LEPA TRIP – AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE!

This Diwali, a trip to Lepa, near Indore in Madhya Pradesh was a totally unexpected affair. It was aimed at a very spiritual experience of taking advantage of Ramkatha being narrated by an authorized person in the field Shriman Ravindra Pathak. We all were eager to listen to his spiritual deliberations, as we were aware of his spiritual base and captivating mastery on mythological deliveries. 

We reached Lepa early in the morning and were greeted warmly by dedicated workers of N.A.R.M.A.D.A. (Nimar Abhyuday Rural Management And Development Association, a totally dedicated, spiritually oriented, service mission). Young enthusiastic children took our bags and led us to our rooms, where we were to stay for the next week.

This Diwali, post corona, when getting together was in jeopardy; a totally unknown destination that we chose, was a pleasant surprise. 

A warm welcome, delicious breakfast accompanied by hot tea was enough to forget the travel fatigue. We got ready for the first session of Ramkatha, followed by delicious lunch, a short nap, prawachan, tea, snack followed by evening Ramkatha and arati, dinner and a stroll in the night. It was late October, with light winter, pleasant and starry. We followed this routine for the whole of next week.

A delicious treat of listening to, experiencing, grasping the gist of various episodes of Ramayan; at the auspicious place, from an eminent personality, made our Diwali very special. The part of Tulsidas Ramayan related to the boat sailors or "kewats", as they are known as, took us into Dwapar yug, a heavenly spiritual experience. Without any tensions or stress of urban life, worries of achieving everyday routine, we were totally immersed in a divine environment, full of positive vibes. It was truly an out of the world anubhooti. 

What impressed me most was the fact that this whole project is an idea of a totally selfless and dedicated personality Bharati Thakur, who got this inspiration when she went for Narmada Parikrama. She had to stay one night in a tribal’s hut, where she was welcomed warmly and given a share of whatever they had for meals! When she realized their poverty and ignorance, she decided to resign from her very safe and secure bank job and took up the work of educating their children.

She selected a place called Mandaleshwar on the bank of Narmada River, where she set up her mission of educating children of boat sailors, for whom education was not at all a priority. Girls, school dropouts, young child labours were taught by her and slowly this expanded to a large area after establishment of N.A.R.M.A.D.A. Today it boasts of a few lovely buildings, used as school and residential complexes for teachers and students.

What impresses the visitors is that the resident students have worked to build a big auditorium, water storages, biogas plants; they manage cattle rearing, biofertilizer plants, organic farming, to name a few! This has developed a work culture in them! The two storeyed auditorium is an example of what a bunch of dedicated students can do, if they decide so! The masonry, building, painting, plumbing, electrification, all has been done by the students. This place in MP is one which has very hot summers and faces scarcity of water. They have even built underground water storage tanks, which take them through the summers. All toilets are built by students and even cleaned by them! When we visited the cow sheds, we were surprised to see the cleanliness, care taken and how it had satisfied the milk demand of the resident students. Moreover, the dung has been utilised in making fertilizers. I was surprised when I got a prompt answer to a question asked; about what species are used in biofertilizers? The students of sixth, seventh standards have cultivated Azolla and Spirulina in shadows and are updated about their advantages! Ms Bharati Thakur mam has slowly made her associates independent and responsible and they are working industriously towards being competent enough to stand proudly to face the world. Students from this institute have got prestigious jobs world over and they have been awarded best paper prizes for their innovative ideas and paper presentations.

Their regular syllabus is supplemented with skill developing courses; some have learnt plumbing, some masonry, some farming, some painting and so on, in order to help them stand on their own feet. Beautiful chants on River Narmada, considered as the mother of that region, have been composed and are sung by the children every day. A proper orchestra with musicians and instruments is set, with the help of dedicated teachers and students. Prayers mark the beginning and the end of the day. Students are well versed with all traditional Hindu practices like rangoli, diya making, garland making, handicrafts, stitching, embroidery which again helps them in their daily life and personality development. Articles made by them are kept for sale and we could play a small role in that!

It was like our maternal place, everyday different local vegetables for lunch, cooked with love, sweet dishes, soups, puris and parathas, variety of snacks; every day we would wonder how they could work up such lunches and dinners for 300 plus devotees and still maintain the sanctity of the event, that too at no cost? It was surprising how the dedicated workers maintained the cleanliness and discipline. The greenery around, clean air, fresh environment totally refreshed us! 

We immersed ourselves in River Narmada, bathing in which is considered very pious. We visited the ancient temple of Mandaleshwar, situated on a mound, other beautiful temples of Ganesha, Narmada, whenever we had time in between.

Maheshwari sarees are a trademark of this region; so how could we really miss them? Environmentally rich, great biodiversity, a motivating place; we came back chanting;

त्वदीय पाद पंकजम, नमामि देवी नर्मदे !

Green Blogger

Prof. Dr. Mrs. Jaya Vikas Kurhekar

AN ENCHANTED ENVIRONMENT !!!!

It is true that you have to see it, to believe it! This Ramnavami, falling on Sunday, 10th April, 2022 was a special one for us, which was the epitome of our spiritual anubhootis! An everlasting, never to be experienced again, episode in our life, which was totally unplanned and it was as if planted by SOMEONE, for us to live-in!

We reached Rameshwar, replacements for two drop-outs; on 9th April 2022. We had started memorizing Ramtandaw, praising Lord Shri Ram in Sanskrit. It was planned that about 1200 women clad in white, with lights in their hands would chant it at sunrise on Ramnavami, at Dhanushkodi, the southernmost tip of India, from where Shri Ram had initiated the Setu from India to Shri Lanka, in search of Sita!

Rameshwar was a blazing 40 degree centigrade, when we practised the Shivling arrangement, on 9th April, at hotel Blue Corals. It started raining, as it is a coastal region, very humid; scurrying everyone to move indoors. 

Arrived 10th April, Ramnavami, waking us at 2 am. We bathed and assembled at 3 am. Seated in respective buses we reached Dhanushkodi, around 18 kms from Rameshwar! Dr Kurhekar was the head of the medical team, heading towards Dhanushkodi in an ambulance. 

Around 4 am, mesmerized and driven by an inner force, we assembled to form our Shivling arrangement, taking our designated places. A lot of time and energy had gone into this planning by the organisers, specifically Madhuri Sahastrabuddhe, New Delhi. 1200 mothers from all over India had come to this auspicious place, on an auspicious day, for an auspicious event, to pray for global peace! 

Sunrise was predicted at 5.50 am and at 5.30 am we all were asked to be silent and peaceful and perform Namsmaran of our own favorite deity! 

Exactly at 5.50 am Sun God made appearance and we, with all our being started chanting the Ram Tandaw! Hardly about 12 mins, but the environment was full of positive energy and vibes, an unforgettable mesmerizing experience! I can still feel the goose bumps, after a week! It started and it ended, leaving us and the environment speechless, the energy sinking in! 

The descendants of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shri Raja Babaji Raje Bhosale, residing in Tanjore, Vice Chancellor of Tanjore University, Prof. S. Vaidhyasubramaniam graced the occasion. We could not help but capture the beautiful moments in our mobile cameras. The rocky beach at Dhanushkodi, from where Shri Lanka is just 14 kms away, was clean and neat. We spent a few beautiful moments there with our near and dear ones!

What impressed me most was the clean and fresh environment, tar road till the southernmost tip of India, sparkling clean waters and beach! May God listen to our prayers and bless us with Global Peace!

December and January!

                                                                   December and January!

December and January are beautifully related,

Intricately woven, though side by side, in happiness and sorrow;

One, a story of wonderful memories of yesterday,

And the other holding new promises for tomorrow!

Both deeply mystique and both quite delicate,

Both travellers of time, both sufferers of fate!

Both put up with same faces and same colour,

Same calendar, similarly chilly and yearning amber;

Though with different identities and styles,

Different approaches, with frowns and smiles!

One is the festive end and other the hopeful beginning,

As morn emerges from night and night from dewy morning!

One stores memories and the other stores hopes,

One ardently experienced and other loaded with faithful strokes!

Both connected with each other,

Like two ends of a string chord,

Though far away but maintaining closeness,

As two peas in a green pod!

One who lets go of December, is embraced by January dearly,

December follows up in faith, the January resolutions fairly!

Eleven months go by, for reaching December from January, the first,

But it takes just a fraction of a moment to cross, December to January robust!

When they both are far apart, they are witnesses to so many happy and sad events,

But when they come close together, they span and change the whole year in special moments!

They look like just two common months of a common year,

But are capable of turning everything upside down or encompassing all together!

Together, January and December hold all months together in a string of days,

Giving the world a reason to celebrate, when they truly part their ways!

Prof. Dr. Jaya Kurhekar,

Green Blogger

An excellent example of environmentally protected islands is that of Laksha Dweep!

A trip to the South Western Indian islands, Laksha Dweep, a union territory, was a long awaited dream, which got fulfilled suddenly. Boarding a small plane, while going to Laksha Dweep islands from Cochin and while coming back, from Laksha Dweep to Cochin by the gulf war hero ship Tipu Sultan, to and fro, it was totally a dream come true!
Lakshadweep is a group of 36 islands; known for its luscious natural coral reefs, beautiful silty beaches and scenic landscapes. India’s smallest Union Territory; it has an area of 32 sq km. The only airstrip is at the capital Kavaratti about 400 km away from Kochi in Kerala, in the Arabian Sea. Lakshadweep boasts of clean and pure environment with sandy beaches, natural landscapes and greatly diverse flora and fauna. Solar lights cover the whole of Kavaratti, an excellent example of harnessing of natural resources. Agatti, Bangaram are popular beaches; Bangaram being the only island on which foreign tourists and liquor are allowed.

The priceless coral reefs surrounding the whole of Lakshadweep spread into blue green lagoons, reaching out to one and half to two kilometers. Lazing around in the lagoons, snorkelling and scuba diving was our important agenda for those mystical days. Away from the city hustle bustle, it was an out of the world experience, to be a part of and to enjoy that oceanic world, its magical beauty, underwater flora and fauna and god gifted natural products! We had the privilege of snorkelling, whenever we could, in the lagoons which spread to quite some distance all around the Kavaratti Island.

Laksha Dweep boasts of one of the world’s most significant coral reefs; which is its precious treasure and from what I have experienced, this treasure is being dearly protected by the government. No one is allowed to touch any of the precious corals of various shapes, sizes and colours, lying luxuriously on the sun – kissed beaches. Environmentally, the islands have been well protected from human attacks and preserved; as collecting of shells and corals, disturbing of natural habitats is totally prohibited. Scanning of tourist baggage in the customs, for smuggled natural products is a routine. No one is allowed to take away anything from the islands and all baggage is scanned at the exit point.

Our stay was on this island, in beautiful cottages, equipped with all amenities; though, we would be on the beach, the whole day!

Coconuts and fish are the main natural products, which are the economical backbone of the region. Population is sparse but hard working. While taking a walk on the beautiful islands, residents would offer us coconut water and fresh coconut flesh. Eating on the islands was a pleasure because of the ample coconut recipe varieties, tasty curries, beans and fish! Food resources, items would be brought by ships from Cochin coast; hence they are precious and preserved and not wasted.

Cleanliness is given prime importance and no stray animals are visible. One end of Kavaratti has the airstrip; at the other is an elegant lighthouse. Photographers amongst us, had a great time clicking away.

Coming back by Tipu Sultan, the giant Gulf war fame ship was another out of the world experience, which needs greater elaboration!

What impressed me most and what is rare nowadays was that, anywhere we went; the beaches were spotless, sparkling clean! No plastic, plastic bottles, debris was visible anywhere. We visited Bangaram, Agatti, two to three other un-inhabited islands but had the same sense of cleanliness, freshness and purity, thanx to the management and authorities!

Can we truly compare our other tourists’ places with this? I am not so sure!

 Prof. Dr. Jaya Kurhekar

Green Blogger

MUST INCLUDE BUCKET LIST IDEAS: BEFORE YOU GO TO YOUR ETERNAL ABODE!

Have you ever created a bucket list before? As an ardent environment awareness fan, I believe that you must include the following ideas in your bucket list and try fulfilling each, whenever and wherever you can! When we put our ideas in black and white, it becomes a motivation for us! It helps to keep your goals alive in your thoughts and instigate you to act!

In the present world of pandemic and environmental crisis, we must think a hundred times, of what happiness nature has bestowed on us, what we have experienced and what legacy we are leaving behind for our children! It’s their right too, to be blessed by a beautiful surrounding and enjoy it’s bliss! So let’s get going about it!

·       Trees are our benefactors, try to plant a tree whenever you can.

·   Preserve all seeds after eating fruits and sow them in an appropriate place in an appropriate manner.

·       Protect all those plants that you have planted.

·      Gift plants, whenever you have to gift something.

·     Think about your surroundings in your leisure time and think of how you can constructively add to it.

·       While throwing anything on the road, think twice if you are doing the right thing?

·     Never never spit on the road or perform your daily chores on the road; you are spoiling the health of others.

·      Do not throw plastic on the road as it stays for thousands of years without getting degraded.

·      Our rivers are our life lines, don’t litter them, don’t spoil them; keep their banks clean so that you can enjoy their beauty!

·      All degradable waste can be used in your gardens as fertilizer.

·       Do not waste water or electricity, it is precious, it is the property of our nation.

·     Travel all over the world and learn about how they preserve and protect their environment; try to implement their small though very important ideas in your daily life.

·      Whenever you go to any tourist place, keep it clean and tidy and avoid, “Let them not say and say it to their shame, that all was fine and clean, until you came!”

·      Do spread this message.

Green Blogger

Prof. Dr. Mrs. Jaya Kurhekar

भय!

As we enter the second major lockdown with Covid affected cases increasing day by day, I realise that we are in a different mindset now, as compared to April last year! We are more aware of the virus, the medication, the situation but still ........... the calamity goes on! There is a scare, a fear, a yearning for the situation to get better at some point now; we are eager, anxious, ready to comply but .... still something is wrong somewhere! See if you identify with my feelings............

भय इथले संपत नाही, मज तुझी आठवण येते,

मी संध्याकाळी गातो, तू मला शिकविली गीते.

 वाऱ्याबरोबर गाण्याच्या ओळी तरंगत आल्या आणि माझ्या अंगावर काटा आला! खरंच सध्या कोणत्या परिस्थितीत जगतोय आपण? आजूबाजूला बघावं तिथे भय आहे, भीती आहे, उद्याची चिंता आहे, सगळं काही नीट कधी होईल ह्याची मनात धाकधूक आहे! मार्च २०२० उजाडला आणि आपल्या आयुष्यातील, न भूतो न भविष्यति असा कालावधी सुरु झाला! जानेवारी महिन्यापासून आपण बातम्या ऐकत होतो, पहात होतो, कानावर गोष्टी येत होत्या पण जोपर्यंत त्या लांब होत्या तोपर्यंत आपण ही त्याचा फारसा विचार केला नाही. “दृष्टी आड सृष्टी” ह्या न्यायानं आपण सुरक्षित आहोत ही मानसिकता सगळ्यांच्यात रुजली होती. मार्च मधल्या एका भल्या सकाळी फर्मान सुटलं की जिथं आहात तिथं थांबा, घरी जा, इकडं तिकडं भटकू नका आणि मनात शंकेची पाल चुकचुकली! काय करणार आपण घरी जाऊन, घरी राहून? त्यापेक्षा आहे ते काम पूर्णच करून टाकू या, असा विचार मनात आला; मात्र सगळ्यांनाच घरीच धाडण्याची घाई झाली आणि आता पर्याय नाही हे लक्षात आलं! तिथूनच भयाची मालिका सुरु झाली!

मार्च महिना आला आणि गेला, एप्रिल तसाच गेला, मे गेला! कुठं जाणं नाही, येणं नाही, उन्हाळी कामं नाहीत, परीक्षा नाहीत, आंबे नाहीत, एका भयाण अवस्थेत घरात बसून सगळेच केवळ वाट पहात होतो! कधीतरी परिस्थिती बदलेल, आपण बाहेर पडू, पुन्हा पूर्वी सारखे हसंत खेळत काम करू! पण नाही, प्रत्येक जण शंकित, भयभीत, जाऊ कि नको ह्या चिंतेत! दुसऱ्या गावाला कामाला गेलेले लोक थिजल्या सारखे जिथल्या तिथं! गाड्या बंद, बसेस बंद, रिक्षा बंद, जायचं तरी कसं आणि कुठं? केवळ पुस्तकात वाचलेलं प्रत्यक्षात उतरलं होतं. जे कधी खरं वाटलं नाही, ऐकलं होतं तरी देखील कपोलकल्पित वाटलं होतं, ते पुढं उभं ठाकलं होतं! महामारी खरी असते?

मानवजातीवर कोरोना विषाणूचे ब्रम्हास्त्र सुटलं होतं, अजूनही आहे! पृथ्वीवरचा सगळ्यात लहान इटुकला पिटुकला जीव पण केवढी अफाट ताकद! सुमारे ३८५ कोटी वर्षांपूर्वी पहिले अतिसूक्ष्मजीव अवतरले, ज्यांनी साडेतीनशे कोटी वर्षे पृथ्वीवर राज्य केले. अगदी वातावरणातील टोकाचे बदल त्यांनी पचवले. 'विषाणू' हा हानिकारक अतिसूक्ष्मजीव, पेशींच्या आत जाऊन, आपलं बस्तान बसवून, प्रजनन करून एका दिवसात २८०००० अब्ज जीव जन्माला घालतो. आपल्या मानाने त्यांची प्रजनन क्षमता जबरदस्त असते! आपण स्वतःला सर्वात बुद्धिमान, ताकदवान समजतो पण खरं तर त्यांच्या समोर आपण काहीच नाही! मानवानं आपल्या बुद्धीनं बऱ्याच गोष्टी निसर्गाशी खेळत, त्याला डावलत केल्या परंतु निसर्गाच्या भात्यात अशी काही अस्त्रं आहेत, जी आपल्यावर उलटू शकतात ह्याचं भान त्याला राहिलं नाही.

अगदी साध्या, आपल्या पैकी प्रत्येकाला होणाऱ्या सर्दी खोकल्यासारख्या या “करोना” विषाणूच्या रोगानं  जनमानस भयभीत झालं. हवेतून पसरणारा, हवालदिल करणारा हा विषाणू कोविड-१९ करोनाच्या रूपात आला, तो औषधांना बधत नव्हता.  खरं जैविक जग हे माणसाच्या निरिक्षणापलिकडचं आहे. पृथ्वी हा जसा 'जलग्रह' तसाच 'सूक्ष्मजीवग्रह' आहे. खरं तर ते सूक्ष्मजीव आपल्यामध्ये आहेत, येतात, हाच मोठ्ठा गैरसमज, तर आपण त्यांच्यामध्ये, त्यांच्या समुद्रात रहात आहोत, ही वस्तुस्थिती! आपण जगत आहोत कारण त्यांनी आपल्याला जगायला परवानगी दिली आहे.

खरं तर बरेचसे रोग पृथ्वी तलावरून हद्दपार झाले आहेत, असं आपण गर्वानं सांगतो, जसं प्लेग, देवी! पण गेल्या चाळीस वर्षांत विषाणूंनी आपला पार भ्रमनिरास केला आहे! त्यांच्यापासून होणाऱ्या भयंकर नव्या रोगांनी आपल्यावर आक्रमण केलं; सार्स, मर्स, चिकुन गुन्या, डेंग्यू, स्वाईन फ्लू, करोना हे रोग त्यापैकीच!

अचानक असं काय झालं की हे विषाणू इतक्या वेगानं आपल्याला पछाडत आहेत? नैसर्गिक जनुकीय बदल, दीर्घकाळ सुप्तावस्थेत राहिलेला विषाणू परिस्थिती बदलल्याने सक्रीय होणं, द्वेषानं, स्पर्धेसाठी प्रयोगशाळेत बदल घडवून बनवलेले जीवाणू आणि विषाणू, मानवाची अनैसर्गिक वागणूक, खाणं, पिणं आणि संभोग, ही काही कारणे असू शकतात! सूक्ष्म जीवांची घरं, नैसर्गिक स्थानं आपण नष्ट केली, त्यांच्या पर्यावरणाला धक्का पोचविला. मानवानं विषारी रसायनं, वायू वातावरणात सोडले. अनेक वर्षं समृद्ध जैवविविधता बाळगणाऱ्या परिसंस्था वेगानं मोडीत निघाल्या. जंगले सपाट केली, जाळण्यात आली. नैसर्गिक रचना, हवामान यात मोठे बदल झाले, तापमान वाढत गेलं. कोट्यावधी वर्षांच्या निसर्गाच्या प्रक्रियांकडे दुर्लक्ष झालं आणि ह्याला बदलती जीवनशैली बऱ्याच अंशी कारणीभूत होती.

माणसांचे छोटे समूह परस्परांपासून वेगळे होते, तोपर्यंत जीवन शक्य झालं. शहरं व पर्यटनांमुळं विषाणूचा प्रसार वाढला.

आनंदाची शारीरिक व्याख्या, सुखलोलुप जीवनशैली, विषाणूंची संहारक क्षमता, हवा - पाण्यातुन प्रसार या गोष्टी एकत्र आल्यावर, मानवाचा 'न भूतो न भविष्यति', असा संहार सुरू झाला आहे. विशिष्ट सूक्ष्मजीवांच्या कृपेनं मानव जगला. पण भौतिक विकासाच्या नावाखाली त्यानं वृक्षं, जंगल, नदी, सागर नष्ट केले. काळाचं चक्र वेगानं उलट फिरवलं जात आहे. जाणाऱ्या प्रत्येक वर्षाबरोबर आपण आपल्या विनाशाच्या जवळ पोचत आहोत.

आपण “जैविक युद्ध” ही संकल्पना ऐकली आहे पण कदाचित सध्या आपण ती अनुभवतो आहोत! 'करोना विषाणू', हे जैविक युद्धातील एक आक्रमक अस्त्र असु शकेल. प्रयोगशाळेत जनुकीय बदल घडवून आणून तयार केला गेलेला हा विषाणू असेल तर तो अस्त्र म्हणून ज्यांनी वापरला त्यांच्यावरही उलटू शकतो. अर्थात हे आपण अनेक बाबतीत म्हणू शकतो; समुद्रात भर, नद्यांमधील पाणी रोखणं, वळविणं, रसायनांचा मुक्त हस्ते वापर, प्राणी आणि वनस्पती यांचा  खाण्यापिण्यात अनिर्बंध वापर, नैसर्गिक संसाधनांचा अमर्याद वापर, या सगळ्याच गोष्टी धीम्या विषबाधा करणाऱ्या आहेत आणि या गोष्टी हळू हळू मानवाच्या लक्षात येत आहेत. कुठेतरी निसर्गाला शरण जाऊन, त्याच्यावरचा अत्याचार थांबला पाहिजे, थांबविला पाहिजे!  

औद्योगिकरण व शहरीकरणामुळं तापमानवाढ आणि नवनवीन प्रकारचे विषाणू तयार होणारच! ह्या प्रक्रिया नैसर्गिक जीवन साखळ्यांच्या विरोधात आहेत. तात्पुरते उपाय आपण अनेक करतोय, भरपूर पाणी पिणं, कडक ऊन टाळणं, सतत हात धुणं, अंतर राखणं, नाकावर मास्क घालणं पण हे विषाणूंना रोखण्याचे उपाय नाहीत. तथाकथित भौतिक विकास, निसर्ग विरोधी जीवनशैली थांबवणं हाच फक्त उपाय आहे. एवढेसे विषाणू मानवजातीला पृथ्वीवरून पूर्णपणे नेस्तनाबूत करू शकतात. आपण निसर्गा विरूध्द जातो आहोत, तो कोपल्याशिवाय रहाणार नाही, आपला पराभव अटळ आहे!

भय आहे, भीती आहे, पण उपाय ही करावे लागतीलच! पुढच्या पिढ्यांचा विचार आता करायलाच हवा! आजचं चित्र पाहता, आता ही भीती आहे की आणखीन १०, २५, ५० वर्षांनी काय चित्र असेल? आज असा प्रश्न पडतो की खरंच आपण मार्च २०२० पूर्वी मोकळेपणाने फिरत होतो का? मागचं सगळंच स्वप्न होतं का? वेळ खरंच विचार करण्याची आहे!

आता धडपड केवळ,  मानवी अस्तित्वाची,
पापे भरली शंभर, पर्यावरणीय नष्ट्चर्याची,
सर्व तऱ्हांनी करण्या, विषाणूस नेस्तनाबूत,
उतरले सरसावूनी मैदानी, मानवी दूत!
थोडासा विवेक, थोडे आत्मभान,
शमवील धडपड, राखेल सर्वांची शान!

DR JAYA KURHEKAR

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