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Clarion Call In Chicago
“Sisters and brothers of America”...and then shouts of applause caught the entire World’s First Parliament of Religions, Chicago, in a great wave of enthusiasm
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swastika tripathi
eptember 11, 1893 – a date which became one of the great epoch-making events in the pages of world history. It’s been a century and a quarter (125 years) to that day, but its memories still remain afresh in the minds of people, not only in India but across the globe. This very day in Chicago, just with a few words at the World’s first Parliament of Religions, a young Indian won over the world and showed it the power of oneness. The young man was Swami Vivekananda. As
he arose to address the distinguished, critical and highly intellectual gathering, his face glowed, his eyes surveyed in a sweep the huge assembly before him, and the entire audience grew intent. Then, he began: “Sisters and Brothers of America,” And before he could utter another word, the whole Parliament was caught up in a great wave of enthusiasm as 7,000 people rose to their feet in tribute with applause. Everyone was cheering, cheering, cheering! A philosopher, an orator, an artist, and a widelytravelled monk, Swami Vivekananda is a name to
Vol - 2 | Issue - 39 | Sep 10 - 16, 2018 | Price ` 5/-
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Cover Story
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Quick Glance The world remembers Swami Vivekananda for his stellar 1893 speech It’s been 125 years to his speech, but it remains intact with the world His representation of Hinduism and Indian philosophy raised India to a new high
reckon with, not just for introducing Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world but also for his belief that noblest ideas can be brought “to the doorstep of even the poorest and the meanest”. The world remembers him for his stellar speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893. He spoke deeply on a number of factors which are extremely relevant to the issues we face in the contemporary world, especially in the country. He not only spoke at length about religious tolerance but also about promoting liberal sentiments among people. Herald of Indian Philosophy There are many reasons that mark the event as the herald of Hinduism and Indian philosophy on the world platform. Even today, the youth take pride in the fact that the young sage had received a two-minute standing ovation from the dignitaries present in the Chicago Convention. And the speech instantly turned the humble Indian into the ‘most popular and influential man in the parliament’. When Swami Vivekananda stood in the Parliament of Religions, he talked about intolerance and religion and the importance of ending fanaticism in all forms. In his address, Vivekananda quoted from the Bhagavad Gita and described Hinduism’s messages of faith and tolerance. He called on the world’s
Swami Vivekananda along with other delegates at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago on the occasion of the World Fair. He spoke last on the first day
faithful to fight against “sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism.” “Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilisation, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time has come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal,” he
“I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism”
had spoken. In his stunning speeches, and his ‘Paper on Hinduism’, Vivekananda gave coherence and unity to the bewildering number of sects and beliefs that through untold ages have gathered and flowered under the name of Hinduism. Perhaps, in those moments, not only was Hinduism re-created, but a new religion was given its first enunciation in the West – a religion, both, fulfilling the past and lighting up the future. His epoch-making representation of Hinduism and Indian philosophy raised India not only in the estimation of the West, but in its own estimation as well. Narendranath Datta to Swami Swami Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta on January 12, 1863, in a middle-class Bengali family of Calcutta (now Kolkata, West Bengal). Naren, as he was fondly called, grew up to be a youth of great charm and intelligence. In a pre-independent India hidebound by communal disharmony and sectarianism, this blithe spirit soared above the rest to become the manifestation of freedom – the ‘summum bonum’ of human life. In 1881, Naren first met the noted Hindu mystic and teacher Ramakrishna Paramahansa. After his father Vishwanath Datta died in 1884, Ramakrishna became his spiritual
focus. His devotion to Ramakrishna grew, and in 1886 Datta made formal vows as a Hindu monk, taking the new name of ‘Swami Vivekananda’. Journey to the West In 1888, Vivekananda left monastic life for one as a wandering monk. He travelled widely until 1893. During these years, he witnessed how India’s underprivileged masses lived in abject poverty. He came to believe it was his mission in life to uplift the poor through spiritual and practical education. Vivekananda started his journey to the West on May 31, 1893, and visited several cities in Japan (including Nagasaki, Kobe, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo), China and Canada en route to the United States. He reached Chicago on July 30, 1893, where the Parliament of Religions took place. 1893 & 2018 What Vivekananda spoke about in his then address, holds more relevance today than ever before. The faith’s underlying message, in 1893 and 2018, is unity and tolerance. In his famous speech, Vivekananda, who is regarded by many as more of a social reformer than a religious leader, spoke of the fact that India has sheltered “the remnants of the Israelites who came to South
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motivation
Takeaways From The Much-Talked-About Speech India had welcomed one and all irrespective of their race, religion, or creed
The importance of patriotism
During the speech, Vivekananda discussed how India had been a shelter and refuge for people shunned over centuries in their own homelands as well as for ones who were looking for a better life. He waxed eloquent on how India had welcomed one and all irrespective of their race, religion, or creed. In fact, it is this multicultural heritage that has made India such a diverse country. Vivekananda’s pride in this aspect of history is something that we can learn from and exercise it in our life.
Love of all religions
Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the spiritual mentor of Swami Vivekananda, in a rare photograph taken at Kolkata
India seeking refugee from Roman tyranny, and remnants of the grand Zoroastrian nation”. As the refugee crisis, be it Mexicans in the United States or Rohingyas in Myanmar, is worsening and countries are forced to take sides, Swami Vivekananda presented an India “which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the Earth”. Another common message, then and now, is of dharma-righteousness for its own sake. With Indians debating the rise of religious intolerance in the country, Vivekananda had said that he was “proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance”. “We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true,” he had said. Following his speech, an American journalist had commented: “Vivekananda’s address
before the parliament was broad as the heavens above us, embracing the best in all religions, as the ultimate universal religion -- charity to all mankind, good works for the love of God, not for fear of punishment or hope of reward.” Much Has Changed For Indian immigrants, much has changed in Chicago since 1893. Over a century ago, Vivekananda spent a night shivering in a railway yard before a Good Samaritan took him in. He cut an exotic figure in his flowing robes, with passersby pulling at his saffron turban as he walked on the streets. At the Parliament, Americans heard a Hindu monk speak on behalf of his religion for the first time. Today, Chicago and its suburbs have more than a dozen expansive Hindu temples. Discourses by the likes of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev attract packed audiences. An inspiring spiritual and social
Vivekananda discussed how people of different religious beliefs and faiths needed to maintain their separate entities and how the country itself needed to assimilate all these people and forge a peaceful entity that was growing in an organic manner. This rings true much more than anything else in this day and age when people are being gunned down for voicing their opinions. It is relevant in this era when there is a general disapproval for the other’s views and beliefs.
Analysing religions
One of the high points of his speech was when he described how people of different faiths of his time were happy in their own bubble – how they considered it to be-all and end-all. In his speech, he thanked the USA for its efforts to break down those barriers and create a greater understanding of different religions of the world. This is applicable even now leader, Vivekananda has left an indelible mark in history with his teachings, which are studied everywhere in India and abroad. The immortal soul passed away on the
since most of the times we hate a religion or certain parts of the same just because we don’t know much or anything about it, let alone understand it. This surely needs to change. We need to know about things before we can make a judgment as such.
Being acquainted with science
During his speech, Vivekananda discussed how Vedas have proven that there was no time when there was no creation and how the same thing has been proven by science that states that the aggregate of cosmic energy is always the same. This shows how important it is to broaden your horizons and keep learning so that you are able to establish a rational connection to your religious beliefs, which appear to be baseless when not backed up by proper logic.
Why are images needed?
One of the biggest criticisms levelled at anyone’s religion is how he or she always has some images in mind. Well, Vivekananda justifies such practices by stating that it is this sense of association that allows them to focus on hand while knowing fully well that the image does not represent God or omnipotence in any way. While people who feel that religion and God are tools of the weak might not agree with such an assertion they do need to acknowledge the fact that they should understand others’ points of views as well. There needs to be understanding and compassion at the highest possible level. 4th of July, 1902, at the young age of 39, after suffering an enormous number of ailments in his brief life spent tirelessly in the service of man and God.
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speeches
Swami Vivekananda’s Memorable Addresses Excerpts from his lectures during the World Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 1893
Response to Welcome September 11, 1893
“I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth”
Sisters and Brothers of America, It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world. I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects. My thanks also to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honour of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the
persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, and which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which people take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee. The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach them; all are struggling through paths which in the end lead to Me. Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.
Why We Disagree September 11, 1893
I am a Hindu. I am sitting in my own little well and thinking that the whole world is my little well. The Christians sit in their little well and think the whole world is their well. The Muslims sit in their little well and think that is the whole world. I have to thank you of America for the great attempt you are making to break down the barriers of this little world of ours, and hope that, in the future, the Lord will help you to accomplish your purpose.
Paper on Hinduism September 19, 1893
…Sect after sect arose in India and seemed to shake the religion of the Vedas to its very foundations, but like the
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“Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. Without it human society would be far more advanced” waters of the sea-shore in a tremendous earthquake it receded only for a while, only to return in an allabsorbing Hood, a thousand times more vigorous, and when the tumult of the rush was over, these sects were all sucked in, absorbed and assimilated into the immense body of the mother faith. From the high spiritual flights of the Vedanta philosophy, of which the latest discoveries of science seem like echoes, to the low ideas of idolatry with its multifarious mythology, the agnosticism of the Buddhists and the atheism of the Jains, each and all have a place in the Hindu’s religion… … This, brethren, is a short sketch of the religious ideas of the Hindus. The Hindu may have failed to carry out all his plans, but if there is ever to be a universal religion, it must be one which will have no location in place or time; which will be infinite like the God it will preach, and whose sun will shine upon the followers of Krishna and of Christ, on saints and sinners alike; which will not be Brahminic or Buddhistic, Christian or Mohammedan, but the sum total of all these, and still have infinite space for development; which in its catholicity will embrace in infinite arms, and find a place for every human being – from the lowest grovelling savage, not far removed from the brute, to the highest man towering by the virtues of his head and heart almost above humanity, making society stand in awe of him and doubt his human nature. It will be a religion which will have no place for persecution or intolerance in its polity, which will recognise divinity in every man and woman, and whose whole scope, whose whole force, will be centered in aiding humanity to realize its own true, divine nature.
teachings of the Buddha, India worships him as God incarnate on earth. You have just now heard that I am going to criticise Buddhism, but by that I wish you to understand only this. Far be it from me to criticise him whom I worship as God incarnate on earth. Our view about Buddha is that he was not understood properly by his disciples. The relation between Hinduism – by Hinduism, I mean the religion of the Vedas – and what is called Buddhism at the present day is nearly the same as between Judaism and Christianity. Jesus Christ was a Jew, and Shakya Muni (Buddha) was a Hindu. The Jews rejected Jesus Christ, nay, crucified him, whereas the Hindus accept Shakya Muni as God incarnate and worship him… …Hinduism cannot live without Buddhism, nor Buddhism without Hinduism. Then realise what the separation has shown to us that the Buddhist cannot stand without the brain and philosophy of the Hindu, nor the Hindu without the heart of the Buddhist. This separation between the Buddhists and the Hindus is the cause of the downfall of India. That is why India is populated by three hundred millions of beggars, and that is why India has been the slave of conquerors for the last thousand years. Let us then join the wonderful intellect of the Hindus with the heart, the noble soul, the wonderful humanising power of the Buddha.
Religion Not the Crying Need of India
Address at the Final Session
September 20, 1893
…Brethren of America, you erect churches all through India, but the crying evil in the East is not religion. They have religion enough, but it is bread that the suffering millions of burning India cry out for with parched throats. What they want is bread, but they are given a stone. It is an insult to a starving people to offer them religion; it is an insult to a starving man to teach him metaphysics. Therefore, if you wish to illustrate the meaning of “brotherhood,” treat the Hindus more kindly, even though they are Hindus and are faithful to their religion. Send missionaries to them to teach them how better to earn a piece of bread and not to teach them metaphysical nonsense.
Buddhism, the Fulfillment of Hinduism September 26, 1893
I am not a Buddhist, as you have heard, and yet I am. If China and Japan and Sri Lanka follow the
September 27, 1893
The World’s Parliament of Religions has become an accomplished fact, and the merciful Father has helped those who laboured to bring it into existence, and crowned with success their most unselfish labour. My thanks to those noble souls whose large hearts and love of truth first dreamed this wonderful dream and then realized it. My thanks to the shower of liberal sentiments that has overflowed this platform. My thanks to this enlightened audience for their uniform kindness to me and for their appreciation of every thought that tends to smooth the friction of religions. A few jarring notes were heard from time to time in this harmony. My special thanks to them, for they have, by their striking contrast, made general harmony the sweeter. Much has been said of the common ground of religious unity. I am not going just now to venture my own theory. But if anyone here hopes that this unity will come by the triumph of any one of the religions and the destruction of the other, to them I say, “Friends, yours is an impossible hope.” Do
I wish that the Christian would become Hindu? God forbid. Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? God forbid. The seed is put in the ground, and earth and air and water are placed around it. Does the seed become the earth, or the air, or the water? No. It becomes a plant, it develops after the law of its own growth, assimilates the air, the earth, and the water, converts them into plant substance, and grows into a plant. Similar is the case with religion. The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve their individuality and grow according to their own law of growth. If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world it is this: It has proved to the world that holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if some people still dream of the exclusive survival of their own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity them from the bottom of my heart, and point out to them that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written, in spite of resistance: “Help and not Fight”, “Assimilation and not Destruction”,; “Harmony and Peace and not Dissension.”
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Public Lecture
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
NIAS-dst
‘Sulabh Inventions’ Way For Universal Sanitation
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak is a living legend who empowers the downtrodden, besides improving community health and environment Urooj Fatima
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r Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, an outstanding social reformer, action sociologist, flag-bearer of sanitation campaign and what not. He is a multifaceted man. And that is how the Public Lecture on “My Discoveries and Inventions to solve the problem of sanitation, untouchability and social discrimination through peace and non-violence” began at the NIAS-DST Training Programme for Women Scientists on “Science and Sustainability in India’ at the NIAS Campus, Bangalore. The topic of the lecture summarises his five-decade-long struggle for making a difference in the domains of environmental sanitation and social reforms. “If you see Dr Pathak, he has over the years displayed the quality of a scientist, engineer, technologist, planner, administrator, inventor, philosopher, writer, poet, music composer, singer and above all a philanthropist,” said Dr Shailesh Nayak, Director of NIAS. He fits in the NIAS thinking, where they try to integrate science, engineering, social science, humanities to address some of the problems people have been facing.
Dr Pathak, a multidisciplinary character
“I think there would be very few persons, not in India but the world, who have so much disciplinary character. And not only that, his love for the poor and the weaker section of the society, the downtrodden, is something which is not seen in today’s world. His inventions and discoveries have solved many problems specifically to defecate in open, untouchability, social discrimination, and he has made difference in the lives of many downtrodden and the widows of Vrindavan, Varanasi, etc.
He is also addressing the problem of arsenic in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar where it is a very serious issue. People are dying because of it. One of the very interesting things which he has done is establishing the Museum of Toilet, which probably I think is the only museum in the world. He has received many distinction and awards which is more than a hundred. Like Padma Bhushan, Stockholm Water Prize, the International Saint Francis prize for environment, Nikkie Asia Prize and the list goes on.”
His struggle
Telling about his experiences of the last 50 years that he encounters while working on his mission, is not something everybody can think
of. He slept on railway platforms, walked into the scorching heat, sold ornaments of his wife. There were many breaking points in his life, where he felt all lost and helpless. But his mission was all he had going in his mind throughout these years. He had to face umpteen difficulties to be here, where he is now in his life with so many accomplishments. “After years of agonising struggle, and all kinds of resistance from the family and society for my sanitary and social work among the untouchables, I was able to innovate a proper, effective and affordable toilet technology for a country like ours,” said Dr Pathak.
Follower of Gandhi, with a difference
Dr Pathak said, “I am the follower of
Sulabh toilet technology and maintenance of public toilets has relieved thousands of untouchables from the subhuman occupation of cleaning night soil
Mahatma Gandhi but certainly with a difference because I have separated fundamentals and secondaries of Gandhi. You all are Gandhian here if you wish from your heart to help others. No need of wearing certain types of clothes or having food according to some prescription. So I have given a new theory of Gandhi. I have accepted the fundamentals of Gandhi i.e. truth and non-violence and because of his truth, I am before you and country. All the transformation and changes I have brought only with non-violence. I have not burnt books of Vedas, purans, so and so forth. I have learnt a great deal from Gandhi and Gandhism and have always taken the path of peace and nonviolence in all my engagements and struggles. My own approach to resolve the problems of sanitation, untouchability and social discrimination has unique and unprecedented features that stand out for their novelty and creativity.” Gandhi was the towering figure of India’s freedom struggle, and he also had a vision for India that encompassed a range of social, cultural and economic issues for which he struggled throughout his life. Among the range of his deep concerns were sanitation, cleanliness and emancipation of the untouchables, and these issues have also been the core areas of Dr Pathak’s engagement for the last 50 years.
Learnt from philosophies of theses icons
Gandhi said, “An ounce of practice is worth more than the tons of preaching.” For the last 50 years, I have been fulfilling the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela & Dr BR Ambedkar. Martin Luther King wanted that sons of slaves and sons of masters should sit together in the Red Hills of Georgia. But I not only helped former untouchables to sit together but also to dine together and exchange pleasantries. And also helped the
Public Lecture
Sep 10 - 16, 2018 untouchables to occupy the position in the caste-based Indian society as Brahmins, never heard in Indian society thus I turned the pages of the history of India. Gandhi has famously said, “I want to clean India first and independence later.” John F Kennedy in his first inaugural address as a President of America said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Japanese philosopher Dr Daisaku Ikeda who said, “A great inner revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will cause a change in the destiny of humankind.” Dr Pathak is a living example of this. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi said ‘Swacchata must become Swabhav’ of every Indian. Cleanliness should flow in our veins. It must remain in our character, in our thought and in our manners. After Mahatma Gandhi, our PM Narendra Modi is the first PM to speak about sanitation, cleanliness and toilets. “I have learned a great deal from all these greats, and especially from our national icon Mahatma Gandhi whose principles of non-violence to bring peace and social change has been celebrated throughout the world,” said Dr Pathak. You may call it a coincidence that Dr Pathak started his work in the same year when society celebrated the birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi, i.e. in 1968. And now, he will be celebrating his 150th anniversary as being an important face of Swachh Bharat Campaign.
His Fundamentals
Fundamentals in the life of Dr Pathak are vision, horizon, commitment, capabilities with honesty, integrity, ethics and morality and ‘one life one mission’. Dr Pathak said, “I am a living example of a person being full of these fundamentals. Till today, I have maintained honesty and integrity in my work for society.”
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Letter to Indira Gandhi
Dr Pathak told that when he started his work of sanitation there was a problem of manual scavenging. So he asked one of the MLA of Bihar to write a letter to Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. She reverted back to that letter to the then Bihar CM Kedar Pandey and because of that letter the work got momentum and went ahead. Then he talked about how he solved the problems of environmental sanitation, public health, untouchability, social discrimination & problems of widows.
Sulabh Two-Pit Technology
In the 18th century, England has developed a ‘sewage system’. First, the sewage system was laid in London in 1850, second in New York in 1860, and third was in Calcutta in 1870. It was a centralised system of human-waste. We have 7935 towns and cities out of which only 732 are sewage-based, that too partially. 2.3 billion people in entire Africa, Asia, Latin America have no access to a safe and hygienic toilet. As this sewage technology is very costly in construction, high maintenance and requires an enormous quantity of water. But Sulabh technology, as it is known now, is culturally appropriate, environmentally safe and very costeffective. It is a two-pit, pour-flush, onsite compost toilet, which can easily be constructed from locally available materials and thus with minimum fuss. This has been recognised as one of the best global technologies for the safe disposal of human waste. Even America wants to adopt this
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak along with Dr Shailesh Nayak technology. As they have a sewage system only in cities, not in rural areas.
End of untouchability
Dr Pathak said, “Through my invention and innovation of sanitation technology and application of social engineering, I have decisively changed the status of untouchables, elevating them to the status of ‘new Brahmins’, thus challenging and changing the rigid caste hierarchy of the Indian society. My offbeat vision and actions on the ground present a historic and unparalleled example because even Mahatma Gandhi wouldn’t have imagined that the untouchables could become ‘new Brahmins’. What Sulabh has contributed in the larger social context—liberating thousands of scavenging untouchables and bringing them into the social mainstream. The Sulabh’s technological inventions have thus made a tangible difference in the life of the untouchables. They are no longer untouchables. Now, they are free citizens of a free world, like us.
‘Lal Baba’ for Widows
Another social work of Dr Pathak based on love and compassion for all—is related to improve the living
conditions of the widows. Since 2012, Dr Pathak is providing a stipend of Rs 2000 (for one year it was Rs1,000) to widows of Vrindavan, Varanasi and other places. This gave them a sense of belonging, healed their broken hearts and revived their crushed spirits. To ensure their proper medical care, Sulabh handed over five well-equipped ambulances, which are stationed at the five Ashrams for their exclusive use. For widows, Dr Pathak is ‘Lal Baba’ who filled colours in their colourless life. In the end, Dr Pathak said, “Like Gandhi, whom I adore and follow, I am a sort of critical traditionalist— thankful for the values of tradition that enhances our love, compassion and humanity, and ashamed of its vulgarity that degrades and divides us. I think, changing entrenched mindset and prejudice is difficult but living in the past is a dangerous living. To be vibrant and creative, the individual and society need new ideas and new movements. Such thinking makes me embrace the virtuous, irrespective of its origin—ancient or modern, Eastern or Western. In this sense, I am also a critical modernist who keeps his doors and windows open while being firmly rooted to his soil.”
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Asian Games 2018
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
india at the asiad
Tale of Adversity and Grit
Every medal tells a human story of grit and glory. But each medal, when located in a specific place and time, also reveals the way sports has evolved in the society
I
n Urooj Fatima
ndia’s best-ever Asian Games medal haul at Jakarta has brought much cheer. The Indian contingent raked in 69 medals, including 15 gold. It may have lagged at eighth place on the medals table, but compared to recent Asiads, India registered significant progress in many events, with heroic performances among both women and men. These will go a long way in inspiring others, and also hopefully making the sports administration more responsive to the needs of athletes. The best-ever medal haul at the 2018 Asian Games is a leap forward for Indian sport after the Commonwealth Games medal spurt. In pursuit of excellence in the sporting arena and creating
a niche for itself, India never had it so good in the continental showpiece that is considered next only to the Olympic Games. Even as the medallists come back with a feeling of accomplishment from Jakarta and Palembang, the surge in podium finishes could trigger new passion for Olympic sports in a country so obsessed with cricket. From teenager Saurabh Chaudhary to 60-year-old Pranab Bardhan, an assortment of athletes combined to produce a top show even as the country endured shocking results in kabaddi and hockey. With 15 gold, 24 silver and 30 bronze, India’s medal tally stood at 69, a step up from
Incheon four years ago when they won 65. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, whose gold-winning 88.06m makes him among the world’s best, particularly shone. As did Swapna Barman, who kept ahead of the pack to win gold in heptathlon even as she coped with a painful tooth infection
and shoes far from ideal for her six-toed feet. Boxer Amit Panghal shocked Uzbekistan’s Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov with a split verdict in the men’s 49 kg category. Shooting and wrestling seized two gold medals each while table tennis broke its Asian Games drought with two bronze medals. PV Sindhu claimed the country’s maiden Asiad silver in badminton and Saina Nehwal got a bronze. In men’s hockey, India, the defending champion and favourite, slumped with a bronze, missing automatic qualification for the Olympics in Tokyo. Bridge buddies Bardhan and Shibnath Dey Sarkar won gold in men’s pairs and urged fans to not equate their sport with gambling, saying it’s a game of intellect.
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Asian Games 2018
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Gold Medal Winners Swapna Barman, Heptathlon
Manjit singh, men’s 800m A jobless and unheralded Manjit Singh scorched the track and upstaged pre-race favourite Jinson Johnson to win gold as India achieved a rare one-two in men’s 800m at the Asian Games The 800m gold medallist was left without a job in March 2016 after the ONGC refused to extend his contract. Despite the odds, he continued training under army coach Amrish Kumar before getting a National Camp call-up. The 29-year-old Manjit, a native of village Ujhana in Jind district of Haryana, said he was on the verge of quitting the sport when the ONGC refused to renew his contract two years back. “I was feeling very low and I did not know what to do. I am from a farmer’s family and my family cannot afford to send big amount of money for my training. But somehow I continued with help from my coach Amrish Kumar,” he said. “I briefly thought I would quit athletics but my father (a former state level shot putter) said I should continue and so I continued with the meagre income from my family.” While others did not give him a chance, Manjit said he was determined to prove his worth. The 28-year-old Manjit ran his personal best time of 1-minute and 46.15 seconds to win his maiden major international medal.
Swapna Barman is one sportsperson who is being talked about. Her life story is really an inspiration for all of us. Swapna created history by winning the gold medal in the women’s heptathlon at the Asian Games 2018, despite competing with pain due to a toothache. Jalpaiguri town in North Bengal is ecstatic over its resident Swapna Barman, daughter of a van rickshaw puller, becoming the first Indian to achieve a top podium finish in the gruelling heptathlon event at the Asian Games. Soon after Swapna scripted history by clinching the gold at the 18th edition of the continental meet in Jakarta, people rushed outdoor, sweets were distributed, and many thronged her nondescript residence at Ghoshpara. Swapna’s father, Panchanan Barman was a van rickshaw puller but has been bedridden for the last few years due to a stroke. “It was not easy for her. We could not meet her expectations all the time. She would never complain,” told her mother Basona. Swapna often had a tough time finding the right competition shoes that would fit her as she was born with six toes in both feet. The extra width of her feet makes landing painful and shoes wear out quickly. She found it difficult to meet the expenses of her equipment. However, despite all the struggles, Swapna came out strong and made not only her parents proud but the whole country.
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Asian Games 2018
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Tejinder Pal Singh Toor, Shot put Truth to tell, the gold medal means different things to different people. As someone who has been at it for half a dozen years now, it was important that this farmer’s son from Moga district in Punjab be seen as doing his best with each throw. Tejinder Pal Singh Toor set aside the disappointment of not being able to attend his cancer-ridden father, shattering the Asian Games record to open India’s gold medal account even as several national records tumbled on the opening day of the athletics competition. Toor hurled the iron ball a distance of 20.75 metres to smash the previous Games record. The win set off celebrations in his hometown of Moga where his family had stood by him as his father fought cancer. He had to struggle a lot in his career. He had to take care of the family along with his regular training. His family always told him that his father was keeping well just to keep him away from pressure. He wanted to visit the village but his mother told him to concentrate on his training and return with a medal. He has kept his promise. In 2013, his father was diagnosed with the ailment and underwent surgery. Unfortunately two years later, his health worsened. The last three months have been emotionally draining for the Asian Games champion. He had to attend to his ailing father who was admitted to Army Hospitals in both Panchkula and Delhi, and had to focus on his training at the same time.
Jinson Johnson, men’s 1500m Jinson Johson’s dream run at the 2018 Asian Games continued as the 27-year-old sprinted his way to a gold medal in the 1500m men’s final, clocking a time of 3:44:72 minutes to finish on top of the pack. From being ‘baptised’ on a mud track in his village Chakkittapara in Kozhikode district of Kerala, Jinson Johnson has come a long way. How Johnson progressed from Chakkitttapara, where the only athletics facility was the 200m mud track, is fascinating. The 27-year old army man’s athletics journey has been quite remarkable. At school he dabbled in both athletics and cricket. In class 12, he won gold medal in the 1500m race at Kerala State School Athletics meet and shifted his focus to the track.
Arpinder Singh, Men’s triple jump Triple-jumper Arpinder Singh’s rise to the top is yet another story of an Indian athlete beating the obstacles to excel. Arpinder’s family was facing financial problems. His father Jagbir Singh, who retired as a hawaldar from the Indian Army in 1990, had to mortgage the one-and-a-half-acre land that the family possessed so that Arpinder could realise his dream of becoming an international athlete. Till the time Arpinder won the bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, his family had to undergo a lot of financial troubles. It was a hand-to-mouth situation. So much so that having three meals a day regularly was not possible. To make sure Arpinder’s training went uninterrupted, his family had to spend a lot of money. Over and above that, debts ran up to Rs 5 lakh. It was only after Arpinder won the CWG medal in 2014 that they managed to free the land. Arpinder’s family members broke into an impromptu ‘bhangra’ as soon as the 25-year-old won the Asiad gold in Jakarta.
Asian Games 2018
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
11 07
Vinesh Phogat, women’s wrestling Vinesh Phogat created history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games 2018, brushing aside her rivals with remarkable ease in the 50kg category. She was a medal-favourite in her category and was likely to face stiff competition from Japan’s Yuki Irie, whom she outclassed 6-2 in the final. It is surely a ground-breaking achievement for the 23-year-old firebrand Haryana wrestler, who is connected to Dangalfamed Phogat family. She is not one of the Phogat sisters anymore. She is the Phogat sister. No Indian woman had ever won a gold medal at the Asian Games, before the 24-year-old Vinesh clinched victory. It’s likely few will ever win it in a more emphatic fashion. Vinesh dropped all of four points over the course of her 17-minute campaign against opponents. Only two of her wins even went the six-minute distance. With the gold around her neck, the national flag around her shoulders and tears in her eyes, it is as compelling a visual as any to wrap Vinesh’s tale up. But that for an Indian fan is the best part. There are bigger prizes on the horizon. And unlike a movie that has to end on a single high, there are no reasons to suggest there won’t be further sequels to this real life tale of triumph.
Saurabh Chaudhary, Shooting
Neeraj Chopra, Javelin Throw Neeraj Chopra won gold in the men’s javelin throw event at the18th edition of the Asian Games in Indonesia. Chopra looked confident from the start with a throw of 83.46m. But it was in his third attempt that he stole the show with a monstrous 88.06m to win the yellow metal and break the national record. Born in the lesser known Kandra Village near Panipat, the son of a farmer is the new toast of the nation. His looks might suggest at the sight of a spoilt young man; the story behind one is of blood and tears. From a town without any sporting facilities to stand on the podium at the Commonwealth and Asian Games is certainly a journey to savour. A marginal farmer’s son, Jai comes from Binjhol, a sprawling village roughly five kms away from Neeraj’s own. Neeraj’s family was one of the 500 families that lived in the village. With no playground, gym or a stadium, the youngster practicised in the lush green of the fields.
The sugarcane farmer’s son used to practice with bricks to get perfect grip. His training also included several other indigenous improvisations like concentrating on body movement in a dark room. Whenever he is home, he helps his father in the farming business. “I like farming. We don’t get much time off from training but whenever I do, I go back to my Village (Kalina) and help my father,” said Chaudhary. A couple of days before he would make his debut at the Asian Games, Saurabh Chaudhary had a more pressing concern. The 16-year-old was wondering how he would access his Forex Card for the daily allowance he was entitled to. Considering the pistol shooter would be traveling to the World Championships in Korea soon after the Games, Saurabh was worried that his daily allowance would be transferred to someone else. “He was telling me: Sir mera card kisi aur ko mat dena. I told him you have a PIN number that only you will be able to access. So he said: Sir fir mujhe PIN de do aur card kisiko bhi (give me the PIN then, it doesn’t matter who has the card),” recalls Ronak Pandit in an interview, who is with the Indian shooting team in Palembang. Saurabh might still be figuring out the grown up world of managing his finances. But amongst the adults in the elite marksmanship, he proved to be a natural. Even their superior. In what was his first international tournament at the senior level, Saurabh outlasted a high-class field to win India’s first gold medal in the shooting competitions in Palembang.
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Asian Games 2018
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Amit Panghal, Boxing Amit Panghal (49kg) became only the eighth Indian boxer ever to claim a gold medal at the Asian Games with a stunning tactical win over reigning Olympic and Asian champion Hasanboy Dusmatov in the summit clash. The 22-year-old Armyman, the only Indian to make the finals, prevailed 3-2 against the more fancied Dusmatov, who had beaten him in a split verdict in last year’s world championships. The report on the victory, in boxing, of debutant Amit Panghal, the son of a farmer, who struggled to practice with tattered gloves because of financial issues, was moving. One is impressed by his dedication to overcome the odds. Amit is from a very poor family. They don’t have much land, may be a couple of bighas. And their livelihood depends on the few cows and buffaloes they own. Now, at least the gold will ensure that his family leads a comfortable life.
Pranab Bardhan & Shibhnath Sarkar, Bridge India won a gold medal in the Bridge competition of the 18th Asian Games with Pranab Bardhan and Shibhnath Sarkar clinching the top honours in the men’s pair event. The 60-year-old Pranab and 56-year-old Shibhnath finished at the top after scoring 384 points in the finals. Shibhnath passion for bridge was such that he chose the demanding card game as his partner for life over having a life partner. For Shibnath De Sarkar, the choice was clear — he would rather give his undivided attention to the game than marry and end up being “unfaithful” to his wife. The 56-year-old bachelor’s bridge mate, Pranab Bardhan, is equally passionate about the game, though he did not let it come in the way of his love life. Married in his youth, Bardhan has a daughter and is now a doting grandfather at 60. But when he joins De Sarkar over a game of cards, he forgets everything else. If De Sarkar remained a bachelor, Bardhan never took up a job! It is this dedication for the game that saw the pair strike gold, winning the Men’s pair-event at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta.
Rahi Sarnobat, 25m pistol You wish there was a dramatic, even convoluted, long-winding struggling story about how Rahi Sarnobat came to fall in love with the pressure of shooting finals. But there is sadly none. “I love this part of the competition. It’s my favourite, I could’ve shot 4 more shoot-offs,” the freshly minted Asian Games champion in the 25m pistol would say, moments after winning a thriller in which she downed Thailand’s Naphaswan Yanpaiboon 3-2 in the last 5-shot play-off after the two were tied at 34-34 going for gold. “Finals I’ve always been good at, you can call it my mastery,” she would add, exuding confidence. From the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon to the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Rahi’s journey has been tumultuous, but ultimately rewarding.
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Asian Games 2018
Indian rowers win Quadruple Sculls Indian rowers Sawarn Singh, Dattu Bhokanal, Om Prakash and Sukhmeet Singh came up with a superb performance to win gold in the men’s quadruple sculls category at the 18th Asian Games. This is only the second gold for India since they started participating in the rowing events at the Asiad. The first was won by Bajrang Lal Takhar in men’s singles sculls at the 2010 Games. The Indian team clocked a time of 6 minutes and 17.13 seconds while hosts Indonesia clocked 6:20.58 to take the silver.
Bajrang Punia,
Men’s 65kg freestyle Wrestler Bajrang Punia bagged the first gold medal for India at the 18th Asian Games defeating Japanese Daichi Takatani 11-8 in Men’s 65kg freestyle event. The 24-year-old played aggressively throughout the game and never allowed his opponent to take a lead. He dedicated his medal to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away at 93. Punia hails from Haryana, which is regarded as the cradle of Indian wrestling. Backed by his father, he took up the sport at the age of 7. His family moved to Sonepat so he could train at the Sports Authority of India.
Bopanna-Sharan pair wins men’s doubles gold
Top seeds Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan notched up their maiden men’s doubles gold medal at the Asian Games, dominating the final clash with a thoroughly clinical performance. Bopanna and Sharan defeated Aleksander Bublik and Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan 6-3 6-4 in 52 minutes. Less than 20 minutes into the match, the Indians were 4-1 ahead, breaking Bublik and Yevseyev at the very first opportunity they got. In no time, the top seeds were serving for the set with a 5-3 lead and Bopanna’s booming serve wrapped it up in style for them.
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Asian Games 2018
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Silver Medals
• Women’s Hockey team • Men’s 4x400m Relay team • Pincky Balhara in Kurash • Jinson Johnson in men’s 800m • Men’s compound team • Women’s compound team • Fouaad Mirza in Equestrian • Dutee Chand women’s 100m event • Hima Das in women’s 400m event • Indian women Kabaddi team • Shardul Vihan in men’s Shooting • Sanjeev Rajput in 50m rifle • Lakshay in Men’s trap shooting • Dharun Ayyasamy in 400m hurdles • Deepak Kumar men’s 10m air rifle event • Neena Varakil in long jump • Dutee Chand in women’s 200m event • India win silver in mixed 4x400m relay • Sudha Singh in 3000m steeplechase • PV Sindhu in women’s Badminton single • Muhammed Anas in men’s 400m event • Ravi Kumar and Apurvi Chandela in 10m Air Rifle mixed team event • Women’s squash team ( Sunayna Kuruvilla & Joshna Chinappa) • Varsha Gautam and Shweta Shervegar in women’s 49er FX sailing • Equestrian event (Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik and Jitender Singh and Fouaad Mirza)
Here’s how India did in different sporting events at 2018 Asian Games Sports Athletics Shooting Wrestling Bridge Rowing Tennis Boxing Archery Equestrian Squash Sailing Badminton Hockey Kabaddi Kurash Wushu Table Tennis Sepaktakraw INDIA
Gold 7 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
Silver 10 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 24
Bronze 2 3 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 4 2 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 30
Total 19 9 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 5 3 2 2 2 2 4 2 1 69
Bronze Medals
• Men’s hockey • Vikas Krishan in Boxing • Harshita Tomar in Open Laser 4.7 sailing • Seema Punia in women’s discus throw • Indian mixed doubles table tennis pair • Malaprabha Jadhav in Kurash • Indian team in men’s Bridge. • Indian team claims in mixed Bridge • Heena Sidhu in shooting • Rower Dushyant in lightweight single sculls. • Indian men’s in Table tennis • Prajnesh Gunneswaran in tennis mens singles • Joshna Chinappa in women’s singles squash • Saurav Ghosal in men’s singles squash • Dipika Pallikal in women’s squash • Saina Nehwal in badminton • Ankita Raina in Tennis women’s singles • Narender Grewal in Wushu men’s Sanda • Surya Bhanu Partap Singh in Wushu men’s Sanda • Santosh Kumar in Wushu men’s Sanda • Naorem Roshibini Devi in Wushu women’s Sanda • Divya Kakran in 68kg Women’s Freestyle Wrestling • India team at Sepak Takraw Regu event • Abhishek Verma in 10m Air Pistol • Neena Varakil in long jump • Sudha Singh in 3000m steeplechase • Palakeezhil Unnikrishnan Chitra in the women’s 1500 metres • Varun Thakkar and Ganapathy Chengappa in 49er men’s sailing • Rowers Rohit Kumar and Bhagwan Singh in lightweight double sculls • Men’s squash team (Saurav Ghosal, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Ramit Tandon and Mahesh Mangaonkar)
Off-Beat
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Robotic Scavenger
‘Bandicoot’ To Clear Kumbakonam’s Sewers
IOC gifts the temple town a robot, developed by Kerala start-up, to clean manholes
G Ulaganathan
T
echnology can provide a safe and lasting solution to occupational hazard and social stigma attached to works like manual scavenging. Safe as entering a manhole of an underground drainage pipeline and cleaning is wrought with danger. Besides the job posing health problems, lives are lost due to hazardous and obnoxious gases that emanate at some places. Now, comes a ray of hope for those men who strive hard and risk their lives. It is a robot called ‘Bandicoot’ and the temple town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district is trying it first now-thanks to the pro-active initiative taken by Pradeep Kumar, the young, dynamic sub-collector of Kumbakonam.
“Having come to know that a robotic scavenger--Bandicoot, a product of a Kerala-based startup, has been introduced in Thiruvananthapuram city in Kerala for cleaning underground drainage, I thought of introducing it in the temple town of Kumbakonam, so that the town may set an example for the whole state of Tamil Nadu. I approached the company and also Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for funding the robot as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Help came through and we introduced the machine recently,” says Pradeep Kumar, who is committed to the policy of putting an end to manual scavenging. The cost of the machine is Rs 17 lakh. But the company has given it for Rs 9 lakh and the cost was entirely
Besides the job posing health problems, even lives are lost due to hazardous and obnoxious gases that emanate at some places
borne by the IOC, says Pradeep Kumar. The “Bandicoot” produced by Genrobotics, a start-up promoted by a group of engineers from Kerala, is equipped with Wi-Fi, bluetooth, control panels. It has four limbs and a bucket system attached to spider web loop extension to scoop out waste from the sewer. “We spend Rs 1.5 lakh for cleaning 500 manholes manually in a year. If the machine can clean them, we can get back the money spent on the machines in five or six years. Cost-wise also it is economical. With a view not to send the workers from a job, we are going to train them for managing the machine themselves. Training will start soon and three persons will be in charge of the robot. Based on its success, if more machines are introduced more men will be trained,” Pradeep Kumar adds. The machine has a service warranty for 10 years, the sub-collector said. K Umamaheswari, a commissioner, Kumbakonam municipality, said that on rare occasions, when there is a block, workers enter manholes and not on all occasions. “We have Jet rodding and desilting machines maintained by 26 persons. The maintenance work has been given on outsourcing to a company. This jet rodding can enter only vertically and clean the drainage. But in the robot, it can operate on all directions and clean the drainage”, she says. Underground drainage system became operational in Kumbakonam in 2008-09. The system has pipelines running to a length of 125 ks and there are 5,309 manholes. There are 19,421 house connections. Vimal Govind from the engineering firm in Kerala, which designed the robot said, the robot can clear to a distance of six mts inside the drainage. Using six surveillance cameras, blocks can be identified and the machine can be pressed into service. If this experiment proves to be successful, then that will mean the end of manual scavenging and give a new meaning to Prime Minister Modi’s Swacch Bharat mission.
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SAVING LIFE
The hospital authority praised the role of police and state administration
O
n AGENCY
rgans of a 15-year-old girl from West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district, who was declared brain dead at a city hospital, were donated to three critically ill patients, the hospital authority said. Two kidneys and the liver of Siliguri resident Mallika Majumdar were donated to three patients after she was declared brain dead in the Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education (IPGMER) while her skin and cornea have been preserved for appropriate receptors. “The donor was admitted to our hospital with brain infection. She slipped into coma and was declared brain dead. Her family members agreed to donate her vital organs,” Mrinmoy Banerjee, IPGMER Superintendent told. “Her skin and cornea have not been placed in any patients as of now. That requires some procedure. It can’t be an instant process,” he said. While the kidneys were successfully transplanted to two patients in IPGMER, liver was given to a 44-year-old patient from Hyderabad, admitted in east Kolkata’s Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals through a ‘green corridor’ felicitated by the city police. The hospital authority later praised the role of police and state administration for their proactive attitude which helped in the successful transplant. “Our daughter was brain dead. There was no chance for her to live again. But we are happy and proud that her organs helped save the lives of other people,” Majumdar’s father said.
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Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Dr Y.Ravindranath Rao
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world Nelson Mandela
Retd Principal & Prof.of Sociology
VIEWPOINT
Academic Interventions And Sulabh Sanitation Movement A Sociological Investigation on Sanitation Awareness
Posses Nothing
The mind is a hangover, dust from the past covering your mirrorlike consciousness
S
ufi mystic Abraham Adam was once the emperor of Bokhara. He gave it all up to become a Sufi beggar. A Sufi mystic staying with him would constantly complain of his poverty. Abraham Adam said to him, “The way you abuse it, it may be that you have bought your poverty cheaply. I paid with my kingdom for it. Every day its value becomes more and more to me. No wonder then that I give thanks for it while you lament it.” The purity of spirit is real purity. The word ‘sufi’ comes from the Arabic word ‘safa’. Safa means purity. Sufi means one who is pure of heart. Purity has nothing to do with puritans. Purity simply means an uncontaminated state of mind, where only your consciousness is, and nothing else. Nothing else really enters into your consciousness, but if you hanker to possess, that hankering contaminate you. If you don’t want to possess anything, you become fearless. Then even death is beautiful. A man who is spiritual has tremendous experiences but he never accumulates them. Once they have happened, he forgets about them. He is always available for the new; he never carries the old. So, life is absolutely new at each step. Only the mind is old; and if you look through the mind, life also looks like a repetition, a bore. Mind means your past, accumulated experiences, knowledge and others. The mind is a hangover, dust from the past covering your mirrorlike consciousness. Then when you look through it, everything becomes distorted. The mind is the faculty of distortion. If you don’t look through the mind, you will know that life is eternal. (OSHO)
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
E
ducation and academic interventions play a crucial role in bringing about change and development in all modern societies. Sociologically, the phenomenon of education is an important factor of social change and Social Mobility. It is also an important agent of social control and socialisation. Educational systems, educational opportunities, educational processes, academic interventions, different academic exercises facilitate in creating, developing and spreading knowledge and awareness in any society. Sanitation is a global problem. It is also a global challenge faced by all societies-developed or developing. Sanitation, health and quality of life are interrelated. They are also the important indicators of socio-economic development of any society. This is one reason why all human societies are very much concerned about the issues of sanitation and their remedial measures. Better sanitation is the need of the hour today universally. There are many national and international health and education related agencies like WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO WTO (World Toilet Organization), WTC (World Toilet College), etc. working for the cause of sanitation, besides international NGOs like Sulabh International Social Service Organisation. The studies of social inequalities, particularly those of health and sanitation have received growing attention in all modern nationstates today. It has become a concern, owing to the deteriorating quality of life of people in the third world countries. The ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan’ launched by the earlier government and the ‘Swachha Bharat Mission’ being undertaken
with greater vigour by the present central government of India are all aimed at creating a clean India by 2019. Our Prime Minister Modi launched this mission on October 2, 2014, to give a message that Mahatma Gandhi is the driving force for ‘Swachha Bharat Mission’. The sanitation works of Gandhi are being continued by a sanitation crusader, an outstanding academician Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, as the biggest global sanitation wave, through Sulabh Sanitation Movement.
Sulabh Sanitation Movement and Its Diverse Activities
Sulabh International Social Service Organisation is an internationally acclaimed premier NGO in India working in the sanitation sector. As a leading NGO, it is striving hard to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s unfinished works of restoring human rights and dignity to the ‘untouchables’. Today, Sulabh has not remained merely as an NGO, but a powerful movement with a very large workforce in the country. Sulabh is being consulted by many other countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and so on for help and technical support in the domain of sanitation. Sulabh Organisation also provides affordable sanitary facilities to downtrodden, weaker sections and general public throughout India. As Richard Pais opines, “Sulabh is envisioned as an agent of social and cultural change. It seeks to develop an egalitarian society, based on equal opportunity for every human being irrespective of caste, creed and natural endowments” (2015:15). Despite the development of low cost sanitation, the other allied and diverse activities of the organisation include Sulabh biogas plants, production of bio fertilizer, liquid and solid waste management, Sulabh Purified Drinking Water, Sulabh Effluent Treatment Plant, legal protection to scavengers, poverty alleviation and integrated rehabilitation programme for the liberated scavengers. As a result, a large number of liberated scavengers who are now resettled in other professions lead a respectable life. The lives and attitudes of millions of people in India and abroad have changed today owing
Sulabh as a leading NGO, is striving hard to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s unfinished works of restoring human rights and dignity to the ‘untouchables’
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
The lives and attitudes of millions of people in India and abroad have changed today owing to the reform activities undertaken by the Sulabh Organisation to the reform activities undertaken by the Sulabh Organisation. The transformation of the lives of the widows of Vrindavan, Varanasi and Uttarakhand by Dr Pathak is also well known. As Nagla BK specified, “Under Sulabh International Academy of Environmental Sanitation, Dr Pathak has been able to spread sanitation knowledge to citizen organisations, nurses, doctors, and officers from central, state and local governments. He has held training workshops to enhance knowledge and skills in project planning and implementation of sanitation systems, being implemented in the developing world-including biogas, biofertilizer, water treatment, duckweed technologies, solid waste management and environmental protection. By institutionalising sanitation education, he brings people from all sectors together and removes taboos. Toilets are becoming a source of economic gains, and he is able to engage top business professionals, engineers, and academics in the sanitation sector.” (2015:220). Thus today the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation is a paramount organisation and a movement of social transformation and change. This movement is an institutionalised collective action, initiated by an ideology and organisation known for its large human resource. It is dedicated to effective diffusion and delivery of innovations in sanitation and initiatives for inclusion of the excluded. Educational Interventions It is a fact that the main aim of Sulabh at the outset was to liberate and rehabilitate scavengers, the manual carriers of human excreta. The restoration of human rights and dignity to this excluded group through the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi was upper most in the minds of Dr Pathak. These constructive programmes also include ensuring the poverty-alleviation of scavengers, their social integration, besides the prevention of environmental pollution and promotion of sanitation, health and hygiene in the larger society. Sulabh’s approach to restore human dignity to scavengers at different stages such as liberation, rehabilitation, vocational training, education of upcoming generation, social elevation was responsible for the promotion of consultancy, research and development in technical and social fields. Dr Pathak is a strong supporter of the view that education holds the key to major change and development in society. With this
noble idea, Sulabh Public School was set up in Delhi which aims to provide quality education within the reach of boys and girls from the scavenger families and other weaker sections of the society. As large number of students study in Sulabh school, they are also exposed to the concept of ‘Sulabh’ and its various activities going on in Sulabh Gram. The scavengers’ children are uplifted here and the knowledge of Sulabh sanitation is disseminated wherever their mobility occurs. Thus establishment of Sulabh Public School, as an important educational intervention, also enables in creating sanitation awareness along with upliftment of children of scavengers and rehabilitation of scavengers. Dr Pathak developed the concept of Action Sociology and became the founder of Action sociology in India. In fact, he played a key role in establishing the Indian Association of Action Sociologists. He established ‘Sulabh International Centre for Action Sociology’ (SICAS) in 1993 with an objective to develop a systematic understanding of the social, economic and psychological problems of scavengers. This also aims to evolve and implement a range of innovative, sustainable and replicable activities which would bring scavengers into the mainstream. He is also a pioneer in the development of Sociology of Sanitation in India, the father of Sociology of Sanitation, and a person who is responsible for making sanitation a reality. The following text is the definition and also a theory propounded by Dr Pathak. Accordingly “Sociology of sanitation is a scientific study to solve the problems of society in relation to sanitation, social deprivation, water, public health, hygiene, ecology, environment, poverty, gender equality, welfare of children and empowering people for sustainable development and attainment of philosophical and spiritual knowledge.” (Qted. in Akram Mohammad: 2015:5) Dr Pathak has proved that , as Sociologists have a strong theoretical background of the subject, they are in much better position than the professional social work practitioners in applying and using sociological knowledge or creating new knowledge for solving human problems. He has rightly said “A true Sociologist with deeper insight into the problems of Indian society would also like to provide a new orientation to make Sociology more relevant to society. Providing action orientation to sociology soon became my cherished
desire.” (Pathak,Bindeshwar:2015:xi) The emergence of the concepts Action Sociology, Sociology of Sanitation, and many other concepts like Diffusion of Innovation, Sulabh Shauchalaya System, Sulabh Two-pit toilets, Sulabh Swachh Bharat, Sulabh Museum of Toilets, Sulabh Purified Drinking Water, Sulabh Temple of Gratitude, etc. contributed to the development of etymology and glossary of Sanitation. The Action Sociology and Sociology of sanitation which emerged and developed as two prominent specialisations (Sociologies) in Sociology are the consequences of academic interventions initiated by Sulabh. As a result of realising the relevance and significance of these branches of Sociology, several Indian Universities have now come forward to introduce Sociology of Sanitation in Post Graduation and doctoral programmes. This has also contributed in accelerating the knowledge of sanitation in India and abroad through Indian and foreign students and the faculty. Publication of academic works, conference proceedings, edited volumes, research based books, regular national level circulation of weeklies and monthlies like ‘Sulabh Swachh Bharat’, ‘Sulabh India’, availability of Sulabh Encyclopaedia on Sanitation(on Health, Hygiene and Sanitation), Sulabh International Academy of Environmental Sanitation and Public Health(Projects, Training, Research and Consultancy)(1984) have all helped to gain more knowledge and insights about Sulabh initiatives and sanitation among intellectual elites and the general public. Thus Sulabh academic interventions of these kinds have certainly contributed and will contribute for the growth and change in society in future too in the realm of sanitation. An outstanding study titled “Sulabh Shauchalaya: A study of Directed Change”’ carried out by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak in 1980s in Lohanipur Mohalla of Patna, explores the degree and direction of acceptance of the innovation with reference to ‘Sulabh Shauchalaya’, an ‘innovated water –seal latrine system’ altered from ‘service latrines’. The study has assessed the patterns of acceptance by the beneficiaries for Sulabh Shauchalaya. Level of education and the types of adopters were one of the indicators of the study. As revealed in the study, the early adopters for Sulabh Shauchalaya had more years of the education than the late adopters. The study also unraveled that a majority of respondents in different educational categories are the average adopters of Sulabh innovated latrines, whereas the representation of illiterate respondents in the category of average adopters is the lowest. This empirical investigation has shown that literacy is a major
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variable related to the early adoption of Sulabh Shauchalaya. This has further confirmed that education and educational interventions play a crucial role in spreading the message and adoption of innovated Sulabh latrines. (1994:12:13, 58:60) In order to educate students and to provide necessary information to the researchers, policy makers, toilet manufacturers and the general public about the historical trends, design, technical know-how of toilets that a unique museum widely known as Sulabh International Museum of Toilets (Sanitation Museum) has been established in New Delhi (2008:113:119). This museum could also be called a laboratory of sanitation for all the academicians and activists. The knowledge and information about sanitation are also disseminated through vocational training undertaken at Sulabh Vocational Training Centre, beautician course or beauty care classes and also through Sanitary Napkin Facilitation Centre and Sulabh Ideal Health Centre. Concluding Observations This paper illustrates with data from secondary sources that Dr Pathak’s profound knowledge and skills of Sociology, specifically the Action Sociology contributed to the development of Sulabh organisation and this has further contributed to the emergence and development of Sociology of Sanitation. More specifically the paper explores how different academic interventions contributed in creating awareness and escalating the knowledge of sanitation in India and abroad. They have also contributed to the intellectual development in the domains of social science and technology. This also suggests that the promotion of sanitation is possible through the access to the knowledge of sanitation. Sulabh has used and applied the knowledge of sanitation successfully and has become a knowledge–power. Thus for inducing development of any society or community, the access to knowledge is to be examined. Sulabh today as a social movement could also be perceived as a site of knowledge production of sanitation and also as an object of knowledge of sanitation. This would further help in the development of Sulabh International University of Sanitation. The paper unveils school and other institutionalized academic interventions as the key agents in promoting sanitation with the conclusion that the process will enhance societal development by eradicating ill health, environmental pollution, exploitation of weaker sections of society and by increasing the level of awareness of hygiene.
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Photo Feature
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Rite Of Colour, Music And Dance Closing ceremony of Asian Games at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Palembang, Indonesia on September 2, 2018 was an emotional high for Indian athletes who won glory PHOTO : SIPRA DAS
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Photo Feature
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Swachhata
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Assam
Swachh Survekshan 2019
Noida Ready For ‘Swachhata’ Debute Being an industrial city, Noida hasn’t taken part in the cleanliness survey so far
Initiative To Make State Arsenic Free 122 new schemes to make water in the State, free from arsenic and fluoride contents SSB Bureau
SSB Bureau
by building 219 public toilets by September 20. Noida’s officer on pen vats throwing stink special-duty Rajesh Kumar, who has a bombs into the air, and crucial role in meeting the asked rate, garbage strewn on roadsides, is already battling positively. “We will cattle chomping on it. If this remains be completely ready to participate as common sight in 2019 as it is in Swachh Survekshan 2019. And now, Noida is unlikely to come out for this, preparations are under waysmelling of roses from the Swachh beginning with staff training across Bharat ranking survey in which it will different departments to providing participate for the first time. compost machines to RWAs and The authority said it was preparing getting waste remedation done at for the mega rankings exercise storage sites across Noida.” after a go-ahead from the Omendra Srivastava, Union Urban Affairs chief adviser and Noida hopes to Ministry. Being an consultant to Noida improve on the industrial city, Noida Authority for the public sanitation didn’t take part in the Swachh Bharat parameter by cleanliness survey so Mission initiative, far. added, “EN building 219 The first goal is Environment has public toilets by to build the platform, been finalised as the September 20 which is to set up a agency that will carry mechanism that takes out the job of doorgarbage from homes to a to-door segregated waste dumpyard and treatment plant collection.” without the chain breaking anywhere. The 2019 survey will be based on Officials say segregated waste 5,000 points divided in four segments collection is likely to begin by the end categorised as direct observation, of November. The agency that will be citizen feedback, service-level handed the task has been finalised. progress and certification, carrying Before that, an NGO will carry out 1,250 points each. Further, these an awareness campaign because waste segments are sub-categorised as open segregation needs behavioral change defecation-free protocols, sanitation to be successful. in fruit/vegetable/meat markets, Noida also hopes to improve public and community toilets, railway on the public sanitation parameter stations, etc.
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he availability of safe drinking water being a massive problem for the people of the State- both in the urban and the rural areas, the Assam Government has initiated measures to cope up with the problem. A move has been initiated by the Assam Government to provide Rs 50 lakh to each Assembly constituency of the State with a view to reviving the defunct drinking water projects. Talking to media persons in
Guwahati, Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Rihon Daimary said that the Central Government has given its nod to implement 122 new schemes to make water in the State free from arsenic and fluoride contents. He said that by 2030 all families in the State would be supplied with safe drinking water. The Minister further said that nearly 15,000 villages in Assam have been declared open-defecation-free under the Swachh Bharat Mission. He said that household toilets will be constructed for all the beneficiaries under the Mission.
Bio-toilets
21 Green Corridors Created In 2017-18 In Railways This benefits the common man as foul smell, unhygienic surrounding as well as shabby look are avoided Agency
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s a part of ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, Indian Railways is proliferating bio-toilets on its coaching stock so that no human waste is discharged from coaches on to the track. In order to demonstrate the advantage of the fitment of Bio-toilets, 6 ‘Green Corridors‘ were made functional in 2016-17 and 21 in 2017-2018. On ‘Green Corridors’, the introduction of bio-toilets in coaches
has been done to avoid direct discharge of human excreta on Railway tracks/ station premises. This benefits the common man as a foul smell, unhygienic surrounding, as well as shabby look, are avoided. All the human excreta is collected in an eco-friendly bio-tank fitted under each toilet. The bio-tank decomposes the faecal matter and converts it into water and gases. This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
Sanitation
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
21 07
SRi LAnka
Chronically Collapsing Old Infra Sri Lanka’s favorable access levels come with serious gaps and shortcomings in responding to beneficiaries’ needs
SSB BUREAU
SANITATION Sanitation infrastructure is lagging he Democratic Socialist current needs and is in danger of falling Republic of Sri Lanka is a behind further as urbanisation increases. lower-middle-income country More than 90 per cent of urban home to 21 million (2.12 crore) people. residents have access to a toilet facility Less than 7 per cent of the population exclusively used by their household, just is below the poverty line, and Sri Lanka 2.7 per cent rely on public toilets, and no occupies a strategic position in Asia, households are without toilets, but piped the fastest-growing region in the world. sewerage systems presently cover less In this island-nation, access to than 12 per cent of the urban population. improved water and sanitation are About 90 per cent of the rural significantly better than in neighboring population had South Asian countries and compare access to toilet favorably with those of Malaysia facilities within their and Thailand, both upper-middle- premises in 2012– income countries in East Asia. It 13. Often, these are made impressive progress in the past pour flush, squatting two decades in providing access to toilets located within improved water supply covering 96 per the compound in an cent of its population and improved outhouse sanitation covering 95 per cent, as of Old & Inefficient 2016. Systems: The However, regarding improved water sewerage system in supply and sanitation, Sri Lanka’s Colombo City was favorable access levels also come with constructed more than serious gaps and shortcomings in 100 years ago, and some sewers are in responding to beneficiaries’ needs for poor condition or are under capacity and better quality across urban, rural, and experience collapses, serious blockages, estate areas. Most concerning of all is and overflows. The system is further the country’s vulnerability to natural stressed by the recent rapid development disasters, which is compounded by of the city, particularly the commercial inadequate management of liquid and developments and construction of highsolid wastes – drainage canals have rise apartments. become open sewers and are Sri Lanka faces additional ineffective in evacuating problems concerning flood waters. regulation, monitoring, GCWMP and supervision of GOVT VS LTTE rural sanitation intends to Present conditions facilities. The default solve Sri in Sri Lanka are responsibility Lanka’s partly down to for managing a legacy of the sanitation is mainly sanitation war between the the individual and government and household’s, which water-related the LTTE, which most often chooses problems lasted about three to build low-cost pit decades, leading to latrines great political and social Solid Waste challenges in the access to Management: Poor basic services in many of the country’s management of solid waste is adding regions. With independence came the to the environmental degradation need to accommodate the demands of and health risks posed by inadequate the Sinhalese and Tamil constituencies, sanitation infrastructure in urban and this led to the strengthening of areas. There is considerable ingress of lower tiers of government which in turn solid waste into the sewerage system, has created conflicts and inefficiencies. contributing to system blockages and
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damage to the infrastructure. In rural Sri Lanka, the lack of proper septic tanks, lack of systematic programs to educate householders and builders, and lack of systematic studies of groundwater flows where wells and toilets coexist have substantial implications for groundwater quality in rural areas. WATER Access to safe water in 2012–13 in urban areas was 98.8 per cent, having overcome the impact of about 10 per cent 2006–07. More than 92 per cent of the urban population is reported to have access to drinking water within their premises. However, some areas in the previously conflict-affected areas to the north and east are in the process of getting piped water. Unlike in urban areas, less than 15 per cent of the rural population has access to piped water and the rest continue to experience the inconveniences associated with fetching water either from dug wells in the yard or from a distance. Adequacy & Reliability: About 98 per cent of the urban population is estimated to have sufficient water for drinking, bathing, and washing. About 40 per cent of the urban water supply programs provide 18-20 hours
of continuous supply. Most households have adapted to these hours by constructing water storage tanks on their premises. On the other hand, rural areas are provided with far less than 24 hours of water supply because of inadequate or seasonally varying supply at the source, inadequate labor for operating the pumps, or unaffordable electricity bills. Quality: According to the Ministry of Health, objective measurements show that only 77 per cent of samples that the Ministry of Health collected for bacteriological testing from the National Water Supply and Drainage Board’s distribution network were found to be satisfactory. In rural areas, only 45 per cent of water samples collected island-wide during 2013–15 were deemed to be of satisfactory quality compared with almost 77 per cent for NWSDB and 49 percent for private wells. In some cases, fecal contamination from proximity to poorly constructed on-site sanitation is responsible for poor water quality. GCWMP & MDGs A landmark infrastructure project intended to solve Sri Lanka’s sanitation and water-related problems is the Greater Colombo Wastewater Management Project. The $100 million GCWMP aims to serve Sri Lanka’s Millennium Development Goals by providing access to adequate sanitation for 100 per cent of its population by 2025.
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Environment
Samudayik Van Samvardhan Yojna
Himachal Aims To Increase Green Cover The efforts of the government have helped in steady rise in the green cover of the state
Sep 10 - 16, 2018 Stop Pollution
US Praises Haryana For Curbing Pollution US Ambassador said both Haryana and the US could work together on this issue n agency
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he Himachal Pradesh government has taken various initiatives to increase its green cover and ensure environment conservation, including three forestry projects with the participation of local people, an official said. The ‘Samudayik Van Samvardhan Yojna’ has been launched to ensure participation of locals in forestry activities, a government spokesperson said. Similarly, under the ‘Vidyarthi Van Mitra Yojna’, forest lands will be allotted to schools for plantation. Under the ‘Van Samridhi, Jan Samridhi Yojna’, locals will be provided facilities for processing, value addition and marketing of herbs. To ensure local participation, the government has introduced the ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Van Mitra Puraskaar’ and ‘Mukhya Mantri Yuva Van Mitra Puraskaar’ for the success of the ‘Samudayik Van Samvardhan Yojna’ and the ‘Vidyarthi Van Mitra Yojna’. Under the scheme, the first prize of Rs 50,000, the second prize of Rs 40,000 and the third prize of Rs 30,000 is being given to each ‘mandal’. In order to connect the forest enhancement with livelihood, the Himachal Pradesh Forest Eco System Management and Livelihood Improvement project of Rs 800 crore, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has been launched in six districts. Under the project, 460 committees will be constituted for promoting activities like forest and environmental protection, biodiversity and organism conservation and improvement in livelihood activities would be encouraged. The efforts of the government have helped in steady rise in the green cover of the state.
he US appreciated the Haryana government for measures to curb vehicular and crop burning residual pollution especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) and offered all technological expertise to effectively deal with toxic air. US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster, who called on Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, said both Haryana and the US could work together on this issue of great importance which would go a long way in making the entire state pollution free. This would be a great achievement, said Kenneth, adding that he is confident that Haryana would emerge as a leader in this area. He also commended the state for declaring Haryana as a kerosene-free and Open Defecation Free (ODF)
state. Khattar said the state is quite serious on the issue of air pollution and has taken several steps in this direction. The thermal power plants are being converted into green energy plants and much is being done in the area of stubble burning. “We are soon going to launch a fleet of 200 buses of clean fuel in Gurugram under the city bus service scheme,” a
statement quoting the Chief Minister said. He said the state is also promoting CNG filling stations. It was also said that a global city is being developed in Gurugram, adjacent to Delhi, over 1,200 acres of land. In addition, five cities on different themes are proposed to be developed along with the KundliManesar-Palwal Expressway.
Floating store
Correctional Home Inmates-Made Jute Products The earnings generated will help the inmates to lead their life with dignity
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n Agency
ute products manufactured by inmates of Correctional Homes in Kolkata will now be available in a boat at southeast Kolkata’s floating market. “We have banned the use of plastic in the floating market area, so we have supported the jute products made by the prisoners,” said state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim after inaugurating the floating store at Patuli. It will generate employment for those people of the social strata who need support, as the boat will be managed by a blind woman
and her partially blind son,” said the Minister. In a joint initiative of the state Correctional Administration Department and a city-based NGO Rakshak Foundation, the inmates have been given skill development training in manufacturing jute products since 2017. The effort christened “Jute Story Beyond Bars” aims to empower the inmates and promote jute production. Around 50 inmates of Dum Dum Central Correctional Home, Presidency Central Correctional Home and Alipore Central Correctional Home are supported by the NGO to earn a living for themselves.
“We are rehabilitating the inmates and encouraging them to return to the society. The products made by the inmates are a step in solving the major challenge of plastic pollution. Such innovative ideas help us in reforming the inmates,” said Correctional Administration Minister Ujjal Biswas. The managing trustee of the foundation, Chaitali Das said: “We aim to promote jute at par with Khadi and linen. Jute can also be a fashion statement. We have tried to make the products of international standards and targeting the global market. The earnings generated will help the inmates to lead their life with dignity.”
Health
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
23 07
You can do this
Science-backed Weight Loss Strategies
To reduce diseases caused by being overweight or obese, society needs to change, but those changes will be slow to come n JAMIE HARTMANN-BOYCE
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verybody knows that to lose weight you should eat less and move more. But, of course, it’s not that simple; the combination of today’s environment and human biology can make it really, really hard to shed pounds. To reduce diseases caused by being overweight or obese, society needs to change, but those changes will be slow to come. We need effective weight-loss strategies now. There is research, but a lot of it is done on people who receive a lot of support to lose weight. This doesn’t necessarily translate to the real world where most people trying to lose weight are doing so on their own. From this research, as well as from reviewing other studies in the area, we identified ten strategies that science suggests may help you lose weight.
Strategies that work Look up information on how to lose weight from sources you can trust, for example, government resources or sites recommended by your doctor or nurse. Set yourself food goals for how much you’ll eat each day or each week. This could be in terms of calories, portion sizes or nutritional content. Set yourself a weight-loss target.
Study
Eating In 10-hours Window May Boost Health Many of us may have one or more disease-causing defective genes that make us feel helpless and destined to be sick
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n SSB Bureau
ollowing a simple lifestyle such as eating all food within 10 hours can restore balance, stave off metabolic diseases and maintain health, suggests a study led by one of an Indian-origin. The study, conducted over mice, suggests that the health problems associated with disruptions to animals’
24-hour rhythms of activity and rest – which in humans is linked to eating for most of the day or doing shift work – can be corrected by eating all calories within a 10-hour window. “For many of us, the day begins with a cup of coffee first thing in the morning and ends with a bedtime snack 14 or 15 hours later,” said Satchidananda Panda, Professor at the Salk Institute. “But restricting food intake to 10
Have a goal weight in mind that you Swap one type of food or drink for are working towards, or a certain another if you know it’s healthier for amount of weight that you want to your diet. For example, choose lower lose each week. You might want to fat or lower sugar versions of the food write this down somewhere. or drinks you’d usually have. Plan your meals in advance to help Keep track of what you eat. You can you make healthy choices. help yourself meet your food goals by Keep food that doesn’t fit with your measuring the calories, portion sizes diet out of the house. It’s a lot easier or nutritional content of your food. to stick to your food goals when you Don’t forget to keep track of your aren’t being constantly drinks, too. tempted, so keep it out Weigh yourself For anyone trying to regularly. of sight and reach if This will you can. lose weight, you’ll know help you measure your Have a strategy towards your that lots of people have progress for dealing with food target, but it will also advice on what to do help you to learn about cravings. You can’t always avoid being yourself. If you’ve around unhealthy foods, so it’s a good gained weight, or not lost as much as idea to anticipate cravings and have you wanted, don’t be discouraged. a way to deal with them when they Find ways to stay motivated. It’s arise. Need some ideas? not always easy to do the things listed This could include chewing gum, above, and it’s important to find ways waiting a certain amount of time to to keep going when you are flagging. see if the craving passes, distracting This could involve other people yourself by focusing on something – for example, trying to lose weight else, or being mindful of the craving at the same time as someone else or – acknowledging it, but not acting on telling other people about your weight it. loss plans.
hours a day, and fasting the rest, can lead to better health, regardless of our biological clock,” he added. The researchers demonstrated that the circadian clocks strike a balance between sufficient nutrition during the fed state and necessary repair or rejuvenation during fasting. When this internal clock is disrupted, as when humans do shift work, or when it is compromised due to genetic defects, the balance breaks down and diseases set in. For the study, the team disabled the genes responsible
for maintaining the biological clock in mice, including in the liver, which regulates many metabolic functions. They then put the mice on one of two high-fat diet regimes: one group had access to food around the clock, the other had access to the same number of calories only during a 10-hour window. As expected, the group that could eat at any time became obese and developed metabolic diseases. But the group that ate the same number of calories within a 10-hour window remained lean and healthy – despite not having an internal “biological clock” and thereby genetically programmed to be morbidly sick. “Many of us may have one or more disease-causing defective genes that make us feel helpless and destined to be sick. The finding that a good lifestyle can beat the bad effects of defective genes opens new hope to stay healthy,” Panda said.
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excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODARdas MODI: the making of a legend”
Australia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Australian counterpart Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
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rime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Australia from November 14 to 18, gave significant momentum to India-Australia ties. He held wideranging talks with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, addressed a joint sitting of the Australian Parliament, a first for an Indian Prime Minister, and met the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Leader of
the Opposition in Canberra. The visit to Australia included participation in the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit and was significant in that, it was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years. He also visited Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, where he met political leaders, academics, business people and sporting figures and addressed members of the Australian Indian community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with world leaders at the G20 Summit in Brisbane
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Several bilateral agreements were signed and new initiatives launched. Both Modi and Abbot agreed to unlock the vast potential of the India-Australia economic relationship, especially in key areas such as resources, education, skills, agriculture, infrastructure, investments, financial services and health. They also agreed to expedite progress towards the early conclusion of arrangements to implement the civil nuclear agreement. Modi described India’s relationship with Australia as a natural partnership arising from shared values and interests and “our” strategic maritime locations. An Australia-India CEO forum was also created and agreements on cooperation in education, sports, security and broadcasting were made.
I think the amount of visible attention given to Modi’s visit by the Australian government heartened a lot of Indians and helped to give the impression that they are taking India
We are impressed by Australian speed as you are charmed by Indian spin. We celebrate the legend of Bradman and the class of Tendulkar together… Today, I have come to unite in spirit, as we were once by geography.
PM Narendra Modi While Addressing Australian parliament seriously as a Indo-Pacific power.
Devirupa Mitra Special Correspondent at the New Indian Express
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODARdas MODI: the making of a legend�
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Fiji
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott after addressing the Australian Parliament in Canberra, Australia.
Address to The Indian community at Allphones arena, Sydney
I have come to assure my fellow Indian citizens living in Australia that they will not have to wait for 28 years ever again to meet their Prime Minister. (27 November 2014)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Fiji National University
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rime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Fiji on November 19 was the first by an Indian Prime Minister after 33 long years. Apart from bilateral talks with his counterpart, Frank Bainimarama, the two nations inked three agreements. Modi announced a visa on arrival facility in India for Fiji nationals. He addressed the Fijian Parliament and said the South Pacific island nation could serve as a hub for stronger Indian engagement with other Pacific Islands. The Indian Prime Minister also interacted with the leaders of 12 Pacific Island nations.
Prime Minister Modi
recognises the great historical link and wants to help us
develop our nation in a range of ways. Frank Bainimarama
Prime Minister of Fiji
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hese days one can leave India in the night and reach Australia by the morning, but it took 28 years for a Prime Minister of India to visit Australia. I have come to assure my fellow Indian citizens living in Australia that they will not have to wait for 28 years ever again to meet their Prime Minister. We must have confidence in the strength of our nation, we must have confidence in the policies of our nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Australian Parliament in Canberra, Australia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Parliament of Fiji in Suva, Fiji, on November 19, 2014.
Continue in next issue
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International Personality
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Sir Isaac Newton
Bible-Loving Scientist Who Chased Counterfeit Currency “I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever” n Urooj Fatima
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ravity...“For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction”. So, when Isaac’s feet pushed on the ground, the ground pushed back. This enabled him to move around. So, gravity motivated him anywhere he wanted to go. It’s a good thing he had gravity. Otherwise, the lack of friction would deprive him of the force to move instead of just flailing about aimlessly. He realised that gravity not only pulled things to the Earth, but that all masses have a gravitational field, and that gravity is what keeps the moon and the planets in orbit around the Sun. He devised a highly exact mathematical theory showing all this and even co-invented calculus in the process. In the course of his pursuit, he discovered a great many properties of nature and formulated general rules for describing the behaviour of natural phenomena. His quest for ancient knowledge and the desire to decipher a code hidden within the Bible is what focused his motivation towards a greater understanding of the universe and natural phenomena. Despite being a scientist, Newton was extremely religious. Newton himself said: “Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done.”
His question, why the Apple fell down on earth? Changed the way of science on the earth
International Personality
Sep 10 - 16, 2018 Newton had an uncanny obsession with Bible. For Newton, the world of science was by no means the whole of life. He spent more time on theology than on science; indeed, he wrote about 1.3 million words on biblical subjects. Yet this vast legacy lay hidden from public view for two centuries until the auction of his nonscientific writings in 1936. Newton’s understanding of God came primarily from the Bible, which he studied for days and weeks at a time. He took a special interest in miracles and prophecy, calculating dates of Old Testament books and analysing their texts to discover their authorship. In a manuscript on rules for interpreting prophecy, Newton noted the similar goals of the scientist and the prophecy expositor: simplicity and unity. His study of Bible actually helped him predict a few things. For instance, he predicted that Lord Christ was crucified exactly on 3 April, AD 33. He also predicted that Apocalypse is not hitting mankind anytime sooner than 2060 AD. Do you really think that Newton’s predictions were mere outcomes of his passion and obsession? Think again! It was Newton who first predicted that Jews will take back Israel and it turned out to be absolutely correct! He learnt Hebrew just because he wanted to find out the hidden meanings in Bible. He actually spent more than half his life hunting those hidden meanings rather than working on science. He was born a preemie to poorly educated parents Newton was born in the English county of Lincolnshire, the only son of a farmer, also named Isaac Newton, and his wife, Hannah Ayscough. Born three months premature, he was so small at birth that he could have fit inside a quart mug, his mother reportedly said. His father was illiterate, and his mother was barely able to read, James Gleick told HuffPost Science in an interview. “He was able to go to university because his mother remarried and so there was some money,” Gleick said. He waited tables As a student at the University of Cambridge, Newton had to wait tables. He was a “sizar,” the term used to describe an undergraduate who received financial assistance in return for performing menial duties. In Newton’s case, that included being a waiter and taking care of other students’ rooms. Even at a young age, he was deeply religious He felt compelled to jot down a list
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at that time were not really sure whether the eyes were responsible for collecting light or creating it and Newton wanted to find that out. Newton wrote in his journal: “I tooke a bodkine gh & put it betwixt my eye & [the] bone as neare to [the] backside of my eye as I could: & pressing my eye [with the] end of it (so as to make [the] curvature a, bcdef in my eye) there appeared severall white darke & coloured circles…”
Isaac Newton as a Crime Fighting Detective In 1696, the 53-year-old Newton left academia for an extremely well-paid position at the Mint. While seemingly a literal license to print money, Newton soon found that this was by no means an “all play, no work” position. Counterfeiters were everywhere, fake money was drowning the real currency, and the country was facing the kind of cash crisis that tends to incite revolutions. So Newton set to work, not just inventing ways to make counterfeiting more difficult, but personally tracking down the forgers. Thus, the world’s greatest scientist turned into the world’s greatest detective. He acquired an enormous network of spies squealing to him about every rotten penny in a 50-mile radius. He took to the streets, hunting for clues and information. And he was efficient as hell -- in his four years on the job, he and his troops captured and executed a total of 27 forgers. That’s right -- “executed.” This presumably earned Newton the undisputed “most kills by a theoretical physicist” championship until the Manhattan Project came along. Newton even had a Moriarty to his Sherlock Holmes: William Chaloner, a genius forger that had acquired an obscene fortune and many influential friends. Chaloner had a degree of untouchability due to his past as a government informant, and as such, he freely challenged Newton. He published pamphlets that advertised his talents, and even once appeared before a House of Commons committee offering his services to reform the corruption at the Mint, thus essentially announcing his plans to take Newton’s place. Newton ended up winning their mental chess by spending two whole years building up an ironclad case against Chaloner, freely intimidating his lieutenants’ wives and mistresses so that they would give up the criminal mastermind. Then he got his adversary hanged.
of his sins in one of his notebooks. Already a student at Trinity College at Cambridge University at the time, he divided these sins into acts that happened before and after Whitsunday 1662, or the seventh Sunday after Easter. Newton took even small lapses quite seriously, such as having unclean thoughts or using the Lord’s name. The list also showed a darker side of Newton, including him making threats to burn his mother and stepfather in their home. Master of the Mint in 1700 Newton played a significant role in recovering Britain from financial crises in the 17th century. At that time, almost 10% of Britain’s currency was forged. Newton had to recall the old currency and issue a more reliable one. He kept a database of offenders and prosecuted them. Later, he was appointed as Master of the Mint in 1700 and held
this post for the rest of his life. A foundation of modern science ‘The Principia Mathematica’ was published by Newton in 1687. This book was the work of thinking for almost 20 years and it took two years for Newton to compile the book. This book contained the concept and theories of universal gravitation, the three laws of motion and his theory of calculus. This book fostered his reputation, and is a source of knowledge and inspiration to millions of scientists, today. A big time weirdo He purposefully stuck a blunt needle known as bodkin in his eye socket. Why did he do that? He was actually experimenting with properties of light and used himself as a guinea pig. James Gleick, author of Newton’s biography released in 2003, said in an interview that Newton did this because people
He practiced alchemy Newton was very much into alchemy. So, what’s alchemy? It is a pseudoscience which deals with the study of converting lead and other base metals into gold. He actually wrote 169 books on it, none of which were ever published during his lifetime because under Act 1404, making gold and silver was considered a felony. He had two nervous breakdowns In 1678, after engaging in a dispute over aspects of his theory of optics, Newton is believed to have suffered a nervous breakdown. In 1693, he had another, after which he retired from scientific research. Newton blamed his second breakdown on lack of sleep, though historians mention other possible causes, including chemical poisoning from experiments as well as the accumulated effects of chronic psychological depression. Why ‘Sir’ Isaac Newton’? The “Sir” in front of Isaac Newton’s name is an honorific, indicating that he had been made a knight by the British monarch. He was a politician too He once became a politician and served for one complete year. In 1689, he became a Member of Parliament. Newton spoke only one sentence. He actually asked an usher to close a drafty window that was open. Newton was given a send-off fit for a king He was a famous and wealthy man at the time of his death in 1727, and he was mourned by the nation. His body lay in state in Westminister Abbey, and the Lord Chancellor was one of his pallbearers. Newton was laid to rest in the famed Abbey, which also hosts the remains of such monarchs as Elizabeth I and Charles II. His elaborate tomb stands in the abbey’s nave and features a sculpture of reclining Newton with an arm resting on a stack of his great printed works. The Latin inscription on the tomb praises him for possessing “a strength of mind almost, and mathematical principles peculiarly his own.”
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September Read
BOOKS
Delight For Bibliophile Here are the books we can’t wait to read this September
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
There will be at least 35 books releasing in the month, covering subjects and themes as diverse as policy, polity, gender, domestic violence, festivals, terrorism and, of course, fiction
e ed tdhra g n a ch achan hat R t m s r ea ), by a y only e Th -1948 ll not from i : w i i h h and ture Ganrdld (1914 atma G his depar in 1948, h a o M f w a nationent and its phy o hi’s life from ssassi Guh biogra
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I
nternational titles by leading authors such as Khaled Hosseini, Neil Gaiman and Yuval Noah Harari will add diversity to the literary space in the coming month. They will be joined by commentator-writer Gurcharan Das, who has penned a comprehensive volume on how to cherish desire, and historian Ramachandra Guha, whose “most definitive new biography of Gandhi” is already creating waves on social media. The month of September -- for all intents and purposes -will bring cheer to bibliophiles as, these offerings apart, there will be at least 35 books releasing in the month, covering subjects and themes as diverse as policy, polity, gender, domestic violence, festivals, terrorism and, of course, fiction. There will be something for every reader.
and ew tic a ovem This ne stor y of Ghis dramafreedom m “a with as k tell th Africa to or y of our o o just a b South so the hist it is to readers e book t a l h a t i h . t h s T bu Gand with r said strand aries. many e publishe ”, revealingcontempor arguments bhas Su is Th n sweep by his s of h innah and a g d y n o i o o t d t s s a l e iJ To s under d new r ad Al s an a e c r he wa lso include, Mohamm rs. u o s ram will a Ambedkar mong otheefore-seen sense of d ed as t a d b . e , e B.R dra Bose of never parallel be mark apu. is boying h o Chan awing on author ’s un work will ook” on B). t s peak bleat Dr d by its latest integral bdia” (2013 . He s reeze, the rowded ’s e a e v t i h r a u r n d c a I b m to its e he ani olitics, G itious an i Before a boatve trees in tHoms with ey and thos d n a and pmost amb to “Gandh i k l h f of o brea ty o ses t the “ follow up wn to the stirring bustling ci the sun ri a d n Sea r a o n f ranea oving ait in Syria, , too, the ee. W he me.” r It is e w t i y d e fl m th rs e ho Me ini eping son afsather’s houhse remembdethey had troch of a newned in the text but thoenate one e s s o w e a d H nd an se an s sl ill d dro ittle haleedr cradles hcialling his gorking pots.yAspat bombeas journey ienfugee whoshows very pl ublisher w K y b r re , th co y sk ss he Syrian of her erilou re the ce cop rayer ach a fa dhood, one. T Sea aPmoonlit beers of his ch,itlhe clankintghe days befmobark on ahpree-year-olgdh the advanost poeticets. “On ng summ her ’s goat d souk, in ions and e rdi, the t nce throu dds an alming refuge the lo grandmot e and gran eir possess of Alan Ku 015. A gla osseini a d support of his its mosqu ll gather th the stor y eptember 2 breath as Hotecting an lanes, d them wi nspired by urope in S e reader ’s cated to pr aroun e book is i afety in E ms hold th CR , dedi by hs NH llia Th tury, n o reac y Dan Wi s sales to U t e g C n t i 1s tr y ations b from it i has the 2 r o illustrd per book f Hararbook i s h r n a a o o r a Yuval N le. His es ss poun i 21 Leal Noah H ey of r y ta n onalit US r u v Yu literary jo hort of a faei key persm r e The nothing s nced som ding for ok CEO Chris d n a been ens” influe be, inclu nd Facebo on-copy n a m i “Sapi s the glo Obama a day a milli wed us an hass il Ga m i e a N d lG acros ent Barackg and is to piens” sho “Homo , by ”, Nei rt”. He hol he s s r d o e t Presid Zuckerber while “Sa cond book ow “21 t n G good a rough t a a c i M r e e Art dell Mark ller. But rom, his se ure and n res the of “Amed to “makare, or how xistence is r e t i d r e Ri brated w ed the ne e times artist’s bestse we came f o the fut ur y ” explo h t e n t l a h s e i d is g f C where looked t 21st Cent o hr ba hli e C g v i w i t h o h ” c whiching t h e s n i e f h u w t o e n r ofte o matter mar y obj s w y D cop hrill . Dra ns fo hand vance us on a t issues. that n er, the pri rt”. oins that visionnifestos, Lesso nt. j d a e n h a t weath ake good a Matters”, diment of reative ma ing and prese the book, rari takes ost urgen gh his a m ou In to “m d in “Art t the embo ems and c g, imagin rational NS, Hgh today ’s nning thrallenge of A I i n p i h s An to presen ches, po d a st in wit ey throu read ru the ch dividual ee ll his fir ill be ow re Ridde er from sp explore h rld, and w e making for the journ golden th book is e and in rienting togeth ook will nge the wo will also b next year a lot to The rating newr collectiv t and diso tanding y b a e n r t h a i a the ng can c d. Gaim in Janu have qu exhila aining ou of constane of unders Lessons st. e l i W s t a o i r a e e d e d h n cr maint in the face till capabl Read “21 o know n in t ng an o read t to I to you fficial visi Festival. Sphenomeno focus e. Are we sve created? Harari t o e r a t u i s t v is chang orld we ha entur y ” by Litera s Gaiman i r u p i a Ja the w e 21st C upon w e h c for th more.
Entertainment
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
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Raj Kapoor holds a very high pedestal in the history of Indian cinema
“A
n ssb bureau
R a j K apoor
wara Hoon, Awara Hoon / Ya Gardish Mein Hoon, Aasmaan Ka Taara Hoon…” You hear these words and immediately black and white images of Raj Kapoor in a Charlie Chaplin-like avatar start flashing infront of your eyes. Born as Ranbir Raj Kapoor on December 14, 1924, to Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Devi in Peshawar, Raj Kapoor had an illustrious career of almost 50 years – both infront and behind the lenses. An influential actor, producer and director with a vision, there was certainly much more to Raj Kapoor than what met the eyes. He entered Indian cinema when it was still in its formative years. His debut to cinema was with Inqilab (1935) at the age of 10. He then worked as a clapper-boy while assisting famed-director Kedar Sharma.
Dream Project
Raj Kapoor went on to produce, direct and star in his dream project and autobiographical experiment – Mera Naam Joker (1970). The movie took more than six years to complete. However, the movie was not well received by the viewers and turned out to be a box office disaster, putting Kapoor and his family into a financial crisis. Though, in later years it was acknowledged as a cult classic. After this, he never faced the camera in his own directed movies.
Fans Abroad
Raj Kapoor’s screen character drew a tremendous response from Indian audiences and fans abroad. He was not only popular in India, but also famous in countries like Africa, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, China, Turkey and Southeast Asia where his songs are remembered till date. Awaara (1951), when released in Russia as Brodigaya, achieved unprecedented success and the song Awaara Hoon became a Russian favourite.
Clapper Boy to Lead
In her book, Raj Kapoor Speaks, Kapoor’s daughter Ritu Nanda recounted an incident of that time, which turned out to landing Kapoor as a lead actor later, told to her by her father: “… I had a good vibe with camera man, and he had agreed to take a close-up of me before every clap and give me the photographs. I used to comb my hair immaculately and then bend my face a little forward over the clapper-board to get a nice close-up… One day, I clapped hard and moved away as usual, but this time the actor’s beard got caught between the clapper-board and the stick. A furious Sharmaji gave me a stinging slap on the face. I was stunned… but I never said a word… As a result of this episode, I got my first lead role. Sharmaji later said, ‘I was struck by the depth and pain in those intense eyes.” This way, he graduated from clapper boy to lead actor under Kedar Sharma’s tutelage in 1947 opposite Madhubala in the movie Neelkamal.
RK Films
In the subsequent year, at the age of just 24 years, he went on to become the youngest director with his film Aag, the first of several films in which he was paired opposite Nargis, and established
Maili (1985) which revolved around concepts alien to the industry – female protagonists. He was appreciated for the aesthetic portrayal of the leading women.
The Show Must Go On!
his own studio – the iconic R K Films. The first hit of the banner was Barsaat (1949). Raj Kapoor set a trend in Bollywood with milestone movies such as Awara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Sangam (1964) Teesri Kasam (1966), and many more. No one could match him in mingling laughter with tears. He opted for serio-comedy, which no other actor of his era experimented with. His penchant for Charlie Chaplin,
his inspiration, was also obvious in acts where he imitated the tramp-like figure.
Female Protagonists
Beside a star actor, cine-lovers saw Raj Kapoor as one of the greatest ProducerDirectors. In the latter half of the ’70s and early ’80s, the filmmaker started producing and directing movies such as Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Prem Rog (1982) and Ram Teri Ganga
Also Know: Rajesh Khanna’s iconic dialogues, Amitabh Bachchan’s credible performance and Anand (1971)’s heartwarming story – we loved all of it. However, the concept of the movie was actually first framed in director Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s mind when he visited his ill friend Raj Kapoor. He originally wanted Kapoor to play the protagonist of the movie, but somehow eventually, the movie landed in superstar Rajesh Khanna’s kitty.
Even in his 60s, he had lost none of his ability to push the audience’s emotional throttle. Sadly, on June 3, 1988, Raj Kapoor, who had been suffering from asthma, finally succumbed. The script of Henna was ready but Kapoor was not there to direct it. In keeping with the theme of his life (as articulated emphatically in Mera Naam Joker) – the show must go on – his eldest son Randhir directed Heena (1991) for the RK banner. If Dilip Kumar was about methodacting, Dev Anand about style and fluidity, Raj Kapoor was a born actor and a proud forwarder of the Kapoor legacy. Whether it was the real and persuasive portrayal of a common man’s life or the thought-provoking issues his projects dealt with, Raj Kapoor left an indelible impact on Indian cinema. He will always remain the original and the ‘greatest showman of Hindi cinema’.
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Sulabh Parivar
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
A group of 13 undergraduate students from Bunkyo University, Japan visited Sulabh Campus. Inside the Museum they enjoyed seeing some major exhibits. They Mr Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, Takayoshi Tange, Senior Representative, MP Singh, Chief Development Specialist, Kengo Akamine, Senior Representative, Yuko Shinohara, Representative and Kaori Honda, Programme Specialist from JICA
Literature
The Price of Indiscretion
U
jjwalaka was a cart-maker, who was very poor due to lack of orders for cart-making. One day, he was fed-up with his poor condition, and thought, “I languish in this poverty, when all other people have some work or the other that pays them. I don’t have a proper home, or proper clothing, or proper food. There is no point in staying here; I shall go somewhere else to seek success.” Thus, the cart-maker took his family and left the town. As he was going through the jungle, he saw a female camel in pain. He noticed that the female camel was left behind by a caravan due to her labour pains. He gave her water, and grass and she recovered. She also gave birth to a baby camel. Next morning, he took the camel and the baby camel under his patronage, and took them to his home. This became the new home for the camels. The camels were very happy. Over time, the baby camel grew taller, and the cart-maker locingly tied a bell
India (Japan International Cooperation Agency) visited Sulabh campus. They were warmly received by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder, Sulabh Sanitation movement and social reform followed by some senior Sulabh executives.
also saw the models of Sulabh technology based two-pit-pourflush toilet, public toilet based biogas plant, Sulabh health centre, Water ATM, etc.
Dr RK Massey, Anil Kumar, Saleja and Priya Massey from Human Care International, Najafgarh, New Delhi visited Sulabh Campus. The guests saw various activities of Sulabh Gram. They were taken to Sulabh Public School where they saw how the trainees were being taught to prepare cheap and hygienic sanitary napkins.
The wise indeed say: A foolish person who refuses to follow a good advice surely comes to grief.
around the young camel’s neck. He started selling the female camel’s milk, and the earnings were enough for him to support his family. He realized that this business was profitable, and he did not require to seek any job. One day, he said to his wife, “I can support the family by selling the milk of one camel. This profession is too easy, and yet profitable. I shall borrow some money from a wealthy merchant and buy another camel. During the time that I am gone, please take proper
care of the camels.” His wife agreed with him, and he started the journey. After a few days, he returned with a young camel. He was fortunate, and within a few years he owned many camels. He even employed a servant to take proper care of the camels. He would reward the servant one baby camel every year. Thus, the cart-maker became rich, and led a happy life. He took care of the camels, and the younger ones, but his favourite camel was the baby camel
who wore a bell around his neck. The jingling sound she made, made the cart-maker very happy. Every afternoon, the camels would graze in the nearby jungle, and ate tender grass. They would also drink water from a big lake, and bath and play games there. They would return before sunset. The young camel that had a bell around his neck always trailed behind the others. Due to this, the other camels always advised him to keep up with them, he stray away and get lost. Despite numerous advices, scoldings, and warnings, he remained conceited, and wandered about on his own. Being their master’s favourite, he was proud of himself. One day, as the camels were grazing about, a lion came wandering. He was attracted by the sound of the bell from a distance, and cautiously observed the group of camels. As he waited for an opportune moment, he noticed the young camels with bell around his neck trailing behind and straying away from the group. The lion followed him, and overtook the camel. Before the camel could raise his voice to alert the others, the lion jumped on him and killed him instantly. .
Events
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
events & more...
ACROSS 3. In 1293 A.D., Marco Polo, an Italian traveller, visited which Indian Kingdom? 7. The Emergency Provisions of Indian Constitution have been borrowed from: 11. Ghumura is an ancient folk dance that originated in which of the following states? 12. Which among the following places is not a site for India’s currency notes printing press? 14. Bikini Day is observed in which of the following countries? 15. Vindhyashakti was founder of which of the following dynasties in ancient India? 16. Which of the following was the first planet to have its motions plotted across the sky during the second millennium BC? 18. Clouded Leopard National Park is located in which state? 19. Buddhism from India was introduced to which current region by Kasyapa Matanga? 20. Which of the following is the essential element for batteries used in electric cars?
SSB crossword no. 39
events
Find Everything From Chanderi to Benarasi At This Saree Exhibition Venue : Aga Khan Hall MANDI HOUSE
6, Bhagwan Das Lane, Mandi House, New Delhi 18 Sep 11:00 AM - 19 Sep 7:30 PM
SOLUTION of crossword no.38
An Afternoon Of Movie Screening & Lunch With MG Motor India Venue : Jamie’s Italian VASANT KUNJ
Ambience Mall, 3rd Floor, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 22 Sep 2018, 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Maharashtrian Food PopUp Has Homemade Fish Fry, Lamb Chops & More Venue : DLF Phase 2 DLF Phase 2, Sector 25, Gurgaon 23 Sep 2018, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1.Iran
11.Oxytocin
2.Yamuna
12. Delhi
3.ISRO
13.Ranchi
4.Cricket
14.Hanoi
5.Japan
15.Kerala
6.INC
16.Rajasthan
7.Russia
17.Colombo
8.Marathi
18.Odisha
9.Myanmar
19.Paris
10.Leprosy
20.Rajasthan
solution of sudoku-38
Put On Your Running Shoes! Pinkathon Is Back Venue : Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Pragati Vihar Pragati Vihar, New Delhi 23 Sep 2018, 5:30 AM - 8:30 AM
31
DOWN 1. Myanmar does not share its international boundary with__? 2. Which Indian state share the longest land border which Bhutan? 4. Which of the following is not present in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of India? 5. Umiam Lake, also known as Barapani Lake, is located in which state? 6. Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPS) is an scheme of Indian Government provided to _? 8. Kamal-ud-Din Abd-ur-Razzaq ibn Ishaq Samarqandi, a Persian Islamic Scholar, visited which Indian city during early 1440s? 9. Which of the following is not a classical dance of India? 10. How many presidents of India so far were elected unopposed? 13. Which of the following is the official language in Argentina? 17. Ruqaiya Sultan Begum was the wife of which Mughal Ruler?
sudoku-39
The Half Fried Show by Aakash Gupta Venue : Playground Playground Comedy Studio
C-2, Basement, SDA Market, New Delhi Wed, 19 Sep 8:00PM - 9:30PM
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
Newsmakers
Sep 10 - 16, 2018
Unsung Hero Hamasa
Donates Lottery Money to CM’s Relief Fund The man inspires us to do our bit in rebuilding the flood-hit state
Kannan Gopinathan
Silent Service
Without Revealing His Identity, This IAS Officer Volunteered For 8 Days In Kerala Flood Relief Camps
T
he recent floods in Kerala have left a trail of destruction, but brought out the best of humanity among the people. Now, a young IAS officer is being praised for his silent service to the floodaffected people. For eight days, Kannan Gopinathan worked at relief camps in flood-ravaged Kerala, spending two of those carrying large packages on his head while offloading relief material from trucks in the port city of Kochi. On the ninth day, he was recognised as an IAS officer and he quietly left, as discreetly as he
had arrived and helped. Once that engagement was over, the 32-year-old took a bus from state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Not to his home town Puthupally, but to one of Kerala’s worstaffected areas, Chengannur, where he went from camp to camp helping distressed people forced to abandon their homes and seek shelter. He had also volunteered in a camp in Alappuzha for days, without revealing his identity before moving to Ernakulam. The 2012 batch IAS officer even shared some light moments from his travel around Kerala on Twitter.
AR Umamaheswara Sarma
Cop Father Salutes IPS Daughter
F
She is my senior officer. When I see her at work, I salute her
or a parent, seeing their offspring do well and prosper brings immense joy. This is a story of a father-daughter duo which will leave you with a smile. Deputy Commissioner of Police AR Umamaheswara Sarma has been serving in police for over three decades. His daughter joined the force four years ago, but Sarma saluted his daughter when they came face to face on 3rd September. Sarma feels proud to salute his senior officer Sindhu Sarma, who is Superintendent of Police of Jagtiyal district of Telangana. “This is the first time we have come together while doing our duties. I am fortunate to work with her,” said Umamaheswara Sarma, who began his career as sub-inspector and was recently conferred the IPS rank. “She is my senior officer. When I see her, I salute her. We do our respective duties and don’t discuss this, but at home we are just like any father and daughter,” said the proud father.
He continues, “At home, I am a doting grandfather to Sindhu’s son, while she dons the cap of a mother just as easily as she does her uniform.” “I am very happy. This is a good opportunity for us to work together,” said Sindhu, who was looking after women’s security at a public meet.
I
n a remarkable gesture, a man from Kerala donated Rs 1 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) in view of the flood situation in the state. The devastating rains and floods in the state have left over 300 people dead and over 8.69 lakh people shifted to relief camps. The man, named Hamasa, who donated the amount, is a lottery agent. He had won third prize in the Nirmal lottery. He personally handed the cheque of Rs 1 lakh to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Seeing the devastation all around his state, Hamsa, accompanied by his wife Sonia, and daughters Hanna Fathima and Hadia, met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and handed over the winning ticket to him. He also requested the Chief Minister to get a government official to redeem the ticket and use the money for relief work. Chief Minister took to Facebook to urge the people, including the Malayali diaspora across the world to donate one month’s salary for the relief efforts in the state. Kerala Governor P Sathasivam had also tweeted urging people holding ‘high offices’ to donate their salaries to CMDRF. In his post, the chief minister had said, “We can overcome any hurdle if Malayalis across the world stand united. Money will not be a hurdle for rebuilding Kerala. Let Malayalis across the world contribute their one month’s salary for rebuilding the state. We should think about this.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address had also reiterated that the “entire nation” was with Kerla and added that “125 crore Indians stand by them, shoulder to shoulder”. “From Kutch to Kamrup, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, everyone is trying to contribute in some way or the other so that wherever a disaster happens, be it Kerala or any other part of the country, human life returns to normalcy. Irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing,” he said.
RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561, Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 Volume - 2, Issue - 39 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