ON THE RECORD

Maruti strike ends, no separate union in Manesar

2011-11-09T09:58:00.003+05:30

Esha Paul & Suchita Maheshwari

The 14 day strike in Maruti Suzuki’s biggest plant in Manesar, Haryana resolved on 21^st October. A mutual discussion between the Maruti Workers and Management led to an agreement on reinstating 64 permanent workers and 1200 contractual workers.

The whole issue came to the surface on 24^th July when workers demanded recognition of a separate union in Manesar. Maruti management recognizes only one union which is at the Gurgaon plant of Maruti Suzuki. “There are four production plants in Haryana. Workers of all the plants were members of the Gurgaon union. The leaders were controlled by the management itself. The workers couldn’t have their say. So, all the workers decided to form a separate union here in Manesar plant” says Shiv Kumar, General Secretary on Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU). But the Maruti Management refused to recognize this union in Manesar.

The strike started on 7^th October. Workers stopped production and announced a ‘tool down’ in the IMT Manesar plant, Haryana. They were allegedly forced to sign a document and faced violence from management. Parvesh was one of those who faced these atrocities.

On 14^th October High court ordered workers to move out of Maruti Suzuki plant. They organized a mass rally on 17^th October in which more then 8,000 workers participated. Complete halt on production brought Maruti’s profit down in October by 59.8%.

After this, in a meeting between members of management and workers Maruti management agreed to reinstate 64 workers, but another 30 workers, against whom there were serious legal allegations of violence, were refused reinstatement.

This whole strike began with the demand of formation of separate union in the IMT Manesar plant. Though the strike has been resolved, their demand of separate union remains unfulfilled.

Foreign universities: A panacea for ailing higher education?

2011-11-09T09:52:00.003+05:30

Brahm Prakash Chaturvedi & Taha Siddiqui

India and United States have initiated a dialogue on collaboration in higher education. With this the debate about the feasibility of foreign universities setting up campuses in India has gained momentum once again.

On October 13, Human resource development minister Kapil Sibal and Secretary of state Hilary Clinton met in Washington DC to discuss the possibilities of cooperation in the higher education sector.

Before this initiative HRD ministry had set up a committee in 2008 in the chairmanship of Prof. Yashpal to advice on renovation and rejuvenation of higher education. In its report in 2009 the committee categorically said that quality universities grow in organic connection with cultural soil and cannot be transplanted mechanically.

Government has also tabled “The Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010 in the parliament which proposes to allow foreign education providers set up campuses in India and offer degrees.

On the other hand, experts are of the opinion that setting up of foreign universities wouldn’t improve the quality of higher education in India

“Setting up foreign universities in India is just the first step to attract the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) but improving the quality, the courses and the standard of teaching is far more crucial, says Dr Apoorvaanand, of Delhi University.

We don’t have to make small islands of excellence but create an indigenous education system that takes care of the large student population, he adds.

As it is, govt. has allowed 100 % FDI in education sector since 2000 but according to experts it has not yielded great results in improving the quality of teaching.

Students are also apprehensive that if foreign universities are established in India it might make higher education more expensive. They would rather prefer an Indian university with quality teachers and good infrastructure than a mediocre foreign university.

“ I don’t think I will apply for a foreign university because the budget would be very high, and if am getting good education in my government run college, in my own country then why would I apply in foreign university which is just mediocre in nature, says Sneha, a student of jamia Milia Islamia.

However, some students believe that it would make higher education more competitive. “ I think setting up foreign campuses here would bring world class faculty”, says Siddhanth Manocha of Pearl Academy of fashion. He thinks that the exposure will rise the standard of education in India.

With millions of students ready to enroll in colleges every year, India is still struggling to improve the quality of higher education. Amidst these disparate voices and opinions, one thing is clear that a long consensus building exercise is necessary with the passing of the bill in the parliament.

Lifeline for City Lakes

2011-11-09T09:43:00.005+05:30

Sushovan Sircar and Zeyad Masroor Khan

Rahul Sabharwal, a marketing manager, has been a regular visitor of Sanjay Lake for years. The lake , he feels is “different from the chaos and noise of the city”. However , Sabharwal , like many others is disappointed by the government’s apathy towards the lakes and its repeated failure to keep them pollution free.

Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has once again taken an initiative to revive three of Delhi’s largest lakes – Hauz Khas Lake , Sanjay Lake and Bhalaswa Lake.

DDA previously had an MoU with INTACH [Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage] for the maintenance of Hauz Khas Lake which expired in 2007. Noting the deteriorating conditions of the lakes , it has once again turned to the heritage body for the revival of the water bodies. A new MoU for five years has been signed with INTACH for their technical expertise in this field.

“What happens in urban lakes is that pollution level is so high, that the natural water system loses its ability to self cleanse it. We will introduce a consortium of bacteria, which can replicate this natural cleansing process”, says Ritu Singh of INTACH.

Environmentalists though feel that the simply treating the lakes is not enough. A more sensitive approach towards the issue needs to be adopted. However , at a time when the Yamuna itself is so dangerously polluted , lakes often end up as a soft target for pollutants. Sunny Verma of SWECHHA an NGO which works for the revival of Yamuna says ,“ Open spaces need to be kept open and encroachment along the lakes must stop”. Moreover , “the groundwater must be retained and conserved” he adds.

Experts at INTACH ,however , say that having previously attempted to pump groundwater for the Hauz Khas Lake they realized it was neither cost effective nor a solution. “ The only effective method is to ecologically treat water from the sewage treatment plants and introduce them in the lakes” says Ritu Singh.

Both Sanjay and Bhalaswa Lakes have been cut off from the Yamuna due to construction of embankments. Hence they tend to dry up during summer. A treated supply of water from nearby Kondli sewage plants should keep water levels intact throughout the year , says Singh.

Lakes , which attract thousands of visitors everyday are often polluted by the visitors themselves. Navneet Singh , a resident of Mayur Vihar who visits the nearby Sanjay Lake daily for a walk says that people tend to discard garbage in the lakes which spawns mosquitoes and other insects.

“ If the massive Sanjay Lake in Mayur Vihar is properly rejuvenated , the water problems of the entire East Delhi region can be solved to a great extent” says Verma of SWECHHA. “The lakes need to protected as they are crucial not just for humans but all other life forms as well”, he added.

A Foolproof Aadhar?

2011-11-03T12:49:00.004+05:30

By
Nishtha Arora

Two crore national unique identity numbers have been issued by the Unique Identification Authority (UID) in the month of October alone. It is said that UID aims to roll out Aadhaar-based applications for improved service delivery that will ensure that the poor benefits from welfare schemes.

“UIDAI has generated 59.6 million crore Aadhaar numbers within a little more than a year, and more than 100 million citizens have been enrolled in the system across the country”, says the latest official statement from the UID authority. But if recent reports of the UID data being misused are to be believed, these cards run the risk of breaching individual privacy.

As recent media report cites the first of its kind complaint received against the misuse of address proof in UID, anti UID campaigners and researchers are vary of its ‘safety’. “It is like a version of homeland security. We are no longer safe with our data being available on the net. The state can use anybody’s fingerprints and make us look like we committed the crime. You know how easy it is to lift anyone’s fingerprints these days”? rues Usha Ramanathan, an independent law researcher and the main voice behind ‘Say no to UID’ campaign. Gopal Krishna, of The International South Asia Forum (INSAF), has other apprehensions. “Wikileaks has shown that no data is digitally secure over the internet, then how can they claim that this UID data stored would not be hacked”? , he asks.

There is no denying the fact that the UID plan could make it simple for people to access various services such as banking and government subsidies through Aadhaar by merely swiping the cards. However, vulnerability of personal data does raise questions in the mind of the people. Is the digitally saved data in these smart cards secure enough?

Meanwhile advocates of the Unique Identification Authority are confident about the security of data at various levels of collection. “It’s based on biometrics and retina scan etc and this personal information of a resident is digitally safe in the regional centres databases. Also, there is an option the form that asks for the resident to share the information with other authorities and they are free to accept or decline that option. It is just a yes or no option…then where does this question of digital data being misused or leaked out arise? When we are not sharing anyone’s details then how can you say that the police or the state can misuse this data?” questions Sujata Chaturvedi, Deputy Director General (DDG) of UID.

Currently, UIDAI plans to issue 60 crore UID cards by the year 2014. The million dollar questions that needs to be answered at the moment is: Would the UID authority be able to keep up the promise of making functioning easy from the governance perspective and also secure our biometric information digitally safe always?

Man with the ‘Box Camera’

2010-01-30T16:08:00.003+05:30

By Gaurav Shukla, Gaingongmei Gangmei
Tikam Chand is no ordinary photgrapher, his camera makes him distinct from others.
Riding on his rusty bicycle, he navigates past a group of pedestrians in chaos of old Jaipur and finally reaches his open air studio near City Palace. Immediately after arriving, he unties his prized possession a 20-kg ‘Box Camera’ that took its first photograph sometime around 1865. Ever since then, the camera has obediently followed the orders of its subsequent owners, first Tikam Chand’s grandfather, then his father and now himself.

As he talks to us, his first customer has arrived. 45-year-old Jatin Kumar, a daily wage laborer needs a passport size photograph for some court work. He will pay only Rs 50 to get his four B&W photographs clicked and printed in just 5 minutes.

“Technology has made us lazy, taking photographs used to be an art. Now the thinking has disappeared and all they do is click,” 42-year-old photographer explains. “Digital cameras can never give you such joy,” he adds.Clicking a photograph with this ancient camera looks so interesting you can just stand there and watch him as he starts his work. How he adjusts the camera’s focus by sliding the ancient Carl Zeiss lens back and forth along a track before ducking beneath a large piece of cloth at the back to slide the photo paper behind a glass plate.

The shutter release button has been an integral part of camera for long is nowhere to be seen here. Tikam Chand just removes the lens cap for one or two seconds to expose the photo paper to make an image. Then he comes back under the coverings, sticking his hand in tubes made of a blue jeans leg to shift the paper from developing chemicals into the fixer, then into a plastic bucket to rinse off the chemicals.

The image made after all this will dampen you spirits, its just a negative image and he will have to shoot this negative to make it positive by going over the same process once again.
His clientele includes locals as well as tourists from Russia and Thailand. He’s out here every day, shouting, calling tourists to get their photos clicked. On a bad day he’ll earn nothing, on a good day it’s up to Rs 500.

The story of this box camera and how his family got it has almost become a part of the forgotten past now. All he knows is that, his grandfather somehow received the camera as a gift from the royal family. For the last three decades, this camera has been the sole bread earner for him, his wife and two sons.Will either of his sons, aged 6 and 11, go into this business? “They only like the new stuff, cell phones and computer games etc.” he says. “I guess it will probably end with me.”

A city losing its identity

2010-01-30T15:39:00.006+05:30

bu Gaurav Shukla

It was not so long ago that the most revered member of Rajasthan’s aristocracy late Rajmata Gayatri Devi left her mansion to sit on a stretch of pavement to protest against the real estate developers who are aiming to change the skyline of this historic pink city Jaipur.

Her actions were only symbolic, but they clearly echoed the increasing anger amongst the conservationists at the damage being caused by rapid construction in one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country.

With the economic boom, the new explosion in building construction has altered the city’s character. Pink city is losing its distinction from other cities, as new Jaipur looks like any other city in India with similar architecture, with malls and multistory buildings covering its skyline.

Founded in 1727, Jaipur is known for its richness of palaces, forts, walled city area and the medieval maze of bazaars. Although major monuments have been benefited from restoration work, conservation experts are concerned that the rest of the historic city is drowning beneath new, often illegal, construction work.

The famous walled city of Jaipur has also not been left behind with this entire construction spree. Radical alterations are being made to the ancient buildings of old Jaipur without realizing the loss of its original architecture.

With each passing year, Jaipur is in less of gain and more of loss from urban modernization. The question of the peak hour is whether constructions done in a wide scale will leave Jaipur with its own identity which makes it memorable and popular as the Royal Pink City.

A work of Art in the age of Mechanical Production

2010-01-30T14:54:00.006+05:30

by Niha Masih

Sanganer is a small, dusty settlement just off the airport road on the outskirts of Jaipur. However the many lanes and by lanes of this neighbourhood throb with life and machinery continuously. One narrow road leads to the renowned blue pottery workshop and another houses textile mills. All open spaces are lined with cardboard drying in the sultry sun. Vigorous screen printing on bedsheets is going on in dingy workspaces.

Originally it was an artisan village populated by the ‘kagazis’ or papermakers. They were the first settlers of Sanganer which interestingly is older than Jaipur. The handmade paper industry had its genesis due to an initiative by Maharaja Sawai Jaisingh II taken as long back as 1728. Over the years it has evolved into an industrial hub with many kinds of factories coming up, from textile to speaker parts. In this mechanized age most of the production in Sanganer’s handmade industry is manual, except for the electric motors used for pulping, calendaring and other peripheral activities.

Till a few years back the whole process of papermaking was manual. At house number 30, Masjid ke pass, Kagazi Colony, it still is.

It is Friday afternoon and Hussain Kagazi Saheb is readying for a bath before the Friday namaz. He does not want to be photographed as he is not wearing his usual pristine white Kurta. His eyes shine with pride and a vigour as he speaks of how he is the only one to have kept alive the art of papermaking in the entire Sanganer. Most of the others have either set up huge factories making close to 1000 sheets daily or have begun other more lucrative businesses. ‘Aisa mazboot kagaz ab kahan milega aapko’, says the 58 year old Kagazi Saheb while scrunching a sheet of paper in his hand. Not a wrinkle or tear.

The entire family works in tandem during the whole process. Kagazi Saheb creates the paper from pulp while his sons (standing extreme left and second from left) oversee the making of pulp and its cleanliness. The women of the house cook the starch and apply it over paper before finally putting it up for drying. His grandson (standing on extreme right) is still in school and is learning the ropes as yet.

Zakir Hussain, Kagazi Saheb’s elder son manages the post production aspects like selling and exporting the paper. He is happy being a small producer even though it does not pay as much because it is more satisfying.

The paper production at home was limited and the family got money from the Khadi Gramudyog a few years back to set up a small factory. Unlike most of the other paper making factories their paper is made using all the traditional material,l making it not only strong but also more lasting.

The Kagazis of Sanganer no longer only make paper. The considerable amount of work involving low returns has forced most to shut shop. Many continue to be in the paper business but are into the more lucrative cardboard or cartons business.

In a span of two hours Kagazi Saheb is able to make more than 200 sheets of paper. He says that the entire process is simple but the skill lies in making of the sheet from pulp. That is the secret of a well made paper from an ordinary one. He acquired it from his grandfather and the family now has a 400 year old legacy.

A government agency too approached him offering money to teach this art but he turned it down as he could not bear to ‘sell’ his art. His eyes screw up in hard concentration as he hauls up another sheet from the pulpy water. The flurry of activity around him does not affect his work as he stares deeply into the water. It is not just paper but a part of him in the making.

The handmade paper making process is an elaborate process involving many steps:

Handmade paper can be made from jute, textile or paper. The jute is first cleaned by picking out the fibre by hand.

The jute is then cut into small, neat bales using a sharp saw.

The bales are soaked in water and made into a pulp which is thoroughly cleaned twice over.

The pulp is put in a small enclosure and with the help of a mesh net made into a sheet of paste.

Then the sheet is carefully lifted with the help of a bamboo roll and put on a cloth piece of the same size.

After the sheets lose their moisture they are dried and plastered with starch to harden them, then hung to dry.

After the sheets dry they are cleaned with camel hoof to take out the grainy fibre and then polished with a stone to give it a shine.

Health Care for Jai-poor

2010-01-30T14:35:00.003+05:30

by Kriti Gupta

Dipu is a 1-year-old boy who lives in Katputli Nagar, Jaipur. He is underweight and has not yet received his vaccination shots. His father works full day at the factory and earns rupees 50 a day. His mother takes care of him and his 4 siblings. Sasuri, his grandmother is suffering from a disease that does not allow her to leave her bed. They do not have enough money to take her to a doctor and get a diagnosis on her ailment. His aunt (father’s sister) is a 28-year-old woman who has not yet hit puberty and still lives with them.

These are the problems faced by one single family in this Kachhi basti. This is an example of the lack of health care that is available for the poor. On the one hand, India races on with a 9% GDP growth. On the other hand, a study conducted by Oxford University shows that almost 70 percent of the population cannot afford specialized health care.

According to WHO statistics, half of the children in the country are underweight, while we have the second largest rate of maternal mortality in the world. India has one of the largest populations of people affected with TB, Polio, Cholera and HIV/AIDS. The reason behind this is the vicious circle of poverty-illiteracy-overpopulation.

It is important to empower the poor by providing them with proper medical care. In Jaipur, there are various initiatives taken by the government and hospitals that attempt to do the same.

ANGANWADI

The word Anganwadi translates into “courtyard shelter”. This is a government scheme that attempts to provide mother-child care.

The idea stems from the notion that the poor cannot travel to a hospital to seek treatment. So the health care is provided in the courtyard. The government takes houses on rent in the village or urban slum. In these locations, an Anganwadi worker informs people about healthy ways of living. The Anganwadi worker is responsible for organizing day care and providing informal, pre-school education.

Dr. Alok Upadhyaya is a pediatrician who visits the camp at Jhalana Doongri, a kachhi basti, in Jaipur once a week to provide basic health care for children. He describes the situation at the basti, “The basic problem here is that people are ignorant. Mothers do not understand the importance of proper nutrition. But once we tell them, things tend to improve.”

Sitting in a single room with the sun as the only source of light, Dr Upadhyaya treats close to 40 patients a day. A nurse carries medicines and vaccinations. These are administered to children free of cost. Dr Upadhyaya continues, “It is a sad state of affairs. But initiatives like the Anganwadi offer a space where mothers can learn about health and children are given space to learn and grow.”

In Jaipur, the SMS Hospital is in charge of 25 camps while the SDM Hospital has adopted 15 sites as part of its outreach program. These are institutes with world-class facilities that are attempting to provide equitable health care to the poor.

AVEDNA ASHRAM
This is a care home that gives health care to terminally ill patients free of cost. It is generally inhabited by people who have cancer, leukemia or other incurable diseases. Since it is free of cost, most of the patients living in the hospice come from poor families.

Situated next to the Birla Temple in the heart of Jaipur, this Hospice focuses on palliation. Palliative care is the care given to reduce severity of diseases rather than attempt to halt or cure them. Since the patients are terminally ill, this is the best that can be done to ease their pain. The hospice has 100 beds. Additionally, regular health check ups are organized at Avedna Ashram for senior citizens. These are also conducted free of cost. The care home has wards for patients along with rooms for entertainment – to watch television, play chess, listen to the radio and so on.

The main nurse at the hospice is Sister Mary. She is affectionately called Mary Aunty by the staff. Mary Aunty takes care of the patients – giving them medicines, ensuring that diet is followed and so on. She talks about her work, “The patients may be severely unwell, but their spirit is strong. And despite the inevitable, I find strength and comfort here.”

It is a quiet and serene place; but also filled with sadness because the patients at Avedna Ashram do not live beyond a few months. It is a great initiative because it provides a space to live one’s last moments in peace. And that right belongs to everyone!

Dharamshala at SDM Hospital
Another problem that the poor face arises when the recovery period is long. If the patient needs to be in the hospital, then that is an expense. Additionally, the person accompanying the patient will also have to stay somewhere and that is an extra expense. This gets too much for a lot of people and so they refuse to get health care.

The SDM Hospital identified this problem and has built a Dharamshala within its grounds to provide for a solution. The rooms at the Dharamshala can be rented at the nominal rate of Rs 50 per night. Proximity to the hospital helps. The relatives can stay there for the night and get back to tending to the patient first thing in the morning.

Col. Badal Varma, Head of Administration, describes its purpose, “We follow our philosophy of “giving”. So it is important for us to help the poor. We want to provide everyone with equal opportunities to avail of proper health and medicinal facilities.”

The Dharamshala is a project undertaken by SDM Hospital to achieve just that. Rana Singh, a driver by profession, a resident of the Dharamshala wonders if his chacha could have gone to a hospital if it cost more, “Chachaji lost both his legs in a train accident. This trip has cost my family a lot. If I had to pay standard rates for a separate place, we may not have been able to afford it.”

The Dharamshala, therefore, is a step towards empowering the poor. It allows the poor to get good quality health care by making it more affordable.
—-
Such initiatives are remarkable as they provide equitable health care to the poor. In a country where 700 million people cannot afford specialized health care, it is heartening to see the government and hospitals involved with these causes.

The hope is that in the future, Dipu and his family will be able to get involved with such schemes and live healthy, happy lives.

Aqua Impura

2009-12-05T13:57:00.008+05:30

Yamuna, the main source of water to Delhi is not fit for drinking anymore. Millions of rupees spent for its uptake have literally gone down in drains. The fate of 600 plus smaller water bodies in and around the capital is no better due indiscriminate mining and water pumping. The silver line though is that people are gradually realizing the importance of maintaining bio diversity and are now keenly taking part in their revival.

The Silent BEEN

2009-12-05T13:20:00.010+05:30

India has always been called the land of snake charmers.But today these snake charmers are hit hard by the ban which prevents them for using snakes for their livelihood.Is there any way out for these snake-charmers?Or is this ancient community on the verge of extinction?

By Joydeep Hazarika, RanishHangloo, Sumit Singh

Call For Help!!

2009-11-24T22:16:00.003+05:30

In the wake of recent cases of molestation of north-east students in the national capital, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit is planning to open up three toll free help line nos. exclusively for these students. However, these people dont seem to be much happy with the move. Listen to the audio story to find out more.

Picture Courtesy: myvoice.tcp.in

The Right and its Wrongs

2009-11-24T21:47:00.003+05:30

The recently passed Right to Education bill has brought twinkling hopes in the eyes of a million children. It guarantees to all children between the age of 6 to 14 yrs –free and compulsory education. But is this move enough to eradicate social issues like child labour? Can this bill actually ensure a brighter future for the underprivileged children? Listen to the audio story below to find out the wrongs of this Right.

Picture Courtesy: prajnacounsel.com

India will be back!!

2009-11-24T21:15:00.001+05:30

India will be back!

When did India last dominate the world in the field of science and technology?

It was around 1500-2000 years back.

When will this country dominate again?

The answer might not be in sight as of now, but there are signs of that day being not too far. The success of Chandrayaan mission is not an incident. In the years to come, it’s going to be a phenomenon, a trend, a process in every aspect of human endeavour including science. The successful launch of seven satellites in twenty minutes this week has only reaffirmed the belief that the claims about Chandrayaan are more than genuine. We can rest assured what G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, and the father of PSLV, said yesterday: “Chandrayaan was not 95% success as we anticipated earlier. It was 110% success.”

Will India be the country to lead the world to Jupiter?

Hope, this time is on our side.

courtesy: dancewithshadows.com

Single screen theatres catering to niche crowd

2009-11-19T14:56:00.002+05:30

In Good old days, single screen theatre was the only option for movie aficionados -whether rich or poor. Rising multiplexes, however affected their business drastically. While some converted to Cineplex to match the standard, a large number of them started showing regional masala films and now cater to a niche audience.

Mohd. Reyaz, Ranish Hangloo and Sumit Singh

One way traffic at Lajpat Nagar

2009-11-19T14:45:00.003+05:30

The one-way traffic regulation in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar area has received mixed reactions from the public. It has come as a boon for some. But for others it has only aggravated some new problems.
By- Joydeep,Shilpi,Karishma

An image to remember

2009-11-07T16:41:00.004+05:30

by Ekta Malik

The cine world has long held a glamour and attraction to itself. Drawing its followers from the plethora of audience from all classes, it remains the one dominant force of entertainment. The movies become iconic, the movie stars icons. They go on to become part of cultural folklore and memory. Anyone in India born in the sixties would have seen the films and then have made them part of their culture. The real world imitates the reel world. The general viewer wants a piece of the action that is being played on the 75 mm silver screen.

Initially movie posters were made and put up, to announce its release. This created a lot of curiosity and managed to bring the first lot of curious fans to the theatre. The poster was one of the most important things to create attraction and desire. The loud colours and the flamboyant design managed to evoke an interest.

A close up shot of Amitabh Bachchan in the film “Dewaar” wearing that blue shirt went on to be replicated by many of his fans. The image of the moth on the lips of Jodie Foster in the film poster of “Silence of the Lambs” is the way many people remember the film. The menacing picture of the shark in the poster of “Jaws”, Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman - all these posters went on to become part of public memory and recollection. Mother India - Nargis in that historic pose. Sholay. The list is endless.

Even today after availability of other forms of advertising media like television, radio and internet, the movie posters are still going strong and they are continued to be made with new and latest technologies. Apart from just serving as means of advertising, they have also now become collector’s item by avid film fans.
Ankita Chawla an avid film goer and film buff says, “I love collecting old film posters. They have such charm. When I buy a poster I feel that I am carrying some part of the film with me.” She has twenty film posters. And they have been collected from everywhere and also come at almost every price.

In all likelihood our rooms have a life like picture of our favourite movie star from our favourite movie. We own that piece of stardom. And this stardom is easily available for anyone to own. Right from the street hawkers at Janpath selling copies of these posters, each for 20 rupees to the designer boutiques of any up market mall – with them anybody can access this part of film history.

Vikas posterwallah sells posters of films, film stars in the inner circle of Connaught place, from the past seven years. “Every day I sell almost 5-6 posters. On weekends it is 10-15. The young people buy the new films, the older ones of old films. It’s good for my business. “

Film posters have changed through the years. They might not be hand painted anymore but printed on glossy papers with the latest technology. But they haven’t lost their appeal. They continue to entice the audience of the current movies, and people from all generation even when they are out of theatres.

Credit: Few photos of the posters are downloaded from copyright free sites of images.

The Invisible Population

2009-11-07T16:00:00.004+05:30

By Niha Masih

you can guess their pattern, their flight
their destination
far away to the south in winter,
north in spring. - Jan Haag

48 years old Kuldeep has been coming to Delhi to work for the last 18 years. Originally a resident of the Chattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, his family owns a small patch of farm land which has become increasingly irrelevant due to frequent floods. He realized early on that he would have to come to the city for work to support his family. With absolutely no education, there was limited possibility of finding work and he took up odd jobs as a laborer.

18 years down the line, he comes to Delhi every year with his family for around 6-8 months, depending on the availability of work. He has five children, two of whom live in the village for studies while the older ones come with him to work.

Their work involves breaking boulders into stones which is used for laying railway tracks and other construction sites. They get paid according to the number of trucks the stones fill at the end of each day. They generally manage two trucks between the four of them and earn rupees 1000 daily. They save money during their work stint in Delhi and use it when they return to their village for a few months.

For the same work in Madhya Pradesh they would not get paid even half as much nor would the women folks get work there and hence the need to shift base. He says, “Dilli acha hai kyunki yahan par kaam milta hai, par gaaon jaisa nahi lagta.” (Delhi is nice as there is work here but it is not the same as my village.)

This is not just Kuldeep’s story but the story of an entire community. A small close knit community mainly from Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh - their current work place is near the Yamuna in Kalindi Kunj. Most of them lament the loss of education for their children since they are not based in one place.

18 years old Vivek proudly tells he is learning English from a nearby coaching. His father is interested about Government schools in the vicinity but adds how it is not easy for the children to go to school for reasons varying from paperwork required in schools to their usefulness at home.

Though statistics differ, roughly there are around 100 million circular migrants in India. The migration pattern for the rural poor (to urban centres) is generally circular as they do not have the social security to keep them there. Also due to families and land they tend to keep returning to their native land, especially during the agricultural season.

While for many migrating to the city means a better life, it is not exactly that for most labour migrants. The city does pay them but also takes much away. They are the bottom of the industrial class structure with very little or no scope for upward mobility. They are compelled to live in sub human conditions, with even basic amenities like drinking water not easily available. These are not migrant specific problems per se but for them is a more potent roadblock. This sector has largely remained unorganized and hence most of these issues remain unaddressed.

Bringing back the old charm to Connaught Place

2009-11-07T14:46:00.004+05:30

By Gaurav Shukla

It was Britain’s addition to the famous bazaars of Delhi during colonial era in 1933, quite different though from the narrow, congested ones of old Delhi. Connaught Place thus over the years became the main commercial hub of the city.

According to the historical texts before Connaught Place was built people from the Walled City, Nizamuddin and Mehrauli used to come here for partridge shooting, for it was a wilderness with a profusion of Babool trees. In 1857 many of the so-called mutineers hid here after escaping from Shahjehanabad via the Delhi, Ajmeri and Turkman gates, until they could escape to the Punjab, Rajputana or the United Provinces.

In these 75 odd years, the British built Connaught Place has lost its sheen and grandeur. So, the upcoming Commonwealth Games have come as a boon for this market. New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) was long planning for a true makeover to bring back lost glory and lustre. As a part of its ‘Return to heritage Project’, the NDMC has prepared a plan to revamp and redevelop this proud landmark of Delhi.

“The idea is to bring the glory back to CP,” says Anand Tiwari of the NDMC. However, everyone does not seem pleased by the renovation work which was completed on the pilot basis in C-Block of CP. “Restoration is a good aim but it’s been terribly executed,” Devinder Khanna, owner of New Delhi Stationary Mart says. “There’s almost no effort in preserving heritage and traditional look of CP,” he added.

‘Return to Heritage Project’ includes provision of heritage sensitive signage, engineering improvements of roads, drainage, sewerage, water supply and sub stations and many more along with development of adequate parking lots, new look walk ways and more.

There has been huge debate over flooring of the verandas of the heritage buildings in CP. While Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) advocated that sandstone be used to re-develop the area, New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) has opposed this saying Sandstone flooring would be difficult to maintain and granite should be used instead. Granite flooring was used in the C-Block pilot project.

“The sandstone flooring in B-block has already degraded though it was changed only a few months back. Sandstone is porous and is difficult to clean. We want granite flooring as used in C-block, but it should not have any design and should be of uniform colour,” NDTA president Atul Bharghav said.

Conceived as an ambitious project the “redevelopment of Connaught Place” implies a complete renovation of all blocks, and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has said time and again that its deadline remains 2010, before the Commonwealth Games get underway.

Credits: NDMC Website for Renovated CP Image & “In the corridors of time” by R.V. SMITH for Historical References

Written in time, carved in History

2009-10-31T17:08:00.002+05:30

Photos & Report by Ekta Malik

It could have been just any other dusty street in old Delhi, clogged with humanity. But it differs; it’s alive with literature and poetry still surviving in their original form. One can actually feel the words and couplets as you step in the Urdu bazaar of old Delhi. Its other claim to fame would be the Jama Masjid which looms majestically over this bustling locality.

Urdu bazaar situated opposite the Jama Masjid is one of the oldest places in Delhi where one can find all kinds of Urdu, Arabic and also Hindi books. This street is dotted with shops that specialise in Urdu, Arabic printing, and book binding. In this market one can still find lovers of the Urdu language, who come from everywhere to look for a book of their choice. The embossed books in gold and silver bound in cloth or some other variant draw people form far and wide. It is in this very market that those few places still exist, where Urdu and Arabic calligraphy is still practised.

The musty smell of yellowing paper. Some quills lie haphazardly on a table. An archaic inkpot placed next to them. Scraps of paper dot the floor. A fan creaks over head, as it circles reluctantly. An old photo copier remains unused in the corner gathering dust; it serves as a side table occasionally. Sitting outside this shop is “Qari sahib”, who has been practising calligraphy in the Urdu bazaar, for the past 40 years.

63 year old Qari Sahib, as he is universally addressed in the Urdu bazaar, came to Delhi from his hometown Muzaffarnagar in U.P. He is fluent in Arabic, Urdu and Persian, and Hindi. And also English he proudly proclaims. His white scraggily beard, his beady eyes reflect the wisdom of his 63 years of life. He recollects his days back in Muzaffarnagar where he learnt calligraphy from his father, who used to work in the local mosque. He came to Delhi in search of a better livelihood and hoping that his art would help him sustain. Initially he got freelance work to write in Urdu and Arabic, and then after three years this shop was set up in the Urdu bazaar.

He sadly remembers those days when he had bulk orders; people would get the entire holy Quran written in calligraphy, and then get it bound. Lots of the general populace used Urdu as their first language. They wrote poetry, couplets and ghazals, which obviously generated lot of work for Qari sahib and other such artistes. Lot of such poets and writers would get their work written beautifully in Urdu. “Those were the times when the Urdu zuban (language/tongue) lived, it was still alive among the natives of this place,” he reminisces.

Those were the heydays when the Urdu language had its presence in the literary world. But today the language is fast fading away from public memory, as has the art of calligraphy.

Now to help sustain himself, Qari sahib also makes rubber stamps and seals in Urdu and Arabic. Years ago he also got a photo copier machine to keep up with the times, but that too is redundant now, gathering dust. When asked he shows his old work, intricate writing, beautifully placed. Ornate.

Every evening he sits outside his shop, and writes verses and couplets. And in between he hums words from a ghazal, or he breaks into a song. His ink stained fingers tightly holding the quill; he dips it into the inkpot, and writes. His eyes screwed up in concentration. While he writes, he is oblivious to the world, the hustle and bustle of the street and market. This is where his soul is. The black and white.

Haven in the Hills

2009-10-24T14:25:00.004+05:30

On a chance weekend break from work, my friend and I decided to pack our bags and head out of Delhi. With just two days at our disposal we could not venture far, plus we wanted to avoid the conventional tourist places. This left us with very few options and finally we decided to head to the mountains of Lansdowne in Uttaranchal. Situated around 250km from Delhi, Lansdowne lies in the Pauri Garhwal district. The easiest way to get to there is to take a bus to Kotdwar, from where jeeps run up to Lansdowne. The drive uphill is quite breathtaking especially if you’re travelling in the wee hours of dawn and hence it is advisable to get the front seats in the jeep. The jeep drops you off at the main town square which is tiny and quaint. The architecture has an ethereal and old world charm to it.

After a quick breakfast at one of the small eateries we headed off to the nearby jheel (lake) called Bhulla Taal. There is perhaps nothing as reinvigorating as a walk in the mountains early morning when there is a slight nip in the air. The placid waters of the lake are lined with a well maintained garden.

View of the Bhulla Taal
We next headed off to the famous Tip in Top point from where according to locals one can see the Indo China border. It is apparently named Tip in Top after a British General who fell off from his horse there. Finding the way up to it can be quite an adventure in itself. Without a guide, we were at the mercy of the passer bys. Trekking through the mountains was a lot of fun though we did get lost and took a long time to get back on the main road and that perhaps is the best way of discovering any place. On our way we chanced upon a cliff which offered a stunning view of the valley below. The luscious greens and the most vivid shade of blue in the sky was pure visual ecstasy. Another discovery we made was a small Santoshi Mata Mandir perched up on a small hill. There are more than fifty steps leading up to it and apart from the karma you will also be blessed with another spectacular view.

Lansdowne from the Tip in Top point

Lansdowne weather is known to be highly unpredictable and prone to quick and sudden changes. The rains especially are notorious.

After many more diversions we did find our way to the right place and only then did we realize how totally worth it, our trek had been. The Tip in Top is just a small viewing point hardly big enough to hold 15 people. Mist hung all around and it swirled out slowly unraveling the town and that is definitely one of the most breathtaking scenes ever. Distant mountain peaks enveloped in mist surrounded the town like sentinels. Nature in its full glory is extremely captivating and it is easy to fall into a heady stupor when you can just stand and stare. When finally the reverie breaks it is time to move on.

Walking down the road is as delightful as the vista keeps expanding. The road leads to the Saint Mary’s Church of the British era. It runs a film on the Garhwal regiment on request. A little further down the winding road stands the Saint John’s Church which is open only during Mass timings.

Other places of interest are the Garhwal Rifles Museum and the Cantonment area. There is nothing really to do there, making it the perfect place for a relaxing weekend away from the dust and grime of the city. It is quite a blessing that unlike many hill towns it is not swarming with tourists. Idyllic, pristine and tranquil is Lansdowne for you!

The main town square

Getting there: Kotdwar is the connecting town so take a bus or train till there. Jeeps run to and fro till Lansdowne from 5 in the morning till around 6 in the evening.

Accomodation: For budget accommodation take a pick from one of the two Guest Houses in the main town square. For a higher budget you can choose cottages near the Tip in Top point or stay at the new resort which is a little away from the town.

Best time to visit: According to locals between September to October Lansdowne is at its best.

-Niha Masih

Campaign:"For Everyone" to Save Children

2009-10-14T16:12:00.003+05:30

India may be shinning for many. But for poor in the interiors of the country as well as in cities, life is still difficult.Millions of children die every year due to malnutrition, pneumonia and diarrhea. A campaign called “For Everyone” has been launched to save those unfortunate children.

Mohammad Reyaz and Sumit Singh

Jashn-e-Aman, A Festival of Peace

2009-10-14T16:07:00.001+05:30

Jashn e Aman, a fortnight long festival was organized by “STEP”,a Delhi based NGO to mark the International Day of Peace. The festival involved various activities like films, workshops, discussions, theatre and music which attracted large number of participants.

Mohd. Reyaz and Shilpi Batra

HARLEY DAVIDSON IN INDIA

2009-10-14T15:50:00.003+05:30

Indian bikers will be blissful to know the news. Harley Davidson the giant motorcycle manufacturing group has established a subsidiary in Gurgaon, Haryana near Delhi. Though commercially high end bike, Worlds second largest two wheeler manufacturer country- India is all ready for the new biking scheme.

RANISH HANGLOO and SUMIT SINGH

Urban Villages:An answer to Delhi’s housing problem?

2009-10-14T15:24:00.003+05:30

Population pressure on Delhi has been tremendous in the past two decades. People are migrating from the rural areas and smaller cities in huge numbers every year. In this scenario, the urban villages of Delhi have been a major help in meeting the housing problem of Delhi. But how far will they go meeting up this challenge for the near future as well?

Joydeep Hazarika and Karishma Karki

Delhi gets new fleet of buses.

2009-10-14T15:17:00.001+05:30

Traffic in Delhi has always been a perennial problem. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor was designed to combat just this menace. And now keeping in view the upcoming Commonwealth Games, more buses have been added to the existing fleet. But will it really be of any good?

Joydeep Hazarika and Shilpi Batra

Feasibility of e-Governance in India

2009-10-14T15:11:00.002+05:30

Trends of e-Government are increasingly being diffused for sound development in India. While all the segments; government, commercial and non profitable organizations are working towards enhanced development of governance through information and technology, some queries dwell. Is it a feasible option in India where a concrete urban- rural divide is prominent?
Ranish and Karishma

MCD Takeover Issue

2009-10-03T19:02:00.003+05:30

As the Delhi government is in full swing to take away powers from the Municipal corporation of Delhi, we bring you an audio package?on the?probable reasons for the take over, the counter reaction from the MCD, along with the Common man's take on the?issue.?

(News Clipping Courtesy: - zeenewsonline, Times Now ; clippings extracted from youtube.com)

Is India Still to go a Female Way?

2009-09-30T13:01:00.003+05:30

There seems to be no respite for the woes of women. Women have always faced discrimination from their mail counterparts from time immemorial. Incidents of domestic violence and sexual harassment at workplace or at home have always been the hallmark in the discrimination against them. So what is the reason behind this? And who is to be blamed for this, men or women themselves?

Sumit Singh,Joydeep Hazarika and Ranish Hangloo

50 More Recreation Centres

2009-09-30T12:55:00.003+05:30

Delhi Government funds 50 recreation centres for senior citizens and are planning to start 50 more. Reyaz and Ranish tried to find out the condition of those centers and if there is need to open more such center. Moreover, isn't recreation a luxury when a large section of poor old people do not even have a place to live or food to eat.

Mohd Reyaz and Ranish Hangloo

Crisis in Airline Sector

2009-09-30T12:29:00.004+05:30

In recent times, there have been many petty air mishaps/incidents.The only tragic case being the chopper crash of late Andhra CM YSR.The number of petty mishaps in this industry whether Air India, Indian Airlines or Kingfisher have cast a dark spell over the civil aviation sector. Though the authorities speak of a normal situation, people have their own doubts.

Sumit Singh and Joydeep Hazarika

Doordarshan After 50 Years

2009-09-30T12:16:00.002+05:30

Doordarshan has just completed 50 years of in public television. With the launch of various private channels which are technically advanced and more entertaining the question lies whether doordarshan is still as popular as before...

Karishma Karki and Shilpi Batra report on the popularity of Doordarshan.

Delhi-The New Girl City

2009-09-29T17:33:00.003+05:30

For the first time ever, Delhi has set a record ratio of 1004 females for 1000 males. If the statistics are to be considered true, then the question is—how positive is the change? Does the improved ratio mean that our society has finally accepted girl child rights? Or is it only a mere number game? Listen to the audio story attached and see what the experts have to say.

Ad courtesy: - "Save the girl child" A Lupin and Fugsi initiative; Ads extracted from a presentation made by Lupin Femina, on the news, views, and opinions expressed by gynaecologists at AICOG 2009, Jaipur.

why dont they make it Public?

2009-09-29T16:56:00.003+05:30

Bar Council of India chairman S N P Sinha said recently that judges should declare their assets voluntarily without waiting for a legislation in this regard.
“Why are the judges shy? They should lead by example.” Sinha said.
Two hundred years of British exploitation extracted all our national resources. Our greatest achievement post-independence has been our democratic system. In a country where population is increasing at a fast pace and resources are limited, it becomes very difficult to ensure enough and fair share for everybody. Demand-supply imbalance tends to fuel corruption. In such a situation the responsibility of those whom we call public servants becomes extremely important.
It is expected on the part of those in public service that they do not compromise their responsibilities and do not fall in self-indulgence. To bring transparency in public life a bill was brought in the parliament in 2004, making it mandatory for People’s Representative to declare their assets before asking for votes. In continuation of the same spirit the government recently brought an act, for the judges to declare their assets. But the act didn’t ask for public declaration. This was something that fuelled discussions around the country with heated arguments on both the sides.
This radio package intends to present the different aspects of the same issue.

Common Wealth 2010-A maker or Breaker

2009-09-29T16:24:00.003+05:30

The Delhi government is totally on with its beautification process for the most awaited commonwealth games. Yamuna, the biggest source of drinking water for the city is also witnessing construction on its bank. Environmentalists term this construction as a killer. There are cases filed against this construction work. The stay order given by High Court was taken back supreme court took it back and gave green signal to the construction. There are people who support this and there are others who don’t. Is the construction really going to make the city world-class or will actually pose a threat to the River Yamuna……listen to the clip and find out……

Kashmiri Pandit's mark 20 years of exile

2009-09-25T12:54:00.002+05:30

14th of September was the "Kashmiri Pandit Balidaan Diwas." The exiled Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community marks this day to mourn the first assasination of a KP leader i.e. Pandit Tika Lal Taploo back in 1989. This incident triggered the violence against the KPs in the Kashmir valley that led to a mass exodus of KPs from the valley. This year the event was to mark the 20 years of exile for the KPs. And it reflects the apathy of a long-wronged community.

Ranish Hangloo and Joydeep Hazarika

Reconstructive surgery for LAP's

2009-09-25T12:41:00.002+05:30

Due to intensive leprosy elimination programme, rate of leprosy is now less than one per thousand people. India still has a long way to go to rehabilitate those already affected. The Government of India introduced reconstructive surgery in 2008.

Karishma Karki and Mohd Reyaz

Austerity Drive

2009-09-25T12:06:00.005+05:30

Austerity is the buzzword of the Indian politics right now. Austerity is living sombre life, without any ornamentation or display of wealth. In the country of parallels, rich and poor, this has become a serious issue. Let’s find out more about the austerity drive in the Indian politics.

Shilpi Batra and Karishma Karki.

WADA

2009-09-25T11:24:00.007+05:30

WADA being a strong body is asking too much for players’ privacy or is it leading to a continuous vigil into the lives of players throughout the year?
Under the 'whereabouts' code of World Anti Doping Agency, athletes must provide details of their whereabouts at all times. Officials are then able to turn up without prior notice and drug test the athletes. If an athlete is unavailable for the test, then it counts towards the three 'strikes' that lead to a competition ban. Is WADA's player 'whereabouts' code a positive move and the only way to catch out those athletes using performance-enhancing drugs in sport, or is it an invasive, illegal form of monitoring that breaches the personal privacy of athletes??
Shilpi Batra and Sumit Singh

No Beggars this Commonwealth

2009-09-16T12:55:00.006+05:30

The Delhi government is trying its best to showcase the case of the city before the Commonwealth Games and the Anti Begging Drive seems to be another effort in the campaign.
Begging is a crime according to the Prevention of Begging Act 1959 and the government wants to get rid of the official 60,000 offenders before the Games begin. According to Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, the drive aims to rehabilitate the beggars in the city. Certain areas have been declared ‘zero-tolerance zones’ and the campaign is supposed to be implemented in areas such as Dhaula Kuan, Rajghat and AIIMS. The citizens are happy with this campaingn of the Government.This does not come as a surprise as begging still seems to be rampant in the city and the beggars completely unaware of any such drive.However, the Chief Secretary clarifies saying that the drive is being worked out in phases and the campaign is yet to become totally effective.

Art Exposed

2009-09-16T12:18:00.005+05:30

by Ankita Khare
54 galleries - 17 international ones, over Rs 40 million worth of art work. Almost 5000 footfalls each day. And huge sales...India Art Summit--the name still echoes in the art industry even after a week since it ended. The main attraction was the global appeal that the event had. Art pieces from around the world were available all under one roof.

The event was supported by Sotheby's in collaboration with organisations in support of the fine arts including Asia Art Archive, Asia Society, Lalit Kala Academy, The Devi Foundation, and The British Council. A well organised affair, India Art Summit was undoubtedly an event worth visiting. Check out the audio clip below to experience this grand fair. Know what was there what wasn't......

Music in Jail

2009-09-04T12:28:00.003+05:30

By Ankita Khare
Tihar jail---what comes to your mind when you hear this word. Violent prisoners? Harsh police officers? Fights? Injuries? Iron bars? Concrete?
Tihar’s Association Barrack (where under trials are kept) will break your belief. Lush green trees; a small library; carom board; TT Table and a silent ambience defines this ward.
What’s more now…. this place has Music too.
The jail authorities have brought in music therapy to reduce depression and criminal instincts among first time offenders.
Furthermore, the music also helps in keeping under trials away from the negative influences of other inmates held back for serious crimes.
To know more about music in jail, listen to the audio clip below.

THE 62nd YEAR

2009-08-26T11:16:00.002+05:30

A kite market in celebration of independence day...

by Kriti Gupta

The great Indian democracy turned 62 this year. And the country celebrated this occasion with the same vigour as it does every year.

Prior to 15th August, several bazaars were organised with Independence day as the theme. These showcased all things Indian such as - chudis, mehndi, Indian street food and so on. There was a special kite gallery and even a space for Bollywood at some places.

Indian flags, kites and Bollywood...

On the day, the flag hoisting ceremony was held with Red Fort as a backdrop. The Prime Minister's speech focused on an integrated India that rejected sectarian politics. For most people though, it was a time to sit and home, laze around and enjoy the holiday (or take a vacation because of the long weekend).

Kite flying around this time predictably increased. However, on 15th August, the rain god played villain and dampened the spirits of kite flying enthusiasts in the morning. Later in the day, the weather cleared providing ample breeze for the sport and several competitions were held across the city of Delhi in celebration of Independence.

Independence has given us space to grow and freedom to breathe. Celebrations of this kind are only an ideal given the importance of this day in our history.

Impressions of India at 62

2009-08-25T11:23:00.013+05:30

August 15th 1947 - India kept its tryst with destiny and it has been 62 long, eventful years since then. The significance of this day goes beyond a public holiday or playing patriotic songs on the radio.

India is a country of great paradoxes and all that exists in between. Perhaps herein lies its uniqueness, permit me to move over the brouhaha about being a multicultural, multiethnic, secular country. At 62, India is young, very young and herein lies our hope. The Great Indian Dream. Let us on this Independence Day, neither celebrate or berate, just look within. There is reason to cheer and many more reasons to reflect.

How frequently do we demand freedom denied?

Is there good news for everyone or just a handful?

In our bid to move forward are we leaving behind many?

Have we created boundaries which are now impossible to get rid of?

How often do we trample over the ideals on which the country was created?

Let us think over all these questions and salute the resilient spirit of a billion people

The Sultan swings it for Delhi

2009-08-07T11:33:00.002+05:30

Wasim: live-wire

Ektaa Malik
Wasim Akram - the name sends shivers down the spine of many a batsman in world cricket. Thankfully for them the “sultan of swing” has retired from all forms of the game. The 6 feet 2 inches bowler from Lahore who was once spotted by Imran Khan is now in the capital to make another quickie; but this time for India. The 43 years old left-arm pacer known for his variety is now bowling on a completely different pitch.

At the Stephens cricket ground to nurture young talent Wasim was seen involved with a group of 15 years olds trying to play for Team India. The four-day bowling skill camp organised by the Delhi Development & Cricket Association has given a unique opportunity to a group of 18 young boys not only to learn the nuances of fast bowling but also to interact with Wasim bhai on a one to one basis.

Former Pakistan captain, Wasim has been known for his outstanding support to the Indian bowlers and has always been generous with his tips and suggestions to them. This bowling camp is a classic example of the desire and willingness of Wasim to share his experience and spread the art. Wasim has been quite instrumental in shaping up the skills of Indian fast bowlers especially Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan. Not only Zaheer and Irfan, but any left arm pacer in the world has Wasim in mind when he makes his foray into the world of cricket.

When asked about the future of bowling and talent present in India he said, “There’s no dearth of talent in India, but the question remains as to how that talent is honed and brought forward.” But he maintained “that the key to success is hard work and hard work alone. India like Pakistan has abundance of talent but it’s lost somewhere in between. Be it the loose domestic structure or the nepotism in the selection process.”

The man, who made his international cricket debut way back in 1984 (against New Zealand in Faisalabad) is a treat to watch on the field. His dominating presence and contagious levels of energy mixed with raw talent on the ground made an eclectic mix for a humid Saturday morning.

With a total wicket tally of 916 in both forms of the game the man can still pack a witty punch with the over eager youngsters. Even after 6 years of retirement the Punjabi speaking Wasim bhai remains a force to be reckoned with - be it his charming persona, the winning smile and the easy going demeanour. However all these take a back seat when he is training the youngsters. He never takes his eyes off the ball. The love for the game is still very much apparent in him. With a smile he concluded that he’ll be back soon in India for the Champions’ league.

Brainstorming on the field

Deadly Mishap

2009-07-25T15:58:00.000+05:30

Photo Feature 222

Pigeon flying in old Delhi

2009-04-09T14:33:00.003+05:30

Once upon a time pigeons worked as messengers to carry messages .The trend of carrying the message through pigeons has stopped but the legacy of pigeon flying still continues in Old Delhi ..Aqsa Anjum has a story.

Elections vs IPL

2009-04-04T11:15:00.010+05:30

By: Joydeep Hazarika, Sanjeev Srivastava, Sumit Singh

The General Elections and the Indian Premiere League (IPL) collide with each other this April. And a question arises. Which of these is more important for the people?

As India prepares to welcome the summers this year, two events of epic proportions collide with each other. The 15th General Elections and the 2nd edition of the Indian Premiere League (IPL) are taking place together this April. And already preparations are underway for the coverage of these two events.

Now the only thing remained to be seen is which one scores over the other in terms of coverage. The importance of IPL over elections is something which has divided opinions among various circles. As we look into them, we find that the story is splitting into two halves. It is one section which thinks that the elections will not be affected by the IPL. While the other section thinks that the elections will be affected by the IPL.

Qamar Agha, who is a political analyst and hosts a few TV shows, says that the elections will not be affected by the IPL. He says that the people will always give more importance to their right to vote under any circumstances.

Echoing his thoughts, students from Delhi University, who are ever conscious of their rights, give out full support to the elections. For them, it is a celebration of their existence in democracy and they are very vocal about their support to the elections.

Now as far as those people are concerned who feel that the IPL will affect the turnout of voters in the elections, we find that there is a section who believes that the political machinery of the state has rotten beyond doubt. It is a reflection of those Indians who are frustrated from the existing corruption in politics of this country. It is a sign of the unrest that is brewing within from quite some time.

Subrata Mukherjee, who is the convener of the Asian Political Science Association and a former professor of Delhi University, feels that the way people view the elections will remain the same whether there be any IPL or not. He is among those people who feel that the state machinery has rotten down and the corrupt politics has totally disinterested the people in events like the elections.

But some people wouldn’t still go out of their way to take any side. They still want to view it as a platform where these two events will go off without affecting each other much. Chetan Chauhan, a former cricketer turned politician, feels so.

So in this age of publicity and hype, the war for coverage between the elections and the IPL is more about the prominence of democratic ideals and the entertainment quotient of cricket.

As there is a division in thoughts, we find that people are divided in their opinion regarding the importance to be given to the General Elections or the IPL.

Feasting on a Fast

2009-04-04T09:29:00.003+05:30

By Ektaa, Gaigongmai, Shilpi, and Helen
Modern India has made strides in the field of science and technology. However all this takes a back seat when the festivities start. Navratras the nine day Hindu festival of fasting will see many observe the fasting without really knowing its implication on their health.
Navratras come twice in a year, the biggest in September/October, called Sharad Navratras, and the Vasanta Navratras in March/April. This festival sees the worshipping of goddess Durga, in her nine avatars. Navratras is a traditional festival of Hindus and it is today a well practised event.
These nine days see devotees observing fast for nine days continuously, and following a strict diet. It’s widely believed that these nine days of fasting will help the devotees to lead a pure life.
“The Navratras are a way of cleansing ones soul; also they make it possible for the people to get closer to the divine power”. Says Manoj Jha, a priest at the “Mata ka Mandir” New friends’ Colony New Delhi.
Millions of Hindus in India observe this fast religiously. Traditionally allowed only one meal a day, they carry on with their daily work without any complaint. They believe faith gives them the power to fast for such a long time. A special diet is prescribed for the people who fast, a diet consisting of fruits, milk and non-grain, non-cereal products.
However many people are not aware that not eating for such long hours, and not eating regular normal food can also have an adverse effect on the health of those observing this fast. While devotees keep on praising the positive effects of fasting, voices are being raised in the medical spheres. The Navratras diet itself is not completely harmless for the body. Certain persons are more exposed to the side effects of this fast than others.
Charu Dua a dietician at Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital New Delhi says “I won’t advice my patients to follow Navratras, especially to those who are suffering from diabetes, heart problems, or who want to lose or just maintain their weight.”
Navratras diet is “a rich food”, full of carbohydrates, which are basically sugar fats. For example, potatoes and the kuttu flour, especially used during this festival, are rich in these nutrients.
For people in sane health, Navratras can also create troubles. After 9 days of fasting, they may lack vitamins, sodium, potassium and proteins. All these vitamin deficit results in weakness and dizziness. Regarding the proteins, Charu Dua explains that during the festival people eat half of the amount of proteins they normally need.
Nevertheless, Charu Dua adds that “there are healthier ways to fast”. She recommends lots of fruits, milk, and curd and sago products. For her, “100% fasting is not recommended. People should at least take two proper meals a day”.
But facing tradition, religion and superstition, scientific advice is falling on deaf ears. As people insist on fasting the normal way .

Mortuary is no mystery

2009-04-03T15:46:00.002+05:30

The sight of a corpse leaves many with a palpitating heart. We think it is very difficult to be in a morgue handling the dead day in and out. Death, for man, has always been difficult to come to term with. And we all want to stay away from a mortuary. But “science”, says Dr. Sunay Kumar, senior resident doctor, forensic medicine at the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, “has proved that the fear of dead is a misplaced notion.”

“This sealed room has all the skeletal remains of the Nithari serial killings case. It is critical until the trial goes on”, says Dr Adarsh Kumar, Asst. Professor, forensic medicine at, AIIMS. A dead body is as important as those alive to ascertain the cause of death. When there is no evidence, a dead body is the greatest witness of the dead.

Autopsy is what helps to know the reasons behind the death. The forensic experts in the mortuary along with their toxicology counterparts make a dead tell the tale of their death, of their claim for justice and peace and the pain and frustration they underwent while alive.

But a lot of facilities and care is required and the results can be, at times, startling. Dr. D. N. Bhardwaj, additional professor of forensic science and toxicology at AIIMS, recalling one of the autopsy says, “Everyone believed the death to be a murder, but it was a road accident, where the person was hit by a truck.”

Dead bodies can be of great research value. Organ donation especially eye donation is another thing being actively promoted. Dr. Adarsh Kumar, assistant professor of forensic medicine at AIIMS says, “There can be no substitute of a dead body for research purpose. And there are a few NGOs who are promoting contribution of dead bodies.”

Even in a hospital mortuaries are the most ignored places. Discussing the problems of mortuaries Dr. Kumar says that good infrastructure is limited to metros. Even at AIIMS, the lack of enough hands does affect the quality of autopsy. Another major reason is the lack of enough remuneration. “Forensic experts are the highest paid people in Australia and England.”

Dr. Sunay Mahesh, senior resident, forensic medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi says, “the stigma attached to this department is another major reason why the department struggles for enough manpower.

But apart from monetary consideration, the stigma attached to the job is especially for the 4th grade staffs who actually manhandles the body is significant.

“Life is a great surprise. I do not see why death should not be an even greater one.

Wrote Vladimir Nabokov in his 1962 novel ‘Pale Fire’

The obviousness and the triviality of death is enough to recognise that misconceptions about dead be removed.

A ‘Ban’ Smoked Away

2009-04-03T15:36:00.003+05:30

By Reyaz, Anubhooti, Karishma

Prachi Dutt (name changed) was 10 years old when she tried smoking for the first time. Since then, ‘let me try it once’ has became a habit. Today, eleven years later, she cannot stop smoking even on her college campus, although the university has been declared a smoke- free zone.

Like Prachi, there are many others who openly flout this ban in various colleges and universities across Delhi. And they seem to have no qualms about it.

Rahul (name changed), a student of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) said, he is sure he would not be caught because he is certain authorities don’t care. “Everyone smokes openly here; even the staff and professors indulge in it. And no one says anything, neither the guards, nor the administration.”

Anand Kumar, a guard at the university concurs. “Students do smoke in the campus. But they hide the cigarette when they see us,” he said.

Apam Kharingpam, an Assistant Professor at the same university believes that smoking zones should be created at various places in the universities, just as in restaurants and airports. “The government earns a lot of money from chain smokers like me. So, I think it is hypocrisy on the part of the government to ban it in certain places and to sell it at others.”

Though the law is being openly defied by many, authorities seem to be sitting pretty after installing hoardings and banners everywhere. Professor Gurmeet Singh, the Proctor of Delhi University says, “We conduct regular classes and awareness campaigns to sensitise the students. More than going behind the students with a stick in our hand, we believe in educating them. We conducted a survey after we started the campaign. And the results show that 23 percent of the students have quit smoking after the campaign was started.”

But going by the number the people who smoke in the campuses, the ground realities seem very different. Monika Arora, Director of Hriday, a NGO working with students against smoking, questions the validity of the claim. “I don’t know how scientifically proven that survey is.”

She, however, agrees that the government and the administration are doing their best to spread awareness about the no-smoking campaign. “Change cannot be brought overnight. But going by the no-smoking hoardings and banners that have come up in the city, it appears that University administration and the government are putting in a sincere effort.”

A possible reason why the students are taking the ban lightly could be that the authorities have not been harsh while implementing it. Though the ban has been in place for quite some time now, there have been no strict actions as of yet in these universities.
Mukesh Ranjan, Assistant to Proctor of JMI says, “I am aware that the university is a smoke free zone. But I have got no official instruction yet on as to how to go about implementing the ban.”

Gurmeet Singh says, “A student can be fined Rs.200 if caught smoking in the campus. But there have been no fines as of yet because we do not want it to be a punitive effort. We want the students to understand for themselves.”

Whether the students understand or not, the fact remains that personal choices of a few are putting the health of thousands at risk. And the open defiance of the law by the educated masses goes on to prove that it is high time that stricter measures are taken so that bans like these are effectively implemented.

Quick facts
o India is the second largest producer of tobacco in the world.
o 25 crore population in India are regular tobacco users.
o Tobacco worth Rs 24,000 corers is sold annually.
o The government has to spend Rs 27,000 corers annually on free health services to offset the harm caused by it
o Every 30 seconds, one person in India dies of diseases related to tobacco or gutkha.
o Every two seconds, 1 Indian child tries tobacco for the first time.
o 4 million children below the age of 15 years use tobacco regularly.

Sources: Data compiled from the Ministry of Health and Women Welfare, Government of India, American Cancer Society, National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), The World Health Survey, 2003.

CLAY FREAK INDIANS

2009-04-03T14:51:00.003+05:30

By: Shariq Haider Naqvi, Ranish Hangloo, Pariksht Shingal.

From traditional household utensils to medical remedies, clay plays an integral part in the life of Indians.

Clay culture, an ancient form of art, is as fascinating as snake charmers and computer geeks that have captivated foreign audiences.

45 years old potter, Rajinder Singh, says he inherited this art from his father. Playing with clay was a childhood enthrallment that later became my profession. Rajinder’s wife Maya Devi who also makes clay pots however feels their children never showed any interest in this form of art.

Clay a refined form of soil is utilized extensively across India. Since the Harrapa civilization, clay has acclaimed traditional importance.

Singh adds with a witty humor that poor people in India still use earthen pots to store and cool water while refrigerators are a property for rich folks.

An age old history to support this form of art also tells about the sculpture making as a traditional craft.

While shaping fingers of an earthen goddess idol, Ajay Kumar Haldar, a sculpture maker says it is creativity mixed with interest, and use of clay in sculpture making is an interesting hobby.

In the recent times Plaster of Paris (POP) is proving biggest challenge for these creative clay artists. POP as compared to clay costs less and one does not need to slog much while designing sculptures.

Kamala Singh, a housewife who decorates her house with clay decorative says earthen pots have their own importance. During Diwali, (festival of lights), Diyas(small earthen pot) made of clay are still used to garnish houses and also Gamlas (earthen pot) are used to grow plants and are significant for those who want to make theirs gardens look good.

Not only for embellishment, clay is still, used by rural or poor class in India for plastering walls and make kuccha houses (temporary/ delicate).

Interestingly, ancient form of Indian medication, Ayurveda has also given importance of soil and its derivates for medical treatments.

Different form of clay can be used for curing ailments of liver, stomach and skin infections, says Dr. Tanuj Veerbhan an Ayurveda doctor.

Tanuj adds, those who want to keep cool state of mind should apply Multani Mitti (Herbal Clay) on their forehead when required.

Also Multani Mitti is used for cosmetics and beautification purposes too, and this is gaining popularity worldwide.

As herbal treatment does not have any side effects, one should use Multani Mitti to look young, said 20 years old Ghazala Naqvi who uses clay for beautification.

Unbelievably, a fraction of the Indian population takes clay to be a unique and clean material that is used for washing hands besides its other important uses.

Rehabilitation of artist slum

2009-04-03T14:33:00.004+05:30

- Niha Masih, Ankita Khare, Vincent Drye

Almost a quarter of people in Indian cities live in slums. As the national capital, New Delhi gears up for the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2010, many slum dwellers are being displaced from the city.

However, the residents of Kathputli Colony can look forward to a brighter future. This slum will be the first to benefit from the ‘in-situ slum rehabilitation scheme’ of the Delhi Devlopment Authority. Instead of being relocated in other parts of the city, the inhabitants will be provided flats on the 5.22 hectares of the slum land.

“Earlier, slum dwellers were given plots at different parts of the city; it was very difficult for the slum dwellers to settle far away from their present place of work so they used to come back,” says Minister of Urban Development, Ajay Maken.

As the name suggests, most of the residents of Kathputli (Puppet) Colony are Indian traditional artists, some of who are internationally renowned for their skills at puppetry and different forms of folk dances.

Under this plan, these people will shift from the sordid houses to an eleventh storeyed building with lift facilities. “Each family is given a separate bathroom and toilet; they are also given two rooms so that there is a private and a public space inside the flat” says Mitu Mathur, architect with Gian P Mathur and Associates, the consultancy in charge of the plan. Moreover, the ground floor will be dedicated to their artistic and commercial activities.

There doesn’t seem to be much awareness as people are still apprehensive about the implementation of the scheme. “Only they know whether people with IDs or ration cards will get flats” says Guddu, a slum dweller.

Accommodations are planned for 2800 families. This goes in-sync with the number of residents with valid ID Cards, confirms Gian P Mathur and Associates. However, according to sources, the slum population is much higher.

Yet, around 50 per cent of the land will be given to the private builders for their own profit-making purpose. On this land, they will develop a commercial centre along with “high category residential apartments”.

The gist of this public private partnership is to socially mix the area and to give a boost the artistic activities of the community. Speaking about the contract, Mitu Mathur explains: “It is a very profitable venture in terms of money and of respect from the community. Also it is very important for us to develop a scheme which is attractive to the developers.”

The foundation ceremony took place in mid February but the construction is yet to begin.

Fibre in fashion

2009-04-03T13:47:00.004+05:30

Kriti Gupta, Gaurav Shukla, Arvind Kumar

New Delhi: Two thirds of the total jute production takes place in India. Over the years, jute has become associated with industrial activities – it was used as sacks, covering material and so on. Its rough, coarse texture made it unpleasant for daily use. But all this is changing.
With growing concerns about plastic choking the world, there is a move towards natural fiber and jute seems to be in the lead. The ban on plastic initiated by the Delhi government has given a new lease of life to the jute industry. Market promotion officer for Jute Manufactures Development Council, D Mukherjee explains, “Jute is the best option. Paper bags are not durable while cotton bags are very expensive. Jute bags cost Rs 3 or 4 per piece.”

While most industries are panicking at this time of recession, due to the aforementioned reasons, the jute industry is growing at a rapid pace. It is estimated that once the plastic ban takes full effect, Delhi will need 1 lakh jute bags per day.

Seema Malhotra, Founder of Scope Plus (an NGO working for underpowered), tells us why she began using jute, “Our main purpose was to provide eco-friendly alternatives to schools and colleges. The response was excellent. The only thing was that they wanted it cheaper.” They started with bags, but soon expanded into folders, notepads and so on because of the positive reaction of people. She continues, “Now that the government is giving subsidies, it should become easier to achieve a lower cost.”

From the service sector to the private sector, going natural seems to be the trend. Even the fashion industry is experimenting with this fabric in clothes and accessories. Designer Samant Chauhan has used jute in his previous collections to add texture to the cloth. He elaborates, “Jute is a unique fabric. I’ve been using it not only with the silk, but also I’ve used a lot of jute accessories in my collections.”

Shaan Thadani, a noted fashion expert and owner of the store WHITE, critiques the way the fiber has been used thus far. “We must be able to sustain what we create and make it eco-friendly. It’s very important and so I think we should look into fabrics like jute. But till now, I haven’t seen any innovations in fashion that are practical. It has been used interestingly as banners and accessories, but there is a lot more that needs to be done.”

People it seems are also becoming environmentally conscious. Marie, a housewife, reminisces, “When we were children, we used jute for sack races. Now I use it in more products – clothes, bags, household furnishings, etc. Natural fiber is the way to go.”

From dreary sacks to designer-wear, jute is definitely under-going a makeover. Giving the term “golden fiber” a new meaning altogether.

Affection turns to Business

2009-03-28T13:25:00.003+05:30

Namita Chhiba, a resident of Panchsheel runs her own garage at Ashrum. Despite being the daughter of RK Dhawan a busnessman of Vintage cars and rich enough to gift her daughter with a Mercedes Benz, the lady is happy to work day and night in the dingy atmosphere of the garage in order to aspire her father’s dream. Dhawan owns two garage set ups - one at Kilokri & the other at Noida under the name Engineer’s Corporation. Namita who has spent 20 years of her life with the garage workers, is a prominent example of Indian women in the busines sector. Even though a mother of two, her affection for the garage which she has been visiting since childhood has not lessened. She has now taken over her father’s business completely and spends most of the day in supervising both the set-ups.

Namita@work in Kilokri

Namita with her father (middle)

Explaining the job to be done

Namita’s workplace

A rear mirror view!

Tallying with the job sheet

The garage at Noida

Unveiling of the Queen’s Baton Relay

2009-03-28T13:03:00.005+05:30

As a countdown to the Commonwealth Games, the prototype of Queen's Baton was unveiled at a spectacular show in New Delhi on Sunday. The Governor of Delhi, Lt.Tejinder Khanna performed the honour to a thunderous applause from the hundreds of enthusiastic crowd who had gathered at the majestic India Gate lawns on the eve of Commonwealth Day, celebrated on the second Monday of March every year.
“The visitors coming to India for the Games would retain only good memories when they go back. There shall be no doubt about security. The policing will be tight during the Games and I can assure all a peaceful and secure Commonwealth Games,” said Khanna.
Among those present were Commonwealth Games Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, Organising Committee Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra.

More than 200 artistes from across the country performed cultural programmes on the occasion. The event became all the more electrifying because of the laser shows and fireworks. The programme progressed into a depiction of India at its best. Undoubtedly the highlight of the show was the ethereal performance by the Flying Angels. These artistes from the UK were lifted high in the air with the help of a giant crane. They mesmerised the whole crowd with their heavenly and graceful moves. A spectacular display of fireworks in the background made it a truly magical show.
The baton relay will start from the Buckingham Palace, London, in November this year.

Commonwealth Day celebration at India Gate lawns.

Governor of Delhi Lt.Tejinder Khanna with the Commonwealth baton at the unveiling of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

A south-east Asian performance

An Indian classical dancer.

Magical performance by the Flying Angels

All the performers together at the end of the show.

Shera sends his love and thanks to all.

Food and Thought

2009-03-14T14:51:00.003+05:30

By Jaishree

To provide an excellent platform for facilitating the growth and modernization of the food and hospitality sector, Aahar International Food Fair was organized at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan from 7th to 10th March 2009.

The main purpose behind this event was to promote the sector as an important part of the major industries. Also it provided an opportunity to develop business relationships and to display the products to the potential buyers.

Aahar was designed to attract the importers, distributors, general public and all those related to this sector. The main focus of Aahar was on the Hospitality Industry, which has a great significance keeping in mind the coming Commonwealth Games of 2010.

The organizers have introduced a unique way of publicity by offering their food items free of cost to the visitors for tasting on spot. This became the main attraction of the event.

Ahar food fair at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan

Recipe of Aahar

Italian Pizza with Indian touch

Visitors enjoying ahaar at Aahar

Foreign exhibitors at the food fair

Crowding at Aahar food festival

Nakshatra 2009

2009-03-14T14:19:00.003+05:30

By Jaishree

Nakshatra a five days’ long fair on Astrology was held at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan from 5th to 9th March 2009. This exhibition aimed to manifest the mystic world of stars as well as various manufacturing and trading companies of the astrological products.

Companies and firms participated from various spheres like - applications of IT in astrology, computer horoscope, vaastu, astrology, fengshui, gems, computer astrological software and equipments, books, periodicals and magazines, Vedic sciences, spiritual and remedial items of astrology, mantra cassettes etc.

Nakshatra 2009 targeted to attract general public as well as professionals from astrology, fengshui, vaastu, and related industries. Renowned astrologers and experts advised the people on spot about their future and actions, which ultimately became the USP of this event.

Nakshatra 2009 at Pragati Maidan

Consultation kiosk at Nakshatra

Astrological products at sale

Trying their luck at Nakshatra

A vision to the future

Swami Omkar addressing the audience: A workshop at Nakshatra

Searching for a stone that can change destiny

Strains of the Himalayan Spirit: An Exhibition

2009-03-14T12:54:00.005+05:30

By Gargi Nim

Strains of the Himalayan Spirit, an exhibition based on the art works of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh is being held at the M.F. Hussain Art Gallery in Jamia Millia Islamia from 4th March to 16th March.

The aim of this exhibition is to promote and explore the art works of high land among the people of the plains of India. On an average 200-250 people including the university students, faculty, general public, academicians are visiting this exhibition regularly. It will continue till 16th of this month.

Hindu Muslim Unity

Works at Display

Sculptures of Kashmir

Sculptures of Ladakh

Mingling with the art: A visitor at the exhibition

Kashmir: An Artist’s View

Indian Delegation in Pakistan

2009-03-14T12:50:00.002+05:30

By Saurabh Sharma
“If given a chance I would walk a half way to restore the peace with India” - said the president of Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif to an Indian Delegation led by Kuldip Nayar, the veteran journalist and former High Commissioner to UK।

After the terrorist attack on Mumbai, tension between both the countries has risen to stratospheric level। Civil groups from both the nations have stepped in to diffuse this tension and salvage the peace process.

The Pakistani delegation led by Asma Jahangir, the chair person of Human Rights Commission, Pakistan, toured India between 21st and 24th January। To reciprocate the same message of peace an Indian delegation visited Pakistan from 22 to 26th of February.

The 13-member delegation comprised eminent filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, social activists Swami Agnivesh, Dr। Hanif Lakdawala, Kamla Bhasin, educationist Kamal Mitra Chenoy, journalist Seema Mustafa, peace activist Ramesh Yadav, former diplomat Salman Haider and Shabnam Hashmi, the member of National Integration Council among others.

The main aim of the delegation was to strengthen the civil society of Pakistan and to generate heat and enthusiasm of some sort to lunge forward the peace process that came to a screeching halt after the Mumbai attack।

Mr. Kuldip Nayar stressed on the composite dialogue between both the countries - “We went to Lahore and Islamabad and met with a wide section of society. The one thing which came out strongly was that people of Pakistan want peace with India quickly.”

“There was no war hysteria and we did not hear any anti-India. We did convey them that there is no war hysteria even in India. Except some TV channels saying that on both the sides.” he added।

The Indian delegation met various Pakistani government officials, leaders of all the major political parties, important members of civil societies and also the representatives of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce।

Swami Agnivesh said that Kashmir issue took the back seat as usual। “People were more focused on the ties between the two countries. They want cultural exchange and more people to people contact”, he said.

Truce between Taliban and Pakistan government in SWAT valley was also discussed by the delegation। According to Pakistani officials, around thirty to thirty five thousand terrorists are holding the SWAT valley. Most of these terrorists are not from Pakistan but from fourteen different nationalities and southern Punjab.

Chenoy said that people within Pakistan are not happy with the recent developments in their country। They think they are the bigger victims of terrorism and are disappointed with the government. They want India to help them in the fight against terrorism rather than blaming them.

On referring to the peace treaty with Taliban Chenoy mentioned, one of the former diplomats of Pakistan claimed that they make one concession to these people who lever this concession for further concessions।

The delegation members also pointed that lot of Pakistanis believes that America had a sway over Pakistani governance, partially ruling them। They are the ones who are calling the shots, directing the military officers and political establishment. The bombing by the drone aircrafts in the western border of Pakistan, in which some civilians were killed, has further provoked the common people.

On the issue of Mumbai attack, the officials of Pakistan told the delegation that they are doing their best। Recently 246 people have been detained in connection with the blast. Many are already under house arrest. They are also seeking more evidences from India. What India provided may not be enough to prove in the court of law. So they are asking for more evidences and searching it within Pakistan.

“The media of Pakistan were also very supportive. We were chased by the media and people through out our visit”, said Kamla Bhasin. This enthusiasm was missing on the Indian side. “We hope that media would play a bigger role in shaping the relations between both countries”, she added.