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Dr Pathak was honoured with ‘Jeevan Gaurav Samman’ by Dr Babasaheb University
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A Good News Weekly
Vol - 2 | Issue - 38 | Sep 03 - 09, 2018 | Price ` 5/-
Sacred Thread Of Change
Members of Sulabh tied rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan Left to Right: Bhagwati, Usha Sharma, Abha Kumar, Aakanksha Sharma, Nitya Pathak, Jyotsna Pathak
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Urooj Fatima
very year, most of us look forward to the festive season with all sorts of hope and expectation that this year should be the best festival ever. Same were the hope and prayers of scavengers (erstwhile) and widows a few years back, when they wished for a life filled with colours of festivities. And who knew, that one day their wishes will
be answered by God in a way no one ever thought of. That somebody like Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, will take them under his protective ‘Sulabh umbrella’? For the last few years, the same women whom people considered untouchable and inauspicious, are rakhi the sacred thread of Raksha Bandhan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And, the widows of Vrindavan and Varanasi,
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Cover Story
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
every individual. Rakhi Utsav was first popularised by Rabindranath Tagore to promote the feeling of unity and a commitment to all members of society to protect each other and encourage a harmonious social life. In today’s scenario, the day has a different perspective. The occasion involves a pledge of life-time practice of moral, cultural and spiritual values. The values and the sentiments attached to the rituals of this festival are worth inculcating by the entire human race, the sentiments of harmony and peaceful coexistence. The festival of Raksha Bandhan assumes all forms of Raksha or protection, of righteousness and destroyer of all sin.
whom their own families left in the dark alley of life- alone, miserable, hurt and hopeless, got Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and PM Modi as their brothers and protectors. Yes, it’s true. These erstwhile scavengers and widows tie rakhi every year to Dr Pathak and now to PM Modi. This is what Raksha Bandhan festival is all about. What is Raksha Bandhan, truly? Raksha Bandhan in Sanskrit literally means “the tie or knot of protection”. It is an ancient Hindu festival that ritually celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters. It is one of the several occasions in which family ties are affirmed in India. The festival is also an occasion to celebrate brother-sister like family ties between cousins or distant family members, sometimes between biologically unrelated men and women. To many, the festival transcends biological family, brings together men and women across religions, diverse ethnic groups and ritually emphasises harmony and love. It is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Śrāvana, and typically falls in August every year. Raksha Bandhan is now considered as a day to celebrate the sacred relation of a brother and a sister. Yet there have been examples in history wherein rakhi have A widow from Vrindavan ties Rakhi to a priest
Dr Pathak feels that such an initiative will not just bring cheer in the lives of these women, but also help bring a change in social outlook just been a Raksha or protection. It could be tied by wife, a daughter or mother. The Rishis tied rakhi to the people who came seeking their blessings. The sages tied the sacred thread to themselves to safeguard them from the evil. It is, by all means, the ‘Paap Todak, Punya Pradayak Parva’ or the day that bestows boons and
ends all sins as it is mentioned in the scriptures. Previously, Rakhi festival encompassed the warmth shared between the siblings but now it goes way beyond it. Some people tie Rakhi to neighbours and close friends signifying a peaceful co-existence of
Breaking Shackles of Social Stigma Following the ritual, ahead of Raksha Bandhan this year on 26th August, erstwhile scavenger Usha Sharma and Bhagwati along with Abha Kumar, Nitya Pathak, Jyotsna Pathak and Aakanksha Sharma (members of Sulabh) met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tie Rakhi. This was not the first time when erstwhile scavengers celebrated Raksha Bandhan with PM Modi. Several manual scavengers, liberated by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, tied rakhi to PM Narendra Modi on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan last year also. Not only the erstwhile scavengers but widows of Vrindavan and Varanasi have also tied rakhi to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past. Back in 2014 and years ahead The widows of Vrindavan, long ostracised and excluded from festivities, took another small step to reclaim their space in society by publicly celebrating Rakhi (Raksha Bandhan), even as a few of them prepared to meet ‘brother’ Narendra Modi with 1,000 rakhis and seek his protection. A delegation of six widows, three each from Vrindavan and Varanasi, were granted permission to meet the Prime Minister. They carried the “Modi Rakhis” — each had a picture of the PM — that were hand-made by 100 widows, most of them in their 80s. They tied Rakhi to PM Modi and sought a better future for widows. The meeting with Modi highlighted the growing confidence of these women and the strides they have taken since they started defying oppressive customs since 2014. The same tradition was followed in 2015, when ageing widows of Vrindavan and Varanasi designed around 1,000 special rakhis for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sent it to him on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on August 29. The elderly women living in Meera
Cover Story
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
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PM Modi wished Raksha Bandhan
Widows of Vrindavan tying rakhi to Prime Minister Modi
Sahabhagini Ashram in Vrindavan made parlour, embroidery and painting. Earlier on Raksha Bandhan, hundreds rakhis displaying pictures of Modi and of manual scavengers and widows also sent it to the PM’s house. A group of five women from manual- tied rakhis on the wrist of Hindu priests scavenging background also tied rakhi to and Sanskrit scholars. A special programme was Prime Minister Narendra Modi. organised at the five-centuryIn 2017, the group of old Gopinath temple five erstwhile scavengers in Vrindavan, where handed over 1,000 Erstwhile rakhis were packed rakhis to Modi scavengers and in beautifully designed by the decorated baskets widows from widows tie rakhi carrying sweets. Vrindavana and every year to Dr Widows living Varanasi in Uttar Bindeshwar Pathak in Vrindavan’s Pradesh who Meera Sahabhigini have been looked and now to PM Ashram made a after by Sulabh Narendra Modi major contribution International. in the making of these Tying Rakhi to sacred threads. prime minister is a major The event is part of symbol against the existing efforts to bring these women, who stigma towards manual scavengers and widows. It is a sad thing that widows have been socially ostracised for ages have been considered inauspicious and and kept away from festivals and other celebrations, into the social mainstream. manual scavengers as untouchables. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak feels that With the help of Sulabh International, these people have been moved from such an initiative will not just bring manual scavenging to works like beauty cheer in the lives of these women, but
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y dear countrymen, Namaskar. Today, the entire country is celebrating Raksha Bandhan. Heartiest greetings to all fellow citizens on this auspicious occasion. The festival of Raksha Bandhan symbolises the bond of love & trust between a brother & a sister. For centuries, this festival has proved to be a shining example of social harmony. In the nation’s history, there are innumerable accounts of this sacred thread, binding together people of distant lands, different religions, around a spindle of trust. In a few days from now, we shall celebrate the festive occasion of Krishna Janmashtami. The whole atmosphere will reverberate to the sonorous chants & calls of ‘Hathi, Ghoda, Palki’, ‘Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki’ and ‘Govinda-Govinda’. It is indeed an extremely joyous experience to imbue the essence of Bhagwan Krishna & revel blissfully. In other parts of the country, especially Maharashtra, our young friends must be busy with preparations of the ‘Dahi-Handi’…. the festive ritual of the human pyramid breaking the curd-filled earthen pot. Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on the festive occasions of Raksha Bandhan and Krishna Janmashtami. Bhagini Chinmayee, Sister Chinmayee has asked a question in Sanskrit. Excellent, extraordinary. My salutations to you. On the occasion of Sanskrit week, I extend my best wishes to all countrymen.
also help bring a change in the social outlook. “Widows, after the death of their husbands, still face humiliation and insult from their family members. They are even restricted from attending any auspicious function in their families. They are not allowed to wear colourful saris, ornaments and have to wear only white clothes. So, my idea is how to change the thoughts, behaviour and attitude of the people of this country towards the widows of India, who are their mothers and sisters,” said Dr Pathak, who has been putting all his efforts in helping improve the lives of around 1,500 such women in Varanasi, Vrindavan and Kedarnath Valley. Breaking shackles of social stigma, these women had taken part in Holi, Diwali and Durga Puja celebrations following efforts of Dr Pathak and his
Sulabh organisation. Sulabh International, known worldwide for promoting the concept of low-cost sanitation, has been committed to the welfare of widows after the Supreme Court took strong exception in 2012 to the manner in which the bodies of widows, who lived in government shelter homes at Vrindavan, were disposed. The initiative was taken by the founder Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, who has been campaigning for social equality for five decades. The idea behind this is how to change thoughts, behaviour and attitude of the people of the country towards widows, who are their mothers, sisters, aunts, and so forth.
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16th Punya Tithi
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
DR RK Sinha
Man Of Pure Literature
He would ever be remembered not only for his scholarly career in English literature but also for his genial disposition, his sterling qualities of head and heart text that he put the positive and negative aspects of it before the students. He saw the text in its totality. His popularity can be gauged from the fact that the students and teachers of other departments frequently attended his lectures which continued for more than three hours. The greatest tribute to him would be to emulate his style of studying, teaching and doing research work,” Dr Pathak said. He further said, “From 1937, the year he joined as a lecturer, till his death in 2003, he only read and read and read books on all genres of literature, taught students and guided research scholars and was available to them all the time and he did not hanker after anything else...” “Dr Sinha’s work on Lawrence is really praiseworthy. While remembering Dr RK Sinha on his 16th Punya Tithi and realising the importance of Lawrence’s Urooj Fatima
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n the 16th Punya Tithi of Dr RK Sinha, a doyen of English literature in India, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, praised and thanked Dr RK Sinha Memorial Committee and Department of English, Patna University, for organising lectures in the memory of Dr RK Sinha who actively taught for more than forty years and remained a teacher till the last breath of his life. “Although he is not with us physically, yet spiritually he is very much in our heart and mind. When we remember his peerless qualities as a voracious reader, extraordinary teacher, powerful speaker, erudite scholar, untiring researcher, and compassionate human being, we feel highly inspired and I hope he will continue to inspire the coming generations for years to come. He had such a tremendous capacity of analysing a
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak along with Awadhesh Kumar, Dr Damodar Thakur and Prof of Patna University releasing the book ‘ Literary Waves’
Dr Pathak urged the students of the institute to work hard to prove their potential at the global level
philosophy I would make an appeal to the Department of English, Patna University to organise an International Seminar on Lawrence and other writers whose philosophy, is highly needed by humanity these days. I shall be happier if Literary Influences on DH Lawrence is also published next year on the occasion of Dr Sinha’s 17th Punya Tithi. Dr RK Sinha Chair should also be established in the Department of English. I would be happy to help the chair financially.” Lecture on ‘Ancient India’s Search For Identity & For Its Suitable Language’ on August 27, 2018 at AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies Patna, Bihar was organised by Dr RK Sinha Memorial Committee & Department of English, Patna University, Bihar. Dr Sameer Kumar Sharma, Secretary of RK Sinha Memorial and Prof of English, Patna University, felicitated Dr Pathak and other dignitaries with memento, sapling and angvastra after the floral tribute to Late RK Sinha. The book release of ‘Literary Waves’ volumes of scholarly articles written by scholars across the globe as a tribute
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
16th Punya Tithi
to the memory of Dr RC Prasad and the Journal ‘Approaches’ by the guests. The journal is assisted financially by Dr Pathak. Be like Dr Sinha Dr Damodar Thakur, Prof of Linguistic while paying tribute to Dr Sinha said, “The real compliment to Dr RK Sinha will be to make him proud whereever he is in heaven by our scholarship, by our research. History is waiting for someone, for as many people as possible to have that kind of scholarship and that will be the real compliment and memorial to Dr Sinha. Try to search your identity, who we really are. Find the ‘Me’ in you, the thing that never changes. What is ‘me’ on you all?” Be polite to each other, have a tone of sweetness. Be cordially, and seek language while talking to each other. Don’t speak in a way, in which people enrage and divide themselves in bits and groups. Keep yourselves away from polluting the minds. And being only sweet is not enough, let there be some elegance in your language. The world will prosper this way.” Modernizer of English Department Dr Awadhesh Kumar Sharma, Editor,
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Dr Sameer Kumar, secretary of RK Sinha Memorial, felicitating Dr Bindeshwar Pathak with memento
will live very comfortably.” He was a man of pure literature. He took out the English department from the Victorian Age to Modern Age. The credit of modernizing English department, not only in Patna University but to whole North India goes to Dr RK Sinha.
Sulabh India said, “When it comes to speak about my mentor, my teacher, my revered guru Prof Sinha, I am reminded of the title of one of the Volumes of Bachchan’s autobiography—‘Kya Bhulu, Kya Yaad Karun’. Every day I remember him but I like to first express my gratitude on behalf of all to Dr Pathak for immortalising the memory of legendary teacher of our time.” Narrating an incident, he told, “Dr Sinha was invited to address teachers and students of BN College in the late 70’s. I happened to be there luckily to hear his
lecture. I vividly remember his whole lecture by like to mention two important points from it. While addressing to teachers he said ‘It is the singular prerogative of the teacher to be paid for a lifetime to keep reading, to keep studying. You’re not paid for anything else, so don’t forget why society pays you throughout your life and this is for all the teachers to remember. Secondly, he asked teachers to treat classroom like tuition or coaching classes, and I don’t think you will ever need tuition from then. Live with what you have given, you
Dignitaries present on the occasion were Chairperson Dr Shanker Ashish Dutt, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, Dr Damodar Thakur, Prof of Linguist, Dr Sonjoy Dutta Roy, ViceChancellor of Patna University, Dr Rash Bihari Prasad Singh, Dr JP Singh, Former Vice-Chancellor of LNM University, Darbhanga, Dr Awadhesh Kr Sharma, Editor, Sulabh India. Literature is the powerhouse of diverse sorts of ideas. We can apply these ideas creatively in transforming and reconstructing society based on the principles of equality and liberty, as well as empowerment and upward social movement. Let us, therefore, use our study of literature for enhancing the quality of life of people and making this world more lovely and homogeneous.
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Foundation Day
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
honour
‘Jeevan Gaurav Samman’ To Dr Bindeshwar Pathak Haribhau Bagade felicitated Dr Pathak for his contribution towards the society
SSB Bureau
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r Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, celebrates its 60th Foundation Day on 23rd August 2018. On the occasion, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor BA Chopade honoured Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder, Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, with the “Jeevan Gaurav Samman” and felicitated him with a memento, citation and shawl in recognition of his contribution towards the society. Haribhau Bagade, Current Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and leader of Bharatiya Janata Party, presented the samman to Dr Pathak and other awardees. The university felicitates those eminent personalities every year with the “Jeevan Gaurav Samman” who are pioneer in the field of social, educational, medicine, tourism, journalism, etc. In his address Dr Pathak expressed his gratitude to the University,
“Dr. Ambedkar’s very name evokes the optimism that the future of our Indian society would be better and brighter than our caste-ridden past” its illustrious Vice-Chancellor Professor BA Chopade and the Award Screening Committee for considering him worthy for this very special recognition. He said, “...I feel humbled and grateful, as this honour will strengthen and deepen my commitment to do more for the social cause and the suffering humanity...” Dr Pathak further added that he is feeling elated as this award is being given to him by a centre of educational excellence, which is named after Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, one of the greatest sons of modern India and the great liberator of the oppressed and the downtrodden. “I support everything that deepens our love, compassion and
humanity. This underpins my life philosophy and action sociology. This enables me to do much more than I would have been able to do otherwise. Some people say that my motto of love and compassion for all has empowered me to make impossible things—like the liberation of scavengers and freeing the widows from a life of misery— possible. Anyway, I would not have been able to do anything noble and great without love and compassion for people-in-distress. I deeply and passionately want an Indian environment that is healthy, an Indian society that is harmonious, and an Indian heart that is filled with love and compassion for all.
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak receiving the ‘Jeevan Gaurav Samman’ by BJP leader Haribhau Bagade
Dr. Ambedkar’s very name evokes the optimism that the future of our Indian society would be better and brighter than our caste-ridden past. I hope that this celebration of the University’s 60th Foundation Day will inspire and enthuse our young students and scholars for social service and national cause.” He also shared some aspects of his personal and social life, struggles and achievements that have a larger social relevance with the distinguished gathering of scholars and students on the occasion. Other awardees were Padmshree Pratap Pawar, Chairman - Sakal Social Foundation, Raosaheb Rangarao Borade, famous Marathi writer, Radheshyamji Chandak, Chairman - Buldana Urban Cooperative Credit Society, UNESCO Director Dr Rajendra Shende, Namdev Kamble, Bhaskar Pere and Tukaram Janpadkar Guruji.
Niladri Banerjee at Sulabh
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Quick Glance
sulabh visit
The Torchbearers Of Widow Reforms Niladri Banerjee, descendant of legendary reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, visited Sulabh Gram Swastika Tripathi
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s long as this salutary practice will be deferred, so long will the crimes of prostitution, adultery, incest and foeticide flow on in an ever increasing current… so long will a widow’s agony blaze on in fiercer flames…” Such was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s tryst with the upliftment of Hindu widows in Indian society. In 1856, barely a year before the Sepoy Mutiny, a landmark legislation was passed by the British, thanks to the untiring efforts of a great educationist, humanist, and a social reformer of Bengal, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Vidyasagar’s life struggle was to dignify the life of the Hindu widows and ensure egalitarianism and dignity for those whom the caste system viewed as lower, unclean and polluted. This great reformer’s story is one of commitment and compassion – a commitment to the better of the society, a compassion towards the plights of widows, especially child widows. This influenced his passionate campaign and he worked hard to make life better for these young girls and women. Ishwar Chandra passed away in 1891, but widows continued to be deprived of almost all social, personal, and economic rights. Until it was the year 2012 when Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, stepped in to take forward the legacy of Vidyasagar. When Dr Niladri Banejree, a fifth generation descendant of the legendary Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagr, visited the much-heard-about Sulabh Gram, he was really happy to learn of the ways how Dr Pathak has been dedicated towards keeping ignited the legacy of his
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“You come to know about these activities, but working at the ground-level, like Dr Pathak, is very different from learning it from reading an article” ancestor. “The term ‘widow’ is in itself a problem. When a woman loses her husband, she is called a widow, but when a man loses his wife he is not given any name. I think the most important – or rather the strangest – thing is that it took over 150 years to uplift widows, and somebody still needs to work on it. It shows how slowly it has been taken up and how difficult it was over 150 years back. Certainly, what Dr Pathak is doing is definitely carrying this forward,” Dr Banerjee said. “You come to know about these activities, but working at the ground-level is very different from learning it by reading an article. So that is what his (Dr Pathak’s) main contribution is. He is actually doing something rather
than mere researches or commentaries,” he added. Dr Pathak even today recalls that day in August 2012, sometime during Rakshabandhan, when he had gone to Vrindavan and met the widows of the town. Most of them were reduced to begging on the streets. They surrounded him and shared stories of their plight – how they had to live without money, food, and basic amenities. Informing Dr Banerjee about Sulabh’s endeavour, Dr Pathak said, “Whenever one turns the pages of work done for widows in history, the names of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar come on the top. The efforts of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar against this cruel and inhuman practice.
Vidyasagar’s life struggle was to dignify the life of the Hindu widows Dr Pathak has taken forward his legacy by stepping-in for the widows Dr Banerjee was mesmerised to learn of all the great efforts of Dr Pathak
He narrated the tale of how a sevenyear-old girl was declined food in her own house after her husband died. She was told that since she is a widow now, she cannot eat the ‘puri-kheer’ like others, neither can she do a lot of other things – like being seen in the public or participating in auspicious occasions, etc. When Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar visited her house, he talked to the girl and told her that if you cannot eat, then I will also not. “This malpractice of declaring women inauspicious the moment they turn into a widow, Ishwar Chandra fought against it his entire life. Sulabh has also been working in that direction only. We look after the widows of Vrindavan and Varanasi. They live in Sulabh-assissted widow-homes and are given a stipend of Rs 2000/- a month to make their ends meet,” said Dr Pathak. Dr Pathak also urged all the people, gathered for the morning assembly with Dr Niladri Banerjee, to make it a point to ensure that such malpractices are swept off our society. “Social work begins from self efforts. All small-small efforts together become the force against such evils, and each such effort goes down the pages of history,” he said. Dr Niladri Banerjee participated in Sulabh’s morning prayer and was welcomed in traditional manner with a scarf and garland and was gifted a Madhubani painting. After the prayer, he headed to pay visit to the entire Sulabh Gram. Coming across the Sulabh technology, he said, “I think the Sulabh technology has enormous potential. It is extremely sustainable and low-cost technology, which has a potential to be widely adopted.” “In order for any society to develop, I think that we as scientists or engineers or doctors need to play a much more active role in the society. Coming to Sulabh is a very nice learning experience. If we follow what this organisation (Sulabh) and Dr Pathak is saying, things are going to change,” he concluded.
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Research Paper
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Dr. M. B. Gaijan He is th Head of Department of English, Samaldas Arts College, Shri Maharaja Krishnakumar Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar – Gujarat)
Gujarat
Sanitation Is The Tool For Social Change A Study in Connection with Gujarat
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igital technology has changed global scenario. Gujarat and other states of India are also influenced by the Digi-Tech change. The things which were earlier not known to people, now they are screened, live telecasted. This digital technology also remains a highly powerful mean to present the social, cultural, academic, environmental and political issues. Since ancient era to till today, Gujarat has unique importance in the progress and development of the nation. Gujarat remains a unique state in India geographically, culturally and socially since early era. Centuries ago, Harappan civilisation dwelt here. Dwarika, Somnath, Vallabhi are the historical places of Gujarat. Gujarat is the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Vikram Sarbhai. Gujarat has given geniuses to the nation, and the world. In our time Gujarat is emerging as the advanced state of the nation. With the development of the nation citizens’ safety and welfare are essential. But still there are some challenges/ hurdles in the path of progress of the state. The basic needs of the people, like water, sanitation and hygiene issues are one of them. Oxford dictionary defines ‘Sanitation’ as “Conditions relating to public health, especially the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal”. Collins dictionary also refers “Sanitation is the process
Without social harmony progress leads anarchy and unhealthy environment. Sanitation can be the effective tool for better health as well, as harmony of the state of keeping places clean and healthy, especially by providing a sewage system and a clean water supply”. For human beings’ safe survival and welfare WHO/UNICEF has given priority to WASH. It means Water, Sanitation and Hygiene practices. According to UNICEF. “Today, there are around 2.4 billion people who do not use improved sanitation, and 663 million who do not have access to improved water sources.”
So WASH is the challenge before the humanity now. WASH in connection with Gujarat is also a matter to worry. For public health collective actions should be taken by NGOs, Govt and people of Gujarat. In this paper main focus is given on Sanitation as the tool of Social Change, especially in connection with Gujarat. In ancient time in Gujarat, as the archeological sites of Lothal and
Dholaveera show there were well planned sewage system at that time, even in the middle age in palaces and in the houses of administrators the system was working. There was also a nice arrangement for storing drinking water from rain water. But for the common people there was no such system. The benefits were for the selected people. In 21st century, Digi-era, the democratic state Gujarat is emerging as the advanced state. At this time, welfare of citizens is equally important. Social health and harmony lead path of progress. Without social harmony, progress leads anarchy and unhealthy environment. Sanitation can be the effective tool for better health as well, as harmony of the state. To accept it as the tool, geographical, social, cultural, educational and industrial regions of Gujarat should be considered and according to the plan goal can be achieved. Sanitation, like in whole nation, in Gujarat too is connected with caste issues. In Gujarat, sanitation work is only done by Dalits and by women. Cleaning work is the work of Dalits, this wrong ideology still controls minds of orthodox. So sanitation is the issue of Caste and gender discriminations. On account of that injustice is committed on both. Women of all castes are traditionally the part of cleaning work at their homes. Most of all women are cleaning right from their kitchen to the washrooms. As a matter of fact instead
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Research Paper Mahesana and Patan. Education and industries are developing. Caste issues are reported here. Hate crime on Dalits and injustice to women are reported here. East Region of Gujarat: This region is rich with forest. It includes districts Vadodara, Panchmahal, and Dahod. Education level is lower here. It is a tribal belt. Dalits became victims here. Injustices to women are reported. Possible Suggestions: To maintain and develop social health and harmony, considering education, industries, social environment and water availability are some possible
of social harmony Women of all castes are materialistic casteists’ traditionally the part of and patriarchal dominating ideologies cleaning work at their homes. become stronger and Most of all women are consequently humanist cleaning right from their ideology becomes weaker. At that point, kitchen to the washrooms public health through sanitation suffers a lot. To accept sanitation as the tool for so caste conflicts are social change following steps can be taking place. Hate crime useful: on Dalits are reported here. Injustices to • Geographical Divisions of Gujarat: women are reported. Geographically and administratively Gujarat is divided into six regions: Central Region of Gujarat: Kutch Region: This region includes Since British era this region remains one district, Bhuj. It is the largest progressive. It includes the districts district of the state. Major part of Ahmedabad, Anand, Bharuch, the district is of Rana- desert. Water Dahod, Gandhinagar, Kheda, resources are limited. Drinking water Narmada, Panchmahal and Vadodara. is also the issue in rural areas. There Due to education, industries and water is the university but still learning level resource this region is rich. Narmada is not satisfactory. Though there are river water proved nectar to the large acres of land in this district but region. Caste issues are taking place big industries face challenges due to in rural areas. Hate crime are reported water, men power and transportation. on Dalits. Injustices to women are As far as caste issue is concern Dalits reported. are doing cleaning work. Hate crimes on Dalits are not reported. By and large South Region of Gujarat: Since social harmony is visible. middle age to our times, this region has unique importance due to natural Saurashtra Region: This peninsula resources including forest and rivers. is surrounded by water of Arabian sea, Education and industries have Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambhat. developed on this belt. It includes There is no ever flowing river in this districts Surat, Valsad, Dang, Navsari region but during the rainy seasons and Tapi. Surat, on the bank of rive water is stored by dams and check Tapi, is the centre of this region. dams. Now Narmada/ Mahi river Caste issues are not much reported. water is supplied through canals/pipe But working-class women become lines. Its populated region includes victims of injustice. By and large social Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, harmony is visible. Rajkot, Porbandar, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli- Rajula, Bhavnagar, North Region of Gujarat: This Botad,Surendranagar, Ahmedabad region has historical significance. (part) {Dhandhuka taluka} and Diu. Patan was the capital of Gujarat Dugwells are major source of water. Gir during Solanki dynasty. Earlier Banas forest is here. A few districts face water and Saraswati rivers were flowing problems, especially in rural ares. here. Now the river beds are dry. It Education rate is higher here. Caste includes districts Gandhinagar (part), orthodoxy still prevails in this region Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravali,
suggestions that can be the effective tools for social change. With the help of the public, attitudes can also be changed. Following careful actions can gradually change public attitudes and can remain the effective tool for social change. Water Supply: In Kutch, Saurashtra and North Gujarat regions, water is the major issue as a drinking water as well as for agriculture. Especially in rural areas this issue is still a challenging one. People use well water for drinking purpose, it contains harmful minerals, and it invites diseases. For agriculture it also harms the land. For drinking and irrigation purpose enough water supplies should be there. Caste discriminations and cruelties on women and Dalits must be stopped by learning and laws. Lessons of cleaning should be the part of life. Women Empowerment: Strict actions against injustices to women must be taken. Still violence against women is increasing. Patriarchal orthodox attitudes can be changed by empowerment of women. They must be provided quality education and skill based learning. In public dealing women’s active participations must be encouraged. Maximum digital technology can be used to empower the women.
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Strong actions against castes hate crime: Strong actions and punishment must be used against those who involve in caste-hate crimes. It is shocking that still caste controls major fields of human life, right from birth to death. As a result identity as a nation’s citizen suffers. Caste identity still dominates. Egalitarian ideology of Indian spirituality and the constitution of the nation must be popularized. Recycling of west to best: There are big industrial units in Gujarat but recycling units from solid and liquid waste are yet to be established. On a small scale biogas plants are working in Sanorasa, Bhavnagar district. But on a big scale solid and liquid waste can be transformed into as a reusable product. It can save environment as well as satisfy the need of the people. Large quantity of valuable recyclable human waste is going useless, as a solid waste and liquid waste. Through the latest technology it should be recycled and reuse. Sanitation awareness should be treated as mission for healthy society. Rational environment for sanitation: Rational society is yet to be born here. Irrational practices should be treated as punishable. By using scientific and technology rational environment should be created. Rationalism means not a rejection of faith but irrationality on the name of faith. Culture of Gujarat follows mutual respect and brotherhood. It must be strengthened. This sort of environment is the sign of healthy society. Use of latest technology for WASH: By using the latest technology, the issues of WASH can be solved earliest. Technology is perhaps the best means to unite humanity without any discrimination. It can also help to solve the millions of issues. Solar energy as well as tidal water of Gujarat coast can also be used for solving the sanitation issues. Thus considering all the aspects for social health and harmony specific environment can prove useful. People’s nausea for cleaning work can be removed. As the rational environment develops, the role of caste can be weaker. Injustice to Dalits and women would reduce too. In short, these sorts of actions will remain useful to create better Gujarat, socially and by health. Women and those who are connected with sanitation work should be accepted as the guarding to the public health not as the inferior. People will realise waste is not the useless waste at all but it is the raw matter for the best reusable product.
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Judiciary
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
conclave
‘Human Values and the Legal World’ The conference was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Dipak Misra and about 60 judges participated G Ulaganathan
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ug 11, 2018 saw an unprecedented congregation of legal luminaries of India to discuss the importance of human values in legal profession in the spiritual town of Puttaparthi. It was perhaps for the first time that narly 65 judges, both sitting and retired Supreme Court and High Court judges participated in a non-judicial conference. The two-day conclave of judges and the legal fraternity, which deliberated on ‘Human Values and the Legal World’, was organised by Sri Sathya Sai Foundation at the Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of Sri Sathya Baba. The conference was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Dipak Misra, and about 60 judges of the Supreme Court as well as state High Courts –both sitting and retired—particiapted along with more than 300 legal luminaries from across the country. Eliminating ego is right way to maintain peace Justice Misra, in his inaugural address reminded everyone of three important principles: a) ‘Divinity is Humanity’, b) ‘thoughtless thought is spirituality’ and c) ‘remaining in constant nowness is physical and economic morality’. The way to peace is the annihilation of “the ballooning of perpendicularism” which in spiritual terms means the elimination of ego, he said. Then he reflected on spirituality and said, “We have all gathered here to learn the act of surrender”. On the principle of Dharma, he explained that it is a concept that cannot be adequately translated in the English language or any language and that Dharma connotes that which sustains society, maintains the social order, and ensures well-being and progress of humanity. “We need to protect human rights by expressing human values. One can enjoy one’s human right without bending the human rights of others” he said. On the connection between spirituality and rationality, he said there has to be “spiritual rationality” and “rational spirituality. The reverence of life is associated with the dignity of a human being who is basically divine, not servile. A human personality is endowed with potential infinity and it blossoms when dignity is sustained. The sustenance of such dignity
Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra at the two-day conclave organised by Sri Sathya Sai Foundation
has to be the superlative concern of every sensitive soul.” “It may be pointed out that our Constitution is a unique document. It is not a mere pedantic legal text but it embodies certain human values, cherished principles and spiritual norms and recognises and upholds the dignity of man. It accepts the individual as the focal point of all development and regards his material, moral and spiritual development as the chief concern of its various provisions,” the chief justice explained . Welcoming the dignitaries to the conference, Sri Jatinder Cheema, National Vice President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, said that since January 28, 1950, the Indian Judiciary has made concerted efforts to protect the rights of every human being and keep the social fabric intact. “In the current world of technology without boundaries, communication has become easy yet the distance between the human hearts has increased. Given the paucity of peace in the current times, he said there is no better place to discuss about this than in the “abode of Peace” Prasanthi Nilayam.
Sri SS Naganand, Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, said Sri Sathya Sai Baba, when he was 14, declared that He has come to redeem the world. The Sri Sathya Sai Organisations now function in over 125 countries. Corruption in the judiciary is a grave concern and Chief Justice of Manipur High Court N Kotiswar Singh minced no words when he asked the judges to shun gifts. Expressing serious concern over the decline in ethics in the legal profession, Justice Singh went to the extent of comparing the habit of taking gifts to that of getting addicted to drugs. “One must avoid temptation. Make sure you don’t cultivate the habit of taking gifts. It is just like drug addiction. Once taken, it becomes a habit, once tasted, you can’t resist the temptation,” he said. He appealed to the judicial fraternity not to compromise on morality and ethics. “We are not practising what we are preaching,” he bluntly said. Justice Singh stole the two-day show not only by his blunt speech, but also by the classy national attire -- kurta, pyjama with a Nehru-Modi jacket. This was in stark contrast to all the judges’ attire which
“I would like to add Equality in the list of Human Values proposed by Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba” - Justice Dalveer
was the western suit-and-tie formal dress. “Coming all the way from Manipur, he has shown the right way” chuckled one of the senior members of the legal fraternity from south India. Justice Singh was the third speaker on the panel which discussed ‘Ethics and Probity in the Legal profession’. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court judge Justice Ram Subramanian also stressed the importance of ethics in the profession. “One should never give up ethics to win a case”, he said and observed that “Instead of the four Cs (Court, Community, Client and Commitment) today’s lawyers were desperate chasing the fifth C. They want to become Crorepatis soon. Materialistic prosperity is not everything in life.” Andhra Pradesh Chief Justice TB Radhakrishnan, who was the chairperson for this panel, bemoaned the erosion of ethics in the judiciary. Highlighting the deterioration, Justice Radhakrishnan said there are two types of judges — donkeys and horses. Candid in his observation, Justice Radhakrishnan said, “I faithfully belong to the donkeys’ creed and I am happy. Horses are meant to be decorated, but donkeys are meant to carry the burden.” Justice Radhakrishnan advocated the need for synchronisation of Constitutional values with eternal human values. He added that lawyers and law students should strive to ensure that the illiterate and mentally challenged to get their constitutional rights. That would be the real service to society and to spiritual guru SatyaSai Baba, he said. Delhi High Court judge Justice Hari Shankar, in his address, called upon the judicial fraternity to uphold the principles of truth, dharma (righteousness) and compassion, and to live up to the view that it is a noble profession. Justice Dalveer Bhandari, India’s representative in the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands, said, “I would like to add Equality in the list of Human Values proposed by Bhagwan Sri SathyaSai Baba. A frequent visitor to Puttaparthi after 1991, he said he found Baba to be a symbol of love and compassion. He believed that Judiciary has played an important role but could do more. He quoted Martin Luther King: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’.
Judiciary
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Chief Justice of Manipur High Court N Kotiswar Singh (left) being welcomed to the Conclave
Purity of Mind In the session on ‘Dharma and the Rule of Law’, which was chaired by a former judge of Supreme Court Justice AP Misra, he began the talk mentioning how anyone who comes to Puttaparthi gets sanctified by its sacredness. He then went on to narrate many instances of how Bhagawan had touched and transformed his life. Emphasising on the purity of the mind is the essential quality of a judge, he explained how in the earlier times it was the sages and saints who performed this duty in Indian society. He reiterated the supremacy of the spirit over material things and urged everyone, especially the people in the legal profession, to constantly perceive to make their journey to their inner self a priority in their lives. This, he mentioned, will ensure that the legal profession maintains its purity and dignity. In his 30-minute scintillating presentation, Justice Ravi Shankar Jha of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, explained the distinction between human feelings and human values. “While compassion, kindness, pity, etc. are great virtues, a Judge does not have the luxury to practice them while on the seat of justice as he cannot be taken over by these emotions,” he said. Mahabharata shows the way He explained this further by citing examples from Mahabharata and said that Dhritarashtra, clouded by his human emotions, blatantly flouted the principles of dharma. He mentioned that even Arjuna would have gone the same way as he too was overwhelmed with human emotions before the war began, but fortunately, it was Lord Krishna who guided him and urged him to do his duty of protecting dharma. “While the law may be compassionate, the Judge cannot interpret the law to make it compassionate,” he said and also explained the difference between individual dharma and Raj dharma or societal dharma. Justice K Kannan, Chairman, Railway
Andhra Pradesh Chief Justice T B Radhakrishnan, who was the chairperson for the panel, bemoaned the erosion of ethics in the judiciary
Delhi High Court judge Justice Hari Shankar, in his address, called upon the judicial fraternity to uphold the principles of truth, dharma (righteousness) and compassion, and to live up to the view that it is a noble profession
Claims Tribunal, began his talk saying that the rule of law is subsumed in dharma. And just like one cannot find physics solutions in mathematics textbook, similarly for queries on dharma one has to look-- not at constitution but-- at Dharma Shastras. He stated that courts do not have answers to every situation and dharma, which is difficult to define, has a unique meaning in every situation and has to be applied accordingly in various circumstances. Enumerating three important tenets for the legal fraternity, he said, first we need role models who have imbued dharma in their life; secondly, everybody in the legal profession should aspire for selfpurification; and thirdly, one has to refer to Veda Vidya, or the scriptures to seek guidance on good conduct. He lamented that often lawyers are joked as “liars” while they should always be looked up to as advocates of truth. Three miracles Earlier, participating in another session on ‘Role of Judiciary in Advancing Human Values’, Justice NV Ramana, judge of Supreme Court, said there were three important miracles in his life after meeting
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Sri Sathya Sai Baba. “Firstly, I was not having a good practice as a lawyer and was struggling. Then I got married to a family of Sai Devotees and after my first meeting with the Baba, my work started getting recognition. Secondly, my concern was about my daughters—what career they should choose. With Baba’s blessings, my elder daughter became a doctor in Delhi and my younger one is a practising advocate in Hyderabad. The third miracle was my elevation to the High court as a judge. I least expected it. Baba told me that I would move up the ladder soon.” Justice Ramnana advised the members of the legal profession, including the fellow judges, to concentrate on transferring values to next generation. Justice Amitava Roy, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, said the human being was the thematic essence of supreme creation. He quoted from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 wherein it is said: “Man is born equal in right, dignity and worth”. Every human being has a right to life with dignity and the human values, divine qualities and human rights are all intertwined and every law enacted in
this land has traces of human values, he stressed. Justice Mukhopadhyaya chaired the session on ‘Constitutional Rights and Human Values’. Justice Pratibha Singh, judge of the Delhi Court, said in her speech, “Since stone age, the face of human values that govern life has changed. The laws that govern human life have changed too.” She also said over a period of time, our human values have changed – From big settlements to joint families to nuclear families to living alone with social media, we have come a long way. They used to say ‘Man is a social animal’ but now ‘Man is a social media animal’ she remarked and said one should follow the ‘Inner-net and not the Internet’. Mounting cases The final word came from Justice Venkatachalliah, the former chief justice of the Supreme Court: “I touched the feet of Bhagawan Baba 76 years ago, and have had the privilege of his darshans several times. Judiciary is the only institution that can protect us in this dark time. “It is distressing to know that 33 million cases are pending in 16,000 courts. Once the Supreme Court suggested that we should increase the number of courts 5 times which is not a viable solution. Off these, 75% cases are criminal, 25% cases are civil, but it is interesting to know that 50% cases are in five states and rest 50% are in the others states of the country. “It is high time we work out some solution for this and both, the government and the judiciary, should work together,” the veteran judge, who is in his 80’s, suggested. It was indeed a unique occasion when 65 sitting judges of our country came together on a non-legal platform and participated in this event organised by the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation which is neither a registered organisation nor an NGO but a collection of people who want to offer their selfless love and serve the society.
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Sanitation
Ivory Coast
Bringing Toilets & Water To People The lack of access to safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation has serious repercussions
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
SUEZ to install 40 drinking water production units
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UEZ and the Ivory Coast’s Ministry of Economic Infrastructure have signed a €19m contract to supply and install 40 compact modular drinking water production units. With a total production capacity of 92,000 m3/day, these units will supply 18 towns in 17 regions. They will be gradually installed, over a period from 10 to 24 months, at all of the selected priority sites. This project is part of the Ivory Coast’s 2016-2020 National Development Plan and will meet the drinking water needs of around 450,000 inhabitants. Since 2013, SUEZ has deployed several units of this type in Ivory Coast, and building on
this initial experience, it has developed a model that can be replicated on a larger scale. The first ten units to be delivered will be installed rapidly to meet the demand of locations where drinking water distribution is partial because of an incomplete supply network or an existing treatment plant being faulty or obsolete. UCD® water treatment units are modular and flexible, they can be delivered and installed quickly, and are suitable for different types of surface water. They use high-performance treatment processes to provide an extremely reliable source of water that meets European quality standards.
SSB BUREAU
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large number of the issues regarding sanitation and water quality in Cote d’Ivoire can be attributed to the domestic conflict that ended in 2007. The conflict damaged crucial water supply infrastructure, especially in the north, and post-conflict reconstruction has overshadowed proper bathrooms, especially in maintenance and repair of these urban areas. The issue is multisystems. Over eight million people faceted, and impacts both urban and in Cote d’Ivoire lack access to rural communities in different ways. The above issues increase the adequate sanitation facilities, which increases the risk of water-related risk of transmission of water-borne diseases. Over four million people diseases, such as cholera. Guinea lack access to safe drinking water. worm was also common, though These numbers increase in rural it was eradicated in 2007. Unsafe areas, where 46 per cent of the rural drinking water increases child population lacks access to clean mortality rates. Currently, many water and 87 per cent lacks access to children die from diarrhea and similar diseases. sufficient sanitation. Urbanisation is one of The crisis of water quality the main causes of in Cote d’Ivoire is the current water characterised by two Children – and crisis. After the key problems. First, particularly girls – civil war, the many communities, are denied their capital city of especially rural ones, right to education Yamoussoukro face difficulties because they are experienced a not only accessing busy fetching water massive influx safe drinking or are deterred by of internally water, but also the lack of separate displaced accessing enough and decent people. The of it. Second, there sanitation facilities city doesn’t have are many difficulties in schools enough wells or in accessing sewage adequate sewage infrastructure and
and sanitation facilities to support this increase in the population, exacerbating existing issues in the city. The water crisis also has an impact on education. According to USAID, “As a result of having to collect water to drink and shower before going to school, all the children in the neighborhood were constantly tired and sick, and their academic performance suffered.” This particularly disadvantages girls, who
mainly carry the burden of fetching water for their families. Even when they are able to attend school, they often don’t have access to separate sanitation facilities. Many organizations are addressing the crisis of low water quality in Cote d’Ivoire. Charity Water has funded 190 separate projects in the country and has invested $1,146,687 as of November 2017. UNICEF Water and Sanitation takes a multi-pronged approach, supplying clean drinking water straight to communities, schools and hospitals, promoting sanitation and hygiene and surveying the epidemiological impacts of the low water quality to prevent water-related diseases. The Urban Water Supply Project aims to improve water quality and access to water (especially in overcrowded urban areas) and to strengthen the financial management and financial planning capacity of the National Water Agency in its urban water supply sector.
Swachh Bharat Mission
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
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SBM - gramin
Cabinet Support To Swachh Bharat Mission The Rs 15,000 cr support fund will be utilised to achieve and sustain ODF status in the villages across the country AGENCY
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he Union Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved raising of Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) of Rs 15,000 crore through NABARD for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) during 2018-19. Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the decision will benefit around 1.5 crore rural households eligible for incentive under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), and also the gram panchayats for solid and liquid waste management (SLWM) activities. “In order to meet the financial requirements for achieving the goals of SBM(G), for the year 2018-19, in the budget announcements made by Finance Minister, an amount of Rs 30,343 crore was allocated for SBM(G). This was proposed to be met by Rs 15,343 crore from General Budgetary support and remaining Rs 15,000 through Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR),” Prasad said. The funds will be utilized to achieve and sustain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in the villages across the country. Prasad said the loan amount of Rs 15,000 crore will be repaid to NABARD as
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the decision will benefit around 1.5 crore rural households eligible for incentive under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)
single bullet payment at the end of 10th year from the date of loan disbursement as per the agreed terms and conditions. The EBR funds will be raised through NABARD after considering the exact requirements/expenditure of the states and Union Territories and released to the states/UTs implementing agencies. This will help provide adequate and timely funds to the states/UTs for achieving the goal of the Mission within
the deadlines, he said. The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014, with the goal to achieve universal sanitation coverage in rural areas by October 2, 2019. Under the scheme, financial incentive of Rs 12,000 is provided to the eligible beneficiaries for construction of individual household toilets in the prescribed funding share pattern between the Centre and the states.
For SLWM activities, the financial assistance is provided with a cap of Rs 7/12/15/20 lakh to gram panchayats having up to 150/300/500/more than 500 households, respectively. “The Swachh Bharat Mission has made rapid progress in advancing sanitation in rural India. As on July 31 this year, sanitation coverage in India is 88.9 per cent. Over 7.94 crore toilets have been built since October 2, 2014, with 4.06 lakh villages, 419 districts and 19 states and UTs already being declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). “The pace of progress is constantly accelerating and India is on track to achieve ODF by October 2019,” Prasad said.
n Agency
SBM-U mission director Vinod Kumar Jindal said. “In the case of urban areas, the problem is not one of usage, but of availability... In cities, if toilets are available, accessible and clean, people will automatically use them rather than using the road.” The ODF+ and ODF++ protocols, which were released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently, are the next step for the SBM-U and aim to ensure sustainability in sanitation outcomes. The original ODF protocol,
issued in March 2016, said, “A city/ward is notified as ODF city/ward if, at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating in the open.” The ODF++ protocol adds the condition that “faecal sludge/ septage and sewage is safely managed and treated, with no discharging and/ or dumping of untreated faecal sludge/ septage and sewage in drains, water bodies or open areas.” So far, 2,741 cities have been certified as ODF, based mostly on third-party verification of toilet construction.
OUF
Not Just ODF, U But Open Urination-Free Swachh Bharat to now target open urination, too, to give ODF+ certification
nder new norms, cities and towns wanting to be declared ODF+ (Open Defecation Free Plus) must also be free of public urination, and not just open defecation. This is the first time that the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) is officially including the elimination of public urination in its agenda. The rural division of SBM had previously said preventing public urination was not on their agenda. The Mission is focussed on infrastructure and regulatory changes, on the assumption that this will lead to behaviour change. “Cities are different from rural areas,”
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International Personality
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
A Critical Educator “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence” n Urooj Fatima
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onfucius is the national name to the Chinese and cultural figure in the Chinese tradition, just like Moses to the Jews, Jesus to the Christians and Muhammad to the Muslims, only in the secular sense. Confucius was the founder of the philosophy of Confucianism 2500 years ago, and the curator and authoritative interpreter of the Chinese thoughts 2500 years before him. Therefore Confucius and Confucianism represent all the Chinese philosophy in their 5000 years history of civilisation. He was a Chinese philosopher and instructor born in 551BC in the State of Lu which is known today as Qufu in Shandong province. In Chinese, his name was Kong Qiu. Kong was the family name while Qiu was his given name. Confucianism originated its name from Confucius, but he was not the founder. It is more like a moral code or way to live life than an organised religion (even though technically, it is a religion). Confucius believed that every person had their place in society. He enforced this through his philosophy, and developed Ancient China into a structured society. This structured society was based on work/ effort of the social class. For exampleThe merchants were at the bottom of this system even though many in the educated class were wealthy. As a result, Confucius became an important figure in Chinese history for this influence. Confucius is the ultimate teacher to the Chinese. The Chinese people are his cultural descendants. He was not only an educator and politician, but also scholar and thinker. During his extensive studies, he also
“Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three” dealt intensively with literature, history, philosophy, politics, society and ethics. He was also confronted with various social problems. Confucius defined five pairs of relationships that members of society have and how they should interact. The five relationships are: father and son, older brother and younger brother, husband and wife, elder and junior, and ruler and subject. He also taught that there is a particular virtue each member of the different
relationships should practice to the other. Confucius taught that fathers were to be kind to their sons, and in return, sons were to show filial piety toward their fathers. Older brothers were to show gentleness to their younger brothers, and in return the younger was to show humility toward the older brother. A husband was to show righteousness to his wife in all he did, and the wife in return was to be obedient to the husband. An elder was to show humane consideration
toward his juniors, and they in turn were to show deference to their elders. A ruler was to show benevolence to his subjects, and the subjects would give him their loyalty. His philosophy preached of social order above all. Confucius believed that this order was only possible through mutual respect for each other and for ancestor worship. To achieve this ideal, Confucius saw education as the only way. Confucius is especially famous for his various quotes on
International Personality
Sep 03 - 09, 2018 education. Unlike prophets of monotheistic religions, Confucius did not preach a theology that would lead humanity to personal redemption. He preached a philosophy that sought the redemption of the state by correcting individual behavior. It was a doctrine oriented to this world, preaching a code of social conduct and not a path to life after death. Confucius broke the monopoly on education and founded the first private school at the age of 30, the principle of which was “to give education to all without distinction.” Confucius was the first man in China to make the rule that everyone was equal to education, poor or rich. He taught over three thousand students over the decades, of which 72 students stood out as wise men. In the educational history of ancient China, no one had had as many disciples as Confucius. Education at a school for commoners Although Confucius was a member of the ‘shi’, or the knights’ social class, by birthright, he was believed to grow up in an impoverished environment. His birthright still gave him access to knowledge via the public libraries, but he had to work hard on farm and as a bookkeeper and clerk to provide for his family. He married namely very young, at the age of 19, but that did not hinder him in his ongoing quest for knowledge. He took part in gatherings of intellectuals and soon made the choice to become a teacher of the Six Arts, the disciplines most revered and noble for the Chinese people. He educated in the six arts namely archery, mathematics, music, calligraphy, charioting and ritual. These six arts became a part of Confucian philosophy. The Golden Rule The Golden rule is nothing more and
His Teachings
The 4 books and the 5 classics are considered the authoritative books on his philosophy, containing his teachings. • Da Xue or Great Learning • Zhong Yong or Doctrine of the Mean • Lunyu or Analects • Mengzi or Mencius The 5 classics or Wu Jing, were a set of books, compiled and edited by Confucius himself. • Shih Ching or the Classic of Poetry • Shujing or Book of Documents • Li Ji or Book of Rites • Yi Jing or Classic of Changes • Spring and Autumn annals He propagated the 5 principles of Humanism known as theWuchangwhichwereRen(Humaneness),Yi(Justice), Li(Ettiquette), Zhi( Knoweldge) and Xi(Integrity). He also propagated the 4 virtues of Zhong( Loyalty), Xiao( Fillial Piety), Jie( Continency) and Yi( Righteousness).
nothing less than the famously quoted: “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others”. Although it is a basis of many religious and philosophical systems worldwide, the writing down of the Golden Rule is attributed to Confucius. The idea extends to a whole principle of Confucianism called ‘ren’, which, loosely translated means: “virtue denoting the good feeling a virtuous human experiences when being altruistic”. Ren is the principle objective of every devout follower of
Confucianism. It is a special form of reciprocity, which enables humans to grow and become less flawed in their ways. Author of Chinese classics Confucius was not only a brilliant and morally responsible teacher of the Chinese people. He was also a very prolific writer. He believed that his line of thought could be beneficial not only to the average citizen wanting to become wiser, but that it could also transform the highly corrupt ruling system of the Chinese Empire. He is known to have written and edited some of the Chinese classical philosophical works. These include, the Book of Odes, a revision of the Book of Documents, a historical account of the 12 Dukes of Lu – the so-called Spring and Autumn Annals, Lunyu – a philosophical and political manifesto. Lunyu has also got its English translation, entitled: “The Analects of Confucius”. Actively involved in Politics In 501 BC, Confucius was offered the position of governor of Lu. And later, he
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was elected the Minister of Crime. He also took numerous attempts at returning all the legislative power to the ducal family, stripping the rest of the nobles of their privileges. This led to many domestic conflicts, including Hou Fan—the governor of Hou— revolting against the Shu noble family. In the end, Confucius’s attempts were not entirely successful, as the true power of the state was still divided between the ducal family and the nobles. Self-imposed exile for 13-14 long years After Confucius failed to reconcile the noble families striving for political influence, he went into a sort of self-imposed exile. He resigned his Governor post and began a long journey around all of the north-east and central China. On his way, he travelled across the states of Wei, Song, Chen, and Cai. In each and every single one of them he openly professed his political beliefs at law courts, but was never fully understood and his views did not seem to get implemented. Confucius, reluctantly returned home at the age of 68, after he was implored to do so by Ji Kangzi, the Chief Minister of Lu. Died at the age 72 He was buried in the Kong Lin cemetery, situated in the historical part of the Qufu city, Shandong Province. The tomb of Confucius has been built on one of the banks of the Sishui River and originally it had the shape of an ax. The Lasting Impact of Confucius There may be arguments and counter arguments but the impact of Confucianism on the life, culture and thought in East Asia and through it in other parts of the world can be perceived even today; many centuries after his death. He is widely considered as one of the most important and influential individuals in history who had a deep and profound effect on humanity. Confucianism is important as it’s not turned into a Religion. Instead it’s still able to keep its Spirituality. And I think this is crucial to humanity because as you can see, religions are killing humanity, there’s no space for mutual understanding for religions. Imagine if humanity adopts Confucianism, not in the religion way, humanity will be able to advance so much!
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Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak Founder, Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement
“The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see.”
VIEWPOINT
In Making Of Arsenic Free Bihar
Alexandra K. Trenfor
Problem of Arsenic Water in Bihar and Challenges to Provide Safe Drinking Water to Citizens
Teacher of Teachers
“Books are the means by which we build bridges between cultures”
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Teachers should be the best minds in the country,” believed the teacher, philosopher, statesman, India’s first Vice-President and second President, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. We have been celebrating his birthday, September 5, as Teacher’s Day across the nation since 1962. The humble suggestion came from Dr Radhakrishnan himself at a time when he was the president of the country. “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if 5th September is observed as Teachers’ Day,” he asked his students and friends, who were seeking permission to celebrate his birthday. Thus, since 1962, his birthday is celebrated as ‘Teachers’ Day’ in India. He was one of the most learned scholars and statesmen. Philosopher, thinker and writer Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan is one of the outstanding intellectuals of twentieth century. Profound in his philosophy and modern in his outlook, he interpreted doctrine of Hindu religion in a manner easily comprehensible by any educated man in the east and the west. He was determined to work hard and become a teacher and educate the children and, thus, serve his motherland. He even used to study in street lights Radhakrishnan was a die-hard idealist. The core of his argument was that the Universe is not a blind process; the course of evolution is not accidental but in some way expresses a purpose. He contended that a man can only be satisfied when he recognises the spirit in him as of highest reality.
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
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he key to good health is the practice of good hygiene. The provision of Safe Water and Sanitation (Safe Human Excreta facilities) at home along with improved hygiene behavior, clean and safe water are the primary drivers of Public Health. Unless we can secure access to safe water and sanitation for the billions of poor people in the world who are presently without the same, our battle against the huge burden of infectious diseases particularly in the developing world, could never be won. Unless we can secure access to safe water and sanitation for the billions of poor people in the world who are presently without the same, our battle against the huge burden of infectious diseases particularly in the developing world, could never be won. One of the greatest failures of the last fifty years has been the failure to lay the foundation stones of public health in the developing world – hygiene, safe water supply and sanitation. It is a failure that today deprives hundreds of millions not only of health but of
productivity. It is a failure that undermines the normal mental and physical growth of rising generations. It is a failure that pollutes fresh water resources with faecal matter on a massive scale. It is a failure that condemns more than a billion people to live with a daily environmental crisis of squalor, smell, and disease. And it is a failure that holds back the development of people and of nations.
Health Impact
Today, while the urban population of many countries faces the problems of unplanned development and environmental degradation, concurrently the rural population continues to suffer lack of sanitation and safe drinking water, malnutrition and ecological insecurity. World Health Organization (WHO) data on the burden of disease suggests that approximately 1.8 million deaths and 61.9 million disability-adjusted-life years (DALYs) are attributable to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene worldwide (WHO 2004 World Health
“Arsenic contamination in groundwater has emerged as a major water quality problem causing serious health hazards” -Dr Bindeshwar Pathak
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
The pilot studies in Madhusudankati (North 24 Parganas), Midnapore and Haridaspur (Bangaon) have demonstrated the technical and financial feasibility of the ‘Sulabh Jal’ Report). This figure corresponds to 88% of diarroheal diseases worldwide which is considered to be the attributable fraction of diarrhea due to unsafe water supply and sanitation plus the disease burden from trachoma, schistosomiasis, ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm disease. In India diarrhoeal diseases alone cause more than 0.6 million deaths annually. Study has shown that in slum areas of major cities diarrhoeal incidence as high as 10.5 episodes per child per year occur on regular basis. Diseases caused by faeco-orally transmitted enteric pathogens account for 10% of total burden of disease in India.
Arsenic Scenario
Arsenic contamination in groundwater has emerged as a major water quality problem causing serious health hazards in West Bengal & Bangladesh, where vast areas have been affected in recent years. The commonly reported symptoms of chronic arsenic poisoning include hyperpigmentation, dipigmentation and keratosis. Skin cancer & internal cancer can also occur. In India, the most affected state is West Bengal, where 104 blocks in 9 districts in the Gangetic Delta are affected. The Calcutta city & metropolitan area also fall in the hydrogeologically risk zone though most of the people here uses surface water, supplied by the Municipal distribution system which is free from Arsenic. However, it must be mentioned that some of the tubewells drawing water from the Arseniferrous aquifer in the Calcutta metropolitan area could be contaminated. Reports of Arsenic in groundwater have been received from 6 other Indian states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Chattisgarh & Madhya Pradesh. Extent of the problem in these states is not yet fully known in absence of data regarding water quality in the potentially risk areas and epidemiological information. In Bihar, there are 36 nos. of blocks (109 GPs) where arsenic is found in the tube wells above 50 mg/l.
Sulabh Jalkranti in West Bengal
Sulabh International Social Service Organisation (SISSO), pioneers of many social and environmental movements in our country has a new mission. Our epoch making contributions for removal of
manual scavenging and promotion of appropriate technologies for promotion of sanitation is well known. I was concerned with the acute problems faced by the rural population in West Bengal because of arsenic contamination of ground water and bacteriological contamination of surface water. We have developed a new people-centric and decentralised approach. Inspired by the works of a French company in Cambodia and Madagascar, we undertook pilot projects in a few villages of West Bengal, which were seriously affected by arsenic, fluoride and micro-biological contamination of ground and surface water. The basic idea was to empower villagers in entrepreneurship and technology adaption, so that they could apply appropriate technology for upgrading the quality of water collected from traditional surface water sources and supply the same to the doorsteps of the rural population. Considering that, there are many perennial surface water sources like ponds/rivers/ lakes/ spring water / dug wells in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, and many other states in Ganga - Brahmaputra plains, this could go a long way in addressing the problem of Arsenic if the “conservation and utilisation of the traditional surface water sources”, in the rural areas which were otherwise being grossly abused by the people, could be organised. Simultaneously, this would also make the villagers self-reliant in the matter of availability of safe water in their homes. The pilot studies in Madhusudankati (North 24 Parganas), Midnapore and Haridaspur (Bangaon) have demonstrated the technical and financial feasibility of the ‘Sulabh Jal’ model and its sustainability in the long term. Encouraged by the pilot project in these villages, many people based organisations are taking up the similar programme in their villages. It appears that the innovative approach developed by SISSO, would bring out a revolutionary change in the community water supply systems in the rural areas. Presently the villagers are totally dependent on Govt. supply which is often suffering from acute quality problems and operation & maintenance failure. It is nothing short of a social revolution if the villagers themselves could produce and supply safe water to the community at less than 50 paise / litre.
OpEd
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OSHO Rajneesh, also known as Osho, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Acharya Rajneesh, or simply Bhagwan, was an Indian spiritual guru
upfront
When You Stuff Your Mind, It Ages A burdened and old mind deprives a person of the knowledge, joy and beauty of life
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irth of a free and healthy individual is not possible in a condition where, in the name of education, all sorts of slaveries are nourished. The root causes for the ugliness of humanity are hidden in our education. The present education system has cut man off from nature and has not been able to give birth to any refinement, to any culture. Instead, it has given birth to unnatural life. Every generation goes on imposing this unnaturalness on the next generation. I would like to look at education… I would like to draw your attention to the facts which can be seen only by looking directly at the problems. Is it not possible to see life directly? The present education system makes the mind of a person burdened, complicated and old. A burdened and old mind deprives a person of the knowledge, joy and beauty of life. The body is bound to become old, but not the mind; mind can always remain young till the very last moment of death, and only such a mind can know the mysteries of life and death. But the present education system makes the mind old. It does not awaken the mind but stuffs it, and so it becomes old. Feeding thoughts means feeding memory. It does not spark thinking or intelligence. Memory is not intelligence. Memory is mechanical. Intelligence is consciousness. Thoughts are not to be given to you, in fact thinking is to be generated in you. Discipline imposed by others is also a slavery. This kind of discipline is falling apart everywhere, and this has created anxiety. Education should be free of the outside imposition of discipline; it should awaken the dormant intelligence of individuals. Such intelligence becomes selfdiscipline. In such a life there is neither suppression nor heaviness. When life is progressing through the light of one’s own intelligence, there is no possibility of chaos and licentiousness.
Education can definitely lay foundations which can make man free. We want a man who is rooted in freedom and intelligence. In him there is hope and there is a future. What have the methods of discipline achieved? Discipline has given stupidity and lifelessness to man. A disciplined person is bound to be rigid. The more rigid he is, the more disciplined he will be. Education is not meant for teaching discipline, but for developing one’s own intelligence. Whatever discipline results from intelligence -- that alone can bring goodness and benediction, because such discipline cannot be exploited. It cannot be made an instrument for violence and war in the hands of priests and politicians. As things are now, society is making teachers do the work of disciplining the new generation. The teacher has been an instrument for many types of exploitations. He is instrumental in spreading many diseases. Perhaps he is not aware of this, because the teacher himself is the victim of similar education. Every generation passes on, by way of inheritance, its jealousies, enmities, stupidities to the new generation through the teacher. It gives its diseases and insensibilities along with its experiences and knowledge. The day education will be rebellious, then, a new, absolutely new humanity will be born. What is the meaning of rebellion? It means a revolution of values.
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Photo Feature
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Indian Magic At Asiad The splendid performance of Indian athletes resulted in an impressive show of medals at Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games, having many gone down the pages of history PHOTO: SIPRA DAS
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Photo Feature
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Gender
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
kolkata metro
‘Gang of Girls’ Running Metro Station
Photo Courtesy: Prokerela.com
From managing ticket counters to housekeeping, a batch of about 25 women has been deployed at this station to manage the entire operation
n Prasanta Paul
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‘gang of girls’ has recently taken over the Netaji Bhavan Metro station in Kolkata and the women Railway Protection Force(RPF) constables were mute spectators to the ‘monumentous’ occasion. Even as the RPF personnel stood guard to avert any untoward incident, the station manager stationed several porters before the counters to assist the passengers and help them ‘deal with’ the gang members. Many would deem it to be a scene straight out of reel life. Not exactly so. This metro station in Kolkata is now being run by an all-women team, thanks to the Metro Rail authorities who decided to start it on an experimental basis. And if the experiment clicks, then the authorities have plans to replicate the model in one or two other stations. From managing ticket counters to housekeeping, a batch of about 25 women has been deployed at the station to manage the entire operation. The public address system of the station took the passengers by surprise when a female voice introduced herself as Saswati Ghosh, the senior-most member of the team and station superintendent. In fact, passengers were a bit surprised after entering the station when they noticed a
bevvy of women in all key sections – public assistance booth, ticket counters, ticket vending overseers and platform patrolling staff. Ghosh removed, nay, confirmed the passengers’ faint inkling that a ‘gang of women’ had, indeed, ‘taken over’ the station. Cheers and spontaneous claps greeted Ghosh as she unveiled a blueprint for the smooth functioning of the station which included a hassle-free journey and an increased stress on women’s safety. “We’ve a very young team who will be performing quite hard to meet the expectation of their seniors. This is the first time that the authorities have decided to repose such a major responsibility on the entire team. I hope each and every member of the team will do her best to help the passengers and ensure that their journey in the metro becomes as much hassle-free as possible,” said Ghosh who is surrounded by her teammates in the refurbished room of the station super. She began her first day by inspecting the station premises to figure out the lacune in so far as passenger amenities were concerned. She knew she
would have to use her limited resources and workforce quite judiciously to serve the metro commuters. “My duty roster is ready and I‘ve told my women to follow the duty sheet as religiously as possible. They know that not everything would be possible overnight. But we’ve to keep our enthusiasm and spirit very high,” the new station super felt. It would be interesting to know why the Netaji Bhavan station has been chosen for an all women station. As it is, the station is close to the fabled home of the great leader and freedom fighter whose legacy would always refuse to fade away. Secondly, this is the first Metro station in India (Metro in Calcutta began its journey in October, 1984) and also the first station from where the Calcutta Metro undertook its maiden run. Hence, when a proposal was first floated to man one of the stations with women railway personnel, it hardly took the authorities much time to select the Netaji Bhavan station to be another ‘first’. According to the Metro’s chief public relations officer Indrani Banerjee who is extremely happy over the decision of the metro authorities to run a station on girl power, the selection of women staff has been done with great care. “This is no mean responsibility as we have to be very careful in our selection. It’s quite a huge responsibility and unless, the staff
“We’ve a very young team who will be performing quite hard to meet the expectation of their seniors”
understands this, the entire purpose will go waste,” she pointed out. This apart, the Netaji Bhavan station, during the peak office hours or later, has not so far witnessed any incident that could trigger awe among the women commuters. Naturally, when female passengers noticed only women railway staff to take care of their needs, there was a great sigh of relief. “I have no word to offer my thanks to the metro authorities for this bold decision. Often, I have to take a late Metro back home and it’s so heartening to see women RPF constables manning the station so late in the night. Three cheers for the Metro,” Dwitipriya Mitra, a private bank executive, exulted. She was echoed by many other fellow commuters who not only hailed the decision, but felt that the authorities have set up a bold example for many state governments to follow. “I think one feels so reassured to step out of a train in the late evening hours and instead of eyes(read male eyes) that scan you all the time, you feel so secure to see these smiling women trying to help us out. Even if the platform is deserted, these women won’t desert us, I am sure; they are there to ensure our safety,” Bhagyasri Saxena, a final year B.Com student, said. There is a station porter and a pointswoman each in the station who is expected to restore the lost belongings of the commuters as well. “At the end of the day, it’s so satisfying to see our women employees shouldering such a big responsibility with such ease and it gives us a strong belief that we are on the right track of empowering our women workforce,” a beaming Ghosh observed.
Off-Beat
21 07
Courtesy: www.5DariyalNews.com
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
i-Hariyali/PUNJAB kolkata
A Piece Of China For Durga Puja Visitors
The pandal, based on Chinese architecture, will have a 20-feet structure of Chinese ‘Hulu’ n SSB BUREAU
signifies happiness and prosperity in China’s Yunnan province. n a bid to boost cultural “This is the first time the Chinese exchanges with eastern India, consulate is getting involved in the Chinese consulate has joined celebrating an Indian festival so hands with a Kolkata-based Durga intimately. We hope this joint Puja committee to recreate a slice venture will enhance the Indoof authentic China in the marquee China relationship, mutual trust and premises and would fly-in a team of friendship between the two countries 25 artisans from Yunnan province and also invoke interest among more during the festival this year, number of Chinese tourists (Above) Chinese to visit India,” Chinese a senior envoy said. The visitors to the Consul General Consul General Ma Zhanwu in Kolkata, popular Puja at BJ Block told reporters. Ma Zhanwu in east Kolkata’s Salt Lake “The people visiting addresses a township will be able to the Puja will get a taste of witness a host of Chinese press conference Chinese flute music, dragon regarding cultural activities, rituals, upcoming dance, lion dance and events artistic performances and acrobatics by the performers also get a chance to indulge in lip- from China. The Hulu will stand at smacking Chinese cuisine at the Puja the pandal complex as a testimony of complex during the five-day festivity the love of art and culture that people from October 15-19. in China have in common with the The pandal, based on Chinese people in this part of the world,” the architecture, will have a 20-feet envoy said. structure of Chinese ‘Hulu’ (bottle The team of Chinese dancers, gourd) in the premises which musicians, martial artists are
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scheduled to come up with their first show on the Puja inauguration day on October 13, besides performing for the first three days of the carnival. Prominent personalities and dignitaries from the city, including West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi and state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, are expected to be present at the inaugural ceremony, the organisers said. The Chinese consulate took a group of city artists and members of the Puja committee to Yunnan Province to train them in designs inspired by Chinese architecture. According to the envoy, the artists coming from China will be sponsored by the consulate. “We are sponsoring the travel expenses of the Chinese artists. However, we are not providing any financial assistance to the Puja committee. We appeal to the people and businessmen in Kolkata to contribute to make the venture a success,” Zhanwu added.
Mobile App To Distribute 13 Lakh Saplings Getting the saplings of your choice at the doorstep, that too free of cost, is just a click away n Agency
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unjab, the first state in India to launch a mobile app ‘i-Hariyali’ to supply free saplings, has provided 13 lakh saplings to people through this endeavour so far, Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said. He said 325,000 online orders were received through the app, with more than three lakh people downloading it on their smartphones. A total of 32 lakh saplings were supplied under the ‘Ghar-Ghar Hariyali’ campaign as well as through the app, the Minister said. Dharmsot urged the people to take up plantation and distribution of saplings on important occasions like birthdays. According to the Forest Survey of India-2017, 35,853 acres of more land has been brought under green cover in Punjab. Getting the saplings of your choice at the doorstep, that too free of cost, is just a click away, this is the purpose of ‘i-Hariyali’. The ‘i-Hariyali’ app, under ‘Mission Tandarust Punjab’ can be downloaded from the app store for free, said an official spokesperson. The users can book a sapling of their choice, a maximum of 25 per person.
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Environment
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Agriculture
Himachal Scaling Up Farming, Nature's Way The state has adopted a zero-budget natural farming model is the mainstay of people, providing direct employment to about 71 percent population, has also initiated transformation towards sustainable agriculture on a massive scale by promoting organic farming with 39,790 registered farmers currently harvesting crops on 21,473 hectares. Vegetable grower Rajesh Thakur in Baghi village in Rohru subdivision of Shimla district, who has been practising natural farming for the last more than 25 years, said it was difficult to convince the growers to go for eco-
Vishal Gulati
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imachal Pradesh, the country’s fruit and off-season vegetable bowl, has launched a scheme this year to scale up zerobudget natural farming, a chemicalfree method, with Governor Acharya Devvrat taking the lead to sow the seeds of sustainability through nature’s way. The state has adopted a zero-budget natural farming model, promoted by Padma Shri Subhash Palekar from Maharashtra, for the first time with a budgetary allocation of Rs 25 crore for this fiscal. The aim is to double the income of farmers by 2020 as declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Experts say input costs are minimal with no use of fertilisers and pesticides, resulting in high profits. “Despite the excessive use of chemical fertilisers, the overall production of fruits, vegetables and cereals is declining even in the hill states, including ours. This is clear indication that the fertility of the soil is getting impaired,” Devvrat told. Even the availability of water for irrigation in the state is not sufficient. “So, it’s necessary to bring qualitative improvement in the total agricultural system. This requires opting natural farming that will also help rejuvenating the barren land and minimising the use of water,” he said.
Devvrat, who is raising “desi” or indigenous cows in his palatial bungalow in the state capital, sees zerobudget natural farming as a transformation towards sustainable agriculture, a better deal for the farmers, consumers and also for the environment. Devvrat believes his experimentation in doing zero-budget natural farming on his 200acre farm in Gurukul, a 106-year-old boarding school in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district, is a grand success by depending largely on farm-raised indigenous Prime Minister Modi entrusted cows. He said as per data Devvrat the responsibility to of Haryana Agricultural expand it across the country University, Kurukshetra has minimum 30 per cent biological carbon. Not even a single sample of the district was friendly farming. “The pea and capsicum crops are found where the quantity of organic yielding a good produce. They tasted carbon is more than 0.75 per cent. Impressed with his advocacy to deliciously compared to the crop promote natural farming in the state, grown by using pesticides and of course Prime Minister Modi entrusted Devvrat command good prices too,” he added. However, farm experts say zerothe responsibility to expand it across budget natural farming is easier said the country. Himachal Pradesh, where agriculture than done.
“It’s practically not feasible on a commercial scale owing to its large dependence on cow dung and urine, which are not currently available in abundance with the change in farm practices across the country,” said a senior agricultural official, requesting anonymity. “Such farming can be done at the micro level. But again we have large subsistence farming communities who cannot experiment with their livelihood,” he added. Interestingly, farmers in the state’s landlocked valleys like Pangi in Chamba district and Dodra Kwar in Shimla district have never used pesticides and fertilisers for growing crops. Barring Chamba and some interior areas in the state, the farmers have been preferring domesticated hybrid varieties rather than the native ones due to high milk yields. The BJP-led Jai Ram Thakur government for the first time initiated ‘Prakritik Kheti Khushhaal Kisaan Yojana’ to promote zero-budget natural farming and the state aims to make it a zero budget natural farming state by 2022. As per the programme, the natural farming is totally based on domestic cow breeds. Availability of high yielding domestic cow breed germplasm would be ensured by the state Animal Husbandry Department. Farmers will be provided incentives for establishing infrastructure for the zero-budget natural farming inputs. To facilitate efficient collection of cow dung and urine, essential inputs of natural farming, farmers would be provided 80 per cent assistance for lining of cattle sheds and construction of urine collection system. In a first, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry has successfully undertaken the harvesting of peas planted under the zero budget natural farming. The first picking of the peas was undertaken in March this year with encouraging results. Based on the first harvest, the production was calculated to be around five quintals an acre.
The Funny Side
Sep 03 - 09, 2018 Nagaland
The Funny Side
Springshed Management
A Rash Of Crimes By Animals Gets Us Thinking A monkey stole a Smartphone
The hill state is dependent upon spring water for most of its drinking water requirement as well as for agricultural use
n Raj Kashyap
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s many as hundred spots have been selected across Nagaland for springshed management with the goal to ensure seasonal water security and conservation of spring. Government departments and private agencies like Rural Development and Land Resources, Tata Trusts, Arghyam, Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM), People’s Science Institute (PSI), NEIDA and Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS) have joined hands for the project which will continue for three years. The agreement for the scheme was inked last year. Tata Trusts and Arghyam will provide software support while NEIDA and ECS will extend support for coordination, community outreach and implementation. Villages dependent on spring water for domestic consumption, having acute drinking water shortages and water quality issues were selected for the project. The hill state is dependent upon spring water for most of its drinking water requirement as well as for agricultural use. However, due to human activities springs have been vanishing making water availability, especially during the winter months a major concern. Nagaland is one among the most water scarce state in India because of inefficient water management and lack of adequate conservation. This is despite the fact that the state receives very high rainfall and enjoys sub tropical monsoon climate where the average annual rainfall is around 250
cm to 300 cm. The pre monsoon shower starts from the month of April and the south west monsoon reaches the state in the first week of June and it continues till the end of September. Finally, the retreating monsoon rain start from last week of September which continues till the last week of October. Besides, certain meager amount of rainfalls are also brings by the western disturbances during the winter. Most villages in Nagaland were established at hill tops to protect themselves from raids by neighbouring villages. These settlements drew drinking water from surface sources, either by gravity or by pumping. The catchment areas of such water sources were small and fragile. With destruction of forests due to logging, slash and burn cultivation and other human activities, the problem of diminishing water quantity at these sources has only increased. There have been suggestions at regular intervals of measures like afforestation to conserve the natural environment of the areas where water collects, construction of small structures to stop flowing water and increase its percolation in the soil and tapping of groundwater. This would provide an alternative to areas where the depletion of surface water source is more pronounced. Among the worst hit in the entire state is the capital Kohima which receives only 1.2 million liters per day although its requirement is 10 million litres. A locality called receives water supply after every four days. During the dry season from October till April, the residents have to purchase water from private agencies at Rs. 1000 for 2000 liters. Residents standing in long queues to fetch water are a common sight in Kohima. Currently there are only 18 reservoirs in Kohima ranging from 50,000 liters to 2 lakh liters. Last year, the government had firmed up plans to supply water to the city from Zarü stream, a tributary of Dzürü. It is estimated that 3.8 million litres which amounts up to 50 per cent can be added to the water supply in Kohima.
23 07
n Nury Vittachi
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wo large sums of public money went missing in Nigeria recently. In one case, the official concerned said a MONKEY had run off with the cash and, in the other, an official said that a SNAKE took it. platform of Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh The population was highly station, the monkeys would grab sceptical, since large sums of public people’s bags, the wire service money are not kept as bank notes IANS reported. At the time, station so the animals would have had bosses offered a cash prize of $365 to arrange bank transfers, a bit of to anyone who could think of a a challenge for any tiny-brained way of dealing with the problem, creatures such as snakes, monkeys, but they ignored my suggestion: bacteria, nationalist politicians, Give them uniforms and call them newspaper columnists, etc. porters. Another recent animalThe officials probably chose such as-thief story took place in New weak excuses because there have Zealand in January this year. been a rash of animal-steals-stuff Auckland resident Ed Williams got stories in the news recently. into trouble when his girlfriend Consider what happened in found another woman’s underwear Chonburi, Thailand, last month. at his home. Ed swore he knew A monkey stole a smartphone. nothing about it. They The phone-owner’s later discovered his cat friend Mongkol Many adults Wisulokanon pressed couldn’t do such Mo stealing clothes from neighbours. video call, hoping to a thing without A colleague reading surprise the monkey into dropping the weeks of training over my shoulder liked the idea of blaming a cat phone. But the for his love affairs, but I monkey answered told him that blaming the lipstick the video call. The ape then sent on his collar on animals would just the “bye-bye” emoji, which is a make his terrible reputation worse. waving hand. Mongkol recorded But my favourite “it ate my screenshots of the exchange as money” story happened in China a proof. year ago. Qi Shengli, a 60-year-old This is astonishing. Many adults farmer in Sichuan province, opened couldn’t do such a thing without his buried savings haul of 20,000 weeks of training by small children. yuan (about $3,000) and found that This lends credence to the white ants had eaten most of it. theory that some species (monkeys, The bank refused to replace the dogs, dolphins, cats) are actually money. But an artist from Beijing smarter than humans but hide the bought the shredded remnants fact so that they don’t have to pay of money from the farmer as tax, wear clothes, work in offices, “conceptual art”! take out mortgages, etc. In 2012 a band of monkeys The ending of that true story reportedly learned to leads me to two conclusions. understand Indian train platform First, life is so weird that there’s announcements -- again something really nothing like it. Second, the few adults can do. They would wait theory that animals are actually for the echoing voice to make an smarter than us is starting to sound announcement: “The next train to seriously believable. Does your arrive at Platform Seven will be the household pet, like mine, give you 2.15 express”, and they’d gather for secret pitying looks when it thinks action. you can’t see it? I’m sure mine As passengers emerged on to the does.
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excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODARdas MODI: the making of a legend”
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
California, USA When the young people of my country, living on foreign soils, provide a direction to the whole world, then a person like me has a feeling of great satisfaction and joy. (27 September 2015) Address to The Indian community at the SAP Centre in San Jose, California, United States
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oday it is 27 September here, and in India it is 28 September, a special day for India, being the birthday of one of Mother India’s greatest sons, Shaheed Bhagat Singh. I extend my great respects to Shaheed Bhagat Singh. When the young people of my country, living on foreign soils, provide a direction to the whole world, then a person like me has a feeling
of great satisfaction and joy. A new image of India has emerged across the world. Old thoughts about India are going away. Your fingers have created magic on keyboard and computer. This has given India a new identity. Your skill and commitment is wonderful. “Brain-Gain, not BrainDrain.” India is Bahuratna Vasundhara; there will be many brains there.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook Inc during a town hall meeting at the Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California, U.S., Sep. 27, 2015
I changed my profile picture to support Digital India, the Indian government’s effort to connect rural communities to the Internet and give people access to more services online. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a group photo with American CEOs after an interaction in New York.
Mark Zuckerberg
Chairman and CEO, Facebook
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim, in New York on September 25, 2015.
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODARdas MODI: the making of a legend”
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Myanmar President Sein looks at India as a “brother” (and) that could help in the development of his country. Syed Akbaruddin
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON Prime Minister Narendra Modi with iconic Burmese leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
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rime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a visit to Mayanmar as the first leg of his 10-day threenation tour between November 11 and 19. During this visit from November 11 to 13, Modi addressed the ASEANIndia and the East Asia Summit and also had bilateral discussions with the Myanmar leadership. In his discussion he focused upon three main issues of connectivity between India and Myanmar, cultural contacts, and commercial ties. India and Myanmar reviewed major projects in terms of connectivity, including progress being made on the trilateral highway, the Kaladan project, and the need to activate the bus service between Imphal and Mandalay at an early date. Culturally, both sides discussed their Buddhist linkages and ways to take it forward. Commercially, India and Myanmar discussed specific areas for possible interaction, including the feasibility of India investing in special economic zones in Myanmar. Discussions were also held about Indian small and medium enterprises investing in sectors of interest to Myanmar. The potential of Indian companies investing in Myanmar’s oil and natural gas sector was also considered. Development cooperation and assistance between India and Myanmar in areas such as agriculture and skill development was discussed.
India and Myanmar are historically linked. We fought for our independence together. And even today, the people of this country treat India with reverence due to Buddha. (13 November 2014) Address to The Indian community in Myanmar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Former President of Myanmar, U Thein Sein, at the Presidential Palace.
Mr. Modi has tremendous goodwill towards this country (Myanmar) and to us (NLD) as a movement for democracy.
I am very happy to have taken a significant and concrete step towards stronger bilateral relations with each of these nations individually.
Aung San Suu Kyi,
Narendra Modi’s
PRESIDENT, NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY
Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding talks with the Former President of Myanmar, U Thein Sein.
blog post on the three nation visit
India and Myanmar are historically linked. We fought for our independence together. And even today, the people of this country treat India with reverence due to Buddha. A few days back, I had made an announcement that we will build and send into orbit, a satellite that will be dedicated to SAARC. We have decided to shoulder a few responsibilities and announce them at the upcoming SAARC meeting that is to be held in Nepal. One of the responsibilities is ensuring the inclusion of Myanmar in SAARC and try to rid the country of polio.
Continue in next issue
26
Science & Technology googling health
It’s Probably Not Cancer Googling your medical symptoms can actually be a good thing
n SIGNE DEAN
D
o you ever turn to the internet for medical information? We bet you do. And a new survey shows that if you’re going to the emergency room, looking up your symptoms can actually be a good idea. Of course, it’s not the right time to Google anything if you’re, say, bleeding profusely from the head. But our ailments are often more ambiguous than that - perhaps it’s a weird intermittent pain somewhere, or just some vague dizziness. Doctors probably suspect that you looked up your symptoms before showing up in their office. But there’s little systematic research on how our relationship with Dr Google might affect realworld interactions with medical professionals, especially in the emergency department (ED). With that in mind, a team of Australian health researchers set out to survey a representative sample of ED patients in two clinics, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Austin Health. They gathered anonymous data from 400 participants. Unsurprisingly, the researchers discovered that more than onethird of the adults did indeed consult the internet about their medical problem before attending the ED. In fact, 49 percent of the survey participants admitted that they searched for online health information regularly. But even though we are usually warned against internet selfdiagnosis because the information out there can be overwhelming and confusing, the study revealed that, according to the patients, a quick consultation with the net generally had a positive impact on their visit. “Specifically, patients reported they were more able to ask informed questions, communicate effectively, and understand their health provider,” the team writes in the study. On top of that, getting an opinion from Dr Google also didn’t reduce patients’ confidence
in the diagnosis they got from the emergency department doctor, nor was there an impact on whether they complied with treatment. The researchers also assessed the participants’ “e-health literacy” using a specially designed questionnaire, and found that those people who scored higher on this measure were more likely to have looked up their symptoms before presenting at the ED. Which indicates that “those who are confident about internetderived health information are more likely to seek it before they obtain professional assistance,” the team noted. Encouragingly, most of the sites visited and trusted by the patients were hospital websites, online encyclopedias and university
Sep 03 - 09, 2018 mosquito bite
Why Do Mosquito Bite Me So Much?
Mosquitoes don’t select somebody for their inner biology, but rather for the micro-organisms that live on their skin
microbiota mostly depends on our environment – what we eat and where we live. Everything we touch, eat, drink and wash with has the potential to introduce new microbes, but genetic variation is also thought to affect how hospitable our skin is to the n RICHARD HALFPENNY various species of microbes. This may be through genetically here are more than 3,000 controlled production of proteins different species of mosquito. in the skin that act as barriers and Yet, perhaps surprisingly, prevent microbes from establishing only a fraction of them actually feed and growing on the skin, or through on human beings - and, even when more mundane aspects such as a they do, they discriminate when person’s tendency to sweat or choosing who’s their next how oily their skin is. meal. Some people It’s worth end up covered in remembering that, bites, while others as pure sweat has “We’re pretty escape with only no discernible sure that a nibble or two. odour, sweating So why does this itself may not mosquitoes choose happen? And be responsible their human hosts what factors might for attracting according to the influence the mosquitoes. mosquito’s choice? Rather, bacteria which live The best evidence the variation on our skin” for what motivates in the chemical a mosquito’s choice composition of sweat, between different and sweat production people is the variation in our rates between people, might skin microbiota. result in beneficial conditions for We have estimated 1m bacteria per some microbes that can attract square cm of skin, often comprising mosquitoes. While we’re pretty sure hundreds of species. that mosquitoes choose their human The odour this emits from our hosts according to the bacteria which pores and hair follicles is the critical live on our skin, it’s less clear why factor in telling mosquitoes how tasty they prefer the odour signature of we’d be. In other words, mosquitoes some skin’s microbial life over others. don’t select somebody for their inner If we could learn this secret, biology, but rather for the microperhaps we could change our skin’s organisms that live on their skin. bacterial composition to make The composition of our skin ourselves less appetizing targets.
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websites, so it’s not like these folks were getting medical advice from Twitter and random forums. In fact, the main drawback appears to be psychological - 40 percent of the respondents agreed that getting health info from the internet did make them worried or anxious.We also don’t know what doctors think about such info-gathering before a visit, since this study focussed on patient responses. Given the apparent positive impact for the participants, the team concluded that emergency department doctors should acknowledge and be prepared to discuss online health information with their patients. So, if you know how to be smart about looking up health stuff online, are not going to be freaked out about it, and will still take a doctor’s advice over your own ‘research’, it’s probably okay to quickly check whether that stabbing pain in your side is appendicitis or not.
Health
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
27 07
Withdrawal is real
What Is A Caffeine Withdrawal Headache? Here’s why missing your daily coffee can lead to a headache
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n MERLIN THOMAS
affeine is our favourite drug. But if we miss out on our fix, it can be a real headache, in more ways than one. Caffeine is a stimulant. It quickly enters our brain and blocks the (adenosine) receptors that are responsible for dulling brain activity. By blocking the dulling of our brain, we feel a sense of invigoration, focus and subtle euphoria. These feelings can also enhance our performance of certain focused tasks, like driving or staying awake through the whole lecture. This is the upside of caffeine. The downside is how we feel when we are not getting our usual dose. Because of the anticipated highs of brain activity after our cup, the lows without it seem longer and deeper. The other problem is that caffeine is addictive. When we aren’t getting what we’re used to, we can feel tired, inattentive, irritable and moody.
This is known as withdrawal. Many people regularly drink caffeinated beverages just to avoid feeling this way. By far the most common symptom of caffeine withdrawal is headaches. These are typically mild and shortlived, usually only lasting for a day or two, although they can sometimes last for up to week. They usually feel a bit like a tense band wrapped across your head and are sometimes called tension-type headaches as a result. However, caffeine withdrawal can also trigger a full-on migraine in some sufferers. Why we get headaches with withdrawal (as well as many other causes) Small amounts of i s caffeine (just a quarter of a cup) will keep the headaches at bay
IBD
but low-fibre diets -- may promote colonic inflammation and increase the risk of IBD,” said lead author Hang Xiao from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the US. To establish an effective and practical approach to decrease
Inflammatory bowel disease is a set of painful conditions that can cause severe diarrhoea and fatigue n Agency
E
mostly because our face and head is the most active as well as the most sensitive part of our body. For our brain to accurately know what’s happening, the signals it receives from the senses have to be spot on. Any distortion of the signal and the message can become lost in translation, or even result in the wrong message being received. One theory for headaches is our fuzzy brain misinterprets some of the innocuous signals it gets from our head, and calls them a headache. Some level of caffeine withdrawal would be experienced by maybe half of all regular tea or coffee drinkers, if their regular drug supply would be completely cut off. The more we drink and the more regularly we drink caffeine, the more likely we’d experience withdrawal symptoms if we were to go without. However, withdrawal can happen even in people who usually drink just a single cup every day who then forego caffeine. Equally, only three days of continuous coffee drinking is enough to make you feel bad when the coffee
ating strawberries at a dose equivalent to as low as three quarters of a cup may reduce colonic inflammation and improve gut health, a study has found. The findings suggest that the dietary consumption of whole
strawberries, significantly suppressed symptoms like weight loss and bloody diarrhoea in mice with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). “The sedentary lifestyle and dietary habits of many people in this country -high-sugar, high-animal fat,
runs out. Small amounts of caffeine (just a quarter of a cup) will keep the headaches at bay. Withdrawal does not happen within a few hours of the last cup, despite the protestation of the habitual coffee drinker. Of course, if withdrawal is really the problem, the remedy is simple. Any headache caused by lack of caffeine is rapidly and often completely relieved within 30 minutes to an hour of drinking a cup of tea or coffee. Some of this is the fix and the anticipation of it. In fact, Australian researchers have found giving someone experiencing caffeine withdrawal a decaf, but telling them it’s caffeinated, is enough to make them feel better. Of course this trick won’t work if you buy the coffee yourself. More than 90 percent of all adults drink coffee or tea, rousing us from our slumber and providing the revitalising energy to do the things that need to be done. It’s not hard to imagine the headaches without it.
colonic inflammation in both IBD patients and the general population, the team focused on strawberries due to their wide consumption. For the study, the researchers used four groups of mice -- a group of healthy mice consuming a regular diet, and three groups of mice with IBD consuming a regular diet which had 2.5 per cent whole strawberry powder or a diet with five per cent whole strawberry powder. They tried to feed the mice doses of strawberries that would be in line with what a human could reasonably consume. The team found that along with decreased inflammation, a reversal of the unhealthy microbiota pathways in the IBD mice was also observed -- which in turn could lead to the decreased colonic inflammation.
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Sports
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
‘The Maharaja Of Indian Cricket’ Abhirup Bhattacharya
He enjoys a cult status among all Kolkatans and in many ways cricket ada, Dada, Dada.” and Sourav Ganguly are synonymous For any cricketing fan to each other. While there might who has been to the Eden have been opinions on both sides of Gardens in Kolkata and has watched the argument, it was quite clear in a cricket match in the early 2000s, the end of it that Sourav was special such cheers should be reminiscent for any and every Kolkatan. He is the with the game. The atmosphere of hero of the city and not just Eden Eden Gardens used to be electrifying Gardens. Kolkata loves the Maharaja. each time Sourav Chandidas Ganguly India also loves him and he’s walked into the field. truly an Indian hero. My Once, Sourav was asked first memory of Sourav by Ravi Shastri, former dates back to his 1996 Indian captain, debut Test match why was there at Lord’s where “Every morning no stand named he became one I woke up, I after him in Eden of the few Indian believed Gardens. Sourav players to have had quite candidly scored a century that I could responded that on debut. This score runs for the entire ground was no mean belongs to him. achievement India” Such a magnanimous considering statement could have that Kolkata only come from none was primarily other than the “Maharaja of Indian known as a football Cricket”. Few people remember that city and had not Sourav scored just a meager 3 runs in produced many his international debut in Australia cricketers who in 1992. His journey beyond that is had done well at for the history books -- emerging as the international one of the finest Indian players ever level. The to have played the game along with strokeplay that over 18,000 international runs. Quite was on a remarkable feat! display Hailing from Sourav’s city, Kolkata, I too looked at him as a hero during my school days, and I still do. There often used to be debates about whether Sourav’s form is declining in local addas and tea outlets across the city.
“D
in seaming English conditions was a model to behold. If one looks at the command with which Sourav mastered the conditions, it was clear that he belonged in the Indian dressing room for years to come. However, as fate would have it, Sourav was meant to change the past and create a new history of Indian cricket which will remain a legacy for generations of cricket lovers to come. I did have the good fortune of watching him bat live few years after his debut at the Eden Gardens against Pakistan. Hardly anyone would have bel i eved that the person who was unceremoniously dropped after just one ODI in 1992, along with questions over his attitude, would one day go on to emerge as one of the finest cricket captains of the modern era. Perhaps, it was this incident that was the backbone on which Sourav’s mercurial rise and career would be defined in years to come. Sourav Ganguly, apart from being one of the best left-handed Indian batsman India has ever produced, is also arguably one of the best captains who built the concept of Team India. Sourav ushered in the era where talented players were given a
Sourav ushered in the era where talented players were given a fair number of opportunities to prove their mettle in the dressing room fair number of opportunities to prove their mettle in the dressing room. It is said that the true test of leadership is in the face of adversity. As a leader, Sourav grew out of adversity and led the team from strength to strength. He built the team from scratch with the help of young, talented players such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Mohammad Kaif. His ascent to captaincy was in the midst of the match-fixing controversy and yet, in a couple of years, he had rebuilt the team into a formidable opposition. The one thing that exemplifies him is his belief and desire to answer his critics with his performance. He belonged to the era of Indian cricket marked by the greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble, and it is no mean feat to lead such legends. Sourav, as an individual, signifies several qualities which include his aggressiveness and leadership skills apart from speaking his mind without mincing words. He believed that as a captain, it was his firm duty to back the youngsters like Yuvraj and Harbhajan and was quite clear in taking a stand on such issues. It is quite similar to a manager who ensures that his reporters are given the best opportunities depending on their skill sets. In his last international series against Australia in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2008, he scored 102 valuable runs (his 16th Test century) in Mohali, implying that there was still lot of cricket left in him. The ‘Bengal tiger’ was retiring on his own terms from international cricket. Normally, every successful professional and individual writes their own fate through their actions and performances. As individuals, we encounter similar challenges in our work life which has its own peaks and troughs. The leadership lessons that Sourav provides can help in guiding any aspiring professional. There are valuable lessons that we can draw from his life in building a successful personal and professional career for us. His conduct has been exemplary and has always led by example. There is hardly any doubt that all of us would naturally accept and learn a lot if we have a leader like him in our lives.
Entertainment
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
29 07
“Modern Indian Cinema Lacks Realism” “When the quality of everything else in the country is improving, why not of films”
V y j a y an t hima l a n Bhavana Akella
Awards like the Padma Shri and the Sangeet s a one-time Bollywood diva, Natak Akademi Award, acclaimed Bharatanatyam Vyjayanthimala acted in dancer and Carnatic singer about 70 films, with the Vyjayanthimala has seen it all -- from the majority in Hindi, and glitzy world of cinema to the harsh reality mostly as the heroine with of life, including politics. legends like Raj Kapoor, Dev Over the years, realism in Indian Anand, Raj Kumar, Rajendra cinema has been lost, lamented the Kumar, Shammi Kapoor and octogenarian celluloid heroine of Dharmendra. yesteryears. “There was so much realism “I had just finished in our films in the olden days. That is matriculation in Madras missing in the present-day films. There when I was told to work was none of this make-believe, gimmicks in a Tamil film ‘Vaazhkai’ and camera playing the tricks as in the (1949), which was a huge present times,” Vyjayanthimala told. success. My grandmother Though the trend of making films was the guiding force was changing in the country as the and helped me choose world over, Vyjayanthimala asserted empowering roles,” recalled their quality should be maintained and Vyjayanthimala with a gleam not be allowed to decline. “When the in her kohl-lined eyes. quality of everything else in the country Fondly called ‘papakutty’ is improving, why not of films,” she (little child) by her maternal wondered. grandmother Yadugiri With blockbusters like “New Delhi”, Devi, Vyjayanthimala “Naya Daur” and “Aasha” and muchacknowledged that her acclaimed movies such as “Sangam”, granny was all her strength “Sadhna”, “Madhumathi” and “Ganga in life and turned her into an Jamuna” to her credit, Vyjayanthimala was ambitious person. a heartthrob of the film world for over “We were from a two decades during the 1960s and 1970s. conservative family and After a brief stint in Tamil and Telugu nobody went to school those days, films in Madras (now Chennai) especially girls. Grandma, however, Vyjayanthimala moved to insisted that I join a convent to Bombay (now Mumbai) study. She also used to tell during the early 1950s all, ‘See my child goes to a She to act in Hindi convent’,” Vyjayanthimala acknowledged films like “Bahar” reminiscenced. that her granny and “Ladki”. Though the film The success of industry has always was all her “Nagin” in which been a “man’s world”, strength in life she played a lead Vyjayanthimala and turned her role established claimed she had her way into an ambitious her as an actress in choosing characters or person and got her an offer roles in which she could to appear in “Devdas” fully express herself. She as Chandramukhi, with was picked for acting by a thespian Dilip Kumar as the director while watching her perform hero. Bharatanatyam, the classical south Indian A recipient of Filmfare and National dance.
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After marrying Chamanlal Bali, a medical doctor, in 1968, Bollywood’s first female superstar gradually bid farewell to films and faded into oblivion, although she continued her association with dance. “I’m a purist with respect to dance. I am a stickler for the traditional form of Bharatanatyam and won’t let any ‘creativity’ or ‘innovation’ into my dance,” she asserted. Even at 81, the veteran dancer stages two-hour long shows each day in Chennai during the Marghazi season, a dance and music festival held in December-January every year. She currently resides in Chennai along with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. “I’m doing research on rare types of dance forms performed by dancers at Brihadeeswara Temple
at Tanjore in Tamil Nadu. I’m tracing these kinds of dance forms,” affirmed Vyjayanthimala. Observing that art in India was unlike in other countries, she averred her dance was a spiritual worship. “In India, art is not a mere entertainment but transcends it, unlike in other countries. Dance should touch or move the people’s hearts,” she said. When she’s not spending her time with dance, she loves to play golf, badminton and tennis. “Thanks to my husband, I have developed a huge interest in many sports,” she said. Vyjayanthimala also strayed into politics when then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi insisted on her contesting in the 1984 general election in Tamil Nadu. She contested from the Chennai South constituency for the Lok Sabha elections and won. “I entered politics because of Rajivji. I won against seasoned politicians and got elected to the Lok Sabha and later to the Rajya Sabha. After he (Gandhi) passed away in May 1991, I lost interest in politics,” she said. As a contemporary actress, Vyjayanthimala also interacted with Tamil filmdom’s legendary actress and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minster J. Jayalalithaa, both as a film star and politician. “When Jayalalithaa was the Chief Minister, she invited me for a state-level cinema award ceremony. After all the awards were announced, she told me, ‘You must be thinking why you didn’t get an award! It’s because they’re state awards.’ Your national award will be given by the President tomorrow’. I thought it was very touching,” Vyjayanthimala recounted. And when Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5, 2016, in Chennai, Vyjayanthimala could not contain herself. “I still have nice pictures taken in her office, which I will cherish forever.”
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Sulabh Parivar
Sep 03 - 09, 2018 Hon’ble Master Eli Ho, a very unique spiritual, emotional and motivational speaker, teacher and dancer from Austria, Mr Satyajit Datta, Mr Indra, Ms Rachna and some other visitors visited Sulabh Campus.
Dr.Niladri Banerjee, Lecturer, Department of Physics, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom, a group of 36 students of class 10th along with their 2 teachers from St Thomas School, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, a group of 70 mombers of Wash Committee from Madanpur Khadar and
Gautampuri, alongwith two staff members, Ms Ghritashri, Mr Arun Goel and Mr Prateek Narula from Ecoright Boards, Mr Santonu Kashyap, Head of Public Affairs & Communication and Ms.Aindrila Dasgupta, Head Business Development, India from Novozymes and some other visitors visited Sulabh Campus.
CA Ruby Sachdeva, CA Neeraj Joshi from J Bansal & Associates and a group of 35 - 40 students from Bridges Academy, a school in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, visited Sulabh Campus. The guests were taken to Sulabh Public School where they saw how the trainees were being taught to prepare cheap and hygienic safety napkins. Similarly inside the Toilet Museum, they closely observed exhibits and asked questions about the Japanese push button electronically programmed toilet, ” Throne-like Chamber Pot” of the French emperor Louis XIV, who while using it, simultaneously addressed audience, etc.The guests also saw the models of Sulabh technology based two- pit- pour- flush composting toilet thatched with superstructure, suiting the pockets of deprived sections. They enjoyed seeing public toilet based biogas plant, a kitchen using this gas as fuel, the Sulabh Health Centre and Water ATM.
Literature
The Bug and the Poor Flea
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andavisarpini was a white flea. She lived in the folds of the exquisite white silk sheet that covered the bed of a king in a certain country. She fed on the king’s blood without anybody noticing, and was happy to spend her days. One day, a bug managed to enter the beautifully decorated bedroom of the king. When the flea saw him, she warned, “O Bug, what are you doing in the king’s bedroom. Leave at once before you get caught!” The bug replied, “Madam, even if I were a good-for-nothing bug, that is no way to treat a guest. One should welcome a guest with humble words, sweet behaviour and offer refreshments” The bug continued, “I have fed
myself with all types of blood, but never have I had the pleasure of the blood of a king. It must be very sweet, for the king eats the choicest of food. I would love to taste the king’s blood, if you permit.” The flea was taken aback, “O Bug, you have a nasty bite, like a sharp needle. Besides, I feed on the king’s blood only when he is deep into his sleep. I can permit you to feed on the king’s blood only if you promise to wait till he is asleep.” The bug agreed, “I promise to wait till the king is asleep, and only after you have fed yourself, will I feed myself on his blood.” Soon after they decided on such terms, the king came to his bedroom and lay down to sleep. The bug could not control himself, and decided to take a tiny bite of the
king, without waiting. As the king was yet to fall asleep, he jumped at the sharp bite of the bug. The king shouted at his servants, “Hey, there is something in my bed that has bitten me. Look for it, as I have already been bitten.” On hearing this, the bug quickly hid himself in a corner of the bed, before the servants could start searching for
him. However, the servants scrutinised the entire bed, sheet by sheet, and found the flea between the folds. They killed her at once, and the king went to sleep without anymore worries. The wise indeed say: The false promises of friends as well as strangers have no value. You end up paying for it.
Events
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
events & more...
ACROSS
3. The recently signed MoU between Integrated Defence Staff and which organization aims to set up telemedicine nodes for soldiers in high-altitude areas? 5. Which country’s team has won the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018? 6. Dr Bhishma Narain Singh, who passed away recently, was associated with which political party? 8. Vijay Chavan, who passed away recently, was associated to which of the following regional cinemas? 10. The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 aims to remove discrimination and stigma attached to patients of which disease? 14. Which of the following cities is the venue of the 3rd Indian Ocean Conference (IOC-2018)? 15. Umbayee, the noted ghazal singer and composer has passed away. He belonged to which state? 16. India’s largest Startup incubation and acceleration “Bhamashah Techno Hub” has launched in which state? 17. Which of the following cities is the venue of the 4th Asian electoral stakeholders forum (AESF-IV)? 19. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has launched an initiative to save cultural heritage in flood-devastated Kerala. Where is the headquarters of ICOMOS? 20. Which state has become the first Indian state to implement the National policy on bio fuels?
SAFDARJUNG, B-6-7/22, DDA Commercial Complex, Opp. Deer Park, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 9 Sep 2018 4:45 PM - 6:00 PM
SSB crossword no. 38
events
The Piano Man Open Mic Hosted By Manik Mahna Venue : The Piano Man Jazz Club
DOWN
SOLUTION of crossword no.37 1.Allahabad
11.Bapu
2.Marathi
12.Lalahar Dayal 3.Subhaschandra boss 13.1916 4.Britain 14.Simla
Enamelling on Copper Course Venue : Culture Chauraha
Culture Chauraha A-13, Block A, Gulmohar Park, Delhi Dates: 10th - 14th September’ 18, Mon - Fri Timings: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
SNS Live Celebrting Midlife with Starika & DJ Ami Venue : Saints N Sinners Saints N Sinners, Gurugram GF-21 Global Foyer, Golf Course Road Sector 43 Wed, 12 Sep 8:30PM
5.Ahmedabad
15.1905
6.Amritsar
16.Bardoli
7.Mumbai
17.Nagpur
8.Bangaladesh
18.Porbandar
9.Mahatma Gandhi
19.Bismarck
10.Bengal
20.Kasturba
solution of sudoku-37
Open Mic Shauhrat 2.0 Venue : Mohit Thukral
Drool Fresh Bakehouse Cafe Ground Floor, Under Dwarka, Sector 13 Metro Station, Sector 13, Dwarka, New Delhi, Tue, 11 Sep 7:00PM - Fri, 14 Sep 9:00PM
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1. Which country has launched its first state-of-the-art domestic fighter jet “Kowsar”? 2. The Lakhwar multi-purpose project is associated with which river? 4. Gopal Bose, who passed away recently, was associated with which sports? 7. Which country is host to the multi-nation counter-terror exercise “SCO Peace Mission 2018”? 9. Mizzima Media Group, which was recently in news, is a company of which country? 11. The Government of India (GoI) has decided to lift ban on retail sale of which life saving drug from September 2018? 12. Which of the following cities is the venue of the 2018 India Banking Conclave (IBC)? 13. Which of the following cities is the venue of the International Water Colour Festival 2018? 18. Dutee Chand, who clinched silver in 100m women’s race at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, is belong to which state?
sudoku-38
SNS Karaoke Night Venue : Saints N Sinners
Saints N Sinners, Gurugram GF-21 Global Foyer, Golf Course Road Sector 43 Thu, 13 Sep 8:30PM
on the lighter side by DHIR
Please mail your solution to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712, One Lucky Winner will win Cash Prize of Rs 500/-. Look for the Solution in the Next Issue of SSB
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Newsmakers
Sep 03 - 09, 2018
Unsung Hero Mannem Sridhar Reddy
Building Future Of Hundreds Of Kids Praveen Pardeshi
Bureaucrat Who Flooded Kerala With Aid
This incredibly noble legacy was handed down to Sridhar Reddy by his father who was gunned down by Maoists in 1998
From air-lifting doctors to ensuring crucial supplies reached on time, he went the extra mile to help rain-ravaged Kerala
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dditional Chief Secretary in the Maharashtra government, Praveen Pardeshi played a critical role in providing logistic support and a relief and rehabilitation plan for flood-hit Kerala. Pardesi involved senior bureaucrats of relief and rehabilitation, revenue, public health, medical education, transport and prominent NGOs for coordination with heads of these departments in Kerala. Besides, he ensured that doctors from government-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai and Pune’s Sassoon hospitals were air-lifted to Kerala in coordination with the Air Force. For coordinating efforts with the Kerala government, Pardeshi set up a WhatsApp
group containing the necessary officials, and for a week oversaw their efforts ensuring that clothes, medicines, food and other relief material reached the districts particularly affected by the floods. This isn’t the first time the 1985-batch IAS officer has conducted such large-scale relief efforts. As Collector, he assisted the rehabilitation of victims who had suffered in the devastating September 1993 earthquake in Latur, Maharashtra. It was following Pardeshi’s lead in the Latur earthquake relief efforts that Kerala had become the first state to take charge of rehabilitating the village of Nimboli in Maharashtra.
Tejinder Pal Singh Toor
Toor de Force
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He dedicated his ejinde r laden with passion and victory to his father, Pal Singh sacrifice. He dedicated his Toor set aside victory to his father, who who is suffering the disappointment of is suffering from cancer. from cancer not being able to attend My family never pressurises his cancer-ridden father, me to attend to my father shattering the Asian Games record in the hospital, and it was always to open India’s gold my friends who medal account even took care of all the as several national hospital formalities records tumbled in my absence. I on the opening haven’t gone home day of the athletics much in this period competition. since I was training Tejinderpal, the in Dharamshala,” burly shot-putter he told after his from Moga, Punjab, gold medal win. broke the Asian Employed by the Games record in the Indian Navy under shot put event, throwing 20.75 in his fifth its sports quota, Tejinder’s family have attempt. For the 23-year-old gold medal thanked it for helping them pay for Sardar winner, however, the road to success has been Karam’s treatment.
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-year-old Mannem Sridhar Reddy spends nearly 40% of his salary to adopt schools, educate poor children, raise environmental awareness and fight the use of plastic, among other things. While his salary doesn’t cover this gamut of social services, what he also does so effectively is assist people in dire need of monetary or material assistance through his local network of contacts and Facebook page called ‘Mana Miryalaguda’, bringing many citizens onto one common platform. After starting the Facebook page in 2009, Sridhar added many folks from his town with the objective of improving the state of government schools in his town, raise awareness among school children about health and the environment, while protecting them from the excesses of modernity. Today, the group boasts of nearly 23,000 members, and they discuss social issues of the day, achievements of little-known initiatives and plan activities for Miryalaguda and other neighbouring towns and villages in the state of Telangana. On October 17, 1998, my father Mannem Shankar Reddy was in Yadagirigutta, a place of pilgrimage for many in my town, when he went to meet his friend, a sub-inspector, in the local police station. Unfortunately, Maoists had attacked the police station. Thinking that my father was the sub-inspector, they killed him,” he recalls. As compensation, the then administration of a unified Andhra Pradesh offered Sridhar a job as a junior assistant at the State finance department in Hyderabad. On August 15, 1999, he initially donated some books and painting material for school kids at a government school in Edulagudem village in Nalagonda district, Telangana, which his father had adopted. On learning that the school had no benches or study desks, he withdrew Rs 90,000 from his savings account and paid for these items besides some sports equipment. Since then he adopted 34 schools. “I assist with everything from arranging school bags, books, food provisions, projectors, study material, painting kits, benches, ceiling fans, construction of toilets, sports equipment and other aspects of infrastructures.
RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561, Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 Volume - 2, Issue - 38 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