Sulabh Swachh Bharat - VOL: 2 | ISSUE 31

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Vrindavan Saga

Peace Is His Legacy

Engine Of Revolution

The Making of a Legend

Nelson Mandela, Selfless leader who prioritized the needs of South Africans

Earth’s Species Are Now Going Extinct 1,000 Times Faster Than The Natural Rate

For Reinforcement And Extension Of Infrastructural Frameworks

Menuka believes Vrindavan fills all kinds of emptiness & completed her

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Vol - 2 | Issue - 31 | July 16 - 22, 2018 | Price ` 5/-

A Good News Weekly Thai Cave Rescue

The Lost-and-found Football Team The teenagers and their coach who got trapped in the northern Thailand caves turned overnight international heroes 90 divers from 6 countries were in rescue mission 2 divers had the responsibility of 1 child

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SSB Bureau

he story of the 12 Thai teenage footballers and their coach is a good news story like no other. It was a disaster story, to begin with, and it could have been a tragic story if the rescue operation had not worked out. But the miracle happened, and a disaster story became a good news story and tragedy was banished as it were.

There is something poetic about it all because in the season of FIFA World Cup, when millions across continents were glued to their television screens to watch their favourite teams fight out for the honours, the story of a local football team, interestingly called

Quick Glance The world held its breath over the three days it took to retrieve the Wild Boars

Thailand’s 10 km long Thum Luang cave

Here were children

3.2 km long rope used to take out children These parts were filled with water

Rescue camp

Navy SEAL, 60, was the last to leave the cave after threeday rescue operation The mission leaned on the expertise of elite foreign divers and Thai Navy SEALs

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Cover Story

July 16 - 22, 2018 There was only a tiny bit of hope, but that’s all we had to work with,” he was quoted saying.

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The Wild Boars 1. Chanin Vibulrangruang, 11, is the youngest. He is the forward

in the team and his nickname is Titan.

2. Panumas Sangdee, 13, is the defender.

3. Duganpet Tromtep, 13, is the striker and captain.

4. Adul Sam-on, 14, is from Myanmar and he came to Thailand

for better education. He is the left defender.

5. Somepong Jaiwong, 13, is a left winger and he loves all sports.

6. Mongkol Booneiam, 12/13, is from Myanmar and he loves to

study as much as he loves to play football.

7. Nattawut Takamrong, 14, is the defender.

8. Peerapat Sompiangjai, 17, is the right-winger.

9. Ekarat Wongsukchan, 14, is the goalkeeper.

10. Prajak Sutham, 15, is known as the quiet one.

11. Pipat Pho, 15.

12. Pornchai Kamluang, 16.

13. Assistant coach Ekapol Chantawong, 25, was born in

Myanmar and he was a former Buddhist monk.

“Wild Boars”, stranded in flooded caves even as the monsoon broke out and the rescue operations seemed more difficult than ever to launch, and there were moments of despair before the final triumph, captured the imagination of the world, and there were as many people who prayed for the safety and successful rescue of the teenagers in remote Thailand as they did for their favourite teams fighting it out in Russian stadia. And their names will be remembered for a long time.

True to the spirit of the global age, we live in the trauma of the Thai boys, their parents and the responsibility of the local government became the concern of the people across the

world. It became the global story.

From American technopreneur Elon Musk who offered a mini-submarine contraption, which was impractical to British, Australian, Danish and Finn divers to Thai Navy Seals to Indian technicians from the Kirloskar company which makes pumps. The only fatality was the death of former Thai Navy diver, Saman Gunan, as he carried oxygen to the stranded boys.

Rear Admiral Arpakorn Yuukongkaeuw, the head of the Thailand Navy Seals, described the challenge that the officials faced. He said, “We had a little bit of hope that they might still be alive but we had to do it, we just had to move forward.

How did they survive so long with so little food?

The boys stayed calm and they did not despair or panic. It has been said that coach Ekapol, who was a Buddhist monk, had taught the boys to meditate and stay calm. It was this mental fortitude that helped the Wild Boars to await patiently the complex rescue operation. One of the surprising facts is that they managed with the limited food they had with them. They had purchased food for the birthday celebration of Peerapat Sompiangjai.

But they seemed to have used the available food judiciously and they drank water from the raindrops from the walls and roof of the caves.

The divers who reached the stranded members of the Wild Boars were in touch with their homes and parents. Neither the parents nor the children panicked. They sent encouraging notes to each other. The parents assured that they did not blame the boys or the coach for going into the caves to celebrate the birthday of one of their team members. The boys and parents exchanged messages, and these were the most reassuring

ones. No one panicked. The boys displayed calm beyond their years and they assured the parents that they were fine. The parents said that they were not angry with the boys for having strayed into the caves. When the coach apologized, the parents said that they did not blame the coach in the matter.

Were they sedated in any way?

A number of people involved in the operation said the boys were heavily sedated, and only semi-conscious.The logic for this would be the fear their rescuers had that they would panic when wearing diving equipment for the first time in darkness and swirling cave water, endangering the lives of all of them.

The measured manner of the response of both parents and the boys who faced the situation had flummoxed the western media, especially the American television channel. They attributed it to the fact that the parents of boys came from economically poor backgrounds and that they were reconciled to the fact that things were beyond their control, and so they did not indulge in melodrama. The American channel even said that this reflected the ‘fatalistic’ attitude of the Thais, and especially the poor among them.

Cover Story

July 16 - 22, 2018

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The Rescuers

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he Thai Navy Seals led the rescue operation with the help of an international team of divers.Among the rescuers were three Britons, two Danes, a Finn, a Belgian, a Canadian and an Australian doctor and cave diver Richard Harris. It was the British divers who located the boys and the coach, and the Australian doctor checked the health condition of the boys, and he stayed with them through the rescue operations. He identified the weak among them who were taken out first. While he was involved in the rescue, the father of Dr Harris had passed away.

The three Britons were John Volanthen, Richard Stanton and Robert Harper. Volanthen

Where are the Thai caves?

The Tham Luang caves in the Doin Nang non-mountain range are in the northern part of the country, in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province.

It is a 10-km system of small and big caves, with many passageways. The 12 stranded boys and their coach were perched on a ledge 900 metres above the surface inside the cave, which was a long way from the entrance. The passageway was uneven, and there were bottle-necks along the way, and the divers had to remove the oxygen masks to pass through the point.

What was the rescue plan?

The Thai authorities took help from all the international diving experts and the Thai Navy Seals worked along with the foreigners, executing a smooth operation where the most important task was to save the lives of the boys and the coach. It involved complicated logistics because the planning had to be meticulous. The rescue operation took three days, and each boy had to be guided and carried from the point they

is an IT consultant, Stanton is a former firefighter and they are part of the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team.

Belgian Ben Reymenants, runs a dive shop in Phuket, and he was one of the early to join the rescue operations along with fellowdiver Maksym Polejaka. Claus Rasmussen, a Danish national, works with Reymenants’s Blue Label Diving.Ivan Karadzic, is the other Dane among the rescuers, who is a diving expert and who has lived in Thailand for years.

Finnish national Mikko Paasi, runs a diving centre on the Thai island, Koh Tao, joined the operations.

Canadian Erik Brown, a diving instructor from Vancouver and who runs a technical diving

school, Team Blue Immersion, in Egypt, said on Facebook that he did seven diving missions and spent 63 hours in the caves as part of the rescue operations.

The Indian connection It was the Indian pump manufacturer Kirloskar that was part of the rescue operations. The Kirloskar pumps were used to drain out water from the caves, and along with the team members of the Kirloskar Thailand team, there were two engineers of the company from India, Prashant Kulkarni from Sangli and Shyam Shukla from Pune. And there was one Kirloskar member from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Kulkarni said, “Reaching the boys was a difficult task. The cave is very narrow and is not a plain terrain. But we managed to pump out the water from the cave.”

were stranded inside the cave to the SEALs reported on their official exit with care and precision. Two divers Facebook page that four had been accompanied each boy because many of rescued.

The next phase began on July 9 and a the boys did not know swimming.

The rescue operation began on June eighth boy was rescued.

And, on July 10 rest of the people got 25 with the cave drained the next day rescued. to allow navy divers The Wet Mules: “Formula to operate in the cave Divers from One of diving”, the Australian complex. group of diving mates known On June 28, British around the as the Wet Mules are highly divers joined the rescue respected for their skill, and finally on July 2 the world joined experience and spirit of boys were discovered Thailand’s elite adventure. The long-time alive. buddies provided their On July 8 the first day navy SEAL unit dive expertise and experience of the mission rescuers were able to bring four to recover the to the operation led by the Thai government. Thai cave boys to safety. stricken lads rescue will undoubtedly be the They were forced pinnacle of achievement for to trawl through dark, narrow passageways, some of which are two of them, Adelaide anaesthetist Richard no more than two feet (0.6 metre) wide. Harris and Perth vet Craig Challen.

What is heartening about the rescue This is the dangerous route that claimed former Thai Navy SEAL Saman is that everyone with his expertise offered to help and travelled from Kunan’s life after he ran out of oxygen.

The first two boys were rescued at other parts of Thailand to the remote province in the western part of the around 6pm local time.

Shortly before 8pm, the Thai Navy country. And they were included in

the rescue operations by the Thai Navy Seals and the local authorities.

A mishap in a far-off corner had brought the whole country together and all the foreign experts living in the country, and they worked together to achieve what could have been a doomed operation because the boys were stranded inside the caves and it was only three days after they were lost that the could be located. Even after locating them, it was not an easy task bringing them out. The rescue plan had to be implemented over many days.

While the boys and the coach waited patiently, holding their bodies and nerves together, the diverse team of divers and the Thai Navy Seals worked together to implement the rescue plan.

The Australian Aid: Australia’s contribution to the rescue of the young soccer team from the cave in Thailand reflects the role Australia should play in the world. Aussie doctor and cave diver Richard Harris is a hero for his integral contribution to the rescue. Dr Harris entered the caves each day during the operation to care for the boys’ health, guide them to safety, and was reportedly the last

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Cover Story

How The Operation Unfolded June 23: 12 Young players and their “Wild Boars” team coach enter Tham Luang cave complex in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand June 25: The search and rescue operation begins June 26: Cave drained so divers can join the search June 27: Heavy rain blocks hopes of reaching the boys as they struggle through water inside cave June 28: British divers join the rescue but heavy rain continues to hamper the search July 1: The rain eases as divers from the Thai Navy SEAL unit make progress though the waterfilled passages of the cave July 2: The boys are found alive but “very weak” with video footage showing the teens looking frail July 3: The military says the boys must learn to dive but caving experts warn this could be extremely dangerous July 6: Former Navy SEAL diver Saman Gunan dies while taking part in the mission July 7: As the rescue plans are worked on, the boys write letters home to their worried families July 8: The rescue mission begins with the first four out the cave by mid-afternoon UK time July 9: Another four boys are rescued and taken to hospital for treatment July 10: All 12 boys and the coach have made it out of the caves July 12: Government is planning to turn cave as a museum

July 16 - 22, 2018 person to leave the cave system.

Once they were located, it was not an easy thing to bring them out.

They were deep inside. The monsoon flooding of the caves made the rescue operation difficult as well as hazardous.

One of the Thai Navy Seals died while working out the logistics.

There was a little hope The authorities could have given up any time, and the diving experts could have thrown up their hands any time.

But once the team was found, the hope that they could be brought got strengthened. The Thai authorities pressed into service as soon as they could the cave diving experts to locate the missing team inside the caves. That was the most important turning point.

The whole episode fell into place like a harmonious literary masterpiece.

There would have been no drama in the first place if the football team of this small town in the far north had not strayed into the caves. But once the missing signal flashed, the authorities got into the act, called out for help, looked for the diving and cave diving experts. There was a quick response and the search teams reached the place, which is far away from the Thai national capital of Bangkok. It was an hour’s flight from Bangkok, and the road journey would take six hours and more.

We are not heros: The British divers who found the Thai boys and their football coach who were trapped in the flooded cave denied they are heroes.There have been calls for John Volanthen and Rick Stanton to be honoured for the role they played in the successful rescue mission of the 12 members of the Wild Boars football team in Thailand.

The incident brought Tham Luang on tourist map The interesting part is that Tham Luang caves are not on the tourist map of the country. The international tourists go to Bangkok and to Phuket in the south. The remote north bordering Myanmar, Laos and China

Thai Cave To Be Turned Into Living Museum

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cave complex in northern Thailand where 12 boys and their football coach were trapped for more than two weeks is set to be turned into a museum.

Rescue officials said the museum would showcase how the operation unfolded in the Tham Luang cave, adding that it would be a “major attraction” for Thailand. At least two companies are also looking to make a film telling the story of the rescue.

“The area will become a living

does not figure on the radar. After this misadventure-turned-an-adventurewith-a-happy-ending, the Tham Luang caves are sure to attract international trekkers and there could be a tourist boom. With the prospect of turning the lost-and-found-in-the-caves football team being made into a Hollywood thriller, the not-heard-of Tham Luang caves now find a permanent place on the tourist map of Thailand, which is attracting a record number of visitors from all over the world because of the beauty of the country and its friendly people.

But the romance of the Wild Boars will linger in memory and it is not likely to be submerged under the commercial glare of the post-rescue-operation fame.

What marks out the 12 players and the former-Buddhist-monk-turnedassistant coach is their passion for the game, their simple bonds of friendship among themselves, and their lives away from the arc-lights as it were. All the boys are fiercely committed to football, and they want their mark in the game at the national level. Some of them may do it, and many of them may not. But this episode in their lives will remain a cherished memory for the rest of their lives, and they would remain legends for the small border town where they belong. It should not come as a surprise

museum, to show how the operation unfolded,” Narongsak Osottanakorn, the former governor and head of the rescue mission, told.

An interactive data base will be set up. It will become another major attraction for Thailand.

However, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said precautions would have to be implemented both inside and outside the cave to safeguard tourists.

if a creative writer should attempt to imaginatively recreate the drama of the 12 teenagers and their coach, their inner fears and hopes, their dreams and their nightmares, and how they survived the ordeal of a fortnight without losing their poise. It is a story worth telling because it is a week-known fact that what is important in a situation of this kind, and this was nothing less than staring death in the face, is the attitude you display.

The battle is won in the mind, and these teenagers and their monkish coach have shown that they had won the battle by conquering their doubts and fears in their minds even as the rescuers struggled through the passageways to reach them. They were poor. They were unknown. They were young.

All they knew was their love for football and they played it with all passion. What helped them survive the ordeal in the caves was this passion for football. It gave them the positive vibes to sustain the hunger, the loneliness, the dark and dank atmosphere inside the caves even as the rain waters flooded the passageways making the escape more difficult than before. It needed perseverance. And more than anything else, it needed the courage of the mental kind. The boys showed inner courage which is rare and sublime.

Vrindavan Saga

July 16 - 22, 2018

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Menuka

Vrindavan, The Answer To Life’s Struggles Siliguri’s Menuka believes Vrindavan fills all kinds of emptiness by breaking the barriers of society

n Ayodhya Prasad Singh

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The constant pain of loneliness and the white color of widowhood became my new life partners. I was so stuck in the chains forced on me by the society, that there was no way out. But just then Kanha’s city, Vrindavan, gave me the support I needed and gave a meaning to my life.”

The emptiness in the life of a widow is such that it seems impossible to fill. On top of that, when the society puts its restrictions on her, the pain becomes nearly unbearable. Such is the story of Menuka Pal, who once lived in the city of Siliguri in West Bengal.

At the tender age of 10, Menuka got married to an 18-year-old man.

Back then, child marriages and early marriages were a normal thing.

Maybe that was the way the society worked. Menuka followed the same tradition, and at an age when she didn’t even know the real significance of marriage, she left her home to live a life with her husband.

Like any newly married couple, the two of them dreamt of a beautiful future together. While her husband didn’t earn a lot, it was enough for them to live a comfortable and happy life. And in between the normal ups and downs of live, Menuka gave birth to three daughters.

Menuka says, “I got married at

a very young age, but my husband never let me realise that I left my home. We were both very happy in our little world. I gave birth to three daughters, but after two daughters, my husband wanted a son. But despite the third child being a girl, he was very happy. We brought up our children with a lot of love.”

When the girls grew up, Menuka and her husband got them married as ceremoniously as they could afford.

And when their daughters moved away, both husband and wife became each other’s pillars of strength.

Menuka felt lonely without her children, but her husband provided her emotional comfort, and the two held on to each other through the tough time.

Feeling emotional, Menuka says, “Our society asks us not to consider our daughters as our own. Their husband’s home is their real home.

We had brought up our children very lovingly, and when they left, we felt very lonely. Without the children, my husband felt dejected too. But we both comforted each other like true

life partners.” But perhaps fate had decided something else and life tested Menuka in the worst of ways. About twenty years ago, when Menuka was 55-years-old, her husband passed away and left such a void in her life that nothing seemed to be able to fill.

Many a time, Menuka considered living with her girls. But every time the thought occurred, it would be overpowered by the society’s orthodox face, clearly stating that parents cannot live in their daughter’s home. Thus, Menuka has accepted the truth and instead of going to her daughters’, she lived a lonely life, wearing the white color of widowhood.

Menuka explains, “After my husband passed away, I began to feel mentally and emotionally restless.

I was haunted by the isolation and my health started to deteriorate with age. I needed rest. I considered living with my daughters a few times, but the thought of society’s judgment held me back. To tell you the truth, I myself was never comfortable with the notion of living with my daughters. I don’t know if it was due to the fear of the society or something else. But on the other hand, being on my own, life started to seem like a burden and I was looking for a peaceful life.”

Ten years after her husband’s demise, when Menuka went on a pilgrimage tour in search of peace, she reached Vrindavan. In the holy city, Menuka’s mind began to sing in the devotion of Radha-Rani and Kanha.

She felt like perhaps this was the place

She had everything in life, but after her husband’s sudden demise, she couldn’t find a way to fill the emptiness in her life

Quick glance • At the tender age of 10, Menuka Pal got married to an 18-year-old man • 20 years ago her husband passed away, leaving her a widow • She had no sons, and couldn’t stay at her daughter’s home

that would rid her of her loneliness and help her find the peace she was looking for. Because Vrindavan had many other women like Menuka, whose lives were washed in the white color of widowhood, and yet had stability and peace.

Menuka has been living in Vrindavan for the last ten years.

She now considers her life to be complete. Menuka lives in a widow ashram, where all responsibilities of the widows are taken by Sulabh International Social Service Organisation. Plus, the widows are given Rs 2000/- every month for their livelihood.

A beautiful smile spreads on Menuka’s face as she says, “After my husband’s death, I felt incomplete.

But Vrindavan completed me again.

This land is extremely pure, which takes away all sorrows of life. ‘Lal Baba’ (Dr Bindeshwar Pathak) takes us to many religious places and provides us with everything we need.

I am truly happy in his shelter and now the only way I want to spend my life is in Kanha’s devotion.”

In Menuka’s words, “After all the struggles, life gets its true meaning in Vrindavan.”

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Sanitation

July 16 - 22, 2018

Tanzania

Driving Home The Point About Toilets Modern gadgets do not make much sense with no sewage system SSB BUREAU

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ccording to a World Bank report about 18 countries with regard to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), despite impressive economic growth of 6.5 per cent per annum over the last decade, there are 23 million people dependent on water from unsafe sources and 48 millions stuck with unimproved sanitation conditions out of a total population of 59 million. The World Bank report said that the country was losing Tanzanian Shilling 453 billion

(US$206 million) every year due to poor sanitation and hygiene.

The World Bank has approved a loan of US$350 million to improve water supply and sanitation services in rural Tanzania on June 26, 2018.

The World Bank says that one in three children in Tanzania (27 million) is affected by under-nutrition and that this was linked to poor sanitation.

Only 11 per cent of rural Tanzanians have access to an improved toilet, only 50 per cent of the schools in the rural areas have the required number of toilets and of them only 43 per cent

The problem that is facing the country is bursting of drainage pipes and how human waste gets mixed with it

have hand-washing stations. In the capital city of Dar es Salaam with a 2017 population of 4.3 million, 16 to 19 per cent of the people had access to quality toilets and 15 to 30 per cent wash hands with soap after using the toilets.

Dr Khalid Massa, director of preventive diseases in Ministry of Health, told The Citizen newspaper on June 2, 2018 “We have launched a behavioural change and communication strategy that is set to sensitise citizens countrywide on the need to have toilets. We want to impress on the youth that just as having a smart phone is seen as a symbol of modernity, having a quality toilet should be part of that modernity”.

He adds, “I don’t think it is an issue of costs but instead a mindset problem. We cannot claim modernity

of gadgets when our people still suffer from diseases that can easily be prevented by having a quality toilet that costs very little money compared to the gadgets we own.”

According to Thomas Massawe, a hardware dealer, it costs Tanzanian Shilling 70,000 (US$42) to Sh400,000 (US$176).

In reply to a question in parliament in April, Deputy Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Local Government and Regional Administration, Joseph Kakunda said that the government needs Tanzanian Shilling 646 billion (US$28.39 billion) to build 276,198 toilets in primary and secondary schools to improve sanitation. He said the municipalities have been asked to spend greater part of the development funds to build school infrastructure, including toilets. The minister informed parliament that in 2017/18, the government had built 6,708 toilets in primary schools and 2,071 in secondary schools.

Tanzanian Parliament is working with Tanzania Women’s Group (TWG) to raise Tanzanian Shilling 3.5 billion (US$ 15.37 million) to build model toilets in all the 264 constituencies.

One of the ways the MPs are trying to raise funds is through live fashion on TV stations and through traditional dances. The initiative was kicked off in June when MPs led by the Speaker and former First Lady, Mama Salma Kikwete, washed cars at the Jamhuri Stadium in the capital city. The MPs and their staff had also donated a day’s salary towards the programme.

It raised Tanzanian Shilling 19 million (US$8,351) when many MPs and businessmen brought their cars to the stadium to be washed. The initiative has been called “Usichukulie” (Don’t

Sanitation

July 16 - 22, 2018

Water and sanitation crisis

Quick Glance Around 46 per cent lack access to improved drinking water sources More than 80 per cent have no access to improved sanitation 27 mn children is affected by undernutrition linked to poor sanitation

Take It Easy) campaign.

An Aalto University (Helsinki, Finland) student-driven sanitation drive called “Tanzanitation 2018” in its report sums up the challenge of driving home the sanitation message among the people. It says, “On the 20th of February, we had a meeting with the Senior Water Supply & Sanitation Specialist Iain Menzies at the World Bank office in Dar es Salaam. While we were discussing effective communication in sanitation development projects, one sentence caught our attention: demand for the products should be created first before selling and promoting toilets.”

And they also noted what they learned during the project: “We’ve all learned pretty much in what comes to ecological sanitation in general, permaculture, and “closing the loop” of human waste. Most of all, if someone was not familiar with it from before, we became experts in using those squatting toilets with washing water – as the locals prefer. Although peeing in the toilets was found to be

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harder than it seemed.”

The Finnish students’ report discusses the pros and cons of the Ecosan (ecological sanitation) dry toilets. Because of the high water tables in Dar es Salaam, the students feel that the dry toilet is an ideal solution because it ensures that neither the faces nor the urine touch the soil, and this keeps the toilets safe even in rainy season. But there are two difficulties. One, the price of Ecosan toilet is relatively high. Second, the use of the Ecosan toilet is complicated because it has five holes.

One of the general and recurrent problems that Tanzanians face, especially in the capital city of Dar es Salaam and its environs, is that of the floods caused by heavy rains, the bursting of the drainage pipes, and how the human waste gets mixed with the general rain water and this leads to the outbreak of diseases like cholera in the slums and other low income neighbourhoods of the city.

Leaders in Tanzania as well as development experts in global

Global WASH Poverty Diagnostic initiative being implemented in 18 countries across regions. Its objectives are to highlight the priority gaps in WASH access; identify those regions and population groups that are most deprived of higher-quality WASH services; demonstrate how investment in WASH can aid poverty reduction and human development strategies; and identify the major institutional constraints that hold back effective WASH service delivery.

The recommendations for Tanzania include:

• Integrating the SDG framework into poverty-reduction strategies and water and sanitation programmatic approaches such as Water Sector Development Program II;

• Making further investment in rural water and sanitation and ‘celebrating maintenance’ to enhance sustainability in the future;

• Addressing utility inefficiencies, the growth in dependence on informal private providers, and the need for expanded regulation;

• Formulating more coherent policy, more clearly define and assign responsibilities for sanitation, and identify sanitation champions; • Adopting, in urban areas, citywide sanitation approaches that recognize that different solutions are suitable in different contexts;

• Designing WASH interventions with a ‘nutrition-sensitive’ lens and seek to integrate WASH into multi-sectoral strategies addressing education, health, and nutrition outcomes.

• Facilitating efficient, transparent, and predictable financial flows between water and sanitation services actors—from donor, to government, to community—to promote sustainable governance.

Courtesy: An AMCOW Country Status Overview

institutions like the World Bank are aware that the lack of adequate sanitation leads to health hazards and this in turn affects the economic growth in the country. It is now considered axiomatic that water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is a prerequisite for economic development and prosperity.

There is a vigorous national campaign in Tanzania to improve the sanitation infrastructure in the country, and the political class is involved in the campaign to make people aware of the need for clean toilets and the need to change the attitude of the people to using the toilets. There is also the need to maintain hygiene of the toilets because that becomes as crucial for the success of sanitation projects in the country.

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Environment

July 16 - 22, 2018 DIGITAL india

Going Green With The Paperless Economy 24 trees. That’s the number of trees that need to be cut to make one ton of uncoated, non-recycled printing and office paper

10 lakh tonnes. The amount of paper imported by India last year, making it one of the biggest importers of paper in the world

Green Economy

n Ajay Adiseshann

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he figures show the heavy dependence of the Indian market on paper. Every day, businesses across India, utilise many sheets of papers to process one purchase order (PO). The POs are printed, put in paper envelopes and sent by post to suppliers. Invoices are on paper, delivery receipts are on paper, payment reminders are on paper, finance departments seek internal approvals and signatures on printed copies, and the payment is usually done by cheque. Typically 20+ pieces of paper are used for each order in this cycle from procurement to payment. Then all this paper has to be filed away, usually multiple copies in different departments. This is apocalyptic for the environment.

It’s time to go green. It’s time to go paperless.

Digital payments have now gone mainstream due to the recent financial reforms India has witnessed. Online transactions have increased, and cash transactions reported a reduction

by Rs 28,000 crore in 2017. Banks too, have been proactive in adopting green practices such as paperless services, eco-friendly initiatives like internet banking/mobile banking,

10.6 per cent. That’s how much India’s per capita consumption of paper grew this year, poised to grow and touch 25 million tonnes by 2019-20

10 litres. The amount of water used to make a single sheet of A4 paper

and promoting online banking instead of branch banking to help reduce the carbon footprint.

Digital payment players have been instrumental in bringing about a paperless revolution in India, by reducing the heavy usage of paper by businesses. Automating and digitising most of the procure-topay process with smart invoicing, easy payment reminders and digital maker/checker/approver process, digital payments has proved beneficial for both businesses and consumers.

Besides helping to save the environment, going paperless with financial transactions is actually good for businesses. Here’s why:

Better savings

Going digital eliminates the costs associated with printing, faxing, mailing and more. Moreover, shipping costs are reduced when businesses no longer need to mail or overnight documents for signatures.

By automating business processes and transitioning to more ecofriendly workflow solutions such as digital documents, email and technology can reduce filing and retrieval costs, data entry costs and associated labour costs. These

It’s time to go green. It’s time to go paperless savings can really add up and show an impressive and substantial return on investment.

Better efficiency

Paper trails are not the most reliable way to conduct business. However, electronic records of digital payments are easier to track in a more accurate manner, saving time and effort of follow ups. Additionally, they have a quick turnaround time of the payments being made and accepted, adding to the productivity of a business.

Better reach

Digital payment platforms offer a faster, easier way to share invoices digitally to any part of the world, while also making the process more safe and secure. Though India has taken a step towards going digital, there is still a long way to go. The nation has to work towards creating an ecosystem for zero documentation and it is now for the industry and government to work in tandem, to build applications that will allow users to go completely paperless in the coming years. So, it is time to Go Green, Go Digital.

Environment

July 16 - 22, 2018

09 07

Water resources

Desalination Could Resolve India's Perennial Water Woes The ever-increasing demand for potable water is exerting tremendous stress on our existing consumable water resources

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n Suhas Bannur

he ever-increasing demand for potable water is exerting tremendous stress on our existing consumable water resources.

Water covers a little over 70 per cent of the earths surface, and by this we erroneously presume that there is adequate potable water. Realistically, only 3 per cent of this water is potable.

According to a study in Science Advances, some African and Asian countries face severe water scarcity for almost the entire year. The same study also reveals that India suffers from water scarcity for over seven months a year. The current water requirement for India is around 28,251.73 TMC (thousand million cubic feet), which is close to the utilisable water resource (i.e. available fresh water) for our country (roughly 38,351.73 TMC). Studies by the Ministry of Water Resources indicate that the available water will become equal to the demand by the year 2030, if the

current trends continue. However, because many fresh water sources are highly polluted, the actual utilisable water is likely to be much lower than 38,351.73 TMC. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find solutions to alleviate water scarcity in India.

Desalination processes based on renewable energy (RE) could be a solution to India’s perennial water woes. Desalination is the process of distilling sea or polluted water (called source water) using thermal (heat) or electrical energy. This process removes salts (chlorides, fluorides, sulphates, etc.) which are dissolved in water, thereby rendering the source water consumable (called distillate).

However, these processes have a major drawback -- they consume a large amount of energy, most of which is derived from fossil fuels.

Considering the fact that India and the rest of the world are moving towards fossil-free energy generation, it would be prudent to combine RE

with desalination.

Some of the commercialised and extensively used desalination technologies are Multi Stage Flash (MSF), Multi Effect Distillation (MED) and Reverse Osmosis (RO).

Adsorption-based desalination shows great economic promise, but the technology is yet to mature. MED and MSF operate by heating the source water till it evaporates, and then collecting the distilled water.

RO is a membrane-based desalination technology, where the source water flows across a membrane (similar to a filter paper) with the help of a pump.

Salts are filtered out as the water is forced across the membrane, thus

Desalination is the process of distilling sea or polluted water using thermal or electrical energy

ensuring that only desalted or distilled water passes through.

There are many probable RE candidates, such as Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC), Compound Parabolic Collector (CPC) and Solar Photovoltaic (PV), that can be used to power commercial desalination technologies.

PTCs and CPCs use reflectors such as mirrors to capture solar energy and convert it to thermal energy using metallic receivers, which are in the form of circular tubes. PTCs and CPCs can power MED and MSF as these desalination technologies consume thermal energy. PV, on the other hand, converts solar energy directly into electrical energy. Therefore, PV can supply the required electrical energy to power RO systems.

The combination of REdesalination technologies depends on various factors, such as location, source water availability and quality, distillation capacity, cost of desalination and environmental constraints. However, it is finally the cost and the capacity that determine the technology combination.

Combining RE-based technologies with the desalination process ensures that the production of pure water is non-polluting. This has two benefits: One, in the short-term, clean drinking water is produced, which could alleviate water scarcity problems; and two, in the long-term, the use of REbased technologies will aid in reducing the effects of climate change. As an immediate solution, we recommend solar thermal/PTC with MED system as the best combination based on the following rationale: That it can operate for 24 hours and, hence, cater to large water requirements; that it can handle a wide range of water quality, and finally, it allows water production at a low cost. This combination looks good for immediate implementation until other emerging technologies (such as adsorption technology) are mature enough for commercialisation.

10

International Personality

July 16 - 22, 2018 The history of Mandela etched in stone and sacrifice is most relevant in today’s explosive African and Middle East political scene. He never attacked any foreign nation nor did he advocate a culture of violence and hatred.

After years of trying peacefully to end Apartheid, he decided on a course of action - the only course - to engage in a military struggle.

Everything Mandela worked for and accomplished in his lifetime seemed absolutely impossible; yet, he had an unwavering persistence that saw him through to complete that which he set out to do. Mandela left a legacy. His work was so cherished and admired by others that his birthday was officially named, “Mandela Day”.

Most of us are familiar with his imprisonment and anti-Apartheid work, but here are a few things you might not know about this inspiring leader.

Nelson Mandela

Peace Is His Legacy Selfless leader who prioritized the needs of South Africans, a symbol of self-sacrificing leadership

economic processes. Freedom comes when nobody can incite an unnecessary quality in you, no matter what they do.

He headed a campaign that promoted a peaceful defiance against the government in South Africa and the extremely racist policies associated with that government. For his efforts to dismantle Africa’s apartheid system, Mandela was awarded in the year of 1993 with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Despite the opposition that he faced throughout his life, he never lost hope or sight of his goals.

He once said: “It Always Seems Impossible Until it’s Done” Nelson Mandela did not fight to take something away from white people, he fought to restore something to the African.

Mandela’s prison No. was 46664 The number indicates that he was the 466th prisoner of 1964. It remained 466/64 until 1982, when he was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison and given the prison number 220/82.

“Prisoner 46664” continues to be used as a reverential title for him. He embraced the number, making it the name of his HIV/AIDS awareness campaign and the name of a series of charity concerts.

n Urooj Fatima

T

he South African activist and former president Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) fight was not always a peaceful one, but he became a tireless advocate of learning as the pathway to justice.

The hallmark of Nelson Mandela is that in spite of going through unspeakable levels of cruelty and injustice, he did not become bitter and hateful. He still lived laughing and joyfully, not resentfully. It takes a certain quality for a man to do that. Nelson Mandela’s life must be a reminder for every one of us that you should not stand in a line of resentful people. You should stand alone in true freedom. Freedom does not come because of political or

Q u i c k Fa c t s • The apartheid government offered to release Mandela on no less than six occasions but he rejected them each time.

• On his 80th birthday, Mandela married Graça Machel, the widow of Mozambique’s former president Samora Machel.

• First time the UN has dedicated a particular day to a person by declaring Mandela’s birthday as International holiday.

• The holiday asks people to spend 67 minutes doing something good for others, which represents the 67 years he spent working toward change.

• He has a nuclear particle (the ‘Mandela particle’), a prehistoric woodpecker (Australopicus nelsonmandelai) and an orchid (Paravanda Nelson Mandela) named after him.

• He was buried in the family graveyard in Qunu.

• He was the last person to receive the Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union.

• He’s been wined, dined by world leaders. But he loved eating most was tripe.

• Mandela has a cameo in 1992’s Malcolm X as a teacher reciting one of the civil rights activist’s speeches •After retiring from politics, he started an initiative called the Elders, a group of global leaders who work together for peace and human rights.

July 16 - 22, 2018 He has been misquoted Overcome many personal One of Mandela’s most famous tragedies He finally did get to marry for love quotations isn’t really his. You may have in 1944, to Evelyn Mase, but their heard it—it’s often cited as coming relationship was soon marred by from his 1994 inaugural speech: “Our deepest fear is not that we are tragedy. Their second child, Makaziwe, died at just nine months old. They had inadequate. Our deepest fear is that two other children: Madiba Thembekile we are powerful beyond measure ...

(Thembi), who died in a car crash As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates while Mandela was in prison in 1969, others.” and Makgatho Lewanika, This is actually a quote who died of AIDS in by author and spiritual 2005. Mandela had activist Marianne two other children Mandela was a Williamson in her with his second symbol to rally book A Return to wife Winnie, 20 behind for the Love. Not only did grandchildren, and Mandela not coin numerous greatoppressed in South the phrase himself, grandchildren.

Africa who were he probably never even said it. “As far His election as fighting for as I know, he has South Africa’s rights never used the quote in President broke any of his speeches,” said new ground Razia Saleh, an archivist at Mandela’s inauguration as the Nelson Mandela Foundation, president in 1994 was historic for at least four reasons (and probably “and we have catalogued about 1000 many more). He was South Africa’s thus far.” first democratically elected president.

He was also the country’s first black His name lives on president, and the oldest person elected People loved to honour Mandela’s to the office. His inauguration united work for freedom and human rights. the largest number of heads of state As if those 695 awards weren’t enough, since US President John F Kennedy’s more than 25 schools, universities, and educational institutions have funeral in 1963.

Nelson Mandela & the Bhagavad Gita

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elson Mandela went several times to ISKCON’s Ratha Yatra in South Africa while he was president of the nation. The first time Bhakti Tirtha Swami met him, in the course of their conversation, Maharaja quoted a Gita verse.

Half-way thru the verse, Mandela quoted the rest of it. Bhakti Tirtha Swami was surprised. He asked, “You know the Gita?” Mandela said, “Try me.” Every Gita verse Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja knew, Nelson knew as well. Naturally, Bhakti Tirtha Swami asked, “How is this?” Nelson Mandela explained that he was imprisoned on Robbins Island along with some of his fellow leaders of their political party, the African National Congress. One of them was an Indian-bodied lawyer.

The South African government tried to break them by giving them mindless labour and routine.

Realizing that they needed to keep their minds actively engaged, the Indian lawyer taught Nelson Mandela Gita verses which they quoted and discussed back and forth to transcend their daily drudgery.

Nelson Mandela told Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja that learning the Gita helped keep him sane and did much to infuse his view of the world and his strategies for bringing independence and a better future for the South African people.

International Personality

11 07

Stories Behind His Name

His fellow citizens gave him an affectionate nickname Nelson Mandela’s full name was “Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela” but he was called by many other names also. Each name has its own special meaning and story.

The name “Nelson” was given to him on his first day at school by his teacher, Miss Mdingane. (Giving African children English names was a custom among Africans in those days and was influenced by British colonials who could not easily, and often would not, pronounce African names) His birth name was “Rolihlahla”: it is an isiXhosa name which means “pulling the branch of a tree”, but colloquially it means “troublemaker”. His father gave him this name.

Dalibhunga This was the name given to Mr Mandela at the age of 16 after he had undergone initiation. (The traditional Xhosa rite of passage into manhood. It means “creator or founder of the council” or “convenor of the dialogue”.)

He was also called Madiba. This is the name of the clan of which Mr Mandela was a member. ( Madiba was the name of a Thembu chief who ruled in the Transkei in the 18th century. It is considered very polite to use someone’s clan name.)

He was also know as Tata by many– This isiXhosa word means “father” and is a term of endearment that many South Africans used for Mr Mandela.( Since he was a father figure to many, they called him Tata regardless of their own age.) been named after him. At least 19 scholarships and foundations bear the name Nelson Mandela, and more than 95 sculptures, statues, or pieces of art have been made of him or dedicated to him.

During his time in prison, Mandela was restricted to a 2m x 2.5m cell, with nothing but a bedroll on the floor and a bucket for sanitation in it. He was consigned to hard labour in a lime quarry for much of that time and was, at first, only allowed one visitor and one letter every six months.

He drew inspiration from a poem While he was in prison, Mandela would read William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus” to fellow prisoners. The poem, about never giving up, resonated with Mandela for its lines “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.”

You may know it from the movie by the same name starring Morgan Freeman as Mandela.

He was a master of disguise When Mandela was eluding authorities

during his fight against apartheid, he disguised himself in various ways, including as a chauffeur, fieldworker and a chef. The press nicknamed him “the Black Pimpernel” because of his police evasion tactics. “I became a creature of the night. I would keep to my hideout during the day, and would emerge to do my work when it became dark,” he says in his biography, “Long Walk to Freedom.”

In prison, he was highly skilled at secretly passing notes During his incarceration on infamous Robben Island, Mandela and the other prisoners would communicate by leaving notes in discarded matchboxes, under piles of dirty dishes, and taped in toilet tanks. Using these methods, Mandela and the other prisoners organised a hunger strike and succeeded in their effort to improve their living conditions.

A bloody sport intrigued him Besides politics, Mandela’s other passion was boxing. “I did not like the violence of boxing. I was more interested in the science of it - how you move your body to protect yourself, how you use a plan to attack and retreat, and how you pace yourself through a fight,” he says in his biography.

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North East

July 16 - 22, 2018

assam

Seaplanes For Assam Seaplanes are expected to boost tourism, adventure travel as well as improving connectivity

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n Raj Kashyap

he Centre has begun the survey for the introduction of seaplanes in Assam after the venture has been launched at different states in the country.

An inter-departmental team consisting of officials from

S

Airport Authority of India (AAI) directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), India Meteorological Department (IMD) and ministry of water resources landed in Majuli for examining the feasibility of connecting the river island with other destinations in the state. A plan that has already been mooted envisages

connecting Guwahati with Majuli speed than the usual land planes but and Kaziranga with the seaplane. have a longer range than helicopters.

Seaplanes are expected to boost It is expected that seaplane operations tourism, adventure travel as well in the country would help bring as improving connectivity. Plans remote areas into the mainstream have already been firmed up by AAI aviation network without the high to set-up the country’s first water cost of building airports, runways aerodrome project at Ahmedabad’s and the sophisticated infrastructure Sabarmati riverfront and Surat’s Tapi in the airports. Seaplanes can also riverfront to start to start seaplane help ease traffic in busy airports like and amphibious aircraft operations.

Mumbai.

The first seaplane was Connectivity is a major introduced in the country in The objective issue in the states of the 2010 at the Juhu Aerodrome is to have an Northeast. Highways have in Mumbai and named to be repaired very often alternative due to the heavy rains it ‘Jal Hans’. In Kerala, a commercial seaplane service route on the every year and landslides was launched by Kerala in the hill states. Assam MumbaiTourism Infrastructure is a flood-prone state and Pune Limited in 2013 at Kollam its two major highways remain which was followed a year expressway sometimes blocked as it happened later by a similar scheme last month in different in Maharashtra to connect Mumbai to tourist destinations in parts of the state. But the region is the Western Ghats. The objective endowed with a river network that was to provide an alternative route carries water throughout the year to long drives on the Mumbai-Pune which could be ideal for seaplanes. expressway. The current NDA regime The Brahmaputra connects some has a plan to set up 106 waterways major tourist destinations like Majuli across the country in different states. and Kaziranga National Park which is The advantage of the amphibious also a World Heritage Site famous for aircraft is that it can take off and land the one-horned rhino. It is envisaged on both short landing strips as well as that seaplanes would provide a major water bodies. They move at a slower boost to the sector in the region.

n ssb bureau

tate-owned Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) has inked two agreements with firms in Europe to operate a biorefinery in Assam.

A press release issued by the PSU said that two agreements have been concluded in New Delhi with M/s Chempolis Oy of Finland and M/s Fortum 3 B.V. of Netherland to build and operate the unit at Numaligarh located about 250 kms east of state capital Guwahati.

The biorefinery will produce renewable green fuel-bio-ethanol, chemicals and power from bamboo biomass. The joint venture company, incorporated on June 4, has three partners with major equity holding of 50 per cent by NRL, 28 per cent by Fortum 3 B.V. Netherland and 22 per cent by Chempolis Oy, Finland.

According to an estimate, NRL’s new venture will produce 62 million litres of bio-ethanol by using around 0.5 million MT bamboo per annum.

Bioethanol will be produced from bamboo as feedstock by using 3G Formicobio technology to be provided by the Finnish partner.

In line with the vision laid down by the government, oil PSUs, are

Bio-refinery To Be Set Up In Assam The biorefinery will produce renewable green fuel, bioethanol, chemicals and power from bamboo biomass

planning Rs 600 crores. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), a Central Government Public Sector Undertaking, will set up the project.

Biorefinery involves the integration of different biomass treatment and processing methods into one system, which results in the production of different components from the same biomass. This makes the entire chain more viable economically and also reduces the waste generated.

The concept of biorefinery is still in its early stages at most places in the world although the concept has gained popularity in the past couple of decades. Biorefineries can help in utilizing the optimum energy potential of organic wastes and may also resolve the problems of waste management and GHGs emissions.

The new bio-ethanol policy of the government aims to spur investments for setting up projects with a total production capacity of 1 billion litres of fuel ethanol every year.

The policy is also aimed at cutting down the country’s significant energy import dependence as well as meeting the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) committed to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

North East

July 16 - 22, 2018

13 07

nagaland

Nagaland To Have More Roads The State Government has been asked to submit a list of important roads in the State where funds are required

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n Raj Kashyap

n inter-departmental team coBad conditions of roads could soon be over for Nagaland.

Schemes worth Rs 6,441.34 crores have been approved for the border state under special accelerated road development programme in north-east (SARDP-NE).

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has approved the construction of twelve roads in Nagaland under the schemes that include the 25 km stretch of the Chakabama Zunheboto road in two-lanes, a 20km stretch of the Merangkong-Tamlu-Mon road and 22.558km the Pfutsero-Phek road. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was assured by Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari that the Centre was keen to sanction more funds for building

national highways in the hill state. The State Government has been asked to submit a list of important roads in the State where funds are required.

Successive governments in the state have drawn flak for the deplorable condition of the roads for the past several years. The deteriorated and unpredictable road conditions with potholes and some partially damaged stretches had made it an absolute necessity to upgrade the entire road system in the state.

In December last year, the state government had announced the Nagaland Road Maintenance Policy.

It is declared that citizens and civil society groups could monitor the plans and their implementation

The government has reserved the right to make an amendment to the policy and its rules from time to time as deemed fit, the notification said.

Road Transport plays a very important role in the economic, industrial, social and cultural development of a country or state. Nagaland, being a landlocked state with hilly and mountainous terrain where air, railway and water transport system is very limited, the road is the only means of transport which can provide accessibility even to the remotest regions of the state.

However, Nagaland is not the only state in the Northeast where roads are in need of maintenance and repair.

The same conditions are also found in Arunachal Pradesh and especially in the border areas in the districts of Kuru Kumey, Upper Subansiri and Upper Siang. In Manipur, the border districts of Ukhrul and Churachandpur have also been affected and the government has recently approached the Centre for sanction of funds.

android app

Application For Man-Animal Conflicts IIT Chennai

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n raj kashyap

ndian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai, has developed an Android application to tackle man-animal conflicts in the country.

Assam has witnessed one of the highest incidences of casualties among all the states in the country in recent years due to being marauded.

A group of students demonstrated the technology at a five-day workshop called “Technology for Rural Development” at the IIT Guwahati.

The equipment which will have a

Called “Lights for Life - Food to Live 2017,” the project aimed at reducing man-elephant conflict camera will transmit information on the movement of animals which will alert the forest department and the local villages. The precise location of the animal will also be projected with the coordinates on a Google map.

Public Relations Officer of IIT Guwahati Labanu Konwar told the media, “There were some useful technologies that have been demonstrated in the workshop. The photos that will be captured in the camera will be transmitted to the application along with the location

on Google Map.” A student who developed the gadget explained that the production would be at a low cost. A total of 44 students from different institutes participated in the programme.

The technology assumes importance for Assam since 149 people were killed by wild elephants in the last two years which is in addition to 1,880 hectares of crops that have been destroyed. On the other hand, scores of elephants have also died as a result of accidents, electrocution and starvation.

The pace of road construction has been slow in some states of the region.

In Nagaland, 64 km of surfaced roads and 41 minor bridges were constructed during the Second Five Year Plan according to a report which increased to 1948 km by the end of the Seventh Plan.

At the end of the Eight Plan, the total road length further increased to 13732 km in the state.

It also declared that citizens and civil society groups could monitor the plans and their implementation and offer feedback to the government on the progress of the schemes. The government also assured the use of web-based mapping software for the schemes to be unveiled.

Unlike the previous policy, the new government has said that the construction companies would be given three years for completion of the projects. They will also be made accountable for the repair of the road they construct for the duration of four years.

According to the elephant census of the year 2012, there were 5,620 elephants in the state of Assam.

Cases of human-animal conflict are increasing in Assam due to largescale deforestation and construction.

Pachyderms have lost natural habitats and often stray on paths that are prone to dangers.

Last year, Paris-based Nature and Wildlife Association and an Assam based NGO, Green Guard Nature Organisation, launched a scheme for 50 villages along the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong foothills to reduce manelephant conflict.

Called “Lights for Life - Food to Live 2017,” the project aimed at reducing man-elephant conflict in the area by 50 per cent in the next three to five years. It promotes a message to jointly restore elephant habitat and get headlights to avoid attacks. Local inhabitants would be provided with high-powered headlamps and air horns to curb elephant attacks. In return, they will join hands in the efforts to restore elephant habitat.

14

Transport

July 16 - 22, 2018

tourism & catering

Trains To Get Saloons For Exclusive Journey

One can book the saloon through IRCTC, the railways’ tourism and catering wing DMU Train

Six DMU Train Sets To Sri Lanka Arun Kumar Das

A

iming to increase earnings, Indian Railways will add a saloon to mail/express trains, if booked by passengers for exclusive travel for reaching destination in comfort by paying a little more.

Known as an Inspection Car, a saloon is a specially designed rail coach with two bedrooms, a drawing/dining room, two bathrooms, an attendant’s room and a kitchen.

Facing stiff competition from low cost carriers the national transporter is in the process of coming out with many innovative approaches to perk up revenue.

Saloons are used by senior railway officials on their inspection duty.

Ministers are also entitled to use the saloon during their rail journey.

Though the saloon can comfortably accommodate six passengers, one has to pay the equivalent of 18 first class fares for the same destination in the

scheduled train.

“We have allowed saloon to be booked by any passenger. It would be added as an additional coach to the existing mail/express train on demand after paying the prescribed rate,” a senior Railway Ministry official said.

One can book the saloon through IRCTC, the railways’ tourism and catering wing. Railways has given written instruction to all zonal railways to allow saloons to be attached to all scheduled mail/express trains across the country. The Rajdhani, Duronto, Shatabdi and Gatimaan expresses have been exempted from this.

Currently, a Mail/Express train have between 18 to 24 coaches.

Since the saloon is equiped with cooking facility, customers will be free to make their own catering arrangements.

Railways expect the saloon will be in demand in tourist destinations and it would also be a much sought after service by newly married couples.

Arun Kumar Das

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ndian Railways is all set to establish its footprint in Sri Lanka with the export of six DMU (diesel multiple units) train sets consisting of 78 modern coaches worth Rs 600 crore.

The first DMU train set comprising 13 coaches will be shipped out to the island nation in September while the rest will follow by year-end, as per the delivery schedule finalised by the two countries.

DMU train sets do not require separate locomotives as the engines are incorporated into one or more of its coaches.

All train sets would be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai for which the order is a big boost in its export business.

There will be three different type of coaches -AC Executive Class, Second and Third Class -- and, as per the Sri Lankan requirement, they will only

Delhi To Get 1,000 e-buses

Big move towards reducing air pollution

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n ssb bureau

n a major move to fight air pollution in Delhi, the city government on approved the hiring of a consultant to run 1,000 electric buses estimated to cost Rs 2,500 crore in the national

capital as promised in its 2018-19 Budget. “Cabinet approves hiring of consultant to run 1,000 electric buses in Delhi. A big step in modernizing Delhi’s transport sector and reducing pollution,” Kejriwal said.

Earlier this month, the Delhi

DMU train sets do not require separate locomotives as the engines are incorporated into one or more of its coaches have seating facility.

“The design of coaches is being finalised as per the customer’s choice and ICF has fully geared up to meet the export order in time,” a senior Railway Ministry official involved with the manufacturing process told.

The first rake shipment will take place in September after which it will be put on trial run on Sri Lankan rails.

“There will be oscillation trial of the first rake which will be followed by shipment of five more rakes by the yearend or early next year,” the official said.

The contract will be funded under the Indian Line of Credit to Sri Lanka announced in 2011.

In order to foster regional cooperation with these countries, the government has been extending various lines of credit for funding railway projects for export of Indian Railwaysmanufactured locomotives and rolling stock.

ICF manufactured 2,500 coaches last year and has a target of 3,000 in the current fiscal.

government had informed the Supreme Court that each vehicle would cost around Rs 2.5 crore.

The Delhi Assembly had passed the 2018-19 “green” budget with a focus on fighting pollution by commissioning 1,000 electric buses and providing subsidies for switching to non-polluting fuel.

As per a 1998 order of the Supreme Court, Delhi should have a fleet of 10,000 buses for public transport but currently it has only 5,815 buses.

Culture

July 16 - 22, 2018

15 07

Heritage

India Now Has 37 World Heritage Inscriptions Mumbai’s famed Victorian Gothic and Art Deco on Unesco Heritage list

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he famed ‘art district of south Mumbai’ comprising Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles has been named as the latest - and India’s 37th - entrant to the coveted World Heritage Sites list, a Unesco announcement said.

With this, India now has 37 World Heritage Inscriptions, ranking 6th in the world, and second only to China in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Maharashtra government had first submitted its formal nomination proposal for the UNESCO honour in 2012 for the ‘Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai’, but it was edged out by other major Indian landmarks.

The Ensemble comprises 94 buildings, of two architectural styles, the 19th century collection of Victorian structures and the 20th century Art Deco buildings along the Arabian Sea, conjoined by means of the historical open space of the Oval Maidan.

Together, this architectural ensemble represents the most remarkable collection of Victorian and Art Deco buildings in the world which forms the unique character of this urban setting, unparalleled in the world.

Significantly, it also symbolized the growing affluence and commercial importance of (then) Bombay, which

was taking its baby steps to gigantic strides and emerge as the country’s financial capital after five decades.

Some of the prominent Art Deco structures that stand majestically include the Regal Cinema, Rajab Mahal, India Assurance Building, New Empire Cinema, Fairlawns building, Eros Cinema, several residential buildings on Marine Drive, and a few even in the northern parts of the island city.

However, no other city in the world has such a large ensemble emblematic of the 19th and 20th century

architectural styles, literally facing each other over a small geographical area of urban design.

With the latest addition, Mumbai region now has three World Heritage Sites, including two bang in the city with the other being the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Central Railway headquarters.

With the latest honour, Maharashtra now boasts five - or the maximum number - world heritage sites than any other state in the country, includling the Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad.

life and art

‘Uttar Raag’ Last Work Of SH Raza The distance between life and art was almost closed for him

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aintings created by Sayed Haider Raza, when he was in his 90s, are not songs of farewell or leave-taking but of joy and life, said poet Ashok Vajpeyi at an exhibition of these artworks.

‘Uttar Raag’, the exhibition at Triveni Kala Sangam’s Shridharani Art Gallery displayed close to two-

thirds of the late celebrated Indian modernist’s last works including his last finished painting Swasti (2016) and his last unfinished canvas.

These paintings have been inherited through his will by Raza Foundation, an arts and culture organization he himself established.

Other exhibited works created

between 2010 and 2016 include “Yoni” (2012), “Roop Aroop” (2012), “Vistaar” (2013), “Jeevana (2014), “Tanmay” (2015), “Achal” (2015) and “Paysage” (2015) among others.

“Towards the end of his life he was living to paint, and painting to live. The distance between life and art was almost closed for him,” Vajpeyi, also the former Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, told.

“He must have had some feeling that these were his last years. But his life-long zest for art, the urge to paint almost every day did not dim.

“The body was weak, energy declining, eyesight inadequate but he would invariably reach his studio from the bedroom every day and sit before the canvas on easel,” Vajpeyi earlier said in a statement.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1981, the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013.

Calling Raza’s works a “reexploration of his favourite themes”, Vajpeyi said these artworks are not imbued with feelings of leave-taking of saying adieu.

“They are not farewell lyrics.

They are still songs of joy for life.”

16

July 16-22, 2018

Shiva Prasad Khened Director at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai and National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai

“Do not Judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again”

VIEWPOINT

Use Technology for Art Authenticity

Nelson Mandela

How Indian museums can harness power of technology for art authenticity

THE FROZEN HAPPINESS

I guess ice cream is one of those things that are beyond imagination. It is a perfect dessert which has been celebrated annually since 1984

T

o commemorate a treat enjoyed by over 90 percent of the nation’s population and produced by 10% of the nation’s milk supply, National Ice Cream Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of July each and every year. If one day does not give you enough time to celebrate one of the most popular cold treat on earth then you should be relieved to find out that July itself is known as National Ice Cream Month. Whether you prefer your ice cream in a cup or cone, with some warm apple pie or on top of a banana split, be sure to visit your local ice cream shop and partake in one of the “sweetest” holidays of the year. With all the toppings and flavors to choose from, it is impossible to go wrong!

It is said that ice cream was first introduced in the United States by Quaker colonists who brought their ice cream recipes with them. Their ice cream was sold at shops in New York and other cities during the colonial era. Americans are the biggest consumer of ice cream in the world, chowing down an average of 48 pints per person, every year!

Fun Fact : During World War II, ice cream was served to troops to boost morale while sanctions and rationing were in effect for the general public. When the war ended, rationing of ice cream was lifted and Americans celebrated victory with a cold, creamy treat.

There is also a celebration of Ice Cream Day on December 13th but who needs just a day to celebrate this delicacy? Life is like an ice cream too so enjoy it before it melts.

Editor-in-Chief

Kumar Dilip Edited, Printed and Published by: Monika Jain on behalf of Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation, owned by Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation Printed at: The Indian Express Limited A - 8, Sector -7, NOIDA (UP) Published at: RZ - 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam - Dabri Road, New Delhi - 110045 (India) Corporate Office: 819, Wave Silver Tower, Sector - 18, NOIDA (UP) Phone: +91-120-2970819 Email: editor@sulabhswachhbharat.com, ssbweekly@gmail.com

I

ndian museums house an enviable range of collections of art and cultural objects spanning the vast history of India.

Such collections, however, are poorly documented making them vulnerable to possibilities of theft or illicit culture trafficking.

The recent case of the Chola Bronze of dancing Shiva which was stolen and smuggled out of India, and then sold to the National Gallery of Australia is a case in point. The statue has since been returned after India established its provenance and requested the government of Australia. Application of new technological tools to document museum collections can help a great deal in establishing art authenticity.

Improper documentation is a major concern for safety and security of cultural objects. There is an urgent need to document all the collections in multifaceted forms including the use of appropriate scientific and technological tools, so that it helps in provenance establishment. A range of technological tools which harvest the entire electromagnetic spectrum, are available to document museum objects. This is necessary because forgeries have become a menace for museums.

In India, most museums rely on domain experts for the authenticity of art objects.

No one is infallible. Experts can go wrong.

Therefore, relying exclusively on an expert’s knowledge (mostly restricted to the physicality of what human eyes can see) in art authenticity may not be the best practice.

Multidisciplinary studies involving collaboration between art and natural

sciences are helping curators, archaeologists and scientists to establish cooperation between museums, archaeology, art history and conservation-restoration on one hand and physics, chemistry and biology on the other. Scientific developments are helping to both accurately date objects and analyse their material composition and in art authentication. The Rembrandt Research Project of the Netherlands is an example of such a multidisciplinary approach.

Material analysis is increasingly becoming important with the ever-improving analytical tools and techniques that have resulted in the introduction of new instruments for microanalysis of objects without taking original sample material and in-situ applicability for artefacts. X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) is non-destructive and noninvasive. Miniaturisation is making x-ray tubes and detectors slimmer and lighter.

These small devices can be transported to museums or archaeological sites or art galleries for analytical investigations of objects.

Scientific analysis of data relating objects and their documentation can come handy if and when an investigation is necessitated. A museum curator is required to identify which properties of an artefact might yield clues to its origin and this can be done using non-

Museums across the developed world are networking with scientists and harvesting technological tools in establishing art authenticity

July 16-22, 2018 destructive techniques. Many materials characterization techniques like X-ray radiography, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) are highly useful in museum laboratory during such investigations.

The surface of an object often gives an indication of how it was made. An investigator can relate this information to when and where an artefact was made, since the technical processes available to various civilizations are well documented.

The fabrication processes of an object provide tell-tale marks such as casting, forging, smelting or turning by a lathe, which leaves concentric lines, as does a pottery wheel. If sheet metal was starting material, there may still be marks from the hammer used to beat it into shape.

The surface details of objects not visible to the naked eye can be seen through an optical microscope or SEM for proper attribution.

The Smithsonian Institution, which most museum professionals admire for its canonical stature, uses scientific tools in its analytical laboratories. For example, they are using the Nanoscale Scanning Electron Microscope (NanoSEM) for evaluating the mineral composition of rocks and meteorites and also in determining the authenticity of ancient Mesoamerican artefacts. NanoSEM has the ability to function over a range of pressures, allowing analysis of samples without the coating of electrically conductive materials like carbon, which would be impossible to remove from the specimen.

Another new technology that has made its debut in art authenticity is ‘Space and Art Technology’, which is based on a technique that NASA uses for radiation detection on the International Space Station (ISS). It combines a new imaging and measuring technology with the accuracy that only robots can offer. It gives unique and unprecedented flexibility in changing between viewing and measuring at the same time, thus bringing precision to working on basis of scientific standardised repeatable protocol for condition and authentication research of art objects.

Museums across the developed world are networking with scientists and harvesting technological tools in establishing art authenticity. Most museum professionals in India do not fully subscribe to the idea of using technological tools for establishing authenticity. They feel that experts alone can handle this task. While no one can advocate replacing human experts with technological tools, it is also true that technology can very well be used to supplement and aid experts. It is just like the role diagnostic tools in aiding doctors to accurately diagnose and prove effective in improving health. Diagnostic tools have certainly not replace doctors.

OpEd

17

Maulana Wahiduddin Wahiduddin is an Islamic scholar and peace activist known for having translated the Quran into contemporary English and for writing a commentary

upfront

Why Faith In God There are many ways in which God maintains the equilibrium of nature

T

he world of nature is characterized by its equilibriums.

Human society must acquire the same equilibrium if it is to function smoothly.

There are many ways in which God maintains the equilibrium of nature. One of these ways is diversion; that is, the channeling off of a force that has reached excessive proportions.

Think of the amount of rain that falls in the rainy season. Immense damage would be done if it were to remain in cultivated and populated areas. So what nature does in such situations is provide the land and human population with an amount of water which is only just adequate while the rest of the water is diverted into rivers.

Human beings have made use of this principle of diversion in the building of dams. The purpose of a dam is to control the free flow of water in a river. Whenever there

appears to be a surplus water, the excess amount is channeled off in another direction. In this way the river is prevented from deluging the surrounding area. This water then flows into a large pool, or reservoir.

So it is with many machines. When the amount of steam in a steamengine, for instance, exceeds specified proportions, then it is diverted and funneled off.

This principle of diversion should also be applied to human society. If one lives with others one is bound to have cause for complaint against

letters to the editor The Making of a Legend

Albert Einstein

Chandrayaan-2 Mission

Violence, Torture, Scars – Vrindavan helped her forget it all

28

14

10

05 Vrindavan Widows

We should aim for good health going beyond the health service

the His genius changed world in far-reaching ways that are still being understood today

The primary objective of the 2nd Moon Mission is to search for helium-3 deposits

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Arsenic curse turned

| July 09 - 15, 2018

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volution

BENGAL

Sulabh Water Re ARSENIC-AFFECTED

shwar Pathak

into a boon by Dr Binde

’s to bring the world hands with NGOs ponds The villagers joined per litre from the le water at 50 paise cheapest potab arsenic for years contaminated by

The prospect of recycled water

SSB BUREAU

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Sapan VERY morning, the water Das goes to in his filtration plant by established village, Pathak, founder, Dr Bindeshwar al Social Service Sulabh Internation is the only source Organistaion. This tube wells in the of clean water as the arsenicbe found to vicinity have been contaminated. village, his in Das, like the others Bengal, had in West Madusudan Kati from the wells for been drinking water knowing that the last 20 years without water, till he was drinking poisonous of illness, which he found symptomsdetected to have the doctors then the contaminated been caused by water in the village. where ground It was once a land ted by arsenic water was so contaminait turned dark drank that many who Today, the same with its poison. a living by a villagers are making drinking water, selling purified about by the transformation brought and effective cheap introduction of a technology surface water filtration Pathak. introduced by Dr journey indeed It has been a long ankati, Madhusud for the people of has come to be a village in what belt”. “arsenic Bengal’s known as West I have seen how “Since I was a child, suffered because people around me groundwater,” says of drinking local retired engineer a Haldhar Sarkar, ankati. Since the from Madhusud in parts of eastern 1990s, ground waterh have been found India and Banglades with naturally ted to be contamina

As Australia is counted to be a driest country and due to which people faced huge problem

in water and sanitation.

Australians experienced low rainfall repeatedly and so they started the process of water recycling, this recycled water is specially used for non drinking purpose mainly for plants and harvesting. Australians were the first to lead the world and help in developing the protection of water to save the health of public. By this article I came to know that Australia now provides a great knowledge and guidelines of how to use recycled water and for what purpose it is helpful.

Santosh Kumar, Patna

Please mail your opinion to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712

them from time to time. These grievances will end in social strife if allowed to escalate. The smooth running of society will then become well nigh impossible.

This strife and conflict can be avoided only if man finds an outlet for his excess emotion. This is the function that faith in God and the hereafter performs.

The prophet Joseph had been separated from his father by his half-brothers; later on the same thing happened to Joseph’s full¬brother, Benjamin. It was quite natural that Joseph’s father should have been thrown into a profound emotional crisis by these events. If he had made Joseph’s half-brothers the target of his emotions, then his family would have been beset by savage strife. So instead of this, he turned the flood of his emotions towards God. “I address my sorrow and sadness to God alone,” he said (Quran, 12:85). Human society is deeply indebted to faith in God and the Hereafter for this function that it performs. Faith in God enables one to turn to Him for recompense in times of grievance. A man of God does not make others the target of his negative feelings. Instead, he diverts them towards God. The deluge of his emotions, which might have caused immense damage to human beings, falls instead into a diversion pool.

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Photo Feature

July 16 - 22, 2018

We Feed T he Wor l d Agriculture is the noblest alchemy of all; for it turns earth, and even manure, into gold, conferring upon its cultivator the additional reward of health

July 16 - 22, 2018

“If you tickle the earth with a hoe she laughs with a harvest.�

- Douglas William Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, the emptiness of ages in his face, and on his back the burden of the world

Photo Feature

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Gender

July 16 - 22, 2018 racing

Ahura Racing team an all-girl team of six participants scripted history

Women Riders Aim To End Male Domination n Tridib Baparnash

W

ho said Indian women have a long way to go to catch up with their male counterparts in a sport like motor racing? Meet these young ladies from various walks of life who have become the cynosure of all eyes during the opening round of the 21st JK Tyre National racing championship.

Founded and conceptualised by former national champion Sarosh Hataria, the Ahura Racing team an all-girl team of six participants scripted history when they drove the Formula LGB cars at the Kari Motor Speedway.

Led by popular Marathi and Bollywood actor Manisha Kelkar and dentist Ritika Oberoi, the Ahura team came into existence after Hataria handpicked 12 women out of 190 who sent in their entries to an online post a fortnight ago.

On 7th July, six of the 12 realised their dream of racing in a professional circuit while the other six have been kept on standby and could get to race during the four-round JK Tyre national championship.

Manisha, the daughter of veteran Bollywood screenwriter Ram Kelkar, was one of those six lucky ladies who had

their dream come true.

The 32-year-old, a self-proclaimed adventure junkie, was elated to be a part of the historic moment but went on to explain that her motive was mainly to inspire young girls who dream of a career in racing but unfortunately can’t afford the expensive sport.

“I am an adventure junkie and love any kind of speed and adventure. I always wanted to sit in a Formula car but never ever dreamt of participating and qualifying for Nationals, so that way it’s a dreamcome-true moment for me,” Manisha told.

On being asked about her experience, Manisha has no hesitation to call herself the rookiest of all racers, but explained how she chased her dreams in the matter of a fortnight and even taking a short break from her busy acting career.

“I can’t express my experience in words, being the rookiest of the racers, I am proud of my performance on debut. My mentors Saroj and Rohit Khanna taught us really well as we didn’t have much time.”

“Sixty girls were selected from all over India and trained for two days, and then six girls with the best lap time were selected,” she explained.

Manisha, however, went on to explain that her main intention was to inspire young girls to battle all odds and take up the sport.

“We have a huge potential in our country, but where we lack is channelising that talent. Lack of sponsors is also another reason but companies like JK Tyre have been phenomenal in their support.

“These kinds of talent hunts help in unravelling the raw talent,” she said.

Dentist Ritika also had a similar story. She became confident after taking part in the Desert Storm last year.

“It was after the Desert Storm my navigator motivated me to take up racing professionally. Being a passionate driver, having done all the forms including offroading and rally, this

The team also includes two mothers, and an aspiring IAS officer, who are standbys

was something which I was waiting for a long time,” Ritika told.

The team also includes two mothers Diana Pundole and Natasha Shah, and Phoebe Nongrum, an aspiring IAS officer from Shillong, who are standbys and awaiting their chance of racing in the next three rounds.

While the first round got off successfully, with Hataria just about managing the hefty season fees of nearly Rs 80 lakh, the team owner is keeping his fingers crossed on the future as he dreams of having an all-girls team a routine affair.

Off-Beat

July 16 - 22, 2018 the funny side

intuItion

Myth Bout ‘Putting Yourself In Other’s Shoe’ Debunked Relying on intuition or gut instinct is not an accurate way to determine what other people might be thinking or feeling n ssb bureau

D

o you believe that putting yourself in someone else’s shoe and understanding their point of view will help you know them better? Scientists claim that such an approach may be inaccurate.

The study showed that relying on intuition or gut instinct is not an accurate way to determine what other people might be thinking or feeling.

The study debunked the previous held theories that viewing a situation from other person’s view to understand their thoughts, feelings, attitude, or mental state, is a correct approach to interpersonal insight.

Rather gaining perspective directly through conversation is a more accurate approach, the researchers said.

The study, included an exhaustive

series of 25 experiments designed to separate accuracy from egotism.

The team asked participants to adopt another person’s perspective and predict their emotions based on facial expressions and body postures, identify fake versus genuine smiles, spot when someone is lying or telling the truth, and even predict a spouse’s activity preferences and consumer attitudes.

“Initially, a large majority of participants believed that taking someone else’s perspective would help them achieve a more accurate interpersonal insight,” the researchers said.

“However, test results showed that their predictive assumptions were not generally accurate, although it did make them feel more confident about their judgement and reduced egocentric biases,” they explained.

The Safest Places In The World Safe places to live were on my mind after a reader sent in a news report

F

n Nury Vittachi

ive years ago I lived in a housing estate that was so safe that I didn’t even own a front door key. Our only line of defence against evil was a deeply confused dog which barked at family members and gave strangers a friendly licking.

(My wife tells me to be kind, since dogs have brains the size of walnuts, but I argue that a walnut would be cheaper and more effective, since you can throw it at people and it never needs its poop picked up. But whatever.)

Safe places to live were on my mind after a reader sent in a news report about what is being called “the safest place in the world”. Eibenthal is a village with

SAHITYA ACADEMY

Transgender Literary Meet Sahitya Academy to hold literary meet for transgender writers

I

n agency

n a bid to bring creativity of transgenders to the fore, Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, would hold the first-ever literary meet for transgender writers in Kolkata this month, a member of the event’s advisory committee said. However, the Bengal government does not have any role in organising the unique literary meet.

“This is not a state government programme. It is an unique initiative to bring the writings of transgender writers to light,” Manabi Bandyopadhyay, who is also the first transgender college principal in the country, told.

“I am a part of the advisory body. So

21 07

when I was contacted by the Sahitya Akademi official here about the programme, I provided him with the names of some transgender poets and their writings,” she said.

Describing literary meet as a powerful platform for the sexually marginalised community to display their creative flair, she said many members of the community want to prove themselves in society. “As a member of the transgender community, I think the academicians, writers and creative persons among us want to prove that we also have an imagination and creativity. We also have dreams.

Sahitya Akademi is big platform. So I think it is a good opportunity for us to prove ourselves,” she added.

a little church in the mountains of Romania. Inhabitants hang money in bags on lampposts. The baker passes by, takes the money and leaves food behind.

But there are super-safe places everywhere, if you know where to look. India has Shani Shingnapur, a famously low-crime town of 3,000 people in Maharashtra where most houses don’t even have doors, let alone locks. This columnist wrote about it a few years ago when a bank was built there. Townsfolk ordered executives at UCO Bank to follow tradition and have no locks on its doors. The bankers thought this was a bit unusual for a bank, but were willing to cooperate. You could imagine the discussion: Townsfolk: “You must follow our tradition and not lock the doors of your bank.”

Bankers: “Well, okay. It’s your money.”

Townsfolk: “Wait. Maybe we need to talk about this a bit more.”

The only grumble came from local police, but they could have taken inspiration from Sark, an island near England which maintained a tiny security presence.

In the 1970s it was invaded

by France. The invasion fleet consisted of one Frenchman. The defending army consisted of a parttime policeman, who arrested the Frenchman without harming him.

As wars go, it was rather sweet.

(You can’t say that about a lot of wars.)

Even the United States, which the media paints as a land of guns, has super-safe places. Wikipedia says top of the list is Irvine, California, which had 0.8 of a murder in the most recent year counted.

How can you Our 0.8 of a generation have murder? Did is the guy’s hair creating survive or something? a crime Now here’s free world the thing: You can create individual safe spots. Over the years, this column has received dozens of news reports about armed robbers who failed because their would-be crimes didn’t fit the ambience.

Example: In 2012, a masked man entered a bar in the Netherlands and levelled a gun at people inside. Lost in the usual fog of drink and chatter you find in European bars, they ignored him.

The whole thing is on YouTube, including the deflated robber’s sad exit. At a bank in Kowloon, Hong Kong, staff told a raider than they were far too busy to be robbed. He nodded and left the counter. The whole thing was marvellously civil.

Now I am not saying that our generation is creating a crimefree world. Given the propensity of snacks to disappear in this columnist’s house, I can’t even create a crime-free apartment.

Who took my walnut?

22

Health

July 16 - 22, 2018

COFFEE

8 Coffees a Day Means a Longer Life Than No Coffee 10-Year Study

More Coffee For Longer Life?

D

n DAVID NIELD

rink an unsettling amount of coffee a day? Don’t panic.

The results of a new decadelong study involving almost 500,000 people suggest that drinking the beverage – in any quantity – leads to a longer life than not having any of it at all.

While there are caveats to that claim, the new study found that a longer life was linked to any kind of coffee: instant, decaf, whatever.

The sheer number of studies out there on this subject proves that scientists are fascinated with coffee.

B u t this latest research is particular

noteworthy because the team tapped into the data of 498,134 British people voluntarily registered with the UK Biobank genetics database, then logged deaths over a 10 year period.

There was a small but statistically significant trend showing that the more coffee people drank, the more likely they were to live longer.

In other words, a higher percentage of the non-coffee drinkers died.

“This study provides further evidence that coffee

in the study’s favour. It covered nearly half a million people, for a start, which is definitely to its credit. Also backing up this study’s claims are previous studies – like the 2017 research covering more than 700,000 people that also found a link between coffee and a longer life.

Scientists think the beverage might have some health-boosting properties that aren’t to do with the caffeine.

There is also some evidence that coffee helps protect against damage to DNA. drinking can be part of a healthy As always, you should take this diet and offers reassurance to coffee study in context. Context like the drinkers,” write the researchers. general recommendation from experts The inverse association with to stick to 400 mg of caffeine per day mortality continued right up to eight (about four cups of coffee) – too much cups of coffee a day, suggesting we of the stuff tends to lead to problems shouldn’t worry too much about like insomnia or heartburn. overdoing our coffee consumption.

This study also looked at another Overall, coffee drinkers question scientists have were about 10-15 percent been asking: how genetics Coffee less likely to die than coffee affects coffee consumption. also helps abstainers.

We all metabolise coffee at As with any observational different rates, which alters protect study like this though, our sensitivity to it, but the against where people are quizzed data showed that this had no on their past and existing effect on the link between damage to habits, we can’t definitively drinking coffee and a longer DNA say that coffee causes a life.

Considering the longer life.

It might be that some other factor – strengths and weaknesses of the study, like wealth, or education, or proximity and everything that’s gone before, we to a coffee shop – is contributing to can chalk this up as more evidence that both higher levels of coffee drinking coffee does indeed seem to improve our health in certain ways – even if we and lower rates of mortality.

Plus, the study only deals with don’t exactly know how.

No doubt more coffee studies will people in the UK prepared to answer questions about their health habits – be along in the very near future. In the hardly a random cross-section of the meantime, don’t worry about having that extra cup in the morning, as it’s world’s population.

At the same time there are factors probably good for you.

lifespan

Human Lifespan Has No Fixed Limit

The chances of survival for the longevity warriors plateaued once they made it past 105

n BEC CREW

1.5 years.

That life expectancy rate was projected to be here is no fixed limit to the human lifespan, the same for 110-year-olds, or supercentenarians, says scientists who found that the chances to hence the plateau. “Our data tell us that there is no be a supercentenarian to live upto and above fixed limit to the human lifespan yet in sight,” said the age of 110 are high for people who survive the Kenneth Wachter, Professor at the University of perilous 90s, and make it to 105.

California, Berkeley. “Not only do we see mortality The findings showed that the chances rates that stop getting worse with age, we of survival for the longevity warriors see them getting slightly better over time,” plateaued once they made it past 105, Ages of 105 & he added. To date, the oldest human on challenging previous research that claims record, Jeanne Calment of France, died in 109 had a the human lifespan has a final cut-off 1997 at age 122 years and 164 days.

50/50 chance point.

According to researchers, those who People between the ages of 105 and survive do so because of demographic of dying 109, known as semi-supercentenarians, within a year selection and/or natural selection. had a 50/50 chance of dying within the Frail people tend to die earlier while year and an expected further life span of robust people, or those who are genetically

T

blessed, can live to extreme ages, they noted.

For the study, published in the journal Science, the team tracked the death rate of 3,836 Italians -who were aged 105 and older between 2009 and 2015.

The result showed that Italian women born in 1904 who reached age 90 had a 15 per cent chance of dying within the next year, and six years, on average, to live.

If they made it to 95, their odds of dying within a year increased to 24 percent and their life expectancy from that point on dropped to 3.7 years.

Science

July 16 - 22, 2018 species

Engine Of Revolution Earth’s Species Are Now Going Extinct 1,000 Times Faster Than The Natural Rate

n ELIZABETH BOAKES AND DAVID REDDING

W

hen Sudan the white rhino was put down by his carers earlier this year, it confirmed the extinction of one of the savannah’s most iconic subspecies.

Despite decades of effort from conservationists, including a fake Tinder profile for the animal dubbed “the most eligible bachelor in the world”, Sudan proved an unwilling mate and died – the last male of his kind. His daughter and granddaughter remain – but, barring some miraculously successful IVF, it is only a matter of time.

The northern white rhino will surely be mourned, as would other stalwarts of picture books, documentaries and soft toy collections. But what about species of which of which we are less fond – or perhaps even entirely unaware?

Would we grieve for obscure frogs, bothersome beetles or unsightly fungi?

Extinction is, after all, inevitable in the natural world - some have even called it the “engine of evolution”. So should extinction matter to us?

First of all, there are strong practical arguments against biodiversity loss.

Variation, from individual genes to species, gives ecosystems resilience in the face of change. Ecosystems, in turn, hold the planet steady and provide services essential to human welfare.

Forests and wetlands prevent pollutants from entering our water supplies, mangroves provide coastal defence by reducing storm surges, and green spaces in urban areas lower citydwellers’ rates of mental illness.

A continued loss of biodiversity will disrupt these services even further.

Seen in this light, the environmental damage caused by resource extraction and the vast changes that humans have wrought on the landscape seem an extremely high risk. The world has never before experienced these disturbances all at the same time, and it is quite a gamble to assume that we can so damage our planet while at the same

time maintaining the seven billion humans that live on it.

Although the unregulated plundering of the Earth’s natural resources should certainly worry those brave enough to examine the evidence, it is worth specifying that extinction is an issue in its own right.

Some environmental damage can be reversed, some failing ecosystems can be revived. Extinction is irrevocably final.

Uneven losses Studies of threatened species indicate that, by looking at their characteristics, we can predict how likely a species is to become extinct.

Animals with larger bodies, for example, are more extinction-prone than those of smaller

23 07

extinction, because it is a “natural process”. First of all, so is death, but it does not follow that we meekly surrender to it (especially not prematurely or at the hands of another).

But secondly, fossil records show that current extinction levels are around 1,000 times the natural background rate.

They are exacerbated by habitat loss, hunting, climate change and the introduction of invasive species and diseases.

Amphibians seem particularly sensitive to environmental change, with estimated extinction rates up to 45,000 times their natural speed. Most of these extinctions are unrecorded, so we do not even know what species we are losing.

An incalculable cost stature – and the same holds true for But does it really matter that the world species at the top of the food chain.

For plants, growing epiphytically contains fewer types of frog? Let’s take (on another plant but not as a parasite) a hypothetical small, brown African leaves them at greater risk, as does frog that becomes extinct because toxic waste pollutes its stream. The frog has being late blooming.

This means that extinction does not never been described by science, so no occur randomly across an ecosystem, one is the wiser about its loss.

Putting aside disaster movie-level but disproportionately effects similar species that perform similar functions. ecosystem collapse as a result of Imagine a disease that only killed ongoing mass extinction, the frog’s intrinsic value is a matter of medical professionals – it would be far more Ecosystems opinion.

It evolved over millions devastating for society hold the of years to be adapted for than one which killed similar numbers of people planet steady its particular niche – to us, the authors, the loss of that at random. & provide perfectly balanced individuality This non-random services to makes the world a lesser place. pattern extends to the But it is easy to moralise evolutionary “tree-ofhuman about biodiversity when you life”. welfare don’t have to live alongside Some closely related it. One person’s marvel of groups of species are restricted to the same threatened nature might be another person’s locations (such as lemurs in torment – an orangutan raiding a poor Madagascar) or share vulnerable farmer’s crops, or a leopard snatching a characteristics (such as carnivores), shepherd’s livestock.

Pathogens are also part of life’s rich meaning that the evolutionary tree could lose entire branches rather than tapestry, but how many of us mourn the eradication of smallpox? an even scattering of leaves.

So how far should our aversion to Some species with few close relatives, such as the aye-aye or tuatara, extinction extend? We cannot answer are also at higher risk. Their loss this question – but like all good would disproportionately philosophical conundrums, it belongs affect the shape of the to everyone, to be debated in schools, tree, not to mention cafes, bars and marketplaces across the erasing their weird world.

We may not all agree, but extinction and wonderful natural history stories. The most is broadening its reach, so consensus regular counter argument contends and urgent action are needed if we that we should not worry about hope to control it.

24

excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend�

July 16 - 22, 2018

FOR REINFORCEMENT AND EXTENSION OF INFRASTRUCTURAL FRAMEWORKS

Extension of National Highways

Make in India

Digital India

Make in India is a national movement to give a boost to investment, encourage innovation, develop skills, protect intellectual property and give a boost to the construction sector. It envisages partnership between government and industries. The position of India has already improved from 142 to 130 in ease of doing business with an increment of 46 Percent in foreign direct investment (equity inflow) witnessed.

Digital India program is envisioned to bring about an information revolution in the country.

Through this program, all villages of India will get connected to modern technology and reap its benefits. One lakh 11 thousand kms of optical fiber lines have been laid to connect the Gram Panchayats till April 2016 and about 82 percent people have been connected with communication services in India.

Make in India is a movement which ignites the flame of development and boosts talent, skill and innovative zeal of 125 crore Indians.

I dream of such a digital India where technology makes the government systems transparent and brings a positive change in the life of the people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The pace of work in construction of highways has been speeded up.

Under this scheme, a movement has been initiated to widen and extend all the national highways. Since May 2014, 12,155 kilometers of national highways have been constructed.

In financial year 201516, 15000 kilometers of national highways are targeted.

Highways are the lifeline for development of India. It enlightens the progress of India by increasing the connectivity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

July 16 - 22, 2018

excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend�

Schemes FOR GOOD ADMINISTRATION Abolition of Interview for Appointment up to Class 3 Employees In a bid to eradicate corruption in the employment process of junior government employees the government has decided appointment of Class 3 employees will be based only on educational qualifications and no interview will be conducted. This will bring impartiality and transparency in the recruitment processes. 14 states have embraced this policy made effective from January 2016.

For me reform means those policies which can change the life of the common man.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission is an endeavor to make our rural areas long lasting socially, economically and physically.

This mission has the commitment to make balanced and long term regional development by providing economical, social and infrastructural facilities in rural areas. In three years, 300 Rurban clusters are projected to be developed with an investment of Rs. 5100 crore.

Redressal of Public Grievances The government is using social media as an effective tool for quick redressal of public grievances. CPGRAM has been developed as a unique technique through which grievances will be redressed by the concerned ministries or the departments within 60 days. In CPGRAM, during February 2014 to June 2016, a total of more than 12 lakh complaints were received out which 11 lakh complaints were resolved successfully.

There should be superior arrangement for hearing the complaints of the common man and response to that should be received within the prescribed time frame.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Hriday This is a scheme to ensure sustainable development of our heritage places.

It will be implemented in Ajmer, Amravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Vellankaani and Warangal. Rs. 500 crore have been spent in above mentioned cities for water supply, road construction, sanitation, drainage, garbage management, footpath, street light, tourist facilities, electricity and other arrangements.

25

Recognition to Self-Attestation for Certificates To make the self attestation process simple the applicant can now submit his application by self-attesting the certificates

An important issue connected with the governance is the mutual trust between citizens and government. We have started in this direction by having a trust on the citizen by eliminating the various requirements of certification of the signatures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Jeevan Praman Government pensioners are required to submit life certificate every year because of which old people had to face a lot of difficulties.

Now the process has been made easy by introduction of Aadhaar number based digital certificates. Digital Certificate can be sent from any place online and pensioners need not to present themselves in the bank. So far, 16 lakh 48 thousand digital life certificates have been registered under this scheme.

It is our thought – Soul of village, facility of city. Soul of village should remain there and with that best facilities of the cities should be available in the village.

Our cities are the centres of prosperous past and heritage. We have to give attention towards this part of our history and attract the world towards it.

Technology is the center of development. It touches all and becomes an important medium in the progress of the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Continue in next issue

26

Education & More

Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat

National Digital Library

Union HRD Minister dedicates the National Digital Library of India to the Nation

U

n ssb bureau

nion Human Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar launched the National Digital

Library, a repository of millions of academic texts from around the world which will be open for all to use. The digital library at present hosts 17 million-plus items in 200plus languages from more than 170

golden booker

‘The English Patient’ Wins The Award The Golden Booker was held this year to mark 50 successful years of the much coveted literary prize

S

n ssb bureau

ri Lankan-born Canadian poet, essayist and novelist Michael Ondaatje’s bestselling novel “The English Patient” which moves between a nurse tending a horribly burned man in an Italian villa at the end of the second world war and a tragic love affair from his past has been crowned best winner of the Booker prize of the last 50 years.

“The English Patient” won the Booker in 1992 and was made into a 1996 movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche that won nine Academy Awards.

It beat four other novels in an online poll that drew 9,000 votes in all. Organizers didn’t give a breakdown of votes for the books,

each of which represented one of five decades.

A panel of judges selected five books from among the 51 winners of the Booker, a prize that has boosted the careers of writers such as Ian McEwan, Arundhati Roy and Kazuo Ishiguro.

From 1970s, The Observer’s Robert McCrum chose VS Naipaul’s “In a Free State”; poet Lemn Sissay, reading

July 16 - 22, 2018

HRD Ministry, with work on it starting in early 2015. A beta-version of the portal was launched last year and is being used by millions of users already since, institutions. but an official announcement was NDL is the Single Window made recently.

“Earlier this digital library Platform that collects and collates was limited to schools and other metadata from premier learning educational institutes only but we institutions in India and abroad, are breaking that barrier now. This as well as other relevant sources. will be open to all. On it more than It is a digital repository containing 1.7 lakh books available, not just in textbooks, articles, videos, audio text but in form books, lectures, of audiobooks simulations, well. We are fiction and all The digital library at as dedicating this other kinds of treasure to the learning media. present hosts 17 nation. This is The objective million-plus items in free of cost now of NDL is to and will remain make digital 200-plus languages free of cost,” educational Javadekar told resources media during the available to all official launch. citizens of the country to empower, At present there are more than inspire and encourage learning.

30 lakh users of the portal which It has been built by the Indian include schools, higher learning Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, institutions and others. under a project given it by the the titles from the 1980s, went for Penelope Lively’s “Moon Tiger”; novelist Kamila Shamsie’s selection from the 1990s was “The English Patient”; Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall was nominated as the best of the 2000s by broadcaster Simon Mayo, and George Saunders’ “Lincoln in the Bardo” topped poet Hollie McNish’s reading of the 2010s Booker winners.

Novelists react Ondaatje said he did not believe “for a second” that his book was the best. He paid tribute to the late “The English Patient” film director, Anthony Minghella, “who I suspect had something to do with the result of this vote.” Novelist Kamila Shamsie, one of the judges, said Ondaatje’s book combined “extraordinary” language, a plot tinged with mystery and compelling characters, including a Canadian nurse, an Indian bomb-disposal expert, a thief-turned-spy and an aristocratic Hungarian archaeologist.

Shamsie said Ondaatje’s novel,

published at a time when “borders seemed much more assured,” had a different resonance in the current climate, amid “anxieties about borders and anxiety about migrants and other people.”

“We’ve all read lots of books about the Second World War. We think of it, with good reason, as the good war,” she said. “And I think it is really brave and remarkable the way he goes into that story and says war is trauma, and war is about separating people by nations when there are so many other reasons for them to be together,” she added.

Founded in 1969, the Man Booker prize was originally open to British, Irish and Commonwealth writers, but eligibility was expanded in 2014 to all English-language novelists.

He is one of only two authors whose work has won the Booker Prize and an Oscar, and his latest novel, “Warlight”, has just been published by Jonathan Cape.

Language & More

July 16 - 22, 2018 Hindi words

27 07

YUVA PURASKAR

A Good Year For Indian Languages India has put forward the proposal to add Hindi language to the official list of languages used in the United Nations Nikita Sanyal

D

id you know that Hindi is the fourth most spoken language in the world? The language has a whopping 295 million native speakers.

Thus, the fact that a lot of Indian words are being recognized by the Oxford Dictionary hardly comes as a surprise.

India also consists of a huge number of Englishspeaking citizens. However, it is still majorly outnumbered by individuals who use the local languages. These languages are used in both online and offline communication. As far as internet languages are concerned, Hindi has been exhibiting some pretty spectacular growth rates. India has even put forward the proposal to add Hindi language to the official list of languages used in the United Nations. Although it still awaits approval, if the proposal is accepted in the UN, Hindi will soon be an essential diplomatic language.

Every year, Oxford Dictionaries announce various ‘Words of The Year’ in different categories, like Most Creative, Most Outrageous, Most Useful, etc. In 2017, however, Oxford Dictionaries decided to have a ‘Hindi word of the Year’ category. Consequently, they invited native speakers of the language to help select a word that accurately portrays the viewpoint, purpose, and issues of the year. The process of selection took numerous weeks.

Oxford Dictionaries studied the trends of previous years and also took into consideration the suggestions made by the public. Furthermore, they appointed an advisory panel of linguistic experts for the purpose of consultation.

Finally, the Oxford Dictionaries team in India selected their first ever Hindi Word of the Year - Aadhaar. Oxford Dictionaries announced this news on 27th of January of this year. The other words that gave a tough competition to Aadhaar included Yoga, Notebandi, Bahubali, Vikaas, as they too reflect the

Here is the list of the words Abba, achcha, anna, bachcha, bada din, bada, bapu, bas, bhindi, chacha, chakka jam, chamcha, chaudhuri, chhi-chhi, chup, dadagiri, desh, devi, didi, diya, dum, funda, gosht, gulab jamun, gully, haat, Jai, Jhuggi, Ji, jugaad, keema, kund, maha, mata, mirch masala, mirch, nagar, nai, namkeen, natak, nivas, sevak, sevika, surya namaskar, tappa, timepass, udyog, vada, ek dum, speed breaker, blank call, hydel, lunch home.

social, political, cultural and economic scenario of India in 2017.

Now a lot of people questioned the logic behind this decision. In what ways does the word Aadhaar represent India and it’s situation? So here’s a brief explanation that would help people understand the word and its importance: Aadhaar is quite a common word that we have heard around us a lot many times. In no way is it a new word. In fact, it’s origin can be traced back to Sanskrit language. However, the word gained popularity when it became the diminutive term for Unique Identification Number (UIN) that was established by the government in

2010. The term became the centre of attention in 2017, when Modi government made it mandatory for the citizens to link their Aadhaar numbers to their sim cards and bank accounts. Thus Aadhaar Card became a wellknown and well-used term all around the country. As far as the other shortlisted words are concerned, Oxford Dictionaries received around 900 submissions, most of which were related to the various political events that took place in the country. Thus, one of the shortlisted words was Notebandi, which signified the demonetization of certain banknotes in India. While this occurred in 2016, its effects were felt to a great extent in the following year.

Vikas was a popular word for 2017.

In its literal sense, it means growth and development. Not only that, Vikas is also a popular name for boys in India. Thus, seeing the government’s development and improvement-centred efforts, the word was shortlisted for Hindi Word of the Year.

Another shortlisted word was Bahubali. Although the literal meaning of the term is a person who can accomplish anything with courage and physical strength, it can also refer to a politically powerful individual.

The word gained national attention when the fantasy-action feature film, Bahubali was released in India in 2017.

It turned out to be a huge hit and went on to be the country’s highest grossing film. Lastly, two other words - Yoga and Swachh were stiff competitors as well. Swachh means clean and neat. It was also the keyword of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which aimed at making India clean and hygienic by 2nd October of 2019.

The year 2017 not only saw the first ‘Hindi Word of the Year’, but also the inclusion of 70 more Indian words in the dictionary. These words come from various Indian languages like Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu and more.

Sahitya Akademi Invites Books For Yuva Puraskar 2019 The Award is to encourage young writers writing in Indian Languages

I

n SSB BUREAU

ndia’s national academy of letters, the Sahitya Akademi, is inviting books for its prestigious Yuva Puraskar award for 2019, from publishers and “young Indian authors of the age of 35 and below” in its recognized 24 languages.

The applicant authors should be 35 or below on January 1, 2019 and the books should be submitted along with the attested copy of date of birth certificate, the Akademi said in a statement.

The last date of applying is August 20.

More information about the submission is available online at www.sahitya-akademi.gov. in.

Sahitya Akademi introduced Yuva Puraskar in 2011 to encourage young writers, below 35 years of age, writing in Indian languages.

These awards are presented at an annual ceremony and comprise an amount of Rs 50,000, a copper plaque and a citation.

Established in 1954 by the Indian government, Sahitya Akademi is India’s premier literary institution, promoting and preserving literature in 24 languages.

28

Sports

FIFA

July 16 - 22, 2018

201 8

Team Work Makes The Dream Work

FIFA world cup has always been dominated by big teams but the status quo changed in 2018

Gitanjali Chettri

T

he 2018 world ssi, cup in Russia Me a l e in n has been one Lio Argent rough and quirky journey. It seemed to be the most volatile and unprecedented tournaments ever.

From defending champions Germany’s dreadful performance in the group stage to the home team shocking run in the knock out stage. The ride for all 32 teams this world cup was not less than a nightmare.

For the very first time in the history of world cup, the big teams like Germany, Brazil and Argentina could not make up till the last four. They are calling it as a bad luck playing in the arena of ‘Kazan Graveyards of the Greats’ as all these three teams fell out on the same venue and eventually none came out with the light of success.

There is no, one specific reason as to why these teams are being ejected within no time.

Each side had its own problems and errors.

Germany simply played ridiculous, slow and clumsy lacking focal point in attack.

Their attack lacked

penetration and defence wobbled for which Germans led a huge downfall, where about Argentina’s exit hardly came as a surprise, a poor team who faced so much difficulty to even qualify for the world cup, Lionel Messi’s individual brilliance has for long masked the team’s failures. But Brazil’s defeat from Belgium perhaps bewildered everyone, Brazilian team really lost a massive chance.

Within every world cup are the tales of

individual stars and standouts. The competition has been on extent high for the young players on the rise.

Even though they have carved out names for themselves in the club level, it’s not comparatively necessary that they ultimately be always a star when they represent their nation; like the Argentine star, Lionel Messi does not need a Ne ym world cup trophy to e Bra r, zil validate his greatness.

The goals, assists, champion’s crowns, awards and breathtaking highlights show ample evidence on his 13 years of work. Although his left from world cup 2018 may be his last world cup his prime time, that’s a tough narrative to swallow but he already won the heart of million fans, his talent cannot be just measured by a world cup. If Messi is the best player in the world then Cristiano Ronaldo is barely a step behind, soccer fans of modern era don’t realize how good they have it watching two greatest players perform weekly in clubs against each other.

Ronaldo obliterates defenders with a combination of cunning and power.

Wherein Neymar representing Brazil, had a full hope by his fans to win. After all, Neymar had a good comeback

o,

onald ano R Cristi Portugal

from his major injury from the last world cup, besides physical injury Neymar faced a burden of expectation nonetheless being a star player does not to always come out with the bigger picture, every human being makes mistake so as the stars.

The world cup is often about new, unheard of heroes, not the established stars. Unfortunately, with the exposure of soccer around the globe, the star player are always under pressure before the beginning of world cup itself.

Meanwhile, it reflects how this world cup has a lot of solidity sides. Those fans now have made the life difficult for the big

The world cup is often about new, unheard of heroes, not the established stars teams, thus it led to failing move ahead due to lack of quality and defending and this is where real intrigues lies. The fact is so many big teams failed to win regardless of the individual differences.

This world cup went on missing big nations but still, this world cup proved to be one of the best world cup ever even after facing shocking tragedies.

FIFA world cup has always been dominated by big teams but the status quo has changed so far in 2018. There is some kind of anti-incumbency going on with big teams getting eliminated by so-called smaller oppositions.

This world cup has demonstrated and showed that there has been a power shift. Not in terms of player generation but in terms of approaching bigger tournaments approaching with emphasis given mostly on total team play rather than individual stars and excellence. Though it cheers for star players and their downfall along with the team, at the end of the day only winners is what the people remember.

Entertainment

July 16 - 22, 2018

29 07

MOHAMMED RAFI

The Immortal & A True Legend With a voice that the Gods did not give to angels, Rafi Sahab was the master of all trades! n Chehak Nasa

you, and you become him.”

Rafi was born on December t is clichéd to say that music is 24, 1924, in Kotla, a village near timeless, but when you listen to Amritsar. Singing in English became Mohammed Rafi’s songs, you one of his greatest triumphs, know that, cliché or not, it is true! especially since the language was One of the greatest playback singers a stumbling block throughout his born in India, Mohammed life. He was hesitant when music Rafi is considered no composer Shanker Jaikishan less than a genius approached him to sing when it comes to an English number. varied styles of A two-day public He convinced Rafi to music. He is, take up the offer. The holiday was indeed, the best singer made a valiant announced by the effort to overcome singer of all times. his fear and hence, Government of He explored perfected his diction India in his every music genre for the language. It under the sky, also encouraged him to honour from Qawaalis to test his vocals in other Bhajans and Ghazals foreign languages such to Romantic songs, he as Persian, Creole and Dutch. aced them all. He sang rock-n-roll Once an Iranian couple came to with such zing. And despite being a India and wanted Rafi Sahab to sing teetotaler, he has, arguably the finest an Iranian song. He sang the song liquor songs in Hindi Cinema. As with such fluency as it was his own Chabilall says, “When Rafi sings a mother tongue, leaving the couple dance song, you dance. When he Spellbound. sings a sad song, you cry. When he In his biography, Mohammed sings a romantic song, women drool. Rafi: Golden Voice of the Silver Screen, Rafi gets inside of you, he becomes Sujata Dev writes about how the

I

• He sang almost 7500 songs and worked with more than 200 music composers and almost 300 lyricists.

• He won 6 Filmfare awards, 2 national awards and in 1967 he was honored with the prestigious Padma Shri award.

A Quick Look At His Life

• He made his acting debut in 1947 in Shaukat Rizvi’s Jugnu after which he acted in two others.

• Rafi was affectionately called ‘Pheeko’ by his relatives and friends in his young age.

• His most favorite hobby was Kite flying.

singer would turn down requests for signing autographs when his fame grew. . “He began practicing his signature diligently and when Ammi (mother) enquired why he was wasting so much paper, he told her that he did not want to disappoint his fans and hence, was learning to sign his name in English,” Rafi’s son, Shahid, told Dev. “Soon he began signing autographs in English and enjoyed doing so. It came as a great compliment for all his efforts when a journalist mentioned that he had the best signature in the industry.”

Rafi was a simple and a God fearing man. His story lacks glamour. In an industry where controversies come courting, he always personified humanity. He was not fussy about the amount of fee paid to him for the recordings.

Whatever was given to him, he accepted with humility. He sang many songs for which he charged only one rupee. Writer Salim Khan once said that any compliment directed towards Rafi would be deflected by the singer with his hands pointing to the heavens, acknowledging the Almighty’s grace on him. Javed Akhtar said he was what “Michelangelo is to a

sculpture”.

Rafiji was kind and compassionate to his fellow human beings and gave an amount of 88,000 to charity just before his death. He used to send a money order to his neighboring widow anonymously. After Rafi’s death, when the money stopped coming, the widow went to the post office and enquired. It was only then she discovered who the sender of the money was. It is difficult to decide “Rafi Sahab Insaan bade the ya Kalakaar.”

On july 31st, 1980, Rafi Sahab left us all too soon. His funeral was joined by 10,000 mourning fans who accompanied him till the Juhu Muslim Cemetery where his mortal remains were laid to rest. It rained heavily that day as if the Gods were delighted to finally have Rafi Sahab sing for themselves. A twoday public holiday was announced by the Government of India in his honour. His impact on the Hindi film industry and his contribution to the cinema cannot be outnumbered in a thousand words.

Even after 38 years of his death, he lives on eternally. His songs are just as popular as they were during his lifetime.

30

Literature

July 16 - 22, 2018

story - 1

True Friends Love You Anyway

L

Lord Krishna and Sudama were childhood friends. While Krishna thrived and prospered, Sudama didn’t. He lead the life of a poor Brahmin man, living in a small hut with his wife and kids. Most days, the kids wouldn’t even get enough to eat from what Sudama got as alms.

One day, his wife suggested that he go and ask his friend Krishna for help.

Sudama was reluctant to seek favors, but he also didn’t want his kids to suffer. So his wife borrows some rice from the neighbors to make some rice snacks that Krishna liked, and gave it to Sudama to take it to his friend. Sudama took it and set out to Dwaraka. He was amazed at the gold that was used to build the city. He reached the palace gates and was obstructed by the guards, who judged him by his torn dhoti and poor appearance.

Sudama requested the guards to at least inform Krishna that his

friend Sudama has come to meet him. The guard, although reluctant, goes and informs the lord. On hearing that Sudama was here, Krishna stops doing whatever he was doing and runs barefoot to meet his childhood friend.

Krishna hugs Sudama welcomes him to his abode and treats him with utmost love and respect. Sudama, ashamed of the poor man’s rice snacks he got for Krishna, tries to hide it. But the all-knowing Krishna asks Sudama for his gift and eats his favorite rice snacks that his friend brought for him.

Krishna and his friend spend time laughing and talking about their childhood but Sudama, overwhelmed by the kindness and compassion showed by his friend, is unable to ask Krishna for help. When he returns home, Sudama finds

that his hut has been replaced by a huge mansion and his wife and kids are dressed in fine clothes. Sudama realized how lucky he was to have a true friend like Krishna. He didn’t even ask, but Krishna knew what Sudama wanted and gave it to him.

Moral: True friends do not distinguish between rich and poor.

They are always there for you when you need them.

story - 2

The Young Crab And His Mother

O

One day, a young crab and his mother were on the beach, spending some time together. The young crab gets up to move, but it can only walk sideways. His mother scolds him for walking sideways and asks him to walk forward by pointing his toes out front.

The young crab responds, “I would like to walk forward mom, but I do not know how to”.

Hearing this, his mom gets up to show him how, but even she is unable to bend her knees forward.

She realizes that she was being unfair, apologizes sheepishly, and sits back in the sand.

Moral: Don’t condemn someone for not doing something that you yourself are unable to do.

Events

July 16-22, 2018

events & more...

ACROSS 2. The world’s first digital art museum was opened at.

5. Defence ministry approves how many baffle shooting ranges for Indian Army?

12. Film and TV institute of India is located at 13. Which telecom operator unveils the internet telephony service ‘Wings’?

15. Name of the bank which becomes the Most valuable bank in Emerging Market outside China.

18. Durand Cup is associated with the game of?

19. The first ever FIFA (originally called FIFA International Soccer) was released in which year?

20. Heavy Water Project (Talcher) and Fertilizer plant (Paradeep) are famous industries of .....

Cult Hauz Khas, New Delhi For Google Location Cult Sector 29, Gurugram For Google Location Sun, 29 Jul, 5:30AM- 8:00AM

SSB crossword no. 31

events

CULT 10K WITH MILIND SOMAN Venue

SOLUTION of crossword no.30

Khelacademy table tennis tournament Venue : Spuddy Badminton Academy Vidhayak Lane, Near PVVNL Electricity Bill Centre, Makanpur, Indirapuram, Makanpur, Nyay Khand I, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad Sun, 22 Jul 11:00AM - 6:00PM

Get Ready For A Laughter Riot Venue Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi July 29, Time: 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Rain in Paris Painting Party

31

1. Sharp 2. Airtel 3. Wimax 4. Bangladesh 5. Transmitter 6. Nokia 1100 7. Cells 8. TDMA 9. Infrared 10. Zinc

11. Kenya 12. FDD 13. IBM 14. Punjab 15. AT&T 16. UMTS 17. 1973 18. Handoff 19. 64 Users 20. Femtocell

Venue : Dunkin Donuts SN K3 A, Cyber Hub, Phase 2, DLF Cyber City, DLF Cyber City, DLF Phase 2, Sector 24, Gurugram Sun, 22 Jul 5:00PM - 7:00PM solution of sudoku-30

DOWN 1. Golf player Vijay Singh belongs to which country?

3. First Afghan War took place in 4. Which country launched the new visas to Indian scientists?

6. This plans to add 40 million WiFi users in India by 2019.

7. Who is the legendary cover star for the Icon Edition of FIFA 18?

8. This company signs MoU with Tamil Nadu for greenfield plant to boost the State’s tyre manufacturing capacity.

9. Name of the company who partners with Ukraine’s Zorya to revamp Warship Turbines.

10. Garampani sanctuary is located at?

11. The First BS-VI engine certificate was released by.

14. Which company has promoted its head of digital business Rajan Kohli as a president?

16. Russia will build two nuclear power units in 17. Recently, __ and BBMP signed a MoU for the infrastructure project.

sudoku-31

The Rant of The Pant:Sorabh Pant

Venue : Ruin Pub By Imperfecto Hudco Place, Andrews Ganj Extension, Andrews Ganj, New Delhi Sun, 22 Jul 6:00PM - 8:00PM

on the lighter side by DHIR

Please mail your solution to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712, One Lucky Winner will win Cash Prize of Rs 500/-. Look for the Solution in the Next Issue of SSB

32

POSTAL REGISTRATION NO. DL(W)10/2240/2017-19

Newsmakers

July 16 - 22, 2018

Faiz Mohammed

Dubai Honours For ‘Green Message’

Shridhar Chillal

Making Nails Count Indian Guinness World Record holder for cutting fingernails after 66 years

To combat the excess wastage, he distributed the free tote bags in place of plastic ones

T

he Dubai Municipality has honoured a 10-year-old Indian expat who turned his love for the Fifa World cup into an innovative way to reduce plastic bag waste. Using his own Eid money, Faiz Mohammed distributed hand-decorated reusable bags to a number of groceries near his home in Karama. To combat the excess wastage, he distributed the free tote bags in place of plastic ones.

Abdul majeed Abdul aziz Saifaie,

Director of Dubai’s Waste Management Department, named the youngster one of the Dubai Municipality’s Sustainability Ambassadors. The Sustainability Ambassador initiative was launched in 2013 with a view to train students on how to carry out lectures and workshops on various environmental topics. “The fact that this boy didn’t use that Eid money to buy a ball, toy, something for himself, is commendable. He has a good hobby.

If his family and community keep encouraging that, he will have a good future and so will the environment,” Saifaie said.

“I will keep urging friends, family and shop workers about the importance of using reusable bags in place of plastic ones,” Faiz said.

unsung hero Dr Nachiappnan and Shanthi

POWER COUPLE They observed the issues faced by the people and wondered if there was anything they could do to help them

E

S

hridhar Chillal, an octogenarian from India, performed an ordinary chore that he had not done in the last 66 years - cut his fingernails the longest in the world.

Chillal, also a Guinness World Record holder, did not cut the fingernails on his left hand since 1952 and had the longest fingernails in the world. But now at age 82, he finally cut his nails.

It is estimated that the nails

ven with their dream job and a comfortable life in USA, this couple from Tamil Nadu didn’t forget its roots.

Dr Nachiappnan Narayanan and his wife shanti who live in New Jersey, USA arean excellent example of how one helps those in needs and inspire several lives at once!

Dr Nachi said, “I grew up in Kandramanickam and studied at the local high school. In 1986, I was selected by the Rotary International for the Freedom from Hunger scholarship to pursue a Master’s Degree at the University of Illinois, USA. I completed my PhD and worked with Virginia Tech and HSBC for 15 years. Later, I started my own business at the Montessori academy with my wife, Shanthi.”

During their trips they observed the issues faced by the people and wondered if there was anything they could do to help them. “Rather than asking what the country/village had done for me, I wanted to ask what I have done for the country/village. And I started working on new and innovative projects that we could

have a combined length of 909.6 centimetres. Chillal’s longest single nail is his thumbnail, measuring 197.8 centimetres.

He had made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2016 for having the ‘Longest Fingernails on a Single Hand Ever’.

Chillal, from Pune, had requested that his cut nails be immortalised in a museum.

Ripley’s had flown Chillal from India to the United States to cut his nails and forever memorialise them in a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum.

take up in a cluster of villages.” Dr Nachi told.

Many villages in Tamil Nadu face severe power cuts but the state has abundant sunshine hence, the installation of solar plants was the most obvious solution to overcome this issue.

“We started helping in a small way such as building bus shelters, providing a building for the office of the electricity board, conducting eye camps and several temple projects, then the solar project came to my mind. With the availability of abundant sunlight and frequent power cuts, the project fit my objective of innovation, and we started a Trust called the Solar Village Foundation (SVF) in India.”

The couple, along with other donors of the Trust began installing solar lights and solar power plants at temples. So far, the couple has successfully installed 25 solar street lights and two solar power plants and has even conducted camps with solar dealers and universities to discuss the benefits of solar energy with local villagers. With time and more support, they hope to empower more villages in Tamil Nadu with solar energy. The next project on their agenda is a Solar Smart Class which includes one LCD with educational content, training for teachers and the maintenance of the class for five years.

RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561, Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 Volume - 2, Issue - 31 Printed by Monika Jain, Published by Monika Jain on behalf of SULABH SANITATION MISSION FOUNDATION and Printed at The Indian Express Ltd., A-8, Sector-7, NOIDA (U.P.) and Published from RZ 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam-Dabri Road, New Delhi – 110 045. Editor Monika Jain