15-21 May 2015
Vol. 4 No. 39 Pages 16 ` 10
RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319, Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2014-2017
Quietly At Work { Barnali Dutta/FG }
write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
T
he State govt. has completed 6 months, and it's time for the first review – after the 100-day ‘preview’. Despite the presence of many local ‘heavyweights’ across the State, the choice of Khattar as CM was unexpected. It is a measure of the ‘new’ CM’s transparency, and even political sagacity, that the State govt. has boldly put out its 6-monthly performance. The govt. seems to believe that it has started walking its talk. Here’s FG’s view.
Hai Ye Gurgaon Meri Jaan
While the govt. has rightfully started probing the suspected scams (mainly property related) of the past, it has thankfully not got bogged down with them. Of course the CM has ‘conveniently’ said that it will take time to get the ‘derailed’ system back on track. A White paper on the State’s finances was presented before the (State) Budget. An SIT, headed by the Lokayukta, had concluded that Rs 10,000 crores was the estimated property fraud committed over the past decade. The CM had responded with a clampdown on the approval of CLUs (Change of Land Use), an instrument that allegedly
had been grossly misused. The State has provided adequate and fairly timely compensation to farmers affected (even 33%) by the unseasonal rainfall. The (agrarian) State has introduced the concept of Haryana Fresh (for fruits and vegetables) and Mega Food Parks. Surprisingly, a ‘novice’ CM has taken to the e-world instantly – the State has announced a time-bound delivery of 163 e-services. In fact it has Contd. on p 7
The Enforcement Directorate has raided bookies in Delhi and Gurgaon that were involved in ‘IPL Betting’. FG had very recently (Volume 4, No. 36 - April 24 to 30, 2015) carried a Cover Page story on this – The Premier Bet.
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15-21 May 2015
RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319 Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2014-2017 Vol. 4 No. 39 15-21 May 2015
Editor:
Atul Sobti
Correspondent:
Barnali Dutta
Sr. Photographer:
Prakhar Pandey
Sr. Designer:
Amit Singh
Marketing Executive: Kumar Thakur Dy. Manager A/cs & Admin: Shiv Shankar Jha Editorial Office
Bon Vivant...
Eternal Garba Gujarat is a treasure trove of folk culture. This jewel of Western India is nestled inside the Kathiawar peninsula, with the turbulent waves of the Arabian Sea lashing its shores. Though Gujarat is perhaps today better known for its industries, infrastructure, GDP and overall development, it has been synonymous with song and dance for long. Apart from the very popular Dandiya dance, Gujarat’s folk culture also offers Bhavai, which is a folk theatre in praise of Goddess Amba (Durga), and Raas-Garba (or simply Garba), which is a ritual dance celebrated during the Hindu festival of Navaratri (nine auspicious nights). Garba is also performed during other Hindu festivals like Basant Panchami, Holi and Poornima.
...P 15
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C ontents
Comment... Tagged in India A Geographical Indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products, which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region or country). GIs have been defined under Article 22(1) of the WTO Agreement on TradeRelated aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS ) Agreement as: ‘Indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin’. Darjeeling Tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004-05.
...P 10
from 108, Aap Ka Bazar, Gurudwara Road, Gurgaon-122001, Haryana Printed at AGS Publication, D-67, Sector 6, Gautam Budh Nagar, NOIDA – 201301, Uttar Pradesh
The views expressed in the opinion pieces and/or the columns are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Friday Gurgaon or Arap Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd.
Friday Gurgaon Empanelled with DAVP
Wellness... Taming Chronic Diseases (Part 4)
Spritual... Timelessness Certain encounters in our lives are truly timeless – a ‘time’ when we become blissfully unaware of time. However, while it is not uncommon for someone to lose track of time, this by itself does not constitute a mystical experience of timelessness; in fact this would not even challenge our conceptual understanding of space and time. Timelessness is, in simple terms, a mystical experience that transcends time. Such mystical experiences make us feel and believe that time and space are illusory.
...P 11
Empanelled with DIPR, Haryana
G-Scape....
Sectors 68 to 75
Having highlighted Vegetables & Fruits, Quality Proteins and Whole Grains (in Parts 1 - 3), we now consider universal solvents that go into making a ‘healthy and balanced plate’. It’s important to note that almost all nutrients are either ‘fat-soluble’ or ‘water-soluble’. Interestingly, both fats and beverages can swing wildly between ‘good’ and’ bad’. Getting the right balance is vital, as fluids are carriers of nutrients as well as agents of lubrication, hydration and nutrient assimilation - to make the nutrients that we ingest more readily available to the body.
...P 13
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A Proactive Force.......................................................P 6 Civic/Social
CM - Hard & Soft........................................................P 6
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03
15-21 May 2015
Epicentre Stand Up Comedy Date: May 15 Time: 7.30pm Filmy Tandoncies (Hinglish/75mins) Comedian: Amit Tandon, Producer: Grandmasters of Comedy. Filmy Tandoncies is a comedy show dedicated to Bollywood. Tickets at Rs. 500/- available at the Venue. Suitable for 18 years & above. Theatre Date: May 16 & 17 Time: 7:30pm The Kambatta Case (English/ Hindi/120mins) Director: Feisal Alkazi, Producer: Ruchika Theatre Productions Cast: Sanjiv Desai, Radhika Alkazi, Smita Mazumdar Rajaram, Ashish Dhamija, Jagmohan Bhasin, Gunjan Sharma, Vishruth Singh, Gayatri Khanna, Devika Anand Puri, Rashmi Gulhati, Aqeel Rizvi, Sridhar Rajan, Ashish Sharma and others. Based on the sensational Nanavati murder case of 1959. Tickets at Rs. 350, 250 & 150 available at the Venue. Suitable for 18 years & above.
Music Date: May 19 Time: 7:30pm The Courtesan - An Enigma, Dance re-lived, stories re-told inspired by Pran Nevile's ‘Nautch Girls of India’. Introduction by Pran Nevile, followed by a concert featuring Manjari Chaturvedi performing Darbari Kathak the dance of the Courtesan. Accompanied by Neesha Singh, who will narrate stories from the lives of well known courtesans. Music Date: May 20 Time: 7:00pm Manna Dey & Hemant Kumar Re-live Sung by Anil Sambhor and Vijay Sambhor. Tickets at Rs. 200 & Rs. 150 available at the Venue. Suitable for all age groups. Dance Date: May 21 Time: 7:30pm An evening of Odissi recital by Ayesha Dahra, Dr. Arundhati Kaur and Baneeta Panda, disciple of Panchanan Bhuiyan.
Celebrating enthralling films by famous Japanese Director Yoji Yamada.
Creative Stop - Couture by Amit Behki opens its Debut Designer Store in Gurgaon With the aim of strengthening its presence across Delhi-NCR, Designer Amit Behki has launched his second flagship store in Gurgaon. The designer studio specializes in custom-tailoring services in men’s ethnic and formal wear. The brand emphasizes on distinctive groom’s wedding collection, considering the soaring demand for custom-built attire for the gala day. The sprawling 4,000 sq. ft. luxury studio exudes the grace and vivacity of Indian heritage, and offers a unique selection of groom wear. Elated with the launch, Amit Behki said, “I feel extremely excited to launch my designer studio in Gurgaon. Over the years we have witnessed customized buying behavior across the globe. This will help us bridge the gap between the customized demand and delivery. My collection is crafted in skills and elegance, offering a perfect blend of our customers’ requirements and our creativity." We aim to create a strong customer friendly base and give new dimensions to style and fashion beyond mannequins and ramps, he added. Creative Stop is all about moving away from the cliché of general shopping trend to a personal stylist trend. With Gurgaon having a majority of working professionals, the Studio's offer of 48 hours stitch ready services for its formal clothing line, would be most welcome. Creative Stop has carved a niche in the ever growing demand for customized men’s wear. Launched in 2007, the designer label has a unique collection of Sherwanis, Western Suits, Fusion-inspired Outfits and Jodhpuri, Bandhgala, Blazers and Jackets.
About Creative Stop: Creative Stop by Amit Behki, started in 2007, is a designer studio that offers custom-tailoring services for men’s ethnic and formal wear. The Studio designs complete head to toe needs of the grooms - ranging from Safaa and jutti to accessories like shoes, ties and cufflinks.
AMC
Title of the Film: The Hidden Blade Date: May 15 Time: 6:30pm Venue: The Japan Foundation, New Delhi The film is set in 1861, a time when Japan was facing revolutionary changes; the once upper class Samurai class is facing the loss of their social status and economic security.
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15-21 May 2015
Power tariff is hiked in Haryana by about 8%, except for those customers that consume very low loads; there is no hike for farmers. Haryana govt. proposes to provide loan guarantees of upto Rs 100 crores for loans taken by MSMEs. Haryana introduces a Solar (Rooftop) Net Metering system, on the lines of Delhi. CM asks power utilities to ensure uninterrupted power supply, especially through the nights, this summer. To ensure that bias in selection is curbed, interviews for State govt. posts will now carry less weightage – 12%, versus 25%; written test results will be paramount. MLA Dharambir is the new head of the Haryana Olympic Association (HOA). A person files a PIL in the HC against the new mandatory requirement of an Aadhaar Card for getting admissions and other benefits in the State. From June, all ultrasound centres will be asked to send their reports online. A retired SC judge is being asked to investigate all allegedly dubious land deals, including those involving Vadra’s companies, during the 10 years of Congress rule. An FIR is filed against 9 people – including 2 ex-Congress MLAs – for having committed property frauds totalling almost Rs. 100 crores.
A retired person, ex-staff of Haryana Roadways, suffers a heart attack and dies at the office when he is allegedly told that his pension file is missing and he cannot be paid. A boy and a girl, students of Class 12, are found dead in a room in Hasanpur village – they had consumed poison. A speeding car knocks down a constable near Dundahera. A 55-year-old security guard is
THE WEEK THAT WAS mowed down by a speeding minibus, in DLF 1. A 29-year-old man is run over and killed by a speeding auto on Sohna Road. A 27-year-old, resident of Sector 10, accuses her father in law of rape, and her mother in law and Dubaibased husband of harassment and torture. The family of a DHBVN electrician who had died in a road accident outside the State has been awarded Rs 45 lakhs as compensation by the Gurgaon District Court Lok Adalat. 3 police persons, including a woman constable, are thrashed by a mob instigated by the woman whom they are escorting back to her village on court orders. 7 people are injured when an office cab overturns at IFFCO Chowk. The brother of the person who masterminded the heist of Rs. 1.67 crores from various ATMs, is arrested; the accused, a cash loader tasked with the replenishment of cash in ATMs, is on the run. 4 people are held for smuggling 2,700kg of sandalwood at Jharsa Chowk flyover. 2 members of an inter-State gang are held for stealing gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs. 10 lakhs from a shop in Gold Souk; a woman and her 2 male accomplices steal Rs. 14 lakhs worth of gold bangles - the men are caught. 2 bike borne men rob a private company employee of Rs 5 lakhs at gunpoint, at Rajiv Chowk; the employee had just withdrawn the sum from the bank. A thief posing as a policeman takes off with the bike of a person that
Watch and listen to
'Hai Ye Gurgaon Meri Jaan' a ballad on Gurgaon, based on the
he had stopped for ‘checking’, on Sohna Road. 4 persons take a lift in a call centre car on Old Railway Road, and then snatch it. The cashier of a petrol pump in Sector 89 is looted of Rs 19,000. The head of an insurance company accused of a Rs 70 lakh plus fraud, is held. The owner of a company that was engaging in job frauds is caught in Udyog Vihar. An FIR for property fraud is filed against the son of an ex-IAS officer. A resident of Dubai, who had defrauded several women of the City on the pretext of marriage, after contacting them through a matrimonial site, is caught. Buyers of under construction Nirvana 2 colony conduct a havan to protest against the inordinate delay in the project. A case is filed against a councillor for trying to flout rules to get an EWS flat booked in his name. Another FIR is lodged against exMinister Sukhbir Kataria.
A woman is forced to deliver her baby in an auto, just outside the Civil Hospital; the baby and the mother are immediately take care of and are well. Over 3 lakh people in Gurgaon reportedly take insurance cover under the schemes that have just been introduced by the Centre. DC proposes the setting up of a medical college cum hospital for the ordinary citizens of the City, on 25 acres of land around Daultabad; Sheetla Mata Shrine Board has reportedly pledged to contribute Rs 40 crores for the same. People whose land is needed for the Dwarka Expressway (Northern
Nepal Helplines 0124 2316100, 0124 2303333 (for aid to Nepal) 1800-180-4646 Helpline for children with special needs
legendary song... 'Ye hai Bombay Meri Jaan'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHKm54U913g
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Peripheral Road) should get the agreed compensation by July 6, says HC; further construction of the road would then be able to proceed smoothly. Residents of Bhavani Enclave block roads to protest the pathetic water supply in their area; women residents of New Janta Colony also protest at MCG office and break some furniture when no one comes to hear them out. MCG alleges that 450 acres of its land at Gwal Pahari, worth Rs 6,000 crores, have been encroached. MCG demolishes various encroachments across the City. 2 CNG stations remain closed for 4 days, resulting in inconvenience to many commuters. DTC bus strike impacts local commuters severely; auto and taxi operators have a field day. Bus service to Bhondsi is restarted. HSIIDC will set up a fire station in the Manesar Industrial Area. Solar power generating units of 5KW each have been set up at 2 govt. middle schools. MCG and DLF would together set up libraries across the various DLF colonies. MCG refuses to loan another Rs 150 crores to Faridabad Municipal Corp. – the earlier loan of Rs 150 crores, given over 5 years ago, has still not been repaid. MCG Chief Engineer is transferred; SR Bishnoi from PHE Dept., Panchkula, is expected to be the new incumbent. 92 power feeders have tripped just in the last week. There are traffic jams across the City after the rain, on Wednesday. A camp at Tau Devi Lal Stadium for the hiring of people for the army leads to major traffic jams near Rajiv Chowk. Over 100 policemen undergo training on Good Behaviour. Another earthquake, of almost equal intensity as the last, hits Nepal – tremors are once again strongly felt in the City; the unpredictable weather continues. A labourer reportedly loses balance and falls to his death, during the earthquake; Shakti Bhavan (near Mini Secretariat) has reportedly developed a few cracks on a wall after the earthquake. Mother’s Day is celebrated warmly.
15-21 May 2015
{ Ved Prakash Khichuka}
W
ater is an essential commodity for many industrial units and commercial establishments, and its availability in adequate quantity and quality is crucial to their existence. One cannot even remotely imagine the existence of industries like Textiles, Paper, Engineering, and Chemical, and sectors like Housing, Hospitality and Healthcare, without water. Of the various sources of water, it is ground water that provides a sizeable amount to the industrial and commercial sectors. Dependence on ground water has been ever increasing for the many advantages it offers. It is available wherever and whenever it is required. It is of a more uniform character and relatively free from harmful bacteria. This resource can be developed at a small capital cost and in a short time. However, with the increasing use of ground water for agricultural, municipal, industrial and commercial needs, its annual extraction has become far in excess of the net average recharge from natural sources. The opportunity for the natural recharge of ground water aquifers has got diminished due to the construction of
Harvesting Rain Water ‘Responsibly’ more buildings, roads, parking lots and airports, which cater to the rapid growth in population and urbanisation. The resulting massive concretisation has lead to the sealing of many natural recharge channels. The large-scale plantation of many Eucalyptus trees a couple of decades ago has also added to the depletion of ground water. Traditionally, the village johar-cumoxidation ponds have been used for the recharge of underground aquifers. The process of natural percolation, through layers of soil and rocks, provided for the filtration of impurities and pollutants before the recharge water could reach the ground water source. Rapid urbanisation has led to the encroachment on natural water bodies – thus reducing the opportunities for the natural recharge of ground water. The solution to the problem of fast declining ground water levels lies in augmenting the natural infiltration of rain water into underground formations by a method of construction commonly termed as
Artificial Recharge. Artificial Recharge by bore wells allows the recharge water to go straight to the underground aquifers. However, this means that the quality of recharge water must be very good. If this recharge water contains any impurities or pollutants, they will get mixed with the underground water resource. Almost every industrial and commercial establishment makes use of some sort of material for its operations. Despite good housekeeping, some of these materials find their way onto the floors and driveways.
Some industrial units discharge liquid effluents. When it rains, some of these materials get mixed with the rain water. This polluted water is not fit for the recharging of ground water and must not be allowed into a rain water harvesting system. However, rain water from roof tops of buildings is ‘safe’ water for the recharge of ground water. Even the Central Ground Water Authority talks of only a Roof Top Rain Water harvesting (RTRWH) system. The process of RTRWH is a systematic channelisation of the rain falling on the roof tops of buildings and directing the same to collection tank(s), which has/have the required bore well(s). Each tank is charged with a filter media. It is usually covered from the top. The shape may be rectangular, square or circular, depending on the site. The recharge tank is sized for at least one hour of run-off. In case of a large roof top area, multiple tanks are planned at suitable locations in the premises. The filter media
S ocial
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in tank(s) needs to be cleaned after every rainy season, or the whole system may become ineffective. Rain water is a natural source of good quality water and needs to be protected, conserved and used for the benefit of mankind. Great care is required in planning and designing the system of Artificial Recharge. It should be such that: no water other than rain water from the roof tops of buildings finds its way into the ground water; no treated/partially treated/ untreated effluent is disposed off in the rain water harvesting structure, specially in un-sewered areas; adequate recharge capacity is created to harvest all water available from the roof tops. The system should be periodically cleaned. Sincere efforts by everyone connected with water, specially industry and trade, will contribute significantly in conserving the fast-depleting resource of ground water. u Chairman, Committee forEnvironment & Pollution Control, NCR Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gurgaon (views expressed are personal)
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06 A Proactive Force write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
T
raffic has been a perennial issue in Gurgaon – at least over the past decade. With vehicles of all forms swelling to almost unmanageable proportions, traffic supervision and management and become a sizeable headache for both the administration and the residents of the City. To help mitigate the growing menace of traffic disruptions, the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recently gave his approval to three projects that would help revamp the traffic system and ensure a smoother vehicular passage at some critical choke points in the City - namely Rajiv Chowk, Signature Tower Chowk and IFFCO Chowk. The estimated cost is Rs 779 crores. Further, a Traffic Tower, which will house various Traffic Police departments and citizen facilitation areas, was inaugurated last week by Yashpal Singal, DGP Haryana. The State government has made provisions for increasing the Traffic Police manpower on Gurgaon roads, including the appointment of a reasonably large contingent of female constables. Further, the State government had committed to return half the ‘revenue’ of the Traffic department for investing in equipment and facilities, and traffic management. Gurgaon Traffic Police has also taken several initiatives. DC Traffic, Vinod Kaushik says, “Unfortunately the new city of Gurgaon has not been well planned, despite having a model city like Chandigarh within the State. And this haphazard development has gone on for over a decade. So now we face a big challenge. However, rather than attempt daily quick fixes, we decided to study the vehicular traffic over a period of time (at least a month) before recommending any changes. These would of course include areas outside of our direct control, like the modification of roads. This State government has definitely shown more concern for the management of traffic in Gurgaon. We will instal CCTV cameras at the multiple busy intersections in the City. To bring about more transparency in our dealing with road offenders, a system of e-challans has been introduced, by which we will be able to instantly penalise traffic violators. GPRS will help us locate the offenders and we appropriately deal with the complaints against such persons.” Kaushik feels that the adoption of modern technologies will go a long way in helping reduce the problems being faced by the police administration in dealing with traffic offenders. Currently Gurgaon Traffic Police have come up with some simple but workable solutions through road diversions, which have helped ease the traffic problems in multiple areas. The diversions at CD Chowk, IFFCO Chowk ,Rajeev Chowk , Rao Tularam Chowk, MG Road, Bilaspur, Fazilpur, Udyog Vihar, Dundakhera, Hanuman Road and an underpass of NH8 and some other areas , have proved to be useful almost instantly. The daily traffic jam – upto 20 minutes to clear - on Sohna Road (at Omaxe Mall traffic light) has simply vanished! The work on metalling the roads and making the diversions permanent will be taken up
CM - Hard & Soft prakhar PANDEY
{ Barnali Dutta/FG }
C ivic/S ocial
15-21 May 2015
On auto drivers, Kaushik says, ”Yes, they can be a menace. We are trying to constantly educate them, but in some areas they are almost unmanageable, particularly near HUDA City Centre. We are very strict with them here. But they have still not changed. It will take time… but change they will.” soon. Roy, a resident of a colony near Sohna Road, is pleased. “While traffic is a problem, I must admit that the Traffic Police is more proactive now. The diversions have helped, especially on the main roads, but more work needs to be done in several other places, within colonies, where traffic is extremely dense. For instance the traffic is horrible near the Arcade Market.” He also feels that the Traffic Police need to deploy more manpower in these areas because of the density of population and vehicles there. Kaushik says that everything cannot be thrust upon the Police – the citizens have some responsibility too. “We have implemented workable solutions, but there will only work if there is the requisite discipline. The diversions and barriers, across chowks and roads, have been set up for a 12-hour period – 8am to 8pm. Road Safety Officers (RSOs) are continuing to do a fine job, helping us implement various initiatives. However, it is the duty of all the citizens of Gurgaon to now drive and park more responsibly. In fact we have also set up specific parking zones – which is helping,” he says. Gurgaon Traffic Police will also educate the children of Gurgaon through traffic awareness camps during the coming summer holidays. “It makes sense to catch them young,” Kaushik adds. “Thankfully the results are showing, despite the infrastructural inadequacies that have compounded the City’s traffic problems,” says Kaushik. The small battles are being won, but the war on traffic is far from over. And the Traffic Police surely cannot do it on their own. It’s time the other arms of the Administration also contributed, apart from of course each one of us. u
{ FG }
write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
T
he Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal, announced some relief for prisoners in various jails of the State. He said that prisoners awarded rigorous imprisonment would be eligible for going on parole after five years, and their period under trial would also be included in it. The Chief Minister also announced a relaxation of 15 days for prisoners serving imprisonment upto two years, if their behaviour and conduct in jail was found to be good. Similarly, he announced 30 days relaxation for jail terms of 2 to 5 years, 45 days relaxation for 5 to 10 years jail terms and 60 days reduction for those serving sentences of above 10 years. Manohar Lal made these announcements while interacting with prisoners during a recent inspection of Bhondsi Jail. He inspected the barracks (of men and women), the legal care and support center and the training and cultural center. Earlier, ADGP Jails, KK Mishra had apprised the Chief Minister that the task of computerisation of jails, which began as a pilot project in Bhondsi jail, has been completed in all the jails of the State. He said that both the software creation and the implementation were done by the prisoners. According to Mishra, in the first phase, the fingerprints of about 80,000 prisoners have been captured into the biometric system. This system will help in keeping and managing the records of all the prisoners - including their profiles, types of cases, their next dates of hearing in court, medical treatment, photos, persons meeting them, and the number of prisoners. The Chief Minister desired that this system should be linked with the Aadhaar Card. On this occasion, PWD Minister Rao Narbir Singh, MLAs Tejpal Tanwar and Bimla Chaudhary, DGP Jails Parminder Rai, ADGP Jails KK Mishra and ACS Home PK Mahapatra were also present. While addressing the Passing Out Parade at the Recruitment Training Center (RTC) Bhondsi, the Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal said that a Haryana Control of Organised Crime Act (HRCOCA) will soon be implemented in the State, to help check organised crime more effectively. At the ceremony, 994 recruit constables joined the ranks of Haryana Police. The Chief Minister said that soon separate Haryana Police Rules would be enacted, as presently the Haryana Police is functioning as per Punjab Police Rules, 1934. He said
that Yoga would be made part of the training of police constables, for keeping them physically and mentally fit. The Chief Minister also mentioned about the ‘Vyayamshalein’, which are proposed to be set up in villages, and said that the Police departments should help in making these operational. He directed the Police to behave in a friendly manner with the general public, so that they could have the confidence to confide in the Police, saying that this will especially help in making the State free from the menaces of drugs and corruption. Manohar Lal reiterated that women police stations will be opened in all districts of the State by the Raksha Bandhan festival, for which 500 women constables will be recruited. In addition, 5,000 police personnel (male) will also be recruited. He said that 200 sub-inspectors would also be recruited for overcoming the shortage of research officers. The Chief Minister said that Police recruitments would be made on the basis of a Transparent Recruitment Policy (TRP). Further, in the next three years, 3,060 new houses will be constructed for Police personnel, at a cost of Rs. 550 crores. Police public schools will be opened in all the districts of the State. Already, in a short span of about 3 months, three such schools have been opened in Sonepat, Bhiwani and Panchkula. This has taken the number of such schools to 11, where about 9,000 children are receiving quality education. Police personnel will be provided 500 additional motorcycles, to help reduce the number of causalities in road accidents. The Chief Minister also said that a Road Safety Fund will also be created for helping improve the traffic management system. 50 percent of the amount collected by the police from traffic rule violators will be deposited into this fund and it will be utilised for helping curtail road accidents. The Chief Minister was concerned about earthquake victims and said that one battalion of IRB will be trained in Disaster Management. This battalion will be sent to help the victims of any natural calamity within the State and also in other parts of the country. Manohar Lal said that besides the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Madhuban, two Regional FSLs were being set up at Bhondsi and Sunaria. Earlier, while welcoming the Chief Minister, Director General of Police, Yashpal Singal revealed that a Cyber Crime Lab has been set up at Madhuban, which is the first in North India and 6th in the country. Director of Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban, and ADGP, KK Sindhu proposed a vote of thanks.u
C over S tory
15-21 May 2015
Contd from p 1 set up an e-PMS tracking for all more than Rs 50 crores projects (on the lines of the Centre, which is tracking all projects over Rs 1,00 crores). e-admissions have started for schools. Aadhaar Card enrolment is at an 80% level in the State – and it has pioneered the issuance of an Aadhaar Card along with a Birth Certificate! KMP Expressway work has restarted and Dwarka Expressway should also soon restart. The first CNG DMU train, between Rewari and Rohtak, was flagged off. A Road Safety Fund has been innovatively created, by allowing the Traffic Police to retain 50% of the challan funds for local use. The CM has promised the filling up of 43,000 State govt. jobs as early as possible – in a transparent manner (interview marks have been scaled down). Fortunately, there’s no smell of a scam. Strategically, the CM has pushed for a separate High Court for Haryana, and a separate Bench of HC for South-West Haryana (Gurgaon included). This ‘politically naïve’ CM has offered Rs 5 crores to each MLA (of each Party) as development fund. The equally ‘economically naïve’ CM has also asked for a dedicated coal block in Madhya Pradesh. Either he is a very fast learner, or he is getting some good expert advice. The CM has also taken some tough decisions: bringing the retirement age back to 58 (from 60), stopping all non-sports activities in stadiums, hiking power tariffs, sharply increasing the licence rates for liquor vends and bars, tracking the attendance of schoolteachers online, putting up a biometric attendance system for all govt. employees in Panchkula, asking people to report cases of female foeticide and rewarding them Rs 1 lakh. Some are not impressed. The former Indian National Lok Dal Speaker, Gopi Chand Gahlot, claims that the government had done nothing significant in the last six months, during which the law and order situation in the State has deteriorated. “There should be zero tolerance towards corruption. There has been no improvement in the approach of the government,” he says. Raman Sharma, an RWA President, says that the Progressive Gurgaon Forum (of which he is a member) is not happy with the government’s intent. “It neither has new projects to show, nor any comprehensive plan to develop the City,” he says. The staff shortage in the government departments is as high as 60%, he adds. Sharma also points out that the City’s drainage system
Quietly At Work Unlike a Kejriwal ‘display’ of ‘aam aadmi’, the CM has quietly reduced his security staff by 183. This low profile, down to earth, honest worker is certainly surprising many pundits. He seems to be slow-marching to the tune of ‘achhe din for aam aadmi ’. The CM is very active, especially for his age. Maybe it’s an RSS thing. He loves to run. He wishes to introduce Yoga in schools and gyms in parks. A ban on cow slaughter was expected.
is in a precarious state. “The sewage and drainage systems are in a pathetic condition, not only in Gurgaon but across the State. This is bound to affect the overall health of the people,” he says. Vijay Mangala, from Gurgaon Transport Association, says, “It is unfortunate that a ‘modern’ City like Gurgaon still does not have a proper transport system.” The new norm on the plying of ‘old’ heavy vehicles is adding to the misery of transporters. “Without a proper policy and replacement mechanism, how can the government simply ask operators to stop plying such vehicles?” he asks. Harish Capoor, a civil activist, says, “The new government has to buck up, as I hardly notice any initiatives other than for traffic - which is today’s talk of the town.” Ruchika Sethi, a social activist, believes that there may be ‘many a slip between the cup and the lip’. She believes that the government is doing its job, but the pace at which work is being done may not be enough for results to show in the short run. She says
that sanitation is one of the biggest ills of Gurgaon, which needs to be tackled on a war footing. Yojnas are there, many in number. But civic authorities must act quickly, because both population and pollution are increasing by the day,” she says. However, S H Ahuja, General Secretary of the Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce, seems to be very impressed with the enterprise shown by the Chief Minister, that too in a short span of time. “The government has performed quite well in the given circumstances. It is reformulating the industrial policy, which augurs well for new investments in the State - especially for the agricultural sector, which is becoming increasingly technology driven. The new Administration has imparted a distinct transparency in its governance. Its inherent faith in technology is also changing the way that the different State departments
BJP won a historic absolute majority in the 2014 Haryana Assembly elections, including all 4 seats from Gurgaon District. Rao Narbir Singh from Badshahpur is in the State Cabinet. The Gurgaon MP is also from the BJP. There are 5 Haryanvis in Modi’s Cabinet at the Centre. Women and youth this time voted in large numbers. Therefore, the expectations of all the people of Haryana from the BJP will remain high. While BJP has reportedly notched up a 30 lakhs membership in the State (versus a ‘target’ of 50 lakhs), Khattar needs to proactively embrace the Jaats, many of whom this time favoured the BJP (the Congress lost even Rohtak). Jaat reservation (as part of OBCs) is a tricky issue.
are approaching various problems. The government’s decision to put in place the ‘Right to Service Act’ is commendable. The focus on strengthening e-governance and on providing better infrastructure and civic amenities is also laudable,” he says. Defending the government’s performance, G L Sharma, a senior BJP leader, says that the key to its success has been the fixing of responsibilities and the introduction of several plans and programmes for the common good. To dissuade criminal activities the State police is increasing road patrolling with the help of 500 bike officers and a higher number of PCR vans. Citizens will be able to file e-complaints. The government intends to set up a university in Gurgaon and more colleges, both for higher education as well as for vocational courses, which will help students develop the requisite skills for better
GURGAON’S
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livelihood options. Sharma adds that transparency in admissions will be boosted by the process of e-registration. Government tenders would also follow the electronic route, he says. There will be digital registration cards for farmers. Mahendergarh would be developed into a big tourism circuit, for which the Centre will invest Rs. 50 crores. A Saraswati (river) heritage development board will be set up, to help revamp and maintain the venerated Saraswati river. The CM is refreshingly transparent. He had invited scrutiny by being perhaps the first CM to put out a 100-day performance of his govt. (see FG Cover Page of Vol. 4, Issue 25, February 6 to 12). He set up the CM Window early in his tenure, knowing well that he may get more brickbats than bouquets. Maybe he felt that at least he would be able to feel the pulse of the people regularly. Not that he is ensconced in Panchkula - he has already visited many parts of the State….some, multiple times. He has met the Mayors of all the major cities of the State. Going forward, despite being a new BJP State, Haryana has the opportunity of being the Prime BJP State. The CM should faithfully implement the various initiatives introduced by the Centre – like Swachh Abhiyan, Jan Dhan, insurance and pension policies and Beti Padhao. For Gurgaon, the govt. should focus on Skill Gurgaon/ Haryana and jobs, apart from of course delivering the basic civic services and facilities (to all residents, including unauthorised colonies) and ensuring that defaulting builders are taken to task. The new Industrial Policy is expected to be announced shortly, with reportedly a bias towards small and medium industry. The Metro link with Faridabad, and even the Metro extension to ‘old’ Gurgaon, have been most welcome announcements. Of course the icing on the cake is the decision by the Centre (prodded by the State) to make Gurgaon the first Smart City of the country. Hopefully that project will be well beyond the planning stage by the time the First Anniversary of this govt. comes around. u
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S ocial
15-21 May 2015
{ FG }
Costly Learning
write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
T
he Gurgaon Administration is likely to hold an important meeting next week to discuss the issue of the school fee hike that has caused much heartburn among parents in the City. Parents from a number of private schools in Gurgaon have raised their voice and even carried out protests against the recent fee hikes announced by various schools. While the parents allege that they are being fleeced, the school authorities are putting the blame on the rising staff and material cost. A number of parents’ associations in the City have even approached the
District Administration, which is trying to help resolve the issue. A survey conducted by ASSOCHAM has pointed out that private school fees have increased by about 130 per cent in the last ten years. The survey says that it is becoming increasingly difficult for parents to bear the expenses involved in schooling. Rajesh Yadav, who was looking for a school for his daughter, says that almost every large school is demanding close to Rs one lakh as admission fees. The monthly fees are also not less
than Rs 5,000, and one also has to pay transport charges. The school Survey adds that the total spend on a single child, which was Rs 55,000 per year a decade ago, is now Rs 125,000 per annum. In the majority of cases the schools lay down specifications for uniforms, and many schools require parents to purchase the uniforms from a specific vendor. The Survey also shows that families having more than one child are hit the hardest. School costs have risen at more than double the rate of inflation. Experts say that
the deteriorating standards of government and other ‘public’ schools, and the lack of any monitoring and regulation in this arena of education, has allowed private schools to dictate terms to parents. An ASSOCHAM official says, “If we need to reap the demographic dividend, we need to focus on the quality of school education, which must also be affordable. The governments, both at the Centre and the States, need to take this responsibility as seriously as many of them did in earlier times.” The Survey
Divine Desire
also reveals that 9 out of 10 parents find it very difficult to meet their ward’s school costs. Nearly one in ten respondents indicate that the cost associated with schooling has actually affected even their choice of school. Over 70% of parents spend 30-40% of their takehome pay on their children’s education, which thus places a significant burden on their family budget. Even ‘the pre- schools’, for those aged 3 to 5 years, cost the parents an average of over Rs 50,000 (between Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 75,000) a term. All this comes in the backdrop of ‘warnings’ given to parents that they must plan early for their child's education….for his/her ‘future’.
Keep Moving Forward
{ Shobha Lidder } I am the solution I am the problem I am the source Of my own happiness I am the root of my own mess A few kids are getting together and making an effort of going house to house to collect funds from people of DLF Phase 1 for a worthy cause. This group of kids - Vaibhav Kumar (11), along with Tanisha, Shaurya and Karan - are running a project called 'Things For Kids By Kids'. They make small things like key chains out of Scooby strings, loom bands and paintings, and they sell them to shop keepers, friends and families. The money that they collect is used during festival times to give gifts to the underprivileged kids. Recently the group donated a ceiling fan to a domestic help whose husband is very ill. At the moment they are keen on collecting funds to help the kids of Nepal. Sangeeta Kumar
I confess I am the true soul The microcosm of the whole I am the shining gem The sparkling diamond in the mines Buried under impurities of hate, greed Neglect I barely recognise myself Covered with grime Not seen the light of day For centuries so to say Then some Master, Holy Mentor Digs me out Shakes me nice and stout Dusts me in and out I sparkle virtues Love light peace joy Purity, I am my own guarantee I am all that I chase outside Health wealth happiness paradise I am the diamond in the coalmines Let me shine, not slumber nor whine I am a sparkle of the Divine desire I am the baptism, fire Lord construe, conspire. Shobha Lidder Writer, Journalist, Teacher, Trainer, Social Activist, Reiki Master, Pranic Healer
{ Sri Bimal Mohanty} When the bell chimes Announcing end of time is near ‘Who has the power to ignore?’ The slumbering soul wakes up in a jolt So much time lost, so much remains undone… The burden of life has become heavier by the day As duties were ignored And time wasted in meaningless play Most of the collections in life, night and day Time, the thief, has stolen them away All that I am left with is an empty coffer Thick coats of ignorance added layer after layer Time is running out to wash them away To regain our true self, clean and pure It’s time to move on There is no point in crying over time lost Though destination is still miles away, reach there we must The more we delay, more the going gets tough A first step any time is good enough.
15-21 May 2015
An Industrial Trip
A
s an integral part of their Economics Project activity, the Commerce and and Humanities students of Class XII, Ryan International School, Sohna Road enjoyed an educational trip to the manfaucturing facility of Parle Foods at Bahadurgarh. . The School Principal Ms.Rashmi Prakash encouraged the students to work hard in life.
K id C orner
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Honouring Achievers
A
merican Montessori Public School DLF PhaseII organised the Annual Academic Prize Distribution for its meritorious students - its Achievers - for 2014-15.
All For 'Ma'
M
other’s Day was celebrated at Vivekanand Global School with great enthusiasm. Students from Nursery to Class XI performed in different competitions: the youngsters took part in a Recitation competition, wherein they presented poems that depicted the love and sacrifice of mothers; the middle class students enacted skits on the topics of 'Meri Ma', 'Beti Bachao' and 'Save the Environment'; and the elder students faced off on a Speech competition.
Ride Safe
R
yan International School, Sector 40 organised a Road Safety Workshop for the students of Class V A at Hero Motocorp. The children learned about three types of road signs: Mandator, Warning and Informative. A video clip on 'Road Safety Rules' was quite enlightening. The children also zealously took part in a quiz based on road safety rules and were given an opportunity to create slogans of their own. The School Head Ms. Peeya Sharma motivated the students to follow traffic rules and to create awareness about the same amongst the masses.
Dancing a Drama Mother's Day at S.D. Adarsh Vidyalaya Beyond Breaking News
W
ww.iceplex.tv, the media initiative of the Ryan International Group of Institutions, imparts formal training to budding student journalists (age 11 to 21) for a TV News Presentation and Production course, titled BBN (Beyond Breaking News). The students undergo Hands On Training in fully equipped studios at the Ryan International Schools at Malad (W) and Chembur in Mumbai, and Kundalahalli in Bangalore. Over the last four years, over 1,408 students have completed the BBN course. Education through the Lens’ - the vision of Chairman Dr. Pinto, is helping equip students with the skills for yet another career option.
W
ith the aim of honing the dancing and dramatic skills of the students, an Inter-House Dance Drama Competition was organised at K. R. Mangalam World School for the students of Classes IX - XII. The theme of the competition was 'Kashmakash'.The School Principal stressed on the significance of Dance in helping maintain the morals, values and culture of a society.
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C omment
15-21 May 2015
Tagged in India A Geographical Indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products, which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region or country). GIs have been defined under Article 22(1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS ) Agreement as: ‘Indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin’. Darjeeling Tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004-05.
GI Tags – India (235) – Part I (starting from earliest registration, within Goods category) State
Goods
Geographical Indications
State
Natural Goods Makrana Marble
Rajasthan
Agricultural
West Bengal Himachal Pradesh Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka Kerala Kerala Kerala Uttar Pradesh Karnataka Karnataka Kerala Karnataka Tamil Nadu Kerala West Bengal West Bengal West Bengal Nagaland Tamil Nadu Assam Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh Kerala Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka Rajasthan Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra Kerala Kerala Kerala Maharashtra Karnataka Gujarat Gujarat Karnataka Odisha Odisha Tamil Nadu Karnataka
Kalanamak Rice Kaipad Rice Kolhapur Jaggery Bangalore Rose Onion Naga Tree Tomato Arunachal Orange Sikkim Large Cardamo Mizo Chilli Assam Karbi Anglong Ginger Tripura Queen Pineapple Chengalikodan Nendran Banana Tezpur Litchi Khasi Mandarin Kachai Lemon
Uttar Pradesh Kerala Maharashtra Karnataka Nagaland Arunachal Pradesh Sikkim Mizoram Assam Tripura Kerala Assam Meghalaya Manipur
Foodstuff
Dharwad Pedha Tirupathi Laddu Hyderabad Haleem Prosciutto di Parma Joynagar Moa Ratlami Sev
Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Telangana Italy West Bengal Madhya Pradesh
Textile
Orissa Pattachitra (Logo) Odisha Kullu Shawl (Logo) Himachal Pradesh Dharmavaram Handloom Andhra Pradesh Pattu Sareesand Paavadas Shaphee Lanphee Manipur Wangkhei Phee Manipur Moirang Phee Manipur
Goods
EDITORIAL Atul Sobti
Geographical Indications
Darjeeling Tea (Word & Logo) Kangra Tea Coorg Orange Mysore Betel Leaf Nanjanagud Banana Mysore Jasmine Udupi Jasmine Hadagali Jasmine Navara Rice Palakkadan Matta Rice Malabar Pepper Allahabad Surkha Monsooned Malabar Arabica Coffee Monsooned Malabar Robusta Coffee Spices – Alleppey Green Cardamom Coorg Green Cardamom Eathomozhy Tall Coconut Pokkali Rice Laxman Bhog Mango Khirsapati (Himsagar) Mango Fazli Mango (Malda District) Naga Mircha Nilgiri (Orthodox) (Logo) Assam (Orthodox) (Logo) Virupakshi Hill Banana Sirumalai Hill Banana Mango Malihabadi Dusseheri Vazhakulam Pineapple Devanahalli Pomello Appemidi Mango Kamalapur Red Banana Bikaneri Bhujia Guntur Sannam Chilli Mahabaleshwar Strawberry Central Travancore Jaggery Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice Wayanad Gandhakasala Rice Nashik Grapes Byadagi Chilli Gir Kesar Mango Bhalia Wheat Udupi Mattu Gulla Brinjal Ganjam Kewda Rooh Ganjam Kewda Flower Madurai Malli Bangalore Blue Grapes
Manufactured Mysore Agarbathi Coimbatore Wet Grinder Mysore Sandalwood Oil Mysore Sandal Soap E. I. Leather Feni Peruvian Pisco Nashik Valley Wine Champagne Napa Valley Scotch Whisky Cognac Porto Douro Tequila Kannauj Perfume Kanpur Saddlery Meerut Scissors
Karnataka Tamil Nadu Karnataka Karnataka Tamil Nadu Goa Peru Maharashtra France USA United Kingdom France Portugal Portugal Mexico Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh
Next Week – Part II – Handicrafts
S piritual
15-21 May 2015
{ Dr. Rajesh Bhola }
C
ertain encounters in our lives are truly timeless – a ‘time’ when we become blissfully unaware of time. However, while it is not uncommon for someone to lose track of time, this by itself does not constitute a mystical experience of timelessness; in fact this would not even challenge our conceptual understanding of space and time. Timelessness is, in simple terms, a mystical experience that transcends time. Such mystical experiences make us feel and believe that time and space are illusory. The mystic finds himself in a dimension where time does not exist; he is always in the ‘now’. Mystics speak of three types of knowledge: sensible, rational and a third kind described as an exalted power of the soul - a power so high and noble that it enables one to come ‘face to face’ with God. This power knows no yesterday or tomorrow, for in eternity there is only the present. Kahlil Gibran very aptly said, ‘The timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness. And knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream’. The feature of time that we are most familiar with is that of it passing, flowing by us - whether we are willing to have it do so or not. We are born, we grow, we live, we learn from living and eventually we die. This aspect of time’s flow is so deeply ingrained in our perception that it is not even questioned. It is taken for granted. Yet, the possibility of living in a timeless manner is a capacity that each of us has, which emerges when our embeddedness within physical reality diminishes and our connection with God and the eternal increases. Such a shift involves a relocation of identity to the present, freed of past connections and future plans. This relocation roots our identity to the source of our being, rather than to the reflective feedback of others or to the content of external events. As we move towards the foundation of our being, our sense of relationship with the present moment becomes the expression of our relationship
Timelessness with God-in-thepresent. However, this ‘movement’ can be a challenge for us. We think of ourselves as our parents’ children or our children’s parents, by the work we do, or the work we wish to do. We do not feel comfortable defining ourselves by what is unknown and changing. Living in timelessness involves a profound redefinition of identity - trusting that what is happening now is all there is and all that needs to be. This moment, this ‘now’, has immense significance because its source is in God. It and we are woven together in a dance called ‘life’, and the dance is eternal. By knowing this, we can let go of everything else and live in the moment, trusting that it will take us to the next moment in whatever way it is meant to - in whatever way pure divine intention manifests itself. ‘Our rootedness in God is what makes possible this experience of timelessness, for it is God who is unfolding Himself in a myriad of forms…moment to moment. Understood in this manner, there is nothing that we need to hold onto and there is no need to hold on to anything. Within each moment we can have a significant interaction; each moment can call forth our total engagement. The new identity thus available to us is a fluid one, which includes the perception of timelessness-within-time. We unfold like flowers within the landscape of space and time - budding, blooming, wilting and dying. All the moments of our life occur simultaneously within the landscape of spacetime, a landscape that unfolds like a scroll, with all moments and events co-existing within it - though we tend to view these sequentially. It is our attention, focusing now on one aspect of reality, now on another, that allows us to experience the passage of time. Our selective attention concentrates on the details of experiences that it deems important, separating
Do we have a choice as to what is written in the scroll, or is it all written someplace or sometime that we call ‘before’? God knows. these from all others; and this fluctuating concentration, shaped by the relationship between subjects and objects, is what allows us to experience the passing of time. The scroll of our life unfolds as we selectively view the events of our life, both inner and outer. The relationship of time to our consciousness is complex, and changes as our consciousness evolves, shaped by where we focus our attention and also by how ‘embedded’ we are with our physical senses. With less embeddedness, we discover that the sense of being immersed in the passage of time is not an immutable property of reality. Rather, it is a property of the reality maintained by the perceptual apparatus of our brain and sense organs. As embodied beings, having higher cortical centers and neural pathways, which modulate our five physical senses, we perceive what our physically based perception tells us. As we become less dependent on this way of perceiving and more open to other ways, we are
increasingly liberated from what has been our typical way of perceiving time and can experience a new relationship with the present. In this freer perspective, it is not that the past is forgotten; it just becomes part of a lesser reality. With an increasing sense of the eternal infusing the temporal, eventually the present becomes all there is. Our most basic reasons for thinking that time exists are because we seem to clearly perceive its three distinctly different components - the past, present and future. Each of these ‘times’ seems to have a clear and evident nature. And time is the ‘thing’ that encompasses them all, and flows between them. The past seems to be constantly accumulating and receding, as new events naturally become ‘old’ and sink away; these events are still visible in a sense, but are unreachable and unchangeable. The present is here, ‘now’, where things happen, as we travel forwards through time, or as time passes by us. And the future is how we describe the endless stream of new events that just keep happening, sometimes fairly predictably (like a tide coming in or going out), and sometimes completely randomly (even chaotic, like a sudden storm or a lottery) leading finally, and inevitably, to our demise. There is a method to approaching the transition into timelessness and the eternal. As we move across the landscape that is the unfolding scroll of our life, we can allow the present to become highlighted and everything else to grow dimmer. What is past can form a background for where we are now, but not determine who we are. The fluidity of our consciousness, uprooted from its dependency on the five senses, allows us to have a different relationship with each moment. There may be other significant moments that our memory sustains, but these become living experiences within the present, not parts of the past. They become
part of our present ‘liveness’, which just ‘is’. Thus, moments that occurred ten, twenty or fifty years ago can be equally real if they form part of our present ‘live-ness’. As our consciousness begins to incorporate these moments into our present awareness, we make contact with them across the space in which they coexist with us now - the space that is the parchment scroll of our life. Here, all that is loved or valued is held forever. The scroll of life upon which all events are written is more than a metaphor. It is the cosmic memory or mind of God, which holds all essential features of life within itself. It chronicles our current life, as well as all the lifetimes that we have lived and will live as part of our evolutionary cycle. The scroll is continuously changing, according to our present thoughts, words and deeds. We are forever reshaping both our history and our destiny through our current actions and choices: what we do now, or choose now, affects our life in both directions. Though the fundamental outlines exist, shaped by the essential qualities of our soul and its divine purpose, all aspects of this chronicling - which includes what we call past, present and future - are mutually interpenetrating, even while we perceive time to be flowing in only one direction. By living more fully in the present, we are more able to feel a connection with our self and our life, and with the deepest purpose of our existence. By embracing the present, by allowing it to be the most important aspect of what is, we give full permission to the Divine to manifest through us, allowing us to fully live our lives from the deepest cores of our essential natures.u
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(I have been fortunate to have experienced timelessness while pursuing my studies on spiritualism). Dr. Rajesh Bhola is President of Spastic Society of Gurgaon and is working for the cause of children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities for more than 30 years. He can be contacted at rabhola@yahoo.com
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15-21 May 2015
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W ellness
15-21 May 2015
{ Jaspal Bajwa }
H
aving highlighted Vegetables & Fruits, Quality Proteins and Whole Grains (in Parts 1 - 3), we now consider universal solvents that go into making a ‘healthy and balanced plate’. It’s important to note that almost all nutrients are either ‘fat-soluble’ or ‘watersoluble’. Interestingly, both fats and beverages can swing wildly between ‘good’ and’ bad’. Getting the right balance is vital, as fluids are carriers of nutrients as well as agents of lubrication, hydration and nutrient assimilation - to make the nutrients that we ingest more readily available to the body. One reason why we often get off-kilter is because fats and beverages have become the subject of myths, halftruths and misinformation in general. The truth is that fats and water are contained in almost all the foods we eat. The crux of the matter is that we have walked away from some of the healthiest fluids, which provided us ‘clean fuel’ and energised us. And if we wish to prevent common chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, it is important that we take in essential fatty acids. These help improve the functioning of the immune system, increase our energy and reverse some of the damage caused by chronic diseases. Every cell in the body takes in raw materials from the surrounding fluids and, as a parallel action, sends out numerous chemical messengers. Everything passes through the cell’s membrane, which in turn depends on essential fatty acids to remain fluid and flexible. Essential fatty acids are also important for bringing vital oxygen to the muscle cells, and they enable the cells to more easily absorb nutrients that are needed for our health and vitality. Within this, the ratio between Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats is key, especially since Omega 6s can increase inflammation and exacerbate cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. While a certain amount of inflammation is indeed necessary for survival (as it helps protect from injury or infection), excessive inflammation can help accelerate chronic diseases like heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimers and cancer. Omega 3s, on the other hand, reduce inflammation. Ancient man had got the ratios right (without any calculation)!
Health & Vitality... Naturally!
Taming Chronic Diseases (Part 4)
the consumption of all ‘nonfoods’ or essentially ‘toxic’ fats and beverages must either be completely eliminated or dramatically reduced. The easiest way is to look at the ingredients list - the red flag items for beverages are: sugar, sodium, caffeine or alcohol; for fats, the alarm bells should ring whenever we see ‘trans-fats’,
In the good ole days, Omega 3 & 6 fats were consumed in almost a 1:1 ratio (for fish eating populations) or 1:4 ratio (for land based huntergatherers). Today most urban diets are woefully short of Omega 3s and the ratio has swung as far out as 1:16 in Western diets. And this has happened despite many studies suggesting that Omega 3s help protect against strokes caused by plaque build-up or by blood clots in the arteries that lead to the brain.
Tip of the Week
To prevent chronic diseases,
‘saturated’ or ‘hydrogenated’ fats. In addition, one should try to develop a ‘nose’ for sniffing out fats that may have become rancid during storage and transportation.
Nature’s Wonder Food(s) of the Week: Chronic Disease Taming Foods – Quality Fats & Beverages
As summarised in Parts 1 - 3, a well-balanced, varied and wholesome diet, which
is alkalising, mainly plant based and, whenever possible, fresh and organic, is indeed the best for overall health. When combined with a healthy activity level, the eating of traditional locally available foods tends to cultivate the right kind of immunity enhancing micro-flora in the gut. Eat a diet low in saturated fat and rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, including Omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty fish and Flaxseed oil are some of the richest sources of Omega 3. For Omega 6s, Olive Oil is one of the best for salads and low heat cooking. Eating at least 2 servings of fish per week can help reduce the risk of stroke by as much as 50%. Some nuts and seeds can provide a very healthy ‘topup’ - a great example would be
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walnuts, which are rich in alpha linolenic acid, which converts to Omega-3s inside the body. Fish oil supplements can reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) & triglyceride levels and increase HDL )the good cholesterol) levels. However, getting the right quality of supplements is not easy. Ideally the source should be ‘wild’ ocean fish, or supplements that meet pharmaceutical grade in terms of purity. It pays to source brands from established companies that certify that their products are free of heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium. People on certain kinds of medications (e.g. blood thinners or medicines for diabetes) should consult a healthcare practitioner before consuming Omega 3 supplements in large doses. In terms of beverages, neither has the simple ‘clean taste’ nor the ‘healthful vitality’ of pure aqua or mineral water from a natural spring ever been rivalled. There is perhaps one exception – fresh, tender coconut water. Other than natural spring water, every beverage ‘invented’ by the industrialised mass consumption-machine has a completely superfluous, possibly toxic and highly addictive ingredient - whether it is ‘kill-me-sweetly’ sugar (the root cause of Obesity and Type 2 diabetes), sodium (root cause of Hypertension), alcohol or caffeine. Getting sufficient high quality hydration, between 8 to 10 glasses of clean mineral water, into our body every single day is vital. As far as possible, the bulk of it should be consumed between meals. Having reviewed all the four quadrants of the plate (one-half devoted to vegetables & fruits and the remaining to quality proteins and whole grains), it is important that we keep everything in balance with our activity-level and lifestyle choices. Healthy fats and beverages, as well as anti-oxidant rich spices (like turmeric, ginger and garlic), can provide just the right finishing touches to the creation of a truly healthy, nourishing and tasty plate. To sum up, if the dictum, ‘Let Food be Thy Medicine’, is true in a general sense, it is even more so in terms of helping us prevent lifedebilitating Chronic diseases, which can prove to be a huge burden on healthcare budgets and the quality-oflife in the coming decades. u For Education purposes only; always consult a Healthcare Practitioner for medical conditions
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15-21 May 2015 prakhar PANDEY
Shakti aur Samarpan Meenu Thakur & disciples
B on V ivant
15-21 May 2015
heads, making sweeping movements from one side to another. The variations in Garba are Deevo, Ghado and Garbi. The costumes worn by the dancers are unique. Women wear multicoloured clothes, consisting of an ensemble of a chaniya (skirt), choli (embroidered blouse) and a dupatta (sash), which flows over the right shoulder in a typically Gujarati fashion. Women also adorn themselves with ornate jewellery, like necklaces, Jhumkis (big earrings) and choodiyan (bangles). In rural Gujarat, women wear kapdu (backless blouse) and odhani (head cover). Since Garba involves women, it is performed mainly in the evenings, after the womenfolk have completed their household chores. On special occasions the women often dance joyously to Goddess Durga till the wee hours of the morning. Garba is often confused with Dandiya Raas, a dance that has traditionally been performed by males, with dandiyas (sticks) in hand. Of late though, both the sexes have embraced Garba and Dandiya, leading to a beautiful fusion between these dances. Men wear pyjamas with a round-bottomed kurta (long shirt), and a turban on the head. The traditional male Garba costumes are kediyum (upper garment), vajani (trouser pants) and colourful embroidered caps. Garba and Dandiya Raas have become popular in the West, mainly in UK, USA and Canada, and other countries that have a sizable Gujarati population. In fact Toronto hosts an annual Gujarati Dance festival. The Indian Diaspora has also helped popularise Garba among the westerners. The latter flock to Gujarat during Navaratri and indulge in ‘fun dancing’. However, this has also led to the traditional aspect of the dance becoming diluted. On the positive side, the merging of Garba and Dandiya has led to the ‘development’ of an innovative, rhythmic, quick-paced freestyle dance. The tagline of Gujarat Tourism reads, ‘Breathe in a bit of Gujarat’: it would be only fair to assume that the aroma of Gujarat emanates from the Garbha Deep, which symbolises the Mother Goddess who bestows life to the world.u
Eternal Garba G
ujarat is a treasure trove of folk culture. This jewel of Western India is nestled inside the Kathiawar peninsula, with the turbulent waves of the Arabian Sea lashing its shores. Though Gujarat is perhaps today better known for its industries, infrastructure, GDP and overall development, it has been synonymous with song and dance for long. Apart from the very popular Dandiya dance, Gujarat’s folk culture also offers Bhavai, which is a folk theatre in praise of Goddess Amba (Durga), and Raas-Garba (or simply Garba), which is a ritual dance celebrated during the Hindu festival of Navaratri (nine auspicious nights). Garba is also performed during other Hindu festivals like Basant Panchami, Holi and Poornima. The word garba is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘garbha’, which means womb - symbolising the eternal nature of life. Also known as Garbi, Garbha and Garbha Deep (earthen lamp), Garba is performed by women dancers, who place themselves in concentric circles around an earthen lamp, which depicts the triumph of light
over darkness. The Garbha Deep is said to house the light of Goddess Durga within itself. The circular movements of the dancers resemble the circle of life, death and rebirth, with the world being protected by the omnipresent Durga. Since Durga symbolises womanhood, the Garba dance is associated with the onset of womanly virtues - like menstruation, marriage and pregnancy. In addition to being a prayer for Goddess Durga, Garba is also devoted to Lord Krishna. Originally Garba was known as Lasya Nritya, which was popularised by a female descendent of Lord Krishna. Like Bhavai, which pays homage to Goddess Amba, Garba invokes Amba and the deity Jagdamba, who is popular in the villages of Gujarat. Songs and verses in praise of Durga and Amba are rendered during a Garba dance performance. The movements of the Garba dance are rhythmic in nature. Garba is generally performed in a counter-
clockwise direction, around the Garbha Deep. In some places the lamp is placed on the head, while the women indulge in dancing, singing and clapping in unison. The accompanying instruments (to the dance) are damru, tabla, nagara, ektaro, jantar, pavo, murli and taturi. The dance begins at a slow pace and picks up speed as it progresses. Some women also carry ‘Mandavali’, which are bamboo chips wrapped in red silk cloth, on their
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The writer is a renowned Kuchipudi danseuse and choreographer
24-30 October 2014
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Vol. 4 No. 10 Pages 16 `10
The Lotus has bloomed here
{ Abhishek Behl / FG }
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N
ew’ Gurgaon, which was the hub of ‘Aam Aadmi politics’ during the Lok Sabha elections, and voted almost en bloc in favour of the AAP candidate Yogendra Yadav, embraced saffron in the Assembly polls. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP candidate, Rao Inderjit Singh, had polled 6,44,780 votes, while INLD's Zakir Hussain got 3,70,058 and AAP candidate Yogendra Yadav got 79,452 votes. Yadav, however, polled almost 27,000 votes from the Gurgaon assembly area, and it was expected that if AAP had fought the Assembly elections, it would have been a strong contender for the Gurgaon constituency. In the absence of a viable alternative to the Congress, many of these 'AAP voters’ and several others preferred to go with ‘Modi BJP’. In fact all the four seats in Gurgaon District (Gurgaon,Badshahpur, Sohna & Pataudi) have gone to the BJP. In the Gurgaon assembly constituency, BJP candidate Umesh Agarwal won by a record 84,000 votes (over his nearest rival, Gopi Chand Gehlot, of INLD). What has surprised many has
{ Barnali Dutta / FG }
write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
T
he states in India’s North East – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh (formerly NEFA), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura - are often referred as
been the average performance of Congress candidate Dharambir Gaba, who came a distant third. He was expected to win, riding on the strong Punjabi vote bank of almost 70,000 votes. All the permutations and combinations of the political pundits were proved wrong not only in Gurgaon, but across Haryana as well. It seems that people once again – even for an Assembly election – voted overwhelmingly for BJP in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Even the strong, tried and tested caste arithmetic was proven incorrect in this election, says Vijay Arora, a Congress supporter. He is rankled by the poor performance of the Congress, particularly in Gurgaon, which is considered a ‘Punjabi’ seat. Gaba, backed by this community, has won it four times - and it was because of this performance that he was given the mandate. "Punjabis did not vote for Gaba this time. When we see the voting pattern boothwise, we realise that the BJP
It had been a brave decision of Amit Shah to sever ties with the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC), when the latter refused to budge from its 50-50 stand, considering that BJP had no real independent ‘standing’ in Haryana (of course, in retrospect, if he could take on the Shiv Sena in Mumbai, the HJC decision would have been a ‘cakewalk’). Shah also stayed away from any ‘tie-up’ with INLD. With a repeat historic performance in Haryana, at Lok & Vidhan levels, Modi-Shah have proved that they are indeed mega game-changers. In many areas of ‘new’ Gurgaon, including DLF, Sushant Lok and adjoining localities, a large number of people did not even know the local party candidate, but still voted for BJP. Even Umesh Agarwal admitted that people had voted with Modi in mind. Akshay, who has worked for the INLD for a long time, says that despite a large number of people promising to vote for their candidate, they finally preferred to vote for BJP due to Modi. In fact a large number of Jaat voters, who have never ‘crossed the line’, also entered the saffron space, due to the magnetic attraction of the
PM. In adjoining Badshahpur, the BJP candidate, Rao Narbir Singh, had to face a stiff contest against Rakesh Daultabad of the INLD and (BJP) Party rebel Mukesh Sharma, who made the contest quite interesting. While it was a neck-to-neck race in Badshahpur hinterland, the BJP candidate got overwhelming support from many ‘new’ Gurgaon colonies, which are still a part of this constituency. Almost 95 per cent votes in these ‘new’ Gurgaon colonies went to Narbir Singh - giving him a chance to become an MLA after a long time. The ‘elite’ corporate crowd did vote in many areas. In Pataudi and Sohna too the BJP won by huge margins, again despite not so strong candidates. In Pataudi, Bimla Chaudhary won by a good number, and she ascribed her victory to PM Modi and also to her mentor, Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh, who has quite a large following in the Ahirwal belt. So strong was the BJP wave in the urban areas that even ‘personal connections’ were swept away in the Modi wave. RS Rathee, an Independent, who had performed well in the last polls, managed only a couple of thousand in this election. Prem Bhatia, who stays in Sushant Lok, says that people
tures, and certain ‘associated’ behaviour, the Northeasterners have often been viewed with contempt (if not hate) by a particular section of ‘mainstream’ Indians. They are ‘dismissed’ derisively as Chinks or Chinkies (something that even the Chinese are not
sentencing the five accused persons (incidentally belonging to Mewat, near Gurgaon) to life imprisonment. These beasts had raped a girl hailing from Mizoram, who had been working at the call centre of a BPO in New Delhi. It is shocking that within this year itself,
asha PaNDEY
{ Meenu Thakur Sankalp }
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has won even in areas considered to be our strongholds. The people have just voted for Modi," he admits. Analysts say that the Lok Sabha polls had shown that Gurgaon, particularly the new areas, would vote BJP, and it has now been proved beyond doubt that Gurgaon has become a bastion of the Party. Meanwhile, another strong ‘belief’, that an Independent always wins from at least one seat in the District, has been belied.
Desi Apartheid
Contd. on p 4
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15-21 May 2015
G -Scape prakhar PANDEY
Sectors 68 to 75