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: P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW DELHI 110055 (BHARAT); Email: [email protected] No. Sm1223/2069 (For Private Circulation Only) Falgun Krishna 4 Vik Samvat 2069. Yugabda 5114 Tel: 91-11- 23684445; Fax: 91-11-23517722 1 March 2013. 1. FESTIVALS: Elephant Festivals: In the 10- 3. EMPOWERING WOMEN CAN TACKLE day Thirunakkara Arattu festival from 15th to 24th GENDER DISPARITY: PRANAB – Rashtrapati March each year in Thirunakkara Mahadeva Pranab Mukherkjee said in New Delhi on 18 Temple, Kottayam, Kerala, the highlight is a February that gender disparity can be tackled only procession of decorated elephants, accompanied through economic empowerment of women and by drummers and other performers, carrying the improving their role in governance. Speaking at temple god to be bathed. In Arattupuzha Pooram the presentation of the Indira Gandhi Prize for festival in Arattupuzha temple in the Thrissur Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2011 to district of Kerala, one of the oldest temple Ela Ramesh Bhatt of Self Employed Women's festivals in Kerala, on March 25, 2013 a Association (SEWA), Mukherjee emphasised that particularly large elephant pageant features around empowerment of women is the key for gender 60 elephants bearing brightly colored silk parasols. equality. "If women are under-represented in our Legend has it that on the day of the festival, 101 economy, it is not only injudicious but also gods and goddesses from the neighboring villages detrimental to social progress," he said. visit Sree Ayyappan, the presiding deity of the 4. FIVE LAKH PEOPLE VISITED THE 5TH Arattupuzha Temple. In Jaipur, on the eve of Holi HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR: each year, March 26 this year, plenty of prized Fifth Hindu fair of the Hindu spiritual and Service elephants are groomed and decorated to Foundation (February 19-24) was inaugurated by perfection, and paraded around the city. former Dy. Prime Minister L K Advani at Chennai 2. THREE CRORE SET WORLD RECORD in august presence of Swami Ashutoshananda of IN MASS SURYA NAMASKAR Bharat set a Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, Swami world record in itself when more than three crore Omkarananda of Chidbhavananda Ashram, Theni, Bharatiyas performed ‘Surya Namaskar – Sun N Gopalswami - Former Chief Election salutations at a time throughout the country on Commissioner and S. Gurumurthy, Chartered February 18, 2013. The event was organized by Accountant and Columnist and other organizing ‘Vivekananda 150 Birth Anniversary Celebration members. Advani in his speech revealed that a Committee’ throughout the length & breadth of suggestion had been made to the Rashtrapati the country. The participants included about two Pranab Mukherjee that he should approach the crore high school students. The ‘Surya Namaskar United States Government to hold a special Yagya’ was organized at over 80 thousand places function in Chicago to commemorate 150th birth across the country. year of Swami Vivekananda. At 10am Bharatiya time, the Samuhik Surya Around 200 Hindu and Spiritual Organizations Namaskar Yagya began at various places. In about including Ramakrishna Mission, Sri Sathya Sai half an hour, the participants completed 13 Surya Baba Ashram, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Sringeri Namsakars each as per instructions. Each and Math, Art of Living Movement, Swaminarayan every town & city, many taluka (tehsil) places & Movement, All World Gayathri Parivar, even small villages across Bharat witnessed the Arutperunjothi Vallalar Charitable Trust, and mass Surya Namaskar performed on the occasion service organizations like Seva Bharathi, of ‘World Surya Namskar day’ – Ratha Saptami. Samskrita Bharati, Rashtra Sevika Samithi, etc (Ratha Saptami this year was February 17.) participated in the fair. Hindu Religious Boards of

1 the States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala 7. SANSKRIT SAHITYOTSAVA UJJAIN: A namely Travancore Devasthanam Board, Andhra 3-day Sanskrit Sahityotsava was organised in Pradesh Hindu Religious Endowments Board, Ujjain from 22nd to 24th February in which more Karnataka Hindu Religious Endowment Board, than 3,000 scholars – Sanskrit readers, teachers Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam Board of and disciples participated. “Sanskrit is not only Tamilnadu, Singhvi Jain, Sourashtra Gujarati Dev Bhasha (language of deities) but also the Mandal, etc. also participated in the Hindu Fair. language of Vedas. During ancient and Vedic Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Ratham of period, foreigners used to survive in forests and Kurnool, Sri Kalahastiswamy Ratham of Bharatiya science was at par with the best in the Kalahasti, Sri Kanipakka Varasiddha Vinayaka world. Efforts are being made to revive the status Swamy Ratham of Chittoor, Sri Kanakadurga of Sanskrit and it was one of the initiatives, which Temple Ratham, Vijayawada, Sri Varaha Lakshmi was taken by the government,” said Laxmi Kant Narasimha Swamy koil Ratham, Vizag and Sharma, Culture Minister, Madhya Pradesh in the Viveka Ratham of Vijayabharatham attracted large concluding ceremony of the event. Minister for visitors at the fair. Food and Civil Supply Paras Jain said there were Competitions were held on various subjects nine gems in the court of Vikramaditya while including Rangoli wherein 1000 students from 66 there were thousands of gems in the court of schools participated enthusiastically. There were Sahityotsava. The city of Ujjain was privileged to about 5 lakh visitors to the Spiritual Fair. They have august presence of such scholars. Chief guest appreciated the efforts taken in organizing the fair. Supreme Court Judge BN Shri Krishna delivered a 5. NAIROBI YOGATHON 2013: This grand speech in Sanskrit and said, “ Just like a woman event attracted over 1,150 people from all walks of usually looks for her necklace around her, though life in its first year and is aimed to grow larger she has been wearing it on her neck, the same every year. The atmosphere at the Jamhuri High things happen with us and we are looking towards School Grounds on the morning of 17th February the western culture forgetting our own.” Rajya was highly charged as yoga enthusiasts, young and Sabha Member and former governor Dr Rama old, geared up to perform 108 Surya Namaskaras. Jois, V- C of Somnath University Venketakumbh It was an inspiring moment to witness at the crack Shastri, M Raj Kaushi and chairman of Maharishi of dawn when children smaller than their yoga Patanjali Sanskrit Sansthan Manmohan Upadhyay mats, walked in with excitement shining on their also spoke on this occasion. faces to learn something new. 8. JALIANWALA BAGH CARNAGE The event was organized under the banner of SHAMEFUL INCIDENT: UK PM - Regretting Hindu Religious and Service Centre, in the spirit the Jalllianwala Bagh carnage, British Prime of promoting fitness and health and to celebrate Minister David Cameron termed the 1919 Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary. massacre a shameful incident in British history. 6. SANSKRIT IN KERALA SCHOOLS: With Cameron visited Golden temple and Jalllianwala an aim to revive Sanskrit language, once Bagh on February 20. He paid homage to unarmed considered the mother of all languages in Bharat , civilians who lost their lives in rampage firing. the government has decided to introduce Sanskrit Cameron is the first British Prime Minister to visit as a second language from class I from the next Jallianwala Bagh after 94 years of the incident. academic year, in all state syllabus schools, said Hundreds of innocent and unarmed men, women director of public instruction (DPI) A Shahjahan. and children were massacred at the Jallianwala At present, Sanskrit is taught in 2,975 government, Bagh on April 13, 1919 by British forces led by aided and private state syllabus schools in the state Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer when they from class V. There are only around 2, 47,764 opened fire on them. Approximately 1,650 rounds students studying Sanskrit, as compared to the 9, were fired that resulted in the death of more than 82,103 students studying Arabic which is taught to 1,000 Bharatiyas besides leaving more than 1,100 students from class I. injured. 2 9. DAUGHTER OF SANGH WORKER 11. MY VISIT TO NORWAY AND THRASHED WOMEN-ABUSERS ON MID- NETHERLANDS: SHYAM PARANDE - The NIGHT IN THE STREET: “I was breaking the visit to Oslo was memorable: The snow-covered silence. If I had stood mum listening to their city, the mesmerizing Vigeland Sculpture verbal abuse, the scene would have worsened Arrangements are memories to be cherished. The further,” this was how Amrutha Mohan described Nobel Peace Centre is holding an exhibition on the incident that made her beat up two men who Mahatma Gandhi’s life called “Eye on Gandhi”. It showered verbal abuse on her on February 14 is a wonderful work by two Bharatiyas that would night during her return from the event ‘One Billion make every Bharatiya proud. Legendary Rising’ on Shangumugham Beach, documentary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, Thiruvananthpuram aimed at bringing an end to a Norwegian, who had been in Bharat during the the violence against women. Amrutha, who had penultimate days of Gandhiji and his photographs, led the bike rally at the event, was returning on her probably the last on Gandhi’s life, are on display bike and was accompanied by her friend and her at the centre now. family in a car. As the restaurants were closed, Another experience worth mentioning was the they stopped near a wayside eatery to have food. visit to the Parliament of Norway sans security At that time, three men in a car stopped near them that we are all used to in Bharat. The Parliament is and showered verbal abuse. right in the midst of the old city of Norway and Other than Amrutha, two more women were close to the Royal Palace of Norway’s King. Made present there at that time. “On seeing the two men me think of the Raisina Hills in New Delhi getting beaten up, the other one escaped from the without the stringent elaborate obscure security. scene. “There were many people in front of the My life time dream indeed! eatery at that time and so I was not the only one to Wijchen is a small place as compared to The react,” she says. Haque which has a large Hindu population and A final year Communicative English student at All Amsterdam with richer Hindus. Yet a cluster of 25 Saints’ College, her martial arts lessons had Hindu families in Wijchen built the largest Hindu proved useful for Amrutha. A five-time winner in Mandir in the country. This surprises everyone drums at the State School Youth Festival, Amrutha who visits the place for the first time. The Shri is part of a seven-member band, ‘Skylark’. In the Ram Mandir attracts many tourists and even some band, the other six members are boys. Amrutha, Dutch people visit the Mandir for offering prayers. 20, is a resident of Enchakkal. Her father Mohan It was more surprising that a group of scientists was a RSS Pracharak formerly. works from the Mandir and even conducts 10. ANCIENT TEMPLE FOUND IN PERU: A computer and science classes from the Mandir. A team of archaeologists discovered a ruined temple sizable room in the Mandir has been converted measuring 6.82 meters by 8.04 and a hearth some into scientific centre for the classes. The Mandir 5,000 years old at the El Paraiso archaeological President Om Prakash Singh Lal Bahadoor and his complex east of Lima. In the center of the temple brother Uday Singh are the motivating force for is a sloping rectangular floor, to which one gains the establishment and development of this Mandir. access via a step 45 centimeters (about 18 inches) 12. VASANT PANCHAMI FESTIVAL high. In the center of this sloping floor is the BECKONS THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING: The ceremonial hearth, a space where offerings to the Hindu goddess of knowledge and music was gods were burned and has characteristics never celebrated in true Bharatiya style on February 16 seen before in the Lima area - in the right wing of as 160 people flocked to East Reading for the the Main Pyramid at the complex, Deputy Culture festival of Vasant Panchami. Park United Minister Rafael Varon said. "This find opens a Reformed Church came alive with the vibrant new road for the El Paraiso Archaeological sounds and colours of traditional Bharatiya song Complex, for research and comprehensive and dance, organised by the Indian Arts Centre recovery of all the monument's secrets," he said. (IAC) in Purley, UK. 3 IAC chairwoman Sharmila Banerjee, from Purley, sustaining this art form through generations, has said: “Vasant Panchami is one of the most grand taken Bommalattam to new heights. In villages, festivals to beckon the arrival of the spring. It is Bommalattam is performed only in the evenings. one of the first festivals of the year and is Stories like Vinayaka Puranam, Anjaneya celebrated all over Bharat.” Puranam and Bhakta Prahlaad are in demand. To mark this auspicious day in Reading, a number 15. ‘NARENDRA MODI GOVT FOR of activities took place, with the puja (prayer) DALITS AS PRIESTS’: Gujarat's social justice being the highlight. A sit and draw competition department has proposed a new provision in the was held for young worshippers, with 30 children budget to train safai kamdars in Vedic religious aged from four to 17 taking part. The students of rituals, a Brahmin monopoly till now. A provision IAC teachers Piyali Basu and Ananya Chatterjee of Rs 22.50 lakh has been made for the then gave a dazzling performance with which all programme in the budget for 2013-14. the parents and guests were delighted. Under the proposed scheme, safaikamdars and 13. NAGAS CELEBRATE ANNUAL SEED their children will be trained for karma-kand at SOWING FESTIVAL OF LUI-NGAI-NI: reputable institutions such as Sola Bhagvat Considered to be one of the biggest festivals for Vidyapith and Somnath Sanskrit University. Nagas, Lui-Ngai-Ni, was celebrated in Chandel 16. LSE SCHOLARSHIP FOR 50 district in Manipur with pomp and gaiety, under BHARATIYA STUDENTS: Soon after British the theme of "Weaving Peace through Culture". PM David Cameron announced there was no cap Naga folk dances like the war dance, weaving on Bharatiya students in UK, London School of dance, and seed-sowing dance were showcased. Economics (LSE) director professor Craig Nagas were joined by members of other Calhoun, who’s travelling with the PM, said LSE communities like Meiteis, Kukis and Gorkhas in was introducing 50 new postgraduate scholarships the celebrations. The festival promotes peace, for Bharatiyas. These will enable Bharatiyas fund harmony and prosperity while upholding the rich a Masters degree starting 2013. Naga culture. We want to ensure that LSEs doors are open to all 14. SITA KALYANAM IN CHENNAI HOLDS talented students, regardless of financial GEN-X IN THRALL: More than 300 students circumstances, and are delighted to cement this drawn out from some of the best schools in relationship further by offering 50 scholarships, Chennai, sat enthralled and watch Sita Kalyanam for graduate study, for students from Bharat, (The Marriage of Sita), a Bommalattam (puppetry) Calhoun said. LSE enrols between 300 and 400 presented by a group of folklore artists from Bharatiyas each year, with the majority in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu on February 16. The postgraduate programmes. puppets, the dance, the music and the artistry were 17. HOLLANDE LAUDS BHARAT’S a new experience for the students who are brought ‘PEACE POWER’: Stressing the “exceptional” up in an environment of rock music and more at strategic partnership between the two countries, home with internet games. French president Francois Hollande urged New “I never knew Ramayana had such wonderful Delhi to play a greater global role, as the “security stories in it. What I liked most was the way the of the world needs Bharat’s presence.” President marionettes danced and spoke. They looked like Hollande delivered the Madhavrao Scindia original human beings,” Prem Kumar, an eighth memorial lecture to a packed hall at Teen Murti standard student from Saraswathi Vidyalaya, said. house auditorium in New Delhi on February 15. The Bommalattam in chaste Tamil was presented Hollande termed Bharat the “world’s greatest by Sourashtrians who have made Tamil Nadu their democracy” and a “power of peace”. He argued home for the last 500 years. No festivals and that given its strong democratic and secular celebrations in rural Tamil Nadu could be said to credentials, and the example of religious tolerance be complete without Bommalattam. The that it offers, Bharat should more actively address enthusiasm of three families in Kumbakonam, issues threatening world peace. 4 After the lecture, French President Francois Honour on this occasion. In his address Shri Hollande bestowed his country’s highest Ramotar appreciated the Bharatiya migrants for decoration, ‘Commandeur de la Legion their remarkable contribution to the development d’Honneur’ (Legion of Honour) on Nobel laureate of Guyana. He said that 175 years since the Prof Amartya Sen. Hollande praised Sen and Bharatiyas migrated to Guyana they faced quoted extensively from his works. miseries and hardships and made tremendous 18. ‘IRON FIST’ SETS DESERT SKY struggle in Guyana. They never forgot Bharat and ABLAZE: The skies of Pokhran came alive on carried out Bharatiya cultural traditions firmly. February 22 with the Bharatiya Air Force’s first While thanking the Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Nyas ever day-night full combat and fire demonstration, for conferring Bharatvanshi Gaurav Samman, named “Iron Fist.” Rashtrapati Pranab Mukherjee, Muljibhai Pindolia said that the honour given to the supreme commander of the armed forces, was him does not belong to him only; it belongs to his the chief guest at the event at Chandan Range near elders, his family and his friends, who had done Jaisalmer. More than 200 fighter and transport and were doing a lot to serve our country. aircraft, including Sukhoi 30, Mirage 2000, 20. WIPRO'S PREMJI JOINS BILL GATES' Jaguar, MiG 27, MIG 21, MIG 29, unmanned PHILANTHROPIC MISSION: India Inc's aerial vehicles and the Awacs, participated in the philanthropist extraordinaire, Wipro chairman demonstration. Azim Premji, has signed up for Giving Pledge, Indigenous aircraft like Light Combat Aircraft committing a substantial part of his wealth to Tejas and Light Combat Helicopter Rudra also philanthropy. Giving Pledge, founded by proved their calibre at the show. The other aircraft Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and billionaire displayed were the C130J, the AN-32, the investor Warren Buffett, describes itself as "a Embraer and the IL-76. The chopper fleet included commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals Mi-8, Mi-17 1V, and the newly inducted Mi-17 and families to dedicate the majority of their V5 and Mi-35. Another new entrant, the Swiss wealth to philanthropy". Pilatus PC-7 Mk II basic trainer, also graced the The Wipro chairman is the only Bharatiya, sky. excluding Bharatiya American entrepreneur 19. MULJIBHAI PINDOLIA GETS 7TH Manoj Bhargava, to have signed up for Giving BHARATVANSHI GAURAV SAMMAN: Pledge, and joins Oracle chairman Larry Ellison Glowing tributes were paid to the Bharatiya and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, among immigrants by Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition, many other luminaries. Rajya Sabha, while conferring the 7th Bharatvanshi 21. VYAS SAMMAN FOR NARENDRA Gaurav Samman on Muljibhai Laljibahi Pindolia, KOHLI: Eminent Hindi litterateur Narendra President of Hindu Council of Africa and Kohli has been selected for the prestigious Vyas International Trustee of World Conference of Samman for 2012 for his historical novel ‘Na Religions for Peace, at a function in New Delhi, Bhooto Na Bhavishyati’ based on Swami on 1st February, 2013. Pindolia was presented a Vivekananda and the era he belonged to. Instituted cheque for rupees one lac, a citation, a memento by the K. K. Birla Foundation in 1991, the award and a shawl. He was honoured for his outstanding is given annually for an outstanding literary work contribution in the area of service to society. in Hindi published during the past ten years. The Arun Jaitley said that Bharatiya diaspora remains award carries a cash purse of Rs 2.5 lakh. ‘Na constantly in touch with its roots. The colour of Bhooto Na Bhavishyati’, published in 2004, gives their passport changes but their mind does not and an account of the incredible impression that their loyalty is 100 percent with the country in Vivekananda cast on the history of the country and which they live and 100 percent with the country its culture. Mr. Kohli, 73, is credited with re- of their origin. inventing the ancient form of epic writing in His Excellency Donald Ramotar, President of the modern prose. He has published 76 books Cooperative Republic of Guyana, was the Guest of including short story collections, novels and plays 5 22. VANAVASI KALYAN ASHRAM’S issue related to Hindu sentiments and beliefs," told NATIONAL MEET HELD AT HOWRAH: party spokesperson Rravi Shankar Prasad on Akhil Bharatiya Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram February 24. The pachauri committee, which (ABVKA) held its national executive committee submitted its report to the Supreme Court, has said meeting at Krishna Bhawan, Howrah on 21st the sethusamudram shipping channel project is not February 2013. ABVKA is a philanthropic viable on economic and ecological grounds. organisation working for the welfare of 10 crore Government has rejected the report and Scheduled Tribes of country through its 32 maintained that it intends to pursue the project affiliated organizations. The meeting was held which will cut through the so called adam's bridge, under the chairmanship of Jagdeoram Uraon and popularly known as Ram setu. attended by its members and special invitees from 24. BESTSELLER: BHARATIYA AUTHORS various States. WRITE THEIR WAY TO THE BANK: In a Shri S.K Kaul, retd. IAS officer brought a country where the benchmark for a bestseller is a resolution regarding the Bonded Labour issue mere 5,000 copies, people who never set out to prevailing in Bharat even after 66th year of become writers are crossing the one lakh-mark, Independence. Estimates about the number of thanks to young readers who find their work bonded labourers in Bharat vary from 40 million ‘relatable’. people according to Human Rights Watch, to 11.7 Earlier this month, Ravinder Singh left his job million according to the International Labour with Microsoft in Hyderabad and moved to Delhi Organization. Moren Sing appealed that the to pursue writing full-time. District administration should identify and His first book, I Too Had A Love Story, became a rehabilitate the bonded labourer’s problem. The bestseller in 2008. “I never thought my book Executive committee took a resolution in this would change my life and career,” he says. connection appealed to all social activists and While Chetan Bhagat’s rise to fame has been well- workers of Kalyan Ashram to take up the matter at documented, authors such as Singh, Amish local level to bring the issue to a logical end. Tripathi and Ashwin Sanghi figure alongside him The ongoing violence in the Rabha area of Lower in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list, which Assam was discussed in length. Shri Jaleshwar ranked people based on money and fame earned Brahma explained his experience during his tour between October 2011 and September 2012. in the trouble hit area. ABVKA demanded a In one year, Tripathi made about Rs. 10 crore, judicial probe into the firing incident on 12th Bhagat Rs. 3.29 crore, Sanghi Rs. 98 lakh and February and the attack that followed on the Singh Rs. 42 lakh. So lucrative is the profession indigenous people by alleged Bangladeshis. 13 that Ravi Subramanian, a Mumbai-based banker people of Rabha Janjati community died in the and author of If God Was A Banker, managed to police firing which inflamed the people. National buy a BMW with his royalty money alone. Executive Committee appealed the Government to 25. ZOMI NAM NI ROCKS DELHI: Cultural speed up the process of updating National Register extravaganza and performances of traditional of Citizen as per the Assam Accord 1985. songs and dances marked the 65th Zomi Nam Ni 23. WON'T TOLERATE ANY TAMPERING (Zomi National Day) celebration in New Delhi on WITH RAM SETU: BJP : BJP , on February 24, February 20. A strong contingent of Tribe leaders, warned the government against going ahead with MLAs and MDCs from Churachandpur district the Sethusamudram project, saying the sentiments including renowned Zomi Artists graced the of crores of Hindus are attached to the issue and it auspicious occasion. Oscar Fernandez, MP and will not tolerate any tampering with the Ram Setu. Chairman Parliamentary Standing Committee and "We would like to warn the government on the HS Brahman, Election Commissioner who were Ram Setu issue. It is ignoring the part of the celebration emphasized upon protection recommendations of the RK Pachauri committee of rich culture, tradition for the Zomis as proud report and going ahead with the project. This is an Bharatiyas. 6 26. YANKEE DOODLE DESI: Ami Bera is the MIND YOUR LANGUAGE third Bharatiya American elected to the US House With one language dying somewhere in the world of Representatives. Bera think that he got elected every 14 days, it has probably the highest rate of because he is a Bharatiya American. “We have a extinction in the planet, much higher than those of legitimate, elected leader”, said Shekar plants, animals or birds. But with Anvita Abbi Narasimhan, a member of Obama’s campaign on around, all is not lost, reports Eram Agha finances. I was surprised. First I thought it was a farce call, Bera grew up, “an American kid in a Bharatiya and someone was trying to humour my research- family”. He played basketball in school — and laden day by saying that I had been honoured with was pretty good at it and did well in studies. He the Padma Shri,” says Prof Anvita Abbi, who was took up biological science in college at the recently given the prestigious award by the University of California and went to join the Rashtrapati for her pioneering work as a medical school at Irvine. Congressman Bera now distinguished linguist working on ‘minority’ hopes to inspire others to follow him; he speaks of languages of the Bharatiya subcontinent and for opening the gate. And many more will surely carrying out first-hand field research on all six follow. A Bharatiya American with political plans language families of the country, including Indo- is not so rare anymore. European, Dravidian, Munda and Tibeto-Burman. 27. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Her most significant work has been on the Saumitra Gokhale Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak will endangered languages spoken in the Andaman reach Bharat on Mar 6 for ABPS baithk. Shri Islands — Great Andamanese and Onge-Jarawa. Ravikumar sahsamyojak returned Bharat after For the past 35 years Abbi has been relentlessly finishing his tour to Singapore and Australia. working towards the preservation of lesser-known Dr.Ram Vaidya sah samyojak has also reached languages. Her work can be truly gauged — and Bharat. Visitors: Kamal Gupta – Kenya, appreciated — when one listens to what linguistic Prof.Radheshaym Dwiwedi, Richard Benkin – experts say: That one language dies somewhere in USA, Prof.Azad Kaushik - Canada. the world every 14 days. If one takes this FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Let our workers keep assumption seriously (there’s no reason to their minds free and work for our people, our disbelief it), then this is probably the highest rate Dharma, in the right spirit, lend a helping hand to of extinction being witnessed in the planet, much all our brethren who need help and strive to relieve higher than those of plants, animals or birds. distress wherever we see it. In this service no “To be frank, when I started it never occurred to distinction should be made between man and man. me that this documentation would be We have to serve all, be he a Christian or a acknowledged. It was too remote to even think Muslim or a human being of any other persuasion: that a work like this can ever be awarded,” she for, calamities, distress and misfortunes make no says. Having been associated with Jawaharlal such distinction but affect all alike. And in serving Nehru University as a professor in the School of to relieve the sufferings of man let it not be in a Languages, Literature and Culture, she is the first spirit of condescense or mere compassion but as one to get the Padma Shri from her centre of the devoted worship of Lord abiding the hearts of all university. beings, in the true spirit of our Dharma of Born in the family of Hindi writers, Abbi went to surrendering our all in the humble service of Him an Ivy League school. She came back in 1976, who is Father, Mother, Brother, Friend and with the objective of working in linguistics. “I everything to us all. studied all six language families of Bharat — from And may our action success bringing out the glory the Himalayan region to Andaman — and my and effulgence of our Sanatan – Eternal Dharma. – finding that Great Andamanese is a separate Sri Guruji M.S. Golwalkar. family in Bharatiya languages is now corroborated by genetics,” she says. “Any place becomes a JAI SHREE RAM sealed fortress until its language is known,” she 7 says, adding: “Every language has a unique Little Andaman should be called Ilumi Tauro; structure; it is a product of biology and culture, Havelock Islands’ real name is Thi Lar Siro, and it is a co-evolutionary process. Culture is which means “Land Near the Sea”; Port Blair’s embedded in the structure of languages. I realised real name is Lao Taro Nyo and it means “House of this while understanding the lesser-known spirits and Foreigners”; Diglipur’s original name languages.” is Thitomaul, which means “Lots of The value Andamanese give to kinship shines Undergrowth”. Also, Andaman’s real name is through when you hear the word raupuh. “It means Marakela. Andamanese society has always been in someone who loses his or her sibling. They were good terms with its nature. Even while collecting surprised that we had no such word for a situation honey the locals boast that they don’t kill a single like this and asked me: ‘Don’t you get unhappy bee. It is done without the use of fire. “They rub when you lose your sibling?’ This language has mud on their bodies in thick packs, chew a leaf different grammar and that is a window to their and spit its juice on the honeycomb that drives the history and perception of the world around them. bees out of their homes,” Abbi informs. Wonder Their grammar is construed from the conception why the bees don’t bite? They answer is: Bees of the body. They divide the body in seven parts never bite the mud. and have abstract names for each part. They Then there is Baralo, which is a kind of snake that perceive the world through their body and that is doubles up as a beauty parlour for young girls. It is so amazing. I think it is a very archaic language a particular kind of snake that lives in coconut going back to the time when human beings were trees, and is non-poisonous. “Young girls rub that evolving. It was then they must have associated snake on their body and with every rub it gives out the world with their body,” she observes. a secretion that adds glow to their skin,” she says. Abbi is calm even in the face of constant phone Abbi’s tryst with language has lead her to the road calls and the task of giving interview of love for the Andamanese lifestyle. “We have to appointments. To keep this writer occupied she respect their culture and not drive them towards shows her dictionary on Great Andamanese ‘mainstream’. It will kill their society and, of language. “I started this task of compiling the course, language, which is a storehouse of dictionary for Great Andamanese, thinking it knowledge. They have survived for 70,000 years would be easy to do it with just 500 words for without any mainstream measure, so they will consideration. But by the end of it I ended up survive thousands of years to come. A research having 4,200 words and also a neck problem, was conducted on them and it was discovered that which a doctor in Europe suggested should be not one person was undernourished. They chew surgically treated,” she says with a smile. shells found on the shore that is rich in calcium. Through this compilation of words, she says, one Their’s is a tropical climate and are comfortable will discover how attached are these tribes to their without clothes, by bringing fabric in their environment. “They have a separate word for a lifestyle you are making way for economics,” she place where one can see underwater rocks. points out. Abbi, however, is not very hopeful Through this you can encode the culture and their about the future. “The way things are going, the experience of living,” she points out. Abbi then Great Andamanese tribe will die in 10 years. They says that the term for the opening in the forest with marry people out of their tribe and their numbers little growth is different from the term used for the are dwindling fast. Only the queen of the tribe has opening of the forest with huge growth. married within the community, whereas others are Abbi has another proposal in mind. “I would write intermingling with colonisers. The Onge-Jarawa to the Government of Bharat on giving the tribe still resides in the jungle. Unless we develop Andaman Islands their original names that are a alternative sea routes, we cannot safeguard the mirror to their history and culture,” she says life, culture, language and identity of one of the pointing at the map in her book that has given oldest civilisations on this planet,” she concludes. original names to some popular destinations — - The Pioneer, 23 February 2013. 8