Can India face the quakes? No place for complacency!

Recently, the most technologically advanced nation of the world, Japan got hit by an earthquake that measured 8.9 on the Richter scale. Post this incident there have many assurances from Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India towards the fact that nuclear plants in India are safe owing to the fact that they are not close to the geological faults generating earthquakes and tsunamis; despite this, the leading geologists in India have voiced their concern regarding this similar kind of threats and India’s preparedness to tackle the kind of devastating situation as in Japan.

A well-known geologist at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research located at Bangalore, K.S. Valdiya is among those who think that complacence will definitely be harmful. He also said that had the tsunami of 2004 happened from near the Andaman Islands, and not Sumatra, it would have lashed the eastern coast of India with greater ferocity.

Several earthquakes capable of generating tsunamis have originated near the Andaman Islands and it cannot be guaranteed that such huge events won’t be taking place in future.

As per the latest works of K.S. Valdiya, the “lineaments” identified by the field work and remote sensing along the west coasts of states like Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra “are actually geological faults” that have the potential capability of causing earthquakes. While some of the faults are inert, some on the other hand are active and locked as well that is without any movement.

Valdiya also added further that

“one cannot simply locate nuclear plants on the basis of today’s hazard zoning map that is based on past occurrences of earthquakes………Just because a fault has not been identified, it doesn’t mean the fault does not exist”.

Valdiya’s work has also come up with detection of a seismic “hotspot” near the Indo-Gangetic plain, which should be addressed.

As per C.P. Rajendran from the Centre for Earth Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science located in Bangalore, India has the biggest threat of earthquake from the Himalayan region. To quote him:

“One of our major concerns should be the 2,500-km long Himalayan plate boundary that extends from the northwest to northeast, a zone that hosts potential fault lines that could generate both large and great earthquakes (magnitude-7 and above).”

There are several gaps Himalayan axis such as the central Himalayas, which have been quiet from a long time and might generate earthquakes in future. There are seismic gaps also in the northeast Himalayas. Rajendran believes that the geologists in India should take motivation from the Japanese disaster and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and thereby check out India’s preparedness to handle earthquake-related calamities.

He also added:

“We need to focus both on the earthquake engineering and on the scientific research of the earthquake processes.”

A senior geologist at NGRI that is National Geophysical Research Institute located in Hyderabad, Vineet Gahalaut also agreed to this saying:

“The Japan region is the best instrumented region in the world and even there this earthquake occurred as a surprise……We need to improve our understanding of the earthquake occurrence processes. We need more instrumental data”.

Though there are less chances of India facing the threat of an earthquake so big in magnitude yet there are complete chances of earthquake measuring 6 or above in the Richter scale looming over different regions in the country.

The whole India has been categorized into 4 seismic zones, 2, 3, 4 and 5, according to the sensitivity of the region to quakes. Zone 5 consists of areas with earthquake threats measuring about 9 in the Richter scale. Zone 4 consists of quake threats measuring 8to 9 on the Richter scale while Zone 3 comprises of earthquakes in between 6to 8 on the Richter scale. In terms of quake threats, about 65% of India comes under zone 3. About 17 states and 169 districts in India have been announced to be sensitive to earthquakes.

Delhi falls under zone 4. The situation in Delhi is so grave that if an earthquake takes place in the region, lakhs of houses can get destroyed. In the year it was made mandatory for the houses being established in the capital city to use anti-earthquake techniques. Unfortunately, it has always been ignored. Similar situations can be found in case of other cities in India as well. About 80% of the population in Delhi is located in irregular colonies and slums constructed without the recommendations from the engineer. Hence it is very obvious that these houses have not been created as per the earthquake situation tackling norms.

Professor S Mukherjee in this regard has pointed out the fact that many localities in Kolkata and Delhi have more than 2 lakh people residing in every square kilometer. Hence in case of earthquakes there are possibilities of heavy casualties.

The most unfortunate fact in India is that the inadequacy in the infrastructure often mars the entire relief measures and procedures in India. In times of disasters, more people die because of the lack in the basic infrastructure. With a ratio of 0.7:1000, India is not even able to provide with a single bed for every 1000 people in the country. Further approximately only a single doctor is available for every 1722 patients in the country.

Scarcity of money or funds is yet another huge problem that is plaguing the Indian system.

When asked if the geologists in India are ready to face similar earthquakes as that of Japan, “No” was the answer that came form Vineet Gahalaut, the senior geologist at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI). He pointed out that:

“The biggest problem is the implementation of building codes and lack of public awareness…….When death toll and economic losses in such a technologically advanced country like Japan may reach so high, imagine a country like India, where there is no law on building codes and almost no public awareness.”

According to the ex-director of NGRI and also the famous seismologist, Vinod Gaur, earthquake or threats from tsunami are surely technologically manageable. Nevertheless, “India’s record of managing even low-intensity hazards is dismal”

Can India face the quakes? No place for complacency! Where it is that India lacks the most; lack of determination or careless attitude on the part of the Government of India, less awareness among the public, lack of fund or inadequate infrastructure? This is a million dollar question that would keep lingering in our minds!

Folk Dances in North India: Experience the Mystical Diversity!

Rich history is what we think of, when we talk about the northern part of India! North India has been home to many kingdoms like Gupta, Maurya, Mughal and British Indian Empires. This resulted in the introduction of diverse culture into the region. This variety and diversity of customs and traditions reflects beautifully in the North Indian Dances.

A beautiful combination of mythological elements and narrative forms, the folk dances in North India are amazingly exquisite. There is a dance for almost every occasion. Some of the North India folk dances have a ritualistic nature and are performed during the harvest time. The Bhangra dance of Punjab is a dance, which is performed during the harvest time. Other such dances that mark the beginning of harvest seasons and cultivation are Hurka Baul in Uttar Pradesh and Dhamyal of Haryana.

Besides these harvest dances, there are other colorful folk and tribal dances as well. These include Dumhal dance performed by the Wattal tribe in Kashmir, Namagen of Himachal Pradesh, Nati dance of Himachal Pradesh, Jhumeila and the Chaunfla of Garhwal etc. Each of the folk dances in North India is unique and exquisite in its own way. The costumes of each of these folk dances amazingly highlight the tradition, culture, taste and festivity of a wide segment of people in the northern region of India. Folk Dances in North India: Experience the Mystical Diversity through these following folk dances:

Bhangra, Luddi and Gidha (Punjab)

One of the energetic and popular Indian Folk Dances is Bhangra. It is performed by males usually. Originating in the state of Punjab, the dance is quite popular during the Punjabi festival, Baisakhi. One of the captivating folk dances of Punjab, Bhangra includes athletic feats and interesting tricks. During the performance the dancers dressed in turbans and lungis surround the drummer.

Yet another beautiful Punjabi folk dance is Luddi performed by the men folk. The dance is performed for celebrating victory. The movements of the snakes are copied in this particular dance.

Gidha is the dance executed by the women folk in Punjab. Either a woman or a pair of women dancers dance away to glory as others surround them and clap in perfect rhythm. This dance is generally performed at the time of the Teeyan festival for welcoming the monsoons.

Dumhal (Jammu & Kashmir)

Dumhal is a beautiful Kashmiri folk dance. It is performed with the help of colorful, long robes and tall conical caps that are studded with shells and beads. Songs provide company to the dancers of the Dumhal dance, wherein the dancers themselves sing the songs.  One of the interesting features of this dance is that, the performers position at a particular location, a banner on the ground and then around that banner they start to men dance.

Namagen (Himachal Pradesh)

The autumnal hue in the state of Himachal Pradesh is celebrated in the month of September through the performance of the Namagen dance. The costumes in this particular dance form are generally woolen. Apart form this, the women also wear heavy silver ornaments, during the dance.

Hurka Baul (Uttaranchal)

Some of the popular seasonal dances in Uttaranchal are Jhumeila, the Hurka Baul of Kumaon and the Chaunfla of Garhwal. Hurka Baul folk dance of Uttranchal is performed at the time of maize and paddy cultivation. On a specific day, post the preliminary ritual, Hurka Baul is performed in various fields, turn by turn. This particular dance has derived its name from the word hurka that represents the drum. The drum provides the dance with the sole musical accompaniment apart from the baul that is the song. There is a singer who narrates stories of heroic deeds and battles, while the players are seen entering from 2 opposite sides and enacting the stories through a sequence of crisp and fine movements. The farmers are found to form 2 rows and then move backwards in harmony, by responding to the rhythm and the tune of the song.

Chholiya is yet another popular dance belonging to the Kumaon region in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is generally performed at the time of marriages. With the procession proceeding towards the bride’s house, the male dancers arm themselves in swords and shields and dance vivaciously.

Hikat (Himachal Pradesh)

Hikat is a famous folk dance of Himachal Pradesh that is performed by the women in the region. It is executed in pairs wherein the dancers extend their arms to their front and also hold the wrists of each other. The bodies of the dancers are kept inclined towards the back. The dancers keep on making rounds of the same place. Since Himachal Pradeh is a land of festivity and celebration, this dance also forms a part of that same festivity.

Dhamyal and Lahoor (Haryana)

Dhamyal, also known as Duph, is a folk dance of Haryana. The dance is performed either by men alone or along with women as well. Duph means a circular drum that is played by the male dancers, lightly, during the dance. During the spring season in Haryana, its time for celebration, just after the harvest and field work has been completed. This dance forms a part of this celebration.

Lahoor is a dance that is performed by females. It is accompanied by songs that are phrased with witty questions and replies.

Dandiya (Rajasthan)

This is a popular dance form in the magical land of Rajasthan and a well-known folk dance in India. In this particular Rajasthan folk dance, the dancers are seen forming group with slim, long sticks in every hand. The dancers dance in rhythm by striking these sticks to each other’s. It is a beautiful dance to watch, full of chants and energy. There is a drummer who stays right in the center and keeps playing particular tunes from time to time. Dandiya is usually performed during ceremonial events or essential festivals. The dancers put on their gorgeous Rajasthani out-fit.

World Heritage Sites in India: Past weaves memorable stories!

Acknowledged by UNESCO that is United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, there are at present 28 World Heritage Sites in India. According to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention that came into existence in 1972, the World Heritage Sites are locations of cultural significance or natural heritage. The Convention related to the preservation of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was acquired on 17^th of November 1997 after the General Conference of the UNESCO that took place from 17^th October 1972 to 21^st November 1972.

Among the many states of India, Tamil Nadu boasts of the maximum number of World Heritage Sites in India. Over the time, 26 heritage sites more have been identified. Among the 28 World Heritage Sites present in India, 5 are natural sites while 23 are cultural sites. At the World Heritage Sites in India: Past weaves memorable stories for sure. To be at these sites is definitely an experience in itself!

Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam

Situated in the North east state of Assam, the Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in the year 1985 for the exclusive natural environment that supports a wide variety of mammals and birds. It was established 1^st in 1908 as a reserved forest for protecting the endangered species of Rhinoceros. Later declared as a National Park, the Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary boasts of being the home to largest number of Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros.

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar

Sprawling over an area of about 4.86 hectares, the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (Buddha Gaya), came into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as one of the unique properties of archaeological and cultural significance. Revered as the site wherein Gautama Buddha got enlightenment in 531 BC, the temple has been the ultimate place for reverential worship for the Buddhists from across the world.

Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam

Located in the state of Assam, the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary sprawls over 50,000 hectares of area, on the plains of the Manas River, at the Himalayan foothills. The sanctuary came to feature in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in the year 1985 for its distinctive natural environment. The sanctuary is home to several varieties of plants, 21 endangered species of mammals among the total of 55, 3 amphibians, 36 reptile species and 350 species of birds. The habitat includes animals such as pygmy hog, clouded leopard, Tiger, sloth bear, wild buffaloes, Indian Rhinoceros, golden langur, Indian Elephants and Bengal Florican.

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

The first ever tomb established with certain innovations was the Humayun’s Tomb, which was the ancestral monument to the famous Taj Mahal that was constructed a century later. Coming into existence in 1570, the tomb came to be inscribed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Monument in the year 1993 for its cultural significance. The tomb is built in typical architectural style of the Mughal period and all credit goes to Mirza Ghiyath. The double domed elevation of the tomb with Chhatris, got the tomb to be hailed as the “nacropolis of the Mughal dynasty” Along with the tomb of Humayun, there are also 150 tombs at the funerary meant for the other members of the regal family.

Red Fort Complex

Also known as Lal Qila, the Red Fort Complex happens to be a palace fort constructed during the 17^th century by the Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan, as part of the city of Shahjahanabad, his new capital. Situated in the north of Delhi, the fort depicts the glory of the Mughal reign and is considered a great example of the Mughal architectural splendor and the artistic creativity.

Churches and Convents of Goa

In the year 1986, UNESCO identified the Churches and Convents of Goa as one of the World Heritage Cultural Properties. There were brought into existence by the Portuguese rulers based in Goa and the Catholic Missions in between 16^th– 18^th century! The most popular and significant among these is the Church of Bom Jesus that shrines the tomb of St. Francis-Xavier. These monuments in Goa are also known as the “Rome of the Orient”.

Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi

Situated in the south of Delhi, the Qutb Minar and its monuments happen to be a complex structure established during the 13^th century. The Qutb Minar is the centre piece tower made of red sandstone with a height of 72.5 meters. The monuments underwent renovations by successive rulers. Owing to its unique and amazing representation of the architectural style and artistic splendor of the Islamic period, it was counted in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.

Group of Monuments at Hampi

The Group of Monuments located at Hampi received the admiration of the tourists during the 14th and 16th century. It is also a part of UNESCO’s cultural heritage site. Hampi has been a major Hindu religious destination, with the Virupaksha Temple and other monuments also forming a part of the heritage site.

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh

Situated at a distance of 45 km from Bhopal, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi dates back to 200 BC and 100BC. On 24^th January, 1989, UNESCO identified these monuments as a part of its cultural heritage list for its exceptional cultural value. The monuments came to be discovered in the year 1818, in a condition to be preserved.

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat

Located in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat, the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park got its status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2004 as one of the natural sites.

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh

This UNESCO World Heritage Site in India was inscribed by the UNESCO as “the site complex … a magnificent repository of rock paintings within natural rock shelters”. It is situated in the foothills of the Vindya Mountains in Madhya Pradesh. The rock shelters were discovered in the year 1957. It consists of a group of “five clusters of rock shelters” with Mesolithic period paintings.

Ajanta Caves

One of the popular World Heritage Sites in India happens to be the Ajanta Caves which are actually Buddhist caves constructed in 2 phases. The first phase started from 2^nd century BC and in the 2^nd phase, several additions were incorporated during the fifth and sixth century AD of the Gupta reign.

Ellora Caves

Also known as the Ellora Complex, the Ellora Caves are a cultural combination of the religious arts of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. 34 monasteries and temples have been sculpted closely into rock walls that can be seen along an average length of 2 km. Dating back to 600 to 1000 AD, the caves are a manifestation of the artistic creativity of the earliest civilization in India. The Ellora Caves has been counted under the World Heritage site of UNESCO as a cultural property.

Kajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh

Belonging to the Chandela Dynasty, the Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Madhya Pradesh reached its fame and grandeur, in between 950 AD and 1050 AD. UNESCO recognized these monuments into its list of World Heritage Sites on 15^th October, 1982, as one of the cultural properties, having an original artistic creativity.

Elephanta Caves

A sequence of sculpted caves, the Elephanta Caves is situated on the Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (this literally means “the city of caves”) in the city of Mumbai. The caves were announced as one of India’s World Heritage Sites in the 1970s mainly to conserve the artwork.

Sun Temple, Konarak

The Sun Temple at Konark dates back to the 13th-century and is also referred as the “Black Pagoda”. It is located at Konark, in the state of Orissa. This popular temple of India got its World Heritage Status in the year 1984 under the category of Cultural Property.

Keoladeo National Park

The Keoladeo National Park in the state of Rajasthan is situated within the Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest Biogeographical Province. In 1985 the national park was announced as a World Heritage Site as a natural property.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus)

Earlier known as the Victoria Terminus, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is Mumbai’s historic rail station, serving as the headquarters for the Central Railways. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee nominated the station as a World Heritage Site on 2^nd July, 2004.

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

The Jantar Mantar located in Jaipur is an assortment of the architectural astronomical instruments, made up by Maharaja (King) Jai Singh II between the period 1727 and 1734. The UNESCO listed it as one of the World Heritage Sites of India and described it as “an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period”.

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

The Group of Monuments is located at Mahabalipuram, in the state of Tamilnadu. It is around 58 km from the city of Chennai and was constructed by the Pallava kings during the 7th and 8th centuries. In 1984, the monuments were declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh

Representing the Mughal power and opulence at its best, the Agra Fort, also called as the Red Fort of Agra, came to be designated as a World Heritage Site in the year 1982, as one of the cultural monuments.

Great Living Chola Temples

The Great Living Chola Temples constructed by the Chola Kings stretches across Tamil Nadu. This cultural World Heritage Site consists of 3 great temples from 11th and 12th century, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram, the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. The site was announced as a World Heritage Site of UNESCO in the year 2004.

Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh

One of the 7 wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal in India is a popular funerary mosque established by Emperor Shahjahan for his wife Begum Mumtaz Mahal. In the year 1983, it was designated as one of the UNESCO world Heritage Sites, under the category of cultural property or monument.

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks nestled within the Western Himalayas is known for its captivating natural beauty and the beautiful meadows of alpine flowers. Originally built up on 7^th January 1939 as a game sanctuary, it came to be established as a national park on November 6 1982. It got the status of a World Heritage Site in the year 1988

Mountain Railways of India

The Mountain Railways of India represent a collection of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Kalka-Shimla Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway under the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sundarbans National Park

World’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans National Park, Tiger Reserve, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and also a Biosphere Reserve situated in the Sundarbans in West Bengal. It came to be featured on the UNESCO World Heritage list in the year 1987 as one of the natural properties. The Sundarbans was declared as the Tiger Reserve in the year 1973 and in 1977, as a wildlife sanctuary. This dense region is covered with mangrove forests all through out. The Sundarban National Park happens to be 1 of the largest reserves for the Royal Bengal Tigers. It is home to large variety of birds, invertebrate species, salt-water crocodile, reptiles and of course the Royal Bengal Tigers.

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal

The Group of monuments in Pattadakal came under the UNESCO World Heritage List, in the year 1987. The monument covers an outstanding series of 9 Hindu temples along with a Jain sanctuary. Of this excellent group of temples, the exceptional architectural edifice is the Virupaksha Temple, built by Queen Lokamahadevi to honor the victory of her husband over the kings from south. The monuments are magnificent combination of the temples constructed during the Chalukya Dynasty in sixth century at Badami, Aihole, and Pattadakal. The temples are an excellent fusion of the architectural splendors from both South India and North India.

Folk Dances of Eastern India: Unfold the mystical charm!

A land of diverse tradition and culture, India is a beautiful country to be a part of! Every state in India is known for its unique culture that is evident in different art forms of the region. When it comes to music and dance, almost every region of India offers us something specific and unique. The dance and music of the region can very well be said to be the beautiful expression of the many communities and their traditions.

One very beautiful example of the richness and diversity of culture and varied ethnicity in India happens to be the folk dances, which have beautifully survived the taste of time; and in spite of the touch of modernization into every single thing, it has continued to withstand over the years. Different regions in India takes pride in different forms of folk dances each of which bears a special significance. Like the other parts in India, Eastern India has been home to some hundred years old tradition of folk dances. The Folk Dances of Eastern India reflects the tradition of the region. The essence of these folk dances is the rawness present in them. Be it the Chhau of Bihar, Bihu of Assam, Dalkhai of Orissa or Brita Dance of West Bengal, each of the eastern India folk dances takes you to the deep sited traditions and beliefs of the diverse cultural groups.  So with Folk Dances of Eastern India: Unfold the mystical charm!

Chhau (Bihar)

Among the popular folk dances in Bihar, Chhau dance portrays virility and vitality. Derived from the Sanskrit term ‘Chhaya’ that means shade, Chhau means mask. Masks play an important role in this dance form of India that makes extemsive use of steps from a system of exercise known as ‘Pharikhanda’. Chhau performers are seen holding shields and swords as they perform.

That which forms a major aspect of this folk dance in India is the 3 important elements from classical dance, Raga (melody), Tala (rhythmic timing) and Bhava (mood). The dance form portrays the animal world and nature that are confirmed with different forms like Sarpa Nritya (serpent dance), Sagara Nritya (ocean dance) and Mayura Nritya. Themes from everyday life and mythology also form a part of the Chhau dance.

Unlike many other forms of Indian dances, Chhau dance is about vitality and robustness. Powerful and poetic happens to be the body language. People believe that on the 25th day of the month of Chaitra, Lord Shiva invoked this dance and that is how the dance form began. The leading exponents of this mostly men dominated form of art, Chhau are royal princes in Mayurbhanj, the rabble and Purulia farmers, tillers etc.

The main base to the Chhau tunes is provided by the Hindustani ragas of music. The musical instruments that accompany the dance are Nagara, Dhol and Sehnais. The dance lasts for about 7-10 minutes.

Brita Dance (West Bengal)

The abode of thinkers, poets and artists, West Bengal also happens to be the home of traditional folk dances. Vrita or Brita dance happens to be among the important folk dances in Bengal. Usually performed by women in rural areas, the dance takes place at the temple premises for appeasing the deities and invoking blessings. One of the popular beliefs concerning the dance is that when any wish is fulfilled, the Brita dance then performed out of gratitude. Also, following the recovery of any contagious disease such as small pox, the dance is performed.

Dalkhai (Orissa)

Performed mostly in the Sambalpur District in the state of Orissa and other districts such as Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, by the tribal women of Binjhal, Mirdha, Sama, Binjhal, etc the ‘Dalkhai’ happens to be a virile dance that is rendered at the time of festivals. The women in the dance are given company by men who play on the musical instruments. The drummers are often seen joining the dance. Several musical instruments are played such as Dhol, Nisan, Tasa, Tamki and Mahuri. Though the main occasion for the dance happens to be Dusserah yet this famous folk-dance of western Orissa is also performed during festivals like Phangun Puni, Bhaijauntia, Nuakhai etc. The Dalkhai dance has been named so because the beginning and the concluding stanzas uses this word for addressing a girl friend.

The songs of the dance represent episodes from Mahabharata and Ramayana, love stories of Radha and Krishna, descriptions of sceneries etc. The women are dressed in Sambalpuri Saris and scarf and of course the traditional jewelry. The Dalkhai dance has many adjunctive forms such as Rasarkeli, Gunji kuta, Mayalajada, Jamudali, Jhulki, Sainladi, Banki etc. Dalkhai basically happens to be a secular form.

Goti Puas (Orissa)

All credit goes to the pioneering efforts of Raja of Khurda in Orissa, Ramchandradeva following which in the 6^th century, Goti Pua (or boy dancers) came into existence. Ramachandradeva offered refuge to those Mughal soldiers, whom the Afghan troops defeated. Hence Ramachandradeva was quite liked by Mughal Emperor Akbar and also designated as King of Orissa or Gajapati, with loyalty towards the Mughal Emperor.

He was also the Superintendent at the Puri Jagannath temple. During his time, devadasis and maharis became very popular owing to the patronization by the court. An enlightened and sensitive man, it was the initiative of Ramachandradeva that resulted in goti puas coming into being.

Another reason for the emergence of the goti puas could be that the Vaishnavas strongly disapproved women dancing just for a false reason of. Hence as a solution to this problem, the tradition of boys dancing by dressing themselves as girls, came to be introduced.

The term goti means ‘one’ or ‘single’ while Pua means ‘boy’. However, this dance is executed in pairs always. Boys start dancing from the age of 6 and continue performing till the age of 14 after which some become the dance teachers while others join the drama troupes.

At present the goti puas belongs to professional teams called dals that is led by one Guru. Initially the boys are made to learn the very basic of the dance techniques after which they are taught the dance items, expressional and ornamental.

“Bandha”, one among the demanding aspects of the dance forms in the state of Orissa consists of complicated body positions and contortions – this forms the domain of the goti puas. A goti pua dance generally begins with Bhumi Pranam that is a salute of honor to the Mother Earth and concludes with a Bidahi Sangeet, which happens to be a farewell dance and song item. The complete performance continues for about 3 hours.

Three musicians playing gini or cymbals, pakhawaj and harmonium accompany a goti pua performance. The singing is done by the boys only, most of the times. The goti pua dance performance is very organized and consists of items such as Bhumi Pranam, Panchadevta Puja and Battu. At the time of Chandan Jatra festival, the goti puas perform in front of the deities at Narendra Sarovar, a sacred tank located in Puri.

Presently the goti pua dals that have survived are generally found in the villages. Some of well-known groups come from places like Raghurajapur and Dimirisena near Puri, and Darara, close to Bhubaneswar.

Bihu, Assam

Associated with the Bihu Festival of Assam, Bihu is a popular folk dance in the region that marks the coming of New Year. Young women and men both perform the Bihu dance in their traditional Assamese attires. Generally performed under the open areas like tress and other natural surroundings, Bihu happens to be the dance of quick steps with rhythmic movements of hips and arms and specific movements of shoulders and chest. Particular songs ranging from themes of love to village life and greeting the New Year, accompanies the Bihu folk dance in Assam.

Cheraw Dance, Mizoram

Popularly known as the Bamboo Dance, Cheraw is mainly performed by the different tribes from Mizoram. At almost every festive occasion, the dance form is performed. Such dance forms are well-known in the Phillipines and the Far East. So it is quite possible that the Cheraw dance may have got a foreign origin and it came to be popular in Mizoram during the time of migration. Long poles made of Bamboo are put 1 at each end across the logs, fitted on the ground. A person holds each of the pole pairs at each of the ends. Many a times several of the similar pairs are put parallel to one another while sometimes the pairs are laid in crosses. As the bamboos are struck to each other and the logs, the dancers dance to the rhythm of the music. They jump in and out of the bamboos, thereby avoiding getting caught amidst the bamboos. Mostly young girls and women put in their traditional attires and execute the dance, thereby weaving beautiful patterns making their way through the bamboos. The steps are often the mimic of the bird movements and other similar actions. The particular folk dance of Eastern India demands fast and precise footwork since its gets even faster as it continues to proceed!

Can Budget 2011 strike a balance between supply and demand?

Its February again, time for the Union Budget! As per Article 112 of the Indian Constitution, the Union Budget of India, that is the annual budget of the country, is also known as the Annual Financial Statement. The budget is required to be approved and passed by the Parliament prior to its coming into existence on 1^st of April, which happens to be the beginning of India’s financial year. Like every other year, the Union Finance Minister of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee will present the budget for the year 2011, on the last working day of the month of February

Although, the crucial budget document is prepared in complete privacy, yet each one of us is definitely interested to get an overview about the whole process and have an idea of the India Budget Expectations 2011. Some of you might also have started anticipating India’s Budget Results, 2011; isn’t it? Can Budget 2011 strike a balance between supply and demand? Let’s see!

There could be several reasons and thought processes that goes beyond our expectations from the Union Budget for 2011! Economic growth and development has been noticed in various sectors following the many proposals and initiatives mentioned in the Union Budget of India in the financial year of 2010-11, for the year 2010. This year the budget expectations are quite high unlike few years back, wherein the country’s economy was still reeling under the economic depression that was created by the economic meltdown, globally. Since the Indian Economy is slowly getting back to its track, it can be expected that the budget will bring something beneficial to us. It is being expected that this time, the budget would lay stress on controlling price hikes, controlling the inflation rate, cutting down on fiscal deficit etc.

Straightening up of the PDS and do away with the outflows!

In order to achieve and all-round development of the country and its people, the government should ensure that everyone has access to the essential and the very fundamentals of life such as health, food, education, infrastructure, and security. This calls for the growth and development of the skills in the country. The government has taken up several measures on this front such as the formation of the National Skill Development Co-ordination Board, Skill Development Mission, and NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act); now the need however is to ensure the effective and proper realization of the plans. Social welfare must count as the first priority for the Government, always.

Inflation – An intense and a burning reality!

Inflation is everywhere! So it’s quite possible that we gate to see its mention in several policy decisions in order to initiate some corrective measures. It could be anything from the usage of sophisticated techniques of farming, to monetary policy or even the budgetary policies that are framed to control the augmented pricing pressures.

As the Government commits towards the controlling of food inflation, the Finance Minister of India might be expected to unleash some of the major measures in the Budget 2011. This might include the opening of distribution and procurement centers for food grains, promote more investment in agri infrastructure, increase the expenditure on irrigation to enhance the overall productivity of the farm sector.

Simplification and Systematization of the Tax System!

Pranab Mukherjee has really done a good job by extending the tax slabs. This has helped people, specially the salaried persons immensely. The high limit of tax-exemption also has brought extra tax revenues for the exchequer since it doesn’t encourage the suppressing of the unaccounted money. There is still a possibility of improvement at the lower end income group, on the present no-tax limit for up to income of Rs.1.6 lakh.

The deadlock on GST (Goods and Service Tax) should not be extended any further by the Government of India. The Government should rather take initiatives to introduce the new tax system from 1^st April, 2012. This would allow the current players to plan their ventures thereby including the cost of operation. It is highly recommended that the Government should cut down on CST that is the Central Sales Tax rate should be cut down to minimum 1% with effect from April 1, 2011.

Deregulation of the Fuel price!

Last year, the price of petrol was deregulated by the UPA government in order to shrink the fiscal deficit of the country, thereby helping the oil marketing companies to reduce their losses on the selling of fuel at subsidized rates.

Is the Government now thinking of deregulating the price of diesel now that constitutes a major share of fuel subsidy bills?

Retail FDI – Tighten Supply Chain!

The recent increase in the price of food has been the result of hoarding up of stock by the intermediaries or because of the supply shortage in the farm production. In order to manipulate the price, FDI can definitely support the government to de-bottleneck the chain of supply that is hindered by the not so effective distribution channel.

Focus on Infrastructure Growth!

A sustained infrastructural growth and development is essential in order to provide that momentum to India’s economic activities, thereby achieving optimum utilization of resources. In order to promote the joint ventures of the public and the private sector and the entry of FDI or Foreign Direct Investment into the infrastructural domain, an appropriate, genuine, organizational, and reliable model must be introduced. The Government should aim at increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It should take initiatives to plan and develop large amount of corpus for a long term towards the development of infrastructure by the use of debt funds.

Cut down on Excise and Service Tax!

Last year, the excise duty was raised to 10% by the Government, on the non-oil products for withdrawing stimulus, thereby creating sources for the funds that would cut down on the extensity of the fiscal deficit condition. Owing to inflation and rising cost of commodities, India should try and cut down on the Service tax and the excise duty. Corporate tax rates should also be brought down.

Education – Learn as you grow!

Education and Growth can be said to be the two sides of the same coin! While Education results in higher employment, this is turn paves the way for growth and development of the country. In the past few years, the education sector has witnessed several reform measures both at higher as well as primary level of education.

The implementation of the PPP model that is the public-private partnership model can prove very beneficial for the education sector and help in bringing success and sustainable momentum in the long run. The Government needs to fund the projects and encourage and trust the private sector for the final delivery of the models.

Agriculture!

For ensuring the economic growth and development of the country, it is important that India’s agriculture sector grows at a fast pace. Many people in the country still suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition. The Indian Government of India already undertook the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in the year 2008 but it was not properly supported. The Government should now take the responsibility to support the mission properly for eradicating the malnutrition from the nation. One of the best possible ways would be to combine the mission with other flagship projects such as NREGA etc for reliving the underprivileged people in India, especially those in villages, from nutrition problems.

Since agriculture contributes immensely to the GDP of India, the Government, this year is expected to focus on the problem of rising prices. Higher should be the aim of the government. Favorable policies in the agro input sector, etc would surely help in utilizing the business potentials, in the future.

Indian Railways!

Couple of years back, India’s Railway Department had managed to bring around a good financial turnaround without any hike in the passenger fares. But this year, estimates say that the Indian Railways might miss out on the target for the year 2010-11. In the year 2010, Railways incurred a huge loss of Rs. 4000 crore. This was mainly because of the negative impacts on freight earnings and the setback on passenger earnings owing to the Naxal activities in several states of India.

The question that crops up in this situation is that will India’s Railway Department suffer a setback this time?

Information Technology!

The IT industry in India has shown amazing resilience during the period of recession.  The demand for the IT Services exports is being expected to go on with countries like Europe and US recovering and also due to the increase in discretionary that the consumers spend on IT infrastructure. As per the reports by NASSCOM, it is expected that the exports would dominate the IT industry in India that comes to about USD 59 billion out of USD 76 billion in the software industry.

However, there are certain concerns and fear as well for the IT sector such as slower recovery that the developed markets of US etc, high wage inflation and attrition, pricing pressure owing to competition in the domestic markets and protectionist stance on the part of the Government of US etc. With such a scenario in the backdrop the IT industry must be eagerly awaiting for the proposal in the budget, by the Government.

Construction!

Construction & Infrastructure contributes to about 8-10% in the GDP of India. For an overall development of the country, the importance and role of infrastructure is not unknown to us. However, a big gap has been created in the targets that have been set up for the infrastructure industry and the achievements. This has been due to the slow functioning of the several related sectors, shortfall in the awarding projects, funding potential shortfalls, time and cost overruns in the construction phase etc. Government should now start addressing these problems in the Construction and Infrastructure industry. This year, as per the signals from the Finance Minister, the infrastructure sector is expected to restrict itself from its expectations on tax relief and tax breaks, thereby focusing on how to raise capital and engage in project development.

FMCG!

The FMCG sector saw a series of new launches as well as acquisitions in the year 2010, which contributed phenomenally to the sector with a growth of about 15%. The GDP growth was estimated to be 8.75% in FY11. Hence the sector is expected to continue this way, although it will be faced with several challenges such as irregular monsoon and inflation. After the harvest of the Rabi crop, we can expect the situation to get reversed. With a shift in demand from need to want, it is being expected that the categories associated with home care and personal care would grow at a rate of 15% and 20% correspondingly, in CY11.

Telecom Services & Equipments!

At the moment, the telecom industry in India is characterized by high operating cost, stagnant revenue, huge debt, dwindling earnings, regulatory uncertainty etc. There has been a very slow revenue growth at about 0.4%. The launch of 3G and MNP might act as the immediate momentum. With key metrics declining at an abating rate, it is expected that the telecom sector would do better in FY12E in comparison to FY11E. Companies having foreign market exposure might experience higher growth. During FY12, while the telecom stocks may stay subdued, but at the end of FY12E we might witness the narrowing down of discounts in the broader markets.

Valentine’s Day Getaways in India!

Love is in the air because Valentine’s Day is nearing! Though for the couples in true love, romance is just not restricted to the Valentine’s Day, yet this is a special day to make your loved ones feel even more special.

With Valentine’s Day only few days away, you also must be thinking or busy planning ho to spend the day in the most beautiful and unique way! You can plan out so many different things to make your Valentine’s Day just perfect. You can go for romantic dinners, engage in fun activities, take out that special person for a shopping spree or gift your loved one something special and unique. But have your ever thought of doing these same things, but in a different place, away from your home, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life? How about gifting a rose or just exchanging a loving hug not at your home but amidst the snowcapped mountains? How about going out for dinner not in the same old restaurants but by the beaches, in a tent that you can put up? How about whispering those special words in the ears of your partner not at the pubs or night clubs but in a serene, tranquil atmosphere? Isn’t that even more interesting and romantic?

With beaches, forests, mountains etc, India has always been a leading tourist location of the world. The country is the ideal place to spend your Valentine’s Day. The different states in India have something different and unique in store for you!

Whether you want to spend a day near the pristine sea or the serene mountains, romantic destinations are numerous when it comes to selecting a destination for a memorable getaway! Pack your bags and indulge in a memorable getaway to any one of the romantic hot spots listed below.

To help you in search for the most romantic Valentine’s Day Getaways in India, this year, here are some of the popular ones. Pack your bags, leave all your tensions behind and head of to any of these romantic places to make your Valentine’s Day, this year, an experience of a life time.

Manali

Manali, popularly known as the “Switzerland of India” is situated in the beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh. Famous for its amazing beauty and romantic ambiance, Manali is a wonderful place to be in with your loved ones. Go for ballooning on the Solang Valley, have a look at the picturesque meadow or trek down through the scenic trails in Manali. You may also try your hand out in some of the winter sports such as ice-skating and skiing. It would surely be a romantic experience for you to cherish for ever.

Shimla

Shimla, an amazingly beautiful hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh, is located in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. A romantic and beautiful holiday spent in Shimla is always a unique experience of a lifetime. Shimla is a must visit for the couples in love. Nestled within the thick forests of pine, fir, oak, rhododendron, etc and the captivating hills, Shimla is the perfect escape for you, this Valentine’s Day. Temples, ancient cottages, colonial houses, Jakhoo Temple, the Mall, etc are the popular attractions in Shimla.

Goa

If Goa is referred as a ‘paradise’ for the holiday makers or the loving couples, this wont be an exaggeration and you all would agree to this! It is among the sought after tourist locations in India. The perfect blend of the sun-kissed beaches and the revered temples or ancient churches, the rocking parties and the lip-smacking cuisines- where else would you find such a combination to take pleasure in?   The major places that you can pay a visit on this Valentine’s Day are Calangute, Vagator, Colva, Baga, Harmal etc. Relax on the exotic beaches or feel the peace and serenity at the Goan churches such as Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral; whatever you do, you just cannot afford to miss Goa as one of the Valentine’s Day Getaways in India.

Puducherry

Characterized by a temperate climate and clear blue waters, Puducherry has been the French Riviera of the East. Previously a French colony, it has till date retained the distinct flavour of the European architecture, attitude and people.

The 4 beaches at Pondicherry, the Promenade Beach, Auroville Beach, Paradise Beach, and Serenity Beach would make your Valentine’s Day just perfect. You can go for a evening walk along the promenade running parallel to the Promenade beach or spend a quiet, romantic outing at the Paradise and Serenity beaches which are popular for its are serene; and if you are looking forward towards spending a lazy day, then Virgin beaches are the places for you!

Another very popular spot is Chunnambar that is located at a distance of 8 km from Pondicherry, near the Cuddalore Main Road. This tropical delight is bordered by a beach on one side and the quiet creek on the other. You can put up a tent on the sands, by the seaside, just for two of you, or stay in the tree houses to connect with the beautiful nature.

Arikamedu, located at a distance of 4 km to the south of Puducherry on the banks of Ariyankuppam River, is a town more popular among the lovers. How about spending a day with your partner amidst the rich history of the region dating back to hundreds of years?

Kerala

Also called as the Spice Coast of India, Kerala in the earlier times played the host to many readers and travelers from across the world. Whether you look for pristine beaches or tall mountains, magical backwaters or the deep valleys and river rides, you would get it all in Kerala.

Kerala has always been a popular and favorite destination in India, especially among the couples. Whether you are a newly married couple looking to go for a honeymoon tour or simply a couple in love, looking forward to celebrate the Valentine’s Day, Kerala is the place for you! There are so many techniques and options in Kerala to make that special person in your life, feel even more special. Go for a romantic boat ride along the magical backwaters or take your better half for a relaxing massage experience at the Ayurvedic parlors;

Andaman Islands

Definitely a tropical paradise, Andaman is surely about white sands and blue, clear waters. The swaying palm trees and the romantic sea breeze will take you to a completely different world!

While in Andaman and Nicobar, there are so many activities that would delight you. Go for island-hopping that is considered as one of the popular a sought after activities in the region. Enjoy a boat ride near the archipelago or beach bumming on Jolly Buoy, Havelock, Viper, Cinque, Ross and Chatham Island. You also get the opportunity to have a look from a boat, at the only live volcano on the Barren Island. The famous and romantic beaches in the region are Vijaynagar, Radhanagar beaches in Havelock. Great Valentine getaways for the lovers consist of Neil Island where one can travel around the lush jungle walk down the pristine beaches such as Bharatpur, Laxmanpur and Sitapur. The sandy beach located at Lalaji Bay comes with a unpolluted and excellent environment along with the evergreen forests. The sea around this island is home to many dolphins. You can have fun at the sight of the frolic activities of the dolphins that can be seen by taking a small boat ride. Those who love water sports such as jet-skiing, speed-boating and skurfing etc, Diglipur beach is the place for you! The main feature of this beach that is responsible for its popularity is the high breakers. Lovers with a fondness for fitness might think for going on a hiking trip to the Saddle Peak characterized by trekking paths and nature trails.

Mussoorie

Located at an altitude of 2003 m above sea level Mussoorie is in the Garhwal region in Uttaranchal. The hill station has derived its name from ‘Mansoor’, the local plant, which grows in abundance, in the region. Mussoorie has been the all time favourite destination for the holiday makers, honeymoon couples or leisure travelers. Clean roads, pleasant and comfortable weather conditions, beautiful sights, colonial structures and ‘love in the air’- these characterizes this captivating hill station in India.

While in Mussoorie with that special person in your life, you can enjoy a visit at the Mall, Landour, Bhadraj Temple, Clouds End, Happy Valley, Childer’s Lodge, Gun Hill, Municipal Garden, Jharipani Falls, Camel’s Back Road, Mossey Falls, Bhatta Falls and Kempty Falls. You can also take delight of the nearby places from Mussoorie such as Jwalaji Temple, Dhanaulti, Mussoorie Lake, Nag Devta Temple, Surkanda Devi Temple, Nag Tibba andVan Chetna Kendra.

There are ample opportunities for the couples to take pleasure in the adventure sports such as hiking, trekking and rock climbing. Go out shopping for the beautiful handicraft items like the hand-knit cardigans, cane objects and walking sticks that would remind you of the time spent with your dear one.

Ooty

Ooty is a beautiful place to be in! Popularly known as the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’, Ooty is located at an elevation of about 2240 m from above the sea level. Pristine beauty, clear skies, lush greenery, cascading waterfalls and curvy hill trails, options of getting captivated in Ooty is numerous.

This Valentine, come and explore Ooty, to feel the amazing beauty of this wonderful hill station in India. Visit places such as the Botanical Lake, Deer Park, Dodabetta Peak, Charring Cross, Kodanadu’s View Point, Government Museum, St. Stephen’s Church, Mini Garden, Ootacumund Club, Lamb’s Rock, Ooty Lake and Rose Garden, Coonoor, Dolphin’s Nose, Avalanche, Kalhatty Waterfalls, Mukerti Lake, Mukkurthi Peak, Kotagiri, Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Pykara, Sim’s Park and Tiger Hill.

If this isn’t enough for you, then you have more. Indulge with your loved ones in adventurous and fun sports such as Hang-Gliding, Angling and Trekking etc. You can also go for shopping whereby you can check out the natural products such as the Nilgiri tea, Toda embroideries, natural oils, local fruits and saplings of plants. Some of the popular markets in Ooty are the Municipal Market Kairali, Co-operative Super Market and Poompuhar located on the Charring Street.

Dehradun

Serving as a gateway to many popular destinations in India such as Haridwar, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Badrinath, etc, Dehradun itself is also a dream destination for many. Located amidst the majestic Himalayas, the Shivaliks, Yamuna and the Ganges, Dehradun is indeed a beautiful place to be in!

Dalhousie

Carrying a sense of enchantment with it, Dalhousie has been a quiet town in the state of Himachal Pradesh. This beautiful hill station is spread across 5 low-level hills near the western edge of the Dhauladhars, in the east of River Ravi. The slopes in the region are covered with pines and intersected treks and paths that are just perfect for an undemanding walk. Low roofed hotels and stalls and colonial era buildings find place here at Dalhousie.

Serving as the gateway to the famous Chamba Valley, this popular hill station and colonial town in Himachal Pradesh was brought to existence in the year 1854 by Lord Dalhousie, the British governor-general. Sprawling over an area of about 14 square km and covered with alpine vegetation, Dalhausie comes with a charming architecture and mesmerizing views of both the snowcapped mountains as well the beautiful plains. Jandhri Ghat, Satdhara, Subhash Baoli, The Catholic Church Of St. Francis etc are among the popular places of visit in the region.

Gulmarg

Gulmarg can be yet another beautiful Valentine’s Day getaway in India characterized by cup shaped meadows and lush slopes drawn into immense silence and serenity! Standing at an elevation of about 2730 meters and located 56km in the southwest of Srinagar, the Gulmarg Valley is flanked with gorgeous colorful flowers such as Bluebells, Forget Me Not’s, Daisies and Buttercups. You can either go for a day trip to Gulmarg from Srinagar or use it as a base if you want to go for trekking.

A Career in Brand Management!

 

Brand management is the process of identifying and managing the many marketing techniques and processes for a particular service, product and brand. It is used has a tool to increase the value of the product or brand in the market. An individual aspiring to make a career in Brand Management needs to be aware of the principles of brand management that is the various Trademark Laws. He must be aware of the varied market trends and should have the ability of man management. The key to success as a brand manager is practical thinking and always being on the toes.

The individual is also required to present in the market, the benefits of the product along with the company’s image. He is required to deal with many brands at the same time as for instance economy brand, fighting brand, premium brand, corporate brand, individual brand, brand extension, family brand, private branding etc. In any and almost every business company of organization, brand management plays a broad and significant role. These days online brand management is also available. Hence there lies great career option for individuals in the field of brand management.

A Brand Management Career highlights the many benefits of identifying the significance of the brand manager whose job is to recognize brands, which would cater to the consumers and thereby come up with different marketing strategies for establishing those brands in the market. This process also includes the analysis of the major competitive brands present in the market, understand the requirements of the consumers and devise promotional tools that would highlight the USP that is the unique selling propositions of those particular brands.

Eligibility and Courses

There are several institutes in India that conducts many programs in Brand Management. The programs are usually provided at the post graduation level like Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Brand Management. The courses aim at teaching the individuals about the principles of brand management, analysis of market trend, value of a brand manager, consumer demand, brand launch, brand research,  USP, distribution, brand promotion, brand packaging and marketing etc.

The minimum eligibility criterion for this program is a graduate degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized university. Those who aspire to become brand managers must have an MBA degree in marketing and for pursuing MBA, one need to appear for entrance tests such as MAT (Management Admission Tests), CAT (Common Admission Tests) etc.

The major areas covered by the various courses in Brand Management are:

• Principles of Brand Management
• Analysis of the Market Trends
• Market Research
• Consumer Demand
• Market Research
• Brand Launch and USP
• Brand Research
• Brand Promotion
• Advertisement and Marketing
• Distribution, Packaging and Marketing of a Brand

Personal Attributes

A career in Brand Management are meant for those high potential individuals who are

• Well motivated
• Have the ability to accept huge responsibilities with ease
• Requires little supervision,
• Have good communication skills
• Can travel when required
• Who can flourish amidst constant change

Career Prospects

After having completed the brand management programs, individuals can go for working as brand development manager or product manager. Pharmaceutical industry, leading manufacturers, mobile companies, insurance companies and many more are always in the look for talented individuals in the field of brand management.

The task of the brand manager revolves essentially around the proper co-ordination with various other sections and departments. The brand manager also happens to be responsible for offering support to the sales teams, divide the brand strategies and deciding on the budget. His functions include formulation, production, packaging of products and services and efficient distribution.

Among the challenging career option, the chance of stagnation in this field is zero almost. In India, renowned companies such as Mahindra and Mahindra, Hindustan Lever, Godrej India, Alkem Pharma, Sun Pharma, Aditya Birla Group, Wipro Consumer Durables, Reliance, Dabur, Kotak Mahindra, Bajaj hire brand management professionals, for the development of their products and services.

Professionals in this field also have a good career prospect outside India. Plethora of job opportunities are there in companies such as Reckitt Benckiser, Unilever, Sara Lee, Procter and Gamble, Mars, Nestle, Novartis, General Mills, Pfizer, Ranbaxy, GSK, Cipla, Vodafone, Cocoa Cola, Pepsi, Aviva Life Insurance etc. The Health Care and the pharmaceutical industries situated abroad have lucrative offers for the brand management personnel.

Institutes in India

Indian Institute of Science and Management
Pundag,
Ranchi – 834004

Indian Institute of Management
Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow and Indore

Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies
15th Lane,
Prabhat Road,
Pune – 411004

Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship
Seva Sadan Campus,
3rd Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore – 560034

SP Jain Institute of Management and Research
Munshi Nagar,
Dadabhai Road,
Andheri (West),
Mumbai – 400058

Institute of Management Bhubaneswar
Gyan Vihar,
Rasulgarh,
Bhubaneswar – 751010

Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM Tower, C – 10,
Qutab Institutional Area,
New Delhi – 1100016.

MP Birla Institute of Management
43, Race Course Road,
Bangalore – 560001

Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management
Management House,
College Square (West),
Kolkata – 700073.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Block FA, Sector III,
Salt Lake,
Kolkata – 700097.
77, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road,
Kolkata – 700025.

Wish You a Happy Republic Day!

 

Are you fortunate enough to be a part of the grand Republic Day festivity and celebration in India, on the 26th of January every year? If not, make it happen for this time on the 62nd Republic Day of India! Wish You a Happy Republic Day!

26th January has been very significant for India and its people. It was on this day of the year 1930 that for the first time the very prestigious Indian Flag was unfurled by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru at Lahore along with the declaration of the independent, sovereign Indian National Congress. Further on 26th January of 1950, the Constitution of India came into existence and India became a sovereign and republic country. Again on this very day of the year 1965, the language “Hindi” was announced as India’s official language. So 26th January that is the Republic Day of India has many memories attached to it. Hence the day is celebrated in every corner of India and specially the capital city of the country New Delhi, with utmost fervor and excitement.

New Delhi happens to be the place where most of the grand and important republic day celebrations are organized. Other than that, flag hoisting and other events are also held at various educational institutes, state capitals, important towns and cities, government buildings and many corporate firms as well.

Republic Day Celebrations in India

The Republic Day celebrations in India commences every year with the Prime Minister of India laying a circular garland at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial, Delhi, in memory of the Indian martyrs and thereby pay homage to them.

Soon after this the national flag hoisting ceremony takes place wherein the President of India unfurls the national flag of India or the “Tiranga” and the National Anthem of India is played. Then a 21-gun salute takes place.

Following this comes the much eagerly awaited Republic Day Parade is held. On this occasion, a dignitary from a foreign nation is usually is invited as the Chief Guest, who accompanies the President of India on the Republic Day. This year in 2011, the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be accompanying the President as the Chief Guest.

The different regiments of the Indian Navy, Indian Army and the Indian Air Force leads the Republic Day Parade and salutes the President who happens to be the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Following the regiments, are the regiments of different states in India and the various parliamentary units.

The winners of the India gallantry awards that include both the members of police, armed forces etc and the civilians pass the President in open jeeps. They are also honored with medals and awards for their bravery and efficiency in different fields.

The other events and celebration o the 26th of January includes march-pasts with wonderful tableaux displaying the unique variety of India amidst rich diversity, its culture and heritage, folk dances by children, defying stunts on the motorcycles by Border Security Force (BSF) members. The fighter jets of the Indian Airforce also displays streaking colors of our Tricolor and scatters rose petals on the people who have gathered for the celebrations.

From 26th January to 29th January, the government buildings are all lit up on the occasion of the Republic Day!

Beating the Retreat, New Delhi

The Beating the Retreat ceremony marks the closing ceremony of the much-awaited Republic Day in India. On 29th of January, near the Vijay Chowk, a large group of band plays various musical instruments and march in different formations, playing famous tunes. The group comprises of bands from the Navy, Army and Air Force. A solo performance by a drummer known the Drummer’s Call is the major highlight. At 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat. The bandmaster then seeks permission from the President for leading away the bands. The bands then retreat thereby playing the famous patriotic tune, Saare Jahan Se Achcha. Following this the Tricolor of India is lowered, and the National Anthem is sung. Thus the republic Day celebrations come to a formal end.

Other Events at the Republic Day of India

• 27th January 2011: Prime Minister’s Rally at New Delhi where the N.C.C. cadets display various skills

• 24th January to 29th January 2011: “Lok Tarang” the popular national folk dance festival is held by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in association with the various Zonal Cultural Centers in India. Fold dances from different parts of India are showcased on this day

Sabarimala Tragedy: Wake Up India!

 

Among the prominent and ancient Sastha temples in India, Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is situated in the Western Ghats of the Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala. Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is among those few Hindu temples in the country, which is open to every type of faith. The Sabarimala shrine happens to be a remote shrine located in South India.  Yet the shrine sees the inflow of large number of people every year. About 4 million pilgrims are attracted to this shrine, every year. Nestled within the dense forest and the mountains, it is believed that the Ayyappan meditated at Sabarimala It serves as a popular pilgrimage destination in the God’s Own Country, Kerala. There is a belief among the people that that “Parasurama Maharshi” while retrieving Kerala from within the sea threw his axe and established at Sabarimala, the statue of Ayyappa, in order to worship Lord Ayyappa.

The pilgrimage commences in November and continues till the month of January. Pilgrims are attracted to this temple not only from Southern India, but from different corners of the country and abroad as well. November to January happens to be the main season for pilgrim. It is during this time that the temple is thronged by most number of people. The 2 major events that takes place during the main pilgrim time, are Mandala pooja in the month of November and and Makaravilakku in the month of January. Except during the Vishu in month of April and the 1^st 5 days of every Malayalam month, the Sabarimala Temple remains closed for the remaining parts of the year. The pilgrimage is seen as and believed to be a symbol of equality, love, and devotion.

2011: Huge Rush of Pilgrims to Sabarimala

In the year 2011, during mid January, Sabarimala saw an unprecedented rush of people who gathered to be a part of the Makara Jyothi that is the celestial light appearing on the horizon during Makar Sankranti. Every year the number of pilgrims visiting this shrine goes up.  According to Ravi Kumar, the Sabarimala Police Station in-charge, the number of pilgrims who visited the shrine this year has crossed all the past records. To quote him:

“It appears that there is not an inch of space left and pilgrims are now stranded en route to the temple top because the crowd is really huge. Many of them are waiting for more than 12 hours to have a glimpse of the light which will appear around dusk.”

The Sabarimala shrine is situated at a height of about 914 meters from the sea level. It is 4km uphill from Pamba in the district of Pathanamthitta (Central Kerala).

Sabarimala Pilgrimage Season Ends with a Tragedy!

The very popular and sought after Pilgrimage Season of Sabarmali finally ends but unfortunately with a tragedy to be remembered ever in the pages of history. It was 14^th of January, 2011, when the Sabarmali Tragedy took place. As the devotees were returning in huge numbers after having a watch of the most important event at the temple, the sight of the divine celestial light that is the Makara Jyothi light, a jeep lost its control thereby ramming into the pilgrims and triggering a panic among the devotess. As a result of this, a devastating stampede took place at about 8 p.m.

At least 102 pilgrims have been killed and 5o injured at the Sabarimala accident that took place at Pulumedu, a forest area located 10 km from the town of Vandiperiyar, and 30 km from the Sabarimala Shrine.

Among those killed at the disaster, 29 devotees were from Tamil Nadu, 16 were from Andhra Pradesh, 3 were from Kerala and 25 were from Karnataka. A pilgrim from Sri Lanka was also found dead at the stampede.

Just after the incident, Kerala announced 3 days mourning for those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.

To quote Aneesh, one of the locals-

“I have never seen such a huge crowd at Pulmedu in my life. The flow of pilgrims returning was much more than anybody’s expectations.”

Kadannapally Ramachandran, the Kerala Deveswom Minister commented that-

“Though arrangements for controlling the crowd were on a usual scale, the flow of people had been much more than all expectations.”

The Sabarmali pilgrimage that started in the middle of November was incident free till 14^th January 2011 night. Over 30 million people paid a visit to the temple during the pilgrimage season.

President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed their condolence for the dead pilgrims.

A relief of Rs 1 lakh has been sanctioned by the Government to those families who have lost their dear ones and a sum of Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured.

Sabarimala Tragedy: India Wake up!

20^th January 2011 witnessed the end of the pilgrimage season at Sabarimala as the gates of the popular temple were closed down. The Sabarimala temple, which is considered to be a symbol of equality, love, and devotion, has thrown up yet another question for India! After the end of the pilgrim season with more than hundred deaths, the question is what is there in store, next for the people in India? Who would be responsible for the loss of so many lives in the stampede, without their fault?

Hari Kumar, a driver, belonging to Thiruvalla and a devotee of Ayyappa Lord, was found saying that the authority should take on the blame. He told the media that-

“The crowds of people arriving at the temple have gone up drastically in the past one decade. The steep increase is on account of an increasing number of devotees from the South Indian states….. Those in charge of controlling traffic, especially on the Thekkady border, have to be alert. If they had done that this time, the Pulumedu tragedy could have been avoided. ”

There happens to be two important entry points to the Sabarmali Temple. Of these, the Thekkady-Kumily route on which Pulumedu is situated happens to be a treacherous one owing to the narrow roads and topography.

K. Sivadasan Nair, the Pathanamthitta legislator who has been a part of many discussions prior to the pilgrimage season, said that appropriate scientific planning is what is necessary now. According to him-

“if we start that now, we could make huge positive gains ahead of the next pilgrimage season…I am told that the National Remote Sensing Centre in Hyderabad has in principle agreed to come to our help to prepare a satellite imagery of the places in and around the Sabarimala temple.”

He also added- “I will request the state government to seek their help because they have used this technology in disaster management in Andhra Pradesh.”

With 2 big tragedies of the same sort happening in the last 12 years and over 150 lives lost, we can only hope as we did in the past that the authorities would come out of the blame game first that ultimately leads to no where. They are then expected to study the previous reports and decide on what to do next.

With the High Court of Kerala asking for a detailed report on the accident, from the state government, hopes are building up among the people that the authorities will now act. The Government also needs to take further initiatives and limit the number of pilgrims to the region, every year. Further, the Government should take active part in making the pilgrims aware that the celestial light that they consider to be divine and come to visit every year is nothing but a man made phenomenon. The authorities should adopt appropriate measures to make people come out of their superstitions because there is nothing more important than the live of people. However, if like all other times, the authorities don’t act then probably we would be left with nothing but to ask each other when will India wake up?

The Sabarmali disaster in Kerala has been one of the worse in recent times with deaths going up to about 102 people. With the task to prevent any kind of disasters in the future, ISRO or the Indian Space Research Organization has decided to offer satellite photographs of the landscape and every area of the region.

According to Dr K Radhakrishnan, the ISRO Chairman, 3 dimensional images of the region would enable the temple board in coordination with the state government to improve on the infrastructure in the Sabarimala region so that such mishaps can be avoided in future.

Have an interest in the History and Culture? Then Archaeology is the career for you!

Archaeology is an important way to learn about many ancient civilizations, the history of a particular place and nation and many more. It can reveal some great information about the social structure, beliefs, environmental effects and economic organization of the past societies. The word archeology has been derived from the Greek words ‘archaios’ meaning ancient things and ‘logos’ meaning theory of science. Roan first made use of Archaeology in about 18^th century.

Archaeology makes us aware of the tradition, culture and heritage of our country. It is the systematic and scientific study of the past by way of revival, investigation and documentation of the remains and other environmental data such as artifacts, features, architecture, landscapes and biofacts. It is concerned with the protection and conservation the old monuments, inscriptions, architectural relics etc. It helps us in getting a clear picture of our past.

In India, General Alexander Cunningham was the person who initiated the importance and need for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the nation by establishing the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 1862 with the aim to maintain, conserve and preserve the archeological sites and monuments in India.

Those engaged in the study of archaeological discoveries are known as Archaeologists. The important works of the Archaeologists consist of fieldwork, the excavation of different sites, their periodical classification and interpretation of the excavated materials. The findings and researches of the archaeologists are maintained and conserved for future studies and learning.

Eligibility and Courses

You have an interest in the History and Culture? Then Archaeology is the career for you! In order to go for a career in Archaeology, it is preferable that the candidates are from a history background. The minimum eligibility criterion for pursuing a Bachelor degree in Archaeology is 10+2 or its equivalent.

Students having a graduation degree in History or any other stream with at least 55% marks can go for post graduation, diploma, postgraduate Diploma in various fields of Archaeology. The course duration ranges from 1 to 2 years.

Those who desire to go for higher studies in Archaeology such as M. Phil and PhD must complete their post graduation.

Epigraphy, Numismatics, archives and museology are the major branches in Archaeology. Theory and Methods in Archaeology, Applied Sciences, Protohistory, Museology, Chemical Preservation, Art, and Antiquarian Laws etc. are among the many subjects that are covered by different courses in Archaeology. Detailed study of fossils, inscriptions, illustrated manuscripts and coins are also there in the study of Archaeology.

Archaeology also consists of several specializations and sub-disciplines such as Ethno archaeology, Experimental archaeology, Historical Archaeology, Archaeometry, Isotope analysis, Geoarchaeology, Bioarchaeology, Computational Archaeology etc. In their higher studies students can specialize in any of these disciplines.

Some of the courses in Archaeology are:

• Advance Diploma in Archaeology and Museology
• Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology
• B.A. Museology and Archaeology
• B.A. Indian History, Culture and Archaeology (IHC)
• M.A. Archaeology
• M.A. Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology
• Master in Archaeology and Heritage Management
• M.Phil. Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology
• Ph.D. Archaeology
• Ph.D. Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology

Personal Attributes

• Should have a probing mind and must be perceptive
• Should be analytical and must think logically
• Must have a keen observation ability
• Should possess creativity
• Must recognize and also appreciate arts
• Should have accuracy
• Should have dedication towards work and most importantly patience
• Must be able to adapt to physical stress and strain
• Must be familiar with the different Geo-physical conditions

Career Prospects

Those who get fascinated by the past, have some interesting opportunities in the field of archeology. They can work as Numismatists and Epigraphists. Epigraphy happens to be the discipline that deals with inscriptions on different ancient monuments, temples, copper plates, rocks etc. While Numismatics concerns the study of tokens, old coins, etc. Those passing out from the Institute of Archaeology have brilliant prospects waiting for them as they are directly absorbed by ASI that is Archaeological Survey of India. Archaeologists can also work in government sectors as well as private organizations. There are very good job opportunities for them in museums, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Defense services, cultural centers and historical divisions under Ministry of External Affairs.

If you have a degree in archaeology, you can also work as heritage managers, interpreters, tourist guides, and resource persons in the tourism industry. The profession of teaching or research work can also be taken up. Archaeologists have scopes as linguists, historians and surveyors, heritage conservators, curators and archivists.

Institutes in India

• Allahabad University, Allahabad – 211 002
• AP Singh University, Rewa-486 003
• Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam – 530 003
• BHU, Varanasi – 221 005
• Bangalore University, Bangalore – 560 056
• Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur – 208 024
• Deccan College of Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Yervada, Pune – 411 006
• Dr.Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar-470 003, MP
• Dr.B.S.Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur – 9
• Gujarat University, Ahmedabad – 380 009
• Kurushetra University, Kurukshetra – 136 119
• HN Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar – 246 174
• MS University of Baroda, Vadodara – 390 002
• Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri – 574 199
• Nagpur University, Nagpur – 440 001
• Osmania University, Hyderabad – 500 007
• North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon – 425 002
• Punjab University, Chandigarh – 160 014
• Patna University, Patna – 800 005
• Purvanchal University, Jaunpur – 222 002
• Rani Durgavati Vishva vidyalaya, Jabalpur – 482 001
• University of Madras, Chennai – 600 005
• University of Calcutta, Calcutta – 700 073
• University of Mysore, Nagarjuna Nagar – 522 510
• Visva Bharati, Santiniketan-731 235
• University of Pune, Pune-411 007