Drug Addicts of Manipur

Photo Courtesy:BBC

Today(June 26) is the Anti Drug day.Various activities are organised across India.
Despite the best efforts of NGOs in Manipur to eradicate drug addiction In Manipur,drug addiction is increasing day by day.n Manipur,about 72 per cent of the AIDS cases originate from the sharing of needles and syringes by injecting drug users.State Police takes action drug addicts and puts up them in jail.But the major problem remains the injecting drug users(IDU).njecting Drug Users(IDU) are the root cause for AIDS menace in Manipur.Heroine smuggling is the major problem in this tiny state.
According to some estimates,there are about 40,000-50,000 drug addicts in Manipur of whom nearly half of them are injecting drug users(IDU).NGOs try to rehabilitate the drug users.They have been running various vocational training services for these people.Regular counselling sessions are being organised by NGOS.community based drug treatment camps also being organised by them. NGOs and other organisations in Manipur try to decrease the numbers of drug users in Manipur,but the number of injecting drug users(IDUs) is still the highest in the world.

The first sex museum in India

A sex worker waiting for customer at Kamatipura.PHOTO Courtesy:UN

In Mumbai(formerly Bombay)’s red light area kamatipura,there is an unique museum known as Sex Museum.The museum named Antarang was established byMumbai District Aids Control Society.An eminent Mumbai artist Dr.prakash Sarang also contributed to this effort.The purpose of the museum is to create awarness against Aids.It also wants to break the prejudice that openly talking about sex is against the Indian culture.Toursists who want to visit mumbai,the commercial capital of India can add the unique sex museum into their list .It’s an unique experience and it helps to grow awarness about AIDS and other related deseases .Antarang Museum also helps to change people’s mindsest about sex.Every year,there are large number of AIDS related deaths in Kamatipura.kamatipura is surrounded by Bellasis Road on the north,Grant Road on the south.one can enter the area by crossing the Flankland road.
According to International Heath Organisation,India has an HIV/AIDS population of 5.1 million, second only to South Africa with 5.3 million infected people.In India,the high-risk groups include sex-workers and their customers.
Indian society is still divided about the implementation of sex education in schools.

Operation Lalgarh

Map of West Bengal.

Yesterday(June 20) moved into Lalgarh and took control of the Lalgarh police station. Lalgarh,a tiny hamlet about 200 km away from Calcutta.The houses and offices of Marxists in and around Lalgarh were attacked and burned down by protestors backed by Maoists.Lalgarh and surrounding areas became free zones for Maoists for seven months.Top ranking Maoists leaders appeared before the media(without facing the camera).Protesters alleged that corrupt Marxist leaders exploited tribals for years.Trouble started(Nov.2,2008) when two union ministers and chief minister of Bengal, Buddhadev Bhattacharya narrowly escaped from an explosion.Investigations by the police revealed that the lalgarh squad of the Maoists were behind the attackThree of the six people arrested in connection with the Lalgarh blast in West Midnapore District were school going boys.On Nov.9,a tribal outfit had set a series of conditions against the arrests of ‘innocent villagers’ to the District administration.Local people cutoff 25 out of 100 villages in Lalgarh,disconnecting them from the rest of the district.They also cut off the last road connecting Lalgarh to the rest of the state.Maoists threatened an armed resistance in the area.On Nov.14,Pulishi Santrash Birodhi Jonosadharoner Committee(Committee to protest against Police atrocities) a new outfit was formed.Inaction of Police helped to spread out the violence and anarchy.Maoists backed PSBJC also boycotted the general election in Lalgarh areas.
Paramilitary forces led by Bengal police started offensive against Maoists on thursday(June 18) in Lalgarh.Marxist government of Bengal try to take back Maoist-controlled Lalgarh and surrounding areas.Large number of Paramilitary forces led by Bengal police.Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF)’s COBRA unit secilizes in jungle warfare are also involved in this operation.
On September 21,2004, three left-wing Extremist groups to form a new outfit,the Communist party of India-Maoist(CPI-Maoist).After the merger, CPI-Maoist’s area of operation extended from Nepal, Bihar,Jharkhand to forest regions of Central India.Maoists also active in Andhra Pradesh in the South and West Bengal(three distriicts)in East.According to Maoists,their immediate intention is to advance ‘new democratic revolution’ in India.Maoists want to overthrow’the semi-colonial, semi-feudal system under the neo-colonial form of indirect rule, exploitation and control’.According to Maoists this revolution will be carried out and completed through armed agrarian revolutionary war.
Naxal movement derived its name in Bengal from Naxalbari,tiny hamlet in Northern part of Bengal in March 1967.It became known as Naxalbari movement and spread across the state and continued for long six years.It finally crushed in 1973.This movement revived on July 9, 2005 when Marxist leaders and a policeman were killed in two separate attacks by ultra left extremists.After the incident scores of policemen and marxist leaders and innocent people were killed in landmine blasts by Maoists also called Naxals.Maoists spread their wings in tribal areas of West Bengal because dmocratically elected government failed to provide basic amenities.Government failed to provide basic amenities lie water,electricity,road,heath centre.On June 19,two police men injured when Maoists detonated an improvised explosive device(IED) targetting a police jeep.On June 19,the security forces faced stiff resistance as there was sporadic firing,Maoists guerrillas returned fire.Maoists in India generally use gelatine sticks and other explosives, detonators.They also use rocket launchers AK47s,INSAS,SLRs.They frequently use mprovised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to attack security forces.Maoists have the access of large number of country-made weapons regularly supplied by illegal arms dealers.Maoists run around 80 training camps in deep jungles all over India.They also use high-tech communication equipments.
Bastar and Dantewada are the most affected districts of Chhattisgarh.Other districts that are affected by Maoists are Jashpur,kanker,Rajnangaon ,Surguja and Kawardha.In Andhra Pradesh(AP)the most affected districts affected by Maoists extremism are Karimnagar,Warangal,Nalgonda.Other states of India that are affected by Maoists insurgency are Bihar,Jharkhand,Orissa.

Arikamedu,a historical Site

Map Courtesy:newworldencyclopedia.org

Arikamedu is situated on the bank of river Virampattinam,3 KM south of Pondicherry of India.The items excavated from this site proved that there were regular contacts between ancient India and Rome.Most of the remains dates back A.D. 200.Those were excavated including warehouse,building. Sir Mortimer Wheeler excavated this site in 1945.Arikameda became the place of maritime commerce.It was become an important port,exporting textile,glass, gems,shell bangles.Wines, Olive oils and other items were imported from Arikameda.Tourists must visit Arikamedu to learn the historical importance of the site.The important items were excavated from this site: Arretine Ware,Amphorae-high-necked handled jars,Roulette dish.Other items including metal objects ( iron nailsand other items)an ivory handle, a wooden toy boat etc.Arikamedu is an archeological site,a great attraction for the tourists. Now tourists can see only the perpendicular walls and a mission house. For more information about Arikamedu and its historical importance, tourists may visit the Pondicherry Museum.

Block Printing in Sanganer

Picture Courtesy:The Tribune

Sanganer is a small town situated about 15 KM away from Jaipur,the capital of Rajasthan of India.The town is famous for block printing.there are over 160 block printing units in Sanganer.These units employ around 20,000 people and around 3000 families engaged in this fine craft.These block printings are everywhere from garments, curtains, table linen and other house hold items.Best time to visit Sanganer is between October and March.There are many Jain Temples in and around Sanganer.Tourists also visit Sanganer paper makers who are the largest producers of hand-made paper in the world.Hand made paper bags, photo frames, diaries, albums, paper stationery are the main products of Sanganer .

Phyang,a colorful festival of Ladakh

Phyang festival is celebrated every year in the month of July .It’s a major festival of Buddhists.This Festival features ritual Ladakhi dances in which monks dance.Phyang Festival is held in Phyang Monastery, 17km. west of Leh(Ladakh).During the festival,monks wearing colorful robes and Mask.Monks perform dances wearing these masks projecting different God and Goddesses.Another similar festival called Phyang Tseruk is held on the 2nd and 3rd of the 6th month of Tibetan Calendar.Ladhakis gather there with colorful attire enjoy the proceedings.

phyang Monestery.Pic.courtesy:Ladakh Tourism

<img

Mangos of Delhi

Mango eating competition.Pic.Courtesy:The Tribune

Every year International Mango Festival is held in Delhi during the month of July(first week).Growers from all over India gather here for the occassion.Visitors can test mangoes for free.The venue of the international mango Festival is in Talkatora Stadium and the Delhi Tourism Board is the organiser of the .During the Delhi Mango Festival,cultural programs like folk songs related to mango,children shows are also held.Mango festivals also held in Chandigarh.In Chandigarh Mango Festival is held on June every year.Nearly, 500 varieties of mangoes like Sirki, Jahangir,Suwarn, Neeleshwar Amrapali, Langra, Alphonso,Langra are being displayed in Delhi.Originally,the mango festival was started in Saharanpur of Bihar but shifted to Delhi 20 years ago.

Dolphins of Chilika

Picture Courtesy:Orissa Government

Tourists can watch Dolphines springing out in the Chilka Lake of Orissa,a eastern state of India while taking a boat ride.Chilka Lake is about 70 km long and about 32 km wide. Chilka is the largest brakish salt water lagoon in Asia.Chilka gets direct water from Mahanadi river.The max. dept of this lake 132 meters.In India, the Irrawaddy dolphins are only found in Chilika.According to a survey two years ago,the number of Irrawaddy dolphin in Chilka Lagoon-135.This includes 115 adults,15 sub adults and 5 calves.The marginal increase has been possible due to active co-operation from local fishermen.According to Chilika Development Authority and other organisations, awareness programs help a lot in this regard.Chilika Development Authorities strict guidelines to attach propeller guards in tourisits’ boats to prevent injuries to dolphins.Local fishermen and boatmen also realiaze that it is important to protect Dolphins for their livelihood.
Numbers of Irrawaddy dolphins increase further.Now the population of Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika:146.
10:23 PM Jun 12th from web

Kalarippayattu,little known martial art of Kerala

Kalarippayattu a little known martial art form of Kerala,a southern state of India is mainly concentrate in Kanyakumari and Trivandrum .Kalarippayattu is little known outside Kerala.Few experts teach Kalarippayattu to others.They also don’t try to preserve their techniques.The Kerala Kalarippayattu Academy wants to promote this unique form of martial art in a big way.The organisition also wants to promote Kalarippayattu internationally.The Kerala Kalarippayattu Academy already started residential training program.The Institute is situated in the Payyambalam beach, Kerala.The Kerala Kalarippayat Academy conducts regular certification courses in Kalarippayat and other therapies.It includes Kalari Chiktsa,massage therapy(Uzhichil).It requires immense physical skill.

Thoda,an archary with a difference

Thoda a traditional martial art form of Himachal pradesh dated back to ancient time.Wooden bows and arrows are use in this traditional game.Two rival groups that take part in this game are known as Saathi and Pashi.These names are derived from Hindu epic Mahabharata.In Thoda the target is the opponents` leg,below the knee.Large number of people gather to watch and cheer-up teams that are participated in the tournament(thoda) at nearby fair grounds.To watch Thoda with its full form tourists have to visit Theog of Shimla and Narkanda .Theog is situated on National highway NH 22 .Theog is situated on Hindustan-Tibet Road,a 32 K.M away from Shimla.Narkanda,a major ski-resort of India.It’s altitude is about 2708Mt.Narkanda is situated on Hindustan-Tibet Road. and is about 65 K.M away from Shimla.Thoda is played on a marked court.The game is all about agility and movement.