PRESERVATION
OF MUBARAK MANDI
Kripal Singh
 Jammu possesses a
rich varied cultural heritage, spreading over millennia
of history. This heritage includes archaeological
monuments like Mubarak Mandi and sites of various types
like palaces, temples, mosques, forts, fortifications,
tombs, sarais, bazaars and ancient sites, belonging to
pre-historic, proto-historic, historical and medieval
periods.
The problems of preservation of Mubarak Mandi are not
uniform as it differs from building to building. The
basic principal to be followed is to maintain the
original ancient look of the monument concerned even
after its preservation. We are not supposed to interfere
in any manner with these concepts.
Mubarak Mandi is embroidered with intricately decorated
stone and terracotta work, paintings, stuccos, glazed
tiles, inlay, etc. The problem, therefore, posed in the
preservation of Mubarak Mandi are manifold and need to be
tackled by highly skilled preservation professionals
after understanding the structures and studying the
causes of decay in the field as well as in the
laboratory. We have to find sustainable solutions for the
preservation of Mubarak Mandi.
CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
Old Jammu city is located on the bank of hilltop of River
Tawi. The hill slopes have general dip of 5 degree to 7
degree towards south-west. But hill slopes towards river
are almost vertical with a height of about 100 meters.
After the constructing of circular road in 1978-79 fresh
slope cuts were exposed. Occasional slips or peeling of
beds along vertical joint planes has taken place, which
has endangered the stability of Mubarak Mandi.
After 1947, following removal of monarchy, we became
independent and thus free to loot the culture property
from Mubarak Mandi. Mubarak Mandi previously, where no
person could enter without any valid reason and having
not covered his head later on became a paradise for the
gangsters, drug peddlers and addicts. Even some of the
government staff posted in various offices in Mubarak
Mandi did not hesitate to remove anything they found is
good looking and can be removed and taken easily. The
removal of beautifully inlayed coloured semi-precious
stone from the marble hall is an example of this criminal
tendency of such government staff towards the cultural
property lying in Mubarak Mandi. . .....more
Indian Mothers' Identity Crisis
Charumathi Supraja
They called her Mother and worshipped her.
She bore babies and pain, cleaned up, shopped, soothed,
read out bedtime tales and upheld tradition. Until one
day, she found the pedestal too cramped. And Mother felt
a scream rising in her throat.
Due to the impossible load of child bearing and rearing
placed exclusively on the mother - even by parenting
'experts' (usually male doctors) - women feel
ill-equipped to deal with motherhood. They are also
worried about what motherhood could do for their careers.
Pitched against idealised stereotypes while trying to
realise their potential as human beings and workers, a
whole generation of mothers is feeling confused and
guilty.
"For 14 years, I tried to play my husband and
mother-in-law's image of an 'ideal mother'," says
Bhairavi Cheluguri, 38, mother of two sons. "It was
impossible. When I quit being a full-time mom and took to
sculpting and trekking, I felt more at ease with my role
as a mother - because of which the quality of my
mothering improved. I needed to establish to my family
that there is a 'me' somewhere. Loving them doesn't mean
I will pick up after them," she says.
"This is the time to remember that a child has two
parents," says Dr Rathna Isaac, a clinical
psychologist based in Bangalore. "It's time for the
father's role to change. Earlier research conducted by
social and clinical psychologists found that fathers play
with and entertain children, while mothers feed, bathe
and change them. Current research shows that fathers are
getting more involved, but it's clearly not enough."
Kavitha R, a banking professional from Bangalore in her
fourth job, says, "I'm not a 'kid person' at all and
if I ever have a child it will be brought up by a maid or
grandmother. My priority is work. I have goals I want to
achieve by a certain age. Luckily, my family has little
expectations of me. Even then, I am occasionally reminded
that I'm past 30. But there are so many options, like IVF
and adoption, if I want to become a mother later in
life." Society disapproves of women who shun
motherhood, she says. " ....more
Love Story
for Ever
 Sooraj Barjatya's latest film Vivah
starring Shahid Kapoor- Amrita Rao releases this Friday.
Meet Sooraj in a free-wheeling chat with Vickey Lalwani
What is 'Vivah' about?
It is a love story spanning six months which starts after
the engagement of a boy who belongs to a business family
in Delhi and a girl who is from Mathura. They get to know
more about each other. However, there is a major twist in
the story which happens just one day before their
marriage.
Why did you choose Shahid Kapoor for the male lead?
When I was writing the script, I thought I would take a
new boy but after I wrote the climax, I thought of Shahid
as we have not seen him play a sensitive character so
far.
And why Amrita for the female lead?
Amrita and Shahid look very good together. If you
remember, their last film 'Ishq Vishk' did very well.
Plus they fitted the roles perfectly.
It is very rare that you give an interview...
I am a very reserved person. I don't know why but I have
always kept myself away from the media. I think I felt
very shy in interacting with reporters and journalists.
But the loss has been mine. I have realised the
importance of the media and how much it helps in the
promotion of a film. However, over the last few years, I
have actually started enjoying interacting with the media
and I have understood that it is important to convey what
you are showing in the film.
Your last film 'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' bombed at the
box-office?
'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' was an attempt to make a film
for a younger generation. Through it I realised that
that's not what the typical Rajshri audience wants.
You are also producing a TV serial 'Woh Rehne . ......more
From long
break to ‘short break’
Manoj Sheeri
In the media world of cut throat
competition, where channels from A channel to Z-channel
are in a sort of war, yet at one thing there seems to be
monumental consensus in their common minimum programme
and that is regarding the commercial break during the
programme. This arrangement seems to be working for all
of the popular channels. All of them show commercials or
in other words….they go for the ‘infamous’
short break at about the same time.
The commercialisation of the programmes particularly the
most popular ones like the Cricket matches is going on at
such a pace and so blindly that some times the facts are
getting a boot. In the fourth ODI between the arch rival
India and Pakistan at Ahamadabad , the radio amplified
the often repeated spot ……….B S NL Chowka
…..Connecting India without waiting for the delivery
to be bowled, while in reality Mohd.Kaif was clean bowled
on that delivery. This is a small example where we as
consumers of a particular station and channel can easily
judge how scant the popular media cares for its listeners
or viewers.
In this Kalyug what matters is money, and it is the
Multinationals who are the modern day kubers (the Hindu
god for money) for the media managers.The media can do
any thing for these fast bucks; it can cut the size of
skirts and can make the tops tranparent. They can make
the males grow long hairs and seduce them so much that
some males now go for lipstick and all other facials
etc.Of late a new market of male cosmetics has appeared.
This is too long a subject to be discussed here, let us
come back to this infamous breakdown. While writing these
few lines,I am attracted by past.Those were the days
there was one and only one television network read
(station) and that was the then great and now
‘late’ Doordarshan. The national programme
would begin at 08.40 p.m and whole family would watch.Not
going too deep in the memory lane of ‘Hum
log’’Yeh jo hay Zindgi’and
‘Khandan’,one would like to recall the then
policy and timing of the commercials.Every programme of
30 minutes duration was divided into two parts. There
would be commercials at the beginning, in the middle of
the programme and at the end. The duration of commercials
allotted to the programmes, particularly the popular ones
was fixed. In fact the commercials were touch stone for
the popularity in the absence of manipulated ........more
Getting a
good night’s sleep
Sunil Fotedar
 Most people have
trouble sleeping some of the time, and some people have
trouble sleeping most of the time. Insomnia which is
generally known as sleeplessness is clearly a widespread
problem.
Many people who complain about insomnia actually sleep
more than they think they do. Scientists estimate that a
substantial number of all people who consider themselves
insomniacs get as much as sleep as people who consider
themselves normal sleepers. Even people with a reasonably
accurate notion of how long they sleep may in correctly
believe they are missing out if they sleepless than seven
or eight hours. But the body’s need for sleep varies
widely from person to person. New born spend upto
eighteen hours a day asleep and young adults average
seven to eight hours at night, but older people tend to
sleep only five to seven hours, often because they take
day-time naps.
The quality as well as the quantity of sleep changes with
age. Older people spend more of the night in light sleep.
Their sleep is often fitful and punctuated by frequent
awakenings.
Sleeplessness is not usually caused by a dripping tap, a
barking dog or a room that is too hot or too cold. Most
people suffer from sleeplessness resulting from grief,
worry, tension, stress, depression or other psychological
problems.
Sometimes disease such as congestive heart failure may
result in nocturnal shortness of breath and contribute to
sleepless nights. Frequent night time urination because
of prostate enlargement is common among oldermen.
Irregular bedtime can result in sleeplessness too. The
body becomes programmed for sleep at certain time and
resists it at other times. If you go to bed much earlier
or later than usual. You may find that your body sticks
to the established sleeping routine that is waking up
early or if you fall a sleep late. Factory workers
working in shifts are common victims of this type of
resistance.
Caffeine, a stimulant found in coffee, tea and cola can
cause or aggravate insomnia. Certain drugs can also ruin
a good nights sleep, including some used to fight
depression. Some over-the-counter medications such as the
decongestants used in cold preparations are central
nervous system stimulants and may contribute to wakeful
nights. , ......more
High BP
silent killer
R K Bhatnagar
 Like Diabetes which
is the mother of many serious and non-serious ailments,
Hypertension or high Blood Pressure (BP) effects
practically every organ including heart, kidney and the
brain. According to rough estimates, in India one out of
four people of urban population suffer from it. Blood
Pressure could be defined as the pressure exerted by the
blood on the wall of any blood vessel. The normal BP in a
human being is 90/60 to 140/90 while High BP is more than
140/90. The low BP, however is less than 90/60.
Hypertension often exhibits no real symptoms. Many people
continue to live with it for years without discovering
it. But uncontrolled High BP without any proper treatment
could damage a person. This is the reason that it is
called a ‘Silent Killer’. The common symptoms
of High BP include; headache, irritability, general
weakness redness of skin, bleeding from the nose,
impotency, palpitation, insomnia, loss of memory,
polyuria (excessive urine), and loss of hair. It is
necessary to undergo certain laboratory tests like lipid
profile renal functions, electrolysis, ECG, and Urine
analysis, to determine exact nature of pathology of blood
pressure. The simple way is got the BP checked by a
physicial three times on different days, some of the BP
checking instruments give faulty figures also.
There are many reasons for developing high BP the growing
age, obesity (those weighing about 30 percent of ideal
weight) consumption of alcohol beyond prescribed limits
and ‘Tamsik’ life style besides excessive salt
intake. Emotional and physical stress at work place or at
home also leads to high BP and it could be the major
cause.. .. ......more
Eternally
ethnic
Sweta Patwardhan
Mumbai celebrated Lakme Fashion Week. Thirty
eight designers participated in the event. In women
segment of the show less said the better because it was
virtually a total exposure of the female torso. What is,
however, amazing that ethnic saree proved to be the
ultimate winner.
Ethnic garments still figure amongst the top in the
Indian apparel market. The grip of the foregone era and
the rich historical and cultural heritage of the country,
over the years has not waned a wee bit despite modernity
sprawling in full stretch; showing less of clothes and
more of body. Moreover, ethnic clothes display an
infinite variety of patterns and they are preferred as
formal wears even by those who otherwise aspire for the
trendy western cuts.
The occidental tilt seen these days towards clothes is
strictly restricted to the metros making a coalesce of
the eastern and the western mode of dressing. In smaller
towns the preference is exclusively towards traditional
outfits like sarees, churidars, etc. No matter what kind
of style arrives from the western haute couture circles,
the influence of the past will always remain in the
conservative Indian mindset.
The tendency, even at the moment, is towards traditional
outfits though the hard hitting western cuts are trying
their best to lure the customers. The only plus point,
ironically, the latter has is their advertising strategy.
While the traditional outfits are popularised through
rather shabby advertisements, the western attire
manufacturers spend huge sums and come out with flashy
and sensual inserts, both in the print as well as the
electronic media, to lure the fashion conscious. Though
this has negatively affected the traditional cloth
manufacturers, their position still remains somewhat
comfortable.
The inexhaustible popularity of ethnic ensemble has
prompted the elite designers also to incorporate age-old
designs in their outfits.
However, the most interesting thing is the display of
ethnic wear - both by the designer boutiques and the
more-economical outlets. But there is a subtle difference
in both cases, motifs maybe similar, but what about the
label, isn't that what the nouveau rich feel so frenzied
about? . ........more
Look for
unconditional happiness beyond level
Lt. Col. R. K. Langar
 In common parlance
when people obtain worldly things in accordance with
their desires and expectations, they feel happy. A hungry
person feels happy when he gets food. An unemployed
person feels happy when he gets employment. An actor
feels happy when people applaud his performance. Even a
thief is happy when he is successful in his action. There
are others who feel happy when they get money from
unexpected quarters. All these types of happiness are
conditional where one has to depend on external world for
happiness or when we are at the mercy of environment to
make us happy. Environmental happiness is never
continuous because after getting what we want we keep our
eye on something more from the outside world. And again
the happiness that comes is not long lasting. Socrates,
the Greek philosopher, says that the indispensable
condition for happiness is not to have something we badly
need. He conveys that our worldly processions do not give
the happiness that we are looking for. Rich people may
not be that happy as we consider them to be because money
by itself is not happiness even though money is a means
to acquire worldly things which give short lived
happiness.
Where do we look for lasting happiness which is not
dependent on worldly processions ? It is only possible
when we truly understand the concept of happiness which
lies within us beyond our body level. Senses, mind and
intellect are part of our body and happiness obtained at
this level is not permanent. We cannot obtain permanent
happiness from the worldly flow of impermanence. Any
amount of pleasure seeking cannot give us happiness in
the true sense. When we depend on others for our
happiness it is conditional happiness which disappears
when things on which we depend are removed. Our great
sages and seers have dwelt on this and have come to the
conclusion that the very nature of our Self or Atman is
happiness. We are by nature inclined towards happiness or
bliss and not sorrow because bliss is natural and sadness
unnatural. A person can stay in his natural state but not
in his unnatural state even though sadness is a part of
our life. To know our nature we have to get ourselves
established in atman or truth and feel the permanent and
never ending bliss which transcends both happiness and
sorrow. In this state our happiness is moral and
spiritual which gives us contentment of the highest
order. . .. . . . ...more
Biomass
Burning
Dr.S.S.Verma
 Biomass burning
activity is as old as human civilization and nature might
be using this process even before. Presently this process
has posed a serious threat to mankind due to its growing
proportions and the saturating capacities of nature to
tackle the menance of biomass burning spin-offs like
smoke, soot and harmful gases. People in the adjoining
areas find it very difficult and blame the farmers who
are involved in burning crop residues during harvesting
season. There are many reasons to ponder on that why
people are opting this unliked method of biomass disposal
which they were and could have used for their benefits.
Earlier, there was a nice balance between man and animals
and crop residues was consumed or managed judiciously by
the owners who used it as a biofuel for cooking or as
animal fodder or building materials etc. But the changing
life-styles of people not only in cities but more and
more in villages as well, creates a situation where
nobody any longer make use of these biomass waste streams
in an efficient manner. Moreover, with the decreasing
number of agricultural successors in the family (due to
migration, opting for jobs and business etc.) machines
have replaced men and animals. Use of machines, no doubt
is more time saving, economical and instantanous without
bothering about the prblems like looking-for or -after
the human labour force. Further, the transportation of
the crop biomass for selling to other users or to the
industries which might be far away will cost more. Hence,
the farmer reluctantly opt for the burning of this
necessary evil as its burning will add to the soil
fertility. These are the reasons that after continuous
persuaution from the government, agricultural and
environmental agencies/experts, they (farmers) are
continuing the process of biomass burning unabated and
thus, the safe disposal of biomass is turning to be a
problem.
Under these conditions the availability of huge residue
biomass streams that result from agriculture, forestry,
agroforestry and horticultural activities is rapidly
becoming a major source of pollution. . . . . . . ...more
Himalaya
mega-quakes likely every 1000 years
 A colossal
reservoir of energy stored up under the Tibetan plateau
has been discovered – and it can only be fully
released by mega-earthquakes striking about every 1000
years, researchers have found.
The study suggests that earthquakes in the past 200 years
in the central Himalaya, while catastrophic, are small in
comparison to what the region has seen in the past - and
will see again.
The energy builds up as the result of the collision
between the Indian subcontinent and Asia, and the
movement of the two continental plates was tracked using
GPS technology.
The reservoir of energy is so large because of the nature
of the two plates. They are both continental, and
therefore made of relatively low density rocks. This
means that, rather than one heavier, denser plate
plunging deep under a lighter plate, as happens when
dense oceanic crust plunges under a continental plate,
they both strive to float near the surface of the planet.
This generate a lot of friction, causing a huge amount of
energy to be stored underneath Tibet (see map).
Draining the reservoir
Large earthquakes registering between magnitude 7.5 and
8.2 tap into this reservoir but do not deplete it, the
researchers have determined. Instead, every 1000 years or
so, a mega-earthquake of magnitude 8.4 to 8.6 "is
essential to drain the reservoir", says lead
researcher Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado,
US.
Historical records show that three such mega-quakes have
devastated the Himalaya in the Middle Ages. In 1100
Eastern Nepal was hit. Bilham and his colleague Nicole
Feldl's prediction suggests the region has a higher than
thought risk of another mega-quake in the future, though
. . . . . . ...more
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