Weekend hangout: Damdama Lake

Damdama Lake- Moody and withdrawn, the lake unites a haunting loveliness to a raw desolateness. Tired of crowded week-end malls? Pissed of queuing to buy a Mc’ Donald’s burger? Bored of another 'Devdas' type movie? Try this for a week end outing, its Damdama Lake, away from crowded city centers, it’s much peaceful and enjoyment for all. Get the village feeling in the walled city.So take a break from the noise and pollution of Delhi to refresh and rejuvenate.

Sun set at the lake: Often did I wonder why the setting sun Should look upon us with a blushing face: Is't not for shame of what he hath seen done, Whilst in our hemisphere he ran his race? Water Banks lakeside village style resort is an island in the Damdama Lake less then an hour's drive from Delhi and only 30 minutes from the airport. The Resort has 15 ethnically village style independent cottages with modern luxuries- all facing the beautiful environs of Damdama lake.

A small hut by the side of lake-Many miles away there's a shadow on the door of a cottage on the Shore of a dark beautiful lake. Only reached by boats, activities here include rowing, fishing, bird watching, nature walks in the nearby Aravalli mountain ranges, rock climbing and hot air ballooning. Ideal for conferences, training program, leisure retreat, bar-be-cue dinners and weekend breaks. You will love the swinging Burma bridge and the 30 feet tall private machans to enjoy the quite interiors of the lake and its bird life.

In quest of top: One does not climb to attain enlightenment, rather one climbs because he is enlightened. A smooth blend of comfort and nature where you naturally revel in its richness and relax in its serenity. Tune your body and free your spirit at Waterbanks. Peaceful and eco friendly, it encourages people to live in harmony with the environment. In the tranquil surroundings of the Damdama lake, framed by forests, wildlife, bird life and the Aravalli ranges, Waterbanks captivates the romantic and releases the adventurer in you.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake. There is never a dull moment here, not even when the sun goes down. In fact, the real fun begins when dusk brings in a subtle change of mood around a bonfire and a barbecue at the lakeside. A perfect time for socializing perhaps with light and soothing music.See that flush back on your children's faces as they ride, boat, trek and breathe the clear fresh air or just climb up the exciting machaans for a view over the beautiful lake and its environs, only an hour away from Delhi. On the whole, have a whale of a time.

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Capital Affair- 'Suraj Kund' Fair

Folk dancers at the fair: The Surajkund Crafts is an annual event that highlight some of the finest handloom and handicraft traditions of the country. From 1st to 15th February rural India basks in the warmth of admiration at Surajkund mela village that lies some 8 km from South Delhi. The Mela also celebrates the rhythms of folk theatre- and a theme State that makes each visitor marvel

Rest wait for thier turn: The Mela is organised under the aegis of the Suraj Kund Mela Authority. This comprises of the Department of Tourism Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Governement of India in collaboration with Haryana Tourism,
Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Commissioner Development (Handicrafts)

A foreign national at Suraj Kund 'Mela': The objectives

• To create a rural ambience for the foreign and domestic tourist to see.
• To educate patrons both from abroad, urban centres and educational institutes about the fascinating technique and skills involved in craft creation.
• To introduce crafts and craftspersons directly to the buyers and help them find their patrons.
• To Identify, nurture and preserve languishing crafts of the country and save it for posterity.

Suraj Kund is a beautiful tourist location of Haryana Tourism and in its lovely setting, folk painters, metal workers, stone and wood carvers, tie dye craftspersons, embroiders, lace makers, textiles printers, carpet and loom weavers, producers of silk fabrics, jewellers and sculptors- execute and display their skills. The entrance to fair: The fortnight long celebrations also come as a food festival. Some of the popular food traditions from Punjab come at the Punjabi 'Rasoi'. South Indian delicacies come in from South Indian Section. Popular Chinese and snack foods also arrive for the event along with a special stalls where patrons are introduced to the traditional foods and sweet meats of the selected theme State. A woman tries the art of heena artist: The Surajkund Crafts Mela has grown equally famous for the rhythms of folk theatre: It resonates with the formal notes of the classical genre: The heady rhythms of percussion instruments: The ballads of singing minstrels: The clebration of the simple joys of rural life and reverence of epic traditions all mingle well. All these colourful events are also presented before the audience in the open-air-theatre named Natyashala. Folk dancers performing at the fair: Some of the most deligtful crafts collections of the Mela arrive from practically all over the country. In wood and cane come inlay work, rose wood carving, sandal wood from Punjab and South India. Chiki wood craft of Kashmir and some very fine cane craft come from West Bengal and North Eastern States. One more: Delcate sholapith and shital patti work come from Assam and West Bengal. The phulkari of Punjab, the Banjara and Banni embroidery of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Kantha traditions from West Bengal and Tripura, lace and crochet from Goa, the Suzni of Kashmir and Mirror encasing work along with the traditional chikan work of Lucknow delight.Oxidized jewellery, sea shell decorations and agate stone work delight as also do delicate gold work and chunky silver jewellery. Toys in wood and cane, ply and mud make the young thrill with joy. Some of the fine phad paintings of Rajasthan, the kalamkari of Andhra and Karnataka, temple paintings of Orissa, madhubani of Bihar, fascinate. In the metal section tribal dhora work, classical south Indian metal work, glittering brass ware, bell metal and iron craft delight collectors. In the field of woven textiles some of the finest silk work of Orissa, Patola, Bandhini of Gujarat and Rajasthan, Ikat, Kanjeevaram, Dharmavaram and temple silks of South India vie for attention with the most simple cottons of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and tribal textiles of North East India as also do the handloom of Haryana. The Various Crafts particpated in the Mela every year. The Introduction of some of the Crafts are as follows:
Cane & Bamboo
Embroidery
Metalware
Pottery

THE SURAJKUND Crafts Mela 2009 was unusually vibrant and lively with the ambience full of drumbeats and folk music spreading the festivity all over. The display of exquisite handicrafts and handlooms further added the colour to the mela making it a perfect getaway for the visitors away from the hustle bustle of city life. Varieties of cuisines from all parts of India and foreign countries were relished by the crowd.

The Mela is a paradise for the shoppers’ and one could see an entire spectrum of buyers, with their hands laden with bags.

Among the crafts this year, woodcraft garnered special attention and praise. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of stalls of this craft this year. The craftsmen of this art find the platform of the Surajkund Crafts Mela extremely beneficial, as they get immense publicity and recognition. It also helps them to add to their income, which supports for almost the whole year. The mela provides them an elevated stage, with large number of buyers, wherein they get an opportunity to popularise their age old craft in addition to reaping the benefits of selling their products directly to the consumers.

These craftsmen, to say the least, have emerged as the flag bearers of the dying art of wooden carving. Due to the advent of variety of machines, handmade wood carvings find it difficult to sustain in the present day market but a platform like Surajkund Crafts Mela provides unique opportunity for them to sell these products to those buyers who understand the artistic value of these handicraft. Surajkund Crafts Mela mainly has the craftsmen, who have been the recipients of national or state awards. These master craftsmen are the real ambassadors of India for the foreign tourists, who throng the mela, in large numbers, every year. The craft can easily be seen gaining popularity in foreign countries, especially the Arabian countries, where woodcraft has a special place in the hearts of the people.

Abdul Rehman Siddiqui is one such craftsperson, who hails from Saharanpur, UP, and has been in this business for the past 50 years. He learnt his art and skill from his forefathers. He and his nephew Shahid Siddiqui have already helped more than 150 other youngsters to learn the tricks of this trade. Recipient of national award for his woodcarving, Siddiqui had a chance to hone up his skills in wood carvings by visiting Germany. This exposure to a foreign land has provided him an edge over other craftsmen in this trade. This is for the second time that he has got an opportunity to exhibit his craft at the Surajkund Crafts Mela and he finds it extremely profitable, he confessed.

Basher Ahmed, one of the other craftsmen, also hails from UP. He makes an exclusive use of brass on wood carvings. He makes variety of walking sticks, jewellery boxes, coaster sets and even hair clips with this art. His entire family is devoted to this craft for more than 100 years. He also holds a national award for the year 1984.

Sardar Hussein makes use of block printing art on wooden boxes. From mirror frames to candle stands, one can find beautiful wooden artifacts with intricate designing. He has been bestowed with Shilp Guru Award, in 2006, for his special creations.

The mela provides a perfect blend of cultural heritage of various states of India. The cultural events showcase the various aspects like with ethnicity, environment and prosperity of various regions of our country. Khalil Mohammed Kalwal, a craftsman from Kashmir, was demonstrating the art of walnut wood carving in the Surajkund Mela, grounds at stall No.281. He has already exhibited his craft in various countries like Dubai and Romania. The beauty of his art lies in the fact that walnut wood is exclusively used for his creations. He finds this platform very lucrative for his business where he earned name, fame and his livelihood.

This mela is a perfect platform for direct sales as the chances of traders and middlemen to reap benefits out of the creations of the craftsmen is completely shelved, commented Kahlil Kalwal. It also gives them a chance to provide authentic handmade wood craft to their customers as per their own choice. Surajkund Crafts Mela has craftsmen participating from far flung areas like Leh and Ladakh also, who have caught the attention of the buyers. Tsering Namgyar makes use of special wood of Leh and Ladakh region and carves them out to make beautiful tables and boxes. These are matchless, commented one of the foreigners visiting the mela.
Nafisa Begum, a recipient of national award makes sure that she employs economically poor so that they can learn the art of wood carving and become self dependent. Women from extremely poor households, widows and young girls, are also taught the art of woodcraft to alleviate the problem of poverty to some extent. It was heartening to see that these struggling crafts-persons play an active role in the society as a whole.

The Surajkund Crafts Mela authority this year decided to promote this almost dying craft to make it self-sustainable. Fifteen work huts were offered to various craftsmen, belonging to this field, and the response at theses stalls was overwhelming

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City Satellite : Dancing Queen of Gurgaon

Biological sciences is where she shows her academic prowess. But when it comes to living life, she lives Bharatnatyam. Meet Neeta Bala, a resident of Gurgaon’s Sector 30, she recently rendered a Bharatanatyam recital at the Shri Siddhi Ganesh Mandir in DLF Phase IV. In town now to visit her family, Neeta is not new to the art. She has been learning this art since 1995. "Ever since I got into dancing there has been no looking back. I have always tried to strike a balance between dance and whatever I am doing," she says.

Bala She has given several solo performances and has been a part of various group performances by Nrityaranjani in India and abroad. She has also accompanied her Guru for lecture demonstrations. Neeta is also an empanelled artiste of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). An alumnus of Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, Neeta also played an active role in the dance department of her school. She was awarded the Rudra award for the best all round student in her school. Neeta is presently in the final year of BSc in biological sciences at St Johns University, USA.

Having begun early in the pursuance of her passion, Neeta has been following her sister’s footsteps. "I am a big fan of my elder sister and I have always followed her example. Among other things I picked p dance as she was into dancing when she was a child. At that point I did not realise the value of dancing. The first time that I knew I wanted to be a serious dancer was when I won a classical dancing competition at my school when I was in standard 5. The next turning point in my dancing career was my debut show or my arengetram. It was then that I decided this was to be my life. Despite being a science student, I danced avidly. Being away from India and thus away from regular training, I practice on my own and make it a point to perform every time I am in town."A disciple of a guru Kanaka Srinivasan, Bala feels that Srinivasan has been a wonderful, flawless mentor. "She makes sure that I stay connected to Bharatnatyam and tirelessly works with me in order for me to improve and learn more," shares Bala, "I know that wherever I am and whatever I am doing, I will surely also be dancing."Bala is also a great admirer of the city and strongly feels that Gurgaon is home to great intellect, great culture and budding leaders. Especially with people from different backgrounds and cultures coming together at one place, makes Gurgaon a very rich place indeed. She asserts, "Gurgaon is always buzzing with activity. The new highway is a real blessing and the view of Gurgaon while driving into the city is fabulous. I strongly believe that the city is on its way to becoming better with the Metro."Ask her about the lack of cultural scene in Gurgaon and the absence of such centres that would promote these activities, she strongly denies it. "Gurgaon is blessed with some great institutes and the children are making most of these opportunities," she offers.

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SEZs spreading wings

To say that Gurgaon is content with its development is an over statement. With the recent proposal to have more Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the city seems to have an insatiable desire to grow.Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are coming up in Gurgaon in a big way to attract more business, of which five are to be set up by private players in synergy with the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). Land acquisition has already started in several areas for the projects that are lately attracting different private players.

“We have already received formal approval from the Haryana Government and Ministry of Commerce, Government of India for multi-service SEZ project. This 8000-crore project will have IT, biotechnology, cargo and warehouse facilities. Talks are on with different builders for it to be developed. The project will take ten years for completion,” says Rahul Chopra, director SKN Bentex Group. According to Chopra, the projects will further augment the prospect and prosperity of the city with creation of lakhs of job opportunities with industrial development. The joint venture agreements with DLF have been signed for setting up multi-product SEZs in Gurgaon. DLF IT SEZ with campus development in Silokhara is nearing completion and it is expected to be functional by the first quarter of 2009. However, DLF is waiting for the latest government policy on their multi product SEZ in Manesar.
On the other hand the HSIIDC is coming up with a joint venture with Reliance Industries Limited for the SEZ in an area of 21,000 acres. “HSIIDC has handed over 14,000 acres of land to Reliance in the villages of Jharsa, Narishingpur, Khandsa and adjoining areas. The HSIIDC received 10 percent sweat equity in these projects and contributed 1,086 acres from its own land bank,” informed Hamvir Singh, deputy GM HSIIDC. Sources in the Reliance Industries Limited maintain, “Land acquiring process is on and once this is over, we will jump to the next step.”

Likewise Raheja Group’s SEZ inManesar is also coming up. It is near the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and will be joining the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Global Corridor and the Western Railway Freight Corridor. Residents have their shares of reactions on coming up of so many SEZs. “I am not sure if such SEZs will help Gurgaon or not. Such projects should be started in backward states and other underdeveloped areas of Haryana. We do not need such projects here,” opines Amrit Sharma, a resident of DLF Phase-II.

Despite lucrative compensation offered by Haryana government (an annual royalty of Rs 10,000 per acre for 33 years to the farmers affected by state industrial and housing projects) besides usual compensation of 25 percent job reservation for farmers and landless villagers dependent on land acquired and job reservations for reserved categories as sanitation staff in the SEZs, farmers are not showing enthusiasm.

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Just Like That

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Length of sweet

In the busy commercial center of Old Delhi, a worker outside a shop twists a length of syrup that will be used to make sweets

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Aloo Karare!!

The humble potato is Delhi's delight during the winter months. And aloo chaat, is the best form in which the potato can be consumed in this part of the world, at this time of the year.As the temperature drops to the season's lowest, I sit down and close my eyes. I see a photo slide of the various foods that I'd love to gorge on this winter (as any other). Aloo chaat, shakarkandi, jalebis from Chandni Chowk, mom-made halwa, kaanji (the blood red spicy drink made from bleeding carrots), and what not flash before my eyes.I happened to visit the Ham House (known to people as Hamilton House), aloo chaat wala twice in the past two weeks and thought of talking (read writing) about him here. As the name suggests, the chaat wala sits (in a corner) outside the Hamilton House, Inner Circle, Connaught PlaceI've been having the alu chaat made by him ever since I've been visiting Connaught Place. A visit to Connaught Place is rather incomplete without a nibble at this spicy snack, priced slightly high at Rs.20 for a plate.Vijay is the man who carries forward the legacy of his father and elder brother of selling the famed chaat.

And it has been 35 years since Delhiites have had the pleasure of gorging on it. Vijay also does a fruit chaat for you, if you want. During winters he also does the sweet potato or shakarkandi to please your tatse buds. But nothing beats the humble potato: diced, fried, spiced up (mild spicy to fiery hot) and served hot. Ahaaa! Yummm! And yeah he faced the axe from the Supreme Court when the street food vendors and stalls were asked to be removed. Later, everything fell in place (only for old players like these) and now he sells chaat to you legally. :)

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Whats cooking Delhi?

Singh Sahib at Hotel InterContinental Eros, Nehru Place, offers a royal treat this month with the traditional Balti cuisine. As the name suggests the food is traditionally cooked and served in “Balti” and is a popular cuisine in Mirpur an d adjoining Potohar region of North Pakistan. Some of the non-vegetarian and vegetarian signature dishes on offer include: Baalti Prawn Masala, Baalti Gosht, Baalti Paneer Mirch, Baalti Rajmah Lazzatdar and many more. Open from November 7 to 15.Delicious Sweets This winter you can turn the winter blues into sweet euphoria with delicious dolci at Urban Pind at N-4, Greater Kailash-I. You can try out the extraordinary chocolate brownie presented straight from the oven or the panna cotta with blueberry sauce. The dessert menu features many favourites from tiramisu to the bailey’s mousse cake, besides cheese cakes and soufflés. Open all through this month from noon to 1 a.m., priced Rs.150 onwards.

Kabab is king The Great Kabab Factory at the Radisson Hotel on National Highway has undergone a complete renovation, allowing their guests to relax and enjoy a very unique dining experience. The Great Kabab Factory (TGKF), which is found today across eight countri es, is one of the largest Indian restaurant chains in this category. Meraj-ul-Haque, Master Chef, TGKF talked of his life and recipes. “I was born in Lucknow, it is our traditional job and my forefathers were also involved in the same profession. I have worked with the Oberoi groups in Delhi, Mumbai and also in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia before I joined TGKF. I was part of former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s visit to Malaysia. I have received compliments from Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, late Pramod Mahajan and many other celebrities”. TGFK has approximately 400 varieties of kabab on offer. Some of their dishes are lamb galouti kabab, barrah kabab, vegetarian galouti kabab, kurkure paneer, etc. Gudh imli ki chaat, aloo hara dhania, cocum-kurry leaves ki machchi are some of the vegetarian specialities. The breads and desserts are another highlight.

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Shades of Delhi

A man shoulders a stack of brightly colored saris on a street in Old Delhi, a predominantly Muslim area built by Emperor Shah Jahan

A young man dashes barefoot across the courtyard of Delhi’s Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) in Shahjahanabad, or Old Delhi
Marigold flower heads, used in religious ceremonies, dry on a roof above a flower market near Khari Baoli, in the heart of Old Delhi.
A ful-wallah delivers flowers on his bicycle in the district of Mehrauli, one of seven ancient cities that are now a part of Delhi.
In the busy commercial center of Old Delhi, a worker outside a shop twists a length of syrup that will be used to make sweets.

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Shopping, shopping and more shopping

SHOPPING, THE word itself creates a happy picture in your mind! And it revolves not only around buying things for yourself and for others, but is also a tool of interaction. Hanging around some place, you observe different people, get to keep in touch with the new trends in the market, of course who doesn’t want to know the ’what’s in and what’s out’ update.
Some people see shopping as merely stress busters, which of course it is and beyond. “Being a consumer sometimes means fantasising and dreaming about objects, and this is boosted when we come face-to-face with things that arouse various feelings of attraction and resistance,” says Ottoson, who has researched on the way we look at things we want to acquire.
He says that searching in this way teaches us what is available and how we can track down what we are looking for. Fashion designer Ranna Gill agrees to this and says, “Shopping actually serves a manifold purpose for me - I enjoy it immensely. see it as a way to interact with myself, a personal zone where I get to decide on which aspects would loom large in the foreground, while others would be pushed back. Going shopping with friends spells on if you carry same interests and at the same time, its interesting to acknowledge how stark the differences in choices are. You get an eye into the other person’s likings and this gives you an edge in searching for the right gift that would suit their interest. And of course, window shopping gives us enough topics for discussion!
In spite of the damage (financially), it is a rich experience where you try and get something better and finer than what you had expected. This is one activity where you don’t have to think, just catch what your heart says!

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Yet Again....Delhi Blasted

Members of bomb disposal squad examine a blast site in New Delhi

A victim being taken to Ram Manohar lohia Hospital after Serial blasts Rocked delhi saturday eveining

At least five blasts ripped through different parts of the National Capital on Saturday evening between 6:15 PM and 7 PM. At least 18 have been killed and over 100 have been injured. Unconfirmed reports say the casualty figure may be higher.According to Delhi Police, two persons were detained from Connaught Place area soon after the blasts. Police said a boy named Rahul had claimed to have seen the terrorists. Rahul informed the police that terrorists were travelling in an auto-rickshaw. He also said that the terrorists were clad in black kurta-pyjama. Security was tightened across the National Capital, with police personnel fanning out in large numbers to railway and Metro stations, hospitals, bus terminals and airport. Gun-toting security personnel were deployed at sensitive points after explosions in a span of 45 minutes ripped through the city. Barricades were put up at several places to regulate traffic. There was chaos on the roads as people who were outside rushed back home following the blasts. Security was stepped up at railway and Metro stations, inter-state bus terminals, airport, cinema halls, shopping malls and other sensitive points. Several major city markets, including the popular Sarojini Nagar Market which was targeted in the previous Diwali-eve blasts in 2006, were shut down and evacuated. Mobile services were jammed in Connaught Place and Gaffar Market area, the sites of three of the explosions. Extra personnel have been deployed at religious places, besides keeping an extra vigil on the borders. Police have asked cyber cafe owners and dealers to be on alert and keep a tab on their customers. Security has been tightened at all the Metro stations to avoid any untoward situation. "Security has already been strengthened and frisking and checking of the commuters have been stepped up. The Metro is under constant vigil," a CISF spokesperson said. He added that the public transport system is already under red-alert and hence security has always been the priority. Extra personnel have been pressed into service to keep a vigil on the commuters.

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JALEBIS AND REST....

I went out shopping one Saturday, was unimpressed with what i called the “refined” taste of air-conditioned mall chaat. “If you want street food you go to the street,” was my friend's verdict. She dug instead into a platter of fried bread and vegetables.Street foods in the mall do not immediately threaten the street food of Delhi, but the roadside vendors may well have to change the way they do business. A court order earlier this year directed the city to ban the cooking of food outdoors, though not the sale of precooked foods. The city has yet to issue final rules, but it is likely to usher in changes to chaat-making.

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AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE

Akshardham Temple is a magnificent Hindu shrine, situated in the east region of New Delhi. Located on the banks of River Yamuna, it was inaugurated in November 2005, by the former President of India - APJ Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister - Manmohan Singh and Pramukh Swami Maharaj - the spiritual leader of BAPS. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the current spiritual leader of Swaminarayan Sanstha, BAPS. Swaminarayan Akshardham was constructed under his guidance, after his guru, Yogiji Maharaj, expressed a wish for the same.As a spiritual leader, Swamiji constantly travels and meets people across the world, to help them lead better lives. There are various cultural and educational activities conducted by the Swaminarayan Sanstha. Akshardham is also a part of BAPS's initiative to promote Indian art, culture and values. BAPS also has a charitable arm, known as BAPS Care, working for the betterment of the people. The main shrine in the complex is dedicated to Bhawgwan Swaminarayan. The temple enshrines 11 ft tall gilded statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The building is constructed entirely from Pink Sandstone and Italian Marble, without any concrete or steel. The intricate carvings, magnanimous structure and the backdrop of River Yamuna, render the temple a masterpiece of art. Other than the main temple, there are a number of buildings in the complex where you can enjoy cultural and spiritual activities. The Halls'Sahajanand Pradarshan' is the first Hall in the complex. It features life size robots, dioramas, and incidents from Bhagwan Swaminarayan's life. It also houses world's smallest animatronic robot, in the form of Ghanshyam Maharaj, the child form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.'Nilkanth Kalyan Yatra', Hall 2, houses a large format screen. Here, a movie, specially commissioned for the complex, shows the journey of Bhagwan Swaminarayan throughout India.'Sanskruti Vihar', Hall 3, takes visitors on a journey through 10,000 years of Indian history in 10 minutes. Visitors are seated in specially designed peacock boats that make their way around an artificial river.The Yagnapurush KundThe Yagnapurush Kund is India's largest step well. It descends down, via a series of steps, to a traditional 'yagna kund'. At night, a musical fountain show, representing the circle of life, is played for an audience, seated on the same steps. The Bharat UpavanThe Bharat Upavan, or 'Garden of India', has sprawling lawns, varied trees and shrubs, dotted with bronze sculptures of the contributors to India's culture. The Yogi Hraday KamalIt is a lotus shaped garden, containing stones engraved with quotes from world luminaries, ranging from Shakespeare and Martin Luther King, to Swami Vivekananda and Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Other Features
Nilkanth Abishek Mandapam
Narayan Sarovar
AARSH Centre
Premvati Ahargruh

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Hawkers And Rickshaw Pullers of Delhi pay Rs. 40 cr bribes monthly

The laws governing livelihoods in India make it impossible to pursue alegitimate occupation without being terrorised or fleeced by some governmentagency or the other. Liberalisation has failed to create an enablingenvironment for 90% of the country's workforce that operate in the informalsector, says Madhu KishwarMadhu Kishwar, editor Manushi, founded Manushi Sangathan, an organisationaiming to improve the lot of thousands of street vendors andrickshaw-pullers in Delhi. If the experiment proves a success, Kishwar ishoping her efforts will be duplicated by other civil society organisations.Kishwar's recently released book Deepening Democracy -- Challenges ofGovernance and Globalisation in India offers detailed strategies to dealwith the issues of employment and globalisation.

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CHILD LABOR

Some percentage of child labour comes from brutality/ harassments by parents or stepparents. They are mainly from urban areas of poors. This percentage is too less and easily controllable by penalties to such parents and children rights. But rural poverty and lack of employment or partial employment and illiteracy has given birth to majority of child labour problem.
Nearly 30% of population in poor countries are poorest of poor who are not even able to earn enough for one day food with big family have to largely depend on children to earn and feed. Parents of these children are mainly illiterate or semi literate are unable to find jobs, which can provide enough salary. Dream of education to children is impossible unless suitable employment opportunities made available to at least one person in the family. Simply by opening schools and providing books are not sufficient measures. We need to understand the reason behind child labour that is poverty and unemployment. Minimizing poverty and creation of more and more suitable jobs to parents are the only solution of eradication of majority of child labour problem.

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TRAFFIC CHAOS

The two cars here are trying to take a right and the Temo guy has entered from the wrong side, and no one can go anywhere! I am sitting behind the white car, clicking my camera and trying to pass time.The bus and the motorcycle guy both are on the wrong side. The guy in grey Santo (on the right) finally started getting angry and twisted his wheels to block the motorcycle guy. I try to stay cool by switching on the AC for a short while, but then switch it off, after all how much petrol can I burn, sitting in this gridlock? By now I am getting late for the office but no one really bothers you here, and I anyway rarely get late, so no major hassels for me.

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