E Sreedharan has created ripples in political corridors by joining BJP at the age of 88 and has expressed his wish to be a BJP candidate for the coveted CM post.
Wanna know who this man is who remains so confident at this age to head the God’s Own Country as its CM?
Let’s read it here:
Elattuvalapil Sreedharan is an Indian engineer, also known as the Metro Man who changed the face of public transport in India with his leadership in building the Konkan Railway and the Delhi Metro while he served as the managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRC between 1995 and 2012.
His credentials include:
He has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2001
Felicitated with the Padma Vidhushan in 2008
The Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur in 2005 by the French Government
Named as one of Asia’s Heroes by TIME magazine in 2003
He was appointed by the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to serve on the United Nations’s High Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport (HLAG-ST) for a period of three years in 2015.
He is also a member of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
His stunning working style
In December 1964, a cyclone washed away parts of Pamban Bridge, connecting Rameswaram to Tamil Nadu. While Railways set a target of six months for the bridge to be repaired, Sreedharan in-charge of the execution, restored the bridge in just 46 days.
Bagru is a small village, located 35 km from Jaipur on the Ajmer Road, and is known for the traditional Bagru prints which originated 300 years back.
Bagru is a classic wooden block printing style, where blocks are engraved with design which is replicated on the fabric.
This craft also has its ecological consciousness and uses traditional dyes. The print patterns of Bagru are called as ‘ajrakh’.
A specific area in the village is a hub of Bagru printers where a walk through the area will give visitors a view of almost three dozen families engaged in this art form.
The craftsman first wipes the cloth with fuller’s earth (multani mitti) and then dips it in turmeric water to give it the customary cream colour. Then, various patterns are embossed on fabric using natural dyes. The dyes of blue soon get their colour from indigo, the red ones from madder root and the green colour is obtained from indigo mixed with pomegranate juice. The yellow hues are taken from turmeric.
Known reasons why Butterfly’s conservation is ignored and grievously side tracked – By Harsh Vardhan
“Indian butterfly and moth collections contain less than 50% of the estimated 11,300 species found in India. This deficiency has negatively impacted research as well as popularization and conservation efforts for this group of insects. The validity of governmental initiatives in this field be examined.”
The statement, bold as it is, comes from Peter Smetacek, Founder of the Butterfly Research Center at Bhimtal (petersmetacek@gmail.com).
Peter is probably the sole authority in the country who is considered as the last referee to scrutinize any butterfly species to be named as new to this subcontinent. He is a freelance expert, showcasing his exploits at a museum he has set up at Bhimtal in Nainital’s lower hills towards Kathgodam road.
Four important collections of Lepidoptera in India
At present, there are four important collections of Lepidoptera in India.
These are the National Collection at the Zoological Survey of India; the National Forest Insect Collection at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun; the National Agricultural Insect Collection at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; and the collection at the Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai.
Britishers maintained records of birds and butterflies
This writer visited the Rothchild Museum of Natural History at Tring in Britain to understand how the one time rulers of India maintained records of birds and butterflies.
Peter informs: “Over the past 25 years, I have sought out and examined Lepidoptera collections throughout India. Reference collections should contain about eight pairs of each taxon so that the range of variation can be adequately covered. The rules are skewed whether for scientific use or other purposes. Prior to 1986, there was no bar on collecting insects. In that year, many butterflies and beetles were inexplicably included in the schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. No studies, surveys or other forms of information gathering appear to have been carried out prior to this exercise.”
Damage to habitats encouraged… know how
“Must the rule makers realise that butterflies live for a fortnight. Most of their lives remain in the egg, larval and pupal stages. While collectors are viewed with suspicion, damage to habitats is being encouraged by various governmental departments. With the inclusion of many butterflies and some beetles in the schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and by imposing curbs on collections under the Biodiversity Act, the real issues of insect conservation have been ignored and, in fact, grievously side tracked.
No one to brief on Butterflies…
What next? No book to include all butterflies of India. Setting up butterfly parks is also at mercy of Central Zoo Authority of India, an outfit of Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. The Ministry has no one to brief any one on butterflies. At State level forest departments, no one ever discusses the role played by these insects. The species are left to passionate persons who carry out own studies and try to maintain personal collections, stealthily. What ‘development’ is hailed by nation’s leaders? I need to seek replies.
PS: The photo (as above) is of a Common Butterfly on a Tridax flower, taken by Mukesh Panwar in Sagwara, Rajasthan.
Rajasthani handicrafts and handloom are known all across the world for their distinguished style and enchanting look.
Here are some of the handmade articles one can shop for in Jaipur.
Blue Pottery
Blue pottery came to Jaipur from Persia and Afghanistan and its art form was introduced in Jaipur by the Mughals. In this style, objects are made from quartz. Materials used for blue pottery are raw glaze, sodium sulphate, and multani mitti (fuller’s earth). The attractive shades of blue and turquoise are obtained by using copper oxide and cobalt oxide..
Leather Craft: You can buy exquisite leather articles including jutis and mojaris (types of traditional shoes), chairs, musical instruments, clothes, footwear, caps, saddles, armour, bags etc being made by the skilled craftsmen of Rajasthan.
Jewellery
Jaipur is a hotspot for kundan jewellery and has a history of jewellery with precious gems that can be traced back to more than two and a half centuries. Apart from kundan, Jaipur is known for the manufacture of specialised jewellery such as Minakari and processing of coloured gems. Moreover, it is a global centre of cut and polished emeralds. One can also shop for coloured gems, silver and pearls here.
Leheriya And Bandhej: The traditional tie-and-dye fabrics like leheriya and bandhej have created a style statement across the globe. Designed by tying fabrics and then dying them is a resist-dye method, the leheriya and bandhni are iconic among Rajasthan’s traditional crafts. Bandhej designs are floral and geometric but leheriya fabrics have diagonal lines that look like waves. The colours that are mostly used in this technique are red, yellow, blue, black and green.
The 2021 International Mother Language Day will be celebrated on February 21.
The theme of the 2021 International Mother Language Day, is “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society.”
The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the Bangladesh’s initiative. It was approved at the UNESCO General Conference in 1999 and has been observed throughout the world since 2000.
UNESCO believes in the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies. It is within its mandate for peace that it works to preserve the differences in cultures and languages that foster tolerance and respect for others.
UNESCO believes education, based on the first language or mother tongue, must begin from the early years as early childhood care and education is the foundation of learning.
Pamela Goswami arrested with Cocaine on February 19 in Kolkata is the state secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
She actively posts updates on social media and shares pictures of party events being held across the state.
She was arrested Friday evening in Bengal’s Kolkata for allegedly carrying 100 gm cocaine worth a few lakhs found in her purse and under the seat of the car she was sitting in.
Her friend and colleague in the Yuva Morcha, Prabir Kumar Dey, in the car was also arrested.
Do you know that Kundan jewellery came to Jaipur from Delhi. Over the years, kundan became the highlight of this royal city and hence it remains synonymous to Jaipur today.
As per the historical sources, the art of making kundan jewellery came to Rajasthan from Delhi. The process of making kundan jewellery is quite interesting which starts with a skeletal framework called ghaat.
Then, wax is poured in framework and moulded with accordance to design. This process is called paadh. Khudai is the next step where the uncut multi-coloured gemstone is laid on the framework which can be made either of pure gold or other metals. This is followed by minakari, where refining is made to define the details of the design. Then, gold foils are added that can hold the gems to the framework and this step is called pakai. Finally, the gems are polished under the chillai process.
Prithvi Vilas Palace is an offbeat getaway in Jhalawar
Prithvi Vilas Palace, a 130-year-old palace, has been converted into a heritage hotel in Jhalawar offering an experience of old bygone era Rajput chieftain residence.
This palace is recommended for offbeat getaways as it is an experiential heritage hotel, has large rooms furnished with life size paintings, frescoes, jharokas, balconies and has an open courtyard.
The property offers a variety of multi-cuisine meals such as Indian, Continental, Rajasthani and Rajput cuisine along with wellness options include an Ayurvedic massage centre.
The recreational options include a swimming pool, library, puppet shows and folk dance. Excursion activities include cycling tours, treks, jeep – camel – horse safaris, drive to Mukundgarh, Mandawa, Fatehpur and Lohargal and sightseeing
About Jhalawar
Jhalawar is a heritage town situated on border of Madhya Pradesh / Rajasthan border at a distance of 90 kms from Kota and is known for its temples with architectural significance.
As NASA’s Perseverance rover touched down on the surface of Mars after seven months in space, an Indian-American named Dr Swati Mohan, first confirmed that the rover had survived a particularly tricky plunge into the Martian atmosphere.
This Indian American Swati Mohan virtually spearheaded the successful landing of Perseverance that will search for signs on life on the Red Planet.
Swati Mohan has participated in several key NASA missions like the Cassini (a mission to Saturn) and GRAIL (a pair of spacecrafts in formation on the Moon).
She immigrated to the US from India when she was just age one and was inspired by ‘Star Trek’ series at age 9.
Mohan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University and has completed her MS and PhD from MIT in Aeronautics/Astronautics.
Mohan wanted to be a pediatrician but she was inspired by her first physics class and saw “engineering” as a way to further her interest in space exploration.
She has been a member of the Perseverance Rover mission since its inception at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
The BERA BOND is a new coffee-table by Sundeep Bhutoria
Story By- Harsh Vardhan
At a time wild Tigers are in chase, Sundeep Bhutoria has engaged Macmillan publishing to sensitise readers about Leopards in Bera landscape.
About Bera and Rebaris
Bera is situated in the Pali district of Rajasthan and is often nicknamed as the ‘Leopard Country’ as it is home to one of the highest densities of leopards.
The 170-page coffee-table book (The BERA BOND) is heavy in content. But it unpacks stark humour about incredible tolerance of local shepherd community called Rebaris.
Their hamlets, agricultural fields, pastures, etc. are guarded by these predators.
“While across the globe, the coexistence of big cats with humans is marked by conflicts, the Leopards and the villagers in Bera have not attacked each other for decades” authoritatively declares this Kolkata based writer.
It has become an absorbing account of all wild big cats in the world. From the male Pasha hiding amidst granite rocks to females like Neelam and Zia, playing hide and seek with overseas and domestic visitors, you read to know more.
Lady Leopard, Neelam with her cubs, Heera and Panna, names like those of the Rebari shepherds who live along with such predators
Trace leopards at dawn and duskhere!
The text carries an inquisitive reader towards low hills, surrounded by knots of villages and a vast water body called Jawai, having a strong linkage with erstwhile royal family of Jodhpur, nay Marwar. The geography is limited for people. But Leopards find it limit-less. One time nocturnal, now this crafty animal marks its attendance, almost at an appointed hour at dawn and dusk. Like to meet him at a temple? Brilliant photos portray all this.
Villagers treat this wild animal as a divine associate
The rural fate rests on pastoral economy. Leopard’s destiny has to oscillate over the sheep-flocks. He has to stealthily snatch away a lamb to meet both ends meet. The rural folk do not mind the loss. They treat this wild animal as a divine-associate! The writer scratches local vegetation: spider-flowers, wild mushrooms, wild fungus, euphorbia, and thorny acacia trees. The photograph of a sub adult Indian Courser: wonder if any one reported it earlier? Birds at Jawai are named. So are other mammals eg Rusty-spotted Cat.
Meet this conservationist Shatrunjay
Sundeep praises Shatrunjay Pratap Singh, who spread out a rustic-looking yet most luxurious lodge at Bera. Its wondrous location enables you to spot Leopards from one’s room. He is a fierce conservationist and is adamant not to increase room-numbers, seven only! Ethics at cost of revenue. At a young age, he has become an ex situ guardian for this habitat which ironically does not enjoy appropriate regulations. Do what you like here and no entry fee to check you.
An inspirational approach runs through the text to offer tips for other wildlifers. Shatru has received a benign patron in Sundeep who has caused a niche in penmanship-partnership. CP Singh Rathore, Gopal Singh and Umesh Gogna have been acknowledged for their photography. Shatru, his wife, Katyani Kumari and their twins find appreciable mention for their impeccable hospitality and unending smiles. One shall have to visit the scene to understand what is in store.
Sundeep Bhutoria, the Kolkata-based author at the Jawai Dam, a consequential equity across the Bera landscape
For a community-led conservation initiative
Sundeep has donned a new attire by embracing wilderness and its denizens. Nearly 40% of his total books revolve around wild species. The Bera Bond is truly a promotional enterprise: “My only intention behind writing this book is to inspire people to save the big cats.” He prefers to dedicate it to Aavya and Manjari. Any reason photos of a few hotels, citation of weddings and personas in attendance, have been laced in? To entice such aficionados in to wildlife conservation?
Summing up this first travelogue treatise on Leopards, the writer sounds an optimistic note, “Bera holds out hope of a remarkable turnaround through a community-led conservation initiative.”
But he also bleeds: Any reason why Bera has not been declared as a Community Reserve to let local stake-holders start receiving economic benefits out of Leopard centric tourism? The answer may lie with good Samaritans in forest department, some cited by him in this text.
