World Polio Dayrotaryclubpanaji.org/uploads/magazine/19_pic_Spark... · Dance troop performance,...

OCTOBER 2017 | Volume LV | Issue 04

World Polio Day

REGULAR MEETINGS Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm

5th Floor, EDC House, Dr. Atmaram Borkar Road, Panaji-Goa Swatch Bharat Rally

24 October 2017

2 October 2017

DIWALI NIGHT CELEBRATIONS th

On October 14 , 2017 members of RC Panaji and their families were treated to one of the best fellowship functions ever in the history of the club. The venue was the very beautiful Penha De Franca situated along the banks of the river Mandovi. Various activities like a Russian Dance troop performance, Dandiya Masti, Fashion show and Games etc were planned. Thanks to Rtn. Carlito Martins, Rtn. Siddhesh Shetye and their team the event went off extremely well.

President’s Message

ROTRAY CLUB OF PANAJI

CLUB BOARD 2016-17

President

Rtn. Kishor Dhume

Secretary

Rtn. Rohit Pai

Vice President

Rtn. Subhash Sajane

Treasurer

Rtn. Prashant Kaisare

President Elect /

Director Club Administration 1

Rtn. Sadashiv Sirsat

President Elect Nominee /

Director Club Administration 2

Rtn. Viresh Nadkarni

Immediate Past President

Rtn. Nilesh Shah

Community Service Director

Rtn. Sanat Pilgaonkar

Vocational Service Director

Rtn. Ameet Nachinolkar

International Service Director

Rtn. Nester Sequiera

Youth Service Director

Rtn. Parai Dubhashi

Jt Secretary

Rtn. Bhalchandra Amonkar

Sargent at Arms

Rtn. Parag Sardessai

Editor

Rtn. Sanjiv Mirchandani

Rtn. Ian H.S. Riseley

Rtn. Anand G. Kulkarni

Rtn. Prasad Pawar

Rotary International has designated October month as “Economic and Community Development Month.” Economic and Community Development is one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus. Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable and enduring economic improvement in their lives and communities.

As per the statistics provided by Rotary International, nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 ( Rs. 82/-) a day. Rotary Clubs without boundaries (locally and globally) promote economic and community development and reduce poverty in under served communities through training, well-paying jobs, and access to financial management institutions etc. Projects range from providing people with equipment to vocational training. Rotary members work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.

Considering the designated month our club has planned one day workshop on Babysitting for unemployed ladies. The aim of this workshop was to give them thorough knowledge on the aspects of babysitting so that they get gainful employments in hotels / factories or even to start their own crèche.

We are around 94 members in Rotary with a purpose, and members are well placed and well-connected in the society. If each members take responsibility of one project during the year in whatever way it will definitely make a difference in the community and the satisfaction which we will get will be cherished for a long time.

Thank you

RTN. KISHOR DHUMEPresident 2017-18Rotary Club of Panaji

OCTOBER 2017THE SPARK

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Dear Fellow Rotarians,

Some years ago in the Melbourne, Australia, museum where my daughter used to work, an iron lung was on display. For most people my age who remembered the terrifying polio epidemics of the 1950s, that iron lung was a testament to how far vaccination had brought us: to the point where that once-critical piece of medical equipment had literally become a museum piece.

For much of the world, the story of polio is a simple one: After years of fear, a vaccine was developed and a disease was conquered. But for some of the world, the story was different. In so many countries, the vaccine wasn’t available, mass vaccination was too expensive, or children simply couldn’t be reached. While the rest of the world relegated polio to its museums, in these countries, the disease continued to rage – until Rotary stepped forward and said that all children, no matter where they lived or what their circumstances, deserved to live free of polio.

In the years since PolioPlus was launched, the combined efforts of Rotary, the governments of the world, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have brought the number of cases of polio down from an estimated 350,000 per year to just a few so far in 2017. But we must reach zero cases, and stay there, to achieve eradication. To do that, we need everyone’s help.

On 24 October, we will mark World Polio Day. It is a day to celebrate how far we have come and an opportunity for all of us to raise awareness and funds to complete the work of eradication. I ask every Rotary club to participate in some way in World Polio Day activities, and I encourage you to visit endpolio.org for ideas and to register your event. Whether you host a silent auction, a virtual reality viewing, a fund-raising walk, or a Purple Pinkie Day, your club can make a real difference.

This year, our World Polio Day live stream event will take place at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation headquarters in Seattle; you can watch it on endpolio.org beginning at 2:30 p.m. Pacific time. As many of you know, Rotary has committed to raising $50 million a year for the next three years. This amount will be matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation – effectively tripling the value of all money Rotary raises on World Polio Day and throughout the year. Let’s all make a difference on World Polio Day – and help End Polio Now.

RTN. IAN H. S. RISELEY

President, Rotary International

Rotary year 2017-18

Message from RI President

Dear Rotarians & Friends,October 2017 will go in history of RC Panaji as memorable month for Family Fellowship events best Diwali night & Picnic/ Trek which members and their families have enjoyed to the fullest. Also one of the best Mega Medical Camp in rural village the enormous response was directly tangible to the success of the event . The gratitude seen in the eyes of the needy villagers was its satisfying for all the 32 members of RC Panaji who volunteered at the camp. Activities in the Month of October— 2nd October 2017 : Members of RC Panaji participated in Swaccha Bharat rally organised CCP

in Panaji . The rally started at 7.15 am from municipality Office and went throughout Panaji.At 4.00 pm members met at Youth Hostel Miramar and donated various items like clothes, utensils , blankets etc. NGO Goonj had organised "JOY OF GIVING WEEK". Some of our members were actively involved in promotion and logistics of this event.

— 4th October 2017 : 13th Regular meeting we had guest speaker Mr Rajendra Kerkar who spoke on the topic Mahadai Water Issues.

— 11th October 2017 : 14th Regular meeting we had guest speaker Mr Vasant Limaye who spoke on Mountaineering & Out Door Management Development.

— 12th October 2017 : Faculty Development Program (FDP) was organised at Popular English High School Goa Velha. 50-60 teachers for various rural schools in that area participated and benefited from this event . The training faculties were Rtn. Pravin Sabnis, Rtn. Subash Sajane & Mr Somu Rao.

— 12th , 13th & 14th October 2017 : First Aid Training Program for students was organised at Sanjay School Porvorim this program was in association with various other Rotary Clubs in Goa. The trained students will be in turn teaching the special children in Goa.

— Interact Activities held at Our Lady of Merces High School on 14th October . Rangoli Competition for students of 5-7th Std. Diwali lantern making competition for student of 8-10th std. Notice board decoration competition was organised for the students on the occasion of world student day the theme was Dr A. P. J Abdul Kalam .... An Inspiration to the Students.A small Diwali program was conducted and winners in various competitions were felicitated.

— DIWALI NIGHT on 14th October : Members of RC Panaji and their families were treated to one of the best fellowship function ever in the history of the club. Venue The beautiful Penha De Franca situated along the banks of river Mandovi. Various activities like Russian Dance troop , Dandiya Masti , Fashion show, Games etc were planned.

— 22nd October 2017 : MEGA MEDICAL CAMP at Kundaim Village.Medical camp was organised at Kundaim village, with the support of Gram Panchayat Kundaim and local youths. In association with Healthways Hospital Ltd.Old Goa, Ophthalmology Dept.GMC& Mukta Opticians.In all 325 patients were screened for different ailments and were checked by different specialty doctors available .Medical camp was inaugurated at 9.00 am at the hands of Shri Sudin Dhawalikar (minister for P.W.D.and transport) in the presence of Dr.Virendra Gaonkar (Chairman ,Healthways Hosp.) SARPANCH Mr.Ramu Naik & Mrs.Babita Agarwal (Director Himigiri Casting Pvt.Ltd.Free medicines were given to needy patients and 176 spectacles will be given free to the needy patients which are sponsored by Mrs.Babita Agarwal (Director Himigiri Casting Pvt.Ltd.). 23 patients were detected with cataract the operations will be done by Ophthalmology Dept GMC. Also free pep smear and mammography screening will be done at R.G.Urology centre Porvorim with the support of R.C.Porvorim .Total doctors present were 15, along with 30 support staff. 32 Rotarians attended and helped in carrying the smooth functioning of Medical camp and make it a grand success.

— 24th October 2017 : Rotary Club of Panaji had planned following activities for awareness amongst general public1. Two banners of 15*10 ft on Mandovi Bridge. 2. 4*12 ft Banner on Bus Stop at Panaji Market3. Two banners of 4*6ft on 407 Vehicle ( Moving ) 4. At 5.30 pm Rally From Miramar Circle to Divja Circle and back . The rally was flagged off by Mayor of Panaji Mr Surendra Furtado , many members from RC Panaji , Anns & Annets participated in the rally. Special thanks to Rtn Pradeep Palekar who actually made this event happen.

— 25th October 2017 : 15th regular meeting we had guest speaker famous magician Mr D Satish and his topic was MENTALISM. Rtn Steve Marlor from Sydney Australia attended our meeting and briefed members about their solar light project in Sri Lanka & Tamil Nadu.

— 27th October 2017 : 4th BOD was held at GTS Office Panaji.— 29th October 2017 : Family Picnic /TREK at Tambdi Surla

Members & their families thoroughly enjoyed the adventurous trek through the forest. Crossing small streams , Climbing up and down the rocky terrain , Crossing the culverts making human chain & finally enjoying the water fall. Various activities like Treasure Hunt and other games were very well conceptualised & organised by Rtn. Siddhesh, Rtn. Carlito & team. The delicious lunch was icing on the cake.A BIG THANK YOU to all the Rotarians who made month of October a memorable one.

).

On the occasion of WORLD POLIO DAY

Let's continue to involve in 'making a difference'yours-in-RotaryRTN ROHIT PAISecretary - R C Panaji 2017-18

Secretary's ReportOCTOBER 2017THE SPARK

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Yes Rotary was growing really fast: 1924- Membership crosses 100000 mark and Rotary, after entering Belgium, Italy and Chile in 1912- Divisions were formed for administrative 1923, enters Switzerland, Bermuda and convenience, the forerunner of districts, five in Trieste. The first House of friendship is USA, two in Canada and one in Great Britain.instituted at the RI convention in Toronto, in

The official magazine The National Rotarian Canada.launched in 1911 had to drop National as

1925-1927-Rotary ex tens ion cont inues to Rotary was international.Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, Austria, Hungary,

The self centred activities started giving way to Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Columbia, more and more community services. Paraguay, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador,

th1915- The San Francisco convention adopted the Bolivia, Germany and Java and 3000 Club in Standard Rotary Club Constitution and Chile.model bylaws produced by an RI committee 1928- Second Pacific regional conference in Tokyo. headed by Arch C. Klumph. Number of districts New countries joining were Greece and were increased to 19 and district governors Federal Malay states. were elected. Club count reached 200.

The Rotary Foundation was established at 1917- At the convention, President Arch klumph the Minneapolis Convention.

proposed establishing an endowment fund-a 1930- Silver anniversary convention held in Chicago forerunner of The Rotary Foundation of RI.

with 11,019 registered from 58 countries.Club count reaches 300.Rotary continues to enter more countries and 1918- Rotary enters South America. Club count membership crosses 1,50,000.reaches 400 and membership crosses 40,000.

1931-1932- World depression takes its toll on Rotary 1919- Rotary spreads to Philippines, China, Panama, with 45 clubs terminated with a membership India and Argentina and the club count crosses loss of 2000.500 mark.

1933- 107 new clubs chartered partly offsetting 1920- First rotary club in Japan organized at Tokyo.continuing loss of clubs due to depression.th1921- The 1000 club started in the city of York, Rtn. Herbert J. Taylor, of Chicago, and England. First convention held outside USA in associates adopts a short business “creed”, Edinburgh and this convention adopted called“International Goodwill and Peace” as one of

the objects of Rotary. “The Four Way test”, which subsequently enjoyed wide usage in the Rotary world.1922- Constitution and bylaws completely revised

and adoption made mandatory for all clubs. 1937-1941- As a result of governments pressures many Name shortened to Rotary International. clubs in Germany, Austria and Italy were

disbanded, but were offset by new Rotary Clubs organized for the first time in Brazil, extensions to countries like Anglo-Egyptian, Norway and the Netherlands.

Rtn. Anil Sardessai

GROWTH OF ROTARY

This second of series of articles in this year’s spark issues is an attempt to retrace the steps of this great organization which is striving to bring world understanding and peace in the world through its humanitarian programs.

FRIENDSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP existed in the world from the very birth of humanity. But Rotary was the first ever institution that could harness the tremendous energy that could emerge from the friendship and fellowship of the right people for doing good in the world.


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Sudan and Cyprus. 1948-1952- Exchange Scholastic Fellowships awarded to students of one country to study in another 1942- Rotary conference called in London, by District country every year. Rotary clubs re-established 13, of Ministers of education and observers in Japan, Korea and Germany but 23 clubs in representing 21 governments (many of them in China were dissolved by the newly formed exile) for the purpose of considering People's Republic of China. Chinese Rotarians organization of educational and cultural who fled the regime formed new clubs in exchange—eventually resulting in UNESCO. Taiwan. Assistance was provided to war

1943- USA War production Board presented Rotary affected families through 80 Rotary clubs.International with Citation in recognition of

Finally on May 9, 1951 contributions to TRF meritorious salvage work by clubs in the United reached dollars 2,000,000.States.

th1954- Corner stone ceremonies held on 16 May for the Rotary resumed extension to other countries new headquarters building of RI in Evanston. which was at a standstill since war broke in

thNew building occupied on 16 August. A record 1939.number of clubs, 487- admitted. As of July there

1945- Forty nine Rotarians served as delegates, were 8,313 clubs with 390,000 Rotarians.

advisors, or consultants at the San Francisco The author of “The 4-Way Test”, Rtn Herbert J. conference of the original 46 member countries Taylor presented the copy right of the Test to RI of the United Nations.as a gift from the Company.

1947- Founder Paul P. Harris passed away in 1955- Golden anniversary commemorated with a Chicago on January 27. As a mark of respect

to Paul, R.I. Board issues a call to all clubs with beautiful souvenir volume entitled “Fifty years mandate of 1938 convention to raise US dollars of service” and a motion picture, “The Great 2,000,000 for the Rotary Foundation which

Adventure”. As many as twenty seven received an immediate and gratifying

countries issued commemorative postage response.ststamps. As of 1 July there were 8,776 clubs Rotary international named by UNESCO as

with 414,000 members. one of the official consultation non-governmental agencies to co-operate with the ¡¡¡ UN in the dissemination of information.

There are now 279,881 Rotarians in 5828 clubs.


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In eastern Ontario and Bob Scott, then chair of the International PolioPlus Committee, western Quebec, Canada, and Michael Kinsey don red ponchos to raise awareness for t h o u s a n d s o f R o t a r y polio eradication during a regional training event in 2011.members will put on red Kinsey’s advice to other clubs or districts wanting to hold an ponchos and march through event is to unite resources and find someone with passion to the streets of their towns to lead.

raise awareness for polio eradication on World Polio Day, 24 “If somebody is passionate about something, it’s going to October.happen,” Kinsey says. “Once you have that, you get behind them

Michael Kinsey, governor of Rotary District 7010, which spans and support them and help them in the direction they want to the two provinces, ordered 2,000 of the special ponchos, which go.”include the End Polio Now logo, for members to purchase for

Here are some other events Rotary members are planning to $10 each. Half of that goes to Rotary’s PolioPlus campaign, with celebrate World Polio Day this year:the other half covering the cost of the poncho. Clubs are inviting

local politicians and media to join the event, or holding small The Uganda PolioPlus Committee will mark World Polio Day rallies to explain Rotary’s role in bringing an end to the crippling with a cycling event named in honor of President-Elect Sam F. disease. Owori, who died in July. Proceeds will go to the Sam F. Owori

Memorial to Polio, created to honor his legacy. Owori served on “I thought it was a good idea, but it’s really taking off,” says both the Africa Regional PolioPlus Committee and the Kinsey. “Each club will be taking pictures and sending it to our International PolioPlus Committee. public image coordinator, and we will promote it. Each walk will

get a lot of media exposure in the community, and the impact of Four-person teams of cyclists will compete in a 10 kilometer and all 41 clubs in our district doing something is going to be huge.” 21 kilometer race at the Kololo Independence Grounds in

Kampala, on 22 October, in partnership with the Uganda Rotary is encouraging clubs to hold events on or near World Cycling Association.Polio Day this year and register the events at endpolio.org. Last

year, supporters in 90 countries registered more than 1,400 The Rotary Club of Simmern-Hunsrück, Germany, in World Polio Day events. conjunction with the city’s annual festival, will sell several

varieties of soup while promoting polio eradication. All proceeds Get ready for our fifth annual World Polio Day event, co-hosted will go to PolioPlus.with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We will stream live

from Gates Foundation headquarters in Seattle, Washington, Rotary members in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, India, will hold a USA, to bring together more than 50,000 viewers around the painting competition and oratory contest for elementary school world. Join us as global health experts and celebrities share our students on 24 October. Students will be invited to a community progress on the road to polio eradication. Celebrate with us. center to display their work and read their compositions, while

getting the opportunity to receive prizes. Posters are being Kinsey says he got the idea after taking part in a walk with printed in each school taking part in the contest, and raffle Rotary leaders during a 2011 regional training event in tickets are being sold, with proceeds going to support PolioPlus.Vancouver. The participants all put on similar red ponchos to

walk from their hotel to the 2010 Winter Olympics cauldron, Two Rotaractors are cycling across India to raise awareness of housed at the Vancouver Convention Centre. polio, from late September to March.“People were stopping me on the street and asking me what Members of the Rotaract Club of Pacific Beach, San Diego, Rotary is about and saying how they thought polio was already California, USA, have organized a pub crawl for 14 October with eradicated,” says Kinsey. “It was an incredible conversation special games, competitions, and discount food and drinks to starter and that sparked this idea.” raise money for polio eradication. Tickets to the six-bar event are

$30. Kinsey teamed up with the district’s polio committee chair and public image coordinator to send letters to every club in the The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay, Essex, England, is sponsoring district. He’s also promoted the idea as he visits clubs. a Purple4Polio benefit concert at the Palace Theatre in

Westcliff-on-Sea on 22 October. Alex Mendham and his “Our district is monstrous geographically, and many of our club Orchestra will play 1930s tunes from George Gershwin, Cole leaders are used to traveling great distances for events and Porter, Irving Berlin, and others.training exercises,” Kinsey said. “My theory with this was: ‘You

don’t have to travel to do this.’ We are not even asking them to The Rotary Club of Makati Central, Philippines, will hold a walk any certain distance. Just walk in your own community competition to crown Miss Earth 2017 on 21 October, with more where you think it will be most effective.” than 500 business professionals invited to attend. The club will

show videos of Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio throughout the Some clubs are also using the march as a membership drive, competition.holding a social event at the end and paying for a member’s

poncho if they invite a friend. ¡¡¡

Rtn. Subhash SajaneVice President

Article Compiled by


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From red ponchos to pub crawls, Rotary clubs are coming up with a variety of ways to promote polio eradication in October

By Arnold R. Grahl

World Polio Day

The day was 25th June 1983 and occasion was one day along with her young son with a request to advise her international cricket world cup final between India led by “ son, who was addicted to eating sugar. Gandhiji told her Haryana Hurricane” Kapil Dev and West Indies led by “ that he cannot advise him and told her to come after Big Cat” Clive Lloyd. India were all out for dismal 183. fifteen days. On complying with the request of the mother During the break, Indian dressing room atmosphere was after fifteen days, Gandhiji told the mother that he did not gloomy. Captain Kapil Dev, who was not gifted with great advise her son earlier as he himself was quite fond of communication skill like his predecessor Sunil Gavaskar eating sugar and he first gave up his habit of eating sugar but only knew how to perform and motivate his team, just in last fifteen days before advising her son. said “ we must win’’ before taking the field. A team While we look up to icons like Gandhiji and Kapil Dev for member Srikant in a recent interview said when they inspiration of leadership by example, we tend to ignore heard those words from Kapil Dev the team members leaders amongst and around us who display such thought he was mad. However, Kapil Dev’s belief leadership in our day to day life. When a bus breaks stemmed out out of the fact that India had beaten West down and while most of the passengers are complaining, Indies in one of the matches during the league stage. a couple of passengers helping the driver and conductor West Indies after a decent start lost their top batsman to fix the problem or persons coming forward to selflessly Greenidge to a beauty from Balwinder Sandhu and great support and act for a good cause or volunteers working Vivian Richards came to bat. Right from the word go, he tirelessly to provide relief to affected people in a calamity started hammering “ friendly” Indian bowlers all around are all leaders who are leading by example. We can the park as if he was having a net practice. The shoulders quote many such examples in our day to day life. of Indian players started drooping and Indian fans (

If we are asked to conjure up images of people we including your truly) were on the verge of giving up. It is consider to be great leaders from pages of history who said that Gavaskar’s wife who was sitting in the stand told led by example, from ancient times to contemporary time Sandeep Patil , who was fielding close by at the , who inspire us and whose stories fire our imagination, I boundary line, to pass a message to Gavaskar that she am sure all of us can quote many historic, political and was leaving and to meet her at a particular departmental military leaders and some of the better known sports store for shopping. Then suddenly it happened. A mishit persons and businessmen. However, what is most by Richards to a Madanlal delivery went up high in the air important to find out is what are the common attributes towards deep midwicket and Kapil Dev who was fielding among all these great leaders. All of them had a at midwicket ran backwards to take a very difficult catch. crystallised objective about what they wanted to do and That totally changed the scenario on the ground. the ability to take their followers along to achieve their Suddenly Indian bowlers and fielders were energised objective because of their integrity towards their cause and they bowled and fielded with their heart out and very high level of credibility. They were “ hands on” in encouraged by exemplary captaincy by Kapil Dev ,who their approach and they walked their talk. They made led from front both in bowling and fielding. Rest is history themselves accountable to the people and energised with India winning the world cup quite comfortably.them by galvanising diverse talent at their disposal.

Former American President Dwight Eisenhower once All of us have the potential to become leaders. We all said” I don’t know what leadership is, but I know when I encounter moments in our lives when we come across see it”. The world cup victory by India is the most vivid opportunities to lead others by example. Few people example of such visible leadership. Father of our nation knowingly set out to become leaders, rather they see a Mahatma Gandhi was another shining example of need and they find a way of taking on the challenge and leading by example, which has made him an eternal icon often others choose to follow their example. It is aptly of masses around the world even after so many years said “ Good example has twice the value of good advice”.since his death. He firmly believed in “walking the talk”

and stretched this belief to unimaginable extent. A story goes that once a mother approached Mahatma Gandhi

¡¡¡

LEADERSHIP : LEADING BY EXAMPLERtn. Vaman Gaitonde

" The author is a corporate coach and currently conducts transformational leadership programs for organisations in Goa, for improving their productivity and profitability,as the sole license in Goa of world's largest transformational leadership development organisation Leadership Management International (LMI)Texas, USA"

The author can be contacted on [email protected]


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You can't ignore his infectious smile and his sense of Dona Paula. It finally merged into the Rosary School and the humour. A person I have known since my school days, a students shifted to the other schools of that time namely, person who can liven up a gathering with his sheer wit.His Rosary, Don Bosco, Peoples and Progress. I remember we witty one liners on the WhatsApp groups are a sure shot were 30 students in the class and on a particular Results day I stress buster.It is said that the spirits of a person with a ran home excited and in a celebratory mode when I bagged

thsense of humour stay younger and I can find this trait in my the highest rank i.e the30 rank in the class. little did I know subject of “Jab We Met” this month Rtn. Prashant Kaisare. the number is inversely proportional to my academic

achievement. My family Prashant tell us about your

counselled an innocent me early years.

about my actually standing in I was born to Prabhakar and my class. Reality struck me

thRita (Kesar) on the 26 hard and little Prashant set March in 1966.During my his little targets to work his earlier days we would stay in way up. Cristo Rei provided a Chawl at St-Inez where the me and the others a good present day SBI Zonal office foundation and I have very exists. The Chawl was fond memories of the school. owned by Dempos .My After the School decided to father worked for the close down my Grandfather Navhind Times of the Shri Shripad Coisoro through Dempo Group and he his influence got me admitted retired after a few well to the Don Bosco School, deserved extensions from again a stone's throw away the Management. During the later part of my childhood we from my house. I passed my SSC from Don Bosco in 1981.shifted to Mala.

What was your focus of education post School?Where was your initial Schooling done?

I was keen to pursue Engineering or a diploma in Polytechnic Viresh, I think you are aware that during those days there but my Uncle seeing my aptitude convinced me to take up existed a Primary school called Cristo Rei where the present the Commerce line and maybe take a shot at being a day Caritas building stands. I also know that your brother and Chartered Accountant.I obediently succumbed to the advice you too were students of the same School. The only criteria of my uncle but after a few years I let my C.A dream remain a that I was admitted to this school was probably because it dream.stood bang opposite my house. It was a primary school till

How were your college days, any interesting incident you rdthe 3 Std. and was connected to the Rosary School,(Green)

Rtn. Viresh K NadkarniPresident Elect Nominee/

Director Club Administration2

Jab we met-My meeting with a Rotarian-


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rdwould like to share? Constructions for eight months, my 3 job was in the Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd. And finally I landed in L.I.C. I am very

Well, while in the Dempo College of Commerce, we would Proud to be associated with The Life Insurance Company Ltd

have a long line of boring lectures, a few I would attend, and (L.I.C) since 1989.

the balance of the time would be spent more productively in the canteen. By any standards I was otherwise an obedient How did you land in LIC?and disciplined student. I remember on one particular bad

During those days LIC would hire a lot of temporary staff. My day I came on the wrong side of the college law. On that

close friend Franky Fernandes was already working in LIC , fateful day I was down outside the College canteen trying

He was known for his efficiency and his superiors were hard to catch the attention of a friend Vivek Kamat sitting

impressed with him . His immediate Boss Mrs Nambiar once near the classroom window. After a few paper balls thrown

told Franky to recommend someone as efficient as him for a towards him missed the target a colleague handed over to

job. Thanks to Franky I landed at the door steps of LIC.I later me an onion wrapped in a paper. Knowing very little of the

cleared the exams and the interviews to lap up a permanent Physics in a projectile trajectory I flung my missile towards

post in the LIC.Vivek, it missed my target but found a bigger one in my class teacher Mrs D'Costa. It was a classic case where I was caught How did you become a Development officer?with my pants down though not literally. My Parents were

Well I joined as an “Assistant”and after three years answered summoned, and it took them quite an effort to convince the

the required exams to become a Development Officer (D.O). authorities about my not so bad intentions and consequently

You see there are three categories how a person can become get my withheld Results released. I passed my B.Com in 1986.

a D.O , 1)Open Market i.e any one can apply.2)Agency i.e any rdDid you think of pursuing beyond B.Com? Agent can become D.O and the 3 category is for the existing

rdemployees of LIC. I became a D.O from the 3 category and I decided that I would not stop at B.Com and decided to

am an Development Officer since 1992.pursue Law. I joined the LLB course and by 1988 cleared two years of LLB.I finally completed my third year in 1998. I am What are the duties of a D.O?very sure you must be having a presumptionaboutthe10

A Development Officer recruits Agents for the company, years I took to sail through my third year, well actually it so

trains ,guides and motivates them to get business for LIC. We happened that I attended the classes for the third year and

often accompany the agents to the prospective clients to before I could appear in the exams got an offer of a

explain, educate and convince them about a policy.temporary Job in the Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd , Vasco. Zuari

rdwas then a lucrative proposition and my 3 year was What next for you after a D.O?sacrificed for it. At a later stage when the news floated about

Well if you are ambitious then there is no end, but the the 3 year LLB course converting in to a 5 year course I

sacrifice is big . A promotion means you are bound to get thought it prudent to complete my final year. That's the

transferred. I prefer to be a D.O based in Panaji than anything rdstory of my 10 years in the 3 year. I hope I have cleared your bigger outside. Maybe I am an old fashioned Goan at heart rddoubt lest you feel I repeated the 3 year for ten long years .whose priority is his Xitt, Kodi and Fish.

Did you ever feel of pursuing law as a profession?Prashant Life Insurance is a very competitive business after

Not then , however recently when my senior in college took privatization, Has the entry of Private players in the oath as a High Court Judge I thought maybe I too should have Insurance Sector affected the LIC ?pursued the line. Jokes apart I am happy with my career as it

I think it is a growing market where everyone creates its own has shaped for me.

share. The LIC share has only grown northward ,its true that Prashant tell us about how you started your career. competition has kept us on our toes. The private companies

are more aggressive in recruiting agents and offer them My first job was with Chartered Account Abhay Kharangate,

lucrative deals too, however our loyal clientele stand by the this lasted for three months, I then joined Kamat

huge good will and reliability that we have established over


9

the years. We at LIC always believe in “JEEVAN KE SAATH BHI Sushma of course remained back. He was quite Ok when I JEEVAN KE BAAD BHI”. Left Home. Message about his sad demise was broken to me

while in a sightseeing bus. There was gloom all over, fellow Do you know who the No.1 agent of the country is?It is our

Rotarians consoled us . Rtn. Nilesh Shah swung into quick own Rtn. Rajesh Chedda and I am proud to say that I am his

action and as we returned back to the hotel my return tickets Development Officer. In all humbleness I would like to state

for the next day were already arranged by him. The Night was that I have been the only Development Officer from Goa to

awful and never ending ,my father's memories were flashing attain the No.2 Ranking at the all India level and No.1 at the

through with great speed. There can be no comparison to his entire Western Zone.A lion's share of the credit of my

priceless sacrifices in raising us up as good human beings. My success goes to the relentless efforts put by Rtn. Rajesh

Rotary family provided me the much needed solace until we Chedda. I hope LIC get more agents like him.

boarded to return back .Rotarians would pop in the room to Prashant Lets learn a little more about your personal life, console and as we prepared to take an early morning flight I how did you meet your wife Sushma? had Rtns. Sandeep Prabhu, Kishore Dhume and Nilesh Shah

knock at my door at the break of dawn. My morning tea and Mine was an arranged marriage.We were living in Mala and

my packing was all taken care of by them. These are the My Uncle arranged this alliance. Sushma Kamat a neighbour

times where we understand the real value of Rotary from Mala became Sushma Prashant Kaisare. Sushma works

Camaraderie, before I knew my taxi was at my door step and in the Education Dept. We have a son Aneesh doing his last

my luggage in it. Everyone is destined to go. My Father lived year B.Com.I remember an interesting incident during the

his life well and left us when he was 91 leaving behind his early years of my marriage ,we were then living in Mala and

memories for us to cherish.thmy work place was Sushila Building on the 18 June Road. Generally, my route back home would be via Altinho, down Prashant you are a known fitness freak, how did you get the slope from Maruti gad into Mala. Earlier I would shut the into this mode?ignition of my two-wheeler and enjoy the pleasant slope

I would give full credit of converting me into a fitness freak to down. One day as Sushma and me drove back in our four-

Rtn. Sanat Pilgaonkar. Here were two persons in Sanat and wheeler, I mentioned to her about how I would save fuel by

me continuously fighting weight gain. Sanat once convinced riding my gravity operated two wheeler on the slope. That

me to avail of a weight loss scheme by the Neomis Gym( Now fateful day we decided to save a little more fuel by trying to

Norberts). Finally, an overweight74.7 Kgs Prashant Kaiasre drive our car down. I Switched Off the Ignition on the steep

joined Neomis and two years later a 62 Kgs Fit Prashant slope near the Maruti Temple, Altinho only to realise that

Kaisare walked out of it . This was the turning point in my life the car brakes failed to work without ignition. I lost control of

as far as fitness goes. The whole credit again goes to Sanat. I my vehicle on the sharp turn and desperately used the hand

now maintain myself by a proper diet and regular Table brake only get the car to a screeching halt a few centimetres

Tennis sessions at least 5 times a week .before we could topple over the cliff. The whole incident happened only over a fraction of a second but we had our How did you join Rotary?hearts in our mouths. My hair stands up whenever I recollect

Here again it was the influence of my colleague in LIC Rtn. this dreadful incident. Its probably only because of the

Sanat Pilgaonkar. I joined in the year 2004 during the blessings and protection of Lord Maruti that I survived to

President ship of Rtn.Dinesh Sinari. I have been a Club tell you this tale.

director and Treasurer several times. I have made great You have done a lot of house hopping since your childhood, friends in Rotary, contributed positively to the society can you tell us a little about it? through it and enjoy the Rotary fellowship .

I have spent my whole life in this city, house hopping from a Prashant one final question, when can we see Rtn. Prashant St-Inez Chawl to Mala House to Taleigao Radha Estate to as the President of the Rotary Club of Panaji?Madhuban complex and for a few months in a cousins Flat at

As you know I am a quite a senior Rotarian . I have not taken Taleigao before finally landing in this Kamat Harmony Flat.

this opportunity in the past due to my prior personal and Long journey but a fruitful one too. Madhuban and Kamat

professional commitments . A rotary Presidents post is quite Harmony are my acquisitions the rest being my fathers.

a serious and demanding one . If the Past Presidents wish so Your Father Expired recently when you were away on a then may be during the tenure of Gaurish Dhond as the Rotary Tour .What are the emotions that crossed your mind District Leader(D.G)you could see Prashant Kaisare as the there ? President of RCP.

Yes, He was ailing for a while, his health prevented us from Thank you Prashant it was wonderful talking to you. moving out on a tour . It was only the insistence of my son ¡¡¡ that made me accompany him on the Rotary Kashmir tour.


10

Rtn. Siddhesh Shetye

6 Common Mutual Fund Investing Mistakes

grow your wealth in the long term. You should be very 1. Investing in NFOs in clear about your investment objective.order to buy units at

par value: This is either 5. Book profits in funds which are giving good a rookie mistake on part returns, while hanging on to losers: It is the same o f the inves to r o r mistake that a lot of retail investors in stocks also make.

deliberate mis-selling by the distributor or financial Greed and fear psychology takes over, and retail adviser. Par value of a mutual fund unit is meaningless, investors rush to book profits in funds that are doing well, because the unit by itself has no value. The unit derives its in the fear that the value may go down in the future. At the value from the underlying of stocks or bonds or a same time investors hate to book losses, and hang onto combination of both. Funds whether NFO or launched losers longer than they should. As discussed earlier, some time back, invest in the same universe of stocks at mutual funds are essentially long term investments. By market price. The absolute value of the unit at which the booking profits in funds that have performed well, you are investor invests in the fund is in itself irrelevant. It is true giving up future returns. It is also very important that that you can buy a larger number of units by investing in investors recognize funds in their portfolio that are not the NFO. But as discussed earlier, the unit by itself has no performing well. They should book losses in these funds value. The growth in the Net Asset Value of the unit, over a and switch to funds that are doing well. Mutual fund period of time is relevant. investors should resist the urge of averaging the cost of

poor performers, like some retail investors in stocks do, in 2. Funds with high NAVs are overpriced and funds the hope of getting better returns.with low NAVs are attractively priced: This is similar to

the misconception described above. Mutual fund units 6. Allocating a big portion of the portfolio to thematic are not stocks, where a low share price may sometimes, or sector funds: Investors sometime take a big not always, mean that the valuation of the share is exposure to thematic or sector funds, based on recent attractive. At the cost of repetition it is important to high performance. It is better to invest in diversified equity reiterate that, a mutual fund unit in itself has no value. It funds for long term financial objectives. Sector funds are derives its value from the underlying assets in its portfolio. exposed to sector specific risks, and as such are more The NAV is nothing but the current market price of the risky than large cap or diversified equity funds. Over a total underlying portfolio assets divided by the number of long period of time, sector funds cannot outperform units issued by the fund. If the value of the underlying diversified equity funds. If you are investing in sector portfolio goes up, then the NAV will go up and vice versa. funds, you should ensure that you book profits at the right The appreciation potential of a fund does not depend on time. More importantly, if a sector is peaking in terms of its current NAV, but on the underlying portfolio and the valuations, it is not wise to enter that sector, even though investment management style of the fund manager. recent performance of the sector fund will be very strong.

As such sector funds are for investors with a lot of 3. Investing in funds which gave high returns last experience and expertise.year: Recent performance is not always a good indicator

of future performance. Paying too much importance to Conclusionrecent past performance and ignoring long term

Investors should avoid these common mistakes when performance and other performance factors like, fund investing in mutual funds. Mutual funds are long term manager’s track record, portfolio composition etc is risky. investments. By selecting a good fund or a set of good You may be selling a good fund and moving to a not-so-funds, and remaining invested in them over a long period good fund. There are a variety of factors that determine of time, investors can create wealth in the long term. At future performance of a fund, like historical returns over the same time, it is very difficult to always spot a winner. various time scales, volatility, portfolio concentration risk, Therefore, investors should monitor their portfolio on a fund manager track record and investment style. One continuous basis. If there are funds in his or her portfolio, should not give too much importance to recent good that are not doing well over a given period of time, performance, because mutual fund essentially is a long investors should not hesitate to book losses and switch term investment.over to good fund. If you have a good financial advisor,

4. Funds that declare high dividends are better: This your job becomes that much easier.is another misconception. The dividend that the fund pays

Source – Advisorkhojis adjusted from the NAV. There is no benefit in getting a big dividend. The objective of mutual fund investment is to ¡¡¡


11

Discovering the Oldest Zero

Two months back in stylistic grounds, the team decided that it was not S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 , possible to take just one representative sample. Five mathematic ians and samples were extracted from the manuscript.

historians across the world were in a tizzy after the The analysis of the folios gave an answer to why there Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, announced that it

was such a lot of disagreement among scholars on dating had discovered the oldest known inscription in the world the manuscript. It was found that the manuscripts were

recording the symbol zero. Found on birch bark actually a collection of 3 different sets of manuscripts, manuscripts discovered in a small village, Bakhshali, each dating to the different time period. The oldest set

near Peshawar in the late 19th century, carbon dating dated back to 224-383 CE, while the other two sets of traced back the oldest of the manuscripts to the 3rd manuscripts were dated to 680-779 CE and 885-993 century CE. This brought the curtains down to the hunt CE, respectively. This was an astounding discovery. It

and the many twists and turns in search of world’s oldest indicated that the Bakshali Zero predates the earlier zero symbol. There have been other contenders before claimant of the first zero by almost 300 years

the Bakshali Manuscript. In 2017 itself, there were 3!Till 1931, the inscription at Chaturbhuj temple at the foot In 1881, a farmer working in the village of Bakhshali near of the Gwalior fort was considered to be the world’s Peshawar, unearthed a set of manuscripts buried in a oldest known zero symbol dating back to 875 CE. But

mound . It was then handed over to the archaeologists. In later an inscription with the symbol zero was found at all there were around 70 folios on birchbark. Reports Sambor, in Cambodia which predated Gwalior zero by

were published in the Bombay Gazetter and even 192 years. In the 1970s, due to the destruction by the presented in the Fifth International Conference of Khmer Rouge, the Cambodian inscription was thought to

Orientalists in Berlin. The famous German Orientalist, Dr be lost. The Gwalior Zero once again was classified as Horenle studied the manuscripts and also published a the oldest.

detailed account of it in 1886, subsequently more translations were done and in 1902, Dr Hoernle Then in January 2017, archaeologists at the Cambodian presented the manuscript to the Bodleian Library, at National Museum announced that they had rediscovered Oxford. the Sambor inscription and the title went back to

Cambodia, but only for nine months. Both the Gwalior and Studies on the manuscript revealed that it was a Cambodian inscriptions have now lost the title to the

mathematical treatise written by an unknown author in Bakhshali manuscript!the Sharada script. The language was a mixture of Sanskrit and Pali common in the North West parts of But the question is for how long. We do know that the Zero India from 1st century CE to 6th century CE as a concept was known to the Sumerians in

Mesopotamia more than 5000 years ago, but it was The region near Peshawar, where the manuscript was ancient Indians who first used the symbol Zero. While it is

found, was a thriving trade and commerce center. Trade not known as to exactly when the use of zero in India routes to Central Asia passed through the region and the

began, it was believed until recently, that the astronomer great Buddhist university of Takshashila was located and mathematician Brahmagupta first codified its use in a nearby. The content of the Bakhshali manuscript is similar

text a called Brahmasphuta siddhanta around 628 CE. to the type of texts that Buddhist merchants would have However, recent carbon dating of Bakhshali mansucript needed to study (and possibly used as reference) for their

challenges that belief and it could be only a matter of time daily trading activities. It included very practical before an even older claimant resurfaces.

mathematical examples and equations, needed for trade.The folios from the Bakhshali manuscript are on display

While the Bakshali Manuscripts have been around for as a centerpiece of an exhibition titled ‘Illuminating India: sometime, it was only recently that a detailed carbon 5000 Years of Science and Innovation’ at the Science

dating was done on it. In early 2017, a team from the Museum in London from 4th October 2017 till 31st March Bodleian Library and the Oxford Radiocarbon 2018.

Accelerator Unit Collaborated to study this remarkable manuscript. After lengthy discussions, and based on ¡¡¡


12

Rtn. Subhash SajaneVice President

Article Compiled by

13


11 October 2017 - Weekly Meeting Guest Speaker Mr. Vasant Limaye

12 October 2017 - conducting the Faculty Development Program.

Rtns Pravin Sabnis and Subhash Sajane

22 October 2017 - MEGA MEDICAL CAMP at Kundaim Village

Medical camp was organised at Kundaim village, with the support of Gram Panchayat Kundaim and local youths. In association with Healthways Hospital Ltd.Old Goa, Ophthalmology Dept.GMC&Mukta Opticians.In all 325 patients were screened for different ailments and were checked by different specialty doctors available.

14


24 October 2017 - World Polio Day

World Polio Day was established by Rotary International over a decade ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.

Use of this inactivated poliovirus vaccine and subsequent widespread use of the oral poliovirus, developed by Albert Sabin, led to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988.

As of 2013, GPEI had reduced polio worldwide by 99%.

Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease. There is no cure, but there are safe and effective vaccines. Polio can be prevented through immunization. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life. The strategy to eradicate polio is therefore based on preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops and the world is polio-free.

25 October 2017 - Meeting Guest Speaker Mr. Weekly D.Satish - Mentalist

The guest speaker at the weekly meeting was the famous magician Mr. D. Satish who spoke on Mentalism and gave demonstrations.

15

29 October 2017 - Rotary Club of Panaji Family Picnic - Trek at Tabdi Surla


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16

Donating clothing and other utilityitems at “Daan Utsav” by Goonj

ROTARACT


Clothing donation in slum areas with RC Bhutwal South dist 3292

Attending Mridangam

Cultural exchange with RC Bhutwal South

Felicitation of Prof. Rajiv Shinde on the occasion of world teachers day

Project: Letter club exchanges with 7 other clubs during mridangam

ICYE with RC Bhutwal south from Nepal

Sister club agreement withRC bhutwal south

Letterhead and souvenir exchange with

RC club bhutwal

The Day I met Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan, Indian cinemas undisputed The famous coolie accident where he almost lost his life legend, voted as the star of the millennium a few years caused a lot of anxiety to a young and impressionable back. me. What added to the grief was the floating rumours

about his medical condition during his recovery .Born on the 11th Oct. 1942 he conquered the Bollywood crown from the first superstar of the Indian cinema the The Thought of losing the "God" was just not late Rajesh Khanna after a string of super hits in the acceptable to me. I spent sleepless nights. Until one day 70's. I woke up in the middle of the night and decided that I

could take it no more. Got up ,carried whatever little The only actor that I passionately and religiously accumulated pocket money I had and walked out to revered was “The Amitabh Bachchan”.

I Still remember when we patiently waited for the Bachchan movies to be released in Panaji Cinema Halls , and mind you this happened only after a couple of years from their Bombay release.

Film shootings in the 70's and the 80's were a relatively a rare commodity and with no Idiot Box ,seeing the tinsel town stars in blood and flesh was the ultimate excitement to us in Goa.

The climax of “Kabhie Kabhie” shot at the Childrens Park(Mahavir Park now) had us in a frenzy to have a glimpse of our celluloid Gods. If within my physical means an opportunity to visit HIS shooting s i t e s w a s n e v e r m i s s e d . "Shahenshah" was the first movie to be released at the same time all over India to counter meet the Bachchan . Never bothered to think of the the video piracy ,and though counterproductive to my concerns of people back home. Remember the 80's Idol I celebrated the silver jubilee viewing of the movie in were not the mobile phone era, and even if a person was 4 days thanks to a video cassette. I still remember late at home from work the only option left for the other narrating “Shahenshah” scene by scene to a not so family members back home was to wait for a call at the fortunate friend. neighbours land line.

My primary agenda after the last examination paper of Coming back to Me , I reached Bombay and located The SSC in 1982 was to view "Kalia" in Cine Samrat. Breach candy Hospital. I boldly walked straight into the

hospital. The few cops waiting to protect Amitabh It is well known to my close relatives and friends that I ignored this innocent and harmless 16 year old.am a die hard fan of Amitabh Bachchan. There was not a single movie that I had not seen at least couple of I located the cordoned area of the special room in which dozen times. But one thing very few people know is he was housed, Jaya Bachchan and her two kids the very close encounter I had with Amitabh Abhishek and Shweta and the mother Bachchan Bachchan. “Teji” were the first I sighted. I was interrogated by the

thWith love from a fan to the Big B on his 75 birthday


17

Rtn. Viresh K NadkarniPresident Elect Nominee/

Director Club Administration2

mother who was left terrified when she heard that I was He walked out of the lobby towards his car waving out fan who had gate crashed in the hospital to meet her and acknowledging the prayers and love of his fans recuperating son, she tried to call the guard to shoo me with folded hands.away but an adamant me stood my ground. I had not run

I looked at him in awe with my moist eyes, we made eye off from home to be shooed away when I was so near to contact and I extended my hand to him for a final bye.my goal (read God). My adamancy created a confusion

and this was only silenced by an imposing and familiar He held my hand and never let it go. He pulled me with voice originating from the room. 'Bhej do use'(send him him while he boarded his Mercedes he boomed again in). My excitement knew no bounds and even as the 'baitho andar '(sit in the car), I didn't know what was unfriendly mother looked at me, I walked in lest there be happening and jumped into front seat .There was no talk any further change in the programme. I have no words absolutely on the way and we reached his Juhu to describe the expression on me as I stood infront of the bungalow 'Pratiksha'. There were garlands and 6 feet 3 inches man clad in sparkling white kurta pyjama. crackers, fans and friends waited to meet him, the car

entered and after the initial greetings from his close I decided that this was not a situation where I could relatives and friends , he went to his famous first floor waste time showing my excitement, and took the balcony to acknowledge his fans. There was commotion situation head on. Introduced my self as a die hard fan down and I stood at a corner as an unknown and from Goa. He seemed to have got specially attracted to uninvited guest would. me when I mentioned Goa.

Amitabh came back downstairs and gestured to me to There was a lot of fan talk and I was offered black tea , come closer. Teji Bachchan who was sipping a glass of he did ask me to add milk in it but I was too excited to water noticed me walking towards him , and finally the ask for anything more than I got.volcano erupted , the mother Bachchan expressed her

He was to be discharged the same afternoon and his displeasure , I tried to call out to my new celebrity friend, close family member politely asked me to get lost from but the words never left the lips I saw my friend deserting the room. me as I tried to yell but with no success and finally the

inevitable happened, The Mother splashed the whole I went out of the room but waited out to have his last glass of water on me in anger. I closed my eyes in an glimpse before 'HE' left for home. Meanwhile the reflex action and opened it only to find MY MOTHER crowds swelled out to see and wish him off. I suddenly besides me holding the just emptied glass. "utt ! sa jali attained VIP status within the hospital staff as they took ajj chemistry paper, begin utt" (wake up, its 6 am and me as his close. I tolerated the cold looks of the mother you have chemistry exams today).Bachchan . I decided not to make eye contact with her and If I read her mind right even an eye contact with her My world came crumbling down as I realized that the would be taken as provocation, and provocation would whole encounter was a pleasant dream too good to be mean the end of my stay near 'HIM'. true.

At last the time had come, bags were being carried out As I prepared to move out , “The Navihind Times” of his room , suddenly I realized that the Mother screamed "Amitabh to be discharged today" and I Bachchan had left for home with the kids. Finally the big smiled and moved towards Dhempe College of Arts and man walked out of the room followed by his wife Jaya , in Science Miramar to confront Chemistryspite of being frail after his multiple surgeries he

¡¡¡ portrayed the command of the superstar with the

Note: This article was originally published a few years ago.evident Halo around.


18

India prides itself as the producer of the largest number In such a scenario, the 23rd Kolkata International Film of films in the world. And the audience for these films is Festival took a phenomenal step by paying a Centenary no longer confined to this land, it has spread even to the Tribute to Nabendu Ghosh (1917-2007)with the heartland of Hollywood. But how many of the hundreds screening of Trishagni (1988) that had won the produced year after year hit screenwriter of 70 released the bull’s eye? Two or three films the National Award for percent? So what’s ailing Best Debut Director, along Indian cinema? w i t h m y h o u r - l o n g

documentary, And They Made A soul-churning yields a single Classics… (2017). This answer: Dearth of good Centennial Film comes out of scripts. Yet efforts to publish an interview recorded by Joy an anthology of three best Bimal Roy in 2005, as he sc reenp lays mee ts no p r e p a r e d t o m a k e success as publishers don’t Remembering Bimal Roy, his consider screenplay, best own centenary tribute to his described as Direction on legendary father (1909-1966).Paper, to be a form of literature. Nabendu Ghosh shot into

literary eminence with Daak The significance of a good Diye Jai, on the Quit India script is denied by none and movement. Bimal Roy, an avid exemplified by all great names reader, saw in the visual of Indian cinema. Himanshu quality of his writings the Rai, founder of Bombay m a k i n g s o f a s c r e e n Talkies, based his pioneering playwright. In the post-f i lms in Niranjan Pal ’s Partition years, when Urdu screenplay. Most of Bimal was declared the state Roy’s films were scripted by language of East Pakistan Nabendu Ghosh, himself an although 95 percent of the populace spoke Bengali, the established name of Bengali literature since 1940. Raj Kolkata-based books and films market too suffered a Kapoor’s major films were by K.A.Abbas, a writer and setback. The director invited the writer to join his team filmmaker of repute. Guru Dutt gained immensely from when he set out for Bombay, which was drawing people the literary merit of screen-playwright Abrar Alvi. Kaifi from Lahore and Lucknow too.Azmi, most remembered for the lyrics of Kaagaz Ke Phool, Haqeeqat, Pakeezah and Anupama, had “Nabendu Da and Bimal Da formed one of the greatest scripted Garm Hawa for M.S.Sathyu and Heer Ranjha - scriptwriter-director duos of Indian Cinema,” Nutan had in full verse - for Chetan Anand. Such instances abound said in an interview to Bombay Times in 1995. This even before we come to Vijay Anand, Gulzar or Salim unique bonding found the writer by the side of the Javed, but we hit air when we go looking for the director from 1951, when he left for Bombay to make screenplays of classics like Do Ankhen Barah Haath, Maa for Bombay Talkies, till 1966 when Bandini was Mother India or Do Bigha Zamin. awarded in Karlovy Vary. Indeed, as Joy wrote on the


19

Ratnottama Sengupta has just turned director with 'And They Made Classics', an hourlong documentary on the unique bonding between Nabendu Ghosh and his filmguru, Bimal Roy. A seasoned journalist since 1978, she has been writing for newspapers and journals, participating in discussions on the electronic media; teaching mass communication students, writing books on cinema and art, programming film festivals and curating art exhibitions. Daughter of Nabendu Ghosh, a leading name in Bengali Literature and legendary screen writer-director, she has written on Hindi films for the Encyclopaedia Britannica; been a member of CBFC, served on the National Film Awards jury and has herself won a National Award. She has been the Editor of an entertainment website, CineBengal.com, the former Arts Editor of The Times of India, and a member of the NFDC's script committee.

Screenplay? It’s Direction on Paper!A script writer is of immense importance to a film. To Bimal Roy, Nabendu Ghosh was a literary asset. This was proved again and again, in Devdas, Sujata, Bandini… I will never forget the screenplay of Teesri Kasam. It is a landmark in Indian Cinema. —Govind Nihalani / March 2007

Ratnottama Sengupta

90th birthday of his ‘NabenduKaku,’ when Bimal Roy his many students from FTII who are celebrated for arrived in Bombay with Nabendu Ghosh, Hrishikesh creations like Maya Darpan (Kumar Shahani), Guddi Mukherjee, Asit Sen and Paul Mahendra, “neither of the (Jaya Bachchan), Shaque (Aruna and Vikas Desai), travellers had probably imagined what a life changing Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai (Saeed Akhtar experience this would prove for each of them and Mirza), Bhavni Bhawai (Ketan Mehta), Jaane Bhi Do ultimately for Indian Cinema.” For, “this immensely Yaaron (Kundan Shah), Ghatashraddha (Girish talented and visionary team – Baba as director, Kasaravalli), Woh Chhokri (Subhankar Ghosh).Nabendu Kaku as screenplay writer and Hrishi Kaku as

Perhaps the most abiding homage comes in these editor –created some of the best loved and most words penned by Shyamal Sengupta, FTII graduate remembered classics of the golden ‘50s and early ‘60s: who scripted the National Award winning Antaheen, Do Bigha Zamin, Devdas, Madhumati, Sujata, Bandini, among other films of Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury: “In to name only a few.”FTII of 1982-85, we were heavily into image

When Joy was born on 21st January 1955, Bimal Roy construction. Writing was a rather unnecessary pre-and his team was already well established and feted in condition. Nabendu Ghosh brought us alive to the Bombay film industry. Just six days later I was born in importance of writing in cinema. His workshops dinned the same nursing home. “For me this became a link into us the value of plot-making, strong characterisation between our two families. Ratnottama (Uttama to me) and social contexts.and I instinctively formed a bond which continues till

“Genially but succinctly Nabendu Da pointed out that today and seems to strengthen over the years,” Joy our exceptional fascination with Guru Dutt was actually wrote. So, after the screening of Remembering Bimal restricted to his shot-taking and song-picturisation. He Roy, he handed me the full interview with Nabendu underlined the poignant social contexts without which Ghosh, trusting me to “put it to good use.” I can only Guru’s brooding romanticism would collapse into record my gratefulness for this sharing of a common maudlin self-pity…legacy which, we recognise, is now world heritage.

“We were into World Cinema; our cinematic aspirations And They Made Classics… revisits the classics, yes. were rooted in European films. Nabendu Da quietly but More importantly, it goes behind the scenes to continually harked back to the socio-cultural understand how the writer-director duo worked – and implications in Indian cinema… We on the campus were what made their association work. The importance of dismissive of the mainstream film making culture. this narrative gains further value from what Rinki Nabendu Da, with close connections to the best of Bhattacharya wrote on that same, final birthday of 2007: Bombay mainstream, walked us through the brighter “The only surviving eye witness to that golden era, side of mainstream practices and motivated us to Nabendu Kaku is the most reliable, authentic resource rethink our monolithic stance…”person from that important period of my father’s life.”

This collage of songs and stories, posters and photos, While colleagues like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Dilip recollections and reviews makes And They Made Kumar, Nutan, Nargis, and Gulzar talk about the Classics… a storehouse of archival value. ¡¡¡ intensity of the writer’s art, his contribution to moulding

New Indian Cinema is underscored by the adoration of


20

By now it had become common knowledge in the while quite a few producers and film directors contacted Bombay film community that Bimal Roy had brought me. Story sessions were held at Van Vihar, or at the along a ‘writer’ with his group, and apparently he was offices of the producers concerned. There seemed quite a decent writer. As at one time Urdu writer Manto though to be lack of appreciation from these people to had come to Bombay Talkies, and as Urdu writer stories that came from the mind of an alumni of the Krishan Chander too had come on the scene. There Progressive Writers Association. They were all of the was a feeling that there might be a chance of acquiring a opinion, “Ghosh Babu, the idea is great but it is all too decent storyline from Nabendu Ghosh. Naturally, for a idealistic. Dada we want to make movies with Dev

Five spices of screen writing Nabendu Ghosh in his autobiography Eka Naukar Jatri / Journey of a Lonesome Boat

Nabendu Ghosh was an acclaimed Indian author in Bengali literature, and screenwriter. He has written

screenplays of classic Bollywood movies like, Sujata, Bandini, Devdas, Majhli Didi, Abhimaan and Teesri Kasam.


21

Anand and Geeta Bali, accompanied by Johnny Walker roll around in bouts of coughing as they laugh. Sixth: a and Yakub (comedians of the time). Please tell us few moments of tear-jerking sadness. Seventh: Fight stories where we are able to incorporate them, rather scenes, each being individual in itself. Eighth: at least than literary stories.” five to six melodious songs, of which two or three

should be such that even persons with no music sense Suffice it to say, the realisation dawned on me that the can sing them. Ninth: appropriate selection of actors Hindi ‘filmy kahani’ was a different genre of stories. and actresses. Tenth: a good director and a good music What kind of stories? In short, stories that would be director. Finally: the right planetary configuration for appreciated by 90 percent of film viewers of different audience’s applause.” Mr Mukherjee laughed out loud states, with different tastes all over India. Hence even a after this enunciation of the recipes. highly educated producer like S.Mukherji, when told the story of Baap Beti, said: “It’s a nice story but I won’t make His words got entrenched in my mind. The successful it – I’m a businessman”! In other words the businessman ‘formula’ for a Hindi film! In other words it was the had a different slant on dramatic arts: they might well formula of a Hindi village Nautanki, no different from the say that “Bicycle Jatra formula of Thieves is a great film rural Bengal. Of a but an undoable story, hundred f i lms I’m a businessman.” made by that

formula, even if L a t e r , o n o n e two managed to occasion I had asked en l i gh ten t he Mr Mukherjee, “You mind or uplift the said No to Baap Beti, spirit, it would be yet you wanted to film an icing on the Mrit Pradip although golden cake – it’s a literary story. “ s o n e p e Why was that?” Mr suhaga”. And if Mukherjee laughed. there was no “ I f t h e r e i s a n icing, the gold that indication of high clinked in would literary merit in a story be good enough then it might well be gain, and two-n-conducive to our half hours will business, and might pass away in turn a ‘hit’ picture into l a u g h t e r a n d a superhit.” I asked, t e a r s , i n “Does that mean a ‘hit’ suspense and is quantifiable?” “Of course it is!” he replied. “Just as any romance, with joyous humming of a few bars of melody tasty dish needs some specific spices to make it tasty.” as viewers return home to deep slumber, dreaming of “Tasty of course, but what about the healthiness of the the handsome features of a hero or heroine that will dish? Isn’t that a consideration?” “Nabendu Babu, I am tickle their fancy and prove the worth of the newly not into medical business.” “Does it follow that you will invented form of art – cinema, in particular the magic of cater to the mass’s addiction for entertainment without Hindi movies.upholding the essential ideals of life?”

Therefore, remembering S.Mukherjee’s assertion, “I do that Nabendu Babu but in very low doses,” although I did not have the typical Hindi film stories in my S.Mukherjee. “I follow the principles of dramatic arts as bag, I decided to write or adapt stories and ideas to laid down in Natya Shastra but I don’t profess to be a comply with the mandates of the Formula. Whatever saintly sadhu. I am a very ordinary person in pursuit of good ideas came along, whether in five pages or five happiness.” hundred, I would fit into two-n-half hours either by

extending or shortening in a fast flowing format that He guffawed loudly for a bit. Then he said, “The spices I would leave the viewer wondering what’s next at every need for my ‘cinema-dish’ are as follows. First, contents turn. That is, I would write screenplays of a different of the story: usually it is love. Second, five or six quite kind.memorable ‘love scenes’ or situations that may be

funny, warm, love tiffs, misunderstandings, separation And since I was unable to uphold the higher ideals of of lovers and meeting again. Third, obstacles to love, by literature on the silver screen, I would compensate for it whatever reason, or person, familial or personal, enemy by writing for literature. I would thereby absolve myself that contributes to a situation of tension or anxiety. of my sense of guilt.Fourth: four to five moments of suspense as in some

Translated from Eka Naukar Jatri by Dr Dipankar Ghoshkind of conspiracy, or someone chasing the lovers, trying to kill them. Fifth: some comic moments, not ¡¡¡ mildly humorous but uproariously funny so that people

Nabendu Ghosh Bimal Roy

Dr. Vidya Kamat- Parthan

A Contemporary artist, research scholar and Professor of Comparative Mythology. As an artist she has exhibited her works in India and abroad, and her works are in various prestigious museums. She was also the recipient of cultural scholarship by HIVOS Netherlands for her study on “Documentation and study of roadside shrines in Mumbai”. She has been engaged in teaching and designing courses on comparative mythology for many years. She is an accredited research guide for doctoral students of comparatives mythology at the University of Mumbai since 2003. Currently, she is a co-founder of Talking Myths Project -the online archive on traditional tales from the Indian subcontinent. She is also the Founder Member and Secretary of Center for Study of Mythology and Culture, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research and study of Indian mythology.

LEGENDThe Mongol Raider of Diskit

In the Nubra Valley in Ladakh, in the Grags-pa-‘bum-Ide, the king of midst of sand dunes and rocky Nubra at the time, was always on his barren mountains sits the Diskit guard. He was a devotee of monastery. It was built sometime in Mahakali had installed a huge idol the 14th C during the reign of King of the goddess in the palace. The Nyama Dakpa. A monk from the Leh idol was unique as it was cast in valley, Tserab Zangpo, is said to white stone, unlike the other idols of have founded the monastery. the goddess which were always Interestingly Zangpo was a follower black in color. The white Mahakali of the Gelug School, which is one of was the guardian of the king and his the newest strands of Tibetan kingdom – she was the protector Buddhism and at that time, would goddess.have barely been a few decades As the Mongolian raiders rode up to the palace and old. One can only imagine, but his coming and the stormed its gates, they found themselves face to face setting up of the monastery, would have created quite a with Mahakali. Her white form loomed over them in all its stir among the local population which was a mix of gargantuan splendour and it is said that the leader was Buddhist, Shia Muslims, Sunnis and Noorbakshiyas. transfixed to the spot. Fear tied his feet and knocked him Still the monastery is quite a grand structure, not as dead and his men fled the scene. The king’s men then large as many of the others we saw in the state, but gathered up his lifeless body and dropped it into the imposing nevertheless. A winding road that twists and nullah that still flows by the monastery. The palace doors turns like the mountain wind leads up to the monastery. were safely secured and the valley slept in peace that We climb a flight of stairs to be met by a monk who leads night. But the next morning as the guards threw open the us into the first of the prayer halls where he tells us this gates, they found the Mongolian leader’s dead body story. back where it was the previous day, lying in front of the

idol of Mahakali. Stunned, they threw it into the nullah The Nubra region was the favorite haunt of Mongol once again. They did this three times and three raiders who were looking to establish their rule over the mornings in a row, they found the dead body back inside kingdom. They would ride in big groups and small, the palace gates. Finally someone suggested that they destroying everything that came their way. During one place the skull and hand of the dead leader in the hands such raid, led by a particularly ferocious leader, the of Mahakali, as an offering for her protection. The king marching troops made their way right up to the king’s ordered that it be done immediately and after that the palace which stood where the monastery stands now.rest of the body was duly disposed. This time, the dead

Traditionally myths are oral tales. They are passed down the generations either as a sacred story or as an aphorism and treasured by a community as a valuable source of their heritage. When people migrate, their stories travel with them and over time even if the narratives change their relevance and meaning remain intact. The national and cultural character of India and subcontinent was maintained through such narratives. The Talking Myths Project will attempt to capture and engage with this shared mythological heritage of the region.


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leader did not reappear. Text Source: Recent Research on Ladakh 6: Proceedings of the Sixth International Colloquium on The white Mahakali stands tall in the monastery today LadakhLeh 1993 by Henry Osmaston and and the skull and the hand, are still in the tight grasp of NawangTseringher hands. ¡¡¡ Location: LadakhStory collected by: Arundhuti DasguptaDiskit, Mahakali, MonasteryStory told by: Monk at Disket monastery

The Sindhi community and has an religion, Mirk Shah ordered the arrest of interesting myth which involves the Vedic Jhulelal in court. As soon as he did, god, Varuna, the god of the oceans. waters gushed into the court from While many of the present day Sindhis nowhere drowning all those who were either follow the Hindu mainstream present. They threatened to do the same deities or the Sikh religion, on the day of to Mirk Shah too. At the same time, there Cheti Chand, they remember their was fire all around. Mirk Shah was patron saint, Jhulelal. surprised and scared to see what had

just happened and begged for mercy. No It is said that around the 10th Century sooner had he done that, the waters AD, the Turkish invaders were imposing receded and the fire was extinguished.their might and right on the Hindus by

forcing them to convert to Islam, in the After this, Jhulelal was worshipped by region of the Sapta-sindhu, the land of both the Hindus and the Muslims and it is seven rivers. Among them was a said that when he died, to commemorate tyrannical ruler called Mirk Shah who the site of his death, a structure was built, issued a dictat that all the Hindus should one side of which is a Hindu Samadhi embrace Islam. The people of the region (Sindh, now in and the other side is a Muslim Dargah – a rare symbol of present day Pakistan) went to the banks of the river the unification or the oneness of the two religions. In Sindhu and prayed continuously for forty days to the 1356, a shrine was built around his tomb, in present day Varuna. On the fortieth day, they heard a voice which Sehwan, in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Cheti Chand said that the Lord would take a human form (avatar) and is the birth day of Jhulelal, who has come to be known as be born to one Ratanchand Lohana and his wife, the patron saint of the Sindhis and a messiah of Devaki. The boy would be their saviour. Soon a child was communal harmony. His shrine is thronged by people of born to the Lohanas, who was named Uderolal (one both the communities every Thursday and on the who came from the waters). When the child was placed occasion ofUrs celebration.in the cradle, the cradle started rocking itself and thus he The iconography of Jhulelal depicts him as an old man came to be popularly known as Jhulelal. sitting atop a ‘pala’ fish (a fish which swims against the During his birth and thereafter while he was growing up, tide, again symbolic of Jhulelal’s going against the there are many stories that highlight a number of powers-that-be of the times). Since Jhulelalwas miracles performed by him. All these miracles only considered to be the human form of Varuna, the reinforced in the minds of the people and the rulers that depiction of fish (again a marine life) is not too far-this was no ordinary child. Mirk Shah, in the meantime fetched. Also since the civilization and the culture while had patiently been waiting for the ‘saviour’ who thrived on the banks of the Sindhu River, association of was supposed to bail out the Hindus from forceful Lord Varuna can be explained. The popular depiction of conversion, as he wanted to give a fair chance to the Jhulelal being old and elderly could be to grant him a people, much against the wishes of the clergy. Jhulelal’s sense of acceptance amongst the people of the times as fame had reached Shah and some of his people had old was always associated with wisdom, though in the also claimed to have witnessed some of his miracles. myth, there is a mention that Jhulelal grew up quite

faster than what mortals did. ¡¡¡ Soon Jhulelal and Mirk Shah came face to face and Jhulelal and tried to convince Shah that who he called STORY COLLECTED BY: UTKARSH PATELAllah was none other than who the Hindus called Ishwar LOCATION: SINDH, PAKISTANand the two were one. Mirk Shah however did not give

TEXT SOURCE: up till he was threatened by a miracle. It is said that when Contemporary Hinduism – By P. Pratap KumarJhulelal tried to convince him about the oneness of the

LEGENDJhulelal, the Water Saviour


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As I drive my regular route to Bookworm, I enter a world of Dr Seuss, briefly. I see window frames hanging from trees. I drive further to encounter window frames stuck onto lampposts and I slow down enough to read that they all advertise an upcoming film festival.

A shutter goes down on my brain. Perhaps the exact kind of shutter that many non readers feel when a text is opened up to them or an advertisement on books is displayed on a hoarding or the streets are being cleaned for a Literary Festival. But do these things happen at all ? We must pause to wonder.

When was the last time we celebrated the act of celebration of reading. reading or books as a society ? When did we crowd to meet a writer or an illustrator or line up to buy a book ? The Goa Arts and Literature Festival is around the When did window frames hang from trees to remind us corner too. This has been an event in the state for a that reading is indeed a window to the world ? couple of years now and every year we dedicate time ,

money and energy in talking to schools about students The act of reading texts had become so infinitely private attending. The curation and organisation of the event we and goal oriented that we have stopped looking for the organise on the side lawn of the main festival is nothing joy that books bring. Words like light reading, reading for but work, but at the end of that long road is a vision. If pleasure, reading joy and reading the funnies are children grow up knowing that huge clusters of adults absent from our vocabulary and that is telling. When gather together to talk about books, celebrate books, words and phrases vanish it is evidence that life spend money on books and are excited about texts experiences as we know them are not present any there must be some merit between those pages and longer and this is grave. they will get to them. If we shield these joys that millions But is the act of reading for joy really over ? We know of us book lovers experience in daily , weekly and annual from publishing data that there is a boom on printed events from children, they will never know that reading books as well as a steady surge on the e-book versions. can be joyous. The windows are closed and they only We know that for India , children’s publishing is at one of open for film and music and food and that is our failure to its all - time highs in terms of number of books as well as spread reading joy. number of publishers in this space. The awards season We need to stop asking what reading and books do to is here and stacks of books make their way to me in society but flip this around to ask what society does for boxes for jury decisions that always begin with hope and reading and books. One significant way we can ensure end with more hope for next year. But the point I want to this flip is by reaching out to events around books. If such make is that production is on the rise, so we must events are not visible, think of ways to make them assume readers are on the rise too, but I confess I am happen. Check out the library schedule and see what is meeting fewer of them than before. happening around reading , texts or discussions that Reading is becoming private and we do not have events may prompt and remind you to celebrate this act, that and public gatherings where books are privileged as a only human beings can enjoy and that is a privilege. Let society. I need a window, if it must hang from a tree so be us look for windows together, and a good place to start is it, but it is time to stretch and look out and see what we the Young GALF at ICG on the 8th and 9th of December can and must do to draw readers together in the from 10. 00 a. m - 12. 00 noon with Bookworm. ¡¡¡

Sujata Noronha

Sujata Noronha is an educator with a focus on early literacy. The heart of her work is supporting processes that enable more children to read, write and think.She has two Masters Degrees, one in Financial Management from Goa University and one Masters in Education from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Sujata has an M Phil in Education and is presently, pursuing a PhD in Education from the Tata Institute of Social Science.


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What is Diversity in a garden? either attracting pests to themselves (as in trap crops like

beans, white and yellow flowers, onions), repelling pests or Diversity in a kitchen garden can be thought of as the raising masking fragrance of other plants due to their strong smells of several species of plants at the same time in the same (as in garlic, onion, tulsi, basil etc…). Some plants like space. It is also known as poly culture. Conversely, growing of

only one crop at a time in your garden can be thought of as a marigold and haldiare known to keep soil-borne pests away mono culture. due to root secretions.

Why is it important?

Diversity is important, because it is

inevitable. In nature, we never see

only one kind of plant growing

exclusively in an area at a given point

in time. Naturally, one will find several

plants growing in a given space,

utilizing differently, the same

available resources. In a simple

example, a tree will grow upwards

taking up most of the available space

and sunlight, leaving shaded areas

which will be occupied by plants that

thrive in shade/semi-shade. And

more often than not, these plants will

grow precisely because the tree

provides this shaded environment. In

this manner, nature encourages

diversity, utilizing resources to the

fullest. Soil nutrient and water management: Plants can be selected

to grow together based on what they need from the soil or Maximising use of space: In our gardens, diversity is based on the depth and spread of their roots. For example, important for similar reasons. Having a diverse set of crops root vegetables can grow well with leafy vegetables. means we can utilize the available soil, sunlight and water in Tomatoes and herbs do well together because they have ways so as to maximize output from the kitchen garden, similar water needs. Corn and beans do well together in the while minimizing plants that we do not need (either we sow same space, which gourds can ramble at the base of these crops to fill up the available growing space, or naturally, plants, providing a live mulch for the soil.appropriate plants or 'weeds' will start growing).

Nutritional diversity: Most importantly, we need to take in Pest management: Plants with different attributes growing different kinds of food in order to get varied nutrients together can help one another in keeping pests away by

Diversity – The Soul of an Organic Kitchen GardenYogita

Over the last five years, Green Essentials has created an alternative food network that provides community access to higher-quality of food that is fresher, healthier and more delicious. This has been achieved by encouraging local farmers, home-gardens and collaborations like the Chorao Farmers Club. They have conducted many workshops for kitchen gardeners across Goa, running organic farms and Organic Farmers Markets and participating in the organisation of food-centric community events like the Konkan Fruit Fest.

Karan


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Diversity of produce is not only fun during harvest, but a necessity for a healthy garden

Figure 1: Create diversity even in small spaces by planting different types of vegetables together

ourselves. Growing a diverse set of plants in our kitchen If one is growing in a larger garden or a small farm, arranging diverse crops by beds as shown in Figure 2 is helpful to gardens can ensure this is achieved.minimize pest attacks. Seasonal rotation of crops in beds also

How to build it in your garden is a way to add diversity in the garden, ensuring the similar crops are not grown in the same beds in two consecutive In a garden: Building diversity in a garden, whether small or seasons.large is about planting crops from different families/types in

proximity with one another in ways that they support each In a container garden: Container gardens benefit from other's growth. In the example below, in a small patch of say diversity too and this can be brought about again by planting 1sq.meter, one can plant at least three crops – chillies more than one plant type per pot, especially in the case of towards the edges (18” apart), with lettuces (or other greens beans and gourds, which grow vertically, leaving the base of like spinach) in the middle row. Spring onions can be planted the pot free to plant leafy greens and herbs. Also, arranging in the space between the chillies taking up the available pots with different plant types together can be helpful in pest space. Such a patch will also benefit by planting a few management.marigolds in between as a pest repellent.

¡¡¡


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Figure 2 : For larger gardens, make several beds and repeat this pattern, taking different crops fromthe lists above


27

A POEM BY

Rtn. Bhavana Raikar

ROTARY – MAKING A DIFFERENCE

When I saw little babies, I gifted them a few drops of protection…

To eradicate Polio & I MADE A DIFFERENCE.

When I saw deprived children, I gifted them education……

To uproot ignorance & I MADE A DIFFERENCE.

When I saw dejected grand parents, I gifted them time and love…..

To evade loneliness & I MADE A DIFFERENCE.

When I saw dirty surroundings, I gifted my efforts & cleaned the place……

To preserve Planet Earth & I MADE A DIFFERENCE.

When I saw barren lands, I gifted a sapling……

To ensure greenery with fresh air & I MADE A DIFFERENCE.

When I saw someone dying, I gifted them timely help….

To protect a life & I MADE A DIFFERENCE.

When I saw unfortunate human beings in darkness, I gifted them the Power of Vision….

To brighten their life & I MADE A DIFFERENCE.

Love, Life & Care……Food, Clothing & Shelter…….Are you in need?

I will give it to you & MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Armed with a selfless troupe of Rotarians charged with the Motto of Friendship & Service,

THAT'S ME……. I AM ROTARY………………………MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE

Pickles from the past

Miscuit de camaraõ It is required to fry the prawns in sesame (til) oil.

For ½ lb of fried prawns, ¼ lb of onion chopped fine, 2 oz green chillies cut like the onion and 1 oz ginger also finely chopped.

Heat the til oil in a pan, the amount that will be required for the sautéing.

Put the chopped onion, chillies and ginger. Once it is sautéed add the chopped prawns.

After a while add some recheado masala,(red masala that is ground with vinegar and used to stuff fish). This should be added according to your taste.

Cook this on a low fire and after it is cool, bottle it.

It is necessary to put 1 wine glass of palm feni while the pickle is on the fire, being cooked. This is to preserve it better.


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These are recipes from my grandmother AldaMeneses’s personal collection. While translating them I realised that they have been put down as a record of how they (some are shared by other ladies) used to make it and not as a recipe to be followed by future generations. I have tried to preserve the essence of the style in the first recipe. For the others I have changed it to the format that we are used to nowadays.

In most cases the quantities are very close to the original ones.

Ingredients Method100 bilimbis Cut the bilimbi's into 4 pcs and 8 Aldona chillies sprinkle salt on them and keep them 5 thin chillies under some weight for 3 hours. 1tsp jeera Drain the water1tsp cloves Grind all the ingredients except the 1 tsp cinnamon last three with vinegar.1 whole pod of garlic Heat the oil in a pan and put the 4 pcs of turmeric ground mixture in it. Then add the 1 piece of ginger pieces of drained bimblis, sugar and 1 tsp black pepper curry patta leaves. Cook until the -------- bimblis are tender. Adjust the ¼ kg sugar sweetness to your taste.½ pint of oil Cool and bottleFew leaves of curry patta

Chetnim de bilimbins

Ingredients100 tendlins20 Aldona chillies3 whole pods of garlic1 oz of ginger1 oz turmeric1 tbs jeera1 oz green chillies1 cup sugar1 tsp black pepper---------1 pint refined oilFew curry leavesMethodCut the washed tendlins into 4,sprinkle salt and leave in the sun for 2 hours. Drain any liquid that might have collected.Grind all the ingredients except the last two, with vinegar into a fine paste.Heat the oil in a large pan, put the curry leaves and green chillies and the ground masala. Once this is cooking add the tendlins.While this is cooking throw in some mustard seeds and crushed methi seeds.Cook until just tender.Do not overcookAdjust the vinegar, salt and sweetness to your taste.Cool and bottle.

Achar de tendlins

Ingredients16 limes1 lb sugar½ lb dry dates 2 oz ginger 2 oz garlic,2 oz chilliesA little vinegarJuice of 4 limes2 tbs saltMethod Wash and dry the limes, then make a cross cut on each lime but only halfway through.Put salt into the cut. Fill a jar with the limes and keep them in the sun for 3 days.Then cut then into small pieces, and grind a part of the limes, the chillies, garlic and ginger with a little vinegar.Mix all the ingredients well adding the lime juice and fill them in bottles.This does not require cooking. The vinegar should be little.

Chetnim de limaõ(Lime chutney)

Ann Aira Mirchandani

(Prawn miscuit) (Bilimbi chutney)

(Tendlin pickle)

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