Saturday, October 23, 2010

PANCHAAMRITAM 197

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Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Chennai

PANCHAAMRITAM 197

Pancha is five in Samskritam, Amritam is nectar

Poornima / Kali Yugaabda 5112 / Vikruti Ayppasi 5 (October 22,2010)

ONE

The city of Jalandhar (Punjab, Bharat) is experiencing the "rise of house sparrow", thanks to the missionary zeal and dedication of Prof Sandeep Chahal, of Wadala village, on the outskirts of the city. He is a bird lover. House sparrow has almost disappeared from urban areas and to a large extent from the countryside also because of the extensive use of pesticides in the farm sector. With the replacing of wooden and thatched house roofs by concrete material, domestic sparrows have lost their favourite habitats in residential areas. India is one of the countries, which have witnessed a massive decline in the house sparrow population during the past 30 years. However, Prof Chahal, who teaches English in the local Doaba College, is working hard for the past three years to bring sparrows back in the city life, has come out with a solution to deal with the habitat problem faced by these little chirpy birds. He manufactures wooden nests himself and distributes these free of cost to all those having love for birds. Till date he has distributed about 350 nests made of water and termite-proof wooden material. As eagles, snakes, hawks and cats are the predators, which attack sparrows and their eggs, nests are hanged at such places in a house that these should be beyond their reach, he said. "It is my rough estimate that 4,800 sparrows have been added to the bird population of the city due to my efforts during the past three years," said Prof Chahal. He launched an organisation "Dastak" with the objective of breeding sparrows and saving butterflies.                                        THE TRIBUNE, Jalandhar, September 11, 2010.

TWO

A 35-year-old man's mortal remains became the 1,000th unclaimed body that was given a farewell by Thozhar Trust, a Coimbatore based voluntary organisation that buries or cremates unclaimed bodies lying at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. Said Managing Trustee of the organisation P. Shanthakumar: "We have buried or cremated 1,000 bodies in six years. This points at the rising detachment within families. At the funeral procession today [October 7, 2010], we stressed familial bond. Why should someone die unwanted on the roads ?" he said. Members of the Trust, 40 lawyers, autorickshaw drivers, men and women members of the public, Hindu and Muslim organisations and students of Sri Krishna Arts and Science College, Jayendra Saraswati College of Arts and Science, Government Arts College and Bishop Ambrose College took part in a campaign for body and eye donation that was made part of the procession Shanthakumar said. ll sections of society understood and supported the Trust's initiative. On its part, the Trust called upon families not to dump its suffering members and leave them on roads without care.                                       Based on a report in THE HINDU, October 8, 2010.

THREE

On September 12, 1897, 10,000 Afgans attacked the signalling post at Saragarhi (a small village in the border district of Kohat, situated on the Samana Range, in present day Pakistan). In the fierce battle, all the 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment, laid down their lives. They were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry award of that time, which an Indian soldier could receive by the hands of the British crown, the corresponding gallantry award being Victoria Cross. This award is equivalent to today's Param Vir Chakra awarded by the President of India. The names of the 21 recipients of the gallantry award are: 1. Havildar Ishar Singh (regimental number    2. Naik Lal Singh   3. Lance Naik Chanda Singh    4. Sepoy Sundar Singh    5. Sepoy Ram Singh    6. Sepoy Uttar Singh    7. Sepoy Sahib Singh    8. Sepoy Hira Singh    9. Sepoy Daya Singh   10. Sepoy Jivan Singh   11. Sepoy Bhola Singh   12. Sepoy Narayan Singh   13. Sepoy Gurmukh Singh   14. Sepoy Jivan Singh 15. Sepoy Gurmukh Singh   16. Sepoy Ram Singh   17. Sepoy Bhagwan Singh   18. Sepoy Bhagwan Singh   19. Sepoy Buta Singh   20. Sepoy Jivan Singh  21. Sepoy Nand Singh. (Patriotic Indians have been pushing for the battle to be taught in India's schools. They want it taught due to the heroism shown by the Indian soldiers to act as inspiration for young children – in the field of bravery. There were articles like these, printed in the Punjab's longest-established newspaper, The Tribune in 1999: "the military action at Saragarhi is taught to students the world over and particularly to students in France." The news was enough to provoke political debate, and the battle has been taught in schools in the Punjab since 2000).  

From WIKIPEDIA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi)

FOUR

At the conclusion of every programme, Swayamsevaks chant Bharat Mata ki Jai. There is no room for caste, creed, provincialism, untouchability in the minds of Swayamsevaks. Hence, at moments of crisis and in times of tragedy, Swayamsevaks do not bother about who the victims are. It would be worthwhile to remember that Swayamsevaks toiled day and night after two airliners crashed into each other, resulting in the death of more than 300 passengers. The accident occurred in Haryana**. Nearly all the dead were Muslims, and Swayamsevaks recovered their bodies, put them into coffins and handed them over to their relatives who were provided with board and lodging. Later the Swayamsevaks were felicitated at the local masjid (mosque). (**On November 12, 1996, Charkhi Dadri, a little village in Haryana's Bhiwani district, 80 kilometres west of Delhi, witnessed the worst air accident in Indian history. A just-airborne Saudi Arabian Airlines flight, bound for Jeddah with 312 people abroad, collided with an incoming Kazakhstan aircraft at 14,000 feet. There were no survivors).

Based on an article by Shri Ram Lal, General Secretary (Organisation) of the BJP in DAILY PIONEER of October 18, 2010.

 FIVE

Impressed by the rare display of discipline and courage by the Bal and Shishu swayamsevaks of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the sprawling Yashwant Stadium in the heart of Nagpur on October 10, 2010, famous film and television actor, the `Shaktimaan' fame Shri Mukesh Khanna confessed that the children were fit to become Shaktimaan as they are disciplined. The RSS is the most disciplined organisation in the country, and being a part of it you are getting trained physically, psychologically and intellectually; today the country needs more `Shaktimaans' cutting across the barriers of religion, caste, etc.", he said while addressing the Vijayadashami function of Bal and Shishu swayamsevaks of Nagpur. He called upon the parents of the swayamsevaks to make them stronger so that they can face challenges in future. Earlier nearly 1,000 Bal and Shishu swayamsevaks clad in khaki and white uniform performed physical drill, yoga, patha sanchalan, etc. The special attraction was the band platoon of Bal swayamsevaks. They presented band tunes with perfect harmony and synchronisation.

From a report by Shri Virag Pachpore in ORGANISER, October 24, 2010.

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Thursday, October 7, 2010

PANCHAAMRITAM 196

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Visit us at http://pancha-amritam.blogspot.com/

PANCHAAMRITAM 196

Pancha is five in Samskritam, Amritam is nectar

Amavaasya / Kali Yugaabda 5112 / Vikruti Purattaasi 21 (October 7, 2010)

ONE

Concerned but not overly so about the Ayodhya judgment and its ramifications, Nazneen, a 22-year-old Muslim woman from an unlettered family of weavers (living in Lallapura area of  Varanasi) is translating 'Ramcharit Manas' (Ramayana in HIndi) into Urdu. Said ''Whatever be the high court's verdict, it should be respected by all. But one can't deny that Ayodhya is the birthplace of Lord Ram.'' This bright alumnus of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth further said, ''So far, I have completed the translation up to Sunderkand. I hope to conclude my work in the next month-and-a-half.'' Nazneen has already translated into Urdu the Hanuman Chalisa by legendary poet Goswami Tulsidas, as also Durga Chalisa or verses in praise of the goddess. She said, ''Even if the verdict comes in favour of Muslims, they should come forward generously to build a temple of Ram in Ayodhya. Islam never permits a mosque at a disputed site. Ram is not for Hindus alone; his character is a source of inspiration for people of all communities.'' Nazneen derives inspiration from writers and scholars of Mughal period like Abdul Qadir Badayuni who had translated Ramayana and Mahabharata in Arabic and Persian during the period of Mughal emperor Akbar. From a report by Shri Binay Singh in THE TIMES OF INDIA, September 30, 2010.

TWO

Martin Buckley, a UK writer, fell in love with India and decided to work as a sub-editor at BUSINESS INDIA magazine in Mumbai, Bharat. During his time in the country, he travelled to many places from Allahabad and Rishikesh to Bodhgaya. But the tale of Rama never left him. So when he returned in 2005, he travelled from Ayodhya to Sri Lanka like Rama, a journey documented in his book, An Indian Odyssey. At the launch of the book at Madras on March 27, 2009, Buckley spoke about the people's relationship with the epic. "I think it's fascinating that this book that was prehistorically written is still worshipped," he says. He adds that Valmiki's version of the story is very real. He is impatient with the smug secularism of certain people in the country. "India's culture is what it is. It's wonderful to live in a place where every minority has a voice, but let's not forget the totality of Indian culture," he states. From a report by Smt Lakshmi Kumaraswami in THE TIMES OF INDIA March 28, 2009

THREE

Shri Rattansi (48) does timber business based in Dharapuram, Erode district (Tamilnadu, Bharat); he manages the Sankara Gosala in the town since 1998. Recently he visited Karur to receive a donation of 40 cows valued at Rs. 3.5 lakhs. He expected Smt Amudha, 52, who came forward with the offer, might own a few hundreds of acres of land. But he found that the lady with no encumbrance lived under a thatched roof in a tiny plot of land. With construction of buildings all around, the grazing patches were gone and she had found it impossible to find enough fodder for her cows. Nor would she accept requests from several persons to part with the cows. Through her astrologer she had learnt of Sankara Gosala that has the blessings of Kanchi Shankaracharya. Her cows were shifted to Dharapuram, bringing the total number of cows at the Gosala to 81. But an anxious Amudha kept on enquiring about the well being of the cows. She also made frequent visits to see for herself. At last, finding it difficult to live away from her cows, she shifted her residence to Dharapurm to be at the service of gomata always.

As told to team PANCHAAMRITAM by Shri U. Sundar and Shri Rattansi.

FOUR

 The place is Gingee, Tiruvannaamalai district (Tamilnadu, Bharat). Parthasarathy, 80 plus, goes from one fruit shop to another, a gunny bag in hand, collecting over-ripe fruits. He gathers broken pieces of biscuits from bakeries on the way. Early in the morning, as he sets out, Smt (65), his wife, places a vessel full of food cooked at home by her. Now, , a staunch devotee of Hanuman, climbs the hill housing the Gingee fort and the Veera Anjneya temple. Once inside, he lets out a loud hoot. In no time, dozens of monkeys descend around him. Unperturbed, Parthasarathy feeds them all sumptuously.  This routine of the devout Parthasarathy-Saraswati duo has been going on for 40 years. On no single day the monkeys missed Parthasarathy and his annadaanam.  Once when Parthasarathy went on a pilgrimage to Kashi, his son Thirumalai (40) performed this duty. Pilgrims to the temple who observe his love for the vanaras look up to him in reverence.   A report in DINAMALAR, September 15, 2010.

FIVE

When we are told that over one lakh ton of plastic waste is dumped every day in India, the enormity of the havoc wrought by plastic on the earth and the atmosphere could be gauged. Upasana, an NGO of Auroville, (Puducherry, Bharat) is making an attempt to stem this rot and calls it `Small Steps'. Small Steps, formed in 2007, tries to promote a responsible alternative to throw-away plastic bags. Upasana has designed a cloth bag and hopes to distribute these bags without cost throughout India, but the main aim is to promote the use of re-usable bags. In India carrying cloth bags is considered old fashioned. Upasana aims to make one crore bags. This in turn creates the possibility of 1,000 jobs in the villages. Women in 14 villages around Auroville have been trained by Small Steps to make the trendy cloth bags. So far 5 lakh bags have been distributed, informs Smt Uma, the project director. It all started with Uma's family performing a puja in a Shiva temple at Devgarh, in Bihar. Devgarh is a temple town and on the tourist map. Being on the tourist map means that tourists leave behind telltale signs of their visit.In this case, heaps of plastic bags. That provided the trigger for this project.        

DINAMALAR, September 29, 2010. (Also http://www.upasana.in/small-steps)

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