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Nikkei Asia Prize
Swachh Survekshan 2018
Biggest Solar Power Plant
The Making of A Legend
Dr Pathak has won Nikkei Asia Prize for ‘Culture & Community’
Swachh Survekshan 2018 increased its scale by surveying 4,203 cities from 434 cities
The fully-automatic solar plant in Itanagar will be able to run without human labour
Swachh Bharat is about promoting sanitation civic sense and making India a clean country
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RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561
A Good News Weekly
Vol - 2 | Issue - 23 | May 21-27, 2018 | Price ` 5/-
Crusader of 'Modern India' Raja Ram Mohan Roy
His efforts led to the abolition of Sati in 1829 by Lord William Bentinck, the then Governor-General of India urooj fatima
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aja Ram Mohan Roy was hailed as the father of Bengal Renaissance. Nineteenth century India witnessed a remarkable transformation in social ideas. Ageold ‘Sati system’, i.e., burning of widows on her dead husband’s funeral pyre was abolished due to the effort of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He was the founder of Brahmo Samaj and he also played a vital role in the abolition of polygamy and child marriage in India. He was born with the stamp of modernity and was ahead of times in his own country. He would have been equally regarded so amongst westerners as well. If his countrymen were to visualise him as the inspirer of an era of social and religious reforms, however fruitful in many directions that movement has been, they will allot him a much larger space in their esteem and affection. Tributes to the memory of Raja Ram Mohan Roy have been paid in various parts of the country and they all show how modern he was at the time of his death two hundred years ago. We may prophesy he will probably continue to be equally modern in some respects fifty years
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Cover Story Quick Glance
He studied Bengali, Arabic, Persian, English, Sanskrit and Law He also got educated in scriptures and tantra from Varanasi He worked for East India Company first as a clerk and later on a Dewan
hence. The secret of this modernity of this great man lies partly in his comprehensive rational outlook and in the intrepid and resolute action that marked his remarkable career touching almost every aspect of life, and partly in the slow progress of events in social and political systems for the greater part of the century following his death. Ram Mohan Roy was of firm view that the problems relating to the Hindu caste-based customs and the resultant misery of the people were of more immediate importance than the political transformation of India. Not that India’s Independence was less important, but that in order to tackle the issue, it was essential to liberate the Indian society from the chains of caste-based customs. He wielded his pen, mainly against the ill treatment towards women and low caste people in the Hindu society. He strongly opposed the denial of property rights to women in the family, prohibition of widow re-marriage, the system of Sati, polygamy, restrictions imposed on schooling of girls, the pardah system confining woman to the home, and so on. He demanded that polygamy and Sati be banned and widows be given the right to re-marry. It was during the first three decades of the 19th century that Ram Mohan started propagating these ideas. Initially it was confined within the state of Bengal then it spread throughout India. Fondly called the “Maker of Modern India”, social and educational reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a visionary who lived during one of India’s darkest social phases but strived his best to make his motherland a better place for the future generations to come. Born into a Bengali family in British India, he joined hands with other prominent Bengalis like Dwarkanath Tagore to form the socio-religious organization Brahmo Samaj, the renaissance movement of the Hindu religion which set the pace for Bengali enlightenment. Given the fact that Ram Mohan Roy was born into a family which displayed religious
May 21-27, 2018
The Men Who Led Brahmo Samaj After Raja Ram Mohan Roy
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fter the death of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Bristol in 1832, the two prominent people who managed the Brahmo Samaj were Dwarakanath Tagore, grandfather of the poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, and Pandit Ram Chandra Vidyabagish. As Dwarakanath was a public figure he was engaged with many of the important issues of the day. The general affairs of the Brahmo Samaj were managed by Dwarakanath’s estate manager, but it was Pandit Ram Chandra Vidyabagish who looked after the core, spiritual activities of the new fellowship. But it was Dwarakanath’s son, Debendranath, the father of the poet, who becomes an important figure of a rejuvenated Brahmo Samaj, 10 years after the death of Ram Mohan Roy. Debendranath had his own moment of spiritual crisis and enlightenment in 1838 when he was just 21 years of age. He felt the need for the Supreme Being, who is the source of all the creation, and he decided to learn Sanskrit so that he could read the Upanishads in the original. Ram Mohan Roy was his father’s friend, and therefore, Debendranath knew the great reformer himself. Debendranath had set up Tattvabodhini Sabha and many of his friends were drawn to it. He converted to Brahmo Samaj in 1843, and it was Pandit Ram Chandra Bagish, who had initiated Debendranath and his friends.
Debendranath tried to take back the Brahmo Samaj to the ideas and practices established by Ram Mohan Roy. After Debendranath, it was Keshab Chandra Sen, who becomes a prominent figure in the Brahmo Samaj movement. Sen hailed from an influential Kolkata family and he joined the Samaj in 1857. Debendranath took a great liking to the young entrant. Sen began to preach the principles of Brahmo Samaj through lectures and through written tracts. In 1861, Debendranath Tagore and Keshab Chandra Sen raised funds for people affected by famine in north-west India. Debendranath had also appointed Sen as the leader of the Brahmo Samaj. Sen in his new position took up the issue of women’s education, inter-caste marriages. He also took up missionary activity. The message of Brahmo Samaj was taken to other parts of Bengal and to other parts of India. There was a split in Brahmo
He witnessed the awful scene of his sister-in-law being burnt alive on her husband’s pyre and was stricken with pity and remorse diversity which was unusual in Bengal at the time, it comes as no surprise that the young Ram Mohan Roy was disturbed by the problems arising due to religious and social malpractices. Along with other reformers and
visionaries he fought against the evil practices prevalent in the Indian society at that time and helped to eradicate several of them. He also left a deep impact in the fields of politics and education.
Samaj in the mid-1860s. The breakaway group was led by Keshab Chandra Sen, and the older one, which became known as Adi Brahmo Samaj, remained under the leadership of Debendranath Tagore. People usually say that Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj as a rebellion against Hinduism, but he declared himself as a disciple of the ultimate philosopher of Sanatan Dharm, Adi Shankaracharya. His fight was against Brahmanical tyranny, not against Hinduism, but against Hindu dogma. He was truly free of dogma. He quoted extensively from old Bengali books such a Chaitanya Charitamrit. But he never accepted that book - or for that matter any book, as a religious scripture. It can be seen that after Ram Mohan Roy, the two big leaders who had led the Brahmo Samaj in new directions were Debendranath Tagore and Keshab Chandra Sen. But there are many other luminaries who were part of the Brahmo Samaj movement through the 19th century, including social reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. The movement also gave rise to aggressive rationalism and a fight against superstition and idolatry. There was fierce resistance from the orthodox sections of Hindu society of the time in Bengal. It can be said that long after the death of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Brahmo Samaj continued to play a revolutionary role in the intellectual life of Bengal.
Abolition of Sati
In 1812, his brother died and his widow was forced to burn herself at his lit pyre. Young Ram Mohan tried his best to stop the evil from occurring but failed miserably. This incident left a deep impression on his mind. Raja Ram Mohan Roy raised his voice against the Sati system. The wife was mercilessly thrown on to her dead husband’s pyre if she did not enter voluntarily. She was termed as Sati. The Brahmins and other higher
Cover Story
May 21-27, 2018
Roy visited England as an ambassador of the Mughal King, but also to ensure that Bentick’s regulation banning Sati was not overturned castes in the society encouraged it. Ram Mohan protested against it vehemently. He went to England to be a witness before the Privy Council against this cruel practice where the orthodox Indians had appealed to repeal the ban. His efforts bore fruits and this practice was stopped by an Act passed in 1829 during Lord William Bentinck’s tenure. Thus, a long prevailing ugly practice of the Hindus was uprooted. He personally used to visit crematoriums to keep an eye on the people who forced womenfolk to commit sati at their husbands’ pyre. He struggled a lot to make people realize that not only was sati a meaningless ritual, it was also very cruel and evil.
Campaigner of Women’s Liberty
Other men like Raja Rammohan Roy arose who took up the cause of women’s reforms and emancipation. Raja Rammohan Roy was followed by men like Dayanand Saraswathi, Ishwara Chandra Vidyasagar, D. K. Kharve, Veerasingalingam Panthulu, Sir Hari Singh Gour, Bilas Sardha and Subramania Bharathi, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak who laboured for freeing women from the bonds and customs and conventions that hampered their growth physically and mentally. Raja Ram Mohan Roy advocated the liberty of women. He was determined to give women their proper place in society. Besides abolishing Sati, he advocated widow remarriage. He also said that like sons, daughters have also right over parental property. He also influenced the British government to bring necessary modification in the existing law. He raised voice against child-marriage and polygamy. He was the advocate of women’s education. Thus, he advocated women’s liberty and awakened them. Today in India a woman is treated at par with man and empowered with all facilities and access to everything. Had Roy not brought the renaissance through his movement fighting against the orthodox and superstitious beliefs, things would have been different. His efforts have borne fruit.
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Emancipation Of Women By Sulabh
Opposition to Caste System
The caste system was a very ugly practice prevailing in Indian society right from the later Vedic age. Indian society was fragmented in the name of different castes. The higher castes like Brahmins and Kshatriyas looked down upon the Sudras, Chandalas and other aboriginals. Ram Mohan opposed this ugly system of the Indian society. To him everybody was a son or daughter of the God. So, there is no difference among men. There should not exist hatred and animosity among them. Everybody is equal before God. Thus, ignoring differences among themselves they should embrace each other. Then, the true purpose of God will be materialized. By advocating this equality among men. Ram Mohan became the eyesore of many higher caste Indians.
Advocate of Western education
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a great scholar with deep knowledge in the Vedas, Upanishads, Quran, Bible and several other holy scriptures. He realised the importance of English language. He could visualize the need for a scientific, rational and progressive education for Indians. During his time, when controversy was going on between the orientalists and occidentalists, he sided with the latter and argued in favour of introduction of English system of education. He liked Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Philosophy. At the same time he also desired that the Indian Vedic studies and philosophical systems to be studied and analyzed properly. His motto was to take Indians on the path of progress. He established English school in 1816 and Vedanta College in 1825. He wanted to introduce modem system of education. Of course, he could not live to see the introduction of English system of education in India in 1835. However, his efforts and dreams became a reality after his death.
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he reform movement started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an inspiration to other reform movements in different parts of the country. Following the path of Raja Mohan Roy, founder of Sulabh International organization, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak has been working for the empowerment of women for a long time. Sulabh movement has made significant contribution towards women’s security through nationwide sanitation campaign and welfare work for the widows of Vrindavan and Varanasi. Besides, it also undertakes social upliftment programmes especially for female scavengers. Despite the long cultural legacy of caste system, around 200 women from Alwar and Tonk districts of Rajasthan took a bath at the famous Ramghat on the
Father of Indian Journalism
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the ‘Father of Indian Journalism’. He believed in the freedom of press. He edited a newspaper in Bengali named ‘Sambad
banks of Kshipra River to promote egalitarian social inclusion. Since, the last five years, Sulabh has been celebrating festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Christmas.
Widow (Vinita) Re-mariage After 16 Years
Who could have thought that a widow from the Kedarnath catastrophe could be ceremoniously given in marriage with all the splendour that a woman gets in her first wedding? And make no mistake, it happened 160 years after historical enactment of the socially revolutionary work done by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar way back. Dr Pathak, a strong supporter of widow remarriage, didn’t want this revolutionary event that has brought social change to go unnoticed.
Kaumudi’. He was also the editor of Mirat-ul-Akbar. When restrictions were imposed on the publications of newspapers, he reacted sharply and criticized the British authorities vehemently.
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Cover Story
May 21-27, 2018
Quick Look AT His Life •He advocated unity among gods. He also advised people to be guided by the conscience. To all, he appealed to observe the principle of unity of God. He studied Christianity and Islam as well •He formed the Atmiya Sabha as a philosophical discussion circle to debate monotheistic Hindu Vedantism and similar subjects •He was against idol worship and orthodox Hindu rituals •He denounced the caste system • Ram Mohan Roy was born into a high-ranking Brahman family in West Bengal. His father Ramkanto Roy was a Vaishnavite, while his mother Tarinidevi was a Shaivite— this was very unusual during those times where marriages between different religious sub-sects were uncommon
•He also attacked the custom of Sati, the custom of burning of widows upon the funeral pyres of their deceased husbands. His endeavours lead to the prohibition of Sati in 1829 by Lord William Bentinck, the then GovernorGeneral of India
•His family had been serving the imperial Mughals for three generations
•He started the Sambad Kaumudi, a Bengali weekly newspaper which regularly denounced Sati as barbaric and against the tenets of Hinduism
•As was the custom during those days he was first married as a child. When his child-bride died, he was married again. His second wife too predeceased him. His third marriage was to Uma Devi who outlived him. He had two sons •The title ‘Raja’ was bestowed upon him by the Mughal emperor Akbar II, in 1831. •At the age of 14 Ram Mohan expressed his desire to become a monk, but his mother vehemently opposed the idea and he dropped it •He translated the Vedas and Upanishads into Bengali, Hindi, and English and wrote summaries and treatises on them. For him, the central theme of those texts was the worship of the Supreme God who is beyond human knowledge and who supports the universe. In 1824, in appreciation of his translations, the French Societe Asiatique elected him to an honorary membership •He was a polyglot who had mastered various languages such as Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, English, Bengali and Hindi
•He established the Anglo-Hindu school in the year 1822 •In 1829, he visited England as the unofficial representative of the titular king of Delhi •He was the first Indian to apply to the Indian environment the fundamental social and political ideas of the French and American revolutions •He also spoke against the unjust policies of the British government especially the restrictions on press freedom •He contracted meningitis while on a trip to England and died on 27 September 1833. •Bristol’s Museum has his portrait by Henry Briggs, his burial in garden has a memorial made of granite and still is visited by many due to their curiosity for Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
He started the Sambad Kaumudi, a Bengali weekly newspaper which regularly denounced Sati as barbaric and against the tenets of Hinduism In his editorials, he reflected on important social, political, economic, religious and other problems with which Indians were entangled. This awaked public consciousness. His writings were so powerful that people were deeply moved by this. He could express his views in powerful English.
Champion of Nationalism
Raja Ram Mohan Roy believed in the political freedom of man. He advised Indians to have freedom in thought and action. He set up a bright example by condemning the Jury Act of 1826 which had introduced religious discrimination in the law courts. According to this Act a Hindu or a Mohammedan could be tried either by a European or a native Christian but not vice versa. Ram Mohan protested against it. He wrote a letter to J. Crawford, one of his English friends in this way— “…. a country like India could not possibly be expected to be suppressed by force as Ireland had been.” Thus, his nationalism was explicit. He fought for the legitimate rights of the Indians and championed the cause of Indian nationalism. Further, Ram Mohan Roy himself proceeded to London to plead on behalf of Akbar, the Mughal Emperor. This reflected his nationalism.
Champion of Internationalism
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the champion of internationalism. He wanted universal religion, synthesis of human culture and ideas, end of imperialism and peaceful co-existence of nations. Thus, he became the harbinger of a modem age. No Indian by that time had seriously thought about what Ram Mohan advocated. He advocated the principle of collaboration of mankind. This led Rabindranath Tagore to comment— “Ram Mohan was the only person in his time …. to realize completely the significance of the modem age. He knew that the ideal of human civilization does not lie in isolation of independence but in the brotherhood of interdependence of individuals and nations.” “Ram Mohan’s writings are works that will immortalize the name of Ram Mohan and leave future generation to wonder that English writings of so much beauty and excellence should be the production, not of a naturalborn Briton, but of an enlightened, self-taught Indian Brahmin”. Our Nation needs his followers to bring another RENAISSANCE movement in India to bring forward his legacy and to make MODERN India with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam slogan.
Awards
May 21-27, 2018
achievers
Quick Glance
Sulabh founder awarded Nikkei Asia Prize
Environment and health pioneers win awards for Asian contributions
The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to Asia’s development
Trio of change-makers fought deepset challenges with knowledge
SSB BUREAU
Dr Pathak has been considered for the prize under “Culture and Community”
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Bindeshwar Pathak views toilets as a tool for social justice that benefits the lowest rungs of Indian society
Chinese environmentalist using the power of the internet to promote cleaner industry, a Vietnamese doctor bringing cuttingedge medicine to children and an Indian social reformer tackling two of his country’s biggest challenges poor hygiene and discrimination have been awarded this year’s Nikkei Asia Prizes. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to Asia’s development. The prizes will be awarded on June 13 in Tokyo. The recipients of the 23rd Nikkei Asia Prizes are:
Bindeshwar Pathak, India, founder, Sulabh International: Winner for culture and community
Bindeshwar Pathak founded an NGO in 1970 that has built Sulabh flush composting toilets throughout India, contributing to better sanitation, safety for rural women and freedom from the manual labor of removing human waste, long a source of stigma in Indian society. The Nikkei Asia Prizes were created in 1996 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Nikkei Inc.’s main Japanese-language newspaper, The Nikkei. They honor contributions to the region in three fields: economic and business innovation; science and technology; and culture and community. Experts from across the Asia-Pacific region submit nominations. Candidates cannot nominate themselves, and Japanese individuals and organizations are ineligible.
Nguyen Thanh Liem, Vietnam, director, Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cell and Gene Technology: Winner for science and technology
Nguyen Thanh Liem, one of Vietnam’s leading pediatric physicians, in 1997 performed the country’s first minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery on a child. He went on to introduce robo-assisted surgery and other advanced technology that has brought lifechanging treatments to children.
Ma Jun, China, founding director, Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE): Winner for economic and business innovation
Ma Jun leads a nongovernmental organization that produces an online pollution database, presenting the information in an easy-to-search format organized by region. The institute also publishes indexes of corporate work to benefit the environment, spurring provincial governments and industry to strengthen their protection efforts.
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About The Prize
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he Nikkei Asia Prize is an award which recognizes the achievements of people and organizations that have improved the lives of people throughout Asia. The awards were created and presented by Nikkei Inc, one of the largest media corporations in Japan. Launched in 1996, the programme honors people in Asia who have made significant contributions in one of the three areas: regional growth; science, technology and innovation; and culture. The category for regional growth (Economic and Business Innovation) is designed to recognize business and economic initiatives that improve living standards and stability in their regions. This could be entrepreneurs who have successfully developed industries and businesses due to innovation. The category for science, technology and environment was established to recognize scientific researches and technological innovations in various fields. The category for Culture is designed to recognize people who have made a difference in their countries and Asia through cultural, artistic or educational activities.
Selection
Judging is based on each nominee’s contributions to the region’s sustainable development and to the creation of a better future for Asia. Consideration will also be given to the originality, impact, and newsworthiness of each nominee’s achievements.
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Sulabhvaad
May 21-27, 2018
Swachh Bharat Mission Ceremony
Change in habits and sensitivity to cleanliness With construction of toilets, change in public habits can be experienced: Dr Bindeshwar Pathak Dr Ashok Kumar Jyoti
with soil. He wanted a scientific toilet for the dignity of the people, but this was not possible during his lifetime. Dr Pathak said that in order to eliminate scavenging from the country, the Malkani Committee was formed by the government in 1957, resulting in no significant change. The committee only said that good containers should be made available to people engaged in the dirt operations so that their bodies do not become dirty. In this way the problem of scavenging remained intact.
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To change peoples’ habits, firstly, there should be a toilet in every house. As the toilets are built in homes, people’s habits are also changing with it. Earlier there was no alternative except to go for open defecation, but today the toilets are being made, therefore now everyone go to the ‘Izzat Ghar’ for defecation.” These things were said by, founder Sulabh International Social Service Organisation and Padma Bhushan of ‘Sulabhvaad’, Dr Bindeswar Pathak, on 8th May, 2018, organised by News Service Division of AIR, New Delhi, regarding ‘Change in habits and sensitivity to cleanliness’. As the keynote speaker, Dr Pathak was speaking in the one-day workshop. He said that Mahatma Gandhi had said that cleanliness should be achieved first, freedom later. Today the country has been particularly vigilant towards cleanliness on the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has given sanitation a place of respect and has highlighted its importance by calling the toilets ‘Izzat Ghar’.
The Old Way of Doing It
Referring to the tradition of open defecation in the country, Dr Pathak said that in ‘Devi Puran’ it is mentioned that if we shoot an arrow from our house, we should defecate only at the distance where it has fallen. Before defecation, a hole should be first dug there, it should be layered with twigs
Quick Glance Mention is made in the scriptures regarding open defecation
Dr Pathak said that the first person to notice the problem was Gandhi ji
Manual scavenging began from the era of Muslim rulers
Inspiration Dawned at the Gandhi Birth Centenary Festival
and leaves, and then after defecation it should be covered again with grass or leaves and also mud. He said that for this reason the practice of defecation in the open is still prevalent in our society till today. He said that people, though they continue to go out in the open they have forgotten the habit of covering it. That is why there are many types of diseases due to the faeces lying uncovered in the open. Diarrhea, hookworm, roundworm etc. are due to the presence of faeces in the open.
Other Forms of Toilets Provided by Foreign Rulers
Dr Pathak said that the women of Muslim rulers used to live in purdah and they did not go out for defecation. That is why the construction of bucket-type open toilets was made in their homes. Hindu Rajput prisoners were kept for cleaning the excreta. It is mentioned that 29 sub-castes of Rajputs were made scavengers by the Muslim, whose caste names are still the same as their earlier names. They were kept in the category of untouchables due to the scavenging of human faeces by hand. Large houses were built on the arrival of the British, but they did not have a
toilet system. First of all, arrangements for sewer lines in Calcutta were started in 1870, but that too partially. Today there are 7,935 cities in India, in which sewer is there only in 732 cities. He said that there is a provision of 29 percent sewage treatment even in big cities like Delhi. Sewer systems could not have led to elimination of the practice of scavenging and neither could it have ended the practice of defecation in open. This system is very expensive and it is not possible to apply it everywhere. That’s why there is a lack of hygiene in Africa, Latin American countries. Secondly, the arrangement of septic tank too is not enough. There is a system of septic tanks in America’s villages, which too is not a proper solution.
Gandhiji’s Contribution
Dr Pathak said that the first person to notice the problem was Gandhiji. He made trench latrines. Dr Pathak recalled his childhood saying that Trench Latrine was built in the house of his maternal grandfather, which the family used. He said that Gandhi talked of ‘soil on the stool’. That is, when we defecate in the open, we must cover it
29 sub-castes of Rajputs were made scavengers by Muslims, whose caste nickname continues to be still the same today
Dr Pathak said that no one came forward to improve the condition of the scavengers after Gandhi. Many people made some initiatives, but they did not succeed in bringing about a big change. In the year 1968, Dr Pathak joined the Bihar Gandhi Birth Centenary Celebrations Committee, in which he was given the task in the Bhangi Mukti Samiti. For this, he went to the habitations of the Scavengers in Bettiah, Bihar. “While living in Bettiah, I was very upset with the two incidents that happened there. In one incident, a mother-in-law was forcefully sending a new bride to the job of scavenging, but her daughter-in-law did not want to go. When I protested against this, the mother-in-law put a big question in front of me, what would I do if I did not carry out this work?” I felt helpless. In the second incident, a boy wearing a red shirt was hit by a truck. Some people ran to help him, but the crowd heard a voice say that this boy was living in the habitations of the scavengers. Immediately, all turned back. I took him to the hospital, but his life was not saved. These incidents prompted me to do some solid and ground work for the scavengers.”
Sulabh Magic Toilet is Proper Solution
Dr Pathak said that in order to eliminate the malady of scavenging and to remove untouchability, he invented two-pit Sulabh magic toilet
Sulabhvaad
May 21-27, 2018 technology. In it, a pit is used at a time and a crater is placed in standby. When the first crater is filled then the second is used and during this period, the pothole of the first turns into compost. That’s why no scavenger is needed to clean it. In this way we gave the technique the name of Sulabh magic toilets instead of bucket toilets, which could not have solved this major problem of society. He said that we have constructed 15 lakh toilets across the country, which is still running properly today.
together. Dr Pathak said that there are 6, 46,000 villages across the country today. Every village has a Brahmin. If they go to the homes of the dalits, conduct puja there, take offerings from them, eat their food here, untouchability will end automatically.
Question Session
Big Social Change
Dr Pathak said that Sulabh has constructed nearly 9,000 public toilets and these are being used by around 2 crores people every day. He said that the world’s largest Sulabh public toilet is located in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, and that about 4 lakh people use the toilets daily. He said that when we first constructed Sulabh public toilets in Patna, people used to say that who will pay for using these toilets, the Bihari mind-set being such that they do not pay to buy tickets even in buses and railways. But when we started, about 500 people used it on the same day by paying the 10 paisa fee. Now public toilets are there in 26 states and 4 Union Territories, and they are functioning. Referring to scientific Sulabh techniques to produce biogas from the Sulabh public toilets, he said that both these techniques are effective for keeping the cities clean and also helping in water conservation. He said that we have built five Sulabh public toilets areas in Kabul city of Afghanistan, in collaboration with the Indian government, which also work in -30 degree temperature.
The Habit of Hygiene
Sulabh founder Dr Pathak said that after Gandhi, if anyone has talked about cleanliness and toilets, then it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has sanctioned cleanliness as a drive. He said that he cleans his toilet after use. He further said that only when civil, institution and government bodies work together, then only complete sanitation can be reached. He said that in view of the publicity of the cleanliness drive Aakashvani is doing important work because it has access to remote villages and people.
Participation of Local Peoples’ Representatives
Dr Pathak said that it is necessary to keep our areas clean; therefore those who are local public representatives should take this initiative. He said that
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The first goal of ‘Sulabhvaad’ is to find out the problems of society and to remove those problems by diagnosing them every village head should supervise the cleaning system there. In the same way, the councillors should look into the cleaning system in the cities. Participation is essential in this.
Initiatives by Sulabh for the Welfare of Widows
Dr Pathak said that this was the first time in the history of the country that the Supreme Court directed the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to ask Sulabh International whether they could feed the widows living in Vrindavan’s ashrams. This happened after a report by Aarti Dhar, a senior correspondent, appeared in the newspaper ‘The Hindu’ about the plight of the widows of Vrindavan. The report also mentioned that after death, even the funeral of these widows is not done properly, the corpses are cut up, stuffed in a sack and thrown into the Yamuna River. Nalsa petitioned the court and sought to save the life of these widows. After the directive of the Honourable Supreme Court, Sulabh took the responsibility of serving the widows living in Vrindavan. Sulabh has provided five ambulances, TVs, fridges, water filters, etc. for their medical care and the institution is also providing them Rs. 2000 per month as assistance money. They have been taught to read and write Hindi, Bengla and English. Festivals such as Holi, Dussehra, and Diwali etc. are also organized for boosting their selfconfidence and dignity. Since most of them are residents of Bengal, they were taken to Kolkata and included in the celebration of festival of Dussehra, where many of their relatives also came to meet them. In this way Sulabh gave them a new life. After death, the funeral arrangement is also done in a respectful manner.
Sulabh Drinking Water
Dr Pathak said that when we were informed that drinking water containing arsenic was being consumed in Midnapore, 24 Parganas and Madhusudan Kati areas of West Bengal, and people have become afflicted with various types of skin diseases and stomach diseases, then Sulabh stepped in to help by purifying the wells and the water of the river. Sulabh has provided clean drinking water which is available for just 50 paise per liter.
Concept of ‘Sulabhvaad’
In his speech, Dr Pathak said that exploring the problems in society and then eliminating those problems would be the first goal of ‘Sulabhvaad’. Dr Pathak said that for the social upliftment of scavengers, Gandhi wanted that the president of this country be a scavenger. I cannot make anyone the president of the country, he said, but I have made Alwar’s scavenger woman Usha Chaumar, who was rehabilitated by Sulabh International, the President of Sulabh International. He said that now she is not a scavenger, but a Brahmin. I have changed their caste and made them Brahmins. When there is a system of change of religion in the society, there should be a system of change of caste also.
The Creation of Harmony in Society
Dr Pathak said that Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar had given four remedies to end untouchability. He believed that by merely going into Parliament or becoming a legislator, the curse of untouchablity will not end. Sulabh founder Dr Pathak said that we sat together with high caste people and scavengers in Alwar and Tonk cities and fed them and entered the temples
A question-session was held at the end of Dr Pathak’s speech. Mrityunjaya asked if he had thought of implementing smart cards for payment after using the toilets. Dr Pathak said that this system would be good. We are in favor of this idea. Making the atmosphere lighthearted, Dr Pathak said that the facility would be available even if you do not have a card or there is no money because if you have to go, you have got to go! Dr Pathak said that in 1987-88, in a slum area it was said that money should not be taken from the people for the use of toilets, because these people are very poor. We stopped taking money. After a few days people living in the slum came and said that we want to give money. We asked what happened. People said that our children and their children are not getting married because people from other areas think that we are very poor. The third question was put by Akashvani’s administrative officer, Chunni Lal. He asked what you would like to say about the dry toilets in the foreign countries because it does not need water. In response, Dr Pathak said that our culture has been to clean the excreta with water. We do not clean with toilet paper. The habit is such that we like to take a shower after defecation. But it is fine for countries where it is very cold. Dr Pathak said that now our daughters-in-laws’ habit of going to the toilet is changing. In fact they prefer to marry only when there are toilets in their in-laws’ house. Anita Bai Narre of Betul, on whose story Akshay Kumar made a film ‘Toilet: Ek Prem katha’, Priyanka Bharti of Maharajganj, Priyanka Rai of Kushinagar and Chaitali Dilip Rathore of Maharashtra, were mentioned by Dr Pathak for their insistence on having a toilet built in their in-laws house for respect and dignity. Describing an incident in Indore, Dr Pathak said that if the house did not have a toilet, the wife had requested for a divorce from her husband. So we built a toilet in their house and avoided their divorce! Dr Pathak said that this is a major social change. We have changed the old habit of 5000 years. Soon there will be toilets in the house of the entire country and people will like to live in clean and cultured manner. PM Modi’s dream will be fulfilled.
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Cleanliness Survey
May 21-27, 2018
Swachh Survekshan 2018
Quick Glance
Congratulations Indore, You Did It Again!
Indore and Bhopal have retained their position as the top two cleanest cities for the second consecutive year
The Swachh Survekshan 2018 increased its scale by surveying 4,203 cities from 434 cities surveyed last year
The results of sanitation survey were announced by housing and urban affairs minister on Wednesday
Saurabh Singh
37.66 lakh citizens gave their feedback for Swachh Survekshan, which covered 4,203 municipalities across India
T
he Swachh Survekshan 2018, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), under the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), assessed 4203 Urban Local Bodies. The exercise was undertaken from 4th January 2018 to 10th March, 2018. Compared to the previous surveys, this year’s exercise allocated substantial weightage to the feedback from citizens based on their daily experience. In the Central government’s cleanliness survey, Indore emerged as the cleanest city, followed by Bhopal and Chandigarh. The results of Swachh Survekshan 2018, which aims to estimate levels of cleanliness across cities in the country, were announced by Union Minister of State for Housing Hardeep Singh Puri. In the survey, Jharkhand has been adjudged as the best performing state, followed by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, said a statement by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Indore was the cleanest city last year as well but that survey was conducted only for around 430 cities. This time it was conducted for around 4,200 cities. The names
of the worst performing cities would be announced on the day the awards would be presented, Hardeep Puri, Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, said. The objective of the survey is to encourage large scale citizen participation and create awareness amongst all sections of society about the importance of working together towards making towns and cities a better place to live in. Additionally, the survey also intends to foster a spirit of healthy competition among towns and cities to improve their service delivery to citizens, towards creating cleaner cities.
In order for cities to reap the maximum developmental benefits from the survey, concerted efforts are being taken to strengthen the capacities of the cities to understand the modalities and spirit of the survey. In addition to giving towns and cities more time to prepare for the survey, there will be intensive interactions with ULBs to familiarize them with the survey methodology, survey process and output indicators, and also clarifying their expectations from the survey. In 2016, Swachh Survekshan was conducted in 73 cities having a population of one million or more and capital city of States/ UTs and Mysore had bagged the award of being the cleanest city of India. In 2017, the scope of Swachh Survekshan was enlarged to cover 434 cities having a population of one lakh or more and Capital city of states/ UTs and Indore was awarded as cleanest city of India. The rankings, which assessed 4,200 cities and towns of India, were decided after direct observation from the swachh officials, third party
As per the Swachh Survekshan 2018, a record number of 37.66 lakh citizen feedbacks were collected and 53.58 lakh Swachhata apps were downloaded
assessment by Quality Council of India and feedback from 38 lakh citizens. The survey, which is being cited as the world’s largest cleanliness survey by the government, was the third such survey done by the centre to evaluate the progress cities have made in achieving the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan goals. For the first time, the survey covered all cities of India and impacted more than 40 crore urban population. In terms of sanitation coverage across the country, Mr Puri said that about 2,133 cities and urban local bodies have been certified as ODF and 2,679 cities have selfdeclared themselves as ODF and await certification. The government’s target was to construct 67 lakh toilets and as of May 16 over 53 lakh toilets have been constructed, the minister said. Given that the objective of the Swachh Bharat Mission is making India 100 per cent open defecation free (ODF) by October 2, 2019 and implement 100 per cent scientific solid waste management, the Minister also spoke about the status of solid waste management in the country. Across the country, 36 percent municipal wards are practicing source segregation, 145 wastes to compost plants are operational with a capacity to process 63 lakh tonnes of waste. Another 105 plants are going to be built. Some of the other cities in the list are - Ghaziabad is ‘fastest mover’ city (population 10 lakh), Nagpur is the best city in ‘innovation and best practices’ (population 10 lakh), Navi Mumbai is the best city in ‘solid waste management’, Bhiwandi is ‘fastest mover’ city (population 3-10 lakh), Aligarh is the best city in ‘innovation and best practices’ (population 3-10 lakh), Mangalore is the best city in ‘solid waste management’ (population 3-10), New Delhi Municipal Council
Cleanliness Survey
May 21-27, 2018
Category
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Cities
National Level Awards - Total 23 Awards
is the cleanest city (population 1-3 lakh), Greater Mumbai is cleanest state capital/UT, Bhusawal is ‘fastest mover’ city (population 1-3 lakh) and Kota is the best city in ‘citizens feedback’ (population 10 lakh), among others. The names of the worst performing cities would be announced on the day the awards would be presented, Puri said. “The on-field survey for Swachh Survekshan has been conducted by an independent agency and the data for ranking of the cities has been collected from three sources - service level progress; direct observation by random field visits, and the third was citizen feedback,” said an official. Higher weightage of 35 per cent was given to the citizen feedback. Unlike in the past, the sanitation survey has ranked at national level and cities with population of less than one lakh were ranked at zonal level – North, South, East, West and North East. As per the Swachh Survekshan 2018, a record number of 37.66 lakh citizen feedbacks were collected and
For the second consecutive year, Indore has been named India’s cleanest city under Swachh Survekshan 2018, followed by Bhopal and Chandigarh 53.58 lakh Swachhata apps were downloaded. The total number of interactions on the Swachhata app by citizens were around 1.18 crore. As a part of the Swachh Survekshan 2018, total marks for assessment was increased to 4,000, from 2,000 in last year’s survey. Category wise assessment of open defecation free (ODF) progress, collection and transportation of solid waste and processing of solid waste saw their respective weightages being increased in this year Swachh Survekshan. Similar to last year’s survey, the results for Swachh Survekshan 2018 involved data submitted by civic bodies on cleanliness and sanitation, as well as feedback from the citizens.
India’s Cleanest City - No.1
Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
India’s Cleanest City - No.2
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
India’s Cleanest City - No.3
Chandigarh
India’s ‘Cleanest big City’
Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh)
India’s ‘Fastest Mover’ big City
Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
India’s Best City in ‘Citizens Feedback’
Kota (Rajasthan)
India’s Best City in ‘Innovation & Best Practices’
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
India’s Best City in ‘Solid Waste Management
Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)
India’s Cleanest Medium City
Mysuru (Karnataka)
India’s ‘Fastest Mover’ Medium City
Bhiwandi (Maharashtra)
India’s Best City in ‘Citizens Feedback’
Parbhani (Maharashtra)
India’s Best City in ‘Innovation & Best Practices’
Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh)
India’s Best City in ‘Solid Waste Management
Mangalore (Karnataka)
India’s Cleanest Small City
New Delhi Municipal Council
India’s ‘Fastest Mover’ Small City
Bhusawal (Maharashtra)
India’s Best City in ‘Citizens Feedback’
Giridih ( Jharkhand)
India’s Best City in ‘Innovation & Best Practices’
Ambikapur ( Jharkhand)
India’s Best City in ‘Solid Waste Management
Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)
Greater Mumbai (Maharashtra) Jaipur (Rajasthan) Cleanest State Capital/UT
Ranchi ( Jharkhand) Panaji (Goa) Cleanest State Capital/UT
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Short Film
May 21-27, 2018
Kitaab premiere
Rekindling the love for books in digital age Kamlesh Mishra’s ‘Kitaab’ brings to front the phasing out culture of book reading
Popular for her feminist touch to writings, Maitreyi Pushpa said that books helped her understand and bring forward the pleas of Indian women, especially from rural background. She said that books are way past the test of time and there is no question of their non-existence. She added that the comfort that book gives to its readers and the sense of belongingness that it arouses can never be beaten by gadgets.
Gadgets a passage to bibliophiles
Swastika Tripathi
C
elebrated English novelist J K Rowling once said, “I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” And we cannot agree to it any less. When you open a book, you open a new world. It connects you to its characters, its environment, its entire world. The one who reads more, imagines more. Book reading was a culture that connected people with people. The culture still exists but is on the verge of extinction. With the coming of digital age, books are now a locked up possession. Apps have taken over pages. However, the question of total phasing out of books is what is troubling litterateurs, writers and bibliophiles. Kamlesh K Mishra’s
Quick Glance Kamlesh K Mishra’s ‘Kitaab’ premiered in New Delhi
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak assures gadgets can never take over books
Writer Maitreyi Pusha believes books broaden our perspective
short-film ‘Kitaab’ captures the very core of how the digital era is taking over the warmth of books. The short film was premiered at Film Division Auditorium in New Delhi, after a panel discussion over ‘Existence of books in the digital age’ in which Sulabh International Social Service Organisation founder Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and Hindi Academy’s vice-chairperson and celebrated writer Maitreyi Pushpa were the chief guests and keynote speakers. The session was moderated by veteran journalist and Parliamentarian magazine’s Editor-inChief Tridib Raman.
Books speak back, inspire
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak highlighted the importance of books in his life. He said he has read a thousand books and each talked back to him as an inspiration to contribute to the society. He said he is bullish that no matter how tech-pro
the world gets, the culture of books and book reading will never vanish. Drawing comparison between books and new age gadgets, he pointed out that the latter requires various back-end supports like electricity, internet. On the other hand, he added, books need no backend. You pick a book, turn the pages and keep reading. Books don’t need support, instead give support in way of knowledge, morals and experiences. Dr Pathak said that taking a cue from the books he read, he each time found a new will to give it back to the society in some or the other way. He added that this is how he got inspired to pen more than 32 books till date, and plans on adding more to the collection.
The moral of the story is ‘love’
Recalling her school days, Maitreyi Pushpa told how she was the only girl in a school of 500 students. She said letters were a popular mode of communication in those days, and writing letters, reading and re-reading those given to her aroused her interest towards literature. She read many books and these books helped her have a broader view of the society. She said the end moral is always ‘love’.
Bringing forward the other side of the coin, moderator Tridib Raman said that gadgets can be seen as a passage to books in the new age. Citing examples he said that gadgets like ‘Kindle’ and applications like ‘Wattpad’ and ‘Juggernaut’ are rekindling the habit of book reading in today’s generation. He recalled that how Isabelle Ronin’s book ‘Chasing Red’ gained popularity by first digital publishing on Wattpad where it was read by 17.4 million readers and only after that it was given the physical form of a book. The digital platform also let readers connect with writers and this way it emerged as one of the best selling books.
‘Kitaab’ an attempt to table the shelved books
The short film ‘Kitaab’ revolves around a librarian (portrayed by late Tom Alter) who is used to welcoming a cheerful lot of bibliophiles every morning to his library back in 2005. But in the course of a decade, his daily visitors gradually part way from books with the dawn of gadget-era. Though in the midst of this he finds a regular visitor in a bibliophile girl ( portrayed by Pooja Dixit) who becomes his library’s constant but not for long as the gadgets hit her too. The librarian’s disquietude helps viewers realise the phasing out of books and the worries of book lovers. Speaking on the film, director Kamlesh K Mishra said that ‘Kitaab’ is an attempt to reinstill the lost culture and hoped that the project succeeds in doing the same.
May 21-27, 2018
Science & Technology
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Prof. ECG Sudarshan
the man who was tipped to win the nobel One of the most accomplished and renowned theoretical physicists of Indian origin, he is known for his prodigious creative output n Sunderarajan Padmanabhan
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he world of science has lost an eminent physicist with the passing away of Prof. ECG Sudarshan, who was nominated for Nobel Prize several times but missed the coveted honour every time. His research interests spanned a wide range of fields from particle physics, quantum optics, and quantum field theory to quantum information theory, gauge theories and classical mechanics. Born on September 16, 1931, at Pallam in Kottayam district of Kerala, he did his M.Sc. from Madras University and Ph.D from University of Rochester, New York. He had his academic career mostly in the US. He passed away at Texas. He was a Professor at University of Texas for the past 40 years. In the 1980s, he worked as Director of Institute of Mathematical Sciences at Chennai for five years. One of the most accomplished and renowned theoretical physicists of Indian origin, he is known for his prodigious creative output. He together with American physicist, Robert Eugene Marshak came out in 1957 with what is called the V.A.Theory of weak interactions. Three others, Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam and Steven Weinberg, developed it further. It eventually evolved as the electroweak theory of weak interactions. The three got the Nobel Prize for their work in 1979. Dr Sudarshan and Prof. Marshak got left behind. Dr Sudarshan achieved another breakthrough in 1960s, when he propounded the theory of Tachyons. According to the theory, there should
be particles called Tachyons, which had speeds larger than that of light. So far, the particles have not been found experimentally. But, physicists are hopeful. As and when they are discovered, it will be a historical moment as it would markedly change the conception and understanding of the universe. Tachycon is considered
Physics Nobel Prize, the Swedish Royal Academy has chosen R.J. Glauber to be awarded half of the prize. The prize winners are chosen by the Royal Academy, but no one has the right to take my discoveries and formulations and ascribe them to someone else! “The correct formulation of the
Dr.ECG Sudarshan and Pearland Mayor Tom Reid
at best as `Glauber-Sudarshan’ Representation. “While the distinction of introducing coherent states as basic entities to describe optical fields certainly goes to Glauber, the possibility of using them to describe `all’ optical fields (of all intensities) through the diagonal representation is certainly due to Sudarshan. Thus
Quick Glance He was a Professor at University of Texas for the past 40 years
In 1960s, he propounded the theory of Tachyons
His research interests spanned a wide range of fields
as a revolutionary idea within the framework of the Special Theory of Relativity. Even as he missed the Nobel prize several times, Dr Sudarshan openly expressed his anguish when the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences chose to give a prize to Dr R.J.Glauber in 2005 “for his contribution to the quantum theory of optical coherence”, ignoring Dr Sudarshan’s work. In a letter to the Academy, he said, “In the announcement of the 2005
quantum mechanical treatment of optics was carried out by me in my paper in 1963. In that, I showed that every state can be represented in the diagonal form... This diagonal representation is valid for all fields. “... The irony of the situation is that in spite of all these facts being available in print, the diagonal representation instead of being referred to as the Sudarshan representation is dubbed as either the P-Representation (as if Glauber discovered and named it first) or
He together with American physicist, Robert Eugene Marshak came out in 1957 with what is called the V.A.Theory of weak interactions
there is no need to ‘extract’ the classical limit [as stated in the Nobel citation]. Sudarshan’s work is not merely a mathematical formalism. It is the basic theory underlying all optical fields. All the quantum features are brought out in his diagonal representation... “It is my belief that the Royal Swedish Academy was impartial and that to assure the proper priorities it has a Committee in Physics, with members competent to examine and understand the published work. It was also my belief that the members of the Committee did their work diligently and with care. I am therefore genuinely surprised and disappointed by this year’s choice. It would distress me and many others if extra-scientific considerations were responsible for this decision. It is my hope that these glaring injustices would be noted by the Academy and modify the citations. Give unto Glauber only what is his”.
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Organic Eggs
May 21-27, 2018 Uttar Pradesh
Hen That Lays Herbal Eggs After a year’s research in controlled conditions in varsity hatchery, the scientists have developed a special dietary chart for chickens
S. Shukla
V
eg or non-veg -the controversy over eggs will soon be over. Agriculturists in Uttar Pradesh have developed a cheaper form of organic odourless eggs which can easily be form of platter of all veggies at the breakfast table. Scientists at the Poultry farm research department of the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Agriculture and Technical University (SVBP) Meerut have prepared a special ayurvedic and herbal dietary chart for chickens to lay Ayurvedic or Herbal eggs, which are odourless and carry more nutritious values than the regular or organic eggs developed in Punjab and Coimbatore earlier. The department has come out with a cheaper form of ayurvedic/herbal/ organic eggs (whatever you may like to call or name it). After a year’s of research in controlled conditions in varsity hatchery, the scientists have developed a special dietary chart for chickens which includes 15 herbs mixed with corn, sorghum, millet and other cheaper grains. “All these ingredients are easily available and are cheaper in the market. They are mixed with garlic and turmeric paste. Small
pellets are made with the final paste and fed to chickens twice a day,” said Dr D.K. Singh. The results were stunning. The eggs are pinkish brown and are odourless. They are much tastier and nutritious than the regular white-shelled eggs or brown-shelled ‘deshi Anda’. The chickens are strictly not given any steroids or anti-biotics as usually is the case in nearly all poultry farms to produce more eggs. Since they are on strict diets, the eggs are low-cholesterol but rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA), Vitamin D and Carotenoids. Omega-3 Fatty Acids controls the cholesterol in human body and keeps a person away from heart brain ailments. It also helps in fighter cancer cells and is a known anti-cancer substance. The other two act as antioxidants and help in increasing hemoglobin percentage and strengthening bones and body metabolism. Almost all paultry farmers feed chemical-laced high protein diets and administer injections of harmones, sterioids and anti-biotics. They are
generally passed on to the human body when they consume these eggs. “These eggs are high on cholesterol and carry these harmful substances to human body when consumed. Those who generally include these eggs in their breakfast menu often suffer from high cholesterol level and adversely affect immunity power in the human body,” claimed Dr Ajit Singh of the Animal Nutrition department of the varsity. “We have carried several tests in our labs on the special diet developed by the paultry research department and found that the eggs produced by chickens who are fed this diet are absolutely fat-free and carry high nutritious value good for human body,” claimed Dr Singh. The total cost production of each ayurvedic/herbal egg is less than half of the other organic eggs developed and produced in private hatcheries of Coimbatore and Punjab. “The cost of each egg comes to Rs 10 to 12 in comparison of Rs 22 to 24 of other organic eggs being produced by private hatcheries,” said Dr Singh. Buyoed by the success of university
The eggs are much tastier and nutritious than the regular white-shelled eggs or brown-shelled ‘deshi Anda’
scientists of producing cheaper Aurvedic/Herbal eggs, the ViceChancellor Prof Gaya Prasad has directed them to hatch chicks fed with their pure herbal and ayurvedic diet ingredients for poultry farmers to begin mass production of new variety of organic eggs. Later, poultry farmers will be trained to prepare the special diet on their own. “This will help poultry farmers to double their income as organic eggs are much in demand to fulfill the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan to double their income by 2022,” said Prof Prasad. The agriculture university scientists are also planning to approach the animal husbandry minister Radha Mohan Singh and ministry officials to give a presentation on their new invention for mass production of ayurvedic/herbal chicks and eggs. Many poultry farmers have already approached the varsity for the new species of herbal chicks and its diet to begin the mass production. “In next six months, our ayurvedic/herbal eggs the market in a big way,” claimed Dr Singh. So far branded herbal eggs are being produced in India by Kansal Agro in Punjab, Suguna and Keggs in South India. Even though the cost of these eggs is three times higher than regular eggs but they are fast becoming popular among urbanites after these branded organic eggs hit the shelves of the Reliance Cash and Carry, Hypercity, Walmart, Metro Cash and Carry and Aditya Birla Stores. Hyderabad is the largest supplier of eggs in the country. A market research conducted by the university suggested that demand of these herbal eggs was rapidly rising among health conscious people. Since the cost is much higher, it is yet to be included into their breakfast table. With National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) launching several campaigns and taglines to remove fallacies attached with eating eggs and o promote egg eating habits, the egg consumption per person in India has gone up from 27 to 62 per year in the last few years. The production has also more than doubled from 30 billion to70 billion eggs per year. With SVBP Agriculture and Technical University low cost ayurvedic/herbal eggs, soon ‘the sunny side up’ will form a healthy morning breakfast diet for even middle and lower classes in the country. It will also help poultry farmers to double their income by producing and selling these new varieties of healthier organic eggs.
Gender
May 21-27, 2018 Not less than blesss
An Ode To ‘AyaH’ She sees the family from afar, yet cannot help but feel like a part of the family, despite of who she is Anavi Akhaury
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he day is a victim of the wrath of the sun, boiling; similar to the water put on the stove as it gets ready for tea leaves to be diffused in it. The sound of the water hissing at the oppressing pot: stands as her lone companion at the crack dawn, as she prepares tea for dada and didi who are still relishing the comfort of their beds. Wiping sweat from the pallu of her sari, she begins the day. Whisking two eggs, sliced tomatoes and onions, the standard breakfast accompanied with unbuttered toast, she serves dada. Shaking her head in disappointment as didi, yet again, skips breakfast, filling herself with only cold coffee. She turns to the kitchen and immediately starts scrubbing the utensils and wiping the counters clean. Sighing as she remembers that the two scions of the king and queen are yet to wake up and trouble her with their royal demands. She turns to cook the tiffins of both dada and didi, since dada has meetings to attend to instead of working from home. Not being able to decide what to cook, she turns to didi, who seems to be angry at someone at the other end of the phone, speaking extremely fast in an incoherent language. “What vegetable do we have? Any leftovers? Make a sabzi of that along with some roti, that would be fine.” While cooking their meals, she
meets the face of the younger one, who seems to be not in a mood of ‘good mornings’. She sees that the youngest is still decorated in the clothes from the previous day, ignoring her appearance she asks her what she wants for breakfast. Getting proper instructions from her, she cooks away.
As the youngest finishes her food, ready for another round, the older one graces everybody with her presence, to see that her parents have already left for work and her sister is lecturing her about waking up early. Subsequently, she turns to her and asks what she wants for nashta, to find an undecided individual treating the choice of breakfast as a life altering decisions. After the rush of breakfast is done, she, again, washes the dishes and cleans the counter. Prepping her mind and the kitchen, quite like the extension of her mind, for the next dish. Seeing the time, she rushes to clean the bathrooms. Having cleansed
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two thirds of the of the bathrooms, she approaches her final target, only to find it occupied with the oldest scion, informing that it’ll take her only ‘2 more minutes’, but who is she trying to fool? In the meantime, she starts preparing the vegetables for lunch, not letting time go to waste. After the occupant, descends from her throne, she, finally, finishes cleaning all the bathrooms. As lunch is prepared, she lays down the table for two, scrunching her face in disapproval as the parents are absent for lunch with their children on a Saturday, but work calls. “Aeshay jao, khana lag gaya hai” Though this call, deems useless, as both children are engrossed in their screens, turning deaf to any external stimulus. Personally going to each one them, they come and take their food, only to return to their screens. In the wake of their lunch, she proceeds to eat her meal. Ample amount of sabzi, some dal and a mountain of rice. The period between post lunch and the start of the evening is when she gets to rest, she’ll go to the living room, making sure nobody is there, she will let down her oiled hair, grabbing hold of her pallu and covering her face before she lies down on the carpet to sleep. The bell rings, she goes towards the door to open it, to see dada has come. She asks when didi would come, ‘Raatri aabe”. Shaking the sleep off her body, she decides to call her daughter, who lives with her husband and two daughters nearby to where didi works. Taking an old crumpled piece of paper that has the number of her daughter, she takes it to one of children, requesting them to dial it on her phone. After a heartfelt conversation with her daughter, she asks if the children want shaam ka nashta. Filling them up to their heart’s content (and hers), she begins to cook dinner. Whilst cooking dinner, didi comes, looking tired and stressed after a long day’s work. Didi will go to the children and ask them about their days to which they will carelessly reply “Fine” or if they are in a giving mood, they would describe the events of their day. Soon the bickering starts, filled with shouts and regrettable proclamations, but as fast as it starts; it dies down. She sees the family from afar, yet cannot help but feel like a part of the family, despite of who she is. (The writer is a Grade 11 student at Shiv Nadar School, Noida)
14
Botanical Garden
May 21-27, 2018 Banyan Tree
Tale Of An Ever Growing Banyan Tree The men in charge of the tree have embarked on the task of organising proper space to enable the grand old tree to expand its ‘legs’ the way it likes n Prasanta Paul
M
en in the more than century-old Botanical Garden at Shibpur, on the other side of the Ganga, are unusually busy these days to make room for a tree that has been growing for the last 255 years! The urgent business that has kept the garden staff exceptionally engaged is arranging proper space so that the tree can stand firm on as many ‘legs’ as it desires; for the ‘legs’ are vital to its survival. The tree being referred here is anybody’s guess – it’s the 255-yearold Great Banyan Tree, the largest and the oldest banyan tree in the world. The senior staff of the Garden call it the oldest citizen of the city, for, it has not only been growing at a steady pace, the oldest showpiece of the Garden has, in fact, expanded its girth by a huge two acres in a little over 30 years. The spectacular growth has, on the one hand, given a just cause for joy while on the other hand, it has equally given some amount of jitters as well. The men in charge of the tree have now embarked on the task of organising proper space to enable the grand old tree to expand its ‘legs’ the way it likes. The result is obvious – the old fence around the tree built in 1985, is being dismantled and a new fence is coming up. The work on the construction of the new one is likely to be over within a week or so. When the last fence was installed around the tree, it covered around three acres and the staff was specially asked to ensure that no shrub or other weeds were allowed to grow inside the fence that could thwart the proper spread of the prop roots or legs of this magnificent ‘being’ nicknamed `The Walking Tree’, explained Botanical Garden curator M U Sharief. However, given the healthy pace of growth of aerial roots, Sharief who is also a senior botanist, is not quite sure how long this new fence would be of relevance. Because, the more the pace of growth, the higher is the
requirement of land for the roots. Eventually, this fence would need to be dismantled again. Yet, it is a matter of conjecture as to how long would it take for this great tree to turn the new fence irrelevant. According to a report in the Business Insider, the tree is bigger than the average Walmart store at 9755 sq metres (105,000 sq feet). While the Great Banyan has been an object of fascination for more than two centuries, its home – the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden– boasts a history that’s just as intriguing as the tree itself. Founded in 1787, it was set up primarily as a centre where the main job was to identify plants with potential commercial value. The Garden’s 19th-century staff had been credited with having introduced the Chinese tea plants in India, laying the foundations of the country’s modern
tea trade. The Botanical Survey of India which is officially looking after this senior citizen, has strictly ruled that it would not brook any negligence as far as the maintenance and care of the tree is concerned. This gigantic tree, with a circumference of more than 350 meters and a spread of nearly five acres, is as large as many forests. There is no official record of when the Great Banyan first came to life. The earliest references to the tree can be found in travel writing from the 19th century. Having survived two major cyclones in 1864 and 1867, the Great Banyan’s 51 foot-wide main trunk got infected with a fungus and had to be removed in 1925. But the tree continued to thrive – and expand – without the main trunk, thanks to the thousands of aerial roots growing out of its branches and into the ground, creating what looks like a ‘forest’ of
This gigantic tree, with a circumference of more
than 350 meters and a spread of nearly five acres, is as large as many forests
banyans.The Guinness Book of World Record mentions the Great Banyan Tree of Shibpur as one that has the largest canopy, having the widest circumference. Now the tree boasts of as many as 4,000 prop roots, the source which has been keeping the tree alive. This in itself, is a wonder as very few trees in the world, Sharief points out, survive without the main trunk. Hence, at the centre of the tree’s trunk that went amiss long back, the authorities have installed a plaque in memory of the lost trunk. The Botanical Survey is mulling to write to the authorities of the Guinness, detailing about the rate of growth of the tree and its strange but steady eastward movement, obviously towards the sunlight. While it is only natural that plants would follow the course of sunlight, the tree’s eastward movement has another crucial significance. “First, the boundary of the Garden is on the western side; then, you have residential buildings and a busy road. It’s only in the fitness of things that the tree is moving on the right side – east,” the curator avers. What other problems that the Garden faces to ensure the health of the tree? The strange and irate behaviour of a section of the visitors has been posing a major headache to the garden authorities. While some visitors have a tendency to mutilate the young propsin order to turn them as swings, a section has a tendency to carve their names on the props as part of a religious tradition. Some of the aerial roots had indeed, suffered due to this rampant `molestation’. Hence, the metalled road to these roots has been done away with so that the `legs’ can firmly entrench themselves to earth to enable them to carry the burden of this huge tree. Secondly, security has been tightened up both for `risky’ visitors and mounting a vigil on the roots for fungal infection. After all, the Great Banyan tree has made India proud by being the star entry in its category in the Guinness.
North East
May 21-27, 2018
15 07
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Biggest Solar Power Plant The state government has stepped up efforts to fulfill the rural electrification target, set by the Centre, by the end of this year under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu said Quick Glance Pema Khandu urged the department to launch more such environmentfriendly initiatives
APEDA has succeeded in generating ten per cent off-grid power connectivity The fully-automatic solar plant in Itanagar will be able to run without manpower
Arunachal CM inaugurated 1 MWp Grid connected Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant at Energy Awareness Park
n Raj Kashyap
A
runachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu has inaugurated the biggest solar power plant at Energy Awareness Park in the state capital Itanagar. With a capacity of 1 MW, the plant was commissioned on April 1 at an estimated investment of Rs 8.50 crore by the Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (APEDA). Speaking on the occasion on 10 May, Khandu urged the department to launch more such environmentfriendly initiatives in the future. He said that solar power plants were more environment-friendly in comparison to a gas-based project. He also informed that the state government has stepped up efforts to meet the rural electrification target by the end of this year under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY). Currently, APEDA has succeeded in generating ten per cent off-grid power connectivity in the villages
of the state. The government is planning to install solar plants in health centres and upcoming mini secretariats in the districts as well. The fully-automatic solar plant in Itanagar will be able to run without manpower. Power generation starts around 5.30 am and continues till 6 pm. The plant has already generated more than 1 lakh units of electricity from the date of its commissioning. Schemes to harness solar energy are important for the hill state since it is still dependent on other sources for the fulfillment of its power requirement. The current installed capacity in the state is just about 201 MW with an extra 57 MW allocated from the central grid. According to the 2011 census, there were as many as 1,578 villages out of a total of 5,258 villages in the
border state that was off the grid which comprises around 30%. With forests covering over 82 per cent in the state and a low population density of 13 persons per square kilometre, providing electricity to the remote region is a challenge for the state. As part of the rural electrification project, the state has firmed up plans to provide solar energy to 1,050 villages as part of the prime minister’s village illumination programme in border areas. The focus on solar energy is also in sync with the policy launched by the central government which targets 40% power generation from non-fossil sources by 2030 that includes a solar energy target of 100 GW by the year 2022. Realising the potential, other states in the region have also begun
The government is planning to install solar
plants in health centres and upcoming minisecretariats in the districts as well
projects to harness solar energy. Besides Arunachal Pradesh, other states in the Northeast have also made a significant progress. The Meghalaya government sanctioned Rs 25 crore ($4 million) for the installation of solar lights under the Green City Project (GCP). Nagaland has installed solarpowered water treatment units in three villages of the state capital in 2013. The water treatment units now provide drinking water to 2,639 people in some villages of Kohima district. The Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency has started a solar thermal scheme with the goal of providing 10,000 solar heaters to the nine districts of the state over the next five years, under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Energy Mission. This component is an essential ingredient in the overall plan to provide power to around 900 remote villages in Arunachal Pradesh bordering China using advanced off-grid renewable energy kits. This is expected to light up homes for 16,000 households for the first time in their lives which will gradually. The lesser cost of renewable energy makes this a better power supply option in remote areas than laying transmission lines for grid-connected power. Energy efficient bulbs, fans and battery backup for eight hours are included in the package.
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May 21-27, 2018 Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr Parsa is a Delhi-based journalist, who’s worked for many media houses like Indian Express, DNA in Delhi. He has also written for Deccan Herald, Times of India, Gulf News
Take risks in your life, If you win, you can lead! If you loose, you can guide! Swami Vivekananda
Kennedy’s visionary approach “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things”
T
he 35th president of the United States, John F Kennedy (he was born on May 29, 1917) despite his short three years in office – he was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963 – remains a charismatic figure, not just in his own country but across the world. He became president when he was 43 and he exuded youthful optimism and energy. After Abraham Lincoln, it is is Kennedy’s speeches that are still remembered. His speech after he was sworn in as president in January 20, 1961 retains its inspirational fervour after all these years. The sentence that still reverberates from the speech is: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” And he extended the logic and argument of that sentiment to the rest of the world as well. He said, “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” In his speech at Rice University delivered on September 25, 1962, Kennedy declared the intention of the United States to send a man to the moon before the end of 1960s. He said: “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things…” American astronaut landed on the moon on July 16, 1969, as Kennedy had said America would do.
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
VIEWPOINT
Modi’s successful four years in office It is quite rare that a government manages to retain its enthusiasm and energy even in the final stage of its five-year term
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rime Minister Narendra Modi can look back on his four years in office with satisfaction. He has not lost the momentum which victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha election had given when for the first time in 30 years a political party got a simple majority in the Lok Sabha on its own. It seems quite clear that the credit for the victory then was entirely due to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) then prime ministerial candidate Modi. He and the party are aware that it was he who projected a new image for the party and who forged the developmental agenda. Though the Modi government has not succeeded in all that it has attempted to do – which was not possible, realistically speaking – it has shown that it means to whatever it can and that it has ideas and programmes to achieve the developmental goals. For example, Prime Minister Modi has set the target of making the country 100 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF) to mark the 150th birth celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. The attraction of the Swachh Bharat programme is that it has set an attractive goal for the whole country, and the government has shown that it can be achieved. The prime minister has also reinvented the BJP in many ways. He has shown that his government and his party are committed to carry out pro-poor welfare schemes, both in the villages and in the urban areas. For long, the BJP has been identified as an urban party with a core constituency of the small shopkeeper. And there was a time when the BJP used to get more urban votes and did not do so well in rural India. Mr Modi had altered the old equation. One of the things he did was to provide free gas connection to rural households while at the
same time appealing to the well-off cooking gas consumers, especially in the cities, to voluntarily give up on their subsidy. The other major initiative he took in the last four years is the Jan-Dhan Yojana, by which millions of bank accounts with zero balance were opened across the country, especially among the poor in the villages and in cities. With these two measures, he has shown that the BJP was a pro-poor party, and that it would undertake programmes which would help the poor. On the other hand, his two other major policy initiatives on the economic policy front – demonetization of November 8, 2016 and the rolling out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, 2017 – have remained difficult and even unpopular decisions. Demonetisation caused disruption across the economy but the prime minister argued that it would be for the good of the country and the economy and that it will help in tracking black money.
Modi has shown that his government and his party are committed to carry out pro-poor welfare schemes, both in the villages and in the urban areas
May 21-27, 2018 Economists are not sure whether it has achieved its aims, but it showed that Prime Minister Modi is willing to take risks in good faith. The immediate effects of GST too were disruptive, but Mr Modi’s argument that it was a necessary change showed that once convinced that something is for the good then he is willing to pursue it fully. The prime minister has also been very active on the foreign policy front, and that too from the day he took office. He took the bold and innovative decision of inviting the heads of government of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) to the swearing-in ceremony on May 26, 2014. He followed it up with unconventional diplomacy when he stopped over at Lahore on December 25, 2015 to meet then Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif to wish him on his birthday and to attend the function of Mr Sharif ’s daughter’s wedding. Of course, despite the friendly overtures, relations with Pakistan did not improve. So, the prime minister ordered surgical strikes against militant bases in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) on September 29, 2016 in response to terrorist attack from the Pakistan side on the army base in Uri 10 days earlier. The prime minister has been active on the foreign policy front beyind South Asia. He had established a personal rapport with Chinese president Xi Jinping. Mr Modi took Mr Xi to Ahmedabad and showed him and Mrs Xi around the historic city in attempt to break away from the diplomatic rigidities of meeting foreign leaders in New Delhi. Mr Xi reciprocated twice by inviting Mr Modi to Xian, his home city on May 13-14, 2015, and Wuhan on April 27-28, 2018. Though there are major differences between the two Asian giants, the personal rapport between the two leaders has set a new trend in informal diplomatic contacts. The prime minister has also been very active on the political front at home, campaigning in every state assembly election after May, 2014, starting with Maharashtra and Haryana and Punjab through Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka. The only states that BJP lost were Bihar and Punjab, but Mr Modi led the party to victory in all the other assembly elections. He has also created the new channel of communication through the monthly radio talk of Mann Ki Baat starting from October 3, 2014. He has been carrying out the radio talk uninterrupted, striking a rapport with people of all age groups and across the country.
Education up to now has been goal-oriented: learning is not important; what is important is the examination that will come a year later
upfront
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he education that has prevailed in the past is insufficient, incomplete and superficial. It only creates people who can earn their livelihood but it does not give any insight into living itself. It is not only incomplete; it is harmful too because it is based on competition. Any type of competition is violent deep down and creates people who are unloving. Their whole effort is to be achievers of name, fame, and all kinds of ambitions. That destroys their joys; that destroys their friendliness. There should not be any kind of examination as part of education, but every day, every hour observation by the teachers; their remarks throughout the year will decide whether you move further or you remain a little longer in the same class. Nobody fails, nobody passes. One is just oneself, incomparable. So, examinations will not have any place. That will change the whole perspective from the future to the present. I divide education into five dimensions. The first is informative, like history, geography, and many other subjects which can
be dealt with by television and computer together. The second part should be sciences. They can be imparted by television and computer too, but they are more complicated, and the human guide will be more necessary. And the third will be what is missing in present-day education, the art of living. People have taken it for granted that they know what love is. They don’t know. . . and by the time they know, it is too late. Every child should be helped to transform his anger, hatred, and jealousy into love. An important part of the third dimension should also be a sense of humour. Our so-called education makes people sad and serious. And if one third of your life is wasted in a university in being sad and serious, it becomes ingrained; you forget the language of laughter and the man who forgets the language
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of laughter has forgotten much of life. The fourth dimension should be of art and creativity: painting, music, craftsmanship, pottery, masonry — anything that is creative. All areas of creativity should be allowed; the students can choose. And the fifth dimension should be the art of dying. In this fifth dimension will be all the meditations, so that you can know there is no death, so that you can become aware of an eternal life inside you. This should be absolutely essential, because everybody has to die; nobody can avoid it. And under the big umbrella of meditation, you can be introduced to Zen, Tao, Yoga, Hassidism, to all kinds and all possibilities that have existed, but which education has not taken any care of. In this fifth dimension, you should also be made aware of the martial arts like aikido, jujitsu, judo, and simultaneously, a meditation too.
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Vol - 2 | Issue - 22
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Five Dimensions For Better Education
OSHO Rajneesh, also known as Osho, Acharya Rajneesh, or simply Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh or simply Bhagwan, was an Indian spiritual guru
A House From Trash
OpEd
| May 14-20, 2018
| Price ` 5/-
WEEK LY
MUKHTAR ABBA
S NAQVI
THERE IS MORE POWER IN UNITY E THAN DIVERGENC
Naqvi is Union Mukhtar Abbas ity Affairs. He Minister of Minor implemented has effectively es aimed at various schem educational omicsocio-econ & weaker poor of ent empowerm ity sections of minor the goal of communities with with Dignity”. “Development a constructive, Recognised as ed cultur & companionable i has a long leader, Mr Naqv istrative and political, admin experience. He organisational principle believes in the ng “Never stop learni because life never stops teaching”
Dear Sir, I am a sportswoman who, despite my job in a good school, sometimes feels confined by the expectations of our conventional society. Therefore, the article on women bikers ‘Daring
Cross-Border Bike Road’ really warmed my heart. It is a fact that women are capable of achieving success in all and any area of life if given an opportunity. I would like to congratulate the team of the four women who defied social apprehensions and traveled on bikes across rough terrains. At the same time I would like to request the organizers and government agencies to extend their assistance to other adventure loving women who are unable to prove their courage due to financial or cultural diffculties Ashutosh Kumar, Delhi
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Photo Feature
May 21-27, 2018
METAPHORS OF THE MOON The pristine and luxuriant nature is revered across India and among various cultures of the world, to evoke Sat-Chit-Anand (truth-consciouness-bliss). Panchabhuta gifts of the heavenly skies, that impregnate the earth and sustain life, appear in these finely executed impressionistic paintings by Kota Neelima, as reverence for nature enjoins with faith, mythology, science and astronomy
GOLD AND BLUE The gold awaits the Moon; The day departs with the blue.
METAPHORS OF THE MOON The Moon is not far, Yet, the mind wanders; Truth is the only escape, But the thought plays safe. A NAME It’s the same, The light, the colour; The form and the flower, Whatever the name.
WORLD TREE What is the tree? From what rock is it hewn? Why does it fight destiny? And seek the Unknown?
Photo Feature
May 21-27, 2018
THE PRESENCE The presence has different names; The absence is the same.
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CENTRES OF CIRCLES Moving around a centre, Tethered to its will; Chasing the purpose, Round the windmills.
THE ABSENCE From an ancient time, In an ancient place; Take back the first light, Return the final night.
THE STORY The beginning is only a phrase, And the end is only a line; It’s the story of dust, yes, but every word is alive.
20
International Personality
May 21-27, 2018 Jeff Bezos
the richest man on earth, who reaches out to others The founder of Amazon is always looking for ways to help others Quick Glance Life’s too short to hang out with people who aren’t resourceful
One of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out
If you don’t understand the details of your business you are going to fail
n SSB Bureau
J
eff Bezos is one of the first Internet billionaires. He recognised that Internet could be used not only for exchanging information but that it could be used to buy and sell things, from books to films, from daily necessities to luxury items. He has created the world’s first cyber-mart. But like other people who became rich before and after him, he soon realized that he had enough money and more to spend on good causes apart from indulging in his whims and fancies of personal living and tastes. After seting up Aamazon in a garage in Seattle in 1994, he is today the richest man on earth, a billionaire
who had crossed the US$100 mark, according to American business magazine, Forbes. But he is not resting on his laurels. He is looking to more things, and he wants to do new things. On June 15, 2017, like a good Netizen, Bezos fired a tweet: “This tweet is a request for ideas. I’m thinking about a philanthropy strategy that is the opposite of how I mostly spend my time—working on the long term. For philanthropy, I find I’m drawn to the other end
of the spectrum: the right now. As one example, I’m very inspired and moved by the work at Mary’s Place here in Seattle. I like long-term: it is a huge lever – Blue Origin, Amazon, Washington Post – all of these are contributing to society and civilization in their own ways. But I’m thinking I want much of my philanthropic activity to be helping people in the here and now – short term – at the intersection of urgent need and lasting impact. If you have ideas, just reply to this tweet with the
There are two kinds of companies, those that work to try to change more and those that work to change less. We will be the second
idea (and if you think this approach is wrong, would love to hear that too. Thanks! Jeff ” He got 3,600 replies to this tweet which reached more than 222,000 of his Twitter then followers – he now has 569,000 followers -- and it triggered discussion of about 60,000 people on the Twitter. Larry Brilliant, who manages Skoll Global Threats Fund set up by Jeff Skoll, one the founders of eBay, told The New York Times that this was crowd-sourcing of ideas. Mary’s Place that he had mentioned his tweet is a a shelter for homeless families, and Bezos is setting up a permanent home in an Amazon office building. He had earlier contributed US$15 million
May 21-27, 2018 to Princeton University, where he did his electrical engineering and computer science, and he gave US$30 million to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre. Through his Bezos Expeditions, he gave US$10 million for the Bezos Centre for Innovation at the Seattle Museum of History and Industry and US15 million for Bezos Centre for Neural Circuit Dynamics at Princeton Neuroscience Institute. One of the responses to his tweet was from Don Graham, co-founder of The Dream.US, which gives financial aid to children of undocumented immigrants, who are allowed to stay
in the US under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Bezos contributed US$33 million for scholarships to 1000 children under DACA. Bezos, referring to his adopted father who migrated from Cuba, said, “With a lot of grit and determination – and the help of some remarkable organizations in Delaware – my dad (his adopted father) became an outstanding citizen, and continues to give back to the country that he feels blessed him in so many ways. MacKenzie (his wife) are honoured
• Born: January 12, 1964 in Albuquerque, New Mexico • Grew up in Houston, Texas • Studied in Princeton University • Worked as hedge-fund manager at Wall Street in New York • Set up Amazon in a garage in Seattle in 1994 • He got married to Mackenzie Tuttle, a novelist, while he was working in New York • They have three sons and an adopted daughter from China • He is passionate about space travel • He owns 16 per cent of Amazon
to be able to help the Dreamers by funding these scholarships.” He has also taken up big projects with long-term goals which do to generate immediate profits like Blue Origin, which is part of his space dream when he wants to shift industry out of earth and therefore contain pollution. He has purchased the much-respected newspaper, The Washington Post, which has been a loss-making enterprise, but Bezos felt that it was necessary to sustain it for the sake of democracy. But the Net billionaire seems to have felt that the enormous riches he has made must be used to help the needy, and that those who are in need of help need it now and not in the long term. Bezos is not just a billionaire, but in the Forbes magazine list of rich, he emerged the richest in March this with a wealth of US131.2 billion, outstripping Microsoft’s Bill Gates (US90 billion) and Hathaway Investors’ Warren Buffet (US$80 billion). The founder of Amazon is looking at many things, and though he is interested in philanthropy, it seems that the money he is investing in research projects in healthcare, in space travel and even in a newspaper venture like The Washington Post, which he purchased for a cash payment of US$250 million in 2013, he seems to be keen to contribute to society in a larger, futuristic way. For example,
International Personality
21 07
If you can’t tolerate critics, don’t do anything new or interesting
“What we want to be is something completely new. There is no physical analog for what Amazon.com is becoming” his Blue Origin, which is a space start-up, is keen on promoting space tourism and for creating recreational facilities for the tourists in space. But he also is looking at the possibility of shifting industrial production to a space facility, which is as yet in the realm of science fiction, and it shows an inclination to want to improve living conditions and standards of the lives of the people. It might appear that he is not doing anything big and meaningful for those in dire need right now. He seems to be quite aware of the dilemma as his tweet makes it clear. But there is a distinct possibility that he could be contributing indirectly to the welfare of the people in a much bigger way through his funding of scientific research and technological breakthroughs. Bezos Expeditions may seem futuristic investment but it has a direct bearing on how well human beings are going to live on earth and in space. Americans are generally seen to the most philanthropic people anywhere. While the rich do their bit by contributing generously to public causes, including political campaigns of aspiring Congressmen, senators, and other contestants for public office. He supports the Democrat candidates through his campaign contributions. His tweet about the strategy for philanthropy shows that he is not satisfied with what he doing and that
he wants to do more. On his refrigerator he has the quote of the 19th century American thinker and writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, which says, “Too laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” This is the quote that serves as an inspiration for Bezos. It shows that though he has worked hard to make all those billions, he remains at heart an American idealist or aspires to be an idealist. Money has not spoilt Bezos. He wants to continue to work hard even after he does not need that extra money to live a luxurious life. He is looking for new ideas, new horizons, new knowledge and new technological breakthroughs. He also said at a Leadership panel discussion that he grew up admiring his elementary school teachers, his parents and his grandfather. His favourite Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffet, JP Morgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon and Disney’s Bob Iger.
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Culture
May 21-27, 2018 Shifting Sands of Culture
How Art Found Me And The Upsurge In Opportunities: Anubhav Nath In “Shifting Sands of Culture” series, Anubhav Nath, the fourth of five noted personalities, reflects upon the power of the arts and the increasing opportunities in the sector
n IANS
S
ince childhood, I have had a keen interest in the arts coming from a family with a strong tradition in arts and crafts, this was not surprising. Growing up, I visited museums and emporiums on customary school trips and saw a lot of it in my home and family-run stores. While in the US for my undergraduate studies, I started looking at art both there and here, in India mostly via the Internet. On graduating, I returned to India and joined the family business. Dealing in jewellery and handicrafts was interesting, but clearly not enough. I found myself drawn to the contemporary visual arts scene. The main attraction was the conversations with artists, historians and curators that transported me back to the university atmosphere that I missed. I believe “art found me”. My first project, which evolved rather organically, started with organising simple art workshops for young inmates at Tihar Jail and resulted in being a first-of-its-kind exhibition by jail inmates and contemporary artists all displayed in the same exhibition. The exhibition was a big success with
a large number of visitors, good press coverage and great feedback from the artists, who said that visiting the prison was an unparalleled experience. One of the participating artists explored the Panopticon experience and presented the work internationally. The next art project explored the notion of Mahatma Gandhi and entailed travelling with artists along the Dandi March route. The resulting exhibition also travelled to London, Washington, D.C., and Port of Spain. After having gained this experience of two major exhibitions, I started a permanent gallery space. There was a paradigm shift in the kind and number of exhibitions to be put together worked with some master artists and organised a few typical contemporary shows, all of which were a great learning experience but did not compare to the involvement that I was used to. Art has a bigger social good is a
childhood belief and I saw art at work in changing the lives of communities through the economic independence and sustainability that it had the potential to provide. Also, the selfrespect that the Tihar Jail inmates felt was gratifying for all of us who worked on the project. In 2009, Maybach Foundation announced a mentorship residency for young photographers wherein the winners were to spend six months living and working in NYC, photodocumenting the reconstruction of the World Trade Centre. Ramchander Nath Foundation nominated Vicky Roy, a young photographer who grew up at the Salaam Baalak Trust; he was among the four selected from across the world and this six-month experience resulted in a paradigm shift in his work and personality. Today, Vicky is a motivational speaker at conferences and his artworks are a part of FotoFest 2018 in Houston. A few years back, I met some accomplished Gond artists in Delhi and was inspired by their art and the history behind it. Subsequent reading and visits to Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal revealed a lot. The genre has thousands of years of recorded history and is probably the oldest surviving art form along with the Australian Aboriginal art. There was immense pedagogical material available on the history but not much on the current scene. Of course, there were other institutions in the vicinity that showed artworks by contemporary Gond artists but not much was available in terms of books and catalogues. There was not sufficient recorded contemporary history being created, like for the mainstream counterpart artists who were graduating from art schools in
His first project, which evolved rather organically,
started with organising simple art workshops for young inmates at Tihar Jail and resulted in being a first-of-its-kind exhibition by jail inmates
Delhi, Mumbai and Vadodara and having shows in galleries. Also, the price-points varied greatly. Keeping commercials aside, I felt that the contemporary tribal and traditional artists must get greater visibility and have exhibitions in galleries with publications. This would also help collectors and institutions look at these artists more seriously. With these thoughts, we proposed an Ojas Art Award a holistic concept to the organisers of the immensely popular and well-attended Jaipur Literature Festival. Annually, indigenous artists will be honoured at the festival along with a display of artworks in Jaipur with a potential audience of more than 250,000 visitors followed by an exhibition and publication at the gallery in Delhi and an exhibition overseas. Since 2015, Ojas Art Award has had four editions and has done surveys in Gond, Madhubani-Mithila, Bheel and Bengal Patachitra with great feedback from all stakeholders especially the artists. The award and related activities helped the artists earn respect, recognition and has reassuringly empowered them. Bhajju Shyam, our first Ojas Art Awardee, was recently conferred with the Padma Shri, making him the first Gond artist ever to receive this high civilian honour.
Health
May 21-27, 2018
Eating pATTERNS
Healthy Diet May Reduce Risk Of Hearing Loss In Women The healthy eating patterns may lower the risk of hearing loss by 30 per cent
H
ere is good news for women who are suffering from hearing loss. A new study has found that consuming healthy food may decrease the risk of hearing loss in women. “Eating well contributes to overall good health, and it may also be helpful in reducing the risk of hearing loss,” said one of the study author Sharon Curhan from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, US. For the study, researchers examined the relation between three different diets and risk of developing hearing loss -The Alternate Mediterranean diet (AMED), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) -in 70,966 women who were followed for 22 years. The AMED diet includes extra virgin olive oil, grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish and moderate intake of alcohol. The DASH diet is high in fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy, and low in sodium. The AHEI-2010 diet has common components with AMED and DASH. The researchers collected detailed information on dietary intake
vision
Blurred Vision May Indicate Retinal Disease These diseases often go under diagnosed as they get noticed only when profound loss of eye sight occurs or the patient closes one eye
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every four years. They found that women whose diets most closely resembled the AMED or DASH dietary patterns had an approximately 30 per cent lower risk of moderate or worse hearing loss, compared with women whose diets resembled these dietary patterns the least. “Interestingly, we observed that those following an overall healthy diet had a lower risk of moderate or worse hearing loss,” Curhan said. In a separate study of over 33,000 women for whom detailed hearingrelated information had been collected suggested that the magnitude of the reduced risk may be even greater than 30 per cent, and may also pertain to the AHEI-2010, the researchers noted.
T
anu Arora, Head of Department Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, and Zodi, senior dietician, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, have a few suggestions: * Include certain foods in diet which are rich in vitamins like riboflavin, niacin and cyanocobalamin. Exclude poor quality of food which causes inflammation and ultimately affects skin. * Hydrate the body so as to remove the toxins from the body. * Skin collagen gets damaged when there is high consumption of sugar and processed carbohydrates, while foods like fruits and vegetables are good for skin. * Deep fried food can add to inflammation. On the other hand, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low
23 07
eople experiencing blurred vision or decreased colour sensitivity need to get their eyes checked as these seemingly minor problems may actually indicate retinal diseases that account for a significant share of the vision loss burden in the world, experts have warned. Among the various retinal disorders, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are the major types that account for about 8.7 per cent and 4.8 per cent of blindness in the world respectively. “The common symptoms of retinal disorders like AMD include blurred or distorted vision, dark spots in central vision or straight lines appearing wavy,” said Rajvardhan Azad, President of the All India Collegium of Ophthalmology, a fellowship programme of AIOS. Early detection of AMD and DME increases the possibility of preventing vision loss, and according to Azad, treatment
becomes difficult for those who have completely lost their sight. Some of the treatment options available in India include laser photocoagulation, antiVEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) injections and combination therapy which includes laser and anti-VEGF treatment. People with diabetes should be especially alert as they are more prone to develop diabetic retinopathy, Azad said.
Ageing
Make Changes In Diet To Fight Ageing The key to ageing gracefully is simple - eat healthy. So make changes in your diet instead of going for Botox for wrinkle treatment, say experts
fat dairy and lean protein can help fight inflammation. * Lettuce, broccoli, spinach, tomato, watermelon, grapefruit, guava, salmon, chickpea, oat meal and brown
rice help in curbing inflammation. * A long way to preventing wrinkles is to eat food items like carrots that are loaded with vitamins. * Almonds and walnuts are rich in Vitamin E and help to fight skin problems. * Green tea has powerful antioxidants to protect skin from damage. * Yogurt has probiotics that nourish skin from inside and outside.
* Honey is hygroscopic in nature. * All berries are healthy antioxidants. They kill radicals that are in bodies, damaging DNA and cells and causing premature ageing. Berries can fight damages caused by environmental pollutants and toxins. * Turmeric acts as anti-oxidants. * Alcohol should be avoided as it creates free radicals which damage cells and accelerates ageing.
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excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend”
May 21-27, 2018
Swachh Bharat
Swachh Bharat (Clean India) is not about getting rid of dirty politics or about removing corruption, it is about adopting better habits that we learn as children but ignore as adults. It is about generating sanitation civic sense and making India a clean and healthy country
it has to be done by 125 crore people. He exhorted the people to devote 100 hours every year towards the cause of cleanliness and at the same time emphasised the need to build toilets.
Modalities for Swachh Bharat Mission
A crowd-sourcing contest was held to design a logo for the mission which was won by Anant from Maharashtra and Bhagyashree from Gujarat. While explaining the logo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he could feel Gandhiji looking through his glasses and asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi wields the broom during a surprise visit to the Mandir Marg Police Station in New Delhi.
D
espite a consistently good growth rate and development index, India suffers the ignominy of being described as one of the filthiest countries in the world. The living conditions in villages are unhygienic with open defecation being a universal norm. In cities, clean clusters are few and far between, with slums being worse than villages. They are focal points for the spread of diseases like malaria and cholera, etc. The key objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission are elimination of open defecation; eradication of manual scavenging; modern and scientific municipal
solid waste management; effecting behavioural change regarding healthy sanitation practices; generating awareness about sanitation and its linkage with public health. According to figures quoted by Prime Minister Modi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has put the average annual financial loss per person in India due to lack of cleanliness and hygiene at a whopping Rs. 6500. Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan (Clean India Campaign) on October 2, 2014. The significance of the scheme can be gauged by the fact that it is
to be regulated by all ministries of the government. Cleanliness was very close to the heart of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to clean up India as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019. For this reason, the initiative has been dedicated to his memory and was launched on his birth anniversary. While launching the Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2, 2014, the Prime Minister repeatedly emphasised that the work of cleaning India cannot be done by one person, or by government functionaries alone—
When Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi asked me to be one of his ambassadors (for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan) I was very excited. But I wanted it to be something that I sustained. Priyanka Chopra
Actor, on her initiative to clean up and rehabilitate a slum area in Versova, Mumbai
May 21-27, 2018
Amitabh Bachchan participating in the Swachh Bharat Mission.
It is a movement towards cleanliness. Who has given maximum strength to Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan? It is the children of India.
excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend”
Hrithik Roshan alongwith Subhash Ghai showing their support towards the Swachh Bharat Mission.
popularity by the day. The Union Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation has invited district collectors from states to instil in them the importance of the Swachh Bharat Mission. District collectors were told that the massive outreach programme was not only about construction of toilets, but also about changing the behaviour of communities. The ministry also reached out to 180 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) probationers and directed them to ensure that at least two villages become Open Defecation Free
(ODF) during their field training. While all ministries are preparing their reports, the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) has been asked to conduct third-party review. It has been made compulsory to geographically tag pictures of newly-constructed toilets and upload them on relevant portals to verify the number of actual toilets. The annual target of constructing six million toilets between October 2, 2014 and October 2, 2015 was met with relative ease. Currently, the Union government contributes Rs. 9,000
Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether we have cleaned India or not. The tag-line is “Ek Kadam Swachhta Ki Or” (One step towards cleanliness). The Swachh Bharat Mission has been uploaded on the MyGov. in website created by the Prime Minister’s Office. This apart, a new website has been created on “Clean India”. Work has been started on Facebook and Twitter with #MycleanIndia gaining
Actors Salman Khan and Neil Nitin Mukesh rendering full support for the Swachh Bharat Mission.
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The Honourable Prime Minister nominated me for the Swachh Bharat campaign and I have cleaned and painted three villages in Maharashtra so far. I intend to continue with this initiative, but Swachh Bharat is not about what one of us can do. It’s about what each of us can do. So today, on Republic Day, I am making this campaign social. I will nominate 100 followers a month for Swachh Bharat. Please start a sustainable Swachh Bharat initiative in and around your area of work or residence or both. Upload your before and after pictures or videos. Five of the best initiatives will get special mention on my Facebook page and also win a prize each. Kya bolte ho? Shuru karein? First list will be up tomorrow... Salman Khan, Actor and the state government Rs. 3,000 towards the construction of one toilet. However, according to a joint study by WHO and UNICEF in 2014, to make the whole country Open Defecation Free (ODF), a mammoth 100 million toilets will have to be constructed for 597 million people. In order to generate more funds, activities under the Swachh Bharat Mission and Clean Ganga Mission have been placed under the ambit of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), wherein contributions to these two schemes will be covered under social welfare spending work.
26
excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend”
Sulabh's Initiative Against Open Defecation
May 21-27, 2018
Conversion of insanitary toilets to pour-flush toilets and eradication of manual scavenging are an integral part of the mission’s objective. Dr. Pathak alongwith his organization Sulabh, which has a formidable expertise and track-record in this area, is playing an important role the Prime Minister’s mission of cleanliness which has generated a nationwide enthusiasm. Sulabh has adopted many villages, like Hirmathla village in the state of Haryana, making them free from open defecation. Here, as in many other places, Sulabh has built public and household
A community toilet block built by Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, in Hirmathla village, Haryana, as part of the Swachh Bharat Campaign, November 4, 2015.
I
n a remarkable new development, the Prime Minister Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi has powerfully underlined that without freedom from filth India cannot become a great nation. He has kicked off Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which is a national mission to make India’s streets, roads, and
infrastructure clean by 2019. The central component of the mission is construction of toilets. Besides constructing toilets in every school immediately, it plans to construct 12 crore toilets in rural India by October 2019. The aim is to provide every household a toilet and thus eliminate open defecation.
toilets, for example in Punjab, Sulabh has built 12,000 individual toilets and about 10,000 toilets in schools in different states of the country.
Safai Karamcharis cleaning the streets of Allahabad as a part of the Swachh Bharat campaign in Uttar Pradesh.
The staff of Mayur Vihar Police Station, New Delhi, cleaning their police station area as a part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on October 2, 2014.
Shankar Mahadevan. It features a video which has been produced by Mukesh Bhatt. It was released on October 2, 2015, marking
one year of the launch of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. Sachin Tendulkar, who was involved in the project all through, has recited a few lines in the anthem.
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak A worker cleans a track at a railway station in Kolkata on October 2, 2014.
Students of VJTI College cleaning Dadar Beach duing a Swatch Bharat initiative on October 2, 2014 in Mumbai.
Swachh Bharat Mission Anthem
T
he anthem has been written by lyricist Prasoon Joshi, composed by ShankarEhsaan-Loy and sung by
We should join hands with the Prime Minister with all the might and resources, to make India clean and free from defecation in the open. Be civilized, be cultured, be clean, make India clean and standout in the row of civilized, cultured and clean nations. Sociologist and Social Reformer Founder, Sulabh Sanitation Movement
A Swachh Bharat Kosh has been set up to attract funds from corporates and individuals to improve sanitation facilities, particularly in schools. A 0.5 percent cess on all taxable services has been imposed to fund the mission. The Swachh Bharat Mission is being implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development and by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for urban and rural areas respectively. Continue in next issue
Charitable Trust
May 21-27, 2018
27 07
Cancer
Life Beyond Cancer There is life beyond Cancer and there are ways to deal with the issues that come up with this disease
Quick Glance The President of the organization who is a cancer survivor
The trust wants to ensure awareness about basic health and hygiene
There are many patients who doesn’t know about the disease much
Chandrani Banerjee
N
amita Banerjee memorial religious and charitable trust is relentlessly working to offer an understanding to the people of rural Uttar Pradesh about Cancer. The organization is working towards to achieve an aim to make a commoner understand that if a person is diagnosed with Cancer life does not ends. There is life beyond Cancer and there are ways to deal with the issues that come up with this disease. The organization through radio talks and other reachable mediums try to spread the word of awareness about the diseases. The organization also associated with the organisations that arrange the programme during Durga Puja and other festivals. The part of donations that is being collected during the Durga Puja, is being used for the welfare programmes. The aim of the trust to be associated with the religious activities is to collect the
alms and contribute towards the welfare programs. Speaking about the organization and its body of work, President Madhu Banerjee said, “I try to reach out every nook and corner of the villages that I could. The aim is to make them feel better. There are many patients who doesn’t know about the disease much. They think that now with this disease there is limited time for them. So, they just wait in anxiety for the final day. The aim is to make them aware that cancer is not killing you but your attitude is so do not opt depression, negativity. We encourage them to come forward and discuss their problems”. The cancer patients in villages have limited knowledge. Although the internet has helped a lot yet there are unanswered questions.
There are people who have no idea that there is many more method to cover the financial expenditure. The organization tie up with government hospital and ensure that villagers get access to the free treatment plans of government. Organisation conducted many health camps and doctors’ visit. The doctors briefed patients about cancer and its impact. The medical experts have also briefed the women about health and hygiene. Mostly, the villagers have lesser knowledge about health and day to day basic care to keep it under control. “In most of the camps we have witnessed that there is a huge problem of low hemoglobin. The women have no knowledge about the effects of the low hemoglobin and how it could be fatal. The camps
The aim is to make them aware that cancer is not killing you but your attitude is so do not opt for depression, negativity
are all about women health, cancer awareness and counselling and basic health check up programmes. We try to explain them that there are government facilities that they can avail to live with a good health. There is a huge mental block basically about all the health programmes but largely about cancer” adds Ms Banerjee. On the occasion of the World Cancer Day, this month the organization arranged a health camp and counselled patients. The President of the organization who is a cancer survivor shared her experience and explained how important it is to hold on to courage, confidence and clarity during difficult times. Recently camps were organized at Sandauli,Umerpur,Barabanki, a little ahead of Golden blossoms behind the Trauma Center. Doctors this time made the villagers aware about basic health issues and care. The trust team along with the support of the Village Pradhan, BDO, local police and administration distributed new and old clothes, Shoes, sandles, shawls, cardigans and sweaters. About 300 people received woolen and regular wear for their daily use. The trust work closely with the village Pardhan and other functionaries to execute a programe. “We need support of the local people to execute a programme. This time we could do this with support of Pradhan of Sandauli, Umerpur Barabanki Shanti Devi. Her husband Ram Chandra Yadav and his younger brother Ramesh Yadav were also part to organize the camp successfully” claimed Banerjee. The trust wants to ensure awareness about basic health and hygiene.
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Feature
May 21-27, 2018 Saidul Lashkar
Cabbie Who Could Not Save Sister Builds Hospital Saidul’s courage to dream big indeed impressed lots of people, including Prime Minister Modi, who praised his efforts in his radio address to the nation
Saidul Laskar in front of the underconstruction hospital n Milinda Ghosh Roy
W
ith no cutting-edge medical equipment, airconditioning or critical care unit in place, the under-construction building in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district hardly matches the popular notion of a modern medical care facility. Yet, the hospital has become a national landmark as it tells the story of a grieving brother turning his droplets of tears into an ocean of determination that helped establish it. Taxi driver Saidul Lashkar set out on what then seemed a near impossible journey in 2004 after his sister Marufa died of chest infection as he did not have the means to get her treated in a hospital. Marufa was only 17. Though shattered and inconsolable, Saidul took a pledge not to let anyone else in his neighbourhood die without treatment. “I felt I needed to do something so that no impoverished person dies like she did, without getting treatment. I wish no brother loses his sister like I
did,” Saidul said, leaning quietly on a wall of the newly constructed patients’ waiting hall of Marufa Smriti Welfare Foundation in Punri village near Baruipur, about 55 km from Kolkata. Twelve years were spent chasing the dream, as the cabbie crisscrossed the streets of Kolkata, never veering for a moment from his singleminded pursuit to make the project happen. It was not at all a walk in the
park, he recalled. Saidul would talk at length about his mission to the passengers while driving and show them the documents and receipts of the donations he had received so far. But a majority refused to lend him a helping hand. However, some did oblige, particularly a young girl, Srishti Ghosh from south Kolkata, who was so moved by his story that she decided to donate her entire first month’s salary to the hospital fund. “I found my lost sister in Srishti. When she and her mother heard my story, they took down my number and promised to call back. I was not sure if they really would, but when she really came along and donated her first salary, I was overwhelmed,” he said. As strangers came in ones and twos, helping him gradually raise the funds for the hospital, back home, Saidul’s
wife Shamima stood by her husband like a rock. “None of this would have been possible without my wife. When I started, a lot of people in my close circle distanced themselves from me thinking I am crazy, but my wife was there all along. She even gave me all her ornaments to collect the funds for the land,” he said. Finally, Saidul’s dream came true on February 17 as the hospital started functioning, albeit partially, by opening its outdoor unit to patients. In a touching gesture, Saidul got his new-found “sister” Srishti to inaugurate the hospital. The response from the locals has been overwhelming, as the nearest hospital in the area is almost 11 km away. “There is a buzz all around. Everybody in the area is talking about the hospital,” said Sojol Das, while driving this correspondent in his e-rickshaw to the hospital premises. Work is now on to make it a fullfledged 50-bed hospital with other necessary facilities like X-Ray and Electrocardiography (ECG). “This is currently a two-storied building but we have plans to make it four-storied. On the opening day, our doctors could treat 286 patients while so many others were left out due to shortage of time and resources. I am sure once it becomes fully functional, people of nearly 100 villages would be benefited,” Saidul said. Saidul’s courage to dream big indeed impressed lots of people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised his efforts in his radio address to the nation, “Mann ki Baat”. Modi talking about the hospital project, the 40-something taxi driver said, has certainly given him more
Srishti Ghosh from south Kolkata, was so moved by his story that she decided to donate her entire first month’s salary to the hospital fund
A view of the under-construction hospital
Quick Glance In 2004 his sister Marufa died as she didn’t get the treatment
He took a pledge not to let anyone else die without treatment
Twelve years were spent chasing the dream to built the hospital
courage and assured him that he is headed in the right direction. “Since his speech, a lot of people got in touch with me. Many have offered help. Some local contractors have helped me out by supplying sand, bricks and cement needed for the construction work, while a doctor from Chennai has expressed his wish to join my hospital and treat patients.” Eight doctors are at present associated with the hospital where they would be providing free service for now. However, Saidul said, they have plans to provide healthcare in exchange of a bare minimum fee, necessary for the hospital’s maintenance. Dhiresh Chowdhury, in charge of the orthopaedic department, was all praise for Saidul. “Building a hospital is a mammoth task. For Saidul to do it with such a meagre income is unthinkable. We all are with him,” added the doctor, whose NGO Banchory is providing the medical equipment. But the dreamer in Saidul now refuses to stop with only one hospital. “Now that I have so many people with me, I feel I can go even further to fulfil my dream. Maybe I won’t limit myself only to constructing one hospital. Maybe I’ll go further in search of new dreams.”
Sports
May 21-27, 2018
29 07
Karun Nair
I Consider Myself An All-format Cricketer: Karun Nair Karun will replace Virat Kohli in the Indian team, which will take on debutants Afghanistan in Bengaluru from June 14-18
Quick Glance Nair is currently playing for Kings XI Punjab
He will lead the India A side in the four-day matches in the UK
n IANS
B
ack in the Indian Test cricket team after more than a year, middle-order batsman Karun Nair says he is now working to become an all-format player in future. The 26-year-old Karnataka right-hander will replace Virat Kohli in the Indian team, which will take on debutants Afghanistan in Bengaluru from June 14-18. Captain Kohli will play for English country side Surrey during that time to prepare for the England tour later this year. Nair is currently playing for Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). “I am really excited to be wearing those whites again and representing my country has always been an honour and privilege. I am really looking forward to it,” Nair told IANS in a telephonic interview. “I have worked really hard over the last one and half years. My form in the IPL and the way I have batted, I consider myself an all-format player and it’s just about getting those opportunities and making the most of them,” said Nair when asked about common perception that the Karnataka willower is a Test specialist. “It’s just that finding a spot in the one day team is difficult. I need to do better to get those opportunities and I am on the right track. I will do everything I can with the bat to make sure I play all formats,” he said.
Nair has had a moderate IPL so far, scoring 246 runs in 11 matches at 24.60
“I will do everything I can with the bat to make sure I play all formats” Nair, who scored an unbeaten 303 against England in the fifth test in Chennai two years back, will lead the India A side in the four-day
matches in the UK. For India A’s One-Day tri-series assignment in the UK, he has not been picked. “I am really happy to be leading the team. It’s a great opportunity for us as a team to be playing in England and learning how to play cricket in England,” said Nair, who played his last Test against Australia in Dharamsala last year before being dropped to accommodate Rohit Sharma in the playing XI.
“We need to learn to adjust to those conditions. For me as a captain, we have a talented bunch of youngsters who are really exciting,” he added. Nair has had a moderate IPL so far, scoring 246 runs in 11 matches at 24.60. Talking about Kings XI who are experiencing a downturn after losing four of their previous five games, Nair said it’s time to get their act together at the business end of the season. Punjab have 12 points from 11 matches. “It’s almost the business end of the tournament. So we need to get our act together,” he said. “The matches that we have won, we have completely played as a team. Individual performances have helped like K.L. Rahul has batted exceptionally well in some of the games. “Chris (Gayle) has also batted superbly in few games. But it has been a collective effort overall,” Nair said. Nair also lavished praise on Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, saying he has done exceedingly well in his first year as captain. “It’s been brilliant under Ash. He has done exceedingly well as a captain and to be captaining in the IPL for the first time, he has done exceptionally well,” he said. “He has always been a smart cricketer, if you look at his bowling he always has different plans for different batsmen and he can change it anytime during the game. He takes wise and quick decisions which are definitely needed in T20 cricket. I hope we win more games under his captaincy.”
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Literature
May 21-27, 2018
Inspirational
A Lesson From An Ant
B
renda was a young woman that wanted to learn to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death she went with a group and they faced this tremendous cliff of rock. Practically perpendicular. In spite of her fear, she put on the gear and she took a hold of the rope and she started up the face of that rock. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, whoever was holding the rope up at the top of the cliff made a mistake and snapped the rope against Brenda’s eye and knocked out her contact lens. You know how tiny contact lenses are and how almost impossible to find. Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with who know how many hundreds of feet behind and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping that she would be able to find that contact lens. Here she was, very far from home. Her sight was now blurry. She was very upset by the fact that she wouldn’t be anywhere near a place where she could get a new contact
lens. And she prayed that the Lord would help her to find it. Well, her last hope was that perhaps when she got to the top of the cliff, one of the girls that was up there on the top might be able to find her contact lens in the corner of her eye. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye. There was no contact lens to be found. She sat down with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to come up the face of the cliff. She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that Bible verse that says, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.” She thought, “Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every single stone and leaf that’s on those mountains and You know exactly where my contact lens is.”
Finally, the time came when it was time to go down. They walked down the trail to the bottom. Just as they got there, there was a new party of rock climbers coming along. As one of them started up the face of the cliff, she shouted out, “Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?” Well, that would be startling enough, wouldn’t it? She had found the contact lens! But you know why she saw it? An ant was carrying that contact lens so that it was moving slowly across the face of the rock. What does that tell you about the God of the universe? Is He in charge of the tiniest things? Do ants matter to Him? Of course they do. He made them. He designed them. Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist. When she told him this
incredible story, he drew a picture of that ant lugging that contact lens (as you see in the comics with a balloon with words in it over his head) with the words: “Lord, I don’t know why You want me to carry this thing. I can’t eat it and it’s awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I’ll carry it for You.” If God is in charge of the ants, don’t you think He cares about you and me? I guess Solomon was right. One could learn a valuable lesson from that ant -- trust in God. We could probably all say a little more often, “God, I don’t know why you want me to carry this load. I see no good in it and it’s awfully heavy. Still, if you want me to, I’ll carry it for You.” By: Josh and Karen Zarandona
Poem
AS I SEE MY REFLECTION When I’m happy, my toes go up and I dance Sometimes when I whimper, I simply glance. And I, I stand in front of you, as I see my reflection Slowly I realise, in this world, nobody’s born with perfection. What I’ll send, will come back to me What I sow, sow shall I’ll reap. A bird’s first fly, a baby’s first cry, seems as beautiful as first rain from the sky. Nothing’s really perfect.
What I give, I’ll get What I see in others, exists in myself. The love I give, is the love I’ll get You reflect my personality, my mindset. And there I stand in front of you, as I see my reflection. Slowly I realise, in this world nobody’s born with perfection.
Havisha Arora Class 11 Shiv Nadar School, Noida
Events
May 21-27, 2018
events & more...
ACROSS 5. When did Mother Teresa win the Nobel Peace Prize? 7. The metal whose salts are sensitive to light is 14.Which crop is sown on the largest area in India? 15.Which of the following cash crops is not grown in Kerala? 17.The system of dual citizenship exists in 18.The largest gland in the human body is 19. Who among the following got the Bharat Ratna award before becoming the president of India? 20. Which state produces maximum soybean?
The Beehive , Gurgaon Sat, 2 Jun 10:00AM - Sun, 3 Jun 1:00PM
SSB crossword no. 23
events
Kathak Workshop Venue:
SOLUTION of crossword no.22
International Food Festival Venue:
5, Khan Market, New Delhi 16 May 2018 12:00 PM - 31 May 2018 1:00 AM
Music Therapy Venue:
Reboot-Wellness , Delhi Sat, 2 Jun 5:00PM - 6:00PM
1. Algae 2. Yammer 3. Vaishnavism 4. IKEA 5. Wind 6. Fungi 7. Uzbekistan 8. Haryana 9. Mercury 10. Amu Darya
11. ITC Limited 12. Lodi 13. Greece 14. Chlorine 15. Talim 16. Bacterium 17. Diopters 18. Chenab 19. Surat 20. Ram Das
solution of sudoku-22
Professional glycerin soap making course Venue:
Craft And Social Development Organisation (CSDO, E-61) , South Delhi Fri, 1 Jun 10:30AM - Mon, 4 Jun 1:30PM
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DOWN 1. The value of Gold is determined in 2. The headquarters of world trade organization is in 3. The currency notes are printed in 4. Second World war began in 6. The 2014 football world cup was held in 8. The instrument useful for measuring curvature of surface is 9. The mineral in which India depends largely on imports is 10.Kancheepuram was once the capital of 11. Mica is available abundantly in 12. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court can hold office until the age of 13. The state which has the largest number of sugar mills in India is 16. First University in India was founded at
sudoku-23
DIY Art and Craft 2.0 Venue:
Hobbmob Studio , South Delhi Sat, 2 Jun 11:00AM - 2:00PM
on the lighter side by DHIR
Please mail your solution to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712, One Lucky Winner will win Cash Prize of Rs 500/-. Look for the Solution in the Next Issue of SSB
32
POSTAL REGISTRATION NO. DL(W)10/2240/2017-19
Newsmakers
May 21-27, 2018
2ND INDIAN WOMAN TO JOIN THE TERRITORIAL ARMY
Choudhary had been working as a scientist at ONGC since 2013
Lt Supriya Choudhary
L
t Supriya Choudhary has donned the olive uniform to become the first lady from Rajasthan to join the Territorial Army. She is the second woman in India who has joined the Territorial Army. Lt Shilpy Gargmukh is the first woman to achieve the feat. Hailing from the Gokhari village of Alsisar tehsil in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, Lt Choudhary was the only woman in the training and due to that faced her share of hardships. But owing to her determination
and hard work did not allow any of them to hold her back. Choudhary had been working as a scientist at ONGC since 2013. She has also had the privilege of commanding the Republic Day parade at the ONGC Headquarters in Dehradun. “The exposure at ONGC rejuvenates my spirit and I also feel motivated to apply my scientific & research knowledge in the field of Oil & Gas. As a Scientist, I am working with this great organization from 2013 and this journey has been very enriching for me professionally and personally,” shared Lt Choudhary. She gave the credit for her success to the family working in ONGC and her husband Varunasinh Pooni. She also said that “It is my privilege that I got the opportunity to serve my country by joining the Territorial Army. Meeting with the Honorable President of India & Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army on the occasion of Territorial army day in the year 2017 is a dream comes true for me, which would not have been possible without the support of ONGC”.
DISABLED IAS OFFICER MAKES INDIA PROUD Suhas’s one-legged congenital deformity has never been an obstruction for him in any way
H
e is an IAS officer, a badminton champion, and has not let his disability prevent him from following his dreams. Meet Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj, an IAS officer of the 2007 batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, who is the current District Magistrate of Allahabad. He is also a self-taught badminton player who has successfully unfurled the Indian flag in several tournaments over the years. Suhas’s onelegged congenital deformity has never been an obstruction for him in any way. Suhas entered the 4th Turkish ParaBadminton International Championship 2018 tournament with zeal and the determination to do his best for India, and sure enough, bagged the silver medal in the championship. This is certainly not the first time that the IAS officer has made India proud. Back in November 2016, Suhas bagged the gold medal at the Asian
Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj Paralympic Championship in Beijing. He was the district magistrate of Azamgarh then. Suhas is currently the World No. 2 in the Men’s Single Para-Badminton category and has ably balanced his work life with his passion for badminton. On the other hand, he never lets his practice interfere with his duty as an IAS officer. Suhas has been instrumental in developing a mobile application to help differently-abled voters during elections. He has also developed mobile apps called “Kuposhanka Darpan” and “Pregnancy ka Darpan” to help undernourished children and pregnant women, respectively. Suhas’s determination and positive approach to life is certainly an inspiration, and he has ensured that he “shuttles” ably between his profession and passion, winning laurels in both!
unsung hero
TUDENT S Y OCIOLOG HOW DID A S SISTING OVER A END UP AS ? BIRTHs D CHIL HUNDRED arnes
Lindsay B
It all started when she met her future husband a Bengali gentleman from Howrah as a fellow student in the 80s.
W
hen Lindsay Barnes, a Sociology student on a scholarship from Lancashire in north-west England met Ranjan Ghoshhad in the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in the 1980s, little did she know that fate would take her to a small village near the industrial town of Bokaro, Jharkhand.Today, the couple shares a home in Chambrabad village, 25 km from Bokaro, and Lindsay assists many pregnant women in the area, with labour and delivery. In 1993, she was residing in the village to conduct her research on the lives of those living around the coal belt, when a few neighbours came calling. They wanted her to assist a mother about to give birth to her child. “I was astounded. I had no clue what to do and was trying to put them off with excuses. It was my husband who goaded me to go,” Lindsay told. With no medical degree and little knowledge of how to assist the process of childbirth, she used a manual titled ‘Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook’ to guide her through the process. “The local women who gathered around me knew I had no knowledge of midwifery, yet they were relieved to see me. They knew I would find a way out. That’s when it hit me that I must do something to help them,” she added. Following her initial round of success, many others from different villages began to approach her for assistance since there was no resident doctor in the area and the primary health care centre is only open during the day. With almost 100 cases under her belt, she decided to hire safe rooms for deliveries. In 2001, she established a 12-bed health centre. The village girls now run the health centre with minimal support from qualified doctors. She is still called to handle critical cases. With her husband Ranjan’s expertise in microfinance, the couple has managed to successfully organise 7,000 women from 120 villages under various self-help groups. “Lindsay and her husband (also) set up Jan ChetnaManch (‘organisation for people’s awareness’), and started yearly health fairs, monthly camps, and then weekly clinics. Now clinics are open three days a week, providing services to around 600 women each month, mainly for antenatal care,” says this Commonwealth Scholarship Commission-UK report.
RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561, Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 Volume - 2, Issue - 23 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