Saturday, January 19, 2013
The Secretary
HRDD, Mr C.S. Rao apprised about the State
literacy rate which is 82.2%. He expressed that there are 778 numbers of Schools
in the state out of which 427 are primary and 194 are junior High Schools who
are continuously being provided with Mid Day Meal. He also highlighted on the
major achievements like enrolment of girl child more than boys, schools existing
in the walking distance of a child, re-introduction of pre-primary schools,
timely distribution of text books, uniforms, school bags, shoes,
orientation programme for teachers and students etc.
Gita, A Handy Manual Of Life
Gita, A Handy Manual Of Life
By: Swami Parthasarathy
The Bhagwad Gita literally means ‘Song of God’. It begins with the word ‘dharma’ and ends with ‘mama’. Mama means ‘my’ and dharma means ‘essential Being’. Together they mean ‘my essential Being’ which is the theme of the Gita. The purpose of life is to realise one’s essential Being; to discover the supreme Self within and to attain spiritual enlightenment.
The Gita forms the philosophical part of the great epic, Mahabharata that is the work of sage Vyasa. It contains nearly a hundred thousand verses. The central narrative speaks of the rivalry between two royal families, the cousins Pandavas and Kauravas. The Pandavas were five brothers, moral and virtuous. The Kauravas were a hundred brothers, immoral and vicious.
Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, jealous of the wealth and renown of the Pandavas, continuously harasses them. He invites Yuddhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, to a game of dice and wins it by deceit. As his prize he strips the Pandava princes of all their possessions. He also stipulates that the five princes and their wife Draupadi live in exile in the forest for twelve years. At the end of twelve years they were to remain incognito for another year, undetected by the Kauravas.
During these thirteen years Duryodhana would rule the kingdom. If the Pandavas served this exile and remained undiscovered in the thirteenth year, the kingdom would be restored to them. The Pandavas complied with all these terms and claim their kingdom at the end of the thirteenth year. But Duryodhana refuses to abide by the agreement. Elders of the kingdom try to negotiate a peaceful settlement. Regardless, the obstinate Duryodhana draws the Pandavas to battle.
On the battlefront, Prince Arjuna, an outstanding warrior, asks Krishna, his charioteer, to drive the chariot between the two armies. There he sees his own guru Dronacharya, his grandsire Bhishma and a host of his dear friends and relatives — all arrayed on enemy lines. Overwhelmed by emotion, the distraught and shattered Arjuna becomes intellectually paralysed. He lays down his bow and arrow and appeals to Krishna for guidance. Krishna’s sermon to Arjuna at Kurukshetra is the Bhagwad Gita.
Revived and recharged, Arjuna is charged with a higher vision. Towards the end of the last chapter Arjuna’s delusion vanishes. He proceeds to battle and emerges victorious.
The Pandavas and the Kauravas represent the positive and the negative qualities of an individual. The Kauravas outnumbered the Pandavas – just as negative forces tend to outnumber the positive. Kurukshetra symbolises the conflict between the higher and lower natures in us.
The goal of human existence is the realisation of the supreme Self within. For that you need to rise above your involvement with good and bad forces. This is illustrated with Arjuna receiving the sermon in the chariot between the Pandava and the Kaurava armies.
The Gita’s 701 verses are spread over eighteen chapters which in turn can be divided into three sets of six chapters, explaining Vedic aphorisms as follows: Tat Tvam Asi or That thou art. The first six chapters explain Tvam or Thou, the middle six Tat or That and the last six, Asi or Art. Tvam is the Self within. Tat, the supreme God. And Asi indicates that the Self in you and God are one. You art God. The Gita leads one to the ultimate state of spiritual enlightenment. Moreover, it offers a philosophy of life which can be translated into practical living in one’s social, official and domestic lives. sourcespeakingtree.in
Friday, January 18, 2013
International Tourism Mart at Guwahati 23 Countries to Attend
To highlight the tourism potential of the North East region in the domestic and international markets, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is organizing an International Tourism Mart at Guwahati from the 18th to 20th January 2013.
Announcing this in Guwahati today union Tourism Secretary Shri Parvez Dewan said that buyers and media delegates from around the world and from different regions of the country will participate in the Mart and will engage in one-to-one meetings with sellers from the North Eastern Region and West Bengal. He said this will enable tourism product suppliers from the region to reach out to international and domestic buyers and promote tourism in the region. Shri Dewan informed that about 85 buyer delegates from 23 countriesincluding ASEAN countries, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, U.K. and USA have confirmed their participation in the Mart.
The overseas delegates include Deputy Tourism Minister from Lao PDR, Executive heads of National Tourism Organisations from Cambodia, Singapore, Bangladesh and Bhutan, 55 tour operators, 9 hoteliers and 14 media representatives.
The country-wise break up of overseas delegates is as follows :
Besides foreign delegates, there are approximately 70 domestic buyers from other parts of the country and 108 sellers from the nine participating States.
In addition to the business meetings, the three day event will include, presentations, cultural evenings and press meets with the media from India and overseas. Post-Mart familiarisation tours to the states in the region have been arranged by the State Governments for the overseas delegates, from the 21st to 28th January 2013 to create awareness about the rich and varied tourism products of the states of the North Eastern region and give them first-hand knowledge and experience of the destination.
The International Tourism Mart will be inaugurated on January 19, 2013 at Guwahati by Shri Janaki Ballav Patnaik, Governor of Assam in the presence of ShriChiranjeevi, Union Tourism Minister.
The International Tourism Mart, Guwahati 2013 is not only the first ever international tourism event to be organised in the North Eastern region, but also the first international tourism mart to focus on a specific region of India. It will bring together the tourism business fraternity and entrepreneurs from the eight North Eastern States of India and West Bengal. The event has been planned and scheduled to facilitate interaction between buyers, sellers, media, Government agencies and others.
A special blog on the event has been operational since December 2012 with all information about the event which can be accessed from the home page of the Ministry of Tourism Website www.incredibleindia.org. This blog is being updated regularly.
Samir/(from Guwahati)
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Sikkim bags best pavilion prize at Intl Flora Expo
The Sikkim Stall stood out as one of the most attractive amongst various stalls put up by state governments, private companies and Govt. of India organizations. The splendid display of Cymbidium orchids in bloom, beautifully arranged cut flowers complimented by green fillers and ornamental kale mesmerized each and every visitor to the stall.
The show was inaugurated by the Transport Minister for Delhi State. The other dignitaries visiting the event included Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Tariq Anwar, Member of Planning Commission and various senior level officers from Ministry of Agriculture and State departments.
Besides display of large varieties of flowers and potted plants, various kinds of stalls advertising interrelated products and services like greenhouse manufacturing, tools & equipments, automated irrigation systems, seeds and fertilizers, landscaping materials, disease and pest control systems, books & journals also featured in the exhibition. In total there were more than 100 participants.
This event served as the best platform to advertise our upcoming International Flower Show that is being organized at Saramsa Garden in the last week of February. Many visitors have show keen interest to visit the State during the flower show and most of the important states and companies have confirmed their participation.
A Conversation With: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling
By SAMBUDDHA MITRA MUSTAFI
Courtesy of Sambuddha Mitra
Mustafi Pawan Kumar Chamling.
Tucked away in the
Himalayas, India’s Sikkim state has averaged an annual growth of 12.6 percent
over the last eight years. The state of 600,000 people is of strategic
importance to India, surrounded by China, Nepal and Bhutan on three sides. The
former monarchy of Sikkim joined the Indian federation of states in 1975 and has
been the most peaceful among India’s strife-torn northeastern states.
The chief minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, has been in power since December
1994, making him the second longest-serving state chief in India’s history. In
an interview with India Ink, Mr. Chamling explained how his government has
managed to build a development consensus that has eluded Sikkim’s neighboring
states.
Q.
Sikkim is India’s fastest-growing state since 2004, but somehow its growth
story has not been in the limelight as much as Gujarat or Bihar, for
example.
A.
Yes, we do not get as much recognition because we are a small state, in a
remote part of the country. But we are a sensitive border state – landlocked by
China, Nepal and Bhutan. Yet we are among the most peaceful and progressive
states of India. The general impression of border states in India is that they
are not peaceful, there is lack of development, leading to unemployment and
strife. Sikkim, through its example, has changed that perception. Within five
years Sikkim will become a poverty-free state, and it will become the first
state to have 100 percent concrete houses.
Q.
But fast economic growth often comes with environmental hazards, especially
in a state that is part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Has Sikkim’s
environment taken a beating in the state’s pursuit of fast growth?
A.
Our development mantra is innovative, based on natural resources, hydropower,
organic farming, ecotourism, floriculture and clean industries. Only 14 percent
of our land is inhabitable – the rest is taken up by Himalayan glaciers and
jungles. But we have turned our locational disadvantage into an opportunity by
protecting our biodiversity and inviting tourists to come and enjoy Sikkim’s
natural beauty. We have banned grazing, killing of wildlife and eliminated
deforestation. Every time we cut a tree for a development project, we plant 20
saplings elsewhere. We have banned pesticides, and in two years we will become a
fully organic state. We have promoted clean industries – we have removed the
polluting silicon industry out of the state. If the world adopts Sikkim’s model,
global warming can be tackled.
Q.
How have you brought about the development consensus among people,
particularly in the rural areas, in what is still a very traditional society? In
many parts of India we see the biggest impediment to development is that locals
do not want to give up on land or traditional means of livelihood.
A.
I consider the rural people my overlords – I tell them that I am their main
servant. Sikkim is ours; we must build it together. I tell them we have to use
our natural resources – our land, our water. If the government wants their land
for a road or other construction, I am ready to pay them more than the market
price. I don’t believe in compulsory taking away. I negotiate. I engage in
dialogue. That is why people are with me in this quest for development. And our
state is investment friendly – we invite industries as development partners of
our state. They get good, secure conditions to invest, while locals are happy
because it creates jobs.
Q.
Some of your critics say that perhaps development has happened too fast for
the local population. They claim that locals are not getting jobs, which are
being taken away by immigrants.
A.
Those people are backward in their thinking. We are just about entering
India’s development mainstream and we have a lot of catching up to do to enter
the global mainstream. We are still in the agricultural age, not even
manufacturing. We are still way behind in terms of education, health and other
social indicators. We have a long way to go, and it is my obsession that we do
it quickly.As for immigrants, if there is manpower demand there will be supply from outside sometimes. Sikkimese people do not like to do manual labor, so outsiders will come. But old laws still protect the right of Sikkimese people over land and other resources. So I do not see immigration as a problem.
Q.
Trade with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region through the Nathu La Pass was one
of your dream projects and the route finally opened up in 2005 for restricted
trade. Has the project lived up to your expectations?
A.
I strongly believe that trade through Nathu La should become full-fledged,
and all items should flow across the border. People should also be allowed to
cross the border for tourism – that can only bring benefits to Sikkim. I am
actually unhappy with the Border Roads Organization (of the Indian Army) for not
maintaining the road properly. Landslides have caused damage and affected trade
more than we would want. On the Chinese side, the road looks in great condition,
and this disparity has national security implications as well.
Q.
You have now been in power for 18 years, which is quite unique in India,
where state governments generally change every four years. Do you see yourself
more as an Asian-style figurehead, or even a neo-royal in this former
monarchy?
A.
In a democracy, people are supreme. I have been elected four times because
people have liked my work. Because our model is working, so people are happy
with this model. I don’t think I am a royal figure or a father figure. I think
Sikkimese people feel that this is their government. They believe that if their
parents could not educate them, the government will. If we cannot eat, the
government will provide. That is why they have faith in this government. And
they think I am the top man in this government.
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