29 May-4 June 2015
RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319, Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2014-2017
Vol. 4 No. 41 Pages 16 ` 10
Make in
Greater Gurgaon
Haryana
The State Government has identified a few viable standalone ‘Early Bird Projects’ for development as model initiatives. Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS): DelhiGurgaon-Manesar-Bawal Logistics Hub in South Haryana Global City at Gurgaon The Global City project will be developed over an area of 1,000 acres, through a Joint Venture Company of HSIIDC and DMICDC. To be positioned as one of the earliest Greenfield Smart City projects in the country, the ‘City’ will have a catalytic impact on economic growth and employment generation and be a major contributor for sustainable development and growth in Haryana. The Project components would include Festive & Leisure (including an Exhibition cum Convention Centre), High Value Innovation & Knowledge Industries, a Central Business District and a Township. AECOM, a US-based consultancy firm, is undertaking the Pre-feasibility Studycum-Master Planning for the Project. Global Economic Corridor along the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KJMP) Expressway
(Draft) Industrial Investment & Business Promotion Policy 2015 Innovate – Invest – Incorporate The Haryana Vision To position Haryana as a pre-eminent Investment destination and facilitate balanced regional and sustainable development supported by a dynamic governance system, wide scale adoption of innovation & technology, and skill development for nurturing entrepreneurship and generating employment opportunities The Mission n Reposition Haryana as a ‘Preferred Destination’ for doing business n Facilitate State GDP growth rate in excess of 8% n Generate employment for 4 lakh persons n Ensure Rs. 1 lakh crore nvestments flow into the State n Increase contribution of secondary sector in the State GDP from 27% to 32%, in tandem with the Government of India’s National Manufacturing Policy and ‘Make in India’ initiative n Promote balanced regional development through geographical dispersal of industry n Increase the competitiveness of MSMEs through cluster development n Adopt ‘Zero Defect Zero Effect’ manufacturing practices
Ease of Doing Business n There will be online & time bound approvals under the same roof/ cloud – through an empowered CEO located in the CMO (Chief Minsiter’s Office) n CEO will have concurrent powers of 10 Departments under the Industrial Promotion Act 2005 (IPA), for projects having investment in plant & machinery (criteria as per MSME Act) above Rs.1 crore & CLU of land above 1 acre as per T&CP norms n All project related approvals will be given in 2 phases within 2 months Time bound clearances will be given, with a provision of ‘deemed approvals’ under Clause 11 of IPA n 34 Services relating to Industries Deptt. will be notified under the Right to Service Act n 30 services will be delivered through the e-biz portal n For projects having investment in plant & machinery (criteria as per MSME Act) upto Rs.1 crore & CLU of land upto 1 acre as per T&CP norms, DCs will have the power as per the Industrial Promotion Act 2005 n Investment Promotion Center (IPC) will be strengthened, and a
- Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) will be set up for foreign direct investments under the aegis of IPC. FIPB would also manage & promote the initiative for NRIs/PIOs, christened as ‘Overseas Friends of Haryana’ n District Facilitation Centers will support industry and help in troubleshooting n Relationship Managers will handhold Mega Projects n Economic Development Council will be set up to harness the intellectual capital in the State n In the allotment of plots, e-auctions will be resorted to when demand is more; in other cases, similar objective criteria would be adopted Fortune 500 companies, large Corporates and MNCs would be ‘invited’ n There ewould be a three tier Grievance Redressal Mechanism: District level Agency, under DC – to meet on a fixed day every month; State level Agency, under CS – to meet once in two months; Apex level Agency, under the Chief Minister – to meet once in three months Contd. on p 13
This Project holds unprecedented potential for the development of economic hubs at strategic locations along the Expressway. A Global Economic Corridor is also being planned along the Expressway, with provision for the establishment of various 'Theme' cities - like Knowledge City, Cyber City, Biosciences and Pharma City, Medi-City, Fashion City, Entertainment City, World Trade City, Leisure City, Dry Port City, Eco City and Sports City. These cities/hubs will cater to institutional, commercial, industrial, research, residential, logistics/freight activities and will be spread over an area of more than 150 square kilometres. These cities are expected to generate huge employment opportunities and will be developed in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. A 1 km belt on the either side of KMP Expressway has been designated as a Controlled area. Kherki Daula Toll Plaza In order to address the issues/problems faced by entrepreneurs based at IMT Manesar and nearby regions, due to the existing location of Kherki Daula Toll Plaza, a staggering of the toll collection bays/creation of a dedicated/fast track lane for enterprises in IMT Manesar and nearby regions would be considered.
02
29 May-4 June 2015
RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319 Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2014-2017 Vol. 4 No. 41 29 May-4 June 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...
Amrapali and Anarkali The beauty and dancing prowess of two courtesans could well have brought down two great empires - the Kingdom of Magadha in 5th. Century, BC, and the Mughal empire during the time of Emperors Akbar and Jahangir. If legend is to be believed -- classically captured by Bollywood in Amrapali (1966) starring Vyjantimala, Anarkali (1953) starring Bina Roy and Mughal-e-Azam (1960), starring Madhubala -- the influence of these dancing courtesans could well have altered the history of Ancient and Medieval India. Authentic Pali texts and Jataka Tales, which narrate the stories of Buddha, refer to Amrapali, a beautiful dancing courtesan of Vaishali. Her life story appears to be true.
...P 15
108, Aap Ka Bazar, Gurudwara Road, Gurgaon-122001, Haryana Phone: +91 124 421 9092
Social... Scripting their own Music
Emails:
The passion to chase a dream and the power to perfect it is what geniuses are made of. Two young hearts, of sensitive souls, one blessed with a melodious voice and the other with deep intelligence, seem ready to conquer the world in their chosen spaces. Kamal Joshi is a student of music, raring to perfect the fine art of singing. A teacher at the Sector 14 Government College, Kamal came up tops at the 37th All India final of ‘Sur Tarang’, a national singing competition organised by Sangam Kala Group. Initiated at a very tender age, Kamal has spent ten years learning vocal music and is now in hot pursuit of a musical career.
editor@fridaygurgaon.com letters@fridaygurgaon.com adsales@fridaygurgaon.com Friday Gurgaon (Weekly) edited, published and printed by Atul Sobti on behalf of Arap Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd. 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.
C ontents
Spritual... He Dwells In All Whenever we see a living creature, we are in effect seeing the Universal Reality. Whether it be a honeybee or a lamb, or man, He is within each of us. Even Space and Time are within Him. Krishna says: ‘The Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna, causing all beings, by His illusive power, to revolve as if mounted on a machine’. Here, the word ‘heart’ is more figurative and metaphysical. God lends His power to all the living creatures; He energises everyone.
...P 12
G-Scape....
We Can't Stand The Heat Now
...P 7
Editorial... Postman II The Department of Posts is arguably the largest, most well known and most accessible institution of the Government. In fact it is the largest postal network in the world. Post Offices provide the critical and literal last mile connectivity in India – definitely for the govt., and even for domestic and international posts and parcels. Services like Speed Post have been benchmarks in the industry. The Department can play a critical role in furthering the endeavour of the Government for all round growth in social and economic sectors – especially in the rural areas.
...P 10
Plus Other Stories.... Civic/Social
The Green White House of Gurgaon....................P 6
Friday Gurgaon Empanelled with DAVP
Civic/Social
Empanelled with DIPR, Haryana
Smart City.....................................................................P 6 Social
A tryst with Education reality.................................P 8
IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING FG COPIES REGULARLY
Kid Corner
Activities/Events/Exhibitions/ Seminars.............P 9 Special
Malls of Gurgaon Road..........................................P 11 Spiritual
SMS NR to 08447355801
...P 16
Weed Out Lust, Anger & Greed............................P 12
03 Priceless Shoes & Clothes
29 May-4 June 2015
Epicentre Comedians: Abijit Ganguly and Jeeveshu Ahluwalia. Host: Nishant Suri. The show is a mix of Time: 7:00pm comedy and (audience) Naked (Eng/75 mins) interactions. Comedian: Papa CJ Tickets at Rs. 500 available Winner of Asia’s Best Stand-up Comedian Award. at the Venue Tickets available on www. Suitable for 18 years & above bookmyshow.com Suitable for 18 years & Theatre above Date: June 3 Time: 7:00pm Date: June 2 Culmination of Theatre Time: 7:30pm Workshop conducted by LOL @ Epicentre Date: May 30 Imran Khan Grandmasters of Comedy Time: 7:30pm Free Entry Comedian: Abhijit Ganguly Lineup (Hinglish/75mins) Stand-Up Comedy Date: May 29 Time: 7:30pm The Accidental Comedians (Hinglish/90mins) Comedians: Aakash Gupta, Prakhar Pramod, Shashwat Maheshwari, Abhishek Upmanyu and Manik Mahna. Tickets at Rs. 350 & 250 available at the Venue Suitable for 18 years & above
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29 May-4 June 2015
Delhi, Punjab, Haryana & HP governments are working on ensuring a uniformity of tax rates in the Region, and the development of a common market. 4,073 guest teachers across the State (133 in Gurgaon) are given notices, as per a High Court directive; the teachers take put protests across the State and some govt. schools even down their shutters. State govt. plans to impart training to 20,000 youth in the next 2 years, under the Integrated Skill Development Scheme. High Court asks for the ‘drain plan’ along the e-way near Hero Honda Chowk – it gives a September deadline. Haryana Draft Industrial Policy 2015 is unveiled, inviting suggestions from all stakeholders over the next 7 days.
A dumper truck overturns on the highway and smothers 2 girl students - one of them dies. 2 boys, residents of NOIDA, are caught for sodomising their facebook friend who lives in Gurgaon. A lady accuses her husband, a Major in the army, of dowry harassment and domestic violence. An auto driver is arrested for harassing and trying to molest a woman from the North East. A contract killer wanted for over a decade, with a Rs 2 lakhs reward on his head, is caught
THE WEEK THAT WAS
along with 4 accomplices near Sultanpur – he was wanted in over 20 cases, including murders; separately, a gang of vehicle thieves is held after an encounter. A gang holds up an SUV owner at gunpoint on Golf Course Road and snatches his car after beating him up. A businessman is caught for a Rs 6.9 crores loan fraud, after he tenders property that he had already sold as collateral. 4 directors of a company are charged for a Rs 22 lakhs farmhouse property fraud; a father files a case after a builder refuses to return the Rs 18 lakhs that his son, who died, had invested; a broker dupes a buyer of Rs 18 lakhs by giving him false property papers. A car dealer is arrested for duping a Mumbai man of Rs 45 lakhs, taken as advance for the purchase of 4 luxury cars; 3 luxury cars are stolen in a day, including a Mercedes, from outside Artemis Hospital. A person loses Rs 15 lakhs that he had given for getting a job in DDA. A person loses Rs 10 lakhs in his greed to earn a Rs 50,000 per month return. A Japanese national is duped of almost Rs 5 lakhs after he allegedly parts with information that leads to his bank account
Watch and listen to
'Hai Ye Gurgaon Meri Jaan' a ballad on Gurgaon, based on the legendary song... 'Ye hai Bombay Meri Jaan'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHKm54U913g
OR View it at the FG Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fridaygurgaon
being hacked; the Managing Director of a private firm is cheated of Rs 4.75 lakhs by a fake bank representative. A cashier of a company is duped of Rs 2 lakhs by 2 youth, after they divert his attention. 2 girls steal the chain and purse of another girl who is travelling with them in an auto. A person working at the International Airport (T3) is arrested for debit card fraud after a Gurgaon executive reports Rs 25,000 missing from his bank account. A policeman is caught taking bribe after making a false accusation.
Gurgaon District students score an average 85% in the CBSE (Class 12) exams, 3% less than last year; girls (92%) outshine boys (80%). A panel has been set up to examine the issue of fee hikes by private schools – its report is expected within 2 weeks. The roof of the maternity ward at the Civil Hospital caves in again – fortunately no one is injured this time; ESIC Hospital working, including Operation Theatre, is being impacted by the non-working of ACs and staff shortage. MCG issues notice to 4 builders for encroaching on natural drains in Gual Pahari. Palam Vihar residents take to the streets after suffering a 20-
Nepal Helplines: 0124 2316100, 2303333 (for aid to Nepal) Red Cross toll free number: 81000-880-88 1800-180-4646 Helpline for children with special needs You can inform the Administration about any suspected female foeticide malpractice on mobile number 8010088088 and earn a reward (if the information is found to be correct).
hour power cut; feeders in 12 areas shut down for 6 hours on Monday night. Night sweeping begins in some MCG areas. Rajiv Chowk is cleared of ‘squatters’. There is a 4-5 hours jam on the e-way on Friday, when the concessionaire attempts a traffic trial with reduced number of lanes at Sirhaul – the firm apologises a few days later. The Gurgaon Railway Station is set to get a makeover. Almost 2,000 people participate in a cross-country (6km for men, 4km for women) race on Sunday. To celebrate the First World Yoga Day, 2,100 people will perform at Tau Devi Lal Stadium on June 21.
Hai Ye Gurgaon Meri Jaan
A 9-year-old rape victim and her family are made to run around for 12 hours – between Gurgaon Civil Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi – before she is finally treated -- that too only after outrage on electronic media. The police too were insensitive. The Health Ministers of Haryana and Delhi have been forced to demand explanations from the respective hospitals. At the same hospital in Gurgaon, a 6-months old baby dies after allegedly being given an overdose of ‘sleeping’ medicine.
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29 May-4 June 2015
MP-Minister @ Work
B
JP/NDA promised that Good Governance and Development for all would guide its policies & initiatives. Rao Inderjit Singh, Gurgaon MP (also, Member, BJP National Executive Committee, Union Minister of State, Independent Charge, Ministry of Planning and Union Minister of State, Defence) promised that he would work for the holistic development of Gurgaon and would ensure that developmental projects benefit the public at large. His stated goal is to make Gurgaon a truly ‘Millennium City’. MPLADS (MP Local Area Development Scheme) sanctions
Further, 3 villages - Bolni, Uncha Majra & Khera Khurampur – are being developed under the ‘Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojna’, Work on Facilities, Services & Schemes – State & National - Pushed for Metro Rail route to be extended to ‘old’ Gurgaon - the Haryana Government has asked for a feasibility report. - The issue of colonies and residents in the 900 meter disputed area around the IAF Depot has been taken up with the Ministry of Defence, with a recommendation that the limit (900m) be reduced. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has
Welfare Program
Amount sanctioned
Construction of Girls’ Toilets.
Rs. 70 lakhs
Ambulance Service in Mewat.
Rs. 10 lakhs
Renovation of Gurgaon Railway Station
Rs. 60 lakhs
Rural Development and Infrastructure
Rs. 3.54 crores
Total
Rs. 4.94 crores ( 100% utilisation of funds)
also asked for a lasting solution to this problem. - Honda Chowk flyover on NH-8 has been approved and soil-testing work has started. - After a visit to NH-8 (Gurgaon to Panchgaon Chowk) with Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, 3 underpasses - at Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk & Signature Tower - were instantly approved, and the Haryana government has now made the necessary budgetary provision for them. - The transformation of Gurgaon, to become one of the 100 Smart Cities of the country, has begun. - An Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC), which would serve as the nerve centre of the Navy for coastal surveillance, has been set up at Gurgaon. - Pursuing the matter of Gurgaon Development Authority (GDA) with the Haryana CM & Ministry of Urban Development. - CM has asked for the setting up of a bench of the Punjab & Haryana High Court at Gurgaon/Rewari. - With 50% of the National Capital Region (NCR) falling in Haryana State, asked for projects like Rapid Rail Transport System (RRTS)
– which has been proposed between Delhi and Alwar, via Gurgaon and Rewari – to be expedited. - KMP (Kundli-ManesarPalwal) Expressway work is going to be restarted soon. - Constant follow up on the progress of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (Delhi-Mumbai). - A Mega Tool Room will be set up in Gurgaon. - The construction of a women’s college will soon start at Manesar. - The first ever CNG Train was flagged off between Rewari and Rohtak. - The acquisition proceedings/award of 3,664 acres of land belonging to 16 villages in Bawal have been cancelled, bringing joy to many farmers of the area. - A Horticulture University will come up at Bawal. - Pataudi Mini Secretariat is now functional and all the sub-
divisional offices are working under one roof. - The Pataudi bypass has been approved and announced by Haryana CM. - Haryana Government has sanctioned Rs 84 crores for lift irrigation in South Haryana. Work has started at Kotla Lake for providing water to the farmers of Mewat. - A unit of Paramilitary forces will be stationed at Nuh, for helping maintain law & order in the area. - Mewat will soon have a women's college, dedicated to the memory of Late Lieutenant Kiran Shekhawat. - On SYL (Canal), the Haryana Government has decided to file a fresh suit in the Supreme Court of India. - A Defence Canteen has been approved for Pataudi and Ateli, to cater to the lakhs of ex- servicemen in these areas. - The issue of ‘One Rank One Pension’ has been pursued with MoD officials. - There has been a strong push for universal enrolment under the ‘Aadhaar Scheme’. A total of 82.93 crore Aadhaar cards have been generated as on April 30, 2015. NDA government has already started linking many subsidy & welfare schemes with the Aadhaar card.u
NAYI SUBAH Empower Your Domestic Workers! Help them get their Voter IDs in Gurgaon
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C ivic/S ocial
29 May-4 June 2015
The Green White House of Gurgaon prakhar PANDEY
{ Barnali Dutta/FG }
write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
T
he Millennium City does its best to live up to its reputation of providing excellent career opportunities and a modern lifestyle. Over the past 25 years the City has seen rapid ‘development’, in its bid to meet the aspirations of a swelling population. New businesses have come up, though largely around the burgeoning IT sector. The lucre of a ‘quality life’ drew more and more people to the City. However, finally, the mismatch between the needs of an expanding, aspirational population and City’s infrastructure has become a matter of grave concern. In fact power and water supply seem to have worsened. Inadequate sewage and drainage systems, and their impact on pollution, have been of no less concern. Now, taking a cue from Delhi and the recent ‘aggression’ shown by of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), there are jittery conversations on the quality of the air and public health. Unbridled construction activities, with still little check on builders, seem to have only impeded the setting up of common civic and social infrastructure. It has clearly been to the detriment of green spaces within the City. However, amidst this chaos survive some select human endeavours. A few conscientious housing societies are toiling to improve the quality of life of their residents. Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan seems to have galvanised some citizens to do something about the environment in their neighbourhood..
Anoop Singh President, RWA
The White House Society, situated near Samaspur Village, follows the Modi government’s desire to evolve a cleaner and healthier India. The Society, completed in 2010, houses 168 living accommodations, making it home for about 1,000 inhabitants. The Society had provided a hall for Yoga and other activities. It focuses on residents’ security as well, with the use of over 22 CCTVs. This not only helps the residents keep a strong vigil on possible disturbances from outsiders, but also deters residents from littering the compound. The RWA President and the residents are extremely conscious about the waste emanating from the households and, to ensure that the residents make use of dustbins, these have been abundantly installed all across thus keeping the premises clean and free of any foul air. What catches the eye is the abundance of green within the Society’s four walls. There are three beautifully kept gar-
S
mart Cities should satisfy certain basics, without which other smart elements established at whatever cost would not be sustainable. The Central Smart City project plan should detail the strategies to achieve the basics and other smart elements. Some CSOs are reported to be working on this and are awaiting the 100 Smart City project plan, which is to be released by the Urban Development Ministry shortly. It should be recognised that every city, smart or otherwise, forms part of a watershed/river basin. Proper resource and effluent/ waste management is a must for environmental and ecological health of both the city and its downstream areas. The Basics should include: the interests of slum dwellers and migrant workers; the safety of women and children and, importantly, gender justice and child rights; the availability of affordable good quality
Rinky Mittal, a resident of the White House Society, says that she is quite happy and satisfied with the efforts that the Society members have undertaken to enhance the greenery inside the premises as well as outside. Rinky feels that similar work needs to be done across the City. “Gurgaon today is polluted and dry, and there are no good open places or parks for ‘outings’. Thankfully, at least within the Society we are doing everything to enhance the quality of life of the residents and creating awareness among the children about the importance of environment protection,” she says.
drinking water; the provision of affordable and effective health care and education for all; the ensuring of nutritional security through an efficient PDS, to support the urban poor; the upgradation of the quality of government and municipal Schools; and the opening of many more Central schools and polytechnic colleges. In a Smart City, all the traditional water tanks should be rejuvenated, pollution of every kind removed and at least 20% of the city should be under green cover.
dens, besides a mini-forest of over 300 trees - like mango, jaamun and burberry. Birdbaths have been set up in different places, encouraging them to come down for a cool drink in the dry hot afternoons of North India. Certain types of birds, which had disappeared from the rest of Gurgaon, have landed here. You can see a flood of sparrows busy building their nests in the maze of trees lined around the Society. “It is wonderful to again hear and watch the sparrows chirping around the trees in the wee hours of the morning,” says Singh. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is serious business at the White House Society. The RWA President, Anoop Singh, believes that planting trees, saving water and keeping the society clean are the basic responsibilities of every human being. The White House has clearly set an example on how keep a living environment and its surrounding areas clean and green. After retiring from the Indian
system for the collection and transportation of hazardous waste (chemicals/medicines, CFLs, glass, electrical and electronic items, mobiles and related accessories, old air conditioners, refrigerators, water/air coolers, etc.) to recycling units should be given priority. We should follow the policy of Reduce (use of resources), Recycle and Reuse.
Smart City
Other important elements are: Segregation of domestic waste at source into different coloured bins (bio-waste, recyclables such as paper/ card board/packaging, rigid and flexible plastics and non-recyclables for safe disposal), a waste collection system and transportation of the waste directly to the recycling units. A special
Enhancing domestic energy and water efficiency: Interest free loans on attractive repayment terms should be given for replacing old, inefficient electrical and gas based appliances. Well trained teams should visit every home for suggesting appropriate measures for enhancing domestic energy efficiency. School children and college youth should be educated on resource and waste management. There should
Air Force, Singh now has time aplenty ‘to make the Society the best in Gurgaon’. Importantly, virtually all the residents have joined hands. Many young kids are equally active and have willingly taken up the task of planting trees and maintaining them. There is a park for children, though everybody can walk and play there. The Society members have also set up a water harvesting facility, which ensures there is no water shortage even in the hottest summer months. Singh however rues the apathy of politicians, who do not appear to be sensitive to the environmental needs in the area and the City. “Whatever improvements you see today are due to the dedication of our residents, who are conscious of their responsibility and are determined to keep the area clean and relatively pollution free," says Singh. Though there are private ‘safai karmacharis’ to collect the garbage, the residents put the household waste in environment-friendly containers, so that there is no littering even on days when the that the karmacharis are absent. “We even provide black poly bags to the residents. Further, though we don’t charge a big amount for maintenance, we have built a sizeable corpus of around Rs 18 lakhs, which we will invest in environment protection measures based on our priorities. We are also planning to install solar power,” concludes Singh. Hopefully others will soon feel similarly encouraged and the City’s future will be cleaner and brighter….that’s what ‘smart’ should also mean. u
be insistence on a low flow rate for tap heads in kitchens, wash rooms and domestic gardens and garages, in order to help drastically reduce water wastage. Recharging of groundwater, roof-top rain water harvesting and efficient storm water drainage systems should be prioritised. Pedestrian safety, with timed pedestrian crossing signals, and requisite infrastructure, with special focus on children, physically challenged and old people, helps make a city smart. Most of the above mentioned measures form the joint responsibilities of citizens, corporates, municipalities and State and Central Governments. Transportation, power, construction (individual, commercial, industrial, institutional) and e- governance need to be addressed separately. Civil society needs to address all of these aspects on a priority basis before our government finalises anything.u
29 May-4 June 2015
{ Barnali Dutta/FG }
write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
T
he passion to chase a dream and the power to perfect it is what geniuses are made of. Two young hearts, of sensitive souls, one blessed with a melodious voice and the other with deep intelligence, seem ready to conquer the world in their chosen spaces. Kamal Joshi is a student of music, raring to perfect the fine art of singing. A teacher at the Sector 14 Government College, Kamal came up tops at the 37th All India final of ‘Sur Tarang’, a national singing competition organised by Sangam Kala Group. Initiated at a very tender age, Kamal has spent ten years learning vocal music and is now in hot pursuit of a musical career. So intense is Kamal on music that he gave up the ‘rough ride’ of engineering studies and opted for a B.A. degree from D.U., which gave him ample time to surrender his soul to Hindustani Classical Music. The other soul, Manoj Hans, 26, is the proverbial nerd and has the honour of being the world’s first person to write a book, Appium Essentials, on the Appium tool; Appium is a framework for the automation of various tests for apps. Appium, the tool, had lacked documentation that could be handily and effectively used to test native, mobile web and hybrid applications. Manish Hans’ success has been in delivering essentially that. But more about Manoj later. Talking about Kamal Joshi, music is literally in his genes. His mellifluous voice and his melodious rendition is a gift from his mother, who is a good singer. Luckily for him, being the youngest in the family, his parents were more than willing to help him pursue his dream. However, he has not given up on ‘studies’. With a graduate degree under his belt, Kamal now plans to post graduate in Philosophy (M. Phil.). Currently he teaches music at Swar Sadhna Mandir, the institution that helped him flourish under the watchful eyes of his Guru, Anju Munjal. “This is a great platform for singers like me. Swar Sadhna Mandir has already gifted a number of singers to Bollywood, which is today considered as probably the biggest stage for any musician. Noted playback singers Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan are products of this platform,” says Kamal. “Getting acknowledged at programmes such as Sur Tarang is certainly a great opportunity,” adds Kamal. He has also won a few other competitions, such as ‘Awaaz
Scripting their own Music Hindustan’ in 2007, “Faridabad Idol’, also in 2007. He won First position in 2009 at the annual district Classical Vocal competition organised by the Rashtriya Sangeet Sankalp, and in 2012 he won a similar competition organised by the Sports Welfare Association. He also bagged First prize at the Yuva Maha Utsav last year. Kamal’s forte is Classical music and he is on the way to forming his own band (Anhad), which intends to pursue various forms of fusion music. Kamal is equally adept at singing devotional songs. A man of just twenty four summers, Kamal, like many other serious artists, believes in working hard and with utmost sincerity. “Luck can support your growth only for some time. Unless you have talent, and back it up with hard work, you are not likely to reach the pinnacle or be remembered as a great in any sphere of life,” says Kamal with a strong sense of conviction. That said, Kamal is an energetic and happy-golucky young man. Teaching may be his life-long romance and music his passion, but he is ‘man’ enough to acknowledge his great love for good food. He is also extremely fond of cooking and does so when at leisure. Being a good musician, he is decidedly a natural at the art of playing the harmonium, which he considers his favourite activity. He likes to read books as well. Even as he strives to become a musician of repute, Kamal is somewhat skeptical about the new phenomenon of reality shows for ‘wannabe’ vocalists and composers. “While hard work is what can help people achieve their ambitions, many are often misguided by the lucre of fast bucks, which often kills their talent in the long run,” he says. Some reality shows, according to him, are also spawning corruption – wherein often the less talented ‘artists’ are hoisted to stardom. He is particularly severe on the voting mechanism that is employed to ‘unearth’ talent. “It is known that often candidates and their families spend money to buy votes. The result is that some less deserving candidates have come out as winners,” he says. “Perhaps providence has the last laugh, as these candidates do not progress much beyond the reality shows and often find themselves lost in the maze of talent and cut throat competition at the highest level. The sad part, of course, is that some of the more deserving can-
Manoj Hans
Kamal Joshi
Deep down in Kamal lurks an activist, who wants the society to reform and give Indian women due respect. His sensitivity towards the protection of women and their rights, compelled him to join a rally at Jantar Mantar. He believes that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code must be given more teeth, to create a better environment for women in Indian society. His social activism also displays a modern mind. He waxes eloquent on issues such as homosexuality and believes that sexual choice (for both men and women) must be respected – though he admits that the conservatism in the country will continue to be a hindrance to such human behaviour. didates lose out in the bargain; only the more resilient among them eventually find success,” Kamal opines. Thankfully, Kamal’s success at Sur Tarang did get him a direct entry into Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, the biggest reality show for budding musicians. This has convinced him that good and honest platforms are the best places to hone one’s skills. The young musician has many favourites, but he lists a few as the most revered. “I admire Hariharan, Sonu Nigam and the ageless Asha Bhosle. For Classical I adore Kaushik Chakroborty, and finally I would love to lend my voice to the Bollywood King, Shah Rukh Khan,” he says ‘seriously’. He also prides himself for having performed in front of public icons like Hema Malini, former India cricketer Navjot Singh Siddhu and many others. Kamal talks knowledgably about the royalty system prevailing in India, which often is a hindrance to the financial security and success of musicians. He wants to voice his dis-
sent and hopes that the system would soon be reformed, so that aspirants would be encouraged to take up music as a profession more intently. Manoj is intensely aware of the global environment. His book on Appian Essentials documents the growing power of mobile automation. According to him, the tool that he has developed will help develop automated mobile testing for both Android and iOS systems. “My book is for automation testers and developers who want to enhance their skills beyond web based automation, into mobile application automation, using Appium. Manoj Hans is a senior QA engineer and has rich experience in software testing. He has also worked in other areas of IT, such as web hosting, development and software configuration. He never dreamt about writing a book. But his knowledge, and tenacity and dedication towards his work, gave him an opportunity to dig deep within himself and emerge on a world platform. After completing his engineering studies, he started working at a multinational company in Cyber City. It is here that he started developing his skills. His 6 years at work was extremely rewarding. In fact he was once adjudged the ‘Best Employee of the Year’. What is striking in Manoj is his calm and composed disposition. At the same time he is reticent, and seems to need time to open up. He loves outdoor games, with cricket being his favourite. But nothing comes before Mathematics, his all-time favourite subject. “I am planning to write another book, and for that I need family support. My mom is very supportive. When I was writing my first book, she would always be around, making endless cups of tea to help me with the necessary stimulation that I needed to pen down my thoughts,” he says. “I want to explore myself and make a name for myself in the field of my interest. I am also searching other tools that don’t have documentation and require them, especially for technical people.” he adds. Manoj has certainly made his family proud. It was his father’s dream that Manoj should become an engineer and to do something extraordinary. He basked in his son’s reflection, till his life was rudely cut short. Manoj’s mother says, “I am very happy for him and I wish him
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all the success in his life. He is hardworking and gives his full dedication to whatever he is keen on.” Elder brother Jitendar is like a pillar of strength. ”He has looked after the entire family after our father’s death,” Manoj gushes about his brother. “I am extremely proud of him. Without his unflinching support I could not have achieved what I have,” adds young Manoj. Although a reticent kid, Manoj is quite active socially. He writes blogs and teaches during the weekends. He is also planning to go abroad. ”I hope to visit several countries and will hopefully learn many new things,” he says. But he does not harbour any desire to live abroad. “I will come back to India and start my own firm. I believe Indians have immense talent – they only lack confidence. That probably hinders Indians from being the best in the world,” he says. Manoj’s first work has given him international acclaim; in fact publishers now want him to write another book. Manoj is convinced that mobile phones will ‘outrun’ all other digital devices in the years to come. A revolution of sorts is already building, as mobile phones progress beyond mere instruments of communication. “People are already more into phones than laptops,” he says. However, he has a word of caution. “There are several negatives as well. There are health issues related to the overuse of mobile. So, awareness is critical,” he says. On his proposed book he says, “This book is specifically for technical people; technology is our future, so we need to learn, understand and grab the opportunity. Even technologically we can go ahead of other countries, because we Indians are not only intelligent but also thirsty for success,” says Manoj. Manoj prefers to work in small firms, where he can explore himself and develop newer tools, which he strongly believes can be achieved in work environments that are not bureaucratic. “In most large companies, decisions take time, as proposals travel up and down the line before they can become a reality. We must remember that finally our work is bigger than any 'name'.” He finds the changing face of India very exciting, and also compliments the present government’s intent. “The Modi government is very tech savvy. It seems to genuinely value technology and is giving it the due importance. Our Haryana Government is also following in the Centre's footsteps. It is also focused and is gradually converting all its processes and aligning itself with the digital revolution that is beginning to sweep the country. u
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A tryst with Education reality { Barnali Dutta/FG }
write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
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C ivic/S ocial
29 May-4 June 2015
he Haryana Board results this year have been poor – and Gurgaon District is no exception. More than 60% percent of the students who appeared for the Secondary examinations (Class 10) failed this year. The results were just a little better for the Senior Secondary examination (Class 12), where 46% of the total examinees passed – but the pass percentage was significantly less than the previous year. What were the reasons for these abysmal results? Ironically, it could be because the Haryana Board of Secondary Education was ‘doing its duty’ this time. They had taken strong steps to curb cheating and mass copying. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 were put in place near exam. centres and there were surprise checks by special squads. There are many who believe that this temporary setback could actually be a gain in the long run. For one, Haryana did not suffer the kind of embarrassment that Bihar did, when pictures of parents climbing multi-storied buildings to help their wards went viral. Secondly, and more importantly, the strict discipline would benefit good students and therefore make everyone try a little harder. “If the Haryana Board remains strict, this will improve the quality of education. Maybe initially it will be tough for the students and the pass percentage of the Haryana Board will be low in comparison, but it will help the students become more
girl who also loves to sincere and disciplined,” play badminton. Her says Yashpal Yadav, favourite subject is Director of CD Mathematics and she International School. wishes to do her B. Tech. A teacher adds and then wants to appear another dimension. for the Civil Services “Unfortunately the exam. Priyanka, the anti-cheating measures Class Ten topper, is also have disturbed many from the same school. students and disrupted She wants to be a doctor. their concentration,” Arzoo Yadav Having secured a 97.2 she says. Thankfully % score she aims to do there is a silver lining. better it in the 12th Board exam. She Across the State, girls fared better loves painting. The Co-ordinator of – their pass percentage in the Tagore National Senior Secondary Secondary examination was 45%, School proudly says, “In our and markedly higher at 65% in the School the results came a day late , Senior Secondary examination. so our winners were not highlighted These are telling statistics in a in the media. Both the students, of State that has been tagged as ultraClass 10 and 12, are very dedicated conservative (almost antipathetic) and brilliant students. We are very towards women. proud of them.” Due to some delayed results The strict actions of the there was some confusion in the Haryana Board have exposed final list of top rankers. The top the inadequacy of the education rank in Class 10 initially went to Kavita Yadav of CD International system in India, which produces huge quantities without much School, who scored 96 percent. She promise of quality. In this says that she put in over 14 hours a context, a stricter vigilance day for studies and she now wants system will at least help to continue with that dedication in safeguard fair competition and her engineering studies. Kavita is be rightly helpful to deserving happy with the tough actions candidates. It would also taken by the Haryana government. reinforce the need for some of “This way students will get what the students (and their parents) they truly deserve. The visit of to look more favourably at skill inspection squads sent by the Board development and vocationhelped reduce the cheating in exam oriented courses. Changing halls,” she says. Later, when the times demand a more flexible rest of the results were announced, system, wherein students can, Arzoo, of Tagore National Senior well in time, take courses and Secondary School, emerged on options according to their top – with 97.4% marks. “For me aptitude and merit. One size the success mantra is discipline doesn't fit all…even from an and practice. I believe practice early age.u makes perfect,” says this fun-loving
Skill Development he Haryana Minister for Public Works, Rao Narbir Singh, inaugurated two new vocational courses TAutomobile and Beauty & Wellness - in Government
Senior Secondary School, Kadipur, under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). He also inaugurated a newly constructed block in the School premises besides the toilets constructed by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). On the occasion Rao Narbir Singh said that the present State government is taking steps to provide quality education to students in government schools and is committed to providing ‘dual desks’ in all government schools by the end of 2016. No student would then have to sit on the ground for receiving his/ her education. He said that it is the responsibility of teachers to impart good education to students and imbibe in them good moral values as well. He said that the State government has decided to extend innovative vocational education project to government aided and even private schools because this will enhance the employability skills of the students. Under the scheme,
To Advertise
private schools would be given grants of Rs 6,500 per child on the completion of successful training. The Minister said that 25 percent seats in vocational courses would be reserved for students belonging to socio-economically weaker sections and to children with special needs. In the reserved seats, 50 percent quota will be for girl students. Presently 240 government schools have been covered under the scheme, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development. In all there are seven Applied Skills programs on offer under NSQF – Retail, Automobile, Security, IT/ITes, Beauty & Wellness, Patient Care Assistant, Physical Education and Sports. The Block Education Officer of Gurgaon, Capt. Indu Boken, apprised everyone on how training would be imparted to students in these courses. The Principal of the Kadipur school, Mani Ram, requested for some financial assistance, and the Minister confirmed that Rs 5 lakhs would be given to the school. Principals from various schools participated in the programme.
9868163312 | 9818303901
'Drunken' Memories { Alka Gurha} ‘Bachpan ki yaadon ko phir se bahao, badi chatpati hain, inhen phir se pilao’, rasps lyricist Gulzar, nudging you to ‘taste’ your childhood memories. Of all the seductions of childhood, the most memorable are those associated with food and drink. What could be more decadent than imbibing a tall glass of lassi on a sweltering afternoon? In our childhood summers the answer to ‘What would you like to have?’ was a choice between Rooh Afza, Khas Sherbet, Aam Panna, Mango Shake, Cold Coffee or good old Nimbu Paani (without soda). And we were able to digest our food without the need to guzzle soda-based drinks with every meal. The 4pm drink after an afternoon siesta (following a gruelling day at school) was mostly Rooh Afza. We were woken up by the tinkling sound of a glass being stirred with a steel spoon. The sugar surge helped to lift one’s spirit, just in time for the evening homework. At times there was Bel Sherbet, considered a panacea for stomach ailments. There was a Bel tree in the backyard and my job was to break and scrape the shell, to prise out its sweet flesh. For special occasions there were the glass bottles of Campa Cola, Gold Spot and Limca, housed in wooden crates and stacked in the storeroom. But now when I look at a bottle of Rooh Afza, all I
I would sneak out to eat fallen jamuns and then idiotically stick out my purple tongue for all to see. However, I can’t eat the damn things today – they seem too rough for my ‘developed’ taste. see is sugar, colour and empty calories – in fact that’s the ‘discovered truth’ for most sweet beverages, including fruit juices. Who knew then that our idea of an exotic drink was allegedly calcium draining, tooth staining and kidney straining? Moreover, with age, calories do begin to resemble those dreadful creatures that sew your clothes a little tighter every night. Thankfully, coconut water remains a timeless, ageless drink. Bottled water is set to overtake fizzy sodas to become the world’s favourite packaged drink. Life seems to be coming back full circle. A range of ethnic beverages - from Jamun Kala Khatta to Jaljeera - have created a buzz in the non-alcoholic drink segment. The alcoholic beverage matrix has also changed, especially in the Metros. With more than a dozen microbreweries booming in Gurgaon, locally brewed beer and sherbets, combined with liqueur, are a hit with the newly minted lot. Which is great, for beverages have evolved not merely to quench the thirst but to tantalise the taste buds, ease the stress and intoxicate the senses. As Hemingway said, ‘I drink to make other people interesting’. But children need none of these. The magic of childhood is that you don’t need any drink to make it interesting – its energy itself is so intoxicating. u
K id C orner
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This is BBN
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en students of Ryan International School, Sector 40 participated in Beyond Breaking News (BBN), a TV news presentation and production course. The students, aged 12 years, underwent hands on training at fully equipped studios at Ryan International Schools in Mumbai (2) and Bangalore. Over the last four years over 1,467 students have completed the BBN course.
Experiencing nature
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yan International School, Sector 40 organised Camp Anubhav, an experimental learning holiday, for Classes IV and V at Tiger Country, Jim Corbett. The Ryanites were accommodated in 14 mud houses in typical village style with thatched roofs. They got an opportunity to hear, taste, smell and touch the natural world; Nature was their classroom. They acquired new learnings and strengths in the wilderness. The invigorating fresh air and exercise was great for the childrens' health.
Break Dance
A
two day Dance Workshop was conducted for the Primary and Early Years teachers of Manav Rachna International School, Sector 46.
Explaining the Scorecard
Sparkling Acts 'Love art in yourself, and not yourself in art'
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tudents at MRIS 46 presented what they had learnt from their Theatre Workshop in Summer Sparks. 36 young artists, in two groups, used their body movements to enact scenes from everyday life.
'Knowledge is of two kinds: we know the subject ourselves, or we know where we can find the information'.
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yan International School organised a workshop for the parents of Class 6 on CCE (Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation), in order to offer information about the tools laid down by the Central Board for assessing the students on scholastic and co-scholastic areas. The parents were told how the CCE pattern is implemented in the School curriculum. They were also informed of the formative and summative assessment in detail. School Head Ms Peeya Sharma urged the parents to work together (with the School) for the overall development of their wards.
CHARVI AGGARWAL 02-09-2013
KRISHNI KAIKINI 07-04-2014
MADHULIKA TYAGI 23-03-2014
Toppers
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tudents of Ryan International School, Sohna Road delivered excellent results in the CBSE XII Board exam. Krishni Kaikini topped the Science stream, scoring 95.2 % marks; Charvi Agarwal topped the Commerce stream, scoring 96.6 %; Madhulika Tyagi topped the Humanities stream, scoring 96.6%.
If you wish to be featured in ‘Kid Corner’ (for publishing your school’s activities and achievements), please mail us at fridaygurgaongallery@gmail.com
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29 May-4 June 2015
C omment
Postman II
T EDITORIAL Atul Sobti
Rural Business (including financial he Department of Posts is arguably inclusion) the largest, most well known and Postal Life Insurance most accessible institution of Postal Financial Services the Government. In fact it is the largest IT, Training and Capacity Building. postal network in the world. Post Offices provide the critical and literal last mile Going forward, the Department of connectivity in India – definitely for Posts should become an integral player the govt., and even for domestic and in Physical, Electronic and Financial international posts and parcels. Services services - where Swift, like Speed Post have Safe and Sure is the been benchmarks There are over 1.5 lakhs hallmark (though in in the industry. The Post Offices across the India we also need to Department can country, almost 90% in add ‘Economical’). The play a critical role rural areas; there are over Department has already in furthering the 5.5 lakhs Letter Boxes. On started ramping up on endeavour of the an average, a Post Office e Commerce business Government for all serves an area of about and now needs to round growth in social 20 sq. km. and over 7,000 build an appropriate and economic sectors – people. Almost 16,000 logistics framework. especially in the rural million (16 billion) mails are Its application for areas. It will also be delivered every year. a Payments Bank the most appropriate licence is under active vehicle for financial consideration. The inclusion initiatives Minister has also asked the Department (Post Offices are already involved with of Posts to strategise on how it could MNREGA). Riding on the trust that utilise the vacant ‘Postal lands’ across the citizens of the country have on this country and prevent their encroachment 150-years-old organisation, the Post Office – while also exploring the possibility of network should be leveraged for more and better citizen-centric services’. It would be floating an SPV for this purpose. Since the motivation of the people, especially at the difficult to argue with these views of the Post Office level, would be key, it would be Union Minister for Communications and wise to allay all their fears and motivate IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad. At the recent them to be more transparent, responsible annual Heads of Circles’ Conference of the Department of Posts, held at Gurgaon, and accountable. ‘Dakiyas’ were once the Panel Discussions were held on some most most trusted and most welcome of govt. servants…and they can be so again, in relevant and strategic issues of: modern avatars. e-Commerce Post Offices are still the lifeline in rural India – for mails, parcels, money transfer, pension, insurance, social security services, and of course stamps and coins. Post Offices have already contributed well to some of PM Modi’s initiatives: more than 44 lakh accounts have been opened under the ‘Sukanya Samridhi Yojna’, and more than 28 lakh Kisan Vikas Patra certificates, worth Rs 2,600 crores, have been sold.
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Counting down to our 200th. issue (June 19), we are featuring some special Cover Stories from the past. This one is from Vol 1, No. 8, October 14-20, 2011.
Malls of Gurgaon Road
{ Harsimran Shergill / FG }
I
am 19kms long, begin from Mehrauli Lal Kot and go all the way to National Highway 8 (NH-8) at Gurgaon. I am the MehrauliGurgaon Road, popularly known as MG Road… and this is my story. My introduction is important, so that people don’t confuse my identity with my name. People say, what’s in a name? But I think a name is the beginning of a social identity; it introduces you to the world. I may be MG Road but I’m definitely not a Mahatma road…unless Malls are the new Mahatmas. The story of my origin is similar to that of most of my compatriots. I might have been a village road to begin with, but my most glorious and prominent years have been during the reign of the Mughals - and subsequently during British rule. So crucial was my significance, that when the armies travelled from Calcutta to Dilli, the generals left their men under my responsibility - while they went to take permission from the Emperor of India to enter Dilli. A particular incident with the last Mughal Emperor stands out in my memory. It altered me forever - literally. There I stood, right under a balcony of Zafar Mahal, which had those wonderful ‘jharokha’ windows. This is where the Emperor and his family would stand and look out. Passersby were expected to dismount and bow, in respect to the Emperor. But the Britishers wouldn’t
comply. Bahadur Shah Zafar solved the problem creatively; he bought the surrounding land and diverted me away from Zafar Mahal. That was the last time I saw him. Another reason for my prominence - in today’s terms I would be called a celebrity was that rulers, countrymen, horses, elephants - all of them - needed to pass over me while heading South West and into Rajasthan. As a gracious host, I asked my helpers to arrange for drinking water and rest stops along the way. In those days these were called ‘dhauli piaos’ and ‘sarais’, respectively. Even now you can see them scattered along my sides. Then came the Britishers - and there was a sea change. Gurgaon became the administrative headquarters. According to the first Gazetteer in 1883-84, ‘The station of Gurgaon consisted of public offices and the dwellings of European residents, the Sadar Bazar and the settlement of Jacobpura - which was laid out by a former Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Jacob, in 1861, for the accommodation of public servants’. The district was always alive with activities. By this time I had stopped waiting for the odd seasonal guests - like those visiting during festivals, or the armies - to arrive and park themselves by my side. Now I had become a ‘public’
The Mall Mile may be the reason for calling Gurgaon the Millennium City, because there cannot be any other reason, isn’t it?
However, there is a good side to this story too. For me, that has come in the form of the Metro. This has meant fewer cars, fewer traffic jams, less honking, and consequently fewer accidents.
thoroughfare, with Rolls Royces and Cadillacs visiting me all the time. Those indeed were the days. One of the things I liked about the Britishers was that they kept me well maintained. How different from today! Now I am known only for the ‘Mall Mile’ - the ‘MG Strip’. People often refer to
me as the Malls of Gurgaon Road. However, that’s not even a fraction of who or what I am. The comparison came primarily because of my ‘resemblance’ (God bless them!) to the Vegas Strip - of which I shall talk later. As I look back and remember the first mall (MGF Metropolitan), I did have a feeling that this was going to snowball into something big. Along with Gurgaon’s real estate boom, there are now 28 malls that have surrounded me and, I must add, their constant chatter has left me with no peace of mind. I suffer from a multitude of problems - like excessive parking, jay walking, flooding when it rains (or even otherwise) and lots more. When push comes to shove and the citizens get real angry with me, the civic authorities come and stretch me a little wider. The solution to excessive cars and their need for parking has come in the form of illegal parking lots and parking in my service lanes - which were meant only for pedestrians. It is because of this constant and crazy rush that my arms and some parts of my body have started bleeding – exacerbated by accidents. My potholes are ever growing; and when the time comes for treatment, all they do is patch them up. Unfortunately even pedestrians have been no better. Most don’t think twice about spitting on me or throwing their waste
around. That is why the civic cleaners are my special friends. Although most don’t come to clean up everyday, there are a few spots that get cleaned regularly. The best part of my day is the early mornings. It typically begins with minitrucks, which come to drop off food to the supermarkets around the area. And then begins the hustle and bustle of a ‘commercial cum industrial’ city. The busiest time of the day is when shoppers throng the malls, particularly over the weekends. With the festival season the rush only gets worse. I see families coming to buy presents, lovers sitting outside malls exchanging SMSs and BlackBerrying each other. As Diwali season sets in, most malls around me are lit up with festive lights. However, the city authority doesn’t decorate me with any lights. Imagine if they did. Indian festive lights on buildings and on the roads… Vegas would die of envy! As mentioned before, many people compare me to the famous Vegas Strip. Perhaps I am…minus the casinos (go figure that out!). Even just some 20 years ago I could have never imagined the number of people who would come to visit me. I have changed enormously… but I’ve embraced the change. Looking forward… twenty years from now I don’t know how many more malls, showrooms or taxi services will come up alongside me, but I can say with certainty that I will be accommodative. In India, life is like that only. Hai ye India meri jaans.u
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S piritual
29 May-4 June 2015
He Dwells In All
{ Dr. Rajesh Bhola }
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henever we see a living creature, we are in effect seeing the Universal Reality. Whether it be a honeybee or a lamb, or man, He is within each of us. Even Space and Time are within Him. Krishna says: ‘The Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna, causing all beings, by His illusive power, to revolve as if mounted on a machine’. Here, the word ‘heart’ is more figurative and metaphysical. God lends His power to all the living creatures; He energises everyone. He is the unseen puppeteer, without whom living beings have no existence, vitality or emotion; we are mere expressions of the will and intention of the unseen Hand. Though He is present everywhere, the Lord is most conspicuously self-evident in the heart of the devotee during meditation. He is the light of consciousness, helping us ‘see’. He knows even what is in our subconscious minds, to which even our conscious active minds have no access (except only occasionally during our dreams). This silent light of consciousness observes all the three states - of waking, dream and deep sleep. For individual consciousness, the innermost essence is of awareness and the knowledge that ‘I am’. This self-awareness is both the source of our own limited self-consciousness as well as the universal source of all being. God, who is One, pervades all and is the inner soul of all beings. Lord Krishna says: ‘I am the Self, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all beings; I am the beginning, the middle and also the end of all beings’. The relationship of every being to that in-dwelling Light of God is the very essence of existence. If we always bear this in our mind and heart, our relationship with all other things will automatically become right, proper and ideal…as it ought to be. Not harming or doing anything bad to any creature is a very essential part of our spiritual life, otherwise we will be offending God, whom we are trying to realise. If we are hostile towards Nature, we are hostile to God, the Master Mind, the Great Intelligence. Man must develop a four-fold awareness: awareness of the immanence of God in Nature, awareness of the presence of God in all creatures, awareness of the presence of the Light of God in all fellow human beings, and awareness of the ideal way to relate to oneself – by making oneself an instrument of God and a channel for the manifestation and expression of God’s divinity
Weed Out Lust, Anger & Greed { Shobha Lidder } There are many virtues of the soul You may acquire for a goal But be aware and weed The three bad deeds Lust, anger and greed To keep the sanity of the mind Equanimity of the soul Anger burns you like hell It is the demon’s spell. Lust for power Desiring anything that is not yours Desiring fruits of Karma Is not the tenet of Dharma
Goodwill toward all beings is true religion. Jesus Christ says this very beautifully: ‘But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. That you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven; for He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust’. and purity. Awareness of God’s presence within and without, in all beings, creatures and Nature, is the secret of living in the awareness of the Almighty. Let us therefore make our life sublime and divine and attain God-consciousness and Divine perfection and liberation - the supreme, grand goal of all spiritual aspiration, life and living. The objective is to realise that the Spiritual Self of man is forever an integral part of the Spiritual Self of the Universe. Man is then one with God and through that with all that lives. Man-Spirit and God-Spirit are one Spirit, and to know this truth of truths helps us transform our lives. By ‘scientific’ investigation into the nature of things, the wise have recognised the interconnectedness of all objects and realised that the world is an organism, complete in itself, rather than a medley of scattered particulars. This is true knowledge - wherein we maintain the diversity of objects as a reality and yet accede or concede that there is an inward collaborative activity within all organisms, since God permeates
them all. I cannot even be aware that you are sitting in front of me, let alone speak to you, unless the ‘law’ that God is Universal is operating between you and me. All knowledge and experience is a manifestation of this universality. Whoever knows this truth cannot appropriate agency to himself; only an action that is free from agency or the commitment of personality in the performance of its activity, is pure. Anything else is motivated by egoism, personal esteem and selfish desire, or performed with an intention of harming others in some way or the other, covertly or overtly. God is in the heart of all beings - the absoluteness of the Universal element in all experience. The Universal is thus also the Self, and everything is determined by the purpose of the Supreme Will. The utter abolition of oneself in the recognition of the All-Being of God is known as the ‘surrender’ of self. This is the ultimate sacrifice. An individual must always walk hand in hand with God’s grace: Arjuna is always with Krishna. This is what the last verse of the Gita says, when it propounds that: ‘Victory is certain, prosperity will prevail and everything shall be well, where Arjuna and Krishna are seated in one chariot and move forward in the battlefield of life’. Where man walks with God, all will be well. The challenge is to know when it is time to let go of self-concern and open oneself to the Universal Reality. u 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
Desire leads to greed We gather more than you need We mistake lust for love Have liaisons & affairs Happiness that comes as a by-product Of making someone else happy Is the only happiness you should seek Greed leads to manipulation & control Grabbing another’s role Act of anger is reciprocal to itself And no one can help you From punishing your self with your own anger Choose a virtue - peace, purity, joy To strengthen your spiritual cord Connect with God You will be nurtured by nectar from Heaven You will be recognised by wise men What you do is what you earn The act will be its own return. Shobha Lidder Writer, Journalist, Teacher, Trainer, Social Activist, Reiki Master, Pranic Healer
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C over S tory
29 May-4 June 2015
Make in Haryana
Contd from p 1 Infrastructure/Land Bank for Industry n Geographical dispersal wil be ensured, by identifying Industrial Zones through mapping n Simplified CLU/Industrial Licence norms will apply in declared Industrial Zones – SW/DCs n Simplified procedures & rationalised EDCs on SEZ pattern, and reduced thresholds, will apply for Private Industrial Parks/de-notified SEZs – they will also benefit from higher residential component, self governing under 243(Q). For above 200 acres Parks, mixed land use will be permitted, and they would get deemed electricity distribution llcences n A Virtual Land Bank Exchange will be set up, for easier land sourcing by industry (eg land on 33 year lease for Solar Parks @ ~Rs.25,000 per acre, with ~15% increase every third year) n MSME Parks will be developed by HSIIDC on Panchayat/Private lands in rural areas/industrially backward blocks n Basic infrastructure - water, power, roads, broadband connectivity etc. - will be provided at the time of first allotment n IMTs will participate under PPP Model via sharing of developed space instead of equity participation n Identified services like Bulk Cargo, Tourism, Health, R&D, Education, Sports and IT/ITES will be fiscally supported and categorised as Industry for incentives/power tariffs etc. n General Industries will be entitled to higher FAR n Housing for Industrial Workers will also be entitled to increased FAR (225%, with density 900) as per Affordable Housing norms under PPP Mode n For warehousing zones in Industrial Estates, land will be taken on lease or at Institutional rates n The issue of Kherkhi Daula Toll Plaza will be addressed, in order to facilitate industry in and around Manesar MSMEs Schemes of Ministry of MSMEs will be leveraged – eg. for easier exit mechanism for MSMEs, Mudra Bank for financial support to MSMEs n There will be focus on Cluster development – more clusters will be encouraged for Food, Leather, Textile, IT/ ITES, Plywood, Metal/utensils etc. n
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Plots on a lease/allotment basis at institutional rates Mega Projects DMIC Initiatives – MRTS, Global City & Logistics Hub n Aviation Hub at Hisar, Rail Coach Factory, IMTs under PPP Model, KMP Expressway, Global Economic Corridor n Mega Projects/Mother Units - by Invitation: Fortune 500 Companies & Multinational Companies (MNCs); projects supporting ancillarisation, generating employment, involving hi-tech technologies, using local resources/raw material, green/optimal utilisation of resources (water/ power etc.), requiring less space (like Electronics) etc. n
Power General cross subsidy surcharge will be reduced to 93p (from Rs.2) n A pilot for ‘Time of Day’ tariff will be set up in a town in Haryana within 6 months n 24X7 quality power supply will be assured; planning & augmentation of substation/ electric lines etc. will be at 60% loading, with provision of redundancy in T&D network n
MSMEs will be offered leased panchayat lands/flatted factories with plug & play facility n MSMEs start-ups will require no approvals (except environment related) n MSMEs will be offered fiscal Incentives like interest subvention, reduced stamp duty, reduced electricity tariff n Rs.1,000 crore corpus will be created under CGTMSE, for offering collateral free loans n Rural & MSME Parks will be set up in industrially backward blocks/rural areas on panchayat/private land, and appropriate incentives will be offered to allottees n
IT/ITES A new Policy for Electronics & IT/ITES will be issued within 3 month n Gurgaon will be positioned as a Global Innovation Hub n Iconic IT Towers will be set up in Tier II cities, for housing BPOs, Data Centres, Incubation Centres etc., with DEITY support n Technology Incubation Centers will be set up, with accelerators/mentors, to support innovation, leveraging Angel/Venture Funds in Gurgaon & Panchkula n The possibility of setting up Innovation Centers in each University/College will be explored n
Labour Periodicity of Inspections will be reduced to once in 5 years and/or there will be inspections by exception
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with prior intimation duly authorised by a top Authority – and a report will be submitted within 72 hours n All services will be made online within 3 to 6 months, and notified under Right to Service and Industrial Promotion Acts n All records will be maintained electronically n There will be online filing of returns through a single form, for 12 laws applicable to the State n A Virtual Employment Exchange will be set up for sourcing of labour n IT/ITES, Electronics, Auto, Textile and Exporting Units will be declared as Public Utilities under the Industrial Disputes Act n Retrenchments/lay-offs/closures will now apply to factories having more 300 persons (from current 100) n Overtime hours will be increased from 50 hrs/quarter to 50 hours/month n The possibility of differential labour wages for Tier II towns, which will help in the dispersal of industry, will be explored n The minimum number of workers in a factory, which attracts the Factories Act, will be increased to to 40 n Incentives will be given to units that employ 75% of their semi-skilled/un-skilled workers from Haryana Environment Inspections will take place only once in 5 years and/or inspections will Periodic-
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ity of Inspections will be reduced to once in 5 years and/ or there will be inspections by exception with prior intimation duly authorised by a top Authority – and a report will be submitted within 72 hours There will be an increased periodicity for approvals based on category – Red (5 years), Amber (10 years) & Green (Lifetime) Categorisation of polluting industry will be done as as per CPCB guidelines Therew will be online filing of returns through a single form covering all Acts Self certification and Third Party verifications will be undertaken by upgraded Quality Marking Centers under PPP Model & Institutes (Universities/Engg. Colleges/Polytechnics etc.)
Skill Development Skill Development initiatives will be taken under the Haryana Skill Development Mission n 17 lakh persons will be skilled upto 2017 n Customised industry-wise short/long duration skill development courses will be undertaken by utilising govt./private ITIs , Single Point/Window clearance mechanism/Haryana Skill Development Mission n 3rd Party Certifications will be undertaken by Engineering Colleges, ITIs, Polytechnics etc. n Skill development institutes will be set up on Industrial n
Solar Parks Solar Park will be set up jointly by HSIIDC and Power Utilities; there will be no cross subsidy for power that is wheeled from Solar Parks in the State n Net metering will be introduced n
Estate Management Procedures Liberalised Estate Management Procedures will be set up n There will be transparent evaluation criteria for the allotment of industrial plots n General category plots will get more time for project implementation, with extension fee n Norms will be liberalised for leasing, renting, transfer, change of project and surrender of plot n There will be greater emphasis on self-certification and ‘deemed approval’, with strict penalties for non-compliant cases n There will be efficient delivery of services through the e-governance platform n An Amnesty Scheme will be proposed to address old cases of transfers/leasing/ change in constitution - subject to certain conditions n
You can offer suggestions at www.haryanaindustries.gov.in Last date June 5, 5pm
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29 May-4 June 2015
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B on V ivant
29 May-4 June 2015
T
he beauty and dancing prowess of two courtesans could well have brought down two great empires - the Kingdom of Magadha in 5th. Century, BC, and the Mughal empire during the time of Emperors Akbar and Jahangir. If legend is to be believed -- classically captured by Bollywood in Amrapali (1966) starring Vyjantimala, Anarkali (1953) starring Bina Roy and Mughal-e-Azam (1960), starring Madhubala -- the influence of these dancing courtesans could well have altered the history of Ancient and Medieval India. Authentic Pali texts and Jataka Tales, which narrate the stories of Buddha, refer to Amrapali, a beautiful dancing courtesan of Vaishali. Her life story appears to be true. The Mughal period accounts written by a traveller, William Finch, and by Abdul Halim Sharar, have references to Anarkali. However, there is surprisingly no mention of Anarkali in other authentic sources. Nevertheless, Amrapali and Anarkali have captured the imagination of cultural connoisseurs, due to their roles as powerful and enchanting dancing courtesans. Amrapali, or Ambapali, is said to have been born under a mango (amba) tree in the republic of Vaishali, which was inhabited by people of the Lichchavi clan. Amrapali was a beautiful girl, with immense grace. It is believed that the Vaishali King, Manudev, who witnessed her dance performance, was besotted with her. He desired to possess her - exclusively. As was the practice in those days, Amrapali was declared a ‘Nagaravadhu’ (Bride of the Kingdom). This meant that there could be no rivalry among the royals to possess this beautiful girl, who had been married to the entire city or kingdom. However, Bimbisara, the brave ruler of Magadha, the most powerful kingdom of
Amrapali and Anarkali her a reward. Nadira Begum asked for a pomegranate, and thus was christened Anarkali (pomegranate blossom) by the Emperor himself. Anarkali became the Emperor’s favourite court dancer. However, due to her subsequent love affair with Akbar’s son and heir-apparent, Prince Salim, she was entombed
ancient India, heard about her beauty and dancing talent, and invaded Vaishali. He thereafter lived with Amrapali, who bore him a son named Vimal Kondanna. Later, on Amrapali’s request, Bimbisara returned to his kingdom. Amrapali’s beauty continued to enchant people of royal birth. Bimbisara’s other son, the brave Ajatashatru, who conquered many kingdoms, imprisoned his father and set out to capture Vaishali… and Amrapali. The people of Vaishali imprisoned Amrapali, to stop her union with Ajatashatru. Incensed, he burnt the city. Amrapali renounced him and asked him to leave. Around this time Amrapali came upon Buddha and his disciples, who were visiting Vaishali. She was moved by their kindness and joined Buddha’s order, becoming a begging saint. The life of Anarkali, the medieval period dancing slave girl, is hazy. She was originally known as Sharf-us-Nisa or
Nadira Begum, and came to the Mughal empire through Lahore. Legend attributes her meeting with Emperor Akbar in a garden. Akbar was besotted by her beauty and wished to bestow upon
alive by an enraged Emperor at Anarkali Bazaar, Lahore. The story goes that Prince Salim, who later became Mughal Emperor Jahangir, had become enamoured by Anarkali’s looks and skillful
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movements while watching her dance performance at Akbar’s court. The Emperor tried to convince his son against having a relationship with a dancing girl - dancers were considered to be born of low birth. Another plausible reason for Akbar dissuading his son was that Anarkali was rumoured to have given birth to Akbar’s second son, Prince Daniyal. Jahangir revolted against his father. In the battle that ensued, the defeated Jahangir was sentenced to death by the Emperor. Anarkali pleaded with Akbar to spare her lover’s life…and sacrificed her own. Emperor Jahangir is believed to have lived in this sorrow of separation till the end of his life. Both Amrapali and Anarkali were extraordinarily talented dancers. Anarkali was also supposed to have been a talented miniaturist. However, though sympathised with, she was not given any respect due to her being a court dancer. Amrapali, on the other hand, has been respected - not for her dancing talents, but for her renouncement of the world under the influence of Lord Buddha. Both Amrapali and Anarkali, though born in different times, were dancercourtesans who had a profound influence on the powerful rulers of the day. They were able to enchant, enamour and embolden powerful kings. Could the lives of these two dancing girls have altered the course of India’s history? What would have happened if Ajatashatru had not burnt the city of Vaishali, and not returned alone to his kingdom of Magadha after being renounced by Amrapali? Amrapali might have become the dancer-queen of Magadha. Had Prince Salim married Anarkali, she would have taken the place of his powerful Queen Noor Jehan. And the Bollywood Classics would have had happier endings.u The writer is a renowned Kuchipudi danseuse and choreographer
24-30 October 2014
RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319, Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2012-2014
Vol. 4 No. 10 Pages 16 `10
The Lotus has bloomed here
{ Abhishek Behl / FG }
write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon
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
We Can't Stand The Heat Now
29 May-4 June 2015
G -Scape ASHA PANDEY
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