The Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum in Hyderabad gives you a glimpse into the lives of tribes in Andhra Pradesh.

Bullock carts may be off the roads and you may not have seen any. But, if you wish to see one, this museum is the right place to go to. The Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum in Masab Tank, Hyderabad, has a life-like cart on display.

Sneak peek

The museum brings together culture, lifestyle, customs and beliefs of the various tribes hailing from different districts of Andhra Pradesh. Some of the tribes represented here are Kondareddi, Bagata and Hill Reddi. The tribes constitute 6.59 per cent of the population of Andhra Pradesh.

The museum throws light on their heritage and a way of life which is simple yet vibrant. Stories are told through pictures, literature and the figurines that as displayed. The library is well equipped.

D. Satyanarayana, Curator, Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum, says, "We also have an audio-visual room where you can see how these people live. Most people are ignorant of how they became farmers from hunter-gatherers. Their customs and culture is also very different and fascinating."

While at the museum, take a peek into the simple lives of the Chenchus. They are an aboriginal tribe. The members depend on the forests for their livelihood. The depiction of the bows and arrows they use, and how they extract honey, is telling. Moving ahead, you come to an arrangement that has people dancing around a fire. This is a depiction of the 'Dhimsa' dance by members of the Bagata and Khond tribes to celebrate the harvest season.

The two-storeyed museum, takes you through the various stages of development that the tribes have witnessed over time. Agricultural equipment over a period of time is a case in point. Lif-like figures at the tribal 'haat' or weekly market are captivating as well.

A life without music is incomplete. An exhibition of the different musical instruments made of wood like the 'dappu' speaks of the various traditional instruments that play a vital role in the tribal culture. Tribal masks, jewellery and household articles complete the picture. The tribal bazaar at the museum allows you a taste of nature's best. Occasionally, shows are organised and the tribal people dance or play music that represent their culture.

The museum is open on all days from 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone: 040-23391270/ 94909-57078

- The Hindu, 1st January 2013

Filpaya, Persian Baloch, Kothan, Bukara, pastel hues, folklore, quirky, cutwork…spend a few hours at "The Carpet Cellar" with Dhruv Chandra and you will not only be able to recognise some of these styles but will be surprised when he says – "I think you have become an expert!"

Expert or not, the journey into this basement at No. 1 Anand Lok here leaves you with kaleidoscopes for eyes and a refresher course in geography with the collection ranging from the Black Sea to China including Mongolia, the former Soviet Union, Turkey, Mesopotamia, Persia, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, India, Egypt and Morocco.

But how did this vast collection comprising city carpets and tribal rugs come to live in a cellar in South Delhi?

"My Chacha Sheel started collecting carpets more than 35 years ago," explains Dhruv, seated on a comfortable sofa filled with "saddle bag covered cushions". "In the late 1950s-early '60s, he bought a fantastic Persian carpet for a song, something like Rs.200-300, and he loved the fact that this was over 100 years old."

Then began a journey that saw Mr. Sheel Chandra, the chairman of The Carpet Cellar, travel the length and breadth of the carpet weaving world to carefully select the best hand woven and handcrafted masterpieces making him the second largest private collector in Asia. "The Carpet Cellar was created with this purpose to create things for the future generations to appreciate," says Dhruv, adding that 'Carpet Educational Workshops' are held at the store to provide an opportunity for people to learn about different carpets, to see the extensive collection and learn how to maintain them.

This is partly done also because of the attitude towards carpets nowadays. "Carpets have become a commodity and are no longer treated as a work of art," says Dhruv. "Today, for carpet manufacturers to reach economies of scale, unique pieces are no longer commissioned but there is mass production of carpets," he laments.

Yet, despite facing a huge problem in finding weavers to make fine rugs and facing a considerable challenge from the machine-made carpet sector, The Carpet Cellar, boasts a stock of 10,000 pieces and has developed a reputation of producing some of the country's finest pieces. Dhruv says that there has never been a situation where a client has come in and said: "I don't like anything." They "generally tend to find something that they like and we encourage them to see as many carpets as possible before making a decision."

With antiquity being The Carpet Cellar's forte, Dhruv and his uncle are planning to showcase their collection by setting up a carpet museum in the Capital. "Delhi is where most people understand carpets. There is a tradition of using carpets in the North, maybe because of the weather," he says. In a world filled with adulteration, the Cellar continues to be a mystic world of carpets, kilims, rugs, shawls and more…

- The Hindu, 1st January 2013

It will include renovation of galleries, improving lighting and labeling

Museums around the world are no longer considered "graveyards above the ground", and keeping this in mind the authorities of the Indian Museum here propose a massive modernisation project to update all 36 galleries of the nearly 200-year-old Museum.

"All these days the concept of a museum was that it was meant for those who knew their history and understood the artefacts within. But today the concept of a museum has evolved. Museums today tell a public history, a collective narrative," Museum Director Anup K. Matilal told The Hindu.

Mr. Matilal explained that around the world attempts are being made to create within museums an ambience that attracts students, children and ordinary citizens and not just scholars.

The modernisation programme here, planned as a part of the Museum's bicentennial celebrations in 2014, will be carried out in collaboration with the National Council of Science Museums. This is because the Zoological Survey of India, the Botanical Survey of India and the Geological Survey of India administer ten galleries of the scientific section of the museum, Mr. Matilal added.

The proposed expenditure for the bicentennial celebrations, which includes refurbishing the galleries, the ongoing renovation of the heritage structure of the Museum and the events that will be held is Rs.121 crore. If approved, the project will be carried out in a phased manner over four or five years, he said. "We have prepared a comprehensive plan for all these galleries. The modernisation will include renovations of the galleries, improving the lighting and labelling so that overall, the gallery tells a story of its own," he said.

The emphasis on "storytelling", he said, will be from the very entrance of the gallery and will incorporate touch-screen kiosks. For example if a child looks at an artefact from the Kushan period and wants to learn more about the history of the period, it should be available to a visitor right there and then, Mr. Matilal said.

This revamp will also free space in the gallery allowing the authorities to display some of the artefacts that are presently lodged in stores, but more importantly, galleries that have remained closed for years will be opened up eventually. At present, several galleries remain closed for visitors. The famous pre and proto-history gallery that houses artefacts from the Indus Valley Civilisation has been shut for more than a decade, according to Museum authorities. There are plans to move the library inside the main building to another building and use the hall for seminars, exhibitions and events, Mr. Matilal said.

"Obviously we will not be able to display all the artefacts. After all, the Museum has about 110,000 objects and all of these cannot be displayed," he said.

An initiative for incorporating multi-cultural activities at the Museum has also been started. A few months ago a kite-making and kite-flying workshop was held at the museum. Music concerts are also planned.

"A museum is not merely a place where a mummy lies dead or animal fossils are displayed. It must be a centre for cultural activities," he added.

- The Hindu, 1st January 2013

The Gautam Budh Nagar district forest department has issued notices to many developers for undertaking construction work within a 10km radius of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary without obtaining necessary clearances from the National Board for Wildlife. The forest department has also appealed to buyers not to invest in such projects that are rampantly violating norms as in the long run these projects are likely to face the heat of the Union ministry of environment and forest.

Divisional forest officer B Prabhakar said that 53 prominent developers are constructing projects within a 10km radius of the Okhla sanctuary. "We have sent notices and sought a reply from the developers. Earlier, we had issued notices to some of them, but none of the developers filed a reply with the department," Prabhakar said, adding that such projects will soon land in legal trouble.

Even after 20 months of the MoEF directing states to stop such construction, no tangible action has been taken in Noida region till date. "The buyers will face trouble in future, so we have advised them not to invest in projects violating wildlife norms and guidelines," Prabhakar added.

Sources said that Uttar Pradesh wildlife officers have not been able to take action against the builders in the eco-sensitive zone under pressure from the strong builders' lobby.

"No developer has sought environment and wildlife clearance for their projects. This is illegal because this is a mandatory provision according to a Supreme Court order. If the state government or wildlife officials do not declare it an eco-sensitive zone, ecology will be badly affected. The inaction would not only harm wildlife but also humans," said a local environmentalist, who has written to the environment minister on the gross violation of norms.

The UP wildlife department has formed a nine-member team headed by Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate and includes members from pollution control board, public works department, Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority and other departments who are supposed to work towards declaring the area eco-sensitive. But environmentalists say nothing has happened till date in this regard.

The Times of India, 2nd January 2013

Perturbed over the rising number of tiger deaths in the country, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has for the first time come out with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or specific guidelines that spell out the basic steps required to be taken at the field level for dealing with incidents of tiger mortality; when carcass has been found or body parts seized.

However, officials from certain State forest departments have expressed doubts on the ultimate efficacy of such advisories, especially when the requisite funds for tiger protection to even pay regular salaries to frontline staff do not reach on time. Instead, there should be more involvement on the part of NTCA in ensuring action at ground level, they suggested.

The advisory issued by SP Yadav, DIG NTCA, mentions that the purpose of this SOP is to ensure that the causative factors are ascertained and taken to logical conclusion in the interest of tiger conservation. This has been worked out based on inputs from field officers, experts and members of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) which have been fine-tuned to meet the present challenges.

In terms of fixing responsibilities, the Field Director would be responsible in case of tiger death in a reserve. For a protected area (national park, wildlife sanctuary) the concerned manager would be answerable. In case of other areas (revenue land/ conservation reserve/ community reserve/ village/ township, the Wildlife warden as per (Wildlife Protection Act (1972) or Divisional Forest Officer/ Deputy Conservator of Forests (under whose jurisdiction the area falls) would be accountable. The overall responsibility at the State level would rest with the Chief Wildlife Warden of the respective State.

Detailed instructions have been given for the procedures to be followed in tiger deaths/ seizure of body parts/ incident reported but no body part or carcass available but for corroborative field evidence.

State forest officials nevertheless pitched for a sound technical base at ground level if these advisories are expected to bear fruits. While elaborate seminars are held on tiger protection in the capital, "the patrolling team does not even have adequate vehicles, which is absolutely necessary".

Maximum funds are spent for relocation of villages rather than on protection mechanisms. There is a dearth of technical and legal inputs in terms of training or knowhow to conduct effective intelligence based patrolling and investigation, they pointed out.

- The Pioneer, 3rd January 2013

To offer a glimpse into South Indian culture, a 12-day festival featuring crafts, organic food and meditation sessions will be held at 1AQ, opposite the historic Qutab Minar, beginning January 12. Made from natural and bio-degradable materials, a wide range of crafts and textiles including sculptures and metal crafts made out of recycled material will be on display.

Describing the festival as South India's divine cultural festival, organiser Anubhav Nath says apart from traditional South Indian dishes the show will offer a wholesome range of snacks and drinks. "We will be hosting the South Indian festival for the first time in the city. Apart from displaying crafts and natural products, we want the public to get to try cuisines of the southern States. Food on offer would be a blend of taste, nutrition and convenience. We will have an exciting menu comprising nutritious and wholesome appams, dosas and freshly prepared herbal teas," he added.

Though there would be meditation sessions, the festival will not have "spiritual discourses". "Music will be an important component. It will be a blend of Carnatic and Western classical music."

The music will be from Sounds of Isha, a group of musicians.

- The Pioneer, 3rd January 2013

Ghalib lovers unite at his haveli on his birth anniversary

The quaint streets of Chandni Chowk bathed in electric lights as Ballimaran rose to celebrate on the eve of Mirza Ghalib's 215th birth anniversary on December 26, 2012. Ghalib's haveli in Gali Qasim Jaan, Ballimaran, restored to a semblance of its previous glory, was the venue for the celebrations.

'Andaz-e-bayan' was organised by the Ghalib Memorial Movement, a venture by Ghalib lovers Uma Sharma, Dr. Abid Hussain, Dr. Vinay Bharat Ram and others. It started with a candle light march from Town Hall, Chandni Chowk to Ghalib's haveli. The white bust of Ghalib seemed to come alive in the light of the numerous candles placed before it.

Gali Qasim Jaan drowned in recitals of Ghalib's poetry and heart rending ghazals as Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan of India and Ustad Mazhar Umrao Bundu Khan from Pakistan indulged in their common love for Ghalib.

"Ghalib was the best poet of that era. Ten years ago, when I came to Chandni Chowk and asked for Ghalib's haveli, nobody had any idea. Today, to actually perform here is the biggest tribute I can give to the legend," said Ustad Bundu Khan, when asked about his experience in India.

Restored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) in association with Government of Delhi, Ghalib's haveli wore a festive look. Exactly a year back, the haveli was opened after restoration and turned into a museum of personal artefacts and works of Ghalib. It was hard to imagine that a decade ago it was no more than a warehouse.

Commending the artistes who brought Ghalib to life with their talent, Haroon Yusuf, Minister for Transport, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Government of Delhi, promised that the haveli would be maintained.

- The Hindu, 3rd January 2013

LAUNCH A book that looks at the place of relics in Sikh ethos

From arts and artefacts to edifices and memorials to films and festivals, everything around us reminds us of our heritage. And Sikh Heritage: Ethos and Relics tells us how relics of Sikhism are an important component of Sikh ethos and heritage. The book, penned by Bhayee Sikandar Singh and Roopinder Singh, was launched at India International Centre respectively.

It gives a broad perspective of the heritage of Sikhs through photographs and descriptions of many hitherto unseen relics of Sikh heritage. Asked what encouraged them take up the subject, Roopinder answered, "It's imperative for us to understand the importance of relics as they enhance our understanding and appreciation of culture. There is a human dimension to it. All the oral traditions suddenly come alive when you look at them."

"To equip anyone with an understanding of the relics, it was necessary that we brought ethos into picture. In fact every relic, every article is a live symbol of ethos," he added.

What role do relics play in one's day to day life? "They are the living symbols of history, and they encapsulate values of the community or tribe; they are reminders of the greatness of the heritage," Sikandar said.

While Sikandar is the co-founder of Nishaan — a quarterly journal about Sikhs, Roopinder is a deputy editor with an English daily. He has two published works to his credit — Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings and Arjan Singh: Marshal of the Indian Air Force . Asked whether the duo would be collaborating again, Roopinder said, "It's been a five-year long journey, so we are just savouring the current moment. We do have plans to write on something again, but the possibilities are nascent."

- The Hindu, 3rd January 2013

Delhi government is all set to start development work and announce regularization plan on around 120 colonies built on landbelonging to ASI, forest and ridge area.

These colonies would include parts of Khirki Extension, Sangam Vihar, Mehrauli, Chhatarpur, Okhla Vihar, Lado Sarai etc.

A final proposal giving list of these colonies and proposal to regularize them is expected to be put before the Delhi cabinet on Saturday.

As per the new proposed policy 48 colonies built on ASI protected land will see regularization of area that falls beyond 300 meters of the protected land.

However, of the 197 colonies that came up on forest and ridge land the first list will see regularization of some 80-90 colonies which were short listed after a recent survey conducted by the urban development department.

Sources also said CM Sheila Dikshit is likely to make a formal announcement of the cabinet decision at Talkatora Stadium at a meeting with residents of unauthorized colonies being organized by Jagparvesh Kumar, president Delhi unauthorized colonies sammelan.

The Times of India, 3rd January 2013

It's virtually a one street hamlet with scattering of rustic huts, Chaukori in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand has one major claim to fame: a spectacular view of the Himalayas. The snow peaks of the mighty mountain range — from Nanda Devi to Panchuli — stretch across the horizon. Yes, this little settlement (6,600 ft above sea level) is all about lofty, luminescent beauty compressed in a small area.

Our days there started with a sunrise extravaganza: a visual symphony that commenced with a row of Himalayan peaks painted an eerie white against a dark grey sky. Slowly, the eastern horizon started to glow with golden light fanning out across the sky. The universe seemed to hold its breath, as it awaited the arrival of the sun. And long before it peered over a far ridge, the first rays snared the summit of the highest peak in its pink lasso.

Chaukori is the kind of place where you have a whole lot of nothing to do. Here the rhythm is slow and leisurely and we spent endless hours watching the different moods of the mountains, ethereal and a trifle ghostly, as the sun caressed a peak here, dappled a meadow there and cast a gentle brooding shadow on other massifs. Fields of ripening corn rippled in the wind, scented with the fragrance of fruit and pine. Deep forests of oak and blood-red rhododendrons completed the glowing picture. We had apparently pulled up the drawbridge on a land insulated from modern-day woes of crime and poverty.

Nestled in the foothills was a British tea planter's cottage that was once the fulcrum of village life and the venue of lively tea parties that bubbled under the stern gaze of the Himalayas. Now largely in ruins, the lonely bungalow, with its sloping roof and bay windows, seemed cocooned in a blessed time warp, languishing in a deep trance and waiting for the cold fingers of winter to clamp it in its icy grip. All that remained was a yellow sun-warmed shell partly bleached by the sun; the stones were silent and did not speak of the past when the place pulsed with vibrant life.

Come evening and the spotlight moved once more to the mountains that flared up like a flaming crescendo as the dying sun flayed its rage across the sky in fiery colours. Then, ever so slowly, the curtains of night reclaimed the sky. The silhouette of white peaks stabbing at an inky-black canopy speckled with millions of stars filled us with a sense of wonder.

Yes, life can be so insignificant in the larger scheme of things and yet so amazing.

The writers are avid travellers

- The Asian Age, 4th January 2013

One among the biggest Hindu temples in US, which is built at an enormous cost of 100 million dollar near Hollywood city, Los Angeles was opened on 3 January 2013. The temple became an attraction for its majesty as well as eco-friendly design ever since it was inaugurated on 23 December 2012.

This is the 68th Swaminarayan temple built by Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) by making use of the 35000 hand-carved Italian Carrara marble pieces as well as Indian Pink Sandstone. The temple is also said to be the first earthquake-proof Hindu temple of the world and it is expected to standstill for 1000 years.

Making use of the state-of-the-art technology for providing it protection from the earthquakes, the temple includes two huge domes, 122 pillars, five pinnacles, 129 archways and four balconies. The upper portion of the entire complex is earthquake-proof because it is segregated from base with line of 40 base-isolator units. There are 6600 hand-carved motifs which are a depiction of assortment of devotion, dedication and inspiration apart from historical figures that showcase Hinduism.

The temple is located on 20-acre site comprising of 91 foot pond that is lotus-shaped, gymnasium, classrooms as well as Cultural Centre. For generating electricity, the temple makes use of the solar power system. The temple in all is said to be an amalgamation of traditional stone art as well as architecture along with modern technology.

- The Asian Age, 4th January 2013

The latest offering from Ravinder Dutt's project, Mughal Treasure, focusses on the inmates of the Harem. Ektaa Malik reports

We normal dilliwallahs sometimes takes the historicity of the city for granted. Maybe because everything is some what connected to the ruins of the past . The architecture of those times today is taken as a part and parcel of the modern day landscape. It was this social landscape, blended with the interest of history , that inspired artist Ravinder Dutt to create the art project — Mughal Treasures. A few months back he took out two of the initial works — one was a Hookah, the other was that of a chess board , both as the artist stressed were synonymous with the Mughal empire. "I am born and brought up in the city and I love everything about it, the culture, the building. And I did History honours for graduation. Also then my grandfather used to collect artefacts — we have at least 200 artefacts lying at home. So all that blended into my taking out this series," shared Ravinder.

The most recent offering from the project is called Harem — The Bird Cage. This version brings the lesser known women of the Harem into focus. The painting is a digital print, captures vividly the opulence and grandeur of the Mughal times. But it also conveys the essence of how the beautiful women were reduced to being birds, who were captured in a gilded cage. "They were all put in the Harem — surrounded by all the luxuries — but what else. They were not even called by their names. The many emperors who came and went – they would call upon the Baandis or slave girls,( as they were called), and refer to them from the day of the week they would render their services to him. Many of them would see the emperor once a year. Though they were surrounded by all the possible luxuries of the world — they were reduced to mere objects — who could be used," shared the artist. Ravinder travelled extensively to the Mughal era forts and buildings. "The living quarters of these dancing girls — they were so small.

While his early works — the Hookah and the chess board with the truck, dealt with the inanimate objects from the empire — this one focus on the human angle. He has placed the women in show cages and their heads have been replaced by the heads of birds. "But I haven't deglamourised the whole concept. I have retained the opulence and the grandeur — after all the Mughal times were the one of the splendid reigns that India ever witnessed. So I have retained that I my works," added the artist.

The next offering in the series include one that is named Gun Powder. "It's the Mughals who brought Gun powder to India. It was also used in Tattoo art. It was a very prized possession in those times. There were these intricate flasks that were used to store the gunpowder. That is next in the Mughal treasure series. There are total nine jewels in this series. There also one planned on the Sufism that Akbar developed," concluded Ravinder.

- The Pioneer, 4th January 2013

In a bid to initiate development works for basic amenity facilities such as road, drain, healthcare facilities in colonies existed on forest and ASI land, the Delhi Government is bringing in a proposal allowing development works and usage of MLA local area development funds in these colonies. The urban development proposal 'Regulation of unauthorised colonies for development work', is expected to be cleared at a Cabinet meeting on Saturday.

After the Cabinet approval, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is likely to announce the decision at a convention of unauthorised colonies residents at Talkotra stadium. The convention is being organised by former MP Sajjan Kumar, his son Jagpravesh and MP Ramesh Kumar. East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit and Delhi Ministers will also attend the convention. Currently, there are 197 unauthorised colonies have come up either on forest land or ASI prohibited areas in the Capital and the Government is finding it difficult to start development works due to strict guidelines regarding forest and ASI land. The move will help the ruling Congress Government in the coming Assembly polls this year while wooing electorate.

"The amendments in the guidelines are necessary to give regularisation tag to these colonies. It is estimated that around 15-20 lakh people reside in these colonies and it is not possible to displace people on such a large scale. The regularisation of these colonies is the top priority of the Sheila Dikshit Government ahead of the Assembly polls next year," said a close aide of CM on the condition of anonymity. Dikshit has earlier written to Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath seeking amendments to the guidelines of unauthorised colonies related to forest and ASI land so that these could be regularised.

As per the proposal, 48 colonies built on ASI protected land will see development work that falls beyond 300 metres of the protected land. The colonies on ASI land include Lado Sarai, Begampur, Taimoor Nagar extended abadi, Christian colony, Chhuriay Mohalla, Sta John church colony Mehrauli, Ladhakh Budh Vihar, Shalimar village, , some parts of Sangam Vihar, some portions of Saidulajab, Batla House, Panchsheel Vihar, Khirki Extension, Okhla Vihar, Noor Nagar in Jamia Nagar, some parts of Abul Fazal Enclave, Raj Nagar I and II Palam colony, Bagichi Bulward road, J block Prem Nagar Lal Kuan, Panchssheel Vihar Khirki village, Islam colony mehrauli, Bharola village Sabzi Mandi Azadpur, Chotiyal Palam village and Kalkadas marg Mehrauli.

However, around 92 out of the 159 colonies, that came up on forest and ridge area will see the development work. The most of the colonies have been partially covered on forest land. Those which are fully covered by the guidelines will not be regularised. The colonies on forest and ridge land include Sangam Vihar J to B and L blocks, block I A, Sangam Vihar part I and II, Church colony, New Colony Sannoth Narela, Rajpur Khurd Extension, Vikas Vihar Kirari, Mamupur Krishna Nagar, Issapur near Dhansa village, Pawan Dham Bakhtawarpur, extended abadi Poonth Kalan, Jindpur village extension, Chandan Hulla Extension, Ustav Vihar,Chattarpur extension, Krishna Vihar, Bhargav Vihar colony, Baldev Vihar Kakraula, K, D, block Sangam Vihar, village Chattarpur, Lado Sarai existing and extension, Ruchi Vihar, Club Vihar Gadaipur, C block Aya Nagar, Kishan Garh, Freedom Fighter Enclave, Pul Prahladpur, and Neb Sarai.

To get political mileage in the election year, Kumar has organised 'unauthorised colonies sammelan' to take credit for development works in these colonies. Dikshit will also address the sammelan. This would be first such gathering after unprecedented public outcry and protest against the political class in view of brutal gang rape of a girl in a moving bus, who later died at Singapore hospital.

- The Pioneer, 5th January 2013

Even as the remains of the picturesque old jungle road are being dug up and a huge boundary wall fashioned out of broken pieces of the Arravali, there is little activity connected to restoring the Neela Hauz.

After many months one returns to the Neela Hauz again, the Hauz is located east of Aruna Asif Ali Road in New Delhi. Before the road came up and Jawaharlal Nehru University campus and Vasant Kunj sprang up to the west of the road in the early 1970s, all this was a forest and village commons for the inhabitants of Kishangarh, Masudpur, Malikpur Kohi, Sultan Garhi, Rangpuri, Mahipalpur and other villages and hamlets that lay scattered in this area. One returns to Neela Hauz, this much abused natural water body, not with good tidings but to report that despite tall promises and high sounding declarations what is going on in and around this once beautiful lake is large-scale destruction, encroachment or modification of three elements of our natural heritage.

First, the destruction of the surviving bits of the oldest natural heritage in India and among the oldest mountain ranges in the world - the Arravalis. Large and small outcroppings of the Arravali ranges can be seen poking through the Sanjay Van. Some of these rock formations, rapidly being broken up by those horribly destructive machines called earth movers, have tentatively been dated to the Pre-Cambrian era.

Secondly the Sanjay Van, in itself a reserved forest has been stripped of many trees, mostly the invasive Prosopis Juliflora or the Mexican Mesquite, but also of several, increasingly rare Ronjh and Desi Babul and Keekar trees. This denudation has occurred across a long stretch skirting the lake and extending beyond it towards Kishangarh. If one were to believe those in-charge of this wanton destruction, permission has been taken from the Delhi Forest Department.

And thirdly the Neela Hauz, the Hauz had began to suffer encroachments and dumping in the wake of a rather expansionist scheme to build a bridge across the lake in the run-up to the much-touted October 2010 Commonwealth Games. As per promises made at the time and subsequently, the lake was to be restored to its 'pristine glory' once the job at hand was completed. The job at hand was not completed in time and in fact there was a time overrun of more than 10 months. The bridge scheduled to be completed by September 19, 2010 was eventually finished only in July 2010. One does not know if the builders of this 'priority project' were penalised for the time overrun or not, what is however clear that even almost two-and-a-half years after the delayed completion, the lake seems to be nowhere near its "original pristine state". An exercise was launched to rid the Neela Hauz of its horrible cover of water Hyacinth, the operation was never completed and the Hyacinth is once again expanding and choking whatever little life is left in the Hauz.

Even as the remains of the picturesque old jungle road, skirting the lake before this bridge came up, are being dug up and a huge boundary wall fashioned out of broken pieces of the Arravali, one sees little activity connected to restoring the Hauz. The long promised biodiversity park continues to be a distant chimera.

Meanwhile, the entrance to the Sanjay Van has been given a huge bill board inviting visitors to the forest. In order to facilitate the newcomers the forest is being spruced-up. All natural under-growth in the forest near the gate abutting the lake has been removed and concrete benches provided. And what about the wild life, the original residents of the forest: the quails and partridges, the krait and the hedgehog, the jungle babbler and the mongoose and the myriad insects and beetles and other beings that lived and prospered in the undergrowth in the reserved forest? What about them, are they part of any scheme?

Enquiries have revealed that all this digging is being carried out to create a parking lot for those who come for a walk to the Sanjay Van and for those visitors who might come visiting the Hauz and the proposed biodiversity park. The car park will come up even if the lake and the forest do not survive. Large parts of the old jungle road are piled high with iron frames that are going to be used for throwing up a fence around Sanjay Van and everything else besides. Here is another case of the fence eating up the field and the forest perhaps.

The earth moving machines need to get up close and personal before they begin to pull down anything, and in order to give the embrace of death to the surviving bit of the Arravalis they had to clamber over the expensive designer pavement that was built with rather expensive coloured and glazed tiles at either end of the bridge in July 2010. The pavement is now almost totally gone, once the earth movers are through moving mountains, the contract for relaying the pavement will perhaps be awarded to someone once again and the cycle of construction and concretisation and fencing will go on endlessly. The Arravalis, the Neela Hauz, and the forest can wait till kingdom come.

- The Hindu, 5th January 2013

An example of Mughal engineering skills, the Kundi Bhandara underground water works system in Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur is rapidly perishing due to sustained neglect and degrading forest cover

The fear of being lowered 80 feet into the ground by a precarious lift, able to hold one moderately built person at a time, disappears as one intercepts a long underground tunnel whose one end is visible but the other is lost in the labyrinth of curves. The consistently dripping water along the wall of the tunnel and a continuous stream beneath completes the school lessons on hydrological cycle. What one is witness to is the famous Kundi Bhandara, part of the water works system that was established in 1615 AD and which continues to supply water four centuries hence to the city of Burhanpur.

One learns that this is one of the last functional systems of the eight that the Mughal rulers had constructed under the guidance of a Persian geologist, Tabkutul Arz. Apparently, the then ruler, Abdul Rahim Khan, was aware of Persian genius in constructing such systems, called qanats , which are a series of well-like vertical shafts connected by gently sloping tunnels that tap into subterranean water percolating from forested lands, in a manner that efficiently delivers large quantities of water to the surface without need for pumping. Since water flows along the slope it gets transported over long distances without losing water to seepage and evaporation.

That the system cannot be deliberately destroyed during war had fascinated the rulers because Burhanpur had been a garrison with a strong army of 250,000 at that time. Arz had found the location of the town along the slopes of Satpura range of mountains — perfect for tapping such subterranean flow. Though the town has been located on the bank of river Tapti, the protection of troops from likely poisoning of river water was of critical importance. Additionally, it was found that the underground system was almost insensitive to the levels of precipitation, delivering a flow with only gradual variations from wet to dry years. A perfect system was thus in place.

Burhanpur today has grown into a mid-size city of Madhya Pradesh, situated at its south-west border with neighboring Maharashtra. The city has little over 300,000 inhabitants but has no army now. While proud of its history, the city has continued with its rich tradition of producing fine cloth. The local economy is dependent on some 35,000 power looms, producing cloth of desired specification on demand from traders all across. Burhanpur is also remembered as the city where Empress Mumtaz Mahal died and where her body was kept until Emperor Shah Jahan could build the Taj Mahal as her final resting place. However, its water works remain the highpoint of its historical legacy.

With seven of the waterworks having been lost to sustained neglect and degradation, Kundi Bhandara is last of the waterworks that attract tourists who marvel at the timeless wonder of the Mughal engineering skills. Reports indicate that it was till the early 1990s that six of the eight systems were working to supply water to the town. While the two other were destroyed a long time ago, the three supplied water to Burhanpur and the other three to a nearby village of Bahadurpur. Since the city planners had other ideas on meeting water demand, the age-old system has been reduced to a heritage site for attracting tourists only. Come to think of it, the intricate network of underground tunnels contributing to a collection chamber called Jali Karanj could have appropriated municipal funds to sustain water supply to the city. The British had read the system well and strengthened the same by replacing clay pipes of the Mughal era with iron pipes. However, the advent of convenient groundwater extraction pumps led to the decline of the historical waterworks.

The denudation of tree cover on the hills and discharge of industrial effluents into water sources have proved to be the proverbial nail on the system. Nature's hydrological cycle has been seriously violated.

The question worth asking is: could a time-tested cost-effective system have served the community better than the modern cost-intensive unreliable water delivery system? After all, at the peak of its operations, the waterworks were generating as much as 100 lakh litres of water every day which is almost at par with the city's current needs. Further, the system was based on sound geological understanding as long as sustainability of the 'source' had remained a social imperative.

Says Archna Chitnis, the State's Education Minister, "The current emphasis is on greening the mountains to ensure necessary groundwater percolation to keep the underground tunnels running". Till such time the ecosystem is restored, official apathy and market intrusion continues to play a critical role in undermining the potential of a system that had the right mix of science, engineering and ecology.

(Dr. Sudhirendar Sharma is a Delhi-Based Water Expert with the Ecological Foundation)

- The Hindu, 6th January 2013

The Sunday Story Two recent incidents of human-tiger conflict had very different outcomes. An injured cat was rescued with the help of villagers in Karnataka, while another wasthe object of public ire in Wayanad, leading to its shooting. What is the future of the tiger in India?

If enhancing funds for tiger conservation is high on its agenda, the government is also facing the huge challenge of man-animal conflict. Reports of loss of life, livestock and crops in animal attacks are not uncommon.

A drive down Bhopal's new colonies makes one realise that these were once tiger abodes. Small boards warning about the possible presence of tigers in the area are still seen, though the Big Cats may not be there. But, if they do occasionally stroll towards what was their own land, can they be blamed?

The Ministry of Environment and Forests revised the allocation for the Project Tiger to Rs.1,216 crore in August 2011, with a change in the funding pattern for the North-east where the States will have to pay only 10 per cent of the total allocation. This also includes enhancement of compensation to the victims of man-animal conflict. Guidelines have already been issued to the States for doubling the compensation.

Project Tiger has been under implementation since 1973.

Initially, the project started with nine reserves, covering an area of 16,339 sq.km., with a population of 268 tigers. At present, there are 39 reserves with an estimated 1,706 tigers. This amounts to over 1 per cent of the total geographical area of the country. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has been strengthened and decentralised with three Regional Offices at Nagpur, Bengaluru and Guwahati now. Approval has also been given to five more reserves in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Karnataka.

Detailed revised guidelines have been issued for the implementation of Project Tiger and relocation of villages vis-à-vis the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Assessment report

A detailed report on the 2010 assessment of the status of tigers, co-predators and their prey shows a countrywide increase of 20 per cent in tiger numbers as against 1,411 tigers in 2006. The country-level assessment, done every four years, also suggested a decline of 12.6 per cent in tiger occupancy from connecting habitats. This has happened in peripheral and dispersal areas having low densities outside tiger reserves and tiger source populations.

According to the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of 39 tiger reserves done in 2010-11 on the basis of the global framework as adapted to Indian conditions, 15 reserves were rated 'very good,' 12 as 'good,' 8 as 'satisfactory' and 4 as 'poor' in comparison with the 28 tiger reserves in 2005-06 that led to the conclusion that the 'very good' category had increased by 4 per cent, 'good' by 3 per cent and 'satisfactory' decreased by 7 per cent.

Increasing population, expanding cities and the creation of huge tourist infrastructure in tiger lands often push the solitude-loving tigers away from their habitats. By conserving and saving tigers, which are described as a symbol of wilderness and well-being of the ecosystem, the entire wilderness ecosystem is conserved, ecologists say.

Conservation fee

However, the NTCA in October opened up 20 per cent of core areas in tiger reserves to tourists and proposed a new conservation fee for the tourism industry. This will be used for development of ecology and uplift of local communities living nearby.

The new guidelines for tiger tourism also make it mandatory for each reserve to have its own specific tourism plan and bars creation of any new tourist infrastructure inside the core areas. The guidelines say that permitting up to 20 per cent of the core or critical tiger habitat as a tourism zone should not have an adverse effect on the tiger biology needs, subject to the adherence to all other regulations.

- The Hindu, 6th January 2013

Following the discovery of the Tamil-Brahmi cave inscription at Samanarmalai near Madurai (The Hindu, March 24, 2012), the photographic survey team of the Central Institute for Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai, visited the site in May. It secured high-resolution photographs and HD videos, which were computer analysed. In the first part of this article, M.V. Bhaskar, co-ordinator, CICT Project, reports on the survey of the site. In the second, Iravatham Mahadevan proposes a revised reading and interpretation of the inscription based on the CICT survey.

The Jaina monuments

The recent discovery of a Tamil-Brahmi inscription in a cave (Fig.1) at Samanarmalai near Madurai is of exceptional importance due to its location and early date. It is the 95th Tamil-Brahmi stone inscription digitised as part of the CICT Photographic Survey (2007-12), the aim of which is to build, for posterity, a comprehensive archive, on HD video and high resolution still imagery, of these priceless records of civilisational heritage, and to disseminate their content and context in all the forms that traditional and modern media allow.

The survey covers, apart from the inscriptions, records of each of the sites as they were before Tamil-Brahmi, as cradles of human habitation from the pre-historic times, and the historical continuity that extended, in most cases, up to the medieval period.

To shift focus back to Samanarmalai ("Hill of the Jainas"), it was closely associated with the famous Jaina monastery known as Tirukkattampalli at Kurandi, a village about six km south of the hill. The monastery flourished during the medieval period from about the 8th to the 12th century C.E., but is no longer extant. It was either destroyed or allowed to fall into ruins. Evidence points to the former. Stone blocks from the ruins, inscribed with the name of Tirukkattampalli Jaina monastery, are now found built into a Siva temple at Sivamadam, a nearby village.

Geographically, Samanarmalai is an extensive complex of low rocky hills stretching more than three km. Two well-known Jaina monuments are on this hill, Settipodavu (Fig.2) at the base, and Pechipallam (Fig.3), one level above, both with sculptures of Jaina Tirthankaras and Vatteluttu inscriptions of about the 9th century C.E. A further level above Pechipallam and a level below the newly discovered Tamil-Brahmi cave are remains of a Jaina structure up to the basement level. A hillock with Jaina vestiges adjoining Samanarmalai tragically collapsed in the late1990s, due to heavy quarrying nearby.

The Samanarmalai complex, in the wider sense, includes the adjacent hills at Muttupatti and Kongarpuliyankulam, which have caves with a large number of stone beds, besides Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions dating from the 2nd century B.C.E. The recent discovery (Fig.4) has pushed back the historicity of Samanarmalai to well over 2,000 years, coeval with the earliest Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions. It appears that the caves with very numerous stone beds in the Samanarmalai region served as places of retreat for the Jaina monks of the Tirukkattampalli monastery during the rainy season (vassa).

To reiterate the importance of Samanarmalai, several inscriptions form Jaina temples across Tamil Nadu and South Kerala refer to the Tirukkattampalli monastery and its illustrious line of Jaina teachers including Ajjanandi. The inscriptional evidence indicates that Tirukkattampalli-Samanarmalai was the central seat of authority for Jainism in the Tamil country, even as Sravanabelagola still is for the Jainas of Karnataka. Inscriptions (12th century C.E.) on the basement of the ruined Jaina temple above Pechipallam refer to visits of senior Jaina monks from Sravanabelagola, some of whom chose to end their lives through sallekhana (fast unto death) on the Samanarmalai hill. Here is clear evidence that the fame of Samanarmalai had spread beyond the borders of the ancient Tamil country.

The Tamil-Brahmi inscription

The newly discovered Tamil-Brahmi inscription at Samanarmalai may be assigned to about the 2nd century B.C.E. on palaeographic evidence. The tall and narrow characters and the archaic orthography, indicate that the inscription belongs to the earliest period like those at Mangulam, also near Madurai.

The brief one-line inscription reads:

peruterur uzhi taatai ay-am

(pool (of) Taatai at Peruterur)

The inscription commemorates the association of a person known as Taatai with the pool on the hill, which was probably deepened or renovated by him. Some interesting aspects of the four words comprising the inscription are noticed below.

Peruterur appears to be the earlier name of the village now known as Kilkuyilkudi at the foot of the hill. The earlier name suggests that it was a large village with streets wide enough for chariots to pass through. The word ter occurs here in the old sense of "(horse-drawn) chariot" and not with the later meaning of "(temple) chariot" as there were no structural temples at that time.

Uzhi is an archaic grammatical term for the locative (seventh) case-ending "in, at" (Nannul 302), as inpunattuzhi "in the field (of dry crops)" (Akananuru 388:13).

Taatai literally means "father" and occurs in this sense in the Sangam poems (Paripaatal). This is one of the kinship terms borrowed by Indo-Aryan from Dravidian. The word taata is used in Prakrit also as a respectful or affectionate form of address towards an elder person. The word taatai seems to occur in the latter sense here.

Ayam (spelt ay-am) means a "pool or mountain spring". The deep natural pool at Pechipallam (Fig.2) found near the cave seems to be the one mentioned in the inscription. It is significant that this pool is presently known as Pechipallam, as pallam "hollow or pit" is a synonym for ayam (Tamil Lexicon), andPechi (from Peychi) is perhaps a reference to the yakshis found among the Jaina sculptures.

Apart from the general problems in deciphering 2,000-year-old, weathered and vandalised inscriptions engraved on rough, unhewn and undulating rock, this particular inscription poses additional challenges. The 4th and 6th letters look identical but must be read differently to suit the context. The 3rd, 8th and 9th letters look different but must be read alike, as t. The use of the long vowel u (6th letter) for the short vowel, and writing ayam as ay-am, splitting the suffix, are characteristic orthographic peculiarities found in the earliest Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions in this region (Early Tamil Epigraphy 2003).

A combined assault by the technical team, epigraphists and linguists has succeeded in deciphering the inscription, which confirms that the largest Jaina establishment of Tamil Nadu is also the oldest.

For further reading: R. Champakalakshmi 1975. Kurandi Tirukkattampalli: An ancient Jaina monastery of Tamil Nadu. Studies in Indian Epigraphy vol. 2: pp. 84-90. This is the definitive paper on the subject. We have drawn liberally from this source.

In situ tracing: K.T. Gandhirajan

Photographers: A. Sarangarajan and K. Thanigaimani

- The Hindu, 6th January 2013

Kalidas was here. So was an ancient, anonymous poet. In a cave in Chhatisgarh's Ramgiri Hills, two millenniums of literary history come together.

He was a sculptor, she a court dancer. They climbed up an old cave in Ramgiri hills of central India and on its walls he etched a couplet, not knowing it would be the oldest specimen of love verses inscribed in the Brahmi script.

Centuries later, a Sanskrit poet mused in the cave and composed Meghdoot, probably the greatest love poem ever written, in which a Yaksha sends a message to his beloved through a cloud. With time, other artists also settled in the verdant hills and the frescos they made were India's first "historical record of art". An adjoining cave was perhaps the nation's oldest amphitheatre.

Two millenniums flowed through.

Quietly.

Ramgiri became Ramgarh, a small town in Surguja district in Chhattisgarh. The caves remained tucked away in remote woods. In the late 1950s, Hindi playwright Mohan Rakesh wrote Ashad Ka Ek Din, depicting the inner struggle of poet Kalidas, caught between love and fame. Local artistes later built an auditorium at the foothill and began the yearly Ramgarh Mahotsava on the first day of the month of Ashad — the day Meghdoot's Yaksha spotted the cloud.

And then India's biggest civil strife came to the region, and tribal-dominated Surguja was declared Naxal-affected.

The caves survived. The couplets and paintings inscribed on their walls and roofs did not fade. India has had a vibrant tradition of cultural centres, gharanas and srijan peeths patronised by kings. That they flourished despite frequent changes in dynasties confirms the triumph of art over civilisational turbulence. The Ramgiri caves are even more surprising. The artistic stream here remained isolated, it flowed beneath the surface and emerged only occasionally.

Writing on the wall

The Ramgiri hills have two main caves, Sita Bengra and Jogimaran. On the walls of the latter are the earliest love verses in Brahmi script. The language, curiously, is not Sanskrit but Prakrit, which was spoken by the masses then. The translation reads: "Roopdaksh Devdin is enamoured by Devdasi Sutunuka." Roopdaksh is a sculptor, Devdasi a dancer.

Brahmi is the one of the oldest scripts of the Asian subcontinent. Contemporary of the Mauryan dynasty, its specimens are visible on several rock-cut structures that date back to the 3rd and 4th century BC. The Ramgiri inscriptions date back to around 2nd century BC. Little is known about the origins of Devdin or Sutunuka, except a probability that the sculptor belonged to Varanasi, around 350 km away. The Jogimara cave also has multi-coloured paintings, which eminent cultural critic Anand Coomaraswamy dated back to 1st century. "Coomaraswamy called these the oldest historical paintings of India. These are older than the Ajanta paintings," Raipur museum director and noted archaeologist Rahul Singh says.

British art scholar Percy Brown spotted in these paintings the "specimens of the early culture of India and the first actual historic record of the art". "What may be considered the most ancient concrete example of dateable painting is to be found on the walls of the Jogimaran cave of the Ramgarh Hill in Sirguja, a small and remotely situated state in the Central Provinces. These frescos are presumed to have been executed about the first century before the Christian era," he wrote.

The Sita Bengra cave resembles an amphitheatre, a natyashala. It has a huge hall, an enclosed space behind and a space for the audience in front. Some historians doubt it was ever used as a stage as the height of the roof is just six feet, which makes it difficult for a dance or theatre performance. "Its structure, excellent acoustics and a green-room like structure behind suggests it was probably a centre of art," says Singh.

The cave also has a Brahmi inscription: "Poets enlighten the audience's hearts by their creations." Legend also goes that Ram spent a few days in these caves during his vanvaas, hence the name Ramgiri hill. Meghdoot describes Sita bathing in a nearby stream.

The Ramgarh hills challenge VS Naipaul's contention that the continuity in Indian culture signifies a lack of intellectual enquiry. In An Area of Darkness, he quotes Camus to differentiate between the "literature of consent" (classical Indian texts) in which tradition is never questioned, and the "literature of rebellion" (Western novel). Naipaul could not comprehend that a consenting art could not have sustained and nourished the classical legends. Kalidas, for example, has been interpreted in various ways, much like the Ramayana, each version a significant departure from the original. The Sanskrit author of Meghdoot becomes a fractured, fragmented being and a fallen poet in Rakesh's Hindi play. The caves where he composed his legendary poem host a yearly festival to simultaneously uphold and question his life and poetry. Naipaul missed this rebellion.

Kalidas and Meghdoot

Kalidas visited the hills in the 4th century and during his stay here composed Meghdoot, a poem of 111 shlokas or stanzas. The Yaksha, in fact, is an impersonation of Kalidas. Yaksha worked at the court of Kuber, the ruler of Alka, a mythical city said to be located in the Himalayas. To punish him for neglecting his duties, Kuber exiled him for a year.

For some reasons not yet recorded by historians, poet Kalidas was also forced to leave Ujjain, a kingdom located in adjoining Madhya Pradesh, then ruled by Chandragupta Vikramaditya. Living in exile, the poet created a hero in Yaksha and asked the Megha to carry his message to his beloved. The route Megha takes is on the map even today.

Smitten by love, Yaksha chooses Megha, a non-living being to carry his message. "How can a cloud so moving, mixed and got/ Of water vapour, fire and wind be used/By Yaksha as messenger? But he in eagerness and grief confused/ Mistakes as sentient a thing that's not".

Translated into many languages, the poem inspired several works, and the Cloud Messenger became a recurring motif in art.

For Ramgarh town, the inscriptions barely exist. The nearest settlement is nearly 3 km away, just a few kirana shops on the road. An occasional tourist stirs them up for a moment before the surroundings tranquilise them again. "If she be sweetly sleeping, Cloud, then stop/ And wait the night watch passing: quiet, no thunder/ She feels my creepers clasp around her neck:/ From such or other bliss she may be under/ Don't wake her suddenly or arms will drop.

Like Yaksha's wife, the hills are in deep slumber and need a compassionate invocation to make them come alive.

- The Indian Express, 6th January 2013

A Lodhi-era stepwell in Dwarka lies neglected despite government's promise to conserve it.

More than one-and-a-half years after it was discovered and the archaeology department of the Delhi government promised to protect and conserve it with the help of INTACH, a Lodhi-era stepwell in Dwarka lies neglected with garbage being dumped in and around it. With not even a board announcing the heritage structure, most local residents are unaware of this little-known chunk of history in their backyard.

Located off the main road between Sectors 12 and 4, and between a private school and a residential apartment, the Loharehri baoli is hidden behind trees and undergrowth. One can, however, see the baoli's rubble masonry structure, its opening, arches and a few steps. But with waste thrown inside, it's difficult to climb down and gauge its depth.

The barren land where it is located is marked as DDA's. Hence, it is surprising that the state archaeology department has so far not been able to take requisite permission from another government agency to at least put up a board here. Director (archaeology) Vishwa Mohan says that merely putting up a board would serve no purpose. "Someone will take away the board. We are in the process of establishing a committee that will formulate plans and measures to protect and conserve 15 little-known heritage structures, including this baoli. For this purpose, an MoU with the INTACH was extended a couple of months ago."

INTACH's Director (projects) Ajay Kumar confirms that the agreement with the government has been extended from three to five years. "Work on these 15 monuments will start within a month and we will take at least six months to complete it," he says.

Sources in the archaeology department say there are also plans to excavate the site. The stepwell does not figure in the list of 92 heritage structures prepared by the archaeology department, though it is mentioned in the one prepared by Maulvi Zafar Hasan in the 1920s. Once Delhi had a hundred-odd medieval baolis that took care of the city's water needs. The Loharehri baoli, named after the village that once stood here, is one of the 10-12 stepwells to survive urbanisation. Located close to Dwarka's main shopping area, at a walking distance from the bus stop and Metro station, and next to a school and park, the baoli, if conserved, has the potential of becoming a tourist site. But for that to happen, the government needs to salvage it before this little relic of the city's past is lost forever.

Trees hacked in name of pruning

Another onslaught by civic agencies on the city's green cover has residents up in arms. In Vasant Kunj, several residents have approached the forest department after the civic agency "pruned" around 100 trees in Sectors B1, B2, D1 and D2 and auctioned off the wood. Another 400-odd trees have been marked for heavy pruning.

The pruning has been taking place since the middle of December. Shobha Ballani, a resident of Rockview Apartments, said that she even called the police when the municipal agents turned up but the work was not stopped. "Nobody from the RWA accompanied the team when they were out to prune the trees. On December 19, when I called the police, they came 90 minutes later and only took a written complaint. Later the SHO said that it wasn't their problem and that I should have reported it to the forest department," said Ballani.

Vasanthi Kumar, another resident said that around December 17 last year, a 25-year-old Peepal tree inside a DDA park in D-2 was similarly hacked. "The tree was home to about 20 species of birds, hundreds of squirrels, thousands of insects and lakhs of honey bees. Ironically, the municipal agency had permission for heavy pruning of 11 trees in the sector and light pruning of another 24 trees. What they did in the name of heavy pruning was simply hacking off big branches," she said.

Sonya Ghosh, a resident said that some 90-plus trees have been marked in yellow by the municipal corporation in Sector D, Pockets 3 and 4 Vasant Kunj these trees have been declared 'dangerous' by the RWA and permission has been sought for their cutting and heavy pruning. The municipal agency promptly quoted the forest department's permission letter for carrying out the work.

"I have asked my officials to inspect the trees that have been pruned and will get a report on it by Monday. However, no permission for any auction of wood has been issued by the department and if it has been done, it is illegal," said AK Shukla, conservator of forests.

Suhas Borkar, founder of Delhi Green Circle said that he would be sending a letter to the conservator on behalf of the group, asking for action against concerned municipal and forest officials.

- The Times of India, 6th January 2013

Delhi's feathered friends have witnessed many an adventure and romance.

The New Year brings with it a host of activities and pastimes, one of which is pigeon fancying. Even now in the Walled City there are several mohallas where the kabootarbaz, as they are called, make morning and evening ring to cries of "Aaoo" to call back the air-borne pigeons. However, there was a time when, like the patangbaz or kite fliers, they too went to open spaces near the Yamuna bank to engage in kulkulain or competitions after feeding coarse grain to their flocks. Now because of encroachments on the river bank and consequent lack of space the pigeon-fanciers compete only from their rooftops.

Hafiz Mian was a great kabootarbaz in the last century and his main rival was Deen Badshah. Each of them had hundreds of pigeons, both of Indian and foreign breed. There were Russian, Turkish, Afghan pigeons and Burmese and some other South Asian breeds and of course, those from all over India. Their cost even then was great, with the acrobatic Lotan kabootar occupying pride of place in thekabootar-khana or specially built wood and wire mesh cages, with pigeon-holes for the birds to roost. The greybaz was also a highly prized bird like the Kabuli. Dennis Bhai's old father, Elias Sahib, used to say that his son could recognize the breed of a passing-by pigeon by just examining its droppings. Dennis Bhai had greenish eyes, just like some of his pigeons, and when he married he found a Muslim girl with the same kind of eyes, making a friend remark : "Wah Dennis, dulhan bhi khoob chuni hai. Aankh se aankh mila di". Bravo, you have found a bride with matching eyes. Dennis Bhai is dead but his dulhan, Qaisar, still survives as a tall, fair, slim pretty lady aging with grace, whose eyes glow with excitement whenever she sees a flock of pigeons darting across the sky to the frenzied whistling of rival kabootarbaz.

Pigeon-fancying is a very old sport. It was known in Egypt about 3,000 years ago and found great patronage in India during the Mughal era when pigeon-fanciers from Baghdad, Turkey, Iran and Egypt flocked to the court. Prince Salim, who ascended the throne as Jahangir, spent several hours in their company learning the tricks of pigeon-flying. It is said that one day he asked a young palace girl, Mehr-un-Nissa, to hold two of his pigeons while he went to answer an urgent summons from his father, the Emperor Akbar. On his return he found the girl had only one pigeon in her hand. When he asked her what had happened to the other, she replied; "This", and released the other pigeon also. Her witty answer pleased the prince and he fell in love with her. Later, he married the girl, who became famous as Nur Jahan. Akbar himself was very fond of pigeon-flying and had some 20,000 pigeons of his own. He called the pastime "Ishkbazi" or love-play. Fr. Monserrate, who saw them, writes in his commentary:

"The pigeons are cared for by eunuchs and servant-maids. Their evolutions are controlled at will, when they are flying, by means of certain signals, just as those of well-trained soldiery are controlled by a competent general by means of bugles and drums. It will seem little short of the miraculous when I affirm that, when sent out, they dance, turn somersaults all together in the air, fly in orderly rhythm, and return to their starting point, all at the sound of a whistle." To come back to Hafiz Mian and Deen Badshah, the two, could do all that Monserrate observed and won many wagers against each other in competitions in which pigeon-fanciers from Bareilly, Agra, Gwalior, Saharanpur, Allahabad, Lucknow, Kanpur and Moradabad also participated. At two contests the stake was Rs.50,000, which was a very big amount back then. The last Delhi Kulkulain took place on January, 1, 1952 near Akbar's tomb at Sikandra (Agra) and Deen Badshah won half a lakh of rupees in a gruelling contest. Hafiz Mian stopped flying pigeons as he had lost most of his birds to his lucky rival and become almost a pauper – like the pigeon-fancier who lost his all after a fight with Nadir Shah's troopers, leading to the 1739 massacre of Delhi.

- The Hindu, 7th January 2013

We discover a quaint Maratha palace on a hill

It is a riot of colours on the highway. A sea of yellow and green greets me as the landscape alternates between fields of sunflower, sugarcane and groundnuts. The sun is generous with his morning rays and the sunflowers look up at the sky nodding at me as I drive past.

It is a quiet day and we are driving through North Karnataka in Bagalkote district, a region that once bore the legacy of the Chalukyan king, Pulakesi 1. The towns are mostly dusty and dirty but they are scattered with monuments, caves and temples built by kings and queens several centuries ago. But we are not heading there.

In the distant horizon, I can see layers of smoke, swirling and curling as they rise into the sky. I am close to my destination, Jamakhandi, a town known for its sugar factory. But I am to discover another facet of this remote town. It is the market that first catches my attention. It seems more like a carnival to me as women, dressed in bright clothes seem to compete with the colours of the market. The red chillis scattered on the ground add a bit of shine like the glitter of the nose ring worn by the woman selling them.

A faded photograph of the brave Kittur Rani Chennamma brandishing a sword hangs at the entrance of a quaint building that serves as an old market. Pumpkins hang from the tiled roof, held by colourful threads and sacks of potatoes and onions are thrust into autorickshaws to be sent to other markets. Meanwhile, the open courtyard of an erstwhile jail is now a bustling vegetable market. A fresh lot of greens from the local farmer's market is spread out and vendors start the day's business, enjoying the shade of the trees.

On the streets, the entire town is there to meet you. Carts of fresh sprouts strike a contrast to the sweets that are sold here. Yellow seems to be the colour of the season. Laddus jostle for space with marigolds and sunflowers while heaps of turmeric powder are sold along with garlands and golden threads, by women wearing yellow sarees and men in yellow and orange turbans.

I hear that Maharishi Jamakhandi lived in the Puranic ages in these mountains. Historically, Jamakhandi is an erstwhile princely state of the Marathas during the British rule and the town was its capital. The only monument that reminds this humble town of its legacy is a quaint palace on a hill overseeing the town that belongs to the erstwhile rulers, the Patwardhan family.

On our way to Ramteerth, driving up a hillock, we see remains of an old moat. Old banyan trees lend an air of antiquity. Walking up one of the lanes to the Royal Palace School, we find towering gate leading us to a beautiful garden, where two stately palaces stand.

This is the private property of the Patwardhans, commanders in the Maratha army in the 18th century and rulers of the region. They fought several wars against the British but eventually allied with them to defeat Tipu Sultan. We walk around the premises, lost in the silence. From the palace, we can see the entire region through a haze of dust. It's a pity that India's princely states are buried in the dust of a bygone era.

- The Hindu, 7th January 2013

The Delhi Government has rejected a suggestion by the Prime Minister's Office for changing the name of century-old historic Chandni Chowk in the name of Sikh community's ninth Guru, Shree Guru Teg Bahadur.

The decision was taken at a State Naming Authority meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit a few days ago. It is noted that with its eye firmly set on 2013 Assembly polls in Delhi and 2014 general elections, the PMO has forwarded a proposal to rechristen century-old historic Chandni Chowk in the national Capital's old quarters as Guru Teg Bahadur Ji Chowk where gurdwara Shishganj was built in the memory of martyrdom of 9th Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur. This place holds emotional importance to Sikhs in the country. With this master stroke, the Manmohan Singh Government wanted to assuage the feeling of Sikh community who still feel that justice was not done to the community who suffered the most during 1984 riots.

The document available with The Pioneer shows the proposal has been forwarded by Director, Prime Minister's Office to Urban Development department regarding renaming of Chandni Chowk as Guru Tej Bahadur Ji Chowk. The proposal was moved by Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee. Sources said the proposal was put up before the State Naming Committee without the comments of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

As per the existing guidelines of the Government, renaming of existing roads and buildings are not possible without the approval of the state naming authority headed by chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

"The proposal seems to be politically motivated to impress upon a particular community to consolidate its votes in the coming assembly elections in Delhi next year and general elections in 2014," said former BJP president Dr Harshvardhan. "The decision is as ridiculous as renaming Connaught Place as Rajiv Chowk or Indira Chowk was. Till today, barring the Delhi Metro, no body refers to Connaught Place as Rajiv Chowk," he said.

It may be noted that a controversy erupted early this year after MCD had moved a proposal to rename iconic Chandni Chowk after cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar. The proposal was moved by Chandni Chowk councilor Suman Gupta before the naming committee. When controversy erupted, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had issued a statement asking the MCD to refrain from renaming the road, citing the Home Ministry's 1975 orders that make it the Government's prerogative. In a letter to the MCD commissioner, Dikshit wrote that any attempt to rename Chandni Chowk will not only violate Central guidelines but also undermine the historical and cultural importance of the area.

Not only the Delhi Government, Dr KN Katju Memorial Trust also opposed the move saying that any move to rename Chandni Chowk was an insult to the cultural heritage of the country.

Built in 17th century by the great Muslim Emperor of India, Shah Jahan and designed by his daughter Jahan Ara, the market was once divided by canals to reflect moonlight, now closed, yet it still remains one of India's largest whole sale markets. It is a famous market known all over India. A film called "Chandni Chowk to China" was also made about this place.

The Pioneer, 7th January 2013

Taking suo motu cognizance of TOI report on how common hilly and forest land in Aravalis is getting fragmented and privatized in the name of consolidation, National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued notices to the principal conservator of forest and the chief secretary of Haryana.

The bench headed by Justice Swatantra Kumar has listed the case for hearing on January 23. This is the first time the green tribunal has taken note of a news report on its own considering the possible impact of diverting forest land for non-forest uses.

TOI report had exposed how Haryana authorities had allowed consolidation of the common and hilly land in villages falling under the Aravalis. Under the garb of consolidation, which actually aims to reverse fragmentation of agricultural land, the authorities have flagrantly rampantly abused the law to allow influential private players, including realty companies to own lands, including forest area, in the region.

While the then director general of land records, Ashok Khemka, denotified the consolidation process of two villages in Aravalis — Kot and Roz-ka-Gujjar — enough damage had already been done in Mangar village in Faridabad, which has a huge sacred grove protected by Gujjar villagers.

Revenue department officials had lamented that with the consolidation process being over in Mangar, there was little chance of undoing the damage. But with the green tribunal stepping in and the ministry of environment and forest asking the state to put its Mangar Development Plan in abeyance, there is some hope.

How private ownership of chunks of common hilly land in Mangar would have serious ramifications came to light when the state mining and geology department rejected Haryana forest department's proposal to bring 3,595 acres under section 4&5 under Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). This included a major part of the sacred grove. Land patches under this notification cannot be used for any non-forestry purpose without approval from the Centre.

A copy of file noting available with TOI shows that mines secretary Y S Malik on July 9 wrote, "The entire land included in the proposed notification, vests in private individuals/ landowners and none of it is in the ownership of the forest department or any other government department. As such these land owners would be entitled to suitable compensation in lieu of restrictions imposed on them... the department (road forest) has to be ready to pay such compensation."

Sources said major portions of the land falling under Mangar have been bought by influential people besides realty majors considering its proximity to the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway, which has been widened to four lanes. Some builders operating in Gurgaon have bought hundreds of acres of land as the government plans to allow the setting up of a mega tourism complex.

- The Times of India,8th January 2013

National Monument Authority withholds approval, says DMRC didn't submit results of radar survey.

Already behind schedule, the upcoming Central Secretariat to Kashmere Gate heritage Metro corridor has suffered another setback.

Despite the submission of the heritage impact assessment report to National Monument Authority (NMA) on December 16, the confusion over the ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey is proving to be a major hurdle for approval of this Phase III Metro line.

The heritage impact assessment report by the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) suggests that a GPR survey must be conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on both sides of the proposed alignment to identify the area for possible archaeological findings below the route.

Since the 9-km Metro corridor aims to link heritage sites such as Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Sunehri Masjid, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) needs the NMA's approval to carry out construction work.

The NMA wants to verify that the Metro corridor does not damage these monuments before giving the go-ahead for construction.

The hitch arose after the DMRC said it had already conducted a GPR survey.

"The DMRC told us that a GPR survey was conducted by them in 2011. They said the GPR survey does not point out any possible archaeological damage, and that the heritage corridor should be given approval. However, the report has not been submitted to the NMA so far," NMA chairperson Himanshu Prabha Ray said.

NMA said the GPR survey findings were not attached to the heritage assessment report. "The SPA conducted the heritage assessment report on behalf of DMRC. It is pertinent that the agency was not informed of the outcomes, despite a GPR survey being conducted. The approval to the Metro corridor will be granted after we see the GPR survey report," she said. This issue was not resolved in a meeting of DMRC and NMA on December 20. The Delhi Metro said the GPR survey report would be submitted to NMA in the next meeting.

"The GPR survey is supposed to be conducted by ASI. But we had conducted the survey last year. We will soon submit the report to NMA for evaluation," a Delhi Metro spokesperson said.

"Since the corridor runs through historic sites, we believe that it might help in the discovery of medieval archaeology. If a GPR survey has not been conducted by Delhi Metro, then the Archaeological Survey of India will have to conduct a survey on the 30-metre impact zone on both sides of the proposed alignment within three months," an NMA official said.

- The Indian Express, 8th January 2013

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today announced that sparrow would be declared state bird to save the endangered species.

He made the announcement at a meeting of state wildlife council here, an official statement said.

Kumar expressed concern that the sparrows are slowly vanishining.

He said sparrow is a bird which lives near human habitations and not in jungle and makes their dwellings in urban homes.

Kumar said increase in pollution, rising number of mobile towers and pesticides in foodgrains were contributing to dwindling population of the winged beings.

The meeting decided to make special efforts for conservation of sparrows by raising awareness among masses.

The meeting also decided to raise compensation in case of death by wild animals.

Secretary of Forest and Environment Deepak Prasad said at present the compensation amount is Rs 1 lakh which the meeting decided to double.

Prasad said the meeting also decided to extend till December 2013 permission to shoot antelope which damage crops.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi was also present at the meeting.

- The Pioneer, 9th January 2013

A leading environmental group working for conservation of flora and fauna has sought intervention of the External Affairs Ministry to put pressure on Pakistan to ban hunting of rare birds, Houbara bustards, which has drastically reduced India's share of their annual winter migration and affected the desert eco-system.

The hunting of Houbara bustards, taxonomically classified as Clamydotis undulata, through falconry in Pakistan has led to an alarming decline in their numbers. The poaching mainly in Sindh province along the international border is not only a cause of serious concern for India but also in violation of wildlife protection laws and international conventions. The Tourism & Wildlife Society of India has pointed out in a letter to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid that the desert regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat are not benefiting from the rare birds as a result of their hunting in Pakistan. The species has been declared vulnerable due to a more than 60 per cent decline in its global population even as India's share in the Houbara's migration is "bagged" in the neighbouring country.

TWSI honorary general secretary Harsh Vardhan has requested Mr. Khurshid to intervene and ensure that Pakistan imposes a complete ban on "wanton falconry" as such acts amount to a "brazen mockery" of the conservation legislation.

India invited similar falconry during 1970s when the Arab royals used to camp in western Rajasthan districts and hunt the great Indian bustards, Houbara bustards and other endangered birds. This practice was brought to a halt forever in 1978-79 through public protests in Jaipur, New Delhi and Mumbai and finally through a stay order granted by the Rajasthan High Court.

After the hunting of protected birds was banned in India, the Arab falconers initiated Houbara captive breeding programmes in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and reintroduced thousands of these birds back into the wild. "Why don't they better falcon-sport self-bred birds within [their] own regions rather than poach the flocks naturally meant to reach India?" asked Mr. Vardhan.

The Arab royals also used to visit Iran and Afghanistan for falconry till late 1970s. Since the fall of the Shah of Iran and the prolonged war in Afghanistan, Pakistan became a favourite destination for the bird hunters. Though Pakistan banned hunting of birds in 1972, it is not enforced against the royal guests from the West Asian countries who believe that the Houbara meat has mythical aphrodisiac qualities.

Significantly, the issue of Houbara hunting across the borders has been taken up with the Rajasthan State Wildlife Advisory Board in the past. At one of the Board's meetings in 2007, Mr. Vardhan had suggested that the then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje write to the Prime Minister to ask Pakistan to immediately check hunting through falconry. Ms. Raje had observed that the endangered bird species need urgent attention.

Mr. Vardhan has conveyed to Mr. Khurshid the willingness of ornithologist Asad R. Rahmani of the Bombay Natural History Society and Ravi Singh of the World Wildlife Fund-India to help the Union Government work out this issue of "immense international significance".

"Knowing your positive inclination towards wildlife conservation, we are appealing to you to ensure a better life for this species, denied in Pakistan," he said.

Even as Houbara bustard is regarded as the provincial bird of Balochistan, the Federal authorities in Pakistan reportedly issue permits during the "hunting season" in Sindh province every year, with each permit allowing 100 birds to be hunted by the holder. Most of the permits go to royalty, rulers and influential people from countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia.

Named "Taloor" in Sindhi language, the Houbara bustards migrate from the cold northern regions of Siberia to the warmer regions of the world, including the Indian sub-continent. Bird-lovers describe it as a beautiful bird with a black stripe down the sides of its neck. It is usually 60 cm long with a 140 cm wingspan and is brown above and white below.

The Houbara bustard is listed in the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals, also known as the Bonn Convention. Because of its increased hunting especially in its winter habitats, the Convention of the International Trade in Endangered Species has classified it as an endangered migratory bird.

The Pioneer, 9th January 2013

Man-animal tussle has been claiming wildlife and human beings with an intensity that is matched by the speedy disappearance and destruction of forests. Unless the forests are saved, animals will continue to stray in areas populated by human beings and trigger crises

In the early 80s, a herd of wild elephants forced out of its natural territory in Bihar stumbled into a small village called Sarguja, in central India. Industrialisation had pushed these 18 elephants away from their migratory route which they had followed for generations. Elephants, like many other animals, migrate with the seasons to survive and the routes they follow are hard-wired into their very DNA. In search of food and water, the herd reached Sarguja, which had not had a history of elephants in the last 100 years. Like the villagers whose fields the elephants raided, the herd was also confused and scared and did whatever it could do to survive. In what was perhaps the biggest wild elephant capture operation in India, the Government decided to tranquilise and capture the entire herd. By the time the dust had settled, lives had been lost on both sides and the herd was captured and tamed. This story is nothing short of tragic and shows that human-animal conflict had begun decades ago.

In the last two decades, the buffer between human and animal has thinned drastically, with our forests shrinking and more roads and railway lines dissecting them. Animals now must cross inhabited areas while traveling. Some live in fragmented forests that don't have enough prey, and they need to hunt and forage for food outside the forests.

The impacts are often huge. Damage to crops, livestock and property has become common. Sometimes, human lives are lost. Communities that reside next to forests bear the brunt, as entire crops are destroyed, and they live in perpetual fear of animal attacks. With their lives at stake, lack of educated choices and questionable faith in Government systems, people react as they think best. Unfortunately the options are often limited and the animals are more often at the receiving end, as 'problem' animals are often killed. The lucky ones sometimes get translocated or sent to a zoo. With fear and anger driving this conflict, action against an animal is sometimes taken before a conflict situation even arises.

Last month, a bear in Shopian district of Kashmir was burnt alive by a frenzied mob. Bears need to feed, and the priority this season for them is to store enough fat in their body to survive the hibernation through the winter. This particular bear had strayed into the village looking for food. The villagers chased the bear up a tree and then set the tree on fire.

Humans, when threatened and in a mob, can really be cruel and inhumane. Video clips of the incident were particularly disturbing. While the bear screamed in agony as it engulfed in the fire, people laughed and smiled.

This isn't the first incident in the valley, which has a very healthy population of the black bear. S Sathyakumar, PhD, of Wildlife Institute of India says the bear is a much misunderstood animal and the people do not understand the behaviour of the animal. The first and only reaction of humans to a bear straying into an inhabited area is to corner and kill it.

In Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, though it might not seem as big an issue as a leopard or bear attack, Rhesus macaques have taken over the small mountain town. A sight fairly common in many Indian cities and towns, the macaques are known to rummage through garbage and help themselves to whatever they please. What I have experienced is that even Langurs have come to town. I'd always had the image of Langurs as normally shy and less aggressive, living in a forest, sitting atop a tree nibbling at some leaves. But, here they were having their way in an open garbage dump. Something was really wrong. This wasn't a temple-town where people were feeding monkeys. These Langurs and macaques were from the forests around Mussoorie and had moved in search of food. Was it just the easy access of open garbage bins or were the forests changing? One theory is that the predators have moved out of the forests not only because of lack of prey but hunting as well. With the predators gone, the monkeys have multiplied and have had to move out of the forests in search of food.

In Uttarakhand alone, in the past 12 years, more than 600 leopard deaths have been recorded. That's an average of 50 deaths a year. These are the recorded deaths; the actual numbers are presumably much higher. Today, a systematic extermination seems to be at play. So, what will happen when a species is wiped out?

In the neighbouring State of Himachal Pradesh, human-animal conflict has taken a turn for the worse. The initial target of the conflict were also leopards. Local shikaris and the angry mob that we've all encountered in some news story or the other have taken care of the 'problem'. With the leopards gone, the livestock and people were safe and life was better, but with the balance tipped, other species proliferated. Monkeys and wild boars multiplied, and in search of food they constantly raided crops. The solution: Even more killings, trappings and translocations. Eventually, entire villages have had to change the crops they plant or have had to altogether abandon agriculture.

I spoke with Ramesh, PhD, of WII, and he explained that the leopard 'situation' was so severe that there was no actual count to how many leopards are being killed in India. It's the same story everywhere you go. A 'conflict animal' is killed. With a slipping toe-hold for the leopard, Mr Ramesh says extinction is a very real threat and one which might come even before our most endangered predator, the tiger, falls prey.

Historically, humans and animals have always lived next to each other, and we can see the proof of that in the cave paintings of Bundi, which are thousands of years old. One particular rock face has an illustration of a group of villagers with spears and bows and arrows defending a tied goat from a tiger. The tiger was big and strong and wasn't depicted as a blood-thirsty creature with arrows sticking out of it. It seems there was a greater respect for space and life. There seemed to be an understanding, a co-existence which, though rare now, can still be found in some areas. The Maldharis in Gujarat, who are cow herds, have long believed that the forests belongs to the lion and that it can take its share as and when it chooses to do so.

The human-animal conflict is too large and too important to restrict to just one article. Over the next few weeks, I will try and gain — and impart in the process — a better understanding of what is happening, what will happen and what can be done to check the trend of such conflicts. We all live in the land of the Jungle Book and the Ramayana, where stories featuring animals have always been told. It will be a real shame if all we are left with are those stories.

(The writer is a wildlife film-maker)

The Pioneer, 9th January 2013

The much-talked about Gandhi-Kallenbach papers, used by Pulitzer-winning author Joseph Lelyveld to describe the relationship between Mahatma and his close aide as "the most intimate, also ambiguous", will be on display at the National Archives here from January 30. The papers — mostly letters between Gandhi and Hermann Kallenbach, a German-Jewish architect who lived in South Africa, where Gandhi spent many years — were brought to the National Archives in August last.

Kallenbach's family had put them up for auction which was called off after the government bought the documents for around Rs. 8 crore.

Gandhi signs the letters as "Upper House" and fondly calls his friend "Lower House" — the references to which Lelyveld suggests sexual meaning to in his book Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India.

"The papers, which throw new light on the little known period in Gandhi's life — his years in South Africa — and constitute a new biographical source material, will be a rich resource for researchers and historians," Prof Mushirul Hasan, director-general of the National Archives, told HT.

He said the documents, which also include photographs, would go on display from January 30, Gandhi's death anniversary.

From the smallest details of Gandhi's daily life, including his diet, the Kallenbach papers chronicle the evolution of Gandhi's philosophy of ahimsa and satyagraha.

- The Hindustan Times, 10th January 2013

Town Hall, a local landmark -- once a fine building but now in a dilapidated condition -- will soon be transformed into a museum.

After MCD staff moved into the SP Mukherjee MCD civic centre on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg in April, many wondered what fate had in store for the iconic Town Hall. Many suggestions poured in but officials say the majority felt a museum would be the most befitting epitaph for a building in which so many historic decisions that decided the fate of this city were made.

"We weren't able to decide what purpose Town Hall will serve after all the staff shifted to the civic centre. There were many proposals and suggestions such as converting it into a heritage hotel, a library or a religious place but the Town Hall is a local landmark and the face of MCD so we decided to convert into a MCD museum," said Yogender Chandolia, chairman, Standing Committee.

While a concrete proposal is yet to be presented before the Standing Committee, the MCD commissioner on Wednesday said that this suggestion will be considered seriously.

"MCD has done so much for Delhi and it will be best to turn the Town Hall into a museum where all our work can be showcased under a single roof," said Rekha Gupta, MCD councillor .

Under the restoration plan, Azad Park could soon house a food court, and a haat along the lines of South Delhi's Dilli Haat.

Spread out over an area of 16 acres, Town Hall, was built during 1864-66 . The architecture of this colonial building is a representation of Victorian and Edwardian style.

The Pioneer, 10th January 2013

Shahdara Jheel in East Delhi is to be converted into a major tourist attraction with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit approving a project to build an infrastructure around it.

Ms. Dikshit on Wednesday gave approval to a project prepared by the East MCD to be funded by Trans Yamuna Development Board after Shahdara Jheel dried up fully in 2004.

"The present status of 30 acre land has become from bad to worse due to neglect by civic agencies. Ms. Dikshit said that the entire project would cost Rs.22 crore and that the Trans Yamuna Development Board has already sanctioned Rs.7 crore as first instalment," an official release said.

A water body with eco-system concepts would be created by developing a natural habitation, bringing back wetland and equated ecosystem and ground water recharge. "A dedicated track along the revived lake will be constructed to connect it to the Metro station. A separate public/recreational area will be developed for nearby residents so that they get a relaxation zone at their doorstep," it said. - PTI

The Hindu, 10th January 2013

This Act had crowned a hard struggle to protect rights of Adivasis and forest dwellers

The Cabinet Committee on Investment, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will reportedly meet on January 15 to expedite clearance of investment worth US$13.5 billion in the oil sector. The Union Ministry of Defence is said to have stalled clearance of 47 blocks. Among these, it has rejected 14 blocks while giving conditional clearance to 32 blocks. Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry is reported to have stalled the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation block. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is expected to convince the panel that holding up clearances will dent the country's credibility as these blocks were allotted under the New Exploration Licence Policy. Investors were assured of a smooth ride.

There is a growing fear among observers that forcing clearances for mega projects that involve concerns going beyond investment has ominous implications for the nation's security and ecology. As far as environment is concerned, Union Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj Minister Kishore Chandra Deo, has expressed reservations about the Forest Rights Act, 2006 being modified in order to accommodate mega projects. The Act came into effect from January 1, 2008. He warns that such an eventuality could adversely affect the Supreme Court case, regarding the UPA Government's decision to cancel the bauxite mining rights for Vedanta in Odisha.

Mr Deo, in a letter to Minister of State, Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan, demands that there be no dilution in the Ministry of Environment and Forests' order of August 2009, which makes forest clearances conform to the FRA. Withdrawing or modifying the order would weaken the Government's case for cancelling the diversified resources MNC Vedanta's mining rights in Odisha's Niyamgiri Hills. The company appealed against this move in the Supreme Court.

The MoEF order cited by Mr Deo disallows development projects that impact forests until rights of tribals and forest dwellers are settled. Gram sabhas have to agree to transferring land for such projects. Then MoEF Minister Jairam Ramesh had cancelled the Vedanta mining permit because it violated the assent proviso. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi reportedly backed the decision. Mr Deo observes in his missive to Ms Natarajan that via litigation in the apex court, the "parties seek to argue that they can bypass, ignore or undermine the FRA. Any dilution of the above mentioned circular of 2009 will have an adverse impact on the Vedanta case which is sub judice".

Earlier, Mr Deo revealed that the draft note of the panel on investment, formerly referred to as National Investment Board, had not been sent to him. Besides dilution of FRA, he also objected to any violation of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. That is, land in a Fifth Schedule area could not be transferred to an industry as this would be in contravention of PESA. As Minister in charge of both Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj, Mr Deo is zealous about upholding FRA and PESA. A respected parliamentarian, he was chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, resulting in Forest Rights Act.

This Act crowned a hard struggle to protect rights of Adivasis and forest dwellers. It recognises their right over forest produce, fishing, grazing and other community work. It also empowers village bodies such as gram sabhas to govern their forests and other forests. Such bodies are also authorised to stop projects that threaten natural and cultural heritage. They also have the power to undertake measures to conserve forests. It was a path-breaking law that gave the concerned people precedence in determining the fate of the habitats they had historically claimed their own, a fact never officially conceded before.

Activist Soumitra Ghosh of National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers and Campaign for Survival and Dignity, while hailing the passage of the 2006 Bill as "a watershed event", displayed foresight in making the following comment : "One thing is however clear. The Act — however well-meaning it may be — by itself solves nothing and just because it is there, the State is not going to hand over forest rights to people on a silver platter.

The Forest Department and its coercive bureaucratic apparatus and its cronies like the timber mafia won't just vanish, and neither will big conservation NGOs cease to raise a stink each time people really get some rights. The development menace would remain, and both forests and people will be destroyed as usual, for dams, factories, roads and mines. The Act changes nothing until forest struggles lend it teeth and turn it into a weapon".

Souparna Lahiri of All India Forum of Forest Movements castigates MoEF for considering "any vegetation of more than one hectare with more than 10 per cent canopy density, including tea and coffee plantations" as forest cover. Even so, the maximum amounts to 23 per cent forest cover. He points out that "huge tracts of forests have been diverted for industrial and allied purposes", leading to loss of biodiversity, livelihoods and food for animals.

The Pioneer, 11th January 2013

In an overconnected world of social networking sites and every application that lets you broadcast your every move, the idea of a holiday is not just about leaving workmates behind anymore. Today to me it's about leaving all this technology behind so you can take a vacation from everything that connects you to the world.

As I landed in Bengaluru, groggy, early one morning, I closed my eyes briefly, took a deep breath and mentally geared myself for a long, almost seven-hour drive to Coorg. Allowing myself the leeway of listening to some music off the radio in the car, I was determined to use as few gadgets as possible. The drive was unending, the heat from time to time unbearable and a patch of the road that I was convinced would cause my back to snap. By the time I reached the hotel in Madikeri (seven km beyond Coorg), I was yearning for a bed, waiting to drop into it and pacify my stiffened back, with no intention whatsoever to look around until I felt adequately rested.

When I walked into the reception of Vivanta by Taj, Madikeri, the staggering view of the hills and ravines took my breath and tiredness away in one swift second. Unobstructed by human habitation stood nature, waiting to cradle you and leave you rejuvenated. Standing at 4,000 sq. ft from sea level amidst a thick rainforest, I was embraced by a short chilly breeze while sipping a Coorg coffee delight — bella kaapi.

Within minutes of checking into my room, the very organic feel of the place took me in. Then I discovered that I had to stretch myself on the top of my toe and as much away from the room to possibly try and get one bar of cellphone network. If the idea was to get in touch with your inner self on a holiday, that the network was awful most certainly helped.

So I made my way to the Jiva Spa, a much talked about centre of Ayurveda, natural massages and wellness. Sixty minutes later, after the masseuse relaxed every muscle of mine, I stepped out convinced that I'd go back to my room and hit the sack. It wasn't the best massage I've had but it certainly gave me the spring in my step to go out and try to explore a tiny portion of this 108-acre property.

One of the best things on offer is a nature trail. The very knowledgeable naturalist walked us through narrow paths and dense sholas, reminding us of what we miss out on a daily basis as we live our high pressure city lives. Rare orchids, bamboo plants, ferns and so many other botanical beauties cut you out of the din of a community and put you one with nature.

When I got ready to come back home, the first thing that got my attention was just how much noise I was cut off from while enjoying myself in this carefully maintained property. A holiday really should be about relaxing and not Instagramming and updating your statuses. The long drive was worth it but the silence that followed elevated the experience beyond the 4,000 sq. ft where the property was ensconced. Disconnect from your daily din and make this trip to Madikeri.

The Asian Age, 11th January 2013

Tucked away in a north Delhi neighbourhood is an interesting piece of history connected with Swami Vivekananda during his stay here in February 1891. The Swami — then barely a 28-year-old sanyasi — had put up at Seth Shyamaldas Ki Haveli in Roshanara Bagh near Pul Bangash. The building.

altered over the years, is now a government-run Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, situated right across the road, to the east of Mughal gateways called Punjabi Gate. The gateways lead straight to a baradari which has the tomb of Roshanara, daughter of Mughal king Shah Jahan, all structures protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The then culture minister Jagmohan had declaring the building a national heritage building in 2002 because of its association with Vivekananda. "Such buildings should be preserved as they can continue to be an inspiration for one of the greatest stalwarts of our times," Jagmohan told HT.

One clear remnant of the past is a huge Mughal-style arched entrance leading to a square courtyard, characteristic of Old Delhi havelis.

"After the 1857 Uprising, Britishers took over most of the area. Along with them came several Bengalis, who too stayed in the area," said RV Smith, chronicler of Delhi's popular history.

Unfortunately, a day ahead of Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary, when HT visited the area, none from the school or the locality are even aware of the school building's history.

During his almost three-week stay, Vivekananda, along with his English disciple couple Seviers and his brother monks, visited all the monuments and ruins associated with the past glory of the Mughal emperors. He also walked down to the Yamuna regularly.

Recalled Smith, "In 1962, I met this elderly Muslim man in Fatehpuri, who told me he remembered Vivekananda. When the Swami walked in long strides from Chandni Chowk to the Yamuna, several youngsters followed him. He also recalled Swami's thick neck and pehelwan-like personality."

Road after Vivekananda

To pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his 150th birth anniversary, the NDMC is naming a road after him. Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh along with North Delhi mayor Mira Aggarwal and councillors will unveil a statue of Swami Vivekananda at Fatehpuri Chowk in Chandni Chowk on Saturday, after which a road will be named after him. HTC

- The Hindustan Times, 12th January 2013

Re-visiting Kolkata in its coldest winter in twenty-five years and seeing, once again, the British Raj's most important building in India, has been a snuggle in quilted memory. Kolkata's Raj Bhavan will, this year, be 210 years old. Spender's lines come to mind: The furniture carries great cargoes of memory.

The staircase has corners which remember.

Two exquisite books have been written in the recent past on its story, Anirban Mitra's photographic work Raj Bhavan of Kolkata (2008) and Ranabir Raychaudhuri's epic account of viceregal abodes, The Lord-Sahib's House (2010).

Little is known and less written about the Viceroy's and then the Bengal Governor's riverside retreat in Barrackpore. The Library at Raj Bhavan brought out a monograph on the Barrackpore side of the story in 2007. Since work on that house was begun by Lord Hastings (1813 to 1823), this year may be taken as the Barrackpore Government House's 200th year. Wellesley's sense of grandeur and imperviousness to expense had conceived of it as an echo of the Calcutta house, with a single straight road cutting through the city's busiest areas to connect the two buildings. Fortunately the plan did not go very far on that or any road.

The first Governor of West Bengal, Rajagopalachari relinquished the house as being in excess of his requirements and it now houses a police hospital. Not all austerities are wise. Some buildings are meant to be maintained and used in a manner that befits their personality. The Barrackpore Government House is one such.

A giant banyan tree at its front is regarded by popular legend to be the tree where the extraordinary Mangal Pande of the 34th Native Bengal Infantry was hanged by the Raj for his electrifying start to what became the Sepoy Mutiny. The braveheart was, in reality, executed on a different site. Time snatches and changes beyond recognition but here and there, it also leaves buildings behind absent-mindedly. One such is the exquisite Flagstaff House, Barrackpore, which used to be the residence of the Private Secretary to the Viceroy, and is now the Barrackpore home of the Governor of West Bengal. Lutyens' type but even more delicately graceful.

It now houses, interspersed among trees 12 statues of the Raj which were moved in 1969 from their pedestals in Kolkata on 'popular demand' but installed by the then Governor Dharma Vira in Flagstaff House, an imaginative decision.

There is among them one of Curzon by Thornycroft. An upturned collar befits the upturned head with a broad forehead and eyes that look into the future with ambition. Another, by T Woolner, of the rugged and resolute John Lawrence is captivating. A great coat slung casually over his left hand makes him appear what he was: a man who knew his mind and could not care less about what others thought of him. Hilton Young's statue of Montagu immersed in gloomy thought is the only 'modern' one in the set.

All but one are in brilliant bronze. That sole exception, in marble, is of the pathetically beautiful William Peel, brave soldier and Captain of the Royal Navy who died, shortly after the 1857 uprising. If he were to have died then at all he should have done so fighting an Indian mutineer in equal man-to-man combat. But history which creates heroism also authors bathos. William Peel, courageous soldier and exemplary seaman, died in Kanpur of the pox. The miserably anti-climactic circumstances of that death are rescued and raised to an unacknowledged height by that marble masterpiece of sculptor W Theed. The statue stands demurely, self-consciously, peeking from behind a frangipani, on the veranda of the Cenotaph in Flagstaff House. It has to be among the most alluring statues of the Raj period anywhere. But before I describe the sculpture, a few words about the subject of the statue.

William Peel was the third son of Robert Peel, whose prime ministership coincided with the governor generalship of the remarkable William Bentinck and the visit to England of the herald of India's great social reformer and political savant, Raja Rammohun Roy.

I find it remarkable that being a prime minister's son neither privileged William nor protected him from professional hazards. Rising to the position of Captain in the Navy, he served famously in the Crimean War, 1854-5, at Sebastopol. His midshipman Edward St John Daniel writes that whenever a shot passed over Peel, he just threw up his head and squared his shoulders. Peel was, predictably, shot through his left arm and fell back, half-fainting. His midshipman's reflexes saved Peel's life.

In 1857, Peel was drafted to service in India and was wounded in the Relief of Lucknow. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, and thus became Sir William Peel. He was 34. But Fate is severe. It also has no sense of history. The mother of all illnesses, or 'mata' as smallpox is called in Hindi and 'ammai' in Tamil, got this heroic soldier in Kanpur.

Just as Peel was taken by the absurd, heritage buildings get overtaken by absurd misuses, misapplications, mistakes. These are very often in the shape of building new extensions, annexes, auditoria. And putting in false ceilings for air-conditioning or lighting.

It is time something was done concertedly to map all buildings and installations including statues in the age-group 300 to 100 years such as Raj Bhavans, and restore them delicately, prudently and with the advice of historians, before restoration becomes either uneconomic or is rendered physically impractical by the action of the absurd.

- The Hindustan Times, 12th January 2013

Many structures that were badly damaged in tsunami have been restored.

The serenity of the expansive blue sea and the daily rhythms of the tides at Tranquebar or "Tarangambadi", are now a far cry from the roaring tsunami waves that lashed its shores on December 26, 2004, when this historic coastal settlement's endearing memory as "the land of the singing waves" was almost torn asunder.

"Tarangam" in old Tamil meant waves. Suffixed with the word "badi", it became known as the "Land of singing waves". It is now situated in Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam district, which had then taken the brunt of the Asian tsunami. Over eight years after that ghastly human tragedy, Tranquebar, with its uniquely inherited legacy of European art, architecture, social mores and heavy evangelical undertones-- all burst forth with new energies as it were in a 17th century colonial trade setting-- still retains the fragments of "another India" that partly contributed to emergence of a modern and free India three centuries later.

Post-tsunami, conservation efforts of precious heritage buildings and other public spaces got a big boost here, starting from the famous Danish Fort itself. While the killer waves devastated many villages, it "caused no damage to this castle".

The fort withstanding the tsunami waves "is an eloquent testimony to prove the stability and fine workmanship of this monument," said former Special Commissioner of Archaeology T S Sridhar.

Constructed by Naval Colonel Ove Geddy, a Commander in the Royal Danish Navy, during A D 1620, the fort has stood majestic like a sentinel for the Dutch, Danish, Germans and later the British.

As part of the Danish Fort's conservation works, which runs North-South with its eye-catching arches and high-domed roof and originally built with brick and lime-mortar, extensive photo-documentation of the strength and depth of its rampart walls' foundations were made, Sridhar emphasised.

If the fort, also called Dansborg Castle, has survived nature's vicissitudes for nearly 400 years now, it is partly due to its "structural similarity" to three decks of a ship built to take storm surges, said a source at Tranquebar. "The Danes blended the best of their ship-building techniques with their art and architecture to ensure it survived stormy seas like a sturdy ship," he said.

Interestingly, "the fort basically consists of two levels; the rooms adjoining the rampart wall at the lower level were used as warehouse, prison as well as rest area for soldiers. The upper level was used for the residence of the (Danish) Governor and the priests," he added.

A small group of about 12 Danish aristocratic families set the ball rolling as trade-settlers in early 17th century. The "sleeping beauty" of Tranquebar was awakened after the then ruler of Thanjavur, Raghunatha Nayak, permitted the Danish East India Company to settle there to promote global trade.

Apart from state and Central grants pouring in for specific packages to redo this port-settlement in parts, like the approach road from the historic arch-entrance to Tranquebar, the latest to get a facelift is the erstwhile Danish Governor's Bungalow.

The Danish Government also pitched in with funds for it and technical assistance came from the Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). A public square, overlooking the sea with landscaping and magic lighting, has been developed to give it an old European ambience. A second phase of renovation is coming up too with aid, informed an official.

Road names like "King's Street" and "Queen's Street", are still in vogue here even as tourists cannot miss what is now called "Bungalow on the Beach". It was the house occupied earlier by the British District Collector for Thanjavur, after the Danes sold Tranquebar to an expanding Britain in 1845. But it is now a Heritage Hotel, run by Delhi-based Neemrana Hotels, a non-hotel chain managing similar cultural properties across India. "Tourism was hit after the tsunami, but now tourists' arrivals have picked up a lot," hotel manager N K Devan said.

And thanks to Tranquebar symbolising the "beginning of the history of the Protestant Church in India – the King of Denmark in 1706 sent two brilliant theological students, Bartolomaus Zeigenbalg and Heinrich Plutschau from Germany on a spiritual mission-- a cluster of Church-centric buildings and the unique institutions Zeigenbalg set up, like the First Printing Press in South Asia, are reconnecting its cultural role.

In fact, during the immediate post-tsunami relief work, the Zeigenbalg Spiritual Centre (ZSC) in Tranquebar became the hub for host of NGOs' from world-over to rush in and launch their medical and livelihood rehabilitation programmes for the shattered folks, recalls Dr P Manoharan, ZSC's director.

The "Tercentenary" of the Zeigenbalg Mission in July 2006 gave the present Danish rulers a reason to revisit Tranquebar, which in turn has spurred renovations of Church-related heritage structures. "It is really amazing, the awe-striking church architecture; we feel like being at home here," said Sebastian Schindler and Saskia Schindler, two young student-visitors to Tranquebar from Pulsnitz in Germany, which is also Zeigenbalg's hometown.

The ancient and neglected Masilamaninatha Swamy temple for Lord Shiva was badly ravaged by the tsunami. But locals came up with a splendid response. Not only has the temple been restored by "sthapathis", but also a bigger replica shrine has also been built little inward, signalling that the East and the West happily co-exist in Tranquebar. "The swirling waters carried me away, but I managed to survive," sighed an elderly Pakkiriamma, looking up to the temple that now awaits consecration.

- The Deccan Herald, 13th January 2013

Delhi's draft policy on water has a strong focus on demand management, suggesting that per capita consumption in the city should decrease from the present average of 172 litres per capital per day (lpcd) by a minimum of 10 litres each decade. With limited fresh water sources, the capital also needs to shift focus to recycling and reuse of waste water and curtailing distribution losses.

Delhi Jal Board's 12th Five Year Plan Approach Paper has projected a demand of 1,140 million gallons per day by 2017 for a projected population of 190 million. The report prepared by Intach and still in the discussion stage says DJB is currently supplying 822 MGD of water which is an average of 220 lpcd. However, the supply is highly inequitable with Delhi Cantt getting 509 lpcd, NDMC areas being supplied 440 lpcd and outer Delhi areas getting as little as 40 lpcd.

Delhi also has an extremely high level of non-revenue water which includes that lost en route to distribution points and that which is either stolen or supplied to areas that are not metered. The National Water Policy has directed that an acceptable figure of losses is 15%.

Shifting focus from supply to demand will entail reduction in present per capita consumption.

The Intach report suggests that Delhi should reduce its per capita consumption of 172 lpcd by a minimum of 10 litres every decade. The possible additions to Delhi's supply are Munak Canal which will supply 80 MGD and Renuka Dam which, if commissioned in part, will supply 150 MGD and, if fully, an additional 275 MGD. Two other dams that could increase Delhi's supply are Kishau and Lakhway Vyasi with 372 MGD and 185 MGD, respectively.

However, keeping in mind changing climatic conditions, increase in demand and the fact that Delhi is a riparian state in water sharing agreements, it needs to increase its dependency on recycled water resources. The report suggests that recycled water should form 25% of supply by 2017, 50% by 2022 and a minimum of 80% by 2027.

DJB CEO Debashree Mukherjee said that one way of reducing demand is by increasing tariff. "For that we are looking at volumetric tariff and full metering by 2020. People should know how much they consume and what they should pay for their consumption. Secondly, awareness building is also our prime focus," she said.

It is essential to increase availability of water by controlling distribution losses. A maximum permissible loss of only 10% should be permitted by 2025. Delhi's dependency on ground water also needs to be reduced, especially since its level across the city has dropped to alarmingly low levels. The policy advocates passing of the ground water bill that will give the state more control on ground water resources. It says that aquifer exploitation should be neutralized by 2020 and attain full recovery to 1990 levels by 2030.

A Water Resources Commission will be set up. Its mandate will be to deal with the regulatory aspects of water and monitoring of policies. The Commission would "coordinate the actions of all agencies involved with water services, resource management, river issues, foster technological and administrative and financial innovations, track developments in the northern river basins, track climate change impacts on resources, benchmark performance on policy parameters and act as a pricing regulator".

A strong focus of the policy is also on development and maintenance of water bodies and river Yamuna. Water quality of the river needs to be improved to bathing quality by 2020.

The Times of India, 13th January 2013

The palace of Zeenat Mahal, wife of the last Mughal emperor, lies neglected.

Amid numerous shops that dot the lanes of Lal Kuan Bazaar, it is easy to miss the derelict remains of a once-imposing façade — the palace of Zeenat Mahal. She was the wife of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor.

Zeenat Mahal's haveli at Lal Kuan Bazaar was built in 1846 on the orders of the Mughal Emperor. Although Zeenat was a lot younger to Bahadur Shah Zafar, it is believed that she was his favourite wife and that he would grant all her wishes.

Except for the red sandstone jharokhas (enclosed balconies) that overlook the bazaar, it is hard to distinguish the palace from buildings around it. Residents say that till a few years ago, a board near the gate informed visitors about the historical importance of the haveli. That board seems to have vanished.

Pointing to the ceiling of the gateway, Achal Trehan, a businessman whose office is in the palace complex, says, "The ceiling used to have beautiful red and white bricks with designs seen at the Red Fort. All of it is gone."

Most families residing on palace grounds have been staying there for over 50 years. Trehan's father migrated to Delhi after the Partition in 1947. He stayed at Zeenat Mahal ki haveli for five years. "We were told that the palace had underground passageways and tunnels, which led to the Red Fort. These were located towards the left side of the gateway. Zeenat Mahal used to take that route to visit the emperor," Trehan says.

While some accounts say Zeenat had actively participated and encouraged her husband to fight against the British rule, others say they tried to negotiate with the British to ensure their safety. After the failed Revolt of 1857, Zafar and Zeenat were exiled to Rangoon in Burma. Zeenat Mahal died in exile in 1886.

With a defaced outer wall and decrepit arched pavilions, the palace of the last empress of the sub-continent is now a mere shadow of its past grandeur.

- The Indian Express, 13th January 2013

As the Kumbh begins on Monday, a dip in the Sangam—the confluence of two of the most polluted rivers in the country, the Ganga and the Yamuna—will call for a giant leap of faith. Shyamlal Yadav digs out data under the RTI Act to explain why

Numbers and acronyms are no match for faith. So starting January 14, when the faithful queue up to take a dip in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in Allahabad, nothing will deter them—not the rising BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) levels or the dipping DO (dissolved oxygen) levels in the swirling cocktail that is the holy Sangam.

Over the last six months, The Sunday Express has gathered data under the RTI Act to show how, despite the Rs 8,278 crore spent on cleaning the Ganga and the Yamuna, these two rivers have some of the worst pollution levels as seen by their BOD and DO levels. For instance, a sample of water taken from the Sangam on May 5 last year shows a BOD level of 7.3 mg/litre, way beyond the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) permissible limit of 3 mg/litre, above which the water becomes unfit even for bathing.

BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms in a body of water to break down organic material. Higher the BOD, higher the pollution in the water sample. It's a standard method to measure the amount of organic pollution in a sample of water. DO or dissolved oxygen is a measure of how successfully the water has been treated. Raw waste water has very little dissolved oxygen. So higher the DO, lower the pollution.

The data has been gathered from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, CPCB, the Central Water Commission, the state Pollution Control Boards of Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. Since some Boards did not provide complete information, some of the data has been taken from affidavits filed by the CPCB before the Supreme Court in November last year.

Since 1985, over Rs 8,278 crore has been spent on the Ganga and Yamuna under various schemes such as the Ganga Action Plan, the National River Conservation Plan, Yamuna Action Plan and the latest, National Ganga River Basin Authority. But much of this has gone down the drain.

The Ganga

The CPCB started monitoring water quality in the Ganga in 1980 and now monitors pollution levels at 62 locations along the river. Of the samples collected from 51 locations along the 2,525-kilometre-long Ganga, 22 show a BOD level that's higher than 3 mg/litre, which makes the water unsuitable even for bathing. Only samples from three locations along the river—Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, and Nabadweep and Tribeni in West Bengal—have BOD levels lower than 2mg/litre, which means the water can be consumed without treatment. The data shows BOD levels between 2 and 3 mg/litre at only 26 locations, which means that the water in these places can be consumed, but only after treatment and disinfection.

When the Ganga starts its journey from the Himalayas, its waters are sparkling—BOD of zero at Gangotri and DO of more than 10—but the pollution levels rise alarmingly at the Raiwala and Hardwar monitoring stations in Uttarakhand. The water at these two locations was pollution-free in 1986 but the latest reports provided by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board show BOD levels of 6.4 and 12 respectively. Except for Rishikesh (BOD of 0.6 in June 2011), the Ganga has high levels of pollution all the way up to Diamond Harbour in West Bengal. Going by the BOD levels, the Ganga at Hardwar, Garhmukteswar, Narora, Kannauj, Bithoor, Kanpur, Dalmau (Rae Bareli, UP), Allahabad, Trighat (Ghazipur, UP), Varanasi and Dakshineshwar (West Bengal) is not fit for bathing or drinking after treatment.

While DO levels in the Ganga are better than at locations along the Yamuna, the count of faecal coliform and total coliform exceeds the maximum permissible limit at most monitoring stations, according to data provided by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. While the permissible limit of total coliform for bathing is 500 MPN (Most Probable Number) per 100 ml, 24 of the 51 sample reports available with The Sunday Express show levels higher than 5,000 MPN. The latest samples show total coliform counts of 8,000 at Sangam, 1,20,000 at at Kanpur and 46,000 at Varanasi. According to CPCB, the presence of coliform bacteria in a drinking water system results in nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhoea.

The Yamuna

Monitoring of the Yamuna started way back in 1977 through a private laboratory in Delhi. However, the earliest available water quality data with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee is of 1999. The CPCB and other agencies monitor the Yamuna at 27 locations.

Unlike the Ganga, where some locations have shown marginal improvements , the 1,376-km Yamuna has gone from bad to worse, especially between Palla on the Haryana-Delhi border and Agra. The DO levels in some of the samples stand at zero and BOD levels are seven times higher than when they were last taken. The Yamuna is the dirtiest at Okhla in Delhi with DO at zero and BOD at 99 mg/litre (remember, the water becomes unfit for bathing above 3 mg/litre). Latest samples put the total coliform count at Nizamuddin, Kalindi Kunj and Okhla at 1,700 crore (500 MPN is the permissible limit) while near Palwal in Haryana, it stands at 80 crore.

With DO levels at zero, the Yamuna between Delhi and Agra is unfit even for plants and aquatic life. The Supreme Court has recently directed IIT-Delhi and IIT-Roorkee to prepare a new plan for Yamuna since the second phase of the Yamuna Action Plan ended six months ago. Four samples collected at Sangam in Allahabad last year—in February, May, June and July—had BOD levels ranging from 4.2 to 7.3 mg/litre. While the state government is trying to release extra water into the river during the Kumbh, no long-term solution appears in sight.

The Indian Express, 13th January 2013

Time was when the Yamuna was a revered river and people from far and near gathered to take a dip in its waters, in Delhi, on every celestial event and festival. The French traveller, Francois Bernier, who witnessed a solar eclipse here in 1666, notes: "I took my station on the terrace of my house, situated on the banks of the Gemna, when I saw both shores of the river, for nearly a league (5.6 km) in length, covered with gentiles or idolaters, who stood in the water up to the waist".

Such scenes were witnessed on the banks of all major rivers across north India on Monday, barring the Yamuna in Delhi. The polluted river was bereft of devotees taking a holy dip to mark the beginning of the harvest season. Even the administration made no arrangements for devotees, not expecting any to turn up to bathe in the dirty waters.

The 22km stretch of the river through Delhi is practically a sewer. Excluding the monsoon months, the river is completely deprived of a fresh water flow and creeps towards Uttar Pradesh carrying only Delhi's waste.

Doctors warn that the river's water has chemicals and microbes that can cause serious skin troubles. Dermatologist Dr Kabir Sardana says pollutants in the Yamuna pose a serious threat to immune-compromised patients. "They can get skin infections. Bathing in the river can also cause flaring of eczema, irritation, dryness and increased fragility of hair, among other issues. One should avoid bathing in the river water. Even if one does so for religious reasons, precautions like washing the body with normal water immediately thereafter and not drinking the water must be taken."

So far, Rs 4,439 crore has been spent on cleaning the river but other than its worsening water quality, nothing has changed. The New Delhi Municipal Committee and the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi have spent an additional Rs 315 crore for river cleaning work that includes creation of toilets and cleaning of drains. UP and Delhi have also recently been pulled up by the Supreme Court on their ineffective work.

Central Pollution Control Board has been monitoring the water quality of the river, including the working of sewage treatment plants and effluent treatment plants in Delhi. In court, it revealed that the installed sewage treatment capacity in Delhi is 2,460 million litres per day against sewage generation of 3,800 mld. Only about 63% of the installed capacity is being used as several areas lack a sewer network, many drains are blocked and some STPs do not function to capacity. With 1,360 mld of sewage flowing into the river untreated, the effort to treat the remaining sewage has come to naught.

Delhi Jal Board has launched an ambitious project to solve the problem. The interceptor sewage system entails laying of parallel drains along Delhi's three main drains, Shahdara, Supplementary and Najafgarh. These drains will trap all sewage falling into the drains, take it to STPs and carry treated sewage back to the drain. Work on these will take another two to three years. However, even this will not be able to bring the pollution down to levels where the water can be categorized as 'bathing quality'.

CPCB officials say dissolved oxygen (DO), a measure of the "amount of oxygen available in dissolved form in water" is necessary to support aquatic life. If it drops below a certain level, life forms, specifically fish, are unable to continue living. Downstream of Khajoori Paltoon Pul, the point where the Najafgarh drain meets the river, DO is down to zero. Microbial levels are also very high by the time the water reaches Okhla Bridge.

- The Times of India, 15th January 2013

At a time when the Sarus crane population in the world is rapidly declining, 14 of these endangered birds were allegedly found poisoned in Bil Akbarpur area of Dadri. Apart from the cranes, conservationists found scores of corpses of other birds at the site which was recently notified as a protected wetland after the land was sold to a private developer. The bird is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act.

According to the NGO Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), which sent a team for preliminary investigation to Bil Akbarpur, 14 Sarus cranes were found dead on Sunday. "It's still too early to pinpoint the cause of death, but there are bodies of other birds as well and it seems likely that they were poisoned," said a WTI spokesperson.

Officials said that bodies of 14 Sarus cranes, 29 crows, 3 common Teals that were decomposed, 5 Ruffs and one injured Steppe Eagle were also found.

The Bil Akbarpur wetland was given protected status by the state after the issue came under the scanner of the Union environment ministry. The land was allegedly sold off to a private developer who had started construction at the site.

Wildlife experts had argued that not only was the wetland a rich habitat for migratory birds, but also other endangered species such as the Blackbuck visited it.

Wildlife experts said the Sarus is the only resident, breeding crane in India and south-east Asia and is also the world's tallest flying bird. Almost 30% of the country's 10,000-strong Sarus crane population is in Uttar Pradesh and it has been adopted as the state bird. However, experts said that the bird's survival is under threat.

"Change in land use along with losses in wetland have led to the decline of the species. Indiscriminate use of pesticides, high-tension electric cables and hunting for meat has all caused the bird's decline in the state," said a forest department official.

- The Times of India, 15th January 2013

Beijing's air pollution made international news over the weekend when fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the city air rose to an 'out-of-index' level of 755 mg/cu m. Pictures showed Beijing residents wearing masks amid advisories that they should stay indoors. Meanwhile, it was business as usual in Delhi on Monday when despite a clear windy day, the PM2.5 levels ranged from 130 to 565 mg/cu m.

According to World Health Organization, the safe level of PM2.5 is 20 mg/cu m. The Indian standard for this pollutant — that can cause respiratory illnesses and worsen heart ailments — is 60 mg/cu m.

On Monday, the highest value of 565 mg/cu m — considered very hazardous — was recorded at R K Puram for about two hours. But even the lowest reading at this site was 191 mg/cu m, more than three times the Indian standard.

In November 2012, when the city was in the throes of its worst smog spell in recent years, PM2.5 levels were consistently over 500 mg/cu m over several places.

"Beijing undertook several measures to control its air pollution levels during the Beijing Olympics in 2008 but the city is still prone to smog. More recently, it has decided to implement a lottery system for private cars which it hopes will keep a check on the rising number of vehicles. Despite all this, the city continues to battle worsening air quality," said Anumita Roychowdhury, associate director at the Centre for Science and Environment.

"Delhi, which is confronted with the same issues, is hardly doing anything to control air pollution. It would come as no surprise if we surpass Beijing's record in the next couple of years," Roychowdhury added.

Experts say that smaller the particulate matter, the more likely it is to affect human health. Between PM10 and PM2.5, the thicker particles are most likely to be natural while smaller ones are a result of activities such as combustion. This is why, claim environmentalists, vehicles are considered a major contributor to PM2.5 levels.

To understand the size of these particles, the diameter of human hair is about 50 micrometers while that of PM2.5 is 2.5 micrometers.

The two most likely reasons for high levels of PM2.5 at present are vehicular emissions and biomass burning. While pollution levels are always higher in winter, Delhi's cold also leads to several small fires being lit in an effort by people to keep warm.

Realizing the urgent need to tackle the city's deteriorating air quality, Delhi's environment department, with the help of other agencies, has drawn up an extensive master plan. However, while it is still to be cleared by the Delhi cabinet, all good intentions are being wasted. Not only PM2.5, levels of PM10, oxides of nitrogen and ozone are all on the rise.

The city's biggest worry is its fleet of over 74 lakh vehicles to which about 1,700 are added each day. An increasing number of new vehicles are also diesel-run which makes it worse for the city's environment.

"We are not a dictatorship but seeing how the environment is getting degraded, the government needs to take some firm steps to control the rising number of personal vehicles in the city," said Roychowdhury.

- The Times of India, 15th January 2013

For long,this black steel wedge filled with golden arabesque shapes has been a mystery to motorists using the Barapullah Flyover. But now that a signboard is up at the site and an organization devoted to popularizing science has done an event here , people have started realizing that this is no whimsical installation but the arm (the technical name is gnomon ) of a giant sundial. One that really, and correctly, tells time.

Set in the loop of the flyover, on the Sarai Kale Khan side, the instrument is by no means unique in a city blessed with one of Jai Singh's Jantar Mantars. But it has the advantage of not remaining besieged by protesters round the year. And Delhi Development Authority, which designed and built it, is working with other organizations to make it user-friendly.

DDA is proud of the gnomon that weighs 42 tonnes, and measures 12.7m high and 24.5m long.Itisdecoratedwithtilesborrowing motifs from the Indus Valley era. Designed in-house by DDA's Landscape Unit, it was built by the agency's engineers under the structural guidance of IIT Roorkee, and sculpted by Gagan Vij, said DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar.

For a pieceof art,theinstrumentissurprisingly useful. A group of scientists that tested it on the winter solstice â€" December 21 â€" found its north-south alignment correct and declared it accurate. But don't use your watch totestit. Whatthesundialshowsis "localtime" asopposedto your "clocktime" which,in India, is the Indian Standard Time (IST ) calculated in Allahabad. For example, it is noon by the sundialwhen theshadowof the gnomon disappears. But your watch â€" set to IST â€" will read 12.21pm at that time, as Delhi is 21 minutes behind Allahabad.

Reading time off the dial is a bit more complicated than checking your watch because the sun does not cast shadows from the same position every day. So, an "equation of time" has to be factored in to get accurate time. Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE ) has installed a board at the site describing how the sundial works and a table of values for "equation of time" will also be put up soon.

Till then, DDA officials have to contend with visitors who are disappointed by the sundial's "inaccuracy".

- The Times of India, 16th January 2013

Churna (Satpura Tiger Reserve): Close to the forest resthouse at Churna in the Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh are rock shelters having hundreds of paintings dating back 3,000 to around 10,000 years. There are similar sites in Pachmarhi and Bori and senior state forest officers, who have served in this area, are of the strong view that these can be protected by declaring Satpura Tiger Reserve, comprising the Satpura National Park, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary and Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, as a World Heritage site.

Satpura Tigher Reserve field director R.P. Singh said that there is no other area in the country which is so rich in flora, fauna and biodiversity. The entire area is a treasure for geologists and botanists. There exist hundreds of rock-shelters with paintings dating back thousands of years, he said adding, in order to save them from vandalism, there is urgent need to convince the villagers to shift outside. According to him, of the 38 villages that remain to shifted from their present location along the Denwa River and also near the Tawa reservoir in the Bori Sanctuary, at least 30 should be shifted on priority.

Earlier on Tuesday, inaugurating the second conservation awareness camp jointly organised by CREW, a Bhopal-based NGO, and the wildlife wing of the state forest department, chief conservator of forest, Bhopal S.S. Rajput also focused attention on the need to declare Satpura Tiger Reserve as a Unesco World Heritage site. He described it as a botanists' paradise and said it is a future hotspot due to floristic diversity, gene pool and endemic species. On Thursday morning, along with a group of participants attending the conservation awareness camp, this correspondent started from the Churna forest resthouse and took a winding dirt track cutting through thick dense forest by a four-wheel drive petrol vehicle to reach the foothill of a hill with precipitous slopes at some places. Once the vehicle came to a halt, the guide, who was a local villager working for the newly-introduced eco-tourism development society network, announced that from here one would have to trek or climb the steep flight of stairs till one reaches the top where the grandeur of the ancient rock paintings would unfold.

For most of us, carrying heavy cameras and other equipment, the climb could have been a big challenge, but what came to the rescue was the chill in the air and halfway through the climb everyone had started wondering why they did not leave behind their heavy winter jackets. When only a few metres remained to be climbed, the rock-cut stairs leading to the rock paintings became precariously steep and one had to find one's way through the debris of huge rocky boulders lying scattered due to rock-slides. Once on top, the rock paintings gave a glimpse of the life and culture of people who lived in this part of the world thousands of years ago.

- The Asian Age, 16th January 2013

An electrical engineer quit French consulting, technology and outsourcing company Cap Gemini in Pune to pursue her interest in green and economic issues. A software engineer left his high-paying job at American multinational computer technology company Oracle in Hyderabad for similar reasons.

Neelima Mishra applied for the postgraduate programme at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) because, "being an autonomous institution…the direction of the institution was in sync with my interest areas — conservation, livelihood and nature." Mishra has been placed through campus placements with the Odisha Livelihoods Mission where she will be "working towards poverty alleviation."

Her classmate Arvind Garimella, inclined towards the development sector and social entrepreneurship, is all set to join the Andhra Pradesh government's Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty.

So, what is driving such professionals to a field like forest management? The opportunities, say experts. Moreover, the work opportunities are not restricted to the mills and the woods. Life after a forest management course is not an out-and-out jungle tale. Nor is it about a spartan life with frugal means. (One of the professionals we spoke to makes about Rs. 80 lakh a year. For starting salaries, see accompanying box.) IIFM alumni work for government-run poverty alleviation projects, microfinance organisations, multilateral agencies such as United Nations Development Programme, and international financial institutions such as the World Bank, to name a few avenues, which pay rich dividends.

A few go solo. For example, one of the IIFM alumni has designed a system for direct cash transfers through mobile phones in Tanzania. Delhi-based Vijay Pratap Singh Aditya's Ekgaon Technologies, with an annual turnover of Rs. 1.32 crore, won the bid for the project, which is now being implemented in the African nation. (Ekgaon focuses on taking technology-enabled services to rural and under-served communities.)

Paul Basil, who had enrolled at IIFM for the management bit instead of the forest component, launched an organisation which offers funding, mentoring, networking and talent to very early stage innovation-based enterprises. In the past 11 years, Villgro Innovations Foundation, Chennai, boasts of having incubated 64 projects, roughly 12 of which have become self-sustaining. "These have created 3800 jobs. We invested Rs. 4 million into (all) these incubatees. They've gone on to raise Rs. 20 million and provide products and services that have touched five million customers across rural India," says Basil.

Three IIFM alumni pursuing different careers talk about the training at their alma mater and prospects afterwards

Deepak Khare
VP - raw material and plantation, Greenply and FSC lead auditor

Whatever an Indian Forest Service officer is taught at (their institute in) Dehradun is taught to IIFM students. Whatever MBA students study at IIM Ahmedabad is taught to IIFM students. After the course, there is tremendous scope not only in forest management, NGOs and international organisations but also in marketing, financial institutions such as HDFC, NABARD etc, in supply chain management. People trained in forest management are also equipped for climate change studies, clean development mechanism, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification (for auditors), corporate social responsibility roles and market research.

Vijay Pratap Singh Aditya
Co-founder and CEO, Ekgaon Technologies and Ashoka Lemelson fellow and Ashoka Globalizer fellow

What helps (at IIFM) is the multi-dimensional exposure we got. One's length and breadth of understanding increased a lot which no other institute gives, except probably Institute of Rural Management, Anand. We spent about nine months in the field. That was great. But this period of field exposure has been shortened. As far as the scope is concerned…in India, there's brief scope in natural resource management, forest management and climate change because these are dominated by the government. However, globally there is huge scope. The (IIFM) training is good enough for you to compete globally

Paul Basil
Founder and CEO, Villgro Foundation

Staying on a hillock (campus), away from the city of Bhopal, with bright minds...with diverse backgrounds...together for two years was for me — someone from Kerala which is on the southern tip of India — the biggest gain. First, it's about being able to be with a diverse set of people and work together. You support each other, you challenge each other, you fight with each other. You are trained to work in pan-India teams. The second thing is the immersion into the development sector. I took up the course because of the management piece in it. I wished to do a management course with a rural focus. I am applying the management piece (in my work); that grind is useful

IIFM placements at a glance

All the 86 students of the 2010-12 batch were placed in 34 organisations, as per official information

* Highest domestic pay package offered: Rs. 10.5 lakh a year
* Lowest domestic pay package offered: Rs. 4.5 lakh a year
* Average pay package (national): Rs. 7.3 lakh a year

Companies that visited the institute for campus placements

* National Innovation Foundation
* Axis Bank
* ITC PSPD
* Aditya Birla Group (International)
* Madhya Pradesh Forest Department
* Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion
* Gujarat State Watershed Agency
* MSME CLUSTERS
* Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board
* Prime Minister Rural Development Fellowship (PMRDF)
* Sahyog Microfinance
* Madhya Pradesh Khadi Village Industries Corporation
* National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited
* The Energy Resources Institute (TERI)
* Centre of Environment Education (CEE)
* Grasim Industries (Aditya Birla Group)
* Madhya Pradesh Horticulture Department
* Jungle Lodges & Resorts
* LUPIN Foundation
* WWF
* ACC Cement
* Sambodhi Research
* IFMR - Centre for Development Finance
* Madhya Pradesh Environmental Planning & Coordination
* New Concept Information System
* ICICI Bank
* IDBI Bank
* HDFC Bank

The list is not exhaustive

- The Hindustan Times, 16th January 2013

Twenty-two Naxal-affected districts will now be able to build critical public infrastructure even in forestland, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has decided. Following demands raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Planning Commission, the MoEF has decided to relax forest conservation rules to allow diversion of forestland for creation of essential infrastructure in 22 districts affected by Left Wing Extremism.

Departments will be able to build public infrastructure of 13 kinds even in forested areas in up to five hectares area in these districts identified by the MHA and the Planning Commission for implementation of the Integrated Action Plan, said MoEF sources.

The MoEF had in 2011 relaxed norms under Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, for diversion of forestland for infrastructure building in 60 Naxal-hit districts. In an order dated December 10, 2012, the ministry has accorded general approval for another 22 districts.

The districts of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Waranagal, Karimnagar, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, Munger, Kaimur, Sitamarhi and West Chamaparan in Bihar, Khunti, Ranchi (rural) and Giridh in Jharkhand, Ganjam, Nayagarh and Jajpur in Orissa, Chandauli and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, Bankura and Purulia in West Bengal, and Chindwara and Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh now have the green nod for various categories of infrastructure building.

The 13 categories of public utility infrastructure include construction of school buildings, anganwadi centres, drinking water facilities, rural roads, panchayat bhawans/ community halls, godowns/PDS shops and health centres.

- The Indian Express, 16th January 2013

When Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India in December, he became the first dignitary in recent times to use the "South Drawing Room" at the sprawling Rashtrapati Bhavan. The South Drawing Room with its teakwood panelled walls, the cream and green colour scheme and exquisite art work known as "Company" paintings is used by visiting Heads of State to receive Indian dignitaries.

Mr. Putin's meetings with United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj in the historic room are being perceived as the starting point for a new beginning in the erstwhile Viceregal Lodge where doors are literally being thrown open.

"There were rooms that were locked and not being used. In some, even the windows and doors had been boarded up. We have begun with the restoration of some of the rooms, like the Long Drawing Room, the North Drawing Room, where the President receives Heads of State and the Durbar Hall and are opening them to people," says Omita Paul, Secretary to the President.

Mr. Mukherjee's wish to make the Rashtrapati Bhavan accessible to the common man is being followed up with restoration of historic rooms to their original glory, culling out antique furniture from the dank insides of storerooms and rolling out the rich tapestry.

"There were rooms that were bare and all the nice furniture, artefacts and art works were locked up. We began with the aid of old photographs and started to reassemble the furniture in the rooms as was envisaged and designed by Edward Lutyens. As of now, nothing new has been added to any of the rooms. Everything has been sourced from the storerooms in the Rashtrapati Bhavan," says Ms. Paul.

Buoyed by the restoration and the recent use of Durbar Hall for the ASEAN summit, the President's Office is now considering Durbar Hall as the venue for important events such as swearing-in ceremony for ministers. "We are exploring the possibility of limiting the Ashoka Hall for hosting Banquets for visiting dignitaries," she says.

The Ashok Hall, originally designed as a Ball Room for the Viceroy, is now being used for ceremonial functions, including the presentation of credentials by Heads of Missions of foreign countries. It also has the famous ceiling painting showcasing an equestrian portrait of Fateh Ali Shah, the second of the seven Qajar rulers of Persia on a hunt with his sons.

Alongside the marble and stone floors and columns that are being scrubbed and the chandeliers that are being polished, nuggets of facts are being uncovered for introducing the people of the country to the historic edifice.

"Rashtrapati Bhavan was being used to showcase the exhibits of Indian art till the time the National Museum got its own building. Later, while all the exhibits were moved there, a Buddha sculpture dating back to the Gupta age that is in the Durbar Hall and a Ashokan Bull were retained here," says Venu Rajamony, Press Secretary to the President, during a tour of the restored portions of the historic building.

While the Durbar Hall, Ashoka Hall, Library, Long Drawing Room, South Drawing Room, North Drawing Room and the Loggia and Banquet Hall have all been spring cleaned and opened up, work is also under way to give the 'Guest Wing' of the Rashtrapati Bhavan a new look.

"We are hopeful of making the wing suitable for hosting foreign dignitaries. Work has just begun and will take at least a year before the wing is ready for its first guest," says Ms. Paul.

- The Hindu, 16th January 2013

The Bhalswa lake in north Delhi was once as large as the Nainital lake; the area around Purana Qila could have been a part of the epic Mahabharata; there is an Ashokan rock edict in East of Kailash. These and many more nuggets about Delhi figured in a heritage volunteer training workshop for college students on Tuesday. As the capital joins the fray for the World Heritage City tag, conferred on 226 cities so far, college students are gearing up to campaign for Delhi's heritage on campuses.

One such effort is to adopt some of the neglected monuments in the city. Gargi College, which abuts the Khilji dynasty heritage structure of Siri Fort, plans to take up the conservation of a small area between the college building and the fort. "We want to develop that space as it is also a part of the heritage area. We plan to organize cultural activities and inform the adjoining communities about the history of the fort. There is also an ancient mosque behind that area. We have sent a proposal to National Monuments Authority," said Sarita, a history lecturer at the college, who also participated in the workshop.

The two-day heritage volunteer workshop organized by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) began on Tuesday, with sessions on architectural heritage, material heritage and natural heritage. There were also sessions on Delhi's nomination as a World Heritage City, on how to conduct heritage walks and projects at colleges.

Convener of Intach Delhi Chapter A G K Menon explained why Delhi stood a chance of securing the prestigious tag. "Delhi had given life to seven cities. New Delhi is the eighth city. It began from Stone Age; many remnants of that age have been found in Purana Qila area; they have been also found in JNU and Sikandarpur. There are Ashokan edicts in Delhi. Some of the cities that thrived in Delhi area are the city of Siri, Jahapanah, the Lodi Sultanate and Shahjahanabad or Old Delhi.

It's difficult to believe that our city has undergone so many transformations," said Menon.

One of the strongest arguments for a world heritage tag is that Delhi was an imperial capital of two significant empires, the Mughals and the British, in India. "The fact that Delhi was chosen twice as the capital shows how important it is heritage-wise," added Menon.

Students will help Intach document the 'intangible heritage' of Shahjahanabad and Lutyens' Delhi for the World Heritage City nomination. They will study the spread of Sufism, Urdu language, music, crafts and cuisine, among other things.

"It's very exciting. Many of us overlooked these interesting aspects of the city. Every part of the city is steeped in history. We plan to organize a talk at our college on why Delhi should be a world heritage city. We are also planning a heritage walk around Lutyens' Delhi for all students to help them get involved in the campaign," said Aditi Saraswat, a student of Lady Shri Ram College.

- The Times of India, 16th January 2013

Defence authorities have granted pilgrims year-round access to the much-revered Patalpuri temple and Akshaya Vat (immortal Banyan tree) located in Akbar's Fort. Till now, 'darshan' at these religiously significant sites in the fort, which also houses the army's sensitive ordnance depot, was allowed only during Ardh Kumbh and Kumbh.

Many people, including MPs and politicians, have been urging for the past few decades that the army and the Centre grant visitors free access to these religious sites. "In light of the sentiments of the people, we have decided to keep these sites open year-round," said Maj Gen Bishamber Dayal, VSM, general officer commanding (GoC), Purva UP and MP Sub Area.

"Though the timing of the darshan will be decided by the trust managing these sites, the army will keep visits on from 6.30am to 5pm as being done at present for the Kumbh," he added.

The army has already allowed entry to these two significant sites and the Saraswati Koop, a deep well beneath which the mythical Saraswati is believed to flow, for the 55-day Kumbh festival. "We are also exploring the possibility of allowing pilgrims access to Saraswati Koop the year round too, but there are security concerns," he added.

- The Hindustan Times, 17th January 2013

Putting at risk the lives of thousands of spectators, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) mayor Savita Gupta had overruled officials to allow ODI cricket matches at the Feroz Shah Kotla despite incomplete safety norms, it has been revealed.

The information came to light on

Tuesday during a hearing at the Central Information Commission (CIC) on RTI applications filed by activist Subhash Agrawal and cricketer Kirti Azad in connection with a completion-cum-occupancy certificate to be issued to Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) for the 45,000-odd capacity stadium.

After going through the papers submitted by the SDMC, information commissioner Deepak Sandhu observed how the mayor "allowed the DDCA to hold cricket matches on January 6 and from February 22-26 at the grounds overruling the advice of the civic body officials as the cricket association had defaulted on structural safety and clearances from the fire department and the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUCA)".

The DDCA also owes property tax of about R8 crore to the civic body. "It is highly irresponsible of the mayor to give permission with remarks 'at risk and responsibility of DDCA' as if the civic body has no liability and responsibility," Agrawal said.

Gupta explained: "The officials asked me to give permission for the match as it was an important one between India and Pakistan. I couldn't ask them to stall matches even if they had not paid the property tax. (But) whether or not they had a fire NOC and a structural safety certificate, I have no idea."

Sneh Bansal, DDCA general secretary, justified: "The DUAC has asked for two foot-over bridges (FoBs) on two main roads outside the stadium. One side has a heritage monument (Khooni Darwaza) and the road on the other side is not wide enough to accommodate a FoB. Our submission is pending with the DUAC, and only after its clearance that we can go ahead with other formalities."

- The Hindustan Times, 17th January 2013

The wetlands near Yamuna River along Garhi Mandu City Forest stretching from Shastri Park to Bhajanpura have been home to winter migratory birds for the last four years. However, since these water bodies do not fall under the jurisdiction of Forest and Environment departments, they are being used as ideal sites for fishing and dumping waste. The natural ecosystem is dying a slow death. Bird watchers feel that if the human activities around these wetlands remain unchecked, it will lead to rapid depletion and destruct of the habitat.

The Forest department, however, says that till the area is notified as forest land, the department has no control over it.

The water bodies had been created by 2008 flood. They have comparatively clean water than the river and attracted the winter migrants. Over 50 species of migratory birds have been spotted in these wetlands in the past four years.

Some of the endangered species — including Oriental Darter and Ferrugenous Pochard — have also been spotted in these wetlands in the past two years. Besides clean water, these natural lakes have ample fish, making it an attractive destination among the birds. "With a number of aquatic plants growing in these wetlands they have developed an excellent natural ecosystem," said TK Roy, Conservationist and Ecologist.

Ironically the water body has not just attracted birds but also people. The site is being used for fishing and for dumping the garbage and concrete waste in the water body. The non-biodegradable waste is also being burnt and dumped in the area.

Environmentalist and bird watchers feared that with Yamuna being polluted to the brim, these water bodies have become the new habitats of these migratory birds. But with overexploitation of the area, the birds will soon loose their recently found habitat.

Just adjacent to the wetland is the Garimandu Forest, but the wetland has not been fenced in as a forest land by the department. Delhi Government's Forest department is aware of the site becoming a natural aquatic ecosystem, but feels that it cannot take over the land on its own. "Till the time, it is notified by the Government as forest land, we cannot acquire it as protected area," said a senior official of the forest department. The official also said that the department has received representations from several environment groups and is exploring the prospects of getting the status of the land converted to forest.

- The Times Of India, 17th January 2013

In an effort to pay tributes to the city's glorious past, the police are modelling traffic islands on historical structures in the Capital. In front of the Red Fort, a traffic island modelled on the landmark has been installed. Similarly, a traffic island patterned on India Gate has been placed close to the monument.

"Apart from giving a feel of Delhi's history, these structures will provide comfortable space for the policemen manning traffic at junctions," Sudhir Yadav, special commissioner of police (traffic), said.

Motorists have praised the traffic islands designed by a College of Arts faculty member, an officer said.

The structures, which are made of fibre, have space for the policeman to be seated and yet monitor the traffic.

"The older traffic islands are in a bad shape. Besides, the policemen have to stand in the hot summer sun and in rain to control the traffic. The newer structures allow them to sit and control the traffic," a traffic police officer said.

The police's traffic training park on central Delhi's Baba Kharak Singh Marg is also being redesigned with important landmarks of the Capital, such as the Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, India Gate, New Delhi Railway Station, some Metro stations and bus stops.

The park will have traffic signals and traffic policemen to man the intersections. The park will be an ideal place where motorists can test their driving skills in real-time situations, understand traffic rules, test their skills on road dynamics and negotiate traffic, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Besides, there will be several driving simulators and computer games on traffic-related issues for the visitors.

- The Hindustan Times, 18th January 2013

To promote sparrow as the state bird and make children aware about it, the Delhi government will create special 'sparrow corners' in about 2,000 schools in the Capital. The environment department has also decided to organise expert lectures to make students understand the bird's life and habitat.

Environment department officials said the eco clubs of private as well as government schools — both state and Central — are being roped in to create sparrow corners.

Apart from planting saplings, the natural habitat of sparrows, the department will also help make the soil conducive for insects on which sparrows survive. "We have been told that some people in Meerut and Ahmedabad make nests for sparrows. We are trying to source those nests," a senior environment department official said.

Sparrow was declared Delhi's state bird by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on August 15 last year. The government later prepared an action plan to sensitise people, especially children, about saving the bird.

The sparrow was found in huge numbers in Delhi till about a decade ago.

- The Hindustan Times, 18th January 2013

A two-day programme in New Delhi that displays different aspects of Seraikella Chhau

Not for nothing is India constantly referred to as a land of innumerable colours and a limitless appetite for celebration. Tough as it may be, life — whether in the waterless deserts or the snowbound mountainous regions or the vast sun-washed plains — is traditionally celebrated. Those who grow up in India, especially in those areas less affected by urbanisation and the globalising of taste, take for granted that everyday objects are decorative, that garments are elaborately woven, embroidered and dyed, that food is as much a ritual as a necessity and that prayer is also performance.

With so many traditions of visual and performing arts and rituals abounding, it is natural some are better known than others. Take Chhau, the dance form from India's Eastern region of West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand. The term Chhau covers the three forms known by the place names of Purulia (West Bengal), Seraikella (Jharkhand) and Mayurbhanj (Odisha). The first two are masked dance forms. While Chhau dance has significant martial associations, its movement vocabulary is also rooted in everyday physical actions, points out Shashadhar Acharya, well known exponent and guru of Seraikella Chhau

This Friday and Saturday, Delhiites will get to see a composite programme that seeks to unravel the relatively unfamiliar art of Seraikella Chhau. The programme, titled "Unmasking the Tradition: The Story of Seraikella Chhau", takes place at the India International Centre.

The programme aims to "put forth all the elements of Seraikella Chhau: its technique and performance and the role of the community in its evolution and preservation through lectures, demonstrations and interactions," says Shagun Butani, whose Sudhaaya Foundation is organising the event.

"Though all three forms seem to have stemmed from a common root, they have evolved differently. Each is perceptibly different in technique and the manner in which this is used in the performative element. Furthermore, each form has its own story of growth, evolution and survival within the parent communities. It is because Chhau is so inseparably entwined with the customs, religious beliefs and living traditions of the people of these regions that it was selected by UNESCO in 2010 to be in its list of elements that represent the intangible cultural heritage," says Shagun.

Shagun, trained in Seraikella Chhau by Shashadhar Acharya, is recognised as among the very few women performers of Seraikella Chhau in the country.

Interacting with traditional Chhau artistes over the years and aware both of its beauty as a performing art and its relationship with the living culture as well as the problems faced by its hereditary practitioners, Shagun wishes to heighten awareness among urban audiences.

Shashadhar Acharya will lead the demonstrations along with other senior artistes from Seraikella, including Guru Jai Narayan Samal, Gopal Dubey, Tapan Pattnaik and Brijendra Pattnaik. Senior mask makers like Kanai Lal Maharana and Sushant Mahapatra will also participate.

"Unmasking the Tradition: The Story of Seraikella Chhau" takes place at the India International Centre, New Delhi, January 18 and 19, from 10.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- The Indian Express, 18th January 2013

The Delhi Metro's Phase-III corridor between Kashmere Gate and Central Secretariat has been given conditional clearance by heritage panel, National Monument Authority (NMA).

NMA Member Secretary Pravin Srivastava on Thursday said DMRC can go ahead with construction of the corridor provided it fulfills conditions such as assessment of the archaeology potential of the area.

The corridor has been waiting for NMA approval as several heritage structures lie along the route. The rules prohibit construction within 300 metres of protected monuments, without prior approval from the heritage panel.

A DMRC spokesperson said they are yet to receive a formal notification regarding clearance from the NMA. "It must be in the drafting stages. We are awaiting formal intimation," the spokesperson said.

"The proposal, along with the various studies conducted on the project, was taken up in our meeting last week. It was decided that the proposal could be recommended for approval, provided some conditions are met with," Srivastava said.

"Before work on the project starts, an assessment of the archaeology potential of the stretch, including ITO to Kashmere Gate, needs to be carried out. This will be done by the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) with DMRC's help," Srivastava said.

In case any archaeological remains are found, ASI can decide if it wants the artefacts to remain in situ or shifted to another place.

As a preventive measure, DMRC will also have to install monitoring equipment along routes that are close to heritage structures. "They will monitor any potential danger to the monuments and measure vibrations and its effect on the structures during and after construction work," Srivastava said.

A monitoring committee will do "real-time assessment" at the sites to ensure there is no damage to monuments during construction. The Metro will also set up a heritage interpretation centre, where "artefacts from the surrounding area can be on display".

The Metro's 'heritage line' was announced two years ago as part of Phase-III construction. The 9-km corridor will have eight stations — Central Secretariat, Janpath, Mandi House, ITO, Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid, Red Fort and Kashmere Gate.

The Indian Express, 18th January 2013

At a time when wildlife and environment issues swamp everyday news with gloom and doom, Soonoo Taraporewala's Tiger Warrior, is a refreshing story of the success of one man's decades-long battle to create what is arguably one of India's finest tiger reserves.

Many would think that the man, who would go on to become one of India's leading conservationists, would be drawn to the profession from an early age, but this was not the case with Fateh Singh Rathore. Growing up in a typical Rajput family, he was neither inclined towards schoolwork nor a college degree — he eventually obtained a degree on his second attempt. His first choice of career was as an actor and he excelled onstage in school and college. This, however, displeased his family who proposed alternative careers, none of which interested him. But when an uncle who had recently become Rajasthan's deputy minister for forests, offered the young Rathore a government job as a forest ranger, in the early '60s, in the then shooting reserve of Sariska, the future wildlifer agreed to try it out.

Sariska was a watershed, where Rathore found his calling. An old forest guard with a predilection for stealing morsels of meat from tiger kills introduced him to the art of tracking animals. The author describes in heart-stopping detail Rathore's first encounter with a tiger. Shortly afterwards, Rathore was posted to Sawai Madhopur, where ironically his first duty was to organise a tiger-shoot for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Previously unknown details can be found in the book, like the bearing Rathore's personal life had on him as a conservationist and the significance of his relationship with Diana Wandsworth, the English woman he had met during a diploma course in Wildlife Management from the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. She took him to England where he visited various wildlife reserves and he returned to India and Ranthambhore, having gained valuable experience in how reserves were established and managed.

Project Tiger was formed soon after his return and Ranthambhore was proposed as one of the first tiger reserves in the country. Under the encouragement of a park director who gave him a free hand, Rathore set about improving patrolling of the park. Kailash Sankhala, the father of tiger conservation in India, and a classmate of Rathore's uncle, was then the Divisional Forest Officer of Jaipur, under whose ambit the park came. Under Sankhala's guidance, Rathore relocated and rehabilitated several villages from within the park boundaries, a task he accomplished with compassion, tact and patience. A later attempt to curb grazing inside the park was almost Rathore's undoing, as he was attacked by a mob and left for dead.

While it is difficult to separate Fateh Singh Rathore from Ranthambhore — that magnificent wilderness that he was instrumental in conserving — in Tiger Warrior, we see how Rathore played a major role in the conservation of other parks like Mount Abu and Keoladeo Ghana (better known as Bharatpur) and in particular, Sariska. This he did against the odds of a burgeoning population in a region with scant water, a political class unsympathetic towards conservation and a vindictive Forest Department with vested interests, which lead to his being suspended and later banned from entering Ranthambhore. This book is as much a biography of Fateh Singh Rathore as it is about the transformation of Ranthambore from a wilderness inhabited by people to one of India's premier tiger reserves. It also provides a valuable account of how Rathore became one of India's leading forest officers and his struggle against all odds to conserve tigers and their habitat. It is the story of a man who was compassionate as he was strict, pragmatic as he was sensitive, who was humorous, generous, honest to a fault, who took immense personal risks to save tigers and their habitat. Tiger Warrior is a fitting tribute to a great man, a beautiful wilderness and a magnificent animal. The book is a worthy guide to an upcoming cadre of forest officers, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts. It is, above all, a great read.

Suniti Bhushan Datta is a wildlife biologist based in Dehradun

The Indian Express, 19th January 2013

Ph-III stationsGiant murals and glass panels will brighten up underground stations of Delhi Metro in phase III. Officials say the glass panels may also be used for advertisements and help DMRC earn revenue.

Some of the existing stations already have artwork of varying themes . For instance, Uttam Nagar (West ) station has tiles depicting the Indus Valley civilization. "That is because Prajapat is the most ancient occupation which is still alive in Prajapat colony in Uttam Nagar," said the Delhi Metro spokesperson. The artwork here is divided into four panels which depict famous artefacts such as the bronze dancing girl, the Indus, utensils, sculptures, toys , location of the valley on the map.

Dilshad Garden station has murals painted by M Sudha Pillai. It cost DMRC Rs 1.7 lakh.

The new stations, however, will have artwork on glass panels. Officials say it was a deliberate move as it would allow greater creativity to the artists. It's also the international norm, said DMRC officials . "These will be screen printed glass panels with stainless steel sandwich panels . The attractive designs will be printed on the toughened glass panels which will replace the tiles. The artwork will also be laminated for lasting effect and durability," said the DMRC spokesperson.

The civil contractor will do the finishing work of the station, though the layouts and designs for such panels will be approved by D M RC 's architect wing. T he underground stations on line 7 (Mukundpur-S hiv Vihar ) will be the first to get these artworks.

Officials say these fireproof glass panels will make the stations look like the arrival area of Delhi

SPRUCING UP INTERIORS

For brighter interiors, Delhi Metro will have giant murals and other painted glass panels in Phase III underground stations The panels will be used to boost revenue too through advertising Some stations in existing Delhi Metro network already have artwork inside, though these are on tiles DMRC officials say the move from tiles to glass panels was deliberate as it would allow greater creativity to the artists Aesthetic impact of glass panels will give stations an international look, says Delhi Metro Seelampur station has a tile that depicts an artist's fantasy of Delhi; Pratap Nagar station has a panel of 'life in water' ; and Kanhaiya Nagar station has stories from Panchatantra painted on the tile.

The Times of India, 19th January 2013

In the Capital of a nation where cricket is a religion, Kotla Feroz Shah is equated only with cricket. Few know about the original Kotla, right next to the stadium, the 14th century citadel - also known as Kushk-i-Firuz - the Fifth City of Delhi.

This medieval city on the banks of Yamuna was built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351-88). From the ruins, one can make out the original three rubble-built walled rectangular enclosures, the central one larger than the other two.

There are two gems within the citadel. One is a circular baoli (step well), with three-tiered structure having rooms in one of the layers below ground level. The Archaeological Survey of India uses it to keep the lawns lush green.

Second is the Ashokan Pillar built during the reign of King Ashok (273-236 BC) and brought to Delhi some 650 years ago. An information board describes how Feroz Shah brought it from Topra Kalan village (Yamuna Nagar district in Haryana) and installed it atop the three-storey structure.

The place is also popular with the devout, who throng every Thursday to light a candle for the jinnat (spirits) believing it would cure mental illnesses.

"Unfortunately, people need to be told about the monument. While describing my office location, I have to direct them to reach the entrance of the monument from the stadium," rued Rakesh Agarwal of NGO Nyayabhoomi, situation in Vikram Nagar, the extended portion of the old citadel.

- The Hindustan Times, 20th January 2013

The British called it 'The Troy Of The East' and Chhatrapati Shivaji positioned it as the 'most impregnable fortress in India'. The fort, situated in Villupuram District, is the ideal getaway for those who can find history in broken architecture and poetry in ruins.

Surrounded by three hills and three citadels, the structure offers a glimpse of the everyday life of the common people. The fort, built at a height of 800 feet, consisted of a marriage hall, prison cells, granaries, a temple and a martial arts exercise room at the ground level. The view from the top is awe-inspiring: from here one can see the Balaranganathar temple, Amman temple, the bell tower, and watchtower One can also see the Jumma mosque nearby.

The town of Gingee is surrounded by hills made of volcanic rocks. Although the land is dry with scanty vegetation, the raw appearance of the landscape is quite picturesque. Built by the Cholas, the fort witnessed wars and invasions by the Nawabs of Arcot, Tipu Sultan, and the British. Yet, there is something uniquely captivating about this destroyed structure.

- The Asian Age, 20th January 2013

The Army has been asked to vacate aWorld War II barrack on prime land in Lutyens Delhi, unless it is able to offer a gainful redevelopment plan, making clear the government's intention of forfeiting underutilised land in an already overcrowded Capital.

The Army has said that it will vacate 'Princess Park' — built on 28-acre of leafy stretch along the India Gate central vista — only after it is provided with an alternate accommodation "in suitable land".

The row, involving the urban development and defence ministries and the Army, has been escalated to a group of ministers, which plans to set up a war museum and a few apartments on the land. But the proposal has to be cleared by the union cabinet, a top ranking defence ministry officer said.

The land, valued at aroundRs4,000 crore today, was given temporarily to the Army by the then government during World War II to build barracks for British and US soldiers and pilots. It has since been refurbished to accommodate 100 mid-ranking officers of the armed forces. "Princess Park is the most inefficient use of prime land in the centre of the city.

They still have low-rise barracks. We have told them we would forfeit it if they do not come up with a plan," said a senior government official in the ministry of urban development. "We are in advanced stages of negotiations with them," he added.

A spokesman for the Army responded to an email saying that while the Indian Army has received no notice, consultations are on between ministries of defence and urban development.

Shortage of Accommodation

"Presently there is large deficiency of available accommodation for the officers of the armed forces. We will be able to vacate this land on provision of alternate accommodation in suitable land," ColJagdeep Dahiya said.

Defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma said his ministry is in discussions with the urban development ministry. "A GoM had recommended that a national war museum would be built on the land and the officers who stay on the land be accommodated in high-rise apartment buildings behind the museum." This museum will be connected through a tunnel to a national war memorial near the India Gate monument.

"But a nod from the cabinet is pending," said Sharma.

He said that there are a number of other plots in central Delhi that house Army barracks where redevelopment is being planned, but nothing concrete has been finalised yet.

The ministry of urban development has been planning to improve utilisation of prime land in central Delhi, especially in the Lutyens zone, where India's top businessmen have homes in leafy neighbourhoods dotted with British-styled bungalows that are occupied by top politicians, bureaucrats, judges and Army officers.

Last week, ET reported that the government is pushing a plan to set up a Land Authority of India that will take over all underutilised and unused government land and monetise them, leading to a windfall of an estimated Rs 1 lakh crore that can give succor to the country's burgeoning fiscal deficit.

- The Economic Times, 21st January 2013

New Delhi: The joint stand that environment ministry and the tribal affairs ministry take in the critical Vedanta bauxite mining case in the Supreme Court on Monday is set to decide the fate of hundreds of other projects that require forest lands as well as the rights of tribals under UPA's flagship Forest Rights Act (FRA).

The government had earlier bound itself in knots in an affidavit in the Supreme Court by stating that tribals' forests cannot be used for any other development project. It had cited the argument while defending its decision to scrap the Vedanta mining project in Odisha, but the position now threatens hundreds of other ventures that require forestlands over which tribals have either claimed or already got rights under the FRA.

In the court case, the government moved away from its existing middle path policy, which allows it to give forest lands to private developers in tribal areas only after getting the affected gram sabhas' nod.

It was the lack of this consent and other environmental failures that the government had cited while blocking Vedanta's mining proposal in Odisha. The move had also led to the pro-tribal image building of Congress heir apparent Rahul Gandhi.

But, the government's hard position in the court case — arguing forest lands handed back to tribals under the FRA can be used only for wildlife conservation — had made even a SC bench to ask the Centre to file its comprehensive views on the Act.

The confusion in the government's position deepened when the PMO asked the two ministries concerned to dilute the need for consent even further in the forest clearance process. The two ministries were caught in a cleft. For instance, at one level, they were contemplating dilution of tribal concerns in the clearance business and at the other taking a hard position while defending the order to cancel Vedanta's project citing violation of tribal rights.

The ministries have so far withheld taking a decision on the dilution of the clearance procedures, even though the PMO had asked them to do so by December 31, 2012.

- The Times of India, 21st January 2013

Chandni Chowk, which was once the most magnificent shopping plaza in the Capital and has been decaying for the past few decades, may be brought back to life again.

The north corporation has recently decided to revive the seven-year-old restoration project and has decided to request an expression of interest (EOI) for a consultant.

Senior officials of the corporation said the advertisement would be released next week and once the consultant is hired, the redevelopment plan may finally start on the ground. The plan includes aligning the footpath, shifting services underground and a new traffic plan for the main road.

According to the terms and conditions of the EOI, the consultant will have to prepare drawings for the implementation of the project and will have to assist the north corporation in all aspects associated with the completion of the project that has previously been approved by the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC).

The consultant will be responsible for obtaining no-objection certificates for Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) and traffic agencies for the project.

"The project to redevelop Chandni Chowk was announced years ago and has not yet been implemented but the effort has started again. The consultant we will hire will assist in the redevelopment of the main Chandni Chowk road and its link roads," said a senior official. The corporation plans to spend R30 crore in the implementation of the project.

It is to be noted that while the Congress government is supposed to bear the costs of the plan, the BJP-led north corporation is supposed to implement it. In the upcoming assembly elections, both parties aim to gain mileage out of the project. In 2012, after the split of the MCD, there was confusion over the project since the Delhi Government had transferred all roads of 60 metre width to the PWD. Now it has been declared that the Chandni Chowk project will be implemented by the north corporation.

Notice over Old Delhi Rly station

The high court has issued a contempt of court notice to the secretary of Public Works Department (PWD) for not forwarding the site plan to decongest a busy road outside Old Delhi Railway station.

"We are told that a meeting took place between the Railways and the PWD. But the PWD has not submitted the draft site plan despite a court order, " a bench of justice S Ravindra Bhat and justice S Muralidhar said. "...Even after the lapse of seven months, no site plan has been forwarded by the PWD.

- The Hindustan Times, 21st January 2013

In ancient Ayutthaya, Sukanya Ramanujan is moved by the fragility of a city that is valiantly limping back after the devastating flood two years ago

We tend to think of globalisation as a recent phenomenon, a word that conjures up images of multinational brands. And yet the world has always been abuzz with globalisation. Take Ayutthaya, an ancient city about 80 km from Bangkok. Now a historical park, it is but a shadow of its former self. Yet it is difficult to miss the significance of the place as the spot where cultures and trade from across the world merged to create a thriving kingdom.

The drive from Bangkok to Ayutthaya hardly takes an hour and a half. The city is distinctly divided into the historical part and the new town. What is unique about the old city is the way it is surrounded by the Chao Praya river on three sides giving it the feel of an island. Almost before I can ask, our guide explains that the name is indeed derived from Ayodhya, Rama's birthplace. Religions and cultures were among the first things to be globalised and South-east Asia was a crucible where Hindu mythology blended with Buddhism to create unique narratives that both resemble and stand apart from their parent philosophies.

Ayutthaya is a UNESCO heritage centre and rightly so. A multitude of monuments and ruins dots the few square kilometers of land. The sheer number and size of the temples alone are proof of how prosperous this kingdom must have once been.

Silenced by size

Having only a few hours at Ayutthaya, our guide decides to take us through just the most popular sights. Our first stop is Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, a temple complex built by the first king of Ayutthaya in 1357 that is stunning in size and detail. Two massive statues of Buddha frame the tall staircase leading into the temple hall and rows of Buddhas stretch down every side of the building. I recognise the image from photographs I have seen and resist a very touristy urge to tick a mental box. A more modern hall near the temple contains an ancient painting that depicts a battle on elephant back between the prince of Ayutthaya and the king of Burma. Our guide is at pains to point out that the men holding the weapons near the head of the elephant were the royals and not the men seated on the cushions. "They had to been shown fighting," he explains. Like any prosperous kingdom, Ayutthaya was often at war with neighbour Burma. It was ultimately the armies from Burma that laid waste to the city, proof of which can be seen in the decapitated Buddha statues at our next stop, the Wat Mahathat.

Wat Mahathat is a sprawling temple complex although the individual stupas are a mix of styles from different countries — Khmer style from Cambodia, Ceylon style from Sri Lanka and an early version of Ayutthaya's own style, constructed of laterite. I am forced to tick one more mental box when we come across the famous and very photogenic head of Buddha around which the roots of a Bodhi tree have grown. Nobody quite knows how the head came to be so well lodged in the tree roots but my own guess is that when the invading armies decapitated the statues, one of the heads must have fallen under the trees. But then that's the guess of an amateur.

We then head to Wat Sri Sanphet, one of the largest and most impressive structures in the old town, which also served as inspiration for the temple of Emerald Buddha later built in Bangkok. I notice that the Buddhas around the complex face outwards rather than towards the temple. I learn later that this is because the three stupas inside contain the ashes of kings.

Spirit of survival

We make a small diversion to Wat Lokayasutharam, with its enormous and imposing open-air statue of a reclining Buddha. I find it difficult to get the entire length of the massive statue in one frame. The enormity of the work of history and art in front of me hits me, even more than with the reclining Buddha at Bangkok. Once again, I am struck by the similarity in imagery between the Hindu and South-east Asian Buddhist traditions.

Chai Wattanaram, our last stop, makes a fitting finale. The temple complex is easily the most impressive I have seen so far. Built in the mid-17th century, the temple has a central Khmer style stupa, about 35 metres high, surrounded by eight smaller stupas. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to enter because the structures have been destabilised by the massive 2011 floods in Thailand. Large parts of Ayutthaya went under water and apparently many of the monuments we had seen earlier in the morning had been submerged in 5-6 feet of water.

It made me think about how some cities die not once but twice. Ayutthaya had been the nerve centre of a prosperous South-east Asian kingdom linking the East with the West. But ultimately, it could not resist destruction by the Burmese army in the 18th century. When the centre was revived and opened to tourists, the floods came in and damaged again whatever remained. Restoration is underway to save what is left but there is a sense of fragility that makes my visit a lot more poignant.

- The Pioneer, 21st January 2013

While the retreating exercise of winter migratory birds is just a fortnight away, the spotting of Common Shelduck at Okhla Bird Sanctuary has given bird watchers a reason to cheer.

After a gap of 12 years, Shelduck has been spotted. Interestingly, only one Shelduck has reached the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. Absence of a partner, Shelduck is in company with Brahmini duck.

Shelduck is the native of Central Asia and Siberia where it breeds during summers. During winter, it migrates to Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and other parts of east Asia. About a decade ago, the bird was usual winter visitor. "The data of the Asian Waterbird Census reveals that the bird has been spotted in Delhi in 2001. Ever since, it has given the National Capital Region a miss," TK Roy, Ecologist and Delhi State Coordinator for Asian Waterbird Census said.

The Shelduck is a strikingly coloured duck with white body, greenish head and neck, chestnut colour diagnostic band round the breast and back. It has a bright red colour upturned broad bill and orange legs. The bird is usually spotted in saline inland lakes, mudflats and also on the larger lakes and rivers.

All birds that migrate during winters migrate in groups or at least in pairs. "The Shelduck at Okhla is moving in the company of another duck, which is unusual," Roy added.

"The census is on. We started counting the birds from January 12 and will go on till January 29," he said.

The Asian Waterbird Census each year keeps a count of total number of water birds visiting the various bird sanctuaries in winter. Besides, Shelduck, Ferregenous Pochard, Pallas Gull are among some of the rear visitors at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

Rohinee Singh n New Delhi

While the retreating exercise of winter migratory birds is just a fortnight away, the spotting of Common Shelduck at Okhla Bird Sanctuary has given bird watchers a reason to cheer.

After a gap of 12 years, Shelduck has been spotted. Interestingly, only one Shelduck has reached the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. Absence of a partner, Shelduck is in company with Brahmini duck.

Shelduck is the native of Central Asia and Siberia where it breeds during summers. During winter, it migrates to Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and other parts of east Asia. About a decade ago, the bird was usual winter visitor. "The data of the Asian Waterbird Census reveals that the bird has been spotted in Delhi in 2001. Ever since, it has given the National Capital Region a miss," TK Roy, Ecologist and Delhi State Coordinator for Asian Waterbird Census said.

The Shelduck is a strikingly coloured duck with white body, greenish head and neck, chestnut colour diagnostic band round the breast and back. It has a bright red colour upturned broad bill and orange legs. The bird is usually spotted in saline inland lakes, mudflats and also on the larger lakes and rivers.

All birds that migrate during winters migrate in groups or at least in pairs. "The Shelduck at Okhla is moving in the company of another duck, which is unusual," Roy added.

"The census is on. We started counting the birds from January 12 and will go on till January 29," he said.

The Asian Waterbird Census each year keeps a count of total number of water birds visiting the various bird sanctuaries in winter. Besides, Shelduck, Ferregenous Pochard, Pallas Gull are among some of the rear visitors at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

- The Pioneer, 21st January 2013

Saat Kabar silently bears the dark saga of 60 wives dying at the hands of a possessive army chief-husband

My last halt in Bijapur turns out to be a bit of a grave destination and the setting of a cold-blooded tale. It is well past five in the evening, and I have been on a whirlwind tour of the heritage town where almost every monument is a mahal or a mosque or a mausoleum. But I have not had my fill yet.

The auto driver is a bit skeptical when I tell him I want to head to Saat Kabar. He tries to dissuade me. "There is no road. You may have to walk. The auto cannot go there," he says. He warns me it is rather isolated and there will be no one around. But I refuse to give up. We drive down, leaving the dusty town and hit the highway. A detour takes us across a few scattered homes as we watch some boys play cricket on grounds. The auto stops at a dead-end. All I see in front of me are just a bit of dense undergrowth and a clump of bushes. There is no path. I walk behind the auto driver looking out for snakes. On one side is sheer wilderness and on the other, lush fields.

We keep walking and suddenly I spy the outline of a monument peeping at us through the trees. Brick red, it seems to be on the other side of a high compound wall with no access. I stop and look at it towering in front of me, the unkempt branches of the trees snaking towards it, shrouding it from public view.

It is eerie, as I wonder if this is the Saat Kabar or the 60 graves of the murdered wives of Afzal Khan, the army chief of Adil Shahi II. The graves narrate the gruesome fate of these women who were killed by their own husband. The tragic story is set in the 17th Century, when Chatrapathi Shivaji wages war against Adil Shah II. Afzal Khan leads the forces, but is distracted by an astrologer who tells him he will not survive the battle. The jealous and possessive commander decides to kill all his 60 wives lest they remarry after the war. So, he beckons them to an isolated spot and pushes them into a well. One of them tries to escape, but is captured and killed as well. And, I'm standing in the middle of nowhere looking for those 60 graves.

Suddenly, my auto driver calls out to me. He is ahead of me, near a clearing, and I make my way through the shrubs only to see a vast open space. There lie several graves, made of black stone, arranged neatly in rows. Some of these stones are broken, open to the skies. Afzal Khan apparently wanted to be buried near his wives as well, but he never returned from the battlefield.

The silence is ominous here, almost echoing the last cries of the women who were pushed to their death. I feel a shiver, and hurry back to the safe confines of civilisation.

- The Hindu, 21st January 2013

Gujarat's only hill station offers a welcome respite from urban greyness

Finding a place where the living and inanimate rest in harmony near Mumbai can be a challenge. Someone whispered to me that a narrow gauge train runs from Bilimora to Waghai, from where one could climb up the Sahyadri mountains to Saputara, a journey of barely two hours. The thought that it would be misty in rain was attractive. With some friends onboard, we took the train at Bilimora. As it moved ahead on its narrow track, sugarcane stood in the fields, taller than the men who planted it. The paddy was still young, the promise of grain months away. The river ran muddy.

The drive to Saputara was alluring — a hut situated amidst the fields here, a twisted tree there, a breakwater to my left, and, in front, a lovely waterfall.The fall is named Gira Falls ('gira' meaning fall). The monsoon had loosened the earth and the water was yellowed by the presence of the mud it carried. Still, the pressure, force and roar remained undiminished.

We hurried to catch the sunset, but the clouds did not permit the sun to reveal its colours to us as it bade goodbye to the day. We reached the entrance to Saputara, 1,000 metres above sea level, the only hill station of Gujarat. The district, Dang, is predominantly tribal. Music from an instrument called the 'pavrivadan', made out of bottle gourd, welcomed us. Hindu mythology says that Lord Ram spent 11 years of exile in the dense forests of Saputara; the story of the woman feeding jujube to Ram is rooted to a place called Shabridham, about 80 kms from here. There is a statue of a serpent deity on the banks of the river Sarpaganga, who's worshipped by the local tribals.

Saputara has a lake in the middle of the hills.

On the said day, it was clothed in mist, the boundaries merging with the vapour that floated around. Row boats and paddle boats were hauled up from the jetty for us. Surprisingly, Saputara means "abode of serpents". When I asked why it was so named, I was told that once it really was home to serpents. Now, with resorts and hotels mushrooming, humans have overtaken. One can go trekking amidst bamboo glades in the Mahal Bardipura forest 60 km away. The Vansda National Park harbours tigers, leopards, pangolins, rusty spotted cats, pythons, giant squirrels, four-horned antelopes and many others. The forest range is Ahwa, from where permission can be obtained to visit the national park.

Later in the evening we saw the many tribal ornaments and artefacts — natural oils for joint pains, a reddish flour made out of a local seed called 'nagli', which is said to lead to sturdier and stronger knees in hill people. I purchased a toran (a welcoming decoration hung on doors) made of shells and sewn in bright red cloth with tiny mirrors. Warli paintings attracted me. This form of linear sketches, said to have descended from pre-historic times, uses a a clever technique to show motion, as in a dance — the artist draws the movement in a circle, unfolding or suggesting the sequence.

Night had fallen, quietly overtaking the colours, forms, and all movement.

- The Hindu, 21st January 2013

Soon, a replica of the world-famous Maya landmark, Arch of Labna, situated in Mexico, will be installed at the Garden of Five Senses at Said-ul-Ajaib, Saket.

This initiative is part of an 'expression of the friendship and growing links between Mexico and India' and will be funded by Mexico.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is expected to lay the foundation stone for the project next month. The Labna Arch, also known as Labna Vault, is situated in the Yucatan region of Mexico and is an example of the classical period of Maya architecture (11th century AD). Labna is a Mesoamerican archaeological site and the ceremonial centre of the pre-Columbian Maya civilisation located in the Puuc Hills region of the Yucatan Peninsula.

"This artefact has been identified by the Mexican government to symbolise the many years of artistic, political and economic exchanges between the two countries,'' a government official said.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has been entrusted with the task of erecting the replica at the Garden of Five Senses. "The Arch of Labna is an iconic Maya structure, which we will reproduce in the Garden of Five Senses. The Mexican government has already sanctioned Rs 35 lakh for the construction of this structure . Work is likely to begin soon and it should be completed in six to eight months,'' INTACH convenor AGK Menon said.

"Drawings of the arch will be sent by an agency in Mexico, which is equivalent to the Archaeological Survey of India. They will also ascertain that the replica is faithful to its original,'' Menon said.

Sandstones from Gwalior will be used to make the replica. A contractor has also been shortlisted for this project. "The Garden of Five Senses has several public art pieces. It would be an ideal location for a replica of the Arch of Labna. The Chief Minister is expected to lay the foundation stone for the project by February 15, after which work will begin,'' an official of Delhi Tourism said.

Once the replica is installed in the garden, several cultural events are likely to follow, the official said.

The Garden of Five Senses is spread over 20 acres in Saket and several restaurants are located inside it. The Delhi Tourism is also developing a cycling track inside the garden area.

THE ANCIENT GATEWAY

Labna is situated in the Yucatan region of Mexico and is an example of the classical period of Maya architecture (11th century AD). It is built in the Classic Puuc style. Labna dates between 600-900 A.D. A small and intimate site, it is filled with exquisite and intricate details.

The arch is an exquisitely constructed portal vault, with a smooth elliptical ceiling, forming a spacious 10-by-20 foot passageway — one of the largest and finest arches ever built by the Maya.

Both sides are decorated, one with deep-relief spirals and checkerboard patterns (associated with clouds and rain) and the other with two na, or thatched Maya huts. The doors of the huts were used as niches, probably to display important figures, and red and blue paint is still visible there

Remarkably, only the arch's stairs and the roofcomb required significant restoration. The rest has stood, as is, for over 1,000 years.

- The Indian Express, 21st January 2013

There's more to India than Agra and Jaipur

Delhi-Agra-Jaipur: That essentially sums up the itinerary of the average foreign tourist visiting India, with the more adventurous ones, making at best a trip down south to the backwaters of Kerala. But while there is no denying the ethereal beauty of the Taj or the awe-inspiring grandeur of the forts and palaces of Rajasthan, the fact remains that there is a whole lot more this country has to offer that rarely finds mention on the map of 'Incredible India'. But thankfully, bit by bit that is changing. Take, for instance, the Mahaparinirvan Express that was flagged off from New Delhi on Sunday and is currently chugging tourists around Buddhist sites located across the States of Bihar (Nalanda, Gaya and Rajgir), Uttar Pradesh (Kushinagar) and for the first time now, Odisha (Lalitgiri and Udaigiri). Similar to the hugely popular Palace on Wheels luxury train tour, hosted by Indian Railways to promote tourism in Rajasthan, the Mahaparinirvan Express is a wonderful opportunity to explore India's rich Buddhist legacy. Now, combine this initiative with the three-day international conference that the Government of Odisha is organising this February in Udaigiri to not just promote Buddhist culture but also to attract tourists, particularly from Asean countries, to the Buddhist enclaves in that State. Clearly, there is much unexplored potential when it comes to tourism in India, and some States have begun to finally take the initiative to tap into it.

Faith-based tourism is, of course, an obvious niche — after all, India is the birthplace of at least four major world religions. Apart from building up the Buddhist tourist circuit, there has also been encouraging talk regarding similar Hindu, Christian, Jain, Sikh and Sufi circuits for the international tourist. And then, there is the humongous, mostly domestic, pilgrim segment within the faith-based tourism sector that still functions much below its potential. Most pilgrim centres are vastly under-equipped to handle the hundreds of thousands of faithful that arrive there. This often poses a law and order crisis, not to mention the threat of human disasters such as stampedes of the kind that occurred at the Sabarimala Temple in January 2011, for instance. Overall, infrastructure development coupled with smart marketing and branding strategies is the key to improving tourism in India. For example, the Union Government's plans to promote India as the 'Land of Pie', especially in countries like China and Taiwan where the Oscar-nominated film Life of Pie is a huge success, is a great idea. But for it to bear fruit, on-ground logistics — such as world quality transport system between Chennai and Puducherry, and Kochi and Munnar — will have to be put in place. Tourism-related infrastructure development is a work in progress, but there is still reason to be hopeful about the 12 per cent growth projected in the sector by the Government in its 12th Plan for 2012-17.

- The Pioneer, 22nd January 2013

Citizen Leadership — Deepening Democratic Accountability in India, Brazil and South Africa: Edited by Vikas Jha, Bhavita Vaishnava, Kaustuv Kanti Bandyopadhyay; Academic Foundation, 4772-73/23, Bharat Ram Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002. Rs. 795.

A new axis of cooperation involving India, Brazil, and South Africa, which emerged in 2003, represents the voice of democratic south. The three countries may not be the fastest growing economies or most efficiently functioning societies. But they are certainly the most democratically governed societies.

There have been new alignments of democracy and citizenship, mediated through active participation of citizen groups, which in turn led to demands for direct forms of social accountability of elected representatives and of government officials.

The outcome of a research project, led by Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), this book presents seven case studies — three from India, two from Brazil and two from South Africa — and offers an analytical synthesis of the key lessons from these studies.

In the words of Bandyopadhyay, the case studies give "new insights into inter-mixing of different kinds of 'spaces', criticality of the role of citizen leaders and intermediaries' organisations in mobilising citizens and ensuring accountability from the governance agencies, inclusive citizenship and deepening democracy."

Tracing Marco Polo's Journey —The Silk Route: Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia; Niyogi Books, D-78, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110020.

- The Hindu, 22nd January 2013

Order follows Andaman and Nicobar Administration's January 17 notification

The Supreme Court on Monday banned tourists from taking the Andaman Nicobar Trunk Road that passes through the area where the Jarawas live. The road is used to reach the Limestone Cave.

The court has already banned all commercial and tourism activities within a five-km radius of the Jarawa Tribal Reserve on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and H.L. Gokhale passed the order, taking on record the Andaman and Nicobar Administration's January 17 notification to comply with the court directives issued last year.

Except 30 villages notified in the schedule, the notification declares a buffer zone of an area up to a five-km radius, adjacent and contiguous to the Jarawa Tribal Reserve Area — starting from the Constance Bay in South Andaman to Lewis Inlet Bay in Middle Andaman. No person shall operate any commercial or tourist establishment directly or indirectly in the buffer zone. Furthermore, no one shall carry out any activity, which may be prejudicial to the safety, security and interests of the Jarawas in any of the settlement villages.

The Bench directed that only government officials, persons residing in the reserve and vehicles carrying essential commodities for the Jarawas would be allowed on the Trunk Road.

Justice Singhvi told counsel, "You provide helicopter service to… tourists to reach the cave as there is a total ban in the buffer area."

"File affidavit"

The Bench directed the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to file an affidavit, along with a detailed map indicating the areas of Jarawas and settlement of others. It posted the matter for further hearing on February 26.

The October 30, 2007 notification, imposing the ban, was quashed by the Calcutta High Court.

On an appeal, the Supreme Court, stayed the order and asked the administration to strictly enforce the notification till it was considered by the court. This was followed by the January 17 notification.

- The Hindu, 22nd January 2013

The Siva temple at Panaiyapuram in Tamil Nadu was to be demolished to make way for widening the Vikkiravandi-Thanjavur highway.

Villagers of Panaiyapuram in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu are an overjoyed lot and they cannot wait anymore to honour their saviours. They want to erect big banners, expressing their "gratitude" to the saviours, and present them with turbans and shawls. A reception too will be organised. The saviours are National Highways Authority of India officers, who, heeding the protests of locals, have decided not to demolish the 1,300-year-old Siva temple in the village to make way for widening the Vikkiravandi-Thanjavur National Highway (NH) 45C. The villagers will also honour Tamil Nadu officials who convinced the NHAI not to pull down the temple.

When the plans to widen the NH-45C, cutting through the temple, became public, residents of Panaiyapuram, Pappanapattu, Mundiyampakkam, Kappiyampuliyur and Thuravi forgot their caste and class divisions and rose as one to protest against it. For, the widened highway would have shot like an arrow through the ancient Siva temple and its sanctum sanctorum for Panankateesvarar, and the shrines for his consort Satyambikai, Ganesa and Muruga would have been razed to their foundation. Inscriptions belonging to Rajendra Chola (regnal years 1012 CE to 1043 CE), his son, Rajendra Chola II, Adhi Rajendra, Kulotunga I, Jatavarman Sundara Pandiya I, Vikrama Pandiya and others would have disappeared. (The Hindu, Road that may erase history, April 6, 2012).

This enraged the villagers, who were determined not to allow the temple demolition to go through. They petitioned Villupuram Collector V. Sampath, NHAI officials and Union Ministers. The State government's land acquisition officer feared the issue would lead to a law and order problem. The NHAI officials informed their headquarters about the protests.

The NHAI has now decided "to restrict the proposed ROW [right of way] width to avoid acquisition of the ancient temple near Panaiyapuram village by restricting the extent of land acquisition up to the existing compound wall of the temple on the LHS [left hand side] of the temple portion only." The NHAI has stated this in a letter, dated October 6, 2012, to the Competent Authority and the Special District Revenue Officer (LA), National Highways-45C, Villupuram. In an earlier communication also, dated September 20, 2012, the NHAI said the "four-laning of NH-45C will be accommodated between the existing compound wall of the temple and the existing Veeranam pipeline on the other side." When contacted, an NHAI official said: "The temple will not be touched."

The NHAI's decision has delighted the villagers. R.P. Pugazhendi, ex-president, Panaiyapuram panchayat, called the decision "the will of God." Residents of Panaiyapuram and other villagers, he said, "forgot their caste and class and fought together to save the historic temple."

He added: "We will host the NHAI and the State government officials a reception. We will honour them by giving them shawls and turbans. We will erect a hoarding, expressing our gratitude to them, at the highway intersection, where the roads branch off to Chennai, Puducherry, Thanjavur and Villupuram."

R.P. Athiyaman, who belongs to Panaiyapuram but lives in Chennai, praised the NHAI officials for respecting "our sense of history and sentiments."

R. Nagaswamy, former Director of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, said the Saivite saint Tirugnana Sambandar, who lived in the seventh century CE, had sung verses praising the temple's Sivalinga. Rajendra Chola-I's inscription called the deity Nethroddharaka Swami (i.e., the deity will cure eye ailments).

Rajendra Chola I rebuilt the Panaiyapuram temple in honour of his woman personal assistant ("anukki" in Tamil) called Paravai and the town around the temple was called Paravaipuram.

The inscriptions of Rajendra Chola II (regnal years 1052 CE to 1064 CE), Adhi Rajendra (1068 CE to 1071 CE) and Kulotunga Chola I (1070 CE to 1122 CE) mention the gift of paddy, land and gold coins to the temple.

- The Hindu, 22nd January 2013

The Delhi Parks and Garden Society (DPGS) on Monday said that about 100 road points, such as those on NH 24 and in Dhaula Kuan, in the Capital have been taken up for landscaping and greenery.

The DPGS is coordinating with various land-owning agencies such as the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure greenery on roadsides, central verges and roundabouts. SD Singh, chief executive officer of the DPGS, said, "We have beautified the ITO crossing. The model is being replicated at 100-odd other locations."

"Availability of water is an issue. We plan to ensure watering through sprinklers. The idea is to use water treated in sewage treatment plants," he said.

He said area-specific species will be planted. "We will plant smaller ones on central verges. There will be spaces for people to cross over at every 100 meter so that these plants are not crushed by pedestrians," he said.

"We're going for ecologically suitable species. At sites where not much water is available, we're planting plants such as Bougainvillea and Kaner. Similarly, under flyovers, we're going for shade-tolerant plants like Syngonium," he said.

"If you drive down the city roads you can easily find blank patches caused by drying up of roadside and central verge plants. If maintained, these contribute to the aesthetic appeal. The beautification project has been started on the chief minister's directive," a senior government official said.

Meanwhile, CR Babu, a member of the Delhi tree authority, has proposed special species of plants for plantation along roads. The authority, set up in 2007 for the protection of trees, has also decided to phase out most of the current roadside plants in the Capital with new species.

"Trees should be good for the environment and they must have good aesthetics. I have prepared a list of plants. The authority will in turn circulate the same among various land-owning agencies for plantation," he said.

- The Hindustan Times, 22nd January 2013

Nearly three years after the amended Archaeological Survey of India Act came into force, no heritage bylaw for any centrally-protected monument has been notified.

The National Monuments Authority, the nodal agency which is responsible for notification, says that bylaws for only two monuments -- Sher Shah Gate and Khairul Manzil -- have been officially received by them and these would be notified in the next meeting following the 30-day period for suggestions. In the pipeline are other bylaws for monuments like Begumpuri Masjid and Agarsen ki Baoli which have been prepared by Intach and are currently with the ASI.

A senior NMA official said: "Now that the 30-day period for filing any objections/suggestions for notifying the heritage bylaws of Sher Shah Gate and Khairul Manzil is over, we will be taking up the final notification of these monuments in the next meeting. Our endeavour is to finish the notification of all the monuments at the earliest." NMA received just one objection to the notification of Sher Shah Gate and Khairul Manzil which has already been addressed.

"Since the bylaws address the prohibited and regulated area of each monument, each monument has to be addressed separately. A number of bylaws have been prepared by Intach and are being submitted to ASI in phases. After the ASI approves the bylaws, we will get it from them with additional recommendations," said an official.

- The Times of India, 22nd January 2013

If man-animal conflicts are growing, it is primarily because we are doing things that promote such conflicts. And yet we keep saying that we must reduce these confrontations which are claiming the lives of both humans and wild animals. We have to get serious

I wanted to begin this article with the most recent human wildlife conflict incident, and in the past week I have had to rewrite it three times because of increasing incidents of such conflicts. Last Friday a leopard was killed by villagers in the Borhat forest range in Assam. The leopard was spotted resting on a tree near the village and within half an hour a huge mob formed and started attacking it brutally with sharp weapons. They first cut the tail off, then the legs and finally beheaded the leopard just as the forest staff arrived at the spot. Not only is this incident now quite typical in its brutality, but also by its nature. The leopard did not have a history of either attacking people or livestock and just happened to be near the village. Unfortunately when it comes to leopards the immediate reaction is to kill, often even before the animal has done any actual damage or harm.

The Wildlife Protection Society of India reported that leopard deaths in 2012 had been the highest, where we lost one leopard a day. Last year was also the worst recorded for tiger deaths where we lost over 70 tigers. While some deaths must have been due to natural causes, it would be safe to say the majority were not.

A change in land-use pattern and encroachment of forest land for plantations and agriculture have only made matters worse. In Gujarat, a shift to sugarcane and mango cultivation on the edge of the Gir forest has been identified as one of the reasons behind rising conflicts between human beings and lions and leopards.

We've barely crossed half-way through the month of January and the casualties have been rolling in. The human-wildlife conflict is a fight for space. and in this push and pull for space it's not just the villagers who are at the front line. We have smeared our development over forests and rivers and grasslands, with no regard whatsoever. As a result, our forests have railway lines and roads bisecting them, mines and factories outlining them and the once continuous stretch of forest ends up looking more like an incomplete and scattered jigsaw puzzle.

Two elephants were mowed down by the Jan Shatabdi Express that cuts across the Rajaji National Park; while one died on the spot, the other elephant eventually bled to death. Another tragic and heart-breaking incident was that of five elephants which were killed in a train accident in Odisha's Ganjam district. In both incidents the elephants had no choice but to cross the railway track to get to another part of the forest. Elephants travel in herds and have close ties with one another. I remember an incident of a few years back when an elephant calf was injured and couldn't move off the track. The herd then formed a protective circle around it, but unfortunately even a wall of elephants was no match for a train that was too fast. Trains travelling through forested areas are supposed to slow down by law, but in all these incidents it was the speed of the train and the lack of a monitoring system that resulted in these tragedies.

Why is it that we allow a situation to repeat itself? Even in direct conflict situations the scenario is always familiar. An animal is spotted or strays into an inhabited area, a large angry mob gathers, people get hurt, animals get hurt (often killed). The mob is pacified, compensations are given — and then the cycle repeats itself somewhere else. In conversations with many people working in the field, I was told that it was the mob which was more of a challenge to deal with, especially, if a person had been injured or killed. A situation can quickly get bad with rising sentiments and sometimes rumors doing the rounds.

I spoke with Bhavna Menon, a project coordinator with the Last Wilderness Foundation, which is working towards not only increasing awareness about India's wildlife but is also actively involved in the sustainable development of the villages and tribal settlements in the peripheries of the forests. Ms Menon had an interesting take on dealing with the mobs in conflict areas. She felt that people get even more aggravated because there is nobody there who can communicate clearly. There is a need to have somebody who can talk to people and can calm them down while the forest department personnel carry out their operations. A trained individual who is a part of the front line staff and is a local who is already sensitive to the situation and objective at the same time, could be the way forward to dealing with mobs.

The same situation exists in most of the countries in the tropics where the human needs and pressure on the land are constant and growing. What is happening may be a complex issue to deal with, but it is really quite simple and the result, if only delayed, will be the same. We have overpopulated our land and we need more space, not only to live in but to feed our millions. Nepal has announced what many had always feared. It has put a cap on its wildlife growth. In other words not enough space, too many animals. That country's Forest Ministry officials, have made a statement stating that expanding existing 'protected areas' may not be an option as Nepal had already made huge swathes of land available for nature conservation. The only solutions presumably would be to translocate, send them to zoos or culling.

In India, we have often heard how culturally and historically we have been tolerant towards animals, and this is why the conflict situation is not as bad as in other countries. However reassuring that may be to hear, the reality is that things have changed and without a clear action plan to save our wildlife we will eventually follow Nepal's steps. In fact, it has already begun, Nilgais and wild boar are classified as pests in some States as they raid crops and now 'problem' animals can be shot legally through a provision.

Ironically, while conservation has been successful in national parks like Ranthambhore, where the tiger population has increased, the challenge now is space. Translocation is one option, but how long will it be before we run out of space? Since our forests are not going to increase dramatically, what would that magic number be? How much wildlife can our forests hold before animals start spilling out? Conflict is inevitable. Solutions like creating forested corridors and translocation, rapid action teams and compensating losses help, but they feel more like a quick fix. What lies ahead and where we will end up is unclear, but what is very clear is that unless we put a realistic cap on development and make wildlife our priority, we could be fighting a battle that has already been lost.

- The Pioneer, 23rd January 2013

The Town Hall auditorium that has been vacant since municipal councillors bid adieu to the building in September 2011 will soon be available on rent for private conferences and events.

The municipal corporation has decided to rent out the auditorium for a year. Officials said the move will help the corporation raise additional revenue. "It will be first in the line (among other buildings lying vacant) to be rented out to generate revenue," an official said.

It has been decided that the auditorium will be given to corporates or organisation for conferences or meetings for a year. The corporation will soon begin the tender process.

"The auditorium has a history attached to it and has seen some of the most revered politicians. Keeping its historical significance in mind, we have decided to rent it out for conferences and meetings. We will do it by not tinkering with its originality," a senior official of the North corporation said.

The corporation has decided to turn the Town Hall in to a museum cum recreational centre cum tourist destination with a touch of pre-Independence era. "We are working on every element that will go in making it a heritage spot, which will be internationally acclaimed for its originality and uniqueness. We will achieve this without touching the original structure of the Town Hall. Meanwhile, we need to earn from it as the project will take a year to be finalised with details. That is why we are deciding to rent it out for a year," the official said.

Planned in 1857 to serve as an office for the municipality, chamber of commerce, a literary society and a museum, the Town Hall acted as a platform for interaction between Europeans and Indians. Built between 1860 and 1865, it was modelled on city centres in Victorian England.

- The Indian Express, 23rd January 2013

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams have begun fabricating a replica of the hill temple of Venkateswara in Allahabad, venue of the Maha Kumbh Mela.

A team of TTD engineers and officials is busy setting up the model temple and its ancillary wings at the Allahabad site. Besides the 'mirror image' shrine of the Tirumala temple, the huge complex would encompass the potu (temple kitchen), dining halls, a Kalyana Mandapam, queue lines, tents for priests and other staff on duty, parking lots, bathrooms.

On Tuesday, the TTD dispatched to Allahabad a convoy of four APSRTC 'Garuda' vehicles with all men and materials required for the task.

TTD Executive Officer L.V. Subramanyam flagged off the convoy.

K. Venkat Reddy, secretary of the TTD's Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad, said the idea behind melas such as the Kumbh was to bring under one umbrella and on a common platform all Hindus living all over the world and pave the way for a Hindu spiritual and cultural renaissance.

- The Hindu, 23rd January 2013

Want Centre to declassify papers related to his death, fresh debate in House on Mukherjee report

Some members of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's family, including two of his nephews, four nieces and a grandnephew, will take to the streets here on his 116th birth anniversary on Wednesday protesting against the refusal of the Indian government to declassify documents related to his death.

Demanding on Tuesday that the Centre do so without further delay, they also asked for a fresh discussion in Parliament on the report of the Mukherjee Commission.

"The government does not want to release the documents because of national security. But Netaji was a freedom fighter; anything related to him is not government's property that it can hide it. People have every right to know about the secrecy concerning his death. How can the government deny people the right to know the real history?" asked Chandra Kumar Bose, nephew of Netaji, at a press conference.

Many stories

"There are many stories going around related to Netaji's death. Some believe that he died in a plane crash at Taiwan in 1945. According to some, he escaped from Taiwan and entered Russia where he was killed. Even some believe that he came back to India and remained disguised as a saint. We, as a family, are unable to deal with all these stories. We want to know the truth," said Mr. Bose.

Criticising the report of two of the inquiry commissions concerning the leader's death, he said: "Those in the two inquiry commissions set up by the Centre to look into the matter — the Shah Nawaz Khan Commission and the G.D. Khosla Commission that stated that Netaji died in a plane crash on August 18, 1945 at Taiwan — never visited Taiwan before placing their report."

Claiming the Mukherjee Commission report to be more accurate, he said: "The Mukherjee Commission presented the correct facts as it visited Taiwan and interviewed more than 200 people before concluding that Netaji was not killed in a plane crash at Taiwan."

Questioning the reaction of the Indian government to the Mukherjee Commission, D.N. Bose, another nephew of Netaji, said: "How can it reject the Commission report without a proper discussion in Parliament? The report clearly mentions that on that particular date [August 18, 1945], no plane crashed at Taiwan."

"Thirty of our family members have written a letter to [West Bengal] Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about one-and-a-half month ago requesting her to speak to the Prime Minister for declassification of the documents related to the death of Netaji and we are yet to get a reply from her," he added.

The author of the book India's Biggest Cover — up , Anuj Dhar, said: "The Intelligence Bureau has 77 files related to Subhas Bose. For the sake of fair play and transparency, each and every record related to Netaji should be declassified."

- The Hindu, 23rd January 2013

The Delhi government has finally set a deadline of February 2013, for the launch of the Capital's first-ever tree census. The Delhi Preservation of Trees Act came into force in 1994, with a mandate to count trees, but it could never take off despite promises. The Delhi parks and garden

society (DPGS) has roped in five RWAs and as many schools for the first leg of the census before it is introduced across the Capital. The DPGS claims to have prepared an action plan.

Data compiled in the process has established that there are 414 species of trees of 270 genres in the Capital. Delhi's total green cover is 20 per cent. But that is only one side of the story. A recent UN habitat state of world cities report ranked Delhi at 58 in the world green index among 95 cities. According to a latest report of the Forest Survey of India, it has in fact come down by a good .38 sq km in recent years.

In Delhi, where land is scarce, the green cover is often compromised for development projects such as the expansion of the Metro.

"The problem is we have relied only on satellite imagery, but even that gives a sense only of the area of green cover in Delhi. Campaigns against illegal felling and pruning of trees fall flat because there are no area-specific authentic tree inventories," admitted a senior government official.

S D Singh, chief executive officer of DPGS, said, "Cataloguing information on trees will help in protection and addition of the urban green cover. In the first leg, the census will be carried out in front of the government's horticulture staff so that difficulties faced can be understood better and tackled effectively."

- The Hindu, 23rd January 2013

Green buildings help you reduce the electricity bill, save water and make your living space comfortable but now there is another incentive. Following a recent announcement by the lieutenant governor, green structures in the capital may be allowed a larger floor area ratio(FAR) compared to conventional buildings.

FAR is the ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of the land on which it is built. In Delhi, it varies according to the size of the plot.

"The LG has asked all agencies to convert maximum buildings into eco-friendly structures as green buildings are playing a significant role in minimizing the carbon footprint of cities. They require less energy both for cooling and heating. Increasing the FAR will be a good incentive for people to switch to eco-friendly buildings. This proposal will be added to Delhi Master Plan 2020," said Ranjan Mukherjee, the officer-on-special-duty (OSD) to lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna.

Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) has also recently recommended to the urban development ministry that the FAR for green buildings be increased by 1%. "Two important features of our recent recommendations are that FAR be increased and 15% roof area be allowed to use if builders use roof-top solar photo-voltaic panels. The green rating for integrated habitat assessment (GRIHA) has become almost obligatory now so it shouldn't be difficult to shift to green architecture," said DUAC chairman Raj Rewal.

He has also suggested that three independent architects look into each project. While one of them will be the architect of the building, the others can check if all the building bylaws are being followed. If there is no slip-up, the project will be deemed approved, minimizing the time for clearance.

In the West, too, these incentives have been used to promote green buildings. For instance, United States Green Building Council recommends reducing duration of the review and permitting process for verifiable green building projects. Many municipalities in the US also allow percentage increases in FAR if a building meets green standards. Some municipalities with height restrictions have provided height bonuses for green structures.

- The Times of India, 23rd January 2013

Rule to be relaxed in peak summer to overcome any opposition by traders, NDMC says looking at ways to implement plan.

Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna has suggested that Connaught Place be turned into a "pedestrian-only zone" except during "extreme summer days". The proposal to relax this rule during peak summer is to overcome resistance to the move by the traders there.

Of the view that all market areas should be pedestrian-only zones, Khanna has asked the NDMC and MCD to initiate action on the proposal.

The governing body of the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre discussed this at a meeting on December 19. "Hon'ble L-G suggested all market areas in Delhi should be developed as pedestrian zones only. On the same issue, NDMC stated that traders associations have rejected the proposal for pedestrianisation on account of the extreme summer conditions of Delhi. L-G suggested that except for the extreme summer days, all other days, CP should remain a pedestrian-only zone,'' state minutes of the meeting.

The plan to turn Connaught Place into a pedestrian-only zone has been in the works for a while. It was part of the redevelopment plan, which is still being implemented. This plan includes facade improvement work, construction of new subways and a service utility corridor in the middle circle.

"The pedestrianisation plan had been suggested earlier but we opposed it. No further discussion has taken place since then. The weather in Delhi is not conducive for such a plan. No one will be willing to walk during peak summer or in the monsoons. This idea is workable in countries where the weather is pleasant almost throughout the year,'' Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders Association, said.

But the Lt Governor's suggestion has made the NDMC move. "We are looking at implementing these orders and are carrying out a study for the same,'' NDMC spokesperson Amit Prasad said.

A pedestrian-only plan for Lajpat Nagar market was also discussed at the meeting. Traders of this market too are opposed to the plan. For the plan, the traffic police have suggested that shopkeepers and others who want to park vehicles on long-term basis should park them at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.

"We had held a meeting with traders of Lajpat Nagar almost a year ago. They shot down the proposal of parking at JLN stadium saying it was not a viable plan. We have come up with a traffic circulation plan and have identified designated parking spaces in the market,'' a senior traffic police officer said.

Ranjan Mukherjee, officer on special duty to the Lt Governor, said: "We have been trying to pedestrianise markets in Delhi for years. In 2007, we tried to carry out a trial run in Ajmal Khan Market. This is a norm in most countries.''

- The Indian Express, 24th January 2013

A red board strapped to a trunk warns: vilaiti keekar. The next tree bears "dhak—flame of the forest" painted on a bright green board. The colour coding is a way to inform visitors to DDA's Sanjay Van forest in southwest Delhi that not all trees are good for this ecosystem in the Aravallis.

The red-flagged vilaiti keekar depletes ground water and hinders the growth of vegetation around it, explains retired Air Vice Marshal Vinod Rawat, founder of the volunteer group 'Working With Nature' (WWN) who is leading a campaign to revive the area's varied native vegetation . He says native species that vanished many years ago need to be reintroduced.

Rawat, 75, is trying to create a 600-acre Aravalli city forest and nearly 200 acres of a medicinal plantation in this vast scrubland near Qutab Minar. Pottering around the forest with Rawat in his golf cart is the best way to familiarize yourself with the vegetation. A botany student himself, he has a way of humanizing nature.

The stories spill out, a khejri tree becomes the symbol of a people's struggle. "It's a native Aravalli species. When we started work, there was only one khejri tree in Sanjay Van. But now, 3,000 saplings from Rajasthan have been planted," he says. The Rajasthan connection leads into history. "The khejri tree inspired the first Chipko movement 300 years ago in the Jodhpur region. People held the khejri sacred, and when troops came to fell a grove, a woman, Amrita Devi, clung to a tree as it was hacked. She died, and after her 200 others."

Khejris are not the only native trees reintroduced here. Around one lakh saplings of other species have been planted by DDA under the guidance of Rawat, who took up the task at the instance of lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna in 2010.

Rawat and other WWN volunteers are trying to raise interest in the forest by walking students through it. With winter on its way out, school trips have increased . On Wednesday morning, when TOI visited the forest, Class VI students from DPS RK Puram were planting a dhak sapling, a tree associated with one of the toughest chapters in school-level history. They were given a note "from the tree" stating: "I have lent my name to the town of Palashi, famous for the historic battle of Plassey." Not a lesson they will forget.

Down a mud track lies the medicinal plantation. Spread across 200 acres, it will have 10,000 trees of species like guggul, neem, jamun, bel, arjun, bahera , harad, amla and a climber , giloe. As the plants take root, wildlife has returned. There are blue bulls, migratory birds and peacocks . Rawat jokes he is wedded to the project. His child is growing up well.

- The Times of India, 24th January 2013

Despite glitches, the dance and music festivals at temple complexes in Bhubaneswar brought together Odisha's performing arts and architectural legacies

The romance of Odisha's performing arts with the historic legacy of its architectural marvels is never ending. Spurring one of the earliest Odissi festivals is the site of the Mukteswar temple, the 10th Century marvel, with the exquisite elegance of its sculpted gateway or 'torana' and caved ceiling. With the evening dew making the performance floor a slippery death trap for dancers and the over-bright illumination to accommodate DD Bharati's live telecast of the three-day festival pushing the edifices of the temple complex to a darker hinterland, the festival confronts the Tourism Department with its own organisational challenges.

The programme each evening, after a choral invocatory curtain raiser prayer sung to Shiva, comprised a solo recital, a duet and a group presentation, in that order. Of the invocations, Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya's effort was thwarted by the high decibel level of drums and poor sound balancing, while Shantanu Kumar Mohapatra's group needed more spirited singing. The best effort was by the group led by Prafulla Kar, "Bhajare maanasa Shaiva padam" sung in raga Mohanam interspersed with crisp solfa syllabic passages, the singing and accompaniment well coordinated.

Solo renditions had the incomparable Sujata Mohapatra, whose recital, given all its elegant perfection, was designed sans any abhinaya accent. The Ravana Shiva Stuti in the mangalacharan — choreographed by Kelucharan Mohapatra to the music of Bhubaneswar Misra — notwithstanding the sensuous grace of Sujata's movements, needed more of the definitive tandav rigor. The dance tone, also guided by the melody of the verses sung in Bhatiali, automatically invested a lasya flow to the sahitya. Set to Ektali, the Bageshri pallavi, Raghunath Panigrahi's score, choreographed by Ratikant Mohapatra, was danced with flair, the dancer's enjoyment in the movements palpable.

Whether it was the sound playing hide and seek that made for poor singing — as Sangeeta Dash seemed to make a less-than-sure entry on to the stage in the Shiva stotram eulogising Neelakantha Shiva — is difficult to assert. But this talented senior dancer's choreography could include more of the danced element in the rather sketchy narrative of Vishnu as Mohini, craftily denying the demons ensnared by her beauty their share of the nectar churned from the oceans, with everything distributed to the devas. Interwoven into the choreography was Rahu's pursuit of the moon, which finds shelter in Shiva's locks. "Mohane deli Chahigo", the Banamali Das lyric set to Keerwani, portraying Radha describing to her friend that magical moment when she first sighted Krishna, had all the interpretative stillness Sangeeta is known for. But one looked for an item presented less often.

Naba Kishore Misra's "Chandra Udbhasita Shekhara" had a bristling quality set by the sabda-swara-patha style recitation, as composed by Sukant Kumar Kundu for the mangalacharan. The dancer's excessively made up face, under the heavy lights, looked like a mask. He needs to go for a more natural look, particularly for an item which is his favourite, like "Kaivata Prasang", based on Upendra Bhanja's "Baidehi Bilas", visualising Guha the boatman's interaction with Rama, set to Bageshri in Jatitaal and Ektaal.

Impressive duets

The riveting part of the daily programmes were the duets. Rising far above the others were the festival highlights Debashish Pattnaik and Niladri Bhusan Mohanty, disciples of Durgacharan Ranbir. The clarity of movement, the sheer verve and bodily control of reed-slim figures, with excellent understanding between the two performers, make this pair scintillating. Ramahari Das' Keerwani pallavi with Dhaneshwar Swain's rhythmic contribution and Durgacharan's choreography could not have asked for a better visualisation than by these two strong male dancers. The way Neelakantha Shiva was shown and Shankara's Shivashtakam in Bhairvai and Ektali was rendered by this duo had a magnetic quality that held audience attention.

Lingaraj Pradhan and Sanjukta Dutta's duet had the practised ease of long togetherness. The nritta in Hamsakalyani (courtesy Ramahari's music, Dhaneshwai Swain's rhythm and Bichitrananda Swain's dance translation) was well-rendered. This was followed by Shankaracharya's Shiva-Parvati shlokam, the lasya-tandava contrasts emerging with grace despite the too loud and shrill Hamsadhwani music and drum.

Rashmi Raj and Viswabhushan Mohapatra began with the everlasting popularity of the Shankarabharanam pallavi, legacy of the late Kelucharan Mohapatra. The graceful ribcage movements of the dancers and the melodic recitation of ukkutas by the mardal player were the highlights for this critic. The Shiva Shankara stotra choreographed by the late Gangadhar Pradhan, paying homage to the "Divya Kundala Haara", was rendered with good understanding.

Groups

Amongst the groups, by far the best was the Odissi Dance Academy presenting "Katha Odissi" with thematic research by Kedar Misra, though fewer dancers and less crowding of the performance space would have made movement lines stand out better. It told the Odissi story, with the mahari doing "Bansi keshi hela shanka chakra", with the delightful little boys doing Gotipua, with glimpses of Geeti Natya influence and other traditions bringing it up to the Odissi of today, with the male dancer dancing in his own right without female disguise, with the pallavi composition and moksha. The narrative was extremely well-knit. The group managed despite the dew-drenched floor. Nazya Alam's voice was not at its best, though Rupa Kumar Parida sang well. The rasas evoked through the Ramayana episodes, while well done, could do without Rama's mirth at the defaced Shoorpanakha. Why not use the monkey scene for evoking hasya?

Poushali Mukherjee's group from Kolkata provided no specially upbeat moments, rendering its package of Kalika Stuti "Jaya Jaya Jaya Janani Devi", Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra's "Sita Swayamvara" based on Upendra Bhanja's work, and Malhar pallavi of Debashish Sirkar visualising Varsha images. Poushali herself provided manjira support.

Vitalina Lobach and Group from Russia (disciples of Srjan and Sujata Mohapatra), who performed the last evening, showed how foreigners are now healthily accepted performing in temple precincts. A brave effort, though the enthusiastic dancers need to evolve more.

East meets South

That Odisha's aggressive festival blitz has enhanced art awareness can be gleaned from the sizeable audience at the Rajarani temple (named after the Raja Raniya stone used for the edifice) for the East-meeting-South twin offer of Odissi and Carnatic music serenading the Kalinga style 11th Century creation. The "Darbari Gayan" stage ambience in dusk softly brought out the mystic romance of the temple's sculpted feminine figures in attitudes of love dalliance, leisurely languor and motherly affection. As Shyamamani's 72-year-old voice in crystal clear robustness sang the glory of Krishna through Banamali Das prabandha, champu and naatyanga, the poetic imagery of the "Taro Chaai ki Chhabi" sent goose pimples down the spine. Ensnaring the large gathering was Mandolin Srinivas' Hamsadhwani "Vatapi Ganapatim" and Tyagaraja's "Endaro Mahanubhavulu" in Sri raga with the crowning glory of the ragam-taanam-pallavi in Simhendramadhyamam with a bristling concluding Sai bhajan in Revati in Tisra nadai. But can we not have the Mandolin sweetness evoking rare quietude sans the contact mike?

Untouched by age, Balamuralikrishna's voice covering all three octaves drew rapturous applause in the four notes of Lavangi in his composition "Omkarakarini".

Added surprises were the whistling musician Galamurali accompanying the singer's own composition "Avatarana Margadarshini" in Kantamani raga and Tyagaraja's Hindolam "Saamaja varagamana." The maestro's own tillana in Kadanakutoohalam offered excellent scope to the fine violinist Peri Sri Ramamurthy and, above all, mridangist DSR Murthy with his biting clarity of rhythm. The last evening saw a huge crowd to listen to L. Subramaniam and wife Kavita Krishnamurthy.

- The Hindu, 25th January 2013

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Haryana government to ensure no "non-forest" activity is carried out in the forest areas of three villages - Kot, Mangar and Roz-ka-Gujjar â€" falling under Aravali. The tribunal has also restrained any commercial activity in Sikandarpur Ghosi village in Gurgaon, where green areas have been turned into a marble market.

"We hereby restrain carrying on of any commercial activity by construction of sheds or even the industrial activity including the sale and purchase of marble, liquor and gas warehouses in the village Sikandarpur Ghosi till the next date of hearing (February 7)," said the tribunal bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar that clubbed petitions pertaining to unauthorized activities in the forest areas.

Noting apparent violations of legal and green norms in these villages, the tribunal has asked the state government to take samples immediately from these villages and place an air-quality and analysis report before it showing the extent of pollution, if any.

While the case of green violations in Sikandarpur Ghosi had reached the tribunal last year, NGT took suo moto cognizance earlier this month of a TOI report on the three villages and clubbed the matters on ground of commonalty. "Both of them relate to the pollution of environment, unauthorized use of forest area for non forest activities and carrying on mining activities," the tribunal observed.

TOI had reported how the state government authorities were misusing the Consolidation Act to fragment forest and common hill in Roz-ka-Gujjar, Kot and Mangar villages.

- The Times of India, 25th January 2013

11-day exhibition at India Habitat Centre inspired by ancient Natyashastra

He specialises in creating mammoth sculptures out of uprooted trees or discarded objects. Delhi-based sculptor Neeraj Gupta has used old metal craft objects to produce a series of sculptures which are now on display at an eleven-day exhibition which opened at India Habitat Centre here on Thursday.

Symbolising different classical dance forms of the country, the sculptures have been created keeping in mind the unique traditions ofNatyashastra. The postures in gleaming metal contrast against sombre wood.

"Before embarking on this project, I made frequent trips to metal scrap dealers operating in Delhi's Sadar Bazar. As far as I am concerned, discarded metal objects are not useless but treasure troves. It is surprising how they have landed in these shops. I have worked on them to make civil society realise that preserving our cultural heritage is the need of the hour," says Neeraj.

With a predilection for reconfiguring forms from discards, Neeraj has also made use of kitchenware in the form of pots and pans to shape his metallic creations. "The final effect is the blossoming of forms in dance postures that speak a rare harmony and synchronisation of rhythm, stance and artistic depiction".

In addition to small-size sculptures, the show contains specimens of wood sculptures fashioned with dexterity and created to draw the viewer into relishing challenging situations of expressive arrangements. In all these works the overriding principle of minimal interference has been kept sacrosanct. Thus the natural grooves of the wood and the bend and fold of the metal are held as distinct giving the works highlighted in all the works.

The sculptures thus make simple and forthright statements of pure art through their ingenious makeover. The artist has held several solo shows in India.

Curator

According to curator Keshav Malik, the artist has over the years been at pains to personify experiences, to reveal the identity, the nuance and the composite being of humanity. "He is interested in transforming the humdrum surface events and in taking us aback with his masked personages."

An alumnus of Delhi University and recipient of Best Sculptor Award at the 77th Annual Art exhibition of the All-India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), Neeraj's works are a continuation of contemporary attempts to make art from unique, untried mediums.

- The Hindu, 25th January 2013

Pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh Mela here will get a chance to pay their obeisance at the renowned Tirupati temple of Lord Venkateswara and savour its famed ladoos as a replica of the hill shrine is in place at the mega event.

The replica is being constructed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust that manages the temple. A 60-strong team of engineers, workers and painters, which arrived in the city from Tirupati on January 8, is giving final touches to the 27.5-foot structure. The temple is located in sector 6 of the mela.

"The base of the temple is made of bricks, while for the rest, including the pillars, we have used country wood and plywood." I.V. Krishna Rao, a TTD engineer supervising the construction work, told The Hindu .

Besides housing an imitation of the southern temple, the complex will include a temple kitchen, dining halls and kalyana mandapam (pillared outdoor for public rituals).

According to TTD temple contractor Suribabu, the shrine will be completed by Friday and officially opened to devotees from Saturday. The timings of all rituals and sevas here will be in line with the original temple in Andhra Pradesh.

On Thursday, a convoy of vehicles carrying priests and idols carried out a procession through the city before making its way to the Sangam — the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

While there are speculations that the TTD and the mela administration are mulling over constructing a permanent replica of the temple at the Sangam, a TTD official said a decision will be taken on January 27. As of yet, the temple will be a temporary construction in place for the Mela, which concludes on March 10.

- The Hindu, 25th January 2013

The huge Amber fort complex surrounded by lakes and tombs

There is nothing more beautiful than experiencing a glorious past amidst magnificent monuments and vibrant heritage sites. Well, as soon as one enters the original walled city of India and capital of Rajasthan — Jaipur, the bygone era comes alive in front of your eyes. This weekend, when bookworms will head towards the pink city for the annual Jaipur Literature Festival, here's what one must explore outside the venue.

Historically speaking, the city of Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber in early 1700s, after whom the city gets its moniker. The king built this city by using the ancient art of Vastu Shastra, and being a follower of astrophysics he even applied the architectural principles in the construction. It is one of the most well-planned cities of India, and the rulers built a series of palaces, lakes and forts secured by thick sandstone walls across all corners. Even in those times, this city boasted of sprawling gardens, well-defined water and drainage system, and even had an advanced observatory known as the Jantar Mantar.

While roaming in Jaipur, you'll come across many significant structures scattered in the city, and you might wonder that if only those rocky walls of the towering forts and havelis could speak, they would tell the tales of a time when robust Rajputana kings with their beautiful maharanis flourished in benevolence.

The main forts in the vicinity of the city are — the Hawa Mahal, the Jaigarh Fort, the Nahargarh Fort and the Amber Fort. These centuries-old palace complexes stand tall in solid red-coloured sandstone, and showcase the brilliant Indo-persian influenced architectural designs in the form of tombs, arches and windows.

In the heart of Jaipur is the City Palace complex, the once-upon-a-time abode of the royal family of Jaipur. The complex is divided into Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Diwan-i-aam, Diwan-i-khas, Maharani palace and Govind temple.

Here, you can also check out the colourful peacock gate with intricate mirror work that leads to the Chandra Mahal. A major part of the palace was later converted into the museum, where tourists can see the preserved artilleries, paintings, photographs and ensembles of the royal family. It is believed that the ceiling of the Maharani palace, which is now the armoury and weapons section in the museum, was carved in pure gold and mirrors.

The other interesting and old museum in the city is the Albert Hall museum, situated outside the Ram Niwas garden and it has a rich collection of artefacts like paintings, carpets, ivory, metal sculptures and precious stones.

The trip to Jaipur is incomplete if you don't try the delicious Rajasthani food that includes Dal baati churma, Bajre ki roti, Bikaneri Bhujia, Mirchi Bada and Pyaaj Kachori.

This fascinating land of kings and queens is as vibrant as the colourful Rajasthani culture, and each visit to this city will leave you asking for more.

- The Asian Age, 25th January 2013

How the vocabulary of architecture and the materials used to build monuments across Delhi changed over time

Go around Delhi and look at the historical structures, both monumental and minor that dot the entire landscape, and you cannot miss the sudden change that seems to occur in their general appearance around the 16th century. The post mid-16th century structures appear to have a better finish, seem more refined and far more delicate, even if not as sturdy and strong as the buildings that were built prior to this period.

The differences between the Tughlaqabad Fort and the Red Fort are stark and glaring but these two are separated by three centuries and the variations can easily be explained in terms of evolution and refinement of building techniques. But look at the mausoleum of Isa Khan, completed in 1648 barely 23 years earlier than its grand neighbour, the Mausoleum of Humayun, completed in 1671, and you are faced with a mystery. How did architecture undergo this major transformation within such a short period of time?

The tomb of Isa Khan Niyazi clearly shows that it is carrying forward the architectural traditions of the Sultanate period and is of a piece with the tomb of Mohammad Shah, built in 1444. It is obvious that across 200 years from the time that the tomb of Mohammad Shah is constructed to the building of the tomb of Isa Khan there is little change in the architectural vocabulary of the monumental. Yet within 23 years, barely time for a generation to grow, the entire language of architecture seems to have undergone a revolution.

The most obvious change is noticeable in the external appearance of the monumental structures and this is a result of the almost total replacement of the material used -- Delhi quartz with marble and sandstone.

Delhi quartz was the traditional building material used in Delhi and its neighbourhood throughout the ancient and early medieval period. The early medieval period structures that used materials other than Delhi quartz are the Qutub Minar, the Ala'i Darwaza and the Mausoleum of Altamash – both near the Qutub. The mausoleums of Nasir-ud-Din Mahmood aka Sultan-e-Ghari near Vasant Kunj, and of Ghyasud Din Tughlaq at Tughlaqabad are two other buildings of this style. Even among these the use of marble at the top two floors of the Qutub and in the central Mehrab and on edges of the roof of the mausoleum of Naseer-ud-Din Mahmood is ascribed to Ferozeshah Tughlaq, who got extensive repairs carried out at these locations. All other structures during this period were built with the locally available grey brown Delhi quartz, quarried from the Arravalis.

The changes in workmanship brought in by this change might suggest that perhaps this shift coincided with an influx into Delhi of stone carvers that were equipped with new and more refined skills. How else does one explain the profusion of delicate relief work and carvings in marble and sandstone that seem suddenly to burst upon the scene in the late 16th century?

Such a reading will not be accurate primarily because there is evidence of the presence of these refined skills in Delhi almost throughout the early medieval period and even earlier, look at the delicate carvings on the Qutub Minar -- the Victory Tower erected by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, inspect closely the pillars re-used in building the Masjid Kubbat-ul-Islam (incidentally kubbat-ul-Islam, meaning the dome of Islam was the given name that was corrupted, perhaps deliberately into Quwwat-ul-Islam), the additions of the arches in the mosque by Altamash and the building of the Ala'i Darwaza by Ala-ud-Din Khilji.

All these structures provide evidence of the continued presence of highly skilled artisans in Delhi throughout this period. Their artistry and skills found expression the moment they were given a proper medium.

The locally available Delhi quartz had the advantage of great strength and age but it was not a rock that took to delicate carving. The Arravalis, among the oldest exposed rocks in the world, probably created around 2500 million years ago at the close of the Archaean era, consist primarily of basaltic rocks of volcanic origin. The molten lava cooled into hard rock composed of large crystals. The crystals prevented any kind of fine carving because the stone would flake or crack when worked upon with chisels. Throughout the long period when Delhi quartz was the major building material, no delicate carving was possible and therefore the builders covered the structures they built with thick layers of plaster. Intricate designs were carved into the still wet plaster and when the plaster dried, the incised plaster or stucco engravings were painted in naturally extracted blues, reds and greens.

The shift from structures made primarily of Delhi quartz and those fashioned out of sandstone and marble was not a sudden development, such changes never are. Between the former and the latter there is a period when buildings built mostly of Delhi quartz co-exist with structures that have begun increasing use of sandstone of different hues combined with limited use of marble. Examples of such structures include the mosque commissioned by the devotees and disciples of Sheikh Fazlullah, better known as Sheikh Jamal-ud-Din, the Sher Shahi Mosque at the Purana Qila, the Purana Qila itself, the Shershah Gate and the Khooni Darwaza etc. Is it possible that the gradual increase in the use of sandstone and marble for building monumental mausoleums becomes more common as ever increasing territories in Rajasthan begin to come under the influence of the rulers of Delhi? And by the time Akbar marries Rajkumari Hira Kunwari aka Rukmavati or Harka Bai, the elder daughter of Raja Bharmal of Ambar on February 6, 1562, large parts of Rajasthan come under the sway of the Mughals making it possible for them to undertake construction of truly monumental structures like the tomb of Humayun and Fatehpur Sikri.

- The Hindu, 26th January 2013

Garpanchakot — about 250 km from Kolkata — is a testimony to Bengal's glorious past but also to equally indifferent present. Somen Sengupta, after visiting the place, tells us more about it

Not too far from Kolkata — 256 km to be precise — exists a solitude in the lap of nature where history whispers from every edifice. Situated near the Bengal-Jharkhand border, this place showcases a testimony of the pristine past. Inside the deep, dark forest of Garpanchakot, several dilapidated temples and ruins of a palace-cum-fort has been co-existing for centuries.

Garpanchakot — or Gar Panchet as locals love to call this place — is a testimony to Bengal's past glory. It, in fact, had walked into the pages of history long ago and then gradually banished into oblivion. Today what we find here is not even a shadow of its glorious past. All we get here are the relics of the past scattered across the 18 km deep forest — it's another matter that even this precious little makes it a mesmerising place for one to enjoy a weekend.

The place gets a mention in the Puranas as Panchakot Giri. Once known as Shkekharbhoom, it was part of the kingdom of Tilakampa dynasty with its capital at Telkupi. Unfortunately, many temples and archeological relics of Telkupi got submerged in the Damodar river when the Damodar Valley Corporation project was executed in the mid-1950s.

JD Beglar, the legendary scholar who first explored many archeological relics of Manbhum, did an extensive research on Garpanchakot. In 1872, he collected two different folklores that talked about the origin of this place. Both are equally interesting. One story tells us about king Anothlal and his queen. On their way to Puri, they reached here and the queen gave birth to a son. However, due to certain reasons the baby was abandoned in the forest and a cow saved him with its milk. Later, the baby was raised by local tribals and became the leader of the community. He established a fort called Panchakot and took the name Jataraj. Meanwhile, two of his stepbrothers — Nayan and Asman — attacked this kingdom but eventually got killed. As for the cow, locals believe that it later turned into a stone and could still be found in Jhalda.

The other folklore goes like this: The dynasty that ruled Panchet was attacked by a Murshidabadnawab; only one member of the family could escape. He was saved by local tribals. Later, he regained his territory and established his kingdom. There are, however, some references that say that in 90 AD, one Damodar Shekhar founded a dynasty called Rajchakla Panchakot. Accordingly, the place Panchet got its name from this dynasty.

The fort and the palace are long gone. Today only some boundary walls and a few arches are there to welcome you. One such ruined house with arched wall is called Ranimahal. However, many temples — most of them in a pathetic condition — are still there to indicate the importance of the place. Among the dilapidated relics is a massive temple with five pinnacles built in thePancharatna style of the Bengal school. The temple houses a central tower along with four smaller ones on its four corners. The architecture has similarities with temples found in Bishnupur.

Thanks to mother nature, this temple has had minimum erosion and still appears majestic. It contains terracotta both inside and outside the temple wall. Even on the external wall of the tower some panels — like dancing girls and boys playing musical instruments — are curved out perfectly. Krishnaleela, a common subject found in other terracotta temples, can also be seen here. Floral designs with decorated corners on the wall give the evidence of Mughal influence. If you are a little adventurous, then climb the stairs of the tower. It will give you a breathtaking panorama of the forest and the ruins around.

With no dedicatory plaque around, it is assumed that the temple was built in the 17th-18th century. David McCutchion was of the opinion that this "18th century temple" has no particular affinity with the Bishnupur temple except for its tower.

Almost all temples inside the fort are reduced to rubble. Two of them have just got grounded. From the construction style, it is believed that these were not built in the same era. The oldest temple is built of sandstone, while others are made of laterite. In the same periphery one finds several ruined temples, along with a watch-tower. Outside the fort, a small temple is found where a few terracotta panels still exist. When Beglar explored this place, he found a series of temples made with huge domes and arches. It is believed that those temples were founded by Raja Raghunath, the son of Bishnupur king Veer Hambir. However, these no longer exist.

Today all temples are without any deity and look deserted. All deities have been moved to the royal palace of Kashipur located near Adra.

The Archaeological Survey of India has not undertaken these temples; so, it is likely that their days are numbered. We have already lost more than half of them and the rest will soon follow the suit. Garpanchakot may not have the richness of other terracotta temples in Bengal, but they win a place in heart for their unique location and a mystique past.

Travel Logistics

Garpanchakot is 256 km from Kolkata and about 55 km from Purulia. From Kolkata, it takes four hours by car to reach the place

The nearest railway station is Barakar in Burdwan, West Bengal. The place can also be accessed from the Adra railway station, which is one of the biggest in this zone. Both stations are well-connected from Kolkata. You can hire a car from the station

The West Bengal Forest Development Corporation has a beautiful resort; booking can be done from its Calcutta office. Credit card facility is not available here. For more details, please visitwww.wbfdc.com

Photography is allowed. Most temples are inside the forest, so be careful. Do not venture out after sunset.

Look for a guide, if you want to see flora and fauna of the forest. Visit Panchet dam of the Damodar Valley Corporation near the place; photography is not allowed here

- The Pioneer, 27th January 2013

Lifestyle of Nagas is truly amazing

The fact that I am writing about Liphi village once again which lies in 'no man's land' between Assam and Nagaland means that this small Naga village has left a lasting impression. And hence, it was not surprising that I wanted to spend a lot more time in this village than was intended.

One of things that has really caught my imagination was the kitchen. Not only had the villagers a foolproof system where they could preserve the meat, the sheer size of it left me speechless. Taken aback that a kitchen could be this huge, I visited more kitchens. There is a pattern. The kitchens are large, very large indeed. Also, the kitchens are separate from the main house. Interestingly, the area doubles as a living room as well. In one corner, there is a table and chairs. This announces the Naga splendour. The idea that people in this area live in huts is far removed from reality.

Here is another clarification. There is no tribe called the Naga tribe. The truth is that the term Naga tribe refers to a number of tribes that inhabit this land. There are at least 15 tribes that form the Naga tribes. To really appreciate the Naga splendor, one needs to visit Nagaland State Museum and the Naga Heritage Village that celebrates hornbill festival each year in the first week of December. Both the institutions are located in the beautiful city of Kohima. Unfortunately, I missed the event.

The reason for the festival has an interesting story behind it. Legend has it that once the area was inhabited by hornbills who could talk. The bird today, is nearly extinct and the Nagas who revere the bird are doing their best to save it. The festival is held to honour the bird which is sighted in the first week of December and occupies a special place in Naga culture and heritage.

The Naga Heritage Village is promoted by the State's tourism department. While no one lives in the village, one can get a peek into the kind of houses the people lived in and their lifestyle. The splendour is best explained by the kind of houses they lived. The heritage village was built by Naga people themselves. There is nothing in the house that the people don't use. Also, special care has been taken to ensure that all the Naga tribes are represented in this heritage village.

Since over a dozen tribes, there is bound to be disputes as well which sometimes led to wars. Intra-tribe wars can't be ruled out as the region has several tribes that dot the entire North-east region. One of the most amazing tool at the heritage village are the war drums. Each Naga tribe has its own war drum which is totally different from the others. The sheer size of these drums mesmerizes visitors. Made from single piece of wood, some war drums are over 15 feet long and over three feet in radius. The drum making is an exceptional art which is indigenous to this area. An entire tree is felled and cleaned. The tree is then carved into a pipe-like shape. A long hole is made on top of the pipe. Two huge wooden hammers are also made. In times of distress, the hammers are beaten on the pipe. The sound can travel for miles. It will 100 well-built people to transport these drums from one place to the other.

Even the entry doors of the houses are interesting. On the doors of the most houses, bones and heads of wild buffalos are placed strategically. Those who have seen a wild buffalo would know the power of this animal. To kill it requires skill. The paddy crushers on display makes one think why the Nagas require such a huge piece of machinery when elsewhere in the country people do with smaller individual crushers. Well, it appears, that every thing that relates to the Nagas has to be big. The fact that these people hunted the wild buffalo means that their hunting tools have to be bigger and stronger.

The Nagaland State Museum is must see. It gives a sneak peek into the sophisticated lifestyle of the people. The museum showcases how the people melted steel and made large spears and arrows that could bring down an animal as large as wild buffalo. Contrary to the belief, by the rest of the country, that the North-eastern tribes only knew how to use spears, bows and arrows, the museum shows that the people even made guns. The fact that the people made fine jewellery and could weave fabric centuries ago is fascinating.

Visit to this region has made me realise one thing — that the tribes here are far more civilised than we gave them credit for. Given the rough terrain and the isolation they have had to face, their advancement in every field is truly amazing. If India has to evolve into a great nation and I am sure it will one day, school children every nook and corner of the country need to be taken for a visit to North-eastern States. it will help them to not stereotype people.

A diverse demography like ours demands more interaction among its people so that they come to mutually respect each other. It is good that Indians know the history and geography of the rest of the world. But ignorance about their own people living in North-east or even central India — places in the Deccan plateau — will make us incomplete.

- The Pioneer, 27th January 2013

The Jahanpanah City Forest is a lesser-known green cover of South Delhi which acts as lungs for a huge chunk of the Capital's population. However, this 435-odd acres of pristine greenery is slowly and steadily getting its cover clipped, thanks to felling. As the Hindustan Times took

a 100-minute stroll through the apparently dense forest, many felled tree trunks were spotted in various corners of this vast expanse.

As you enter through any of the nine gates — two near Don Bosco School in Greater Kailash II, one each at Tughlakabad Extension, Batra Gate, Dhobi Ghat, Sheikh Sarai, Chirag Delhi, Masjid Moth DDA Flats and Balwant Rai Mehta School — into this forest, a well-maintained picture perfect setting greets you. But as one ventures deeper, a bit further away from the walkers' trail, the green density increases and decreases too.

Felled tree trunks, some quite fresh, can be seen at every other corner of the denser areas of the forest, especially the portion which shares its boundary with Dakshinpuri. Bunches of twigs and small branches also sport a quite meticulously gathered look.

According to the National Forest Policy, 1988, a minimum of 1/3rd of the total land area of the country should be under forest or tree cover. Delhi, with its abundance of green cover, still fails to fulfill this criteria as only 20 per cent of the Capital is green.

SM Agrawal, president of Friends of Jahanpanah City Forest, said encroachment, lack of proper security and massive tree felling were severely affecting this South Delhi forest area.

"I came for a walk a couple of days back and saw fresh felling. The authorities are apathetic towards the whole issue and if this continues it will spell doom for this place," Agrawal, who has been fighting for this forest land, near his GK II home, for around two decades, said.

According to him, the lack of security guards, who should be patrolling various corners of the forests, is one of the primary reasons for this. "There should be 30 of them, but there are only 17," Agrawal said.

The Jahanpanah City Forest is looked after by the Delhi Development Authority. When contacted, a senior DDA official said people from Madangir and Subhash camp JJ colonies go in and out as they want. "We have complained to the police but in vain. An RCC wall can solve this problem," he said.

- The Hindustan Times, 27th January 2013

Driving down Sham Nath Marg towards Kashmere Gate, a DTC bus stop by the name 'Ludlow Castle' can be a bit misleading. Castle in 'Ludlow Castle' can fox those who don't know its origin as happened with Sam Miller, former BBC journalist and author. "Ludlow Castle", he writes in 'Delhi Adventures in a Megacity', "(I) knew as the name of a medieval ruin on the Welsh border of my homeland."

Not exactly a castle, but a fortified tall walled palatial residence of the same name existed in the early 19th century at the site where two government schools stand today.

Old documents trace the origin to Samuel Ludlow, a residency official, who lived there. It later served as a residency for the British political agent in the Mughal court and subsequently to various British officials. It also housed the 'Delhi Club'.

Post-independence, it was turned into a high school. Girish Jhalani, who finished school in 1976 — it was called the Government Model School then — recalled: "I remember playing with my friends in the unoccupied portion. We stoned the bee hives hanging from the ruinous remnants."

The main entry then was from Raj Niwas Marg, which, too, was then called the Ludlow Castle Road. The dilapidated building was demolished entirely and replaced with two schools still popular as Ludlow Caste School 1 and Ludlow Castle School 2, despite one of them being officially known as Shaheed Amirchand Government Sarvodaya Vidyalaya (in pic).

- The Hindustan Times, 27th January 2013

R.V. Smith visits a unique place which claims to have a footprint of Prophet Mohammad

Few perhaps know that an unusual Urs takes place at Qadam Sharif in Qutub Road. According to the mutawalli (trustee) of the shrine, Sultan Ziauddin, better known as Sultan Bhai, the event does not commemorate the death anniversary of Prince Fateh or Fath Khan, son of Firoze Shah Tughlak, buried there but that of Hazrat Mohammad, who was born and died on the same day. The occasion is celebrated as Id-ul-Milad or Barah Wafaat. Sultan Bhai's father is the hereditary caretaker (Sajjadanashin) of the shrine where the footprint of Qadam-e-Mustafa is installed. He claims that his family has been organising the Urs ever since Fateh Khan died over 600 years ago, leaving Firoze Tughlak heartbroken.

At the Urs, the tabarrukh or prasad (offering) distributed is also unusual. Generally it's a sugar preparation, gram, gur or some sort of cake, but at Qadam Sharif water from the small tank, in which the stone carrying the footprint is immersed, is given to the devotees in little water goblets or mud Surhais for drinking and anointing themselves. This year the Urs fell on 25 January. Heritage activist Surekha Narain, who happened to find her way to the shrine last week, learnt its history with astonishment. Many years ago the event lasted 12 days with people from all over coming to participate in it. But now it is a one-day affair and only those from Delhi are the ones who attend. Still the organisers have to make hectic preparations and it is hard to contact Sultan Bhai who, along with his family members, is busy making arrangements days in advance. This includes permission from the authorities for a police bandobust in the crowded area in Paharganj. In the Mughal days it had many luminaries such as Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq, ustad of Bahadur Shah Zafar, living in it. At that time one could go on horseback right up to the Red Fort as the space now occupied by railway lines was an open ground. This changed when the Old and New Delhi stations came up and trains criss-crossed the area. Now one cannot even imagine a horse ride to the fort.

The story of Qadam Sharif is an interesting one. According to historians like Y.D. Sharma, the large square tomb was built by Firoze Shah (1351-88) for himself but when his son Fateh Khan predeceased him, he interred the favourite prince's remains here. The stone with the Prophet's footprint was brought from Mecca by Makhdum Jahanian Jahan, the spiritual guide of the Sultan, in the years before the latter's death. It was later placed on the tomb of Fateh Khan. The emperor then built a mosque and a school nearby and enclosed the tomb with a high battlemented wall. Adjacent to the tomb were subsequently added several chambers, such as the majlis khhana (assembly hall) and langar khhana (feeding house). There are also several graves and tombs inside the enclosure. It is believed that other members of the royal family, attendants and caretakers are buried here. Firoze Tughlak was a pious man who, according to Dr. Ishwari Prasad, was forever honouring holy men. Any dervish who came to his kingdom was sure to be met by the Sultan, who not only gave him gifts but also sought his blessings and advice. The historian feels that Firoze was more attracted towards matters spiritual than temporal and would have preferred to lead the life of a religious recluse had it not been for his uncle Mohammad bin Tughlak. The latter groomed him for kingship from an early age since he did not have an heir.

So when Mohammed bin Tughlak died suddenly at Thatta, in Sindh (some say his death was due to a plate of bad fish that he had eaten) while pursuing a rebel, Firoze was prevailed upon to succeed him. Throughout his long reign Firoze Tughlak never deviated from his spiritual practices, not even when he was busy hunting or laying gardens (he is said to have laid 1,200 gardens around Delhi), building new edifices and repairing old ones, like the Qutub Minar and Hauz Khas tank, and creating cities like Firozabad. As a builder, Firoze is regarded second only to Shah Jahan, whom he preceded by 300 years.

For such an emperor the building of the shrine was another exercise in fruitful architecture. He himself is buried at Hauz Khas but had his son not died before him then the Sultan's grave would have been in Qadam Sharif. Incidentally, there is another Qadam Sharif in the Karbala at Jorbagh and in the Jama Masjid too. But the one in Qutub Road has its own special relevance, where one can not only view a venerated relic but also partake of the tabarrukh at Id-ul-Milad. The langar or public feeding has been discontinued as the devotees do not camp at the shrine any more but come and depart the same day. Still, the attraction continues. Firoze Tughlak and Fateh Khan couldn't have hoped for a better tribute even six centuries after their death.

- The Hindu, 28th January 2013

The National Monuments Authority is expected to take a final call on the mutlilevel parking project at Kasturba Gandhi Marg in their next meeting in early February, said sources.

With a capacity to park 1,582 vehicles, the 13-floor structure at K G Marg, is supposed to be one of Delhi's biggest fully automated parking lots and has been awaiting approval from the heritage body for over two years. As the construction site falls 204m from the closest side of Agrasen ki Baoli and 266m from the other side, it needs NMA approval. The project has been reviewed by senior NMA officials several times.

NMA was appointed to look into projects located in prohibited or regulated zones of protected monuments after Archaeological Sites and Ancient Monuments and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 came into effect. According to the Act, permission can't be given to projects falling in 300m radius of protected monuments without consent of NMA, which will act on recommendations by a state-level competent authority.

The state-level competent authority has recommended approving the parking project with some stipulations like incorporating art and architecture of Agrasen ki Baoli and CP in the facade of the building and dedicating space for photo galleries of heritage sites in the corridors and lobbies. It has also suggested that the roof should be designed in such a manner that water tanks and pipes are not unaesthetically exposed.

While directing NDMC to steer clear of all sorts of encroachments and unplanned activities, the authority said traffic circulation plan around the site be studied and integrated properly around the proposed car parking.

- The Times of India, 28th January 2013

Boro and Boa senior were the last speakers of Khora and Bo languages in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. When they died in November 2009 and January 2010, two of the four Great Andamanese languages would also have perished had it not been for the painstaking efforts of a JNU professor.

Anvita Abbi, professor of linguistics, Centre for Linguistics, School of Language, Jawaharlal Nehru University, recently won the Padma Shri for her works on tribal and endangered languages. She researched for over a decade to preserve these dying languages in the form of books and multilingual dictionaries. She is also the first guide for a PhD on Jarawa, another endangered language of the island, which came into prominence because of the 'Human Safari' episode last year.

Abbi, a distinguished scholar of languages in the Indian sub-continent, said, "This coveted award (Padma Shri) has been given for my work on tribal and lesser-known languages, including languages of the Andaman. This should send a message to the linguistic community for further research on these languages as they are a big storehouse of information hitherto unexplored, including that on history, population, migration, ecology and culture."

Abbi has been working on tribal and endangered languages of India since 1977. Her most significant work of late has been on the moribund languages spoken in the Andaman islands, especially the languages of the Great Andamans, which she has documented in great detail. In 2001, she did a comparative study of the Great Andamanese languages . Though Jarawa was not a part of the Great Andamanese languages, Abbi also became a guide for the first PhD on the endangered language by another JNU scholar, Promod Kumar, in 2012.

Recounting her meetings with Boro and Boa Senior, she said: "Boro and Boa senior were the last speakers of the Khora and Bo languages. They were great friends. Boro died at the age of 79. And a few months later, Boa also passed away. Boa used to feel lonely after Boro's death. With them two of the four Great Andamanese Languages also died."

During her research, spanning more than a decade, Abbi showed that the dialects spoken in the Andamans belonged to two independent families, and linked the history of this linguistic group, which goes back many thousands of years, to some of the earliest migrations out of Africa. She also produced a book on "Endangered Languages of the Andaman Islands" and "Dictionary of the Great Andamanese Language". With the dictionary, Abbi also gave a script for these languages. Her forthcoming work is the book "A Grammar of the Great Andamanese: An Ethnolinguistic Study".

- The Times of India, 28th January 2013

A new programme, which seeks to train people in the art of telling history of our heritage, is taking shape. Aptly named 'Virasat Goi', the programme has been chalked out by the Delhi government in collaboration with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and Jamia Millia Islamia.

This six-week course module will teach aspirants not only about the history of the monuments but also ways in which they could be told to the visitors in the most interesting manner.

Officials explained that the need for the course arose out of the fact that while general information regarding historical buildings is displayed on boards, several interesting details and related anecdotes are given a miss.

"There are times when visitors ask questions related to not just the general details of the monument such as its date of construction, etc, but also the historical significance and anecdotes. Therefore, we decided to put in place a system ensuring training individuals to communicate the history and other information of the monuments in the most engaging manner," said a senior Delhi government official.

The tourism department, which has prepared the plan, has sent the proposal to the tourism ministry. Once approved, the six-week course module will help guides to correlate the literature and oral information with the evidence available at the site.

"A degree in history/art or architectural history is not essential to be a heritage walk guide. What is most important is one's interest in a place, good sense of direction and most importantly, an ability to share knowledge and insight with a touch of humour," added the official.

So far, 18 people have been short-listed for the practical training, which includes etiquette and elementary English.

"This programme is part of Hunar Se Rozgar scheme of the government and is aimed at youngsters," said an official.

- The Hindustan Times, 28th January 2013

Fifty prominent national groups and green activists questioned the environment and forests ministry's clearance to a World Bank-funded mega hydropower project coming up in Himachal Pradesh.

In a missive to union Minister for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan, they demanded the cancellation of the environment clearance granted by the ministry's panel to the state-run Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (SJVNL) for its 775 MW Luhri project on the Satluj river in upper Shimla.

An expert appraisal committee (EAC) on river valley projects of the ministry had recommended environmental clearance to the project at its meeting last November, the letter said.

"Recommending environment clearance without first undertaking carrying capacity and cumulative impact assessment is in violation of the Supreme Court order of May 2006," the letter said.

Quoting the apex court order, the letter said that preventive measures have to be taken, keeping in view carrying capacity of the ecosystem operating in the environmental surroundings under consideration.

The activists claimed that since the carrying capacity of the Satluj basin was not known, the project could not get a nod from the environment ministry.

"The expert appraisal committee's decision is in violation of the Supreme Court order," the letter said.

The letter pointed out that the Luhri project has a head race tunnel length of 38.14 km, the longest in the world.

"The tunnel will bypass over 50 km length of the river, in addition to the 6.8 km long reservoir. So the project will destroy close to 60 km length of the mighty, already over-dammed Satluj river," the letter said.

The activists claimed that the project would hit 2,337 land owners and 9,674 people belonging to over a hundred villages, including the 78 villages located along the head race tunnel.

SJVNL deputy general manager Vijay Verma told IANS the company will adequately compensate project-affected families.

According to forest department estimates, over 9,000 hectares of forest land has so far been diverted for non-forest uses. Of this, 7,000 hectares have been used for hydel projects.

The signatories to the letter included Narmada Bachao Andolan, Bharat Jan Andolan, National Alliance of People's Movements, All India Forum of Forest People, People's Science Institute, Save Rivers Campaign of Uttarakhand and Nature Conservation Foundation.

- The Pioneer, 29th January 2013

Elephants continue to to be mowed down by trains running at great speeds even as they cut across the pachyderm's corridors, and tigers continue to be poached with impunity. Because conviction rates are low, those guilty of the killings are mostly moving free

Indian Railways should consider changing its mascot — Bholu, the elephant. It doesn't make for good PR when death-by-train pretty much tops the macabre list of causes for elephant mortality. Or, preferably, the Railways can take the lead in undoing its dubious record.

As 2012 drew to a close, on December 28, six elephants were crushed to death by a speeding train in Ganjam, Odisha — seven, if you account for the fact that one of the deceased was pregnant and her perfectly formed foetus was found among the gory remains. Barely a week later, four elephants were mowed down on the tracks cutting through the Buxa Tiger Reserve in Jaipalguri, North Bengal. This was followed by another shock, a fatal rail accident on January 13 taking the toll on two more elephants within the Rajaji National Park.

There is no doubting that these tragic deaths shook our conscience. The Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan stridently took up the matter with the Union Minister for Railways and stressed the urgent imperative to prevent such terrible accidents from happening in future. A meeting was held with the Railways and an action agenda prepared.

This is all good, for it indicates the right intentions, but the worry is: Will it translate into action? Will we learn our lesson and work towards providing safe passage for our elephants?

Subalaya in Ganjam is a known vulnerable stretch, the December tragedy being the third such accident in a span of two years; yet the train thundered ahead knocking down six pachyderms at a speed of nearly 120km per hour. A few days later, a bear was killed on the same track, leaving her cub injured, orphaned and doomed.

The killer track of Siliguri-Alipurduar track in North Bengal slays no less than five elephants — and scores of other animals — annually. In the past five years, 26 elephants have been hit by trains here, the worst incident being that of seven elephants in September 2010. Five had died on the spot, two others died a slow agonising death later. One among them was the matriarch, who had reportedly charged at the train, one imagines in pain and anger. There was much browbeating then too, but as we can see, nothing's changed. Not really.

The Rajaji deaths came as a rude shock — the storm after a lull. Rajaji was the showcase success story. Twenty elephants were killed here between 1987 and 2002, and following a particularly shocking accident, a momentous effort was initiated by the forest department in coordination with the Railways and supported by NGOs, resulting in no mortality for eight years...till blood spilled this month.

Even so, there are lessons to be learned from the Rajaji example, and these must be adapted, followed and practised in identified vulnerable stretches. Significantly, no less than 90 per cent of the deaths are at night, therefore, night bans and slowing down of trains after dusk is imperative. The Railways, however, maintains that such a move would be too disruptive. Equally important are stringent patrolling, effective communication of elephant presence to Railways authorities and sensitising railway personnel at all levels.

But there is a larger issue: At the root of such fatal accidents is habitat loss and fragmentation. Railway lines criss-cross protected areas and slash crucial wildlife corridors. There are other hotspots for such fatal accidents: Elephants, tigers and other animals are routinely killed in Palamu in Jharkhand, near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Dudhwa in Uttar Pradesh to name just a few. Two of the above mentioned incidents took place inside national parks. The Chilla-Motichur corridor is all but blocked by canals, highways, an Army ammunition dump and settlements and, thus, elephants are forced to cross over the intruding railway line at great risk. Similarly, the 168km long Siliguri-Alipurduar track cuts though protected areas and corridors already fragmented by highways, tea gardens and urban sprawl.

Where do the elephants then go? If we are to grant the elephant — revered as Ganesha, celebrated as our National Heritage Animal — the basic right of passage, then it is important that we protect their habitats and corridors. Any new development must be regulated from the wildlife perspective, and some critical habitats must be 'no-go'. For existing tracks, it is important to identify vulnerable stretches, and have site specific strategies to minimise fatal accidents.

Another disturbing trend is that poaching has peaked in the last few months. As many as 88 tigers died in 2012. This is not a disaster per se, given that we have about 1,700 odd tigers, and this represents a loss of about 10 per cent, and such a mortality rate is to be expected. Moreover, new recruits will compensate. The worry is that about 30 wild tigers were poached, indicating that for all the focus and hoopla, our tigers are still insecure.

It isn't just the tiger which is being targeted. The leopard took a major beating with over 135 poached in 2012, according to the Wildlife Protection Society of India. Another casualty was the Great One-horned Rhinoceros, with over 20 slaughtered for their horn in the past year.

Such a peak indicates that for one, our protection systems are lacking, and another, that demand has shot up — driven by rising affluence in the South Asian markets. Tragically, the impacts of such demands is taking a tremendous toll on endangered wildlife globally. In South Africa, 455 rhinos were killed in 2012 — a 30 fold increase in poaching from 2005! Elephants are being relentlessly killed for ivory. Africa is, writes The New York Times, "in the midst of an epic elephant slaughter." Poachers are wiping out tens of thousands of elephants and elephant populations have crashed drastically. The main market is China, where economic boom has seen the rise of an affluent middle-class who can now afford to buy 'luxury' items like ivory, or pay for tiger in their wine. It is not just the mega-fauna that is on the hitlist. Lesser known species such as the pangolin are facing a major crisis. They are being relentlessly targetted for their scales, considered curative in traditional medicine, and meat.

The reverberations of such a massive global market that is driving such slaughter should serve as a red alert for 'source' countries — one of the richest amongst which is India.

We must take the gravity and scale of wildlife crime on board. There is an urgent need to enable, equip and strengthen the frontline force, deploy the Special Tiger Protection Force, strengthen the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and developed wildlife forensics capabilities and other investigative skills to ensure better conviction rates.

(The author is member, National Board of Wildlife)

- The Pioneer, 30th January 2013

'Work to provide basic services like roads, drains, water supply, street lighting and sewerage will be taken up on war footing'

A day after Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly V. K. Malhotra attacked the Delhi Government for going slow in the matter of providing services to unauthorised colonies that had come up on the land owned by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Forest Department, Delhi Urban Development and Revenue Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely on Tuesday said all obstacles coming in the way of carrying out developmental works in 91 such colonies have been cleared.

The Minister said the Delhi Government had been working towards bringing these colonies, which had fully or partly come up on the ASI or forest land, under the ambit of planned development as far as civic amenities were concerned for improving the standard of living of the residents. Due to the efforts, he said 91 colonies have been accorded clearance by the ASI and the Forest Department.

Mr. Lovely said the Government has decided to regularise these 91 colonies at the earliest and would now start providing basic services like roads, drains, water supply, street lighting and sewerage facilities there. He claimed that this work would be taken up on war-footing now.

Recalling how the Sheila Dikshit Government had earlier taken the decision not to allow demolitions in any of the unauthorised colonies, Mr. Lovely said there was no reason not to provide basic amenities to the residents of any colony.

The Minister said Prof. Malhotra was trying to "create confusion and panic by disseminating tailored and distorted facts'' on the issue.

Prof. Malhotra had on Monday stated that in 2010 the Parliament had approved an amendment according to which areas beyond 100 metres of an archaeological monument were allowed to be developed.

"However, the Chief Minister for last two years have been misleading lakhs of people saying there is no permission to start development work in ASI and Ridge areas,'' he had charged.

The senior BJP leader said the Delhi Government had thus deprived two million people living in these colonies of proper sanitation, sewerage, roads, water facilities and was now instead of apologising to them indulging in gimmicks in the election year. Prof. Malhotra had also insisted that since 2010 he has been repeatedly urging the Chief Minister and Secretary Urban Development to start developmental work in these colonies but all his requests and appeals were ignored and no action was taken. Mr. Lovely said the no objection from the Forest Department and ASI has been obtained after a detailed survey in all revenue villages concerned.

He said the Delhi Government has taken all aspects into consideration before allowing developmental works in these colonies as it was sensitive to the needs of the residents. "Keeping in view the needs of developmental works the Government has also allowed developmental works in colonies adjoining ASI monuments just leaving out only restricted prohibited area,'' he pointed out.

The Minister said the executing agencies have been told to expedite the works by preparing the estimates within shortest possible time .

He said the Delhi Government has taken the "bold decision'' to regularise 895 unauthorised colonies in one go and would not leave any stone unturned in putting the words into action.

- The Hindu, 30th January 2013

Inspired by the traditional stepwell or baoli, the upcoming 'sunken' interpretation centre-cum-museum at the 16th-century Humayun's Tomb complex will be fully underground but naturally lit through large octagonal skylights so as not to disturb visual linkages between various monuments. The foundation stone is expected to be laid later this year. Estimated construction time is two years.

Heritage connoisseurs for years have rued that although India has an unbroken history of 10,000 years and is home to 28 UNESCO world heritage sites there are no world-class interpretation centres at any of these sites. Humayun's Tomb, situated in a dense ensemble of medieval Islamic buildings, could, according to a study commissioned by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, attract over five times its current number of visitors over a 10-year period. More than a million visit this world heritage site annually.

The centre will host a permanent exhibition, auditorium, souvenir shop and cafe as well as a crafts demonstration area. Portions of the building within Sunder Nursery will include an area for temporary exhibitions, a food court and seminar rooms. Only the edge will appear over the ground, rising to 1.5-2 metres. "Following the conservation of Humayun's Tomb, co-funded by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, building a site museum is a logical extension of the urban renewal project. The enthusiasm with which the design has been received by all stakeholders has been very encouraging," AKTC project director Ratish Nanda said.

ASI requested AKTC to undertake to build the centre in July 2011. The concept design prepared for ASI by AKTC has already been approved by South Delhi Municipal Corporation and National Monument Authority. It will now be developed and presented to Delhi Urban Art Commission for approval. AKTC is hoping to raise funds through corporate grants for the building expected to cost in excess of Rs 50 crore. ASI and AKTC are planning to approach the ministry of tourism for a grant. The project also has the support of National Culture Fund.

The design is coupled with an area master plan for parking, vehicular and pedestrian circulation and visitor facilities. Since the centre will be located in the area currently used as a parking lot, an alternative space will be created at the entrance zone. Officials said separate bus drop-off points will be created here to cater to larger tourist groups and schoolchildren. "Underground linkages with Sunder Nursery have been proposed below the existing road to allow visitors access to both the tomb and the nursery through the centre," said a source. The structure is designed in a manner that visitors will be able to use it as a starting point for visits to Humayun's Tomb, Sunder Nursery and Hazrat Nizamuddin.

At the outset, a heritage impact assessment study as well as a groundpenetrating radar survey have been carried out to ensure no underlying archaeology is damaged. Since footfall is expected to shoot up on completion of the centre, additional area for parking has been requested from the Land and Development Authority. "Significant effort has been made to ensure that the building fulfils a major need and serves as a model for other sites," said a senior ASI official.

- The Times of India, 30th January 2013

Future infrastructure projects — particularly the expansion of the Delhi Metro — may mean greater loss of green cover.

Finding it difficult to part with non-forest land, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has proposed compensatory plantation in already existing forests and even rocky terrains.

In case of Metro expansion, according to the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, the Centre has to provide non-forest land to the Delhi forest department for compensatory plantation. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has to fund the plantation and maintenance of trees.

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna, who is also the DDA chairman, has asked the Delhi government to examine the proposal. But the Delhi government is not amused. "Plantation in forests and rocky terrain means no plantation. You need non-forest land," said a senior Delhi government official.

On January 8, Khanna had held a meeting with officials from the DDA and the Delhi forest department and said a survey should be conducted on optimum density of trees in the areas where forests exist or are being developed. Here, compensatory plantation should be carried out, the L-G had said.

"Land in Delhi is under the Centre's control. Compensatory forestation needs cooperation from all departments," he had said.

This came after a DDA official said, "It won't be feasible for the DDA to hand over land to the forest department because the agency already has city forests where plantation can be taken up. The forest department has 4,707-acre-wide Asola wildlife sanctuary, 30 old city forests and 18 new forests. Compensatory plantation should be taken up there."

At the meeting, the DDA official said 70 acres of land in Tipath valley had been agreed to be transferred to the forest department. But the forest department had refused it as it was rocky terrain. To this, the DDA had replied that the ridge also came up on a rocky area. "In Tipath valley, specific plantation as per soil condition can be taken up as suggested by experts," he said.

The forest department said the national target for green cover is 33%. While Delhi's green cover is 20%, in recent years there has been a decline of .38 sqkm.

Setback to city's green cover

New Delhi: The Centre recently requested the Delhi government to reduce the number of trees to be planted for each tree felled from the standard 10 to now 3 or 4. The Delhi government thinks such a huge concession will mean a massive reduction of the city's green cover.

- The Hindustan Times. 30th January 2013

Delhi is a city of heritage. Its splendid past dates back to hundreds of years and 1,300 odd monuments stand witness to it. Why is it that the city is yet to get the World Heritage City tag? Now young Dilli-lovers are out to accomplish the same.

Apart from individual efforts like organising heritage walks and online movements by young professionals, now students from various city colleges are geared up to take the campaign to their campuses.

Recently, encouraged by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), students from six city colleges participated in the "heritage volunteer" workshop that introduced students to the unexplored architectural, natural and material heritage of the city.

These students will not only adopt some of the neglected monuments in the city, but will also help the authorities document the heritage of Shahjahanabad and Lutyens' Delhi for the World Heritage City nomination.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the main city, Aditi Shrivastava, second year, History student from Lady Sri Ram College, loves to explore the Hauz Khas village, Tughlakabad and Paharganj areas.

Aditi is keen on being a heritage guide. She feels that it will enable her to share Delhi's past with foreign visitors. "If more people related to the city, it will get more signatures for the heritage title for the city," she says. "I am also conducting discussions and debates in my college so that more and more students know what the city is all about," she says.

For Mamta Azad, 17 of Sri Venkateswara College, it's an absolute must for a citizen to know the city they love to call home. "We Delhiites are lucky to be living in the lap of history. But it's unfortunate that we take this wealth for granted. We drive past important monuments without sparing them a thought," she says. "Let's slow down, pause and appreciate an architectural landmark," says Mamta, who is using social media for her mission.

Asif Khan, 23, founder of Delhi By Foot, has been advocating the prestigious tag for the city on each of his walks. "There are hundreds of lesser known but important monuments in the city and we are focusing on them too. Little stories connected to them bring the visitor closer to the city," he says.

According to A.G.K. Menon, convenor of Intach, Delhi Chapter, youngsters are "actively and excitedly" participating in the programs. "The efforts youngsters are putting in are praiseworthy," says Menon. "Our idea is to involve this young population in the process, but in an interesting way," he says. Come February 6, Intach is organising a film workshop, "Saving Delhi's Heritage", showcasing best films make by students.

- The Asian Age, 30th January 2013

"My dear Lower House, I was delighted to receive your note... ," reads a letter yellowed by time. Dated 1914, it is signed "Upper House".

On Wednesday morning, the National Archives of India released rare letters and photographs related to Mahatma Gandhi's life in South Africa. The most prominent display is the ones exchanged between "Upper House" Gandhi and "Lower House" Hermann Kallenbach, one of his closest of associates.

Titled "Gandhi-Kallenbach papers", the exhibition is open to public at the National Archives till February 15.

Marking the 65th death anniversary of the Mahatma, the collection at the exhibition is part of thousands of items related to Gandhi which were recently procured by the government after signing a contract with London-based auction house Sotheby's. The government bought the items for $1.28 million. Union Minister of Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch inaugurated the exhibition and Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the guest of honour.

"Firstly, Gandhi had a close and intense relationship with Kallenbach and these letters bring out the intensity. Secondly, Gandhi owed a great deal to many people in South Africa and Kallenbach was one of them. Thirdly, the Gandhian struggle in South Africa is not very well known. This is the first collection, which sheds light into this phase of his life," Professor Mushirul Hasan, Director General of National Archives, said.

Kallenbach, a Jewish South African architect born in Germany, was a close aide of Gandhi and was greatly influenced by his views on Satyagraha. He even accompanied Gandhi and wife Kasturba on their final journey from South Africa to London in 1914. He had also donated his thousand-acre farm near Johannesburg, called Tolstoy Farm, to Gandhi. It was here that many of Gandhi's philosophies were put to test — simple lifestyle, vegetarian diet, social equality, politics and self-sustained economy. The letters are the latest addition to National Archives' "Private Papers" collection.

-The Indian Express, 31st January 2013

The ongoing "Aadishilp" fair at Dilli Haat opposite INA Market here is familiarising visitors with the rich culture, art and craft of the North-Eastern States.

Organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, an autonomous body functioning under the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry, the 16-day fair has been conceptualised to give tribal artisans an opportunity to display their latest works and get a foothold in the city.

According to TRIFED Managing Director Jiji Thomson, Aadishilp is providing exhibitors a platform to interact with visitors and know their taste and preferences. "Even last year, a fair on the culture and craft of the Seven Sisters was exhibited at Dilli Haat. But this year, the fair is being organised on a bigger scale. Seventy five artisans from Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland are exhibiting their eco-friendly products like woollen clothes, textiles, handcrafted jewellery, bamboo products, cane, organic food items like turmeric."

Interestingly, more than half of the exhibiters are women entrepreneurs.

"Women of the North-East are economically independent and know how to spend money in a constructive way. And we are providing all help to them to not only stand on their own feet but also to capture new markets. The main objective is to make them a part of the national mainstream. For this exhibition, we have provided them all the logistical support including accommodation and travel. Furthermore, all their unsold items would be purchased by us. We do not want them to return home disappointed," adds Mr. Thomson.

Admitting that TRIFED does not have much presence in the North-East, Mr. Thomson says: "I took over recently. We have just one office at Guwahati. To reach out to artisans across the region, we have plans to open a procurement centre at Kohima and a training centre at Meghalaya. And we want to add more products from the region at TRIFED stores."

For Dimapur-based designer Kos Zhasa, who has been studying and researching for the past four years to develop textiles of the North-East, the fair has given exhibitors like her a feeling of being accepted by art connoisseurs of the Capital. "Visitors at Dilli Haat are genuinely interested in buying products manufactured by our tribal population," adds Mr. Thompson.

For every product which is sold, it indirectly helps tribal folks who painstakingly create the product. "Tribal weaving is being done on a large scale. The idea is to engage as many weavers as possible. Demand and supply should go hand in hand." Using different colour combinations, Zhasa employs the same design in different garment material. "It is an exciting venture -- innovative and profitable," she says.

While products from the North-East have been given prominence, the exhibition is also displaying the tribal heritage of States from the North, Central, West and South India.

- The Hindu, 31st January 2013