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PUNE, DECEMBER 20, 2014 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
Why Pune cinema screens are constantly a-glitter
NETIZENS
SPORTS
Driven by local news, portal creators win Manthan Award P -6
Maiden title for Karad girl Shital P-16
Improve PMPML for the sake of our children
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Paucity of teachers hits PMC’s English medium schools
Proposal for recruitment of 100 teachers has been pending with the state government since 2012. Thermax Foundation has adopted four schools, which are run with a high degree of commitment and professionalism BY ASHOK BHAT @ashok_bhat
Students clinging to an over-crowded moving bus thus risking their lives on the busy Karve Road
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has hand-picked 41-year-old IAS officer Shrikar Pardeshi as the chairman-cum-managing director of Pune’s public bus service, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML). Neglected for decades on end, the PMPML requires firm leadership to steer it on the road to efficiency. TGS wishes Dr Pardeshi the very best in this endeavour See Spotlight, P 8 & 9
Students win award for innovative business idea Symbiosis students Dinesh Kumar and Surabhi Mishra won the first prize at the LEAP Innovation Award for their idea to export chicken feet BY ANJALI SHETTY @shetty_anjali Dinesh Kumar, a second year student of Agribusiness Management (MBA-AB) at Symbiosis Institute of International University, Hinjewadi, is normally rather introverted and shy. DEMAND AND SUPPLY US exported $677m worth of
chicken to China with chicken feet, amounting to a 85 per cent market share in China. In 2013, China imported 250,900 tonnes of chicken feet, a trade worth around £410 million In 2012, Britain rendered 1.7 billion chicken feet into pet food, along with other unwanted poultry offal.
But Dinesh is transformed into an outgoing eloquence when he talks about his current project. “Today in India, there is wastage of chicken paws and feet in the poultry industry. We worked out a plan to convert the poultry waste into a profitable export product. We estimated that there is around one lakh metric tonnes of wastage of chicken feet in India. There is potential market of five billion rupees, that is wasted every year,” said Dinesh. He is being assisted by another student Surabhi Mishra. In his first year of college Dinesh’s survey showed that the Indian poultry industry was one of the fastest growing segments of the Indian agricultural sector. Contd on p 10 Dinesh Kumar Singh and Surabhi Mishra (Symbiosis Infotech Campus) receiving the LEAP Innovation Award from actor Atul Kulkarni (centre) for their business idea ‘Export of Chicken Feet’
In face of the growing demand for English medium schools, the Pune Municipal Corporation School Board has taken steps to raise the number of its English medium schools in the city, from 12 in 2003, to 52 in 2014. The board has been under pressure in this regard, from politicians and corporators, who want to please the citizens who form their vote banks. At present, there are 21,787 students from slums and economically backward sections of society, on the rolls of PMC’s English medium schools, which do not avail of government grants, and whose tuition fees are significantly lower than privately-run schools. However, the quality of education in these schools leaves a lot to be desired, primarily owing to the acute shortage of teachers. Moreover, the PMC’s proposal for recruitment of 100 teachers, has remained embroiled in bureaucratic tangles of the state government, since 2012. Although the PMC has been funding the running of these schools on its own, its officials say that will get progressively
difficult. They have therefore, suggested the handing over of these schools to charitable trusts or CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives. An ideal example in this respect, is the Thermax Foundation that runs four PMC English medium schools, with an admirable commitment and professionalism, under its CSR initiative. The PMC has 306 schools located in 110 buildings across the city. The PMC School Board’s budget for 2014-15 was Rs 292 crore. The PMC introduced 12 English medium schools in 2003. In 2014, this number has gone up to 52 schools, with 21,787 students from KG to Class VII. In keeping with government norms, English medium schools are not given grants and PMC has been funding the running of these schools since their inception. School Board chairman Baba Dumal told The Golden Sparrow on Saturday, that , “At least 100 teachers need to be recruited for these schools and after approval from the PMC General Body, a proposal to this effect was sent to the state government.” Contd on p 10
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
“Charity becomes a way to shrug off our responsibility. But charity is no solution to poverty. Charity allows us to go ahead with our own lives without worrying about the lives of the poor. Charity appeases our consciences.” —Mahatma Gandhi
Learning a second language the faster way P7
‘Need to revive the dying art of circus’ P4
Where Pune’s bookworms can come together ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Book clubs provide intellectual stimulus and bring people together, besides providing interaction with authors
Upcoming events
1. BDB Book Club monthly meet is on Saturday, December 20, at halls number 6 and 7, MCCIA. Why Nations Fail – The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu and James Robison will be discussed. To participate, call 020-3056 0700
BY YASH DAIV @yash009 The citizens of Pune have always been avid readers and lovers of literature. No surprise, it has a number of readers’ nooks like the Book Club at US Library of Poona Club, BDB Book Club and Pagdandi Books Chai Café. Besides affording their members access to the best in global literature, these clubs also generate intellectual stimulus and help in community building.
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou’ will be discussed at The Book Club, Poona Club Library on December 22, at 6:15 pm. The discussion is in tribute to the poet who passed away in May this year. To participate, drop an email to Satish Khot on satishkhot11@gmail.com
THE BOOK CLUB AT US LIBRARY OF POONA CLUB
3. Community Story Telling Circle’s monthly meet will take place December 21, from 4:30 pm onwards at the Pagdandi Books Chai Café. Dola Dasgupta and Erica Taraporewala will enliven the art of oral tradition. Contact: Dola Dasgupta on 9552595215
Pagdandi at Baner has many book clubs operating through their Cafe thus making it an obvious choice for the young readers to spend their free time reading their favourite books
Satish Khot & Mohini Khot
“Through the book club sessions we get to meet people who read and discuss various issues. We exchange knowledge,” said Satish Khot, who launched The Book Club in 2002 as an extension of the 88-year-old library, Khot is assisted by his wife Mohini, who is the head of the Department of English at St Mira’s College. The club has conducted 135 reading sessions and other events for its members. They also held an
event to mark Shakespeare’s 450th birth anniversary, on December 13, where participants enacted soliloquys and read poems. “When Manney’s Bookstore in Camp closed down, we hosted a farewell for the landmark store. My wife and I enacted the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet on the bookstore’s spiral stairs,” Khot said. THE BDB BOOK CLUB The BDB Book Club of BDB India was initiated by RV Krishnan, chairman at BDB India and Manish Kulkarni, general manager, corporate affair at BDB India on October 20, 2010, to promote intellectual
discussions and interaction with authors of nonfiction books. The club has monthly m e e t i n g s , attended by 80100 members. Authors such as R Gopalakrishnan, RV Krishnan Shashi Tharoor, Gurcharan Das, Prakash Iyer and Subroto Bagchi are among those who have attended the club’s reading sessions. “The primary purpose was to inculcate the habit of reading in the participants. And it has made a
difference in people’s lives. We have received feedback from our members saying that the discussions have helped them in their business as well as personal life,” said Kulkarni. BDB Book Club has introduced new concepts like discussion on mini video clips, short word games and generic thoughtprovok i n g articles. “It makes the club meetings more enjoyable and interesting Manish Kulkarni for the members.
It introduces people to several thought processes all at once,” said Kulkarni. PAGDANDI BOOKS CHAI CAFÉ Neha and her husband Vishal Pipraiya launched Pagdandi Books Chai Café, Baner to promote reading. Today, several closed book clubs are run at the book store-ca fé, that also attracts readers. Vishal & Neha Pipraiya young “On Sundays,
we have families browsing through our collection of books. For the kids we have a special section. We do not charge them if they read at the café. Anyway, our library fees are Rs 100,” said Neha. “People say that Pagdandi is a place for them to just sit back and think as it offers them the right space. We have a lot of community building events like story-telling, reading and a writer’s platform. It brings people together,” she said. yashdaiv@gmail.com
Climbing mountains for Dispelling the darkness of depression the love of adventure, sport Reach Out to Life Foundation volunteers are helping students with suicidal tendencies overcome depression, through counseling and workshops
Sagarmatha Giryarohak Sanstha members who scaled Mount Everest in 2012, have undertaken a campaign to restore deserted forts in Maharashtra BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal
The achievers Sagarmatha Giryarohak Sanstha (SGS)
Sagarmatha Giryarohak is the first team in Pimpri-Chinchwad Sanstha (SGS) of Pimprito scale Mount Chandrabhaga CB-12 Chinchwad, is a group of (6264 metres) and Mount Mera (6,654 like-minded youngsters, metres) and Mount Everest in 2012. It was bonded by a common recognised as India’s first cost-effective passion for trekking, rocknano expedition. It has 35 members who and rope-climbing. Besides are technically proficient in rock-climbing promoting adventure sport, and mountaineering. SGS is also undertaking a campaign to restore forts, Prashant Pawar for which it organises the scaled Mount Everest in 2012, but tragically, ‘Fort Marathon’. we lost Ramesh Gulve at the base camp. SGS was founded by the late Ramesh Gulve, This was a most painful event for us. Gulve Prashant Pawar and Shrihari Tapkir, on May was a cheerful person and passionate about 29, 2008. The group has been active in Pimprirock-climbing and mountaineering. He Chinchwad and Pune, organising rock-climbing made great efforts to popularise it. To carry expeditions, trekking and such activities in the forward his mission, we organise a trekking Sahyadris and the Himalayas. race-cum-competition called Fort SGS members are cleaning up Marathon every year. This is the second deserted forts that can only be reached year of the competition. by rope-climbers. “Recently, the group The competition will be members have cleaned up the Lingana Fort conducted in the area of those 23 in Raigad district,” said Prashant Pawar, forts which Ramesh Gulve had secretary of SGS. climbed in just three days, which The volunteers also train Pimpriis still a record. While organising Chinchwad children and women in this competition, we make sure adventure sports free of cost during holidays to protect nature and show our or on occasions like International Women’s gratitude towards it through our fort Day or Children’s Day. Pawar said, “It cleaning activity.” is easy to train young kids who start in The members have scaled several early ages. The confidence levels of these pinnacles and rock cliffs of the Sahychildren are boosted and they also excel at adris, such as Kundlika pinnacle, Vacurricular activities.” jeer pinnacle and Vanarlingi pinnacle. This year, the Fort Marathon MISSION AND will be held at VISION Lohgad and Visput The SGS aims to forts at the end promote adventurof December. ous activities and Last year, 125 sports, to love naenthusiasts ture and the enviparticipated in the ronment, and train event at Rajmachi people for mounPeak, Lonavala. taineering expePawar said, ditions “Three of our archana.dahiwal@ Members of SGS at the base of Mt Sagarmatha best climbers had goldensparrow.com
BY VIDYA UNNITHAN Dr Natasha D’Cruz, a professor of Ps yc holog y at the Now rosjee W a d i a College, started the Reach Out To Life Foundation, in 2009, after being Dr Natasha D’Cruz alarmed by the rising incidence of suicide among students. D’Cruz said, “The purpose of the NGO was to get young people to reach out and help other youth as they could identify and empathise with them.” About the number of suicides, D’Cruz says, “I don’t believe it’s a sudden rise. It’s been a problem for a while, but of late it seems to be spoken about more, which is a good thing. The more people are aware, the more they will know from where to get help. The fi rst thing to do is to tell someone, be it a friend or a family member, to help locate assistance, as this is an extremely serious matter and the person needs immediate professional help.” D’Cruz, along with six of her students, started a 24x7 helpline, for the benefit of the troubled persons who desperately needed someone to talk to, or rather someone who would listen to them patiently. The organisation has grown from strength to strength, and its mission of mercy has attracted many more volunteers. Reach Out To Life Foundation now has more than 50 volunteers and healthcare professionals, contributing their energies towards a pro-life attitude. The organisation also works for the holistic development of
Volunteers of Reach Out to Life NGO counsel depressed youth and help them overcome their problems. They also organise workshops for school and college students
“The more people are aware, the more they will know from where to get help.” youth by means of workshops for students of Class VIII and above, helping them deal with the issues they face, and boosting their resilience and ability to cope with stress. The students are educated in time management, life skills and dealing with issues of adolescence. At the end of the workshops, they are handed
‘Yellow Cards’ or ‘Reach Out Cards’, that provide the details to access the 24/7 helpline run by counsellors and psychologists. The foundation has put up street shows on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, and also conducts programmes to raise awareness on mental health problems like depression. The foundation’s volunteers meet regularly to share ideas, and discuss issues relevant to students. Its Reach Out Café (ROC) is an informal, open platform that provides the opportunity for interaction, and exchanges of ideas, aside from raising awareness about youthrelated issues creating an atmosphere of unity. Reach Out To Life Foundation volunteer Ophelia Lobo says, “Ever since I’ve started
working with the Reach Out to Life Foundation, I have learned patience, tolerance, optimism, hope and compassion. Most importantly, it has taught me not to lose hope whatever be the circumstances. It also teaches me other skills, like being empathetic and receptive. I now believe in myself and others and accept others unconditionally.”. Another volunteer, Linaz Soonawalla says, “Personal satisfaction and the simple reason of giving back to society is what drives me to be a part of Reach Out.” vidyaunnithan@gmail.com GET IN TOUCH For more information log on to www.reachouttolife.org/ Helpline number: 988-102-0211
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
Don’t let the Lavani fade out P5
Redefining the concept of leadership P6
The Old European Tombs, situated in Pune, have been officially declared by the Archaeological Survey of India as national monument. The tombs are of French soldiers or mercenaries who were part of the Peshwa Maratha Army that fought the Anglo Maratha Wars. — Archaeological Survey of India
City gets its first maritime museum
Auto Expo 2014 focuses on ‘Safe and Green vehicles’
Indian Maritime Foundation’s novel endeavour is to raise awareness on seas and rekindle maritime consciousness
The pavilions also display next generation automobiles and successfully tested ‘Nirbhay’ missile launching vehicle
KPIT Cummins Infosystems senior vice president Anup Sable (sitting in one of the models made by city college students), advisor of traffic forum RC Mahulkar (extreme right) and volunteers at the Auto Expo 2014 at Golibar Maidan
BY BARNALEE HANDIQUE @barnalee The Auto Expo 2014 that was inaugurated at the Golibar Maidan on Thursday by Pune mayor Dattatreya Dhankawde has a special focus on ‘Safe & Green Vehicles’ under the theme ‘Next Generation Automobiles’. The co-sponsors of this event are College of Engineering Pune (COEP), Regional Transport Office (RTO), Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML), Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT)
TGS Quiz Contest
A
No. 27
nswers to the following 10 questions are embedded in the stories featured in this edition. Send us the correct answers at contest.tgs@gmail.com and be one of the three lucky winners to receive gift coupons. 1. Which award did MBA student Dinesh Kumar win recently and for what? 2. Where is Chapekar wada situated? 3. Who is the owner of Rambo Circus? 4. What are the benefits of language labs in colleges?
7.
Which dish did TGS Life pick at Cafe 1730?
8. What prompted Nikita Naiknavare to form Lost The Plot? 9. What is the name of Ajay Pandey’s novel? 10. How does entrepreneur Kapil Gandhi prefer to start his day?
Contest # 26 winners Ateen Rathod Rutuja Naik
and Scooter, Motorcycle Repairers Research Association (SMRRA). At the exhibition, display pavilions have been put up by manufacturers
barnalee.handique@goldensparrow.com
DON’T MISS IT The expo is on till December 22 from 11 am to 8 pm
Planetarium in butterfly garden is waste of money, says mayor Some politicians are pushing for a `2.25-crore planetarium at the garden BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke
THE GOLDEN NOVEMBER 22,
BY ANJALI SHETTY @shetty_anjali Replica of Tr i n c o m a l e e ship, and heritage naval charts donated by the Naval Headqua r ters, New Delhi are among the most interesting Sujit Choudhari, artefacts at the vice president, IMF Indian Maritime F o u n d a t i o n ’s (IMF) Museum & Library that opened to the public at the Deccan College, Yerwada, on December 18. The museum houses photographs, images, models of both merchant marine and naval ships, artefacts such as navigational instruments, videos, regular films shows on maritime history, marine environment and current events. The library will carry books on global navies, merchant marine, shipping and
fishing industry, ports both naval and commercial, travel (both fiction and nonfiction). These books and artefacts have been presented to the IMF by various philanthropists and well-wishers. This is another step by the IMF to raise awareness on seas and rekindle maritime consciousness and pride in people. Chellship director Lal Chellaram, Shobhna Chellaram and directors of Chellship Susheel Seth and Shankar Narayanan inaugurated the museum and library on Thursday. Situated in the department of Archaeology at Deccan College, the museum is yet another endeavour of the IMF, even though it is 200 km from the nearest shore. IMF vice president Sujit Choudhari said, “There is no museum that shows artefacts, images and models of ships. This is our attempt to create awareness not only among cadets but others too.” Documentary films of historical and current maritime interest will be screened according to the monthly programme. anjali.shetty@goldensparrow.com
Chellship director Lal Chellaram (left) with Cmde Rajan Vir at the replica of Trincomalee ship
For the love of high seas TIMING: 11 am to 1 pm Mondays to Saturdays (closed on 1st and 3rd Saturday) Where : Deccan College, Deccan College Road, Dept of Archaeology, first floor, Opp Maratha Museum, Pune 411 006. For any contingent of students, it is recommended that prior time be fixed by calling IMF office Julie Mathews @ 26132316 or Cmde Rajan Vir @ 9823655692. Email id : indmarfdn50@gmail.com.
Illegal hoardings
PCMC helpline gets 30 complaints in 15 days Civic body launched the facility following HC order
Y
SATURDA SPARROW ON 2014
PUNE
Modern College students ‘patent’ endeavour P5
to 77 families of which tree species belonging s of Pune has a total of 482 is also includes 64 specie and the rest exotic. Th s of cycads. 45 per cent are native conifers and 6 specie of s specie 16 os, palms, 6 species of bambo r and Sharvari Barve aldika Ingalh nt —Trees of Pune by Shrika
Digitally connected P6
Pune mayor Datta Dhankawade has expressed Signposts City’s only unhappiness about the proposed e construction of a planetarium in garden faces closur the PMC’s butterfly garden near Aranyeshwar temple. Early this week, he wrote to the civic administration and sought details of the butterfly garden which came into existence Pune mayor Datta in March 2011. Now, some Dhankawade local politicians such as deputy mayor Aba Bagul are demanding construction of a planetarium in place of the garden. The mayor has sought information pertaining to the butterfly garden and the proposed planetarium, which has been envisaged by some local politicians. The tree committee of the PMC has given its nod to to errog itiorns edato Kasab’s int , 29 No. 23 en in its Nov 22 y event rd lm ga fi chop down a few trees located in the garden to pave way the se of ca ct ow cit gle sh at ne the I to speak tedF ghIF A for the construction of the planetarium. However, the TGS highli bition hi ex er st po mayor seemed displeased with the decision. T h e The mayor is expected to study the editions of November 22 and financial aspects of both the projects – the November 29 of ‘The Golden Sparrow on Saturday’ ran a The book garden and the planetarium – before taking detailed report on the neglect of the butterfly garden. had created a m in stor any decision. Meanwhile, deputy mayor Aba Bagul hadthe issued a Indian security Dhankawade said that he was not happy with the promise that the unique Butterfly Garden at Sahakarnagar and media circles proposed planetarium at the site of the butterfly garden at will not be destroyed. Sahakarnagar. “We are only setting up a new planetarium in the garden “A lot of money has been spent on the garden and a new as an additional attraction,” Bagul had said. proposal will be awaste of money. The money can be utilised for other important projects in future,” he said. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
butterfly
camp Passport Seva 29 begins on Nov
is t Office, Pune Regional Passpor t Mela on Noorganising a Passpor t Seva Kendra, vember 29 at Passpor t Seva Camp Passpor Mundhwa and a r’s and 30 at collecto on November 29 to For registrations office, Solapur. ts can log in at these events, applican online dia.gov.in for www.passportin fixing online apfee payment and and the fair the to pointment. Entry only to applicamp will be allowed ments. They appoint cants with valid Apto visit with the are requested ce Number (ARN) plication Referen , 250 camp at Solapur sheet. For the released. The be will appointments a for the Mundhw online registrations and 25, November fair will open on on November 26. the camp will open apon hold and PCC Walk in, tatkal, be entertained. plicants will not
Blue Tiger
st move , citizens are again Environmentalists in the place to build planetarium
the garden has Aranyeshwar temple, of 61 species. ies about 10,000 butterfl e, ? butterfly enclosur BY ASHOK BHAT New plans afoot It comprises a exhibition hall. @ashok_bhat breeding centre and that the staff over the years It is being reported are under Growth in greenery garden y the g butterfl varieties, besides managin city’s only has attracted more in discharging The future of the pressure to be lax flow of tourists, nagar, developed the Sahakar g not at has increasin motor garden duty. The electric children. al Corporation photographers and trees are not beby Pune Municip ing the garden been repaired and g over Rs one The staff maintain Even the regu(PMC) after spendin people visit the ing watered enough. of flutter. The civic has stopped. says that over 200 crore, is in a state lar pruning of plants plans to construct garden daily. administration now is damaged at plan has been The net covering garden. It is being The planetarium 25,890 sq ft a planetarium in the entalists and various spots. The or Aba Bagul is environm corporat by Clotothat opposed namely reported and is facing garden has bushes ey allege that the Plain Tiger , Asclepias citizens alike. Th behind the new project or Ashwini even stopped to laria, Lantana, Cleome as feed for corporat administration has opposition from planted Writer Nemade and Curassavica the garden and ing and maintain reserved is d Kadam. ps. A written tration had the insects. A place get Phule awar blame the higher-u The civic adminis for breeding. the nets by of sent to the part covered been as complaint has built the garden it will tion. ent project and a Phule Award Pune Municipal Corporacorporator nullah developm The 2014 Mahatm by actress Dimple Bhalchandra NeAranyeshwar Prabhag is garden was inaugurated be given to writer a said, “Th function in March er 28 at Mahatm Ashwini Kadam Kapadia in a grand the made on Novemb ma bridge with of Pune. I agree with steel a Smarak, Mahata A pride the 2011. Rashtriy is 8, Phule l, project should by Chagan Bhujhba citizens that no other PMC garden iron ropes was installed Phule Peth, Pune. Samata only. place. Phule a come up on this spending Rs 35 lakh founder Mahatm stated that the land Pune mayor Dattadepartment has also Parishad, and only. Political Striped Tiger will be the chief is for butterfly garden traya Dhankawade the new er behind Novemb n. reason occasio pressure is the guest for the MaIron ica l ly, g taxpayer’s money anniversary of plan. After spendin 28 is the death the how can it be the man behind for this unique garden, hatma Phule. was years?” butterfly garden destroyed in just 3 ail.com 30,000 ashok.bhat21@gm Bagul. Located on garden near Grey Pansy sq ft in the nullah Union Bank fetes
HA RAJANDEKAR
6. Which guava-based sweet dish is a speciality in Christmas?
The expo will give a glimpse of the changing scenario of automotive industry and its potential. The growing participation of youngsters has had a cascading effect on the technological development
of passenger cars, two wheelers, auto components and spares garage/service station equipment, tools, car care products and auto accessories. Also present are representatives of auto finance and services, research & development and publications. The expo has a special focus on concept vehicles, designed/modified vehicles, vintage and classic vehicles, super bikes and high-end bikes. Present at the inaugural event were chief guest Anup Sable, senior vicepresident, KPIT Cummins Infosystems (Automotive and Engineering) and PNR Rajan, the organiser of the event. In the defence pavilion, battle
tanks, prominent vehicles and requirements of spare parts by the Indian Army are on show. For the first time ever, Research & Development Establishment (Engineers), Pune, is displaying the successfully tested ‘Nirbhay’ missile launching vehicle. An independent pavilion stands dedicated for student activities such as ‘Project Display’, ‘Poster Display’ and ‘Traffic Parliament’. The project display involves display of concept vehicles that are part of ‘BAJA’ and ‘SUPRA’ competitions held in the country. These are vehicles with technological innovation by engineering colleges in and around Pune and PimpriChinchwad areas. The projects, besides the vehicles, are by engineering college students related to transportation cogent with the theme of the event. For the poster competition, COEP is coordinating with DY Patil College of Engineering (Akurdi) and with PES Modern College of Engineering, Pune, for traffic parliament. In the traffic parliament, students will discuss and debate on current traffic problems and their possible solutions. This session will be held at the mini auditorium in the COEP on December, 27. The resolutions accepted will be sent for consideration by the state and central government. The Pune Auto Expo will award and felicitate four bus drivers with the best drivers award 2014-15 for their excellent service. “The expo will give a glimpse of the changing scenario of automotive industry and its potential. The growing participation of youngsters has had a cascading effect on the technological development. I feel they should understand the developments in the industry and workout the challenges,” said PNR Rajan, convenor Auto Expo 2014.
PICS: ANIRUDD
5. Which two films is Luke Kenny working on?
PNR Rajan, Convenor, Auto Expo 2014
PUNE
Jayant Narlikar
n of Union Bank’s On the occasio t ion day, scientis 96th foundat with was felicitated Jayant Narlikar ment award. Social lifetime achieve Andhasraddah body Maharashtra (MANS) was also Nirmoolan Samiti t manassistan bank’s awarded. The i was present. ager Nitin Kulkarn
est TGS Quiz Cont
g 10 nswers to the followined in questions are embedd edition. in this the stories featured answers at Send us the correct and be contest.tgs@gmail.com to winners one of the three lucky s. receive gift coupon
Common Leopard
The damaged nets
have not been
repaired
The room for research
is lying unused
Common Indian
Glassy Tiger
Crow
Book release of ‘The
Seige’ in Marathi on
Nov 25
Chabad House and Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai. other places in south Catherine ScottAdrian Levy and startling facts ing Clarke have revealed 26/11 attacks. Anjali Morris 120 displays focuss 1. What does Dr the inspector Ramesh and details about Senior police NFAI has arranged the top Education and Health created a storm in was among the had who book e Th Mahale, at? i Foundation aim media circles with the 26/11 Pakistan Indian security and interrogators of Amir I BARI extraordinary Ajmal PRACH “the med of BY its revelations terrorist Moham Kamayani release warnings 2. Who founded @prachibari speak at a book of extremely detailed will Centre? number g Kasab, not Vocational Trainin er 25. that were ignored, function on Novemb of , underFestival seriously had Film taken Mahale gists at the ”. The 45th International Kasab 3. Name the neurolo will also hold an developed and belittled interrogated hkar Hospita l India in Goa (IFFI) by Deenath Manges Levy had admitted exhibition curated after he was nabbed annual fi lm poster Epilepsy day feelings India of s people’s during organised World that Archive Mumbai police run by Nationa l Film on seminar. about 26/11 still will be inaugurated the terror attack (NFAI). The event among deep, especial ly at Kala Academy. November 26. over the weekend ous award did fi lm survivors in 120 and up put prepared victims has 4. Which prestigi He had NFAI this year e. receive? of the India and elsewher Neel Deshpande on the Indian music detailed reports posters focussing eet ‘The Siege’ traces Each of these case. A chargesh in cinema as a theme. David the water was carefully picked the career of 5. Who spearheaded of 12,000 pages posters have been as a at Sai popular songs or Coleman Headley conservation project prepared which revealed and chosen for their rogue ent CIA mole gone s. Research officers Ambience? Pakistan’s involvem the music director his interactions with Seema Vartak attacks. and and the anis behind Aarti Kharkh i delicacy is Lashkar-e-Toiba about the on the selection for 6. Which Gujarat Mahale will speak have been working gives nal slow on (LeT) and ISI. It cooked by the traditio the 26/11 attack the past three weeks. fi lm music are expose of detailed a and . music cooking method? the occasion “Indian d red-tape prevente sness and people November On how bureaucratic part of our consciou Guard (NSG) 7 weekender translation of the fi lms sometimes by 7. Where is NH the Nationa l Security Mumbai-like 25, the Marathi tend to remember ed at? for authored by British too with a tribute hence this year lm, fi Siege’ precisely Cinema e the ‘Th in built Pune being oragnis East — book, North the songs reaching the Taj Levi and Cathy Bhupen Hazarik a ed.” music as a theme,” scenarios — from journalists Adrian to Pride of Assam, cinema was showcas we have opted for Dhananjay late morning of be released at a posters give a Alapna Pant Janu Baruah’s fi lms 8. Where does artist Mahal Hotel till Th is year the fi lm Scott – Clark will and fi lm posters of said NFAI director claims that the Hall from 5.45 world of the retrospective in book e Joshi the Th musical of SM 27. the er at part is into Kelkar hail from? Novemb function which glimpse Sharma. in New Delhi, fi lm music been translated by 70s till the current ISI had a “super agent” who helped pm. 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cinema on Indian music in
ORK TGS NEWS NETW @TGSWeekly
BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal The helpline for registering complaints against illegal banners, flexes and hoardings launched by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has received 30 complaints in 15 days. The civic administration started the toll free helpline 18002330666 and SMS complaint service on 9922501450 on December 5. Speaking to ‘The Golden Sparrow on Saturday’, PCMC wireless department chief Thomas Victor Noronha said, “We received calls from Dighi, Pimple Nilakh, Kalewadi, Pimpri, Akurdi, Chinchwad and Bhosari areas. We have forwarded the complaints to the respective wards.” PCMC launched the complaint system following the Bombay High Court’s directives of starting a toll free number for receiving complaints about illegal hoardings. In a recent order, the HC had directed all civic bodies in the state to set up a mechanism to curb illegal flex boards and banners. It had warned of action for failure to put the system in place. Citing that it already has Sarathi
helpline to cater to issues facing residents, PCMC delayed in starting the helpline. With the HC observing that Sarathi is a paid helpline, the PCMC was directed to launch the toll free service. The PCMC licence and permission department has also formulated policies for flexes and hoardings to curb this menace. archana.dahiwal@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
ISRO relied on Audiocom’s technology for Mars mission
“We point the finger at the tribal carrying firewood on her head when our own aluminiumhungry lifestyles are the real cause of forest loss.”
P11
—Pankaj Sekhsaria, author of ‘The Last Wave’
Signpost PUWJ’s photo exhibition till Dec 21
For Jihadis, Denmark tries rehabilitation P13
Circus specialist suggests tips for revival Sujit Dilip, owner of Rambo Circus has its silver jubilee in 2015, pleads for government help
ABOUT RAMBO CIRCUS Started in 1991, Rambo Circus is associated with the Federation Mondiale du Cirque and its founder president Princess Stephanie of Monaco. Owner Sujit Dilip is actively involved in the promotion of the culture of circus and its artists globally. Rambo Circus has 140 people, with 90 artistes, six of whom are foreigners. Birds are also a part of this big crew, with a bird trainer from Singapore. It presents a set of 30 acts in two hours.
BY MANASI SARAF JOSHI @GargiManasi
Diabetes awareness programme Freedom from Diabetes, a medical organisation, has organised a diabetes awareness programme on December 20 and 21, at Siddhi Banquet Hall, Erandwane and SM Joshi Hall, Navi Peth. Dr Pramod Tripathi, president of Freedom from Diabetes will speak on the benefits of proper diet, meditation and continuous sugar level monitoring. For more information log on to www.freedomfromdiabetes.org or contact 9881430000.
Have you been to…
Chapekar Wada
BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal The ancestral house of the three revolutionary Chapekar brothers - Damodar, Vasudev and Balkrishna - who, along with their associate Mahadev Ranade, shot dead British officer Walter Charles Rand in 1897, located at Chinchwadgaon, is a humble tribute to the freedom struggle and patriotism. Social organisation Krantiveer Chapekar Smarak Samiti in 1972 took possession of the old structure that had turned into an illicit liquor den after the brothers’ family was forced to move out by the British and the wada was occupied in 1935 by tenants, who later abandoned it in 1962. With financial assistance from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the Samiti started restoration work in 1998 and inaugurated the renovated wada in the presence of the descendants of the freedom fighters in 2005. The Samiti has turned two of its rooms as a museum to store revolutionary literature while the other rooms will be converted into a vyayamshala, a gymnasium, as a tribute to Damodar who was a bodybuilder. The museum, Kranti-Teertha (temple of revolution), has over 200 photographs carrying details of 600 revolutionaries,
including women, and a few artilleries used by freedom fighters. The wada is also important for students doing research on the Indian freedom struggle as the museum has reference material on many unsung heroes, men and women, who sacrificed their lives for the country. The Samiti’s executive committee member Kishor Kulkarni said that efforts are on to compile a book on revolutionary history and the Chapekar brothers, and the pistol used by Damodar to kill Rand will be put up at the museum once the Pune police release the weapon for display. DO NOT MISS… The museum contains a section dedicated to women revolutionaries. There is pictorial information about 125 women who were the wives or sisters of revolutionaries and also contributed to the freedom struggle. The prominent among them are Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, Begum Hazrat Mahal of Avadh, wife of Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani Chanamma, mothers of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Hari Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar and Chandrashekhar Azad, and the mother and wives of Chapekar brothers. archana.dahiwal@goldensparrow.com
Acrobats of Rambo Circus performing during a show
do shows there, but he suffered a major setback after the sponsors pulled out. When I took over the reins in 1991, I renamed it as Rambo Circus,” he said. “Though I have managed to run the circus quite successfully, it is very difficult to maintain it financially,” Dilip said. “The ban on animal acts came as a major setback for circus owners as animals are the major crowd-pullers in rural areas. In contrast, in foreign countries research has been done on the circus and how to maintain the animals in it. They
have touring circuses and special arrangements are made for the animals when they travel by road. Also, there is a permanent building for circus in Germany. In China, a circus artist earns anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 65,000. But in India, the case is different as we lack technology and government support,” Dilip said.“No new artist is ready to join the circus. It was pathetic to see the closing down of the sole circus school in Kerala. The policy of not recruiting children in the circus has also stopped the creation of acrobats and gymnasts,” he lamented.
Given this enormous importance of education, why on earth has it become inaccessible to many, says TGS reader Karan Anand
How to reach
Located in Chinchwadgaon at Chinchwad near the banks of Pavana, it is about 20 km from Pune on the old Pune-Mumbai Highway (NH4).
TIMINGS 9am-12pm and 4pm-7pm, throughout the year except on public holidays. Open between 4pm-7pm on Sundays. No entry fee
Education is the key to civilisation. It is education which inculcates in us civilised behaviour, gives us knowledge and even helps in the growth of the economy. Just as we are able to distinguish between humans and animals, education helps in distinguishing between the savage and the civilised society. Given this enormous importance of education, why on earth has it become inaccessible to many? Why has it been reduced to a mere business transaction? Why isn’t it given for free to all those who can’t afford it? I wish the Indian government could focus a lot more on the education sector. Education, as we all know, is a three-tier process: a) Learning b) Examination and c) Evaluation. One has to clear all the three phases to become an educated individual. First is learning where a person gains knowledge. One has to go to a school/college/ institution for this, but there are many who can’t afford it. Can’t the money recovered from black money detection drives be used to finance the education of the poor? Can’t the government fund more schools which offer high quality education
Letters to the Editor
Our newspaper is interactive and you are welcome to write in to our various segments: • Letters to the Editor email: editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com; editor_tgs@gmail.com By post: The Editor, The Golden Sparrow on Saturday, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030, (Best letter gets a weekly prize) • Articles for the Relationships page: relationships@goldensparrow.com, relationships.tgs@gmail.com • The Way Forward with Compassion & Hope: wayforward@goldensparrow.com • Want to become an entrepreneur? For mentoring advice, write to our associates: mentoring@pune.tie.org • Get weekly events listed: listings.tgslife@gmail.com
manasisaraf@gmail.com GET IN TOUCH For more information log on to www.rambocircus.in or visit www.circusfederation.org
for free? Of course, some initiatives have been taken in the past, and some are still being carried out. But now that we have a new government, such initiatives can be implemented at a faster pace. While the government tries that, can’t each one of us help at least one person to gain education? We can even donate our old books to the poor who are pursuing education. Even before you ask me about my contribution towards such an effort, let me mention that I’ve already identified a person whom I would like to help to become an educated individual. Let’s move on to the ‘Examination’ and ‘Evaluation’ phases where we are tested on what we have learnt and how well. Most of the major competitive examinations are in the headlines these days. While the UPSC is in the news for a format change proposal and the age reduction decisions; the SSC board exam is in the news because of paper-leaks. This rot is quite widespread and I’m aware of a student who has suffered because of this. The situation with internal college exams is no different and there’s a lot to be desired. Whose responsibility is it to improve this situation? Can’t the UGC/AICTE take some action against its own approved colleges and universities? We may not have answers for these questions, but surely, can’t we think of solutions for these problems? It’s now all up to us and the governmentjust as it has always been and will always be.
editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com
Will Pakistan weed out terrorists from their soil finally? IANS
TGS is interactive
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS FESTIVAL The International Circus Festival will feature spell-binding feats performed by Indian and international artistes from Africa, South America, Russia, Nepal and the Mauritius. The festival will also showcase the most spectacular and dangerous acts like The Wheel of Death, Rolla-Bolla, Body Contortion, Arials, Flying Trapeze, Skywalk, Sword Act and more. A circus show however, includes a wide variety, from rib-tickling fun to gravity defying skills, and daredevil acts that leave you gasping for breath. It’s a one-of-a kind experience for audiences of all ages, with lighting, backdrops and presentation on a larger-than-life, grand scale. The fully air conditioned and fi re-proof tent aka big top, smoke machines, hi-tech light and sound effects, besides the artists and animals, add to the enchantment. The fi rst run of the festival will be at the Bandra Reclamation Ground, with shows at 4 pm and 7 pm on weekdays, and an additional show at 1 pm on weekends.
Govt must take steps to give free education to the poor
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
On the occasion of 75th anniversary of Pune Union of Working Journalists, a photo exhibition has been organised at the art gallery of Jawaharlal Nehru Sanskrutik Kendra, Ghole Road, till December 21, between 11 am and 8 pm. The exhibition was inaugurated by photo editor Sudharak Olwe on December 19. German photographer Helena Schaetzle was also present at the inaugural function.
Rambo Circus owner Sujit Dilip has suggested ways to revive this dying form of art and entertainment. In an exclusive interview to The Golden Sparrow on Saturday, he said, “Beggars can be trained for the circus, so that they can earn money, federations can help us financially. Policies can be changed so that we can run circuses more efficiently.” “It is the need of the hour and the government should frame policies to revive the Sujit Dilip circus,” Dilip said. He will be hosting the International Circus Festival at Mumbai, in January 2015. “We are celebrating the silver jubilee year in 2015 and to mark the occasion, we are organising the international festival to rejuvenate this art form, which is fast diminishing in India. Over the years, the government has failed to address the problems and difficulties being faced by circus owners in the country. “Though, we have a federation with over 40 circuses registered with them, only 20 circuses are making both ends meet. Others are fast going into oblivion, pushing the artistes and their families into darkness.” Dilip had to drop his education to take over the responsibility of the circus in 1991, when his father suffered a fatal heart attack, that was caused due to the stress from financial worries. “My father would tour the Gulf countries to
can people be so cruel as to kill children without the slightest compunction? —Sumit Paul
Drivers’ scrutiny is must
It took 30 years for the Sri Lankan government and army to weed out the LTTE completely from its soil. Now Sri Lanka is free of the LTTE menace. When can we see Pakistan emulate Sri Lanka’s example and extirpate Taliban from its land and let the world heave a sigh of relief? The latest Peshawar school massacre killing more than 100 children must be viewed as the last straw on the camel’s back and Pakistan must vow to obliterate these evils from the face of the earth. It makes one wonder, how
Apropos your report, ‘On Indian roads, give highest priority to safety’ (TGS Dec. 13), Abhay Vaidya and Ishani Bose have rightly brought out the need for women’s safety. It is not only women but even men who require safety which should be provided. I remember the number of hours I have paced up and down at home waiting for my husband and son to return at late hours from work. True, recent rape cases in the cabs is alarming and needs to be tackled on an urgent basis. But to put all the drivers in the ‘crime zone’ is not right. I still
remember the words of a driver who drove me in a prepaid taxi from Mumbai airport to Bandra in the middle of the night. Sensing slight fear in me as the taxi started, he reassured me and said he would reach me home safely. He then said that as drivers they have to work very hard to support their families. It is only when a criminal takes their place as a driver that the assaults, attacks and rapes, etc. take place and all drivers get a bad name. Hence the need of the hour is to scrutinise the drivers thoroughly before employing but not all need to be viewed in a cloud of suspicion. —Urmilla Ramrakhiani
Ban on tobacco is ineffective The
World
Health
Organisation
(WHO) has reported that every year tobacco kills nearly six million people while alcohol kills over 2.5 million. Although, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has decided to ban the sale of loose cigarettes and has proposed to raise the age criteria to 21 years from the existing 18 for sale of tobacco products, it will practically not have much effect on the habitual smokers and consumers of tobacco products. For example, in spite of a ban, ‘Gutka’ is still being consumed by mixing of two different products, in two separate pouches, by bypassing the rule. As far as the age limit is concerned, the tobacco products can be easily obtained from a known person who is more than 21 years of age. The warnings on cigarette packets and liquor bottles are not deterrent enough. The government is unwilling to put a total ban on tobacco and
alcohol as they are high revenue earners for the government. —Vijay Dattatray Patil
Write to Us Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow. com or mailed to Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030. The Best Letter of the Week will receive a special gift from Venus Traders, Pune’s finest stationery departmental.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
According to the Census 2011, average literacy rate of Pune city was 91.61 per cent of which male and female literacy was 95.13 and 87.91 per cent. —www.census2011.co.in/census/city/375-pune.html
PUNE
Is this Good Governance, Mr Modi? P 12
A memorial in Gopinath Munde’s honour at Beed
PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Don’t let the
Signposts
LAVANI fade out
Gopinath Gad, a memorial to showcase the life and work of late mass leader Gopinath Munde, will be built by Pune based Guardian Media and Entertainment Company. Manish Sabade, managing director Guardian Corporation, said, “It will be a tribute to Gopinath Munde who dedicated his life for the betterment of the underprivileged people in the society.” The foundation brick was laid by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Pankaja Munde, rural development minister of Maharashtra. The event took place in Beed on December 12.
Sharad Krida in collaboration with Sanskrutik Pratishthan organised an all Maharashtra Lavani festival in December 2014, to revive the ethnicity of the Lavani art form of Maharashtra. They invited premier Lavani troupes to perform on a common stage, to project the immensely popular Lavani to audiences in a different light. “The Pune Lavani Mahotsav 2014 is a great way to create greater awareness and bring recognition to the Lavani dance form. Staging more such festivals will also provide a boost to and spotlight new talent. It was a pleasant surprise to see that almost 90 per cent of the dancers observed the traditional Lavani form, without the need to emulate the Bollywood style or film music.”
Rutika Kakde
CHILDREN’S DAY COMPETITION RESULTS The results of the TGS Children’s Day competition will be declared in the December 27th edition of the newspaper. A total of 731 entries which included 463 drawings, 174 essays and 94 poems were received in response to the competition announced by TGS on the occasion of Children’s Day. ‘Child Labour’ was the theme for the contest.
IN THE
NEWS
Chhaya Khutegavekar
Sunita Kalamkar
Artiste of Chaufula New Ambika Kala Kendra
Maya Khutegavekar
Catch up with developments in Pune as the week comes to a close
‘Kapus Kondyachi Goshta’, a promising Marathi movie directed by Mrunalini Bhosale, has been contended in the 87th Oscar under the ‘Best Picture’ category. The Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences announced the names of nearly 323 movies, which made its way to the final list of contention. The inclusion of this socially committed movie in academy’s prestigious list is a matter of pride for the Marathi fi lm industry.
RAHUL RAUT
Marathi film in the Oscar run
Our Marathon for breast cancer awareness Prashanti Cancer Care Centre (PCCC) and Orchids Breast Health, Pune is organising a marathon for breast cancer awareness on December 21, at 6:15 am on Police Ground, Fergusson College Road, where Bollywood stars like, Ajay Devgan, Kajol, Suniel Shetty, Nawazzudin Siddiqui, Tanisha, Tanuja will be joining the participants. Kajol (ambassador) and Tanuja (trustee) have been associated with breast cancer awareness. “Causes of breast cancer such as our sedentary life, negligence and delay in diagnosis result in one out of 20 women having breast cancer,” said Dr Koppikar, an oncologist. PCCC treats 5,000 patients under freeships. “We provide free mammography for every participant of Our Marathon as it detects cancer in its early stage and is necessary to be done every year by women aged above 40 years,” he added.
The Science Express arrived at Khadki Railway Station on December 17. Students from various schools paid a visit to have a look at the different experiments displayed inside the railway bogies. The train will leave Pune on December 20 at 5 pm
Chakan, Pune, at the recent Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) national annual awards. “Winning a national award from one’s peers in the Indian Institute of Architects, gifts an architect a true sense of achievement. Th is is my fi fth National IIA Award and it takes me back in time, when I won my fi rst major award, the Architect of the Year Award from Inside Outside in 1999,” said Prof. Christopher Benninger, Principal Architect. Th is
year’s winning project has particular significance, as it is not a glamorous resort or an elite residential school. It is a large industrial pavilion covering about one and a half lakhs square feet. CCBA has been winning the IIA Awards since 2000, for projects like Mahindra United World College, followed by YMCA International Campsite in 2006,Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies in 2008 and for Suzlon One Earth Corporate headquarters office in 2013.
Fifth victory for Christopher Benninger Architects Christopher Charles Benninger Architects (CCBA) won the best Industrial Architecture for the Forbes Marshal Green Fields Industrial Park at
Unveiling of the new logo of Monaa Strategy and Design. (From left) Prajakta Rahul Shiledar, Rahul Dinkar Shiledar, managing director, Monaa Strategy and Design, Dilip Walse Patil, former speaker Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Meena Dinkar Shiledar, Dinkar Shiledar, chairman Monaa Strategy and Design and Devendra Shah, chairman, Parag Milk Foods
Artiste from Aryabhushan Theatre
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
The first YouTube video was uploaded on April 23, 2005. It’s called “Me at the zoo,” and features Jawed Karim, one of the founders — www.buzzfeed.com
Peshwar, Sydney attacks a warning to India P 10
ManU have flipped the script with Liverpool P 15
Driven by local news, portal creators win Manthan Award Journalists Vivek Inamdar and Hrishikesh Tapshalkar’s ‘mypimprichinchwad.com’ (MPC) is Pune’s first web news portal BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL
“After covering the same beat for several years, I had reached a saturation point
@ArchanaDahiwal Vivek Inamdar, 43-year-old and Hrishikesh Tapshalkar, 43-year-old, have worked as journalists in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad for nearly a quarter of a century. They launched Pune’s first web news portal called ‘mypimprichinchwad.com’ (MPC), on April 18, 2008, that underlines the importance of the localisation of media. The news portal has struck the right chord with the public right since its inception. At present, the online news portal has nearly 50,000 visitors and hundreds of thousands of hits. In recognition of its overall impact and popularity in the field of Information Technology, MPC was conferred with the prestigious Manthan Award, with a special mention under the social media and e-news categories. Inamdar, who lives in Talegaon Dabhade, began his journalism career with the weekly Lonavala Times, in 1988. He moved to the Marathi daily Loksatta, as trainee reporter. Over time, he rose to the post of chief reporter. He then was chief co-ordinator for Loksatta’s Pimpri-Chinhwad supplement, in 1994, a post he held for 16 years. Inamdar said, “After covering the same beat for several years, I had reached a saturation point. And that is an alarming state to be in for a journalist. A journalist needs to be restless
- VIVEK INAMDAR
all the time, only then can he/she create something new. This is the one reason why I decided to do something new on my own. During that phase, I heard builder D S Kulkarni’s lecture, in which he said, ‘Do something which
Vivek Inamdar and Hrishikesh Tapshalkar
provides work to others’. Work for yourself and make your own identity. And that is when I started thinking on that line. Tapshalkar, who lives in Yamunanagar in Nigdi-Pradhikaran area, had studied printing technology. His career as a photo-journalist began at the now defunct Maharashtra Herald newspaper, in 1990. In 1997, he joined Pune Newsline, covering news of the twin township. He moved back to Herald in 2007 and continued to work till 2009. Ta p s h a l k a r, who had always wished to start his own enterprise, and Inamdar, were aware of the public’s great interest in local happenings, rather than national or international news. The duo decided to start the
online web portal with an investment of Rs 5 lakh. “The idea of starting the web portal came to my mind after a lady enquired about a city-based online news portal to publish articles and advertisement but in those days there was no such facility available in the city. I told Inamdar about the plan and soon we set up the company called PimpriChinchwad Info Media,” Tapshalkar said The duo started the online news portal with just five staffers, and now they have a 17-member team. Initially advertisers were hard to come by. The company used public relations services, one of which was the paid SMS service. There are nearly 5000 customers of MPC for paid bulk SMS service with Rs 600 as the annual subscription charge. They also launched the Marathi weekly, ‘PimpriChinchwad, Maval Antarang’. “We can proudly say today that journalists can set up their own media house and create their own brand in the market, if they want to, without having any kind of business background,” said Inamdar. The MPC has emerged as a business model. Several news portals have come up in the twin township and Pune, in MPC’s footsteps. MPC has started the same service in Thane and plans to expand their network to every city in the state. archana.dahiwal@goldensparrow.com
India inviting Samsung, LG for manufacturing: Prasad India is inviting technology majors like Samsung and LG to set up manufacturing facilities in the country under ‘make in India’ programme, said Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. “We are promoting all the big guns like Samsung and LG to come to India in a big way under ‘make in India’ programme,” the minister said in his address at golden jubilee celebrations of Computer Society of India (CSI). “Come to India, establish premises, use human resources, technology and talent of young people to make in India for
India and also for exports,” he told the global electronic manufacturers. He said the central government plans to promote 20 electronic manufacturing clusters. Under the cluster scheme, states will get Rs.50 crore each if they give 50 acres of land for the clusters. Calling upon industry to come out with innovations, the minister said funding would not be a problem and the electronic development fund has just been established for the purpose - to propel ICT, nano technology and electronic manufacturing in a big way. Stating that the government aims to build technology empowered India, the minister
said digital India programme would create a big space of digital infrastructure for citizens and also a big platform for digital delivery of services. Noting the government plans to install seven lakh km of optical fibre network in three years against 10 lakh km installed in last 30 years, Prasad hoped this will lead to explosion of e-commerce and give a big push to e-health and e-education. The minister said the country also had 900 million mobile phones while Internet connection are likely to touch 30 crore by end of this year. (IANS)
Redefining the concept of leadership You could have changed one’s life, without realising it. Drew Dudley, redefines ‘leadership’ as an everyday act of improving each other’s lives TED is a global platform where people from different fields come together and speak for 18 minutes or less about their respective disciplines. It was started in 1984 by a non-profit organisation called Sapling Foundation, under the slogan — Ideas worth sharing. Initially it organised conferences where matters related to technology, design and entertainment merged, but today it includes varied topics such as business, photography, art, science and the like.
ISHANI BOSE @ishani_bose “How many of you are completely comfortable with calling yourselves a leader? I’ve come to realise that we have made leadership into something bigger than us. We’ve made it about changing the world. I worry sometimes that we spend so much time celebrating amazing things, that we convince ourselves that those are the only things worth celebrating for,” said Drew Dudley, in his 2010 Tedx Toronto. (http://www.ted. com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership?language=en) At the conference, Dudley spoke about how leadership is not a characteristic reserved for extraordinary people. Dudley’s inclination towards enabling people to develop and evolve people’s leadership qualities began when he was the Leadership Development co-ordinator at the University of Toronto, Scarborough. In 2010, he founded Nuance Leadership Development Services, a company that prepares leadership curricula for communities, organisations and individuals --- something he loves talking about on public forums. Dudley narrated an experience from his childhood that seemed to have helped him redefine leadership in a way that made him a happier person. “On my last day in school, a girl came up to me and told me that I was the reason why she chose to stay back in that school, on the first day. I helped her ease up a little. I don’t remember that. I have
no recollection of that moment. And that was such an eyeopening, transformative moment for me to think that maybe the biggest impact I’d ever had on anyone’s life - a moment that had a woman walk up to a stranger four years later and say, ’You’ve been an incredibly important person in my life,’ was a moment that I didn’t even remember,” he said.
According to Dudley, every one has been a catalyst for a lollipop moment (which, he says, is a moment where someone has said or done something to make other people’s lives fundamentally much better). “You have made someone’s life better by something that you said or did. But you haven’t thought about it because no one came up to you and told you that you made a difference,” he said. He further says that for most people it is scary to think of themselves to be that powerful. “It can be frightening to think that we can matter that much to other people, because as long as we make leadership something bigger than us, as long as we keep leadership something beyond us and as long as we make it about changing the world, we give ourselves an excuse not to expect it every day from ourselves and from each other,” he said. He concludes the talk with quoting a Marianne Williamson quote that reads, ‘Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, and not our darkness, that frightens us.’ Elaborating it he says, “My call to action today is that we need to get over our fear of how extraordinarily powerful we can be in each other’s lives. If we change even one person’s understanding about how powerful an agent of change they can be in this world, we’ll be able to change the understanding of the whole world about the very concept of leadership,” he said. ishani.bose@goldensparrow.com
In The TECH WORLD Maharashtra to launch web portal, app for e-governance The Maharashtra government will launch a web portal and a mobile application called ‘Aaple Sarkar’ (our government) to encourage people to participate in e-governance and address public grievances, an official said here Thursday. “The proposed web portal and mobile application shall handle citizens’ grievances redressal and receive suggestions or feedback for a more participative governance,” said an official from the directorate of information technology (DIT).The DIT will develop the new system. It will coordinate with the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Maha-Online, an existing state government website and the National Informatics Centre for setting up the new web portal and mobile application.
YouTube allows offline access to movies in India Taking into consideration the slow internet connections of of developing countries like India and Indonesia, Youtube has introduced an offl ine feature in their mobile app. Th is new feature allows users to take video offl ine using either their data plan or Wi Fi. Once taken offl ine, the videos can be viewed without an Internet connection for up to 48 hours after which the user must connect to the Internet to sync the usage data and analytics with YouTube giving the advertisers and the content owners the data they need.
Online food ordering attracts tier-II, III foodies: Tastykhana The online food industry is now spreading its wings to tierII and tierIII cities like never before, according to a survey conducted by online food ordering service Tastykhana.in. Th is is driven by an increase in disposable income and acceptability to experiment, as also the fact that online food ordering enables people to avoid the chaos of traffic and never-ending waiting lines of restaurants and have their favourite food within the comfort of their homes, said a statement. The survey indicates that 15 percent of the total online food orders on Tastykhana.in come directly from tier-II and tier-III cities. Of this, tier-II cities bring in 57 percent and tier-III cities contribute to 43 percent of the total orders from these places. Moreover, around 60 percent of these orders are from high ticket restaurants. The survey also highlighted that while an average food order by a family is for minimum Rs.450, the preferred food items include biryani, pizza and rolls.
Google launches Hindi advertising service Online search giant Google has launched Hindi ads on its display network to allow advertisers reach out to 500 mn Hindi speakers across the world. The move is part of Google’s effort to stimulate the growth of Indian languages and extend support to more languages around the world. With the introduction of Hindi ads, AdWords advertisers will now be able to build campaigns reaching Hindi language sites on the Google Display Network using text, image, rich media, and video display ad formats, it added. Google already offers voice search in Hindi and a website called http://www.hindiweb.com, a repository to discover Hindi content across websites, apps, videos and blogs for Hindi speaking Internet users.
Facebook deletes Microsoft’s Bing Search feature Over the last few years, Facebook displayed results from Bing. com for keyword searches since they had a partnership with Microsoft MSFT -0.66%. However, Facebook recently decided to completely remove Microsoft Bing search results. In 2006, Microsoft sold banner ads on Facebook in the U.S. As part of the investment, Microsoft was given the rights to split banner ad revenue on Facebook outside of the U.S. Facebook removed Microsoft’s banner ads in 2010 and replaced them with Bing’s keyword search results. Even though Microsoft and Facebook are still partners on other projects, the removal of Bing.com from the social network may be another setback for the search engine. Bing.com is currently the second largest search engine.
ED UCATION “Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life.” —APJ Abdul Kalam, former president
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
CARE ER
DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
“The time has arrived to re-evaluate the functioning of our institutions of higher education so that they can benefit all sections of Indian people.” —Markandey Katju, ex- chairman, Press Council of India
Learning a second language the faster way City based research shows that activities imparted through language labs help in better second language acquisition BY YASH DAIV @yash009 Fergusson
College
and English L a ng u a ge Te a c h i n g Institute of Symbiosis (ELTIS) are e q u i p p e d with efficient language labs. Meant for the practical replication Tanvi Damle of classroom learning, Pune researchers find these labs effective in the learning of a second language for Indian and foreign students. A language lab has symmetrically arranged booths. The 20-25 computers are connected to a central computer, operated by the teacher. The teacher’s
computer disseminates tasks to the students’ terminals. The tasks can be anything from writing paragraphs to practical applications of grammar. In a group activity, the communication is between two students and the teacher. The lab network allows students to consult the teacher without disturbing the others. The teacher can reply to students’ queries without disturbing the process. These processes have been designed by scholars after careful research. Atul Patil, assistant professor, applied science, COEP has previously worked at the language lab at ELTIS, where he conducted training programme for teachers and provided consultancy for other labs. Data is collected for research through these labs by observation and through questionnaires for students. “The research will help us in devising more activities that will aid language acquisition,” Patil said. Language labs are introduced as
CITY SCHOOLS
UPDATE
Students at the language lab of English Language Teaching Institute of Symbiosis (ELTIS), Model Colony
a practical activity in the BA English third year curriculum prescribed under Savitribai Phule Pune Univeristy as well as the one year comprehensive diploma offered at ELTIS. The lab
activities are conducted regularly over eight months when these courses function. Students say that they have acquired the language over this period and not just learnt the theory of it.
Rayat Education Society’s SM Joshi High School held a ‘Vidyarthini Vyaktimatva Vikas Karyashala’ (workshop for student’s intellectual stimulation) for its students on December 3. Various short term courses affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University and guidance for banking and tally exams were offered during the workshop.
RAHUL RAUT
Workshop held at SM Joshi School
Students demonstrating their working models at the competition organised under Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) A World in Motion (AWIM) programme, at the Orchid School, Baner
Actress Teja Devkar, who studied at the school, addressed the participants with an empowering speech on gender equality during the inaugural ceremony. Sub inspector Vaishali Kadukar Patil was the chief guest for the occasion.
Shinde wins boxing championship Bhagyashree Kumavat and Pragati Shinde of SM Joshi College, Hadapsar won the inter-college boxing championship in the 51-60
kg and 49-51 kg groups respectively. Swapnali Shinde secured the second position at the inter-college wrestling championship, held on the same premise. The competition was held at BJS College and Dhole Patil College of Engineering, on December 3 and 9.
Karmaveer lecture series The first Karmaveer lecture series was organised by Rayat Education Society’s Sadhana Shaikshanik Sankul
Life’s Lessons
Having a good vocabulary is invaluable because it aids in our thinking Important competitive exams at the national and international level have a test for vocabulary. However, the importance of a good vocabulary goes beyond the marks you get in the exams. Researchers have demonstrated irrefutably that a good vocabulary has a strong bearing on success in life and career. Researcher and scientist Johnshon O’Connor has noted that extensive knowledge of the exact meanings of words “accompanies outstanding success”. Th is attribute has been given more importance than many other factors The website, improvingvocabularly.org, lists a number of reasons why a good vocabulary matters. To begin with, “People judge you by the
words you use”. Every time you open your mouth, you are judged on how well you are able to convey your thoughts. The richer your vocabulary, the better your ability to express your thoughts precisely. It also means that you would be able to communicate in a better manner and the ability to communicate well is of paramount importance for good leadership in any field. To go deeper into the subject, it is worth noting that a good vocabulary helps us think better. As has been noted by an expert, “You need words to think and to think you need words.” Thus, the process of thinking itself requires vocabulary- the richer your vocabulary, the better would be the quality of your
thinking. Possessing a good vocabulary doesn’t mean that you use difficult and complicated words to impress others. On the contrary, great leaders end up using the simplest of words to express their thoughts because they find that to be most effective. At the same time, having a good vocabulary is invaluable because it aids in our thinking. Some experts have described a good vocabulary as a “communication toolbox” wherein “every word is a tool, ready to be used at the right time. The more tools you master, the better your chances are of finding the right one for the communication task at hand.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
on December 11, on the occasion of society’s president Sharad Pawar’s 74th birthday. Academician Baburao Gurav talked on ‘Changing World and India’. He emphasised on the need for an increased pace in terms of technological innovations and the growth of literacy in the country. Arvind Burungale, principal of SM Joshi College, Hadapsar was present at the occasion.
P&G Shiksha School inaugurated in Pune A newly built Procter & Gamble (P&G) Shiksha School was inaugurated at Chinchoshi, a small village located on the outskirts of Pune, on November 28. It has enrolled 120 students from the village. Speaking on the occasion, Sairamana Ponugoti, modern trade channel leader, P&G India said, “We are delighted to inaugurate the P&G Shiksha School in Pune. We fi rmly believe that education is a basic right of every child and with P&G Shiksha, constantly strive towards facilitating education for underprivileged children and helping them realise their dreams.” (Compiled by Yash Daiv) yashdaiv@gmail.com
BY BISWAJIT CHOUDHURY NEW DELHI: In a major decision impacting inter-connected sectors of energy, education and women, Power Minister Piyush Goyal announced that a government girls’ school in Punjab would be the first in the country to introduce energy efficiency as a subject in the school curriculum. The Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar will be the first school where energy efficiency will be introduced in the school curriculum,” Goyal said at the awards function on National Energy Conservation Day, where the girls from Punjab, along with students from other schools across the country, interacted with the minister via video link. Displaying a startingly novel mode of decision-making, Goyal along with senior officials, in response to the student Simran Kaur’s suggestion, said he would immediately put up to union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani the proposal to have energy efficiency as a subject in schools. “There could be a period once a week, or even in a fortnight where ideas and techniques on energy efficiency can be taught,” Goyal said. “This is the way to go on energy efficiency. There is to be no compulsion because energy efficiency is most efficacious when it is voluntary. It
should come from the heart,” he added. A Punjab school being designated to be the first to implement a curriculum on energy efficiency is specially significant for a state which is saddled with one of the lowest female sex ratios in the country. Responding to a suggestion from another school, Goyal promised that by January 31, every state will have a toll-free number to report cases of street lights staying on during daylight. “Now it a challenge for the states to take these numbers to mobile connectivity so that calls to it can be logged to be followed up by the time taken to act on the complaint,” he said. Goyal also announced his ministry’s resolve to have all municipal lighting in the country switch over to the much more energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs) by 2016. The target was set, on the minister’s request, by the school representing Andhra Pradesh where Visakapatnam’s street lights have been fully converted to LED after the Hudhud cyclone havoc. Earlier, Goyal and the officials gave away the National Painting Competition Awards for school children organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. The competition, which attracted around 100,000 schools, saw a record participation of six million IANS children this year.
Pursuing My Career
I want to be an investment banker His interest in business led Mayur Jaisingh opt for the CS course
My mother is a banker in a reputed bank in the city. I have been influenced by her job and her career since childhood. I was also interested in business. After completing Class XII, I applied to various city colleges for admission to BBA, economics and law courses. I cleared my entrance exam, but I could not make up my mind whether to do economics, law or BBA. Law is a noble profession, BBA is very common, but my first interest was business. However, I settled for law and enrolled in Deccan Education Society’s Navalmal Firodia Law College. Initially, I liked the different subjects I was taught in college. But soon, we were also being taught to face the real world. Our professors were grooming us to be advocates, who could argue on any subject. I was not cut out for that. I can convince people but I cannot argue, as it is not in my nature. I still wanted
to pursue a business oriented course. During my second year of law, I registered for the company secretary (CS) course. The main work of a company secretary is compliance. He is the key managerial professional in the organisation. He works under the company head. He is the link between the head of the company and the employees and different departments like tax, sales, operations etc. The CS course is a distance learning programme and there are no institutes that teach this course. This course focuses on compliance management. It also teaches why one needs to comply. There are three levels in this course. To help me get a grasp of the different subjects, I enrolled in Agarwal classes. There is also a focus on important subjects like Company Law, Security Exchange, Board of India Law and so on. I have already
cleared two levels and have topped the merit list. In my third level, I have subjects like Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), International Business and so on. But, I want to take capital market as my elective subject as I want to become an investment banker. I am still pursuing law and intend to complete it. Next year after I complete my CS course, I intend to go in for an internship. I plan to work under an investment banker or a company secretary of any organisation. (As told to Barnalee Handique)
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Importance of a good vocabulary
yashdaiv@gmail.com
Punjab school to lead in energy efficiency studies
A weekly update of events & activities in city schools
School students engineer toys Jet Toy by Class VI students of Army Public School, Dighi and Skimmer Toy by Class V students of Panditrao Agashe School, Law College Road, won a competition organised by ‘A World in Motion’ (AWIM), a teacher and volunteer assisted programme. The inter-school competition takes on challenges in engineering design context where the students display working models of toys engineered by them. The competition was held at The Orchid School (TOS) on November 22, which saw the participation of 17 city schools. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has designed the AWIM curriculum and after the US, India is the second country where this programme is being implemented.
“The speaking activities range from basic to complicated conversations situation. There is no rote learning involved as these activities are not templates for conversations. I have been
able to use English to communicate my way through Pune,” said Maruua Mohamed Awad, a student at ELTIS, who hails from Djibouti. Pedro Abdolpour from Iran feels that the interactive feature of the labs has been helping him in learning a second language quickly. “Continuous listening impacts your speaking skills. One picks up cues from the listening activities and imparts them in daily situations,” he said. At Fergusson College, the labs are used to understand Linguistics, the scientific study of language. Facilities like recording and accurate sound production devices are used to study topics like phonology, morphology and syntax. “Remedial learning, improvisation of speaking and listening are the possible three offerings of the predesigned experiments. The language lab aims to bridge the inevitable gap between language teaching and language learning,” said Tanvi Damle, lecturer, Fergusson College.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
PUNE
DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR & RAHUL RAUT
Improve
PMPML CHILDREN
for the sake of our
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has hand-picked 41-yr-old IAS officer Shrikar Pardeshi as the CMD of Pune’s public bus service- the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd. Neglected over the past decades, the PMPML will require firm leadership to steer it on the road to efficiency. TGS wishes Dr Pardeshi the very best in this endeavour
A PMPML bus stop with broken seats at Shaniwar Peth
What do Punekars want?
Citizen-activist Jugal Rathi of PMP Pravasi Manch lists out expectations of the people of Pune BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke B e c o m e 1Centric: Commuter-
P M P M L’s p l a n n i n g revolves around its employees and contractors (private bus operators) Jugal Rathi instead of commuters. The services will improve if planning is citizen or commuter oriented and have a fi xed timetable.
2
Keep fares low: The utility should be a cheap public transport system to attract more passengers. It should not increase the bus fare. The ticket fare should be based on distance and not on stage system.
No political interference: 3 Do not allow interference from politicians in the PMPML affairs. They have been causing financial losses.
such as bus stops and bus bays; timetable and bus number boards and other facilities should be convenient and maintained well. All vehicle breakdowns should be fi xed timely.
Improve staff efficiency: 4 Give priority to city commuters: A number of employees are sitting 8 PMPML should cater to the needs idle thanks to the contractors and their of the city commuters first. services. Staff attitude needs to change: Introduce e-governance: 5 The staff needs to have a positive 9 PMPML helpline is very effective and helpful attitude. The vacant post of and result oriented, but there is HR manager should be fi lled.
Better utilisation of grants: 6 PMPML receives grants from central and state governments and local
bodies. Fifty per cent of this non-traffic revenue can be used for the welfare of the commuters and not given to contractors.
signages, road furniture: 7 Improve The supplementary arrangements
no provision under e-governance. Timetables, bus routes, timely updates, and other emergency updates can be provided on smart apps.
Implement BRTS: The 10 Bus Rapid Transit System is highly recommended all over the world. PMPML should implement it wholeheartedly or scrap it.
gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
Students risk their lives to board a moving overcrowded bus at SNDT (Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey) bus stop. The common commuter complaints about PMPML are non-availability of buses, late arrival or departure of buses, arrogant conductors and drivers, frequent break-down of buses, and broken seats and windows
Pune needs more buses on its roads. Frustated students and other citizens wait at the crowded SNDT (Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey) bus stop on the congested Karve Road
CIRT expert Prashant Kakade says the public utility should have attractive buses, more depots and a motivated staff
Fact file
Started in 1941 with opposition from tongawalas with just 38 buses, PMPML’s present-day fleet include 2,095 buses Buses plying every day: 1,300
Revenue: `1.13 crore per day
Diesel buses: 1,012
Off road: 650 to 700 per day
Routes: 340
Contract/rental buses: 525
Passengers: Over 11.5 lakh per day
CNG buses: 1,099
Hired buses: 136
‘Results will be visible in 45 days’ This bureaucrat made a mark with his anti-encroachment drive in PCMC in 2012 BY MANASI SARAF JOSHI @GargiManasi State Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps (IGR) Dr Shrikar Pardeshi was given the additional charge as chairman and managing director (CMD) of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) on December 13. A firebrand officer, he is known for taking bold decisions. Pardeshi’s appointment is seen as a ray of hope for the ailing PMPML. The 41-year-old is qualified with an MD in medicine, but chose a career in the IAS. He had previously held the CMD post as additional charge of PMPML while being the municipal commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) In 2012. The upright officer faced widespread criticism for his drive against encroachment in and around PCMC area. He was appointed as municipal commissioner in 2012 and, in 20 months, he razed 487 illegal
‘PMPML needs better transport management’
structures, disconnected 209 illegal water connections and 171 drainage lines. Despite being at the receiving end for his decisions, he has filed criminal cases against over 2,000 people. Pardeshi has a number of initiatives to his credit and the new chief minister Devendra Fadanvis has expressed confidence in this IAS officer’s ability to rejuvenate the PMPML. Soon after taking his additional charge, Pardeshi assured that he would deliver results and the first changes would be visible within 45 days. NGOs and civic and transport activists have welcomed his Dr Shrikar Pardeshi appointment. They however, feel that he should serve as a full time CMD. manasisaraf@gmail.com
BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal The Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) located at Bhosari has enormous expertise on road transport related issues. Prashant Kakade During an interview with the ‘The Golden Sparrow on Saturday’, a number of suggestions came forth from the CIRT, among those being that the PMPML buses should be safer and more comfortable for both passengers and drivers. Speaking to TGS, CIRT Management Development Centre coordinator Prashant Kakade said that the PMPML needs to take proactive steps to improve the facility. Specialised in traffic engineering solutions, road safety audit, public transport - demand estimation techniques and rationalisation of route structure of public transport, Kakade had the following suggestions for PMPML: 1) Priorities to focus on? • PMPML is one of the widely used state road transport undertakings (STU). Buses plying within the city should be made more attractive to encourage more people to use them. • Introduce segmentation in service like ordinary, express and AC buses. • The integrated computerisation among
various departments is necessary. • The Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations who are the shareholds in PMPML should provide adequate depots to park buses and carry out maintenance of buses. • PMC and PCMC should also provide civil infrastructure such as bus stations and stops designed to earn substantial revenue. • The integrated ticketing system or common mobility card needs to be introduced. Pay attention to bus depots In an urban area, the depot is the hub of all activities and defines the quality and adequacy of services. It is the place where the schedules are planned and the unit that merits focus for overall appraisal and performance to bring about meaningful changes. Depot is in fact a nerve centre, profit centre and a cost centre for the company like PMPML. Depot managers should be given targets corresponding to the fleet. • Introduce incentive scheme for not only drivers and conductors but also other staff, including those associated with maintenance of buses and depot officers. • Pay attention to depots as some of PMPML depots are overcrowded. Ideally, maximum number of buses should be on the roads. • Maintenance activity is to be carried out at night. However, most of the depots have inadequate civil and maintenance infrastructure, besides lack of space to park vehicles. Improve working conditions of drivers, staff
A typical PMPML bus with missing glass panes and a shabby exterior seen at Pune Station
The public transport utility has no taken any major initiative for the staff, especially drivers and conductors, towards creating awareness of PMPML’s role towards society, role of drivers and conductors in earning revenue, and measures for safe journey. One-to-many communication can be done through mikes and speakers put up inside the depots. The information given to the operating crew every day should include the importance and need for achieving high earning per kilometres, high fuel mileage and safe journey. Drivers could be motivated by presenting them with awards for good fuel economy performance and putting up their names on a display board. PMPML must ensure that deserving staff get their due. Address financial issues of PMPML Most of the state transport undertakings (STU), like PMPML, lack financial discipline due to bad planning and low earnings and fail to earn sufficient margin. Due to poor profitability, banks or financial institutions are not keen to lend money. Financial planning is very essential to optimise financial liquidity and put the same to productive utilisation. Planning is also essential for capital outlay for which PMPML has to plan its resources and finalise the outlay. Prevent embezzlement and pilferage; study of route potential in terms of tripwise, day-wise and route-wise revenue to increase revenue. archana.dahiwal@goldensparrow.com
DAILY GRIND: Commuters face a tough time boarding an overcrowded bus at Swargate
PMPML hikes fares Facing a loss of around Rs 16 crore each month, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) had proposed a fare hike that was accepted by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) on Thursday. The public transport utility board has maintained that the hike is inevitable given the rising prices of fuel and spare parts. The hike will range from Rs 5 to Rs 30 depending on the distance in slab wise manner. There will be no hike for the first six kilometres. The revised fare structure will come into force from December 20.
The PMPML had also proposed a hike in daily and monthly passes, which the transport authority rejected. Earlier, the hike was approved in March 2013 on similar grounds, while fares were rationalised in August 2013. The revised fare structure states that a travel of eight kilometres would cost a commuter Rs 15 instead of Rs 10, while a distance of 28 kilometres will cost Rs 35 instead of Rs 25. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
“The massacre has wounded me beyond words. My heart longs to reach out to the parents who lost their sons and daughters in the worst crime any country (Pakistan) has witnessed in recent years” - Dilip Kumar, Bollywood thespian
For Jihadis, Denmark tries rehabilitation P 13
‘Indians living Peshawar, Sydney attacks a longer, healthier’ warning to India, say experts
Lancet’s study puts the country’s average yearly rates of decline in mortality at 1.3 per cent per year for adults
The counter-terrorism experts are of the opinion that lone wolf types are no less dangerous than organised terror attacks
IANS
by Debobrat Ghose
Noted sand artist Sudarshan Pattanaik’s creation condemning the Tuesday’s attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, that claimed 104 lives mostly those of children, on Puri beach
so sacrosanct and religious to Pakistanis director general, Border Security Force, that even Taliban won’t attack it; which Prakash Singh. But, the big question is proved wrong. “Militants unleashed a if India is prepared to deal with such a terror attack on a convoy carrying Sri situation? What do we lack and what Lankan cricketers, which injured six and needs to be done to secure our soft areas, killed eight, and now another implausible which could be potential terror targets? target has been attacked in Peshawar,” “There’s a lot to be done on the said a Lahore-based intelligence front. It was journalist on condition of a British channel, and anonymity to Firstpost. not our cyber intelligence Observes counterunit that exposed Mehdi terrorism analyst Anil Biswas operating the Kamboj: “In India, Twitter handle of the we’ve more soft targets IS. Though our land than elsewhere and it borders are well guarded, can happen anywhere. our coasts continue to We’ve seen it in the past be vulnerable. There’s – Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, lack of coordination Bodh Gaya, Hyderabad between agencies. Instead of being proactive and Varanasi.” and coming up with The counter-terrorism - CD SAHAY, ex-chief of R&AW something new, we only experts are of the opinion react to situations and that lone wolf types are incidences,” adds Kamboj. no less dangerous than organized terror Says Prakash Singh, who had tweeted attacks. “Bengaluru’s Mehdi Biswas is — “Wake up India, u r vulnerable” — also a loner, and lone wolves are good just a fortnight before the recent Maoist enough to create havoc, especially, if they attack in Sukma (Bastar): “The present are suicide bombers,” remarks former
“India is a potential target due to its open, secular and democratic structure.”
Paucity of teachers hits PMC’s English medium schools Contd from p 1 It is however, pending with the state government since 2012. Board member Shirish Phadtare said that there is demand every year, from five to 10 corporators, for English medium schools in their constituencies, for whom it is a matter of prestige, and thus they also resort to political pressure. So, while the number of PMC English medium schools has gone up, the recruitment of teachers is not
forthcoming. Over the last two years, the teachers of these schools are burdened with having to administer to more than one class. This in turn has taken its toll on the quality of teaching. School Board deputy officer Shubhangi Chavan said, “The board has started semi-English medium schools, giving students the option of studying in Marathi and English mediums. Presently there are 59 such schools.” ashokbhat 21@gmail.com
Students win award... Contd from p 1 Dinesh’s business plan is based on the fact that chicken feet are consumed as food items in the United States, European Union, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines, Middle East and Vietnam. There is a huge demand of chicken feet and paws in these regions. Chicken feet are also cooked with raw peanuts to make a thin soup. “I realised that we can make the most of what we throw away. A proper unit for this purpose will be set up in the next six months,” he said. Dinesh was given a cash prize and an award at the LEAP Innovation Awards, by the Excellence Group, formed in 2008 by Dr Naresh Bharde and his group of 13 members. The aim of this group is to support Dhyas Social Foundation. The group includes Excellence Shelters, Excellence IT Solutions, Dhyas Social Foundation and Excellence Leap. Excellence Group chairman and managing director Dr Naresh Bharde, said, “We are elated to announce the sixth anniversary of our social wing, Excellence Dhyas Foundation. We are proud to see such inspiring results from
Nutritionary value and uses of chicken feet: Chicken feet contain large amounts of collagen, which is beneficial in bringing about a youthful skin tone. Collagen which is rich in calcium and protein without carbohydrates, improves blood supply by strengthening the blood vessels, help in the metabolisation of fats. It thus helps in weight loss, slows down the onset of and minimises the effects of arthritis and joint pain. Gelatine that is extracted from chicken feet by acid and ultrasound, is one of the most common food additives.
our untiring efforts. We have already reached out to millions from tier I, II and III towns in India, and continue to strive towards reaching out to more. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has been a part of the journey of Dhyas Foundation, since because of their continuous support and the team’s persistent hard work, these six years have surely been a happy journey.” anjali.shetty@goldensparrow.com
government under Narendra Modi’s leadership has done a lot on foreign affairs and building relationships with other nations within a short period. But, on the internal security front nothing worthwhile has been done yet. Mere cosmetic changes won’t help in police reforms. We’re surviving on sheer luck, till there’s no attack.” The growing terror threats and incidences have also posed a tough challenge to India’s intelligence agencies. Suggests Sahay: “Indian intelligence has neutralised many possible terror instances and is professionally capable of doing so. But, the state intelligence units have to play a more proactive and greater role at ground level, since terror groups don’t follow state boundaries. All agencies must act in close coordination and small leads and signals can’t be ignored, even if we later find them of no use. Who knows what may lead us to a vital plot.” “We shouldn’t panic over possibilities, but remain alert against lone wolves and cross-border infiltration through land, water and air,” advises Katoch. By special arrangement with firstpost.com
increases in premature deaths since 1990. Death rates from some cancers, including pancreatic cancer and kidney cancer, also increased, said the study led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. “People today are less likely than their parents to die from certain conditions, but there are more people of older ages throughout the world,” said IHME director Christopher Murray. Global life expectancy for both sexes increased from 65.3 years in 1990 to 71.5 years in 2013 and women made slightly greater gains than men. Female life expectancy at birth increased by 6.6 years and male life expectancy by 5.8 years. If trends seen over the past 23 years hold, by 2030, global female life expectancy will be 85.3 years and male life expectancy will be 78.1 years. “This is an encouraging trend as people are living longer. We just need to make sure we are making the right health policy decisions today to prepare for the health challenges and associated costs that are coming,” Murray added. Compared to previous Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies, researchers from more than 100 nations incorporated more country-level data as well as additional data on specific conditions. They found that the average age of death increased from 46.7 in 1990 to 59.3 in 2013, as a result of declining fertility and a demographic shift in the world’s population to older ages. “Death rates for some cancers have fallen (lung by 9 per cent, breast by 18 percent, and leukemia by 20 per cent),” the authors noted. IANS
Drug use disorders and chronic kidney disease account for major premature deaths
Nation on way to manned mission
The country took forward its rocket technology with the successful flight testing of its next generation rocket — GSLV-Mark III By Venkatachari Jagannathan Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): India on Thursday moved a step closer to sending its own manned mission to space when it successfully tested a next generation rocket and crew module — in a five-minute flight. The country took forward its rocket technology with the successful flight testing of its heaviest next generation rocket — the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mark III) — and the crew module. Precisely at 9.30 am, the 630 tonne rocket standing 43.43 metre tall freed itself from the second launch pad and, with a deep throated roar, rose into the sky. With a thick orange flame at its tail, the expendable rocket ascended with a one-way ticket as its design life span was just around five minutes. Prime minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee congratulated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch. Modi said: “Successful launch of GSLV Mk-III is yet another triumph of brilliance and hard work of our scientists. Congrats to them for the efforts.” The `155 crore space mission had twin purposes. The main purpose was to test the rocket’s atmospheric flight stability with around four tonne luggage. The second and incidental objective was to study the re-entry characteristics of the crew module — called Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment; its aero braking and validation of its endto-end parachute system. According to an ISRO official, it will be of the size of a small bedroom and can accommodate two to three people. Just over five minutes into the flight, the rocket spat out the giant cup cake shaped 3.7-tonne crew module at an altitude of 126 km. The crew module then descended towards Earth at a high speed. The speed was moderated remotely manipulating its on-board motors till 80 km above the earth. From here the ballistic re-entry into the
IANS
New Delhi: The two recent incidents of terror — the Sydney hostage crisis on Monday followed by the massacre of school children in Peshawar on Tuesday - may be unrelated incidents, but security experts feel these should be a wake-up call for India. Terrorists have started focussing on soft targets instead of high profile ones and there’s the new threat of the lone-wolf operator, who can work with a lot of flexibility and spring nasty surprises. In the wake of the Peshawar attack, the Indian government has issued an advisory to beef up security in schools, colleges and public places like markets, railway stations, bus stands etc across the country. Indian intelligence agencies have received inputs on possible terror attack plans on Delhi hotels and on Delhi-Agra highway. The gravity of the situation becomes more serious after Jamaat-udDawa chief and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed blaming India for the massacre of children. “India stands in a very vulnerable position. Terror groups don’t work on any logic or rationale. Their only aim is to kill and create as much impact as possible. In the sub-continent, India is potential target due to its open, secular and democratic structure. As a result, there’s a huge threat to this widespread target,” says former chief of R&AW, CD Sahay. “Though Sydney hostage crisis and the massacre in Peshawar are two different cases, either of those incidents could take place anywhere. The political masters need to understand that if we talk about Islamic terrorism, it’s not about any religion; but the ideology the terror outfits follow. So, no politics should be played on this issue, like labeling SIMI as a peaceful outfit,” says defence analyst Maj Gen (retd) Dhruv C Katoch. In March 2009, former Pak skipper Imran Khan had said before a PakistanSri Lanka Test match that cricket was
Washington: India has made great strides in reducing both child and adult mortality since 1990, says a global study, adding that adults and children in the country are living longer and healthier lives than two decades earlier. Involving more than 700 researchers and covering 188 countries, the study found that in India, the average yearly rates of decline in mortality have been 3.7 per cent per year for children and 1.3 per cent per year for adults. Between 1990 and 2013, life expectancy at birth increased from 57.3 years to 64.2 years for males and from 58.2 years to 68.5 years for females. “It is very encouraging that adults and children in the country are living healthier lives. But India’s growing influence on global health means we must do more to address the diseases that kill people prematurely,” said Jeemon Panniyammakal of the Public Health Foundation of India and a co-author of the study. Published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, the findings showed that countries have made great strides in reducing mortality from diseases such as measles and diarrhoea, with 83 per cent and 51 per cent reductions, respectively, from 1990 to 2013. “People are living much longer worldwide than they were two decades ago as death rates from infectious diseases and cardiovascular disease have fallen,” it added. Globally, three conditions - ischemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - claimed the most lives in 2013, accounting for nearly 32 per cent of all deaths. Causes of death vary widely by country but at the global level, drug use disorders and chronic kidney disease account for some of the largest percent
ISRO’s most powerful launcher ever, GSLV Mk-III, being rolled out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad for its experimental flight at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
atmosphere began while the on-board thrusters were shut down. The crew module’s heat shield was expected to experience a heat of around 1,600 degrees centigrade. At an altitude of around 15 km, the module’s apex cover separated and the parachutes were deployed. The module soft crashed in Bay of Bengal near
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. From here, the multi-modal and multi-state transport journey of the crew module began. A naval ship tracking the signals from the module picked up the module and delivered it at the Ennore Port near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. From there, it will be brought to Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and then it will be taken to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvanthapuram in Kerala. At the mission control centre, ISRO scientists were overjoyed. ISRO’s Chairman K Radhakrishan said: “India started development of the rocket a decade ago and today completed the first experimental flight. The performance of the solid and the liquid engines were as expected.” “The unmanned crew module splashed in Bay of Bengal as expected,” he added. S Somanath, project director of GSLV Mark III, said the country “now has a new launch vehicle”. “The payload capability of the Indian rocket has been enhanced significantly.” The Thursday mission success is sweet for the Indian space fraternity as it comes after successful launch of Mars Orbiter last year and older version of GSLV rocket powered by its own cryogenic engine early this year. A cryogenic engine is more efficient as it provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant burnt. This was the second mission of GSLV rocket during the last four years after two such rockets failed in 2010. The GSLV-Mark III is designed to be a three stage/ engine rocket with a lift off weight of 630 tonnes. The first stage comprises two identical S-200 large solid boosters with 200 tonne solid propellant, that are strapped on to the second stage, the L110 restartable liquid stage. The third stage/engine is the cryogenic. For the country, ISRO perfecting the cryogenic engine technology is crucial as precious foreign exchange can be saved by launching communication satellites by itself. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted v.jagannathan@ians.in) IANS
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” — Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft
Technopark launches ‘Smart eHome’ Technopark incubated Ronds Innfotech launched Smart ehome, an intelligent power management system that automatically controls the home appliances in a house. Smart ehome uses home automation technology and advanced energy saving techniques to control and optimise the power utilisation of home appliances, such as lights, fans, television, refrigerator and washing machines. The intelligent power socket can be set as a free solar live power during day time. The APSS (Automated Power Source Selection) technology identifies the device to be switched to solar energy based on the power generation.
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal
In a renewable energy spinoff to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Clean India campaign, a group of IIT alumni has launched a waste management machine that processes the wastes with renewable energy and then produces bio-manure and bio-gas. The Bio-box, launched at the ongoing India International Trade Fair (IITF) here is manufactured by Green Brick Eco Solutions (GBES), an Indian Institute of Technology Delhi start-up, the company said. “Bio-box is a hybrid system that will use solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and wind energy for processing the organic waste emitted by large institutions, kitchens, farms and residential neighbourhoods,” Pawan Agarwal, managing director GBES, said.
START-UP MENTOR
Goa is India’s most competitive city: Report
Phi Audiocom Systems of Bhosari provided communications systems for the ISRO Mars mission
Bio-Box launched at a Delhi trade fair
Vishwas Mahajan
“Hard work certainly goes a long way. These days a lot of people work hard, so you have to make sure you work even harder and really dedicate yourself to what you are doing and setting out to achieve.” — Laxmi Mittal, Indian steel magnate
ISRO relied on Audiocom’s technology for Mars mission
Signposts
These entrepreneurs of Phi Audiocom Systems, Bhosari have created a milestone in the field of communication systems, by adopting proven technologies and updating them. The ISRO scientists working on the Mars mission, used the communication systems made by Phi Audiocom Systems. Chandrashekhar Bhave, Shashikant Kulkarni and Sunil Narkhedeset started Phi Audiocom Systems in 2001. The trio has always given the highest priority to innovation, along with hard work, and the attention to quality. Bhave said, “We established the firm step by step. We started in a room which measured 200 sq ft and had five employees. Now we have 60 skilled employees and trusted and loyal customers who have been with us for 18 years.” They have updated the system with changing technology manufacturing, industrial audio communications systems, public address systems and naval on-board communication systems, to emerge as market leaders. “Phi Audiocom has been providing the communication system to ISRO for the last 12 years. We keep updating the system with changing technology. The system used in the Mars mission is the C-16 versatile communication
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Shashikant Kulkarni (L) and Chandrashekhar Bhave started Phi Audiocom in 2001. They have progressed step by step while keeping tabs on latest technological update. They have been providing communication system to ISRO for the last 12 years
system. There are hundreds of scientists in ISRO, but the system has the facility to communicate to only a desired group of scientists. The company has provided 700
such units to ISRO, out of which 400 are being used in the Mars mission. The two speakers, four microphones can be attached to a unit which also has digital display etc,” said Bhave.
They want to focus on the voice platform technology for public transport or provide emergency services in the future. archana.dahiwal@goldensparrow.com
Goa, which “shows strengths in the context of strategy and rivalry for businesses that operate in the region and also has strong supporting and related industries,” tops in the city state category of The India State Competitiveness Report 2014 of The Institute for Competitiveness, an international think tank. The report categorizes the states under seven heads: city states, innovation driven economies, transition economies, investment driven economies, changeover economies, emerging economies and northeastern economies. Among innovation driven economies, Maharashtra has emerged as the most competitive state followed closely by Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Among transition economies, Punjab leads the ranking followed by Himachal Pradesh. Karnataka takes top spot among investment-driven economies followed by Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. Among the changeover/ evolving economies, Odisha is the most competitive followed by Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Uttar Pradesh takes top spot in the emerging economies ranking followed closely by Bihar. Sikkim emerged as the most competitive in the north-eastern catergory which was introduced this year. The framework for assessing the states is based on the microeconomic diamond model by acclaimed management guru Michael E Porter. “The core of the model is based on four pillars of competitiveness that are, factor conditions, demand conditions, context for strategy and rivalry and supporting and related industries. These four pillars are interlinked and are instrumental in determining the competitiveness of an economy or any geographical location,” the report says. IANS
Focus on giving ‘I always wanted to a total product to start a dance academy’ your customer
This feature is a collaboration between The Golden Sparrow on Saturday and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), the world’s largest non-profit network of entrepreneurs. For additional questions about your entrepreneurial challenges, write to mentoring@pune.tie.org
We are a team of engineers working on affordable use of solar technology in agriculture. We are defining all the features of our product and need some guidance. -Akshay Khandelwal Dear Akshay Solar energy is a rapidly evolving field and holds a great promise. It is addressing the world’s ‘big problem’ so I would say that you have chosen the right space for your venture. As you are working on defining your product, let us talk about what exactly you will be providing to your customers. In other words what your product actually is. It’s very important to understand what your value proposition truly is while talking to your customers. The first thing you should understand is that no product is the best for every potential customer. For example, think about tomatoes. When most people think about perfect tomatoes they probably think in terms of taste, colour, size and other properties of the tomatoes. But if you think about it, this isn’t necessary for every customer. The tomatoes processing industry which uses tomatoes to make ketchups is a very large industry. Do you think the colour and the size of the tomatoes matters for the customers in this industry as much as low cost or nutritional content? The value of your product will be critically linked to who your customer is and what their problem is. Your value proposition sells around the solution to a particular customer problem. As an example think about Apple’s iPad. It is just as a physical device with apps available for purchase to solve all sorts of problems. Is it for the ability to transfer all your information to iCloud and store it securely that makes it a sought after product? Or maybe the sheer look and feel of the iPad and how that makes you feel may be the most important component of all. How much would you pay for an iPad if all these weren’t the
part of the product? As you are talking to your customers and learning about their problems you need to realise that your offering is much more than a single product that you produce and market. The easier you make them to solve their underlying problem, the easier it will be to make them your regular customer. To clarify this, let us refer to Theodore Levitt’s ‘Total Product Concept’. He breaks the Total Product into a. the generic product b. the expected product c. the augmented product and d. the potential product. Generic Product: It is what you are making. There is no strategic element here. It’s just the bare minimum you need to sell in the market. Expected Product: It is generic product plus the customers minimal expectation. For instance if a correctly priced generic product is delivered on time or sold by a pleasant sales person, it is not just the product but also your customer’s minimal requirement that will be taken into consideration. They will willingly buy it from you. Augmented Product: It is the expected product plus intentional differentiation. This is the product that makes your customer want to buy from you as opposed to your competitors.
It could be that your generic product price is right including a very high level of service. Alternately it could be your generic product that is priced appropriately with bare bone customer service. Augmenting your product will provide differentiation which will be the cornerstone of the strategy. Potential Product: It is the augmented product plus everything that can be done. It’s not just the differentiation of your product today but the potential value that it holds for the customer in the future. As you listen to your customer’s focus on the Total Product; not only just the generic product, ask questions identifying what their minimum expectations are. Pay special attention to kinds of differentiation that would make customers want to purchase your product over your competitors. Start grouping your customers into different segments, recognising that each segment might desire a different Total Product. Summing this all together, entrepreneurship revolves around the customers. You need to determine who your customers are. Listen to them extremely carefully, find out what Total Product meets their needs and never hesitate to pivot if what you want to sell isn’t what the customer wants. Vishwas Mahajan, president of TiE Pune Chapter, answers real life questions of entrepreneurs.
Says 26-year-old Geetika Chhatpar who launched ‘Pyjama Party’ in 2007 BY BARNALEE HANDIQUE @barnalee S i n c e childhood, G e e t i k a Ch hat pa r dreamt of having her own store. Born and brought up in Dubai, she never thought Geetika Chhatpar she would come to India and settle down in Pune. “In 2004, I landed in Mumbai to pursue my education. After my graduation, I joined AKK New Law Academy at Azam Campus for further studies,” she said. Dancing has always been a major part of her life. In Dubai, she was with the Karogaz dance troupe. Geetika has participated in stage shows all over the world. While pursuing her legal studies, Geetika’s friends requested her to open a dance academy. Thus she opened ‘Pyjama party’, her very own company in 2007. She used to visit the neighbourhood and teach clients at their homes. She was only 19 –years- old then. One of her clients enquired about whether she was also into organising events to which Geetika answered affi rmatively. “The client wanted me to organise her son’s birthday party. I did the decorations based on the parties held in Dubai, and it was a success because of its uniqueness. It was a theme party and return gifts were different than the usual candies and pencil boxes. Soon, I received orders to organise four more parties,” said Geetika. Geetika never advertised or publicized her events. Slowly, she learnt the nitty-gritty of business and concentrated on understanding the clients and following their opinion. She sources all her products
from Mumbai. Initially, the shopkeepers were hesitant to accept bulk orders from a women entrepreneur. “With my business growing, I opened a store to display decorations and return gifts. I invested Rs 12,000 that I had saved from dance classes and rented a shop at Sacred Heart Town in Wanavdi. Clients drop in and leave the store
with a smile as I guide them in choosing the decoration, party theme and gifts.” She has also tied up with Amazon. in to help customers place their party requirements online and ship their orders. If the online system clicks, Geetika plans to sell through her own website. barnalee.handique@goldensparrow.com
TH E EDIT PAGE
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
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Editor’s pick
To make a great future India, the whole secret lies in organisation, accumulation of power, co-ordination of wills. - Swami Vivekananda
Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas
Will Shrikar Pardeshi clear the PMPML test? A new government is in charge in Maharashtra and after much disillusionment with the previous government, the people of Pune are now hopeful of a forward movement with regard to the city bus service. It was quite heartening that on his very fi rst visit to the city in his new capacity, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis took cognisance of the pathetic state of public transport in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. He promised to appoint a capable officer to take charge of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) ‘within a week’ to help turn it around. Fadnavis kept his word and State Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps (IGR) Dr Shrikar Pardeshi was given the additional charge as chairman and managing director of this bus service. Pardeshi had previously held this post briefly as an additional charge while serving as the Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner in 2012. He has a good track record and enjoys the confidence of the people of Pune, especially the citizenactivists who have been devoting considerable time and effort to help improve the PMPML. An abnormally high dependence on personal vehicles and consequently traffic congestion and pollution are the bane of Pune city. The PMPML service is of an extremely poor quality and therefore extremely unpopular. There are not enough buses on the roads, their frequency is poor and the buses are badly maintained. The staff is demoralised, the bus stops are a sad story in themselves and the commercial potential of the bus depots remains untapped. The buses in this public sector bus company suffer from poor maintenance and therefore there is high breakdown. The Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations which are the primary stakeholders of the PMPML have been ignoring the needs of this essential service and so has the state government over the past decades even as Pune witnessed exponential growth. Good mass transportation is the topmost priority for the people of Pune. A majority of school and collegegoing students, working adults, senior citizens, homemakers and others would like to commute by bus, if given a choice. Th is is how it is in cities across the world which take pride in offering efficient services to their citizens. A robust and efficient bus service would drastically help reduce the use of
personal vehicles. Th is in turn would not only reduce traffic congestion in the city but also help the nation by the reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels, the bulk of which is imported at high cost. Any politician and any bureaucrat who gets the PMPML going in Pune stands to win the blessings and goodwill of the people who will remember them for a long time to come. Th is opportunity has been lost by the previous establishment and now, it is for Fadnavis to make a difference. A range of economy to premium services; good connectivity to the far corners of the city, especially areas like Hinjewadi where the IT Park is located; good and clean buses; efficient staff and modernised depots are what is required. The public transport utility needs to be run as a professional bus company and keep political interference at bay. It needs to become commuter-centric, run on low fares to make the service attractive, boost staff morale and undertake a complete image overhaul. Considerable time and money has been spent on the BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) and this service needs to start running in full potential. All of this cannot be delivered overnight but a determined, phased approach can certainly make a huge difference. There are highly qualified experts at the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) located in this city itself, who are available to guide the PMPML on this journey. All that is required is a willingness to act. Th is newspaper has highlighted the critical issues before the PMPML and has sought to underscore this with powerful, evocative pictures. Our special report also carries suggestions from experts on the top 10 things that need to be done to improve the service. There is enormous scope for Pardeshi to set things right with his efforts. He already has the backing of the chief minister and the people of Pune and is thus in an ideal situation to demonstrate results. Having taken up the PMPML challenge, Pardeshi is fully aware that every move of his would be closely watched. Th is city has waited for far too long to see a good bus service in operation and we now hope that this IAS bureaucrat will not disappoint Punekars. @TGSWeekly editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com
Has Mission Modi lost its course?
Cartoon by: Vaijnath Dulange
Is this good governance, Mr Modi? BJP-led government has suffered its first fiasco with the flip-flop over Good Governance Day on December 25 BY ABHAY VAIDYA @vaidya_abhay
RAHUL RAUT
The Good Governance Day planned ham-handedly by the Narendra Modi government to coincide with Christmas Day on December 25 will be long remembered as the first major fiasco of this government. Unlike the recent “Ghar Wapsi” reconversion of Agra Muslims and other antics by the irrepressible elements of the Hindutva brigade, the Modi government cannot wash its hands off the provocative programmes chalked out by one of its own ministries for December 25. Ill-conceived by the Union Human Resource Development ministry headed by Smiriti Irani, the programme infuriated the Christian community as a series of activities were planned for Christmas day when Navodaya Vidyalayas and CBSE schools would have to remain open to fulfil the central directives. Coming close on the heels of the high-pitched “Ghar Wapsi” conversion and re-conversion controversy involving the Agra Muslims, the Good Governance Day was seen as a deliberate attempt to provoke yet another minority, the Christians. As per the government’s announcements, the Good Governance Day programmes for Navodaya Vidyalayas included screening of films and documentaries on good governance, quiz contests and other activities under this theme. No one was convinced by the government’s assertions that this event had been planned on December 25 to coincide with the birthday of former
apologised and Modi asked her to be forgiven; but the question remains, why is Modi’s government in a tearing hurry to saffronise India when this is not the mandate with which he was elected to power? As the mascot of the BJP during the 2014 election campaign, Modi pitched for the prime ministership by projecting the work done by him as Gujarat chief minister. He promised jobs through the revival of the economy; development and good, clean governance. He promised governance that would ensure progress and welfare for all, irrespective of caste or religion, captured eloquently by the slogan Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas - “Together with all, development for all” Modi impressed us soon after he took office. The prime mistier began on a good note by enforcing discipline among his ministers and bureaucrats. He undertook a whirlwind foreign tour where he not only charmed host governments but also struck a chord with the diaspora: recall those images from Madison Square, New York. Modi’s diplomatic initiatives with the US, Japan, China and the small neighbours at home found appreciation. His Look East policy; his ideas to kickstart development in the Northeast and modernise the Indian Railways, “vertically and horizontally” were applauded. Modi made a considerable impact with the Swachh Bharat campaign, with
Why is Modi’s government in a tearing hurry to saffronise India?
Designer dreams through Yoga BY ANIL K RAJVANSHI
Vol-1* lssue No.: 27 Printed and Published by: PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 Printed at Diligent Media Corporation Ltd., Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai. Published at Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-2432 4332/33. Editor: Abhay Vaidya (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867)
prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the birth anniversary of BJP’s other icon, Madan Mohan Malviya. Instead, it seemed to be another ploy to instigate yet another minority in the drive to assert India’s Hindu identity as per the grand design of the RSS. Was this noise necessary in the first place? The agitated fallout of the Good Governance Day controversy was preceded by a number of major and minor eruptions, all of which robbed Prime Minister Modi of some his hardearned lustre. There was senior minister Sushma Swaraj’s call for declaring the Bhagwad Gita as a ‘Rashtriya Granth’ (national scripture). “The Song Celestial,” as the Gita’s famous translation by the English poet Sir Edwin Arnold, has been acknowledged by the greatest of scholars as one of those immortal doctrines of human thought that has stood the test of time. Where was the need for an endorsement from the Narendra Modi government? This month also saw the HRD ministry directing Kendriya Vidyalayas or central schools to drop German as an alternative to Sanskrit as a third language. Alongside was Union minister of state Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s crass remark on ‘Ramzadon’ (those born of Ram) and ‘haramzadon’ (illegitimately born) during an election rally in Delhi. True that the minister later
wonderful solutions through their dreams. Kekule’s benzene structure, In 1953 three major events took place. Mendelyeev’s invention of periodic table, The Everest was conquered by Hillary and Gandhiji’s idea of Dandi March and Tensing Norgay, Watson and Crick came in their dreams. discovered DNA’s structure and a young How does mind produce such Ph.D. student Eugene Aserinsky in prophetic and solution dreams? During US discovered rapid eye movement dreaming with the blockage of sensory (REM) sleep. During REM sleep the inputs, the ego sense ‘I’ is absent. This brain is extremely active and produces allows free reign to random thought dream. This was the beginning of patterns and memories emanating from whole area of research in sleep and different parts of the brain and produces dreaming. Now almost 60 years later a movie called dreams. The dreaming there has been tremendous progress in process follows the Normal or Gaussian mountaineering and genetic engineering distribution curve (the bell curve), but sleep and dream remains as where there is high probability much a mystery as before. of dreaming about a day’s events Yet in every religion and and activities. Scientists claim society dreams and sleep have that the day’s learning process been thought to be mechanisms to is consolidated in the memory connect the present physical world during sleep. This type of to that of supernatural. Thus before dreaming process also produces Buddha’s birth his mother Queen disjointed and sometimes Maya dreamt that a white elephant nightmare dreams. THINK has entered her body. Similarly, However under certain mother of Shri Ramakrishna circumstances, about which dreamt that a small green figure, whom very little is known, the dreaming brain she identified as God, was telling her that synchronizes the random thoughts he will be born in her house or mother into a powerful single thought. This is Mary dreaming about the birth of almost like a Samadhi where 100 billion Christ. There are other innumerable neurons of the brain synchronise in a instances of prophetic dreams in the laser like fashion to produce a higher annals of history of mankind. dimensional thought signature. This Similarly there are many celebrated synchronised thought leads to prophetic cases where persons have produced and solution dreams.
What can we do to produce prophetic and solution dreams? We can control our day’s events which ultimately are reflected in our dreams. Yogis have all along claimed that Sanyam which is a combination of contemplation, reflection and Samadhi helps in producing a powerful thought process which ultimately leads to a nonREM or dreamless sleep. Scientists have discovered that REM and non-REM sleep are totally dependent on how active the brain is during daytime. Scientists have also discovered that non-REM or slow-wave dreamless sleep occupies the central position in the sleep process. The information and memory consolidation process takes place in the brain only during non-REM sleep. Hence REM sleep is simply a mechanism for the brain to check whether the memory consolidation has taken place. Besides it also helps us remember dreams. Thus to produce happy and productive dreams one needs to be very active mentally and physically during waking hours. Probably the solution dreams of great inventors also came because of the very active prepared mind during waking hours. There is still no single definite theory of sleep and dreams. However the jigsaw puzzle is slowly being assembled by research inputs from all over the world. © Anil K Rajvanshi anilrajvanshi@gmail.com
almost everyone from children to adults participating in it. And then came the destructive waves of the saffron tsunami, negating the positive environment and goodwill that Modi had succeeded in creating. The media will always amplify what the attention-seeking loonies in the BJP, RSS-affiliates and other groups say rather than downplay utterances that deserve to be ignored. But can Modi afford to remain silent through all this and not express his voice of disapproval- at least out of respect for those millions of Indians who voted him to power and made him prime minister? Modi, on December 16, did ask his MPs not to provoke controversy through their remarks and not to deviate from the agenda of good governance. But this should have been done much earlier to contain the damage. When Modi came to power with thumping numbers, it was logical to expect some excesses by Hindutva elements. However, it was also expected that NaMo and his government would be sensible enough not to let right-wing tendencies go out of hand. People want Modi to unequivocally uphold the secular values of the nation and not remain silent through the various Hindu-Muslim-Christian controversies that are bound to erupt in the future. One can only hope that Modi and his government will deliver on the promises made to the people and that the opportunity is not frittered away. People have voted for change- of the “Sab ka vikas” kind and not change in the form of a saffron India in place of a secular India. abhay.vaidya@goldensparrow.com
Limericks of the week BY C RAVINDRANATH
It’s possible that Sharadagate May seal Mamata’s fate CBI exhumes Trinamool fumes And this is politics, mate! There’s acrimony in sports On the field and in courts The game by far Has become war I wonder what this purports! Terror has no area Spreads like malaria It’s bad It’s sad Pakistan, India - or Australia
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
With selections from The New York Times
Poor, ‘unrecognised’ blind cricketers do India proud P 15
“As we mark the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations next year, we have a duty to answer the call of people across the world for shared prosperity and a sustainable future for all.” —Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General
Men pray at the Grimhojvej mosque in Aarhus, Denmark, where a number of attendants went on to fight for the Islamic State group. In much of Europe, radicals who return home from the Middle East are often locked up, but Denmark has shunned punishment in favour of rehabilitation. So far, none of the 16 have caused problems
By ANDREW HIGGINS AARHUS, Denmark - In many parts of Europe, he would now be in jail. But here in Denmark’s second biggest city, the young man, a 21-year-old of Turkish descent who spent 13 months in Syria fighting in the name of Islam, passes his days playing soccer, working out at the gym and waiting anxiously to see if he has secured a place to study engineering at a well-regarded local university. “I feel at home. I have no problems here,” the former jihadi warrior, who spoke on the condition that he be identified only as Osman, said. Since his return to this tranquil port city from the battlefields of Syria, he has been part of a pioneering program that treats onetime fighters not as criminals or potential terrorists but as wayward youths who deserve a second chance. The program, closely watched by authorities around Europe, involves counselling, help with readmission to school, meetings with parents and other outreach efforts. It was developed in 2007 to deal with far-right extremists
linked to an Aarhus soccer club. shunning punishment in favour of Now, with an alarm over European rehabilitation. jihadis on the rise, it has been “We cannot afford not to include redeployed to address one of Europe’s them back in our society and make most hotly debated issues: How to deal sure that their path of radicalization is with hundreds of young Muslims who changed, so they can be an active part have gone to fight in Syria and returned of our society,” said Jacob Bundsgard, home. the Social Democrat In much of Europe, mayor of Aarhus. the answer has been According to the to lock them up, or police, 31 Aarhus at least put them Muslims, all of them under investigation by younger than 30, have prosecutors. travelled since late 2012 The Netherlands to Syria to support forces has barred some Syria battling the government fighters from returning, of Bashar Assad, but and ordered those who only one of them went do and face trial to wear this year. Five of these ankle bracelets. Belgium, are believed to have the country with the been killed, including - Preben Bertselsen highest number of Syria two women, and 16 have fighters per capita, returned home. has not only targeted A 2013 study by returnees but also prosecuted people Thomas Hegghammer, a researcher who stayed at home and encouraged at the Norwegian Defence Research others to go to fight. Establishment, involving 945 jihadi Denmark, with the secondfighters who returned from previous highest number of foreign fighters per conflicts in Afghanistan, Bosnia and capita, has gone in the other direction, elsewhere, found that a maximum of 1
“Returnees become vulnerable if they are not reintegrated in the society”
in 9 former fighters came home to plot or carry out attacks in the West. In Aarhus, the returnees are screened by the police with help from the domestic security service, known as PET, but not one of the 16 who came home has been arrested. Preben Bertselsen, a psychology professor at Aarhus University whose theories help underpin what is known as the “exit program for radicalized citizens,” said returnees had “lost their moral compass” but “only become ticking bombs if we don’t integrate them” back into society. Erhan Kilic, a Turkish-born Aarhus lawyer and observant Muslim who acts as a mentor, said the biggest hurdle was winning trust. If this can be done, he said, “you can move their ideas in a moderate way” by exposing the flaws in their interpretation of their faith. “The problem is not the message of Islam; it is individuals who cause all the problems,” he said, noting that young recruits to militant Islam often know little about their faith and pick up their views from watching videos of incendiary preachers on YouTube or from schoolyard chatter about the West’s humiliation of the Muslim world. The shift in focus from neo-Nazis to Muslim extremists in Aarhus has led to some controversial revisions to the original program, including an initiative by police to open dialogue with a local mosque that critics say is a breeding ground for radical views. The mosque, attended by 22 of the 31 who have gone to Syria from Aarhus, promotes a fundamentalist Salafi strain of Islam. Right-wing politicians have demanded that it be shut down, particularly after its preacher, Abu Bilal Ismail, gave a sermon in Berlin this summer that fulminated against “Zionist Jews” and called on God to “count them and kill them to the very last one.” While proud of the results so far, some caution that the real test will come if more hardened fighters who have stayed in Syria and joined the Islamic State militant group start coming home. “If they have returned to Denmark already, they are not real extremists,” Ilum, the police chief, said. © 2014 New York Times News Service
By JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN KABUL, Afghanistan - Khaliddudin, who like many Afghans goes by a single name, has already picked out a second name to go alongside the first. He has decided on “Mayroj,” which, he proudly explained, means the “highest.” But as a census worker for the Afghan government, Khaliddudin has more than just his own name to consider. He is at the vanguard of the government’s effort to encourage everyone across the country to adopt a surname. Each day, Khaliddudin and his team go door to door trying to persuade households to fill out census forms. After long delays, false starts and squandered millions in foreign aid, the great Afghan census is finally underway. Since census workers began knocking on doors in Kabul this year, they have registered 70,000 people just 2 percent of the city. Optimistic Afghan officials say it will take years before the entire country is surveyed. Nobody knows just how many people reside in Afghanistan. The last census, in 1979, found some 14.6 million people. Clerks say they seldom fail to locate an entry, except for people with the bad luck of being listed on
the first or last page. Those names and photos have largely worn away from use over the decades. Many worry that the new cards may upset the country’s delicate ethnic balance. For others, the trickiest question to answer is probably their name. The remote, tribal nature of Afghan villages may have had something to do with the lack of surnames. Some Afghans adopted surnames in recent years when applying for visas to foreign countries. Others did so with the influx of foreign organizations. But even some Afghans with two names lack a true surname in the sense that neither name is commonly held by relatives. So when Mohammad Akhtar, a retired police commander, opened the door in November to Khaliddudin’s census team, he said he was ready to select a surname and bestow it on his seven children. “Mohammad Akhtar,” he explained, was just his first name. For a surname he chose Naibkhil, the name of his tribe. For his part, Khaliddudin, the census worker, said he would use a shortened version of his father’s name, Mayrojuddin, for his surname. © 2014 New York Times News Service
Bryan Denton/The New York Times
Jan Grarup/The New York Times
For Jihadis, Denmark tries rehabilitation
Obstacles beyond number for the Afghan census
Afghans wait at the Population Registration Division, where for years, citizens have come to seek a passport, join the army or change their marital status, in Kabul, Afghanistan
The Mars One scheme recieved enthusiastic response from pilgrims who are ready to live 140 mn miles away from earth By NATALIE ANGIER When Dr Seth Shostak, an astronomer who scans the cosmos for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence, asks middle school students how many of them want to go to Mars, all hands shoot up. When he asks how many would rather design robots that go to Mars, most hands drop back to their desks. And when he asks general audiences how many would go to Mars even if it meant dying a few weeks after arriving, he invariably finds volunteers in the crowd. His experience accords with what many say is a distinct surge in public enthusiasm for space travel generally, and a manned mission to Mars in particular. “I would totally love to go to Mars,” said Pamela A. Melroy, a former NASA astronaut who piloted two space shuttle missions and commanded a third. “We’ll get there,” she added. “I feel very strongly that we will.” But the questions of when and who
the “we” will be remain very much up in the air. A “global exploration road map” prepared by NASA and 15 other space agencies envisions a presumably international team of astronauts bouncing over the frigid rouge dustscape of Mars by the 2030s. Private companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic say they may get there first, or better, or more democratically. Among the bolder if fartherfetched plans comes from a Dutch nonprofit venture called Mars One, which insists it will land four people on Mars - two men and two women - by 2025. As the project leaders see it, the technology needed to reach and colonise the red planet already exists, so why not go ahead and start loading the moving van? There is a catch, they say. Where NASA-style flight plans are designed on the Apollo moonshot model of round-trip tickets, the “one” in Mars One means, starkly, one way. To make the project feasible and affordable, the founders say, there can be no
Many experts and Mars aficionados remain deeply skeptical about the programme’s odds of success
Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Waiting to win a trip for a lifetime
Kellie Gerardi, who works in the commercial spaceflight industry and is a candidate for a one-way trip to Mars, at her home in New York
coming back to Earth. Nevertheless, enthusiasm for the Mars One scheme has been of middle-school proportions. Last year, the outfit announced that it was seeking potential colonists and that anybody over age 18 could apply, advanced degrees or no. Among the few stipulations: Candidates must be between 1 1/2 meters tall and 1.9 meters tall, have a ready sense of humor and be “Olympians of tolerance.” More than 200,000 people from dozens of countries applied. Many space experts and Mars
aficionados remain deeply skeptical about the program’s odds of success. They point out that Mars One doesn’t build rockets or any other aeronautic equipment, as SpaceX does. Nor does it have the tycoon portfolio of Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson. “I think they honestly believe in what they’re doing,” he added, “but I don’t think they have any chance of accomplishing it.” Others have complained that the group’s emphasis on the colonist selection process over financial or
technical details of the mission is little more than a publicity stunt. Karen Cumming, 52, a Canadian journalist and teacher who is among the Mars One semifinalists, said she recently met the Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who won fame on the International Space Station by singing David Bowie songs and showing the world how water behaves in low gravity. “I told him who I was, and I asked if he had any advice,” Cumming said. “He said: ‘Be relentless in your questioning about the hardware.
Astronaut selection is the least of their worries.’” Scientists agree that of all the places in the solar system where a few expatriate earthlings might settle, Mars is the least hostile. It’s roughly one-sixth the size of Earth, but given its lack of oceans, it nearly matches us in landmass. It rotates on an Earthlike tilt of 24 degrees and so has seasons, the length of its day is similar to ours, and its soil is about 2 per cent frozen water, which in theory could be melted out and put to use. Its gravity is about 40 per cent that of Earth - enough to keep inhabitants from the severe bone and muscle loss caused by longterm stints in outer space, but still of sufficient levity, said Norbert Kraft, chief medical officer for Mars One, “that maybe your knees won’t hurt and your wrinkles will go away.” Yet Mars remains a forbidding, frigid place, with an average temperature of minus 46 degrees Celsius and an unbreathable atmosphere just 1 per cent the density of Earth’s and consisting largely of carbon dioxide. Colonists would live in artificial podlike habitats, grow vegetables in greenhouses and get their protein from insects. No pets, sorry. And if you plan on going outside - as you will, often, to repair infrastructure battered by the chronic Martian wind, or to wipe off solar panels encrusted with the ubiquitous Martian dust - you must wear your spacesuit at all times. © 2014 New York Times News Service
MONEY MATT ER S
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
“Modinomics will only succeed in the longer term if it can galvanise the private sector.” — Geoff Lewis, ED & Global Market Strategist, JPMorgan AMC
“India cannot be a nation dealing and trading with itself. It is a very important player in the global markets.” — Sunil Bharti Mittal, Bharti Airtel chairman
Right time for debt schemes?
Signpost GFI: India ranks 3rd in black money outflow Global Financial Integrity’s (GFI) latest report on black money outflows from developing and emerging economies, for the year 2012, placed India at 3rd place in a list headed by China. The report also said that between 2003 and 2012, the total black money outflow from India was a whopping $439 billion. Over the 10-year period covered by GFI, India was placed an overall 4th in the rankings, however, its rank at 3rd place was for the year 2012. GFI said that black money or ‘Illicit Financial Flows’, which is the umbrella term for such money, had cost emerging economies a record $991.2 billion in 2012. The report also stated that $6.6 trillion was lost by the developing world between 2003 and 2012.
India’s trade deficit widens to $16.8 bn The ministry of commerce and industry released figures of India’s balance of trade on December 16. India’s trade deficit widened to one-and-a-half year high of $16.86 billion in November 2014 due to over six-fold jump in gold imports even as merchandise exports grew by 7.27 per cent. Trade deficit in November last year was $9.57 billion. Gold imports stood at $5.61 billion in November this year as against $835.83 million in the corresponding month in 2013, according to the data released by the commerce ministry
32 firms run illegal investment schemes Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has found 32 companies to be operating unauthorised investment schemes in the garb of real-estate business, Parliament was told on Tuesday. “During the last three years and current year, SEBI has found that 32 companies were operating CIS (Collective Investment Schemes) under the garb of real estate without obtaining certificate of registration from SEBI as a collective investment management company,” minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
If interest rates are headed down, debt schemes of mutual funds would do well. How to choose them?
BY JASON MONTEIRO There is much discussion about the current policy of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) of holding the benchmark interest rate (repo rate) steady. The repo rate affects the interest rates and bond prices. Many are exhorting RBI to cut rates, since inflation has come down over the past six months. Indeed, we are probably very close to RBI reducing interest rates, after waiting for it for months. As the RBI governor said recently, the cut can come even between policy announcements. If RBI cuts interest rates, bond prices will rise. Interest rates and bond prices are inversely related. Hence, bond prices go up when interest rates go down and vice versa. Does this mean that it is a good time to buy bond schemes, or debt schemes, of mutual funds, since retail investors cannot easily buy bonds? Many, who believe that interest rates are headed lower, have already acted on it. Yields declined by 60 basis points (bps), to around 8.05 per cent on December 2, 2014, from a high of 8.65 per cent on August 6, 2014. Debt schemes have recorded a quick rally. The benchmark government bond (8.40 per cent GS 2024) price shot up by 4 per cent in four months, to ` 102.30 from ` 98.35 during this period. The CRISIL Composite Bond Fund index, the benchmark for most debt schemes, has already gained 5.58 per cent over the four-month period. Remember, if interest rates are cut, only the value of your market-linked debt investment will go up. The value of your bank fi xed deposit (FD), which is not market-linked, will not budge at all. In fact, some banks have even cut interest rates on fi xed deposits. So, assuming that
the interest rate cut is near, which bond schemes should you be buying and how long should you hold them? Read on. A debt scheme invests in bonds of government and corporate issuers. Each of these bonds has a coupon rate which indicates the amount of interest on the face value of the bond. Most of these bonds are traded and have a market value based on the trading activity and the prevailing interest rate. There are other factors which affect its value; but let’s keep things simple. When you invest in a bond, indirectly, you are lending money to the company/government. Your loan lasts a certain period of time; this is known as the maturity, or tenor, of the bond. During the tenor, one gets timely payments, which is known as coupon, or interest, on the money lent. These are the important criteria for investing in bonds — the maturity and the interest rate. One would also consider the rating of the bond to gauge the credibility of
the bond issuer. The lower the rating, the higher is the interest rate. Of course, when you buy into a debt scheme, the fund manager picks the bonds. Like equity schemes, it is important to take a look at the portfolio of the debt scheme to get a sense of the risk and quality of the investments. More on this later. As we said, interest rate and bond prices are inversely related. Hence, bond prices go down when interest rates go up. Chosen at the wrong time (a period of rising interest rates), debt schemes can mean loss of capital—a terrible thought for fi xedincome investors. For those looking for safety, debt schemes are not as safe as FDs. And fund managers are not skilled enough to navigate the bond market. Moneylife has advocated that, while investing in debt schemes, you need to do two things: one, invest in the topperforming schemes; and, two, have some understanding of the factors that affect bond prices. Doing both is tough for an average saver; however, the latter is tough for even an experienced investor. In an earlier article (moneylife. in/article/ 38485.html), we mentioned that one needs to track interest rate movements. More than for equity funds, for debt schemes, one needs to time the buying and selling, to get optimal returns because, unlike equity schemes, there is no natural long-term uptrend in debt schemes. While it is difficult to forecast interest rate movements, and buying bond schemes at the wrong time could mean a loss of capital, it would be fair to assume that, over the next few years, interest rates may go down slightly or, at worst, remain at the current level. If so, bond prices and debt schemes will do well. What kind of returns can we expect in such a situation? As always, we turn to the past for some clues. Let’s look at how the rise and
The cycle of interest rates 9.70%
10-year Yield Vs Interest Rate
8.40%
7.10% Yield
5.80%
Repo Rate 4.50% Nov-02
Nov-06
Nov-10
Nov-14
The interest rate cycle is roughly related to economic growth. When growth slows and inflation falls, rates are cut to boost demand (2008). If economy is growing and inflation is rising, (2005 to 2008), rates may increase
Longer duration, better returns?
18 %
Returns
One-year Return Vs Duration
16 % 14 % 12 % 10 % 8% 6% 0
1.100
2.200
3.300
4.400
5.500
Duration (day)
There is a high correlation between duration and returns. Over the past year, bond yields have fallen drastically, which has boosted returns of long-term debt schemes with a high duration
fall in interest rates affected bond returns in the past. In the period from April 2001 to October 2003, interest rates (the benchmark repo rate) fell from 8.75 per cent to 7 per cent, a decline of 1.75 percentage points over almost two and a half years. The top 20 bond schemes of this period returned 16 per cent annualised. All long-term debt schemes put together, as a category, returned 14 per cent annualised. It was a golden period for bond schemes, an opportunity that comes once in a few decades. In the next period — from October 2003 to October 2005 — interest rates remained flat at 6 per cent; the top 20 debt schemes returned an annualised 4 per cent. The bond scheme universe was able to return just 1 per cent in this period. As many as 10 schemes reported negative returns. From October 2005 to September 2008, when interest rates rose from 6 per cent to 9 per cent, debt schemes returned 5.17 per cent. Due to rising interest rate returns were low. Those schemes which invested a high proportion in short-term debt securities over this period did well. There were a couple of schemes which delivered a negative return as well. Another golden period for debt schemes was from October 2008 to July 2009, when interest rates were slashed to nearly half — from 9 per cent to 4.75 per cent — to deal with a severe business slowdown, following the global market crash. Debt schemes returned a whopping 17 per cent in the quarter ending December 2008, because a lot of money moved into bonds. Average
quarterly returns worked out to 7.27 per cent in this period. CHOOSE WISELY Before we get into which bond schemes to buy, we need to understand the factors behind bond price movements. While the benchmark interest rate is the single most important factor in moving bond prices, the maturity period of the bond investments affects the risk of investments. The correlation between the maturity period, interest rate and bond price can be difficult to understand for a lay investor. To put it simply, longterm bonds have a longer period for maturity than shortterm bonds. The price of long-term bonds is more sensitive to interest rate fluctuations than that of short-term bonds. ‘Maturity’ and ‘duration’ of a bond may sound similar; however, their meanings are very different. Maturity is simply the period up to the bond maturity date. ‘Duration’ explains interest rate sensitivity. It involves additional calculation that takes into account the coupon rate and yield-to-maturity, apart from the residual maturity. In short, it captures the total effect of interest-rate movement on the price of a bond. The graph “Longer Duration, Better Returns?” shows the returns over the past one year of debt schemes compared to the average duration. As can be seen, over a period when the benchmark bond yield declined by over 50bps, schemes with a higher duration delivered a higher return. To be concluded @moneylife.in
It is important to take a look at the portfolio of the debt scheme to get a sense of the risk and quality of the investments
Why are the stock How MF houses are overcharging markets on a wild ride?
Certain fund houses are charging investors an additional 20 basis points, which the regulator gave as an incentive for crediting exit loads back to the scheme, even though the schemes are close-ended
Different countries are affected by different factors, all at the same time BY WILLIAM GAMBLE
Stock markets have been on wild ride this week. Up and down by 1 per cent seemingly every day. Lots of the optimism is fuelled by the assumption of more stimuli from central banks. In contrast the pessimism is fuelled by the collapse of the price of oil. Perhaps the wildest ride is in the Chinese market. Its market increased by 32 per cent in six weeks. Even a fall of 5 per cent in one day did little to dent the rally. It might be easy to attribute the Chinese rally to the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) recent cut of interest rates. Certainly western markets took this as a sign of further easing and celebrated it like signs of easing in Europe. The paradox is that there probably hasn’t been any easing at all. Although the broad money supply is up by 13 per cent this year it isn’t getting through to borrowers. It must be understood that the Chinese do not regulate credit by price. In most countries the price of credit is the level of interest rates. In China they
The Chinese are borrowing everywhere and not just traditional margin accounts regulate credit by the quantity of credit. One of the largest sources for credit in recent years has been the shadow banking system. The Chinese leadership has determined that the system has become too risky and is placing restrictions on it. This had led to a net tightening of $250 billion since June. Despite the PBOC action, interest rates are rising. It is not only Chinese bonds whose interest is rising. When the PBOC cut interest rates they expected the banks to follow suit, but allowed them some discretion to raise them. They went for it. Three of the largest state owned banks raised interest
rates on deposits. This will of course impact loans to businesses and lead to further tightening. They had little choice. In China’s half reformed system there was too much competition from Alibaba’s online bank, Yu’E Bao, and now the stock market. The Chinese are borrowing everywhere they can and not just traditional margin accounts offered by brokers. The government encouraged investment in shares as an offset to the falling property market. Despite the wild fluctuations of markets, oil may have the last word. It is still falling. The demand most likely from China is simply not there. In addition, the knock on effects of a strong dollar and other weak commodities is having an impact on everything from emerging markets to junk bonds. So we can expect more volatility but most likely the general movement will everywhere will not be in the same direction as the recent Chinese rally. William Gamble is an international lawyer and economist. @moneylife.in
BY JASON MONTEIRO
Over the past one year, as many as 40 close-ended equity schemes have been launched. However, for the investor, such schemes not only turn out to be illiquid but expensive too, thanks to our regulator and greedy fund houses. In August 2012, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a press release on mutual fund regulations which mentions that “the entire exit loads would be credited to the scheme while the AMCs will be able to charge an additional expense ratio to the extent of 20 bps”. It seems that close-ended schemes that do not allow investors to exit, are taking undue advantage of the ‘incentive’ given by the regulator, by charging the additional expense ratio. As per SEBI regulations, fund houses can charge an expense ratio of up to 2.50 per cent for investment management and advisory fees. Additional expense of up to 30 bps can be charged based on the inflows from beyond the top 15 cities. Additional expense of 20 bps is allowed for recurring expenses, an incentive given by the regulator to fund houses as exit loads are credited back to the scheme. Therefore,
FUND HOUSES
adding the above expenses, a fund house can charge an expense ratio of up to 3 per cent. On an average, a single closeended scheme is able to gather assets of just about Rs100 croreRs200 crore. The expense ratio of these schemes is anywhere between 2.80 per cent-3 per cent annualised. The average expense ratio of the 200-odd equity diversified schemes in existence works out to 2.40 per cent. Of the 22 close-ended equity schemes that have disclosed their expense ratio, six schemes have charging an expense ratio of 2.80 per cent and above.
Fund houses prefer to launch close-ended schemes as the assets are locked-in for the tenure of the scheme. It can be seen that most fund houses are charging the full expense ratio for close-ended schemes, where ideally, the total expense ratio should be a maximum of 2.80 per cent. As SEBI has not specifically mentioned the relation of the additional expense ratio to the exit loads charged in the regulation, fund houses are taking undue advantage because they can charge an additional 20 bps irrespective of whether or not exit loads are charged.
At the losing end is the investor who ends up paying an additional cost. Unfortunately for them, they can’t even exit the scheme and would end up paying the high expense ratio. In the press release at the time of forming the regulation, SEBI mentioned that “This will not result in any additional cost to the investors.” Unfortunately, the regulator failed to do a thorough research. Will the regulator act now seeing that fund houses are taking undue advantage? @moneylife.in
SPORTS
Germany ranks first in FIFA’s standings PARIS: The German football team topped FIFA’s year-end national team rankings released recently, a reward for its stupendous performance in Brazil culminating in the World Cup triumph. Argentina were second and Colombia came third. Belgium were fourth ahead of the Netherlands while Cup hosts Brazil were sixth, reports Xinhua. Euro 2016 hosts France ranked seventh, just ahead of Portugal. 2010 Cup champions Spain were placed in the ninth position while Uruguay climbed to the 10th spot.
Lord’s as venue for 2019 world cup final? LONDON: Lord’s Cricket Ground in London has been proposed as the venue for the ICC Cricket World Cup final when the tournament is staged in England and Wales in 2019. The venue will also host the ICC Women’s World Cup final in 2017. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will also recommend to the ICC that the semifinals in the 2019 World Cup should be allocated to Old Trafford, Manchester and Warwickshire’s home of Edgbaston, with the opening game being staged at The Oval. The tournament should also see Taunton host international men’s cricket in 2019 for the first time since the 1999 World Cup, when two matches were played at the County Ground.
Manchester United have flipped the script with Liverpool Two hundred and seventy-three days ago Liverpool decimated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford to move 14 points clear of their rivals BY ZARIF RASUL In the grand scheme of things, 273 days is not a particularly lengthy period of time, but in football it can seemingly feel like an eternity. Two hundred and seventy-three days ago Liverpool decimated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford to move 14 points clear of their rivals and stick another nail in David Moyes’ coffin. Two hundred and seventy-three days later, United turned the tables and stuck three past Liverpool, opening up a remarkable nine-month points swing of 24 points, to leave Brendan Rodgers, the reigning LMA manager of the year, facing more questions over his increasingly uncertain Anfield future. These are truly troubled times at Liverpool, make no mistake about it. Their haul of 21 points after 16 matches is their worst start to a league campaign since the 1964/65 season. Even Roy Hodgson, during his doomed spell on Merseyside in 2010/11, had managed one point more at this stage before he eventually succumbed to owners FSG’s axe. Prior to the match at Old Trafford, Rodgers’ men had undergone a miniresurgence of sorts, following up four straight defeats with a five-match domestic and European unbeaten run, which the Liverpool boss attributed to his decision to opt for a more solid, back-to-basics tactical approach. Having seen that approach eventually contribute to Liverpool’s pitiful Champions League elimination at the hands of Basel in midweek, Rodgers, in his own words, sought to return to a “technical game, with intensity.” In came playmakers Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho, with winger Raheem Sterling nominally deployed as a centreforward. For a while it seemed as though it might bear fruit; three times
in the first half Sterling found himself in scoring positions, but a combination of weak finishing and assured - albeit not extraordinary - goalkeeping from David de Gea denied the England youngster. And although Sterling, not noted for his finishing ability, toiled in front of goal, it was difficult to point the finger of blame at the 20-year-old, with Liverpool’s transfer committee arguably more culpable for his failure to find the back of the net. Why, when they were aware Luis Suárez was on his way out of Anfield, did they fail to procure a striker with similar attributes to the Uruguayan? In Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert, two immobile, reactive forwards, they purchased players who represent the complete stylistic antithesis of the Barcelona striker. And while Liverpool’s performance was characterised by a sense of profligacy – they racked up nine shots on target, three more than United – the hosts’ was once again synonymous with efficiency. Louis van Gaal’s developing side are yet to showcase the sort of flamboyant football that supporters might have expected when the Dutchman arrived earlier this year, but they have exhibited unbelievable ruthlessness. Despite the fact Liverpool shaded the opening period, United went in at the break with a two-goal advantage, with both of their shots on target finding the back of the net, repeating a
statistical pattern that had been evident in the preceding wins against Arsenal, Stoke City and Southampton. This was symbolised in visceral fashion when Wayne Rooney, who was completely unmarked at the edge of the box, received the ball from Antonio Valencia and clinically swept the ball beyond Brad Jones, just 23 seconds after De Gea had denied Sterling for the first time at the other end. Further errors – one from a linesmen, the other from the hapless Dejan Lovren – gifted United their second and third goals, adding gloss to a victory which owed little to the fluidity of their play. United have now racked up six wins in a
Sharma, Sudhanshu Hooda wreck in PLAYER’S CORNER Medsikar Maharashtra BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish
PUNE: Sudhanshu Medsikar, a Pune-based shuttler recently won single’s title in the 7th Amanora Cup, PYC-HTBA organised Badminton Championship recently. In the final, fourth seeded Sudhanshu stunned second seed Abhishek Sadanand Kulkarni with 18-21, 21-13, 21-17 verdict. It was strong come-back for this 20-year-old as he was out of action for more than six months. “I suffered a lower-back injury when I was training with P Gopichand in his academy in Hyderabad. I was told to stop badminton completely and hence I shifted my focus to academics,” said Sudhanshu, who is currently studying in DES College of Physiotherapy. “However, after a long time, I decided to come back to the court and I feel great that I won the title in my first tournament after six months. Initially I was feeling tired and fatigued, but kept going. After entering quarterfinals, I decided to go for the kill and I succeeded,” he added.
Sudhanshu with his parents Subodh and Medha Medsikar
Sudhanshu, born in Nashik in a middle-class family, started his badminton career under coach Raja Adhav. He first tasted his success in 2002 when he emerged winner in the under-10 category of Pimpri-Chinchwad Junior Championship. He continued his domination in district-level tournaments and later in 2007, made his debut at state level. He finished runner up in the state selection tournament held in Nanded and immediately went on to win under-13 title in the junior district and state championship held in Pune that year. The same year turned out to be fruitful for the 13-year-old, as he won silver medal in the School National Games. Next year, he led the team in the same tournament and returned with another silver medal. He stole the limelight in 2009 by winning triple crown in the Sunila Barve State Championship Tournament held in Pune. After winning under-16 singles and doubles titles, he grabbed under-19 singles too. Meanwhile, his medal hunt in the school national games continued and bagged individual and team silver medal that year. However, his biggest success was in 2012, when he fulfilled his long awaited dream of winning gold medal in school nationals. His impressive performance also earned him player of the tournament award. Sudhanshu’s outings in major tournaments caught the eye of coach and All England champion P Gopichand and he included the youngster in his academy in Hyderabad. However, it wasn’t an easy affair. Sudhanshu had to go through tough selection criteria and was put on a probation for almost two months before getting the nod. Within the probation period, Medsikar participated in couple of tournaments and reached doubles quarterfinals in All India Junior Badminton Championship held at Chandigarh. Later, he defeated his academy partner and strong title contender Siril Varma in the ONGC Senior Bangalore Open tournament, which opened the academy doors for him. Sudhanshu now trains with his previous coach Sameer Bhagwat in Pune, and explains that the he has a long innings to play and only hard work to see him through the terrain. “Now that I am back in action, I am planning to participate in All India tournament to be held in Hyderabad in January,” said Sudhanshu. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com
row, their best winning streak since March 2013, and more significantly they remain within five points of Manchester City, thus keeping alive the possibility of turning a two-horse title race into a three-horse one. Before the game, goalscorer Robin van Persie spoke optimistically of mounting a title challenge this season if United continue in a similar vein of form of beyond Christmas and into the New Year. While United have looked far from impressive at times this season, his words could prove to be prophetic if Van Gaal finds a way to harness and marry fluidity and sparkle to his side’s clinical ruthlessness, with a bit of luck thrown in for good measure. (With special arrangement by Firstpost)
FIXTURES FOR GAMEWEEK 17 Saturday, 20 December Man City vs Crystal Palace (6:15 pm) West Ham vs Leicester City (8:30 pm) Tottenham vs Burnley FC (8:30 pm) Hull City vs Swansea City (8:30 pm) Aston Villa vs Man United (8:30 pm) QPR vs West Brom (8:30 pm) Southampton vs Everton (8:30 pm) Sunday, 21 December Newcastle vs Sunderland (7:00 pm) Liverpool vs Arsenal (9:30 pm) Tuesday, 23 December Stoke City vs Chelsea (1:30 am)
TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly PUNE: Maharashtra’s strong batting line up failed to live up to their reputation, as they failed to chase a 207-run target against Haryana and despite some resistance by Rahul Tripathi (39) and Kedar Jadhav (29), they suffered 63-run defeat at Rohtak recently. Earlier, rain played spoilsport on the opening day of the Group B match, when home team was poised at 41-2 in their first innings. Later, when the game resumed, Haryana posted a low total of 136. Left-arm pacer Samad Fallah who didn’t play in Maharashtra’s first match at home, proved that he is back in form and picked five wickets (5 for 36). Maharashtra’s another speedster Anupam Sanklecha also joined him by taking three wickets. However, batting on Lahli’s wicket is usually challenging and Maharashtra too experienced it when they came out to bat. Haryana medium pacers Joginder Sharma (3 for 27) and Ashish Hooda (5 for 27) wreaked havoc on opposition batsmen as Maharashtra innings ended in 39.1 overs, scoring just 105. In all eighteen wickets fell on day Two and the hosts eked out a 31-run lead. Sachin Rana (41) was the innings’ highestscorer while Maharashtra’s Harshad Khadiwale (16), Chirag Khurana (16), Rahul Tripathi (16) and Shrikant Mundhe (27) were the ones who got into double figures. On the third day, Maharashtra’s medium pacer Shrikant Mundhe picked up four wickets to help Maharashtra bounce back in the game. At stumps on the third day, Maharsthra were nine for no loss in their second innings in the pursuit of 208 runs for an outright win. It was a good opportunity for Maharashtra to earn six points. However, it was an uphill task for visitors. And as expected, Haryana bowlers dominated the proceedings, and their medium fast bowlers Mohit and Ashish Hooda shared nine wickets between them. The duo wrecked Maharashtra’s top order and and visitors were bowled out for 154 inside 40 overs. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Poor, ‘unrecognised’ blind cricketers do India proud Visually impaired cricketers emerg champions after beating Pakistan in the World Cup BY ABHISHEK PUROHIT NEW DELHI: They are blind, hail from financially weak backgrounds, lack training facilities and are not recognised by the Indian cricket board, but have more than made up for this with their fighting spirit. Their valour and confidence saw India’s visually impaired cricketers emerging champions after beating Pakistan in the quadrennial 40-overs World Cup in South Africa. This built on their lifting the Twenty-20 World Cup in India in 2012. “It’s a great feeling that we won the ODI World Cup for the first time. Prior to this, we lost in the finals of the first event in 1998 as well as in the 2006 tournament. So, the victory at the first T20 World Cup gave us a lot of confidence and motivation to do well in this World Cup. That victory also gave us the confidence that we can win big titles,” coach Patrick Rajkumar told IANS. “For that we took inspiration from Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It was on the back of our minds that he did that and we can
also do it. But it’s also a matter of coincidence,” he added. Rajkumar and his boys have the same amount of hunger and passion to do well in the sport for the country. But their lives are completely different to the adulation and financial security enjoyed by the likes of Dhoni, Virat Kohli or Suresh Raina. “First of all, we don’t get good grounds to train. The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to recognise us. So, we don’t get to train in their good facilities. This time, we trained at the Barabati stadium in Cuttack,” he said. “Most of the players come from financiallyweak families. So, that is a genuine struggle. And when they play for the national team, they don’t get anything out of it. They get to live in ordinary hotels. The team travels in unreserved (train) compartments.” Rajkumar also said that he couldn’t concentrate on the development of individual players as he doesn’t have support staff. Skipper Shekar Naik however said that the sheer joy of representing the country helps them forget these problems. “We don’t think that we have any weaknesses. The joy of representing the country drives us forward. Once we get on the field, we don’t think about these problems,” Naik told IANS. IANS
IANS
MARGAON: Atletico de Kolkata marched into the Indian Super League final with a dramatic 4-2 tie-breaker win over FC Goa and now takes on Kerala Blasters in the final to be held in Mumbai on Saturday. Meanwhile, Kerala Blasters struck the matchwinner deep into the extra time in a thrilling second leg semifinal to book a berth for the summit clash on 4-3 aggregate win over Chennaiyin FC.
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IANS
Atletico, Kerala to clash for ISL title today
DECEMBER 20, 2014
“Alastair Cook should be immediately taken out from captaincy ahead of the World Cup before time runs out. It should have happened months ago.” — Former England skipper Nasser Hussain
“It is a good decision by AIBA. Initially, there was speculation that it will be a life ban. One year will pass very quickly. I heard Sarita Devi is injured so she will recover also.” — Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer Vijender Singh
Signposts
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
The victorious Indian team with prime minister Narendra Modi
SPORTS
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
PUNE
“As a player I was not tempted by England. But as a manager, why not? It is a league where the English type of manager has most of the power, and that would please me.” — French football legend Zinedine Zidane
Maiden title for Karad girl Shital Wins gold medal in 10m air pistol women in 58th National Shooting Championship TGS News Service @TGSWeekly PUNE: Less fancied shooter Shital Thorat from Karad did a commendable job in her first-ever national tournament by winning a gold medal in the 10m air pistol event. In the 58th National Shooting Championship at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi, Shital scored 199.0 during the finals and beat Harveen Sarao (Punjab) by a margin of 1.7. Harveen scored 197.3 to finish second and was followed by Prerna Gupta of Uttarkhand with a score of 173.9. Earlier in the qualification round, Arjuna Awardee Annu Raj Singh was leading with 385-12x, and was followed by Yashaswini Deswal (Haryana) with 384 -13x. Shital who scored 377 -7x points, was behind Harveen (379 – 10x), Prerna (378 -10x) and Aakansha Bansal (UP; 377 -11x) at the fifth place. She was followed by Maharashtra’s Sonali Parerao (376 -10x) and Surabhi Pathak (MP; 376 -9x). However, in the final, Shital sprung ahead
from the fourth round and eventually claimed her maiden national title. Shital trains with her father Shivaji and brother Sarang at the home-built range in Karad. She started her career in 2009 and two years later she represented Maharashtra in National Games held in Jharkhand. She was part of the team that won gold medal. It seems that Balewadi has been a lucky ground for Shital, as she had tasted her first individual success, when she won gold medal in the Gun for Glory Championship last year. This year, she impressed in the state-level shooting championship held in Mumbai in October by winning Champion of Champions title. However, she couldn’t repeat her performance at the national level Champions of Champions (Air Pistol) competition. PN Prakash of Karnataka emerged winner while Prerna Gupta finished second. Prakash who scored 30.5 beat Prerna Gupta who scored 28.1 at the finals which comprised of three shots. The other contestants were Jitu Rai, Samresh Jung, Shahzar Rizvi, Prashant
Nagare and Vipin Rana. Meanwhile, in earlier events this week, Hariom Singh of Army clinched gold in 50m Rifle Prone men. Hariom scored 205.0 during the finals and beat Aditya U Singh (Air force) by a slight margin of 0.2 to secure the first place. Interestingly, Abhinav Bindra (Punjab) finished third with a score of 183.8. In the men’s 10m air rifle category, Jitu Rai broke his own record to claim gold. The army shooter who has been consistent in leading the charts of different events in national shooting championship, scored 202.3 in the final. In the process, he broke his own national record of 199.4 which he had scored in 2014 Munich World Cup. Shahzar Rizvi (air force) who won silver in the same event and was followed by PN Prakash (Karnataka) who scored 176.0 to win bronze. In the 25m sports pistol women final, Rahi Sarnobat defeated Surabhi Pathak of Madhya Pradesh to win gold and Anisa Sayyed of Haryana prevailed over Shreya Gawande of Maharashtra to win bronze. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Balewadi has been a lucky ground for Shital, as she tasted her first success here last year
Army shooter Jitu Rai (L) after his record breaking performance. Shital Thorat (C) pose with Harveen Sarao and Prerna Gupta
Signposts Huge field for Solaris all-India tennis PUNE: Solaris Club will be back in action when an estimated 150 odd junior hopefuls lock horns in the Solaris Club All India Ranking (U14) Championship Series Tennis Tournament beginning at Mayur Colony from today. The championship for juniors is in its eight year and comes close on the heels of a successful national senior men’s tennis tournament organised by the club in last month. Some of the top Under-14 boys and girls from all over India will fight it out for the honours in singles as well as doubles. The Championship Series is the of the All India Tennis Association’s (AITA) junior structure, which follows National Series and Super Series. The winner of the singles title stands to gain 15 AITA points, the runners-up 10 points, while the semi-finalists will receive 7 points.
Cadence win MCA under-14 cricket PUNE: Cadence Cricket Academy defeated Nashik District on the virtue of first innings lead, in the Maharashtra Cricket Association organised under-14 invitational cricket tournament played at PYC Hindu Gymkhana recently. Brief scores: Cadence (1st innings) 272-9 (Atharva Dharmadhikari 70, Kaushal Tambe 26, Rishi Raut 28, Manas Billade 39; Kartik Udar 2-80, Parth Gaikwad 3-46, Aditya Pande 2-46); Nashik: 61 (Arun Ayyankar 22; Manas Billade 6-33, Yatin Mangwani 3/24); Cadence (2nd innings) 226-3 decl (Atharva Dharmadhikari 103n.o, Manas Billade 53n.o, Harshal Kate 39).
“Holding Phillip Hughes’ hand as we rode together in the medicab, it’s not what I wanted my last image of him to be. It was a moment that would never leave my mind.” — Australian batsman David Warner
Shooters during the qualificiation round of men’s 10m air pistol event at Balewadi
‘Long way to go for a shooting league’ Maharashtra Rifle Association president Sheila Kanungo points out the obstacles in the staging of a shooting league By Ashish Phadnis @phadnis_ashish PUNE: In recent years, India has become a hub for franchise-based sport leagues. After the rousing success of the Indian Premier League, several other sports tried to emulate it, as this has proved to be a fruitful way out to popularise a game, and even rope in corporate support. Sports like kabaddi, chess or volleyball, which were strapped for funds and hampered by the lack of cash flow, have benefited hugely with the introduction of the league concept. The shooting sports discipline was also expected to join the league bandwagon. After all, it is sport that has brought India the most number of Olympics medals and international titles. However, as things stand, it may take a few years for the
advent of a shooting league in India. Maharashtra Rifle Association president Sheila Kanungo said, “There are several other obstacles. First of all, shooting is not a spectator friendly sport. One needs to have at least some technical knowledge to enjoy it. It more or less applies to chess too, but right from childhood, anyone can handle chess pieces, whereas, shooting have many
Underdogs Kasturi Trident clinch Indotech Cup in Garden City League
Beat defending champions PGS Warriors by two runs in a nailbiting final encounter
Burger to feature in NECC-ITF women’s tennis TGS News Service @TGSWeekly
TGS News Service @TGSWeekly PUNE: In a nail-biting finish less fancied Kasturi Trident stunned defending champions PGS Warriors on the last ball by two runs to win the Indotech Cup in Garden City Premier League at Aditya Garden City premises in Warje recently. In the senior category final, Kasturi Trident batted first, but could not post a competitive total against the strong Warriors. It looked like the Warriors will retain their title with an easy victory. However, Kasturi Trident boys displayed team spirit and restricted Warriors in initial overs. When the wickets started rolling down under pressure, Warriors captain came for the rescue and led his team till the last over with some cracking boundaries and couple of huge sixes. On the last ball, Warriors were required two runs to win, but they lost a wicket, giving away the match to Kasturi Trident. Earlier, the second leg of the league started with quarterfinals. Kasturi Trident, considered as one of the underdogs of the tournament, finished second in their group to qualify for the last eight. In other groups, Indotech Warriors, PGS Warriors, Investa Challengers, Sachin Dodke Yuva Manch (SDYM) also moved ahead in style. Kasturi Trident registered their first upset by beating hot favorites Indus Warriors to enter their first ever semifinals. On the other hand, PGS Warriors also defeated their opponent convincingly to find a place in the semis. In the semifinals, PGS Warriors won the match by scoring 14 runs in the last over against Indotech Warriors. In the second semifinal, giant killer Kasturi Trident defeated SDYM in a low scoring encounter. Meanwhile, the league experienced an overwhelming response to women and junior
legalities to complete and guns are not easily available for everyone to try their hands. These factors weigh downs the sport and the proposed league.” The shooting discipline has a number of categories, like swimming and athletics. Kanungo said, “Naturally we won’t include all categories. Even a few categories in air rifle and air pistol will be enough to popularise the league. For that we would need a large sum of money. Frankly speaking, currently we are not in a position to conduct any league. Whatever money the association gets, is spent on shooters training and getting ammunition. We just can’t spend it on marketing of the league. Therefore unless some really big groups provide support for this game, I don’t think shooting league would be possible in near future.” ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com
Kasturi Trident players in a jubiliant mood. (below) The winning team celebrate the success with family members at Aditya Garden City in Warje
categories. Indotech Warriors won the title with a convincing win over SDYM. A poor bowling attack by SDYM players which awarded 17 extra runs spoiled their chances. In the junior girls section, Colette won the final with an easy win over Nicky team. It was Indotech Warriors that won the junior boys’ title. In a hard-fought battle they defeated Suvir Riders by seven runs. Over 294 players participated in this tournament, which included two senior citizen teams, 12 senior, six junior, four women and four junior girls’ teams.
Yash Jangale of Tohit Dhadakebaaz received a special award of best batsman and maximum sixes. Rohan Gotmare and Kanchan Rajput, both from Indotech Warriors were adjudged as the best batsman in men and women’s categories respectively. They also received player of the series award. Rohit Mangrule of Suvir Riders received the best bowlers award in junior boys category while Sampada Pujari (SDYM) and Jay Gaikwad (PGS Warriors) emerged as the best bowlers in the women and mens’ categories respectively. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
PUNE: PUNE: Netherlands’ Cindy Burger, world ranked 227, will be the star attraction at the NECCITF women’s $25,000 tennis tournament at Deccan Gymkhana starting from Monday. Burger, who already has won a $25,000 title in Perigueux, France, earlier this year, should start favourite in the quality field that will on show for one week here in the most awaited tournament of the year. Her only other ITF title came in last year when she won $10,000 event in Bucharest, Hungary. Incidentally, Burger’s both the title triumphs have been on clay, while she will be playing on newly-laid hard-courts at Deccan Gymkhana. Ukraine’s Anastasiya Vasylyeva , ranked 175 in the world, had sent in her entry for both the ongoing $25,000 ITF event in New Mumbai and the NECC tournament, but she has pulled out of her scheduled tour of India. “This is the oldest women’s tournament in India and also longest running event. We are proud to be hosting it once again, and we are delighted with the field that we have got,” said tournament director Mukund Joshi. This is the 14th consecutive year of this tournament, with National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) being the sponsors on every single occasion, which makes it as one of the oldest association on the country’s tennis calendar. Sofia Shapatava of Georgia is the second best ranked player at 249, while Ankita Raina, who is 298 on the WTA list, is the only Indian to get direct entry in the tournament. Ankita has been the top Indian performer in the recent past. She has won three $10,000 tournaments in 2013, one in Chennai and two in New Delhi, but singles title success has eluded her this year. The qualifying rounds would be played on December 20 and 21. Main draw matches get underway on December 22, with the finals to be played on December 28. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com