Tuesday, December 21, 2010

PANCHAAMRITAM 201

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Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Chennai

PANCHAAMRITAM 201

Pancha is five in Samskritam, Amritam is nectar

Poornima / Kali Yugaabda 5112 / Vikruti Maargazhi 6 (December 21, 2010)

 

On receiving PANCHAMIRTHAM 200, Shri Veerachamy, Education Officer, Vivekananda Educational Society, Chennai, thanked Team Panchaamritam for its "great service". May the Almighty shower all His blessings on the Team and give good health to it to continue "your service", he added. It is worth noting that Shri Veerachamy hopes to glean good news anecdotes from out of his collection to benefit schoolchildren. He has a spiral-bound volume of all issues of PANCHAAMRITAM from 1 to 200 ready.

ONE

The village has a population of just 6,530 as per Census 2001. Of these, 300 are ex-service men. Another 300 presently serve the Army. The village president Shri Karuppaiah too is an ex-srevice man. "Among the ideals dear to our hearts is service to motherland ", he says. It was on the advice of the ex-servicemen's association of the village that he contested the local body election and was elected, informs Karuppaiah. I shall protect honesty as seriously as I would protect the nation, he adds. The village is, Panchampatti off Dindukkal (Tamilnadu, Bharat). DINAMALAR, November 28, 2010.   

TWO

In their spare time, these young professionals roam around the city of Mumbai (Maharashtra, Bharat). They scan walls and plumbing, looking for plants and trees that might be growing on them and need to be relocated. Meet Green Umbrella, Mumbai's only plant rescue team, devoted to bailing out trees. Once rescued, the tree is transferred to a makeshift nursery where it is nurtured back to health and then planted again in an area where trees are needed. "The idea of rescuing trees came to my mind on Vat Purnima (Hindu festival). On this day, married women tie threads to banyan trees, but there are no trees around," says , Vikram Yende, a bank employee and founder, Green Umbrella. Today, the group has rescued more than 200 saplings. Green Umbrella focuses on saving indigenous Indian trees like banyan, pipal, vad and umber. "These trees suit the local environment and provide food and shelter to local fauna," says Yende. They absorb the maximum amount of carbon dioxide and release more oxygen. They also absorb toxic gases to some extent and have a higher resistance to pollution. They also grow various Indian species plants from their seeds and branches. The team has also been meeting officials from the government, forest department and BMC to emphasise the benefits of native species plants and to request them to take concrete steps to plant them in mass quantities. From a report by Smt Sneha Mahale in HINDUSTAN TIMES, September 27,  2010.

THREE

Sixteen-year-old Bhargava, of Shree Ramakrishna High School, Puttur (Karnataka), whose project is one of the winning entries explained his whole experiment with undying enthusiasm. "We produced eco-friendly ink from Terminalia chebula, the ink plant. Using essence of other flowers we even created brownish red and bluish black coloured ink. This ink is a non-pollutant; it is almost permanent and costs nothing more than six rupees," he said. Ask of how they chanced upon this idea and his partner Pramoda said, "Dhobis mark clothes with ink extracted from exactly this plant. We then thought why not use this chemical free ink for writing too; especially now that ink pens are out of fashion." This duo is among 87 finalists selected from 1,300 projects across the country who vied for the National honours at Initiative for Research & Innovation in Science (IRIS) 2010. Eight innovators then won their way through the four day selection process in Mumbai in late November. These students will now represent India at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2011 at Los Angeles, California between May 8 and 13, 2011.  From a report by Smt Pavithra.S. in THE HINDU, December 7, 2010.

FOUR

Milk of the indigenous, small-sized Vechur cow is more beneficial to health than that from the more common cross-bred bovine varieties. This has been revealed in a study conducted at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Thrissur by E.M. Muhammed for his thesis for MVSc. programme. Dr. Muhammed, who is on leave from the Animal Husbandry Department to pursue his postgraduate studies, has concluded that beta casein A2 , a milk protein that prevents diabetes, heart diseases, atherosclerosis, autism and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is found in Vechur cattle in higher measure than in cross-bred Jersey, Holstein-Friesian and Brown Swiss varieties which are Keralite's favourites since they yield more milk. The study was conducted by Dr. Muhammed under the guidance of Dr. Stephen Mathew, Professor in the Department of Animal Breeding, Genetics and Biostatistics. Milch breeds such as Holstein Friesian and Ayrshire have a high frequency of A1 gene but most of the Indian breeds have only the beneficial A2 gene. For this thesis, Dr. Muhammed has made a comparative study of presence of A2 in Vechur cows and cross-bred cows in the State and found that though cross-breeding of cattle may yield more milk, it may also increase presence of harmful A1 gene in the State's bovine population. Vechur cows yield less milk than exotic cross-breeds (about two to three kg daily which is nearly half of that from cross-breeds) but needs almost no veterinary care at all. Population of Vechur cow, a native to Vechur in Kottayam district and found in Kottayam- Ernakulam - Alappuzha belt (Kerala, Bharat), has dwindled to around 200. This variety almost became extinct because of aggressive cross-breeding policies followed in the State by using exotic germplasm on local female cattle. From a report by Shri R. Madhavan Nair in THE HINDU, August 1, 2010.

FIVE

During the past 37 years, the 54-year-old Kishor C. Bhatt of Mumbai has carried out the last rites for as many as 1,500 unclaimed bodies -- slum dwellers, beggars, orphans and the sick -- who have no family, or whose family are too poor to pay for them. Sending off the dead in the right way is especially important in India, where ceremonies are designed to purify and console the living and the dead. It all started in 1968 when he was living in Saurashtra (Gujarat, Bharat). The then-17-year-old went to give food to the victims after floods washed into Surat, Gujarat. He was distraught when he saw hordes of human corpses entangled with those of animals, and told his father. Bhatt's father, the owner of a garment company, told his son that irrespective of what a person was doing when they were alive, they deserved to get their last rites. So Bhatt began picking up unclaimed bodies and performing their last rites. It is a mark of respect that he bears at his own cost, despite many offering donations. Mostly he carries out cremations, which costs upward of 1,000 rupees. He even scatters the ashes into the Arabian Sea at Chowpatty Beach. Hospitals and police officers in Mumbai ring him up to tell him that a body has arrived, and no one has claimed it. His son, Viren, died of fever when he was 17 years old. Bhatt performed the last rites for him only after finishing the ceremony he was already conducting for an unclaimed corpse. From a report by Smt Marianne Bray on CNN / Also THE HINDU Young World, December 7, 2010.

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STATES COVERED: Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat.

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Sunday, December 5, 2010

PANCHAAMRITAM 200

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

Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Chennai

PANCHAAMRITAM 200

Pancha is five in Samskritam, Amritam is nectar

Amavaasya / Kali Yugaabda 5112 / Vikruti Kaarthigai 19 (December 5, 2010)

There does exist a different world, right amidst us. There is just not enough light being thrown on it. This world is filled with gentle and caring human beings, where stories of determination and courage are enacted every day. Honesty and Passion motivate the ordinary citizens of this world to do extraordinary tasks, one day at a time for several decades even. "Panchaamritam" is a Seva that has been throwing light on this Other World by reporting on five good things every fortnight. And they have done this 199 times already. Issue No. 200 is just a few days away! (A recent note in the `Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu Blog' )

ONE

An Integral Coach Factory (ICF) employee, Jayakumar of Chennai (Tamilnadu, Bharat) handed over Rs 1,99,700 to Anna Nagar police station on November 22 , 2010. His son Aravind Raj spotted 500 rupee note bundles scattered on the road while Jayakumar was taking him in his two-wheeler to the Velammal School, Mugappair. The ICF employee collected the money and submitted it to the nearby Anna Nagar police station. This was later advertised in newspapers. Selvam Arumugham, an employee in BIL International Private Ltd, noticed it and informed the police that he had lost money on the same day. Selvam was carrying the day's collection of Rs1,99,700 and gave it to his son, who was pillion riding his bike. As it started raining, Selvam put his son in an auto and sent him to school. After sending him, Selvam realised that he had left the money with his son. Immediately he followed the auto in his bike only to find that his son had dropped it on the road. A search proved futile. After hearing Selvam's story, and verifying it, the police handed over the money to him. Jayakumar and son were honoured and appreciated for their honesty by Chennai City Police Commissioner.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, November 30, 2010.

TWO

The book Economic Principles of the Vedic Tradition (2010) by Nicholas Kazanas (Publisher: Aditya Prakashan, Delhi) deals with economic principles as found in the more ancient sources of the Vedic period in so far as this is possible. Despite few economic terms used throughout the text like Land Value Taxation (which means simply taxing the value of land alone) there is nothing complex or complicated in this study and reading it does not require any training in Economics. By showing the relation of the Indic principles to certain modern concepts and particularly to Land Value Taxation, the book goes a long way in bringing into light many valuable economic concepts and practices supported by an institutional framework.  Thus we meet the same concern about the distribution of wealth that occupies the mind of modern economists. How much does a man or a family need to earn and how much should be given to the royal treasury (i.e. the State) and how should these be determined? Or to put it in other terms, how should taxation be levied? Then, how should the State dispose of its revenue? Also, how should lending operate and what would be fair rates of interest? The lawgivers in ancient India were fully aware of all these issues. A most surprising feature is the principles of free access to land for all and the Land Value Tax which should be the source of Government revenue (and expenditure). It is surprising because Land Value Taxation is supposed to be a fairly modern concept. 

From a note by Dr. S Kalyanaraman, Chennai.

THREE

Hermunde village in Udupi district (Karnataka, Bharat) chants `kabaddi, kabaddi' as Mamata Poojary wins the Best Raider award at the Asian Games. Before the talent spotters discovered her, she lived with her parents in a remote hamlet in Dakshina Kannada district where they had no electricity, where two decent meals a day was a luxury, and where even now no vehicle can drive up to her doorstep, because there are no motorable roads. Her parents are coolies, her brother works in a garage. Mamata had to trudge five to six kilometres to school every day. The fish that she or her brother caught in the roiling stream near their home was the only `delicacy' her family could afford. Fish, fried or pickled, incidentally remains her favourite dish. Despite being poor, her parents never dissuaded her from sports. On November 26, 2010, India beat Thailand 28-14 at Guangzhou to win the gold medal in women's kabaddi and Mamata was adjudged Best Raider of the Asian Games. The Southern Railways asked Mamata if she would play for their team and offered her a job in Andhra Pradesh. But Mamata was then in the final year of her BA course and unwilling to give up her studies. But when she was told that she could complete her education later, she accepted the offer but returned last year to clear her exams.  

http://www.bangaloremirror.com , November 29, 2010.

FOUR

Patient and persistent efforts to bring about social transformation can bring about spectacular results. The place is Kadaladi Community Block in Ramanathapuram district (Tamilnadu, Bharat). Sevabharathi recently conducted a blood group identification camp there, as a prelude to blood donation camps. Speaking at the inaugural function as the Special Guest, the Chairman of Kadaladi Community Block, Shri Lingam Palkalai remarked, "This block is known for frequent violent incidents involving knife attacks and liberal spilling of blood. So, I am immensely pleased and surprised that the villagers have come forward to join hands with Sevabharathi and donate blood to save lives." Those in the audience immediately promised that they will not just stop with blood donation, but actively participate in the other Seva projects of Sevabharathi as well! Touching, isn't it?     From blog:  http://sevabharathitn.wordpress.com/

FIVE

"It is my passion to donate blood till the time I can do so", said Rattan Lal Chugh, a resident of Fazilka (Punjab, Bharat), who has become synonymous with blood bank in the area. A shopkeeper, 39-year-old Rattan Lal Chugh has donated blood 102 times in over 23 years. He has been donating the elixir of life since he was a youth. Knowing well that blood can be donated every three months, Chugh has donated it 102 times instead of 92 times. The reason: He would never turn away anyone at his doorstep seeking blood. He has not only donated blood but has also contributed towards organising blood donation camps through which nearly 2,000 voluntary donors have donated blood. In recognition of his commendable services towards blood donation, he was honoured by the principal secretary, health, at a state-level blood donation function held at Barnala recently.

Based on a report by Shri Praful C Nagpal in THE TRIBUNE, Bhathinda Edition, August 2, 2010; also from PATHIK SANDESH, Hindi monthly, Jalandhar, September 2010.

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