Tell your family members not to disclose your profession. Avoid going to cinemas or theatre. Always treat your revolver as if it is loaded. These were among a series of instructions given to the Calcutta Police personnel during the heydays of the Naxalite movement in the late sixties and the early seventies.
Security experts, police forces and researchers on the movement can draw lessons from the rich and voluminous records of the Calcutta Police Gazette (CPG) between 1967 and 1975. These records have been painstakingly dug out and compiled in a book The Naxalites -- Through the Eyes of the Police, edited by noted author on militant nationalist and political movements, Ashoke Kumar Mukhopadhyay.
In his 24-page introduction to the book, he recalls those days when the walls of Kolkata buildings were full of grafitti like Amar Bari, Tomar Bari, Naxalbari (Our home is Naxalbari), Chiner Chairman, Amader Chairman (Chairman of Chinese Communist Party Mao Tse Tung is our Chairman) and Pulish Maro, Austro Karo (kill the police and snatch their weapons).
The entire metropolis was affected by violent clashes, demonstrations and killings of police and CPI(M) cadres and "fake encounter" killings of a large number of youth.
"Scanning the notifications appearing in the CPG of the 1970s is like the interception of signals by the military intelligence at the times of war," writes Mukhopadhyay.
Besides providing the reader with invaluable information about the everyday tactics adopted by the police to fight the "urban guerrilla war" that had rocked the eastern metropolis, the CPG lends another dimension to the history of the Naxalite movement by "offering an alternative version from the viewpoint of its antagonist," he says.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Autorickshaw turns 50 in Kozhikode, 'model' drivers celebrate it with pomp and show
Having earned the reputation for charging the cheapest fare compared to several leading cities in the country, autorickshaw drivers in Kozhikode, Kerala, observed the 50th anniversary of the vehicle's introduction in the city.
An impressive function was organised by the AITUC to commemorate the occasion, where 10 veteran autorickshaw drivers were felicitated.
Known for their honesty in claiming nothing more than the 'metre-charge' irrespective of the travelled distance, autorickshaw drivers in Kozhikode are regarded as 'model' drivers.
The first autorickshaw, brought in from Chennai, hit the roads here 50 years ago and the minimum charge was then 35 'naya paise' against the petrol price of 80 paise per litre.
Although auto drivers in other cities in Kerala and elsewhere in the country reportedly charge exorbitant rates, drivers in Kozhikode continue to ask for the actual 'metre-charge'.
In a city where there are over a dozen women drivers now, the fare continues to be nominal, sticking to the minimum Rs 10 during day time and 50 per cent more between 10 pm and 6 am.
"Kozhikode is India's role model in auto service and let us all feel proud about it," state Forest Minister Binoy Viswom, who participated in the function, said.
Hundreds of autorickshaw drivers took out a procession to mark the occasion.
An impressive function was organised by the AITUC to commemorate the occasion, where 10 veteran autorickshaw drivers were felicitated.
Known for their honesty in claiming nothing more than the 'metre-charge' irrespective of the travelled distance, autorickshaw drivers in Kozhikode are regarded as 'model' drivers.
The first autorickshaw, brought in from Chennai, hit the roads here 50 years ago and the minimum charge was then 35 'naya paise' against the petrol price of 80 paise per litre.
Although auto drivers in other cities in Kerala and elsewhere in the country reportedly charge exorbitant rates, drivers in Kozhikode continue to ask for the actual 'metre-charge'.
In a city where there are over a dozen women drivers now, the fare continues to be nominal, sticking to the minimum Rs 10 during day time and 50 per cent more between 10 pm and 6 am.
"Kozhikode is India's role model in auto service and let us all feel proud about it," state Forest Minister Binoy Viswom, who participated in the function, said.
Hundreds of autorickshaw drivers took out a procession to mark the occasion.
Viper gives birth to 41 small serpents in Jammu!
In a rare phenomenon, a viper gave birth to 41 serpulas (small serpents), instead of laying eggs, in a residential premises in Jammu. The viper -- mostly found in Africa and Asia -- delivered 41 serpulas in Subash Nagar area here last night, local residents said.
As soon as the incident spread, hundreds of people converged at the locality to have the glimpse of small serpents.
Satish Sharma, at whose premises the snake gave birth to serpulas, prepared sweets at his residence and distributed it among the gathering in order to perform 'Nag Devta' pooja, they said.
He, later, contacted the Wild-life Department officers and a team was deputed to the spot to bring the vipers to Manda Wildlife Sanctuary. Regional Wildlife Warden Nissar Ahmed Kitchloo said that it was a rare phenomenon of breeding by the poisonous snake.
"Normally snakes produce eggs which on hatching give birth to small serpents. It is very rarely that vipers directly delivers serpula," he said. "The eggs of vipers sometimes get hatched inside a pouch in the lower portion of their skin and then the small serpents come out one by one," he said adding all the 41 serpents were alive.
To a question, he said the survival rate among the viper serpents is very low.
As soon as the incident spread, hundreds of people converged at the locality to have the glimpse of small serpents.
Satish Sharma, at whose premises the snake gave birth to serpulas, prepared sweets at his residence and distributed it among the gathering in order to perform 'Nag Devta' pooja, they said.
He, later, contacted the Wild-life Department officers and a team was deputed to the spot to bring the vipers to Manda Wildlife Sanctuary. Regional Wildlife Warden Nissar Ahmed Kitchloo said that it was a rare phenomenon of breeding by the poisonous snake.
"Normally snakes produce eggs which on hatching give birth to small serpents. It is very rarely that vipers directly delivers serpula," he said. "The eggs of vipers sometimes get hatched inside a pouch in the lower portion of their skin and then the small serpents come out one by one," he said adding all the 41 serpents were alive.
To a question, he said the survival rate among the viper serpents is very low.
Saraswati, 108, is a living testimony of modern India
For 107-year old Saraswathy Ramaswamy, who could speak and write in six languages with ease even now, life is nothing but a reflection of the history of modern India.
Born on January one, 1900 in Secunderabad, she had been following almost all developments of the pre- and post-independence India. Be it the fight against British imperialism or the successive Indian governments or even the recent visit by American warship 'USS Nimitz' to the city, she has kept herself abreast with almost all developments.
Saraswathy, who is quite fit and maintains a childish enthusiasm, is putting up at 'Vishranthi', a home for aged women, on the outskirts of the city at Palavakkam.
She speaks and writes six languages -- Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and English -- with such finesse that might put even native speakers of these languages to shame. "I learnt 15 languages and I can speak and write six," she says in impeccable English marked by clarity.
An admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, she still remembers the assassination of the 'Father of the Nation'. "The scene of Gandhiji's assassination was very tragic. When I think about it, even now, I can't eat," she adds.
At a time when the nation is likely to get a woman President, she says, "Our country would have progressed very well if all women were like Indira Gandhi."
Saraswathi, who is a big fan of the late Prime Minister, adds that every time she saw her picture, she salutes her.
Born on January one, 1900 in Secunderabad, she had been following almost all developments of the pre- and post-independence India. Be it the fight against British imperialism or the successive Indian governments or even the recent visit by American warship 'USS Nimitz' to the city, she has kept herself abreast with almost all developments.
Saraswathy, who is quite fit and maintains a childish enthusiasm, is putting up at 'Vishranthi', a home for aged women, on the outskirts of the city at Palavakkam.
She speaks and writes six languages -- Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and English -- with such finesse that might put even native speakers of these languages to shame. "I learnt 15 languages and I can speak and write six," she says in impeccable English marked by clarity.
An admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, she still remembers the assassination of the 'Father of the Nation'. "The scene of Gandhiji's assassination was very tragic. When I think about it, even now, I can't eat," she adds.
At a time when the nation is likely to get a woman President, she says, "Our country would have progressed very well if all women were like Indira Gandhi."
Saraswathi, who is a big fan of the late Prime Minister, adds that every time she saw her picture, she salutes her.
Have you heart of a 'Toilet Beauty Contest'? Now you will, it's taking place in Tamil Nadu
The village of Kameshwaram in the coastal district of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu will witness a unique "beauty contest" on July 14 -- that of ecological toilets.
There will be no cat walks by good looking youngsters, but the stars of the day would be 'EcoSan toilets', most suited for tsunami-hit sandy coastal areas.
The "First Toilet Beauty Contest", organised by Friends in Need (FIN France) and SCOPE (Society for Community Organization and People's Education) Tiruchirappalli, leaders in Ecological Sanitation in India, is to reward the pioneering users of the EcoSan toilets.
Eligibility for participating in the contest is limited to the first batch of 100 "EcoSan toilet families" in the village who are using them properly and maintaining well the kitchen garden watered by the urine from the toilet.
The contest is part of the three-day Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Conference being organised by INRA (Institute National de la Recherche) France, UN-AMI (Friends in need) France, the Bharathidasan University and SCOPE in Tiruchirappalli from July 12.
Besides cash awards ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 under three categories, all participants would be given a prize on July 14, M Subburaman, Director, SCOPE, said.
The theme of the conference, the first of its kind in the country, is "Role of technology and innovation in attainment of the MDG-food security, socio-economic and environmental security and health in marginalized zones in India."
There will be no cat walks by good looking youngsters, but the stars of the day would be 'EcoSan toilets', most suited for tsunami-hit sandy coastal areas.
The "First Toilet Beauty Contest", organised by Friends in Need (FIN France) and SCOPE (Society for Community Organization and People's Education) Tiruchirappalli, leaders in Ecological Sanitation in India, is to reward the pioneering users of the EcoSan toilets.
Eligibility for participating in the contest is limited to the first batch of 100 "EcoSan toilet families" in the village who are using them properly and maintaining well the kitchen garden watered by the urine from the toilet.
The contest is part of the three-day Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Conference being organised by INRA (Institute National de la Recherche) France, UN-AMI (Friends in need) France, the Bharathidasan University and SCOPE in Tiruchirappalli from July 12.
Besides cash awards ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 under three categories, all participants would be given a prize on July 14, M Subburaman, Director, SCOPE, said.
The theme of the conference, the first of its kind in the country, is "Role of technology and innovation in attainment of the MDG-food security, socio-economic and environmental security and health in marginalized zones in India."
RPF DIG tries to outrage modesty of IPS officer's wife!!
A DIG of the Railway Protection Force has landed in a controversy for allegedly trying to outrage the modesty of the wife of an IPS officer on a Patna-bound train from New Delhi.
The IPS officer's wife, whose IAS sister was also travelling with her, has entered the complaint in the register of Sampoorna Kranti Express against RPF DIG P J Rawai charging him with trying to outrage her modesty under the influence of liquor, railway sources said.
When contacted, Superintendent of Railway Police, Patna, Ajitabh Kumar said no no FIR has been registered by the aggrieved person so far.
The incident occurred on the night of July 8, when the two sisters were coming to Patna in an AC coach of the train.
The woman claimed that the DIG, who was allegedly drunk, tried to outrage her modesty when she was asleep on the lower berth. The two sisters, according to railway sources, slapped the DIG and also seized his mobile phone and identity card, which they later returned.
The IAS official later reported the matter to Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah.
Neither Rawai nor the complainant were available for comments.
The IPS officer's wife, whose IAS sister was also travelling with her, has entered the complaint in the register of Sampoorna Kranti Express against RPF DIG P J Rawai charging him with trying to outrage her modesty under the influence of liquor, railway sources said.
When contacted, Superintendent of Railway Police, Patna, Ajitabh Kumar said no no FIR has been registered by the aggrieved person so far.
The incident occurred on the night of July 8, when the two sisters were coming to Patna in an AC coach of the train.
The woman claimed that the DIG, who was allegedly drunk, tried to outrage her modesty when she was asleep on the lower berth. The two sisters, according to railway sources, slapped the DIG and also seized his mobile phone and identity card, which they later returned.
The IAS official later reported the matter to Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah.
Neither Rawai nor the complainant were available for comments.
Man exchanges baby to raise money for wife's funeral!
A tribal man has exchanged his new born baby to a childless couple for Rs 1,200 to raise the funeral expenses of his wife in a remote village of Orissa.
Bipin Gagarai, who belongs to Sahupur village in Jajpur district, had told an official team led by the district welfare officer, Shivaji Bhuyan, that his wife Gurubari died soon after giving birth to a baby boy, their third child on July 1.
Bipin said he could not get immediate medical attention for his wife because of his penury and she died the next day.
As he had no money to transport the body to his village and undertake funeral expenses, he handed over the two-day-old baby to a childless couple living in the neighbourhood who paid him Rs 1,200.
Bhuyan told said that Bipin, who has two other children, a seven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter, said he would get back the newborn baby as soon as he paid back the loan he had taken from his neighbour. Bhuyan said it could not be construed as a case of child sale.
Bhuyan said the district administration had decided to shift Bipin's daughter to a Kanyashram (a shelter for girls with school) in Jajpur.
Arrangements would also be made to ensure care and protection of the newborn, he said.
Bipin Gagarai, who belongs to Sahupur village in Jajpur district, had told an official team led by the district welfare officer, Shivaji Bhuyan, that his wife Gurubari died soon after giving birth to a baby boy, their third child on July 1.
Bipin said he could not get immediate medical attention for his wife because of his penury and she died the next day.
As he had no money to transport the body to his village and undertake funeral expenses, he handed over the two-day-old baby to a childless couple living in the neighbourhood who paid him Rs 1,200.
Bhuyan told said that Bipin, who has two other children, a seven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter, said he would get back the newborn baby as soon as he paid back the loan he had taken from his neighbour. Bhuyan said it could not be construed as a case of child sale.
Bhuyan said the district administration had decided to shift Bipin's daughter to a Kanyashram (a shelter for girls with school) in Jajpur.
Arrangements would also be made to ensure care and protection of the newborn, he said.
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