जामिया मिल्लिया इस्लामिया : शान्ति रेली

25,सितम्बर ,2008
जामिया मिल्लिया इस्लामिया यूनिवर्सिटी में दिल्ली बम ब्लास्ट की निंदा करने के लिए शान्ति रेली का आयोजन किया गया । यह रेली सुबह 11 बजे जामिया कैम्पस के इंजीनियरिंग विभाग से शुरू होकर ,अंसारी आडिटोरियम से होते हुए जामिया मिल्लिया इस्लामिया के उप कुलपति मुशीरुल हसन के ऑफिस पर समाप्त हुई । इस रेली में लगभग 5,000 छात्र शामिल हुए थे । इस रेली में छात्रों के अलावा यूनिवर्सिटी के सभी कर्मचारी भी शामिल हुए ,जिनमे अध्यापको से लेकर एक कैंटीन वाला भी था । जयश्री की रिपोर्ट ...

रेली की शुरुआत ।

रेली के समय उप कुलपति मुशीरुल हसन ।
तिरंगा लहराते छात्र ।
अपने सहयोगियों के साथ उप कुलपति मुशीरुल हसन ।

उप कुलपति मुशीरुल हसन के ऑफिस के बाहर रेली का अन्तिम चरण ।

यमुना का कहर

यमुना का कहर

२४ सितम्बर 2008
दिल्ली में आज से लगभग एक महीना पहले भी लगातार बारिश के कारण बाढ़ आने की सम्भावना बन गयी थी। परन्तु भाग्यवश ऐसा नही हुआ । आज फिर से दिल्ली में बाढ़ आने की सम्भावना बन गयी हैं। यमुना पर बना लोहे का पुल जो की अंग्रेजो के समय का बना हुआ हैं आज बंद कर दिया गया। पुल बंद करने का कारण , यमुना में जल का स्तर का बढ़ जाना है । ये स्तर ६७६ सेमी तक पहुच गया है। यमुना के किनारे बसा पुस्ता समय रहते ही खाली करवा लिया गया था जिसके कारण जान-माल की हानि होने की अबतक कोई ख़बर नही मिली । परन्तु बाढ़ के कारण बहुत से लोगो को अपने घर से बेघर होना पड़ा है। सरकार का दावा है की वो बाढ़ पीड़ित लोगों की मदद करने में कोई कमी नही कर रही है। लेकिन जब मैंने युसूफ खान, (एक बाढ़ पीड़ित) से बात की तो उन्होंने बताया की सरकार ने खाने-पीने की व्यस्था तो दूर की बात है उनके लिए टेंट तक नही लगवाया ,जिसमे उनके बच्चे सर छुपा सकें । इसे कहते है करनी और कथनी में अन्तर ।

घाट में घुसता पानी

लोगों का सामान

जल स्तर

कावडिया इन दिल्ली

सावन के महीने में सभी शिवभक्त कावडिया कावड लेकर हरिद्वार से अपने-अपने घरो की तरफ़ आते है । दिल्ली में इस समय का नज़ारा...

Nature

ट्रैफिक जाम इन दिल्ली

दिल्ली में रहने वाला कोई भी इंसान , चाहे वो आमिर हो या गरीब ,किसी भी धरम और किसी भी उमर का हो उसे एक कोमन परेशानी से जूझना पड़ता है । वो परेशानी है ट्रैफिक जाम की ... ये जाम सभी के लिए होता है ।

चाइल्ड केयर सेंटर

जयश्री
चाइल्ड केयर सेंटर एक ऐसा केन्द्र है जहाँ पर मानसिक रूप से विकलांग बच्चो को पढाया जाता हैं और उन्हें ट्रेनिंग भी दी जाते हैं। इस सेंटर की स्पेशल एज्युकेटर ,नसीम फातिम का कहना है की इन बच्चो के साथ बहुत ही प्यार से पेश आना होता है और इन पर दुसरे बच्चो से ज्यादा ध्यान देना पड़ता हैं।
इस सेंटर में इन बच्चो को मानसिक विकार से लड़ने के साथ साथ व्यापारिक ट्रेनिंग भी दी जाती हैं। यहाँ पर उन्हें मोमबत्ती बनाना , ग्रीटिंग बनाना,और लिफाफे बनाना सिखाया जाता हैं। इन बच्चो में अलग -अलग विकलांगता हैं परन्तु इस सेंटर में इन सभी का उनकी विकलांगता से ध्यान हटाकर उनकी योग्यता पर ज्यादा ध्यान दिलाया जाता हैं। इन बच्चो के लिए यहाँ पर मनोचित्सिक को भी बुलाया जाता हैं।


सुबह की शुरुआत : बच्चो को व्यायाम कराते स्पेशल ओलंपियन ।


खेल-खेल में ध्यान लगना : मोत्ती की माला बनती हुई छात्रा ।


नन्हा चित्रकार : चित्र में रंग भरने की तेयारी ।


पढ़ने का खास तरीका : गिनती सीखता छात्र ।


देशभक्ति : तिरंगे को निहारती आँखे।

प्रगति मैदान में बुक महोत्सव...

लेख : रमाशंकर पाण्डेय एंव जयश्री
चित्र : जयश्री

दिल्ली के प्रगति मैदान में चल रहे 14वें दिल्ली पुस्तक मेले का उद्दघाटन 30 अगस्त को भारत के उपराष्ट्रपति हामिद अंसारी के द्वारा किया गया । इस बार यहाँ लगभग 299 प्रकाशकों ने हिस्सा लिया है । इसमें भारत सहित 7 देशों के प्रकाशक शामिल हैं । पाकिस्तान, चीन, अमेरिका और ईरान के पब्लिशर्स यहाँ अपनी किताबों के साथ आए हैं।

बच्चों और महिलाओं को विशेष स्थान
7 सितम्बर तक चलने वाले इस पुस्तक मेले के बारे में दिल्ली पुस्तक मेले के डायरेक्टर, शक्ति मलिक ने बताया, "इस बार यहाँ बच्चों की पुस्तकों से संबंधित प्रकाशकों और महिला लेखिकाओं को विशेष स्थान दिया गया है । इस पुस्तक मेले में 18 महिला लेखिकाओं की पुस्तकों को शामिल किया गया है । इनमें स्व। रजनी पनिका, विभा देवसरे, डॉ. कुसुम अंसल और महाश्वेतादेवी आदि की पुस्तकें शामिल है" । उन्होंने आगे कहा, "बच्चों की किताबें, साइन्स, इस्लाम, गणित और प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं से संबंधित पुस्तकें, मैगज़ीन, मैप्स, कम्प्यूटर सॉफ्टवेयर इत्यादि को डिस्प्ले में रखा गया हैं" ।

हॉल न0 10 में स्टर्लिंग पब्लिशर्स बच्चों में किताबों के प्रति लगाव पैदा करने के लिए यहाँ कई कॉम्प्टीशन भी करवा रहा है । इसकी आयोजक सुनीता कपूर ने कहा, "यह कॉम्प्टीशन दिन में 3 से 5 के बीच होता है । इसमें शामिल सभी बच्चों के लिए प्राइज़ रखे गए हैं । हमारा मक़सद बच्चों की क्रिएटिविटी को बढ़ावा देना है । बच्चें यहाँ केवल किताबें खरीदने ही न आए बल्कि इनज्वॉय भी करें"।

तकनीकी का बोलबाला

दिल्ली पुस्तक मेले में इस बार टेक्नॉल्जी का काफी प्रभाव देखने को मिल रहा है । बच्चों की किताबें, टेबल, साइन्स के फॉर्मूले सब कुछ यहाँ एनिमेटेड फॉर्म में उपलब्ध हैं । इसकी खरीददारी के लिए बच्चे काफी संख्या में यहाँ आ रहे हैं । लोगों को अपने पसंद की बुक स्टॉल ढूँढ़ने में परेशानी न हो इसके लिए यहाँ 'कियोस्क' नाम की कम्प्यूर मशीन भी लगाई गई है। इसमें प्रकाशक कंपनी का नाम डालने पर आप उसकी स्थिति के बारे में जान सकते हैं । यहां पर टेबल की डीवीडी खरीदने आए सैकेण्ड क्लास में पढ़ने वाले सोमिल डाबर का कहना है कि इससे इन्हें टेबल आसानी से याद हो जाता है ।

दोस्ती बहल करने का ज़रिया किताबें

पाकिस्तान 1988 से लगातार दिल्ली पुस्तक मेले में शामिल हो रहा है । पाकिस्तान के 'नेशनल बुक फांउडेशन' के साथ आए शौकत अली का कहना है, "हमारे स्टॉल पर लोग काफी संख्या में आ रहे हैं । इसके लिए मैं हिन्दुस्तान के लोगों का शुक्रिया अद़ा करना चाहूँगा । हम यहाँ उर्दू और अंग्रेजी की लगभग 2000 किताबों के साथ आए हैं । इतिहास पर 'हिस्ट्री ऑफ राजपूत' नाम की किताब यहाँ काफी बिक रही है । यहां के लोग किताब पढ़ने के काफी शौकीन हैं । किताबें दो देशों के बाच दोस्ती बहाल करने में काफी मददगार साबित हो सकती हैं" । इन्होंने दो देशों के बीच दोस्ती बहाल करने में मीडिया की भी काफी प्रशंसा की ।

इन्टरनेट बनाम किताबें

लेकिन पिछली बार के मुकाबले इस बार यहाँ भीड़ कम देखने को मिल रही है । दिल्ली बुक फेयर के डायरेक्टर, शक्ति मलिक ने इसके बारे में कहा, "यह सच है कि इस बार लोग कम आ रहे हैं । इसके लिए 'इंडियन ट्रेड प्रमोशन ऑर्गनाइजेशन', (आईटीपीओ) जिम्मेदार है। क्योंकि इस बार इन्होंने इसके एडवरटीजमेंट पर काफी कम ध्यान दिया है" । बिहार से यहाँ किताबों की खरीददारी करने आए दीपक श्रीवास्तव का कहना है, "इंटरनेट और टी.वी के चलन से लोगों का रूझान किताबों की तरफ कम हो रहा है । अब ज्य़ादातर किताबें इंटरनेट पर भी उपलब्ध होती हैं और लोग वहीं से काफी जानकारी प्राप्त कर लेते हैं । हार्ड कॉपी खरीदने की ज़हमत वे नहीं उठाना चाहते हैं । लोगों के पास किताबें पढ़ने के लिए समय भी नहीं है" । लेकिन दिल्ली के सुयश बत्रा के अनुसार इंटरनेट ने लोगों को किताबों के बारे में जानकारी प्राप्त करने में काफी मदद की है । यह एक तरह से लोगों को किताबें पढ़ने के लिए प्रेरित ही करता है । किताबों की जगह कोई नहीं ले सकता है।

अगर आप अपनी मनपसंद की किताब के लिए कई बुक शॉप्स के चक्कर लगा चुके हैं और निराश हैं, तो यहाँ एक बार ज़रूर आइए । हो सकता है कि आप यहाँ निराश न हो । और हाँ अपने साथ बच्चों को लाना मत भूलिएगा । क्योंकि उनके लिए भी यहाँ है बहुत कुछ ।

LOSING WEIGHT THE WRONG WAY

By : Neha Sethi

Photo : Jaishree

Have you stopped eating or are you on a strict diet to attain that perfect size? Beware. You might be heading towards health loss rather than weight loss. Anorexia, an eating disorder is on the rise in India and you might be the next victim. Neha Sethi talks about anorexia, its symptoms and after effects.

Rekha (name changed), a 16-year old, who weighed 75 kgs was very conscious of being fat. Constant nagging by classmates and not enough care at home drove her to the brink of developing anorexia. “One day Rekha’s mother came to me and said that she was worried because her daughter was eating very less and was also behaving in a peculiar manner,” says Dr Geetu Amarnani, Nutrition expert, Kolmet Hospital, Pusa Road.

Amarnani says that these symptoms indicate the probability of developing anorexia later on. “These days we get many cases like these. Rekha is just an example, but there are many more like her,” she adds. “Anorexia” she says, “is a kind of eating disorder which can later develop into a psychological problem, if attention is not paid and treatment is not given.”

The general conception is that anorexia usually affects adolescents. But trends of increasing number of cases of anorexia have been observed even amongst adults in the West. “Anorexia is a disorder observed in teenagers from 13-18 years of age, and it is mostly girls who are affected. I haven’t come across any adult case till now,” says Dr Vandana Garg, Consultant Physician, Goodwill Hospital, Noida.

“Anorexia is a relatively new disorder in India. Also, it is mostly prevalent amongst the urban middle or urban rich class,” says Dr Atul Sardana, Consultant Surgeon at Kolmet Hospital. He holds the media responsible for the increasing number of cases of anorexia in the country. “All girls want an hour-glass figure these days. They all want to be as thin as models and actresses.”

The same sentiment is echoed by Rekha’s mother, who didn’t want to be named. “When I came to know that Rekha has started eating very less, I went to her room to talk to her. And imagine my shock, when all around her room walls all I see is newly pinned posters of toothpick thin models and actresses. They were her inspiration.”

Dr Amarnani says anorexia can also be attributed to changing lifestyle trends in India. “Due to busy schedules, most women don’t have time to keep a check on what their children are eating. This means the children get more influenced by television and their friends.”

Anorexia can prove to be very dangerous if not diagnosed and treated early, says Dr.Amarnani. “It is during adolescence that the body builds stocks of vitamins, calcium and iron. If a person does not eat properly during that age, then it becomes very difficult to replenish those sources later in life,” she adds.Shruti Yadav, 22, a law student at Delhi University, New Delhi, who lost 20 kgs when she was 18 says, “I lost weight only because I was regular with my exercise routine. I never skipped meals and nor did I overdo exercise. It is not necessary to diet or starve to lose weight. I lost 20 kgs without doing any of that.”

Weight loss should not become an obsession. As Dr.Amarnani says, “Family has a very important role to play. They should educate their children about the right and wrong ways to lose weight and keep a check on them.”

Common symptoms of Anorexia:

· Fatigued and tired look· Thin appearance

· Frequent dizziness· Low blood counts

· Some irregularities in menstrual cycles

· Uninterested in activities happening around

· Making excuses to avoid eating food

· Withdrawal or seclusion

· In extreme cases, chest pain

Anorexia may lead to:

· Malnutrition

· Deficiency of vitamins and iron in the body which leads to anemia

· Dark circles under the eye

· Lack of calcium leading to muscle wasting or bone thinning

· Stress

·Depression

· Body cannot cope up with deficiencies

· Miscarriage during pregnancy

Getting a Tattoo?Think Twice

By : Kapou Malakar
Photo : Jaishree Indian celeb Sushmita Sen sports a tattoo on her back to portray a funky image. Binti, a 15-year old also gets a tattoo on her ankle to look cool. No matter how much burn or stretching the tattoo bearers suffer on their skin, they don’t seem to mind it. Tattoos, they say, are fashion.Vasudha, from St. Stephens College got a tattoo on her lower back three days ago. “Getting a tattoo done on the body is painful, but I enjoy that pain”, she says. “I got this tattoo to match my new wardrobe,” she exclaims happily.Tattoos are hot commodities these days. “Everyday four to five people come to us to get a tattoo done on their body,” says Shakil Ahmed, who works at a tattoo parlor in Sadar Bazaar. Tattoos represent an art form, and can reflect the attitude of its wearers. But they have to be taken with a pinch of salt. Tattooing can prove to be hazardous if due care is not taken.Tattooing involves needles that move at very fast speed to penetrate the outer layers of the skin. The needles break the skin, and inject dots of ink into the third layer, creating an image of the tattoo design on the skin. But, the biggest concern one should have when getting a tattoo is the place and the equipment used. “If the equipment isn’t cleaned after each time it is used, the risk of getting the dreaded HIV virus is very high”, says Dr Shail Gupta, a dermatologist at Satya clinic in Shakti Nagar. “You can even be exposed to diseases like tuberculosis or hepatitis,” he further adds.Although tattooing can be dangerous, there are ways to minimize the threats. “We use steam pressure autoclave to disinfect the tattoo guns and needles”, says Lokesh, who works at Devil’s Tattoo at PVR Priya complex. “Bleach and alcohol don’t actually sterilize the equipment. Instead, they are used to clean the equipments”, he says.There are other safety measures that are recommended by dermatologists. “We even recommend tattoo artists to wear rubber gloves that can be easily disposed off”, says Dr Gupta. “The ointment spreader that is used after making a tattoo should also be disposable”, he further adds.Cleanliness and sanitation is the only way to prevent any harmful consequences of getting a tattoo. “Before the tattoo artist starts making the tattoo, he should offer each customer a brand new set of fresh needles to let his/her customers choose from them”, Says Dr Yogesh Sehgal, Dermatologist, at a clinic in Mayur Vihar.In the world of tattoos, your tattoo is as good as the money you pay for it. So, if you are planning to get a tattoo, get it from a good place, instead of trying to save money. Because, fads and style are temporary. After all health comes first.

A YEAR AFTER VIOLENCE

By : Gaurav Kumar & Babu
Photo : Jaishree Shahid, a Biryani vendor at Batla House toils hard from sunrise to sunset. He is happy with whatever he earns but doesn’t like to talk about what happened a year ago. He still remembers that evening of Ramadan, when his thela got shattered in an anti-police violence triggered at Batla House, Okhla. The incident took an ugly turn when a group of localites from the minority community alleged that a Beat Constable dishonored a copy of the Quran. The local police chowki was set on fire by a mob of 600 to 700 people. To control the situation, heavy police and Para military forces were deployed.Now after one year, Shahid is not happy with the changes that have taken place since then. “Police is more strict and don’t allow us to setup thelas on the main road. I park my thela inside the market and this has brought down sales”. Shahid is not the only one who is suffering. It is a common problem for hundreds of vendors like him.On one side, that violent incident has had a bearing on these small vendors. But on the other side, there is section of people who hold both the Police and locals responsible for whatever happened last year. Tehzeeb Aalam, salesman at Makia Book Depot at Okhla says, “The situation has changed now. Earlier we felt isolated and marginalized as far as development is concerned. The frequency of Police patrolling has increased and we feel more secure.”The clergy is also happy with the change that has taken place. Maulana Mohammad Rafi, Imam of Jama Masjid, Okhla Main Bazaar says, “Traffic conditions have improved a lot as there are no vendors on main roads. Police is also more vigilant and effectively monitors the traffic to ensure smooth flow of vehicles during evening prayer.”But even now, there are people like Pandit Manmohan Sharma of Lakshmi Narayan mandir at Okhla, who consider this issue too sensitive to talk about. “NO Comments” was the only answer he had in reply to numerous questions asked about the year old incident.Learning from their past experiences, Police is also extra cautious this time. Mahinder Singh, Additional SHO Law and Order, Jamia Nagar Police Station said “Last year’s occurrence of violence was the result of miscommunication between the Police and public. This year we have sorted out this problem.” Police has organized Resident Welfare Association meetings to discuss measures to avoid such reoccurrence. They have also deployed a company to ensure the safe movement of women and children.Meanwhile, the residents keep their fingers crossed- nobody wants a repetition of 2007 Ramadan.

Delhi Book Fair

Shoukat Ali

Gastritis- not to be taken lightly

Gastritis- not to be taken lightly


By Kinga Dema
Photo:Jaishree

Those of you, who think that you are just suffering from gastritis, think again.Gastritis should not be neglected in its initial stage as it can turn into a life threatening disease, say gastroenterologists. Gastritis, in simple term, means inflammation of the stomach. According to Dr. Rajeev Shandil, DNB registrar, gastroenterology of Apollo hospital, gastritis if left untreated may lead to gastric ulcers and stomach bleeding. Some forms of chronic gastritis may also increase the risk of stomach cancer, he adds.The most common cause of gastritis, a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is found in almost 90 percent of the world’s population. So if you are not careful about your food habits and timings, chances are that you might suffer from gastritis.Patients having gastritis that has developed to the stage of gastric ulcers can suffer from burning pain in the epi-gastritis region (upper abdomen), heart burn, belching or bloating and nausea. If active bleeding is present, the person might also vomit blood and see blood in stools.So,what causes gastritis? The most common causes include alcohol consumption; use of certain painkillers, stress and of course unhealthy food habits. Surgery, burns, trauma and other serious medical problems also increases the chances of developing gastritis. Any way out? Yes, patients should take proper consultation of a doctor and make the necessary life style changes. People suffering from chronic diseases like liver and kidney disease and patients who are on medication have higher chances of suffering from gastritis. Dr Ujjwal Pradhan, a resident doctor of Apollo says that patients suffering from gastritis should eat healthy and drink lots of water. “Spicy food is not a direct cause of gastritis but it adds on to the complications,” he adds. Also, patients need to take lesser amount of tea, coffee or anything with caffeine in it.Tshering, 25, who works in a non-government organization (NGO) in Gurgaon, regrets not listening to her doctor’s advice when she had minor gastritis three years ago. She is now suffering from chronic gastritis. “The pain is unbearable sometimes and I am always cautious,” she says.How worse can it get? Gastritis can become dangerous when not treated on time. Patients don’t die from gastritis as such but gastritis complications can become fatal if left untreated.So, learn to handle stress, eat healthy and live life without gastritis!

No Place to Park? Well, the road is all yours

No Place to Park? Well, the road is all yours

ByNeha Sethi

Photo Jaishree

There is a traffic jam on the road outside Delhi Public School (DPS), Mathura Road. It is the same scene every morning and afternoon. And is the school getting away with it just because it is one of the top educational institutions in the capital?“There is a lot of chaos on the stretch in front of DPS, Mathura Road everyday, especially in the morning, when parents come to drop their children. All of them park their cars on the main road and then it’s a problem for people like us who travel through that stretch everyday,” says Arshdeep Kaur, a nurse in Escorts Hospital, who has to commute through Mathura road.The traffic outside DPS becomes unmanageable in the morning and afternoon, but it gets even worse if there is an event taking place in the school.The 23rd of August, a Saturday, was a particularly torturous day for Seema Kapoor, a 24-year old who has her office in Okhla. This was because the same day was also when DPS had their parent-teacher meeting. “It was complete chaos,” she says “Cars were parked on both the sides of the main road. And at some points, there were two lanes of cars.”So where does the solution to this problem lie? Muktesh Chander, the Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic Police, puts the responsibility back on the people’s head. “The people should call the traffic help line and inform us about such traffic jams. It is also the school’s responsibility to tell us before hand so that we are prepared for it. Actually the main problem is that there is no law of Government of Delhi which says that it is compulsory for all schools to have a parking space. Most schools face this problem especially in the afternoon, when parents come to pick their children,” he says.But try to talk to the school authorities and the Principal is not available for comment. An official from the Principal’s office, who didn’t want to be named, clarifies the school’s position. “A part of our land was taken away during the construction of the flyover in front of our school before the ASIAD games and we were promised a parking lot to compensate for that part of land,” he says. “A request regarding the compensation of land has been sent to many officials including the PWD, the Mayor of Delhi, Arti Mehra, the Police Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of MCD and the MP of our area, but to no avail,” he adds.The parents, on the other hand, say that they have no other option other than parking on the road. Sushma Bhasin, mother of a child studying in DPS says, “What option do we have other than parking on the road? It is up to the school authorities and the traffic police to come up with a solution, it’s not our problem.”So, till all the parties involved arrive on a consensus on who is actually to be blamed, commuters like Seema have no other option but to find out a way to avoid that route.

हैंडीक्राफ्ट ! ग्रामीण भारत की पहचान।

हैंडीक्राफ्ट ! ग्रामीण भारत की पहचान।

अगर आप बड़े-बड़े मॉल और शोरूम से खरीददारी करके बोर हो चुके हैं और खुद को और अपने घर के ड्राइंग रूम को देना चाहते हैं एक नया लुक तो, जाना मत भूलिए, दिल्ली के कनॉट प्लेस के राजीव गाँधी हैंडीक्राफ्ट भवन में।भारत सरकार के ग्रामीण विकास मंत्रालय के सहयोग से 18 अगस्त से उत्तर प्रदेश के ग्रामीण शिल्पकारों के द्वारा आयोजित प्रदर्शनी इन दिनों लोगों के आकर्षण का केन्द्र बनी हुई है। लखनऊ का चिकन,बनारसी सिल्क साड़ी,गोरखपुर के टेराकोटा के आइटम,फिरोजाबाद के काँच के बने सामान,ड्रेस मैटीरियल इत्यादि,यहाँ के मुख्य आकर्षण हैं।
भदोही की कालीन,दरी और बिछौने कई रेन्ज में यहाँ उपलब्ध हैं।इनकी कीमत 250 रूपये से लेकर 6500 रूपये तक है।इनकी कसीदाकारी में काफी महीन धागों का इस्तेमाल किया गया है।भदोही की इस परंपरागत शिल्प को कई सालों से सहेजते आ रहे विमलेश पटेल इसके बारे में कहते हैं, “एक कालीन को बनाने में लगभग ड़ेढ़ से दो महीने लग जाते हैं।और ये कई सालों तक बिना किसी शिकायत के चलती हैं”।

गोरखपुर से टेराकोटा की बनी मूर्तियों,खिलौनों और शो पीस के साथ आए रामआसरे प्रजापति के यहाँ ये काम कई पीढ़ियों से चला आ रहा है।इनके नानाजी इस शिल्पकारी के लिए राष्ट्रपति पुरस्कार भी पा चुके हैं। इन्होंने बताया कि, “टेराकोटा का काम लगभग 5000 साल पुराना है।सिन्धुघाटी सभ्यता में भी मूर्तियां और खिलौने बनाने में टेरकोटा पद्वति का इस्तेमाल होता था”। दिल्ली के कमला नगर के सुनील भसीन इसके पुराने खरीददार हैं।इनके बारे में ये बताते हैं कि, “ये चाहे जितनी पुरानी हो जाएं इनकी चमक हमेशा बरकरार रहती है”।इनकी कीमत 20 रूपये से लेकर 300 रूपये तक हैं।
बनारस की साड़ियाँ और लखनवी चिकन के कुर्ते और पाएजामे के खरीददार केवल दिल्ली वाले ही नहीं बल्कि विदेशी भी हैं।यूएसए से भारत आए रॉबर्ट ने लखनऊ के चिकन के बने कपड़ों के बारे में बताया कि, “इनकी क्वालिटी काफी अच्छी है और पहनने में ये काफी आरामदायक होते हैं”।लखनऊ के चिकन कई क्वीलिटी में यहाँ उपलब्ध है।लोग काफी संख्या में यहाँ खरीददारी करने आ रहे हैं।दिल्ली के मालवीय नगर की डॉ. संतोष अब तक यहाँ से 20000 रूपये की खरीददारी कर चुकी हैं।
फिरोज़ाबाद की बनी फैशनेबल चूड़ियां, कांच के बर्तन और खिलौने, चित्रकूट और सीतापुर की दस्तकारी भी लोगों को काफी पसंद आ रही है।उत्तर प्रदेश के ग्रामीण शिल्पकारों का यह विशेष डिस्प्ले 31 अगस्त तक रहेगा।
लेख : रमा शंकर पाण्डेय
चित्र : जयश्री

Poison in your bag

Poison in your bag



Poly bags are easy to carry, light weight, convenient for storing vegetables and meat. But the health hazards they cause are tremendous. Aqsa Anjum finds out some of its perils to human health.
By Aqsa Anjum
Photo:Jaishree

Fresh meat bought from the market can slowly turn into poison. How? The polythene bags that you use to store your eatables can be poisonous. Are you ready to bargain your health for a plastic bag?Most of us are doing that. Rani Bhagel, a housewife, uses black plastic bags to store meat in refrigerator. “It is easy to store meat in plastic bags rather than using any other container,” she says. But this practice can be hazardous. Doctor Ajay Rohatgi warns: “The chemicals with which poly bags are manufactured can easily seep into the food stored in them and then into our body.” He says the most dangerous ones are the recycled poly bags, particularly the black and gray colored ones. Also, in some bags the lead content is very high. In the long run this can damage our body system, he adds.The hazards“Plastic bags are hazardous as they are non- degradable. When they are burnt, they produce carbon monoxide and other gases which in the long run will affect the ozone layer and will pollute the environment,” says Prof. Sharif Ahmed, Head of Chemistry Department in Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi.Tahir Noor, a researcher from Voluntary Health Associations of Delhi, says: “In slum areas the biggest pollution creators are the poly bags. They flood drains which leads to water born diseases. Stray cattle feed on huge garbage waste with poly bags and often die.”Professor Sharif warns that sometimes recycled poly bags contain dangerous chemicals which when mixed with soil could destroy the composition of soil.Issue of concernPinki Singh, a school teacher in Bulbulikhana, a government school near Turkman Gate, is aware of the issue but says that there is no other viable option available in place of plastic bags. She is more concerned about the milk which is mostly available in poly bags. She blames shopkeepers for providing the food items in poly bags. On the other hand, shopkeepers put the blame on customers. They say that they are aware of the menace but the customers demand it and there is no other alternative available.The law side of it The steps to halt the use and manufacturing of plastic bags have already been taken in Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu. “The High Court order asking Delhi government to ban the use of plastic bags comes as a welcome move,” says Prof. Sharif Ahmed. Though the High Court has ordered a ban on the use of plastic bags it seems the application is there on paper only. Tahir Noor is skeptical about the ban. “The government is earning huge manufacturing aids from the manufacturers of plastic. That is why they might not want to apply it,” he reasons.So, it is not that people are unaware. What they want is an alternative option. As Pinki Singh says, “I am a concerned citizen but unless I am provided with an alternative I will keep using it .The plastic bags are more strong and durable than paper bags.” So in spite of the health hazards, plastic bags are here to stay for the time being.Dangers of polybags*Polybags being non biodegradable can effect soil composition *Drain clogging by plastic bags can lead tobreeding of Mosquitoes and sewage overflowing.*Burning of Polybags cause the productionof CO[carbon monoxide ]and otherhazardous gases

Media matters- Who is to blame?

Media matters- Who is to blame?

ByBabu , Dipu Shaw , Sumiran Preet Kaur

Photo:Jaishree

It was an interesting occasion where esteemed journalists and aspiring journalists gathered to discuss and criticize the medium which they represent. The seminar on “Does the Media Care” was organized by AJK Mass Communication Research Centre of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and BBC World Service Trust. The esteemed panelists included the likes of Tarun Tejpal, Ziya us Salam and Prem Shanka Jha. All in the room, including the panelists and the audience agreed on one thing - media is becoming less concerned about important issues like development, environment and health. The first half of the session tried to answer the question “Is Indian media obsessed with celebrities and crime? The key note address of Mr.Tarun Tejpal of Tehelka sent instant energy waves. The applauses in the room proved that his speech was received with full enthusiasm. He pointed out that the stories in media are corporate centric and there is a paucity of social coverage. “We don’t pay for the media, it is the advertisers who pay, what we see is what the advertisers wants us to see”, he pointed out. Equally candid but more optimistic about the contemporary media scenario was P.N.Vasanti, Director of CMS (Centre for Media studies). She pointed out how the new trends in news coverage was all about crime and politics. She reminded the audience about the coverage of Sanjay Dutt’s trial and Bacchan wedding. Her references could strike a chord with the audiences as they were still fresh in their minds.But the picture is not all dark. Pamela Philipose, director of Women’s Features Service admits that the phenomenon of marketisation and globalization is unavoidable but she feels that the new generation who will be entering the profession can reverse the negative trends in media. She referred to the audience, many of whom were students of mass communication and journalism and put the onus of responsibility on them. Senior journalist Usha Rai also agreed with Ms.Philipose and pointed out that there were spaces in the media that addressed developmental issues.Interestingly Nilanjana Bose of CNN IBN considers that the media cannot be blamed completely. “We have crime all around us and there is nothing wrong in covering crime and celebrities. People want to see it”,she added. Rohit Gandhi, a TV journalist with Canadian Broadcasting opined that media organizations should be blamed for bringing up a system where viewers are mere passive consumers. Thomas Chandy, CEO of “Save the Children in India”, world’s largest independent Child Rights Organization said that the apathy among Indian middle class should be addressed.The lunch in between the two sessions was not devoid of discussions on media. For Saira, a student of English (Hons) Jamia Millia Islamia, it was nice to see journalists as journalists and not as someone representing and defending their media houses. The audience was all pepped up to attend the second session. The second half of the session tried to answer the question “Why aren’t there more stories about health, science and environment?”Prem Shankar Jha clearly stated that media being the fourth estate must act as an apparatus of nation building. Zia-us-Salam, senior assistant editor of The Hindu spoke about the divide between rural Bharat and urban India. At one point of the discussion all the attacks were aimed at television. Amit Sen Gupta, Editor-in-Charge of Hard News, was critical of television journalism. “They neither investigate nor do they follow-up stories”, he alleged. But all the criticism was taken in a healthy manner. Navika Kumar fromTimes Now tried her best to put forward the other side of the story.Ravi Agarwal, an environmentalist and founder of Toxics Link opined that “Media has certain responsibilities of nation building, shaping public opinion and awakening the mass.” In his view, environmental issues cannot be gazed in isolation, it has to be multi-linked with politics, society and economics.Prananjoy Guha Thakurata, commentator and editor of “Real politic” ended the symposium with a positive note urging the young generation to celebrate heterogeneity in news. The applause from the audience showed that the young listeners were ready to take the responsibility.

Does the media care?

Does the media care?

By Sheeba Naaz and Kinley Tshering

Photo Jaishree

“I am not optimistic about the Indian media...Today the type of journalism that is practiced is sticking the mic on someone’s face and getting the byte,” declared Tarun Tejpal in his keynote statement during a one-day seminar on “Does the media care?” held at Jamia Millia Islamia on August 28. The seminar was organized by AJK MCRC in collaboration with the BBC World Trust Services. Having worked with several national and international media organizations, Tarun Tejpal is currently associated with Tehelka. In 2001 Asiaweek listed Tejpal as one of Asia’s 50 most powerful communicators, and Businessweek declared him among 50 leaders at the forefront of change in Asia. Addressing the seminar, Tarun Tejpal gave an overview of the grim media scenario in India that bordered on pessimism. He talked at length about the numerous issues that were haunting the national media, supposedly decreed as the fourth estate.According to Tejpal, media in India is failing in its journalistic duties and is reluctant to take up real issues. Driven by economic and commercial interests, the Indian media has lost its ‘cause and crusade’, he stated. “The economic metabolism of the Indian media is badly skewed.” He further added: “None of who consumes media actually pays for it. The person who pays for the media is the advertiser and the media you get is the media the advertiser wants.” Supporting his argument, he said no media has ever done any expose on the corporate sector as they are the ones who are providing the funds to these media organizations. More than half a dozen media organisations in India are involved in private treaties with the corporate world, he added. “The media is getting narrower and narrower in India. Rural bureaus and reportage have all died,” he opined, adding that media is no more the voice of voiceless. “Media in India flex their muscles. They run with the rabbits but hunt with the wolves.” Tarun Tejpal also said that the national media cares very less about the issues concerning common man. “All of Dalits get less attention than Kareena Kapoor,” he said. According to Mr. Tejpal, Indian media is losing its ground especially the Hindi news channels. “See the Hindi news channels, they are embracing humbug and superstition and turning their back on the grand ideas of modernity that were in some sense the founding principles of this country.” The second session was commenced by the veteran journalist Prem Shankar Jha who is a an author of several books and a columnist with publications like The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, The Business Standard and Outlook.“Journalism was not a celebrity profession or glamorous profession in the 60’s. Those people who joined journalism were from rural background and rural issues were addressed in plenty,” he said. Those were the times when newspapers had different pages for development, social and gender issues, he recalled. But today, because of the change in the nature of society, there has been a shift in the emphasis laid by the media, he added. “The intensity of coverage is more in big cities and even the advertisements are urban centric. This society has become more aspirational and has less time to empathize with those who are affected.”Predatory pricing, a deliberate outcome of pressure of competition for circulation, has also affected how the media works today. The increasing focus on advertisement and circulation has forced the marketing departments to dictate editorial content, he opined.“Media today cares a very less deal. Does it really not care is the question?”Mr. Jha stated.At the end of each session, both the keynote speakers agreed that the Indian media has somewhere shifted its focus from developmental issues to cinema, crime, and cricket. They also emphasized that the young journalists should have depth and proper understanding of social and political issues.