Holi - A poem by Mr GSPrasad IAS (Retd)

होली


आतंकवाद के बावजूद
बच्चे का भोलापन
'विमेंस लिब' के पीछे
किशोरी की लज्जा
बढती आबादी में भी
लोगों का अपनापन
'फ्री सेक्स' के रहते
कोहबर की सज्जा
गरीबी के पहाड़ की तलहटी में
संतोष की छांव
रुग्णता में भी
जोरों से धरकता दिल
उदंडता के बीच प्राणमय
माता-पिता-गुरूजी के पाँव
त्योहारों की जड़ता-नीरसता में
आओ खेले होली हिलमिल
क्योंकि
भोलापन रहेगा, अपनापन रहेगा
लज्जा रहेगी, सज्जा रहेगी
धड़कते दिल रहेंगे
पूजनीय पाँव रहेंगे
और
होली का प्रिय पर्व रहेगा
तो आओ खेले होली हिल-मिल

गोपाल शंकर प्रसाद
२६ फेब्रुअरी 2010

Valentine poems by Joanna Fuchs

Compatible Valentine

On Valentine’s Day, we think about
The people who are dear,
How much they add to life’s delight
Whenever they are near.

You’ve always been a total joy,
Such pleasant company,
I/We very much appreciate
Our compatibility!

Valentine Smile

On Valentine's Day we think of those
Who make our lives worthwhile,
Those gracious, friendly people who
We think of with a smile.

I am fortunate to know you,
That's why I want to say,
To a rare and special person:
Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine Treasures

Valentine treasures are people who
have often crossed your mind,
family, friends and others, too,
who in your life have shined
the warmth of love or a spark of light
that makes you remember them;
no matter how long since you’ve actually met,
each one is a luminous gem,
who gleams and glows in your memory,
bringing special pleasures,
and that’s why this Valentine comes to you:
You’re one of those sparkling treasures!

Wherever I May Go

You’re in my thoughts and in my heart
Wherever I may go;
On Valentine’s Day, I’d like to say
I care more than you know.

Special People

On Valentine’s Day, we think of people
who have cheered and encouraged us,
who go out of their way
to be kind and caring,
who have enriched our lives
just by being themselves.
You are such a person.
I’m so happy you’re my _____
(friend, aunt, colleague, etc.)
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Special Connection

Valentine’s Day is for expressing affection;
Fond thoughts are coming your way;
We’ve always had a special connection,
So Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pleasant Thoughts of You

Whenever likable people cross my mind,
I always have such pleasant thoughts of you.
You bring me so much happiness and joy;
Those who lift me up are very few.

On Valentine’s Day I want to tell you this:
Knowing you is an extraordinary pleasure;
Your caring heart is always quick to give;
You’re unique, a rare and very special treasure.

Valentine Gift

On Valentine’s Day,
I’m thinking about
the special ways
you have made my life better,
the little things,
the not-so-little things...
your kindness,
the way you always listen
and pay attention to me.
You make my world
brighter and richer.
You’re a gift to me,
and I thank you
for being you.

Valentine Reason

Valentine’s Day gives me a reason
to express the feelings
I think about but don’t say
about people who enrich my life
in unique and meaningful ways.
You are this kind of special person.
When I think of you,
my thoughts are warm, and fond,
and filled with admiration.
I feel blessed to know you.
May your Valentine’s Day
be filled with the love and respect you deserve.

Essential Valentine

On Valentine’s Day we think about
Those matchless people who
Give extra meaning to our lives--
The very special few.

Without them, skies would turn to gray;
Things wouldn’t be the same;
Life wouldn’t be as colorful;
It would be a duller game.

And when I contemplate that group--
Friends and family who are mine,
I appreciate and treasure you;
You’re essential, Valentine!

Special Valentine

Special people are on my mind
Each year on Valentine’s Day,
The exceptional ones who mean to me
More than I can say.

I respect you and admire you,
And I just want you to know
You’ve made a difference in my life
And I want to tell you so.

Year Round Valentine

I love you all through February,
Not just on Valentine’s Day;
I cherish you when flowers of spring
Appear in the midst of May.

I adore you in the summer,
When the air is filled with heat;
Without you in my life each day,
I wouldn’t be complete.

I treasure you in fall,
When leaves are turning gold;
I loved you when you were younger;
I’ll love you when you’re old.

I prize you in the winter,
When colder days are here;
I love you, love you all the time,
Every minute of the year.

So I’ll give to you this Valentine,
But I want to let you know,
It’s not just today, but always,
That I will love you so.

All these lovely poems are by Joanna Fuchs and they bring out the essence of Valentine's Day in a very simple but special way. For all those who love poetry, rhymes, stanzas et al.
Source: www.poemsource.com.

Nusra Kalim writes on Barkha Dutt

BARKHA DUTT

Barkha Dutt, the famous T.V journalist and columnist was born on 18^th December, 1971 in Delhi in a Punjabi family. Her father was an official in the Air India and her mother, Prabha Dutt was the chief of bureau of Hindustan Times.

Barkha Dutt did her schooling from Modern School, New Delhi and graduated from St.Stephen’s College, Delhi with English literature. She did her master’s from Jamia Millia Islamia,New Delhi and master’s in Mass Communication from Columbia University, New York. Her childhood days were spent in Delhi and New York.

She is currently group editor, English news at New Delhi television. She won many national and international awards including the Padama Shri, the forth highest civilian award. She writes a popular column for Hindustan Times called “Third Eye”.

As a journalist, Dutt began her carer at NDTV. Dutt did reporting for the Kargil conflict in 1999 including interview with Captain Vikram Batra, brought her prominence in India. Generally, when we think of Kargil war what comes to our mind is sacrifice, valor and courage of our soldiers but actually there was also one woman who literally brought the war front to our home with the help of media.

Barkha Dutt, won the Padmashri for her coverage of the 2004 Tsunami and Common Wealth Broadcasters award for journalist of the year. In the year 2008, she received the Indian News Broadcast Award for most intelligent news show host. She has been awarded the Global Leader of Tomorrow Award twice by World Economy Forum (2001,2008).

We are fortunate that our country has such a brilliant and dynamic journalist.

A must read for every Indian.

APJ ABDUL KALAM'S SPEECH IN HYDERABAD

"I have three visions for India.

1. In 3000 years of our history, people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our lands, conquered our minds. F rom Alexander onwards. The Greeks, the Turks, the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch, all of them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have not done this to any other nation. We have not conquered anyone.

2. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others. That is why my first vision is that of FREEDOM. I believe that India got its first vision of this in 1857, when we started the war of independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture and build on. If we are not free, no one will respect us.

3. My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT. For fifty years we have been a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation. We are among top 5 nations of the world in terms of GDP. We have 10 percent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling. Our achievements are being global ly recognized today. Yet we lack the self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed
nation, self- reliant and self-assured. Isn't this incorrect?

4. I have a THIRD vision. India must stand up to the world. Because I believe that, unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. Only strength respects strength. We must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power. Both must go hand-in-hand. My good fortune was to have worked with three great minds. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai of the Dept. of space,Professor Satish Dhawan, who succeeded him and Dr.Brahm Prakash, father of nuclear material. I was lucky to have worked with all three of them closely and consider this the great opportunity of my life.

5. I see four milestones in my career:

Twenty years I spent in ISRO. I was given the opportunity to be the project director for India's first satellite launch vehicle, SLV3. The one that launched Rohini. These years played a very important role in my life of Scientist.

After my ISRO years, I joined DRDO and got a chance to be the part of India's guided missile program. It was my second bliss when Agni met its mission requirements in 1994.

The Dept. of Atomic Energy and DRDO had this tremendous partnership in the recent nuclear tests, on May 11 and 13. This was the third bliss. The joy of participating with my team in these nuclear tests and proving to the world that India can make it, that we are no longer a developing nation but one of them. It made me feel very proud as an Indian. The fact that we have now developed for Agni a re-entry structure, for which we have developed this new material. A Very light material called carbon-carbon.

One day an orthopedic surgeon from Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences visited my laboratory. He lifted the material and found it so light that he took me to his hospital and showed me his patients. There were these little girls and boys with hea vy metallic calipers weighing over three Kg. each, dragging their feet around.

He said to me: Please remove the pain of my patients.

In three weeks, we made these Floor reaction Orthosis 300-gram calipers and took them to the orthopedic center. The children didn't believe their eyes. From dragging around a three kg. load on their legs, they could now move around!

Their parents had tears in their eyes. That was my fourth bliss!

6. Why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them.

7. Why?

We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.

8. Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a
self-sustaining, self driving unit. There are millionsof such achievements
but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.

9. I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert land into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.

10. In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. Why are we so NEGATIVE?

11. Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things?

12. We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance?

13. I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is.

She replied: I want to live in a developed India.

For her, you and I will have to build this developed India. You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.

14. Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a vengeance.
Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.

YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke,
The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their
destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.
YOU say, say and say.

15. What do YOU do about it? Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - YOURS. Give him a face - YOURS. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs.60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOUcomeback to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity. In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the t elephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, "see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else." YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55
mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, "Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost."

16. YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand.

Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo?
Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston??? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?

17. Once in an interview, the famous Ex-muni cipal commissioner of Bombay, Mr.Tinaikar, had a point to make. "Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place," he said. "And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels?

18. In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?" He's right.

19. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect t he railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.

20. We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity. This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to
women, dowry, girl child and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? "It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry." So who's going to change the system?

21. What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbors, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families in to a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr. Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.

22. Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

23. Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too....I am echoing J.F.Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians.....

"ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE
INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY"

24. Lets do what India needs from us.

Forward this mail to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes or junk mails.

Thank you,
Dr. Abdul Kalam
(PRESIDENT OF INDIA)

I have read this so many times and each time it makes me think.

Shazia Haque attempts poetry: Regrets

REGRETS

Days come and days go fast

I do not know how the years have passed so fast

I remember walking with my dad whom I loved the most

Catching hold of his hand, we were so close.

Today when I am strong enough to carry myself

I feel ashamed to see

That he is still my support.

I know I neglected my duty towards my mother

Who is not with me now

Today in deep melancholy

I regret for wasting her dream and my time

She had hoped so much for me

When she was with me

And when she left me

My life became wan and gloomy.

For long I was daydreaming in the vortex of time

But when I opened my eyes

I saw a few opportunities

Which now I am availing like a glutton

But still regret for have not achieved enough in life

And for being lazy, indolent and naive

And perhaps God still castigates me

As whenever I close my eyes

All those moments revolve around me

They give me strength by poking in my heart

Just like a knife ! ! !

Oh ! my Almighty

Patiently I do speak

Give me the power

To reach my destiny

Or wither me away

Because I have taken the pledge to work harder

The dreams of my forgotten mother for me must come true

And now veraciously

Taking a deep breath

I declare

I have chosen two options

Either the way to opulent life or the way to my end.

Anisha Singh writes on Kishore Biyani

KISHORE BIYANI

Everyone must be familiar with this powerful and popular retail brand of the country – Pantaloons, Retail Brand of the Future Group. This popular retail brand got its life by Kishore Biyani, the Managing Director of Pantaloons Retail (India) Limited and the Group Chief Executive Officer of Future Group.
An entrepreneur who always dreamt of the high rise led the company’s foray into organized retail with the opening up of the Pantaloons family store in 1997.
His initiatives were a prelude in more advance, modernized and glitterati corporate field. With opening up of Pantaloons family store, India got registered itself into the Brand Mark system.
It can be noted that within the spate of time, India got more noticed as the brand conscious state with more demanding luxurious lifestyle. One can say that the hands behind it of Kishore Biyani bolstered the country’s fashion mantra at the Global Forum.
After the launch of Pantaloons, Mr. Biyani’s investment came up with the launch of Big Bazaar in 2001, a uniquely Indian hypermarket format that democratized shopping in India. It blends the look, touch and feel of Indian Bazaars with aspects of modern retail like choice, convenience and quality. This didn’t stop him here. This was the only starting which was followed up by number of other formats including Food Bazaar, Central, Home Town and I collection.
The man who always sighed up to which his vision could reach took up another chapter in his retail managerial ability. The year 2006 marked the evolution of Future Group that brought together the multiple initiatives taken by group companies in the areas of Retail Brands, space, capital, logistics and media.
Kishore Biyani advocates “Indianness” as the core value during the group. The Future Group’s corporate credo is “Rewrite Rules, Retain Values”. After achieving so much in through his efforts, Mr. Biyani’s journey continued. He won many accolades for his initiatives.
He was awarded the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year 2006 in the service sector. The Prime Minister of our country appraised him by awarding him IIM Lucknow Young Business Leader award in 2006. Mr. Biyani even bagged an award for the CNBC First Generation Entrepreneur of the year 2006.
Mr. Biyani has achieved and gained a lot, but that doesn’t put a full stop to his initiatives. He is a young Entrepreneur who has guides India in retail sector and made the country robust in this sector.
A peep into his life will fill one up with many teachings which could help the coming generation to develop their abilities in order to be different from the crowd. He has recently authored a book “It Happened In India” that captures entrepreneurial journey and the growth of modern retailing in India.

Thanks, Anisha, for this informative write up.

Sarwat Jabin puts in her words

RAHUL’S VISIT TO PATNA WOMEN’S COLLEGE

It was a pleasure for the students of Patna Women’s College when they got a golden opportunity to meet the young dynamic youth icon – RAHUL GANDHI. There was a lot of excitement among the students over Rahul’s arrival in the college. They were happy and delighted too. Among 6000 students only 650 were selected for interaction with Rahul Gandhi by the Head of the Departments.

The day when Rahul was to arrive, the students had to go through a strong security checking. As Rahul was to enter the hall, the excitement of students grew high and he was warmly welcomed with a beautiful welcome song. He interacted with students in a very friendly way and told them not to add “sir” with his name. In his speech he tried to motivate the women students towards politics. Giving more stress on women he said that Women are more smarter and sensitive than men. Giving much stress on MAHATMA GANDHI he said that Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas are extremely important for this country and are relevant even today. He said that he considered Mahatma Gandhi as his guide and the father of the nation was an inspiration for him. On the question of expensive education he countered very politely by comparing it with the concept of “Demand and supply”.

We learnt from him that -- Sapno ko todna nahi chahiye kyunki apne logon ke sapno ko todne me nuksaan hamara hi hota hai…. The students were impressed a lot by his friendly nature. He even said that “ Patna Women’s College was among one of the best colleges he had visited which was the icing on the cake…..

Mrinalini recalls 2 February 2010

JUST A VIEW

What an over-rated excitement? Girls falling over each other, just to get one view of the most talked about person in the campus of Patna Women’s College. There was still some time for the most awaited personality to come and make the girls get to see him in real, in person. They knew they can’t have a word with him, they knew they can’t sit and talk to the “Youth leader of old Congress”, but still they wanted to see what caliber, what persona, and what radiant personality he has that could make whole country follow his footsteps. Specially, the youth of our country want to be at his place at least for one day.
He is the General Secretary of Congress Party of India – Rahul Gandhi.
Usually, at this time of February weather is cool but today it was bright and clear. The sun was all but beaming on us as if he himself was waiting for him to come and shower a look on the youth leader of the nation when he was in PWC. Even though there was strict arrangement of his arrival in auditorium of our campus its capacity was limited to just 600 students out of 4000 students. So those who were lucky to get the passes were sitting and waiting for the man himself after undergoing four rounds of checking for the sake of security. And those 3400 of majority were waiting with the sun outside the auditorium. But the arrangement was made for the spirited girls outside the auditorium in the field with a plasma T.V. and a projector projecting the session live. A lot of girls were miserably but most of them excitedly discussing about Rahul Gandhi. About his life, his career, his personal life, his family background etc..
And the time came when the girls heard some roaring, cheering and shouting outside the campus and they knew the shadow of the great Indira Gandhi was here. And at once the over enthusiastic girls started showing their feeling by shouting in a much-much louder voice than the crowd outside. It was he who came out of the car, his humble attitude just to make the girls feel that he too is a commoner. As I too was waiting outside the auditorium because I too was out of those unlucky 3400 students I also appreciated this gesture of him. He was supposed to directly enter the auditorium but against this Rahul Gandhi came forward to meet the unlucky 3400 girls waiting for him with the sun. Even though the security system wasn’t allowing Rahul Gandhi to do so he did what he thought was supposed to be right.
After shaking hands with a few girls he promised to come back and have some talk with them (those unlucky 3400). Then he left to meet the lucky 600. As we had an arrangement of live viewing I left for the ground where this arrangement was placed. When I went there I saw again an over excited mob already watching and listening to his humorous, witty and concerned side of view points toward our developing nation.
Five girls got the chance to ask questions to Rahul Gandhi. The session was very interesting and the students too were very keen to get their thirst of getting an answer from some public servant about the work and the policies being implemented and how much in effect their country was to be served and fulfilled. Many questions were discussed with him. He was asked whether “Brain drain” was a symbol of lack of facilities or it’s just a part and parcel of our society leading to sharing of information, experience and knowledge? And the answer too was straight and simple saying that it was just a way of development. He said if Bihar needs to develop it needs help of central government financially, and technology also information and experience from other parts of the country or the world.
The next question was related to the price rise effecting the higher studies as price rise leads to expensive educational system. For which he had his answer ready. He said that it just applied a simple “theory of demand and supply”. He further explained saying that as the demand increases the supply decreases and price rises and vice versa. He gave an example of the auditorium itself saying that the capacity is for just 600 girls and the rest are outside so the demand is more and supply is less likewise the demand for education in reputed collage is more than the supply of infrastructure. That leads to expensive higher studies.
Further he did request the girls to take part in politics. He also showed his humor by few comforting talks and by asking some girls’ names and their “approximate” age. He further asked the girls to refer him as “Rahul” but not as ‘sir’ or ‘Rahul ji’ which made the whole auditorium euphoric. He further explained saying that as he is a public servant and he is lower in post than the public and he too is one of the youths sitting there. He further said that if you think that government is a failure then there are two solutions for this. Firstly, you can vote for a better government. Secondly, you yourself have to get into the system to change the system.
Thereafter, he concluded saying that he has promised the girls outside to meet them before leaving. And when he said that, each and every girl in the ground watching him live on plasma television started running towards the auditorium. And I too was one of those. When I went there, I saw him coming towards us and the mad mob of girls were shouting and cheering for him. And after some time I realized that the girls had made the security system fail and the rope tied just to avoid some missconduct was broken making them free to run. But the fear of punishment made them control their feelings and some teachers too were trying to maintain discipline. But when he came just in front of the girls all careful arrangements failed. The fear of punishment or the teachers glare was just nothing front of Rahul Gandhi’s magnetic effect.
Even though the security personal asked him to directly sit in the car and leave he decided to keep his promise and moved forward. Forward, towards us. The girls lost all control and all of them surrounded him completely. I also saw a girl faint. I went to her to take her in the shade. And I was amazed at her first line when she came to and that was “I got ONLY JUST A VIEW.” Well, at least we got a view…

Monika Bhatia reports on Rahul Gandhi's Visit

Rahul Gandhi’s Visit to Patna Women’s College

On 2^nd January 2010, Rahul Gandhi (M.P) visited Patna Women’s College for an interaction with the youth.

There was a large crowd all around PWC just to have a view of the young and dynamic Member of Parliament – Rahul Gandhi.

All the students were really excited that they had an opportunity to see/meet, Rahul Gandhi in their college and so were the faculty members. But for this they had to go by the security formalities. Outside the hall there were ladies from security who checked the girls and only after this the girls who were provided with the pass could get inside the hall.

Rahul Gandhi entered the hall at 10.00 AM and shook hands as well as talked to some students regarding their studies.

Shefali Roy, the Cultural Secretary welcomed him with a speech followed by a ‘Bhajan’ by girls “Sarva Jeevam Sukham”. Students were getting impatient to hear from Rahul Gandhi.

The first thing that he asked was why the States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are not growing fast, whereas, States like Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka are growing at a much faster rate? What is the difference between the two types of States?

Tanvi a students of economic honors replied that it is due to women in developed states are educated and empowered.

Rahul said that “Women are more sensitive, powerful and have a long term perspective than men. They spend the money keeping the future in mind”. He said that it is due to this reason that women in Maharashtra and Kerala are well educated and empowered their role in politics is more active in their States and so those States are growing fast.

“Stop calling me ‘Sir’ & call me by my name” he said to the students as a student Rashmi Pandey stood up to ask him a question on brain-drain and addressed him as ‘Sir’ again. He quickly said “I am a public servant. I have to work for you. My work is to serve you and I am lower to you. If you call me ‘Sir’, this relationship will be reversed. India’s biggest problem is that politicians are distancing from the people and so the gap is widening. There would be discomfort in starting but you will come over it.”

He gave the answer to her question that ‘Brain-drain’ is not always bad, because it helps to bring new ideas. He gave the example of Gandhi ji that if he would have not gone to South Africa, then how would he be able to bring up the different ideas to India. He said that the world is changing, there was a time when brain-drain was damaging, but as of now the scenario has changed. If we stop people from going out and break their dreams, it would result in our loss only, so the facilities are needed to be provided here only that there is no need to go out.

He even commented on the types of revolution. “There are two types of revolution. One is visible i.e. is French revolution and the second is silent revolution which is going on in India”. Our country is changing slowly but the biggest change in our country in the Southern states is that women are driving the society and so they are progressing very quickly.

He refused to be compared with Mahatma Gandhi. When a girl said that India needs another Gandhi. “Are you the one who could provide that leadership”? Rahul replied you cannot compare any one of us to the ‘Father of the Nation. People like him come once in 500-600 years”. He said that though people say that Gandhi’s idea are irrelevant and impractical in modern day politics but he finds that his ideas are still relevant, and Mahatma Gandhi is an inspiration.

Rahul also asked the girls their views on reservation and what he can do so that more women enter in politics. Students said that security is to be provided so that they can come into politics. A healthy environment is needed to be created for women to take part in politics on which each one agreed.

At the end of the program Rahul said that this interaction was one of the best after which the Principal gave Rahul a memento and proposed a vote of thanks. She said that his presence radiated positive energy among the students which will be helpful in their life.

Well done Monika

Manaswi writes about Nelson Mandela

NELSON .R. MANDELA

A man who can be tagged as one of the greatest moral leaders, that world politics has ever witness. He devoted his life to serve his country, to remove the evils of inequality between whites and blacks, so that humanity can emerge its head with pride and dignity

A man who’s hard work, dedication and charisma, created history when he became the first black president of an immensely conservative country of South Africa, yes he is none other than Nelson .R. Mandela

Nelson Mandela born on 18^th July 1918 is a former president of South African in fact he was the first fully elected representative of democratic election and held his office from 1994 to 1999. Before being the president of South Africa he was an anti-apartheid activist and the leader of the African National Congress

Mandela is truly a remarkable leader. He struggled throughout his life. He belonged to a small village. His father served as a chief of the town. His father had four wives with whom he had a total of 13 children. Mandela completed his Junior Certificate in two years instead of three year. After that he studied B.A at Fort Hare University where he met Oliver Tambo and they became good friend and colleagues. After completing his 1^st year he got involved in student’s representative council and he boycott against university police and therefore he was told to leave Fort Hare and he should not return unless he accepted election to the SRC. Later in his life, while in prison Mandela studied for Bachelors of Law from the University of London.

Shorty after leaving Fort Hare, he worked as a guard at a mine. Then he later completed his B.A degree at the University of South Africa after which he began law studies at the University of Witwaterstrand where he first befriended fellow students and future anti-apartheid political activist Joe Solvo, Harry Schwarz and Ruth Firth.

Mandela was politically very active. He led prominently in the ANC’s 1955 congress of the people whose adoption of the freedom character provided the fundamental basis of the anti-apartheid causes. Nelson Mandela was very much influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s policy

Mandela’s struggle for equality stared from the very beginning of his life when he first joined the student’s representative council at college, but his struggle started in 1961, when he the leader of the ANC’s armed wing, Spear of the Nation. On 5^th august 1962 Mandela was arrested and imprisoned in the Johannesburg Fort. While he was imprisoned police arrested other ANC’s leaders on 11^th July 1963.

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27years. He spent his 18 years imprisonment on Robben Island. While he was in jail, his reputation grew further and he was regarded as one of the most popular and worthy leaders of South Africa. Throughout his imprisonment there was a lot of local and international pressure on South Africa government to release him.

Finally on 2^nd February 1990, ban on the ANC and other anti-apartheid organization were removed and Mandela was released on 11^th February 1990.

After lot of negotiations in 1991, the ANC held its first national conference in South Africa where Nelson Mandela was its president. His old friend and colleague Oliver Tambo, who led the organization while Mandela was in exile, became its chairperson.

The historic event took place when South Africa’s first multi-racial election in which right to vote was granted were held on 27^th April 1994. ANC won 62% of the vote and on 10^th May 1994 Nelson Mandela became the first black president of the country and created a history. Mandela also became the oldest president South Africa because he was the president of the age of 75. However he decided not to stand in 1999’s election and took retirement election and took retirement

After his retirement he became an advocate for a variety of social and human rights organizations.

Nelson Mandela was the most notable leader and since the end of opponent leaders. In South Africa he is often known as Madiba an honorary title adopted by elected of Mandela’s family

Mandela has received more than 250awards. He received the most notable Noble Peace Prize in 1993. In November 2009, the U.N General Assembly announced the Mandela’s birthday 18^th July to be known as Mandela day

Therefore we see that in such a vibrant personality Nelson Mandela again rises up and lends his voice, leaves his footprints too be followed by us so that this world could be made a beautiful place to live in.

Thanks Manaswi for sharing this. Your effort is appreciated.