As I put aside my cigarette to observe the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ I wonder if God at Karwar (in Karnataka) is doing the same. Lord Muneshwara in Karwar is offered cigarettes and alcohol by his devotees. With hundreds of cigarettes offered per day, Lord Muneshwara must be a chain smoker! Lord Muneshwara is not alone, there are other places like the temple in Almora, Uttarakhand, where cigarettes or beedis are given as offerings to god.
In 1987 created. The ‘World No Tobacco Day’ is observed around the world every year on 31 May, during which the World Health Organization encourages people to abstain from all forms of tobacco consumption for 24 hours atleast. This is done to raise awareness about the 6 million people who die every year due to smoking, out of which 600,000 fall prey to passive smoking. There is even a ban on advertisements that promote smoking, but has that been enough to stop encouraging smokers?
What if a teen starts to idolize Lord Muneshwara? Will WHO be able to stand against one billion Indians who share same belief? India indeed is incredible with strange rituals and traditions that sometimes fail logic. Caught in the web of lies, we are constantly performing acts of stupidity and fooling ourselves in the name of gods and beliefs that stand against logic.
Lord Muneshwara is believed to grant wishes in exchange of cigarettes. Wouldn’t it be ironic to offer cigarettes in order to get cured of a disease that was caused because of the very offering that you just made? God never wanted us to smoke neither does he crave for our “suttas” that we offer as a bribe. If he really wanted us to smoke, then our nostrils would be facing upwards like chimneys that drive out the smoke!
Even as the Maharashtra government has sought Rs.2,000 crore to tackle the drought problem in the state, around 90 lakh farmers face severe repercussions of a drought that has endured for few yeards. The state government has declared drought in over 29,000 villages with Marathwada and Vidarbha regions being the most affected. Evidently, this drought has led to a drastic increase in the number of farmer suicides by 40% in Maharashtra, which is the highest in India.
A crop yield of less than 50% of the regular yield indicates a drought-like condition in an area. Mismanagement of water resources is the biggest reasons behind this drought. Home of about 205 sugar cooperatives, Maharashtra is the second largest sugarcane producer in India next to Uttar Pradesh. Sugarcane being a water guzzler, the issue of diversion of water in channels follows a priority list with sugarcane on top. However, this issue has become a political issue for state politicians and the problem has not been solved till date. Ideas like water governance and conservation have not yet been implemented yet. Thus the imperative lies on adopting practices that can help in saving water and enhancing water management projects.
Despite the water crisis, there is a hope in the state as few villages have developed the art of water management and sustainable utilisation. On the other hand, few voluntary organizations with their innovative ideas and groundwork have helped in solving the drought problem in rural parts of Maharashtra.
Naam Foundation
Image – naammh.org
Due to the harsh repercussions of drought, poor rural families have lost their bread earner, which has has shaken the very instinct of basic survival. Naam Foundation has stepped in at this crucial juncture with numerous initiatives like construction of houses for the families in which farmers committed suicide, village adoption for 5 villages, distribution of money to widows of farmers who committed suicide, development of sewing clusters, river rejuvenation.
Bollywood actors Nana Patekar and Makarand Anaspure founded Naam Foundation in 2015 and have distributed 4 tons of food grains in Ahmednagar to 340 drought affected families. The foundation managed to collect 80 lakh rupees in a single day in April 2016. Nana Patekar stated that there is no point blaming the government authorities; rather someone has to solve the problem. He also said that it is a misconception that people don’t want to help; in reality, people are concerned whether their money will be utilized properly or not. Other actors Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar have also taken the initiative to help the drought affected families.
Paani Foundation
Image – paanifoundation.in
Aamir Khan has founded Paani Foundation in early 2016 to work along with the Government of Maharashtra for building awareness about water conservation in rural parts of Maharashtra. The foundation came up with the unique idea of ‘Satyamev Jayate water cup’, which is a water management competition among several village gram panchayats.
This competition is being held in three different districts – Koregaon in Satara, Warud in Amravati and Ambajogai in Beed. It aims to build a community spirit among villagers and hopefully bring some unknown water heroes into the spotlight. The winning villages will be helped to prepare a water plan and budget, and to access funds and government and technical help. Selected candidates will be trained on-field for watershed management in villages.
Hiware Bazar
Image – hiware-bazar.epanchayat.in
Hiware Bazar is a village that has set up a sparkling example for others in Maharashtra, which has not been in need of a water tanker for almost 2 decades now! The village in the Ahmednagar district faced drought problems in the 1980s, when people started to migrate to other parts of the state. During this difficult period, Popatrao Pawar, the only postgraduate in the village, contested the gram panchayat elections and became the Sarpanch. Taking charge, Popatrao convinced the villagers to shut down the liquor shops in the village, and got the gram panchayat to tie up with the Bank of Maharashtra to seek loans to poor farmers.
Hiware Bazar’s gram panchayat used the government’s employment guarantee scheme funds to create water conservation structures and forests. 40,000 contour hill trenches were built to conserve rain water. During 1995-2000, the village drafted its own five year plan. With the increase in number of wells, the irrigation facilities have also become effective. With a surge in watershed management activities, the number of well have increased from 97 to 217. Along with this, the per capita income has increased rapidly.
Patoda
Image – ecoideaz.com
One village on the outskirts of Aurangabad has turned the tide on drought through integrated rural development, teaching a lesson to rest of Marathwada. Patoda in Aurangabad district has a computerised gram panchayat that has installed mandatory water meters and toilet in every household. Patoda has unique water vending machines and 581 families with ATM cards are provided free 20 liters of water.
Every single drop of water is audited and the village’s sewage water is recycled and used for crops. Several projects like covered drainage, running primary school, ban on open defecation, waste management, solar street lighting were undertaken. Anganwadis are also formed in Patoda which have helped in bridging the education gap between urban and rural areas.
With these model villages and voluntary foundations, the Maharashtra state has witnessed some positive changes. However there is a lot more to be done to prevent droughts in future.
A few years ago the Indian women’s Kabbadi team was walking on the streets with the World Cup seeking recognition. A few days later when MS Dhoni blasted the ball out of the stadium to win the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the ensuing victory procession had blocked the entire city. Let’s not jump to a conclusion to call it ‘partiality’. Let’s wait for a few more examples.
Last year, Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza both were ranked first in badminton and tennis respectively. After a few days, both of them lost their first round matches in a tournament. How many of us actually remember that? The entire social media crowd went wild for a day and a few days later, all we were bothered about is who is reaching the finals in the Indian Premier League. India is truly a cricket crazy nation you may say!!!
It’s not that we do not support other sportspersons, we do appreciate them and then we forget them. Remember names like Jyotirmoy Sikdar, Karnam Malleswari, Shiv Kapur, Abhinav Bindra, Dingko Singh, Anju Bobby George, Dhanraj Pillay, IM Vijayan and Pullela Gopichand. It would hardly ring a bell in most of us. Is it a boon or a bane that all we care for is Cricket? Of course our cricket stars do deserve recognition, but why at the cost of other athletes?
Amazingly, the bright point for Indian sports is the cricketers themselves are trying to promote other sports! And yet, there is a very large room for improvement. Numerous events have come up to support other sports such as Indian Super League for football, Pro Kabaddi League, Indian Hockey League, and World Badminton League to name a few. But the only tournament that got some viewership and fan following is the Indian Super League, which is due to the presence of cricketing legends. Ample proof that we are a cricket crazy nation!!!
Has it been imbibed in us to be ardent worshippers of cricket or is it something that we learn to be as we grow up… A nation that once had produced sporting greats such as Dhyan Chand, Vishwanathan Anand, Geet Sethi and Vijay Amritraj has forgotten them, and has become completely enamoured by cricketers. Yes, they do deserve the fame but what about those who have equally sacrificed and performed for the one billion people? Till when will our athletes keep running for sponsors and funds? The only famed athletes we recognise is Mary Kom and Milkha Singh thanks to their on screen biopics.
Sportspersons of other fields do not need sponsors, funds or even fame. All they require is a little appreciation from us. They will keep running on the tracks, keep taking punches on their faces, boggle their mind on the chessboard, and keep breaking their racquets in training even if we do not spare a few seconds and appreciate them. That is the way it has been since India’s independence.
These sportspersons win medals for us, they will conquer the world for us and they return back home to lead a mundane normal life again. And we will continue sitting in the comforts of our home and blame the nation for not being able to produce a single Olympic gold medallist each and every time. The truth is as much as the system and sports infrastructure is to be blamed, so are we. If we let the trend continue and soon only cricket bats and balls will be available for sale in sports shops!
Fortunately, a few volunteers and NGOs are helping talented athletes in other sports to overcome an apathetic system and sports culture:
Pune-based sports NGO, Lakshya has dedicated its mission to nurture talent in diverse range of sports. Lakshya has chosen 40 athletes in shooting, boxing, tennis, badminton, wrestling, who are expected to win medals in the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics –
Realising that young girls drop out of sports as they enter highschool, EduSports has persuaded various schools in Bengaluru to promote girls’ inclusion in sports. Over the last 7 years, EduSports has helped about 1.5 lakh school girls by providing focused physical education and sports curriculum to schools –
Some states like Haryana have taken the lead in nurturing existing tradition for games like wrestling. All the great names of Indian wrestling today, Sushil Kumar, Rajeev Tomar, Amit Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and even best female wrestlers Alka Tomar and the three Phogat sisters hail from Haryana due to its thriving rural wrestling tradition. https://caleidoscope.in
Corporate sponsorship has done a whole lot of good in promoting lesser known sports like archery. Jamshedpur is the nerve centre of Indian archery after the Tata Archery Academy was established there in 1996. This centre has produced illustrious archers such as Jayant Talukdar, Poornima Mahato, Premlata Agarwal, Deepika Kumari, Dola Bannerjee and Limba Ram. https://caleidoscope.in
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life” -Pablo Picasso
Not only are fine arts cherished by Delhiites but it also has a profound impact on them. Since ancient India, kings used art pieces and crafts in their palaces to enhance the value of their lives. Persian artists famous for carpet weaving and metal art were in great demand at that time. This old culture is still well-preserved in the city with a number of arts and crafts galleries dedicated to the work of various artists.
Delhi is home to a vibrant contemporary art scene. In the last few years, it has witnessed a boom in art galleries, as well as in art events, fairs and exhibitions; piquing global interest in Indian Art which has helped tourism in its turn. The Delhi art craze is on the rise, so here is a list of the best contemporary art galleries in New Delhi.
October to March are the main months when cultural events take place in the city. One can look forward to the essence of arts and culture ingrained in history and culture. The performances include classical dance, music and displays of major art exhibitions from the country.
A bunch of friends, a backpack, an amazing playlist and a car— these are some ingredients of a classic road trip! Indeed, road trips give some valuable and idyllic travel experiences one can seek. The journey itself becomes adventurous and roads come alive, calling out driving enthusiasts every now and again. Road trips are a source of freedom. A slice of history along with wildlife safaris, beaches and hill stations can make road tours memorable. The increasing passion for road trips has compelled insurance companies to design travel insurance policies for them.
‘Take that road trip’, these are the common words that are there on everybody’s bucket list. But ever thought of stretching your bucket list a little bit and going on a foreign trip? Yes, a foreign road trip from India is an achievable reality today! Last year, a family of four took a 111 days road trip from Bangalore to Paris and drove across 11 nations. While it is mandatory to have a travel insurance policy when you travel to Schengen nations like France, Austria, Germany, etc., there are other countries that have simplified their norms for travelers.
So like me, if you’re struck by wanderlust, here’s the list of eight international road trips that can be taken from India.
Bhutan
Distance From Delhi (via NH 28): 1,944km
Time: 37 hours
Bordering India and China, Bhutan is a surreal kingdom that has remained elusive so far. The first thing that you notice as soon as you enter the country is the smiling faces of local people. If you ask someone why it is so, they will happily tell you, Bhutan is known as the happiest country in the world!
Known as the land of thunder dragon, the picturesque scenery of mountains and Buddhist monasteries like Tango, Cherry, Tongsa, etc., will amaze you to the core. There is a sense of mysticism about this enchanting Himalayan Kingdom as their king believes that it’s good to be “modernized” but it’s not good to be “westernized”.
Interesting facts about Bhutan
There is no dessert in Bhutanese cuisine
Rather than using Gross National Product (GNP) to measure the health of economy, Bhutan uses Gross National Happiness through four pillars— sustainable development, environmental protection, cultural preservation, and good governance
First nation to officially ban smoking
Bhutanese enjoy their tea with salt mixed in it
Bhutanese work for fixed hours only and there is no sense of urgency. Sunday is a complete holiday and even there is no newspaper on Sunday
Chilli and cheese are two main ingredients of Bhutanese cuisine
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan
Throughout Bhutan, there is no traffic light on roads
Plastic bags have been banned since 1999
Bangladesh
Distance from Delhi (via NH2): 1,756km
Time: 31 hours
India’s eastern cousin, Bangladesh is a beautiful land of vibrant culture, historical ruins and fabulous history. In this land of greenery and friendly people, if you travel to a remote location, you may be the only tourist at many such places. It is a best opportunity to visit these locations before the secret leaks out!
Due to the presence of a large number of rivers and the largest river delta, Bangladesh is abundant in natural resources. From India, it is easily accessible by road and you can reach the country from different entry points like Siliguri, Kolkata and Agartala.
Interesting facts about Bangladesh
The Royal Bengal Tiger is the national animal
The left hand is considered unclean, so always use your right hand when eating or passing drinks
Although kabaddi is the national game, cricket is more popular in the country
The national anthem of Bangladesh was written by Rabindranath Tagore
If someone invites you for a party, it is rude to bluntly turndown the invitation. People usually say, ‘I will try’ even if they know they will not go
Myanmar
Distance from New Delhi (via NH 28): 2,942km
Time: 54 hours
If you find happiness even in small things or enjoy living with limited resources, Myanmar is the place for you. The country is known as a glorious land with glittering golden pagodas and white stupas. With its legendary kingdoms, marvelous landscapes, diverse people and fine examples of architectural marvels, Myanmar is a home to some of the amazing tourist places like Mandalay, Yangon and Bagan, which intrigue you with their beauty. Backed with cultures of over 100 ethnic groups, the country leaves you wonderstruck with its ethereal nature and sojourns.
Interesting facts about Myanmar
People use yellow paste made from bark of Thanakha tree as a sunscreen
You need to blow a few kisses to get the waiter’s attention at a restaurant
Long necked women of the Kayan tribe in East Myanmar wear brass coils around their necks to protect themselves from neighboring tribesmen. The brass weight pushes the women’s collar bone down, thus, compressing their rib
Popularly known as the ‘Roof of the World’, Nepal’s cultural landscape is every bit as diverse as its physical state. Squeezed between India and Tibet, Nepal stretches from rich tropical forests to high Himalayan regions and from tiger habitat to vertiginous hunting grounds of the snow leopard. The country sits in the shadow of Himalayas, but shines with multitude treasures. Nepalese people are extremely friendly by nature, so wide smiles will greet you wherever you go. You shouldn’t be surprised if you are invited by a stranger for tea. A road trip to Nepal will surely bring some of the most picturesque sights, be it the highest peaks of the world that seem to be too close to you, or the stupas and prayer flags that add more beauty and grace to the rugged landscape.
Interesting facts about Nepal
Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Gautama Buddha
The only country in the world with a non-rectangular flag
Greetings in Nepal are similar to greetings in India. People bring their palms together and then bow their forehead, saying Namaste
Saturday is the official holiday and Sunday is a normal working day
The only living goddess “Kumari” can be found in Nepal
Sri Lanka
Distance from New Delhi (via NH7): 3,552km
Time: 78 hours
Tea plantation and Saint Clair Waterfall in Hill Country in Sri Lanka. Pic – Piotr Strojek/Flickr
With its miles of golden beaches and abundant natural resources, Sri Lanka is the top tropical paradises in Asia. It is also known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ and ‘Teardrop of India. Ringed by a necklace of beaches, its mountainous interior rears up in a hinterland, which is an abode for elephants and leopards. There are many ferries in Srilanka offering drive in and drive out facility for cars. Most of the places are inter-connected, and therefore, you can easily fit in a bunch of activities in a short span of time.
Interesting facts about Sri Lanka
When Sri Lankans mean ‘Yes’, they don’t nod their heads up and down but rather waggle it from side to side, so it looks like ‘No
Sri Lanka finds its place in the great Hindu epic: Ramayana. According to Hindu mythology, Ravana built his kingdom in Sri Lanka
It is the largest exporter of tea
Malaysia
Distance from New Delhi: 5,568km
Time taken: 90 hours
With rainforests, mountains and skyscrapers, Malaysia truly lives up to its slogan: “Truly Asia”. It presents a perfect blend of a vibrant cultural melting pot, where Hindu temples, Chinese joss houses and mosques jostle for space alongside towering skyscrapers. Then there are beautiful tropical resorts and islands which are popular for scuba diving. Away from the hustle and bustle of cities, the untamed nature awaits you in the form of coral reefs and jungles filled with rare species of mammals, birds and reptiles.
Interesting facts about Malaysia
Malaysian brides put their engagement ring on the fourth finger of their right hand. It is placed there by a senior female relative of the groom and not by the groom itself
The Sarawak Chamber in the country is the largest cave chamber in the world
You should always remove shoes before entering any Malaysian home
Chinese Malaysians are believed to visit graveyards in the midnight in the hope of receiving lucky lottery numbers from their dead relatives
Nasilemak is the national dish of Malaysia that is cooked in coconut milk and wrapped in a banana leaf and served for breakfast
Thailand
Distance from New Delhi (via NH 28): 4,180km
Travel time: 72 hours
With over 16 million foreigners flying into the country every year, Thailand is Asia’s most popular travel destination, which offers a myriad of places to visit. Although the country has absorbed western influences it has maintained its rich cultural heritage. Known as the ‘land of smiles’, this amazing country has attracted everyone from backpackers, billionaires to adventure seekers. If we talk about relaxation, what could be more relaxing than a massage on the beach? Indeed, Thailand is a place of adventures. Beaches and islands call out to scuba divers, water sports enthusiasts, rock climbers and all such people who want to experience thrill and adventure. From fine restaurants, night markets to temples and churches, it is hard to summarize the diversity of Thailand.
Interesting facts about Thailand
Thailand has a separate school for monkeys— Thani Monkey College. Here monkeys learn street performing tricks and how to pick coconuts from trees
Every year, ‘Monkey Buffet Festival’ is held in Thailand. Local residents see it as a way of thanking monkeys for bringing thousands of tourists. It is a very big buffet, including two tons of meat, ice cream, fruit and other dishes
Celebrated annually in Thailand, Songkran is one of the world’s largest water festivals
It is rare to find a nuclear family as most people prefer to live in extended families
Thais bow their head whenever they meet anyone older or more important than them
It is illegal to drive a vehicle without wearing a shirt
Singapore
Distance from New Delhi (via AH 2): 5,926km
Travel time: 91 hours
Boasting of its historical landmarks, exciting activities and vibrant culture, the island country of Singapore is endowed with the best of natural and man-made attractions. Known as the “Garden City”, and the “Lion City”, Singapore offers more than just luxury hotels and high-end shopping malls. There is a vibrant culture and diverse ethnic quarters to discover, along with other lovely attractions that make visiting this country worthwhile. From traditions of Chinatown to beautiful aromatic delights of Little India, a few days in Sizzling Singapore would be perfect for a fun-filling and adventurous vacation.
Interesting facts about Singapore
It is a city of man-made waterfalls and trees
The World Toilet Organization was formed in Singapore. You could be fined for not flushing toilet after use. Public toilets are equipped with Urine Detection Devices that detect the smell of urine, sets off an alarm and closes the door until the police come!
The anthem of the country is printed on the back of the S$1000
It is considered rude to eat, wave and greet with left hand
Travel Brings Power and Love Back to Your Life
Many of the great stories of life start with a couple of friends randomly jumping in car and driving to magnificent locations. They roll down the window pane, increase the volume of music and cruise into new adventures. Indeed, road trips make you a better or should I say more energetic and awesome person.
However, when it comes to travelling, heading abroad is a completely different thing from your typical annual family beach vacation. Not only overseas trips tend to be longer, there are various things that you need to keep in mind for a safe journey. Even if you are travelling by road, you should have a passport or any other government document. Also, make sure that your car is in a good condition. Depending on where you are travelling, carry special vaccinations and medicines as a precaution against ailments. Moreover, if you are planning to do only a half of your journey by road and the rest by air, don’t forget to buy a travel insurance policy. This insurance ensures complete coverage against unforeseen events like loss of passport, baggage loss, personal accident, hospitalization. Your overseas trip should be free from hassles and worries, and a comprehensive travel insurance policy ensures the same.
No matter where you travel and how you travel, travelling gives you a chance to see the world and learn about new places where you’ve never been before. So, start travelling as it is the most important way to enjoy your life and explore something new. As after all, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”: St. Augustine
Humans need a medium to rely on for accomplishing tasks even if it is regarding the worship of a supreme power. In the quest to connect to our gods, we have discovered that worshiping an idol makes us feel more positive. It offers a sense of calmness whenever we bow our heads in front of divine sculptures. Among various deities that are known to bring positivity and peace to homes, Buddha Statue or idols have always topped the charts.
No matter the size of the idol of any deity, placing one in a living area helps to enhance the ambiance. Such statues are available in different forms and material; however, you can buy brass statues online to get rid of the tiresome shopping experience if you choose to buy these idols from local stores. Buddha rupas are depicted in different forms. However, you can always choose the ones that are listed here.
Blessing Buddha with bowl
Asthamangala Buddha
Medicine Buddha brass sculpture
Serene blessing Buddha sculpture
Besides Buddha, the Hindus adore and worship a number of deities as per the belief of their community and religious culture. Among other names, Saraswati holds an eminent position as the goddess of wisdom and learning.
The Positives of Saraswati Statues for Sale
The goddess idols are believed to bring in perfection regarding knowledge of music, arts as well as learning to the devotee.
The prominent white color in Saraswati statues is a depiction of “Sattwa Guna” or purity.
“Hansa” or the swan with a Saraswati statue is believed to deliver the power of discrimination between the good and bad for those who idolize the deity.
When it comes to different deities’ idols, discussions about Ganesha statues become prominent. Here, we have attempted to explore the power and positives you can have with a Ganesha idol in your home.
Ganesha Statues as an In-thing
Ganesha is popularly revered as “Vinayaka”, which means the one who removes obstacles in your life.
Ganesha is believed to be the god of letters and learning; therefore, idolizing the god can help you sharpen your knowledge.
Popular as the god of beginnings, Ganesha is worshiped at the start of every auspicious event.
The list of Hindu deities described in various mythological tales is an epic in itself. There are a number of other deities that have been worshiped through idols since ages by the Hindu devotees. The collection of Hindu deities’ statues online is available at websites wherein these have been presented in different forms along with its attributes.
Whether it is a Ganesha idol, a Saraswati statue, Buddha icon, Krishna figure or any other idol of any other deity, you can have a nice collection of expertly crafted idols under your roof. Browsing these sites is easy as you get them with just a click. More than that, the home delivery option of receiving items at your doorstep is the best reward when considering online shopping with no hustle and bustle. In addition to this, there is no hassle as you can shop with few clicks of a computer mouse.
The benefits of shopping from online destinations are also growing as choices are available in abundance. In case, you have not got what you like, keep exploring before you settle for the item you wish to own. It only requires some time to devote to the search to get the reward of your choice.
Author bio: Being a devoted writer at Gangesindia.com, the author (Phillip Johnson) has a long association with the research that takes place to discover new and innovative beliefs about Hindu deities. He also takes it as a responsibility to inform the readers about his discoveries.
Did you know Hindi & Urdu both had their origins in the city of Delhi? However, the rich origin hasn’t ever prohibited the metropolis to be limited in its medium of expression. Punjabi, Haryanvi and English are the other common languages in the city. Delhi is a godsend gift for book readers; magazines and newspapers in several languages including English, Bangla, Malayalam, Tamil etc.
Being the capital city, it is the base for prestigious governmental institutions such as the National Book Trust, Sahitya Akademi, Tata Birla Foundation to name a few. Delhi is also the city with the maximum number of mainstream publishers, which truly makes it the power house of books, literature and knowledge.
Some of the best libraries and bookstores of Delhi can be found at –
Today we celebrate the birthday of Sir David Attenborough, one of the greatest naturalist and wildlife expert known to us. Many of us show a lot of concern about preserving nature and saving wildlife. But for most of us, that concern end with an emotional message posted on our Facebook page! We don’t venture out of the comforts of our homes to study wildlife and understanding nature in its raw form. Fortunately there are a few individuals among us who took the task of saving wildlife from the ever expanding human intrusion. Here are some of the best known examples of few individuals who made the difference to make this a better planet to live:
Giridhar Malla
One serious wildlife researcher and conservationist I have personally met is Giridhar Malla. His first assignment was to work as a field assistant for the Tiger Census Project for Wildlife Institute of India in 2006. Since then he has conducted several research studies on olive ridley sea turtles, tigers, leopards, birds, insects, etc. One day he would be conducting tiger pugmark census at Nagarahole national park in Karnataka, the next day he will be witnessing a Turtle Kumbh Mela at Gahirmatha in Odisha. The next time he would encounter a tusker elephant in Biligiri Rangaswamy Hills; later he would rediscover the wild nature of the Eastern Ghats.
While he has written many of his stories, I can recollect him telling me more thrilling stories about Naxalite militants and wild boars. I am amazed by his work as a wildlife researcher and wonder whether it is his profession that has taken him to such exciting places or is it his passion for preserving wildlife.
Gururaja K V
Gururaja K V alias Kappe Gururaja is another focused wildlife scholar I know since my college days. Being an avid birdwatcher, he used to take us on treks across the countryside in Shimoga. He developed a serious interest in frogs and completed his doctoral thesis on them. We used to joke the ‘K’ in Gururaja K V stands for Kappe! Obviously his focused approach on studying amphibians of the Western Ghats was noticed and soon he became an eminent scientist in the Indian Institute of Science.
This year, he has been on the national news for discovering two new species of frogs based on how they look and sound – the Honnametti bush frog and laterite narrow-mouthed frog! If you have any doubts about how serious Gururaja has been about frogs, here comes the clincher. He and his team in Gubbi Labs have innovated FrogFind, India’s first mobile application to identify frogs. It contains visual information about the habitat, distribution, key identifying features, and ecological status of frogs and toads. Now you too can venture out in the countryside and discover some new species of your own!
Abhishek Ghoshal
I have read the stories of Himalayan adventures of Abhishek Ghoshal in search of the elusive Snow leopard. Being a Research Scholar at the Wildlife Institute of India, he surveys across the high altitude landscapes of the Himalayas. While it is hard to find and study the Snow leopard, Abhishek has managed to study a variety of mammals such as Bharal or blue sheep and Asiatic ibex in Spiti and Lahaul Valleys in Himachal Pradesh.
Leading a nomadic life, Abhishek has spent months in the lonely cold deserts of Himalayas. His efforts have brought the media spotlight on the persistent threats faced by smaller mammals such as Himalayan marmot and Himalayan Woolly hare. In fact Himalayan marmots were mentioned by ancient Greek historians as the gold-digging ground squirrels, since gold chunks were mined from the burrows dug by these marmots! Apart from studying animals, he discovered ancient pictographs on rock surfaces that were painted by our early ancestors—a practice collectively known as rock art.
LIFE Sapna & Harshavardhan
I have known this engineer couple from Bengaluru since the time they first organised a tree planting drive in 2007 to replace the numerous trees cut down by road expansion and metro construction. After they formed a voluntary organisation named Lets Integrate For Environment (LIFE), I was invited to join them on a trek to a quaint village named Kaggaladu in Tumkur district.
Sapna & Harshavardhan had heard of migratory birds coming to nestle amidst a noisy village where villagers took care of the hatchlings, if they fall down from their nests. But the villagers were ignorant on how to take care of cranes, pelicans and storks. So Sapna & Harshavardhan adopted the village and made regular visits to the village school to educate children and teachers on how to help these birds. They are now creating a mini forest named ‘Shanthidhāma’ near Hesaraghatta outside Bangalore in a protected land of 2.5 acres with numerous species including few uncommon and western ghat species.
When I look back into my yesteryears, as a fresher, struggling for a job, lacking knowledge about MNCs, I remember it was from a friend that I came to know about a reputed firm which had started its operation in Chennai. I’m a Chennaite, but I have never visited the ECR nor travelled in an MRTS train beyond a certain point. The interview was scheduled in one of the topmost IT Parks and confirming the routes with my sister, I managed to reach the railway station. The moment I alighted, I was petrified as the place turned out to be modern and professional. I rang up another friend immediately to enquire about the location , but all that he told me was to turn right and I would find a green building.
Hurray!!! I saw a green building and also a watchman. Entering, I saw a wall separating the watchman and the green building. I stood like an idiot and asked him how to enter the green building. He responded that it’s the next building..
As instructed by the watchman, I finally spotted the building and also a big queue. The laptops and lunch bags of those in line were being scanned by the security. At that point of time, I was unaware of their being Security guards, because until then anyone who stood at the door was a watchman and all the ladies who did cleaning jobs were “aiyamas”; “House keeping”, was a new word added to my dictionary. As I joined the queue, the security asked me to display my ID card. Handing over my college ID, he understood that I was a fresher and had come for an interview. He asked me to enter a few details for him on the computer, in order to issue a gate pass. I felt agitated as I was already late for my interview.
The auto-sensor doors welcomed me. The doors were closed and I started searching for a door knob to open and later waited for someone with a valid ID. Fortunately, a girl passed by and I followed her. To my surprise the doors opened automatically without her pushing or pulling, I stood awestruck like a baby, finding everything curious. Next was the access door near the lift. All my life I knew that there is something called an ID card and I have also heard my sister saying terms like “Access card” but I didn’t know that it should be used to open doors. I tried to barge in at the access point and the beeping sound attracted the security. I could only mutter “I have come for an interview “. Immediately a visitor’s pass was issued and a security guard accompanied me till the main door of the Company.
Completely shaken by all the things that happened, I sat in the reception area, where the temperature was about 16o Celsius. I’m a weak person who is prone to colds and immediate headaches when the temperature is low. I had to use the washroom immediately, due to the chillness that prevailed. The receptionist swiped her access card and directed me towards a board with the bold letters “Restroom” on it. Nearing the board I was perplexed to see images on the door. Both the pictures looked similar and I thought to myself why can’t they use the words MEN and WOMEN instead of pictures? Washing my hands after using the toilet, I stood baffled on how to use the tissue roller. Everything was new to me. As I stood there trying to pull hard, a girl with a smiling face helped me tear the tissue, She must have realised that I’m a fresher, ignorant of using the roller. Next I tried to imitate her, to use the blower but it was in vain After trying repeatedly, I succeeded at one point, feeling warm after all the quivering.
Bewildered, I hurried back to the reception, only to be noticed by the interviewer who had a pleasing smile and who enquired whether I was alright. He passed on a water bottle and requested me to drink some water and relax for a while; then he left the room so that I could calm down. I gathered up all my strength in those five precious minutes and gave my best in the interview. I wasn’t up to the mark in terms of confidence, so I had my doubts on being selected. Fortunately, the interviewer, my manager, was a life saver. Without him, my life would not have seen such a drastic change.
On the way back home, thoughts were haunting me, of having been so primitive. Only upon reaching home, did I breath normally and I had a hearty laugh sharing the incidents with my sister. Today, when I watch little kids walking in malls through sensor doors and using toilets with ease, I gape at them in awe.
We have all played the game pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey – spinning around and trying to find someone while blindfolded, but imagine those who have to go through that situation on a daily basis. Lives of the blind, forever immersed in darkness, is never easy, especially when they have to adjust to things that come into their paths, always wondering if every step might be a wrong one that could land them in the hospital. Sure enough, having a seeing-eye or guide dog is a wonderful addition to their daily commute, but while having a companion is certainly enjoyable as well as soothing for the soul, every individual seeks independence, not wanting to be leaning on someone all the time. Here are some interesting innovations created by Indian innovators that can help the visually impaired manage with their lives:
Bringing us a step closer, to helping the visually challenged get closer to this aim, is the invention of the “Smart Cane”, a low-cost smart technology developed in India to provide independent mobility for blind people. It is a home-grown, affordable electronic device for the visually impaired. Rohan Paul, a Rhodes-Oxford & IIT scholar developed SmartCane in Assistech, a lab of IIT-Delhi that focuses on developing affordable technology for the visually impaired. He let go of many lucrative opportunities abroad and chose to develop the product in an Indian laboratory and launch his invention in India. His innovation was initially supported by Media Lab Asia, in collaboration with Phoenix Medical Systems, Chennai and Saksham Trust, Delhi, an NGO working for the visually impaired.
While the usual white walking stick is useful for the blind, it is poor at detecting obstacles that are above waist height and have no touch-point on the ground (tree branches sticking into your path). The SmartCane tackles this problem as it sends out ultrasound waves via a device attached to a standard white cane, detects them on their return, and uses vibrations to inform users of any obstacles in their way. Users can find out the distance of the object obstructing their path, as far as three meters away, through differing vibration patterns and intensities.
SmartCane’s ultrasound scanning of 45 degree span above the knee is its most important benefit. As people move the cane from left to right, vibrations detected on one side mean they should move towards it. This is an effective obstacle detection and warning system, whereby the presence of obstacles is conveyed by easily perceived vibration patterns. It is available for a price of Rs.3000.
Talking Stick for the Blind
Talking Stick
Wazeer Hayath of Tumkur, Karnataka created a patented device, consisting of a walking stick, a sensor system and audio alarm alert facility, that assists visually challenged persons and reduce the chance of accidents. This device is provided with chargeable batteries (50 hr backup) that provide power to a sensor-based in-built voice record system with a choice of 28 Indian languages. It also alerts the user about any obstruction or pit-holes that are more than an inch high or depression greater than a foot within a diameter of one meter from the tip. If the blind person is passing through a crowd, he can press the toggle switch and a voice alert – “Excuse Me Side Please” – will be given to the public, requesting people in the vicinity to move away.
The walking stick also has a light provision to alert the people about the movement of the visually-impaired user. It also gives an alert “water /mud, careful”. With the help of moisture and depth sensors at its tip, this lightweight, 48-inch stick alerts users if they are stepping into water or into a pit, or if any vehicle is approaching. For the hearing impaired, a vibration system is provided along with the voice system. Three variants of the stick are available, namely, talking folding stick, sensor-based folding automatic stick and double sensor-based talking folding stick. Prices range from Rs.900 to Rs.2400.
Gunjan Gupta, Romil Shah and Sagar Patel, under the guidance of Prof. Sachin Gajjar, Associate Professor in Electronics and Communication Engineering, developed the ‘Third Eye – Tellmate’ at the Nirma University’s Idea Lab. This idea found its genesis when they visited the Andhajan Mandal (an association that works with visually-impaired people) in Ahmedabad.
Tellmate is a text-to-speech, facial recognition and image-to-sound converter device that aids the visually impaired. The “third eye” device is Braille-independent and converts raw map data into electronic neural signal which aids in the perception of visual data, apart from various case-specific uses to solve problems faced by the visually impaired. The device consists of a webcam, headphone, micro-processor circuit and a remote that uses audio and video communications to help the blind navigate their way.
Tellmate includes a pair of glasses that processes images in front of a visually impaired person, converts these images to sound and feeds it to the user in an audio format using hearing aids. With the help of this device, the users can walk around unfamiliar places and avoid obstacles. The device’s remote will be with the user at all times, along with several compact receivers that can be attached to daily-use objects like house keys, walking stick etc. A customized voice reminder will help the client remember which receiver he has placed near which object.
Users can also use bus transportation by stating commands such as “navigate to airport” and they will receive vocal directions to go to the bus stop as well as information on which bus would take them to their destination. They will receive an alert asking the user to board the right bus when it arrives, based on pre-stored bus data & matches with the speech processed directions. Tellmate allows visually impaired individuals to read text through text-to-speech conversion via hearing aids.
Tellmate will be useful for blind people, untreatable partially visually impaired people and temporarily blind people. It is available through voluntary organisations, NGOs, eye hospitals, rehabilitation centres, government institutes for visually impaired people. The team underwent an accelerator program for developing Tellmate as a commercially-viable product at the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship at IIM Ahmedabad. After that, the team entered the go-to-market phase and received a development grant of Rs.2,00,00. They were ranked in Top 20 of the Intel DST–Innovate for Digital India Challenge and were one of the winners at The Economic Times – Power of Ideas 2015 .
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