OuR CReAtiVE Space

Abandon Yourself!

2008-08-24T21:01:00.000+05:30

Alexander the Great, the Greek king, once led his troops across a hot, arid desert. After nearly two weeks of marching, he and his soldiers were near death from thirst, yet Alexander pushed ahead.

In the noonday sun, two of his scouts brought what little water they were able to find. It barely filled a cup. Alexander's troops were shocked with he poured the water into the burning sand.

The king said, "It is of no use for one to drink when many thirst."

Treating those who report to you as partners or associates will not work if it's only a scheme of a strategy. It must be a genuine heart-felt expression.

When we truly believe in the potential of people, they rarely disappoint us. That is one of the messages of Max DePree, in his perceptive book, "Leadership is an Art." He recommends becoming "abandoned to the strength of others -- of admitting that we cannot know or do everything."

Story That I believe in ---
Manjari

Famous People Says

2008-08-24T20:22:00.000+05:30

When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters—one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.
John F. Kennedy

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Winston Churchill

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
Albert Einstein

Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor.
H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Provoking Thoughts

2008-08-24T20:18:00.000+05:30

1)
A leader is person where his team mates are abounded by a sheet of trust.

2)
" Whenever you want to know how rich you are, don't count your money; just drop a tear from your eye and see how many hands are there to wipe it."

3)
The biggest change you can bring in the society is to change yourself.

4)
Before criticizing anybody, think are you worth doing so? if answer is yes! think again.

5)
Make life an experience to cherish..

Why should we pray?

2008-08-18T10:26:00.000+05:30

WE WORSHIP god in innumerable forms, as his manifestations are innumerable. But there is one long documented question that sometimes overwhelm me in wonder and sometimes stuns me. And that is- ‘why should I pray’?

Some do it for self realisation, while others do it to see god face to face and attain ‘moksha’ (salvation). But I am still on my way to discover the absolute truth. As I have not yet found him, but I am still looking for him. And it is right to chase the reason as far as one could.

The more deeper I go into the thought, the more perplexed I become. I sometimes wonder is ‘god just an idea’, who was invented by someone to frighten people into subservience to the prevailing structure of power. Or to provide ease in times of fear and distress. I find myself totally submissive referring to him as being. I feel the need to understand the dimensions of this eternal truth.

The very existence of god is indefinable. No one knows how, where and why god exists.

And if his very existence is uncertain, then do we pray to Lord for faith alone? Is it true that we are more protected by his grace and not by our work and good deeds?

What is that extra credit, which one acquires while praising Lord? Will I commit a sin if I don’t worship him? And if I do, will it benefit me in any way? Will worshipping Lord really help me elevate my status in the paradise?

Should we believe that ‘god alone is real and all else is unreal’?

After analysing all these facts, should I bow before the Lord as a big question mark?

Or is it better to go as far as the reason could take me?

Aparana Chauhan

Age of Romanticism

2008-06-13T21:57:00.001+05:30

“ Make me thy, even as the forest is :
What if my leaves are falling like its own !
The tumult of the mighty harmonies
Will take from both a deep, autumnal tone,
Sweet tough in sadness
Be thou, spirit, fierce;
My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one!”

The liquid ecstasy of the above mentioned words was indited in the period, popularly known as the ‘Age of Romanticism’ between 1800 –1850.

In the English Literature the 'Age of Romanticism' is also known as the ‘Second Creative Period of English Literature’. In the history this period recorded the victory of triumph in literature as well as of Democracy in government and politics.
The correlation between the two movements closely depicted the cause and effect theory in them.

The black letters in the history books loudly outcry the hullaballoo and disturbance of the 19^th century political violence in England. As soon as all that was over, humanistic study of a body of literature, suddenly developed a new creative spirit, mused deeply in the words of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Jane Auste Byron, Shelley; and other terrific writers that belong to that period. Their patriotic ebullience actually caused their age to become the second originative and creative period of English Literature, causing the English language to prosper and thrive in the whole world and flourish at a high point in the history of England.

The inwardness of the ‘Age of Romanticism’ was that literature must reverberate what was spontaneous and untouched in nature and in man, should be unconstrained and must be free to follow its own fancy in its own way.

Than another prominent attribute or aspect was that it was unquestionable and beyond doubt an age of poetry. The essence of this age lies in the poetic words of Scott, Wordsworth, Keats, Southey and others.

The most surprising characteristic of this period is that – women for the first time obtained the respectable and important status in Literature, as for the first time got the chance to be educated and be a part of the intellectual life of the society. Another major contributory component was perhaps the French Revolution (1789), which stirred Europe to its depth, characterized as it was strong emotion. For now the more emotional sex marked its importance on the pages of literature.

It was during this time when literary criticism made its appearance on the journals such as Blackwoods Magazine, The Edinburgh etc. As if now the writers got the chance to show his ability to the world. In short the ‘Age of Romanticism’ left an unerasable notion on the creative sensibility of future generations.

Aparana Chauhan

Blog, vlog and moblog ?

2008-06-13T17:00:00.000+05:30

A blog is a series of web pages formed of basically short and frequently updated posts that are arranged chronologically – like a journal and can be viewed in the HTML browser. When a particular blog or a write up is published, it is called ‘blogging’. And the entries made in a blog are called ‘posts’. The content and purposes behind the blogs varies greatly – from news about the an organization/ person/idea to links and commentary about other websites, to diaries, photos, articles, poetry, project updates and even fiction.

Blog usually acts like the jiffy messages to the web. There are personal blogs, than there are blogs that collaborative efforts based on specific topic or area. Some blogs are especially made for the work purpose, while some blogs are for play. There are different websites that offer a blog account. The most popular among them are Blogger, live journal, Type Pad, BlogHarbor, Word Press and ModBlog.

A blog can be defined by its incorporation of media : a blog comprising videos is called a vlog, one comprising links is called a linklog, or one comprising photos is called a photoblog.

Blogs can also be defined by which type of device is used to compose it. A blog written by a mobile device for example a mobile phone or PDA is called a moblog.

Than a blog can also be defined by its genre. Such as, if a blog is specifically about the politics, it can be called a political blog, or if is about the economy, it can be called as the economic blog. A blog about travel is called a travel blog.

A blog can also be defined by the legal entity of its publishers. It can be a private blog as in most cases, or it can also serve as a business blog. They are either internally used to enhance the communication and culture in a corporation or externally for the marketing or the promotional purposes.

Aparana Chauhan

The Second Hit of My Life

2008-06-13T16:57:00.000+05:30

(Restricted for comments)
As I sit down to nostalgically recollect my personal and professional experiences with her. I actually don’t know where to start. I have treasury of memories in my heart and mind. I have spent more than a year with her and it is beyond words to express what I feel for her and how much do I respect her.

I have seen all sort of people, but she is somewhat different from others. Dignified in bearing, stern in handling, she is the second hit of my life. I am amazed to see how can so many people praise someone at a time. I feel glad, I started my career with her. Atleast I have never seen a person who can be so beautiful in and out.

A total perfectionist, who has helped me grow, be tough and understand things. I will always be indebted to her for reposing faith in me and guiding me right through my time spent there. Throughout my life I’ll treasure the incredible moments I spent with her.

Shall I marvel at the God’s creation or Praise his grace. For having her in my life, who has really been so special.

And before I close this chapter. Seriously (& very respectfully) thanz for being with me……………

Yours Alice In WonderLand

Aparana Chauhan

The Fourth Estate

2008-06-13T12:00:00.001+05:30

It is true that newspaper industry is facing challenges in current “ breaking news syndrome” and under pressure from many segments. Fortunately, pressure is not economical but creative. Necessity is the mother of invention: elbowing from electronic media, new models and new markets are now found for print media.

Last year in Delhi, three major media groups has launched their newspaper in a tabloid form and soon they joined the bandwagon. Not only in Delhi but from 2005 to 2006, nearly 2100 newspapers debuted in India, joining 60000 circulating. It is a general impression that in the era of lightening speed news services, newspapers are surely an endangered species in many parts of the world. The ground fact is more cruel. In most of the developed nations, newspapers are fighting a lost battle with the online news sources and unfortunately in most parts it surrendering to it.

In India scenario is far better. Newspapers still hold majority of market share because of less cognizance about new age media among general public. Although there are countless news channels promptly giving latest news with exciting(sometimes derogatory) visuals but Indian newspaper industry is still growing strong comparative to electronic media. The basic reason of the public faith towards conventional media because of the reader retention to a particular story. Electronic media today just playing the “ who done it first” game with each other, as a result they gradually loosing their credential.

With a booming economy and expanding middle class, Indian economy have fired an explosion in consumer spending and advertising. Advertisers now generously put money in print media as well. Despite of much hoo ha about India’s reputation as an information technology powerhouse, Internet penetration in middle class household remains marginal. Even in the major metros like Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai, only a silver of the population can afford to have high speed Internet access in their home. Moreover, a vicious price war several years ago put newspapers prices in newsstands not more than 3 rupees a copy.

In spite of all the optimistic data about newspaper industry in India, there is no doubt that conventional newspapers are gravely jeopardized by fast mushrooming new media services like e-paper, mobile news alerts and DTH television. Adding insult to the injury, blogging, an unedited platform coming in vogue, has to be seen as an embryonic threat to already saturated newspaper industry. There are researchers everywhere searching new innovations to increase their brand equity. Newspaper stalwarts searching value suggestions in the newspaper business, they are finding new methods to reorient their business to gain audience, to strengthen their brand and captivate new grosses.

The International Newspaper Marketing Association (INMA) have prescribed some suggestions for South Asia market. They stresses on disengaging the value within the newspaper and follow the trend in the global newspaper industry that are relevant to India. They stresses on building brand and strategic growth of readership. INMA is all about business and strengthen the fourth estate by practising innovative techniques in the newspaper industry.

Creativity is a perpetual task and newspapers today also innovating themselves in new packages. The new innovations in newspaper industry have turning it into multi billion business. The competition is always good for any industry. The new media isn’t demolishing newspapers but actually enlivening them and making them more valuable.

Batasia loop on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2008-06-10T13:05:00.000+05:30

Batasia loop on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Spoilt For Looks

2008-06-08T15:21:00.000+05:30

Are we the realself or do we feel the pressure to look and be a certain way in the society. Today it’s not just about the personality but it’s all about the way we look.

We are pressurized and somewhat confused. And that is all because of the health revolution and trend followed by us chasing the big banner stars. We are totally grasp in the fever of health consciousness to become more and more yuppy. Look at the earlier days, one could eat and drink what-ever one wanted. There was nothing of this no crabmeats or no aalo tiki (potato recipe ) or no anything anywhere. And that was blithe.

Now a days we are happy harrowing our body by restricting ourself having no calorie diet. The gonzo turned more gonzo. Especially when it is clobbered into our heads that eating Cucurbita pepo for one week would do wonder’s to one body. Anyways 85% of this health wave business is about amour proper.

Could you just imagine what is the greatest miracle on this earth. More expensive the clothes, more poverty stricken one has to look to get fitted into those clothes. Every day thousand of beauty products are launched in the market. And we embraced happy self destruction by using these products without even knowing their side effects.

But for me Beauty comes from the twinkle in the eyes, a dazzling smile and a glow on the face that silently speaks of the good health. It comes from the inner self and radiates from within. These fancy products are just the illusion that can only burn the hole in the pocket but can not relieve you from the actual problem.

Aparana Chauhan

Chasing Happiness

2008-06-07T18:10:00.001+05:30

What is happiness? Am I happy ? What should I do to be happy forever? In what way I can actually attain happiness. Does true Happiness exists? These are some of the questions that we all ask ourself.

No man is happy, who does not think himself so. A wise person says “Happiness at best, can be understood as a state of mind”. To be happy we do not need to look here and there. It is something that exists within all of us inside. If one really wants to be happy, it is necessary to abstain oneself from complaining about the past, or the present and the future. If one can’t overcome this habit, he/she ruins their past, present and the future. And this becomes the major reason for not being able to enjoy all three of them.

We ourself are the best source of happiness. What matters the most is not what matters to us, what matters is how we actually perceive the matters that happens to us.

To be very true I think happiness cannot be achieved through wordly comforts. We can only attain happiness if we over come all our desires and sorrows.

As well said “ Happiness is not the station you arrive at, but a manner one travelers”. Happiness is everything and above all. Who would not like to make his happiness eternal? But for that, man will have to give up running after transient goals and seek the eternal one. That is not easy in the face of wordly temptations.

For different people Happiness has different meanings. For me Happiness is liking what to do as well as doing what you like. It lies in finding something positive even in something negative. Pure and complete sorrow is as impossible as pure and complete happiness. One can be happy in his life, if one uses his capacities and capabilities to the greatest extent.

Aparana Chauhan

The Triumph of Risks

2008-06-07T13:47:00.000+05:30

There are three caterpillars on the leaf of the tree. If one of them decided to jump off the leaf, onto the ground, how many caterpillars are left on the leaf?

The answer is THREE!

Shocked….
Thinking Why?

Simple that’s because caterpillar decided to jump! But it didn’t!

Don’t you think we are exactly the same as the caterpillar. Who decides to this, do that, make plans, but finally ends up doing nothing?

Be True to yourself, and most of you will find the answer YES!

In day to day life, we make out so many decisions. Some Hard ; Some easy.

If you think silently you will come to know that “Most mistakes are not made by wrong decisions”.

“But most mistakes are made because of the indecisions”.

We have to live with the consequences of our decisions and that is Risk !!

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach our to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing our true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk the loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure

Bur risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does noting, has nothing, is nothing.

He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live. Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has fortified his freedom. Only a person who risks is free.

In the end, “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist is to open change; the realist adjusts the sails”.

Aparana Chauhan

Globalization

2008-06-03T10:50:00.002+05:30

With the spread of Globalization, Information Technology is passing through the superhighway serving as a base to the endless innovative stations. And yet there is no sign that this growth will become obsolete in the next many many years to come. Latest inventions and technologies have brought revolution in the IT world. Just like the newspaper you have the new technology every day.

Users of information technology make up the majority of the world’s population with no obstacles to access anywhere. And all this has made the whole world a better place to live. With the explosive growth of internet and world wide web, IT has become global in character. Early inventions in the computer software, hardware and telecommunications have caused widespread access to the information. Information about any phenomenon that takes place anywhere in the world is made known to a person at any time.

IT today provides the strong communication network that has further leads to the expansion of the global market that reshape the economies and social life of the countries. On the other hand advances in IT have revolutionize the life of the society. Information when processed gets converted into the knowledge. Knowledge is the power in the modern intellectual society. Knowledge leads to wisdom and brings in prosperity, creativity, and the best of health, plenty of wealth and a comfortable life. Therefore in society’s life change is the only constant and if today it is the information society, tomorrow it becomes knowledge and the wisdom society later on.

Aparana Chauhan

Thoughts of Enlightenment

2008-06-03T10:37:00.001+05:30

“Everyday, think as you wake up,
Today I am fortunate to have woken up,
I am alive, I have precious human life.
I am going to use
All my energies to develop myself,
To expand my heart out to others,
To achieve enlightenment for
The benefit of all human beings,
I am going to have kind thoughts towards others,
I am going to get angry,
Or think badly about others,
I am going to benefit others
As much as I can”.

This was Lord Buddha’s parting message to his disciple, Ananda. ‘Budh’ means to awaken or to acknowledge. Buddha was greatest quester ever born on earth. He was the one who never bowed to anything. He intrepidly reasoned as far as the reason could take him. This type of fearless and impassioned search for the enlightenment is never been seen in the human history.

The four truths that were recited by the Lord Buddha were - He argued that the mundane life we lead is nothing but suffering as all things are ephemeral. Even what we apprehend as pleasure or privilege are not sustainable. The second truth is that the cause of pain is our desires to dominate, to impose, & cause discord. The third one is he the need to over come this self centered delusion of ourself. The fourth one chalks out the eight fold path as the way out of this self seeking cycle.

Mindfulness is what will help us to distinguish between the permanent elements of life and the trivia our mind is used to. Buddha’s only perception for mind clutter is self examination. The story of life is the reminder that one needs to separate the abiding principles of life from trivia. You need not to go any way but be the lamp unto yourself.

Self enquiry ultimately leads to the knowledge of truth. And we are all seekers of truth in one or the other way.

Buddha taught that all the struggling was the characteristic of false pride. All desires are dust and ashes. He thought that Trishna was the root of world sorrow, Stress and strain, noise and pollution, hatred and violence were wreaked havoc. The men of today must take refuge in Buddha, the saviour.

Aparana Chauhan

Follow Your Passion

2008-05-10T12:24:00.003+05:30

What do you do? Most of the people ask you the same dull question when you are introduced to them and more often than not, you are talking about your work profile, your work place, future plan etc. but there are few people who think different and duck the trend and react by unfolding their passion, not their job. I have seen people who worked overnight and spent most of the time practising music. There are people who are blissfully unaware of their surroundings but lost in some kind of work that never drain them. This is actually a passion. A person with a passion takes more from life each day and give back more to life as well. It is sheer ecstasy that gives a fresh purpose to life.

People have misunderstood passion with hobby. Passion is one step ahead, it is an obsession. I knew a person who loved angling. Every Sunday he spent 4 to 5 hours in fishing. I have one friend whose passion is politics. He takes out time from his professional life and dedicates himself in party work. We all love to travel but very few of us are passionate about that. One of my friends, who is in well settled job, is planning to leave his job and join as a tour guide. This is passion!

There are people whose profession itself requires constant creativity; a passion helps to tap the creativity. Passion could be anything, even self contemplation and quest for spiritual fulfillment can be a passion that helps to broaden one’s outlook. Passion is actually to satiate senses and when you satisfy some part of your life, only then you will start to look beyond biases and accept people and life better.

Passionate people do not look for excuses, they look for opportunities. No matter how late they are in office or other work, they magically take out time for their passion. Another thing I have noticed that there are people who are dream stealers –who will either dissuade you or discourage you from following your passion. Simple advice is to keep a distance from them. It’s important to find like minded people to share. Even if you aren’t Charles Dickens, your ‘awful ‘write ups could win you friends. No one is perfect. This fact has to be remembered.

In today’s complicated world passion instill energy and keep you charged up. After all passionate people are the ones who stand out in a crowd.

By - Shubhajit

Talent In Oblivion

2008-04-26T09:32:00.003+05:30

This is the story of one of my students. A deplorable but extremely motivating tale about a 16 year old girl who overcame her ordeal to achieve remarkable feats in Indian gymnastic arena.

I had started giving tutions for pocket money at a very early age. I recall the day when this shy girl called Jhinuk with her father came to me for some assistance in humanity subjects. She was simple looking Bengali girl with fair complexion and curly short hair. Jhinuk like her name, was not an ordinary girls, she has achieved incredible feats in the field of gymnastics though she underwent a fatal accident at the age of 11 almost threatened her dreams become a gymnast.

While performing on a vaulting horse, Jhinuk met with an accident, which resulted in her right hand being broken. It was a terrible time for her and the traumatic experience almost threatened her sports career. With a steel plate inserted in her arm, doctors felt it was nearly impossible for her to continue her gymnastic dream.

However, undeterred by the obstacles that lay before her, her enthusiasm, inexorable spirit and love for gymnastics saw her through the traumatic times as she finally returned to the sport she loved the most, and managed to carve a niche for herself.

Though average in studies and coming from a modest family, her hard work and ‘never say die’ attitude stunned me and earned the respect and admiration. After she came back from her forced exile, she won consecutevely three national championships, one on sub junior level and two in junior level. She also secured sixth position at the third Children of Asia Games in Russia in the year 2005. Not only that she stood fair rank in 18th Commonwealth games in Australia.

I always admired her parents whose improbable hardwork that helped her turn an almost impossible dream to reality. Unfortunately, in India focus lies mainly on cricket and tennis and inadequate support from the government as well as the media forces people to think twice before taking up a sport like gymnastics at a professional level. however, Jhinuk wanted to dispel all negative thoughts and concentrate on her career and be an illustrious sportperson.

I don’t know where she is right now and whether she is continuing with her gymnastics or not? I can only wish her a fruitful and happy life.

( While my brief stint with Times of India in Kolkata, I published a story on Jhinuk Basu on December 29 in the year 2006)
- Shubhajit

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

2008-03-05T16:59:00.000+05:30

During My childhood days my father used to cite example of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde too often while giving gyan to us. I never intended to listen to my father and he also knew that his children were unable to comprehend the subject at that age. But still he by choice threw his philosophies to us. After gaining much experience from life, I toes my father’s line and fathomed why he used to deal with such subjects, which were beyond obvious for any child.

Dr. Jekyll is a character from Louis Stevenson novella that deals with duality of human nature. It’s about a good Dr. Henry Jekyll and misanthropic Mr. Edward Hyde. The phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" implies a person who shows profoundly different behavior, from changing contexts, as if almost another person. Though a fiction but relevant to human behavioral science. According to it every human being has a tendency to show two faces. In a simplest term we call it hypocrisy. It’s a fundamantal attribution error. It’s human nature that person tend to find excuses to explain their own actions by their circumstances, still to impute of others to born characteristics. Hence, at the end judging poorly others while justifying ones own actions. I have spoken at length on this subject with few of my friends and unfortunately my general idea about this particular psychological disorder have run into a stone wall of public disapproval.

Hypocrisy is a natural instinct of depraved human being. If it is true then ain’t we all depraved characters. Betraying a jaundiced eye, each and every moment we are bolstering more tougher shells by showing different faces but substantially overlook our degenerating kernel or in simple terms soften our inner self. Everywhere, at home, office, in friend circle, we pose different characters at the same time. It’s very difficult to read faces now a days because character changes with every changing circumstances. The most awful part of it that we are so used to use people by masquerading ourselves under the wire. Why don’t we speak our mind? Whom we fear? Why we deliberately changing masks in front of people who are not more important than ourselves?

I have started with my father and ending this short metaphysical article with my father. He is a successful man ( considering his circumstances) and used to tell me that "you can always dupe people around you but will never to yourself."

Mount Everest

2008-02-02T17:43:00.000+05:30

Geographical Location : Mount Everest is the rocky snow cladded peak of the Himalayas. It is located on the Nepal Tibet border and stands at the height of 29, 028 feet. It is the highest mountain in the world.

Other names of Mount Everest : Mount Everest is popularly known as 'Sagarmatha' meaning Goddess of the Sky in Nepal and 'Chomolungma' meaning Goddess of the Universe in Tibet. People of the Khumbhu valley also call it Jomolangma, as according to them, a goddess, one of the five sisters of long life resides here.

History of Mount Everest : Mount Everest the highest mountain in the world, is named after Sir George Everest, the surveyor general of India. It made its presence known on earth over 60 million years ago. The first expedition to the Mount Everest was made in the year 1924, since than several attempts were made to the summits. The expedition till now has taken more then 400 lives. It was declared as the world's tallest mountain in 1852.

Climbing and Discovery of Mount Everest : From 1830 to 1843 Sir George Everest, the Surveyor General of India, made attempts to record the location of the the Everest. In the year 1856, Andrew Waugh identified Mount Everest to be 8840 meters high. Than exact after the 10 years, in 1865 Peak XV, was renamed as Mt. Everest in the honour of Sir George Everest.

Later on in the 19th century George Mallory and Andrew Irvine attempted the summit. The men were last seen heading towards the top of Mount Everest but thereafter they were completely engulfed by the clouds. In the year 1999, Mallory's body was found, but no such evidence, that could reveal weather they completed their journey to the Everest or not.

The first ones who broke all the records and reach the top of Mount Everest, were Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who received immense popularity overnight. Another most interesting historical record was made in May, 1978 by Habeler and Messner who made the heroic effort to reach the top without using any supplemental oxygen. More than 600 climbers from 20 countries have climbed to the summit by various routes.

Tourists activities :
Trekking and Hiking : Mount Everest is the never ending adventure for the trekkers lovers and hikers too. Trekking at Mount Everest is quite a challenging one. You may face several difficulties while climbing, so you need to be physically fit and fine. The trekking route provides you the most beautiful sceneries and unparalleled views, which are quite amazing. The most appropriate time to trek the base camp of the Mount Everest is pre- monsoon springtime and post monsoon autumn.

Wildlife Exploration : Explore the exotic flora and fauna of the Mount Everest. You can make a visit to the popular Sagarmatha National Park, declared as the world Heritage Site in 1979. The park is known for its rare species of snow leopard and red pandas. Juniper, blue pines, firs, bamboo and rhododendron contribute to the rich floral system of the park. The main attractions of the park include musk deer, wild yak, Himalayan black beer, langur monkeys, hares, mountain foxes, Himalayan wolves and red panda.

Birding : The Sagarmatha National Park is also the birding paradise. You can carry the pair of binoculars to engage in Bird watching. It is home to 118 species of birds. The most important among them include Danphe, Blood Pheasant, Red billed chough and Yellow billed chough. Sagarmatha is one of the most beautiful place you will find on earth.

Visit to the Khumbu Valley : The Khumbu valley mostly inhabited by the Sherpas, has marvelous, incomparable beauty. Beautifully surrounded by the snowy peaks, the valley is the zenith of natural beauty. The people in the valley are quite religious, who have been following Tibetan Buddhism from generations. The people here are engaged in various occupations such as trekking, mountaineering, portering and other religious practices.

Aparana Chauhan

Positive is Power

2007-10-04T17:20:00.000+05:30

Our life is really like the roller coaster. One has to come across many challenges, hurdles, ups and downs as well as the cheerful, happy, jovial side of the life, to know – what really is life? Or why I am here? Or what life is all about, that some people say it’s worth living…

We always try to curse the cosmic forces conspiring against us, when there are any difficulties strewn along our path. But instead of that we should try to bring forth the optimistic side of our life. Whatever is happening on this planet and in our life is a feature film and we play the role of the protagonist. In almost all the films, the hero or the heroine is shown to come across all the challenges and difficulties, which are eventually overcome, and they come out victorious. So, in that manner we should think that we will also overcome any thorns crossing our way.

Only the man with the right attitude and positive thinking can succeed in their life. The song of the soul is – “I am the master of my heart. Nothing can damage me but myself”. Even if one is entangled in the worst possible situation, one must not think of the problems but the solutions. Happiness is first an attitude. In fact, an optimist is never mentally sick. That is what the father of modern science, Sir Williams Osler said, “The cure of tuberculosis is more on what the patients has in his head than what he has in his chest”.

We can’t shut our eyes from reality. But the proportion of sorrow and joy is not much different from that of day and night. You can’t prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head but atleast you can prevent them from making nests in your hair.

I believe whatever happens, it surely has as reason or significance attached to it….and it’s definitely for the good.

By Aparana Chauhan

Pluralism in India

2007-10-04T10:50:00.000+05:30

India is the world’s most complex and comprehensive pluralistic society. The country harbours a vast variety of races, tribes, castes, religions, languages and customs. Pluralism in a society is presence of multi religious, multi ethnic, multi lingual and multi cultural categories. It is the cultural diversity that is India’s pride on the world map.

India has always been a pluralist people, even when it was an essentially Hindu civilization. Hinduism is most diverse religious tradition in the world, with its Vedic, Tantric, Shaivite, Vaihnav and other sets, both ancient and modern. It also provided the ground for the Buddhist, Jain and Sikh traditions. It spawned perhaps the greatest diversity of spiritual teachings globally.

The unique feature of the Indian life style is its unity- in – multiplicity. And to strengthen this unity, our constitution makers in their wisdom ensured a secular, democratic and cultural framework protected and guaranteed by law. Despite the diverse role played by the colonial power over two centuries and the handiwork of extremists and politicians who represent vested interest essentially, almost all communities live here in harmony.

Indians are connected through the profound and creative cultural symbols of identity and communication, food, ritual, clothing, music, dance, craft etc. In other words we connect through the pluralistic fabric of the society. Pluralism does have many practical problems too and it is not all smooth sailing in any pluralistic society.

In the third world countries, the failure of the nation to deliver the needs and aspirations of the people have made pluralism the major source of tension, conflict and violence. In an increasing number of cases, cultural minorities are converting themselves into political minorities in order to seek recognition and protection of their distinctive identities. Witness the history of Kashmir or the ethnic group in Manipur; or the power of ULFA in Assam.

The challenge therefore is to manage pluralism without giving up the goal of national integration and without further emasculating the state. Cultural pluralism can be best managed by the democratic framework.

By Aparana Chauhan

Hey Ram!

2007-09-21T17:41:00.000+05:30

It is utterly disgraceful when Lord Ram name comes into a negative limelight as a prime story of mainstream media. The all hue and cry started with a petition by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) questioning about the existence of Ram, the most sacred Hindu god venerate by millions. With obvious reasons ASI petition created a nationwide furore, fuelled by all the newspapers and 24 hours news channels. For them it was a scoop, which they couldn’t afford to miss, albeit of its grave backlash.

In India whenever boiling controversy erupts, politics has to play a part. Ram setu controversy is also not an exception from the immediate history. The Hindu fanatics suddenly got a job to execute after a long pause. Eventually, Hindus were feeling insecure (that miracle also credited to our media). The ruling party with the fear of loosing votes fabricated some defensive moves. To gain the last ground, government to convince the DMK over realigning the sea link in a manner that doesn’t breach Adam’s Bridge or “Ram Setu”.

The most amusing part of blistering dissonance is most of the people prefer to remain ignorant about the project. ‘Underwater shipping canal project’, ‘ecological imbalance’ are not the vocabulary of ordinary Indians but ‘religion’, ‘faith’ and ‘blasphemy’ are. Everybody aware about the Ram setu but remain wish to be ignorant about questions like why ASI suddenly forced to do this type of juvenile act? Why there is no debate over the ecological imbalance, which will suppose to happen if once underwater shipping canal would be materialised? Only debate boiling up is over the existence of Ram, which is beyond debate. In a country where regions fanaticism could cost thousands of life without repentance, shouldn't government and media move cautious about the aftermath. Undoubtedly, the petition derogates the religion to an extent but to make it an issue, do only harm, if not act as a religious balm. At the time of “Ram crisis” few lines from the film ‘swadesh’ only comes into mind.

Ram hi to karuna mein hai

shaanti mein ram hai

Ram hi hai ekta main

pragati mein ram hai

Ram bas bhakton nahin shatru

ke beech chintan hai

dekh taj ke paap ravan

Ram tere man mein hai

Ram to ghar ghar mein har

Ram har aangan mein hai

mann se ravan jo nikale

ram uske mann mein hai

Why We Are Negative ?

2007-09-11T09:49:00.000+05:30

Everyone of ourselves cursed with negative energy that prevent us to do the productive things to build an effectual way of life. Negative energy is caused by by many factors; one of the prime accused is lack of confidence. Lack of confidence is caused by our childhood conditioning. Every baby born into the world arrives with a positive brain and during the first few months of its life, receives positive inputs from its parents and surroundings. As soon as child starts to move, the positive inputs increases the ‘yes’, ‘you can’, ‘you can do it’. The infants is soon able to stand the pride of parents increases and so do the positives. Eventually, the first step is taken, the baby can walk, friends and family are quite naturally invited to share in the pleasure and soon as the baby is really able to walk, the inputs turn dramatically from positive to negative. ‘Be careful’, ‘don’t touch it’ , ‘don’t do that’ and so on. And finally the positive brain starts to no no conditioning.

Failure is another aspect, which leads to lack of confidence and eventually, tons of negative energy infuse in our system. There is seldom anyone who haven’t experienced failure in life but how you deal with it depends on your guts and gumption. And that guts doesn’t comes from a vacuum but from your surrounding and circumstances. However, if you are in a place where your surrounding pitilessly prick your wound further and shatter your mental peace, this only affects on your positive thought process.

Motivation is also an important factor for upbring yourself in a positive environ. It is a human characteristics that when we truly see ourselves in whatever form that may be, we are definitely motivated. Some says, challenge does motivated. In my opinion failure can also motivate but again that depends on individual. Besides, a definite goal is must for motivation. There are obstacles in life that slower your pace, scant your motivation but if your goal is fixed, its impossible to get distracted.

If you encounter a successful experience , you gain confidence and ‘I CAN’ saturate in your mind. Opposite of it, failure leads to lack of confidence and ‘I CAN'T'. So, thrive for success in every possible horizon.

Note: - This story is not aimed to give any 'gyan'(lesson) to anyone, this is solely written by me, for me only.

Special Relationship

2007-09-06T17:31:00.000+05:30

It’s been quite sometime since I have developed a special relationship with books. Sometimes I feel it’s quite amazing that a mere book can fetch me so much exhilaration, far more than any modern gadget or friendly acquaintance.
What is a book? It’s part matter, part spirit, part thing, part thought, however when I look back to it, it defies definition. What I believe is, by its nature a book is loftier than most of the common objects in this world.We all know change is inevitable, thus my change of choice also seems to be zeitgeist. Over the years my propensity changed from Famous Five to Sherlock Holmes, from Feluda to Byomkesh Bakshi, from John Grisham to Amit Chaudhari, from fiction to academic. But still it remains my favourite company and tranquilizes my soul. I feel sorry for those children who engage themselves with modern gadgets and have a strange inclination to despise books as an object of boredom.To me a book is a vehicle of learning and refinement, an open sesame to countless joys and sorrows. At touch I slip into a silent world- a world full of virtual treasures, a world that promises a permanent solution to melancholy. To me books are munificent of sky of life where I can find the essence of life.In today’s “tech savvy” world, books have shown considerable demagogy.Man’s devotion and dreams, his accomplishment and aspiration, his inspiration and insight, all are stored in books- wealth to be tapped by all so desire. All humanity has reason to be proud of books, for it shows us our very best. Long live books!

Happy Hour

2007-09-06T09:08:00.000+05:30

Sometimes i ponder what we actually want from our life? Does all of us have a definite goal? Or just we’re flowing with time, not destined, not specific. However, after much scratching and brainstorming, i got to know that all of us actually want to be happy, and rest of it is just a mirage. We often says about ambition, career and above all chasing money like a mad dog but does all those hard work bring little calm to our soul? Perhaps no, but the irony is that we are all enlightened from our heart but not elucidate our wisdom through our practice.

So what is actually a happiness? Nobody can define happiness. Different people find the essence of happiness in different things. Some think that money can buy all the happiness, but are proved wrong. Others find happiness in the company of people. Some among them seek happiness in the company of a particular person. They think love is the root of all happiness. The jury is still out on that. Given the rates of divorce, marriage, if not love, is often found to be the source of great misery. A pertinent question is how important is happiness in human life? Wouldn’t we become complacent and lazy if we were happy? Also, can one be happy in our country, where people are starving, fighting diseases, illiteracy and corruption? Perhaps, NO. I read that people living in Norway are the happiest because of the rate of growth of GDP and literacy coupled with low birth rate. Happiness eludes easy comprehension. It lies within us and yet, depends on our circumstances. One thing is sure, for most of us, happiness is the ultimate goal. I can only recall one appropriate quote to close my “frenzy” discussion.

Happiness grows at our own firesides, and is not to be picked in stranger’s garden.

Chak De: A Fine Didactic Story

2007-08-13T06:05:00.000+05:30

Jo Jeeta wahi Sikander, Lagaan and now Chak De. The similarity between all the three movies is that it spellbinds the spectators through neat portrayal of struggle concealed within the victory in some sort of sports. The first; Jo Jeeta…, do it through cycle racing; the second, Lagaan, do it through cricket; and now the third, Chak De, recently released and yet to be celebrated, do it through hockey, the national game of India.

Among all these three movies based on sports in our contemporary Indian cinema, Chak De Celebrates a different victory. Unlike the other two, this movie is not remarkable for running romance and melodious songs in parallel with the game, which is core of all the three films. This film, Chak De, belongs to its core. And the core as well as key elements of the film are Hockey and women.

The most scathing manner in which Chak De differs from the other two is its inclusion of women playing the game. The movie is significant for the much-needed fact to accept that it celebrates a victory – victory against all those male chauvinist pigs, who believe that women in our contemporary Indian society are meant merely to be pregnant, to breed babies, handle kitchen, and to knead legs of men.

Talking in nutshell, story of the film is straight. As predicted, the victory comes and befits the laps of a dozen girls playing for their country. The win appears to be larger than life for their mentor and coach, who, after gulping seven years of contempt and disgust of his own fellow citizens, is back on a mission. The mission, sought to be impossible one by everyone, is to train the dozen of girl hockey player, and make them win the Hockey world cup.

When you are motivated by strong emotions to win, no task seems to be impossible. The journey, from toe to tip, they stride gets a good portrayal in the movie, which is worth making one’s lip shiver and fist closed tightly under the influence of emotional win running on the screen. Two things make this movie to celebrate a fine triumph over the other two movies discussed earlier, Jo Jeeta… and Lagaan. The first, depiction of woman appearing as an ultimate warrior and winner, though their mentor, a man, plays the pivotal role in their victory. The second, some didactic lessons quoted by the mentor on various occasions evoke some worth musing moral science lectures.

Some inspirational quotations should be in need here to be mentioned. “Team banaane ke liye taakat nahi neeyat ki jarurat hoti hai” (to build a team you do not need power, but a good intention), “Dushman pe hamla tab tak karte raho jab tak ya to wo toot jaye yaa fir tum toot jao” (keep fighting till the time either you or your enemies are succumbed completely), “tej matlab aur tej…sabse tej…” (Fast means faster…fastest), “Pandava ki terah jubaan mat dijiye, cheerharan ho jayega” (do not offers words too easily. Otherwise, you will meet the same doom as Pandavas did).

The best scene-sequel, to me, is when a girl, senior most player of the team, is ready to bare and offer herself to the coach to be captain of the team, while thinking that gifting woman’s flesh is the easiest way to lure a man. It does not work, but the incidence as well as words of coach (the one-woman’s man in real life) changes the girl completely. So much changed and purged that the girl while talking over phone to her cook blurts out with breast shivering and sighing, and eyes gleaming with hunger to win, “yaa to mar ayungi yaa fir jeet ke” (I shall return after either winning or dying). The girl finally shoots the goal giving her team a victory; and her coach a unique dejavu – a moment to stand tall holding his chest high and glistening tears of joy while beholding the tri-colour national flag.

Much acclaimed by The New York Times in plain words “Good show!” I do not think that I need to mention that “Chak De” is another wonderful rendezvous of two of the “powerful objects” of Bollywood, the Shah Rukh Khan and the Yashraj Films.

Nalanda : Will The Gone Glory Revisit?

2007-07-24T08:56:00.000+05:30

Among the several incidence I walked upon the unroofed rooms of ruinings of Nalanda University, the one I can recall most vividly take me more than a dozen year back. As the complex of ruined university is close to a small village, Bargaon, whose Sun Temple and believed-to-be a holy lake call thousands of devotees from all over the state, for persons living in nearby districts of Nalanda, Chatth Puja (one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Bihar) is perhaps the only time to take an excursion walk inside the ruined architectural complex of Nalanda University, which once was what Oxford, MIT, LSB and Kellogg are today.

While ascending to its one of 9-storey ruined complex (which costs hundreds of your steps), I heard some boorish ladies, the illiterate intellectuals, discussing the heartbreaking fact that the library of the university complex had had so many books that “Its ashes kept burning for six months” (read the intellectual statement carefully). The another lady spoke more in boasting manner, “the college had 10,000 students and some 2,000 teachers who came from different locations of the world.” Being a child unable to make out how long the duration of six months is and how big the figure of 10,000 would be, I tried to wonder as hard as I could while imagining scenes like heaps of books put on fire, and thousands of head-shaven men walking here and there.

Return today's date. To tell you the truth (unfortunately, as usual, I have got only gruelling truth to share), heaps of books containing thousands of rare texts, and the entire university complex, the unique architectural gem, was ordered to be ruined completely merely because the entire university did not have a single piece of Quran, the holy Islamic text. The place which was an excellent place of excellent learning for seven centuries (5th-12^th century) was finally set on fire following the order of (Turkic) Muslim invader, Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193.

The place today has no grandeur to boast of. Once upon a time, the grandeur was there, but that is gone now, not to return ever. Excavated during 1915-1930, the complex spreads today merely over 14 hectares, where several of hostels, temples, monasteries, stupas, lecture halls have been identified. Imagine the magnificence of the university complex; the number of monasteries inside the university complex touched the impressive figure of 108, among which 11 have been excavated.

Today, the total area of entire devastated university may not be so large that it may take you one full day to explore it. Yet, beholding each of its lofty and magnificent walls made of red brick give you same joy what you get while roaming in its museum containing many of rare Hindu and Buddhist gods, several of large clay-vessels, copper plates, coins and carved bricks.

The last time I witnessed the place some 4 years back, when I drove past without feeling any need to get off the vehicle and take a stroll in the complex. I felt, the place, as it is for more than a thousand year, was in lull. The only commotion I could make out was caused by blowing wind; which came now-and-then close to my ear whispering the fact “did you know that the great scholar, Hieun Tsang - 'Master Of The Law', studied here, and spent his 17 years here?”

Now-a-days the news is that the place in next two years is going to have some part of the all those glory back which it lost a thousand year ago not only because that it was devastated by a Muslim invader, but also due to the fact that corruption in many forms clutched the university too tight to loosen. As the news state, by 2009 the place will have a world class university spread over 21 square km. Even an art village is also being set-up over an area of 64 acres which will include an open air theatre having special facility of performing arts. The university which in its hey-days got patronage from great royal houses like Pala and Gupta, today Asian countries like China, Singapore and India will take over the financial matters. Planning to offers post graduate level studies, the world class university will have students from all over Asia.

The news, if becomes reality, appears to be a boon for the local villages and its inhabitants, who despite producing dozens of IAS and IPS officers every year, suffer through a disease called backwardness. Right now, by the time I finish typing my last word, I am going to be completely wet with a vision that after a couple of year when I pass through the complex, I want a thorough craving inside me – craving to roam through each of its newly built magnificent pillars and study halls, craving to eye thousands of books befitting in its grand library, craving to see thousands of head-shaven Buddhist scholars roaming here and there the same way they stirred a thousand year back.

One Horned Rhinos

2007-07-02T09:37:00.000+05:30

Popularly known as the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros is the largest of the three Asian rhinos and is the forth largest mammal of the world. Historically, the rhinos were distributed in the floodplain and forest tracts in Brahmaputra, Ganges and Indus river valley. Great one horn rhinos are usually solitary. It is mainly characterized by its single unique black horn. This beast is often described as being armour plated due to its large skin folds. Kaziranga is the home to world’s largest one horned rhinos. Two- third of the world’s one horned rhinos belong to this place. The biggest threat that greater one-horned rhinos face is human harassment / encroachment. For centuries rhino is being hunted for sports. It horn has greater demand in the market, which has medical significance.

- Aparna Chauhan

Adios To Rickshaw Ride In Chandni Chowk

2007-06-16T05:43:00.000+05:30

The decision of barring cycle rickshaw from entering to bustling areas of Chandni Chowk seems to me not an easy morsel to be digested easily. Say it my sympathy towards thousands of rickshaw pullers or say it my listlessness for crap idea of Delhi High Court to accept it a way to make Delhi a global city.

Many will argue that getting rid off rickshaw from Chandni Chowk may save thousands of commuters from traffic snarl. In fact, this was the basis upon which the court ordered exude of 2500 of rickshaw plying between Lahore Gate (of Red Fort) and Fatehpuri Masjid. In words of one of MCD persons, "They (rickshaw pullers) make it very difficult for the fast moving vehicles to pass. They stand in clusters and create congestion." My lord, If traffic snarl is the reason, why don't you order some initiatives to be taken to chuck out hundreds of cars parked on both sides of the road? And yes, make also a rule to curb the growing number of vehicle in Delhi. You must be aware, my lord, that the number of vehicle (around 4.4 million) we have in Delhi is equal to the sum of total vehicle in three other metro, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

15 small CNG buses have begun plying on the route, Digambar Jain Mandir-Fatehpuri Masjid, charging flat rate of Rs 5. I wonder while thinking which way it is going to act as palliative for thousands of commuters. I agree, it is definitely a good move if we think of environmental issues like pollution. But is it possible for 15 CNG buses replacing 2500 of rickshaws in so little time? It is not even a week since the shuttle service has started, and commuters are grumbling over the inconvenience they are suffering. Buses are most often too crowded to occupy a single bone. What if a senior citizen or a physically challenged man has to rush urgently to their destination? Will they wait for crowded CNG bus to get pissed into or they will call or a rickshaw Wallah Bhaiya, and have a place (costing a meager sum of Rs 10) worth occupying 2 butts?

Leave arguments. My recent reading of BBC website says that authorities in global cities like Singapore, Paris and London are planning to license rickshaw to ply on their roads. If sophisticated city like London can think of rickshaw being an eco-friendly and comfortable way of commuting, and seems excited to see it running in Oxford's streets, why can't Chandni Chowk accept it wholeheartedly as its most favourite commuting tool?

Should court be so supportive to those local businessmen who appealed for rickshaw ban in the area, simply because they are a bit annoyed every morning due to traffic puzzle while driving their Chevrolet and Honda? Reasons are numerous to advocate for allowing rickshaw to ply again on Chandni Chowk. At least think of those rickshaw pullers toiling hard, and can't even think of earning more than Rs 150-250 a day. There are 15000-20000 rickshaw plying in Chandni Chowk and its adjoining areas. The ban on rickshaw to ply in Chandni Chowk will affect their livelihood badly. Thousands of them might be able now to earn only half the penny they used earlier. And, little to surprise, several hundreds of them might lose their profession, and will loiter to seek new job.

Mumbai City Guide

2007-06-13T15:45:00.000+05:30

Mumbai City Guide
Mumbai, which was previously known as Bombay, is a major metropolitan city of India. Located on a peninsula, halfway up the west coast of India, it is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The word Mumbai is derived from Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of the Koli fisher folk, the oldest inhabitants of Mumbai. The city has a largest and busiest port handling India's foreign trade and a major International airport. India's largest stock exchange is also situated in the city.

As Mumbai is the nagri of Bollywood, it has also dazzling shopping arcades, exciting sport activity, night clubs and discotheques, theatre, music and interesting sightseeing. There are a lot of enchanting monuments, holy places, museums, beaches, lakes, gardens and amusement parks. One of the popular attractions are like Gateway of India, Flora Fountain, Elephanta Caves, Mahalaxmi Temple, Mumbadevi Temple, Siddivanayak Temple, Marine Drive,, Juhu beach and fantastic Essel World, Water Kingdom etc.

The best time to explore Mumbai is between September and April. Go away this charming city between this time and make your Mumbai trip unforgettable experience.

Get and have a look, if you want to know more about Mumbai. Just click the below link............

www.bombay-india.net

- Maya Bhoj

Poach The Poachers, Groan The Indian Tiger

2007-05-31T16:15:00.000+05:30

Despite the fact that respect for environmental and wildlife conservation have always greatly been in practice since hundreds of years in India, today the plight of Indian Tigers can't be ignored. Falling in big cat category of wild beast, Tiger, about which, if i was taught accurately in my 2nd or 3rd grade, is the national animal of India. Wonderful!

So, what is making Tigers a hot talk now-a-days? First, let me contradict that Tigers have never been a matter of deep concern. How many times have you heard parliamentarian of India having a debate over Tiger conservation in the country? Yes, some credit have to be given to some of environment journalists as well as some media publication houses.

Why Tigers Are So Important

The first question that has to be directed here that why biologists and environment specialist keep talking so much of Tigers. Dear honey, Tigers are predators, who play an important role in balancing the food chain of our Eco system. Facilitating it to understand, Tigers belong to category of carnivore, which according to the food system control the population of herbivore. (Herbivore are animals like Cow and Sheep who live by eating plants only. Now don't ask who are carnivores.) So, if herbivore quits becoming prey to predators, then the increased number of plant eating animals (herbivore) will become threat to the greenery of our environment. That is where predators like Tiger comes to great handy of protecting our Eco system, as it controls the number of herbivores, and balance the entire ecological food system.

The Current Grueling Figure

The decreased number of Tigers in India, which claims to be proud home to almost half of the Tigers, has become serious environmental concern for years. Lets play with figures. A hundred year ago when the Tiger population in India was no less than 40,000, in the year 1972 when the widely celebrated Project Tiger were instituted, the number fell down to 1827.

Thanks to Indira Ji, the Indian version of 'Iron Lady' and the then Prime Minister of India, who gave her full support to this world's most successful wildlife conservation program, the number of Tigers in merely next 7 years (in 1979) rose to 3017, which soared further to 3959 in 1984. The recently promulgated report of Wildlife Institute Of India (WII) has it estimation that the number of Tigers in India may descend to around 1200, though the full national figures will be published by WII by the end of this year. Little to surprise, on the another hand, biologists claim that the figure might be as less as 800.

Poaching – The Most Serious Threat

Tiger poaching, causing the serious threat to Indian Tigers, though not have been the single reason, but definitely can be termed as the most important reason. if unofficial sources are to be believed, almost 200 Tigers alone in India fall prey to poachers every year. The poached Tigers are marketed by smugglers to neighbouring countries, especially to Tibet and China where Tiger skins are worn as traditional dress (in Tibet), and bones are used as effective reliever of several of diseases (in China). Each part of Tiger's body come at a price here. Bones – £200/kg, Penis - £425 per piece, Tooth - £60 p/p. And when it comes to buying a full bodied dead Tiger, in black market it costs around £25,000.

Figures are really dreadful piercing a needle to our thoughts to believe that survival of big cats including Tigers and Leopards becoming arduous. And if we make our imagination a bit more horrid, few years down we would be seeing them only in celebrated television show of National Geographic and Discovery channels.

What Needs To Be Done

It is not that government is not aware of such ill-intentioned game of poachers, who blinded in material gaining kill Tigers. But the initiatives as well as funds allocated by Ministry Of Forest And Environment have not been appropriate to meet the challenges posed before Tigers.

To relocate the 1500 villages inhabited by 3,00,00 people falling inside the total 28 Tiger reserves of India, NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) have allocated a meager and ridiculous amount of 200 crore of rupees for the next 5 years. Besides, to protect Tigers from being speared and poisoned by poachers, Government ought to understand that we do not need only Tiger Task Force, but also a suitable and effective management system minus any political motive to give the Tiger conservation program a successful run.

Delhi - Gateway To The North

2007-03-31T11:17:00.000+05:30

Delhi, the capital of India, is the third largest city in the country. This charming city is divided into Old Delhi and New Delhi which gives the feel of the old and new, with its ancient historical monuments interspersed with soaring skyscrapers, embassies and bustling commercial complexes. It is situated in North Central India and stands on the west bank of River Yamuna. It is bounded on the east by the state of Uttar Pardesh and on the north, west and south by Haryana. It is spread over an area of 1483 sq. kilometers, 216 meters above sea level and has a population of around 14 million.

There are a lot of tourist attractions such as India Gate, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Lotus Temple, , Akshardam Temple, Birla Mandir, Dolls Museum, Lodi Garden, Appu Ghar etc. If you are planning to visit Delhi city, make your plan according to its whether. The best time to visit this enchanting city is from October to March.

Checkout this site: www.delhi-india.net

- Maya Bhoj

To Marry Or Not To Marry

2007-03-21T15:55:00.001+05:30

Film: Just Married
Cast: Fardeen Khan, Esha Deol, Bikram Saluja, Perizaad Zorabian, Satish Shah, Kirron Kher
Direction: Meghana Gulzar
Production: Pritish Nandy Communications
Star: ***

The denouement of the film goes like this – the half-Indian girl, Sara, who derides the marriage custom in the early part of the movie by saying that “To me attachment is of more importance than marriage”, falls prey finally to arranged marriage and marry her boyfriend living with her for last 9 years. Likewise, the female protagonist (Esha Deol) who is too uncomfortable with her husband (Fardeen) soon after her (arranged) marriage in the beginning of film, feels lastly the warmer comfort in the arms of her husband.

I am sure, fools like me, after watching the movie, shall be getting themselves in quandary while musing whether to marry or not to marry according to our tradition of arranged marriage. The film, portraying the success of arranged marriage, might not be successful in grater sense, as it lacks good plots and story as well. Nitty-gritty presentation of problems of arranged marriage are shown vivaciously, but its solutions come nowhere of greater importance to the director. A simple hug is not the solution of skirmishes taking place in a couple’s life, i suppose.

The storyteller, Meghana Gulzar, though has penned down a very fine screenplay throughout the movie. Dialogues like “Harek kahaani kahi na kahi se suru hoti hai... kabhi kabhi do kahaani mil bhi jaati hai... aur kabhi kabhi ek kahaani me hi bahut saari kahaani ban jaati hai..” show Meghana’s greater depth of understanding of relationships. Undoubtedly she has inherited a good part of her writing acumen of her father, Gulzar Ji, who has written songs for this film.

The most to cherish are many of scenes taking place between two couples – older one (Satish Kaushik and Kirron Kher) and newer one (Fardeen and Esha). On the one hand, comic scenes between the old couple, celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary (obviously the arranged one), are worth amusing; on the other, scenes between newly wedded couple, presenting honeymoon activities like communication gap, shyness of bride, and of course first night’s hesitations, are no less than golden learning opportunity for unmarried lots.

And yes.. a neat advice from me. It is better to sit still in your room and listen to some of your favourite tracks than going for this movie without your alter-ego right to you rubbing your palms and sharing oodles of giggles.

:- Rajeev

Agra City

2007-03-09T18:01:00.000+05:30

Agra the city of inimitable Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, is situated in Uttar Pradesh, Northern state of India, at a distance of 200 km from Delhi. Inhabited by the Mughal emperor, Shahjahan, It is one of the famous tourist destination known all over the world. A pleasant town with comparatively slow pace is popularly known for the the Taj Mahal, the architectural wonder and one of the most famous historical heritage of India. While being here Leather Goods, Handicrafts, Zari, Zardozi, Marble and Stone carving & inlay work are best buy. Petha, Dalmoth & Gajak are widely known for eats. Some of the prominent tourist places are Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmad-Ud-Daula, Jama Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri, Lal Qila & Chini ka Rouza, Dayal Bagh. The city of Taj Mahal is surrounded by various other places of historical significance and can be visited in the one day by taxi or by taking a bus. Best time to visit this world famous historical city is from October to March.

for more information: www.agra-india.net

- Maya Bhoj

Webvastu: The Fusion Of Two Sciences (Book Review)

2007-03-09T17:22:00.000+05:30

Book: WebVastu
Author: Dr. Smita Jain Narang

Today when Internet revolution has brought severe necessity for an organisation and individual being, websites play a pivotal role in modern communication process. The very need is that websites ought to configure and portray the intrinsic attitude and perception of an individual or an organisation.

Combining the two sciences: Internet and Vastu, the newly launched and celebrated book, Webvastu is all about the principles for designing the websites on the fundamentals of Vastu Science. With the aim to help websites achieving its maximum profits, author Dr. Smita Jain Narang, renowned Interiors and Vastu consultant, assures readers a thorough peep into her Vastu Shashtra acumen.

In author’s words, “a website signifies the attitude and perception of a person or organisation about their businesses. And applying the science of Vastu in their websites can help them balancing the five elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Space) of nature, which can do wonders by accelerating their fame and materials. "

Linking the importance of Vastu Shashtra and Astrology with websites, the book deals vastly with co-relating the two sciences, Internet and Vastu together. Topics like complete overview of Vastu Shashtra, scientific approach to Vastu Shashtra, deep study of Internet and websites, choosing layout as earth element, fonts/graphics as water elements, HTML as air element and websites as spaces element are covered with wider importance.

Written crisply with minimal scientific terms, the book, Web Vastu, might be helpful in great sense to make one’s business harmonious and profitable. A warm thanks must go to Dr’ Smita for sharing her Vastu intellects with us.

: - Rajeev

Forever With Me

2007-03-09T12:14:00.000+05:30

Years before, when i was begotten on mother’s bed
it was you fondled with your hands my forehead.
few good years after, when i was toddler
you taught me to take the stride far and farther
so, there was someone, forever with me.

Walking alone amidst trees and chirping o’ bird
when i am joyless and a bit sad
your warm hand fills my finger gaps
that makes me bloom and full o’ raptures.

In pang, when i sob with hot tears
your soft kisses dry my wet eyes
When dusk’ll hover above me sans moon
you’ll enlighten my ways with lamp o’ boon.

In my last days, when voice turns feeble and bones lazy
your one touch’ll make me feel rosy
e’en on my death-bed, far happier will i be
because, i feel, there’ll be someone, forever with me.

(The poem is complete dedication to God, and no wonder this Poem fetched me a nomination of Amateur Poet Of The Year 2005 by International Society of Poets, U.S.A.)

:- Rajeev