India's answer to Beijing 08

Commonwealth Games lays bare India's infrastructure woes

India aims the Commonwealth Games will be a showcase of its economic clout, but with less than three months to go, the world's third largest sporting event is instead laying bare its perennial infrastructure problems.

The Games, held ever four years and grouping athletes from the 54-member Commonwealth of Nations, are intended to be India's answer to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, hailed as a success for its economic and political rival China.

But while China set out to wow the world with iconic structures such as the Bird's Nest stadium, many Commonwealth Games venues in New Delhi are far from finished while others are falling apart under the force of a few weeks of monsoon rains.

A shooting range built for the Games, and inaugurated two months ago, was extensively damaged by heavy rains earlier this month, Indian media reported. At another complex, rains felled the false ceiling and other venues have sprung leaks.

Shoddy construction is one of the challenges Asia's third-biggest economy faces as it gears up to take on big-ticket projects needed to propel growth to China's double-digit rates.

Analysts say one of the main problems is a government practice of awarding contracts -- regardless of their size -- to the lowest bidders, which are often smaller, more aggressive, but less experienced construction firms which also lack the manpower needed to implement such projects.

Contractors also sometimes take short-cuts when they're running over budget or running out of time.

This often translates into sub-standard structures, and this is a problem that would remain even if the oft-cited difficulties of getting land and necessary bureaucratic clearances are solved.

"Quality, yes, there is a serious issue in India. Developers are stretched and a lot of sub-contacting is happening," said Nandita Vohra, a senior consultant to the Asian Development Bank.

"Two or three levels down, one feels the supervision is not as intense as it is needed."

CUTTING COSTS AND CORNERS

India expects to spend $1 trillion, a sum roughly the size of its GDP, between 2012 and 2017 to boost its infrastructure. This is double of what it will spend in the five years to 2012.

Some of this spending has been fast-tracked due to the Games: in addition to venues, a new airport terminal is due to open this month and new subways and roads are being built specifically for the athletes and the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected.

New Delhi is also going through a makeover, with its colonial buildings being renovated and sidewalks ripped out to be repaved. Residents grumble about the chaos, pointing to rubble everywhere and roads that cave in due to underground tunnelling.

"The scale and ability of contractors is going to be a huge issue and a risk for projects," Arvind Mahajan, an infrastructure specialist at consultancy KPMG, told Reuters.

"Many of the bigger and key contractors are sold out, and cost factors, too, are pushing people to look at these smaller players. But if you push too much on cost, the quality would suffer, either in terms of execution or timelines not being adhered to," he added.

The infrastructure woes dogging the Games are not the first example of an Indian signature project going awry. Work on the Delhi Metro, a project backed by top officials, was delayed after an overhead bridge collapse in July 2009, killing five workers. A month later, strong winds blew off the roof of the new airport.

While the construction opportunities in India are huge and capital is plentiful, analysts rue there aren't enough large-scale, quality projects worth financing.

"There is a paucity of high quality, or even quality, projects that are financeable. It's not a question of capital being inadequate," Anil Ahuja, Asia head of private equity firm, told a recent conference as the audience nodded in approval.

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yeh hai India

Yeh hai India - Foreign relations of India

The Republic of India is the world's most-populous electoral democracy and has one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world. With the world's second largest armed forces, and fourth largest economy by purchasing power parity, India is considered to be a global power, and an emerging superpower. It is India's growing international influence that increasingly gives it a more prominent voice in global affairs.

India has a long history of collaboration with several countries and is considered a leader of the developing world. India was one of the founding members of several international organizations, most notably the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Asian Development Bank and the G20 industrial nations. India has also played an important and influential role in other international organizations like East Asia Summit, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund (IMF), G8+5 and IBSA Dialogue Forum. Regional organizations India is a part of include SAARC and BIMSTEC. India has taken part in several UN peacekeeping missions and in 2007, it was the second-largest troop contributor to the United Nations. India is currently seeking a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, along with the G4 nations.

KFC in India - Recipe remains top secret at 70

News - KFC in India - Recipe remains top secret at 70

KFC SELLS a staggering 120 million pieces of chicken in buckets alone every month in India, raking in approximately Rs 500 crore from sales of this classic that has defined the fast food multinational for the last 70 years. Do we need more proof to call India the Republic of Chicken?

Earlier this week, KFC celebrated 70 years of its signature product, the Original Chicken Bucket, which was cooked up by Col. Sanders, the man whose face is a part of KFC's brand identity, back in the 1930s in a small town named Corbin in Kentucky, USA.

The original recipe with 11 herbs and spices whose identities are a company secret is still used by KFC. But if you've been sniffing for ways to replicate the Original Chicken recipe, you're in for a bummer because it is tucked away safely in a vault at the KFC headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.

In fact, the Original Chicken recipe, besides that of Coke, is one of the impregnable secrets in the F& B business. The media got its fill of these nuggets on the Original Chicken at a celebration of its 70th anniversary at KFC's Scindia House store, where the chief draw was Sharman Joshi, who has become a favourite following the success of 3 Idiots.

Harland Sanders, the sprightly colonel who started this business during the Great Depression (1929-33) perfected this recipe at his restaurant. He also stumbled upon the pressure cooker and used it to his advantage.

Pressure cooking reduced the time it took a chicken leg to be ready for eating from 30 minutes to less than 10. KFC made its Indian foray in 2006, and following in the footsteps of other fast-food chains, it has Indianised in a significant way.

Besides the Original Chicken, KFC has rolled out new products to titillate Indian taste buds, from Veggie Feast (Rs 39) burgers to the Channa Snacker (Rs 39) and non-vegetarian thali (Rs 79), where the chicken comes in a makhni gravy.

An all-American classic has got an Indian makeover, as KFC steams ahead with its plan to step up its national presence from 74 stores at present to 500 by 2015.

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India - a study in health contrasts

News - India - a study in health contrasts

New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) From becoming a hub of medical tourism to having a sizable population deprived of basic healthcare, from bulging bellies in urban areas to stunted growth among kids across rural belts -- the country remains a study in health contrasts.

India now stands at the cross-roads of improving health indicators and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

'We are at a difficult time. While millions of children are dying due to hunger and malnourishment, lifestyle diseases are on the upswing among urban populace,' said D.K. Gupta, president of the Federation of Association of Paediatric Surgeons in South Asia.

While states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa are leading victims of malnourishment, more literate and rich states like Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are going the obese way.

According to the United Nation's Children Fund (Unicef), nearly 2.1 million children die every year in India before reaching their fifth birthday. This accounts for 20 percent of children's death across the globe, which means one out of every five children dying is an Indian.

The maternal mortality and infant mortality rate in India is even worse than in Sri Lanka and Thailand. According to an official data, 254 women die per 100,000 live births in India. A World Bank report puts the figure at 450.

Similarly, 46 percent of children in India are malnourished, a startling figure that has remained almost unchanged for the last seven years.

Tens of thousands of Indian kids are dying due to diarrhoea and pneumonia every year, which are largely preventable if water and hygiene conditions improve.

Even as it battles to control communicable diseases like Tuberculosis, India is increasingly falling in the trap of lifestyle diseases.

With economic prosperity has come unhealthy lifestyle and poor eating and working habits. Cardiovascular diseases, several forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension silently kill millions every year.

India has already earned the dubious distinction of being a diabetes capital. For record, India is home to over 30 million diabetic patients. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also warned that more than 270 million people, mostly from China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia, are susceptible to diseases linked to unhealthy lifestyles.

'Earlier they (lifestyle and chronic diseases) were called western phenomena but today India is facing both. Patients of chronic diseases in India have overtaken the numbers of chronic patients in the west,' said Sandeep Bhudhiraja, director of internal medicine at Max Healthcare here.

The argument has been accepted by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad many times. 'We are battling both forms of problem,' he says.

S. Sunder Raman, an independent advisor to the central government on health, said: 'There are three major hindrances. Inadequate financial allocation, low level of priority to the sector and lack of due focus on fitness are the main culprits.'

Experts also said that there is another uneven field in medical human resources.

According to Azad: 'Eighty percent of medical work force serve just 20 percent of Indians living in cities'.

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When will India have its own Madame Curie

News - When will India have its own Madame Curie

Almost 20 years ago, when Dr Rupamanjari Ghosh, a young rookie then, walked into the new building of the physical science department at Jawaharlal Nehru University, a rude shock awaited her. The building didn't have a women's loo. "I couldn't have shared the loo with my male colleagues. I was the only woman in the department then," recalls Ghosh. So Ghosh had no choice but to use the dean's private toilet. "The dean's washroom became my personal loo!" she laughs. You may dismiss this particular incident as a silly joke, but it actually is an indicator of the larger picture. It is not just about the ladies room - in actual fact, there is still very little room for ladies as far as science and technology is concerned. The Women's Task Force Report, brought out by the Centre's department of science and technology (DST) earlier this year, clearly states that women are still a minority in the area. Professor Ghosh is one of the few women scientists who managed to squeeze into this male-dominated field and carve a niche for herself. Ghosh worked hard to become the dean of the physical science department - she is now the director of the Academic Staff College at JNU.

"Science (especially research) is a demanding field for both men and women. For a woman, it's doubly difficult. She has to work harder than a man to prove herself," she says. Being a woman in a male-dominated field has its pros and cons. "Because there are few women, you are noticed and this could work in your favour. But sometimes it did feel like an animal in a zoo," recalls Ghosh.

DROPPING OUT

And the reason why there are very few women in her field? Ghosh says she has seen many women opt out midway for marriage and children. Dr Vineeta Bal, professor at the National Institute of Immunology, agrees: "Women who enter the profession are often just waiting for a prospective groom." Bal, who was a member of the Women's Task Force Committee, points out that after marriage, PhD notwithstanding, a woman tags along with her husband. "Child-bearing takes a toll too and her career is severely compromised till the child grows up," says Bal. Ghosh has been on several interview panels and has seen one question being repeated several times. "What does your husband do?"

This may sound sexist but interviewers feel compelled to ask it because of a woman's track record. The outcome: Poor productivity. "She loses out on several opportunities of pursuing a research job," Bal says. Though many women enter the scientific field, even up to the PhD level, the numbers fall steeply at the time of recruitment as a faculty member, says Bal. Dr Rohini Godbole, professor, Centre for High Energy Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, has discussed the bleak scenario in many of her presentations. "There haven't been any woman directors or a Director General at the Centre of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the Indian Academy of Science (IASc) haven't had a woman president either. Though the Indian Academy of Science had founding woman members, the participation of women is low," says Godbole, adding that only 10 women out of 333 recipients have received the CSIR's prestigious Bhatnagar Prize since 1958.

LACK OF SUPPORT

"For women, combining a happy family and a successful science career requires a large dose of luck. The lack of institutional and social support makes it very difficult," says Godbole, who has been in the research field for 35 years. Godbole was married to a German colleague for 12 years till they decided to part ways. "The marriage was across two continents and we decided to postpone having children till we could find jobs to live together... in the end, children never happened," she writes in Lilawati's Daughters, a compilation of autobiographical essays by woman scientists brought out by the Indian Science Academy. "Women give up their career very early," says Godlbole. At Stony Brook University, New York, where she did her PhD, only three women in a class of 45 completed their PhD.

Godbole wasn't the only woman scientist living away from her husband. Dr Tanusree Saha Dasgupta recalls living away from her husband for seven long years. "I was brought up in a typical Bengali middle-class family, very protected... it was my husband who encouraged me to pursue my career after my PhD from Calcutta University," says Dasgupta, associate professor at S.N. Bose National Centre, Kolkata. "I went to Paris for post-doctoral studies while my husband stayed in Germany. Every weekend he would take a train to visit me in Paris," she says. "Even after moving to India, we lived separately as my husband got a job in IIT Mumbai and I got a position as a lecturer at the S.N. Bose National Centre for

Basic Science in Kolkata," says Dasgupta, adding, "And now we have finally settled together." A career in science could mean a tough road ahead. "You have to be ready to make compromises," Dasgupta warns.

NO ROOM FOR A GROOM

Compromises on the personal front is a given, agrees Parul Katoch, 25, who is pursuing her PhD in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, USA. "I am yet to see a man who is okay with a woman giving her career more importance," she says. Such men are truly a rare species. Twenty-nine-year-old Dr Hema Kundra's father had started looking for a prospective groom for her while she was completing her

MSc. "Fortunately, he put his plans on the backburner when I said I wanted to complete my PhD first. Now the search is on again," she says. But now, she just might be over-qualified for marriage - going by the account of an ICAR scientist, who chooses to remain anonymous. "A PhD man would be okay with a woman who is less qualified. A PhD woman, on the other hand, would want a man who is as qualified as she is, if not more. So the search narrows," she says. Ghosh, who is single, admits her parents were concerned. "But then I was independent and doing better than most men. So marriage didn't happen. However, staying single wasn't a conscious decision," she says. Nevertheless, she has more responsibilities than any married woman - she tends to sick animals and children of construction workers at the JNU campus.

DR (MISS) OR (MRS)?

It's unfortunate but true that people still fumble while addressing a woman who has a doctorate degree. 'Dr' Godbole recounts her experience: "The mail IIT's distinguished alumni group would address me as 'Dear Sir' until I pointed it out to them." Godbole's woman colleagues receive letters addressed to 'Mrs' and 'Kumari' instead of 'Prof' or 'Dr'. Ghosh, who doesn't mention her first name in her scientific papers, says: "When people first came to know I was a woman, they were amazed." Now it's different, of course. Having published several papers on quantum physics, everyone knows who R.

Ghosh is. But Ghosh has this to say: "Men are often referred to as being 'brilliant', but a woman of the same calibre would just be called a 'hard worker'. The 21st century hasn't much changed mindsets about woman scientists."

YOUNG GUNS

Despite societal pressures, a new brigade of young woman scientists is all set to embark upon their journey. But will they make the necessary 'adjustments' a woman is supposed to in this society? Dr Pratibha Pandey, 29, is married but is already an assistant professor at ARSD College, Delhi University. She is planning to submit an independent project at DST soon. "We do have to work long hours in research and in a place like Delhi, you have to be extra-cautious while travelling alone at night. But then we get summer and winter vacations - that's when we work on independent projects," she says.

Pandey loves her job but admits that things will change once she has children. After marriage and children, one needs to prioritise between personal and professional life, advises Dr Rupali Walia, 32, postdoctoral research fellow at the department of biochemistry & molecular biology, University of Calgary, Canada. "Being single, I can walk into my lab any time, not having to worry about my kids feeling hungry. Postmarriage, it is a difficult situation that all women face in their career," says Walia. Different countries have different solutions for it. Many European universities have childcare facilities on the campus or mothers are allowed to bring their kids to the lab. Woman scientists in India too need this kind of a choice.

THE ROAD AHEAD

Committees and websites are being formed, surveys being conducted, and initiatives being taken to improve the situation. But will that help? "In India data collection on all fronts is poor, data on women scientists is no exception. Even when a special effort was made to collect data on the science-trained population (published as India Science Report a few years ago), getting gender-segregated data was hard to come by," says Bal. "The recent report, published by the Task Force on Women in Science, has made some effort in data collection but even that is sketchy. And there is no data in it about the private sector!" The Task Force has given a list of recommendations, including flexi timings and work-from-home facilities. Women in Science (WiS) headed by Godbole at the Indian Academy of Science is also looking into similar issues. There are plans in place, but will they be successfully implemented? Now that's rocket science!

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One in four of India Inc lacks sleep

News - One in four of India Inc lacks sleep

Behind the shining success of India Inc is a tired, sleepdeprived and chronically ill corporate workforce, which is collapsing under the weight of tough targets and extreme stress, a nationwide survey of corporate sector employees has found.

One in four employees in the corporate sector is sleep-deprived, managing less than six hours of shut-eye in a day. Nearly a third hardly exercise, while a fourth manage less than an hour a week of physical exercise, a survey by industry body Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) has found.

''Nearly 24 per cent of corporate employees sleep less than six hours in a day due to high stress levels that arise out of tough targets set for them by employers,'' says a healthcare status report brought out by Assocham.

Loss of sleep has wide ranging effects, including daytime fatigue, physical discomfort, psychological stress, performance deterioration, low pain threshold and even increases absenteeism, it says.

Releasing the report in New Delhi on Wednesday, D.S. Rawat, secretary general of Assocham, pointed out that even the National Commission on Sleep Disorders estimates that sleep deprivation costs $ 150 billion a year in higher stress and reduced workplace productivity.

Health experts concur. Dr Manveer Bhatia, consultant, sleep medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, feels an increasing number of professionals are suffering from sleep deprivation because of the corporate set-up, which requires one to work round-the-clock.

''You bring office work home, which eats into your sleep time. Use of caffeine and other stimulants are increasing among office goers, which means their brains are always in attention mode. Increasing levels of stress due to modern lifestyle also mean rise in the number of insomniacs,'' says Dr Bhatia.

Use of electronic devices like computer and television is also affecting the quality of sleep. ''Ideally, you should shut these devices two to three hours before hitting the bed so that your mind can get into relaxation mode. In addition,

more and more people are working in shifts. They work at night and sleep during daytime. It's a known fact that daytime sleep is more fragmented and disturbed than night sleep. So, what's happening is that the reasons for stress are increasing while the time for relaxation and rejuvenation is shrinking,'' says Dr Bhatia.

If sleep deprivation continues for long, it can lead to several side effects. It can affect neurological functions like memory and attention span, disturb the metabolic system leading to diabetes and heart disease and even impact the immune system making you more susceptible to infections.

Assocham's findings support this. While 21 per cent of respondents said they felt fatigue on a regular basis, close to 17 per cent admitted they regularly suffer from headache.

Sleep disorders led to depression among 13 per cent of respondents.

The fitness levels of corporate staff is quite low with just five per cent managing six hours or more per week of exercises, which doctors say is the minimum required to stay physically fit.

Of the respondents, 16 per cent claimed they suffer from obesity. It is found that obesity alone can modify occupational morbidity, mortality and injury risk that can further affect workplace absence, disability, reduce productivity and hike healthcare costs.

According to Assocham, depression, fatigue and sleep disorder are conditions or risks that are often associated with chronic diseases and have the largest impact on productivity.

The survey found that most corporate employees tend to ignore treatment for chronic conditions.

The report has recommended that under Section 17 of the Income Tax Act, medical reimbursement to corporate employees should be exempted from tax up to a ceiling of Rs 50,000 per annum and expenditure incurred in approved hospitals should also be fully reimbursed by the employers considering the increase in cost inflow index.

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Celebration of the faces that make Brand India shine

News - Celebration of the faces that make Brand India shine

It was, as Union minister for civil aviation Praful Patel described it, an evening that celebrated the 'All Is Well' spirit of Brand India and the extraordinary individuals who made it possible. Presenting the first All India Management Association (AIMA) Managing India Awards, Patel said, "All awardees this evening have truly redefined the way the world looks at India."

Life came full circle at the awards ceremony for R P Goenka, chairman emeritus of the RPG Group. "Thirty years ago in this hall, I got a tiraskaar (rebuke) from a cabinet minister," Goenka said, accepting the lifetime contribution award. "So, when I heard that a cabinet minister was presenting the awards, I thought I must accept the puraskaar." Goenka's journey from tiraskaar to puraskaar was as much the nation's journey, Patel pointed out. "We have leapfrogged from being unknown and unrecognised," he said.

A big facilitator of this transformation has been the media, which got its recognition as a powerful driver of Brand India. The Outstanding Contribution to Media Award went to India Today Group chairman and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie. Presenting the award to Purie, Mediciti chairman and acclaimed cardiac surgeon Naresh Trehan traced the growth of the India Today Group from "two rooms in Connaught Place to one of the most responsible and diverse" media houses of the country.

Purie reminded the audience not to shoot the "good messenger". He said, "In a country where there's so much bad news, quite often the messenger gets shot. But the media has been a good messenger. It is a great institution and we should cherish a free press." Describing the media as a "noble profession," Purie urged journalists not to forget the fundamentals of their profession in their quest for TRPs and readership.

If the media is the world's window to India, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UID) will give Indians a new thread to be bound together despite their diversity. Giving away the Pathbreaker of the Year Award to UID chairman Nandan Nilekani, the civil aviation minister said the project was not only about creating an identity for individuals; it was also about giving the country a new identity.

Nilekani, who has been seeing his family only on weekends in the last eight months after taking charge of the UID, described those working with him as a set of people committed to public service.

It turned out to be a mini-Infosys reunion when Nilekani's "ex-colleague", N. R. Narayana Murthy, the company's chairman and chief mentor, said, "This is a unique occasion. After eight years, I am receiving an award with Nandan on a common platform." Murthy, who received the Most Admired Indian Award, was his usual selfeffacing self in his speech. "This will motivate me to work harder and smarter," he said.

The other awardees at the glittering ceremony included Rahul Bajaj, chairman, Bajaj Auto; Vir Sanghvi, advisory editorial director, HT Media Ltd; and Rajkumar Hirani, director, 3 Idiots

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Indian Youth Cury

Indian Youth life Style

Punjabi, Marathi, Bihari, Bengali, Assamese, Nepali, Gujrati, Kashmiri…. Though India consists of diverse ethnic races and groups and each of them strictly adhere to their own set of customs and tradition, yet there is a common lifestyle pattern followed by almost all the Indians. This, despite the fact that there is so much variation in their language, dressing style and custom! Read on to know about the life of people in the country and what traits put them together under the brand 'India':

Joint Family System
A majority of the people in India prefer to live in a joint family, which could comprise anywhere between a group of two or more members to even over 20 members sometimes. As per the Indian way of living, the commanding position in a family is held by the eldest earning male member. He consults other adult members on important issues, but it is his decision that ultimately prevails. However, a lot of importance is also given to the advice of the eldest retired members of the family.

Women as Homemaker
As per the lifestyle of the Indian people, it is the duty of a woman to take care of her home. As such, from her very childhood, a girl child is taught to rustle up mouth-watering dishes by her mother and other ladies in her family. She is also taught to attend to guests and strangers politely and elegantly because it is thought to greatly reflect upon her upbringing. Hers is a 24x7 job, yet she manages to execute it smoothly and is respected for this quality.

Worshipping
Worshipping is an important part of the daily life of Indian people. You will find the holy basil tulsi planted in maximum houses, which people water as well as worship everyday religiously. Many Indians are associated to various religious sects and attend weekly gatherings to listen to the sermons. Apart from temples, mosques and gurdwaras, there will also invariably be a personal place for worship, and pictures of Gods and Goddesses, in every house in India.

Respecting Elders
One common trait you will find amongst Indians is that children show utmost respect to their elders. Now this is one habit all Indian parents deliberately inculcate in their children, since beginning. It is an unsaid rule in India that a person cannot answer back to elders and more so, when he/she is at fault. It is deemed disrespectful in India to refer to an elder by his / her name. Instead people prefer calling them uncle and aunt, especially if the person is very elderly. It is also customary in India for the youngsters to touch the feet of their elders as a way of greeting as well as on important occasions.

LOK SABHA

LOK SABHA(House of the People)

Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of the people chosen by direct election on the basis of the adult suffrage. The maximum strength of the House envisaged by the Constitution is 552, which is made up by election of upto 530 members to represent the States, upto 20 members to represent the Union Territories and not more than two members of the Anglo-Indian Community to be nominated by the Hon'ble President, if, in his/her opinion, that community is not adequately represented in the House. The total elective membership is distributed among the States in such a way that the ratio between the number of seats allotted to each State and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States

Rajya Sabha of India

Council of States (Rajya Sabha)

Background

The ‘Council of States’ which is also known as Rajya Sabha, a nomenclature that was announced by the chair in the House on the 23rd August, 1954 has its own distinctive features. The origin of the second Chamber can be traced to the Montague-Chelmsford Report of 1918. The Government of India Act, 1919 provided for the creation of a ‘Council of State’ as a second chamber of the then legislature with a restricted franchise which actually came into existence in 1921. The Governor-General was the ex-officio President of the then Council of State. The Government of India Act, 1935, hardly made any changes in its composition.

The Constituent Assembly, which first met on 9 December 1946, also acted as the Central Legislature till 1950, when it was converted as ‘Provisional Parliament’. During this period, the Central Legislature which was known as Constituent Assembly (Legislative) and later Provisional Parliament was unicameral till the first elections were held in 1952.

Extensive debate took place in the Constituent Assembly regarding the utility or otherwise of a Second Chamber in Independent India and ultimately, it was decided to have a bicameral legislature for independent India mainly because a federal system was considered to be most feasible form of Government for such a vast country with immense diversities. A single directly elected House, in fact, was considered inadequate to meet the challenges before free India. A second chamber known as the ‘Council of States’, therefore, was created with altogether different composition and method of election from that of the directly elected House of the People. It was conceived as another Chamber, with smaller membership than the Lok Sabha (House of the People). It was meant to be the federal chamber i.e., a House elected by the elected members of Assemblies of the States and two Union Territories in which States were not given equal representation. Apart from the elected members, provision was also made for the nomination of twelve members to the House by the President. The minimum age of thirty years was fixed for membership as against twenty-five years for the Lower House. The element of dignity and prestige was added to the Council of State House by making the Vice-President of India ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha who presides over its sittings.
Constitutional Provisions relating to Rajya Sabha

Composition/Strength

Article 80 of the Constitution lays down the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha as 250, out of which 12 members are nominated by the President and 238 are representatives of the States and of the two Union Territories. The present strength of Rajya Sabha, however, is 245, out of which 233 are representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi and Puducherry and 12 are nominated by the President. The members nominated by the President are persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service.

Allocation of Seats

The Fourth Schedule to the Constitution provides for allocation of seats to the States and Union Territories in Rajya Sabha. The allocation of seats is made on the basis of the population of each State. Consequent on the reorganization of States and formation of new States, the number of elected seats in the Rajya Sabha allotted to States and Union Territories has changed from time to time since 1952.

Eligibility

Qualifications

Article 84 of the Constitution lays down the qualifications for membership of Parliament. A person to be qualified for the membership of the Rajya Sabha should posses the following qualifications:

1. he must be a citizen of India and make and subscribe before some person authorized in that behalf by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule to the Constitution;
2. he must be not less than 30 years of age;
3. he must possess such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.

Disqualifications

Article 102 of the Constitution lays down that a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament –

1. if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State, other than an office declared by Parliament by law not to disqualify its holder;
2. if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court;
3. if he is an undischarged insolvent;
4. if he is not a citizen of India, or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State, or is under any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a foreign State;
5. if he is so disqualified by or under any law made by Parliament.

Explanation- For the purpose of this clause a person shall not be deemed to hold an office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State by reason only that he is a Minister either for the Union or for such State.

Besides, the Tenth Schedule to Constitution provides for disqualification of the members on ground of defection. As per the provisions of the Tenth Schedule, a member may be disqualified as a member, if he voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party; or if he votes or abstains from voting in the House contrary to any direction issued by the political party to which he belongs, unless such voting or abstention has been condoned by the political party within fifteen days. A member elected as an independent candidate shall be disqualified if he joins any political party after his election.

A member nominated to the House by the President, however, is allowed to join a political party if he/she does so within the first six months of taking seat in the House.

A member shall not be disqualified on this account, if he voluntarily leaves the membership of his political party after he is elected Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha.

Process for Election/Nomination

Electoral College:

The representatives of the States and of the Union Territories in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the method of indirect election. The representatives of each State and two Union territories are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of that State and by the members of the Electoral College for that Union Territory, as the case may be, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. The Electoral College for the National Capital Territory of Delhi consists of the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi, and that for Puducherry consists of the elected members of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly.

Biennial/Bye-election

Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and is not subject to dissolution. However, one-third Members of Rajya Sabha retire after every second year. A member who is elected for a full term serves for a period of six years. The election held to fill a vacancy arising otherwise than by retirement of a member on the expiration of his term of office is called ‘Bye-election’. A member elected in a bye-election remains member for the remainder of the term of the member who had resigned or died or disqualified to be member of the House under the Tenth Schedule.

Presiding Officers - Chairman and Deputy Chairman

The Presiding Officers of Rajya Sabha have the responsibility to conduct the proceedings of the House. The Vice-President of India is ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha also chooses from amongst its members, a Deputy Chairman. There is also a Panel of Vice-Chairmen in Rajya Sabha, the members of which are nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha. In the absence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, a member from the Panel of Vice-Chairmen presides over the proceedings of the House.

Secretary-General

The Secretary-General is appointed by the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and holds rank equivalent to the highest civil servant of the Union. The Secretary-General works with anonymity and is readily available to the Presiding Officers for rendering advice on parliamentary matters. The Secretary-General is also the administrative head of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and the custodian of the records of the House. He works under the direction and control of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha.

Relation between the two Houses

Under article 75(3) of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha which means Rajya Sabha cannot make or unmake the Government. It can, however, exercise control over the Government and this function becomes quite prominent, particularly when the Government does not enjoy majority in Rajya Sabha.

To resolve a deadlock between the two Houses, in case of an ordinary legislation, the Constitution provides for the joint sitting of both Houses. In fact, there have been three occasions in the past when the Houses of Parliament had met in joint sitting to resolve differences between them. Issues in joint sitting are decided by a majority of the total number of members of both Houses present and voting. The joint sitting is held in the Central Hall of Parliament House presided over by the Speaker, Lok Sabha. However, in the case of a Money Bill, there is no provision in the Constitution for a joint sitting of both Houses as Lok Sabha clearly enjoys pre-eminence over Rajya Sabha in financial matters. As regards a Constitution amendment Bill, it has been provided in the Constitution that such a Bill has to be passed by the specific majority, as prescribed under article 368 of the Constitution, by both Houses. There is, therefore, no provision for resolving a deadlock between the two Houses in regard to a Constitution amendment Bill.

Ministers may belong to either House of Parliament. The Constitution does not make any distinction between the Houses in this regard. Every Minister has the right to speak and take part in the proceedings of either House but he is entitled to vote only in the House of which he is a member.

Similarly, with regard to powers, privileges and immunities of the Houses of Parliament, their members and committees thereof, the two Houses are placed absolutely on equal footing by the Constitution.

Other important matters in respect of which both Houses enjoy equal powers are election and impeachment of the President, election of the Vice-President, approving the Proclamation of Emergency, the proclamation regarding failure of constitutional machinery in States and financial emergency. In respect of receiving reports and papers from various statutory authorities, etc., both Houses have equal powers.

It is thus clear that except in the case of collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers and certain financial matters, which fall in the domain of Lok Sabha only, both Houses enjoy equal powers.

Special Powers of Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha being a federal chamber enjoys certain special powers under the Constitution. All the subjects/areas regarding legislation have been divided into three Lists - Union List, State List and concurrent List. Union and State Lists are mutually exclusive - one cannot legislate on a matter placed in the sphere of the other. However, if Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a majority of not less than two-thirds of members present and voting saying that it is “necessary or expedient in the national interest” that Parliament should make a law on a matter enumerated in the State List, Parliament becomes empowered to make a law on the subject specified in the resolution, for the whole or any part of the territory of India. Such a resolution remains in force for a maximum period of one year but this period can be extended by one year at a time by passing a similar resolution further.

If Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting declaring that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest to create one or more All India Services common to the Union and the States, Parliament becomes empowered to create by law such services.

Under the Constitution, the President is empowered to issue Proclamations in the event of national emergency, in the event of failure of constitutional machinery in a State, or in the case of financial emergency. Every such proclamation has to be approved by both Houses of Parliament within a stipulated period. Under certain circumstances, however, Rajya Sabha enjoys special powers in this regard. If a Proclamation is issued at a time when Lok Sabha has been dissolved or the dissolution of Lok Sabha takes place within the period allowed for its approval, then the proclamation remains effective, if the resolution approving it is passed by Rajya Sabha within the period specified in the Constitution under articles 352, 356 and 360.

Rajya Sabha in Financial Matters

A Money Bill can be introduced only in Lok Sabha. After it is passed by that House, it is transmitted to Rajya Sabha for its concurrence or recommendation. The power of Rajya Sabha in respect of such a Bill is limited. Rajya Sabha has to return such a Bill to Lok Sabha within a period of fourteen days from its receipt. If it is not returned to Lok Sabha within that time, the Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the expiration of the said period in the form in which it was passed by Lok Sabha. Again, Rajya Sabha cannot amend a Money Bill; it can only recommend amendments and Lok Sabha may either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations made by Rajya Sabha.

Apart from a Money Bill, certain other categories of Financial Bills also cannot be introduced in Rajya Sabha. There are, however, some other types of Financial Bills on which there is no limitation on the powers of the Rajya Sabha. These Bills may be initiated in either House and Rajya Sabha has powers to reject or amend such Financial Bills like any other Bill. Of course, such Bills cannot be passed by either House of Parliament unless the President has recommended to that House the consideration thereof.

From all this, however, it does not follow that Rajya Sabha has nothing to do in matters relating to finance. The Budget of the Government of India is laid every year before Rajya Sabha also and its members discuss it. Though Rajya Sabha does not vote on Demands for Grants of various Ministries - a matter exclusively reserved for Lok Sabha - no money, however, can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India unless the Appropriation Bill has been passed by both the Houses. Similarly, the Finance Bill is also brought before Rajya Sabha. Besides, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees that examine the annual Demands for Grants of the Ministries/Departments are joint committees having ten members from Rajya Sabha.

Leader of the House

Apart from the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, Leader of the House is another functionary who plays important role in the efficient and smooth conduct of the business in the House. The Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha is normally the Prime Minister, if he is its member or any Minister who is a member of the House and is nominated by him to so function. His primary responsibility is to maintain coordination amongst all sections of the House for a harmonious and meaningful debate in the House. For this purpose, he remains in close contact not only with the Government but also with the Opposition, individual ministers and the Presiding Officer. He occupies the first seat in the Chamber in first row at right the side of the Chair so that he is easily available to the Presiding Officer for consultation. Under the rules, the Leader of the House is consulted by the Chairman in regard to the arrangement of Government business in the House, allotment of days or allocation of time for discussion on the President’s Address, Private Members’ business on any day other than Friday, discussion on No Day-Yet-Named Motions, Short Duration Discussions and consideration and return of a Money Bill. He is also consulted by the Chairman in the matter of adjournment or otherwise of the House for the day in case of death of an outstanding personality, national leader or international dignitary. In the era of coalition governments, his task has become more challenging. He ensures that all possible and reasonable facilities are made available to the House for a meaningful discussion on any matter that is brought before it. He works as the spokesperson of the House in expressing sense of the House and represents it on ceremonial or formal occasions.

Leader of the Opposition (LOP)

The office of the Leader of the Opposition in a legislature is of great public importance. Its importance emanates from the central role accorded to the Opposition in a parliamentary democracy. The role of the Leader of the Opposition, in fact, is more difficult as he has to criticize, find fault and present alternative proposals/policies with no power to implement them. He has, thus, to perform a special responsibility to Parliament and to the nation.

In Rajya Sabha until 1969, there was no Leader of the Opposition in real sense of the term. Till then, the practice was to call the Leader of the party in Opposition having the largest number of the members as the Leader of the Opposition, without according him any formal recognition, status or privilege. The office of Leader of the Opposition was given official recognition through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of the Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. This Act defines the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, as a member of the Council of States who is, for the time being, the Leader in that House of the party in opposition to the Government constituting the greatest numerical strength and recognized as such by the Chairman of the Council of States. Thus, the Leader of the Opposition should satisfy three conditions, namely, (i) he should be a member of the House (ii) the Leader in Rajya Sabha of the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength and (iii) be recognized as such by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha.

Rajya Sabha has played a constructive and effective role in our polity. Its performance in the legislative field and in influencing the Government policies has been quite significant. Rajya Sabha has, in fact, worked in a spirit of cooperation with Lok Sabha as per the Constitutional mandate. Rajya Sabha has prevented hasty legislation and has served as dignified chamber representing the federal principle. As a federal chamber, it has worked for the unity and integrity of the nation and has reinforced the faith of the people in parliamentary democracy.

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President of India

President of India - Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil

Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil was born on December 19, 1934 in Nadgaon village of Jalgaon District, Maharashtra.

Smt. Patil assumed office as the 12th President of India on July 25, 2007. She is the first woman to have been elected to this august office.

Immediately prior to election as the President of India, Smt. Patil was the Governor of Rajasthan from November 8, 2004 till June 21, 2007.

Education:

Smt. Patil received her early education from RR Vidyalaya, Jalgaon and later obtained her Master’s degree in Political Science and Economics from the Mooljee Jetha College, Jalgaon. Later, she obtained the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Government Law College, Bombay (Mumbai). While in college, she took active part in sports, excelled in table tennis and won several shields at various Inter-collegiate tournaments. Even as an MLA, she pursued her studies as a law student.

Professional Career:

Smt. Patil started her professional career as a practicing lawyer at the Jalgaon District Court and simultaneously devoted herself to various social activities, especially, for the upliftment of poor women.

Political Career:

At the young age of 27 years, she successfully contested her first election to the Maharashtra State Legislature from the Jalgaon Assembly constituency. Subsequently she was continuously elected four times as MLA from the Edlabad (Muktai Nagar) constituency till 1985. Thereafter, she served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from 1985 to 1990 and later elected as a Member of Parliament to the 10th Lok Sabha in the 1991 General Elections from the Amravati constituency. She enjoys the unique distinction of not having lost a single election that she contested till date.

Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil in her long stint in Maharashtra has held various positions both in the Government and the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra. She was :

* Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra from 1967 to 1972,
* Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra from 1972 to 1974,
* Cabinet Minister, Public Health and Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra from 1974 to 1975,
* Cabinet Minister, Prohibition, Rehabilitation and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra from 1975 to 1976,
* Cabinet Minister, Education, Government of Maharashtra from 1977 to 1978,
* Cabinet Minister, Urban Development and Housing, Government of Maharashtra from 1982 to 1983, and
* Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra from 1983 to 1985.
* While in the Opposition, she also served as the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra from July 1979 to February 1980.



While in the Rajya Sabha, Smt. Patil was the Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1988 and also served as the Chairperson, Rajya Sabha from 25.7.1987 to 2.9.1987 when Dr. R. Venkataraman got elected as President of India. She was also the Chairperson, Committee of Privileges, Rajya Sabha and Member, Business Advisory Committee, Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1988. While in the Lok Sabha, Smt. Patil was the Chairperson, House Committee.

Public Life:

In her long public life, she has been associated with several institutions in wide ranging capacities. She served as Chairperson, Maharashtra State Water Pollution Control Board from 1982 to 1985. She was also the President, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) from 1988 to 1990. Besides holding the position of Director and Vice-Chairperson, National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies, she also served as Member, Governing Council, National Cooperative Union of India and Chairperson, 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee, Government of Maharashtra.

Smt. Patil has represented India in various international fora. She attended the International Council on Social Welfare conferences at Nairobi and at Puerto Rico. She was a Member of the AICC(I) delegation to Bulgaria in 1985 and represented as Member, Commonwealth Presiding Officers Conference in London in 1988. She led the Indian delegation to the Conference on the ‘Status of Women’ in Austria and was a delegate at the World Women’s Conference, Beijing, China in September 1995.

Social and Cultural Activities:

Throughout her public life, Smt. Patil has worked actively for the welfare of women and children and the underprivileged sections of society. For their benefit, she established several institutions for them. To name a few, she had set up (i) hostels for working women in Mumbai and Delhi, (ii) an Engineering College at Jalgaon for rural youth, (iii) the Shram Sadhana Trust which takes part in multifarious welfare activities for development of women, (iv)an Industrial Training School for the visually handicapped in Jalgaon, (v) schools for poor children of Vimukta Jatis (Nomadic Tribes) and for children of Backward Classes in Amravati District and (vi) a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Farmers’ Training Centre) at Amravati, Maharashtra. She played a pioneering role in setting up the Mahila Vikas Mahamandal, a Maharashtra State Government undertaking for the development of women.

She was instrumental in organizing music, computer and sewing classes for the poor and needy women at Amravati, Maharashtra. Smt. Patil also organized the Women’s Home Guard in Jalgaon District and was their Commandant in 1962.

Family Life:

Smt. Patil is married to Dr. Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat. Dr. Shekhawat obtained his Ph.D. in the discipline of Chemistry from Haffkine Institute, Mumbai. An educationist and a social worker in his own right, he became the first Mayor of Amravati Municipal Corporation and he has also represented Amravati constituency as its MLA. She has two children, a daughter, Smt. Jyoti Rathore and a son, Shri Rajendra Singh.

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India

India is the seventh largest country in the world. The country's official name, India is derived from the Old Persian version of Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the river Indus. The Constitution of India and general usage also recognises Bharat, which is derived from the Sanskrit name of an ancient Hindu king, whose story is to be found in the Mahabharata, as an official name of equal status. A third name, Hindustan, or land of the Hindus in Persian, was used from Mughal times onwards, though its contemporary use is unevenly applied due to domestic disputes over how representative it is as a national signifier.

India is a republic consisting of 28 states and seven union territories with a parliamentary system of democracy. It has the world's twelfth largest economy at market exchange rates and the fourth largest in purchasing power. Economic reforms since 1991 have transformed it into one of the fastest growing economies in the world; however, it still suffers from poverty, illiteracy, disease, and malnutrition. A pluralistic, multilingual and multiethnic society, India is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.

Statics for India

• Capital New Delhi
• 28°36.8′N 77°12.5′E / 28.6133°N 77.2083°E / 28.6133; 77.2083
• Largest city Mumbai
• Official language(s)
  Hindi, English
  Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union and English the "subsidiary official language".
  Recognised regional languages
  8th Schedule:
  Assamese
  Bengali
  Bodo
  Dogri
  Gujarati
  Hindi
  Kannada
  Kashmiri
  Konkani
  Maithili
  Malayalam
  Manipuri
  Marathi
  Nepali
  Oriya
  Punjabi
  Sanskrit
  Santali
  Sindhi
  Tamil
  Telugu
  Urdu
• National languages None defined by the
  constitution.
• Demonym Indian
• Government Federal republic,
  Parliamentary democracy
  - President Pratibha Patil
  - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
  - Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan
• Legislature Sansad
  - Upper House Rajya Sabha
  - Lower House Lok Sabha
  
• Independence from the United Kingdom
  - Declared 15 August 1947
  - Republic 26 January 1950
• Area
  - Total 3,287,240 km2 ‡(7th)
  1,269,210 sq mi
  - Water (%) 9.56
  
• Population
  - 2010 estimate 1,179,196,000[10] (2nd)
  - 2001 census 1,028,610,328[11]
  - Density 358.7/km2 (32nd)
  929.1/sq mi
• GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate
  - Total $3.298 trillion[12] (4th)
  - Per capita $2,930[12] (130th)
• GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate
  - Total $1.242 trillion[12] (12th)
  - Per capita $1,017[12] (143rd)
• Gini (2004) 36.8
• HDI (2007) 0.612 (medium) (134th)
• Currency Indian rupee (₨) (INR)
• Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
  - Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+5:30)
• Drives on the left
• Internet TLD .in
• Calling code 91

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Indian Holidays

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Haryana

Haryana is a state in northwest India between 27 deg 37' to 30 deg 35' latitude and between 74 deg 28' to 77 deg 36' longitude and with an altitude between 700 to 3600 ft above sea level. Haryana was carved out of the Indian state of Punjab on 1st November 1966. It is bounded by Uttar Pradesh in the east, Punjab in the west, Himachal Pradesh in the north and Rajasthan in the south. The river Yamuna acts as the eastern boundary between Haryana and the states of Uttaranchal & Uttar Pradesh. The state is divided into four divisions for administrative purpose - Ambala, Rohtak, Gurgaon and Hissar. There are 19 districts, 47 sub-divisions, 67 tehsils, 45 sub-tehsils and 116 blocks. Haryana has a total of 81 cities and towns. It has 6,759 villages. An area of 1,553 sq.km is covered by forest. Haryana has a network of 43 tourist complexes, named after birds. These have been set up along the national / state highways and at districts, towns and at places around Delhi. Haryana has a network of educational institutions. There were 10399 Primary Schools, 1792 Middle Schools and 3838 High and Senior Secondary Schools functioning during 1998-99 in the State. Presently, there are four Universities and 214 Colleges with 161 Colleges of general education and 53 institutions exclusively for women in the State. As compared to All India Average of literacy rate of 52.21 per cent Haryana's literacy rate is 55.85 per cent. With just 1.37% of the total geographical area and less than 2% of India's population, Haryana has carved a place of distinction for itself during the past three decades.

Haryana was the cradle of the Indus Valley and Vedic Civilizations, both flourishing on the banks of the now lost Sarasvati River. Several decisive battles were fought in the area, which shaped much of the history of India. These include the epic battle of Mahabharata at Kurukshetra (including the recital of the Bhagavad Gita by Krishna), and the three battles of Panipat. Haryana was administered as part of the Punjab province of British India, and was carved out on linguistic lines as India's 17th state in 1966. Haryana is now a leading contributor to the country's production of foodgrain and milk. Agriculture is the leading occupation for the residents of the state, the flat arable land irrigated by submersible pumps and an extensive canal system. Haryana contributed heavily to the Green Revolution that made India self-sufficient in food production in the 1960s

* No. of Villages: 6955


* No. of Villages Inhabited: 6781


* Intensity of Irrigation: 177


* Percentage of irrigated to net sown area: 82.4


* Fertilizer Consumption (Kgs / Hect.): 171 (NP Ratio 3.1:1)


* Average Rainfall (mm.): 455


* No. of holdings (Total) (in lakh): 17.28


1. Marginal farmers (in lakh) (Up to 1 hect.): 8.15 (47 %)


2. Small farmers (in lakh) (1-2 hect.) 3.38 (20 %)


3. Others (in lakh) (Above 2 hect.) 5.75 (33 %)


* Foodgrains Prod. (Million Tonnes) (2003-04) 13.2


* Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Rs. in Crore) (2002-03): 34800.40

Area 44212 Sq. Km
Capital Chandigarh
Districts 19
Language Hindi
Population 21,082,989
Males 11,327,658
Health institutions 3075
Number of Educational Institutions :
Colleges (all types) 214
High/Sr. Sec. Schools 3838
Middle Schools 1792
Primary Schools 10399
Vet Hospitals/dispensaries 1410
Reg. Working Factories 7813
Tubewells/Pumping sets 575513
Villages Electrified 88999

Formation of Haryana

Haryana state was formed on 1 November 1966, on the recommendation of the Sardar Hukam Singh Parliamentary Committee. The formation of this committee was announced in the Parliament on 23 September 1965. On 23 April 1966, acting on the recommendation of the Hukam Singh Committee, the Indian government set up the Shah Commission under the chairmanship of Justice J. C. Shah, to divide and set up the boundaries of Punjab and Haryana giving consideration to the language spoken by the people. The commission gave its report on 31 May 1966. According to this report the then districts of Hissar, Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, Rohtak, and Karnal were to be a part of the new state of Haryana. Further, the tehsils of Jind (district Sangrur), Narwana (district Sangrur), Naraingarh, Ambala and Jagadhari were also to be included. The commission recommended that Tehsil Kharar (including Chandigarh) should be a part of Haryana.

The city of Chandigarh, and a Punjabi-speaking area of district Rupnagar were made a Union Territory serving as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. According to the Rajiv-Longowal Accord, Chandigarh was to be transferred to the state of Punjab in 1986, but the transfer was delayed and it has not been executed so far.

Agriculture

Haryana is often called the “Food Mine” of the country. About 80% of the population of the state is agriculture dependent, directly or indirectly. Haryana is self sufficient in producing food grains and is also a major contributor of food grains in meeting the needs of other states of the country. The world famous Basmati Rice is produced here in abundance. The major cereals produced in the state include wheat, rice, maize and bajra.

The crop production of Haryana can be broadly divided into Rabi and Kharif. The main kharif crops in the state include sugarcane, groundnut, maize and paddy etc. The minor kharif crops are chillis, bajra, jawar, pulses and vegetables.

There are two agro-climatic zones in the state. The north western part of the state is suitable for the cultivation of Rice, Wheat, Vegetable and temperate fruits and the south-western part is suitable for high quality agricultural produce, tropical fruits, exotic vegetables and herbal and medicinal plants.

The state has also significantly contributed to the field of agricultural education in the country. Asia's biggest agricultural University - Chaudhry Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University is located at Hisar, which has already made a significant contribution in ushering 'Green Revolution'. The National Dairy Research Institute set up at Karnal and Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes at Hisar are constantly developing the breed of 'Hariana' cow and 'Murrah' buffaloe. There is a network of veterinary institutions to maintain the health of livestock.

Diary farming is mostly seen in the rural areas and the economy depends largely on it. The other crops which are grown in the state include cotton, jute, sugarcane, sesame, groundnut, oilseeds and tobacco.

Irrigation of the state depends on the water provided by the Canals. The various canals which are operating in the state include Western Yamuna Canal, Gurgaon Canal, Jui Canal, Jawaharlal Lal Nehru Canal and Bhakra Canal. These canals are the main source of water for cultivation in various districts of the state.

Dairy farming is also an essential part of the rural economy. Haryana has a livestock population of 98.97 lakh. Milk and milk products form an essential part of the local diet. There is the saying Desaan main des Haryana, jit doodh dahi ka khaana, which means "Best among all the countries in the world is Haryana, where the staple food is milk and yoghurt". Haryana, with 660 grams of availability of milk per capita per day, ranks at number two in the country as against the national average of 232 grams. There is a vast network of milk societies that support the dairy industry. The National Dairy Research Institute at Karnal, and the Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes at Hisar are instrumental in development of new breeds of cattle and propagation of these breeds through embryo transfer technology. The Murrah breed of water buffalo from Haryana is world-famous for its milk production.

People

Haryana is a State which astonishingly combines both-antiquity and plenty. It has been a cradle of Indian culture and civilization. The people of Haryana are simple, straight-forward, enterprising and hard-working. They are still conservative and continue to follow old practices as a matter of routine and custom. They celebrate festivals with great enthusiasm and traditional fervour. The region has its popular folklores, folksongs and musical instruments. The popular folklore of this area reflects the beliefs and piety of the people. Their culture and popular art are expressed through mimes, dramas, ballads and songs in which they take great delight. Harayan's population, are divided into a number of castes (jatis). The main classes of people in Haryana are the Brahmins, the Rajputs, the Jats, the Ahirs and the allied agricultural communities. The women are devoted and diligent and assist their men-folk on the farms. The dress of the people is generally simple. It consists of a dhoti, shirt, turban and a pair of shoes. A blanket or chaddar serves as wrapper. A duppata or overcloth, kamiz or skirt, pajamas, salwar or ghagra with differences in make and colour is generally the female dress. Among the educated classes in the villages women are taking to saris of different colours. The dresses worn by women display more variety than male attires. People are very fond of ornaments here. The ornaments are usually made of gold and silver. The main items include haar (necklace), hansli (heavy bangles) made of silver, jhalra (long hanging string of gold mohars or silver rupees) Karanphul and bujni of gold and dandle of silver for the ears. Some new types of ornaments are tops (balian) for the ears, churis for the wrists and pandels for the neck. The people have simple food habits. They are known for their love for cattle and the abudance of milk and curd in their diet. Haryana has always remained a rendezvous for diverse races, cultures and faiths.

Climate

Geographically Haryana has four main features:

- Shivalik Hills in the north

- Yamuna in the east and Ghaggar (Saraswati) plain in the west

- Semi-desert sandy plain

- Aravalli Range in the south western part which run through southern Delhi and the Gurgaon district upto Alwar. There are some high ridges running from the north-west to south-east with numerous spurs branching out in all directions. These hills are known as the Morni and Tipra ranges. They belong to the outer ranges of the Himalayas. Haryana has no perennial rivers. The important rivers are Yamuna, the Saraswati and the Ghaggar. Several small streams flows through the state they are the Markanda, the Sahibi and Indori. Yamuna is the most important river in the state. It has its source in the hills at Kalesar and is the source of irrigation for large tracts in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Hissar and Rohtak through the western Yamuna canals. The river Saraswati begins in the large depression at Kalawar in the north of the Mustafabad Pargana of Jagadhri. The Ghaggar rises in the outer Himalayan ranges between the Yamuna and the Sutlej. The climate of Haryana over most of the year is of a pronounced continental character. It is very hot in summer and markedly cold in winter. The rainfall in the region is low and erratic except in parts of the Karnal and Ambala districts. The rainfall is unevenly distributed during the year except for two well marked seasons. One is the monsoon period lasting from the middle of June to the end of September on which autumn crop and spring sowing depend and the other is the winter rains which occur from December to February, benefiting rabi crop. Rainfall is meager, particularly in the districts of Mahendragarh and Hissar. The hottest months are May and June and the coldest being December and January. Best time to visit is October to March.

It is very hot in summer (up to a high of 50 deg Celsius) and cold in winters (down to a low of 1 deg Celsius). The hottest months are May and June and the coldest being December and January. Rainfall is varied, with the Shivalik Hills region being the wettest and the Aravali Hills region being the driest. About 80% of the rainfall occurs in the monsoon season (July-September) and sometimes causes local flooding.

Festivals

Like its neighbors, Delhi and Punjab, Haryana too celebrates festivals with loads of fun, colour and zeal. People come out in the streets to celebrate various festivals of all communities. Diwali, Dusshrea, Teej, Holi are some of the important festivals celebrated in Haryana.

List of Festivals in Haryana:

* Lohri
* Basant Panchami
* Baisakhi
* Diwali
* Dussera
* Holi
* Gugga Naumi
* Navratri
* Bathing at Sohna
* Kurukshetra Festival
* Pinjore Heritage Festival
* Festival of Gardens
* Teej Festival
* Pinjore Heritage Festival
* Geeta Jayanti Samaroh
* Kurukshetra Festival
* Surajkund Crafts Mela

Districts of Haryana

Ambala
Bhiwani
Faridabad
Fatehabad
Gurgaon
Hisar
Jhajjar
Jind
Kaithal
Karnal
Kurukshetra
Mahendragarh
Panchkula
Panipat
Rewari
Rohtak
Sirsa
Sonipat
Yamunanagar

How to reach

By Air

Nearest airport is in the capital Chandigarh. Indian Airlines connect Chandigarh with Delhi, Jammu, Shrinagar and Leh. Vayudoot Services connect Chandigarh with Delhi, Kulu and Gaggad.

By Train

Chandigarh, the terminus of Northern Railway, is connected with Bombay, Delhi, Kalka and other major cities in India.

By Road

Chandigarh is connected by good motorable roads to all the major destinations of the state.

Gujarat

Gujarat is the westernmost state in India and its capital is Gandhinagar. Its largest city is Ahmedabad. Gujarat is home to the Gujarati speaking people of India. The state encompasses major sites of the Indus Valley Civilization such as Lothal and Dholavira. Gujarat played an important role in the economic history of India throughout the history of India. It is home to major ports in India's ancient and modern history, leading it to become one of the main trade and commerce center of India. Lothal, one of the world's first ports, is located in Gujarat. Also, Mahatma Gandhi, India's father of the nation, was Gujarati and led the Indian Independence Movement against the British as was Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the father of Pakistan. Today also, Gujarat has one of the fastest growing economies in India

Area
196077 sq. km.

Population
5.06 Crore (as on 1st March 2001)

Capital
Gandhinagar

Language
Gujarati

Religion
Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity

Time
GMT +5:30

Currency
Indian Rupee

Winter
November to February (12 - 29 Celsius)

Summer
March to May (29 - 41 Celsius)

Monsoon
June to October (27 - 35 Celsius)

Agriculture

Gujarat is the main producer of tobacco, cotton, and groundnuts in India. Other major food crops produced are rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize, Tur, and gram. Gujarat has an agricultural economy; the total crop area amounts to more than one-half of the total land area.

Gujarat has highest productivity in, Mustard, Castor and cotton, second highest productivity in Groundnut and Bajra, third highest productivity in Gram and Guar in the country

Other products include honey, wax and bamboo which are produced in fair quantities in different forests. The state also produces medicinal herbs and fruits like jamun and guava. Forests also yield considerable quantities of teak, khair, sadad, hadariyo, manual bamboos and other good quality of wood.

Baroda, Surat, Broach, and Kaira are some of the places that contribute to the agricultural production.

The rural economy of Gujarat depends a lot upon animal husbandry and dairying. Gujarat produced 6.09 million tones of milk and 385 million eggs in the year 2002-03.

Agro Climate Zones

South Gujarat (Heavy Rain Area) -

Area (Districts & Talukas) :

1. Whole of Dangs district,
2. Part of Valsad District (excludings Navsari and Gandavi talukas)
3. Part of Surat District (Valod, Vyara, Uchchhal, Songadh and Mahuva

Crops cultivated : Cotton, Jowar, Paddy, Vegetables, Horticultural Corps, Sugercane and Hillamillest.


South Gujarat -

Area (Districts & Talukas) :

1. Area between rivers Ambica and Narmada
2. Part of Valsad District (Navsari and Gandavi talukas)
3. Part of Surat district (Kamrej, Nizar, Palsana, Bardoli, Mangrol and Mandvi talukas) and
4. Part of Bharuch district (Ankleshwar, Valia, Junagadh, Rajpipla, Dediapada and Sagabara talukas.)

Crops cultivated : Cotton, Jowar, Wheat Sugercane, Horticultural Crops


Middle Gujarat -

Area (Districts & Talukas) :

1. Whole of Panchmahals districts
2. Whole of Vadodara district
3. Part of Bharuch district (Bharuch, Amod and Jambusar talukas) and
4. Borsad taluka of Kheda district.

Crops cultivated : Cotton, Bajra, Tobacco, Pulses, Wheat, Paddy, Maize, Jowarand Sugarcane.


North Gujarat -

Area (Districts & Talukas) :

1. Whole of Sabarkantha district.
2. Part of Ahmedabad district,(includes Dehgam, Dascroi & Sanand talukas)
3. Whole of Kheda district except Borsad and part of Khambhat and Matar talukas
4. Whole of Mehsana district (except Chanasama, Sami & Harij talukas &
5. Part of Banaskantha district (Deesa, Dhanera, Palanpur, Danta & Vadgam taluka

Crops cultivated : Tobacco, Wheat, Jowar, Minor Millet,Vegetables. Spices and condiments, Oil Seeds.


Bhal & Coastal Area -

Area (Districts & Talukas) :

1. Olpad talukas of Surat district,
2. Hansot & Wagra talukas of Bharuch District
3. Dholka and Dhandhuka talukas of Ahmedabad district,
4. Vallabhipur and Bhavnagar talukas of Bhavnagar district.
5. Limbdi talukas of Suredranagar dist.

Crops cultivated : Groundnut, Cotton, Bajra, Dry wheat Pulse, & Jowar.


South Saurashtra -

Area (Districts & Talukas) :

1. Part of Bhavnagar district (Sihor, Ghogha, Savarkundla, Gariadhar, Palitana, Talaja, & Mahuva talukas)
2. Part of Amreli district (Dhari, Kodinar, Rajula, Jafrabad, Khambha, Amreli, Babra, Lilia, Lathi & Kunkavav talukas)&
3. Part of Rajkot district (Jetpur, Dhoraji Upleta & Gondal talukas).

Crops cultivated : Groundnut Cotton & Pulses Wheat, Bajra, Jowar, & Sugarcane.


North Saurashtra -

Area (Districts & Talukas) :

1. Whole of Jamnagar district
2. Part of Rajkot district (Padadhari Lodhika, Jasdan, Rajkot, Wankaner, Morvi, Jamkandorna & Kotda Sangani Talukas.
3. Part of Surendranagar dist. (Wadhvan, Muli,Chotila and Salya talukas) and
4. Part of Bhavnagar district (Gadhada, Umrala, and Botad talukas).

Crops cultivated : Groundnut, Cotton, Wheat, Bajra, Jowar & Sugarcane.


North West Zone -

Area (Districts & Talukas) :

1. Whole of Kutch district,
2. Malia taluka of Rajkot district
3. Halvad, Dhrangadhra and Dasada talukas of Surendranagar district,
4. Sami, Harij and Chanasma talukas of Mehsana district,
5. Santalpur,Radhanpur Kankrej, Diyodar Vav and Tharad talukas Banaskantha district and,
6. Viramgam and Daskroi city of Ahmedabad district.

Crops cultivated : Cotton, Jowar, Groundnut, Bajra & Wheat

Irrigation

Irrigation in Gujarat mostly depends on rain, surface water and ground water sources. Most of the rabi crops and all of the summer crops are irrigated. The perennials - sugarcane and bananas - are fully irrigated. However, most of the kharif crops are rain-fed.

As the rainfall varies considerably from region to region, the ultimate irrigation potential is from groundwater and surface water sources. The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project (39.40 lakh hectares surface water and 29.10 lakh hectares groundwater) irrigates about 68.5 lakh hectares of land.

Fairs and Festivals

Around 3500 festivals are celebrated in Gujrat. Gujrat has always been known for its fairs and festivals. Some of these fairs and festivals are :

Bhavnath Mahadev Mela (February)

The Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, situated at the foot of Mount Girnar in the city of Junagadh is the site of the Bhavnath Mahadev fair held for five days in February, during the festival of Mahashivratri. The Mahapuja of Lord Shiva takes place at midnight in this temple on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Magh. When the puja (prayer ceremony) starts, Naga Bavas (naked sages) living nearby, move towards the fair seated on elephants, holding flags and blowing conch shells. It is firmly believed that Lord Shiva himself visits the shrine on this occasion. Visitors are served free meals by the organizers. Special stalls sell idols, rosaries or holy beads brought by vendors from Ayodhya and Mathura, utensils of brass and copper, sweets and fruits. The Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is surrounded by many equally ancient and holy places.

Dangs Darbar (March)

Dangs Darbar is the name of the annual fair held every year in Ahwa, the most important town in the Dangs a few days before Holi. The Dangs is one of the most delightful districts of Gujarat and is located high in the Saputara hills, the original home of the adivasis, the tribal population of Gujarat. The name 'Darbar' dates back to the time of the British, when a darbar of Rajas and Naiks of neighbouring area used to assemble there. Today it is called Jamabandi Darbar and the District Collector officiates at it. Thousands of tribal people flock to Ahwa from all over the district, dressed in bright colours sounding the Shehnai and beating their drums. Folk dances, dramas and songs enliven the air during the festival.

Chitra - Vichitra Mela (March)

This fair, one of the largest, purely Adivasi (tribal) fairs attended by around 60,000 to 70,000 tribal people. It takes place every year in the village of Gunbhakhari in Sabarkantha district, very near the borders of Rajasthan. It is held a fortnight after Holi, the festival of colours. The site of the fair is attractive as the temple overlooks the rivers Sabarmati, Akul and Vyakul. The name of the fair is derived from Chitravirya and Vichitraviraya, the sons of King Shantanu, who are believed to have lived here and been cured of diseases which afflicted them. The fair attracts large numbers of Bhils (tribals) who come from all the surrounding districts using every imaginable form of transport. The Garasis and Bhil tribals dress in their customary colourful costumes. The costume of the men generally consists of a blue shirt, dhoti and a red or saffron turban. Women don ghaghras (embroidered skirts) which have a circumference of as much as 20 yards, and are covered from head to foot with ornate and heavy silver jewellery. They use liquid kumkum (vermilion) to colour their cheeks and lips a brilliant red, while their eyes are outlined with kajal (kohl). Every group that comes to the fair carries its own drum making the atmosphere come alive with the incessant beat of numerous drums. The women sing folk songs, and everyone dances. The dancing and drumming continue for hours until everyone is exhausted. Over a hundred stalls hold food and drink, and sweets of various kinds. Silver ornaments can be bought and household articles as well. Here, as in other fairs, there is a giant wheel, and a merry-go-round which never cease to spin.

Dhrang Fair (April)

Around 40 kms from Bhuj, it is known for the samadhi of the famous saint Menkan Dada who served the community with great love and dedication and won their devotion. He was supposed to be the incarnation of Lakshmanji. A large fair is held on Magh Vad when a large number of Dada's followers from different parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan come to the Samadhi and participate in religious rituals.

Trinetreshwar Mahadev Fair (September-October).

The small hamlet of Tarnetar, about 75 kilometers from Rajkot, is the site for one of Gujarat's most well known annual fairs, held here during the first week of Bhadrapad (September-October). This fair is primarily a 'marriage mart' or 'Swayamvar' for the tribal youth of today who still visit Tarnetar, to find them a suitable bride. The tribal youth elegantly dressed in colourful dhotis, waistcoats and eye-catching turbans come to be chosen by village belles dressed in colourful finery. Like all-important tribal fairs, it is attended by tribes from the adjoining who indulge in dancing, competitive sports and other such forms of entertainment. There are over 300 stalls selling food, refreshments, exhibiting embroidery and cattle shows. The bachelors are usually identified by their large colourful embroidered umbrellas and their distinctive hairstyles. These umbrellas, which have become emblems of the fair, are embroidered by the tribal youth for over a year. The fair is held around the Trinetreshwar Temple dedicated to the three-eyed Lord Shiva, built at the beginning of the century. There is a kund (reservoir) here and it is popularly believed that a dip in its waters is as holy as a dip in the sacred River Ganges. The reservoir is also known as papanshu (the destroyer of sins).

Vautha Mela (November)

This magnificent fair is held every year at Vautha, where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak meet. Like most fair sites in India, this also has both mythological and current religious associations. The Vautha Mela site is 3 square miles in area. Legends hold that Kartik Swami or Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva, visited the site. This is why the fair is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Kartik, corresponding to November. The site, also known as Saptasangam, is at the confluence of seven rivers. The most important Shiva temple here is the temple of Siddhanath.

What is most significant about this fair is that it is the only major animal trading fair in Gujarat and is on par with the famous camel fair at Pushkar, Rajasthan. However the only animals traded here are donkeys. About 4,000 donkeys are brought every year for sale, usually by Vanjara (gypsy) traders. The pilgrims who visit Vautha during the fair are from several communities and include farmers, labourers and people belonging to several castes.

Shamlaji Melo (November)

The Shamlaji Melo, also called the Kartik Purnima fair is held in the month of November every year and lasts for about two weeks. It is attended by almost two hundred thousand people from adjoining districts and even from Rajasthan. Devotees belonging to various castes and communities including the Garasias and Bhils throng this festival. These pilgrims come in groups, singing devotional songs and carry religious banners to have a darshan (worship)of the deity at the Shamlaji Temple. The Shamlaji Temple is a renowned Vaishnav Shrine and the deity housed here is known by various names included Gadadhar (bearer of the mace) and Shaksi Gopal. The fair is also popular with the tribal people of the area, particularly the Bhils, who revere Shamlaji, the deity they refer to as 'Kalio Bavji', the dark divinity. The temple is of great archaeological significance as it was built in the 11th century. Apart from a darshan of the deity in the temple, the pilgrims consider a bath in the river Meshwo essential.

Festivals of Gujarat

Makar Sankranti and Kite Flying Festival (January)

It takes place in mid January and marks the time when the Sun’s direct rays reach the Tropic of Capricorn, after the winter solstice. It is celebrated with lots of folk music and dance as well as kite flying. People of Ahmedabad in numbers beyond all comprehension gather on terraces to fly kites of various colours to celebrate Makar Sanskranti or Uttrayana, the welcome to the sun after the cold winter months. The atmosphere at the festival is electrifying-glass strenghtened threads of the Indian fighter kites are matched against each other in the air, and the kite fighter who cuts the other thread is the victor. At night, the activity does not end-kites with Chinese type lanterns are flown and held aloft, looking like bright twinkling stars. Typical food like Undiya, sugar cane juice and local sweets are served to celebrate the day. To promote the festival, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat organises a kite festival, with kite fighting matches, other competitions and exhibitions by kite flying clubs from the world over. Local sightseeing tours for members of kite flying clubs and tourists are organised before and after the festival. A trip to the Kite museum at Paldi, which is one of the few of it's kind in the world with over 100 kites collected by Bhanu Shah is part of the festival package.

Dance Festival -Modhera (January)

Resting on a knoll in the village of Modhera, the ruins of the 11th century Sun Temple are an impressive sight. The outer walls of the temple are covered with sculptures in which the figures of Lord Surya, the sun god are prominent. The Sun Temple is the site of an annual festival of Indian classical dances organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat. The idea is to present classical dance forms in an atmosphere they were originally presented in. The Kutch Mahotsav (Feb-March)

The ‘Kutch Festival’ or the ‘Rann festival’ is celebrated at the time of the Shiv Ratri in February/ March. The centre of the festival is Bhuj in Kutch. It has crafts, fairs and folk dances and music and cultural shows, all organized by the Gujarat Tourism. Tours are also conducted, out to the ruins of Dhola Vera, a city that was once a part of the Indus Valley civilization.

Holi (March)

Essentially a spring festival, there are several accounts of how Holi came to be celebrated . By one account demoness Hoda was killed by children, reducing her on a heap which was then lighted, thereby circumventing her boon of immortality. Another version treats it as day when child Krishna had sucked the demoness Putna to death. In yet another version which is popular in Gujarat, Pralhad, the son of the demon King Hiranyakashyap had emerged unhurt from the heap of fire he was made to sit on, in the lap of Holika, who got burnt instead. Thus on a full moon day of Phalgun Sud 15 Holi is celebrated to commemorate the event of one's belief. It is done by lighting a bonfire of wood and cowdung which is erected in a conical shape over a small pit which is dug at the bottom. Such fires are lit on almost all important cross-sections of roads or in the chowk of the villages. Elders predict the coming monsoon on the basis of the direction in which the flag planted atop falls. Devotees offer coconut to the fire and the youth retrieve them amidst an applause of bystanders.

It is also the principal religious festival of Adivasis in Gujarat. They abandon work and indulge in ceaseless folk dancing. The girls observe this festival by growing wheat in the bamboo baskets filled with earth and manure. In some tribes people indulge in the fowlest of abuse and mock fights.

Dhuleti (March)

The next day after Holi is Dhuleti or Dhuli Padvo. Literally it means throwing of mud, the practice which has given way to throwing of vermilion. At times the merrymaking lapses into unhindered revelry as youngsters indulge into throwing paste colours, not only on their friends but also on strangers taking advantage of the permissiveness granted on the occasion. As noted earlier Adivasis truly celebrate this festival. In the villages of Panchmahals Adivasi men play a martial game known as Gol-Gadheda in which the women after snatching a shoulder scarf from a man, ties it on a tree top with a lump of molasses. It is the job of the man to retrieve it from there not an easy task as the tree is vigorously guarded by women. The game goes on till one of the men succeed in securing the bundle. Such is the boundless merrymaking of the day.

Mahuram (April)

Mahuram is the date when Muslims commemorate the death of Prophet’s grandson, Hussain. The highlight of this Muslim festival is the Tazia procession, which includes acrobats, drummers and singers. Miniature replicas of the martyr’s tomb are carried during the Tazia procession. The Tazia is made of bamboo and tinsel, and are double storied dome structures. There is competition among participants to offer the best Tazia, acrobatics, music and gymnastics. Tazia is a Persian term for weeping, and devout followers beat their chests to express grief. The Shiya Muslims fast for 10 days during the festival.

Janmashtami (August)

Janmashtami, the day Shri Krishna was born is celebrated with great devotion at the Jagat Mandir a temple built 1400 years ago in Dwarka. Devotees throng in thousands to celebrate this joyous occasion. Rows of lights are lit everywhere, kirtans and bhajans (devotional songs) are sung, sermons are delivered and Krishna is worshipped in his infant form. The temple of Ahmedabad the pilgrim towns of Dakore & Dwarka, the fairs of Bayayali & Dwarka, all throng with devotees of the great Lord Krishna. For celebrating Janmashtami the rituals begin on the previous day with fasting, prayers and celebrations.

Rath Yatra (August - September)

It is said in the Bhagvath Purana that Kansa had sent Akrur to Gokul for bringing Sri Krishna to Mathura as Krishna had left with his brother Balram by a chariot leaving behind the Gopis and Gopals weeping, the day is celebrated in remembrance of this most touching separation and farewell.

The mammoth procession of Rath Yatra at Ahmedabad is the biggest in Gujarat. It starts from the Jagdish Mandir situated in the Jamalpur area of the city early in the morning. There are three separate chariots for the idols of Krishna, Balram and their sister Subhadra. The chariots resemble those at Jagannath Puri and are adorned with garlands. Music bands and Bhajan Mandlis lead the procession. Decorated elephants also move with the procession and gymnasts and acrobats perform astonishing feats. Numerous sadhus of all Vaishnavite sects and devotees join in this procession headed by the Mahant of Jagannath Temple.

Raksha Bandhan (August - September)

This festival has a three fold significance. It is the day on which Brahmins change their sacred thread, Sisters tie Rakhi to their brothers, and Sea Faring communities worship the sea. On Shravan Sud 15 when the moon is in the constellation of Shravan, the Brahmins, while changing their sacred thread, rededicate themselves to study the Vedas and pursue spiritual upliftment. Whereas generally the day celebrated by all sections of the Hindu society as a day dedicated to love of sisters for their brothers. The practise of tying the rakhi or the protective knot symbolizing the good wishes, has been an ancient one. Kuntamata of Mahabharat had tied rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu. Another important historic incident narrates how the queen Jhorabai of Mewad summoned the help of Emperor Humayun against the invading forces of Gujarat Sultan by sending him a rakhi.

The day is also celebrated as Nariyeli Poonam in the coastal areas of the State. The sea farers worship the sea by offering coconuts and set sail after the monsoon break.

Bhadra Purnima (September)

The full moon of Bhadrapad is one of the four most important festival days of the year, when farmers and agriculturists come to Ambaji, a place that derives its name from Goddess Ambaji whose shrine is located here. On this occasion, a large fair is organized on full moon days. In the evening, performances of Bhavai, the folk drama of the state is held and Garba programmes are organized. The devout attend readings of the Saptashati, the seven hundred verses in praise of the goddess and visit the temple for a darshan (worship) of her. The Ambaji shrine is the principal shrine of the goddess in Gujarat and its origins are still unknown. The Temple of Ambaji is recognized as one of the original Shakti Pithas (religious texts) where, according to the ancient Scriptures, the heart of the goddess Ambaji fell to earth when her body was dismembered. A triangular Vishwa Yantra, inscribed with figures and the syllable 'Shree' in the centre, represents the deity. There is no idol, which in fact testifies the temple's antiquity. Idol worship became popular much later.

Navratri (September-October)

Navratri, meaning nine nights is a colourful and ancient festival honouring the Mother Goddess- the Divine Shakti who supports the entire universe, protects worshippers, destroys evil and grants boons to her children. The mother goddess has seven well-known forms, including Kali one of her fiercest manifestations. Navratri is held annually in September-October and is celebrated with joy and religious fervour. An interesting feature of Navratri is the Garba and the Dandia-Ras dances. The costumes worn for the dances are traditional and extremely colourful. These dances start very late at night and end in the early hours of the morning. Ahmedabad is one of the greatest places to enjoy Navratri. All kinds of Rasa-Garbas, Dandia ras etc. are practiced in this period, feasting and fasting are important cultural aspects of this day, and various rituals are performed at temples of the 9 Goddesses of Hinduism. The atmosphere is electric and revelry is in the air.

Dussehra (September-October)

Dussehra, a ten-day festival in September-October is symbolic of the triumph of good over evil.

Diwali (October-November)

The last day of the Hindu year of the Vikram era is celebrated as Diwali or festival of lights all over the State. According to the Purana, Lord Vishnu had rescued Goddess Lakshmi from the hold of King Bali on this day. It is also believed that on this day Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya. Sathia(Swastik) and Rangoli (making of attractive designs by coloured powder) marks every courtyard with rows and rows of earthen lamps lighting up the surrounding area and giving a special touch of festivity. Merchants worship Goddess Lakshmi and the books of accounts. At night firecrackers of various types are burnt by youngsters. The next day or Kartik Sud 1, the first of the Hindu calendar is celebrated as New Years Day with great solemnity.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh is remembered on chauth or chaturthi, the 4th day of every month of the Hindu calendered, but most of all on Ganesh Chaturthi which is celebrated as his birthday. Ladoos are distributed on the day-by tradition ladoos were placed in different corners of the house and eaten before the meal. Milk is offered to idols of lord Ganesh at home and at temples, and Ganesh puja is performed at all temples and hi-house prayer rooms. Fasting, feasting and distribution of sweets offered to Lord Ganesh are important aspects of Ganesh chaturthi rituals in India. Hindus pray to images of Lord Ganesha, large and small, many of them made specially for the occasion by cottage industries and street side artisans, and those that do not wish to keep the idols alive by daily prayers, offerings and lighting oil lamps, immerse them in the nearest water body (all rivers, lakes and the sea which are sacred to Hindus). Centuries ago during a war between the Gods and the Demons, Lord Shiva was away for a long time. His wife, Goddess Parvati, afraid of being alone for an extended period used her divine powers and created a son, Ganesh, and gave him the responsibility of protecting the house. When Lord Shiva and his army, returned victorious to his home, Parvati was in her bath, and Ganesh had been strictly instructed not to allow anyone in. Angered by Ganesh's refusal to allow him in to the house, Lord Shiva and his army chopped off the boy's head. When Parvati came out of her bath, she was shocked and grieved to see her son dead. Lord Shiva, to pacify, her proclaimed that the head of Ganesh would be replaced by that of the first creature that came up the hill. As luck would have it the first visitor to the hill was an elephant and his head was promptly cut off and placed on that of Lord Ganesh, and life was restored to the son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. To pacify his wife further and compensate for the act of killins own son, Lord Shiva bestowed upon Ganesh the powers of a God and blessed him that henceforth no activity will begin without invoking your name and blessings. Since then, it is said, no new venture - the inauguration of accompany, the opening of a shop, the foundation of a building, entering a new home - is deemed complete by Hindus without a Ganesh puja.

Wildlife

Gujarat is the dream of an explorer who quest for nature and wild life. Gujarat possesses varied Landforms with the dry deciduous forests, majestic grasslands, marine ecosystems, wetlands and rich moist deciduous forests. These habitats are home to rare wild life inhabitants. The Land of the Legends is symbolically known for its wildlife icon of Lions that are found in the Gir reserve and happen to be a major attraction for tourists in Gujarat.

Dry deciduous forests Gir
Majestic grasslands Velavadar
Vast landscapes Little Rann of Kutch
Wetland habitats Nalsarovar
Marine ecosystems Pirotan Islands
Rich moist deciduous forests Dense forests of the Dangs

Gujarat’s varied habitat has a fascinating diversity of Wild Life having its own charm in its own environment. Gujarat has declared many of its rich and varied habitats as National Parks and Sanctuaries towards the conservation of the species and for the visitors’ entertainment and quest in search of Natural habitat and wild life.

Sports and Recreation

Gujarat Sports and Recreation acts as a catalyst for Health and well being Therapy. It rejuvenates, relaxes, inspires and enlightens.

There are many independent sports associations with National and Regional affiliate in Gujarat. They conduct a variety of tournaments, as well as coaching activity in the state. The Gujarat Cricket Association, an affiliate of the BCCI conducts its own tournaments in the open (without age restrictions) as well as age group related circuits. The Sports Authority of Gujarat also conducts state level tournaments for under 19 age group.

Under the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the President of the Gujarat Cricket Association(GCA), the supreme body of cricket in the state, Gujarat aims to use this powerful game to bring changes in society. GCA represents four important committees that include BCCI work committee, Tour and program committee, Finance committee and Junior cricket committee. Indian Premier League (IPL) matches will be organized under GCA in 2010 and further developments in Cricket aim to set Gujarat on higher scale in the field of Sports.

Gujarat has State of Art complex and facilitates Sports grounds for various Games like Indoor and Outdoor games.Gujarat also focus in Rural Olympics as 2008 Tarnetar Gramin Olympics saw a new light in the direction. Rural Olympics is expected to be held in March 2010 at Tarnetar, Devgadh Baria and Ahwa Dangs Dist. Scholarships for Women participants will be awarded to encourage Women players.

Complex for indoor and outdoor games are taking shape at Gandhinagar and in Rural areas too; keeping in mind, the long term effects on health and fitness of the people and enhance performance of sportsman.

In Gujarat, the largest Indoor Cricket arena is being constructed at Koba, Gandhinagar. The Indoor stadium shall be totally air conditioned and will be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore. When complete it shall be India largest stadium with four courts, eight floors a fitness center, food court shopping complex and other world class facilities. Sports enthusiast from Gujarat will have excellent sporting and fitness facilities with areas set aside for Indoor cricket, beach volleyball and beach soccer.

Kankaria Lake front development is operational as Recreation center with facilities to cater to families. It has Train ride, boating, zoo, Botannical garden, Museum and fish aquarium and a host of other recreational facilities.

The beaches in Gujarat and rural areas are being transformed for recreation and tourist attractions. Water Sports, Sun bathing, Star gazing, Bird watching, exploring marine life, cruise surfs and meditation are other recreational areas where people rejuvenate their lives.

Religious places and Tourist destinations in Gujarat have a unique traditional Getaway engaging in cultural and Spiritual experience. Many places have heritage background with scenic beauty, camel rides and traditional accommodation in tents and huts, enjoying nature.