Daily Excelsior...Sunday Magazine

A K Khanna

The gentle slopes of the spur of
serpentine Zebarwan mountain range in Srinagar abound with natural beauty on the eastern and western side of ancient Pandrethan temple. The River Jhelum flows on the southern and western sides of the site. A smiling
verdant valley picturesquely relieved with meandering rivers and brooks, gushing springs, calm Dal and Nagina Lakes. The entire panorama vibrating beauty and genial loveliness. The Kashmir valley is a paradise for tourist not for its enchanting gifts bestowed by nature to eyes, affording works of man completing beauty in its fine handicrafts and edifices in various medium continuing the age old
tradition to modern times.The Temple of Pandrethan is presently located in the Badami Bagh cantonment area, 5km to South - West of Srinagar with in the Municipal Limit of the city. The name itself derived from the ancient appellation Purana- Adhistana or old capital, Srinagari. Pandrethan, the site of ancient capital of Srinagari supposed to have been established by the great Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 3rd century BC. The selection of the site for capital in the ancient time might have been influenced by certain advantages against the devastating floods which used to caused damage to life and property in the valley by the life giving river the Jhelum. During the 9th century AD king Avantivarman, under professional guidance of his able engineer Suyya devised means for better drainage and water management of the river by regulating the course of Vitasta or Jhelum River to minimize the damage.
According to Rajatarangini, there was no Buddhist establishment at Srinagar by Buddhist King. His son Jaluka has been credited with the installation of Jyestharudra or Siva Temple in the capital. Another temple dedicated to Siva was built by Mihira- Kula, the Hun dynasty King during early 6th century AD. According to the chronicles Pandrathan witnessed considerable building activity till the fourth quarter of the 6th century AD. Then the capital was transferred to present site of Srinagar city under the King Parvarasena-II.
It is clear from the archaeological evidences that the present site of Pandrethan in ancient days had been hub of Brahamanical, Buddhist and Secular buildings. The only visible monument at present is a temple of modest dimension. The process of destruction and desecration began during the reign of Sultan Sikander in the last quarter of 14th century AD, who had been given title of Butshikan or idol breaker by virtue of his breaking the images and demolishing the Hindu temples. The destruction of the temples was followed by the denudation of the site. The human vandalism added fuel to the fire since Pandrethan might have become a favorite quarry for building material, particularly the lime stone slabs. These operations continued for centuries till recent times. Whatever remaining structural remains lay buried at Pandrethan have been swept away by the building activities of the British authorities to establish the military cantonment in the area. Unfortunately, before the site could be taken for scientific archaeological excavation in 1913, it came under the possession of British Military authorities and continued as Indian Army cantonment till date.
Some twenty large Brahamanical images found during the course of digging of foundation of the military barracks at Pandrethan during 1923 & 1933 are also housed in the State Museum at Srinagar. The only monument now standing at Pandrethan is a temple which enshrines a Sivalinga that too a recent installation. The temple is located close to the main road by the side of a bend of the Jhelum. Now the temple is out of bound since it falls in the army area.
The temple is 5.48 square meter, with a projecting portico on each side and displays the repetition of pediment contained by pediment and trefoil with in trefoil, a true Kashmir style of architecture originated with admixture of Greek and Roman architecture. Temple has three opening now provided with the wooden doors . The temple was erected during the reign of King Partha ,who governed Kashmir from AD 921 to 931 by his Prime Minister Meru . The temple was dedicated to Mahadev under the site of Meru Varadhamsawami .It was built in the old capital city of Pandrathan or Puranadhishtana. The seat of the Government had been transferred to the present site (Srinagar) by the King Parvarasena II nearly 500 years ago. The old capital city was entirely deserted until its destruction in the fire in the reign of Abhimanyu in about A .D 960 . The magnitude of fire was so devastating that temple was protected by the water and no other building could survive
The modest temple is of great interest in view of the fact that it is one of the few temples of valley which has survived with original structure & portion of the roof which furnishes a fairly good idea about what the roof of the great temples of Martand and Avantipura might have looked like before the destruction.
The existing temple now stands in the midst of water tank which is fed by natural spring. The walls of its platform remains submerged almost throughout of the year. The temple structure is fairly good state of preservation, symmetry and restraint in ornamentation. Made of ashlar stone masonery (dressed Devri stone) and the temple stands on a fairly high platform. The platform in tri-ratha on plan, the front side (north-north-west) having further divided with central projection accommodating the flight of steps with a moulded parapet.
The walls of the temple rest on a projecting member relieved with the forepart of a series of squatting elephant in the attitude of the supporting the load of the structure. The feature is unique Indian temple architecture found here, otherwise the Gandharva or celestial figures have been depicted bearing the load of the temple in other part of the country. The temple has main entrance form the east through a causeway .The level of water in the tank fluctuate with season.
The ceiling of the sanctum exquisitely carved in comparison to the plain walls. It is made of lime stone slabs arranged in three oversailing courses. The four slabs of the middle course are relieved each with a flying Vidyadhara carrying a ring like object in his right hand and a lotus stalk in the left hand. A part of the scarf is seen floating in the air a Greek feature in the valley. A full blown lotus with twelve full petals is reproduced on the topmost square slab. This particular stone has been found invariably in all the Hindu temples as it signifies the ceiling stone slab over the main idol of the temple in the garbha-griha or sanctum sanctorum.
Payar temple, about 10 kilo meter from Avantipura (N H 1 A ) in Pulwama Distt. Was probably built during the same period is a miniature replica of the Pandrethan . The Payar has been constructed on a high platform with superstructure with 10 pieces of stones . These two temples complete in all respect considered Genes of Kashmiri as the temple architecture.
The monuments has been protected by the ASI under the ancient Monuments & Archaeological Sites And Remains Act, 1958 and the structural consevation has been carried by ASI . The day to day maintains and up to keep has been carried out by the Indian army.
The Temple still speaks of its grandeur and majestic look.

(Author is Dy. Superintending Archeologist, ASI)

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Dilemma of growing old

Kritika Pandey

After a long time the government of India passed the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens bill 2007, but instead of involving the state, the bill makes relatives solely responsible for their elders. This legislation will not solve the problems faced by the growing population of the elderly people in the country, because more often than not it may involve litigation.
Like shifting sands, change has been altering the social landscape of the country over the past two decades. Gerontologists (people studying the process of ageing and the problems of old people) fear that the elderly are in for a harrowing existence, as time-honoured attitudes towards them alter. The aged are gradually being divested of the one asset they always took for granted: authority.
The 2001 census reveals that India has 78 million over the age of 60, a number equal to almost the entire population of Germany and twice that of most European countries. During the past decade, the increase in the aged population was a little over 38 per cent—the rest went up by only 19 per cent.
Alarm bells should be ringing. The only other segment of society multiplying at such a dizzying speed is the under-15s. With such double dependency on the comparatively sluggish middle, the question that looms frighteningly large is: whose baby are the elderly? Especially in a world growing increasingly indifferent to them.
It is a question the elderly are now asking. Never before have there been so many old people in the country. Never before have they been so vulnerable. The final curtain now falls much later. Life expectancy today is over 62-years—it was 54 just 10 years ago and just about 30 in 1947. Improved health standards, lower infant mortality, fall in birth rates and medical breakthroughs are ushering in a grey tide.
Consequently, life’s last two stages, vanaprastha and sanyas, when one is meant to have spurned the world, are getting longer and death’s shadow paler. The days stretch out like an infinite desert, monotonous and parched. “At 60, it used to be all done, now he has to continue for another 20 years,” says Professor T.K. Oommen of the School of Social Sciences at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Those extra years—when “age’s cruel knife” has already done its work—are no longer a bonus. At times, it is a death-in-life existence, darkened by the clouds of loneliness. Traditionally, age had a value in itself. The buzurg were venerated because they were old. Their word has law. Even today in most villages, the more years you have, the greater the deference, explains noted sociologist Professor A.M. Shah of the Delhi School of Economics.
But now children are even throwing their parents out. For Vidyavati, 70, roaming the streets of Delhi’s Gulmohar Park in search of shelter, life is a living hell. She shuttled between her three daughters, until they would have no more of her. “They say the oil on my body soils their sheets; my cough disturbs their sleep.”
The break-up of the joint family alone is not responsible for the marginalisation of the elderly. Complex factors like urbanisation, the crunch on space, migration of youngsters to cities and abroad, inflation, a visible assertion of individualism and the onset of a youth-worshipping culture, are responsible for the displacement.
No where is this topsy-turvydom more manifest than in the relationships within the family. Age was synonymous with wisdom, values and a host of things that made Indian society so unique. A young nation like India prided itself on its veneration of the old. Looking after the aged was considered punya. In a country without social security, children are after all the only insurance policy for parents.
“A child is like a sapling you plant. It will grow into a tree and in your old age you can sit under it for shade,” says Satyavati Jain, 74.
But unfortunately, the sun beats down more harshly on the elderly today. The old and young are often a world apart. People take out 30 minutes ritualistically for their elderly parents, a snatch in the morning before going to work, a pause between coming home and going out again to dinner or vanishing into their rooms.
In India, the respect for the aged that existed is gradually fading. “Many of us may not really care for our aged, but we dare not neglect them as the community around is always watching”, says Narsingh Pal, 60, a villager from Bulandhshahr district in Uttar Pradesh. In the cities, even moral sanctions by society no longer keep people from maltreating their old, but in rural areas they still do.
Increasingly, the aged are being discarded by the young as soon as they have usurped their property. What worries sociologists today is the abuse of the elderly, both physical and emotional. Hitting the headlines is the fairly now phenomenon of crime against the elderly. And, increasingly, murders. (INAV)

Willow talk

Rajesh Dhar

Yeah! What a hulla bulloo about the game of cricket there is today. Extensive hype is attached to this game in the present era. Today, uppermost in the mind of a man is cricket. Cricket, cricket and play cricket is the slogan of the day or in other words there is euphoria of cricket world –over. Cricket has come to be the most debated, out- spoken and common place topic of discussion throughout the sports community. Anyway, the most important and most expensive equipment needed to play this game is the BAT. This BAT is made up of willow. Let’s talk of this willow today.
There are two types of willows used in formation of bats — the English willow and the Kashmir willow. Both these forms are entirely different in quality, brand, price and may be durability. While the cost of English willow bats ranges from Rs 2000/- to Rs15000/-per piece, the cost of Kashmir willow bats ranges from Rs 100/— to Rs 1500/-per piece. BDM, SG, SS, SF, BAS, KG & TAURUS are a few bats to name in English willow while BARUN, TAMAR, KSPORT, SALROO SONS and ASCO are a few to name in Kashmir willow. The quality of a bat is directly proportional to the quality of its handle; the presence of GRAINS (sorts of lines on its face) on the blade; the absence of knots (Nodes) and butterflies (spots similar to knots just on upper surface) on the blade and most importantly the way of its compression.
The handle of the bat is made of Canes . The Cans are usually found in Singapore and Malaysia. So, the handles are specially made and scientifically designed with rubber cushioning in these places. Nine Cane laminated handle is considered to be a superior handle perfect for stroke making. The straighter and smoother the GRAINS on the blade, the better the stroke of the bat and lesser the chances of its breakage. While the bats with multi- co lour GRAINS are prone to breakage and stroke of the bat varies from colour to colour.
The difference in nature of the willow is because of the difference in climatic conditions of England and Kashmir. Though, both the places are generally cold and witness heavy snowfall, yet in England there are damp/wet conditions through- out the year (baring a few months), which is contrary to conditions in Kashmir where you witness longer and slightly drier summer. The juicy conditions and dampness in the soil keeps the xylem of the willow trees always in business. The xylem is a transporting tissue present in the trees which transports water from the roots to other parts of the tree. It is composed of the elements namely vessels, xylem parenchyma, tracheids and fibrous tissue etc. Because of presence of fibrous tissue, the xylem is usually soft. The soft and spongy nature of the xylem makes the willow perfectly strokeful after the bat is formed from the CLEFT(boiled and steamed wooden cut piece). The GRAINS (lines )seen on the upper surface of the blade of a bat are actually the vessels present in the xylem. The dot- shaped spots on the GRAINS is the identification mark of Kashmir willow bats while small line -shaped spots on the GRAINS of a bat identifies an English willow bat. Moreover, the English willow bats are usually lighter than the Kashmir willow bats because of the fact that the moisture from English willow cut piece is extracted in a methodical way i.e., by wax sealing.
Now, the question is as to why there is such a huge difference in price and range between the English and the Kashmir willow bats. If one goes in the philosophy of the things, one gets a feeling that the difference basically lies in preservation and professionalism. In England the willow trees are specially preserved for formation of bats only and raw left is used as timber, while in Kashmir the willow trees are of multi purpose. Besides other things, their wood is used as timber and formation of bats is also an option. Moreover, in England the manufacturers of bats make CLEFTS (Wooden cut pieces) only after proper grading, which simply can be termed as the professional way of manufacturing bats. The cut pieces are graded for willow, racking and ply purposes. After its boiling and steaming the CLEFT is sealed with wax so that moisture comes out of it in phases which makes it strokeful and durable. Moreover, in a graded piece, you will hardly find any knots and butterflies on the blade. This professional way of manufacturing bats is almost absent in Kashmir. Otherwise, the willow is found only in Kashmir apart from England, but still it is not preserved and graded the way it should have been. No-doubt, in late eighties foreign based Symond Plant and GM Plant was established in Kashmir involving technical and professional people in the trade hired from abroad, yet turmoil in Kashmir served as a stumbling block for the whole process. The surge in militancy forced these Plants to be stopped and the tried professionalism suffered a severe set-back. However, efforts were also made to grow English willow trees in Kashmir but this exercise also turned futile because of the difference in climate.
Meanwhile, manufacturers of bats from Kashmir leave no stone unturned in adopting the professional way and from last few years a sea change in this trade has been witnessed in Kashmir. Now you can find quality Kashmir willow bats any where in the world. With qualified people (having the degrees of MBA etc) in the business, one hopes that quality and market value of Kashmir willow bats increases in leaps and bounds.
Having said all this, a feeling smacks ones mind that there is not a big difference in nature of the willows but there is a huge difference in the prices of these willows.
This is where the professionalism comes in to play. While, on one hand, the English are utterly. utterly professional, on the other hand, we Indians have fetish for foreign things —it is may be anything, bat or butter- toast. Without a second thought, eyed closed, we purchase and adopt them, make them a part of our life, our culture. And, at the same time we discard ‘desi’, how much good, beneficial it may be. We accept desi only when it is labeled foreign. We accept Kashmir willow bats only when they are labeled English.
We, Indians should learn to adopt desi things with their own label.

School-age exercise prevents Diabetes

Dr Jitendra Singh

The hi-tech scenario of 21st century is a witness to more and more number of youngesters in the school-age group staying glued to Internet, computer, DVD etc thus growing up accustomed to leisure pastimes which hardly involve any physical activity. This recent phenomenon has sent alarm bells ringing across the globe with research and medical fraternity taking upon itself to devise methods that could motivate youngsters to engage in physical activity as a safeguard against many a modern lifestyle disorders including Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension and heart disease.
Considering that the level of physical activity has considerably declined in the last 10 to 20 years, the new recommendations emphasise that a school-age youngster needs one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily in order to stay healthy and prevent himself from a host of disorders including Diabetes.
Impact of Physical Activity
A 13 - member expert panel led by Dr William Strong from the Medical College of Georgia was assigned the task of reviewing literature and finding evidence of the impact of physical activity on the health and well-being of children and thereby putting forth recommendations in this regard. The group published its conclusions recently.
Evidence based data cited by experts states beneficial effects of physical activity on several components of health including Blood sugar levels, blood pressure, body weight, heart, cholestrol/lipid profile, muscular system etc. In addition, in adolescents physical exercise helps improve their academic performance and keep at bay negative states of mind like anxiety, depression etc.
Most of the earlier studies were generally based on programmes of moderate to vigorous physical activity lasting 30 to 45 minutes for 3 to 5 days per week. Present panel report, however, suggests that more physical activity is needed to achieve similar benefits on health and behaviour in ordinary daily circumstances. This is particularly true in case of youngsters who are expected to protect themselves from lifestyle disorders like Diabetes for longer many years.
Making Exercise Enjoyable and Attractive
It has bee observed that youngsters tend to get bored easily and hence they have to have variety even in exercise. In addition, youngsters like physical activities that are challenging. While keeping this in consideration, the exercise suggested ought to be developmentally appropriate, enjoyable and involving a variety of activities such as jumping rope, soccer, basketball, jogging etc. However, hitherto sedentary children should be advised to increase physical activity gradually.
Without compromising academics, most of the recommended physical activity could take place at school through appropriate physical education, recess, intramural sports etc. In this respect, parents, physical instructors, teachers and others who influence youngsters need to become active role models.
One of the most important challenges is how to involve children in regular rewarding physical activity. Effective counselling by medical professionals can help families to overcome problems that limit opportunities for school-age children to be physically active.

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Varanasi The city of Ganga

Uma Ramachandran

Why would we want to go to Varanasi?" was the first reaction to a friend's unusual zest for the old city. But answers came easy after a two day trip to the land of the Ganges. After a rather comfortable 12 hour journey by the Shiv Ganga Express, we were there. The old city of Benaras had once been notoriously famous for sex workers, swindlers and robbers. Prostitution may be extinct now but there are definitely a lot of people eager to lighten your wallets. We learnt that in our first few minutes in Varanasi. After brushing aside touts and pesky auto drivers outside the station, we opted for the pre-paid auto service. Only to be stranded at least two kilometres away from our hotel. We had bought his argument that it was only a minute's walk away. Rickshaw-pullers will chase you and promise to take you on a city tour when all they do is ride around in circles and charge an exorbitant price. Remember, the golden rule here is to trust no one but your own instincts.
There are many hotels and lodges in Varanasi but the better ones are situated in the cantonment area, which is 20 minutes away from the ghats. If you don't mind compromising on luxury, it's best to stay at a small cheap lodge on the ghats to be close to all the action. We decided to stay at Hotel Riverview, a family run lodge, near Brahma Ghat. Apart from great food, our room overlooked the Ganges and had a magnificent view of the entire stretch of the ghats.
Varanasi, at first sight, comes across as a rather filthy and dirty town. The narrow gullies in the old city are littered with animal and human waste, trash and slush. You have two choices: Either shake your head in disgust or get used to the litter. Choose the latter and your experience starts. Quaint shops selling eatables, paan shops in every corner, small temples, priests saying their prayers, masseurs, barbers…every nook and corner of these gullies holds a surprise for you.
We spent the first day walking across the ghats and understanding them. Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats are where the dead are cremated. Dasashwamedha ghat is the most sacred and sadly also the most commercially exploited. Boatmen vie with each other to grab on to tourists, masseurs will beg you to oblige them and beggars will hound you. But things change as the sun sets and the prayer session starts. The place becomes choc-a-bloc with pilgrims and tourists who come to watch the puja and the river, by then spectacular with hundreds of little floating diyas.
We decided to watch the "show" from the river and hired boat for Rs. 200. The entire stretch of the river along the ghats takes one and a half hours and you can even stop at Karnataka ghat for some chai served in clay cups.
Manikarnika ghat is where the dead get their ticket to heaven. There are many dharamshalas along these ghats where the old and aged come to spend their last days. It is slightly disturbing to enter these shelters and watch the old, waiting for their death without the slightest hint of despair on their faces.
On an average, three bodies are cremated at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats at any given point of time. According to belief, these rituals save the dead from being reborn in this cruel world. Dead children, pregnant women, holy men and the diseased are simply immersed into the Ganges to as to give them another chance to come back to this world. Researchers reveal that on an average, 45,000 bodies are deposited in the river every year. The government has apparently tried many remedial measures to counter water pollution, many of which failed. An organisation even introduced turtles into the river to take care of the bodies but strangely the creatures disappeared. However, scientists have come to understand that like most mountain rivers, the Ganges does have a miraculous property of cleansing itself. Little wonder that it is considered holy by the Hindus.
But Varanasi's huge population does seem to push things a bit too far. The river is used for almost everything, from washing clothes to bathing buffaloes. And that doesn't deter people from taking their holy dip which is an experience in itself. We spent an hour swimming in the river at Scindia ghat which is probably the cleanest and came out rejuvenated and clean of all sins.
If you are in Varanasi for that spiritual experience, you have to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple but remember, only Hindus are allowed. While offering prayers, you will be accosted by many priests who will pull you to their corner and chant mantras. This again means donations. Apart from being spiritual, a trip to Varanasi can also be a great gastronomic experience. The town is famous for its aloo puri and lassi. Shops in every nook and corner serve these and many other milk products. A great culmination to a heavy meal would obviously be the special Benarsi pan. Another trademark is the silk saree. You will find many shops lined across the main market selling the gorgeous six yards. In all probability, you will be frequently accosted by "friendly" locals who will have a long chat with you by the end of which they will "invite" you to their homes. These are saree sellers and in most cases they "pressurise" their "guests" to buy from them. The best bet would be to shop at the state government run shops.
Entertainment at night could be a visit to the government-run bhang shops in the city. But nothing can be more elevating than sailing down the Ganges watching the lights of the old city shimmer in the darkness of the night. (INAV)

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Balloons are not for children only

G V Joshi

A balloon is flexible bag normally filled with a gas or sometimes even water as in Holi festival Early ballons were made of dried animal laders. Modern balloons are made from materials such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polythene, or a nylon fabric.
Some balloons are purely decorative, like the ones sold in a village fair, or displayed at a party, while others are used for specific purposes such as meterorology, science, medicine, defnece, or even transportation.
A balloon’s properties, inclding its low density and relatively low cost, have led to their use in a wide range of scientific applications.
The word ‘balloon’ was originally derived from the French word ‘‘balloon’’, meaning a large ball. This was in turn probaly from the Latin ‘‘balloon’’, but another possible source for it was ‘‘balla’’, meaning ball, from Old German.
The first ballon was invented by the Brazilian priest Bartolomeu de Gusmao, and the first public exhibition was made on August 8, 1709, in Lisbon, Portugal. The rubber balloon was invented by Michael Faraday in 1824; it was inflated with hydrogen and used in his experiments with that elecment.
The more familair rubber balloons of today were first manufactured at London in 1847, by J G Ingram, but mass production did not start until the 1930s.
Filling the balloon with air is done with the mouth or a hand pump, or with a source of compressed gas. When rubber balloons are filled with helium so that they float, they typically retain their buoyancy for only a day or so, because the enclosed helium atoms escape through small pores in the rubber which are larger than the helium atoms. However, even a perfect rubber balloon eventually loses the gas to the outside. The process is called diffusion.
The inside of balloons can be treated with a special gel, which coats the inner surface to reduce the helium leakage, thus increasing float time to a week or longer.
Large balloons filled with hot air or buoyant gases have been used as flying machines since the 18th century. The earliest flights were made with hot air balloons using air heated with a flame, or hydrogen, later, helium was used.
In 1783, two Frenchmen, brothers, sat before a bonfire watching the smoke going upward. ‘‘I wonder what makes the smoke go up ?’’ one of them said. ‘‘Perhaps warm air is lighter and the cold air pushes it up,’’ said the other. ‘‘Then if we filled a bag with hot air it would fly !’’ said the first. So they built a 10 m bag of waxed paper, attached a brazier of charcoal undermeath, released it and watched it mount into the air. Aeronautics was born on that day. Ballons have many uses in science classroom. They can be used to explain a number of scientific phenomenon. The simplest being the working of a jet engine.
In 1803 the first scientific balloon flight-to make measurements of electricity in the air-reached an altitude of 7.4 km. A year later French chemist and physicist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac made measurements of the composition of the air at various heights by using a balloon. Throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th century, the balloon was the only vehicle available for atmospheric measurements.
The use of a lighter than air gas filled balloon, as a ‘space platform’ to study Cosmic rays and for other high altitude studies, is even today, an attactive idea.
Scientific ballooning activity in India was initiated by the late Dr Homi J Bhaba, founder of nuclear technology in India, at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, in the late 1940s.
Scientific instruments weighing about 25 kg were carried to altitudes of 25-30 km by a cluster of about 50-60 rubber balloons for the study of cosmic rays, in which he specialised.
Development of large polyethylene balloons which could carry instruments weighing around a few hundreds kgs to altitude of 30-35 Km was initiated by Prof Bernard Peters at TIFR in March 1956.
The first successful balloon flight was made from the Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad, in April 1959, and during the decade that followed, a few hundred balloon flights were made from there.
During that period, two International ballon flight programmes were conducted and the other in 1965, during the international Quiet Sun Year period, in which scientists from all over the world participated.
With the increasing demand for balloon flights from National Institutions and the International Scientific Community, a National Balloon Facility (NBF) was established at Hyderabad, and the first balloon flight was made in December 1969. This is the only major ballon facility in the world close to the geomagnetic equator- the magneti latitude is 80N.
One of the unique features of the National Balloon Facility (NBF) is its full-fledged ballon manufacturing unit.
A theory that life arose elsewhere in the Universe, and came to Earth through ‘‘life spores’’ travelling across space and faling on Earth, was proposed by Dr Fred Hoyle of the UK and Dr Chandra Wickramasinghe of Sri Lanka a few decades back. This is now being verified by sending ballons in space with instruemnts to collect air samples at various altitudes from NBF, Hyderabad.
Balloons have found many applications in medicine. Angioplsty is a surgical procedure in which very small ballons are inserted into blocked or partially locked arteries near the heart. Once in place, the balloon is inflated to clear or compress arterial plaque, and to stretch the walls of the vessel, thus improving blood flow to the hart. A small stent can be inserted at the site to keep the artery open after the balloon is removed. balloon catheters are inserted into the urinary bladder to secure their position.
Balloons have been in use in science for the last three centuries and their new applications continue to develop every day. Vastly balloons are routinely flown today, and for much longer periods, than at any time in history. (PTI)

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Swami Vivekananda and the youth

Chander M. Bhat

In the last century, India has produced many saints, but very few were like Swami Vivekananda, who can rightly be called not merely a saint of India, but a saint of the whole world. His immortal address at the Parliament of Religions held at Chicago in the U.S.A. in the September 1893 is the most important event, which made him known the world over.
Swami Vivekananda's inspiring message is applicable to all the people of the world without any distinction of caste, colour, creed or country. More than what he said, he had a tremendous impact on everyone who came in touch with him. Our great national leaders found in him a perennial source of inspiration to serve the cause of the nation. What makes Vivekananda's call to the youth so compelling? It is his infinite trust and reverence for the youth, for he believed that the future of the world depended on the youth of every generation. So he bequeathed his message and trust especially to them. Romain Rolland, the great French savant, presents a fascinating and graphic account of Swami Vivekananda's life and message. He says: "Vivekananda's words are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of hundred choruses. I cannot tough these sayings of his scattered as they are through the pages of books at thirty years distance, without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shocks, what transports must have been produced when in burning words they issue form the lips of the here."
Swami Vivekananda wanted the youth of India to be strong and not to remain weak. The following is a famous quotation about strength to be gained by the youth: "Make your nerves strong. What we want are muscles of iron and nerves of steel. We have wept long enough. No more weeping, but stand on your feet and be men. It is man-making theories that we want. It is man- making education all round that we want." While making an appeal to the youth of India, Swami Vivekananda says, "Men, men, these are wanted: everything else will be ready, but strong, vigorous, believing young men, sincere to the backbone, are wanted.
A hundred such and the world become revolutionized. We should first from their lives and then some real work can be expected." Swami Vivekananda has expressed his views on strong youth in the following words: "My faith is in the younger generation, the modern generation, out of them will come my workers. They will work out the whole problem, like lions. I have formulated the idea and have given my life to them. They will spread from centre to centre, until we have covered the whole of India." "Put yourself to work, Swami Vivekananda, says, "and you will find such tremendous power coming to you that you will feel it hard to bear.
Even the least work done for others awakens the power within: even thinking the least good of others gradually installs into the heart the strength of a lion. I love you all ever so much, but I wish you all to die working for others…….. I should rather be glad to see you do that!"
After addressing the Parliament of Religions in Chicago Swami Vivekananda was attracted by the most crowded audience in the United States. At one instance addressing a group of Indians he quotes this, "Your country requires heroes, be heroes. Stand firm like a rock. Truth always triumphs. What India wants is a new electric fire that stirs up a fresh vigor in the national veins. Be brave: man dies but once. My youth must not be cowards". "But for him," says Shri C. Rajgopalachariya, "we would have lost our religion and would not have gained our freedom."
Sister Christine, U.S. born Indian citizen remarks, "Blessed is the country in which Vivekananda was born, blessed are they who lived on this earth at the same, and blessed, thrice blessed are the few who sat at his feet."

Kaleidoscopic kailash kund

G.L.Khajuria

The procession of several thousands of pilgrims in the form of holy mace (Chari) to kailash kund (Kaplash) uphill Bhaderwah barely around 20 kms and is situated at a height of 14000 ft above sea level(M.S.L.) waying through and amidst lushgreen, vibrant and salubrious pines, oaks, other broad-leaved trees, bushes, shrubs, herbs, climbers and creepers epitomize a rarer of rarest combination of spirituality in the hearts, minds and souls who trek the pilgrimage to the sanctimonious sacred kund which is so conveniently called the holy kund of highest spirituality where pilgrims from far flung areas come with utmost reverence, not only from India but from abroad to pay obeisance and obtain blessings.
The pilgrimage or locally as we speak 'yatras' to the revered Kailash Kund begins on 'Triyodshi'- the 13th of dark Bhaderpadmas, fourteen days after pious Raksha Bandhan each year and on this most auspicious day of 'Triyodshi', there is a huge assemblance of delighted devotees at the most revered "Vassuki Nag Devta" of utmost benevolence located at 'Gatha' (Depicted in the photo by the author), just on the enterance of Bhaderwah township, where a ceremonial pooja is held before holy mace (chari) takes its route from temple complex itself.There are multihued devotees irrespective of caste, colour, creed and that of religion or gender enchanting songs and hymns which echoe the velvety Bhaderwah valley and its azure sky in its ambience.
In our old scriptures it has been attributed that 'KAILASH KUND" like that of Amarnath, kidarnath, Sudhmahadev and other multihued sacred shrines was as well an abode of 'Lord Shiva' the supreme who on the coming of 'Vasuki Nag' sheltered him in the pious kund and proceeded 'Mani Mahesh' in Himachal Pradesh which though of couse, occupy its own prominence of spirituality of 'Har Har Maha Dev'.A common saying as thus goes true; "Jitne Kankar, utne Shanker"- He is supreme, the beholder, He is Bhola Nath who gets pleased and offers showers of blessings to all and one of his devotee.
Sungli is a small village situated barely 4-5 km from Bhaderwah township itself and it is habitating a population arounding 800 to 1000 or so and as per a prominent legend has it, a shepherd of this village with a herd of sheep and goats proceeded uphill meadowy upland for the grazing of the cattle and during his entire day's roaming with cattle, he felt utmost thirsty as no water was available in sight.
And now ascending uphill "Kailash Kund' there are miraculous remnance over the millennia and it is believed that "Garud" (Hawk) from whom all kinds of serpents are too afraid as is also narrated in our revered 'Ramayana' so, here too, 'Garud' chased 'Vasuki Nag' while he was waying through a village Hainya, to 'Kailash Kund'.It is believed that "Vasuki Nag" had a stay over Hainya for night to escape 'Guard' and rest for a while,and the pilgrimages too now halt over here for night as a ritual and start their pilgrimage next day.
During this 'run-race' between 'Garud' and 'Vasuki Nag',the latter by virtue of divine shakti made many transformations.First 'Nagji' took the formation of 'Cow' and that spot is locally spoken as 'Gow Peda' till date and there are 'golden prints' of pious 'Cow hoof' which are prayed with utmost reverence .The 'Vasak Nag' then transformed into a 'bee' , to escape from the clutches of 'Garud' and its remnants are as yet existing there on spot.
And still miraculous is that local ladies who were on there way of collecting grasses, vegetables etc failed to tell the whereabout of 'Vasak Nag' were cursed by 'Garud' and those ladies were transformed into stony idols as yet existing there at "Shageran".The pilgrimage as well halt over here pay obeisance and obtain blessings from these idols.In this ensuing chasing spree between 'Vasak Nag' and 'Garud' lot of other legends are also attached to it and in the last when it was 'Lord Shiva'- the 'supreme' who ultimately provided shelter to 'Vasuki Nag' on his prayers which basically was Lord Shiva's abode 'Lord Shiva' proceeded 'Manimahesh' ,handing over this Kund to 'Vasuki Nag'.
Now with the more and more focus on the pilgrimage spots of Bhaderwah Kishtwar, Athali (Jawalaji Mata), Sarthal Devi, Multifaceted Machail Mata and so many of Godly abodes, the attention of the Govt., is invited for their upgradation of all shrines so that by the years to come, these become more and more enchanting and enthralling spots for the pilgrimages from India and abroad.