Md. Rafi tum bahut yaad aaye.

Award                                         Song -    Movie
Filmfare Awards 1977Kya Hua Tera Wada - Naya Daur



Filmfare Awards 1968Dil Ke Jharoke Mein Tujko Bithakar - Brahmachari
Filmfare Awards 1967Neele Gagan Ke - Humraaz
Filmfare Awards 1966Baharon Phool Barsaao - Suraj
Filmfare Awards 1964Chahunga Main Tujhe - Dosti
Filmfare Awards 1961Chasme Baddor - Sasuraal
Filmfare Awards 1960Chaudvin Ka Chand - Chaudvin Ka Chand

                                           Rafi was born on December 24, 1924 in a small village in Punjab (now in Pakistan) near Amritsar and later shifted to Lahore when he was 14 years old. There he studied music under Khan Abdul Waheed Khan, Jeevanlal Matto and Ghulam Ali Khan. He recorded his first song in 1944 for a Punjabi film Gul Baloch with music director Shyam Sunder. Not many people know that had acted in couple of films, Laila Majnu (1945) and Jugnu (1947). Rafi made his mark with Tera Khilona Toota Balak in Anmol Ghari (1946).
In the year 1944 Mohammad Rafi decided to move to Bombay where he was first given a break by Naushad in Pehle Aap (1944). Rafi's first big hit was in Jugnu (1947) where he sang the duet 'Yahaan Badla Wafaa ka Bewafaee ke Siva Kya Hai' with Noorjehan under Feroz Nizami.
His career took off with the all-time hit Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki from Dulari(1949). There was no looking back aftermath and Rafi ruled as the undisputed king of playback singing till the early 70s when Kishore Kumar took over. However it took Rafi much of the 50s to establish his superiority over rest of the competition. Kishore Kumar and to a lesser extent Mukesh and Talat Mehmood were preoccupied by their acting while Hemant Kumar saw a decline in his singing career by the end of the 1950s. Manna Dey never really got the breaks his talent deserved and from 1960-1970 Rafi was unchallenged at the top. In spite of his superstardom he remained humble and soft-spoken.
Although Rafi worked with different music directors, the one who recognised and exploited his immense talent was Naushad. His first song for Naushad was Hindustan ke hum hain Hindustan hai hamara in the film Pehle Aap. The duo worked together to give hits such as Baiju Bawra and Mere Mehboob, to name a few. Rafi’s other fruitful partnership was with S D Burman are Kagaz Ke Phool, Guide, Tere Ghar Ke Samne and Pyaasa. Rafi has sung some of the best songs for heroes under the influence of alcohol like 'Din Dhal Jaaye' in Guide (1965) and 'Choo Lenedo Nazuk Hothon ko' in Kajal (1965) without touching the alcohol himself! Aradhana (1969) turned out to be another great movie where Rafi sang for the baton of Naushad and S.D. Burman. great hit Aradhana (1969).His last song was "Tu kahin aas paas hai dost" for Laxmikant Pyarelal in the film Aas Paas. He passed away on July 31, 1980. His immortality is vouched for by the fact that even almost two decades after his death, his popularity remains intact.

साफ पानी के युद्ध

गुड्डू बाबा ने अपने दम पर गंगा को साफ़ करने का बीड़ा उठाया है. गंगा को प्रदूषण मुक्त करने के इस मिशन में कीचड़ और गंदगी, गंगा में बहती लाशों की गंध या सरकारी निकम्मापन कुछ भी गुड्डू बाबा को उनके मिशन से डिगा नहीं पाया है.
 लगातार बढ़ती गंदगी और कूड़े-कचरे ने पटना में गंगा का रूप ही बदल डाला. गंगा के पानी से लोगों को पेट और त्वचा की घातक बीमारियाँ होने लगी हैं गंगा की सफ़ाई से जुड़ी इस मुहिम की शुरुआत आज से कई साल पहले हुई. एक दिन  बाबा एक ग़रीब आदमी को अपनी पत्नी के संस्कार के बाद गंगा की इसी कीचड़ में नहाते देखा  बाबा  पूछने पर उसने कहा कि गंगाजल के बिना पत्नी को मोक्ष नहीं मिलेगा और साफ़ पानी तक पहुंचने के लिए उसके पास नाव के पैसे नहीं उस आदमी की बात  बाबा मन में घर कर गई. गंगा हम सब की ज़िंदगी की एक अहम हिस्सा है और एक नदी के रूप में भी इस संपदा को बचाना ज़रूरी है .ऐसे में अपने कुछ साथियों के साथ मिलकर बाबा ने गंगा के एक-एक हिस्से को साफ़ करने का बीड़ा उठाया सुबह-सवेरे  बाबा अपने कुछ साथियों के साथ घाटों पर पहुंच जाता और  नदी में उतर कर पानी में मौजूद गंदगी को बाहर निकालते.


कई लोग  बाबाके साथ ज़ुड़ते गए ये विडंबना ही है कि गंगा को बचाने के नाम पर सरकार की ओर से ज़मीनी प्रयास कम और दिखावटी प्रयास ज़्यादा हो रहे हैं
.
 उदयपुर  झील के लिए काम कर रहेगैर सरकारी संगठन हैं वे बाबा से एक सबक ले और  उत्साह भंग नहीं किया जाना चाहिए .एक दिन हम भी अपने लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त और झीलों में ताजा साफ पानी मिलता है.

The hope tarnished !

The Public perception is that there is a coalition between the bureaucrats, politicians and industrialists, which is robbing the nation of its vital natural resources.For long, the common man has been reconciled to our feudal form of democracy, where 'netas' were the new lords of all that they surveyed. Corruption at the top was accepted among all political parties.As for corruption in the states, the less said the better. One would have to conduct a huge survey to conclude as to which state is at the top of the ladder of corruption.


Corruption was a global phenomenon. That was and remains an absolutely truthful statement.The day-to-day life of the ordinary citizen is free from extortion that an average Indian faces every day.It is this criminal extortion faced by the common man that has made life hell in India. If you want to renew your passport, you meet the touts outside the passport office. They ensure that your job is done on time -- for a price. Go into any office dealing with the public, be it the police or municipal administration, anywhere in India, nothing gets done unless you pay a price.


Electoral politics in India has become an industry by itself. You spend money to get elected and indulge in making big money. People find our administration hardly responsive.The country has a distinguished economist as its Prime Minister. He is surrounded by an array of other brilliant economists. Yet, all of them together, are unable to control the price rise and increasing inflation.The issue of Lok Pal is a symptom of the growing anger that the people of India have towards the 'Government' - both at the Central and State levels.The Right to Information Act has done some good, but more is needed.


 The government needs to consider the kind of administrative reforms that can make the civil servants responsive and accountable and become what they are meant to be: "public servants". There is nothing for the common men in the Lok Pal.I think if the politicians are even 5 percent serious of getting rid of corruption than the wise thing will be to go ahead with the Anna's version of the JanLokpal Bill and to make CBI completely independent and have tough laws to protect whistle blowers.

The Traveller

Visitors, who are seekers of the unexpected, but when they decide to come to Mewar(Udaipur region),unlike us they straight away book a guided tour.It saves on wasting time looking for transports, entrances and understanding how to get around.

                                                       

A place where dignity and royalty are everything. The dignified people of the land live in royalty. At  6 am and shortly after, at a lakeside guesthouse just in time for the sunrise on the lake. This may be a first marvellous picture of elegant palaces, lovely lakes, and landscape beauty this beautiful one of the most romantic cities of the world Udaipuralso known as the several other names like Romantic City, City of Lakes, City of Sunrise, and Venice of East.  The  City Palace the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan.city's colourful streets full of atmosphere and where lots of clothes hand made paper painting is a nostalgic and unusual momentother elegant palaces like Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, and Fateh Prakash Palace. Enjoy boat ride in picturesque Pichola Lake.Bagore Ki Haveli is an ancient building that stands on the platform of Gangori Ghat in the vicinity of Pichola Lake. 


The splendid architecture of the mansion boasts of delicate carved work and excellent glass work. In the eighteenth century, Bagore Ki Haveli was built by Amir Chand Badwa, who was the Chief Minister at the Mewar Royal Court in earlier times. When Amar Badwa died, the building came under the possession of Mewar State. The haveli looks marvelous with glowing lights in the night. Bagore Ki Haveli is a perfect place to explore the ancient architecture and life style of the royal family.

Now ,choose the road after Ranakpur  through Arraveli montains which leads to the still standing tall with a huge wall around the Kumbhalgarh fort Haldighati is an important historical site in the context of Rajasthan, India. Actually, Haldighati is a mountain pass in the Aravalli rangeyellow colored soil of the place that gives a sense of turmeric interested in historic battles and heroic deeds of the courageous soldiers, then Haldighati is the perfect place to visit. Haldighati is a significant historical site that has observed the battle of 1576. The battle of Haldighati was a huge combat between Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar and Raja Man Singh of Amber. This ferocious battle created amount of blood shed of the heroic soldiers and the red turned color of sand still speaks of those daring people.Chetak, the heroic mount of Rana Pratap, breathed his last after leaving his master to a safe place.  In the words of Col. James Todd (a British author), Haldighati has been referred as 'Thermopile of Mewar'. 

 Crowning the Aravalli Hills, the fort is not so easily accessible with seven great gates that stand guarding its entrance. Just 6 kms, from the Kumbalgarh Sanctuary.Chittorgarh Fort has received the credit of being the largest fort of India. The massive fort is located on a high hill near the Gambheri River in Chittorgarh .This colossal fort is accessible through seven huge gates (Pols) that are comprised of strong iron spikes and served as a watch tower in earlier times with the visit of Chittorgarh fort wonderful place through a bygone era of Kings and Royalty who were the masters of the Palace.


Roll back the pages of time to an incredible destination   take a safari on horses, camels, elephants or even in jeeps, with the Aravalis - India's oldest mountain range as the backdrop. Feast your eyes on spectacular , or just watch the birds in the wetlands. You can also choose to pamper yourself in the lavish heritage properties. Rajasthan has something for everyone –  one just has to choose an activity appropriate to one's temperament.

What is India waiting for?

 Describe Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the "honest king of a corrupt regime" which could not control either inflation or graft. Undoubtfully, this UPA govermnet led by Manmohan Singh is the most CORRUPT goverment that Independent INDIA ever had. Seems Manmohan Singh choosen and included most Corrupt people of India not only to his cabinet, but also in different vital organizations.some says Sonia is the inspiring source of corruption, while Manmohan Singh is a patron. Chidambaram and other members in the Union cabinet are partners.


Former telecom minister A Raja continued to defend his actions in the 2G scam, alleging that he sought the opinion of the three highest government authorities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, then Finance Minister P Chidambaram and then Solicitor General Goolam E Vahanavati before awarding licences to private companies.The focus is back on the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh who did not make any suggestions to constitute a GoM to examine the spectrum allocation issue. “In such case, PM Singh could also be held guilty of conspiracy and dereliction of duty for not forming a GoM to examine the spectrum allocation issue.


How can Ministers in a country carry on corrupt practices without the head of a nation not knowing anything about it? The exchequer had been virtually looted to the tune of Rs 1.76 lakh crore in 2G Spectrum case, Rs 67,000 crore in CWG irregularities and Rs 5.5 lakh crore in S Band irregularities.The hike in prices of LPG, diesel , kerosene  and other useful commodities by government was a total failure to rein in the skyrocketing prices. While patronaging corruption related to 2G spectrum scam, CWG irregularities and Adarsh House Society Scam is shameful.


The main reason for corruption is centralisation of power. The current Parliament and the state legislatures feel they own the country. There should be a legal framework to undertake land acquisition without any protest and power should be decentralised to gram sabhas .I am not against development, but it must not be at the cost of the poor and the weaker sections of the society. The government must give options to people so that they can make a living.
 The village parliament's opinion needs to be sought on whether mining should be done in their village. Why are locals not involved? Involve them and you'll see a corruption-free country.On August 25, 2010, Rahul escorted a farmer's delegation from Aligarh to meet prime minister. Farmers demanded amendment in the Land Acquisition Act 1894.The prime minister assured that it will be done in the next session of Parliament. But nothing was done.


When it comes to our PM Manmohan Singh, the whole world feels that a saint is running our country. While Indians feel that the PM is not an aggressive PM. He has always been media shy, always been tight lipped and is known for his silence for any major issues that have taken place in the country.The true picture should be made public about the black money and other national interest issues .It also gives a message that What is lacking is it political will or aimed at shielding somebody in the party .Is party higher than the Nation ?


 Ministers and MPs languishing in jails after getting involved in corruption scams.people were disgusted to watch the inefficient and corrupt rule .It is unfortunate that the Centre is stating that courts should not interfere in the administrative matters.


 If the top authority is corrupt the entire system become corrupt and the common man is simply forced to pay bribe simply to get his/her things done. This is because he/she has no way out. Complaining to the top authority is meaningless as he/she is taking the main share through the subordinates. Because of this we have neera yadavs, Joshis,akhand pratap Singhs and Ahmedis. Untill and unless the top authority or the minister indulges in corruption, underlings can never dare but the underlings have at least some fear in the form of CBI or various vigilance agencies but corruption is continuing and increasing by the day because of only one factor and that is these ministers, MPs and top government authorities have been kept out of the ambit of probe and prosecution by the constitution and they are looting the nation without any fear and we need to protect our vibrant & great democracy...

The Langas and Manghaniyar From The Thar

                                                                       
In our era, the Langas still have the Sindhi Sipahi for Jajmans. They are a modest caste of Muslim farmers. Their stringed instrument, the sindhi sarangi (in reference to the Pakistani Sind Valley which prolongs this cultural air) and the gujrati sarangi (which refers to a region in the southern part of Rajasthan, the Gujarat) are the domain of Saran giya Langa (the players of sarangi and satara, the double flute of pastoral origin) while the Suraniya Langa reserve for themselves wind instruments such as the shahnai (oboe) and the murli (clarinet). In the past, the tradition linked to certain religious orders of Islam prevented the Langa from using percussion. Those times seem faraway, for today almost all of the Langa play the dho!ak in accompaniment in the same way that the Man ghaniyar do. Even the karthal of the Manghaniyar can be found pounding in the Langa hands today. The fraying of tradition and modification of social structures has a tendency to create a phenomena of uniformity. Nevertheless, the Manghaniyar still do not use the sarangi of the Langa, but continue to prefer the kamaica, a heavy string sculpted from the wood of the mango tree with a round wooden resonating case (tabli).

The Manghaniyar who inhabit the villages at the edge of the Thar Desert play mostly for castes who are Hindu, which explains the difference between their repertory and that of the Langa. Like the Lautauri gypsies of Rumania and the griots of Mauritania or elsewhere, the musicians of Rajasthan disperse themselves geographically in relation to the residences of their Jajmans. In contemporary society, where points of reference change very quickly, the ancestral contract still exists between the Manghaniyar and the Rajput, who assimilated into the ancient and mythic Ksatri, the ancient warrior caste. But they no longer necessarily have the allure and wealth of ancient Rajahs. Given that certain professions such as commerce and artisanal labour are considered impure and forbidden to them, the Rajput of today may be simple farmers or taxi drivers whose limited means only permit them to symbolically support the musicians through small contributions and gifts. This explains why everyone is no longer a musician in the Man ghaniyar community. The particular speciality of the Manghaniyar are the mota git (long songs) as opposed to chota git, "shorter" and more ritualistic songs. Often in Rajasthan, these songs are given raga names, such as sorath, maru, sindhi bhairavi.
these names, which sometimes designate certain sites, do not correspond to classical hindustani rage of the same name. After a slow poetic vocal introduction without rhythm (duha), the Manghaniyar stretch out the mota git, whose richness of depth and complexity as can be remarked in these recordings. Anwar Khan's vocal work precisely brings to light the ornamentation which undeniably sends us back to the very origins of certain classical singing.
                                                          

The Rakhi To Those Monarchs

The Rakhi. — ' The festival of the bracelet ' is in spring, 
and whatever its origin, it is one of the few when an intercourse of gallantry of the most delicate nature is established between 
the fair sex and the cavaliers of Rajasthan. Though the bracelet 
may be sent by maidens, it is only on occasions of urgent
danger or necessity . The Rajput dame bestows with the Rakhi the 
title of adopted brother and while its acceptance secures to her 
all protection of a cavaliers servant, scandal itself never
suggests any other tie to his devotion. He may hazard his life in
her cause, and yet never receive a glance in reward, for he
cannot even see the desired object who,as brother of her adoption

has constituted him her defender.

 But there is a charm in the mystery of such connexion, never endangered by close observation, and the loyal to the fair may well attach a value to the public recognition of being the Rakhi-band Bhai, the ' bracelet-bound brother '. The intrinsic value of such pledge is of Scripture the same notion is referred to.The mother of Sisera asks " Have they not divided the prey ; to every man a damsel or two ? ' Badaoni says that Humayun hesitated to 

interfere because Bahadur was attacking an infidel never looked 

to, nor is it requisite it should be costly, though it 
varies with the means and rank of the donor, and may be of 
flock silk and spangles, or gold chains and gems. The acceptance 
of the pledge and its return is by the kachhli, or corset, of
simple silk or satin, of gold brocade and pearls.
There is nothing similar in Europe, and as defending the most 
delicate part of the structure of the fair, it is peculiarly 
appropreate as an emblem of devotion. A whole province has often 
accompanied the Kachhli, and the monarch of India was so pleased by this courteous delicacy in the customs of Rajasthan, on 
reciving the bracelet of the princess Karnavati, which invested  him with the title of her brother, and uncle and protector to her infant Udai Singh, that he pledged himself to her service, "even if the demand were the castle of Ranthambhor."

 Humayun proved himself a true knight, and even abandoned his 

conquests in Bengal when called on to redeem his pledge and 

succour Chitor, and the widows and minor sons of Rana Sanga.

Humayun had the highest proofs of the worth of those courting his

protection ; he was with his father Babur in all his wars inIndia
and at the battle of Bayana his prowess was conspicuous, and is 
recorded by Babur's own pen. He amply fulfilled his pledge, 
expelled the foe from Chitor, took Mandu by assault, and, as 
some revenge for her king's aiding the king of Gujarat, he sent 
for the Rana Bikramajit, whom, following their own notions of 
 the gift of the Rakhi.
The author, who was placed in the enviable situation of being

 able to do good, and on the most extensive scale, was the means of restoring many of these ancient famihes from degradation to 

affluence.The greatest reward he could, and the only one he would, receive, was the courteous displayed in many of these 

interesting customs. He was the Rakhi-band Bhai of, and received ' the bracelet ' from, three queens of Udaipur, Bundi, and Kota, besides Chand Bai, the maiden sister of the Rana ; as well as 

many ladies of the chieftains of rank, with whom he interchanged letters. The sole articles of ' barbaric pearl and gold,' which

 he conveyed from a country where he was six years supreme, are

 these testimonies of friendly regard. 

Intrinsically of no great value, they were presented and accepted in the ancient spirit, and he retains them with a sentiment the more powerful, because he can no longer render them any service.

The Rakhi Sanskrit of raksha,protection is primarily a protective amulet assumed at the full moon of Saawan (July -August). It was worn on this date to avert the unhealthiness of the rainy season. Even Jahangir and Akbar too followed the custom, introduced by their Hindu ladies. 

Saawan .

                   
Peacocks are singing sweet and loud your beautiful eyes are like a charms fascinating  and enticing the soul bride.. Dark clouds. Black thunder with a flash of lightening, Drops of rain, The smell of wet earth. The red gulmohar in all its glory....
 Shraavan the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Aavani and is the fifth month of the solar year. Shraavan begins with the Sun's entry into Cancer.Being the period when the Monsoon hits the over heated plains of India, the season is celebrated in various ways.During Shravana the Hindu Community in most region practice Vegetarian Diet.In this month of Shraavan,Lord Shiva's devotees spend the month of Shraavan in complete austerities and worship of Shiva. To this day, devotees pour water and milk on ...the devouts spend the entire month in austere worship of the Lord, endingin the shravan Purnima on the Raksha Bandhan day eve.every monday of shraavan people offer water and milk to propitiate the lord Shiva.

It is a pleasant to take long walks or to go out on picnics. During the Shraavan maas,Teej ,Gangaur festivals denotes the commencement of the rains... The festival is organized for two days in the Hindu month of Shravan, which usually  is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, commemorating her union with Lord Shiva. ladies like to swing on the 'Jhulas' bejeweled with flowers. Young girls and women dressed in green clothes, sing songs in celebration of the initiation of the monsoon.celebration of the freedom from the scorching heat. The soothing drop of rains falling on the dry and scorched land, along with the pleasant smell of the wet soil discharges us from the unbearable heat of the summers. The melodious Saavan songs can be heard coming out of every house during the month.  The mango, the King of fruits, is the special fruit of this season. Mangoes of different varieties can be seen hanging in large numbers from the branches of trees. Young and old, rich and poor, all like to enjoy the fruit.
 The roads in the countryside become muddy and slippery. The drains are filled up. It is difficult to walk along the road.the roads are flooded. People have to wade through the water. Thus a heavy rainfall causes great inconvenience to people, specially the office-goers and workers.sufficient rainfall, the soil will remain saturated for long enough that crop' roots are starved of oxygen. In these cases crops turn yellow and may eventually die so Sawaan is very necessery for farms as underground water for whole year depend on these three months .Shraavan supports the livelihood of almost each person on this mother earth. 

Please End Endosulfan

India, which is one of the few big countries, that still allows use of endosulfan pesticide .

India is a prime dissenter in the ban, and accounts for 70% of the world production of Endosulfan (Rs4500 crores annually). India cites lack of scientific evidence as one of the key reasons to opposing the ban along with the fact that the proposed alternatives to Endosulfan are not currently affordable.

In many un-expected encounters..
Endosulfan is commonly sprayed on over 70 crops like vegetables, fruits, paddy, cotton, coffee, tea, cashew & timber. Studies have shown that in India, 20% of all fresh produce have pesticide residues above the maximum residue limit (MRL).
Many water bodies have endosulfan run-off & some studies have shown high endosulfan levels in fish
Potentially absorbed through the skin , as cotton crops are the significant users of endosulfan
Smokers through tobacco

A brief history of Endosulfan Endosulfan was first registered for use as a pesticide in the U.S by Hoechst (now Bayer CropScience) to control agricultural insects and mites on a wide variety of field, fruit and vegetable crops.
By 2000, after consistent reports of water contamination due to the run off from agricultural use, the EPA cancelled Bayer’s License to sell Endosulfan for use in Homes and Gardens. In 2002, after further studies by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the EPA determined that Endosulfan residues in food and water posed high health hazards, and imposed further restrictions on agricultural use of Endosulfan.

In 2007, Endosulfan was recommended for inclusion in the Rotterdam Convention on Informed consent. This is a multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibility on the import and use of hazardous chemicals. Specifically, this convention requires informing purchasers of these hazardous chemicals on all known restrictions and bans, so that purchasers can make an informed decision on whether or not to buy these chemicals

How toxic is Endosulfan? The EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) classifies Endosulfan as “Ib” – Highly hazardous, as does the E.U. The Industrial Toxicological Research Centre (ITRC) in India also classifies Endosulfan as extremely hazardous.
Endosulfan is also widely considered to be a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP). POPs are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation and have been observed to persist in the environment, to be easily transported across long distances, to accumulate in human and animal tissue, increase in virulence in food chains, and have significant impact on human health and the environment.
Due to their chemical properties, POPs are semi volatile and insoluble. They attach themselves to particulate matter like soil, water and food, and travel long distances around the world, including places that do not even use them, like Antarctica.
Because of their eerie ability to travel, even countries that have banned POPs like Endosulfan, continue to find their residues in their food and environment as they travel from places where they are used.

How does Endosulfan affect human beings? Acute effects:
Endosulfan is highly toxic and can be fatal if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. Consuming it orally is found to be more toxic than absorbing it through the skin, and this toxicity increases in the presence of solvents like alcohol.
Endosulfan directly affects the Central Nervous System, and high levels of Endosulfan in the body lead to convulsions, epileptic seizure or death. It also comprehensively damages the internal organs like the liver, lungs and the brain.
Chronic Effects:
Endosulfan is a proven endocrine disrupter, and exhibits estrogen like properties similar to DDT. Experimental evidence shows that this property leads to delay in sexual maturation in males or damage of the reproductive system. It also increases the risk of breast cancer among women, and has the ability to alter the chromosomes in mammals, leading to a risk of birth defects.
Tests on laboratory animals show high carcinogenic properties and internal organ damage.
What happens to Endosulfan in the environment?
Endosulfan is fairly immobile in soil, and highly persistent. It breaks down into further toxic compounds, some of which increase in production in tropical areas. It does not easily dissolve in water, and can bio accumulate in the bodies of fishes and other aquatic organisms.

How widespread is the Endosulfan contamination in the environment? Endosulfan residues have been detected in air, water and soil samples in India, river water in China, lagoons in Spain, vegetation in Madagascar, Zambia and Ghana, water from the Alps, and river sediments in Malaysia.

How widespread is Endosulfan contamination in the food that we eat?
Endosulfan has been detected in food samples from across the world: Australia (beef), U.S.A and Canada (food samples), Brazil (tomatoes), Cyprus & Croatia (vegetables), India (vegetables, vegetable oil, and seeds).
A high level of Endosulfan has been detected in human breast milk in India, cord blood in Spain, and blood and urine in Croatia.

Has Endosulfan actually killed or harmed people? In India
Kerala was the first state in India to ban Endosulfan after a court order in 2003. This happened after the Endosulfan tragedy in Kasargode, which is widely considered one of the worst pesticide disasters to happen to a region.
Aerial spraying of cashew plantations began in 1978, and was done 3 times a year covering 15 gram panchayats in Kasargode. There were many warning signals which the decision makers ignored like the mass death of bees, fishes, foxes, birds, and congenital deformities in cows.
Endosulfan is a stomachic and quick contact poison, which destroys quickly but is non-specific, so kills everything it comes into contact with (not just the insect pests it is meant to destroy).
In 1994, independent health observations by a local health doctor, revealed a rising incidence of mental illness and congenital anomalies in Kasargode. Initially radioactive toxicity or heavy metal poisoning of the water bodies was thought to be the reason behind this. After several more complaints in areas where Endosulfan was being sprayed and the work of many national and international groups, Endosulfan spraying was linked back to the abnormal health problems at Kasargode.
The commonly noted diseases were neurobehavioral disorders, congenital malformations in girls, and reproductive tract abnormalities in males. Another report showed increased rate of cancer and gynaecological abnormalities.
Good gesture
Endosulfan is just one of the many toxic compounds that are routinely sprayed on food. Several organisations and concerned parties are battling with the Indian government to reverse its stand on Endosulfan. The good news is that under all this pressure, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to have a scientific enquiry on the effects of Endosulfan and has promised to take a more considered view on the subject.

There are no debates on this – It is time to embrace organic food. Most major cities have 3 – 4 organic outlets, so supply is no longer an issue. Even if it is not possible to consume only organic produce ALL the time, every little bit helps.

Is our lifestyle a killer ?

You feel proud to be a part of urban world. Isn’t it? The long working hours, junky flabby food, freedom of alcohol & smoke, parties lessening your sleep, late marriages & later pregnancies etc, surely fascinates everyone. But do you realize that this lifestyle might show you a classy urbanite but is taking you away from your healthy mind & body.

Oncologists opine that it is alarming to see younger patients walking into cancer care clinics with serious problems. As opposed to the West, the biggest concern is that patients getting affected with serious cancers are 20 years younger comparatively.A remarkable 90-95% of cancer cases are caused by your environment and lifestyle. Lifestyle factors linked to cancer include alcohol, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, infections, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity. The biggest determinants of your cancer risk however are whether or not you are exposed to tobacco smoke and the quality of your diet. Of all cancer-related deaths around 25-30% is due to tobacco and as many as 30-35% are linked to diet.

According to Dr. Sunil Gupta, Senior Oncologist, Rajeev Gandhi Cancer Institute, “Most of these cancers are lifestyle driven and are due to unhealthy habits like no exercise, overweight, popping hormonal pills, smoking, and tobacco chewing etc. Unfortunately, people think cancer is for the old and don't even get themselves screened but we would like to tell them that cancer is not just about the old anymore.”If we look at the feminine gender, Cervical Cancer is stalking them the most.

But besides urban, more cases are reported from rural areas. It is mainly because of poor hygiene habits. Another type of cancer that is steadily increasing is breast cancer followed by stomach cancer, both directly related to the sedentary urban lifestyle.“We see a rise in the working women population because they have late pregnancies and start breastfeeding much later. Also they tend to take too many self medicated hormonal pills and survive on junk food which is contributing to the rise.” says Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Senior Medical Oncologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

We all know that Cancer is a preventable lifestyle disease yet every year it claims tens of billions of human lives with drug treatment costing hundreds of billions. Despite enormous investment in cancer treatment most cancer therapies are highly toxic, ineffective and unaffordable to greater than 80% of the world population. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to lifestyle.

सिवाय सरकारी नौकरी के.......

तमिलनाडु के एक कलेक्टर ने अपनी छह साल की बेटी को एक सरकारी स्कूल में भर्ती करवाया है.जब वे इस स्कूल में अपनी बच्ची के दाखिले के लिए पहुँचे तो दूसरे माँ-बाप की तरह कतार में खड़े हुए.दिल्ली के एक अख़बार में इस ख़बर का प्रकाशित होना ही साबित करता है कि यह कुछ असामान्य सी बात है.यक़ीनन ज़िलाधीश को उनके साथी अधिकारियों ने समझाया भी होगा. लेकिन वे नहीं माने. उन्होंने अख़बार से भी बात करने से इनकार कर दिया कि ये उनका निजी फ़ैसला है.किसी अफ़सर की बेटी सरकारी स्कूल में, आम लोगों के बच्चों के साथ कैसे पढ़ सकती है?

वहाँ किसानों और मज़दूरों के बच्चे पढ़ते हैं, उस वर्ग के बच्चे जिनके लिए दो जून की रोटी के बाद इतना पैसा बचता ही नहीं कि वे सरकारी स्कूल के अलावा कहीं और अपने बच्चे को पढ़ा सकें.अब सरकारी स्कूल में किसी अफ़सर, नेता, व्यापारी, उद्योगपति, डॉक्टर और ऐसे ही किसी ऐसे व्यक्ति के बच्चे नहीं पढ़ते जो उच्च या मध्यवर्ग में आते हैं. जो महंगे निजी स्कूल में नहीं जा सकते वो किसी सस्ते निजी स्कूल में जाते हैं, लेकिन सरकारी स्कूल में नहीं जाते.

ठीक वैसे ही जैसे इस वर्ग के लोग और उनके रिश्तेदार सरकारी अस्पताल में इलाज के लिए नहीं जाते. एम्स और पीजीआई जैसे कुछ अपवाद हो सकते हैं लेकिन वहाँ भी वो तब जाते हैं जब जेब जवाब दे जाती है या और कोई चारा नहीं होता.

वो सरकारी बसों में नहीं चढ़ते, सरकारी डाक व्यवस्था के इस्तेमाल को टालते हैं. वो सरकारी कंपनियों के उत्पाद नहीं ख़रीदते यहाँ तक कि टेलीफ़ोन जैसी सुविधा में भी निजी कंपनी को तरजीह देते हैं.सरकारी के नाम पर वे रेल और सड़क जैसी गिनी चुनी चीज़ों का ही इस्तेमाल करते हैं. वो भी इसलिए कि उसका विकल्प नहीं है.

एक प्रोफ़ेसर का आकलन है कि संपन्न वर्ग को तो छोड़ दीजिए अब मध्यवर्ग के लोग भी हर उस सुविधा के इस्तेमाल को अपनी तौहीन समझते हैं जो सरकारी है.हालात इतने ख़राब हैं कि यदि कोई व्यक्ति पैसा खर्च करने में ज़रा सा भी सक्षम है तो वह सरकारी कंडोम पर भी भरोसा नहीं करता.

वैसे तो ये सरकार के लिए चिंता की बात होनी चाहिए लेकिन सरकार को चलाने वाले राजनेता और अधिकारी दोनों को इसकी चिंता नहीं दिखती.न्यायालयों को इस बात पर चिंता ज़ाहिर करते नहीं देखा कि सरकारी स्कूल इतने बदहाल क्यों है कि हर कोई अपने बच्चे को सरकारी स्कूल में भेजने से कतराता है. भेजता वही है जिसके पास विकल्प नहीं है या दोपहर को मिलने वाले उस भोजन की चिंता है जो न्यायालय के कहने पर सरकारी स्कूलों में बाँटा जा रहा है.

आज से दो दशक पहले स्थिति इतनी ख़राब नहीं थी. यक़ीन न हो तो उन राजनेताओं, अधिकारियों और न्यायाधीशों से बात करके देखिए जो आज से बीस साल पहले किसी छोटे शहर के प्रायमरी स्कूल में पढ़ते थे. उनमें से अधिकांश आपको किसी न किसी सरकारी स्कूल में पढ़े हुए मिल जाएँगे. उनका जन्म किसी न किसी सरकारी अस्पताल में हुआ होगा.

लेकिन आज क्या वे अपने बच्चों का जन्म किसी सरकारी अस्पताल में होने की कल्पना कर सकते हैं? क्या वे अपने बच्चे को किसी सरकारी स्कूल में पढ़ने भेजेंगे?

ये आज़ादी के बाद के पाँचवें और छठवें दशक में सरकारी व्यवस्था में हुए पतन का सबूत है. ये सरकारी प्रश्रय में निजी व्यवसाय के पनपने का सबूत भी है. ये नेहरू के समाजवादी भारत का मनमोहन सिंह के पूंजीवादी भारत में तब्दील हो जाने का सच है.

हमने अपनी आँखों से देखा है कि सरकारी अमला किस तरह से एक सरकारी व्यवस्था को धीरे-धीरे इसलिए ख़राब करता है ताकि निजी बेहतर दिखने लगे और आख़िर सरकारी व्यवस्था दम तोड़ दे या फिर उसका निजीकरण किया जा सके.

तमिलनाडु के ज़िलाधीश की बच्ची के सरकारी स्कूल में जाते ही सरकारी अमले ने उस स्कूल की सुध लेनी शुरु कर दी है. पक्का है कि अगर ज़िलाधीश की बच्ची वहाँ दो चार साल पढ़ पाई तो उसका नक्शा और स्तर सब बदल जाएगा.

लेकिन यह एक अपवाद भर है.

परिस्थितियाँ तो उस दिन बदलेंगीं जिस दिन हर राजनेता और अधिकारी अपने बच्चों को ऐसे ही सरकारी स्कूलों में भेजने का फ़ैसला कर ले.

यह समय है जब हम भ्रष्टाचार जैसी व्यापक समस्या के बारे में बात करते हुए ये भी सोचें कि जो कुछ भी सरकारी है वह धीरे-धीरे निकृष्ट क्यों होता जा रहा है ... सिवाय सरकारी नौकरी के.

Nomadic Nuance Of Rajasthan

Traditional ironsmiths always on the move. The Gadulia Lohars from Rajasthan live in close-knit communities that travel from village to village.Gadulia Lohras, a nomadic tribe of Rajasthan, have been moving around North India in their beautifully carved wooden carts sporting traditional Rajasthani robes since the 16th century! These are a closely knit community and prefer to live in isolation. Their seclusion had helped them keep their identity relatively uninfluenced by urban technological culture. Since the distant past, their caravans have been wayfaring from village to village and city to city to earn them their livelihood. Today, at the outskirts of the cities, cart-wheels stop where they singularly champion their traditional profession of ironsmithy (loha) which is why they are known as lohars down the ages. According to hearsay, these lohars are the descendants of weapon-makers from the 16th century who used to shape the valiant Rajput swords.


Gadulia Lohars claim that their ancestral home was in Chittorgarh. During the Mughals days, Maharaja Udai Singh used to rule Chittor. Udai Singh was defeated in the wave of Mughal expansion and in 1568 Chittor fell into the hands of the Mughals. Thus people abandoned the fort and fled to the Aravali hills. Maharana Pratap, son of Udai Singh, continued the valiant resistance to the Mughals and recovered some of the lost land of kingdom. Gadulia Lohars were the soldiers of Maharana Pratap’s army who fought the war. Before his death, Maharana Pratap took a pledge from his chiefs that Chittor would not be abandoned to the enemy. But fate had in store otherwise for the Rajputs. They had to give away Chittor to the vast Mughal army. After losing the battle, these Gadulia Lohars vowed to follow five principles till they could liberate the fortress of Chittorgarh. Today, when you visit the fortress, you will find a tablet bearing an inscription in Hindi proclaiming the five principles: Gadulia Lohars vowed that they would not go up to the fort of Chittor until the quila was liberated. They would love a nomadic life and would not live in houses. Furthermore, they pledged not to sleep on cots (charpais) or to light lamps and also not to keep ropes for drawing water from the well.

These Lohars are considered highest among all other nomadic groups of Rajasthan.The male members of the community wear jhavi or angarkhi (jacket) which is collarless. They sport a headgear called Potia which is colourful and designed with dots and flower motifs from the Rajasthani school of art. And they wear the dhoti as a lower garment. All Gadulia Lohars wear nagra jooti or hand-stitched shoes.The dressing of Gadulia Lohar woman are brighter and with bigger motifs. They wear a ghagra (skirt), kanchili (bodice) lugra (mantle) and a pair of nagra shoes.Gadulia Lohar women are especially fond of tattooing.Generally, at the time of birth itself, matches are made amongst the community. On maturity of the bride and bridegroom their marriage is performed and the dates are fixed with the help of a Brahmin who finds out the fright muhurat (auspicious time). The girl’s father demands bride price from the bridegroom which is generally decided upon by the elders of the community. When everything gets settled, nine knots are tied on a thread and one single knot is opened every day from the ninth day prior to the date of marriage. Gadulia Lohars refer to the bridegroom as lada and the bride as ladi.

It has been observed that when the son attains maturity at the age of sixteen, his parents present him a cart and blacksmith’s tools to enable him to lead an independent life. Generally the son’s cart is placed next to his parent’s cart.Gadulia Lohars make plough blades and axe blades of different sizes and dimensions. They also make cooking utensils, hammer and different types of cutting, boring and leveling equipment. To make all these, Gadulia Lohars use a bellow to inflame the oven, levers, anvils etc. they prefer to work with the furnace specially in the winter season when the heat is not hazardous for them. In summer the demand for iron goods is considerably lower too.

Gadulia Lohars have been leading a nomadic life for more than a hundred years. Their nomadic life goes on. Often the wheels of a carvan stop for a longer time in urban settings but always toe ventually move on. Although amidst cultural amalgamation they might have lost some of their traditions and cultural values, their blackish wooden carved carts and bellowing furnances are still to be seen all over the northern parts of India. They have not altogether lost their cultural ethos as this secluded community enjoys the prime Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali with traditional gaiety. They can be seen encamped on the roadside of big metropolises where, even though the electronic culture looms large, they exist upholding their cultural ethos and live in their cramped carts. Symbolic nomadic nuances!

Sheep /Goat Farming

A sheep business can be a very profitable venture especially if you raise a lot of them however starting it may tend to be very slow. For an entrepreneur to succeed in such a venture a lot of patience is needed as well as understanding the cycles of your business for harvest time is a different season from planting.

Goat is a multi functional animal and plays a significant role in the economy and nutrition of landless, small and marginal farmers in the country. Goat rearing is an enterprise which has been practiced by a large section of population in rural areas. Goats can efficiently survive on available shrubs and trees in adverse harsh environment in low fertility lands where no other crop can be grown. In pastoral and agricultural subsistence societies in India, goats are kept as a source of additional income and as an insurance against disaster. Goats are also used in ceremonial feastings and for the payment of social dues.Goat is a multi functional animal and plays a significant role in the economy and nutrition of landless, small and marginal farmers in the country. Goat rearing is an enterprise which has been practiced by a large section of population in rural areas.

Goats can efficiently survive on available shrubs and trees in adverse harsh environment in low fertility lands where no other crop can be grown. In pastoral and agricultural subsistence societies in India, goats are kept as a source of additional income and as an insurance against disaster. Goats are also used in ceremonial feastings and for the payment of social dues. In addition to this, goat has religious and ritualistic importance in many societies.

The initial investment needed for Goat farming is low. ii) Due to small body size and docile nature, housing requirements and managemental problems with goats are less. iii) Goats are friendly animals and enjoy being with the people. iv) Goats are prolific breeders and achieve sexual maturity at the age of 10-12 months gestation period .Goat is a multi functional animal and plays a significant role in the economy and nutrition of landless, small and marginal farmers in the country. Goat rearing is an enterprise which has been practiced by a large section of population in rural areas. Goats can efficiently survive on available shrubs.

Indian goat breeds are
» Sirohi
» Jamunapari
» Barbari
» Surti
» Beetal
Exotic goat breeds in Indai are
» Alpine
» Anglo-Nubian
» Toggenberg
» Saanen
» Boer

An introspection at 64

Today ,on introspection we find there is much to celebrate ,including the fact that we are still unified after six decades.For when India was born in 1947 there were 40 odd independent nations in the world,and today there are more than 200.It's not as if more land was recovered from the seas,but simply that many countries splintered into smaller nation states.India itself was an amalgamation of diverse sub national entities,each of whom could have become a full fledged number of the United Nations.

The journey of the past years has been tumultuous marked with wars and famines,small and large changes in the constitution and governments,and occasional internal conflicts.But all these have been dealt by constitutional means within a democratic framework.On the economic front there is much to celebrate .Today we are a trillion dollar economy and among the fastest growing in the world.

The memories of severe food shortages and emergency wheat imports appear distant now.Even foreign exchange is no longer a scarce resource as it used to be.Most youngsters today expect to lead a better life than there parents.This optimism and the can do attitude of today's entrepreneurs is cause for celebration.

The remarkable feature of Indian economy is that the number of households tied directly or indirectly to agriculture is disproportionately large.These households need to move into service or industry,else their income and productivity will continue to stagnate,making it harder for the future generations to break the shackles of poverty.

Sixty four is the age when an  ordinary human being go into semi retirement and become contemplative.you don't quite cut off from the family or society ,but you delve deeper into spiritual pursuits.What happens to humans,is obviously not applicable to our still youthful nation.But after 64 years of independence ,this is an appropriate age to ask ourselves soul searching question about the quality and path of  economic development.The changing national agenda reflects the maturing of social concerns. Not surprisingly,today we care more about inclusive growth ,and not just growth.We passed a law guaranteeing 100 days of rural employment as a proxy for genuine unemployment insurance.we are working on making the right to elementary education a fundamental and an enforceable right ,right to information is also there .

The list of challenges look formidable,and is a cause for despair to the crowd who see the glass as less than half empty.Some go to an extreme and call it total darkness of development while some fear our progress and does coward acts of blasts to shake the system and economy but in vein.Even if one grants them the metaphor of darkness ,the only way forward is to light a candle.

Feeding everyday

Of the several services an NGO brings to the nation's children the most precious I feel is the Midday Meal ,it is the most daunting.Almost more than one million children everyday waiting to eat,what is for many ,their only food for the day;the hot midday meal brought to the schools.
Each and every meal like the students eating it have a story behind it.This one is  from Helpiya,a small un electrified village ,in Sarda block of Udaipur,up in the Aravalli.It is a 500 family ,one crop no health care and zero road village."After 26 January ,15 august and 2 October these villagers and the 50 students count 21 January ,the day on wards the village school started getting uninterrupted supply of cooked midday meal,  as the most important day in this village .Today no time for a story only fact and figures will reveal the truth .
With at least 450 calories and 12grams of proteins for students up to fifth standard and 700 calories and 20 grams of protiens from sixth to tenth standard is the only source of energy for about 1000000 children in 9535 schools where the 21 kitchens of the NGO works in India .Feeding more than a million children may seem a fair figure at a glance but it pales when compared to the number of children that still crawl without even a single meal everyday.
Everyday ,throwing discipline to the winds ,children come whooping down from their classrooms the moment they spot their food cans cross the stream .The indulgent school teacher lets them from their self styled convoy of excitement to lead the containers of rotis ,pulao and dal up the slopes to the school grounds.
Gratifyingly the school has 80 children now on its rools.The midday meal of sweet dalia ,subzi pulao and other varied menus is ,without doubt ,the biggest attraction that drew them to it.

Stepping forward to Joint tourism

If you visit Mount Abu and then, want to drive down to Gujarat, you will not be required to contact tour operators in Gujarat separately.A person coming to a tour operator in Rajasthan is offered a joint package. Once he takes up the package, the operator in Rajasthan takes care of the tourist till he is in their state and later, hands over the tourist to their counterpart in Gujarat who further plans his tour

You can contact either the Gujarat Tourism department or the Rajasthan Tourism department to assist you to make arrangement for you irrespective of the state you want to visit, thanks to promotion of interstate tourism!

In order to bring in tourists to Gujarat, and to market its sight seeing places, the state tourism department has entered into a pact with Rajasthan, Karnataka and Punjab for interstate tourism.It has already started selling North Gujarat with Rajasthan. The department is promoting Shamlaji, Kesariyaji, Udaipur, Chittorgadh, Haldighati, Nathdwara, Charbhuja, Ranakpura, Mount Abu in Rajasthan along with Ambaji, Kumbharia, Modhera, Bahucharaji in Gujarat.The state has already entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rajasthan and Karnataka for interstate tourists and also Punjab, which has a large number of NRI visitors and tourists, from Rajasthan the state would be targeting foreign tourists, from Punjab the department will target religious tourists.Signing the MOU is in the interest of the state. 


Rajasthan has been promoting Gir and the effect is that schools from Rajasthan have visited Gir for watching the Asiatic lions. Tourists coming to Rajasthan come for heritage tourism and the operators offer Gir, Somnath and Buddha tourists together.

Examinations.

The latest debate around education in India seems to be about the merits and demerits of abolishing school board examinations.In a nation where over 100 million children are in elementary schools holding a card which says 53 percent of grade 5 don't have grade 2 competency :abolishing or having examination probably makes no difference.
I believe, examinations are part and parcel of our daily life.Even the poorest children take exams every other day.Their exams are often about choices they have to make.Like ,to attend school or to go for work.Their daily examinations are tougher.Take the case of Lomeshwari in Kanker,Chhattisgarh.She had to choose between a .303rifle and an HB pencil;the choice to join the maoists in adjoining Dantewada villages or to be "Nanhi Kali" of educate your girl child project of an NGO.And she choose latter.This means she had to also choose to live with her illiterate grandparents and not parents who are migrant,casual ,unskilled labourers.This led to the frail 11year old Lomeshwari getting for herself a rank amongst the top 5 in district's grade 5 board examination .
Let us ,therefore ,ignore the brouhaha on examinations and examine the plight of rural and tribal children who may be a servant in our vicinity with no affordable school to opt for .Their daily 'Exams' are toughter.I dare say tougher than tests that even President Barack Obama have to appear for in the White House.

tears and anger ...

Born on July 13, 1987 in Pakistan, Kasab was one of the ten terrorists who carried out the three-day long attacks on the metropolis which began on the evening of November 26, 2008 and left 166 people dead.Three blasts rocked the busy markets of Dadar, Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House tomorrow, which also happens to be Kasab's 24th Birthday.Inspite his behind bars, and death sentence awarded by the court ( not executed for no reason....), his hand remains upper against the Maharashtra state government, Maharashtra CM, and the Home Minister Chidambaram don't deserve to stay even a second in their positions!
A shocking coincidence rather call it a striking similarity  between almost all Bomb Blast attacks in several places of India since last 4 years.The Bomb Blasts attacks by Terrorists in India happened to be on a particluar 13th dated irrespective of month.With all these '13th' dated Bomb blasts one finds a shiver in spine and many may call it just a coincidence.Number '13' stands for Evil as many people around world believe it.Are the Terrorists and Anti social Elements planning these blasts with the same belief or they challenge Government leaving a clue of all 13th dated blasts?.Terrorists keep on Blasting leaving innocent people dead with a message "We are terrorising you for your sins".A typical unanswered question remains in every Indian's mind "When can we expect a terror free tomorrow?".

The pitty is Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the bomb blasts in Mumbai.

First explode the bombs,shed crocodile tears and send sympathy messages. Is it from one corrupt government to another.When is the next meeting between S.M.Krishna and Malik leading to meeting of Mr.Singh with Mr.Gilani leading to meeting of meetings.There will be lavish dinners,hand shakes and plenty of good will which both of them know it is fake.System must be change to stop internal terrorist who do corruption and external terrorist who do bomb blast.Despite the intelligence wing having 2000 men, there was no advance information about the bomb blasts.This highlights the fact that the loopholes in the system remain despite promises of intelligence revamp after the Mumbai attacks of 26/11.


Government cannot hang Kasab and Afjal Guru. The culprits are still free despite they have been in jail for a long time. Our government should punish them immediately to send a message .even intelligence failure corruption and terrorism are the major consern for the hour !

Experts say a strategic input was available with the intelligence and security agencies that crowded areas in the Metros could be targeted by terror groups.

पटना में तमकुआ से प्रकाश की ओर.......

पटना से बाहर निकलते ही मानो बिहार अंधेरे में डूब जाता था. रात को तो ज़िंदगी पूरी तरह ठहर जाती थी. ऐसे में तय किया कि मैं इस इलाके के लिए ऊर्जा के क्षेत्र में काम करूंगा.

पहले गांवभर में लोग आठ बजते-बजते सो जाते थे. रात को सांप-बिच्छु का डर रहता था और चोरियां भी हो जाती थीं. बिजली आने के बाद ऐसा नहीं होता. अब हमें तेल खत्म होने पर पढ़ाई रोकने का गर भी नहीं है. हम जब चाहे पढ़ सकते हैं.

हरेश, छात्र एवं स्थानीय निवासी

अंधकार में डूबे इन गांव और कस्बों तक रोशनी पहुंचाने के लिए मैंने अपने कुछ साथियों से भी बातचीत की और मेरे साथ जुड़े स्कूल के दिनों के मेरे साथी ग्यानेश पांडेय.

हम लोगों को एक ऐसी तकनीक की तलाश थी जो सस्ती हो, किफ़ायती हो और गांव की व्यवस्था से मेल खाए.

हमने बिजली बनाने और उसके लिए 'बायोमास गैसिफ़िकेशन' की तकनीक का इस्तेमाल करने का फ़ैसला किया.

ये एक ऐसी तकनीक है जिसमें ईंधन के तौर पर बायोमास का इस्तेमाल किया जाता है और उससे पैदा हुई गैस को जलाकर बिजली बनाई जा सकती है.

ये इलाका धान की खेती के लिए मशहूर है और खेती के बाद कचरे के रुप में धान की भूसी इस इलाके में बहुतायत में मौजूद थी.

ऐसे में हमने ईंधन के तौर पर धान की भूसी का ही इस्तेमाल करने का फ़ैसला किया. हमने अपनी इस परियोजना को ‘हस्क पावर सिस्टम्स’ का नाम दिया.

लालटेन और ढिबरी की रोशनी में जी रहे गांववालों को एकाएक इस नए तरीके पर विश्वास नहीं हुआ, लेकिन आधी से भी कम कीमत पर मिल रही बिजली की सुविधा को वो ज़्यादा दिन तक नकार नहीं सके.

आमतौर पर गांव में हर घर दो से तीन घंटे लालटेन या ढिबरी जलाने के लिए कैरोसीन तेल पर 120 से 150 रुपए खर्च करता है.

ऐसे में ‘हस्क पावर सिस्टम्स’ के ज़रिए हमने गांववालों को 100 रुपए महीना पर छह घंटे रोज़ के लिए दो सीएफएल जलाने की सुविधा दी

आखिरकार साल 2007 को ‘हस्क पावर सिस्टम्स’ की पहली कोशिश क़ामयाब हुई. हमने बिहार के ‘तमकुआ’ गांव में धान की भूसी से बिजली पैदा करने का पहला प्लांट लगया और गांव तक रौशनी पहुंचाई.

संयोग से ‘तमकुआ’ का मतलब होता है 'अंधकार भरा कोहरा' और इस तरह 15 अगस्त 2007 को भारत की आज़ादी की 60वीं वर्षगांठ पर हमने ‘तमकुआ’ को उसके अंधेरे से आज़ादी दिलाई.

कचरे से बिजली.

भारत में सिर्फ धान के भूसे से 27 गीगा-वॉट बिजली उत्पन्न करने की क्षमता है. उड़ीसा, बिहार, पश्चिम बंगाल जैसे कई राज्यों में बड़े स्तर पर धान की खेती होती है और कचरे के रुप में धान की भूसी निकलती है. इन सभी राज्यों मे इसका इस्तेमाल बिजली बनाने के लिए किया जा सकता है.

कुलमिलाकर अपनी इस कोशिश के ज़रिए हमने गांव में बहुतायत में मौजूद एक बेकार सी चीज़ का नायाब इस्तेमाल ढूंढ निकाला.

यही नहीं ईंधन के रुप में इस्तेमाल के बाद बचे भूसे की राख से महिलाएं अगरबत्तियां बनाती हैं और हर दिन का 60 रुपए तक कमा लेती हैं.

साथ ही 'हस्क पावर सिस्टम' के ज़रिए स्थानीय लोगों को रोज़गार भी मिल रहा है क्योंकि प्लांट का सारा काम स्थानीय लोग और गांववाले ही करते हैं.

बिजली ने कई मायने में तमकुआ के लोगों की ज़िंदगी बदल दी है.

छठी कक्षा में पढ़ने वाला हरेश कहता है, ''पहले गांवभर में लोग आठ बजते-बजते सो जाते थे. रात को सांप-बिच्छु का डर रहता था और चोरियां भी हो जाती थीं. बिजली आने के बाद ऐसा नहीं होता. अब हमें तेल खत्म होने पर पढ़ाई रोकने का डर भी नहीं है. हम जब चाहे पढ़ सकते हैं.''

हमारी इस कोशिश को व्यापार और समाजसेवा की एक नायाब कोशिश के रुप में पहचान देने के लिए साल 2011 में हमें 'एशडेन पुरस्कार' से भी नवाज़ा गया.

मेरा और मेरे साथियों का मानना है कि ये बदलाव सिर्फ बिहार तक सीमित नहीं रहना चाहिए.

भारत में सिर्फ धान के भूसे से 27 गीगा-वॉट बिजली उत्पन्न करने की क्षमता है. उड़ीसा, बिहार, पश्चिम बंगाल जैसे कई राज्यों में बड़े स्तर पर धान की खेती होती है और कचरे के रुप में धान की भूसी निकलती है. इन सभी राज्यों मे इसका इस्तेमाल बिजली बनाने के लिए किया जा सकता है.

 लक्ष्य है 'तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय...' यानि अंधकार से प्रकाश की ओर और हम अपनी इस कोशिश को अंधेरे में डूबे भारत के हर गांव तक पहुंचना चाहते हैं.''

Our nation INDIA

{Kindly follow the procedures and respect the National Anthem.}


The world's largest democracy and second most populous country emerged as a major power in the 1990s. It is militarily strong, has major cultural influence and a fast-growing and powerful economy.

The vast and diverse Indian sub-continent - from the mountainous Afghan frontier to the jungles of Burma - was under foreign rule from the early 1800s until the demise of the British Raj in 1947.

A nuclear-armed state, it carried out tests in the 1970s and again in the 1990s in defiance of world opinion. However, India is still tackling huge social, economic and environmental problems.

The subsequent partition of the sub-continent - into present-day India and Pakistan - sowed the seeds for future conflict. There have been three wars between India and its arch-rival Pakistan since 1947, two of them over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

With its many languages, cultures and religions, India is highly diverse. This is also reflected in its federal political system,   

 whereby power is shared between the central government and 28 states.

A peace process, which started in 2004, stayed on track despite tension over Kashmir and several high-profile bombings until the Mumbai attacks of November 2008

various measures have been introduced to empower disadvantaged groups and give them easier access to opportunities - such as education and work.

However, communal, caste and regional tensions continue to haunt Indian politics, sometimes threatening its long-standing democratic and secular ethos.

Poverty alleviation and literacy campaigns are ongoing.

Our country at a Glance

Full name: Republic of India

Population: 1.2 billion (UN, 2010)

Capital: New Delhi

Most-populated city: Mumbai (Bombay)

Area: 3.1 million sq km (1.2 million sq miles), excluding Indian-administered Kashmir (100,569 sq km/38,830 sq miles)

Major languages: Hindi, English and at least 16 other official languages

Major religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism

Life expectancy: 64 years (men), 67 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 Indian Rupee = 100 paise

Main exports: Agricultural products, textile goods, gems and jewellery, software services and technology, engineering goods, chemicals, leather products

GNI per capita: US $1180 (World Bank, 2009)

Internet domain: .in

International dialling code: +91

President: Pratibha Patil from July 2007

Prime minister: Manmohan Singh from May 2004.