15 iconic DDLJ dialogues that we know by heart

As the film completes 1000 weeks in the theater on 12th December, we take you down the memory lane and list 15 iconic dialogues from the film.

Yahaan mujhe koi nahi jaanta, siwaye inn kabootaron ke. Kyuniki yeh bhi meri hi tarah hai. Inka bhi koi desh nahi, jahan dana dekha utar gaye aur pet bhar kar udh gaye

Fail hona aur padhai na karna, ye humare parivaar ki parampara hai

Akhir ek Hindustani hi Hindustani ke kaam aata hai

It's okay senorita, bade bade desho mein aisi chhoti chhoti batien hoti rehti hai

Main ek baar phir train chhodna nahi chahti.

Par main chahta hoon ki yeh train bar bar chhoote

Raj agar yeh tujhe pyaar karti hai, to yeh palat ke dekhegi. Palat... Palat...

Tum mujhse pyaar karti ho?

Sabse zyada

Mujhpe bharosa hai?

Khudse bhi zyada

Koi bhi ullu ka pattha sirf ek angoothi pehanakar tumko mujhse nahi chheen sakta

Aap bhi kamaal karti hai maaji, ek pal mein beta keh diya aur dusre pal mein paraya kar diya

Meri ma kaha karti thi, jo shaadi wale ghar mein seva karta hai, usko bahut sundar dulhan milti hai

Desh ke bahar niklo toh sab kuch mil sakta hai, lekin bhabi ke haath ki matthi nahi mil sakti

Main galat thi Simran. Meri beti apni khushiyon ki bali nahi chadayegi, woh apni pyaar ki kurbani nahi degi.

Aap logon ki rone ki bimari khandaani hai kya?

Toh kya hua agar maine jhoot sirf tumhe paane ke liye kaha tha? Toh kya hua agar tumhare chehre ke sivah mujhe koi aur chehra dikhai nahi deta? Toh kya hua agar tumhare naam ke sivah mujhe koi aur naam yaad nahi rehta? Toh kya hua agar yeh awara tumhe deewano ki tarah pyar karta hai? Toh kya hua? Pyaar sab kuch toh nahi hota na

Ja Simran ja, jee le apni zindagi

Ranikhet --> Queen's meadow

There is every possibility that you may run out of adjectives when attempting to describe the scenic beauty of the pristine hill station of Ranikhet in the state of Uttarakhand. The reasons for its popularity among tourists are obvious. 

The hill station, covered with lush forests of thick pine and deodar trees and dainty streams of water with impeccable views of Nanda Devi, is the archetypal dream destination for an idyllic holiday. Tourists visiting Ranikhet are delighted to discover that apart from the scenic grandeur, this famous hill station has plenty of other attractions too including an amazing abundance of bird species flourishing in the area.

Sights to See

• Chaubatia

Commanding a picturesque view of the Himalayas, it is popularly known as orchard country for its fruits and government gardens.

• Jhoola Devi Ram Mandir

7 km from Ranikhet on the Ram Mandir route to Chaubatia, the place is known for temples devoted to the Goddess Durga and Lord Rama.

• Mankameshwar

One of the famous attartions of Ranikhet, this temple is attached to the Narsingh Maidan. This ancient temple has been built by the Kumaon regiment. Opposite the shrine are a Gurudwara and a Shawal factory.

• Bhaludam

3 km away from Chaubatia garden, the place offers a mesmerizing beauty in the form of a small artificial lake and is a popular picnic spot.

• Tarikhet

The place is well known for its Gandhi Ashram to commemorate the spot where Gandhiji stayed. The Golla temple here is venerated by the people.

• Kalika

1 km from the Golf Maidan, the place is known for its forest nursery and a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali.

• Sitlakhet

Sitlakhet is a scenic spot commanding a view of majestic Himalayas. The nearby forest abounds in fruit orchards and herbal plants used in medicines. Just about 10 km from Sitlakhet is the famous temple of Syahi Devi. Nearby is the natural spring where the first water scheme for Almora was initiated some seventy years ago. Just two kilometers below Sitlakhet is the village Khoont which is the ancestral village of the late Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, the famous freedom fighter of India.

Bal Swachata Abhiyan

As a part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the mega cleanliness drive in India, and also as a part of the Children’s Day celebrations, the Government of India has launched yet another campaign “Bal Swachhata Abhiyan”. This campaign will be carried out together by the education and health departments from November 14, Children’s Day, to November 19, the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, in all schools across the country.

The Central Government has issued directives so that the campaign is implemented efficiently. The idea is to spread cleanliness awareness among the children. Through this campaign, the school students will play the role as cleanup ambassadors in the school’s nearby and surrounding areas and also display an encouraging way for the locals to keep their surroundings clean.

Highlights of Bal Swachhata Mission

• Considering the importance of cleanliness and inculcating cleanliness from a very young age, it’s necessary that every citizen of the country, including the children, should come forward to be a part of the mega cleanliness drive.
• The Directorate of Education has addressed all Heads of Government and Government-aided schools and private schools to carry out the cleanliness mission and sensitise children and make them aware of the different aspects of hygiene.
• Bal Swachhata Abhiyan includes clean schools, clean surroundings and play area, pure drinking water facilities, proper toilets, safe and clean food and personal hygiene.
• All students must be aware of the need of cleanliness and various aspects of health and sanitation.
• Each student can spread cleanliness awareness among his family members effectively and thereby pave the way for a clean society as a whole.
• All health centres associated with the schools should be well-prepared with information on balanced diet and health and senior officials should make sure that the students are given information about nutrition, food grains and vegetables through video clips, posters and Powerpoint presentations.
• Children will also be given training on washing hands properly and how to maintain their personal hygiene and cleanliness.
• How to use toilets and keep them clean would be discussed during the campaign.
• Officials would also spread awareness about water-borne diseases, the use of clean water, proper cleaning of water tanks in schools and so on.

Bal Swachhata Abhiyan five-day programme

The themes of this campaign has been planned out in the following way:

• 14th November: Clean Schools/Surroundings/Play areas
• 15th November: Clean Food
• 17th November: Clean Self, Personal Hygiene, Child Safety
• 18th November: Clean Drinking Water
• 19th November: Clean Toilet

As part of the first-day programme, during the morning assembly, the students will take a vow that they will not use plastic bags, will not waste any paper and use the dustbins for throwing garbage in the school. Also, all students and teachers must clean the classrooms, library, labs, kitchen and other areas.

Express Yourself Through: CBSE Expression Series

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched on its website (http://cbseacademic.in/) CBSE Expression Series on ‘Bal Swachhata Mission’ 14th to 19th November 2014. This is an interesting way for school children to express themselves through essay, poem, poster, drawing and painting. Each day a new topic will be assigned for the children in three categories (classes 1 to 5, classes 6 to 8, classes 9 to 12). Topics based on themes for each day will be announced on CBSE’s official website one day in advance. Thirty best entries on each day will be rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 2,500.

Conclusion: Again another encouraging initiative by the Government. But mere launching of a campaign is not enough. Proper implementation is more necessary. Yes, it’s high time now that we teach our children to be clean and maintain hygiene. Not only in schools, but also in home and outside, a child should be well aware of cleanliness, safety and personal hygiene which will make them stronger and healthy and responsible citizens of the country.

Gateway Of India And Taj Mahal Hotel

Easily identified and recognizable British marvel, the “Gateway of India”, is a crown in Mumbai’s attractions. Like the other attractions, this tourist hotspot is located in southern part of Mumbai. This sea-facing marvel is said to have been built to mark the commemoration of King George V and Queen Mary on 2nd December 1911, which can be found inscribed on the mantle of the monument.

After its completion in 1924, this part of the city initially became a port and then became a major tourist attraction when British left India. This part of town has eventually become the starting point of any tours, photo walks, etc. and thus draws a large number of locales, who earn their daily bread by doing business here.

The gateway acts as a quick-fix to Mumbai’s Corinthian style architecture which surrounds the area since the British Raj. One has to take a walk in the surrounding area and can see the similar style architecture. Opposite to the gateway lies the statue of Shivaji Maharaj after whom many institutions in Mumbai have been named.

Right next to Gateway, lies the great Taj Mahal hotel. It has two buildings – the main Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Taj Trident (which was built later). This hotel was built by Sir Jamshetji Tata. There is a very interesting story behind this. Legend has it that once Tata (who was the richest Indian in Mumbai at that time) was denied entry in the hotel built by British architect Watson. Since they strictly followed an ‘only whites’ policy in that hotel, (which was the poshest hotel before Taj was built), Tata avenged the policy and made this marvel.

Qutb Shahi Tombs

The tombs of the seven Qutub Shahi rulers in the Ibrahim Bagh (garden precinct) are located close to the famous Golkonda Fort in Hyderabad, India. The galleries of the smaller tombs are of a single storey while the larger ones are two storied. In the centre of each tomb is a sarcophagus which overlies the actual burial vault in a crypt below. The domes were originally overlaid with blue and green tiles, of which only a few pieces now remain.

Distant shot of all the Qutub Shahi Tombs, Hyderabad

View of Qutb Shahi Tombs from the Golkonda fort

Tomb of Hayath Bakshi Begum in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

The Great Mosque in the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex

Tomb of Sultan Quli Qutb Shah

Tomb of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah

The archways at the Qutub Shahi Tombs.

Qibla wall in Qutb Shahi

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna: The Village Development Project

After Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, which was launched on 2nd Oct 2014 for a clean India, on 11th October 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana” for clean and developed villages of rural India. This is a prestigious village development project, which focuses on the all-round development of villages, including economic, social and cultural growth and development. The PM aims to cover 2,500 villages by 2019. One of the striking and unique features of this programme, as the name suggests, is that here each Member of Parliament (MP ) will take up the responsibility of providing infrastructure and developing three villages by 2019. There are almost 800 MPs and if each of them adopts three villages, then nearly 2,500 villages can be covered by 2019. In the same manner, the State Governments should also create schemes and more and more villages can be covered under this.

Main Objective

The scheme is based on the concept of rural development of Mahatma Gandhi which revolved around creating model villages for transforming swaraj (self rule) into su-raj (good governance). The objective is to create a holistic development of all adopted villages by the MPs in all aspects —human, personal, social, economic and environmental development, including provision of basic amenities, services, security and good governance.

Features of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

The detailed blueprint of this ambitious project has been prepared by the Rural Development Ministry with the following essential features:

• Each MP should adopt a village of his choice, which should not be his own or his in-laws. This should be turned into a model village by 2016. Then for the next thee years, two more villages should be chosen and developed. After 2019, one village should be taken up every year till 2024.
• Villages should be adopted not from urban constituencies but from nearby rural areas.
• Emphasis on empowering the poor families to get rid of poverty by implementing a proper plan for every identified gram panchayat.
• Focuses on transforming villages into model villages by providing all round infrastructural development along with emphasis on gender equality, women empowerment and dignity, social justice, cleanliness, community service, peace , harmony and eco-friendliness.
• Each village will have pucca houses for homeless villagers and proper sanitation facilities.
• Each village will have smart schools with IT-enabled classrooms, e-libraries and web-based teaching. Also, each student will have universal access to education facilities up to Class X.
• The plan also aims to provide basic health care facilities to all with health card, medical examination, and total immunisation.
• Other benefits to be provided are piped drinking water, connectivity to the main road, electricity supply to all households, libraries in the village, telecom and broadband connectivity including CCTVs in public areas.
• Emphasis will also be given on e-governance.
• SAGY will ensure the provision of Aadhaar cards to all villagers.
• SAGY will also provide insurance schemes like Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana and universal access to the Public Distribution System to eligible families for social security, old-age, disability and widow pensions.
• Besides these, SAGY also lays focus on “personal development” which includes training and awareness on hygienic behaviour, physical exercise and reducing alcoholism, smoking and substance abuse.

Monitoring of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

• The project will be funded by each MP’s MPLAD fund.
• The programme also expects mutual-cooperation, local self-government, self reliance, transparency and accountability in public life.
• The MP himself or herself should guide on the creation of social mobilisation and a systematic environment in the model village.
• All planning processes of the Gram Panchayat will be guided by the District Collector.
• A specially designed capacity building programme will be created by the Union Ministry of Rural Development for proper implementation of Government functionaries at different levels including Gram Panchayats.
• At the State level, under the head of the Chief Secretary, the empowered committee will look after the relevant departments.

It is really too early to predict on the success of this yojana. The erstwhile UPA Government also launched “Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana”, which aimed at the development of villages of SC communities. This one aims at the development of all rural villages with a holistic development. Critically looking, 2,500 villages by 2019 means covering only 1% of the total 2,50,000 panchayats in India. This means that if we are going to take five years to develop 2,500 panchayat villages, then it will take many decades to cover the entire lot of villages of India. But no doubt it’s a good initiative and let us hope and pray that it becomes a success. According to a recent news report, the sports icon Sachin Tendulkar has already expressed his desire to adopt a village under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. He will adopt ‘Puttamraju Kandriga’ village in Potti Sriramulu, Nellore district, in Andhra Pradesh. Let’s hope more and more MPs will take part in this Yojana and make it a success.

PM’s Visit can bolster Indo-Australian relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Australia on November 15. Apart from attending G-20 summit in Brisbane, he will have a bilateral engagement with Australian leadership also. However, before undertaking his visit, he has sought ideas and suggestions from general public including native Australians regarding the way the trip could be turned into an important event.

“During my Australia visit in November, I would be attending a variety of programmes, including an interaction with the Indian community there. I want to hear ideas and thoughts from all of you, including friends in Australia and the Indian community there on my visit,” Modi tweeted. Thus, the message is clear that Modi who has consolidated his hold over the country’s politics and results of just concluded elections of Haryana and Maharashtra show it conclusively, would use his Australia visit as yet another opportunity to re-enact Madison Square-type magic. Given that the country of Kangaroos is home to a large number of Indian expatriates, such thinking could not be a weird one.

Then he is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia since late Rajiv Gandhi’s visit in 1986. In that respect, every engagement that he will have in that country, including his address to the special joint sitting of the Australian Parliament, would in all likelihood, serve him an occasion to throw charm offensive on Australian law makers too.

Nonetheless, it would be G-20 summit where Modi’s leadership would be tested. Before it unfolds as the summit, Suresh Prabhu who was a Cabinet minister in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government, was recently sent in Canberra as India’s Sherpa. His task was to prepare the agenda for G-20 leaders; and this involved issues like development, infrastructure, climate change and energy. The forthcoming Brisbane action plan to be announced during the summit, will take into account all four issues. But, as per sources, it will be an economic issue wherein emphasis will be laid on taking new measures to boost growth and job creation.

An Indian PM’s first visit to Australia since 1986

For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this summit is important as it will be first major multilateral forum where he will get a chance to interact with leaders from developed as well as developing nations. Yet, it will be a summit’s focus on increasing quality investments in infrastructure, and is what giving India a reason to be highly optimistic about the group and its agenda, especially when the government under Modi is pitching high for foreign investments for his pet projects involving smart cities, ports, seaports and highways.

If officials from the Ministry of Finance are to be believed, India requires more than $3 trillion to complete these projects. During Minister of State (Finance) Nirmala Sitharaman’s Australia visit, which she will undertake on November 12 for the G-20 Finance Ministers meet, India will showcase its plan for these projects, apart from taking up other issues, including trade liberalisation and sharing of tax information. In the last G-20 summit, the issue related to global taxation system in line with the requirements of the 21 century was raised.

Arguments made in favour of sharing of tax information among members of G-20 countries are that it helps in maintaining community and business trust in governments; it helps in maintaining information on taxpayers who have offshore investments; it helps in seeing that those who have offshore investments, are complying with domestic tax obligations or not. India is in favour of completing the formalities over the tax sharing information issue. In the just concluded G-20 Sherpa’s meeting, a brainstorming session on taxation was held and every country, according to sources, agreed that global tax rules have not been consistent with changes in the global business environment. In particular, the case was raised about multinational corporate houses which are not taxed the way they should be taxed. Besides, the issues that India want to project during the G-20 summit are – energy security, food security and financial inclusion.

India’s growing needs to be looked at during the visit

With regard to energy security, sources say, India’s overarching goal is to ensure affordable energy for various consumer segments. The country’s energy basket comprises of oil, gas, thermal and hydro power and also nuclear power which have hardly lived up to expectations. According to estimates made by the oil ministry, oil demands are particularly going to see a phenomenal rise from the current 700 million tonnes to 1,500 million tonnes by 2035. Power generation capacity which currently stands at 2,45,393.54 MW will have to be increased over 5 lac MW by 2020. But seeing the global overdrive for clean energy, India wants to latch on to energy generation through solar and wind power. Sources say, New Delhi will raise the issue of solar technology and its availability to developing nations.

In fact, India which is home to 2.97 million square kilometers of tropical and sub-tropical land and an average of 250-300 clear sunny days a year, has aimed to achieve 200,000 MW of solar generation capacity by 2050 from the current 3 MW. To meet this target, India needs huge investments. However, it will be food security and India’s unshakable stand that it can’t deny 40 per cent its poor nationals of their rights from getting cereals at highly subsidised rates, is what is going to see much talks during the forthcoming summit. This apart, India will raise as how under the ambitious ‘Jan Dhan Yojna’ millions of poor Indians are being brought under the ambit of the financial inclusion.

In a nutshell, it will be India and its newly elected Prime Minister who would be the centre of attraction during the two-day summit as every leader would like to know him from the close and his plans for the economic growth. As it has been paired with India-Australia bilateral engagement also, New Delhi and Canberra may raise the issue of China’s belligerence in the South China Sea. They may also raise the issue of joint and multilateral naval exercises in the Indian Ocean. Thus indications coming from the Raisina Hill show that it would be a visit which will be a closely watched affair for diplomatic and strategic community also.

Vision Of Sardar Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, also considered to be the architect of modern India, has been in news recently with the announcement by the finance minister that Rs. 200 crore in the budget has been set aside to erect a large statue of this great man in Gujarat. This is our Prime Minister Narendar Modi’s dream project, his tribute to Sardar Patel. This statue, “The Statue of Unity” will be on the same lines as that of the “Statue of Liberty” that will make our country stand tall as one nation, one culture, and one people, which was the dream of Sardar Patel for India.

There are lots of discussions going on in the social media about this project ever since its announcement and the young generation is criticizing it very badly. According to them, Rs. 200 crore is a big amount of money, which could have been allotted for other important social issues.

While this is true, we cannot also deny the fact it was Sardar Patel who had great dreams for India after its Independence and had he been alive, India would have been in a different world: a better and a prosperous one. Narendra Modi, a great admirer and staunch follower of Patel had once stated in his personal blog that had Sardar Patel been the first Prime Minister after independence, the country’s scenario would have been completely different.

Now the question that comes to our mind is why and how? What was the vision of Sardar Patel for modern India?

Sardar Patel was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. He joined India’s freedom struggle. He started the peasant movement in various parts of Gujarat and took up the cause of the farmers against heavy taxes levied on them by the British. He became the president of India National Congress in 1931. He took active participation in Salt Satyagraha, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement, and was considered one of the most influential leaders during the Freedom Movement.

Sardar Patel and Independent India

Modern Indian history is incomplete without Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. His vision, his work, and his principles were highly remarkable in Independent India.

• Integrating India: When our country became independent in 1947, Sardar Patel was appointed as the deputy prime minister for home ministry of the country. He took over the role as a deputy PM at a time when Indian history was in a very critical stage. Since day one, he had a vision for India to consolidate it into one united country. As the first Home Minister of Independent India, he played an important role in bringing the 565 self-governing princely states and territories into the Indian federation. To the astonishment of his critics and fellow politicians, almost within a year, he drew a new map of India with every princely State being a part of the Indian union and thus, paved the way for cultural unity and harmony.
• Civil services in Independent India: According to many, the actual acknowledgement for formation of the Indian Civil Service in free India goes to Sardar Patel. The Indian Civil Service, formed by the British Government was to protect and strengthen their rule in India. Sarder Patel, on the other hand, wanted a strong and independent civil service. He had put his support for a Federal Civil Service. The Civil Service established in Democratic India should serve the people of India. His argument led to form a groundwork for Unified National Administration. And today, we do have the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service, and the Indian Forest Service for the people. But, we cannot say whether Patel’s ideology in the true sense has been followed or not as most of these civil servants, barring a few, are in the clutches of corruption and politicians. However, we cannot deny the fact that Patel had a vision to create a strong and vibrant administrative system but unfortunately he did not live long to fulfill his dream.
• Concern about border security: Patel conceptualized some of the greatest policies to keep our country secured from border countries’ attack. He wrote a letter to Nehru, pointing out few facts like as:

o   Cautioning him about the threat to India and impending war from China.

o   The need for strengthening defense force.

o   Examining and reshuffling the military position in various borders.

o   Strengthening Northern and North-Eastern frontier.

o   Improvement of transport and communication in these border areas.

However, this was not taken seriously by Nehruji and we had to pay a heavy price in 1962 Indo-China war. Not only that, certain precautionary measures taken at that point of time, as pointed out Sardar Patel could have definitely saved our country from the constant fear of terrorism today.

• Privatization: In addition, Sardar Patel was favorable for private enterprises, as opposed to public sector favored by Nehru. He was in very close terms with many top Indian businessmen at that time. His views on Indian business were just appropriate for modern India today.

No wonder, Narendra Modi had rightly stated many times that the Indian economy would have been different if Patel was the first prime minister. He was indeed the architect of modern India. Unfortunately, he lived only for three years after independence. Had he been alive, this man of iron will, with his vision for modern India could have placed India amongst the most developed nations of the world. We salute this great India.

Earthen Diyas liven up homes on Diwali

It’s that time of the year again, when you need to spruce your home, make it bright and colourful and welcome Goddess Laxmi to your home. Yes, the most awaited festival of Indians, the festival of lights is just round the corner. Diwali has always been a special day for all Hindus spread all across the globe and is celebrated worldwide with great pomp and enthusiasm. Since time immemorial, this festival is celebrated by lighting earthen diyas all across the home and the courtyard. But, in the last few years, it has been seen that people are celebrating Diwali by lighting electric lights and lamps and the tradition of lighting diyas has slowly been fading. But there is nothing like the light of a diya, dispelling the darkness of ignorance.

Chinese Lights Versus Earthen Diyas

No doubt, the Chinese market of lights and crackers has flooded into the retail markets. The LED and Chinese lights are cheap, colourful and bright and are available in variety of styles and designs. The clay lamps, especially, the designer ones, are comparatively expensive. The electric bulbs are available between Rs 100 and Rs 500 per 20-piece pack. These are also available in shapes of big and small diyas. The colourful Chinese lights are cheap and you get a wide variety to choose from. A 5-metre string costs just Rs 25-30. So by spending a mere Rs. 500, you can get enough strings to illuminate your homes. On the other hand, for many, burning clay lamps is cumbersome as well as expensive. You have to fill it with oil, place wicks properly and then light them. This takes time. Plus, both oil and the diyas are expensive. That is why, lights have replaced the traditional diya lighting.

Diyas that Glow Dispel Lights and Divinity

Diwali is the time when our local potters and craftsmen and artisans get busy with making lamps and diyas. Otherwise, for the rest of the year, they are busy in making ‘kullhads’ or earthen teacups. There has also been rise in the cost of ‘mitti’ (clay) used in making the pottery. Even then, potters start preparing well before in time during Durga Puja by casting and firing their wares and start spinning the wheels to create the earthen lamps for Diwali. Festivals are the times when they look forward to as they can earn more than what they actually earn. Unfortunately, this was the not the case in the last few years as people opted for electric lights. With the emergence of mall culture, people were also more keen to buy these stuff from sophisticated malls and retails stores at double the price.

Thanks to Make in India, earthen diyas are reviving

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to all Indians that they should buy earthen diyas and lamps from the street sellers instead of going to malls. With Narendra Modi’s insistence on “Make in India”, the potters of our country are busy now in the making of earthen diyas in varied shapes, sizes, colours and designs. In fact, there are designer diyas available in the market beautifully studded with stones and beads, displaying a great artistic sense by our local potters and artisans.

Potters are hopeful this season. The traditional art of making earthen “diyas” is witnessing a revival this year as people are becoming environment-friendly and are willing to illuminate their homes in a traditional way. Besides the clay diyas, the metallic diyas are also a trend. Various fashionable metal diyas are available in the market. They are expensive but very beautiful and can be reused again and again for decoration.

Nothing can replace the divine light of a lamp. That simple brown clay diya holds a great significance and lighting of a earthen diya marks the commencement of something auspicious in our lives. Earthen lamps add a unique glitter and charm to the houses. The potters weave their own magic in the small colourful lamps and the flickering flame is simply enchanting.

Let us illuminate the lives of these poor people who wait eagerly for this time of the year. So, this Diwali, let us pledge to light clay lamps around the house, that is natural and beautiful.

Celebrate a Green Diwali this year

One of the most awaited festivals in India and abroad for Indians is Diwali. Diwali always falls on the darkest night of the year and that is why we illuminate everything around us with lights and diyas on this day. We follow the age-old tradition of offering our prayers to Goddess Laxmi and welcoming her to our nicely decorated homes. And yes, how can we forget the tradition of burning of fire crackers on this day? The sounds of the crackers fill the air, the lights illuminate the sky and our homes and there is happiness all around. Sounds great, isn’it? Like everyone else, I also look forward to this day every year. But, this festival is also associated with some harmful effects on the environment.

Impact of Diwali on the Environment and the Society

• Air pollution: The fun of Diwali lies in bursting of firecrackers. And the result is tremendous air pollution. The already polluted cities of our country get more air polluted on this day. Burning of fire crackers releases toxic gases and pollutants in the air like as sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc. This, in turn, causes air-polluted diseases like asthma and bronchitis. The elderly and children are affected. Also the animals and birds. It also creates smog which leads to reduced visibility in the nights after Diwali.
• Noise pollution: Not only dust and smoke, bursting of firecrackers leads to noise pollution which is equally harmful and affect the sick old people, the patients in the hospitals. In extreme cases, noise pollution can lead to hear loss, high blood pressure and insomnia. Animals and birds are also very badly affected during Diwali by the loud sounds of crackers.
• Child Labour: While we enjoy burning crackers, we should not forget that most of the crackers are prepared by young children who work as labourers in the factories. These crackers are prepared using hazardous substances, chemicals and acids. In the process, they fall sick due to harmful fumes, they burn their legs, hands and eyes, and they work in very shabby conditions at a very low wage.
• Consumption of Energy: Using of electric lights and bulbs is a trend these days in Diwali. Not only homes, business establishments, offices, shops, monuments and roads are also decorated with electric lights, much before Diwali and even after that. The result is heavy load on electrical energy sources and consumption of huge amount of electricity.
• Garbage all around: How can we forget about the garbage and litter that gather on the roads, in our localities just after Diwali? The quantity of garbage released after Diwali is very high. Last year, in Delhi alone, approximately 4,000 additional metric tonnes of garbage were released. Double the amount in Mumbai. This garbage is hazardous as it includes sulphur, phosphorous, potassium chlorate, and burnt paper of the fire crackers. Not only that, you also find empty sweet boxes, gift wrappers, dried flowers all across the roads.
• Accidents and Burns: Last but not the least, we cannot ignore the minor and major accidents that take place on Diwali, including the burn injuries. Over 40% of burn injuries are of children below 14 years of age. According to a report, around 10,000 people get injured by the crackers every year. There are minor injuries which are not recorded but cause great pain to the victims.

Government of India’s Legal Steps

• Right to Peaceful Sleep is a fundamental right of every citizen of the country. Considering this, the Supreme Court of India has banned bursting of crackers after 10 pm during the Diwali festival. Same is applicable for Dussehra and other festivals too.
• There is a decibel limit fixed for firecrackers at the maximum of 125dB, under the Encironment Protection Act, 1986.
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has banned fire-crackers whose dB level is more than 125 at a distance of 4 meters from the point where they are burned.
• Also, loudspeakers cannot be used after 10:00 pm and the offenders can face 5 years of jail or Rs. 1 lakh as fine.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Green Diwali We always talk of keeping our environment clean. But, then again, we are the only ones who pollute it. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched on 2nd October 2014 stresses on a Clean India. Prime Minister has appealed to each and every one of us to maintain cleanliness in our homes and localities. Under these circumstances, I wonder how people are going to celebrate Diwali this time, when this is one festival which creates the maximum pollution in a year just, that too, within a short duration.

Can we follow a Green Diwali this time? Green Diwali is not a new concept. Keeping the impact of environmental pollution in mind, it should be our duty to play an environmental friendly and green diwali this time. And it is not that tough. If we have the will, we can do it.

• First of all, let us replace the electric lights by burning earthen lamps or diyas. The age old tradition is much better than the new trend of decorating homes with electric lights. No doubt, this consumes more oil but there will be less pollution as the duration of the diyas is shorter. Plus, it looks beautiful.
• I know, it is easy to say “stop bursting fire crackers” but in reality it is difficult to do so. After all, how can we stop all of a sudden an age-old tradition? It is better to purchase crackers from legal shops, where the packets are properly labelled with the manufacturer’s name, the instructions, the name of the item, including the decibel level.
• Nowadays, environmental friendly crackers are also available which produce less smoke and sound.
• Reduce the amount of purchase of fire crackers than you usually do.
• Select a common open space in your locality to burst crackers with all friends, family members and others from your community. Try lighting noiseless crackers.
• Make sure to clean that area the very next day and throw the garbage in the allocated space.
• Make rangolis using ingredients available in our homes and kitchen shelves like as rice powder for white, turmeric or pulses for yellow, sindoor for red, including fresh flowers.

By observing an environment friendly Green Diwali, we as citizens of this country, can make our little contribution towards the society, the environment as well as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Shramev Jayate

On 16th October, 2014, Modi unveiled the long awaited labour reforms at the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram, organized by the Union Labour Ministry. The Prime Minister inaugurated the programme which also included a one-day conference that was attended by the labour, health, employment, and vocational training ministers of the various Indian states. Modi chose this platform to launch the Shramev Jayate Karyakram – a series of labour-centric reforms that are intended to facilitating Make in India – the NDA government’s campaign that intends to convert India into a manufacturing hub.

Shramev Jayate

In his address at the occasion, the Prime Minister said, “Shramev Jayate (labour is triumphant) has the same power as Satyamev Jayate (truth is triumphaant) in the development of our nation.” He insisted that the problems of labour must be seen from the viewpoint of the workers (shramik) and not from the viewpoint of the industrialists.

Labour reforms have been a major demand in the past few weeks. Modi also met with a number of prospective investors who complained about India’s inflexible labour laws and low ease of business ranking. The Labour Ministry and the PMO have put together the Shramev Jayate Yojana in an effort to boost indigenous industries.

Reforms galore

The Prime Minister announced the launch of a Unified Labour Portal, also known as the Shram Suvidha – the platform that enables the implementation of a transparent and universally accessible information system to manage the Labour Inspection Scheme. The system shall put an end to the ‘inspector raj’ which has hounded the industries and held the economy ransom. “Inspector Raj…we heard this since our childhood and we thought it is for policemen, only but then we realised it’s a lot more,” quipped the Prime Minister.

Another important reform that has been announced today is the raise in wage ceiling from Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 15,000 per month. This is likely to ensure that the EPF scheme covers the most vulnerable labour groups and they derive all the benefits that they deserve. The minimum pension scheme announced today will ensure that every labourer will receive a pension of at least Rs. 1,000 after superannuation.

The very basis for labour inspections will now be changed. The criteria for all inspections will be uniform and objectively formulated. Inspection lists will be computer generated and random to eliminate bias and will be compiled centrally. The results of all inspections need to be put up on the portal within 72 hours, making way for complete transparency.

This is a considerable change from the current system where units are chosen for inspection at the discretion of local inspectors. Inspection criteria are arbitrary and this allows inspectors to harass factory owners and employers for any real or imagined violations. Corruption and bribery are promoted by the previous system leaving the interests of the labourers unprotected.

The new inspection laws shall be sent out as text messages to almost 1,800 labour inspectors across the country apart from the official communication.

The introduction of the UAN (Universal Account Number) will now allow labourers in the organised sector to change employers without needing to apply for PF transfer. It will also allow employees to view updated PF accounts from anywhere in the nation. Similarly, about 6 lakh to 7 lakh labour-intensive industrial units in the country are set to receive their unique Labour Identification Number, or LIN. The government is likely to take up an active role in promoting teh Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) by felicitating some of the accomplished alumni.

Are Indian Traditions based on Scientific Facts?

There are various traditions and beliefs that have been followed by Hindu Indians since ancient times. Most of these beliefs, it is argued nowadays, are superstitions which people follow blindly for the fear of being cursed or harmed by supernatural powers or God. However, research studies have shown now that some of these beliefs or superstitions have scientific reasons associated with them. Sounds strange, isn’ it? Let us check out some of these with their scientific explanations:

Why do we throw coins into wells and rivers?

Usually, the belief is that it brings luck. Nowadays, coins are made of stainless steel. In ancient times, most of the coins were made of copper and intake of copper was helpful for the human body. Copper and silver have anti-bacterial properties. Our forefathers threw copper coins in the water, so that when they take bath using that water, they can have sufficient intake of copper. It was made a custom so that we follow it.

Why do we greet people with a “Namaskar”?

It is an age old Hindu culture when people greet each other with a “Namaskar” or joining both the palms of their hands. The Namaskar tradition is associated with paying respect to the other person. But, scientifically explained, it means that when the palms are joined, the tips of all the fingers also join, which are in fact the pressure points of eyes, ears and mind. Pressing them means you can remember that person for a long time as it activates the pressure points.

Why do women wear silver toe rings?

There is science behind wearing a silver toe ring by a married Indian woman. It is worn on the second toe. A nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and then to the heart. Wearing silver toe ring strengthens and keeps the uterus healthy by regulating the menstrual cycle.

Why do we apply red tilak on our foreheads?

As a custom, women put on a bindi to display that they are married and men put on a tilak on religious occasions. However, scientifically, it is said that the spot between the two eyebrows is a major nerve point in human body. The ancient concept is to prevent loss of “energy”; the red ‘kumkum’ retains energy and controls the various levels of concentration.

Why do married Indian women apply sindoor or vermillion?

Though sindoor, since ancient times is associated with married women, studies have shown that it has scientific reason behind it. It is to be noted that sindoor is a mixture of turmeric, lime and the metal mercury, which have their intrinsic properties. Mercury helps in controlling blood pressure, removing stress and strain and it also stimulates sexual drive. That is why sindoor is prohibited for the widows.

Why do we ring bells in the temples?

As soon as we enter the temple, before entering the main shrine, we always ring the metal bells hanging at the entrance. As a tradition, we believe that the sound of the bell keeps evil forces away and it is pleasant to God. However, the scientific reason is that when we ring the bell, it clears our mind, help us to focus and stay sharp on our devotion to God. These sounds produced by the bells create a harmony between the left and right sides of our brain and the sounds last for minimum of 7 seconds in echo mode. This echo sound activates all the seven healing centres in our body and helps our mind to get rid of all negative thoughts.

Why do we worship the peepal tree?

Logically seen, except the shade, peepal tree is usually a useless tree as it does not bear any fruit nor is the wood strong for any purpose. Even then, since ancient times, we have shown deep reverence for this tree and we worship it. Why? According to scientific research this is the only tree that produces oxygen even at night. Our forefathers knew about it. So in order to save the tree from being cut, they related it to God or religion.

Why can’t we sleep with our head towards north?

The superstition is that it invites ghost or death. But, according to science, human body has its own magnetic field and earth is also a giant magnet. It is said that if we sleep with our head in the north direction, our body’s magnetic field becomes completely asymmetrical to the magnetic field of the earth, which can cause health problems and the heart needs to work harder to get rid of this asymmetry of magnetic fields.

Why do we keep fasts on Navratris?

Have you ever thought why we have Navratris twice a year and why do we keep fasts? No doubt, we keep fasts on Navratris, as it has been associated with invoking the blessings of Maa Shakti. Scientific reason for this is that both the months of Navratris are the months of changing seasons. The nine days of fast give our body enough time to adjust to the changing season and also help in detoxifying the body.

Why do we touch feet of others?

Usually we touch the feet of our elders or the pious ones. To bow down and touch someone’s feet means our ego is reduced and when the other person accepts our respect, it means that his heart emits positive thoughts and energy, which reaches us through his hands and toes. The entire completed circuit helps in the flow of energy, creating a quick connect between two minds and hearts. The same explanation can be given for hugs.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Going Strong In States

The country’s biggest-ever cleanliness drive, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2 with a target set for making India ‘clean’ by 2019. With the formal announcement of the programme, ministers, celebrities, sport stars, politicians, political parties, the judiciary and corporations and others have all come forward to be a part of this programme and to encourage the general public to participate actively in this mission.

Various states of the country responded actively to the Swachh Bharat mission and participated in it with enthusiasm. Here is a brief description on how different states were involved in the launch of Clean India campaign.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Swachh Bharat campaign emphasising the need for cleanliness to ensure the beauty and progress of a place. Wielding a broom in Bhopal, he requested people to devote at least two hours in a week towards cleanliness. Like NaMo, he also administered a pledge to the people, and government officials and employees.

Gujarat

The state government of Gujarat announced a special cleanliness drive in connection with Clean India Campaign. Under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mrs. Anandiben Patel, a meeting was organised in which it was decided that the state would participate in the cleanliness campaign from 2nd October to 31st October, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The cleanliness campaign was launched at Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan will continue to be celebrated in phased manner till 2019. The movement had been responded enthusiastically by the people on its first day, and is expected to provide a boost to the tourism sector of the state.

Assam

In Assam, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched on 2nd October by Sports Minister Sarbanand Sonowal in Guwahati railway station in the presence of officials of the North East Frontier Railways. Assam Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla launched the drive at Old Janata Bhawan premises in Guwahati. Government employees and the common people have vowed to contribute towards this Abhiyan.

However, the actual campaign started on 5th October when Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi joined in the cleaning campaign by sweeping garbage in three different localities of the state capital. NGOs, public organizations and the common people took part in the campaign organized by the Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration and Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). Tarun Gogoi announced the forming of Green Brigade committees to keep the localities neat and clean. Though Gogoi had mentioned that he had launched a similar programme in 2012, it was not a successful one. But this time the cleanliness drive will be a continuous process in Guwahati and in other parts of the state. While he launched the swachh campaign in Guwahati, his other ministers and Congress MLAs launched the clean India drive in different districts on 5th Oct.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao gave a cleanliness vow to the officers and staff of his state ministry to mark the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The Governor read out the pledge to the state government officials in Marathi. Over 10,000 employees of Central and Western Railways joined the Swachh Bharat mission by carrying out cleanliness drives in different parts of the state.

Uttar Pradesh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh started the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in his home state. He said that only a clean India can be healthy, and appealed to every person to dedicate at least two hours per week for cleanliness. Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti, launched the mission in her constituency Jhansi and said she will devote 300 hours annually to the mission. She said that the cleaning will continue on a daily basis. She also visited the Nagar Nigam office in Jhansi and administered a pledge in front of the employees to join the campaign.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of the state of Andhra Pradesh had participated in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan at Prakash Nagar in Vijayawada on 2nd Oct. He took part in a cleaning programme and a padayatra, appealing everyone to participate in the cleanliness drive. Union Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitaraman and several state ministers took active participation in the campaign. The state government also launched “NTR Sujala Scheme” which will provide 20 litres of pure water at the cost of Rs 2 in all the 13 districts.

In Telangana, Governor ESL Narasimhan along with government employees took brooms and cleaned the roads and took part in another cleaning up programme in a school in Hyderabad. He emphasised on promoting green practices to protect environment and also urged to keep the surroundings clean.

Punjab and Haryana

In Punjab and Haryana, too, a cleanliness drive was launched, which was carried out in offices, police headquarters, Raj Bhawan, etc. To make it a people’s movement, officials, activists, citizens, employees and school children across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh took a ‘cleanliness oath’ on 2nd Oct. At Punjab police headquarters, officials took the pledge in the presence of Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh. Punjab governor Shivraj V Patil appealed to everyone to inculcate the habit of cleanliness, and encourage others to participate in the drive. He also mentioned that proper steps will be taken to maintain the cleanliness of important public places of Chandigarh. In Haryana too, many participated in the campaign. Cleanliness drives were launched in different parts of Haryana.

Bihar

Union Ministers Ramvilas Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha, Ravishankar Prasad and actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, along with Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, took up the broom to formally start the Swachh Bharat mission in Bihar on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. They started the cleanliness drive at different places in the state. Paswan and Kushwaha cleaned the platform and premises of Hajipur Railway station, while Ravishankar Prasad, along with General Manager of East Central Railway (ECR) zone Madhuresh Kumar took part in the mission at Patna junction station. MP Shatrughan Sinha took part in the campaign at Patna Airport. The Chief Minister flagged off a vehicle which would travel around the state to spread awareness of cleanliness among the people. ECR officials swept the platforms and station premises of different big and small stations.

It is a matter of great satisfaction for all to see the states are getting actively involved in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The Mission needs to be continued with full enthusiasm so that it will be a success by 2019.