Water for the Ages in India: Impressions of H20 in Bangalore

Thursday was my first day in Bengaluru (aka Bangalore). Before arriving, it was impossible for me to comprehend the size of the city. Bangalore is huge with a population of around 6.5 million people. This is the largest city that I have ever visited, and there are people, buildings, and vehicles everywhere. Quickly, I am learning to adapt to life (and water) here.

While walking around town, I saw water tankers with pipes going into businesses and buildings. A man from a local restaurant explained to me that the city only provides water on alternate days. On days when the city does not provide water, residents and business owners often buy their own water from private companies. Soon, I will write a detailed post about this complex issue.

Another thing I noticed was free drinking water available at stands, in pots, and in other vessels around town. It seems a part of the culture to ensure that all people have, at least, some water to drink. I hope to take photos of these drinking-water sources for the Water for the Ages flickr site.

And, this weekend, I was able to attend a part of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration. This celebration honors the Hindu deity of Ganesha and lasts for about ten days. Near the tenth day, idols of Lord Ganesh are dunked in water sources. Unfortunately, I missed the dunking, but I did attend some of the evening festivities.

Photo courtesy mattlogelin on flickr.

So, as you can tell, the importance of water abounds in many contexts in India. I am looking forward to learning (and sharing with you) more about water in India over the next four months.

Author’s Postcript:

I am living in India for an internship with a water-focused NGO called Arghyam. Along the way, I will document my journey. Please see the Water in India page above for more information.

[Via http://waterfortheages.org]

BJP – Vinash kale vipreet buddhi!!

As all of you know I’m nonpolitical but I had a slight inclination toward BJP’s original policies, which most of them got diluted in last 10 years. I do not approve of their religion based politics, but they are more progressive than Congress. Off late BJP is in self destruction mode. By expelling its senior leaders like Jaswant Singh & Yashwant Sinha, it is not really setting a good example for others in the party. But I’m not concerned about their example setting. What is more worrying is that a strong opposition is must for a healthy democracy. In absence of BJP in parliament, Congress will be free to do what it likes.

I was especially surprised about Jaswant Singh’s expulsion, and it was probably not required. First he has only published a book and only expressed his own views, which may be different from BJP’s. What was more surprising was that they do not see they own benefit these days. The book criticizes Congress for creating a separate country and not Jinha for it was Nehru who refused to share power. This is not something new, and we have heard and seem this multiple times. For instance 8 Oscar winner movie Gandhi shows the same. So why make so much fuss about the book and expel a senior leader like Jaswant Singh!

Anyway, there is an old proverb in Hindi – “Vinash Kale Vipreet buddhi”, which means when your days are near your brain stops working!!!

[Via http://alienworld.wordpress.com]

onward / upward

six years ago, john and i had our first date in the small town of ooty, india.

this october, we are planning an extended trip to asia, flying in to delhi. india will always be our first love. the scents, colors, tastes – every sense is overwhelmed. we look forward to seeing northern india, feeling the energy of the ganges, the trains, the crowds.

with japan on the back burner, we’ve decided to move on and do some volunteer work in nepal and hopefully spend some time in bhutan. we spent a long time freeing ourselves of responsibilities, our kitties, jobs, nyc. there’s no saying we won’t return to any or all of those things, but life is here. we may as well live it.

it’s never easy to let go, but i let simplicity, inspiration, my husband, goals of a boat and a dog, a hut and some chickens, and an inherent need to do better and be better guide life, one we share so seamlessly. it’s so important we take time in our lives to breathe, swim, play and share, dream, create, stretch, purge, and see the world. humans need challenges, sacrifice, adventures, freedom. and it’s beautiful.

[Via http://sojournercafe.wordpress.com]

The Making of the Mahatma

Tonight, I watched the movie, The Making of the Mahatma.  While the movie was released in 1996, thirteen years later I’ve finally gotten the chance to watch it.    This movie is completely focused on Gandhi’s 21 year stay in South Africa from 1893-1914, from ages 23 to 45.   It is here where he begun his methodology of satyagraha (devotion to the truth), or non-violent protest.   Jointly produced by South Africa and India, it isn’t as widely known as Richard Attenborough’s legendary 1982 movie Gandhi, but it is pitched as a more intimate portrayal of the beginning of Gandhi’s transformation into a force of social change.

I haven’t watched Attenborough’s Gandhi movie for many years (I own a VHS tape of the movie, but with the rapid change in consumer technology, I don’t even have a VCR connected anymore) or read Gandhi’s autobiography recently (which I had read parts of years ago as well) so I don’t have a fresh recollection of many of the details of Gandhi’s time in South Africa.    Most are quite familiar with Gandhi’s lifetime of achievement, so I’m not going to rehash the commonly referenced parts of Gandhi’s life, but I’d like to comment on some of the anecdotes, phrases, or events portrayed in The Making of the Mahatma that I found noteworthy.

• Early in the movie when Gandhi first arrives in South Africa in 1893 (at age 23), he states he didn’t know much about his own Hindu religion.
• He is shown reading an English translation of the Koran in 1893, as he starts to learn more about all religions, not just his own.
• On a return trip to S. Africa from India, the ship he and fellow Indians are on is quarantined for 26 days, kept at the harbor that long as the local South Africans of Natal mobilized to keep Indian immigrants out of Natal.
• He and his wife are shown having an up and down relationship; with his wife Kasturba not always fully aligned with Gandhi’s ideals of equality for untouchables, detachment of possession and self fulfillment.   Likewise, he is shown having a rocky relationship with his son, not committing to his son’s higher education but rather focused on his goals of helping the local Indian community.
• Gandhi showed admirable courage, before his efforts of satyagraha begun, when he was a lead volunteer in treating Indians affected from the spread of the contagious plague in a settlement of Indians.
• When the British got into conflicts with both the Boers and the Zulus in separate conflicts, Gandhi stressed to the Indian community the need to support the British in these conflicts; being Indian, a colony of the British empire, it was their duty to support the British.  Through this support, he was led to believe some of the repressive tax policies and personal identification registration policies would be changed, but was ultimately lied with no changes until 1914.
• While not fighting on the battlefield with the British, Gandhi led a group of Indians as medical stretcher operators who transported wounded soldiers from the battlefield.  It is while performing these duties that his feelings about the British and support of them in these battles start to soften.
• Gandhi consistently demonstrates fearlessness and courage as he asks for the maximum jail sentences for himself from judges during his appearances in court.

Overall, it takes 21 years for policies towards Indians to change in South Africa, driven by Gandhi’s leadership.   Social change takes time and Gandhi had more patience than most, as do other social change icons such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela.  Overall, watching this movie is a needed reminder on the legacy of a monumental man, and a motivator to treat our own behaviors as a force of social good in today’s times.

[Via http://apurvadesai.com]

Chandrayaan: The begining of a new era

I have just heard that the official comment confirming the lost radio contact with Chandrayaan has been made public. Is it a failure? Never not on your life. The world has seen what India can do ,moreover we ourselves have seen what we could achieve with hard work and a little amount of faith. So chandrayaan is not the end but the beginning of a new era of space technology for INDIA. Jai Hind!!

[Via http://aravindr.wordpress.com]

Bipasha at 'Tere Mere Beech Mein'

Teased as ‘Lady Goonda‘ by her peer group during her school days in Kolkata, actress Bipasha Basu says she used to beat everyone around trying to act smart with her.

“I used to keep a stick in my hand and straighten all the colony boys if they acted smart. I used to be very short as a child and I was the monitor in school. When the tall boys would be upto mischief, I’d jump on their back during breaks and pull their hair and beat them up,” the Bollywood star revealed.

In her earlier days in Mumbai, Bipasha used to keep a hammer in her purse to protect herself from all danger, the Bollywood actress told director-turned-television host Farah Khan on Star Plus’ new chat show ‘Tere Mere Beech Mein‘, to be broadcast this Sunday.

But for Bipasha Basu most important are her films.The actress revealed that she believes all her movies have been in some way important. She is completely passionate about films.

Soon the actress will be seen in Ajay Devgan production All The Best.

[Via http://hotcelebritybipashabasu.wordpress.com]

Conferência Mundial das Assembléias de Deus será em 2011, na Índia

Bombaim receberá a próxima Conferência Mundial das ADs

A próxima Conferência Mundial das Assembléias de Deus será realizada em março de 2011, em Bombaim, na Índia. A data foi anunciada na última quinta-feira (27), em Maceió, durante a realização da Convenção regional da AD alagoana, pelo pastor José Wellington Bezerra da Costa, presidente da CGADB e membro da Comissão Organizadora do Comitê Mundial das ADs. Ele esteve neste mês, nos Estados Unidos, para a reunião do Comitê, que definiu o local e data.

Pastor José Wellington anunciou a data da Conferência Mundial na última quinta-feira (27), em Maceió, durante a realização da Convenção regional da AD alagoana (Foto: Solmar Garcia - www.adalagoas.com.br)

Segundo pastor Wellington, o Comitê está orientando os interessados em participar do evento, que antecipem o visto de entrada ao país, pois não é fácil conseguir o visto para entrar na Índia. Por outro lado, o país figura como um dos maiores perseguidores de cristãos. Em alguns Estados a intolerância é ainda mais intensificada. Há alguns meses, vários templos foram destruídos e cristãos mortos, por seguidores do hinduísmo.

Distribuída pelo Conselho de Comunicação da CGADB, pastor Antônio Mesquita, presidente. Contato:

comunica@cgadb.org.br

mesquita.jornalismo@gmail.com

[Via http://fronteirafinal.wordpress.com]

Akshay the real stuntman

Giving outstanding performances in many films and after winning several awards this time the stunt master from Bollywood Akshay Kumar has performed his amazing stunts on the road of London. Akshay Kumar ran on the heavy traffic lane and the star was followed by the huge mob of his fans.

akshay

Akshay Kumar is busy these days with his forthcoming flick that is director by Sajid Khan. Akshay has also mentioned in his blog, “All my unit members and co-stars started hooting that he will not be able to run, the public will block his way.”

Akshay Kumar they were trying to identify him to see whether it’s the real Akshay Kumar or someone else? Some of those fans were inviting him for lunch. After his much appreciated film at the box office Kambakkht Ishq, Akki is all set for his next releases Blue that is releasing on October 16, 2009. His other upcoming film for 2009 De Dana Dan is running under post-production. His 2010 projects includes Helloo India, Housefull and Action Replay.

[Via http://filmstarakshaykumar.wordpress.com]

Paranoid India bans Chinese telecom equipment near its borders

The Bharati defense establishment is paranoid about China. In a sign of rising tensions, Bharat has banned Chinese equipment that would have been used on the Indo-Chinese borders. The Bharatis think that China has installed secret devices inside common telecom equipment which would have the ability to wage cyber war on Bharat.

Insurrection India:India cracks map of insurgency: Naxalites, Maoists, Seven Sisters, Kashmir, Punkjab, Tamil

In view of intelligence reports on threat to national security from terrorist attacks, the government is likely to restrict deployment of Chinese equipment by private service providers in border states and states facing Naxalite problems.

 

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has called a meeting of Chief Executive Officers of telecom service providers on August 28 with Telecom Secretary, Siddharth Behura.

“Among other issues related to security, the meeting will also consider threat posed by the use of Chinese equipment by service providers, especially in border areas,” a senior DoT official told Hindustan Times.

On the agenda is a Home Ministry report, which says Chinese equipment should not be used in border areas, following which Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd was not allowed to place orders for Chinese equipment, the official said. DoT is considering whether this restriction should be extended to the private operators.

The step has been prompted by warnings from the intelligence agencies that Chinese telecom products could have embedded elements or windows which would enable the telecom company to launch a cyber attack into the equipment, either shutting it down or completely corrupting it, if it so desired.

Naxalite insurgency spreading like wildfire. Hindustan's Maoist insurgency map. There are secessionist movements in almost every state in "India" encompasisng more than 200 districts

Private telecom service providers source GSM equipment from, among others, two Chinese vendors — Huawei and ZTE. Huawei has invested $200 million (Rs 980 crore) in setting up an R&D centre in Bangalore.

 

“Our equipment and solutions strictly comply with global security standards,” a Huawei spokesperson said.

D.K. Ghosh, CMD of ZTE said: “We are Indians first and employees of a Chinese company later. Our primary intent is security of the country.” The Hindu. Govt to ban Chinese telecom products near borders?

[Via http://rupeenews.com]