Pujo Pandal comes fighting for the Environment in Noida Sector 82

The relatively new Udayan Puja Samiti working in close coordination with the civic bodies and local RWAs organised a Navratri celebration at a community centre off the Noida Expressway near Sector 82. One of the key objectives other than mere celebration was to create awareness amongst the citizens about environment-related issues and sustainable changes that can be brought in daily lives.

The Durga Puja Pandal this year unlike the previous years was made entirely of Bamboo, Cloth, Mud and Clay with minimum use of Plastic. The idols too were made of eco-friendly substances and were immersed in pits instead of the river. Plastic was not used even in the form of cutlery and 800 stainless steel utensils were taken on loan by the authority. The utensils were procured by the “Bartan Bank” started by Noida Authority.

According to the organisers, the pandal was made keeping in mind the guidelines, of DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Council). The Pandal was decorated by Bamboo and Clay instead of thermocol and Plaster of Paris. “Our decoration items were eco-friendly like, bamboo, jute, cane and winnowing baskets were used. We hired Bengali artisans to make paper lanterns and other artefacts. Instead of Plastic of Paris, paper mache was used.” said Anuj Chakravorty, organiser of the pandal.

To propagate the agenda further, various events were held for people of all ages, poster making, dance competition and even the best of waste. Panchami had visitors relishing home-cooked food in a cookery competition held. On Saptami musical events happened. Apart from musical events, there was a theatre performance on Ashtami. On Navami, there was a dhunuchi dance competition and a Bharat Natyam performance. At the end of the performances diaries made from recycled paper were given as mementos to all the participants and the chief guests talked about the 3Rs, i.e. is reduce, reuse and recycle and insisted that people bring about changes in their everyday lives, he ended the events by saying, “Mata toh 9 din mein chali jaati hai lekin prakriti maata humare saathh humesha raheti hai aur ek hi hai.”

RAM KE NAAM [1992] DOCUMENTARY REVIEW

Ram Ke Naam is a movie by Anand Patwardhan. It’s documentary on the issue of the Babri Masjid demolition.

This movie mostly focuses on how politicians use religion and caste for their own purpose. In the movie, BJP leaders use this strategy for increasing the strength of the party. In 1949 a pujari dreamt of Lord Ram appearing in the Masjid. After that then-District Magistrate K. K. Nayar installed an idol of Rama inside the Masjid. This led to starting the issue of the communal situation and the BJP leaders and leaders of VHP took advantage of this for their party’s development. The effect of the communal situation was mostly on the common people who were supporting the Raath Yatra which was started by L.K. Advani.

The people who were with Rath Yatra and supporters didn’t even know the basic facts about where Rama was born and when!  The people who were living near the villages of Ayodhya during the Rath Yatra were asked questions. They were slum dwellers, small traders, farmers- they told him that they didn’t care about issue; they just wanted Hindu-Muslim unity and nothing else.

V.H.P. and B.J.P have ties which lead to the events depicted in the film. The film shows how  Hindu sentiments were misguided and used to divide the county by hatred into religious boundaries which helped B.J.P gain an important political voice, which helped it to come into power for the first time and set the stage for a change in the political arena which can be seen even now with Narendra Modi in power. It was a complete injustice to not just the Hindu, or to be specific, Ram’s ideals of a just and happy state while also being a complete disregard of Muslim sentiments.

“Sun ne ki Shamta Rakhiye” Jamyang Tsering Namagyan bringing forward the voice of people from Ladakh

“Sun ne ki Shamta Rakhhiye” repeated in the house and urged the people to listen to the voices from Ladakh, while the house erupted in discussions and debate when Amit Shah presented the bill pertaining to dilute of Article 370, Jamyang Tsering Namagyan MP from Ladakh, presented his point of view about the situation. Addressing his point of view he said Ladakh has been fighting for UT for the last seven decade. He further blamed Congress and Article 370 for underdevelopment and stated this decision as a rectification of mistake done by congress.

Addressing the parliament he said “This abrogation of Article 370 will only affect two families in the Kashmir. He targeted the opposition who were talking about equality. “The funds allotted for Ladakh is used for development in Jammu and Kashmir and out of 1000 jobs created not even 10 jobs are given to ladakhis”, The MP said.

Remembering the great leader Dr Shyama Prasad Mukharjee he said, his dream of one nation, one constitution is fulfilled now. He questioned Gulam Nabi Azad that when he was chief minister in 2008 and four new districts were created in Kashmir and four were created in Jammu why Ladakh was not given even one new district.

He welcomed the decision thanking honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of all the people and concluded by saying “Desh k liye pyar hai toh jataya karo, kisi ka intezear matt karo, garv se bolo jai hind, abhiman se bolo bhartiya hai hum, swabhiman se kaho bharat mata ki jai aur VARTMAN MEIN KARO ISS BILL KA SAMARTHAN.”

 

Stop romanticising Mental Illness

One out of every five adults is suffering from mental illness. Nearly 16 million people are facing severe depression and 42 million are living with an anxiety disorder. And what we are doing to help those people, nothing. Rather, we have formed a quote to run away from it, “chaos is beautiful”.

We are glorifying mental health. Have you ever wondered what depression is and what it feels like to have it? Circumstances, after failing in an exam or breaking up with your boyfriend/girlfriend, are not depression; it is just a setback which will be conquered by you. But what about mental health, do you think it is that easy as a break up with your loved ones or failing an exam. If you think like this then my friend you need to get your shit together because it is not a lamenting sprinkle, it’s a catastrophic alp.

Many a time on social media I read, “Suicide is blissful” or “they are into another blissful world away from the cruelty of life”. What hurt me the most is without knowing their condition how can they say such nonsense things? Do you think that a person, who contemplates existence, reckons to end his/her life is in the blissful state? Do you think that peoples who don’t even know what is happening to them are in the blissful state? They ask themselves, why are they crying? Why are they filling strangled? Why life is so dull to them and why are they asking themselves, why? These questions are always left unanswered. How would you feel when you are cheerful from the outside but deep inside you are stuck in a dark pit, When your mind suddenly decides to stroll down the path of nothingness, when your heartbeat and calmness tries to elope when the barbaric void trounces existence. Just for once walk in their shoes and you will get to the vivid picture.

You might be unaware and your loved ones might be living with it. So, spread happiness, love one and all and spend time with your loved ones.