ’kkar ’khry gok ds >ksd a ]s isM& + ikS/kksa dk ygjkrk eatj] u;uksa dks lqduw nsrh uDdh >hy vkSj mlds pkjksa rjQ vkPNkfnr [ktwj ds isMk+ as us rks ;gka dh ’kksHkk esa ekuks pkj pkan gh yxk fn, gSAa ekmaV vkcw jktLFkku dk ,dek= fgy LVs’ku gS vkSj lp iwNas rks xehZ ls rirs&>qylrs www.railbandhu.in

bl e#izn’s k ds fy, ;gh f’keyk] ;gh uSuhrky rFkk ;gh nkftZfyax gSA jktLFkku ds fljksgh ft+ys esa xqtjkr jkT; dh lhek ds fudV fLFkr vkcw ioZr dh leqnrz y ls lkekU;r% ÅapkbZ pkj gt+kj QqV gSA bldk loksPZ p LFky xq#f’k[kj 5]653 QqV Åapk gSA vkcwjksM jsyos LVs’ku ls ekmaV vkcw rd 29 fdyksehVj dh nwjh lM+d ekxZ ls gh r; djuh gksrh gSA jkLRks esa xgjh ?kkfV;ka vkSj ioZr Ja[` kykvksa ds chp ls nwjLFk eSnkuh bykdksa dk n`’; cgqr gh lqna j fn[kkbZ nsrk gSA vkcw ioZr fdlh t+ekus esa

vkcw ioZr ij lulsV ikWbaV gS tgka ls lw;kZLr ns[kus i;ZVdksa dk gqtwe meM+ iM+rk gSA ;gka ls 'kgj dh lqanjrk ns[krs gh curh gS _f"k&eqfu;ksa dh riksLFkyh gqvk djrk FkkA orZeku esa ;g nslh&fons’kh lSykfu;ksa dh euksje je.kh; LFkyh gSA ;gka dh izkd`frd NVk o u;ukfHkjke lkSna ;Z dk vkuan mBkus ds fy, izfro"kZ yk[kksa dh la[;k esa i;ZVd f[kaps pys vkrs gSAa vusdkusd eafnjksa ds dkj.k ;g ,d /kkfeZd n’kZuh; LFky ds :i esa Hkh izfl) gSA

jkspd tkudkfj;ka ;gka fLFkr fnyokM+k tSu eafnj fo’ofo[;kr gSaA laxejej ds iRFkjksa ls fufeZr bu eafnjksa dh vn~Hkqr okLrqdyk dk dksbZ eqdkcyk ugha gSA buds fuekZ.k esa iz;qDr ,d&,d bap iRFkj dks f’kfYi;ksa us bruh ckjhdh ls rjk’kk gS fd vkt Hkh ;s dykizsfe;ksa ds vkd"kZ.k dk izeq[k dsanz gSaA 11oha vkSj 13oha lnh esa fufeZr fnyokM+k eafnj lewg ds fo’kky izkax.k esa ikap tSu eafnj fufeZr gSaA

vkd"kZ.k dk lzkrs i;ZVd ;gka f[kaps pys vk,a bl fn’kk esa jktLFkku ljdkj ds i;ZVu foHkkx] ftyk iz’kklu rFkk uxj ikfydk iz’kklu ds la;Dq r rRoko/kku esa xzh"edkyhu egksRlo dk vk;kstu izfro"kZ fd;k tkrk gSA cq) iwf.kZek ds volj ij vk;ksftr gksus okyk ;g egksRlo bl o"kZ 9 o 10 ebZ dks vk;ksftr fd;k tk jgk gSA vk"kk<+ ekg esa vk;ksftr gksus okys bl egksRlo esa vkidks LFkkuh; laLd`fr dh >yd ns[kus dks feysxhA vki yksdlaxhr] yksdxhr rFkk yksdu`R; dk vkuan mBk ldsx a As ekmaV vkcw ds n’kZuh; LFkyksa dks jks’kuh ls ltk;k tkrk gSA jktLFkku ds xsj u`R;] ?kwej u`R;] dkycsfy;k u`R;] dBiqryh dyk lfgr vU; yksd dykvksa ,oa gLrf’kYi dykvksa ds Hkh izn’kZu bl lekjksg ds nkSjku n’kZdksa dks vkdf"kZr djrs gSAa nks fnolh; bl mRlo esa i;ZVd eLrh ds vkye esa Mwc tkrk gSA bl ekSds ij jktLFkku i;ZVu fodkl fuxe }kjk ’kksHkk;k=k fudkyh tkrh gS tks uDdh >hy pkSd rd tkrh gSA ;gka ij jktLFkku ,oa xqtjkr ls vk, mRd`"V dykdkj viuk dk;ZØe izLrqr djrs gSAa blds vykok ÅaVksa dh nkSM]+ ?kqMn+ kSM]+ ukSdk nkSM]+ eVdk nkSM]+ LdsfVax jsl] jLlkd’kh tSls [ksyksa dk Hkh vk;kstu gksrk gSA egksRlo ds vafre fnu uDdh >hy ds fdukjs ’kke&,&dOokyh dk vk;kstu fd;k tkrk gSA jkr dks vkfr’kckt+h gksrh gSA fu%langs i;ZVdksa dks vuks[kk vuqHko izkIr gksrk gSA i;ZVu LFkyh vkcw ioZr ij oSls rks ?kweus ,oa ns[kus yk;d vusd LFky gSa fdarq uDdh >hy] fnyokM+k eafnj] lulsV ikWbVa ] xq#f’k[kj o vpyx<+ ize[q k gSAa Åaph&uhph igkfM+;ksa rFkk [ktwj ds gjs&Hkjs isMk+ as ls f?kjh fpÙkkd"kZd uDdh >hy dh izkd`frd NVk ns[kdj eu eqX/k gks tkrk gSA >hy ds uhys ty esa rSjrha cÙk[ksa vkSj lSykfu;ksa dks lSj djkrha ukSdk,a yqHkkous n`’; dh lajpuk djrh gSAa dqy feykdj ekmaV vkcw ns[kus yk;d txg gSA - ebZ 2017 | 115

:i lTtk

xfeZ;ksa ds fy,

fo’ks"k ifj/kku QS’ku dh nqfu;k esa gj ckj ,d u;k iz;ksx ns[kus dks feyrk gSA dHkh u, dV~l ds lkFk iqjkus LVkby dh okilh gksrh gS rks dHkh dksbZ jax izpyu ls ckgj gks tkrk gSA rks vkb, tkfu,] bu xfeZ;ksa dks /;ku esa j[kdj vki fdl rjg ds ifj/kku igu ldrh gSa

ys[k ,oa Nk;kfp=% fugkfjdk tk;loky

b

l ckj ds lej QS’ku VªsaM ¼izpyu½ esa cgqr ls cnyko vk, gSaA bldk ut+kjk ySDes lej QS’ku ohd&2017 esa Hkh ns[kus dks feykA bl QS’ku ohd esa r#.k rgfy;kuh] tsts oyk;k] fjrq dqekj] uhrk ywyk vkSj xkSjh uSfudk tSls dbZ cM+s fMt+kbujksa us viuh dysD’ku dks jSEi ij mrkjkA fdlh ds if’peh ifj/kkuksa esa ijaijkxr dykdkjh dh >yd ns[kus dks feyh rks fdlh ds ifj/kku uspj ,fyesaV vkSj 90 ds n’kd ds QS’ku ls izHkkfor FksA buesa cukjlh iks’kkdsa Hkh ’kkfey FkhaA fMt+kbujksa dh ekusa rks cnyrs ekSle ds lkFk vyekjh esa cnyko Hkh cgqr t+:jh gksrk gSA xfeZ;ksa dh iks’kkdksa ds izpyu ds laca/k esa lsysfczVh LVkbfyLV lksfu;k Hkkj}kt dk dguk gS fd iqjkus VªsaM~l dh ekWMuZ yqd ds lkFk okilh gks jgh gSA vki dqN vyx fn[ksa blds fy, cgqr vko’;d gS fd vkidh vyekjh esa Hkkjrh; ikjaifjd ,oa if’peh nksuksa rjg ds ifj/kku ekStwn gksaA Hkkjrh; ikjaifjd iks’kkdsa Hkkjrh; igukos esa vukjdyh LVkby Hkys gh iqjkuk gks fdarq ;g lnkcgkj QS’ku gSA cukjlh ckWMZj okyh Iysu csl LdVZ&’kkWVZ dqrhZ] pwM+hnkj ik;tkek&Iysu dqrhZ ds lkFk lnjh] LVªsV dqrkZ&Iykt+ks vkSj f’kQ+kWu dh lkM+h ds lkFk fizaVsM Cykmt+ dh lej QS’ku ds rgr cgqr ekax gSA dqfrZ;ksa esa bl ckj LVªsV yk¡x dqrhZ Hkh [+kwc pysxhA cwVh vkSj pkSM+s ckWMZj okyh dqrhZ xfeZ;ksa esa vki ij cgqr Q+csxhA ikVhZ esa iguus yk;d iks’kkdksa esa cukjlh lkM+h] e/kqcuh vkVZ lkM+h] usV ij flaxy o ¶yksjy odZ lkM+h izeq[k gSaA fo’ks"k volj ij Iysu ygaxs ds lkFk cukjlh tSdsV Hkh ,d vPNk fodYi gSA lkM+h dks ekWMuZ LVkby esa Mªsi djds Hkh iguk tk ldrk gSA 116 |

- ebZ 2017

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jkspd tkudkfj;ka

xfeZ;ksa ds ekSle esa ,sls ifj/kku iguus pkfg,a tks fn[kus esa vkd"kZd yxas ,oa iguus esa vkjkenk;d gksa nslh&fons’kh lkFk&lkFk baMks&osLVuZ dysD’ku esa /kksrh iSaV LVkby lwV vFkok dsi Mªsl] lwV LVkby Ý+kWd] MªsIM V~;wfyi Mªsl] iSaV lwV] vkxs ls [kqys dqrsZ ds lkFk ¶ys;MZ Vªkmt+j rFkk vkxs ls [kqyh yach tSdsV ds LVkby okyh dqrhZ dks lhDosal odZ iSaV ds lkFk igu ldrh gSaA Msfue diM+s dh yach dqfrZ;ka Hkh viuh vyekfj;ksa esa ’kkfey dj ldrh gSaA bl izdkj dh iks’kkdsa dk;kZy; esa iguh tk ldrh gSaA LVªsV iSaV iguus esa vPNh yxrh gSaA dk;kZy; ds vfrfjDr vki bUgsa dStqvy fo;j ds :i esa Hkh igu ldrh gSaA ikVhZ ij xkmu ;k cukjlh LdVZ ØkWi VkWi ds lkFk] ygaxs ;k lkM+h dks Hkkjh d<+kbZ fd, x, VkWi ds lkFk iguk tk ldrk gSA ;g ,d izdkj dk iz;ksxkRed QS’ku gSA bls viukus ds fy, vkRefo’okl dk gksuk csgn t+:jh gSA ikVhZ xkmu esa LVªsV fLIyV dV xkmu] lkM+h LVkby xkmu vkSj ys;MZ xkmu Hkh vkd"kZd yqd iznku djrk gSA if’peh ifj/kku vkd"kZd ,oa vyx yqd ds fy, if’peh ifj/kkuksa esa vki ¶yksjy fizVa okyh ?kqVuksa rd dh Mªl s ] fQVsM ÝaV dV yk¡x LdVZ] iSVa ds lkFk VSDlpMZ Cykmt+ LVkby ’kVZ] V~;fw ud] oh usd VkWi] ;w usd feMh Mªl s ] ØkslVs VkWi] gkWYVj VkWi] IysVM s VkWi] ys;MZ iSVa ] QSnj fizVa LdVZ] Mkaxjh] fQVsM fti iSVa vkSj fLye fQV iSVa o Vªkmt+j vkfn Hkh vki igu ldrh gSAa bl rjg ds vkmVfQV~l LekVZ yqd nsrs gSAa xfeZ;ksa ds fglkc ls ;s iks’kkdsa csgrjhu fl) gksx a hA ftij LdVZ iguus esa LVkbfy’k yxrh gS D;ksfa d ;g ckWMh doZ dks

mHkkjrh gSA blds lkFk ou lkbM vkWQ+ ’kksYMj ØkWi VkWi vPNk yxrk gSA jaxksa dh cgkj xfeZ;ksa ds ekSle dks ns[krs gq, bl ckj mi;ksx gksus okys jaxksa esa isLVy ’ksMl ~ vf/kd bLrseky gksx a As isLVy ’ksMl ~ esa cst] [kkdh] Hkwjk] ykbe ;syks] gYdk xqykch] gYdk uhyk] fl;ku] dksjy] dkWQh+ ] ’osr ,oa gYdk gjk vf/kd ilan fd, tk jgs gSAa flaxy OgkbV Hkh bl ckj lej dyj iSyVs ds VkWi dylZ esa ls ,d gSA bad Cyw o cst dyj dk la;kstu ns[kus esa dkQ+h vkd"kZd yxsxkA fizVa ,oa d<+kbZ bl ckj ¶yksjy fizVa ] uspj ,fyesVa ls izHkkfor fMftVy fizVa ] CykWd fizVa ] e/kqcuh dykdkjh] gkFkh] ?kksMs+ vkSj Mksyh vkfn fizVa l ~ ifj/kkuksa esa ,d ubZ tku Mky jgs gSAa Hkkjrh; ifj/kkuksa ls ysdj if’peh iks’kkdksa rd esa /kkxksa ls d<+kbZ] LojksLdh d<+kbZ] danq u d<+kbZ vkSj LVM d<+kbZ ns[kus dks fey jgh gSA yksx bUgsa dkQ+h ilan Hkh dj jgs gSAa

ckt+kj esa vkidks vkd"kZd ,oa gj iks'kkd ds vuqdwy vkHkw"k.k fey tk,axsA vki viuh ilan ds vuqlkj mUgsa [+kjhn ldrh gSaA

vkids O;fDrRo esa pkj pkan yxkus esa ilZ Hkh fo'ks"k Hkwfedk fuHkkrs gSaA ckt+kj esa fofHkUu czkaM ds lqanj o fVdkÅ ilZ miyC/k gSaA

vkHkw"k.k o vU; lkeku Tosyjh dh ckr djsa rks gSM a dQ] flaxy LVksu dh dku dh ckfy;ka] psu o isM a y] ys;j okyh yach psuas vkSj dkWdVsy fjax vkfn izpyu esa gSAa jktlh o ikjaifjd yqd ds fy, dqna u] iksYdh o VSEiy Tosyjh igu ldrh gSAa ykbV o vkd"kZd yqd ds fy, usdysl ds ctk; flaxy yk¡x dkuksa dh ckfy;ka igu ldrh gSAa cSx o içZ esa ckWDl LVkby Dyp vkSj yk¡x csYV okys cSx izpyu esa gSAa pIiysa o lsfa My iEi ghy] LVsyhVkst vkSj ostl ifj/kkuksa dh ’kksHkk c<+k nsrh gSAa ¶ySVl ~ QqVfo;j esa vktdy d<+kbZ okyh lsfa Mys]a dksYgkiqjh pIiys]a Msfue diM+s dh lsfa Mys]a fofHkUu dV~l o flaxy LVksu okyh pIiysa Hkh xfeZ;ksa esa iguus ds fy, mi;qDr gksx a hA ;s ns[kus esa Hkh vkd"kZd yxrh gSAa

vktdy ikjaifjd ifj/kkuksa ds lkFk ¶;wtu iks'kkdksa dk Hkh izpyu rst+h ls c<+ jgk gSA ;qofr;ksa esa bu diM+ksa dh cgqr ekax gSA - ebZ 2017 | 117

lSj likVk

;g Hkh Fkk

uokcksa dk ’kgj Hkksiky u dsoy cgqjaxh uxj gS vfirq ;g uSlfxZd Nfo] ,sfrgkfldrk ,oa vk/kqfud uxj fu;kstu dk uk;kc uewuk Hkh gS ys[k% lq’khyk tSu

ns

’k ds i;ZVu ekufp= esa Hkksiky dk ,d egÙoiw.kZ LFkku gSA ;gka ?kweus&fQ+jus ds fy, mi;qDr dbZ LFkku gSaA ;g ’kgj izkd`frd laqnjrk ,oa lkaLd`frd fojklr ds lkFk&lkFk vk/kqfud ’kgj ds lHkh vk;ke Hkh izLrqr djrk gSA iqjkru vkSj uohurk dk ,d lqanj feJ.k Hkksiky cgqjaxh ut+kjs dh rLohj is’k djrk gSA ,d vksj iqjkuk ’kgj gS tgka ds ckt+kjksa esa yksxksa dh pgy&igy ns[kus dks feyrh gSA ;gka iqjkuh lqanj efLtnsa gSa] egy gSa] tks ;gka ds iwoZ ’kkldksa dh lq#fpiw.kZ ’kkuks&’kkSdr dh xkFkk c;ka djrs gSaA orZeku esa Hkh ml dky ds ’kkldksa ds HkO; vrhr dh ;kn fnykrs gSaA ;gka fLFkr ’kkunkj eafnj&efLtn vius xkSjo’kkyh vrhr crkrs izrhr gksrs gSaA bu ’kkldksa esa dbZ cgknqj csx+eksa dk ’kkludky Hkh ’kkfey gSA mUgksaus 1819 ls 1926 rd ’kklu fd;k FkkA nwljh vksj u;k ’kgj clk gqvk gS 118 |

- ebZ 2017

ftlesa lqanj ikdZ vkSj gjs&Hkjs o`{kksa ls lqlfTtr LFky yksxksa dks jkgr iznku djrs gSaA vki tc Hkksiky tk,axs rks ;g ’kgj vkidks uokcksa ds oSHko dh ;kn fnyk,xkA blds vklikl dqN n’kZuh; LFky Hkh gSa%

jkspd dFku

y{ehukjk;.k eafnj ;g Hkksiky dh lcls Åaph igkM+h vjsjk igkfM+;ksa ij u, fo/kkulHkk Hkou ekxZ ds fudV cuh >hy ds nf{k.k esa fLFkr gSA eafnj ds fudV ,d laxzgky; gS ftlesa jk;lsu] lsgksj] eanlkSj] ’kgMksy vkfn txgksa ls ykbZ xbZ ewfrZ;ka j[kh xbZ gSaA lkseokj ds vykok vU; fnuksa ;g lqcg ukS cts ls ’kke ikap cts rd [kqyk jgrk gSA

^^fganqLrku dk fny ns[kksA ns[kks D;ksafd fganqLrku ds bl fny esa >hysa Hkh gSa] taxy HkhA vkLFkk Hkh gS vkSj bfrgkl HkhA uokch fj;klrksa ds egy gSa] rks jktiqrkuk nkSj dk #vkc fy, fdys HkhA ;gka [ktqjkgks ds eafnj gSa rks lkaph vkSj /keZ jkts’oj ls fc[kjrk vk/;kRe HkhA**

rkt&my&efLtn bldk vFkZ ^efLtnksa dk rkt* gSA ;g ;gka dh lcls cM+h efLtn gSA bldk fuekZ.k Hkksiky dh vkBoha

&riu HkkSfed v/;{k] eiz i;ZVu fodkl fuxe

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11oha lnh esa jktk Hkkst us bls clk;k o 1708&1740 ds chp vQ+xku lSfud nksLr eksgEen us bldh uhao j[kh Hkkjr Hkou ;g fofo/k dyk dk laxzgky; gSA cM+s rkykc ds fudV vkSj ’kkeyk igkfM+;ksa ij fLFkr bls 1982 esa cuk;k x;k FkkA Hkkjr dh fofHkUu ikjaifjd ’kkL=h; dykvksa ds laj{k.k dk ;g izeq[k dsna z gSA blesa dyk laxzgky;] dyk nh?kkZ] yfyr dykvksa dh deZ’kkyk] Hkkjrh; dkO; xzFa kksa ls lqlfTtr laxzgky; Hkh gSA lkseokj ds vykok vU; fnuksa esa ;g nksigj nks cts ls jkr vkB cts rd [kqyk jgrk gSA

’kkld ’kkgtgka csx+e ds ’kkludky esa izkjaHk gqvk Fkk fdarq mudh ekSr gksus ds dkj.k ;g iwjh ugha cu ldhA 1971 esa Hkkjr ljdkj ds gLr{ksi ds ckn ;g iwjh cudj rS;kj gqbZA lnj eaft+y bl bekjr dk fuekZ.k lu 1898 esa rRdkyhu uokc ’kkgtgka csx+e }kjk djk;k x;k FkkA vuks[kk lnj eaft+y ’kkeyk dh igkfM+;ksa ij 200 ,dM+ {ks= esa QS+yk gqvk gSA dgrs gSa fd Hkksiky ds ’kkld bldk mi;ksx lkoZtfud LFky ds :i esa fd;k djrs FksA ;g bekjr ’kkSdr egy ds fudV gh cuh gqbZ gSA ou&fogkj Hkksiky o vklikl ds oU;izkf.k;ksa ds laj{k.k gsrq ou&fogkj Hkh cuk;k x;k gSA blesa nqyZHk oU; tho ,oa mudh fofHkUu iztkfr;ka ns[kus dks feysaxhA cM+h >hy ds ihNs fLFkr ;g izeksn ou 444 gsDVs;j esa QS+yk gSA blds izkd`frd o lqxE; ifjos’k esa oU; thoksa ,oa if{k;ksa dks ns[kuk vuks[kk vuqHko iznku djrk gSA

bafnjk xka/kh jk"Vªh; ekuo laxzgky; ’kkeyk dh igkfM+;ksa ij 200 ,dM+ ds {ks= esa cus laxzgky; esa Hkkjr ds fofHkUu jkT;ksa dh tutkrh; laLd`fr;ksa dh >yd ns[kus dks feyrh gSA ;gka 32 ikjaifjd o izkxSfrgkfld fpf=r ’kSykJ; miyC/k gSaA ;gka ou&izkarksa] ioZrh;] leqnz rVh; rFkk vU; {ks=ksa ds ewy fuokfl;ksa }kjk fufeZr ;k mu {ks=ksa ls ykbZ xbZ oLrq,a fo|eku gSaA ;gka ij ns’k ds fofo/k ekSfyd lektksa dh thou i)fr;ksa dks izfrfcafcr djus okyh lkexzh Hkh n’kkZbZ xbZ gSaA >hyksa dh lSj dgkor gS fd rky rks dsoy Hkksiky rky] ckdh lc ryS;kaA Hkksiky dh nks cM+h >hysa ns[kdj yxrk gS fd ckr rks fcydqy lgh gSA ekuofufeZr nks >hyksa ds dkj.k ;g ’kgj yksdfiz; gSA cM+k rkykc ’kgj ds e/; esa fLFkr gSA bls ,f’k;k dh lcls cM+h d`f=e >hy Hkh ekuk tkrk gSA 11oha lnh esa fufeZr ;g >hy LFkkuh; fuokfl;ksa ds ihus ds ikuh dk eq[; lzksr gSA cM+s rkykc ds lkFk gh ,d NksVk rkykc Hkh ekStwn gSA vc vki Hkh vius fe=ksa o ifjtuksa ds lax uokcksa ds bl 'kgj esa ?kweus dk dk;ZØe cuk gh yhft,A Hkksiky ds fy, gj txg ls jsyxkfM+;ka miyC/k gSaA

thou ,d] lksp er iqjkuk NksM+ u;k idM+ks er vM+ Mxj cgqr yach thou dh thou ,d lkFkh vusd tgka thou] mls idM+ fQ+j NksM+ er thou ,d] lksp er ,d thou py ehBs ikuh dh rjg! ,d thou py BaMh gok dh rjgA ,d thou py e/kqj laxhr dh rjg py #d er thou ,d] lksp er tgka feys thou #d] cSB] lks] lksp fQ+j #d] cSB] lks] lksp u;k dksbZ cqykrk rq>dks iqjkuk laHkkyrk rq>dks #d er thou ,d] lksp er u;k mM+Ukk gS iqjkuk lkspuk gS galuk gS] jksuk gS cPps gSa] Qwy gSa nksLr gSa] [kq’kcw gS izsfedk gS] thou gS lksp er thou ,d] lksp er u;k dksbZ cqykrk rq>dks iqjkuk laHkkyrk rq>dks thou ,d] lksp er

2LFky n’kZuh;

'kkSdr egy

bLykfed o ;wjksih;u ’kSyh esa cuk ;g egy Hkksiky dh igyh efgyk'kkld dnfl;k csx+e us 'kgj ds chpkschp cuok;k FkkA

xkSgj egy

rhu eaft+yk ;g bekjr fganw o eqx+ydkyhu okLrqdyk dk vuwBk mnkgj.k gSA ;g egy lu 1820 esa cuok;k x;k FkkA

&dfo fodkl dkyjk ds dfork laxzg ^thou ,d] lksp er* ls m)`r

- ebZ 2017 | 119

[kku iku

Lokn vkSj lsgr xfeZ;ksa dh BaMh lkSxkr ds :i esa ge vkidks ,sls ’khry is; ds ckjs esa crk jgs gSa ftudk lsou vkids fy, ykHknk;d fl) gksxk ys[k ,oa Nk;kfp=% psruk vaxjh"k

vk

idh tsc vkSj lsgr ds fy, dksYM fMªDa l dk lsou ?kkrd gksrk gSA xfeZ;ksa ds bl ekSle esa vki LokLF;o)Zd vkSj ctV ds vuqdy w ?kj esa gh cus ’khry is; ih ldrs gSAa ;s cukus esa Hkh cgqr vklku gksrs gSAa lkFk gh buesa ikSf"Vd rÙoksa dk [kt+k+ uk gksrk gSA tkuh&ekuh Mk;Vhf’k;u o U;wVªh’kfuLV ’khyk lsgjkor ls ckrphr djds ?kj esa cus ’khry is; ds lac/a k esa foLrkjiwod Z tkudkjh nh tk jgh gSA

ftatj yseksuM s lkexzh% dqVk vnjd 5 xzke] uhcw dk jl vk/kk di] iksnhuk ds ckjhd dVs iÙks 2 pEEkp] feBkl ds fy, 120 |

- ebZ 2017

Loknkuqlkj filh phuh] ’kwxj Ý+h ;k ’kgn] ltkus ds fy, ckjhd dVs uhcw ds xksykdkj VqdM+]s ikuh 3 diA

bldk Hkh p[ksa Lokn vki xfeZ;ksa esa dPps vke dk iuk Hkh ih ldrs gSaA dPps vkeksa dks mckydj mldk xwnk fudky dj mlesa phuh] dkyk ued] iksnhuk feykdj mls feDlh esa ihl ysaA bl feJ.k dks BaMs ikuh esa feykdj o Nkudj ih,aA www.railbandhu.in

ijksl%as rhu yksxksa ds fy, fof/k% iSu esa ,d di ikuh esa vnjd Mkydj mcky ysaA rhu ls pkj feuV rd mckyus ds ckn vnjd okys ikuh dks ,d dVksjs esa Nku ysaA bls BaMk gksus nsaA ,d tx esa vnjd okyk ikuh MkysaA vc blesa nks di ikuh] uhcw dk jl] feBkl vkSj cQZ+ MkysaA pEEkp ls lHkh lkefxz;ksa dks vPNh rjg ls feyk ysaA rS;kj ftatj yseksusM dks uhcw dh Lykbl ls ltkdj fxykl esa BaMk&BaMk is’k djsaA uksV% ;g ’khry is; isV ls tqMh+ leL;kvksa ls jkgr

jkspd tkudkfj;ka csy ’kcZr lkexzh% csy 200 xzke] ikuh 350 feyhyhVj] feBkl ds fy, Loknkuqlkj filh gqbZ phuh] ’kwxj Ý+h ;k ’kgnA ijkslsa% pkj yksxksa ds fy, fof/k% lcls igys csy dk xwnk fudky ysaA jkrHkj ds fy, csy dk xwnk ikuh esa fHkxksdj j[ksaA lqcg bl xwns esa Loknkuqlkj phuh feyk,aA var esa bl feJ.k dks ckjhd eyey ds diM+s ;k ckjhd NUuh ls Nku ysaA vc rS;kj csy ’kcZr dks BaMk&BaMk ijkslsaA uksV% csy xfeZ;ksa esa lHkh ’kkjhfjd leL;kvksa dk jkeck.k Qy gSA blds fu;fer lsou ls ’kjhj dk rkieku xM+cM+krk ugha gSA ;g dkcksZgkbMªsV] izksVhu] phuh] dSyf’k;e] vk;ju vkSj feujy dk vPNk lzksr gSA blesa foVkfeu lh] dSjksVhu] QkWLQksjl] Fkk;feu vkSj jkbcks¶ysfou mfpr ek=k esa gksrk gSA

fnykus] jDr lkQ+ djus] dCt+ dh f’kdk;r ls eqfDr] ;d`r dks cy nsrs gq, lqpk: cukus esa enn djrk gSA uhcw esa ekStnw foVkfeu lh jksx izfrjks/kd {kerk c<+krk gSA blds fu;fer lsou ls ’kjhj LoLFk] LoPN gksrk gS vkSj yw ds FkisMk+ as ls cpk tk ldrk gSA

ty thjk mÙkj Hkkjr esa xehZ Hkxkus dk ljy o izHkko'kkyh lzksr gSA vki bls ?kj ij Hkh vklkuh ls cuk ldrs gSa

dwy xzhu Vh% dqdEcj yseu feaV vkbl lkexzh% fNyk o yackbZ esa dVk ,d [khjk] uhcw jl rhu pEEkp] iksnhuk ds dqN iÙks] nks xzhu Vh cSx] feBkl ds fy, ’kwxj flji pkj pEEkp] bPNkuqlkj cQZ+ ds VqdM+]s ikuh N% diA ijksl%as pkj yksxksa ds fy, fof/k% xeZ ikuh esa Vh cSXk MkysAa nks feuV ds ckn Vh cSXk fudky ysAa bls BaMk gksus nsAa ,d tx esa Vh cSx okyk ikuh] cQZ]+ ’kwxj flji vkSj uhcw dk jl MkysAa bl feJ.k dks vPNh rjg ls feyk,aA iksnhuk ds iÙks vkSjS [khjs ls ltkdj dwy xzhu Vh ijkslAas uksV% ;g ’khry is; ’kjhj dk rkieku lkekU; cuk, j[krk gSA fo"kSys rÙo ’kjhj ls ckgj fudkyus esa ennxkj] dkfMZ;ksoLs dqyj fLkLVe dks nq#Lr cuk, j[kus esa ennxkj gksrk gSA ’kjhj esa ueh cjdjkj jgrh gSA

fof/k% Vh cSx dks ,d feUkV ds fy, ikuh esa mckysAa dsyk] ukfj;y dh eykbZ] ngh] ve:n dk twl vkSj ukfj;y ikuh dks feyk ysAa bl Lewnh dks tx esa Mky ysAa blesa xzhu Vh okyk ikuh MkysAa bls iqu% vPNh rjg ls feyk,aA rS;kj dksdksuV Lewnh dks BaMk&BaMk ijkslAas blesa vukj ds nkus o iksnhuk ds iÙks MkysAa uksV% ;g ’khry is; xehZ ls jkgr fnykrs gq, ’kkjhfjd rkieku dks vlarfq yr ugha gksus nsrkA blesa ekStnw ,aVhvkWDlhMsVa l ’kjhj dks LOkLFk cuk, j[krs gSAa

,Iiy Lewnh fMªd a Lkkexzh% eksVs dVs nks lsc] BaMk ngh ,d di] LVªkWcjs h iYi ikap pEEkp] ouhyk vkbZlØhe nks Ldwi] cQ+Z bPNkuqlkjA

dksdksuV Lewnh

ijksl%as nks yksxksa ds fy,

lkexzh% xzhu Vh pkj Vh cSXk] ukfj;y dh eykbZ ,d pEEkp] ukfj;y ikuh pkj di] xk<+k ngh vk/kk di] ,d dsyk] ve:n dk twl vk/kk di] ltkus ds fy, FkksMs+ ls vukj ds nkus o iksnhuk ds iÙksA

fof/k% lsc] ngh] LVªkWcjs h vkSj ouhyk vkbZlØhe dks vPNh rjg ls feyk ysAa /;ku jgs fd bl feJ.k dks bruk CysM a djuk gS fd Lewnh eqyk;e o >kxnkj gks tk,A RkS;kj ,IIky Lewnh fMªd a esa cQZ+ Mkydj loZ djsAa

ijksl%as pkj yksxksa ds fy,

uksV% lsc esa ekStnw foVkfeu ,] lh] eSxuhf’k;e] lksfM;e vkSj iksVkf’k;e lsgr ds fy, xq.kdkjh gksrs gSAa ;g is; lsgr vkSj Lokn ds fy, mi;qDr gSA xfeZ;ksa esa blds fu;fer lsou ls lsgr nq#Lr jgrh gSA ;g is; ’kjhj esa iks’kd rÙoksa dh deh ugha gksus nsrkA

lkSQ a + feaV twl lkexzh% lkSQ a + nks pEep] iksnhuk ds ckjhd dVs iÙks nks pEEkp] uhcw dk jl ,d pEEkp] feBkl ds fy, Loknkuqlkj filh phuh] ’kwxj Ý+h ;k ’kgn] ikuh vk/kk yhVj] Loknkuqlkj dkyh fepZ ikmMj vkSj uedA ijksl%as rhu yksxksa ds fy, fof/k% lkSQ a + vkSj iksnhuk ds iÙks ihl ysAa vc ,d tx esa ;g isLV] uhcw dk jl] phuh] ued o dkyh fepZ MkysAa feJ.k dks vPNh rjg ls feyk,a vkSj eghu diM+s ;k ckjhd NUuh ls Nku ysAa rS;kj lkSQ a + feaV twl esa cQZ+ Mkydj mls BaMk&BaMk ijkslAas uksV% ;g ikpu fØ;k nq#Lr djrk gSA MhVkWDlhQ+kbZ fMªd a xehZ esa ;d`r ds fy, xq.kdkjh gksrk gSA - ebZ 2017 | 121