Pragyan, December, 2011

00 Editorial
01 Editors Mail Box

03 Campus Update ......................................................./ Surjya Chutia
10 Academic World Around
11 Panorama
Personality
12 TIFR+ ++ === .........................................../ =
+ ++
13 Mom-Daughter duo; ................................../ Prasenjit Chowdhury
Exam & Education
15 |+= :=- =-:= -...../ - : ::r= := = :-:r = +; = : ' - :+
19 A Study on the ............in Science Stream/ Deepika Bhattacharjee
Career
23 :='+++ :=|'= .......................................... ='- :=|'= :=='=
29 Notes for Freshers - IV............................................../ Prasanta Bora
35 Career Tabloid
Science & Tech.
35 Lotus Effect ..................................................../ Dr. Arindam Adhikari
40 Terrorism, Toxicity and Vulnerability ......................../ Biplab Banik
43 Forest and the Tribals : The Symbiotic .........../ Ranandra Khound
47 Indian Forests : A Review ............................./ Pinki Purukayastha
49 Forest and Human Sustainability .........................../ Baikunta Das
52 Deforestation : A Threat to Environmental ......./ Sangita Bhagawati
53 Forest and Trees of India ............../ Dr. Sanjukta Gohain Baruah
58 +=+= '==+ .... +=- ='= ................................./ :
Social Science
60 Entrepreneurship................. Among Hira Potters/ Anamika Medhi
63 The Euro, its Crisis and Impact on India................../ Anita Baruwa
65 Limiting Graft ........................................................../ Rajarshi Das
70 Tourism Industry in Assam .................................../ Surjya Chutia
75 The Role of Discipline in Sustainable ................/ Ram Naresh Das
Language & Literature
79 Walking in Thin Air ........................................./ Rupankar Malakar
85 =
=:= ='+=+ =+= + = .................../ =
=-+ :
89 :r= r:= - :-r r= ................................../ = =r
98 H$Zmem : EH$ An{d ZXr ....................../ {goda qgh
99 ='= : = :=:+-, -:'=- =, ='= =, gJrVm moXr "em'
Students Column
101 = : == =|;= ....................../ :r :+:r+
102 Orchids of Nazirating ....../ Prantik Sharma Baruah & Dr. A.B. Gogoi
110 Phishing : A Hacking Methodology of .........../ Tinkal Gogoi
111 How Short has English Language become .........../ Payel Malakar
112 Effect of seed Mass on ... / Gayatri Sharma & Dr. S. Chakraborty
114 An Unusual Talk ...../ Prachurjya Pran Bora
Patron : Dr. Bhuban Gogoi, the Principal, Tinsukia College
Chief Adviser : Someswar Hazarika, President, ACTA, Tinsukia College Unit
Advisers : Bantimala Devi and Rana K Changmai
Editor in Chief : Dr. Apurba Bhaskar Gogoi
Executive Editor : Sushanta Kar ; Editors : Deepika Bhattacharjee, Mayuri Sharma Baruah,
Manashi Rajkhowa, Nilimjyoti Senapati, Surjya Chutia, Boikuntha Das, Ram Naresh Das
Circulation Manager : Santanu Borah
Students Representatives : Roshan Gupta, (Magazine Secretaty, TCSU)
Published by : Secretary, Assam College Teachers Association (ACTA),
Tinsukia College Unit, Tinsukia College, Tinsukia - 786125
Contact : Web : http://sites.google.com/site/pragyan06now ;
Blog : http:pragyan06now.blogspot.com ; Cell : 9954226966
email : pragyan_tsc50@yahoo.co.in ; pragyan.tsc50@gmail.com
Printed at : The Assam Computers (Govt. app A Category Press), Tinsukia (Assam)
The Editorial Board of
Pragyan expresses gratitude
to Joseph Landsberger,
Prasanta Bora, Dr. Arindam
Adhikari, Pinki
Purukayastha, Sangita
Bhagawati, Anamika Medhi,
Rajarshi Das, Rupankar
Mahanta, Ranandra Khound,
Smriti Paul Nath,
Sanghamitra Nath, Sangita
Modi, Tinkal Gogoi and
Siddheshwar Singh for their
invaluable contribution to
this issue. We are looking
forward for more
contributions in future.
1 /
/Vol. IX, Issue - II, Dec '11
There is a Proverb, Where there is no
vision the people perish. I love Pragyan
because it has a vision for our young
generations. All these writings are fantastic. I
enjoy it. If you want to know more about
Pragyan read it..... Cover page is timely and
informative... a big clap to Pragyan editorial
board....
Hifzur Rahman Siddique;
University of Minnesota,
Hormel Fellow Cancer Research...
Commented on Facebook group World
Sylhetti
SMS to Editor:
Pragyan is really nice, especially the theme
of the magazine i.e anticorruption movement led
by Anna hazare.
Tinkal Gogoi, AU, Silchar 9864360528
Pragyan in the last edition (9
th
August 2011)
nicely presented the latest topic- Corruption,
which is the real hot topic and the whole Nation
is boiling as if suddenly came out of hibernation
and as if we lived in a corruption free country till
last year!
We all are prey of pseudo-intellectualism
and take great pride in discussing,writing articles,
editorials and lecturing on the high profile current
issues(National and International), to give a boost
to our dopamine level and gastronomic relief. And
to show off how conscious, erudite, up-to-date
and concerned about the whole universe.
Me as an ordinary citizen, think, before we
proceed towards discussing 2G, 3G, Swiss Bank
etc.etc high profile scams, at lower end we all
are corrupted and we cant accept this unpleasant
truth and that is more dangerous in itself. Our
ambiguity in day to day life for a little comfort
or getting the work done faster, not raising a voice
in the public place,compromising with all the
odds and wrong doings in front of us, indeed need
retrospection. Unless we change ourself, The
Nation cant change. We say something, write
something, pretend something and do something
else. Preaching something and not practicing
that.We talk about awareness as an individual, but
we keep mum or ignore keeping ourselves aloof
from any unpleasant situation.
Few simple (not so important!) examples
are, we boast and talk about how we can enrich
our culture and our mother-tongue/regional
language and send our kids to English medium
schools.(even seen parents start talking in English
at home to make the kid fluent and affluent!!!!
), We think Medical, Teaching, nursing etc as
the most noble profession and then we do take
money(giving private tutions) from the same
students from whose fees we are already getting
salaries.How many Doctors visit free clinics in
(Readers may choose whatever language they feel comfort to write in mailbox. But for better
communication we prefer English and Assamese. Editor.
Pragyan has a Vision
Corruption can be prevented by tackling root causes
=== ='= :=+ An Overview of the
South Asian Efforts for Economic Integration
':+=::+ '-: ' === ::=
'+=+
"[>t &. &. &
/ 2
/Vol. IX, Issue - II, Dec. '11
their free time? (rather they will spend that time
getting more paid customerPatient).
Where is the dedication in our duties towards
the society? How can we measure the Ethical
standards?
Here I would love to mention Dr. Abdul
Kalams view,
If a country is to be corruption free and
become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel
there are three key societal members who can make
a difference. They are the father, the mother and
the teacher. Abdul Kalam
As a parent as a teacher, what are we doing?
One of the biggest causes of corruption is
greed and power. But there are many other causes
for corruption, most of which are internal system
conflicts, e.g. Lack of integrity or honesty, Moral
perversion; impairment of virtue and moral
principles; Destroying someones (or some
groups) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral
integrity; Inducement (as of a public official) by
improper means (as bribery) to violate duty;The
product of corruption; putrid matter.The act of
corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral
principle; the state of being corrupted or debased;
loss of purity or integrity; depravity; wickedness;
impurity; bribery.etc etc.
It is said that corruption normally thrives in
societies where religious, traditional, ethical teaching
and moral standards are weak and where punishment
is lenient. Most corruption rewards the rich but some
poor people themselves are engaged in corruption to
receive some material benefit. Also, billions of people
are denied their human rights and corruption plays
an important role in perpetuating to this situation.
Everyone is trapped in their economy, but
some are more trapped than others. Everyone is
trapped in their faith, their politics, lifestyles,
routines, and prejudices, but some are more trapped
than others. And greed is the gatekeeper, the
magician that makes us believe that acquiring more
of what traps us, will free us. It will not, because a
want once satisfied loses value. What greed
acquires leads to what we do not have, and not to
the thankfulness of having acquired something we
wanted. Greed has no measure beyond the
maximum of excessthe eradication of excess.
Greed is not good, not smarter than a parasite
vision of grandeur in excess overwhelmingly selfish,
but it is real in our world, and necessary for as long
as it takes man to evolve beyond it. Our corruption
is deep, and pervasive, and sometimes hard to define.
A useful conclusion that has emerged from
the current discussion and ongoing debate on the
corruption issue is that corruption is a symptom of
deep-seated and fundamental economic, political
and institutional weaknesses and shortcomings in
a country. To be effective, measures against
corruption must therefore address these underlying
causes and not the symptoms. Emphasis must thus
be placed on preventing corruption by tackling the
root causes that give rise to it through undertaking
economic, political and institutional reforms. Anti-
corruption enforcement measures such as oversight
bodies, a strengthened police force and more
efficient law courts will not be effective in the
absence of a serious effort to address the
fundamental causes. Another observation that may
be useful to bear in mind is that corruption is most
prevalent where there are other forms of
institutional weaknesses, such as political
instability, bureaucratic red tape, and weak
legislative and judicial systems. The important
point is that corruption and such institutional
weaknesses are linked together and that they feed
upon each other. For example, red tape makes
corruption possible and corrupt officials may
increase the extent of red tape so that they can get
more bribes. So, getting rid of corruption helps a
country to overcome other institutional
weaknesses, just as reducing other institutional
weaknesses helps to curb corruption.The main
conclusion to be drawn is that undertaking reforms
(both economic and political) by reducing
institutional weaknesses offers the best hope to
overcome corruption. Corruption will not disappear
because of reforms. But reforms will bring it under
control and minimize its adverse consequences so
that the country can proceed with its efforts to
become a modern, developed nation with a good
chance of attaining that goal. We just cant depend
on the glabella, but actually reform ourselves and
make this world a better place to live.
Paramita Prajna (Bhowal)
e-mail: paramita 17prajna@gmail.com
paramita_prajna@rediffmail.com, Kolkata
3 /
1 NSS Camp Held
Surjya Chutia
A
s per the academic schedule of aTinsukia
College, the Students Union election was
held on 27
th
August 2011, to constitute a new
2
Election Held for New Students Body
Students body for the session 2011-12, The
election committee appointed for the purpose,
headed by Mr. Nilim Jyoti Senapoti, HoD,
T
he NSS unit of Tisukia College undertakes
programmes for voluntary services to the
neighbouring remote villages such as repairing
roads, cleaning drives, health & hygiene
awareness camps etc. in different time for
developing the civic sense of responsibility of the
students.
The unit organized a five days NSS special camp
from 21
st
Sept. to 25
th
Sept, 2011 at Guijan no-5 Mishing
Gaon which is about 8km away from the College. The camp
was organized under the guidance and conduction of Surjya Chutia,
the programme officer and two other teacher members of the NSS
unit i.e, Mr. Ratna Gopal Gogoi and Dr. Raghunath Yadav. A team
of 20 student volunteers of the NSS unit actively participated in the
camp and constructed a new Urinal by traditional materials in the
campus of the only LP School (venture), repaired some village path
and foot bridge of the backward village during the period. The team
also planted trees within the School campus for making a green campus.
Besides, the team made a survey on socio- economic status of the Mishing
people inhabiting in the village. The people of the village expressed their
satisfaction over the performance of the NSS Camp. All the students/volunteers who
actively participated in the camp were awarded certificates of excellence.
The N.S.S. unit in collaboration of the College students union organized a campus cleaning
programme on 30
th
Sept. 2011, where 40 students took part in cleaning the whole campus of the College.
/ 4
3 The 55
th
Foundation Day of Tinsukia College Celebrated
Political Science Dept., conducted the whole
process of the election sincerely and smoothly.
The result was also declared on the same day
evening. The office bearers who got elected for
the new students body are :
President ( ex officio) : Dr Bhuban Gogoi
(the Principal)
Vice President : Satyajit Moran
General Secy. : Dhrubajit Sonowal
Asst General Secy. : Jyotiprasad Gogoi
Secy. Outdoor Games: Suraj Chetry
Secy. Indoor Games : Pankaj Dangoria
Secy. Cultural : Satyajit Borgohain
Secy. Magazine : Roshan Gupta
Secy. Social Service : Debojit Moran
Secy. Boys Com. Room : Mantu Ansari
Secy. Girls Com. Room : Babli Saikia
Secy. Literary& Debating : Prachurjya Pran Bora
Secy. Gymnasium : Pankaj Pallab Kansum Gogoi
The new Students body took over charge on
12
th
September 2011 in a general meeting which
was held under the presidentship of Dr. Bhuban
Gogoi, Principal of the College.
T
insukia college is one of the most prestigious
and pioneering higher educational institutions at the
easternmost corner of India. The college
began its journey in a humble way on 1
st
September 1956, only with the Arts
stream. Now the college has three
streams (Arts, Science &
Commerce) with seventeen full
fledged departments along with
several professional and vocational
courses.
The 56
th
Foundation Day of the
college was observed with great
enthusiasm on 1
st
September 2011, with a
day long programme. The programme of the d a y
started with hoisting the College Flag in morning by Dr. Bhuban
Gogoi, Principal of the College.
Then an open session was held on the occasion of the 4
rd
Mayuri Bora Memorial lecture where Dr. Nirmal Sahewalla, specialist
physician and renown social worker of Dibrugarh, delivered a lecture on the topic Jibanbodh,
Samaj Aru Prakriti. The lecture session was followed by an interaction session on the philosophical
topic. The session was presided over Dr. Bhuban Gogoi, Principal of the College.
The Mayuri Bora Memorial Award was also given in the meeting to the best graduate of the
College for the year 2011. Sri Biswajit Das, Arts graduate (major in Mathematics) was awarded the
honour this year. Sri Das was also the topper in Mathematics Dept in Dibrugarh University this year.
5 /
The annual merit awards were also given to
the total of 70 students by IQAC, of the College
who secured 60% and above marks in BA, B.Sc,
& B.Com. final examination from the College in
this year.
Earlier, Sri R.K Changmai, HoD, English
Dept. delivered the welcome address where he
explained the details of the foundation of the
College and the Mayuri Bora Trust. The Mayuri
Bora Memorial Trust was founded in the year
2008, by her family in memory of late Mayuri
Bora, a former student of Tinsukia College, died
at an early age. The Trust decided to offer the
Mayuri Bora Memorial Award to the best
graduate of the College every year.
The day long programme ended up with
lighting of earthen lamps in the College campus
in the evening.
4
International Year of Chemistry 2011 observed by
Chemistry Department
Tinsukia Branch of Assam Science Society
Observed IYC2011
5
I
n connection of the International Year of
Chemistry (IYC2011), the Tinsukia branch of
Assam Science Society in collaboration with the
Chemistry Department, Tinsukia College
organised a day long competitions among the
students on 10
th
November 2011 at the college
premises. The competitions included Poster
drawing, Essay writing, Open quiz and
A
s part of the yearlong programmes
conducted by the Chemistry department of
Tinsukia College for observing the year 2011 as the
International Year of Chemistry, a special lecture
programme was organised on Chemistry behind
Soaps and Detergents on 15
th
October, 2011 in
the college premises. As the keynote speaker,
Dr. Palashmoni Saikia, Asst.
Professor, Dept. of Chemistry,
Darrang College, Tezpur detailed
the history of both Soaps and Detergents,
what is the basic chemistry of both the materials
that have now become inseparable to everyday life,
what are the chemical effects of these materials in
cleaning other materials, how these are
manufactured etc, practically. He also explained the
significance of the International Year of Chemistry,
2011. It may be mentioned that the year 2011 has
been declared as the international year of Chemistry
by the UNESCO and International Union of Pure
& Applied Chemistry (IUPA) as it is the centenary
year of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to
Madam Marie Curie and it is also the centenary year
of the foundation of IUPA.
The programme was well attended by many
rtd. teachers besides, the existing teachers and
students of the
College. The whole
programme was presided over by Dr. Bhuban
Gogoi, Principal of the College. Its also a great
pleasure for us to inform that Dr. Saikia the guest
speaker of the day has recently received National
Award as Best Teacher of Chemistry offered by
Association of Chemistry Teacher; (ACT) and
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR). We, the Pragyan family, congratulate him
on his great achievement.
/ 6
Exhibition. Students from different Schools and
Colleges of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts took
part in the competitions. The programme of the
day started with the hoisting of Assam Science
Society flag by Sri Dilip Kalita, the president,
Assam Science Society, Tinsukia branch.
The competitions were arranged in two
categories. Poster Drawing and Essay writing
competitions were held among the students of
class V to class VII. The themes of poster drawing
were Pollution, Science in everyday life, Global
warming etc. and the topics of essay competition
were Forest preservation; need of the hour,
Science and technology in national development,
Science a boon or bane etc.
The quiz competition was held among the
students of class viii to class xii and the exhibition
competition was held among the students of class
XI to TDC 3
rd
year. The main theme of exhibition
was scientific model.
The winners of the competitions were as
mentioned below :
Poster drawing competition:
1
st
: Miss Zenea Das, class-VII, Delhi Public
School, Duliajan
2
nd
: Miss Ashima Borah, class- VII, Delhi
Public School, Duliajan
Miss Indrani Kalita, class-VI, Saumarjyati
Vidyalaya, Tinsukia
3
rd
: Miss Darshana Goswami, Class- VII,
Saumarjyati Vidyalaya, Tinsukia
Essay writing competition:
1
st
: Miss Shreya Borthakur, class-VII,
Budding Buds Senior Secondary School, Tinsukia.
2
nd:
Sri Arnab Jyoti Kalita , class-VII,
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Duliajan.
3
rd
: Miss Anoushka Das, Class-V, Delhi
Quiz competition;
1
st
: Sri Vishal Raj Dutta and his group, Delhi
2
nd
Sri Sauvik Kashyap and his group,
Tinsukia English Academy, Tinsukia.
3
rd
: Sri Pritom Sharma and his group, Delhi
Exihibition competition:
1
st
: Nil
2
nd
: Sri Sandipan Dhar and his group,
Tinsukia College, Tinsukia.
3
rd
Sri Bishal Karmakar and his group, Guru
Teg Bahadur School, Tinsukia.
The day long programme ended with the
formal meeting, where the winners were given
their respective prizes.
a) It is very unfortunate for Tinsukia
college fraternity that Prof. Kanak Chanda, HoD,
Bengali Department of the college felt for
heavenly abode on 8
th
November, 2011 after
prolonged ailment. Apart from the college
service, Prof. Chanda was associated with many
other socio-cultural and literary organizations of
Tisukia District. He was also the coordinator of
the Tisukia College centre of Krishna Kanta
Handique State Open University.
All the teachers, students and office staff
of Tinsukia College condoled his unfortunate
death on 9
th
November, 2011 in a condolence
meeting held at the college premises. Dr. Bhuban
Gogoi, Principal and many teachers recalled the
contributions of late Kanak Chanda to different
fields of the college and the society. The meeting
Colleagues and Dignitaries Whom we Lost 6
adopted a resolution to send the condolence
message to members of bereaved family and
observed one minute silence in praying for eternal
peace of the departed soul.
b) In the condolence meeting held on 9
th
November, the Tinsukia college community also
7 /
expressed profound grief and heartfelt condolence
on the sad demise of Music Maestro, Assam Ratna,
Padmabhushan Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on 5
th
November 2011. The meeting mourned the death
of Dr. Hazarika by observing one minute silence
T
he Hindi department of Tinsukia College
observed the Hindi Divas this year on 14
th
September 2011. In this respect a meeting was
organized by BA 2
nd
year students of the
department under the chairmanship of Sri Ratna
Gopal Gogoi, HoD of the Department. The other
teachers of the department Dr. Raghunath Yadav
and Sri Sunil Verma were also present in the
meeting. The meeting highlighted that Hindi is one
of the most scientific languages and is playing a
significant role in bringing unity and integrity in
India and also stressed on the need of scientific
temperament in Hindi literature.
The Teachers' Day was also celebrated by
the students of Hindi department on 5
th
September
2011. The teachers of the department were
felicitated on the occasion in a meeting organized
by BA 1
st
year students of the department.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest Sri Surjya
Chutia, a teacher, Economics Dept. explained the
significance of Teachers' Day with his tributary
words on life and works of Dr. Radhakrishnan.
Hindi Divas Observed 7
d) The whole Tinsukia college community in its condolence
meeting held under the presidentship of the Principal on 30
th
November
mourned the demise of eminent litterateur, Jnanpith awardee, the
retired professor of Delhi University Dr. Indira (Mamoni) Goswami
who passed away on 29
th
November 2011. Dr. Goswami has become
a legend in her life time and earned love and respect from the people
of all quarters of the society. In the condolence, the house recalled the
immense contributions made by Dr. Goswami and said that her death
caused an irreparable loss not only to the contemporary literary field
of Assam but also to other social activities in which she expressed her
best efforts to bring in social peace and harmony in Assam. The meeting observed one minute silence
and prayed to God for eternal peace of the departed soul and also to grant her family members and well
wishers the courage to face the tragedy.
c) Madan Das, retired professor and HoD of
History deparment, Tinsukia college died on 14
th
September 2011. The college community offered
tributes and condoled his death in a condolence
meeting at college on that day which was held
under the Chairmanship of Dr. Bhubon Gogoi,
Principal of the college. The meeting observed one
minute silence in honour to the departed soul.
in memory of the departed legend. While praying
for eternal peace of his soul, the meeting wished
that the Almighty would give the required strength
to the members of the bereaved family to endure
this irreparable loss.
/ 8
Workshop on
Writing Assamese on Net with Unicode held at the College
8
Sri Ratna Gopal Gogoi, HoD elaborated certain
plans to develop the academic performance of the
47
th
Annual College Week held Successfully
9
department and hoped that his plans would surely
bear fruits in the near future.
W
omens Studies and Development Cell,
Tinsukia College unit, in association with
XOBDO.org and PRAGYAN, Tinsukia College,
organized a Workshop on Writing Assamese on
Net with Unicode on 5th November at Tinsukia
College premises. Dr Bhuban Gogoi, Principal
of the college inaugurated the workshop. Sri
Abhijit Kalita, NEPCO, Duliajan &
Sri Gunadeep Chetia, Dibrigarh
University were present in the
workshop as the guest resource persons
and third one was Sri Sushanta Kar, a faculty of
the college.
Gunadeep Chetia talked on Unicode and
inbuilt Unicode support system in computer,
Abhijit Kalita introduced Xobdo Key Board
(XOBDO KB) and appealed to write for Assamese
Wikipedia and contribute for XOBDO, while
Sushanta Kar introduced AVRO keyboard and the
know-hows
of creating
blogs and
si t es.
H e
also has
shown how to
write almost all the I n d i a n
languages using PramukhIME Sri Subhadeep
Paul assisted the resource persons, while
demonstrating the techniques on net.
A
nnual College Week is part and parcel of
collegiate education which provides a platform
for the students to prove talents in various cultural,
literary and sports field apart from their compulsory
course syllabi. As per academic schedule the Tinsukia
College Students' Union (TCSU) organises college
week every year. The 47
th
Annual College Week of
Tinsukia College was organized by the Students' Union from
1
st
December 2011. The week long programmes started with
the hoisting of College Flag in the morning on 1
st
December by
Prof. Rana Changmai, the HoD, English Dept, who then formally
initiated the programme of floral tribute at the Martyrs Column,
which was followed by inauguration of a new issue of the college
wall magazine the 'Bhaskar' edited by Prachurjya Pran Bora, the
Magazine Secretary, TCSU. The new issue was officially inaugurated
by Mrs. Bontimala Devi, the HoD, Assamese Dept, of the college. The
schedule of the whole college week included almost all the relevant
competitions and activities which can prove students talent.
9 /
U
nder the aegis of Tinsukia College Students
Union a Quiz Competition was organized
among the students of the college on 4
th
November 2011 with a day long programme. Sri
Prachurjya Pran Bora, the secretary, Literary and
Debating of the Students Union welcomed all
the participants and audience at the beginning of
the competition. Mr. Abhishek Rana Bora, a
young promising quizmaster of Tinsukia
conducted the whole process of the competition
smoothly. The competition was arranged in two
stages. The first was preliminary written stage,
Quiz Competition held Successfully at Tinsukia College 12
E
very year G.S. Lohia Girls College, Tinsukia
organizes Enfete, an inter-college meet which
can be regarded as a platform for the students to
showcase their hidden talents and skills in various
sports events, literary and cultural competitions and
also arena to vie with one another. In Enfete 2011,
students from Tinsukia College took part actively
and some of them bagged prizes in some
competitions as given bellow.
1
st
in Shot-put : Parashmoni Dohutia
2
nd
in Shot-put : Chitramala Mech
2
nd
in Cycling : Preeti Rekha Gohain
3
rd
in Cycling : Pallavi Gohain
3
rd
in Candle decoration : Nikita Garg &
Rituporna Bhattacharya
3
rd
in Valentine card designing : Piyashee
Kalita & Gargee Mishra
3
rd
in Diary Writing : Sudipta Paul
Success of Tinsukia College Students in Enfete 2011
10
World Aids Day Observed at the College
11
On the last day of the week, i. e. 7
th
December 2011, an open session was held at the
college auditorium under the presidentship of Dr.
Bhuban Gogoi, Principal of the college where
the winners of various competitions were
awarded their prizes. The chief guests who
attended the open session were Dr. Gaurangadhar
Baruah, Rtd Prof. Physics Dept., D.U.; Sri
Dhandeb Mahanta, Rtd. Secretary, AHSEC and
Sri Tapan Kr Gogoi, Gen. Secretary, AASU
Central Committee. They addressed with their
inspiring words and congratulated the students
for bright future. A colourful cultural
extravaganza marked the evening of the day
which was inaugurated by Pulak Chetia,
Publicity Secretary, AASU Central Committee.
Contd. on Page 10
conditions, but also against the social stigma
associated with HIV/AIDS. Encouraging
the people to get tested for HIV
infection, the leading doctors and
health workers of Tinsukia stressed on
the importance and practice of safety
procedures of HIV testing in the talk
session. They also urged the people to
go for voluntary HIV testing for early
intervention and effective treatment of the disease.
The theme of this year's AIDS control programme
is Getting to Zero-Zero new HIV infection, Zero
discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths.
O
n the occasion of world 'AIDS Day' an
awareness campaign programme was
organized at Tinsukia College on 1
st
December
2011. The programme was organized by
the Rotary Club of Tinsukia in
collaboration with E-Media Forum,
Tinsukia. The various awareness events
of the day long programme were Marathon
race. Awareness rally, Quiz, Informative talk
session, etc.
Holding placards, banners and shouting
awareness slogans in the event, an attempt was
made to raise awareness about not only the medical
/ 10
B
yatikram MASDO organized a national
seminar on famous novelist and writer Late
Sandipan Chattopadhyay in association with
Sahitya Akademi on his Birth anniversary on 25th
October, 2011 from 10 am in Lakshiram Baruah
Sadan, near District Library, Guwahati. The
seminar took place in two parts. Noted Bengali
writer, Sahitya Academi award winner and Rtd.
HoD, Bengali, Gauhati University, Usha Ranjan
Bhattacharjya presided over the first session, where
Dr. Sanjay Mukhopahyay, Professor of Jadavpur
University; Adrish Biswas; Sandipan Specialist,
Kamal Chakraborty; Sandipan Specialist, spoke on
the novelists works and personality. All three of
the speakers were close associates of the novelist.
The second session was presided over by
Prof Adrish Biswas where a good number of
scholars from the state and beyond presented their
dissertation on the novelist. Two books authored
by Anjali Lahiri and Jyotish Kumar Deb were
inaugurated in the seminar by noted Assamese
Novelist Nirupama Buragohain.[PEB]
1
Byatikram MASDO Organized National Seminar on
Bengali Novelist and Writer Sandipan Chattopadhyay
Apart from her scientific works she also took
a keen interest in the social and intellectual
advancement of women, serving on the National
Committee of the Union of French Women and the
World Peace Council.
Both children of Irene Curie Helen and
Pierre are also esteemed scientists.
She died in the year 1956, on 17th March at the
(The author is a student of TDC III
rd
Yr Science)
age of 56 from Leukamia in Curie Hospital in Paris.
As one of the most famous female scientists,
Marie Curie has been an icon in the scientific world
and so was her daughter Irene. The Curie symbol (Ci),
a unit of radioactivity, is named in honour of Marie
and Pierre. A 100 years after her receiving Nobel Prize
in 1911, the science fraternity of the world is celebrating
the year 2011 as International year of Chemistry.
(Contd. from Page 10) Mom-Daughter Duo .....
where about 30 teams appeared. Out of these only
six teams were selected for the final stage. The
quizmaster asked questions from all fields
including audio-visual round which was very
enjoyable. Finally The Dekhow team
(comprising of Chiranjit Choudhury, Subhajit
Nag, Rahul Barua), the Bhogdoi team
(comprising of Utpal Chetia, Pallab Gohain, Ajay
Tanti) and the Subansiri team (comprising of
Subhash Sahani, Rahul Gupta, Md. Sadam)
bagged the 1
st
, 2
nd
and 3
rd
position respectively.
Later prizes were given to the winner teams.
(The Updater teaches Economics in the College)
Campus Update
(Contd. from Page 9)
11 /
N
igerias first house built from
discarded plastic bottles is proving a tourist
attraction in the village of Yelwa. Hundreds of
people - including government officials and
traditional leaders - have been coming to see how
the walls are built in the round architectural shape
popular in northern Nigeria. The bottles, packed with
sand, are placed on their side, one on top of the other
and bound together with mud. The real beauty of the
house is its outside wall as the round bottoms of the
exposed bottles produce a lovely design.
Its environmental benefits are what are most
important.Twenty-five houses, which will be
available to rent, are being built on this estate on
land donated by a Greek businessman and
environmentalist.
Children making money filling bottles may one
day be able to attend a school to be built on the estate.
Each house - with one bedroom, living room,
bathroom, toilet and kitchen - uses an estimated
7,800 plastic bottles.
This bottle brick technology started nine
years ago in India, South and Central America,
providing a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly
alternative to conventional building bricks.
Yahaya Ahmed of Nigerias Development
Association for Renewable Energies, estimates
that a bottle house will cost one third of what a
similar house made of concrete and bricks would
cost. It is also more durable. Compacted sand
inside a bottle is nearly 20 times stronger than
bricks. The association is now intending to build
a three-storey building.
The bottle houses are also ideally suited to
the hot Nigerian climate because the sand
insulates them from the suns heat, helping to
keep room temperatures low. Because of the
compact sand, the houses are bullet-proof also,
which may also prove another attraction in more
insecure parts of the north.
A firm concrete foundation is laid to ensure
that the structure is firm and stable - and the sand
is sieved to make sure it is compact.
The project is also hoping to help to remove
children who do not go to school from their life
on the streets.
I dont want to be a beggar, I want to work
and get paid - that is why I am doing this job,
says 15-year-old Shehu Usman, who is working
on the building site.
When I grow old I want to build myself a
house with bottles, he says.
After the 25 houses have been completed,
the next construction project for the Development
Association for Renewable Energies will be a
school on the estate, which street children like
Shehu will be able to attend.[PEB]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14722179
Nigerias Plastic Bottle House
1
/ 12
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l
0

13 /
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M
adam Curie who was the only lady to win
the nobel prize in two different sciences
was also the first woman Nobel winner. Born to
a school teacher in Warsaw in Poland, having Maria
Sklodowska as her maid name; this great lady had
come a long way whom, we now know as Madam
Marie Curie. She received a general education from
local schools and some scientific training from her
father. Her achievements include a theory of
radioactivity, techniques for isolating radioactive
isotopes, and the discovery of two elements,
polonium and radium. Under her direction, the
worlds first studies were considered into the
Prasenjit Chowdhury
/ 14
I
rene-Joliot Curie was the daughter of Marie and
Pierre Curie. She was born in the stirring days
of radioactivity when her parents were making
great discoveries, she grew up with radioactivity,
and all her life was devoted to its study. In 1926
she married Frederic Joliot and there began a
collaboration of husband and wife in scientific
work rivaling in productive genius even that of her
parents. In 1934, they discovered Artificial
Radioactivity and for this discovery the Joliot-
Curies were awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry
in 1935. This made the Curies the family with the
most Nobel laureates to date.
About two years later she examined in detail
the artificial radioactive elements produced by the
irradiation of uranium by slow neutrons, analyzing
the products and identifying them chemically , and
she came within a hairs-breadth of recognizing that
the phenomenon involved in the production of these
was that of fission known as Uranium fission.
Like her mother she also devoted her life in
the service of science. In 1937 she became
Professor in the Faculty of Science in Paris, and
afterwards Director of the Radium Institute in 1946.
Being a Commissioner for Atomic Energy for six
years, she took part in its creation and in the
construction of the French atomic pile in 1948. She
was concerned in the inauguration of the large
centre for nuclear physics at Orsay for which she
worked out the plans. She was appointed
Undersecretary of State for Scientific Research. She
was also a member of several foreign academics
and of numerous scientific societies, had honorary
Doctors degrees of several universities, and was
an officer of the Legion of Honor.
Irene-Joliot Curie
treatment of neoplasms, using radioactive isotopes.
It was not that her life was a bed of roses, she had her
hardships but in spite of that she continued her service
to science. She studied during the day and tutored in
the evenings, barely earning her keep.
In the year 1894 Pierre Curie entered her life.
He was an instructor at the school of Physics and
Chemistry (EPSCI) in Paris. It was their mutual
interest in magnetism that drew Marie and Pierre
together. Almost a year later, in 1895, they got
married, and thereafter the two physicists hardly ever
left the lab. Marie had found a new partner and a
scientific collaborator upon whom she could depend.
Her researches with her husband were often
performed under difficult conditions, laboratory
arrangements were poor and both had to undertake
much teaching to earn a livelihood. In the year 1896
the discovery of radioactivity by Henri Becquerel
inspired the Curies in their brilliant researches and
analyses which led to the isolation of Polonium,
named after the country of Maries birth. She
developed methods for the seperation of Radium
from radioactive residues in sufficient quantities to
allow for its characterization and the careful study
of its properties, therapeutic properties in particular.
For this remarkable achievement she went on to win
the Nobel Prize in the year 1911.
At the time of her receiving the award she
delivered a 10-20 pages long speech. This
particular speech contained much of knowledge
useful to the world of today.
She received many honourary Science,
Medicine and Law degrees and honourary
memberships of learned societies throughout the
world. She also had a long list of awards some of
which are listed below:
Prizes :
1. Nobel prize in Physics(1903) together
with her husband Pierre Curie. She was
awarded the nobel prize for their study into
the spontaneous radiation discovered by
Becquerel.
2. Nobel prize in Chemistry(1911) she
received the prize for second time in
Chemistry in recognition of her work in
radioactivity.
3. Davy Medal (1903) she received this
award together with her husband.
4. Matteucci Medal(1904) and Elliot Cresson
medal (1909).
5. She was decorated with the French legion
of Honour.
In 1921, the then President of the U.S.A,
Harding, on behalf of the women of America,
presented her one gram of radium in recognition
of her service to science.
Madam Curie died in Savoy, France after a
short illness, on July 4, 1934.
(Contd. on Page 10)
15 /
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/ 18
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19 /
I
ntroduction:
T h r o u g h o u t
human history, the
advancement of technology
has been influencing our daily
lives. The use of technology distinguishes
human beings from other animals. Some people
think that science and technology are
interchangeable. But technology can be more
accurately described as applied science. The
study of Quantum mechanics, for example,
deals with the structure and behaviour of atoms
and subatomic particles and it represents
science, while technology gives us the
fluorescent lights, lasers and spectroscopes.
The advancement of technology solely depends
on the development of basic sciences. But now-
a-days we see that purely commercial attitude
prevails in education and as a result the
inclination of the brilliant or talented students
towards the study of basic science is dwindling
day by day instead of increasing. Eminent
scientist of India Prof. J.V. Narlikar also
expressed his deep concern about this serious
trend because without studying the basic
science an individual may not be able to
undertake researches leading to creation of
knowledge which is a tangible output of the
educational system. Prof. Narlikar concluded
his lecture How to recapture the thrill for basic
sciences in Higher Education which was
delivered as a part of UGCs Golden Jubilee
lecture series by the words :
... I see as the gathering of real danger
clouds on the horizons of our higher education
scene. The growing apathy towards basic
sciences in our student community needs to be
recognized as a symptom calling for speedy
treatment. For on the young shoulders of today
shall rest the facade of science and technology
of tomorrow.
So, there is a scope as well as need for
investigation of the enrolment pattern in the
science stream in higher education institutes
especially at the undergraduate level, to have a
clear picture and for identification of the various
probable deterrent factors resulting into this
pattern. The intention of this study is to draw the
attention of the educationists and intellectuals to
this alarming issue.
Delimitation of the study :
Due to obvious constraints like time, money
and similar other inherent factors, the study has
been restricted on some important colleges of
upper Assam offering science at undergraduate
level for at least more than ten years.
To collect the data, five renowned colleges
from three districts of Upper Assam are selected.
Two of them are situated in Tinsukia District, two
in Dibrugarh District and one in Jorhat District
and all of these five colleges are offering science
education in undergraduate level for more than
Dr. Deepika Bhattacharya
/ 20
forty years. The data which are collected from these
colleges are given in Tables with a brief
interpretation where necessary. Percentage of
students enrolled in science stream are calculated
year wise and put in separate column in each of
the tables.
Table 1 : Dibru College, Dibrugarh
* In Table - 2 a sudden rise in the percentage
of Science enrolment is being observed from the
session 2002-2003 onwards. It is not due to the
actual increase in the number of science enrolment
but due to the decrease of enrolment in Arts stream.
Prior to 2002-2003 classes were held in two shifts
viz; morning shift and day shift for Arts stream.
Morning shift was discontinued from the session
2002-2003.
Discussion:
In each of the tables shown above, the last
column indicates the percentage of students
enrolled in Science stream year wise which do not
show any sharp trend. It is neither strictly
decreasing nor increasing. Thus the data collected
and tabulated do not lead to any concrete
conclusion.
In Table-1 there is a rise in the percentage
for the session 1999-2000 which is 43.42%
whereas in the next session it falls to 29.89%. In
the same table during the session 2003-2004 the
percentage was 42.65 and then it falls again to
23.03% in the next session.
Again the variation of percentage is not same
for all the colleges. As shown in Table-3 and Table-
4, for J.B. College and Digboi College respectively
the percentages are better in the sessions 1995-1996
and 1996-1997 whereas this trend was not observed
in the case of other colleges.
As there is no uniformity in the enrolment
pattern for different colleges, it is not fair to
conclude that there is a gradual decline in
enrolment in science stream in the undergraduate
level during the last decade.
Let us now analyze the data from a different
angle. From the above tables it is seen that the
number of students enrolled in the science stream
of the first year undergraduate courses in the degree
colleges varies within a range. For example, in Table-
1, the number of students in science stream in the
session 1995-1996 is 144 whereas after 10 years it
is 148 in 2005-2006. This is more or less true for
each of the colleges. But the number of students
completing 10+2 level has increased significantly.
To know the number of students completing Higher
Secondary level, the results of Assam Higher
Secondary Education Council for the year 1996 and
2008 were collected which is as shown below:
Table 2 : DHSK College, Dibrugarh
1995-96 144 304 24 472 144:472 30.5
1996-97 187 342 72 601 187:601 31.11
1997-98 151 249 23 423 151:423 35.7
1998-99 145 259 55 459 145:459 31.59
1999-00 132 126 46 304 132:304 43.42
2000-01 139 285 41 465 139:465 29.89
2001-02 116 216 22 354 116:354 32.76
2002-03 154 266 33 453 154:453 33.99
2003-04 174 207 27 408 174:408 42.65
2004-05 120 316 85 521 120:521 23.03
2005-06 148 352 95 595 148:595 24.87
Session
Enrl. in TDC 1
st
Yr
Total
Enrl
D =
A+B+C
Ratio
A:D
%
Sc Arts Com
(A) (B) (C)
Session
Enrl. in TDC 1
st
Yr
Total
Enrl
D =
A+B+C
Ratio
A:D
%
Sc Arts Com
(A) (B) (C)
1995-96 187 347 534 187:534 35.02
1996-97 179 411 590 179:590 30.34
1997-98 184 371 555 184:555 33.15
1998-99 223 358 581 223:581 38.38
1999-00 221 334 555 221:555 39.81
2000-01 188 331 519 188:519 36.22
2001-02 176 309 485 176:485 36.28
2002-03 182 202 384 182:384 47.4*
2003-04 203 183 386 203:386 52.59
2004-05 198 227 425 198:425 46.58
2005-06 208 268 476 208:476 43.7
2006-07 246 253 499 246:499 49.3
21 /
It is found that whereas 9120 students
passed in Higher Secondary Science
Examination in the year 1996, it has increased
to 12,185 in the year 2008 that is about 33.6%
rise in the number of successful candidates. This
gives us the indication that a large section of
students completing Higher Secondary Science
do not opt for B.Sc. in degree colleges. This
shows dwindling inclination of students
towards science. This may be attributed to
several factors.
An attempt was made to identify the
factors through interview. The views of some
randomly selected college students, parents and
guardians, college teachers and college
authorities indicate the following as some of
the major reasons resulting into this trend.
Results of Assam Higher Secondary Education Council
No. of candidates appeared
No. of candidates passed
Year
S
c
i
e
n
c
e
A
r
t
s
C
o
m
m
e
r
c
e
T
o
t
a
l
S
c
i
e
n
c
e
A
r
t
s
C
o
m
m
e
r
c
e
T
o
t
a
l
1996 14,971 1,13,399 6,985 1,35,355 9,120 52,079 3,376 64,575
2008 15,093 1,37,270 10,429 1,62,792 12,185 89,679 7,296 1,09,160
Session
Enrl. in TDC 1
st
Yr Total
Enrl
D =
A+B+C
Ratio
A:D
%
Sc Arts Com
(A) (B) (C)
1995-96 275 391 146 812 275:812 33.87
1996-97 262 391 146 799 262:799 32.79
1997-98 253 421 145 819 253:819 30.89
1998-99 247 351 163 761 247:761 32.46
1999-00 256 361 154 771 256:771 33.20
2000-01 211 368 174 753 211:753 28.02
2001-02 173 384 165 722 173:722 23.96
2002-03 239 375 169 783 239:783 30.52
2003-04 198 348 177 723 198:723 27.71
2004-05 243 419 215 877 243:877 27.71
2005-06 252 424 166 842 252:842 29.93
2006-07 266 412 179 857 266:857 31.04
Table 3 : J.B College, Jorhat
Session
Enrl. in TDC 1
st
Yr
Total
Enrl
D =
A+B+C
Ratio
A:D
%
Sc Arts Com
(A) (B) (C)
1995-96 87 142 24 253 87:253 34.39
1996-97 74 132 16 228 74:228 32.46
1997-98 85 173 40 298 85:298 28.52
1998-99 87 143 28 258 87:258 33.72
1999-00 62 147 29 238 62:238 26.05
2000-01 70 142 26 238 70:238 29.41
2001-02 69 171 26 266 69:266 25.94
2002-03 68 161 29 258 68:258 26.36
2003-04 57 168 25 250 57:250 22.8
2004-05 50 151 46 247 50:247 20.24
2005-06 57 171 46 274 57:274 20.8
2006-07 63 170 56 289 63:289 21.8
Table 4 : Digboi College, Digboi
Session
Enrl. in TDC 1
st
Yr
Total
Enrl
D =
A+B+C
Ratio
A:D
%
Sc Arts Com
(A) (B) (C)
1995-96 131 231 120 482 131:482 27.18
1996-97 120 221 115 456 120:456 26.32
1997-98 125 227 130 482 125:482 25.93
1998-99 153 228 121 502 153:502 30.48
1999-00 99 191 146 436 99:436 22.71
2000-01 119 238 141 496 119:496 23.9
2001-02 119 258 159 536 119:536 20.20
2002-03 165 292 206 663 165:663 24.89
2003-04 130 230 153 513 130:513 25.34
2004-05 93 251 158 502 93:502 18.53
2005-06 81 274 162 517 81:517 15.67
2006-07 107 230 156 493 107:493 21.7
Table 5 : Tinsukia College, Tinsukia
/ 22
i) To get entry into the undergraduate science
courses, the cut off mark is generally higher
than that of the other streams and only the
students securing good percentage are
allowed to enroll themselves in under
graduate science courses. On the other hand
students who secure good marks in 10+2
level prefer the technical or other
professional courses because of the demand
of the professional graduates in job market.
Successful completion of the traditional
undergraduate courses offered by the
colleges do not make them employable.
ii) It is a common belief that the students from
the social science or commerce background
perform better in the competitive
examinations like IAS, CAT etc.
iii) Overloaded curriculum of the science subjects
also act in a repulsive way to the students.
iv) The laboratory and similar other
infrastructural facility required for science
courses are not up to the mark in the public
funded colleges and as a result unable to
attract the brilliant students to under
graduate science courses.
SUGGESTION:
Based on the responses made by students and
parents, we recommend some corrective measures
for overall improvement :
i) To make the course materials attractive and
interesting it would be helpful to
incorporate audio and video lessons in the
course content. For planning, designing and
preparing the course materials, media
specialists may be involved along with the
subject experts. The universities should
take certain strategies to encourage the
learners to use such support services for
learning.
ii) Now-a-days, simply delivering lectures one
cannot attract the students. The teachers
must be capable of using different media
supports and modern technologies such as
internets to which the present day learners
are more exposed to than the earlier
students.
iii) The infrastructure required for science
education must be sound enough to
motivate the students to undergo these
courses. For example the laboratory
equipments and the computers are to be
made available to the students and should
be properly maintained to enhance the use
of Media lessons by the learners as non-
availability of computers or poor conditions
of the equipments also discourage the
learners from coming to the colleges.
iv) Colleges should follow strategies to develop
skills like team work, time management and
resource management among the students to
increase the employability of the learners.
Producing unemployable graduates also act
in a repulsive manner. Mere fulfillment of
university requirements for examination or
issue of certificates should not be the aim of
these colleges.
(The author teaches Mathematics in the College)
23 /
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25 /
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/ 26
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:=+- == 't : = =, : '+:= == +
-==== =:| = =:|= :=+- '=:== ==:-
=+= =+, '+r-=, =-=, 'r=~=+, =
':+ =+=+ -= ='+:= 's:== '--,
:=r :=+ '-=+ =+ :=+, '=| :r,
:'= = + :+ '+r-=, =: '=+ :+
'r=~=+ :+r- ='}+ :+ = + :~+,
r' + === =+= '=:== ==-=:= :=:=
: = =+
'=:= ' ==:- 'r:= === = =++ =
'r'++r '- =':= := :-:= '==+ r = + 'r:=
'=+ ':=:= = ' 'r - -: 'r:= :
= =- '=:= 'r:== = ='+ '=+ = =-= -=
+ ='s- (Artistic & Creative) =+ '=+
-' = '==+= ='=:- =+ ':
=== ==- 'r:= = :=++ ='+ :=+:+ +:| = =
=+= 'r:= '= = +
='+=+ '= +
::= :=:+: '=' s :==
' :== =++
: '+:= 'r:== =
='+:- ' '=~
= |+|= + =+ '=
:=== :++ :== +
=- = =++ :== :s
=+= == 'r:= = =:|
= := :~++ -:= ===+ ==
'r:=+ :== - '='== == '=
= :|+ = = = :== = : + '+:-
'r:=+ -= =+- =: :'-'=r=, =|'r= '
:=:= = ='+ '+ 'r:=+ ':=:= ='+=+ '+
|'=+ : -= =:+ = =++ '+ r
=+ :=:= 'r:= :== =-, :'-'=r=+ =-=
:== =- '= -+=: = =++ -:= r+=+
'=== '== '='= -= =++ =' := =-<'==
=+= 'r:= ==+ + |'=+ : = == '=
= + := ' = '::= :=+ ::= '== '==
=- (Advertising Agency) =: 'r:=+ -= ='==
==:- :=+ |'=+ : =+ '=t :='++++
=' :=, = := = =+= '= ===
'=:= + ======:- '= =:|:= '=:=:
: '==+ :='+++ 'r: '= r= ='+ -: '= :=
:=:=, :=+- :~++ := = :== : ='+
=-: = :== = =++ : '=:= :| + :=
=+ == + ='+ :-+ =- ' ==-+ ==
=-= -= ='===, =t= '= , = =: = =++
:= '=, + =, :: = (Communication
Skills), r =| =++ = + =: '+ '+ =++
= := :=:=:-:=: 'r:= + = ='= :== =
':+ '+ r- ++ ':+ =:= '- - :-
:- '=:+ :++: =- += :'= 'r:= + :'-'=r=+
' ~ + :== = := = :|= + '= r=+
== ='-= =-= '+ - :
Courses : i] Audio Engineering,
ii] Digital Film making, iii] Media technology,
iv] Acting, v] Audio & Video production,
vi] Cinematography, vii] Screenplay Writing,
viii] Direction, ix] Dramatic Arts, x]
Freehand Animation, xi] Film editing,
=|'
= :|= = ''=r
++ (level) :+, ::=
Diploma, Degree,
Post graduate Cer-
tificate Course ='+=+
'+= = =='= + :
=+:= . + ++
'= = + :+==
: + + ' + :=
=|:== = - == ++
= + :+== + :|=
+ '=r= :=: = Course =+ :| = +
~ ==:- '==+ ~ + '= = =+
''=r '= r== = = :|= = + =+ +
':=:= = '= :- 'r:= '=+ :=:= = '=
': == (Specialisation) + ='+ '+
=:= ''=r ' '|-+ + '== = =:-=:=
'=:| 'r:= =-= + '== = :|= ='- =+ ::= :
BA (Hons) with Film Studies.
BA in Film Studies.
Bachelor of theatre Arts.
Course in Audio & Visual Education
PG course in cinema studies.
Masters degree in cinema Studies
27 /
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII),
Pune, India
P.G. Diploma Direction
P.G. Certificate Course in Electronic
Cinematography
P. G Diploma in Cinematography
P. G. Diploma in Editing
P. G. Diploma in Acting
P. G. Diploma in Art Direction and
Production Design
P.G. Certificate Course in Direction
P.G.Certificate Course in Video Editing
P.G. Certificate Course in Sound Recording
and TV Engineering
Whistling Woods International Mumbai, India
Acting
Cinematography
Direction
Editing Course
Producing
Zee Institute of Media Arts(ZIMA), Mumbai,
India
Course in Direction
Course in Cinematography
Course in Editing
Course in Acting
Course in Production
Satyajit Ray Films and Television Institute,
Kolkata, India
Post Graduate Diploma in Cinema
Post Graduate Diploma in Cinema
(Direction & Screenplay)
Barry John Acting Studio Mumbai, India
Full-time course in acting
Part-time course in acting
Center for Research in Art of Film and
Television (CRAFT), Delhi/NCR, India
PG Diploma in Film Direction
PG Diploma in Cinematography
PG Diploma in Acting & Modeling Course
L V Prasad Film and TV Academy, Chennai,
India
Diploma in Editing and Sound Design
Post Graduate Diploma in Direction
Post Graduate Diploma in Cinematography
Flash Frame Visuals Academy of Film & Video
Editing, Bangalore, India
Professional Editing with Avid Media
Composer
Professional Editing with Final Cut Pro
Professional Editing and Compositing
(Final Cut Pro Expert)
Asian Academy of Film & Television, Noida -
Delhi/NCR, India
Diploma in Acting for Film & Television
Post Graduate Diploma in Media
Management
Post Graduate Diploma in TV Journalism
& Communication
Post Graduate in Film & TV Production
MSc in Multimedia + Multimedia
Production
BSc in Multimedia + Multimedia
Production
Delhi Film Institute Delhi/NCR, India
Diploma In Video Production
A FEW BEST PLACES IN INDIA FOR FILM STUDY
When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog
created by a fellow named Stewart Brand which was one of the bibles of my generation.
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it
had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On
the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the
kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous.
Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as
they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And
now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Film Appreciation course =|'
== ====:+ -== -=:==+ +=
=|=| =+ '+=+ :+ = '+=: |+=
='+ '==:= == = :='++++ : == ='+ :+
Steve Jobs' commencement address at Stanford University in 2005
/ 28
Course Institutes Eligibility Duration
Diploma In Film Satyajit Ray Film & Graduation : Selection: On
Editing Television Institute, Kolkata, the basis of entrance test 2 year
Last date: February
Diploma in Film St. Xaviers College, Kolkata Graduation 1 year
Studies
Diploma in Direction Satyajit Ray Film & Graduation Selection: On the
Television Institute, Kolkata basis of entrance test 2 year
Last date: February
Diploma in Film St. Xaviers College, Kolkata Graduation 1 year
Studies
Diploma in Motion Satyajit Ray Film & Graduation with Physics
Picture Photography Television Institute, Kolkata & Chemistry Selection: On 2 year
the basis of entrance test
Last date: February
B.A (Hons) with Jadavpur University, Kolkata Graduation
Film Studies
B.A in Film Studies Jadavpur University, Kolkata 10+2/intermediate or 3 year
equivalent exam
Masters Degree in Jadavpur University, Kolkata Graduation 2 year
Cinema Studies
Course Institutes Eligibility Duration
Diploma in Film Film & Television Institute Those who have completed
Direction, of India, Pune the certificate course 1 year
Cinematography, successfully
Audiography &
Editing
Diploma in Film Whistling Woods International Foundation Course,
Making Institute for Film, Television Specializations include:
& Media Arts, Mumbai Cinematography, Direction, 2 years
Editing, Production, Sound
Recording & Design and
Screenwriting
Certificate Course in Film & Television Institute University degree or diploma
Acting of India, Pune in theatre arts 6 month
with acting specialisation
or equivalent
Certificate Course in Film & Television Institute Those who have completed
Film Direction, of India, Pune the basic course successfully
Cinematography, 1 year
Audiography & Editing
Certificate Course in University of Mumbai, 10+2/Intermediate or
Sound Recording & Mumbai equivalent 1 year
Reproduction
COURSES AND INSTITUTES FOR FILM STUDIES AT KOLKATA
COURSES AND INSTITUTES FOR FILM STUDIES AT MAHARASHTRA
29 /
Diploma In Motion Film & Television Institute University degree in any
Picture Photography of India, Pune discipline with Physics and
Chemistry at the 10+2 level 2 year
or any diploma equivalent to
graduation
Diploma in Film & Television Institute Graduation 2 year
Production of India, Pune
Diploma in Xaviers Institute of Bachelors degree Selection:
Production Communication, Mumbai On the basis of entrance test
Diploma in Scenic Film & Television Institute University degree or diploma 2 year
Design of India, Pune in painting, graphics, sculpture,
applied art or degree or
diploma in architecture
Post Graduate Course University of Pune, Pune Bachelors degree 1 year
in Cinema Studies
Film Appreciation National Film Archives of 10+2/Intermediate or
Course in Cinema India, Pune equivalent 5 week
[Editors Note : Prasanta Bora is an Engineer by profession. His blog Career Quips is worlds 5
th
best
career blog. Its Google page rank is 4th. With more than 3,500 blog subscribers, Career Quips gets more than
3,50,000 visitors per month, but, very few of them are from NE India, for whom its created. To make such a
wonderful blog popular among NE Indian students and Pragyan readers we invited Prasanta to write for us. We
are grateful that he has started a new series.]
A few words from the writer: The contents of this write up have actually been reproduced for
Pragyan from my career blog. As the contents were actually made for the blog, to present it to the students as a
published form we needed some minor edits.
Full potential of the knowledge imparted here can be found only online at the blog, since many contents
can not be presented in hard published form say for example, the video on demo GD in section Group
Discussion. Also we may not be in position to write in details about links of other sites those our blog have.
Well try to mention the related web IDs here. Students are advised to visit those sites or our blog to search it,
simply type Career Quips or careerquips or any combination of these two words. The first result shown is
the blog: www. careerquips.blogspot.com.)
(The author teaches Political Science)
Prasanta Bora
/ 30
Patterns of Job Tests:
Selection process of each recruiter differs from one
another some may include GD in the selection
process while others not, some includes Managerial
Interview in addition to Technical & HR interview
while others may just go for HR interview alone.
The purpose of this post/ part of the write-up
is just to give you a very brief overview of the
different phases of a selection process without
going into details (which are discussed in
subsequent topics like Aptitude Test,Technical
Test, Psychometric Test, Group Discussion,
Interview).
All these exams invariably contain at least
one of these four test sections: General Awareness,
General English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning
Ability. To illustrate this, I am showing below the
written exam pattern of some popular exams below:
Pattern of SBI PO exam:
Pattern of SBI Clerical written exam :
Written test will consists of Objective type
questions in following five papers:
1.0 General Awareness.
2.0 General English.
3.0 Quantitative Aptitude.
4.0 Reasoning Ability.
5.0 Marketing Aptitude / Computer
Knowledge.
SSC CPO (Central Police Organisation) Exam
Pattern :
Paper I (2 Hours 10 am to 12.00 noon)
Paper II (2 hours 2pm to 4 pm)
Management Aptitude Test (MAT) exam pattern:
MAT is a 2hr-30min test with following five
sections, each of 40 marks:
1. Language Comprehension: 40 Questions,
30 mins.
2. Mathematical Skills : 40 Questions, 40 mins.
3. Data Analysis and Sufficiency: 40
Questions, 35 mins.
4. Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: 40
Questions, 30 mins.
5. Indian and Global Environment: 40
Questions, 15 mins.
All the questions are multiple-choice
objective type questions.
Selection processes of some major IT industries:
Job Tests Pattern of WIPRO :
Aptitude Test consisting of Verbal - 32Q,
Quantitative- 38Q, Logical-4Q.
Followed by Technical & HR Interview.
Job Tests Pattern of ACCENTURE :
Quantitative- 20Q, Logical-15Q, One Essay.
Followed by GD, Technical & HR Interview.
Capgemini :
Job Tests Pattern of TCS:
Job Tests Pattern of CMC:
Technical Test consisting of 50Q.
As you can see from above, the patterns
which are being used by recruiters although differs
from one another, all of them use the same tools
for screening candidates at different levels. So once
31 /
you prepare for one, you can as well appear in the
job tests of other recruiter.
What are the questions asked and how to
prepare for the same? We have discussed in detail
in individual sections: for Aptitude tests in Aptitude
Test section, for Technical tests in Technical Test
section, for GD in Group Discussion section, for
Technical, MR & HR Interview in Interview
section. But for now lets learn a task that youll
have to deliver before any such test.
Resume writing:
In all my discussions on job preparedness
with students, I am always asked this million dollar
question How can I write the best resume?This
one line question demands a million line to answer.
To find an answer these days, the easiest one is to
Google your query, so I googled Write best
resume
The search result showed me over 3,81,000
results. I was confused!If you had taken my
route, you would have been confused too! But have
patience; I am presenting you in a nutshell how to
write a Good resume, so that you can take off on
your journey immediately! Once you make your
first resume, you can always improve upon it.
What is a Resume ? A resume is a document
containing a summary or listing of relevant job
experience and education (with or without an
accompanying cover letter), naturally for the
purpose of IMPRESSING someone (in your case,
a recruiter!). It is akin to the leaflet of a seminar
if the leaflet is presented well, you are tempted to
go and attend the seminar. Similarly, if the resume
is written well, employer is tempted to call you for
selection process.It is in short form a document
to show the Best that you are in the Best
possible way so that you can get that Best Job.If
you are a fresher (wanting that always elusive first
job), to show the Best that you are is the most
difficult one and is the core problem, the solution
of which you want by that question How can I
write the best resume? But its answer is very
simple:To write a good resume, if you have time
still, than build up the best in you, even before the
time to present your resume:Study properly to get
good grade to show off, do at least one good
project based on which maximum questions are
asked to a fresher in during interview, be members
of student forums which shows the social animal
in you and participate in contest among students -
quiz, debate, sports & games etc., to show how
talented and energetic you were while studying
all of this would actually form the content of your
resume later when time comes to prepare it!But
what if you have already passed out or on the
threshold of passing out, without having the time
to develop those resume contents? Well, you need
to mask yourself intelligently.say, if you have
never played sports and games and you state in
your resume that you were the best athlete in your
college, you must naturally know at what time you
ran that 100 meters! Mind it, I am not teaching
you here how to liebut.With these inputs, lets
go ahead to see what is a Good Resume it is a
resume sent by one of the student for my comments
his name is Sanjay Majumder. We would learn
by examples by going through this resume. So
click* here to proceed to learn :
Learn Resume writing by live-example
Learning resume writing by example :
(Download the example resume by clicking here)*
If you see this resume, in the very first look
itself you would find that:
1. It has been prepared in MS-Word in two
pages. Why MS-Word? Because, almost
everyone has it. You can as well make it as
a .pdf/.rtf document.
2. The lay-out is kept very simple, with no
graphics.
3. Font used is Times New Roman of
uniform size for Headers & Details
throughout, to maintain consistency of look
and feel. You could as well use any other
default fonts.
4. Its component (Objective, Education, Skill
etc.) has been laid in such a way that each
component stands out, with ample white
spaces (so that resume does not look
cluttered).
With the understanding of above look and
feel, lets go digging more of this rsum.
Components of this resume:
1.0 Header:
SANJAY MAZUMDER
Address : House No. L-12, Udayanchal Lane, C.R. Avenue, Silchar, Assam,
India - 788012
Mobile : +91 9864771459, email : mazumder.sanjay@gmail.com
/ 32
I suppose the title says it all and you should
not have any problem inserting your own
name, address, contact number and e-mail
id in this space. If you have two addresses,
say one for your campus and the other for
your home address, insert it into two
separate lines:
Campus: Block-C, Room No.-55, Assam
University, Silchar, Assam, India 788012
Home: House no. L 12, Udayanchal Lane,
C. R. Avenue, Silchar, Assam, India
788012
2.0 Objective:
Of all the components, Objective of a
resume is what a fresher has the most
problem writing. But in actuality it is very
simple: It is akin to the Subject of the
Application for leave you wrote in your
school days! It says what is beneath it. With
little bit of practice you can write the
Objective of your resume very well.
This maximum two-line component
says why you are writing the resume for,
what kind of a job you want. It should
however be also supported by what you have
written below it in the Education,
Experience and Skills part of the
resume. For example, in the objective of
this resume example, Sanjays objective is
supported by his education (M.Sc in Comp.
Science), Skills (List of softwares he has
specialized), his Academic projects and the
experiences he has gathered. Some examples
of a good resume objective are as below:
i) A position in the accounting field where
excellent analytical and technical skill
would help to improve the companys
profitability.
ii) A Graphic Design position where advanced
graphic and creative skills will produce a
quality product for agency customers.
iii) An entry level project management position
in the construction industry where strong
skills in man-management and technical
knowledge can be proved.
The above are only examples and we
encourage you to learn more by digging
through more resources in Resume Links
of the Discover Yourself section.
3.0 Education:
This again is a cake-walk.. you know what
you studied so fill them chronologically, starting
with your most recent qualification down upto
Class-X. And if you have good academic scores
(anything above 60% or equivalent grade in Grade
point system), write that down too with the year of
passing (if without gap years) e.g.: A.I.S.S.C.E
: (10+2) (C.B.S.E), Central School, Umrangso,
Assam - Year: 2002 %age:80%.
A.I.S.S.E : (Matriculation) (C.B.S.E), Central
School, Umrangso, Assam Year: 2000 %age:
75%. M. Sc. (Comp. Sc.) : Assam University,
Silchar Likely Year of passing: 2007 Current
%age: 65%.
4.0 Skills:
It is again easy, some of it you have acquired
from your academic life (i.e. from Education
above) and some you may have gained yourself
by self-learning as you are interested in them. But
you should take care while listing your skills, that
these should reinforce what you have said in your
Objective statement.
5.0 Academic Project Details:
This again is a part of your education and you
should not have difficulty writing them down. You
should take care here, so that the details presented
are precise and concise. Use maximum 3/4 lines.
OBJECTIVE :
A Challenging full time position in IT/ Computer Science with special interest
in software development, design, analysis, and Internet technologies.
EDUCATION :
5 year integrated M.Sc (Computer Science), Assam University, Silchar,
Assam. (Degree anticipated in July 2007)
AISSCE. (10+2) (CBSE), Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Umrangso, Assam.
AISSE.(Matriculation) (CBSE), Kendriya Vidyalaya, Umrangso, Assam.
SKILLS :
Programming Language C, C++, Java, Visual Basic 6.0, FORTRA
Web Programming : HTML. Database Programming : Oracle 8i, MS Access,
PL/SQL. Operation Systems : UNIX/Linux, MS Windows, 9X/2K/XP/NT,
MS-DOS
Software Tools : Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe
Photoshop, Adobe Premier
ACADEMIC PROJECT DETAILS :
6th Semester, Major Project
AUSIX : An Operating System Kernel Developed in Assam University,
Silchar. A small and compact kernel developed for educational purposes so
that the concepts of kernels and operating systems can be learned in a
systematic and better way. May be used a a complete OS Kernel on an
embedded system.
10th Semester Major Project : Comparative study between SOAP and HTTP
for web services
33 /
If you did not have Academic Project in
your academic life, you can as well skip this
component.
6.0 Work Experience:
How can a fresher have Work Experience?
Well you must have.. just try to remember! This
may even be those unpaid/voluntary works. e.g.:
i) Part-time jobs while you were studying,
ii) Short-term projects,
iii) Summer trainings,
iv) Research projects in which you have
participated,
v) Term papers or documents you have
prepared,
vi) Presentations made at seminars,
workshops, or other meetings.
7.0 : Co-curriculur Activities :
The content you write under this component
of resume is more to establish that you are a team
player, a social animal, rather than justifying your
skills or objectives of your resume.
SUMMARY :
As a Software Professional, I have a sound knowledge in the technical field.
I have excellent verbal and written communication skills. My sincerity and
deligence is reflected in the outcomes of the works assigned to me. I am
lookin out for the kind of work which demands hard work, dedication and
should be challenging so that I can utilize my skills and learn something
new. I am here, given a chance I will stand up to the expectations.
8.0 : Summary
This sums up the resume.. it says what your
strengths are and what your potential employer can
expect from you. Some resume experts tells that
the summary should be given at top, just below
your header. But I prefer to place it at last, as it
sums up the whole resume and that is why it is
named as Summary!
9.0 : References :
This is an optional component of your resume. If you
are sure that the person whom you mention here (Your
Institute Head / HOD / Teacher / Project Guide etc.)
would speak well of you, if enquired by your potential
employer, than mention their names & contact details
here. Please also tell these persons that you have done
so, so that they are not caught surprised when your
potential employer enquires about you.
You can also choose to reveal the identities of
your references only on request, by stating a one
line as : References available on request. Kindly
ask me for it.
In the next part well talk in details about
the test we talked about. Till then stay positive!
Note : *Visit our site
REFERENCES :
Prof. Dr. K. Hemachandran
Dean, School of Physical Sciences and School of Technology,
Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India
/ 34
T
hese web link of Journals current
issues publishing from Brown
Walker Press, USA amongst maximum
numbers of scholars (at least 100-150
scholars) and get reduction of technical
support service 40-50% off on your
accepted research paper(s).
The normal technical support
service varies between 100-150 US$ or
equivalent currency of each article;
however for any standard research paper
the service charge is quite negligible.
The ASMT- Brown Walker Press
Journals Spring 2011 issues are now
available in the following web pages:
1 International Journal of Afro-
Asian Studies (IJAAS).
2 International Journal of Finance and
Policy Analysis (IJFPA).
3 International Journal of Economics and
Business Studies (IJEBS).
4 International Journal of Human
Development and Sustainability (IJHDS):
5 International Journal of Management and
Transformation (IJMT).
6 International Journal of Development
Research and Quantitative Techniques
(IJDRQT).
7. International Journal of Cross-Cultural
Studies (IJCCS).
Contact for details:
Journal Production Department
ASMT- Brown Walker Press Journals
Brown Walker Press, USA
http://www.brownwalker.com/ASMT-journals.php.
Research Journals from
Brown Walker Press, USA
W
ith the aim of promoting research
on Bhupen Hazarikas works,
ERD Foundation, Guwahati has
announced two fellowships in the name
of legendary bard Bhupen Hazarika.
These fellowships will lead to PhD
degree from the University of Science
and Technology, Meghalaya.
Topics for the fellowship are i)
Contribution of Dr Bhupen Hazarika
towards unity and integrity and ii) Dr
Bhupen Hazarika: Issues of Identity
and Humanity.
The fellowship will be conducted under the
School of Media Science at the University of
Science and Technology, Meghalaya
A stipend of Rs 10,000 every month will
be given to the fellows. The fellowship will be
given to students doing research on the life and
literacy work of Dr Bhupen Hazarika. The
research work will be published in different
national and international journals and the final
thesis will be compiled in the form of a book both
in Assamese and English.
Fellowships in the name of Legendary Dr. Bhupen Hazarika
35 /
S
everal months back, one evening I
received a call from Mr. Sushanta Kar,
executive editor of Pragyan who informed me that
October 2011 issue of Pragyan would be chemistry
special issue and I should write something for that
issue. I replied him assertively. Later I forgot about
that and in the mean time I left my previous job at
Central Electrochemical Research Institute,
Karaikudi and relocated to Pune. One day
sometime in the month of September I received a
short message from Mr. Kar in my email reminding
me of the promise I made long back. Now when I
sat in front of computer to write something for the
chemistry special issue of Pragyan, I was still
thinking what should I write, should I write
something on my subject i.e. the fascinating world
of conducting polymers and its different
application or the problems faced due to corrosion
of metal or sensor or nanotechnology research on
which I have been involved in for several years
now. Then came to my mind why should not I
choose a different topic from recently developing
research area superhydrophobicty of surface or
coating, idea of which came to scientists from
the nature. This type of research idea of which
comes from nature is called as biomimicry.
Biomimicry is a new stream of science that studies
Natures models and then emulates these forms,
processes, systems, and strategies to solve human
problems. One can say Biomimicry as a science
study which is inspired by nature. Here I am not
going to the details of the amazing world of
biomimicry and different examples rather I am
giving brief information about one of the
examples of biomimicry which is commonly
known as lotus effect and in scientific term as
superhydrophobic property of surface.
Now what is superhydrophobic surface? For
knowing superhydrophobic surface we have to
learn a little about the surface property of a solid.
In simple, based on surface energy, a solid surface
can be divided into two categories hydrophobic
and hydrophilic. Everybody must be knowing the
terms hydrophobic which means something with
a fear for water and hydrophilic means which
loves water. If one looks at the figure 1(a) and
figure1(b), the difference between the surfaces
towards water droplet can be understood. On a
hydrophilic surface if water droplet is placed it
looks like figure 1(a) where the water droplet
spreads on the surface and wet the surface. On
hydrophobic surface water droplet looks like as
shown in figure 1(b). Surface energy property of
a material is the main reason why different
surfaces behave differently towards water. The
surface energy across an interface or the surface
tension at the interface is a measure of the energy
Figure 1: Pictorial representation of (a) hydrophilic, (b)
hydrophobic and (c) superhydrophobic surface in contact
with water.
Dr. Arindam Adhikari
/ 36
required to form a unit area of new surface at the
interface. The intermolecular bonds or cohesive
forces between the molecules of a liquid cause
surface tension. At the liquid-solid surface
interface, if the molecules of the liquid have a
stronger attraction to the molecules of the solid
surface than to each other (the adhesive forces are
stronger than the cohesive forces), wetting of the
surface occurs ( e.g. hydrophilic surface).
Alternately, if the liquid molecules are more
strongly attracted to each other than the molecules
of the solid surface (the cohesive forces are stronger
than the adhesive forces), the liquid beads-up and
does not wet the surface of the part (e.g.
hydrophobic surface). On the other hand water
droplet on a superhydrophobic surface rests as
shown in the figure 1(c). On a good
superhydrophobic surface water droplet tends to
roll or bounce on the surface like a rubber ball
dropping from a height.
These surface properties of a surface, whether
hydrophobic or hydrophilic can be determined by
contact angle measurement. When a liquid droplet
is placed on a solid surface, the angle formed
between the solid surface and the droplet tangent
is called the contact angle, T, [see figure 1(b)] and
is a direct measure of how a liquid wets a solid. It
can provide information about many other surface
parameters such as surface energies, surface
heterogeneity etc. A surface can be categorized
based on contact angle. For a simple hydrophilic
surface contact angle can go up to 90 and for a
hydrophobic surface the contact angle can be up
to 120. Whereas surfaces which show contact
angle more than 150 up to 180 are
superhydrophobic surfaces. On many surfaces,
water droplets exhibit contact angles of 0 to 30
and these are highly hydrophilic in nature.
Everybody might have observed in nature that
when water falls on lotus leaf or arum leaf, the
droplet of water does not stay on that, it just falls
from the surface of the leaf. The Lotus Flower
(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) typically grows in
swamps and shallow waters in eastern Asia and
eastern North America. The fact that Lotus emerges
totally clean from muddy water prompted
Buddhists to declare it a symbol of purity. The
Lotus has been the symbol of purity for thousands
of years; contaminations and pathogens are washed
off the surfaces of Lotus and some other plants with
rain or even dew. This is an example of
superhydrophobic surface.
Looking at this property of lotus leaf, scientist
started thinking what may be the reason behind
this. However, the mechanism remained a secret
until the development of the high-resolution
scanning electron microscope (SEM), introduced
in the mid-1960s. Now it was possible to explore
the micro- and upper nanometer scale and to
visualize the structure of plant surfaces. SEM
images provided the key for the correct
interpretation of the relationship between surface
structure on one hand and extreme water repellency
or superhydrophobicity on the other. Careful
investigation of the surface of the lotus leaf lead to
the conclusion that the surface is very rough in
nature as shown in the image 2(c) below.
Researchers now know the requirements for
creating a superhydrophobic surface which are low
surface energy and high surface roughness.
If this superhydrophobicity can be
incorporated in painting or coating or on the surface
of the subject of interest, many amazing things can
be achieved. For example,
water-repellent coating for glass, metal and
ceramic
2(a): Water droplet on lotus leaf
2(b): Magnified image of Water droplet on Lotus leaf
37 /
waterproofing fabric
self-cleaning surface/textile
anti-stain, anti-mold walls
Ship hull lining and propellers
anti static water droplets
automobile windscreen
anti-corrosion
anti-freezing
flushless / waterless urinal
Think a situation, when your dress becomes
dirty, you dont have to wash your cloth and dont
have to wait for drying it. This is possible when the
fabric of the textile you are wearing can be made
like the surface of a lotus leaf. After your dress
becomes dirty you just dip the cloth in water and
take it out, your dress is clean, the shirt is cleaned
and dried as before dipping, no need of any
detergent, no spending energy also, no need to wait
for drying. This can be achieved if one can make
the textile superhydrophobic. See figure 3 below,
how water droplet behaves on a typical surface and
on a superhydrophobic surface containing dirt. On
a typical surface (inclined position) containing dirt
when water droplet is placed, it just rolls over as
shown in the figure 3a, whereas for a
superhydrophobic surface containing dirt, the water
droplet rolls over the surface along with the dirt.
The basic requirement for self-cleaning properties is
extreme water-repellency i.e. superhydrophobicity.
If a surface is structured in the micro- or nanometer
range, the waterair interface of a droplet lying on it
is enlarged and the capillary forces between droplet
and surface are significantly reduced. As a
consequence, the droplet takes an almost spherical
shape and usually rolls off easily. Such surfaces have
been termed low energy surfaces.
A particle on a superhydrophobic self-
cleaning surface is like a monk sleeping on his bed
of nails. The contact area between the particle and
the underlying solid is considerably reduced,
resulting in very low adhesion forces. When a
droplet appears, the particle, yielding to the
prevalent capillary forces, adheres to the droplet
instead of the surface. In consequence the particle
will be carried away or easily washed off with water
only.
Another interesting feature everybody might
have noticed. If one dips an arum leaf underneath
water we see silvery shine on the surface of the
leaf. This is because of the fact that surface of the
leaf is rough as lotus leaf and air gets trapped in
the pockets resulting in silvery shiny surface.[2]
This is one of the examples of
superhydrophobic surface. Now lets consider
another example, water less urinal. If the ceramic
or metal urinals in public places can be made
superhydrophobic, it will be water less urinals.
Once somebody urinates on this type of urinals,
the urine will just pass immediately and no urine
will be left on the surface. If this can be materialized
external water supply will not be needed to flush
out urine from the urinals. We can save lots of water
2(c): Microscopic image of water droplet on lotus leaf
Figure 3: Water droplet on (a) a typical surface and
(b) a superhydrophobic surface
Figure 4: The silvery shine results from air being
trapped between the structures of the leaf surface.
/ 38
Figure 5(c): Surface made from brucite-type cobalt
hydroxide - lauric acid nanopin films by chemical bath
deposition technique and the contact angle(178) of
water on it. (inset)[5]
by using this technology. We should keep in mind
that water is life and we should do every effort to
save single drop of water.
Here I would like to mention another example
of application of superhydrophobic surface.
Everybody knows about corrosion of metal.
According to recent study, India loses around 2
trillion every year due to corrosion whereas the
annual cost of corrosion worldwide is estimated to
be over $2.2 trillion. Imagine how much the loss
is.[3]
In general, corrosion protection of metal is
done by coating metal oxide such as chromate or
molybdate on the surface before any coating layer.
These coatings are highly effective in case of
corrosion inhibition, but poses potential
environmental hazards. Hence efforts are underway
for quite some time to develop corrosion protection
coatings which are more environment friendly than
the present traditional techniques. A
superhydrophobic coating would be a promising
technology for improving anticorrosion performance
because it would inhibit the contact of a metal surface
with water and environmental humidity. Thus a
superhydrophobic surface would be of great
importance to many industrial applications and could
present a solution to the long-standing problems of
environmental contamination and corrosion of
metals and metal alloys.
Now lets see how one can make a surface
superhydrophobic. Some of the methods I am
mentioning here in short.
The first synthetic super-hydrophobic surface
was reported by Onda et al., which was produced
by anodically oxidizing an aluminum surface and
treating the oxidized surface with a fluorosilane.[4]
Since then researchers across the world have
developed many interesting techniques for
preparing superhydrophobic surfaces. These
techniques range from lithography, plasma
treatment, chemical vapour deposition to layer-by-
layer techniques and most recently nano-particle-
based synthesis routes. Use of fluorinated polymers
(though the environmental impacts of its usage are
widely debated), silicons and silanes as materials
of low surface energy is also widespread and most
artificially roughened surfaces contain a coating
of these substances to make them
superhydrophobic. Below some images of high
resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) of
superhydrophobic surfaces prepared by different
techniques are presented. The preparation method
for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces are
mentioned along with.
Figure 5(a): Super hydrophobic surface prepared from
polystyrene-polydimethyl siloxane nanofibers by
electrospinning technique and the water droplets on
it(inset)[5]
Figure 5(b): Super hydrophobic surface prepared
by double-roughening poly(alkylpyrrole) film made by
electrochemical polymerization and image of water
droplet on the surface(inset)[5]
39 /
Figure 5(d): Superhydrophobic surface (contact angle
170) prepared fabricated by silicon nanowire grown
under plasma conditions at 460C. [6]
Figure 5(e): Lithographic surface modification for
creating superhydrophobic surface
(contact angle 165)[ 7]
References
1 . www.wikipedia.com
2. A. Solga, Z. Cerman, B. F Striffler, M. Spaeth, W. Barthlott, Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. 2 (2007) S126S134
3. http://www.projectsmonitor.com/OILGAS/cii-aims-to-stem-rs-2-trillion-loss-due-to-corrosion
4. T. Onda, S. Shibuichi, N. Satoh, K. Tsuji, Langmuir, 12 (1996) 2125-2127.
5. M. Ma, R. M. Hill, Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 11 (2006) 193202
6. A. E. Gomez, J. Schneider, P. Aella, D. Yang, P. D. Garca, S. Lindsay, S.T. Picraux, M. A. Rubio, S. Melle, M. Marquez, A.
A. Garca, Applied Surface Science 254 (2007) 330334
7. P. Roach, N. J. Shirtcliffe, M. I. Newton Soft Matter, 4 (2008), 224240
8. P.A. Levkin, F. Svec, J. M. J. Frechet, Advanced Functional Materials, 19(2009) 1993
Figure 5(f): SEM micrographs of superhydrophobic
porous polymers Poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene
dimethacrylate) contact angle 172[8]
The SEM images of the superhydrophobic
surface prepared by different techniques look very
interesting with nano-scale designing. In laboratory,
researchers could successfully produce
superhydrophobic surfaces but in commercial scale
not much success is obtained and techniques
employed to produce this surfaces are not cost
effective. Some products, e.g. superhydrophobic paint
( Lotusan@, Uri-pel, Hydrobead-P etc) are available
in the market but not widely used yet and not much
information is available about these materials. Much
research is needed to get success and once it is
successful, many day to day life problems could be
solved. The research area is vast and there are lots of
things to be done and can be done.
The author is Director, KDJ Center for Research in Materials & Technology
(www.kdjresearch.org), Pune, India.
/ 40
VULNERABILITY TO TERRORIST
ATTACK:
Chemicals harming people in terrorist
attacks and accidents
Explosive mixture of ammonium nitrate
(a common agricultural fertilizer) and
diesel in the attack on the Alfred P. Murrah
Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1995
Explosives used by suicide bombers in the
Middle East
Methyl isocyanate in the industrial
chemical accident in Bhopal, India, in
1984
Almost 200 killed by hydrogen sulfide in
natural gas released Chuandongbei natural
gas field of southwestern China in
December, 2003
Substances that Explode, Burn, or React
Violently:
Toxic Chemical Attack:
Bhopal
Accidental release of methyl isocyanate
from a chemical manufacturing operation in
Bhopal, India, during the night of December 2/3,
1984 illustrates potential for terrorist attack
About 40 tons of methyl isocyanate was
released exposing thousands
More than 3000 died, primarily from
pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in
the lung)
Immunological, neurological, ophthalmic
(eye), and hematological effects
Methyl isocyanate is the most toxic of the
isocyanates
High vapour pressure
Toxicity to multiple organs
Cross cell membranes
Reach organs far from exposure site
Potential Terrorist Agents
1. Chlorine (Cl
2
)
Widely used in First military poison in
World War I
Strong oxidizer that forms acids and is
especially damaging to respiratory tissue.
10-20 ppm: Acute respiratory tract
discomfort
1000 ppm: Rapidly fatal
Biplab Banik
1,3,5 Trinitro - 1,3,5
triazacyclohexane (RDX)
Pentaerythritol
tetranitrate (PETN)
41 /
2.Hydrogen cyanide(HCN)
Is a highly toxic gaseous substance with
potential for attack through the atmosphere
Also toxic as salts, such as KCN (potential
attack through food and water)
Cyanide binds with iron in the +3 oxidation
state of ferricytochrome oxidase enzyme
preventing utilization of O2 leading to rapid
death
Antidote is to form iron in the +3 oxidation
state from blood haemoglobin to produce
methymoglobin that binds with cyanide
3. Hydrogen Sulfide( H
2
S)
Colorless gas with a foul, rotten-egg odor
As toxic as hydrogen cyanide and may kill
even more rapidly.
1000 ppm : Rapid death from respiratory
system paralysis.
Nonfatal doses can cause excitement due
to damage to the central nervous system;
headache and dizziness may be symptoms
of exposure.
Military Poisons:
Mustard oil, bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide
Vapours penetrate rapidly and deeply into
tissue.
Tissue damage and destruction well below
the point of entry
Blistering gas producing severely inflamed
lesions that are susceptible to infection
Likely to be fatal in lungs
Mutagen and possible carcinogen
Nerve Gases:
Nerve gas, organophosphates are military
poisons of most concern.
Sarin
Tokyo subway attack
Fatal at a dose of only about 0.01
milligrams of Sarin per kilogram of body
mass
Single drop through the skin can kill a
human
Biotoxins
Some of the most toxic substances known
Botulinum toxin
From Clostridium botulinum bacteria
growing in the absence of oxygen
As little as 1 millionth of a gram can be
fatal to a human
In principle, millions of people could be
killed by the amount of botulinum toxin
carried in a terrorists pocket
Binds with nerve terminals causing
paralysis of the respiratory muscles and
death
Action of Organophosphate Poisons
DETECTING HAZARDS
Residues of TNT, RDX, and PETN explosives
detected by sophisticated instruments
including ion mobility spectrometers and
chemiluminecence sensors
Nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) may
be useful to detect explosives because it
responds to nitrogen, which all major
explosives contain
Canine olfactory detection (dogs nose)
Protection With Green Chemistry
Green chemistry to mitigate terrorist threats
Uses the safest possible chemicals as safely
as possible
Minimizes the accumulation of hazardous
chemicals and eliminates hazardous
chemical wastes
Better detection of hazardous materials
Effective substitute materials to reduce
potential for resource blackmail
/ 42
Sustainable energy sources to reduce
energy blackmail such as supplies of
petroleum and natural gas
Biochemistry and recombinant DNA
science to enable the development of better
vaccines against pathogenic biological
warfare agents and antidotes to chemical
and biological toxins
GREEN CHEMISTRY TO COMBAT
TERRORISM:
Safe and sustainable green chemistry can
help combat terrorism
Hazardous substances that might be stolen
or diverted for use in attacks are not made
or used in large quantities
Chemical products do what they are
supposed to do and are used in minimum
quantities
Materials and processes that are likely to
result in violent reactions, fires, high
pressures, and other extreme conditions are
avoided
Potentially hazardous auxiliary substances
and flammable materials are avoided
Minimizes energy consumption, thereby
reducing energetic, high-temperature
processes that might be susceptible to
sabotage
Biological processes used in green
chemistry are carried out under the mild,
low temperature, toxic-substance-free,
inherently less hazardous conditions
conducive to biochemical reactions
Reduces demand on uncertain sources of
energy and raw materials controlled by
potentially hostile populations that are
inherently subject to disruption and
blackmail
The practice of green chemistry requires
exacting process control combined with real-time,
in-process monitoring techniques
GREEN CHEMISTRY FOR SUSTAINABLE
PROSPERITY AND A SAFER WORLD:
Reducing poverty, human misery, and
hopelessness helps alleviate conditions that
promote terrorism
People with satisfied material needs able to
lead comfortable and fulfilling lives are relatively
less likely to commit violent acts
Green chemistry fulfills human needs and
makes life more comfortable
Prosperity, narrowly defined, has resulted in
consumption of increasingly scarce resources and
environmental degradation
Quote: We are past the days when we can
trade environmental contamination for economic
prosperity; that is only a temporary bargain, and
the cost of pollution both economically and on
human health is too high.
Green chemistry and the practice of industrial
ecology can provide high living standards
sustainably.
Abundant, Inexpensive, Sustainable Energy is
Key
(The author teaches Chemistry)
43 /
F
orests are mostly exclusive and they are
indispensable for further existence of life.
They serve as a home of many species. Forest is
the second largest land use in India next to
agriculture. The forest cover of India is assessed
as 67.83 million hectares which constitute 20.64
per cent of the countrys geographical area,
ranging from the Himalayan Temperate to Dry
Zone forests (WWF-India). India is a country of
Diversity. Climatic and geographic conditions
serve as a determining factor for distribution of
different forest types in Indian Sub-Continent.
Eastern zone of this country consists of moist,
deciduous and wet evergreen forests. The Western
zone forms the other extreme. It comprises mainly
of thorn and dry deciduous forests. Northern and
Central zones consist mainly of dry and moist
deciduous forests. Southern zone incorporates
characteristics of both Western and Central zones.
It comprises mainly of thorn, dry and moist
deciduous forests. Indian forests can be divided
into six broad types, with a number of sub types.
This classification according to Champion and
Seth (1968) is as follows:
Moist tropical forests
Wet evergreen
Wet evergreen forests are found in the
south along the Western Ghats and the Nicobar
and Andaman Islands and all along the north-
eastern region. It is characterized by tall, straight
evergreen trees that have a buttressed trunk or
root on three sides like a tripod that helps to keep
a tree upright during a storm. The more common
trees that are found here are the jackfruit, betel
nut palm, jamun, mango, and hollock.
Semi-evergreen
Semi-evergreen forests are found in the
Western Ghats, Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
and the Eastern Himalayas. Such forests have a
mixture of the wet evergreen trees and the moist
deciduous tress. The forest is dense and is filled
with a large variety of trees of both types.
Moist deciduous
Moist deciduous forests are found
throughout India except in the western and the
north-western regions. The trees have broad
trunks, are tall and have branching trunks and
roots to hold them firmly to the ground. Some of
the taller trees shed their leaves in the dry season.
There is a layer of shorter trees and evergreen
shrubs in the undergrowth. These forests are
dominated by sal and teak, along with mango,
bamboo, and rosewood.
Littoral and swamp
Littoral and swamp forests are found along
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the delta
area of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. It consists
Pinki Purkayastha
/ 44
mainly of whistling pines, mangrove dates, palms,
and bulletwood. They have roots that consist of
soft tissue so that the plant can breathe in the water.
Dry tropical forests
Dry deciduous forest
Dry deciduous forests are found throughout
the northern part of the country except in the North-
East. It is also found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The
canopy of the trees does not normally exceed 25
metres. The common trees are the sal, a variety of
acacia, and bamboo.
Thorn
This type is found in areas with black soil:
North, West, Central, and South India. The trees
do not grow beyond 10 meters. Spurge, caper, and
cactus are typical of this region.
Dry evergreen
Dry evergreens are found along the Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka coast. It has mainly hard-
leaved evergreen trees with fragrant flowers, along
with a few deciduous trees.
Montane sub tropical forests
Broad-leaved forests
Broad-leaved forests are found in the Eastern
Himalayas and the Western Ghats, along the Silent
Valley. There is a marked difference in the form of
the vegetation in the two areas. In the Silent Valley,
the poonspar, cinnamon, rhododendron, and
fragrant grass are predominant. In the Eastern
Himalayas, the flora has been badly affected by
the shifting cultivation and forest fires. These wet
forests consist mainly of evergreen trees with a
sprinkling of deciduous here and there. There are
oak, alder, chestnut, birch, and cherry trees. There
are a large variety of orchids, bamboo and creepers.
Pine
Pine forests are found in the steep dry slopes
of the Shivalik Hills, Western and Central
Himalayas, Khasi, Naga, and Manipur Hills. The
trees predominantly found in these areas are the
chir, oak, rhododendron, and pine. In the lower
regions sal, sandan, amla, and laburnum are found.
Dry evergreen
Dry evergreen forests normally have a
prolonged hot and dry season and a cold winter. It
generally has evergreen trees with shining leaves
that have a varnished look. Some of the more
common ones are the pomegranate, olive, and
oleander. These forests are found in the Shivalik
Hills and foothills of the Himalayas up to a height
of 1000 metres.
Montane temperate forests
Wet
Wet montane temperate forests occur in the
North and the South. In the North, it is found in
the region to the east of Nepal into Arunachal
Pradesh, at a height of 18003000 metres,
receiving a minimum rainfall of 2000 mm. In the
South, it is found in parts of the Niligiri Hills, the
higher reaches of Kerala. The forests in the northern
region are denser than in the South. This is because
over time the original trees have been replaced by
fast-growing varieties such as the eucalyptus.
Rhododendrons and a variety of ground flora can
be found here. In the North, there are three layers
of forests: the higher layer has mainly coniferous,
the middle layer has deciduous trees such as the
oak and the lowest layer is covered by
rhododendron and champa.
Moist
This type spreads from the Western
Himalayas to the Eastern Himalayas. The trees
found in the western section are broad-leaved oak,
brown oak, walnut, rhododendron, etc. In the
Eastern Himalayas, the rainfall is much heavier and
therefore the vegetation is also more lush and
dense. There are a large variety of broad-leaved
trees, ferns, and bamboo. Coniferous trees are also
found here, some of the varieties being different
from the ones found in the South.
Dry
This type is found mainly in Lahul, Kinnaur,
Sikkim, and other parts of the Himalayas. There
are predominantly coniferous trees that are not too
tall, along with broad-leaved trees such as the oak,
maple, and ash. At higher elevation, fir, juniper,
deodar, and chilgoza can be found.
Sub alpine
Sub alpine forests extends from Kashmir to
Arunachal Pradesh between 2900 to 3500 metres.
In the Western Himalayas, the vegetation consists
mainly of juniper, rhododendron, willow, and black
currant. In the eastern parts, red fir, black juniper,
birch, and larch are the common trees. Due to heavy
rainfall and high humidity the timberline in this
45 /
part is higher than that in the West. Rhododendron
of many species covers the hills in these parts.
Alpine
Moist
Moist alpines are found all along the
Himalayas and on the higher hills near the
Myanmar border. It has a low scrub, dense
evergreen forest, consisting mainly of
rhododendron and birch. Mosses and ferns cover
the ground in patches. This region receives heavy
snowfall.
Dry
Dry alpines are found from about 3000 meters
to about 4900 meters. Dwarf plants predominate,
mainly the black juniper, the drooping juniper,
honeysuckle, and willow.
But major problem of this era is deforestation
and loss of vegetation. This is not the burning
problem of India only but of entire world.
Deforestation is clearing Earths forests on a
massive scale, often resulting in damage to the
quality of the land. The worlds rain forests could
completely vanish in a hundred years at the current
rate of deforestation(National Environmental
Geographic site ). Forests are cut down for many
reasons, but most of them are related to money or
to peoples need to provide for their families. The
biggest driver of deforestation is agriculture.
Farmers cut forests to provide more room for
planting crops or grazing livestock. Often many
small farmers, clear a few acres to feed their
families by cutting down trees and burning them
in a process known as slash and burn technique
of cultivation. Loggers, some of them acting
illegally, also build roads to access more and more
remote forestswhich leads to further
deforestation. Forests are also cut as a result of
growing urban sprawl. Deforestation has many
negative effects on the environment. The most
dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of
species. Seventy percent of Earths land animals
and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive
by the impact of deforestation that destroys their
homes. Deforestation also drives climate change.
Forest soils are moist, but without protection from
sun-blocking tree cover they quickly dry out. Trees
also help perpetuate the water cycle by returning
water vapor back into the atmosphere. Without
trees to fill these roles, many former forest lands
can quickly become barren deserts. Removing trees
deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, which
blocks the suns rays during the day and holds in
heat at night. This disruption leads to more extreme
temperature swings that can be harmful to plants
and animals. Trees also play a critical role in
absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global
warming. Fewer forests means larger amounts of
greenhouse gases entering the atmosphereand
increased speed and severity of global warming.
Lets come back to the condition of our country
where total forest cover is only 21.02% with
77.72% non forest (FSI,2009) (Fig. 1 ).
There is gradual but continuous change in
forest cover area in each and every part of our
country. These changes in forest cover may be
justified by different facts such as in Andhra
Pradesh decrease in forest cover is mainly due to
departmental felling of Eucalyptus plantation
Class Area (km
2
) % of
Geographical
Area
Forest Cover
Very Dense Forest 83,510 2.54
Moderately Dense 319,012 9.71
Forest
Open Forest 288,377 8.77
Total Forest Cover* 690,899 21.02
Non Forest
Scrub 41,525 1.26
Non Forest** 2,554,839 77.72
Total Geographical 3,287,263 100.00
Area
*includes 4,639 km2 under mangroves
** Excludes scrubs and includes water bodies
Fig.1- Status of forest in India (2007) source (FSI)
/ 46
whereas in Arunachal Pradesh shifting cultivation
is reason behind deforestation. Increase in
deforestation rate is contributed by encroachment
in insurgency afftected areas of Sonitpur, Karbi
Anglong and Darrang district.Shifting cultivation
is also a contributing factor in Assam. In Mizoram
increase in forest cover is due to regrowth in
abandoned shifting cultivation and regeneration of
bamboo. In Orissa this increase in forest cover is
contributed by Joint Forest Management. Though
both increase and decrease in forest cover is going
on continually but forest cover of entire country
on average is gradually on decrease, Forest cover
map can be used in support of this fact.
Fig.2 Forest cover change map (SOEATLAS)
To deal with the stupendous task to overcome
the problems forests are facing, National Forest
1.www.wwfindia.org
2.www.fsi.org.in
3. www.soeatlas.org
References
(Author is a Research Scholar under Dept. of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar.)
Commission has recommended allocation of
minimum 2.5% of national budget to the forestry
sector. Now the only way to conserve forest
resources of India is regeneration of vegetation,
Planting more and more vegetation and replacing
shifting cultivation by settled cultivation. As the year
2011 is declared as the International Year of Forests
by United Nation to raise awareness and strengthen
the sustainable forest management, conservation and
sustainable development of all types of forests for
the benefit of current and future generations India is
also celebrating the same. For the first time ever
India has been selected as the Global Host of World
Environment Day 2011 (WED) on 5 June. As a part
of the celebration of International Year of Forests
programme in India, Ministry of Environment and
Forest has developed a calendar of activities too.
Some important environment and forestry related
dates in India are as follows :
World Wetlands Day on 2
nd
February.
World Forestry Day on 21
st
March.
World Earth Day on 22
nd
April.
International Day For Biological Diversity
on 22
nd
May.
World Environment Day on 5
th
June.
Van Mahotsava in July month.
World Population Day on 11
th
July.
International Day for Preservation of Ozone
Layer on 16
th
September.
Wildlife Week from 2
nd
to 8
th
October.
National Pollution Prevention Day on 2
nd
December.
National Conservation Day on 3
rd
December.
Mother nature is giving us everything and
now it is our duty to conserve her and her valuable
resources.
4. www.wwfindia.org
5.www.environment.nationalgeographic.com
6. www.edugreen.teri.res.in
47 /
M
an worship Mother Nature and there existed
a pious relationship between man and forest
since the very existence of human civilization.
These forest dwellers addressed herein as Tribal
seem to maintain a symbiotic relationship with
the forest. They consider the forest as the gift of
nature and are dependent upon these forests for
their livelihood. Thus there exists a living
relationship between them. These tribals have
been living in close attachment with these forests
and have not in any way threatened the Mother
Nature.
But in due course of time due to various
factors this relationship seems to be effected in
many ways and a gap has been created in the
relationship of these tribals and the forest. The
tribal were being deprived of these rights and
numerous movements have been resulted as such.
An analysis is herein made as to how there
came a gap in this relationship in India and some
aspects would be highlighted that would bridge
the gap between man and forest.
The people possessed certain traditional
rights over the forests according to their own
freedom and desire. They considered the forest as
their home and earn their livelihood from these
forest products.
But the situation changed in due course of
time and the living relationship seemed to be
effected in many ways.
Some basic causes behind the present scenario:
The forest policy of the British post 1865
seems to greatly effect this relation. British tried
to earn revenue from these forests and the forest
products. There was large scale destruction of
forest for expansion of railways and forests
of Nagaland were cut down for use in
world wars. Independent India too followed this
British legacy in forest policies. The later Forest
Policy of 1952 too envisaged the earlier stand and
emphasized on National Interest. Forest
dwellers were thus disassociated from the
management and exploration of the forest wealth.
In Karnataka tribals were even drove out to set
up game sanctuary.
The various developmental activities
along with mining activities greatly hamper the
tribal people. The fact is that the development
projects are usually located in remote areas and
thus displace the indigenous people. Some tribal
communities are even victims of multiple
displacements for mining activities.
Commercialization of the forests to
promote forest based industries along with
inequitable privatization of common property
resources in favor of small elite section caused
depletion of forest and also the law even worked
against these tribal poor dependent upon the forest.
The tribals were in fact never a threat to
the forest. It was the non-tribals who for the sake
of self-benefit used the forest resources and were
responsible for the depletion of the forests.
Some other socio-economic aspects like
the growing population and the inability to meet
the increasing demand of food and energy sources
forced even the forest dwellers to harm the forest.
Moreover, the mismanagement of the
forests and half-hearted implementation of various
policies and steps for forest preservation seems
to bring futility to the attempts for forest
Ranandra Khound
/ 48
protection and to hide this ineffectiveness the
tribals and their age old traditional agricultural
methods and other practices are being blamed for
the degradation of forests.
Attempt for Revival of Forest Rights of Tribals:
The tradition rights of the tribals seemed
to be realized by the Judiciary and in various
instances it has come forward to give judgment in
favor of the tribal people.
In the Fatesang Gimba Vasava Vs. State
of Gujrat case the High Court emphasized on the
rights of the tribals to depend on the forest, which
was the only source of livelihood for them.
The same stand was also maintained by the
Apex Court in Suresh Lohiya Vs State of
Maharashtra.
With such decisions in favor of the tribals
the government too realized the importance of the
tribal rights and some aspects in this regard can be
highlighted.
The SCHEDULED TRIBES AND OTHER
TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS
(RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS) ACT,
2006 is worth mentioning. It addressed the long
standing insecurity and access right of forest
dwellers. The ownership of minor forest produce
was assigned to the people. The Act provided forest
rights such as
The right to hold and live in the forest;
Rights of ownership, access to collect, use
and dispose minor forest produces;
Community rights such as over fish
products;
Right to conserve, regenerate or manage
any community forests;
Right of proper rehabilitation along with
other traditional rights; etc.
The said act also emphasized on certain duties
upon the forest dwellers -
Protect wildlife, forest and bio-diversity;
Ensure that any form of destruction
activities do not take place; etc.
Thus, through the act the tribals were
provided some rights and attempts were being
made also to involve them in the process of
preservation of forests.
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill,
2008 is also worth mentioning. It provided for
implementation of SC direction and establish a
compensatory fund and the compensatory money
be used for various afforestation activities.
Steps were also taken for development of
these people through the Tribal Development
Programme (TDP) being implemented across the
country.
Suggestions:
Though late, but the government realized
the importance of the rights of these tribals. Herein
some suggestions are being put forward to provide
for an effective forest management:
Proper scheme for socio-economic
development of these tribals. Their
dependence on the forest must be replaced
by developed means and alternative modes
for livelihood.
The tribals should be involved in the
programmes through some Joint
Management Programmes.
The contract for cutting trees to contractors
should be replaced by tribal co-operatives
or labour co-operatives.
Effective measures for protection,
regeneration and optimum collection of
minor produce along with proper marketing
of these produce.
Steps should be take for bringing awareness
among the tribals upon the need for
protecting the Mother Nature and also for
popularising alternative source of energy.
Thus, there should be effective management
of the forest resources. There seem to exist various
factors that actually caused the depletion of forest,
these are to be seriously addressed. Moreover, it is
also true that even the tribals too resort to destroy
forest basically due to scarcity of food and energy
source. This must be taken into consideration while
formulating policies.
Thus, effective sustainable management
policies through effective tribal participation can
only result in continuity of the pious symbiotic
relationship between nature and man to secure a
better future for generations to come.
( The author is a Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, Dibrugarh University)
49 /
T
his write up aims at focusing light on some
of the most crucial issues related more
particularly to our forests and then the
environment in general which have not yet
been properly addressed and thats why need
urgent concern for the cause of resolving the
buring problem of deforestation as well as
environmental degradation.
Like many other developing nations,
India too, is striving for accelerating the race
of its economic development. Rapid
industrialisation has been choosen as the most
effective and timely strategy for the said goal
of faster economic development of the country.
In the way of achieving rapid industrialisation,
we knowingly or unknowingly have started
damaging our forest resources. For setting up
of industries state authority often happens to
involve in faster clearing of forest areas as these
are owned by government itself and involve
less difficulty to use such forests in the name
of public interest. Besides most of our forest
resources have been used as the prime raw-
material for various industries. All these have
resulted in a faster shrinking of our forest cover
of the environment.
The point what I want to make here is
that need economic development through rapid
industrialisation but not at the cost of our
forestry. Just for the sake of faster economic
development we cannot afford the damage to our
forests. But government seems to have done this
undesired task quite often. What creates all the
more panic is that our government has involved
in the process of forceful occupation of such land
with forests in the name of public interests and
seem to hand it over the private capitalist for
opening up industries over there. This has proved
the alleged nexus between our politicians and a
private capitalist. In such a situation where the
authority responsible for protection and
promotion of forests itself has involved in the
process of ruining the same, the whole issue of
protection of forests looks gloomy. The whole
issue of Narmada Bachao Andolan is steering
against such stand of government with regard to
our forests.
Another matter that deserves crucial
attention in this regard is that a large number of
our population mostly form tribal communities,
since time immemorial, completely depend on
the forest. Forest has been the main habitation
and source of livelihood. They use to gather
everything from the forests in terms of food,
firewood and the necessary raw materials for
making their houses. But in course of time,
government has started to take over all such forest
areas for the purpose of earning revenue. It was
the Britishers who enunciated this mechanism and
later on as a legacy our independent government
goes on continuing that procedure. All those
forest areas now have identified as Reserve Forest
Baikuntha Das
/ 50
Areas and no one is allowed to enter these without
government prior approval. In this way these
traditional tribal people have been deprived from
accessing to forests. And this process of deprivation
has been completed and irreversable. Consequently
those tribal people have found themselves nowhere.
Their age old right to access to forest has put them
in a position which lead to serious conflict between
them and government. The whole issue of
Naxalism to great extent is an offshoot of such
policy of deprivation of tribal people from
accessing forest by the government. Subsequently
these tribal people have started destroying such
forest areas indiscriminately and in large scale. This
has in turn resulted in more violence as government
in response to such act come up with forceful
retaliation and cause increase in the number of
casualities.
Regarding this matter what makes me to
comment is that though reserve forest areas
constitute important strategy for government from
the point of revenue collection and protection of
forest from any unwanted damage, yet it is equally
important to have another strategy on the part of
government to compensate and rehabiliate all those
who become victims / have been deprived in the
process of doing so by the government. At the same
time, the said compensation and rehabilitation
should be sufficient enough by considering all the
related issues involved in this process. Our tribal
people who have been deprived need to be
adequately compensated in terms of both material
and psychological lossess. Otherwise the whole
issue will once again prove futile.
Another matter that is somewhat related to
this earlier issue is that of the illegal cutting down
of trees in large scale by both timber merchants
and poachers. This has been one of the most
commonly and often adopted methods which has
resulted in large scale destruction of forest areas.
With the passage of every new day poaching is on
the increase. Trees that have medicinal and
commercial values are selected for this purpose i,e.
illegal cut down. The episode of Birappan may
remind us of such activity. Still many other
Birappans are reported to be involved in search of
such illegal cut down of trees. Villagers of the
adjacent areas of forest have been taken into
confidence by such poachers for successful
completion of their goal of illegal cutdown of trees
and successfully carry these stuff to their
destination. For that this issue has become more
complex as well as the process of destruction of
forest has been on the increase. Moreover the
timber merchants have been allegedly involved
with these poacher in the process of large scale
destruction of forest. For earning more profit they
do so and take help from poachers by means of
buying these stuff at cheaper rate. Even there has
been allegation at different point of time that the
timber merchants pay in advance to poachers for
such stuff. For that they have found to make nexus
with politicians, administrators, local villagers and
poachers. They share their profit with all these
partners at different points and thereby ensure no
opposition to their illegal activities on any front.
Result is that destruction of forest occurs in an
unimaginable amount. In a situation where the
protectors of forest have been found to be involved
in a nexus with the enemies who are causing
damage to our forest, how can the ordinary people
expect something like protection of forest.
Next to it another issue that is integrately
related to the faster rate of deforestation is the faster
growth of our population. Due to the absence of
any specific and strict rule and regulation to control
our population explosion, there has been recorded
a much higher rate of population growth in our
country. This surplus population in search of
habitation and livelihood have been seen to involve
in the process of faster cleaning of trees and plants.
This has resulted in depletion of our forest cover
in an alarming rate ever. As such, faster population
growth and deforestation coincides.
The central point of my argument here is that
if we want to check the further degenerations of
forests, control over population growth needs to
be done immediately. Strict and mandatory family
planning measures need to be implemented without
any delay. Any flexibility in this regard may result
in more disastrous consequences in near future. Its
difficult to understand why the government has still
not come forward to seriously engross upon this
matter of population control. A slide growth in our
population will surely result in large scale
deforestation as there is no other alternative
51 /
available ibefore us to provide settlement and
livelihood to this surplus population.
Till now we have been engaged in the
discourse how our forest areas have shrinking in a
more faster rate as a result of some of the man made
causes on the environment. Now onwards we will
be taking into consideration some of the issues
which have negative impact on our overall natural
environment and have resulted out of deforestation.
Foremost among such issues is that of the
issue of loss of habitation to our wild life. Due to
deforestation in the form of settlement to our
surplus population, cutting down forests for setting
up of industries of various kinds, coupled with
poaching and timber merchants, illegal cutdown
of trees, the habitation and livelihood for our varied
and large wild life has been shrinking in a more
faster rate. This loss of habitation has resulted in
making our wildlife the easy victim of human
beings as in search of food and shelter they happen
to enter human habitation and become easy prey
in the hands of human beings. Result is that about
10% of the flora is threatened with extinction. With
the loss of habitation of 134 species of plants and
133 species of animals the situation is already grim.
This loss of flora and fauna in great numbers has
damaged the very ecological balance of our natural
environment. And this imbalance is a threat to
human survival for several reasons. So serious
attention should be given to restoration of this very
balance of our ecology through different timely and
effective strategy by government.
Apart from this, the deforestation resulted
through various human activities in turn cause
heavy flood on many occasions and drought on
another count. Faster deforestation has caused soil
erosion which subsequently resulted in heavy
flood. Flood in turn wash away food crops and also
cause damage to our cultivable land. Every year
flood use to damage our cultivation as well as
cultivable land and has left the poor farmers
nowhere, Majority of own population is engaged
in agriculture and allied activities and in this way
contribute to the major portion of our national
income.
If our farmers constantly face the problem of
flood, what the fate of the majority population as
well as the national income growth of the country
will be is easily imaginable. In this regard, the
report of Tata Energy Research Institute deserve
mention here. It says 57% of our total land area
has been degraded which may result in financial
loss of Rs. 23,200 cores. Over 12000 million tones
of annual soil erosion affects over 1 million hector
area with recurring flood and for greater area with
drought in succeeding years. This will drastically
damage our target of food production.
As has rightly been said in this report, that
drought will result in reductions to our food
production in the upcoming years, this said drought
is also caused by large scale deforestation. Due to
reduction in the level of forests the natural process
of rainfall has been to a great extent affected as
trees and plants take part in the natural process of
rainfall. Since we are falling short of trees and
plants so is the case of falling short in the rate of
annual average rainfall. And this rainfall constitute
the main source of water for our cultivation.
Ultimately it looks like no rainfall no water no
cultivation. In the long run if rainfall is not in plenty
more and more areas would be under grip of
drought which will ultimately result in shortage of
food production. As it has been seen that two
different processes flood and drought have been
going on simultaneously. Both this two processes
not only damage our forests but also equally affect
our natural environment to a great extent. So what
I am trying to point here is that on one hand in the
name of economic development we exploit our
forest resources even to the point of its ultimate
damage, on the other, we experience that in that
process of economic development even in at the
cost of damage to our forest and natural
environment how we have ruined ourselves from
within as has been shown from reductions to our
food production due to flood and deforestation.
Next is that of the issue of our health. Due to
succeeding degeneration of natural environment
we are not availing the required purified air for
our breathing. Absence of trees means damage to
the process of natural purification of the air which
has now polluted in a much higher rate by the
industrial emission as well as wastage. This has in
turn caused human beings suffer from breathing
and lung problem. It is reported that about 40,000
people are dying pre-maturely every year, 7,500
/ 52
persons in the capital city of Delhi alone due to
this air borne diseases. Not to take of the global
warming that is also an offshoot of the process of
degradation of the environment due to damage to
forests. The point which draw my attention here is
that what sort of development we pursue at the cost
of environmental degradation and loss of human
as well as other wild life. We cant afford such sort
of development in long run. Otherwise there will
be misbalance in the environment and the outcome
has already been experienced by everyone in this
initial stage of global warming.
Lastly, another very important related issue
in this whole debate is the issue of sustainable
development. In the process of meeting our ever
increasing needs to make our life more comfortable
and happy we on a continuous basis go on
exploiting and damaging our forest and the natural
environment without caring for others. There is no
limit to our effort to damage our forest and
environment. And this is something against the
norms of sustainable development to meet our
present needs we are not allowed to deprived
succeeding generation from their legitimate right
to access to the forest resources. But showing utter
disrespect to the norms of sustainable development,
we are striving to exploit the nature even at the
cost of acute damage to it.
Tata Energy Research Institute has rightly
stated in this regard that the sub-continental
environment is losing its green cover at such a faster
rate that ecological disaster is imminent, if it is not
checked immediately. It does not suit well for
sustainable development and economical growth.
The point that worth mention here is that if
we continuously strive to exploit our forest in
particular and natural environment in general to
meet our ever increasing needs for this point of
time only, our succeding generation will get an
environment where they will live in without green
cover and barren land devoid of any life supporting
condition on this beautiful planet of Earth.
E
nvironmental security is a major part of the
new discourse of human security which is
considered to be the core issue of the present
decade. Deforestation, being a major aspect of
environmental degradation, drew the attention
of the academicians only after the publication
of the UNDPs especial issue on human security
in the year 1994. The issue categorized the
whole range of human security into broad seven
categories; viz. economic, food, health, personal,
environmental, community and political security.
In fact, deforestation is regarded as a global threat
to human security by UNDP.
The importance of forest as a natural carbon
sink cannot be under estimated or overlooked as
forests are fundamental for the sustainability of
the ecosystem. North East India, being one of the
bio-diversity hot spots of the World, is
characterized by a rich reserve of forest resources
which needs proper conservation strategy for
Sangita Bhagawati
(The author teaches Political Science in the College)
53 /
sustainability of the entire region. However, due
to increasing pace of anthropogenic activities,
deforestation has emerged as a threat to this region.
Assam, the gateway to the region, is not exception
from this. Through this paper, an attempt is being
made to highlight the degrading trend of forest
cover changes in Assam and to suggest some
measures for its conservation.
Assam is situated in the north-eastern part of
India covering a geographic area of 78,438 km
2
which constitutes 2.4% of the countrys geographic
area. It is located between lat 24
0
07
/
to 28
0
00
/
N
and long 89
0
42
/
to 96
0
02
/
E. The state ranks 8
th
among all the States and UTs in respect of area
under forest cover (State of Forest Report
2001).The forest cover of the state based on satellite
data of November- December 2004 and January-
March 2005, is 27,645 km
2
which is 35.24% of the
geographical area. A decrease of 90 km
2
has been
reported by State of Forest Report in its
previous study conducted in November-
December 2002 and January- February
2003 in comparison to 2004-05 coverage.
The above table clearly explains the
distribution of the forest resources among
the districts of Assam. The highest forest
covered districts are N.C.Hills and Karbi
Anglong having forest covered area of
87.11% and 76.4% respectively and
lowest forest covered districts are
Morigaon (6.1%) and Dhemaji (7.2%)
districts respectively. The other districts
have low and moderate forest covered
area as shown in the mentioned table.
The change matrix for different
categories is given in Table 2. Analysis
of this matrix shows that from the dense
forest 73 sq.km changed to open forest,
1 sq.km to scrub and 131 sq.km to non-
forest. From the open forest 59 sq.km
shifted to dense forest while 8 sq.km
was lost to scrub and 276 sq.km to non-
forest categories. An area of 5 sq.km of
scrub and 174 sq.km of non-forest
changed to open forest (Forest Survey
of India, 1997).
One of the major factors affecting
forest cover is population explosion as forests are
the best place to accommodate the growing
pressure of additional people. In North-Eastern part
of India due to high growth of population forest
loss is increasing rapidly. Transformation of forest
land into agricultural land, tea cultivation,
alteration of prime natural habitat for
developmental and industrial activities, forest fire
and other anthropogenic activities has led to the
rapid loss of forest cover. The forest depletion has
been aggravated by the indiscriminate felling of
trees to meet the raw material which are essentially
needed for the industrial production, pulp and
paper, plywood and other timber products.
Conclusion cum Suggestion:
Deforestation has emerged as a major threat
to human security on which the policy makers must
keep their attention by making proper policy for
Dist. Geog. Dense Open Total % Scrub
Area
Barpeta 3,245 667 71 738 22.74 0
Bongoigoan 2,510 517 114 631 25.14 2
Cachar 3,786 1,034 1,015 2,049 54.12 18
Darrang 3,481 270 202 472 13.56 1
Dhemaji 3,237 175 58 233 7.2 0
Dhubari 2,798 352 166 518 18.51 0
Dibrugarh 3,381 260 479 739 21.86 0
Goalpara 1,824 158 165 323 17.71 1
Golaghat 3,502 142 310 452 12.91 0
Hailakandi 1,327 425 251 676 50.94 9
Jorhat 2,851 142 420 562 19.71 0
Kamrup 4,345 899 530 1,429 32.89 52
Karbianglong 10,434 4,935 3,037 7,972 76.4 106
Karimganj 1,809 338 287 625 34.55 24
Kokrajhar 3,169 1,203 161 1,364 43.04 1
Lakhimpur 2,277 147 109 256 11.24 0
Morigaon 1,704 62 42 104 6.1 0
N.C Hills 4,888 1,750 2,508 4,258 87.11 1
Naogaon 3,831 490 304 794 20.73 9
Nalbari 2,257 221 46 267 11.83 0
Sibsagar 2,668 203 446 649 24.33 0
Sonitpur 5,324 471 583 1,054 19.8 0
Tinsukia 3,790 969 580 1,549 40.87 0
Total 78,438 15,830 11,884 27,714 35.33 224
Forest Cover
District wise Forest Cover (Assam), 2001
Source: State of Forest Report, 2001
Table 1
/ 54
the conservation of forest resources. Some
suggestions can be provided for reducing the pace
of Deforestation:
1. By adopting of social forestry program
which ensures mass participation
deforestation can be reduced.
2. Creation of public awareness can also be
fruitful. By launching special programs on
the value and importance of
afforestation, forest resources can be
preserved. Plantation can be done in
common village lands, government
lands and Panchayat land both in rural
and urban areas respectively.
3. Committed NGOs and Government
should make policies to check
deforestation in North East India. The
NGOs can act both as an action group
and pressure group in the process of
reducing deforestation and can send
message to the public about its
importance.
However, all the above mentioned efforts will
be futile if the people are not conscious. Mere
policy making is not enough because awareness
of people basically serves as the fuel in this regard.
While analyzing the forest cover changes in N.E.
India, the gravity of the problem of the forest loss
has to be emphasized to generate serious concerns
of the people, NGOs, semi-government and
government agencies.
Data Dec.91- Dense Open Man-Scrub Non Total
Nov.92 Forest Forest grove Forest
Dense Forest 15,489 73 - 1 131 15,694
Open Forest 59 8,024 - 8 276 8,367
Mangrove - - - - - -
Scrub - 5 - 599 19 623
Non-Forest - 174 - 27 53,553 53,754
Total 1997 15,548 8,276 - 635 53,979 78,438
Net change -146 -91 - +12 +225
1997 Assessment (Data Dec, 93,
Apr.-Nov. 94)
1995 Assessment
District wise Forest Cover (Assam), 2001
References
1. Basic Statistics of North Eastern Region, 1990, NEC Publication, Shillong
2. Chatterjee, S & et al. 2006, A Report on Biodiversity Significance of North East India for the Study on Natural Resources,
Water and Environment Nexus for Development and Growth in North Eastern India in WWF-India.
3. Datta Ray, B & et al. 2000, Population Poverty and Environment in North East India, Concept Publishing House, New Delhi.
4. Deka, S. (ed). 2008, North-East India Geo-Environmental Issues, EBH Publication, Guwahati.
5. Hegde, S.N.2000, Conservation of North East Flora, Arunachal Forest News, Vol. 18 (1 & 2)
6. Kaushik, A. & Kaushik, C.P. 2007, Perspectives in Environmental Studies, New Age International (P) Limited, Publishers,
New Delhi.
7. Forest Survey of India, 2005, Ministry of Environment & Forest.
Table - 2
Source: Forest Survey of India
(The author teaches at B.R.M Govt Law College, Panjabari, Guwahati)
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WE BELIEVE NOT ON THE BONDAGE OF KNOWLEDGE, BUT IN IT'S FREEDOM
55 /
T
he word forest is
derived from the Latin word
foris, meaning outside, The reference being
to a village boundary or fence. Forest
constitutes the largest, complex and important
natural resource, mostly dominated by trees.
The plant communities of forests have a closed
canopy of trees, beneath which may be other
smaller trees, shrubs, climbers, mosses and a
ground layer of herbs, microbes etc.
Different types of forests are found in
different climates. The most complex and
variable forest is wet tropical evergreen forests
which have luxurian vegetation of big and small
trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers, microbes etc. On
the other hand, tropical deciduous forests have
categorized into moist, semi-moist, dry, arid and
other types. At higher elevations with increasing
cold, the winter deciduous species become more
prevalent. If moisture conditions are less
favourable in the areas of higher temperature,
the vegetation gets stunted, sparse and is reduced
to a few species. The most of these species are
summer deciduous and have xerophytic
adaptations. India is the seventh largest country
in the world, with an area of 3287.3 sq. km., of
which approximately 20% in under a forest
cover. The forests of India are rich in diversity
and nature, ranging from the dry alpine forests
of Ladakh in the north to the tropical rain forest
of Kerala in the south and from the thorny forests
of the desert tracts in the west to the wet
evergreen forests of North East India.
Champion and Seth (1968) and Negi (1990)
have divided forest types of India into 16 climatic
groups :
1. Tropical wet evergreen forest : This type
of forest is found along the western face of
Western Ghats and Upper Assam, Cachar and
Andamans. The forests are multilayered, dense
with a large number of mesophytic evergreens,
epiphytes and a few climbers.
2. Tropical Semi evergreen forest : Found
on the Western Coast, Assam, lower slopes of the
Eastern Himalayas, Orissa and in Andamans. The
forests consist of large dominant trees, climbers,
bamboos, epiphytes etc.
3. Tropical moist deciduous forest :
Occurs throughout Andamans, moisture parts of
U.P., M.P., Gujarat, Maharastra, Karnataka and
Kerala. The top storey predominantly deciduous
species, second storey consists of evergreens,
bamboos, climbers etc.
4. Littoral and swamp forest : Littoral
forests are found all along the coast and swamp
forests in the deltas of bigger rivers, e.g,
Sundarbans, West Bengal etc.
5. Tropical dry deciduous forest : These
types of forests occur in an irregular strip running
Dr. Sanjukta Gohain Boruah
/ 56
north south from the foot of the Himalayas to
Kanyakumari except in Rajasthan, Western Ghats
and Bengal. The upper canopy of the forest is
composed of a few species of deciduous tree, lower
canopy entirely deciduous and less number of
shrubs, bamboos, climbers, grass etc. are present.
6. Tropical thorn forest : In this type of
xerophytic forest thorny leguminous trees with
short boles and low branches, lower storey of
smaller trees and shrubs, few climbers etc. are
present. This type grows in a large strip in south
Punjab, Rajasthan, Upper Gangetic plains, the
Deccan plateau and the lower Peninsula.
7. Tropical dry evergreen forest : This type
is restricted to a small area of Karnataka coast. The
canopy of the forest is 12m in height and composed
of evergreen trees of short boles, bamboos rare or
absent, grasses are not conspicuous.
8. Sub-tropical broad-leaved hill forest :
Luxuriant evergreen species are found in the slopes
of the Himalayas and in Bengal, Assam and other
hill ranges such as Khasi, Nilgiri and
Mahabaleshwar.
9. Sub-tropical pine forest : Pine forest with
association of chirpine and a few shrubs found
throughout the whole length of the north-west
Himalayas. In Khasi, Manipur and Naga hills,
Khasi pine occurs at similar altitudes.
10. Sub-tropical dry evergreen forest :
Small evergreen stunted trees and shrubs including
thorny species, herbs and grasses are found in the
western Himalayas.
11. Montane wet temperate forest : This
type of forest in evergreen. The trees are mostly
short-boled, dense crowns and rounded leaves,
branches covered with mosses, ferns and other
epiphytes; woody climbers are common. This type
is found in the higher hills of Tamil Nadu, Kerala
and in eastern Himalayas, on the higher hills of
Bengal, Assam, Arunachal, Sikkim and Nagaland.
12. Himalayan moist temperate forest :
Mostly coniferous forest, mosses and ferns grow
freely on trees. These types of forests are found in
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, U.P.,
Darjeeling and Sikkim.
13. Himalayan dry temperate forest : This
type in predominantly coniferous forest with
xerophytic shrubs, hardly any epiphytes and
climber & found in dry areas of Ladakh, Lahaul,
Chamba, Garhwal etc.
14. Sub-alpine forest : This type of forest
occurs in the Himalayan region. Dense growth of
small trees or large shrubs with conifers and grasses
are found in this type of forest.
15. Moist alpine scrub : Occurs along the
entire length of the Himalayas above 3000 metres
and extends to the snowline. The forests composed
of evergreen dense rhododendron, birch, mosses,
ferns, alpine shrubs and flowering herbs.
16. Dry alpine scrub : Xerophytic scrub,
dwarf shrubs are present in the dry zone of high
Himalayas over about 3,500 metres.
Over 40,000 plant species are found in these
forests of which 7000 are endemic. India is the
home of about 3000 trees. The plant wealth of India
represents about 12 percent of that of the entire
world.
Important Forest Trees of India :
1. Abies pindrow (Silver Fir) : A majestic
coniferous tree found in the temperate regions of
the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Kumaun.
2. Acacia arabica (Babul) : This is a medium
sized deciduous tree and grows well in the arid
and semi-arid tracts of western and central India.
3. Acacia catechu (Khair) : A medium sized
tree which remains deciduous for a short period. It
is found in arid and semi-arid tracts and also in the
sub-tropical belt of the Himalaya.
4. Australian Acacia or Wattles :
Collectively known as Australian Acacia because
these are native to Australia & introduced in some
parts of India, mainly in the Nilgiri Hills.
5. Albizia lebbeck Linn (Siris) : A medium
sized tree, found in Andamans, Bengal, Assam,
Maharastra, M.P., U.P., Punjab.
6. Albizia odoratissima (Black Siris) and A.
procera (white siris) are also available in Assam,
Bengal, U.P. and Maharashtra.
7. Anogeissus latifolia, a delicuous tree
occuring in the drier parts of India. It is found in
the sub-Himalayan tract, M.P., Nilgiris etc.
8. Anthocephalus indicus : It is a moderate sized
tree, found in Assam, Bengal and Western Ghats.
9. Bombax ceiba (semal) : This is a huge
tree and occurs widely in the Indo-Gangetic plain
and parts of the sub-Himalayam tract.
57 /
10. Casuarina equisetifolia (Beef wood) :
This is a large evergreen tree and found on the sandy
shores and along the sea coast of India and also in
some riverine areas.
11. Cedrus deodar (Deodar) : This is a large
majestic evergreen coniferous tree and well distributed
in the temperate areas of the Western Himalayas.
12. Dalbergia sissoo (Sisham) : A medium
sized deciduous tree that is well distributed all over
the sub-Himalayan tract.
13. Dalbergia latifolia (Kalisisham) : A large
deciduous or nearly evergreen tree found in
Himalayan tract of eastern U.P., Bihar, Orissa and
Central Western and Southern India.
14. Dipterocarpus : There are many species
of Dipterocarpus found in India of which many
have considerable importance from forestry point
of view. The important Indian species are D.
indicus Bedd., D. macrocarpus, D. tuberculatus
Roxb., D. alatus Roxb., D. grandiflorus Blanco.,
D. costatus, D. Kerrii king. etc.
15. Diospyros ebenum Koenig : It is a
moderate to large sized evergreen tree and found
in the dry evergreen forests of Deccan, Karnataka,
Malabar, Cochin and Travancore.
16. Eucalyptus : Eucalyptus is a genus of
Australian origin. They have been widely planted
commercially in India.
17. Garcinia mangostana Linn : A medium
sized tree with deep green leathery leaves, found
in the lower slopes of Nilgiris.
18. G. Spicata Hook : A tall or medium sized
tree. It is found in the evergreen forest of Western Ghats.
19. Gardenia gummifera Linn : It is a small
tree, distributed in the tropical regions of India.
20. Gardenia latifolia Ait. : A small deciduous
tree, found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions
of India.
21. Gmelina arborea Roxb. : It is a tree and
found in deciduous forests of the greater part of India.
22. Grewia tiliifolia Vahl : It is a moderate
sized to large tree, found in the sub-Himalayan tract
from Jumna to Assam and central, western and
southern India.
23. Picea smithiana Boiss. : This is a tall
evergreen coniferous tree found in the Western
Himalayas.
24. Pinus roxburghii Sar (chir pine) : This
is a large evergreen coniferous tree. It is found in
the Western and Eastern Himalayas.
25. Pinus Wallichiana Jackson (Blue pine) :
It is a large evergreen tree with bluish foliage. It is
well distributed in Western Himalaya.
26. Populus exphortica : This is a deciduous
tree found in Himalayan and sub-Himalayan region.
27. Prosopis juliflora (sw.) DC : This is a small
to medium sized tree of the arid and semi-arid tracts.
28. Quercus (Oaks) : Many species of the
genus Quercus (Q. coccifera, Q. ilex) are found in
the Himalayan belt. These are moderate sized
evergreen tree.
29. Santalum album Linn (White Sandal) :
A small, evergreen tree. It is a native of the high
lands of south India.
30. Shorea robusta (sal) : This is a tall,
evergreen, broad leaved and one of the most
important trees of India. It is well distributed on
northern, central and eastern India.
31. Tectona grandis Linn. (Teak) : Teak is a
large deciduous tree. It is the main tree of India
and also South Asia. It occurs in the central, penin
sular and north-eastern regions.
32. Terminalia arjuna Roxb. (Arjun) : It is
a tall, broad-leaved tree with a large crown and
drooping branches. It is found commonly in
Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and the Western Peninsula.
33. Terminalia bellirica Roxb. (Bahera) : It
is a large tree attaining a height of about 40 metres.
It occurs in deciduous and sub-tropical forest of
India.
34. Terminalia chebula Retz : It is a tree,
found in North and South India.
35. Terminalia tomentosa Weight & Arn.
(Sain) : This a large sized tree with a fully developed
crown. Bark is fissured, resembling crocodile skin.
It is found in many forests of the country.
Forests are natures most beautiful and
versatile resources. Forests provide a wide range of
economic, social, environmental and cultural
benefits and services. The global forest resource is
shrinking as a result of over harvesting, deforestation
and permanent conversion of other form of land use
etc. Thus the scientific management of forest is
necessary in modern times.
(The author teaches Botany)
/ 58
'=+ -: -: '='= =+ =:+
:r+ '+:++'=+ + == +
='+:- -:- = == = =+ + =::-
====+ := 'r: '+ - '+= =+ - :+ - :+
= ==+ :=' = = :- '+:- ':+ '=+
=== - -+ == + + + =+ ==
=-=-+:= = ='+ :+; r '= '== =+
:-:= + + = '=- = +
=:=:+ == '+= : = = - =+:= = = =
='+ = '-'=- = + = |+ +=|+ '= =++ -:
-: ' + := '-=+ '= = = s :-
'+:- = :+ - + '= = = : s+ s
'=== = + == = ++ (concept) = ':-
= ++ - :=' - + -=+ = +
'= + '= = :+:+ =:= = -= = = =
-|+= = := == + :- + '+= ='+ '+
= +=|+ = = := = + == = '= +
= ':-, = +== :=+ + Philosophers
Stone +' = '+ | =
- = : += :+ ='+ ':=:= = := :=
= + :- + + ='+ '+ + =:=:=
= + = - : +'+ ='++:= = |= =+
='+ + -= ='+ '+ ' '= ++ ='++:= =
+'+ '+ + ='+ '+ == = (Mag-
num Opus) | '+ :'=- = :=+ : ' = '+
-='= :=- :=.:=. += '-.+, :+ + '='+=+
:+ + =: | '=-==+= s= (Harry Potter and
the Philosophers Stone) =+ '==== =
+':= = : =+ ::=
+=+= '==+ =+ +:= '=- = +'+
'+ ++ '= = = + ~ == += '===
++ ':+ = : := = :+ The ancient study
of alchemy is concerned with making philosophers
stone, a legendary substance with astonishing
powers. The stone will transform any metal into
pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which
will make the drinker immortal
s '=== +=| :+ +=+=' (alche-
mist) ='+ = +:= (Iabir Ibn Hayyan) '=:
:'-= = r'+ :='== + += '='= ='+
': ='+'=- = r'+' ::= ::, +,
o== + :=:= = ::= + + o==,
'+ :: + o==, = :: + :=:= +
+ - + + :=:= +=+ == =='+ '=:
= ::= = r'+' + =' +:+
:= + '= '= 'r: + := '|=
'r: = ==+ -= =':+ '= '=- :
= r'+ :'-= + =' + '== =-=-'=
:- = == =| =:- ++ ='+ + +
KK
59 /
= +++ : =' ': + :+== + =
+ == :=+ + - ='r+ (al iksir, +
= =+ + =:++ elixir =+ ='= ::=)
=+:= = = o== +. =++ += :+
+ '- '= =+ :'=- = =+':= +'
=+ '= '-+ + :+ + '- =: :=
='++ = = = ='+ :=, + ' -|+= = = ''=r
=++ =++ == -= := + ='r= +=+'==
'=+ :+::+ = = = = + ='+ + + = =
|++ =+ := +== + '+:= =+ aqua re-
gia (=='+= ='r= + ='= ='r=:+ ') =+
+=+'== ':+ '+++ -='= = ='+ =
+=:= '+ +
=+ '=== +=+='==-+ == + =
+ ++ ':+ |= =:=+ = 's + := :-=+ ==
=:=:= + +== '=- = 'r= := + =
= =++ + =| =:- + ++ = =:= =- + :
= : ='+:- := =:- Those of the chemical
craft know well that no change can be effected in the
different species of substances, though they can pro-
duce the appearance of such change. := :
:=+ '=== :='== = '== =- r :=:r
(Albertus Magnus) +'+ '+ + ='+'=- + :=+
:= + = |+ : : '==+ == r == =r (Tho-
mas Aquinas) + == ='+'=- +:| :=r+
:=:= '-'== +'+ '+ ++ ':+ = : = '
:= + '-'== =| = :=:- '++= = =+ =|
=++ = = : :=
=+=++ =++ + = = + :-:= ''
= +'+ | '+ :'=- : '===
==+:-:+ +=+=' :+:r-r:r alkahest =::+
=| =' + = =+ := =: ='+:- :=+
===='+ alkahest ::= =:= =' ='+= +
+ = ==:-:+ (=, +, ', =) =
+ + :=+ '= =+ = alkahest =+
': +r-:= +'
: :+r r== ='= r+ r = =+
Pseudodoxia Epidemica =+ ' :=== '- ::=
=:+ Philosophers stone, not impossible to be
procured. :==+ '==+ +=| '== Mutus
Liber = =:='== 'r+ :=' +'+ '+++
= '+ ::= = '==== ='= '== |
'+ + + += =: +' -= =++ :+
'=++ = :=
=+=+ ' + + =:= +'+ ==
=' + = : := = 'r ' =::+ == +
=+=+ == 'r '= =+= '+ + :+ =:=
=-~ '- | =+ + + +:+ + ='=:= +=
=+=|+ +=+ = = = =' -|+= -=+ + : '='=
=+ + s+ '=== +'r= :'r+ (Yoga
Vasistha) = t= +'+ = : :+ + ' =:= +
+ '=+ :-+ '+ +r=:= +'+ = :=
[o "A[t @
''=r=:= +'+ ''=r = '= = ='+:=
=-:=|'+ =| = ='+ += +. + + =
:+ + +:+ '= + + = == + +.'=
:=+ = == |++ ='+ '+ '- :=:= :=:=
: = = : := ++ =+ =- : :=+ ::= :,
' += =' '- '- :=+ +, +r-:= = '==
'-+ :+ =+ :=- :++ +r== +'+ = '=+
= := = :+ Make of a man and woman a
circle; then a quadrangle; out of this a triangle; make
again a circle, and you will have the stone of the
wise. Thus is made the stone, which thou canst not
discover, unless you, through diligence learn to un-
derstand this geometrical teaching. =|:='
+ +'r=+ s+ + + = ='+ +'= : + ::=
= :+ It ascends from the repulcher of the most
excellent king, shining and glorious, resuscitated from
the dead and wearing a red diadem.
=:+ +'+ + ''=r = ''=r===
++ '+++ '= = ='+ ':= + = +
+ = |+ '= = =++ '+=+ =-- + :
|+=: '+= =-= ''=r + :'-=
'=++ =: ':- '+:- ++ '+'= -+:
+=+= '==+ :+ '- = ':+ ='+ =':-
+'+ + : :=+- +=+= '==:+ ==
=:= =+ +'+ =+: ='s ::= ='=|, ==
='= = = + '='=: ' := : :+
+'+ =| = = 'r'
= ' :+ :'=- =+ ==|=+ 'r +
=...... (''=r ==+ - :- +'r=)
(:-'= +=+= '==+ ''+=)
/ 60
1.
Introduction:
The position of women in any
society is regarded as significant pointer to the
level of culture of that society. As society is a
joint venture of both men & women, that is
why, for overall development of both the
sexes, development in all fields is required
which will ultimately bring empowerment.
Empowerment is the process of
challenging existing power relations and of
gaining greater control over the sources of power.
Karl Marx said, The consciousness of an
individual is determined by his social existence.
For centuries, the patriarchal system has
been practised in our society and that is the
basic reason for enormity of the discrimination
women has faced in all fields. Women have
indeed emerged from social barriers after
centuries of struggle, be it West or East. She
is now able to capture a unique position of her
own through her deeds in various fields of life
as man, i.e. within family, community and
society in spite of innumerable hurdles. The
importance of women was such that without
understanding their role in any and every
civilization, the study and process of society
is not easy to understand. It is in this context,
the concept of empowerment has been gaining
importance.
The subject of women empowerment can
also be said as women liberation which is very
vast to discuss. Literacy, equal rights, emancipation
from bondage, empowerment are some of the areas
of focus for womens advancement in society.
However, what is more important for a true
empowerment of women is her equal participation
in a mode of production i.e. the economy. That is
why people are of the view that what a woman
requires is not protection but promotion; an
encouragement to participate along with men in
various economic activities of society.
Empowerment could be recognized as an
ability to undertake a number of tasks either
individually or in groups, so that they have further
access to and control of society. It is recognized as
an essential strategy to strengthen the well being
of individuals, families, communities, government
& non- government agencies. Empowerment
through entrepreneurial development has become
important task now a days.
Entrepreneurship is simply finding new
opportunities to do things better. It can also be
defined as the creation of value through creativity
and innovation matched with the pursuit of
opportunity. Entrepreneurship is, new ways of
thinking, seeing a new business opportunity, and
capitalizing on it through a new business venture
have created paradigm shifts and even entire
Anamika Medhi
61 /
industries and as a result, are fueling worldwide
economic growth. As long as people who willingly
accept the risk of the unknown, in exchange for
the thrill of achievement, entrepreneur will turn a
glimmer of hope in a creative idea into a successful
reality. Entrepreneurs come from a variety of
backgrounds and so depending on the situation &
need, they can be utilized.
Hira potter of Barpeta is a scheduled caste
community of Assam whose main occupation is
pottery making. Hira women are main potter who
do the main task of pot making. Males help them
in different ways like collection of raw-materials,
fire materials, selling the finished products etc. The
socio-economic position of Hiras is totally
depending on pottery work. They are considered
as socially and economically backward in our
society. Hira women are not empowered. They're
even unfamiliar with this word. Entrepreneurial
development can be a way to empower Hira women
in Barpeta, Assam. Empowerment is the stage
which one acquires by certain qualities. It is a
process through which one can reach in a stage of
independence. Women empowerment, which is a
popular term in the present time requires
entrepreneurial development.
2. Meaning of Entrepreneurship : An
entrepreneur is a person who combines capital and
labour for the purpose of production. It is an
individual who creates a new enterprise.
Entrepreneurship is an economic activity
which is undertaken by an individual or group of
individuals. Women entrepreneurship is the process
where women organize all the factors of
production, undertake risks, and provide
employment to others.
3. About Hira potter and their problems: The
Hira community is a scheduled caste community
and is the earliest potter community in Assam. They
have enlisted in the scheduled caste list of Assam
by the Constitution of India, (Scheduled Caste)
order, 1950, and now belong to the Scheduled
Caste population. They are mostly found in the
plains of the Brahmaputra Valley, particularly in
the districts of Barpeta, Nagaon, Nalbari, Darrang,
Goalpara, Dhubri, Kamrup. In Barpeta district, they
are mostly found in the areas naming as Sorbhog,
Barpeta Road, Sarupeta, Patacharkuchi, Pathsala,
Howli, Barpeta, Mondia, Sarthebari, Bohari.
According to 1971 census, the total population of
the Hira community consists of the 5.6% of the
total population of Assam. The following table
shows the district- wise distribution of Hira
population in Assam.
In Assam, Hiras generally live in the rural
areas. The traditional pattern of social interactions
between the Hiras and other Hindus reflects to
some extent the idea of social distances.
Hira women of Barpeta are the main potters by
profession. They do pottery besides doing their
household duties. At present pottery business is not
much profitable due to non-availability of raw-
material and expense of firewood for burning the
pots in Assam. Male members shifted to other jobs
like rikshaw puller, thela puller, carpenter, handyman,
driver, hawker, mason, biscuit ferry etc. But women
are still doing this craft in spite of these hardships.
They only use their hands in making pots. In spite of
giving their precious contributions in this field of
pottery, they could not attain a very good status. She
has neither her own property nor her own savings.
Whatever she earns, she has to spend for the entire
family. So survival needs new thinking, new attempts
for their development. In this context entrepreneurial
development has tremendous scope for Hira potters
in Barpeta, Assam which will ultimately empower
them.
4. Analysis : Pottery is a cottage industry in Assam.
Basically cottage industries are the units started as
domestic industries in the initial stages all over
Dist. Male Female Total
Kamrup (Include 4,787 4,611 9,398
Barpeta)
Goalpara 2,543 2,233 4,776
Darrang 1,603 1,556 3,159
Nagaon 7,310 6,927 14,237
Sibsagar 189 156 345
Lakhimpur 359 280 639
Karbi-Anglong 26 31 57
N.C.Hills 2 - 2
Cachar 9 - 9
Total (Assam) 16,328 15,794 3,2622
Source: 1991 Census report on population with caste-wise
distribution is yet not available and there was no census done in
1981 in Assam, therefore the district wise distribution of Hira
population based on 1971 census .
/ 62
Assam, which are later on developed into small
scale units so as to serve as feeder units to other
industrial units. These are mostly managed by
artisans and skilled people.
Industrialization is an effective instrument of
growth and welfare. So considering this point the
government of Assam has also started industrialization
in Assam in 1948. As a result many industries like
sericulture, terra cotta industries, bamboo industries
etc. have developed tremendously in Assam. But
pottery industries of Hiras are not developed to the
extent it should have been. As a result the position of
Hira families are not improving till now.
The economic status of an individual or
society is dependent on the employment available
in that locality or area. Employment is admittedly
power lever to boost up the socio economic
conditions of a community.The economic status
of Hira women is not at all satisfactory. They are
actively involved in the pottery for about 8/9
months a year. Yet, they are unable to meet two
squares meal properly. It is because of the rural
nature of the population, added with lack of
education and information, and seasonal nature of
the pot making industry.
In spite of women cells, the problem of getting
loans and aids from banks still persist .Women face
discrimination and negligence. People including
bankers and government officials find it difficult to
take Hira women seriously as entrepreneurs. As
entrepreneurs generally have skills and talents to
overcome the problems, therefore entrepreneurship
is a key instrument to develop Hira womens
position. They may create more goods,
empowerment and growth of national income.
It reveals from various studies that the total
percentage of entrepreneurial development is 0%.
It is due to their lack of knowledge and education.
The educational level of the women of age group
between 20- 35 years is upto sixth standard. The
highest educational level is found upto higher
secondary level among the youth. But study reveals
that the youth educated section are very much
interested in entrepreneurial development. As they
find difficulty to get a job for their poor economic
condition, they are interested to do something
through pottery which will be easy for them. But
it has not been done yet in Barpeta , though a Hira
boy in Nagaon district of Assam has started
entrepreneurship through pottery and has done
well. He takes loans from Pragjyotish Gaonliya
Bank and not only repaid his loan in time but also
earned profit.
Thus taking it as example, Hira potters socio-
economic condition can be developed through
entrepreneurship development. They are skilled
and talented people who know pottery work
inheritably.
The following problems are mainly found
from our study :
1. Lack of economic independence and autonomy.
2. Lack of aptitude and necessary motivation.
3. Lack of market courage.
4. No business experience.
5. No risk bearing capacity.
6. Lack of proper education.
7. Male dominated society.
8. Ignorance and lack of information.
9. Liquidity and easy availability of finance.
8. Suggestions
1. Proper training and information.
2. Proper co-ordination between concerned
authorities.
3. Planners and policy makers should make
themselves familiar with the problems and
priorities of the area.
4. Developing a special cell and with adequate
staff for selecting and guiding genuine
investors.
5. Local encouragement is needed.
References:
1. Women Entrepreneurship in India, (2008), by R.Vasanthagopal and Santha S. , New Century Publications , New Delhi.
2. Womens Contribution to Indias Economic And Social Development, (1989), Mahajan, V.S., Deep and Deep Publications ,
New Delhi .
3. C.S. V., (2010), Small Scale Industries and Entrepreneurial Development, Himalaya Publishing House, 2
nd
Revised Edition, Reprint
4. Core Problems of the Scheduled Castes in Assam (edited), 1995, published by The Assam Institute of Research for Tribals
and Scheduled Castes.
5. Women, Population of North- East India: A study in Gender Geography, ( 2002), by Bimal Kr. Kar .
6. Singh,G.,( 1979), Pottery in India , Vikas Publishing House Ltd, New Delhi.
(Author teaches Political Science in Barpeta Girls College, Barpeta)
63 /
O
n 1 January 1999, the European single
currency Euro was duly launched by
eleven of the then fifteen European Union (EU)
members. The creation of a single European
currency was an official objective of the EU in
1969. With the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, the
member states were legally bound to start the
monetary union no later than 1 January 1999.
The Euro remained an accounting currency
until 1 January 2002, when euro notes and coins
were issued and national currencies began to
phase out in the Eurozone, which by then
consisted of twelve member states.
At present the Euro is the official currency
of 17 of the 27 member states of the EU. It is
also the currency used by the Institutions of the
EU. The Eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium,
Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and
Spain. The currency is also used in a further five
European countries (Montenegro, Andorra,
Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City) and the
disputed territory of Kosovo. It is consequently
used daily by some 332 million Europeans.
Additionally, over 175 million people worldwide
use currencies which are pegged to the Euro,
including more than 150 million people in Africa.
The Euro is the second largest reserve
currency and the second most traded currency
in the world after the U.S. dollar. As of July 2011,
with nearly 890 billion in circulation, the Euro
has the highest combined value of banknotes and
coins in circulation in the world, having surpassed
the U.S. dollar. Based on IMF estimates of 2008
GDP and purchasing power parity among the
various currencies, the Eurozone is the second
largest economy in the world.
The name Euro was officially adopted on 16
December 1995. The Euro was introduced to world
financial markets as an accounting currency on 1
January 1999, replacing the former European
Currency Unit (ECU) at a ratio of 1:1. Euro coins
and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2002.
The Euro is designed to help build a single market
by, for example: easing travel of citizens and goods,
eliminating exchange rate problems, providing price
transparency, creating a single financial market, price
stability and low interest rates, and providing a
currency used internationally and protected against
shocks by the large amount of internal trade within
the Eurozone. It is also intended as a political symbol
of integration and stimulus for more.
The Euro, and the monetary policies of those
who have adopted it in agreement with the EU,
are under the control of the European Central
Bank (ECB). There are eleven other currencies
used in the EU.
Administration : The European Central Bank
(ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is in charge of the
Eurozones monetary policy. The Euro is managed
and administered by the ECB and the Eurosystem
Anita Baruwa
/ 64
(composed of the central banks of the Eurozone
countries). As an independent central bank, the ECB
has sole authority to set monetary policy. The
Eurosystem participates in the printing, minting and
distribution of notes and coins in all member states,
and the operation of the Eurozone payment systems.
The 1992 Maastricht Treaty obliges most EU member
states to adopt the Euro upon meeting certain
monetary and budgetary requirements, however, not
all states have done so. The United Kingdom and
Denmark negotiated exemptions, while Sweden
turned down the Euro in a 2003 referendum, and has
circumvented the obligation to adopt the Euro by not
meeting the monetary and budgetary requirements.
All nations that have joined the EU since 1993 have
pledged to adopt the Euro in due course.
Payments clearing, electronic funds
transfer : All intra-EU transfers in Euro are
considered as domestic payments and bear the
corresponding domestic transfer costs. This
includes all member States of the EU, even those
outside the Eurozone providing the transactions are
carried out in Euro. Credit/debit card charging and
ATM withdrawals within the Eurozone are also
charged as domestic, however paper-based
payment orders, like cheques, have not been
standardised so these are still domestic-based. The
ECB has also set up a clearing system, TARGET,
for large Euro transactions.
Eurocurrency : Currency deposited by
national governments or corporations in banks
outside their home market are called Eurocurrency.
This applies to any currency and to banks in any
country. For example, South Korean Won
deposited at a bank in South Africa, is considered
Eurocurrency or Euromoney. Having Euro does
not mean that the transaction has to involve
European countries. However, in practice,
European countries are often involved.
Eurocurrency Market : Eurocurrency market
is the money market in which Eurocurrency, currency
held in banks outside of the country where it is legal
tender, is borrowed and lent by banks in Europe. Thus,
it is a market where financial and banking institutions
provide banking services denominated in foreign
currencies. The Eurocurrency market allows for more
convenient borrowing and lending, which improves
the international flow of capital for trade between
countries and companies. For example, a Japanese
company borrowing U.S. dollars from a bank in
France is using the Eurocurrency market. Unlike
Eurocredit markets, however, loans in this market are
made short-term.
The Euro Crisis and its impact on India :
The Euro was a great accomplishment of the EU.
But there are further requirements to a Union than
a common currency. Nothing was done about the
other requirements like a unitary labour market, a
common fiscal policy and ultimately a single
political structure. And right now the worlds
second largest currency is facing severe threat. The
value of Euro is depreciating at a faster rate than
ever before. This is the first Eurozone crisis since
its creation in 1999. The source of the crisis is the
sovereign debt crisis in Greece which developed
in late 2009. The Greek debt crisis is spilling over
to other European nations like Portugal, Spain and
Ireland. With a budget deficit of 15.4 per cent of
GDP, Greeces debt amounts to over 340 million
Euros and its unemployment rate has touched a
historical high. The Greek crisis shows the inherent
weakness in the Euros structure. While opting for
the Euro, Greece had voluntarily surrendered its
monetary policy to the European Central Bank.
This has curtailed its scope to make changes in its
interest and exchange rates as the one size fits all
rates guide all the Eurozone members. So Greece
is willing to quit the Euro. Other Eurozone
members are also thinking on similar lines. Though
a host of bail-out measures have been carried out,
the dangers of a monetary union are obvious to all
and it has been suggested that for long term stability
what is required is a common fiscal policy.
India exports about a quarter of its merchandise
to the EU, amounting to about Rs 8.4 lakh crore.
The European debt crisis will reduce Indias exports.
With the depreciation of Euros value, Indian goods
will become relatively costlier in the European
market, affecting international competitiveness of
Indian goods. Again, the downhill European market
will reduce foreign investment in India. The worst
prediction is that Greece could soar up crude oil
prices even more, which would make inflation in
India unmanageable.
(Author teaches Economics)
65 /
T
he role of theory is in realizing human potential
and transforming society, rather than
maintaining the power structure. - Alan Sears
NATION IN TRANSITION: The year 2011 has
been a very dynamic year and we have felt the
vibes of an upsurging democracy in every walk of
our transient life. A widely popular Media, which
is regarded as the fourth pillar of our democracy,
apart from the other three (legislature, executive
and the judiciary) is hugely responsible for
bringing these elements of change to our
doorsteps. We have not only been transformed by
it but have also sowed and led these
transformations from the front. Popular mass
frenzy usually associated with uprisings has been
witnessed and the alertness of middle-class has
greatly increased in policy framework and their
implementation. Such vibrancy has rarely been
seen and the potency of reasonable and justified
demand of a welfare state, rarely been advocated.
But has this change revealed itself suddenly or has
it been an answer to an accumulated rage against
the concurrent state of affairs? From a sociological
perspective, conflict is necessary for change. These
conflicts have plagued our democracy since the
formulation of our constitution but instead of
working as a deterrent they have revitalized our
democracy and has brought about agents of change
to contribute beneficially and critically towards
better governance and insightful Nation building.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES: We
have, as a nation moved towards a more Global
outlook and our foreign policies have greatly
contributed to the increase in bilateral as well as
multilateral trade relations between developing as
well as developed countries. Our participation in
elite G8 summits and increasing presence in
Economic Forums around the world has brought
us at par with leading trade giants in the western
world and it wont be long when we would reach
the two digit GDP growth rate and prove ourselves,
a tough competitor against the Chinese Dragon
in terms of aggressive economic growth. As a
driving model of resurgent economy, we have
commitments and far greater responsibilities, but
having a cleaner image is equally important. A
transparent market provides ideal opportunities and
relevant safeguards for the conduct of multi-
dimensional trade and such mutual coherence not
only helps in increasing capital inflows but also
helps in better quality and management of domestic
goods and services and most importantly leads to
employment generation.
A major factor in bringing class inequality
among the forefront issues in socio-political
domain has been electoral politics, regional
disparities and corporate mis-governance. With
wide ranging economic reforms since 1991,
which has brought the benefits of free market
economy, booming growth of some economic
sectors and increased life standards, there has also
been a surge of economic inequality and the
continuing reality of widespread and grinding
poverty in spite of many government
programmes touted to alleviate the latter. Lenient
taxation policies, in-transparency in governance,
low accountability, lagging judiciary and
Rajarshi Das
/ 66
labyrinthine bureaucratic protocols have further led
to increase in drain of wealth and illicit transfer of
capital resulting in corruption of biblical
proportions and massive loss to the exchequer
which has negatively impacted the Nations
credibility and economic boom.
The changes in the economic foundation lead
sooner or later to the transformation of the whole
immense superstructure.
1
And with the enactment
of laws like Prevention of Corruption Act 1988,
Right to Information Act 2005, Prevention of Money
Laundering Act 2002 and the proposed Bill on
Goods and Services Tax, Whistleblowers
Protection, Judicial Standard and Accountability,
Appointment of an Ombudsman for tightening the
noose on rampant corruption, we are on the verge
of a socio-economic and political revolution that
would not only change our lives but also usher in a
hope for a sustainable future of our next generations.
International Initiatives Against Corruption:
Corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide
range of corrosive effects on societies. It undermines
democracy and the rule of law, leads to violation of
human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality
of life, and allows organized crimes, terrorism, and
other threats to human security to flourish.
Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by
diverting funds intended for development,
undermining a governments ability to provide basic
services, feeding inequality and injustice, and
discouraging foreign aid and investment. Corruption
is the key element in economic underperformance
and a major obstacle to poverty alleviation and
development.
2
The United Nations Convention against
Corruption entered into force on 14
th
December
2005. It provided a detailed structural framework
of policy formulation for fighting corruption in
respective countries. It is the first legally binding
international anti-corruption instrument. Citing wide
deterioration in regional efforts in fighting
corruption, the convention had strict provisions to
combat and eliminate this scourge from the society.
Article 1(c) states that the purpose of this convention
is to promote integrity, accountability and proper
management of public affairs and public property.
The convention has encompassed every conceivable
aspect to tackle corruption from appointment of
officials, jurisdiction, and implementation to asset
recovery. Apart from five countries (North Korea,
Somalia, Chad, Eritrea and Oman) all countries with
a population of over 1 million have ratified,
accepted, approved or acceded the convention.
ADB/OECD Anti Corruption initiative for Asia
and the Pacific has drawn up an Action Plan with
Three Pillars.
Developing effective and transparent
systems for public service. (Integrity in
Public Service, Accountability and
Transparency)
Strengthening anti-bribery actions and
promoting integrity in business operations.
(Effective Prevention, Investigation and
Prosecution, Corporate Responsibility and
Accountability)
Supporting active public involvement.
(Public Discussion of Corruption, Access
to information, Public Participation)
The Action Plan contains legally non-binding
principles and standards towards policy reform
which participating governments of the Asia-
Pacific region voluntarily commit to implement in
order to combat corruption and bribery in a co-
ordinated and comprehensive manner and thus
contributes to development, economic growth and
social stability. India has formally endorsed the
Action plan on 30
th
November 2001 along with 27
other countries of the Asia Pacific region.
3
Global Financial Integrity (GFI) promotes
national and multilateral policies, safeguards, and
agreements aimed at curtailing the cross-border
flow of illegal money. In putting forward solutions,
facilitating strategic partnerships, and conducting
groundbreaking research, GFI is leading the way
in efforts to curtail illicit financial flows and
enhance global development and security.
In January 2009, GFI launched The Task
Force on Financial Integrity and Economic
Development which advocates for greatly
improved transparency and accountability in the
global financial system. India is a member country
of this global coalition.
The Task Force advocates five priorities, each
one focusing on transparency-
Curtailment of mispricing in trade imports
and exports
67 /
Country-by-country accounting of sales,
profits, and taxes paid by multinational
corporations
Confirmation of beneficial ownership in all
banking and securities accounts
Automatic cross-border exchange of tax
information
Harmonization of predicate offenses under
anti-money laundering laws
Global Experiences : According to widely quoted
Corruption Perception Index 2010 Results by
Transparency International which is a member of
the Co-ordinating Committee of The Task Force
on Financial Integrity and Economic Development,
Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore ranks high
with a score of 9.3 having lowest perception of
corruption with Somalia (incidentally a non
ratifying country of The United Nations
Convention Against Corruption) having the score
of 1.1 with the highest corruption. India ranks 87
along with Liberia, Jamaica and Albania with a
score of 3.3 among the 178 listed countries.
4
A study of relevant legislations of Denmark,
New Zealand and Singapore has revealed stark
contrasts to our own legislations in dealing with
corruption. These countries have not only
formulated an effective framework, but have also
made sure to implement them with strict follow-
ups. Highly efficient administrative machinery
with unbiased judiciary and strict law enforcement
agencies have reduced the menace of corruption
and have also increased transparency in domestic
and foreign trade policies. What is recommendable
in counties as such are peoples perception and role
in governance. Along with responsible legislators,
civil society groups have integrated themselves in
prevention of corruption and have highlighted
limitations if any in the implementation of
countermeasures to combat corruption effectively.
Domestic Countermeasures Against Corruption:
Prevention of Corruption Act 1988: After the end
of Indira Gandhis rule, there had been widespread
speculation on the value of licensing, the imposition
of high taxes, limiting foreign investment etc. which
had undervalued the economy tremendously. The
Parliament of India enacted this law under PM Rajiv
Gandhi in order to mitigate the effects of rampant
corruption brought about by License-Permit-Raj and
to rein control over the bureaucracy. Though an
initial initiative, critics pan about its toothless nature
and ineffective jurisdiction and law enforcement
procedures.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 :
Whosoever directly or indirectly attempts to
indulge or knowingly assists or knowingly is a
party or is actually involved in any process or
activity connected with the proceeds of crime and
projecting it as untainted property shall be guilty
of offence of money-laundering.
5
The focus of
public activism, political outrage, and judicial
concern on black money ought to be as much
inward as it is westward. The Parliament in
accordance with International laws, to provide
transparent and accountable revenue management
enacted PMLA to prevent money laundering and
to provide for confiscation of property derived
from, or involved in money laundering.
Right to Information Act 2005 : And whereas
democracy requires an informed citizenry and
transparency of information which are vital to its
functioning and also to contain corruption and to
hold Governments and their instrumentalities
accountable to the governed.
6
RTI, as it is
commonly known, is an instrument of massive
powers enacted by our Parliament. Under the
provisions of the Act, any citizen may request
information from a public authority (a body of
Government or instrumentality of State) which
is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty
days. The Act also requires every public authority
to computerize their records for wide dissemination
and to pro-actively publish certain categories of
information so that the citizens need minimum
recourse to request for information formally.
Concerns and Way Ahead : Utilizing the World
Bank Residual Model (CED) and a trade
Mispricing Model based on IMF Direction of Trade
statistics, GFI presented a report which said from
1948 through 2008, India lost a total of US $213
billion in illicit financial flows (or illegal capital
flight). These illicit financial flows were generally
the product of: tax evasion, corruption, bribery
and kickbacks, and criminal activities. Adjusted
Estimates: The present value of Indias total illicit
financial flows (IFFs) is at least US $462 billion.
We also find that there is a statistical
/ 68
correlation between larger volumes of illicit flows
and deteriorating income distribution.
7
Some major Corruption Scandals with their
approximate values involving massive loss to the
exchequer are:
Bofors Scandal 40 crore [1989]; Stock
Market Scam (Harshad Mehta) 4000 crore
[1992]; Stamp Paper Scam (Abdul Karim Telgi)
20, 000 crore [1995]; Fodder Scam 950 crore
[1996]; Hawala Bribery Scandal ($ 18 mn) [1997];
Public Distribution Scam (Gegong Apang) 1000
crore [2004]; Money-laundering and mining scam
(Madhu Koda) 4000 crore [2009]; Uttar Pradesh
food grain scam 35,000 crore [2010]; Housing
loan scam in India - $ 85 billion [2010];
Commonwealth Games Scam 8000 crore [2010];
2G Spectrum Scam ( A Raja, M.K. Kanimozhi) -
1,76,379 crore [2010].
The scale of corruption levels have increased
in the past decade and have encompassed every
sector of Economic Growth. The pressure on the
Government has tremendously increased and
demands for policies ensuring accountability, good
policing and auditing have shaken the very
foundation of our democracy. We have seen wide
scale reforms in social sector but its tragic to find
its implementation marred by wide scale
corruption. In order to constitutionally guarantee
a secure and transparent policy framework, Bills
have been introduced in the Parliament but await
their enactment. Some of them which would
radicalize decision making are:
Judicial Standard and Accountability Bill
2010 - The Bill seeks to (a) lay down
judicial standards, (b) provide for the
accountability of judges, and (c) establish
mechanisms for investigating individual
complaints for misbehaviour or incapacity
of a judge of the Supreme Court or High
Courts (d) It also provides a mechanism for
the removal of judges.
The Lokpal Bill 2011 - to provide for the
establishment of the institution of Lokpal
to inquire into allegations of corruption
against certain public functionaries and for
matters connected therewith.
Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to
Persons Making The Disclosure Bill, 2010 -
to establish a mechanism to receive
complaints relating to disclosure on any
allegation of corruption or willful misuse of
power or willful misuse of discretion against
any public servant and to inquire or cause an
inquiry into such disclosure and to provide
adequate safeguards against victimization of
the person making such complaint.
8
Jan Lokpal Bill Or Lokpal BillThe Ensuing
Debate: A recent spurge of debate among civil
society activists and GOI, amidst wide scale
agitations and parliamentary proceedings, has
resulted in media frenzy in both regional and national
circuits. An unprecedented scale of mass
involvement was here through never been seen in
present scenario. Social networking sites (Facebook,
Twitter, etc) have revolutionized the concept of mass
mobilization and they were used to their full potency.
Plucking on the Nations conscience, the issue of
corruption had united every class of citizen and
harped on their common angst. Anna Hazare had
single handedly brought the ruling kingpins of the
political class to their knees. What ensued was the
political realization that Democracy was still for
the people, of the people and by the people. Inspite
of provoking the National sentiment against
corruption, the movement has taken on a passive
state due to prolonged political indecisiveness and
civil society infighting.
The PMs inclusion has been a controversial
topic in the Bill. The appointment of a State
Ombudsman (Lokyukta) in line of central Lokpal
as demanded by the Team Anna has also been an
issue of discontent, with the government Bill
having no provisions as such. Inclusion of lower
Bureaucracy and every State Govt. official under
the ambit of Lokpal has also increased tension in
the conflict. Inclusion of NGOs and provision for
Citizens Charter (Grievance Redress Mechanism)
has been omitted in the Govt. draft but has found
strong voices in the Jan LokPal Bill (JLB). In
some of its radical clauses, The JLB has made
very strict reservations like in Investigation and
Prosecution, the Anti-Corruption Branch and the
Prosecution wing of the CBI is to be merged into
Lokpal and the Lokpal need not give public
servant the opportunity of being heard whereas
the Govt. Draft keeps the CBI independent of the
69 /
Lokpal. Since the current state of affairs has made
the CBI submissive to Political patronage, Team
Anna is adamant on this particular issue. The
report of the Standing Committee would be
delivered in the coming winter session of the
Parliament and the Bill is likely to be passed.
There have also been widespread speculations on
giving the Office of Lokpal a Constitutional Status
in the likes of CAG and Election Commission.
Providing Constitutional Status to the Lokpal
means it would be written into the Constitution
and cant be abolished without amending that part
of the Constitution which sometimes also requires
consent of the states and which can also be
invalidated by the Supreme Court. Though such
Parliamentary procedures take time but a
Constitutional Body would definitely mean a
stronger and effective Lokpal with both tooth and
nail.
THE NEED OF THE HOUR: As the Indian
Tiger of Economic growth is making its presence
felt globally with aggressive foreign policies and
has managed to sustain itself during the American
Debt Crisis and the current Eurozone Crisis, we
have felt the need to further improve our status
in the regional as well as domestic circuit. A
complete revival of the existing System by
collaborating with International Organizations,
domestic legislations and strict implementation
can definitely make a change. Fully committed
political leaders, strict anti-corruption laws which
provide sufficient deterrence, support of the
members of the public as well as senior public
officials and relentless effort of judicial and law
enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute
all cases of corruption without any fear or favour
can help to manage and control the problem of
corruption. No country can be free from it but at
least there can be efforts to mitigate its effects
substantially. We have a vibrant, educated,
responsible and dynamic youth populace in the
country which is a tremendous resource and can
bring about changes in the entire socio-political
and economic structure of the country with
sensible leadership and, genuine and sincere
efforts.
Intelligence alone is not courage; we often see
that the most intelligent people are irresolute. Since
in the rush of events a man is governed by feelings
rather than by thought, the intellect needs to arouse
the quality of courage, which then supports and
sustains it in action. - Carl von Clausewitz.
References :
1. Karl Marx; A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, 1859
2. Kofi Annan, Former Secretary General of United Nations; Foreward (United Nations Convention Against Corruption)
3. Anti corruption action plan for Asia and the Pacific. Tokyo; 30 November 2001 [ADB/OECD Anti Corruption Initiative for
Asia and the Pacific]
4. http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results
5. Chapter II of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 published by the Ministry of Law and Justice; 20
th
January, 2003
6. http://righttoinformation.gov.in/webactrti.htm
7. Dev Kar , The drivers and Dynamics of Illicit Financial Flows from India: 1948-2008
http://persmin.gov.in/DOPT/EmployeesCorner/Acts_Rules/DisclosureBill/DisclosureBill_2010_Eng.pdf
(The author is an alumni of Dept. of Chemistry, Tinsukia College)
/ 70
0.0 Introduction : Tourism
is a temporary, short term
movement of people to destination
outside the places where they normally
live and work their activities during the stay
at each destination. It is defined as the
organization and operation of holidays especially,
commercially. Tourism is now-a-days considered
as an important industry which has vast scope
for the generation of income and employment. It
is one of the worlds fastest growing industries, a
major source of foreign exchange earner of a
nation and a measure for resolving inter state and
inter community conflict.
India joined the club of globalized economy
in 1991 when its economy is under the spell of
fiscal and balance of payment crisis which compel
her to initiate several structural adjustment
programmes and economic liberalization. It has
opened the door of many new opportunities as well
as formidable challenges. All spheres of life as like
social, political, cultural and economic have been
subjected to both positive and negative elements
of globalization. With the increasing concern of
widening of inter-state disparities and lack of
development, it is highly imperative to assess the
effects of globalization on North East India- one
of the most backward regions of the country during
the globalization period.
Assam is the pioneer state of the North-
Eastern Region of India and situated in the far,
north-east corner of the country. The total
geographical area of the state is 78,438 sq. km,
which accounts for about 2.4 percent of the
countrys total geographical area. Assam shares her
border with Arunachal Pradesh in East, West
Surjya Chutia
Bengal, Meghalaya and Bangladesh in West,
Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan in North, and
Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya &
Tripura in South. Longitude: 88.250E to 96.00E
Latitude: 24.50N to 28.00N. The entire area of
Assam can be broadly divided into three well-
defined geographical units namely- the
Brahmaputra Valley covering the main body of the
state in the north, the Barak Valley in the narrow
protruding south and the states Hilly region that
separates the two valleys. For administrative and
revenue purposes, the 27 districts of the state are
divided into 53 Sub-divisions and 149 Revenue
circles. Although the potentiality of resources is
very high, the state is still lagging behind in respect
of economic development. This is mainly due to
curse of nature and lack of proper attention of the
central government. The state as well as the entire
north east region of India has been subjected to
century long neglect. Even after 63 years of the
countrys independence, same kind of central
apathy is being continued to the region.
1.0 Potentialities of Tourism in Assam: The state
of Assam is best known for her unique natural
beauty with flora and fauna, historical
monuments, pilgrim centre, tea gardens and its
colorful cultural festivals. Although the whole
north eastern region has tremendous tourism
potential, the tourism industry in the area has still
miles to go to exploit the proper potentialities.
The tourism in Assam is mainly based on Wildlife,
Tea tourism, Historical Monuments, Ethnic
cultural heritages etc. Therefore, natural parks and
sanctuaries, rivers, lakes, warm water springs,
71 /
forests, wild life, are the principal components of
tourist attraction in the state. The whole tourism
potentialities of the state can be grouped together
under the following categories: (a) Wildlife, (b)
Nature Tourism, (c) Tea tourism (d) Eco Tourism,
(e) Cultural Tourism (f) Pilgrim Tourism (g) Golf
Tourism and ( h) Adventure Tourism (i) Others.
1.01. Wildlife: An attractive feature of
Assams forestry is its colourful wildlife. Some of
the species are exclusive to the state. Assam is
famous for being the home of one-horned
rhinoceros. Some of the other endangered species
found in the state are hollock gibbon, the stamp
tailed macaque, the capped langur, the golden
langur, the pigmy hog, the clouded leopard, the
golden cat, the white winged wood-duck, etc. All
these can make Assam one of the best destinations
of the tourists.
There are five National Parks and eleven
wildlife and bird sanctuaries for protection and
preservation of wildlife in the state. The five
National Parks Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang
and Dibru-Saikhowa cover an area of 1561.14 sq
km. The total area covered by eleven wildlife and
bird sanctuaries is 492.97 sq km.
1.02 Nature Tourism: Nature tourism
understood in terms of wildlife sanctuaries
constitutes the core of tourism in Assam. The state
as well as the North-Eastern region of India falls in
the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. With its dense
forests, uneven topography, flora and fauna, snow-
clad Himalaya, Blue hills, crystal clear streams,
majestic water falls, and large number of national
parks, tiger projects, bird sanctuaries etc. offer
tremendous opportunities for development of nature
tourism. Many rare species of animals & birds are
found in Assam. From one end to the other, the state
offers to the tourists so many places of natural beauty
with wide variety that very few places in the world
can compete with it. The tourists, both domestic and
foreign, are likely to find these places attracting, nay
alluring, provided a well-definite programme of
action is evolved. An internationally reputed
consultancy farm Cooper & Lybrand submitted a
report to the Govt. of Assam in the year 1996, which
stated that if the vast tourism potentials of NE India
are fully developed within twenty years, the region
will receive more tourist than Singapore and
Bangkok. Because almost all the western and
Japanese tourists visiting South East Asian region
would drive a few hundred kilometers more to enjoy
the scenic and cultural beauties of north east region.
This alone can boost the economy of entire NE.
1.03 Tea Tourism: Tea was first discovered
in Assam in 1823 by two intrepid British
adventurers, Robert and Charles Bruce and since
then tea has become an integral part of Assams
economy. It is the largest single industrial sector in
the state, which is contributing a bigger share in the
state income of Assam. The importance of Tea
industry can be realised from the fact that Assam
alone produces more than 50% of the countrys total
tea production. Each of these lush green tea gardens
in Assam (about 1000 in number) is a treasure house
of exotic beauty of nature with colourful people and
their enchanting songs and dances, sprawling
bungalows, and residential facilities. Many of these
tea gardens have polo fields and golf courses. There
are as many as 30 air strips and helipads maintained
by the tea garden management. These facilities can
form into an attractive package for tourism. The road
communication to most of the tea gardens is fairly
well maintained, and the rest houses and bungalows
with modern facilities located there, are generally
kept ready for visitors and guests. Therefore,
coordination with the management of the tea gardens
can effectively do a lot in promoting tea tourism in
the state. It may be noted that tea tourism is a recent
concept, its potentiality, remains unexplored.
1.04 Eco-tourism: Eco-tourism is also a new
concept, developed around the idea of travelling to
places of natural beauty, moving around and staying
in the lap of nature for a couple of days. It has the
twin objectives of conserving environment and
improving the welfare of the local people. Countries
like Kenya, Costa Rica, and South Africa have
already successfully promoted eco-tourism. Assam
has immense scope for eco-tourism, because of its
scenic natural beauty and favourable climatic
conditions. The state is virtually free from industrial
pollution. Its green forests, blue hills, enchanting
rivers are the basis on which eco-friendly tourism
can be developed. In this respect, some primary
infrastructural facilities like development of good
road to the spots, good quality tents with provisions
for food and other logistics, river cruising and water
/ 72
sports, bird watching towers etc. have to be
developed. These facilities are likely to attract eco-
tourists. It may be noted that eco-tourism is yet to
come to the take-off stage.
1.05 Cultural Tourism : Assam is a home
land of various ethnic tribes and groups, each
having its own cultural heritage. As per 2001
census, the state has 9 recognized scheduled tribes
in the plain districts and 14 in the hill districts i.e.
in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills. The
tribal population constituted about 12.42% of the
total population of the state. Each of these tribes
possesses some unique features in its socio-cultural
life including customs, religious belief, language,
culture, way-of-life, festivals, food habits, songs
and dances which are different from others. Most
of these people have their own socio-cultural and
religious festivals. Songs and dances, display of
colourful dresses, tasting of innumerable varieties
of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes mark
these festivals. Sankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati,
has been organising, in recent years, spring
festivals, on the line of the desert festival of
Rajasthan, the Rangali Utsav in the month of April
in which the various colourful shades of Assam
are presented. Moreover, as a part of publicity
campaign and to draw tourists, the states Tourism
department also organizes Tea Festival, Barak
Valley Festival, Rongali Festival, Dihing Patkai
Festival, Elephant Festival at Kaziranga etc. which
can be considered as a good sign for the states
tourism development.
1.06 Pilgrim Tourism: Assam has many
ancient temples and shrines, some of which like
Kamakhya is one of the most revered religious places
in the country. An average of 1000 visitors visits
the Kamakhya temple every day throughout the year.
It becomes a centre of attraction in the month of
June when it celebrates the Ambubachi mela. At that
time more than hundred thousand pilgrims come for
pilgrimage from different places of India. Situated
on a hill top Kamakhya is also a very beautiful place
that attracts many tourists. The other religious places
where visitors often come from different parts of
the country are Barpeta, famous for a Vaishnava
monastery, Batadrawa, birth place of Shri
Sankardeva, the Vaishnava reformer, saint and a
great literary figure, Madan Kamdev, vast
archeological ruins of fine erotic sculpture. Majuli,
the largest river island in the world, centre of
Vaishnava culture, seat of many satras which are
known as the centres of Assamese art, dance, drama,
music, a safe heaven for various migratory birds,
Surya Pahar, situated on a hill surrounded by
innumerable statues of Durga Devi, Ganesha, Surya,
Chandra & Buddha. But most of the places do not
provide adequate facilities to the tourists and
pilgrims, for which these places of religious
importance fail to attract a large number of tourists.
1.07 Golf Tourism: There are about 10 golf
courses located mostly within the compact areas
of tea gardens. The Oil India maintains a very good
golf course in the industrial town of Duliajan. These
offer a unique opportunity to develop golf tourism
in the state. Most of the courses are located near to
air-strips and helipads maintained by the tea garden
management. In recent years, domestic and foreign
tourists are coming to play golf in different golf
courses, and a good number of them use these air-
strips and helipads. Golf tourism can be integrated
with eco and tea tourism. One has to recognize that
some tourists may have more than one interest and
may like to combine various aspects of tourism
described above.
1.08 Adventure Tourism: The difficult terrains,
valleys, pristine hill and forest, high current rivers etc.
offer ideal opportunities to the adventure lovers to go
for adventure sports, trekking, rock climbing, rafting
etc. The enchanting blue hills and speedy rivers of
Assam provide an enormous scope for the
development of adventure tourism. Recently, some
of the adventure sports activities like rock-climbing,
trekking, Para-sailing, water sports, river rafting and
angling are promoted by the Department of Tourism.
There is an annual angling competition held at
Bhalukpung-Potasali side every year in November
in which Indian and foreign tourists participate. But
other areas of adventure tourism like hang gliding
are yet to grow. Assam has a number of ideal places
like Nilachal hills (where the Kamakhya temple
situated) in the city of Guwahati and the hills around
Kaziranga. Since most of the tourists come to the state
through Guwahati and visit Kaziranga, there is an
enormous scope for hang gliding.
1.09 Others: Besides, the state has some
other tourism potential too. Guwahati is situated
73 /
on the bank of the mighty river
Brahmaputra; it is a fast growing
metropolis. Though unplanned, it is the
gateway to the North-East India. It is well
connected with the rest of India by rail,
road and air. The airport, known as
Gopinath Bordoloi airport, is being
upgraded to an international one. The
places of worth visiting are: the famous
Shakti temple of mother Goddess
Kamakhya on the Nilachal hills, the
ancient Siva temple Umananda situated
on the Peacock island in the middle of
the river Brahmaputra, the Navagraha
temple, Srimanta Sankardeva
Kalakshetra, Balaji temple, Science
Museum, Vaisisthashram (founded by
famous sage Vaisistha amidst grand
natural beauty), the State Museum, the
State Zoo-cum-Botanical garden, the Saraighat
Bridge, the Lachit Barphukan Park etc. Moreover,
Sualkushi known as the silk town of Assam, is
famous for Assamese silk, muga (golden thread)
and other varieties of silk.
2.0 Tourist Inflow to Assam in the
Globalization Era: As a part of Indias response
to the process of Globalization the central
government has adopted the Look East Policy to
develop economic relationship with the
Association of South Each Asian Nations
(ASEAN). With the establishment of India-
ASEAN free trade area, the north east will no
longer be handicapped by the physical
inaccessibility from the rest of the country. In this
connection the region stands at the threshold of
historical opportunity with a new era of possibilities
and also be the gate way for future Asian trade.
The north east region including Assam will be
developed further as tourist spots attracting more
tourists from Europe, America and other parts of
the world.
Over the years after globalization, Tourism
Industry has witnessed tremendous success and has
been rising gradually. It is hopefully expected that
the Tourism Industry will be able to fulfill its target
there by providing employment and economic
benefit to the unemployed youths of the state as
well as contribute a substantial share to the state
economy in the years to come.
The following table shows the volume of
tourist traffic to Assam and revenue earned from
the tourists during the globalization period.
The table reveals that though the inflow of
tourists in the state is not so encouraging, it has been
gradually increasing during the globalization period.
The total number of tourists (Indian & Foreign)
visited the state has increased from 14,777 in 1990-
91 to 968874 in 2000-01 and then increased to 35,
03,613 in the year 2007-08. Thus the flow of tourists
to the state is slowly picking up.
The opening up of trade of South East Asian
countries as visualized in the Indias Look East
Policy could certainly add some vigor to the land
locked and lean economy of NER including Assam.
Giving the geo-political situation of the region,
cross-border markets are likely to be most cost
effective business for surplus production of the
region and also for imports of some consumable
items in comparison of dealing in far-away main-
land markets. From the border point of Arunachal
Pradesh, export of India could reach by the Stil-
well road to Kunming in South China nearly
thousand miles within two days, Yangon in
Myanmar within two and half days, Bangkok in
four days and Singapore in five/ six days.
The state Tourism Department has just
completed glorious 50 years of its existence. Over
Year Indian Foreign Total Rev.
Earnings
(Rs. in lakhs)
1990-91 14,373 404 14,777 20.41
1993-94 20,154 404 20,594 21.91
1994-95 16,487 312 16,799 27.95
1995-96 16,168 830 16,998 31.72
1996-97 14,029 841 14,870 33.33
1997-98 14,353 745 15,098 34.72
1998-99 13,631 566 14,197 35.89
1999-2000 9,81,985 6,344 9,88,329 31.72
2000-01 9,61,954 6,920 9,68,874 35.87
2001-02 16,90,672 5,210 16,95,882 38.88
2002-03 12,40,562 6,857 12,47,419 41.03
2003-04 20,30,107 6,854 20,36,952 60.44
2004-05 21,86,250 9,365 21,95,615 69.01
2005-06 25,86,428 8,309 25,94,737 87.11
Number of Tourist
/ 74
the years, it has witnessed a considerable success
and all round development in both infrastructure
development and other facilities with the financial
help of Government of India as well as the state
Government due to increase of fund allocation. The
annual plan allocation for the year 2007-08 was
Rs. 12.48 crore as against Rs. 4.25 crore in 2006-
07. During the period emphasis has been given to
infrastructure development of destination and
tourist circuit as well as employment generation.
3.0 Problems of Tourism Industry in Assam:
a. Absence of a Tourism Policy:- Assam has
a policy on tourism prepared in November
1987. Unfortunately, it is not available in
any of the offices connected with tourism.
It appears that there was an attempt in
November 1987 to formulate a tourism
policy and then in December 1992 an
exercise was done to frame certain rules on
tourism. It appears that these steps did not
bring forth any concrete result. Still the state
has no any proper tourism policy.
b. Restricted Area Permit (RAP):- The RAP
to the North-Eastern region was enforced
in 1955 in the backdrop of alleged
missionary involvement in the Naga
rebellion. Under this, a foreigner intending
to visit North-East including Assam had to
undergo a long arduous procedure of
obtaining permission from the Home
Ministry. With RAP in force till May 18,
1999 it was an uphill task for any foreign
tourist to visit Assam and other places in
the North-East. Unfortunately, the ghost of
RAP still continues to loom large and the
efforts to disabuse the false apprehension
in the mind of the foreign tourists are
minimal.
c. Insurgency:- The problem of insurgency
has become the stumbling block in the
course of development of Assam. It
hampered every development strategy and
works. Kidnapping, extortion, killing,
bandh, strikes, and curfews have become
the order of the day. The foreign and the
domestic tourists consider it risky to visit
this part of the country, in view of the
prevailing law and order situation. The
general impression has been that any
foreign or domestic tourist could be a soft
target of the insurgents.
d. Lack of Infrastructure:- To attract
tourists, there must be dissemination of
information, infrastructural facilities like
good hotels and tourist lodges, affordable
and reliable communication network, clean
and hygienic food and accommodation,
availability of water sports equipment, and
the like. Most of the places of tourist
attraction are not by the side of the national
highways, and approach roads are in bad
condition. This is a strong discouraging
factor, which works against a good inflow
of the tourist. It appears that the
potentialities for developing tourism to a
stable source of revenue are not matched
by proper policy and strategy.
e. Lack of Coordinated Efforts:- For proper
development of tourism industry, there
should be proper co-ordination among all
the agencies related to the industry. Special
emphasis should be given on public and
private partnership to tap the unexploited
potential opportunities. But in Assam, there
is no tangible and effective coordination
among the agencies associated with the
tourism industry.
f. Absence of Trained Tourist Guides:-
Assam virtually does not have any trained
guide in important places of tourist
attraction. Consequently, as the tourists
arrive at such a place there is hardly anyone
to satisfy the inquisitiveness of the tourists.
The Department of Tourism initiated a
programme to train tourist guides. But the
effort does not yield good result.
4.0 Conclusion: Tourism is a multi-
dimensional activity and it covers a large number
of economic activities. The spread effect of
tourism, therefore, is much wider that any other
economic activity. A study by NEDFi found that
every domestic tourist creates employment for
three persons and every foreign tourist seven
persons. It was also estimated that every million
rupees invested in tourism, creates 47.9 direct jobs
besides many indirect jobs.
75 /
N
ow-a-days
the word which is
most commonly used almost in
everywhere is discipline. The simple
meaning of discipline is the training to act according
to some rules. It implies implicit obedience to the
orders of a proper authority. Discipline is a must in
the army. An army which lacks discipline is a useless
mob and is liable to face sure defeat. The soldiers
must always be true to their duty and maintain
discipline at any cost. The armed forces of India have
stood for the most Precious attribute i.e., discipline
that we the common people in India lack today. In
whatever sphere we operate, we see a lot of examples
of violation of basic discipline indefinite times a day,
It is, therefore I would like to highlight about the
role of discipline in sustainable development of India.
First of all we have to look at where we stand
today with regard to national development. Since
the reforms in 1991, Indias GDP has grown at an
average of 6 percent a year, thus making India
one of the fastest growing developing countries
in the world. Poverty in the country has fallen
Ram Naresh Das
It is generally believed that tourists, both
domestic and foreign, visit different places in search
of specialities, which include a variety of things,
such as, beauties of nature, architecture, peace of
mind and fulfilment in religious places, new and
different variety of food, culture of the people and
uncommon adventure. In the midst of so many
varieties, tourists make certain common demands,
and these are- clean, hygienic and comfortable living
accommodation, good transport system to take them
from one place to another, decent shops particularly
catering to ethnic art, entertainment representing
cultural heritage of the place etc.
Assam is richly endowed by nature to become
a spotlight of tourism, but mere having a good
number of attractive tourist spots is not enough
unless all the minimum requirements stated above
are not readily available. The Cooper & Lybrand
in the year 1996, rightly stated that if the vast
tourism potentials of NE India are fully developed
within twenty years, the region will receive more
tourist than Singapore and Bangkok.
References :
1. H. Goswami and J.K.Gogoi, Regional cooperation Between China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India Through bi-literal trade:
Impact of North East India, Assam Economic Journal, vol- XVI, 2003.
2. P.K.Dhar. The Economy of Assam including Economy of NE India, second edition, July 2005.
3. Gautam Purakayastha,(ed), A Concise Book of Indian Economy and North East Economy, Bani mandir,Guwahati, 2008, p.-330
4. Nagen Sarma,(ed), Baseline Data on Protected Areas of Assam, Nabapress Pvt. Ltd, Calcutta-06, 2001.
5. NEDFI Data Bank Quarterly, Vol-IV, Issue, April 2005.
6. H.N. Das, Economic Development of NE, Assam Tribune, October 31, 2007.
7. Huda, Boruah and Goswami : Bharatiya Arthanity ( Uttar- Purbanchalar ArthanitySaha), Bonalata, New Market, Dibrugarh,
Assam, 5
th
edition, 2004.
8. Daimary Dr. Prasen: Five Year Plans and Industrialization in Assam, Eastern Book House, M.L.N. Road, Panbazer, Guwahati,
India, 1
st
edition, 2008, pp 21-26.
9. Basic Statistics of North East Region, North Eastern Council Secretariat, Shillong, 1982, 1990
(Author teaches Economics)
/ 76
from over 34% at the beginning of the 1990s to
below 26% in 2003. Based on Purchasing Power
Parity, India is the fourth largest economy in the
world, after the USA, China and Japan. A Goldman
Sachs Study suggests that economic growth in
India can exceed Chinas by 2015. It estimates that
India can overtake Britain in 2022 and Japan in
2032 to become the third biggest economy in the
world, after China and the USA.
A Country can be defined as developed if it
has provided the ingredients for quality of life
for every one of its citizens : education, health care,
nutrition, shelter, clear environment, opportunities
to get ahead in life and most importantly, a
confidence that the current generation of citizens
are doing everything to make their country a better
society for future citizens. Development is a state
of mind. It creates a mindset of equity, fairness,
hope, confidence. A developed nation creates and
impliments policies that engender an equitable and
sustainable future for all its citizens.
Let us remember the vision outlined by the
Indian government in 1956 of a poverty free
India, with full employment in twenty-five years,
by 1981, still eludes us. India is ranked 127
th
among
177 countries Human Development Index; 260
million Indians are below the poverty line a
poverty line defined not by global standards but
as defined by India itself. Adult illiteracy is at 39%
over 300 million people in India are illiterate,
the largest mass of illiterates in the world. Over 25
million children in the country are out of school.
Malnourishment strikes half of all Indian children,
and India accounts for one out of every five child
deaths in the world every year. Unemployment in
India is estimated at around 10%. India will add
325 million people to the working population by
2016. This demographic would be a boon if we
could provide gainful employment to the youth or
it could be curse if they are idle and despondent.
To bring these youths into mainstream, India has
to create 10 million jobs every year in the next
five years. However, the economy has been adding
only around a million new jobs a year at most.
It is very clear to us that India faces significant
immediate challenges in economic development.
Can we overcome these challenges ? It is a big
question in front of us. For the first time since the
industrial revolution, India has been recognized as
a global contributor in the field of hi-tech. Today,
Indians are known as dynamic entrepreneurs and
the country is becoming an increasingly hot
destination for foreign investment. There is
enormous goodwill for the country in international
capital markets. These are several ingredients for
national development natural resources, human
resources, leadership and discipline. There is no
doubt at all that we are not short of natural resources.
We are in the list of top ten countries in the world in
almost every natural resources. In any case, countries
with low natural resources like Japan, Switzerland
and most recently Singapore, have shown that lack
of natural resources is not a constraint for
development. Surely, India, a nation of a billion
people with the second largest pool of scientific
talent in the world, should not complain of the lack
of human resources. India, indeed, has a reasonable
cadre of competent leaders. Our current Pirme
Minister, himself an extra ordinary person by any
global standard, has assembled a fine team around
him. We have globally respected leaders in
bureaucracy, the corporate world, the military,
academic and arts. Yet, somehow, these leaders with
all the capable human resources and valuable natural
resources have not been able to resolve the basic
problem of poverty in this country. That brings me
to the last ingredient discipline. The lack of
discipline exhibited by our people is rendering these
other three powerful factors ineffective for fast-paced
economic growth. We see many examples of
undisciplined behaviour around us every day.
Discipline is about complying with the agreed
protocols, norms, desirable practices, regulations and
the laws of the land designed to improve the
performance of individuals and societies. Discipline
is the bedrock of individual development,
community development and national development.
Economic development is about raising the
productivity of people. The more developed a
nation, the highers is its per-capita GDP.
Productivity comes from speed, innovation and
execution. It is about continuously identifying
better ideas and executing them better and faster.
Such an effort requires discipline. Almost without
exception, every developed nation has better
discipline than a developing country.
77 /
Now, I will focus on discipline in time
management, in thought and in action. Discipline
in thought is about objectivity, about using data
and facts for arguments, and about supporting an
idea purely based on its merits, Discipline in action
is about doing the right thing without being
influenced by money, power or any form of self-
interest.
Development requires leveraging human
resources, the most precious of all resources. A
developed society, places the highest premium on
effective time utilization of its people. There is a
direct co-relation between the rate of growth of
nation and the effective time utilization by its
people. The productivity of a Chinese worker is
estimated to be 30% to 180% higher than that of
an Indian worker, depending on the sector.
Agricultural productivity in India is one-third of
the European and half of the US levels.
The governments in developing countries
play a large role in national development.
Discipline in time management by the government
is vital. Unfortunately, this is an area where the
government in India is lax. Approvals that take less
than three months elsewhere take three to five years
in India. Officials rarely come to office on time.
Public officials in India view coming late to
meetings and events as a sign of importance rather
than as a sign of inefficiency.
Lack of discipline in thought or intellectual
dishonesty is the second most inhibiting factor to
fast paced development. Most leaders in
developing countries like India act contrary to what
they understand is the right thing to do. Political
leaders must practise discipline in making
intellectually honest choices for economic growth.
Lack of discipline in honest action leading to
corruption is another inhibitor to our progress.
Corruption is not just a moral issue but also a
powerful inhibitor to economic progress in a poor
country like India. Corruption and indiscipline have
led to a complete demoralization of rare group of
honest, dynamic and daring officials in India.
Today honest, dynamic and visionary bureaucrats
and politicians get punished and relegated to
inconsequential jobs when they take tough
decisions in the interest of the people or
implemented much-needed reforms in governance.
The death of Satyendra Dubey of the National
Highway Authority for his attempts to expose
corruption in the organisation and the murder of
S. Manjunath of Indian oil for trying to address
corruption in the companys distribution system
indicate how little honesty and discipline are valued
in our public institutions. The youth of our country
have lost faith in our public institutions and our
government. The veteran politician Somnath
Chatterjee once remarked how, when he asked a
bright young girl what she wanted to pursue as a
career, she answered Anything except politics.
A disciplined approach to the execution of
tasks and projects is essestial to bridge a countrys
goals with actual outcomes from its development
efforts. It is discipline in execution which enabled
China to buid a futuristic city in the Pudong district
of Shanghai from what was farmland just a decade
ago. Delhis world standard metro-rail is another
good example of discipline in execution. On the
other hand, we see hundreds of examples where a
project that would be completed in six months
elsewhere in the world ends up with a multi-year,
below-par quality execution in India.
I have demonstrated the need for discipline
in these key areas in human resources, time
management in execution. Now let me turn to
possible solutions for these problems.
Today, our youth disillusioned about the
conduct of elders politicians, bureaucrats and
corporate leaders. They have been losing faith in
our democracy and in our election system. They
have been losing confidence in honesty, decency
and hard work; and in the values that our forefathers
espoused at the time of our independence. Thus, it
is the need of the hour to implement tough
decisions and policies that will instil a sense of
discipline among Indias politicians, bureaucrats,
corporate leaders and society at large. Quick and
drastic action has to be taken.
For bringing big and lasting changes role
models are required. Most societies have
porgressed because they have had generations of
role models who demonstrated good behaviour and
discipline. Unfortunately, we do not have many
role models in contemporary India. For all our
modernity, we live in a feudal society. Here, leaders
are larger than life personalities. People watch
/ 78
every action of their leaders and imitate them. Thus,
leadership by example has a very powerful role in
making our society more disciplined. If a couple
of generations of leaders follow the finest principles
of discipline, then this will become the established
norm. Let us remember the words of Mahatma
Gandhi who said, Be the change you want to see
in others. We have to encourage role models of
good behaviour among ordinary citizens; right
from their early years in school. We have to create
such role models among bureaucrats as well.
Our next step should be giving punishment to
the persons who are going to violate discipline
swiftly and harshly irrespective of the matter who
the culprits are. Improving transparency towards
discipline violations by the powerful and the elite
will discouage violations upto a great extent. Here,
the media has to play an important role. We have to
strengthen the RTI Act by not providing a safety
net for the elite and powerful to hide behind. Another
factor contributing to indiscipline in Indias political
contributions is our deeply-flawed election system
dominated by the politics of caste, religion and
power. We have to create an election system that
does not encourage corruption. We would do well
to remember the words of the former Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee who said, Every MP who is
elected to the Lok-Sabha begins his career by making
a false statement the statement of account of his
election expenses. Such acts of fraud will have to
be swifty punished. We must be open to learning
from countries which have done better than us. This
is the fastest path to progress.
Reforms have introduced competition and a
greater focus on discipline across industry sectors
in India. To instil discipline among our
corporations, we must promote policies that create
an open, competitive market across industries. Let
us remember Adam Smiths word, The real and
effectual discipline exercised over a businessman
is that of the market and his customers. Today,
we face what the sociologist Christopher Kingston
calls the briber s dilemma in combating
corruption in our economic, political and social
systems. Citizens have to mutually agree to
collective action to reform these systems. But
such collective action is a difficult process in a
society with a factured sense of public good.
Consequently, Indians have accepted indiscipline
as a fact of life, and as part of the fabric of all our
institutions.
Infact, India requires a cadre of leaders who
will lead the people of the country by setting a good
example of their honesty, accountability, discipline
and commitment to change. It is such leaders, who,
by creating the possibility and hopes for changes
in our institutions, will foster an enthusiasm for
reforms. Our political parties elected the finest
people as Prime Ministers in both the NDA and
the UPA governments Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
and Dr. Manmohan Singh. By doing this our
political leaders have proved that merit is valued
and that this country rewards honest people. I think
this is the most important message going to the
youngsters. This is the positive aspect which is
required in the field of politics at this present time.
The role of the coalition partners in these two
governments is to be highly appreciable for their
kind support to run the country efficiently.
Again, there is a big question in front of us.
Is this sufficient ? Obviously the answer will be
not. As a whole, we have to set our sights on the
long-term goals for development and pursue them
with discipline of a wonderful journey towards
instituting important reforms in our system in the
part of sustainable development of India.
(The author teaches Commerce)
79 /
How can you
really know the joy of being
on the summit of the/ mountain unless
you have first visited the lowest valley?
Day 2 of trek. My Casio ABT watch
recorded an altitude of around 13000+ feet. Being
new to trekking and relatively slow walker, some
of us had started early that day. Target was a
daunting 2500 feet climb in those rarefied
mountains. Rains over past couple of days had
made tracks disappear at places. At the foot of the
first hill, we lost the mule track and took the more
visible under construction road by BRO. The road
had met a dead end almost halfway to the top. We
were left with no option but to find our way to the
top of the hill. The exertion and anxiety in trying
to find our way to the top made the feeling of
breathlessness worse. Occasionally, I even felt
mild giddiness. Looking down I even thought what
bug had bitten me to do all this. I was out on
trekking, looked forward to clicking some
memorable photos, and now I was trying to climb
up the face of a hill clinging dangerously on to
rocks. Welcome to high altitude trekking.
Rain, rain and more rain : 15th August, 2011.
Rain and a cold morning greeted us at Manali. While
the nation was getting ready to celebrate
Independence Day, we were getting ready for a
grueling trek from Darcha (Lahaul Spiti) to Padum
(Ladakh) nearly 100 km over 8 days across
Zanskar. Torrential rains had been playing havoc in
Himachal this year. Perilously swelling Beas was
an indication of things around Manali. In fact the
Manali Leh could be re-opened on the afternoon
of 14th after a couple of days blockade. As the road
was open to traffic, we knew that the trip was on.
The team could move out of Manali only by noon
because of delay in obtaining permit. Halfway to
Rohtang pass, we faced the first hurdle - a long
stretch of mud and slush on an upward Z turn. Our
vehicles could not find a grip on the slush to move
up. I was in a Tata Winger, which probably is the
worst vehicle on such road. Many other vehicles
were also struggling. For a moment I felt that this
was the end of the trip. After half an hour struggle,
the experience of the drivers came handy and we
could move beyond that deadly 100 meters of slush,
only to get stuck in another jam at another slushy
stretch. Most bikers on that day could not go
beyond this slush. This is quite in contrast to my
last visit to Rohtang pass some 10 years back in
good season. The Manali Rohtang road is now a
nightmare and often remains blocked due to
landslides. In July and August this year tourists had
a harrowing time on this road getting blocked
sometimes for days with no food and water.
Rain did not relent even for a minute that day.
It was snowing in higher ups. The road at Rohtang
pass resembled a long black snake cuddled up on a
white sheet. By now, we had fallen well behind
schedule and now faced the daunting task of driving
at night in unknown hills in bad weather, where
nearest aid may be several hours away. You cant
spot falling stones at night. Darcha was too far away
now and we had to reach Keylong. Fortunately we
had company around 6 vehicles and a couple of
bikers. A landslide at a stream named Pagal Nullah,
forced us to take a diversion. If I look back on the
Rupankar Mahanta
/ 80
events of that night, it gives me chill. It was very
dangerous. We were fortunate to come unscathed
that night. Braving landslides, falling stone, we had
managed to reach Keylong at around 10 in the night.
Being a district headquarters, Keylong had about 5
hotels. But all were full. One of the hotel owners
was kind enough to let the group spend the night in
the carpeted dining hall. My first night in sleeping
bag had more twist to it. Late in the night, I was
jolted out of slumber by sound of droplets. After 3
days of incessant rain, the roof the dining hall had
started leaking. These are rain shadow areas, which
rarely receive rain.
By morning rain had reduced to light drizzle.
While we had breakfast, the vehicles went to Tandi,
which is just 8 km from Keylong, to get fuel. The
petrol pump at Tandi has a signboard saying next
petrol pump is 365 km away (which is not correct
as you will find at least one next day probably at
Pang). Vehicles by default had to tank up here. As
the pump was close when we had crossed it
previous night, our vehicles went to Tandi in the
morning for fuel. While one vehicle managed to
come back safely, two other got stuck in a landslide
and could come back only around 3pm. We made
a sizeable contribution to the economy of Keylong
by shopping that day. However, a clear sky and
bright sunshine after noon cheered us up. But we
were facing the prospect of losing an entire day.
Get, set, go : almost there : Darcha is about 30
km from Keylong. There we found that the Darcha
- Padum trek now actually starts at Palamu. A
motorable road now exists till Palamu. One of the
dhaba owners at Darcha told us to look for the
horseman named Norbu at Chikka village. A young
fella at Chikka helped us to locate Norbu. The
young fella is studying at Bangalore. He will
certainly make his remote village proud one day,
not Norbu who later ditched us.
Lessons in
camping :
Most of us
were new to
l o n g
d i s t a n c e
t r e k k i n g .
S p e n d i n g
few days of
my life in tents sounded interesting experience to
me. I had no idea as to what are types of tents;
forget about know-how on how they are to be
pitched.
My initiation to camping started at 12000 feet
in the darkness of a night at Palamu. Moon was
yet to rise. Under a starry sky with flashing
torchlight all around, I was introduced to basic of
pitching tents. By 7:30 pm, we had finished dinner
and got cozy in the comfort of our sleeping bags.
Songs of labourers at a BRO camp in distance
wafted in. It died down after some time. The silence
and tranquility drifted us into early slumber.
Only when we poked our heads out of tents
next morning we could see the beauty of the
campsite at Palamu. It lay by the side of a gentle
stream, with tents pitched on both side of it. Snow
capped mountains stand majestically all around. A
small hotel and couple of BRO camps and road
construction equipment dotted the scene.
After spending 7 nights in tents and having
seen several types of tents during those days, I now
can confidently pitch at least 2 types of tents.
An odyssey through wilderness : After a blissful
night at Palamu, everyone was cheered up by
beautiful weather and surrounding. A group photo
together signaled the flag off. Target was Zanskar
Sumdo gentle 1500 feet climb over 8 km. The
temporary shelters set up by BRO labourers at
Palamu, turned out to be last human habitation for
next few days. The humans we met in next few days
were trekkers, and occasional locals and horsemen.
It was absolute wilderness, unspoilt nature.
We must go beyond textbooks, go out into
the bypaths and/untrodden depths of the wilderness
and travel and/ explore and tell the world the
glories of our journey. G K Chesterton
Day 2 of the trek continues. We had lost the
track and were struggling to find our way to the
Shingo La Pass (16700 feet)
81 /
top of a hill. Half an hour struggle eventually took
us to the top. We were relieved to find the track. A
long break helped to recuperate from the high
altitude breathlessness and giddiness.
Tracking resumed through absolute
wilderness. Breathtaking landscapes kept unfolding
before us as we went deeper and higher into Zanskar.
The canvas of nature kept changing with sun playing
hide and seek. Soon we were above snow line.
Because of torrential rains in last couple of days,
snow line was quite lower. The landscape now
mostly consists of snow capped mountains and
valleys, while an icy cold river with turquoise water
flows down below. The footpath was narrow but well
defined, generally by the edge of hills. Because of
rains, track had given in at many stretches and had
ominous appearance. Often I took a deep breath,
remembered everyone and went ahead, leaving
everything to almighty. Occasionally, I looked back
at such stretches to fathom how dangerous it was.
Every successful crossing boosted my confidence.
Having someones company at such stretches ups
your confidence. But at times, when you are all
alone, the thought of if I slip and fall no one would
even know tends to send chill down the spine. It is
always good to track in close groups. But often it
happens that good walkers disappear in distance
while slower ones fall half hour behind you. Couple
of hours down the line, I found to have fallen behind
with no one to be seen either ahead or after me.
Silence of the Mountains : I had fallen back by
giving company to an ailing teammate whose
condition was detoriating with height. When help
arrived in form of experienced teammate, I resumed
treking. Soon I found that those ahead of me had
already disappeared in the hills ahead while those
behind me were also hidden from my sight. I was
left all alone in mountains.
I continued walking enjoying the company
of the mountains standing majestically. Whenever
I sat down for
break, the
tranquility of the
s u r r o u n d i n g s
engulfed me.
Living in
crowded cities
we had forgotten
such calmness.
Just 4 days of travelling from Delhi had taken me
into such wilderness and tranquility which we
thought do not exist anymore. Its a different world
out here.
The eerie silence can also make you uneasy.
Beneath the calmness of these mountains lie the
powers of nature to be destructive. These are quite
young mountains. The moraines and abraded debris
on their faces often gave you a feel that heavy rains
or a shake of earth can bring many of them down.
You can easily understand how the Leh cloud burst
catastrophe of 2009 took place. An unknown fear
crept into my mind. I suddenly felt that it is not safe
to be alone in such absolute wilderness. I often listen
to my inner voice. A longer break ensured that couple
of guys from trailing team had arrived for company.
Lesson learnt. Day 2 of track continued. In high
mountains weather often changes after 2pm and
hence while going up one should look to finish
around that time. We were running slightly behind
schedule. The weather had indeed changed around
3pm and a cloud cover brought icy cold winds. It
took us almost 8 hours to reach the campsite. The
sight was not very pleasant. Almost 15000 feet and
there was snow all around. Tents were pitched
clearing snows. It was damp, wet ground and pretty
cold out there. Once inside the tent, you never felt
like coming out. My appetite had disappeared.
Couple of guys had developed fever. Most of us
did not have dinner that night. My PS camera had
stopped working because of low temperature. I
tried to save my DSLR from moisture by keeping
it warm. The worst possible experience was getting
relieved in the morning. Touching water will make
your hand numb. But somehow I managed to do it
at 15000 feet an experience I will not forget.
A tiring day had come to an end. The sore
point of that days event was the sending back of a
team member. He had fallen victim to High Altitude
Sickness (HAS). He had shown symptom of severe
Ladakhi village from Zanskar
/ 82
headache from Rohtang and was having mild fever
by day 2. The exertion he applied to climb the hill
face worsened his condition. Team leaders had
decided to send him back as he was in no position
to trek ahead. Tugging him alone would have
jeopardized the entire trip. We all felt bad for him.
Most of us had carried Diamox in kit, and had
planned to use it at Darcha / Palamu before the
climb to the pass. Diamox has 2 days gestation
period. But after learning about severe side effects
of Diamox, none of us used it.
Day 3 of track. It was critical to achieve success
of the expedition as we had to cross the Shingo La
pass. We appeared to have lost our luck with weather.
Bright sunshine of past two days had gone and a
gloomy, cloudy and ominous looking weather greeted
us that morning. It was not looking good at all.
We were told about possibility of heavy snow
at the pass by locals at Keylong because of incessant
rains and had kept our fingers crossed. There had been
bright sunshine for 2 days and we hoped that one
more days sunshine would melt enough snow to
make the passage of Shingo La easy for us. At the
Zanskar Sumdo campsite, we met a European group,
who had tried for two days in a row to cross the pass,
but had to come back because of heavy snow. They
decided to wait another day at Zanskar Sumdo.
Keeping our fears aside, we started the upward
climb. Target was more daunting than day before
a climb from 15000 to 16700 feet and then come
down to 14000 feet. We were in point of no return.
The weather kept changing as we climbed. It had
even drizzled for few minutes on the way. But when
we were close to the pass, sunshine was back. The
weather god had smiled at us again. The second good
news appeared in the form of a group of locals
coming from the other side. They had informed that
snow is about 1 foot and they could easily cross it.
We met at least two trekking teams coming from
the other side on our way up. This had cheered us
up. Mules would create a visible track on the snow
for trekkers to use.
Climbing up was tough. Altitude was higher
and air was lighter than day before. It required lot
of exertion and our physical endurance was
severely tested. Every step at that height required
effort. Often looking up to see how much more to
climb would scare you. I found a way to handle it
- took 15-20 steps at a time without looking up,
take a break to catch your breath and resume. A
good climber would make it to the top in 4-5 hours.
But it took most of us almost 6 hours to reach the
top. The entire area was covered in a white blanket.
Snow was about calf deep, but mule tracks were
clearly visible. Negotiating slippery snows, we had
finally reached the official Shingo la top.
At 16700 feet, for a first timer is quite an
achievement. We congratulated each other. The sense
of achievement evaporated the fatigue. The pangs
and toils endured were worth the result. Standing at
the top, I thanked God, remembered my loved ones
my family. I dont know whether I will take another
such arduous trek and will come to that kind of height
again. The moments got captured in our mind for
ever and in cameras for others to feel it.
Climbing down to camp took another 5 hours.
Descend was also tough because of snow. The side
from Lakhang appeared much steeper to me. Most
European trekkers cross the pass from Lakhang side,
then from Chumik Napo side. For some unknown
reasons, our team leaders had decided to set up the
camp at lower Lakhang. This made our trek that day
killing. Most people set up camp at upper Lakhang.
Lower Lakhang is another hours trek from upper
Lakhang. We had trekked 11 hours that day, in
addition to crossing the pass. Lot of curse was
showered on the non-existent leadership that day.
Dead tired, I went another night without dinner.
Day 4 of track. It was the most pleasant of
all, almost like day 1. Though we had tracked for
almost 16 km that day, it was generally through
valleys and there was hardly any steep climb. As
we were walking through valleys and moraines, it
involved crossing many river / streams. It was
difficult to keep your feet dry. My investment in
Quechua shoes was worth every rupee spent.
However I had injured my left thigh while trying
to jump across a heavy stream that day. That
nagging pain kept troubling me in the coming days,
despite pain killers. After 8 hours walk, we had
reached Kargyak village, the first human habitation
after 5 days. The village has a satellite phone. Some
of us called up their homes after 5 days to let
families know about their safety. News of rain,
landslides and cloud burst around Manali had left
the families worried. It was soothing to hear voices
of your loved ones after 5 days when you were
totally cut off from the rest of the world.
83 /
Kargyak is a big village by its remoteness.
Villagers cultivate jaw, Potato and Peas. Water is
not a problem at those places, but land without
stone is at premium. We had talked with couple of
villagers who said they grow enough food to last
the year. They also get subsidized rice and kerosene
from administration. The area is devoid of
forestation to provide any firewood. Campsite at
Kargyak was about 1 km further from village center
by a health centre. It was very windy. We felt as if
our tents would get blown away.
Day 5 of track. Bodies were tired, but spirits
were not. Every morning we wake up with new
vigor. Target for day was Purne 20 km away, that
involves continuous climb and descent. We expected
another daunting day in the field. Sun was blazing.
The umbrellas that we bought for rain had come
very handy in saving us from the sun. You could get
serious sunburn in 5 minutes flat. Sipping water
regularly was the key to prevent dehydration.
Occasionally it was windy and dusty. A shopkeeper
at Manali gave a useful piece of advice - to get a
scarf and apply Vaseline (petroleum jelly) to nostrils
to protect from the fine invisible dust in Zanskar.
We were walking much below snowline.
Snow capped mountains got hidden from view.
Landscape devoid of any vegetation had started to
become monotonous. En-route we had stopped at
a village named Teesta. It also has a satellite phone.
Few minutes in a Ladakhi village : Almost
around noon we had reached Teesta village and
decided to have a brief break. When we arrived, it
sported a deserted look. We found the house with
satellite dish. But there was no one to talk. We
decided to wait.
A typical village with 5-10 houses, made of
bricks and mud. Kargyak was a much bigger village
with more houses. Roof is used to store cow dung
cakes and fodder for animals. Villages are surrounded
by farm lands where locals cultivate jaw, potato and
peas. In the first half of the day, most humanfolk are
out in the fields, either attending farm or gathering
fodder for cattle. Thus the village generally remains
deserted. Yak is their main cattle, besides mules, goat
and sheep. Yaks serve them even after its productive
life is over. Every part of yak are used. Real Yaks can
be seen only in these higher altitudes. (Villagers down
below had produced an ugly hybrid of cow and yak.
What do you call it Yaow)
After a brief wait at Teesta, a young guy
appeared in the scene. He could communicate in
Hindi. We asked him about using the village satellite
phone. They normally allow for a small payment.
He led us to the house having the phone. The dark
room was pretty cool and provided welcome succor
from the heat outside. Corruption and greed had not
touched these people yet. And hence they wont
fleece you for using the phone which is a luxury in
such remoteness. I spoke to my family on a satellite
phone by paying just 20 rupees.
Soon more people appeared and interacted with
us. They spoke about tough life out in these terrains.
All these areas will soon be snowed out and links
with rest of the world will get cutoff for 5-6 months.
Occasional house had got a solar light. Most of them
cultivate enough to feed the entire year. They also get
highly subsidized rice and kerosene oil. These areas
are devoid of any trees, and hence firewood. Cow
dung cakes are main source of fuel.
Indian tourist rarely came this way. The kids
would generally make a beeline with folded hands
asking for toffees whenever they see trekkers. Looking
at them made me wonder about their world. No
education, no power, no TV. They live in different
world, a world way back in time. Standing among
them you would feel as if time had come to a standstill.
Day 5 of trek to Purne resumed. Another
couple of hours walk and we were on the outskirt of
Purne where we had to make a choice. While the trek
continues upward, another trek goes down steeply to
a bridge on Kargyak River. There was no road sign
and no one to ask. A campsite could be seen on hill
opposite the river which would tempt you to take the
downward path. But the sight of deep descent and
the prospect of climbing that up again if you make
the wrong choice had made us wait. A volunteer went
down and had figured out that we need to go down
and cross the river to reach Purne campsite. It is a
steep descent and then climb up again about 100 feet.
Purne turned out to be the best camp site on the route.
Most trekkers stay for two nights and take the side
trip to Phuktal monastery. Purne campsite had shops
which even sell beer and cold drinks.
Washing off hands and faces at a stream
nearby had a soothing effect on the entire body. It
felt like ages since we had touched water for more
than a few seconds. That night, we sat under a clear
night sky and sipped tea at the tea stall of the
/ 84
campsite. The sky resplendent with stars was
magnificent at night. I have seen such a clear night
with sky full of stars after a long time. After a long
time we went to sleep around 10 pm. For the last
few days we had been sleeping latest by 8 pm.
Day 6 of track. We were delighted to know
that we need not go up the steep path by which we
came down previous evening. We had to continue
along a new route by the river. Both the treks
eventually met somewhere. This trek turned out to
be even harder than the Kargyak Purne one.
Climbs were much steeper so do descends. We
wondered as to whether we were really going
down. Sun was again at its blazing best. By 3 pm
we made it to Pipula, a small campsite with a hotel.
We had to take a call whether to go further to Ichar
which is another 3 hours away. Most of the team
mates had blisters in their foot, because of the hot
and tiring trek of previous day. I got 8 in all despite
my breathable Quechua. Blisters had got
aggravated by another day of strenuous trek. Thus
we had decided to halt at Pipula for the night. Then
came another twist. Norbu, the horse contractor
had decided not to go any further. He had picked
up some fight a drunken brawl previous night at
Purne. One of his friends had a plastered nose. He
apparently had some conciliation to attend that
night. We were not convinced with his explanation.
However no amount of persuasion made him
change his mind. It is difficult to persuade hill
tribes. Fortunately, the campsite owner at Pipula
had offered to drop us at Ichar with his horses.
We pitched our tent for the night at Pipula.
Though a swift flowing Tsarp river next to the camp
ground provided some appeal, this campsite was
the worst of all. It is devoid of any grass and full
of pebbles. Knowing that this would be our last
camp, we had arranged for a campfire. It was
another very windy night.
Day 7 of track. It took 3 hours for us to reach
Ichar. We bid adieu to the wilderness where we
had spent last one week. A well built bridge across
Tsarp River landed us on a motorable road. The
road construction from Radu had reached almost
Ichar. One day (some 10 15 years from now) this
road will reach Zanskar Sumdo, the point where
we lost the track on day 2)
Couple of guys decided to go to Radu, some
8-9 km from Ichar to find a vehicle to take us to
Padum. Others waited at Ichar with tents and
equipments. We had a mini picnic by having lunch
on the road itself with all remaining ration. While
waiting on the road a BRO mini truck came from
Radu. The driver told that he would return in the
afternoon. The truck returned around 3 pm. It was
going back to Padum. We all got jumped into its
back with tents and equipments. A bumpy ride on
its back for 30 km landed us at the town of Padum.
The track had reached its logical end. Instead of
Darcha Padum, it is now a Palamu Ichar trek.
Back to a chaotic world :
Thomas Jefferson once said I do not take a
single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel
myself infinitely the happier for it .
I am used to remain cutoff from world for upto
3 days, but this time it had been much longer.On
the way to Padum we had discussed about the fate
of Annas fast. The last we were in touch with the
outside world was at Keylong about a week back.
Anna was to start his fast that day and we saw visuals
of him arrested before we left for Darcha. We kept
searching for mobile signals as we approached
Padum. BSNL networks works at Padum, and only
postpaid phones are allowed in JK.
It took us another two days to reach Leh via
Kargil via Rangdum. En-route we had crossed the
Penzila pass (14000 feet) and got to see the
breathtaking view of Darung Durang glacier and the
peaks of Nun and Kun. Details of Padum Kargil
Leh leg of the trip is provided on my earlier post.
An early morning flight from Leh brought a tired
but rejuvenated body back to Delhi. The scale
showed that I had lost 5 kilos in last 10 days.
Clay lies still, but bloods a rover;
Breaths aware that will not keep.
Up, lad: when the journeys over
then therell be time enough to sleep. -
A.E. Housman
For next one week or so, whenever I slept, in
my dreams the the mountains kept coming back. I
often waked up with scenes like I am climbing a
hill and I had a still a long way to go. A journey of
a lifetime had come to an end. But I know that I
will be back in those mountains.?
(The author is a HRM by profession. Photography and Travelling is his passion. Regularly writes in
http://seven-sisters.blogspot.com)
85 /
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=== :=:-=+ ++ 'r: ~ ='+:= +
== =:r== = 'r: ='|=+ =+ == '=+
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.....== '== = -:+ absolute :=+
- '+= = '= ==|= (='==) '=r= +
:='=r= :+ ' '='= := =+ : :=
:= '=:+ '+ = r'- := + = +
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==| =:=:=:+ '+== =' =' =+ ++
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= =''= := NE TV = - r== '+
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+-++ + '=+'=, ) ' ='= '+=:
'+==- + '=- '= := :=:= ===
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==+ + ='-=+, + = '= :='=+ ==+
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l
0
" H KK
It is a multi-lingual column. Our valued writers can contribute write-ups in any of the four languages
English, Assamese, Bengali and Hindi. Editor.
/ 86
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r:=r ==| =-r ==' == = :== r:=r r
r= =: =r '=+ '-r =:r := =r = ==
=: =- r= |r=r - ==:= = +
- ':t '='r= + ==
'|=r - 't:= =r=: ='=
=:r'=:-= -= =r : : :+ '=+='= = =:r r=
==: =r, ' ==r - r= '=
+ =:+r =: '|=r+ r:=r ==| '== 'r= :=r
:rs =r :+:= '|=r '=:= 'rr+=r .=
=- r ::= :=r ::r =, := =r = = rr =
+, :===| =:-r = r =r'r :+ = = =:r= '
=:= :== :-= == =:= = = ( ) |r =:r:==,
r rr=-r =:=| = ='= '= 'r= :+'=- r
-=' =:= '-::== :-= 'r := ==, =|'
=: = =- r' = == = +'= (=)
r == '=:+ -==r :== =+
'= = == =r= =:r := := = :
=:=r '=- -r o' / o' :=:= '=+:r
+=r :=:= srr := :=:= : :=
:=:= === ==' :=r := =:- = ='=
r}|:+r := '-:== -
r = '-= '= r '-'
- r= = or =:r'=:-=
= r=:r '-' = == =-r
==r =: + ='=| 'r:r
:-:=r := == ='= '=- :='=
'=- '=r= = =r rr=- =r
- + == =:r:= == == ='=
= =r:= + := ='= =: =-==
' '|-+, 'r - =:'*
= -: - ==:=:=* ==
= - '' :='r:= ='= =:r
93 /
'= = '=' =-r +:=r :=:= r:+:= =:r
'=:=r r = '== ==r '==:=
r : ' =:=r ' =+ ::= - '-'
= == r'=:= == =r:= :' = =r =:=|
-r =:= r = =r:= r= '= :r=
'= =:r === := =':+ ::= - '-', -,
== r'= = = = :+:= = r = :+:==
=r :r= r:= '=:r ::= :r:+:== ; = r =:r
::== =:r := :+:= ='r = '=-= :=
=:r = =+ :=- :r =:= =-=| =
=~==+= - =r =: ='=:+ ::=
= " A >> @
'|=:rr 'rr + = -::r
:-:-:= == =r:=, '= = :=
=:=:r .'-:= =r '== '-:= = =r:== ==
r = :r= r=:= '='r:+ =r == += or
:+'=- :=:= :==: | =-:=|r -r=
':-'=r =-<'= += = =r ::r '-
==-= - =:= ='= =:=r == ===
:-:=r :- =r =:r:== - - =-r
:-:=r = = == - ==:r '=:= ==
r '= =:=r :-= := =:|r :=:=
== :='= += = =: .-.-r : =+,
:=== ===r Asiatic Society r Journal ::= :=+
-=:r'= := :r :: = :-:=r -
=-:r =r :== - :rr =:+ = :+:=,
r :==:- + '= := '='= '-:'=:-=,
== r = -r:- =:- ':+ =:r =r
'r:- :r: ':= , ' , , , , , : , :,
: , : = 'r:- =:, , , =|' =+ ==
=:= ':+ :r '= : '= '='= == -
r= ='::+ ':+ :r= r-:=r 'r: -='=:-= =
:r := r:= : =r := : :==
:= :r= - =rr =: +:=r = :=
:='= ::= = := -= = '-'r - : - == r
=-:= :+ ::= :r ==r -:= : r= =|
=':+ =:= ='-= =:= ::= :r =' = := ::=
:+'=- += = =r =-:= '-::==,
==== =:rr '=== == = ::+:=
':= =-r - =-:= =:-= '-::==,
:r - =- :rr = = :| =:=r
:=-=|== =r =rr:r :=:= '= = +
r =:=r :=-=| + :r '=:=
'='= or:= : r'-= :r = : =:r:==
o=:- '= + : '= - r= '=:+ - ==|r
':= :r ::= '=:+ + ' :=, '==r
r= ':r' = r :+r :-+, =,
'':= r- =:r= == r :+r :=
=+ |o:r ==r =rr ='r= r=
-r =-:r = :-= '-+ ='::-= |:,
=, , '== r'r :+== '=
'=+', :+ :== =:-:=r ' '=- =:
=='= =:-:=r ':=:= -+ =r+ ==+ '-:-=
=- ': ::=r -r ==+ = r= :r
'== '=r= :==: r ' :== 'r ='r+
:='=+'= =r ==r =rr
r = ':r'=r := :r :== '+ =:=r
=:r:== '= =: , r :=:= ==' = == = = :==
-r ::= '= : = :=-r - ':- == ~ =r
: := : == :r ~ := '= =:
' '=- ' - '= = : r =- :rr - := =:
= ''= := :r r r =r:= 'r :r= r:=
- = =r=+ =:- :-r - :r == = =r
'=- =:= ':':r - ':= == : r='r
::= '=- :r'=r =:=| =::r = ::r =:=
r ':= := := - : |:= = =: == =:
:r= '-'r - := :r= r:=r : |= =
=::r '= ' '=-, = := :=:= :=
:r= -r r '= t = =:- -
- = = := = r := =:= ' := =:=
= :r:r =:= =:= = :- := =r=+ = :
= :== '=+ '= :=, :r= r:= =r rr =
: = = =r =:= =r=+ :=: =:=r rr =r ==
: == = ''= t''= :=r =r=+ r=:-r
:'r:=+ =:=| =:=r =++ =| '=:+ ' =- =r == :
=:r = =+ '= ' :-, -:= :== - '-' r:- =:=
:- = '==- :=:- =:= = : =| :== =:=
:r= '= :r = 'rr =:= + = =:- :==
'rr :+ := :r= r:= :== = ': : =
r= '= :=, :='== 'r=:- ' :r= r:=
:r= =: = ::= = :+ + =: - ==
='-:+ : :r= r:= :r = :- =:-
=-= :r:r = = ': + '= ' =:=:r :
=':r ':= =:r:== :r= - r| -r =:=
/ 94
= == == = =r :r= -:= r|=:-
:- :- =r 'o = r : = '== := :
:= =:= := ='= r= = '-+ :==:=r = = =r
=:r:=
|= =r -:- === '=-= '==:=
r : '-:'= =|r ='-+ :==:=r = '=
== - r:= =r == or =r +'= =r
:-'=- = = :===:r := += | =:r :+
rr '= = r= =:|:- ' :==:=r
:= =r ' r :, =- = = -'== =
= :r+ =:- == - = = ::= ==:= '==
=-=-= ==:r r :- :+, := =: '= -
=:= =-= =:r :=-r == =: =:| or
='r:+ :+ = :=' :+'=- = '-+ :='rr = :r
:= = ::'=- =:= r=, =='= r:}|:+
:= :=, '= = =::r =:| == ='= :r
: :: == r === =:r : == :=:-'=-
o: = =:= =' |= = :=:-'=- -::r
:r= = =: ==' =:= or :+'=- = =r
=== '== == or =:r'=:-=
|= = r : =- :r'=:-= == =:- - =:
== =:-= = r '= :- r '=- =- -= :=:=
=:=:r :+r :=:r r:= r '=:-= '='= '-'=:-=
+ =r = rr = =:r =+ -r '=
+:= :=|= =r = rr '=r =r, = =r s
+ :, == =r - r =+ |r =r:-
== =r =o=| = r + r = r :r'= =+
:r= -r |r :r'= = rr:r ='= '=|:=r
'== = =- = ( : .., === ; - =
. , =-: + = =) =:=:r := = = :r
= rr = = ' ==r '-:'=:-=, In English
you can as well write the word fish as GHOTI;
take the pronunciation of gh from cough, o from
the word women and ti from the word nation
'= =r:r := - =r=+ =:-r =:=|
|r =rr r ':= r= == =- :- :== =r'
=:=:r -s =:-r '= = r ' = :
:= , ='= =r r o :=, =='= =':=
'== '== - r = =r = 'r=, '= =: =r=:
: ==- = r'-=, =:r :| =='r r 'o
= ===r - =+ ==r '', =
= :r'= = | = +; '', = = '=
rr =r = r 'r = +:= =r - :- :r
==:-r '='= == :r= - |r =r = 'r=
=: ( : ..; =)
=:: = =:r :r == =::r = | = =
:+:= =r=, ....=: ==| :=r r - = r
- := :-=, == '= '== r + '=
:= = = :=:= : :r :-==== (Anglo-
Saxon) = =r|= (Norman) =r ='= ''-= +
:r'= =+ 'r= +:=, = : =: = ==:-r
'r := r : == - :- :r= - |:rr
: = = s =-, = - -| =:= -s :r'=
= ~ ==+= = ~ == : = = s =-'
:- =- =r=+ =r '- ':-, :=' =r =r:=
==- :+'=- :'r=:s '-++ == |'= := :r
=':+ ::== -s - ::== : =:: ':-'= ==
= :=, = :r = 'r= r=r = = r=
= =r =:r := =:=r = = +, r :r=
- |:rr '= =:r=, = :r '= ==- =-
= r :-=, ='= =:='= -r 'r:=
==' ::=: - =- = =r =- '= =:
'= == -r =: = r :==- :- :r'=r
|r =:r=, r = | = -s :r '-'= :
=+ = ='r:- '=:=:: :== = : =
'=r :-=, r = | = -s :r '-'= :
=+ = =r:- '=:=:: :== =: =
'=r :-=, ==='- = :r+':r = 'r '='=
=r=: r 'rr= = -- :- :r= -r |r
= 'r= =: ==|,... = '='= '= := '=:== =
'=:= '-:== : =+ = =r:-....= :
= '= =r :r := : '= , ... ':r= =r
= :r:+r = =r= == ='r:=:==, == = :r
: ==| r'-= = r'-= == : |'= -=
=r = 'r=, = ':+ :+ =r ' = = =
'== '= :- r = = - r '- r ':=
: :, := = :r+ =:= =r= + = ==-
=|= ='r:= :r=, :=|= ':= |'= r = = +
= = =r = 'r= o = =+, =r=+ =- '=r
'= - ::= : == - =='=- =
:= '=- = == =: '-:==, r =r= = =
= '= : ==- =-= r:=|r '= 's '=: ='r, :=
==- - :=r :-=':= ==|, ''=, '=r =, -
= ='= =| :':= s=':r ='= = -=
95 /
='r:- =-:=r :== = '-+ : + s=':r
:| : == ==|='r = r'= +:= r =r :=-
: =-=':r :| r'-= =
:, =='= =:r = r'= : = ; r :r=
:rr |r |== : r r'-= + = +
= -| -:= =:r rr :== - = ::- o:
' = .... '= =':=':=r =|+ :':= :':=
:+ '- = + : = ( : ..-, ===) r
='=| = , :r= = =:r := =='r '- = =
== =:= r:+:= - ='+:= = ':= ':= =r
- - | =:= =:= =
= '= o: |= :+'=- -:r
= : =:-:=r | =
- =r = :r ====
:r= =r 'r : =- :r'=:-= '== = :-= '=:-=
'==r:r :| '= == r = :r = = -
= =r :=:= = = = ::= :-:= =:r
::= :, == '== ::= : = - =r ::
:== '= : =r=+ -r ::= :r= - :
= = == : '='= ':-'=:r =r= = =|=|
= 'r = ::= = :-:==, =+== :r= r'==
':=r '== |+= = ='r+ :=- - = : ='r+ :=
==- =r '= -= ='r+:== = =r |= = r
:=-:=|r '= :: ::= =, =='==r = + =|':=
r:- : =r=+ = = -r '= =r=+:r
=:-=r =:=| =r = = =:= r'= := =, r '='=
'=:= := =:r=, :+ :-:=r - : r'-= '
'=:= :== = = s : =:r=, - '= = = = s
= r := :r= r:= =r=+ =:-:= = =r :
= ' ::= + =: == = ===:- ': =:==
=: =r:= : r = =r:- := - r 'r'r=
:r= - =: = :r= r:= == '= :r'=
= == =+ =:-r =|:=r =:- o :r=r
'=:=:r = o =:r =:= :r= == light := =r
'= - =:== : :=|:=r =:- =r -
: ==, := r =|= ='r:- = r '==- : ='r:=
= := :+r :r= r:= o == =r:
~ ::= :r :- '='= := =:r=, r :r=
:- == + : r :r= ':- :=r'= +
=:= :+ +, :=== ::-:=r :=- r=r r
=|+ - :- =:-= '':= 's + '= '='= r
:= =:r= ='= :=r'=r =| =:= :: = ::= : ==
= :=:= =:- :=r'= + +, =:r =|
:r =:= := o o = ''=:r =: :=:=
= =r := r : = :'=, =r :- =:= ':=
'= r='r := = ':-'=:r =r=+ = : r=r
= :- :r '='=:= =:r = = :- ::- ==:=:
='= := :r = ::r r==r := '='= :==
== := := = =r:= :r=, ===r :-=
'= = r= ' = ' '= =- = : :-
r =r '== - == = =':= :r = =::r
:=:= =::r r= r - :r =:r =r
r=='=:= = |= =| == == = r ':+
= :- :r'=:-= '== ' ' - ':= =r:-= : :
:+ =:- :r= r:= 'r =+ ::= ::=
u |r =r := = = - '=-, + = 'r= '=- a |=,
r + :=+! = = u ':+ a r :+ or :-
=:-Mussulman :+ =:- Massalman! - =r '|
== '=:-= =, == = r : ' =:+ =- :r'=:-=
:r : '== =: '== =:r :| '=:-= :r=:r:
:== -., =
==, = = =|' =:r :| ==

=:=r '= :r= r:= - = =r=+ =:=
== =:r =:r = :+ '=:=:r = :'=:-=
:= += := :: ::- =r '== '=-=
:r :' = =:r =, = : -+ =r =='=
r:}|+ := |'= = ==:r :r ':+
: 'r=='=r =:= == =:r'=:-= == =
:r= r:=r :: :='=:-= -' ':+'=:-= '='=
=r :r'=:= :- : ~ '='=-=,
== '= =r - :-:-'r =| '=-= ==
:' =r '='r :=:= =r' '=- =r ==
==' ==| : - '-' r - = == =+ r
: '-:'=, == ==:rr : :=:=':=
== '-':= - :- + '= '='= '-::==, The
use of these various characters is a relic of the past,
and the prestige of the native alphabet of Bengali
has never been seriously assailed. The language has
become intimately associated with it, and Bengali
speakers, like people everywhere, consider the
alphabet as part of their language. (page 235;
ODBL; Rupa & Co; 1993) = r - :r '=+ =r'
'=- := =- |'= :=: :==, While admitting
and appreciating all the arguments in favour of the
Indian system of writing, I remain a believer in the
Roman Script for all Indian Languages, because of
the simplicity of the symbols of which is consists,
/ 96
because of its true alphabetical nature is not
subordinating the vowels, because of its manifold
advantages in teaching, and in printing, and because
of its wide in the civilized world. The Roman
alphabet, modified supplemented and arranged
according to the scientific scheme of the Indian one,
would be a desideratum for India. (=) or:= '='=
= =:r:== : :r= r= :='== =
'|+='== |:rr =:=| =: = :rr
=r : =: = '=:+ '='= '='r= '=:-= =r:r
' =:= = =:= +, =:, I would strongly advocate
the unity of our country in the matter of script
through that truly national script of all India The
Deva-nagari, as the next best thing. (=) =
:=rr - ::= : +, '='= : ::r
==+ ==| '=:+ :' 'r'= '=:-= == 'r:= '='=
=== '=:-= '':= r rs = =rr -
':+'=:-= = ='= r:}|+ = :r =|= '=:-= '
-==r r =r := '' ::= = :=, ''
=~==+= =:= = =:r :=:- - =
'=:+ =:: =:r :' r=='= :+:= : ::
:= -::r =' |= :==- +r :r r
'-::==, := r r=r :, = == =-r =
= : = :===:= + :+ = 'r= =+ ='-
r=:='== '+ =+ = '=:=r '== ='==
:='== (Socio-economic) ==| == =='=
r:}|:+r := =r=+ ==:r 'r :== =
=: ==:-= =:- :r = := + r
'='= '=:-= .> = r=, r:=r '=::r
:==: or + + ='=| 'r :-:=r
== =|- 'r : :-:=r - += '=-
:r'= = -= =- :=r = ::= -:= = =
- = = ':=: = =r:= =r ==|r = : = ='=
r:}|+ '-:==, '= := =: '='= = :-:=,
because of its manifold advantages in... the civilized
world == : + '='= := = r |'= : ' :
::= =:- '-:== =| '='= r=:r - -
=- :rr - ':==, :' '='= :r ':+ '=:-= r
=:r =r =:= ':+ =r ::=:= :-r
:: r =, = : ::=:= =r r= == 'rr'=
== ==| '=- :r'=:= - =r = = = r
:+ ='=r ::= r = : :':+'=
= ='= r:}|:+r r =r:= = = =r='r =:
= + '= -, ''r := : = : = =:= =
r - =r r = = =r:= 'r '=
:=:=, ': =:r ==='=:r =:= = = = = :=
r := :'= : o':= := r ',
:='r, =-'-= '==' '-' |= +, :='=
:=='=:= =s =, :='rr =: :r= '-' | =
:= :=:r r -:: '= :=- = = r 'r :
- =:= + '= -:= = r := ' =- '-= '-':=
'-r - := '=- , :=r= :=|= '=- =:r =:r
=:+= ==r '= == = '=- :r= '-':= '-r
- .>- := + = = - =:r '=- :=r
=- =r =:=| :r= '-'r =r= ='r =:r= '='=
: ' ='= '=:+'=:-= =r .>>= = :+
=:r '=::= =r = ':+'=-= =
= r
: = | = '=+:=r := ==== .'-
=' := - : = ':+'=:-= + :=r
= :| '=- :+r :=:r '=- :=r ==+ ==| r
=r '= ==' =:r =r:= := '= = :- r +
:=r= = = =r == ='-= :r :-r= =:r'=:-=
:=:- '=- =r= '= or := :- '= =r '
o:= :'= r '== := =' ':| =+, r = ='=
r:}|+ := =:=| =':= :r rr : ==
- '= = '= .) - :r ==+ '-' =+ )
= = - r:=r :== : = ' r:+:=; := '='r=
r =|, - r, '== , , =, =,
= r =|' = r= = :r :| 'or = = ='-:+
+ ) :r= r:= r=| = : = == =
' r : == : =:= '= t =:+ '=rr=
r=r =- : :r= ~ :r =:- = r: = =r
: ':+'=- -) r ':. = ': : ) :r=
r:= '-= '= := '= -r :r:+ : .)
:r : :r= : == -) '::r :
- : == ( : .>-, r= ==|, :=r= =
=, - = . :, =-: + = =)
= '=' '=:= = :-= '-= ='=r ':+
':+ := =:r:== := 'r =|= :+ : ==
r '-:= r, : '== -:: r
=:r ==, :r -::r = :-= =
-.=r '= :r :r = :'=- : := == :
:- : + - =, '-', -, = =:=
== :- = : =:- : + '= ==r ::
'+= r := =: ='-=r =:= :+:= ==:=
97 /
r =':+ '- ': =:r =r:= -:: :+
= :=r -==r ::= ':+ :+ =-
'=-= = :=r ':+:=r = :=:: -r
|:r =~ :-:= r = := = ='= :=
:::= := rr :r := |r
=:= :=:: :='r == = r ==' := =r:=,
:=:= =:= ==| :='r =r:= -, ':
=:r :r = :=:r ='-=r |'=r :rr
:==r, =rr =r := :-:= r := :r
:= ''=r =+; =:r / :=:r := == :+ :=
': r = =: r =: := = '= r = r:=
=- :=:= = - :==, 'r + =
= :- = = + :=:- = .'- :+
::=, ':= ':= :r : = == : :r:= =
/ '==r := := =' =:+ := r : =t=+
'=:= 'r:+ ::= = = =r :+ =:::=
='-=:r, :=:, ::- :r =r '=,
:= '= :r := = ='-= :rr =:=| :r'=
|:r '|-+:-r :==:r '= -: r
bhaarat ki pragatike liye roman lipi! &}
t [l>!
= :-, r :== - '=:+ := = r:= =,
r:- :=|= =:r= =, :-:= :r:= -, : ==
:r:= - :r'=, :=r= 'r '''r
= ':+ : ==, :- ! - = r =- '=:=
::- ='-= r! =r : :=:= '=- == = =
==, = =:rr r-=r r'= ='=|:=
= =:r r:-:==, =r'=, = =:= r :=
=' = =r:= ::r'= := '=:-r := +
= : r :, :- =:=r r r :':=r :
=:r = = r:-r '=:-= -=: ='= + =
= '-'r :r:'=:-= =r := o '= = !
='-= :rr :-:= =- '== :=:= = r
'r' = = r '= =:== =:r '== :r r :r
:= == :=:=r =:+ = = :+ ::== =
=:== =:= =:r == :! :==r =:-, :==
=:=r :-= =r ='- :='r =:r:= := =:=! =
- :+r =: :rr == = = :+ = ==:=
'-: ':= :=, :r -:+r ='- =:-
o ='r+ -+ +:=! =:- : == +, :=
= =- = = r =. :r'=:= -:== =r :=:=
:= += '+r |r '=-= r ':-'=:r ' + r = :
'=- r, :-
=:= 'r =r:= ='-= r =+, := =+ =r:=
|r=r:r r- '===|: :== =+ = r
'=:=r =:== = :== : ' :=:= =:= :r=
= r := = '= =:=r :r= = - =:= r:+:==
=~ r ' = |='+ == :=: =:r '-' |r
=:r= ':rr ' r =:r ' :r = := r'
'-':= ':rr . =' - :-:=r :== = ~ :
:== :- ::= :r= r =r=+ = ::r :r=
= :r = ' = + = :, r''= = =- '-=
'-':= = r :=:= == =r + Roman Urdu is
strongly opposed by the traditional Arabic script lovers.
Despite this opposition it is still used by most on the
internet and computers due to limitations of most
technologies as they do not have the Urdu script.
Although, this script is under development and thus
the net users are using the Roman script in their own
ways. Popular websites like Jang Group have devised
their own schemes for Roman Urdu. This is of great
advantage for those who are not able to read the Arabic
script. MSN, Yahoo and some desi-chat-rooms are
working as laboratories for the evolving new script
and language (Roman Urdu). = = | '=- :=r
= 'r ' = ='= ' = :-'=r (http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Urdu) =:=:r =r-
'= =- = :- =:r =: == =' =:+ ::= s+
+ : =r:= .>-- ::= - := == =:r :=
:r= '-' 'r (http://www.mngogate.com/
e04.htm) =r == ::= =r '=r= '= :- == =
'== =+, :- = := bhaarat ki pragatike liye roman
lipi! = :- = r or := '-:= ':+ = - =:r
:=:-'=- '-:'=- progoti; =r= '-:= ':+
'-: :=:-'=-, bharat := '-:= =|- r'=
:r :' : =, =:= :r == a =: = :- =r:=r
= ' =- =! = ' ='- = =r:=r ' ='- = =::=r ==|
+:= :' := , '= = = '| : r:+:== r r =|:=
= '= '= +:= =r ':= ':= =:==, :=':= '='r=
==' :s -+ = =r=+ =:- =-:= = - ':=
: =: In India, script reform has been needed for
political and social expediency but has been prevented
by nationalism and popular conservatism. Ten major
and many minor writing systems, as well as many
different languages, hamper communications in the
(-- r+ :=)
/ 98
|= =|- =| =|| ~|:-|
+ ==+| r, r=|r= =rt
-|+ |= =| -|+ r= ==+| r, |=-+
|== -|+ =| = +|t =-+|n| =| -|+| o =, r
|=t rt| +r| r| ==+| =-+|n| = +|t - |=+|t = =|+|
- = ~|t ||= +|=+ | |= |: = +|t +:| +c
=| +| |++| -|+= =| +|= |= +r| =|+|``
``=-+|n| =| +|| =| +|= |r, |++| +||
=| +|= |=o +|c +r| :+t+|....|=t :=| =| +|= | +
:| =|, |==+ r -|- |=|....-t=|= + = +:= =|+ :|
+:, -t =-+|n| :| +|= ==t r| -|+|....|+n= = -|-
=| =rt |=+|t| -t =- =| +tr ===|t tr| |``
|r-:| = -nrt =|=|t |n+=|: |=r =| =r|+|
`=-+|n| =| r|t` = :| ~n := +:| = +|t - r =|
=|= +|=+ |=:|+|-~|c|+| - = ~-|+ +:|
-|+| +: r ||= r =-| =| +|n =t+| r :== ==
= --n -|+ = r-|t =|t - |+|=+ r| =|+ r ++| -
-+|+ =t+ = - =| r|+| r ||= r -|++-|+|-
-|-+||n+| r, r-|t -|-| =| rt =+| r ~|t :== =|=
:= =| ==--n r- -r|+ =t :+| r =| -|+| +|
r, =|=+ |-+|= = -r|:| = |+==+ |=| r
o=|-=| +:| |=| - ==| =+ +|+| =: ~:=
=+|= n|r +t| =| -=|t -t -| =+| r:, -t +|
|-| = ++= = +|+|+| r:, =|=| :t += :|t +:n
~|t |+r|t =| =|-|to| :=t+| r: ~++: +=t = -|=
++| - =-||r+ r| =|+| r - ~|t -|- =| ~=+-
~=+ +|t| |-==t =|=|t r| =|+| r, =+|t = n:|
- =r +| `== ==|r =-|+|` =| +tr ~|-= - ~+||r+-
=-||r+ :| |-t|+|= =-|
`=- +|n| =| r|t` =r|+| : t-||: = =| = -
|, r-|t |r-:| = ~|-= |= +|t| -| : =| + (=|
= :--|==|t | , :+= |=o `:|t| = |=+|t ` =| r-
:= =- += |r-:| =| =-|+ =||r|= :--|= -|++
| |= r-+ -c| r| r| |) =r|+| ==| = +| =
~|+|t -t `+-+ +` =r|+| =| =-|| +| :== +- o -|+
t| -| : =| |t+ |+ |=o|+ r -| |o= =- =
|-+|t- = =- +|n| =| ~-|++| =| =| = +|: | |==-
=: +|t |+n = =| |== ~|| | := =| = =: `~|| `
=| -| =|-+ | -|c| :t -|c| =| ~| tr| -t--t| =|
~|+| |r-=| ++=t r-|t -|= -r= = r| -| = : |
| |= =- +|n| r-|t| ~-+| +:| | - r-|t - :| = =|
+:| ~| t - t |= +| :==| -r :=|= -|:| | |=
r - t +| +| +|+r|= = +| =| -| =| = =| : t| =|
:| +t|+t-+t|+t |r-=| - +| : +| | +|- | - =+ :=-
-|+| + - + r| =|| =t+| | ++ :== + := == -
o-|=-o-|= =t+ r , |-+| =| :| o|+ r := -|t
=|+| - := |+| =| =| =| ~=| |==-~|--t|
~|+ : - ~+ |:+--|t|+ + =t : +| |, = n -r|+| -
+| =| =t+| | -|r =| :+t|: : + = |= ~=t
|-+|=| - n :| |x| := |r:|+ = =| -= :| |:|
=t+ |= :-r -|+| - +r| :|=+| r | - o+ =|
|r--+ +| +r| r| +| | = |=+ +|=-+ - r == +| :=+|
r| | |= =+ r- +|=|- t =|+ = + +|=| - |== +||r+
=t+ r +| =- +|n| - | +r| r| , = =|= r |
=| ++| | |= + +|=| =| += -t =- +|n|=| =r+ =|
=| |nn =t+ = :| | - :+| r :+- = = o +>| = :|t
:- + :+ = =| -+: |-=+ = + , = o = |= : =t|
= -:: =|, = o = |= |=+|+| - |=t o-|| ~| t = o
~|= |, ~+ | ~+= =n r -=|+ =| +tr
` r+ |r-:| =| n` (-|+- :=, |t|=|) ~| t `|r-:
{goda qgh
(115 - -t)
99 /
&[k
i o
=': +
=+r= ==:- ==
==+ =:- =
=': +
=+=:+=+ : ==
=': +
== == .- ':
=:= :r ='- :+
'=+= +'=+ =
+= r :=:= ='=
'='.:-:= ''- :=
=+= :+=+ : ==
=': +
:== '- :== ':
= =-:+ =:+
=-+ == :+
++ r= 'r-'- :'=
= =+ 's ==
=': +
=+r= ==:- ==
==+ =:- =
=': +
=+=:+=+ : ==
(= :=:+- '|-++ +=+=++ =+=+
+|||=ma Ho$ {Zdmgr gJrVm moXr OmZo-nhMmZo H${dr h&)
+|:=| - |o-+| - |+==+| |:,
=r| r o=| ~|=-|+,
+|: -t| ~|o| - ~+ +r| +| =|+| r,
= -|=- - | +-=| |,
-t| |: ~|+| r|+|,
| +|: ~|o| - ~|+| r|+|
|: =| ~o|=| +|t| = =|,
|:=| tr| r +-r|t| |:,
=|+| r =| |
+-=| | -t| |: ~|+| r|+|
~|=-|+ - |n=|-=|+ |=+|t,
mX {XbmVo h| wPo Cg MwZar H$s,
=| ~|:|: | +-+ =|,
:o=t :+ |: - +|t| =| |,
+-=| | := t|+ =| |: ~|+| r|+|
+r+ r| =| =:|: =| -|=-,
+r+ +t= =| +t| =|+,
+| ~|t =+|~| ~+ ~| | =|~| =|=+,
~+ ~| | =|~| =|=+
`m AmVr hmo Jr Vw ho ^r
gJrVm _moXr "e_m'
/ 100
[z[>At> z;
}Q[y >=
r = ':+'=- =:=:
''=:==:=
== '=:r += r
+ '-::+ ::'=- =:r := ;
:r = == :-::= := :=
-:r :+=:= '= '=-
r r r
'=+r =:r :
:- r, -=:o, ='==-+
:rr r. :-:'=- r
r:r, :=, :r:, '=:= ;
:=r :=r -- r
r'= =:r'=- r ==:=
=r:rr r :=:-:r = :r
=+r=r :r :: +
r - '=, + -:r -
:=:-:r :=:- =:- ====| :
= - =, r'.=, =r
=r r :, =, :=r =:=
''=:==:=
==: r -- - =-
'- := =+r=+
=, =r =' r = :
= =|= :=r :=++ :
=== r:. =r:= : ' :=r '=
=== =:r := : =. ===rr =r',
== r :-+ :- : === =
r'.= = r '=:+ ==: r =,
=r ' :r r, r: :=r :=:-
'= ':+ =: := =-, : r :
(:+ ''=, =-== '== ='= = =' = == 't
'-rr '== -: '=- = =' = ='=)
o * [
-:'= - =
-=' :=+
--=- 'r ::
+:r =:= ::+'
r= := := - =:r :::=r t
rr =:= 'r': '-= ==|= =:r, = r+
=r= =|=r, r=-= r:r :r :=:r
:r =+ =-', -=', , =
==r '=:+ :=
=-= == =:r +r= '=:=r =
:==:rr ' = := +
:= '-'- =|
r= ='=r :-=| rr
== '= 'rr :='r =:r, r .r =:+
:: ::r =- =-
:= : =:r :=+ = ::+r =-=r =''=
=s :=:-r = ='-:+ :r :=+
=:=r ':+ '= :: +
+ -= :- :
== -+ = =:- ::= 'r
=, :=, '' -:'=
=-=r r. 'r':
=:= r, :=:= :
:= == =:-, =r, ==-, := , = =- r
:= :== o=-, :r|
=| r ' =:= '-
:: '=|, :, == :=, =-, r=r= r=
= =:, :-: :==- -, =, = r r
'r :: r= :+ =:= r + ''r '= := = ::+
r=:-- = '==:= r =- =:
101 /
-<'== =+= = '= :-r| + +=|=+ ++
+ '= +:- +==== = '+::+ -
= '= + ++ =-= +=|== '+-+ =+
=++ + r- := '= -+ + :=+ ='=
=: =+ :=:'-= + ='== + :
'=':= =-'= ='+ - - = + =+=:- == =' +
=+ +- = =+ =-= '+: = '= rr +
=:- ':= :=+- :- == = 's =+ =+; :+
===+= :-= ='+ = '-:= + == =+=+
' += '+= ::= :=|= +s :+ := '+= ==
= r= +s + + = r= +s + +:- :+ + =+ ==
- :|'= = r+= :|'= = r+= +
='== '++= =+ : '= +|= ' =-=
= r+== +s + '=' - =-= = r+== '= :='=:+
=++ : :== ':= '+= =-=-: : + :=
:|'= = r+=+ : :+== '= :+ = r+= +
:= '= : ='=+ '==+ +- := := :=:+
:= + r+=:+ '= :+ '= ' + : '= -:- =
= '== +:= == :-= + +
=-:-: :== ': '= + =-= + '= :==
'+-+ =+ =-= = =':= -|+= ='+ ++ ''=
|+- -:-: :== '= +:= =='+ ==+ = r+= ='+:-
: =+==+ - '-= =+ ='= '= =+= '=
== := ': '= == '- =:+ :=:=:-
r+=++ -= = =++ '=+ :+ =
+r- +.== '=:| =:=:+ =
'= ='+:= ++ '= =:= '= =+
'= =r+= =':= =+ = =+ '= ' '=
='+ = '-:= '::= -' + + :'= '=-+
':= +.= + + ='+ '+ =:+ =+
=+ =+ =+= 'r =++ -:= r:-
=+ += =': =++ : r =+ =:=
== |+- :=:= |+- :=:-++ :+ :==
=+ ='= + = |+ ::' '=r+ ='=
'+:= ==+ ='++ + = ='+ '++ =-=
+:, =-+= '=:+ '==+:= := ='=
:-=+ '= :+ ' = = ='=+ =+ -: '==
==+ : := ++ =:= =+ + '+=
=+ === == : = '= + :==
='+ '+:= + '+ : =:= + =-- =|
=++ =:= =+ r+=+ = '= =
== == := == :+''+= =
'= = ==:+ r'- := :+''+ ':+ :+
r- = ':= '== ':= : = = :
'= :- -' + + :'= '=- '='r ='+ '= =
+ '='=r =+ '=- = = - + :-:- :+==
= =+ == == :+''+ +
+'= :- =='= =+ ='== +- ==
=:+ ' - : '+ =:= ' + =
='+==:+ -'+ : '=- ' ='=+ '=+
-'= r-= +=|= -='=+ ='s ::= = '=
:- '+ :=:'-= ='r=+ + '='r : +:
' + ='= =+ '+ '='=r=+ +
'== '=-= = + '=+ +-':= '==
=+ :+== =| = '=+ :-: ++
'= :r= '== =+: =|;= === : '+
W QW
[:-'= -== + (=-)+ ==]
/ 102
1
.1 Introduction :
The family orchidaceae
of Angiosperms is one of the
largest and the most fascinating
phytocommunities in the plant kingdom.
Though this interesting group of plants is world
-wide in distribution, it is a bounty of nature to
the North Eastern region of India and Assam in
particular. Nearly, 1000 genera and more than
17,000 species of orchids are known from around
the whole world (chowdhery, 1998). The Seven
Sister states of North-East region of India are
considered as heaven for orchids. According to
an estimate, in eastern Himalaya and North East
India orchids constitute nearly 70% of the total
Orchid flora of India ( Barua ,2001). Assam is a
rich store house of orchids. The total number of
species may be around 193 under 71 genera out
of which 27 are endemic ( Rao 1995; Hedge
2000). There are still many species of orchids to
be explored and to be reported from this place.
The Nazirating Reserve Forest has been a
natural dwelling home of a wide variety of
orchids. So far, 25 species of orchids under 16
genera have been reported from the area.
The present study attempts to provide
information on the orchid flora of Nazirating
Reserve Forest based on recent collections.
1.2 Study Area : The Nazirating Reserve
Forest is situated at a triangular base of
Doomdooma Forest Division. The Nazirating
Reserve Forest is in Tinsukia District of Assam ;
situated at 36 Km away form Tinsukia town. It
consist of deciduous trees , bamboo and cane
brakes, etc. The Dibru river flows through the area.
The reserve forest is surrounded on the north by a
part of Kakojan Reserve Forest and Takauani
Reserve Forest; on the south by Shree Krishna Tea
Garden; on the east by Kakojan Reserve Forest
and on the west by Asomiya Gaon. The reserve
forest covers an area of about 2319.2 hectre.
1.1 Climate : The climate of this area can be
termed as sub-tropical moist with an average
rainfall of 2300 - 3800 mm and temperature ranges
from minimum 8
0
C to maximum 38
0
C. The rainy
period is during May to September. The summer
months are June and July and winter months are
from November to January. The relative humidity
in the area ranges between 40% - 86%. [ Source:
BIT Office, Nazirating Reserve Forest].
Prantik Sharma Baruah
Dr. A. B. Gogoi
103 /
1.2 Physiography : The climatic conditions
offering favourable rainfall, temperature gradient
and humidity have cause a rich assemblage of floral
resources with characteristic of deciduous forest.
The forest is very dense. It is a house of plants
from small herbs to big tree. The dominant plants
are angiosperm shrubs.
A wide variety of orchids are found in the area.
Besides the forest is also a dwelling home of many
pteridophytes, bryophytes and many timber- yielding
plants like Holong, Shegun, etc. in dry areas, large
bamboo grooves and cane bracks are found to occur.
1.3 Topography : The area of the forest is a flat
territory and the area consists of 2319.2 hectre. It
comprises of existing rain forest.
1.4 Soil : The Soil of this area is alluvial type and
p
H
is 5-6 in virgin soil.
Methods and methodology : The present
investigation is the outcome of several field trips
covering all the seasons carried out in Nazirating
Reserve Forest during 2010 2011. The specimens
were collected in the flowering and fruiting stages
and were proccessed into dried and mounted
herbarium specimens. Plants were identified using
standard floras and orchid manuals and by
matching them to the Herbarium Sheets of the
Department of Botany, Tinsukia College. In the
enumeration, a scientific name is provided with
its authors, short description, flowering period,
collection date and place with collection number,
some species with their vern names and there
respective status.
Map / Photographs :- A map is provided
showing location of Nazirating Reserve Forest.
Enumeration
Acampe rigida ( Buchanon Humilton ex J.E.
Smith) P.F. Hunt.
Epiphyte, stem 60-70 cm long, erect,
sheathed; leaves linear- thick, 25-30 x 3-4 cm
oblong, faintly bifid at apex; inflorescence 15cm
long, erect, leaf- opposed, stout; flowers fleshy,
yellow with purple dots, about 1.2 1.5 cm across.
Flowering = June July
Status = (E) Endemic
Sharma Baruah, 15
Nazirating Reserve Forest , 02/06/2011
Aerides odoratum Loureio
Epiphyte, stem 30-45 cm long, profusely
branched, pendulous or erect; leaves 8-12, 15-25
x 2.8- 3 cm, lorate, channeled at base, oblong,
obtusely and obliquely bilobed at apex;
inflorescence supra-axillary, deflexed, 16-30 cm
long, many flowered; flowers white with purple
blotches at the extremities, 2.2 2.5 cm across.
Flowering = May June
Vern name = Vatou-thutiya kopou
Status = eR (extremely Rare)
Sharma Baruah, 10
Aerides roseum Loddiges ex. Lindely &
Paxton.
Epiphyte, stem upto 30-40 cm long, robust,
stout, erect to sub- erect; leaves many, linear-
oblong, leathery, 20-30 x 2.5-4 cm, bifid at apex,
keeled; inflorescence axillary 20-30 cm long,
pendulous; flowers fragnant, pinkish- purple
suffused with white, dark pink spotted, about 2 cm
across.
Flowering = May June
Vern name = Zetua kopou
Status = eR ( extremely Rare)
Sharma Baruah, 9
Bulbophyllum caryunum ( Hook.f) Spreng.
Epiphyte, pseudobulb 4 cm long, conical,
ribbed, borne on stout rhizomes at a distance of 7-
8 cm; leaves oblong, 12.5-26 x 2-4 cm, stout,
bearing densely flowered 5-7 cm long decurved
raceme, flowers purplish brown, 0.5-0.8 cm long;
lip 3 lobed; lateral lobes short, falcate, edges
minutely ciliolate; column with a pair of short
broad apical arms.
Flowering = October December
Status = R (Rare)
Sharma Baruah, 25
Nazirating Reserve Forest , 18/11//2011
Cleisostoma subulatum Blume.
Epiphyte, stem pendulous, 10- 30 cm long,
leaves 6-10 cm long, linear lanceolate, acuminate
at apex, sheathing at base; inflorescence pendulous
; 3-5 cm long, 7-8 flowered; flowers about 1 cm
across; sepals and petals yellow with intra-marginal
brown bands; lips white at the base
/ 104
Flowering = May- June
Status = E- ? (possibly endemic)
Sharma Baruah, 17
Cymbidium aloifolium ( Lindley) Swartz .
Epiphyte, pendulous, 5-7 cm long; leaves 4-
5, 30-60 x 3 -4 cm linear- oblong, fleshy, obliquely
bilobed at apex; inflorescence 30-70 cm long,
arising from the base of pseudobulb, pendulous,
many flowered; flowers 4cm across; sepals and
petals pale- yellow, with maroon- brown striper;
lip purple with darker colour lines dorsally.
Flowering = May- June
Vern name = Saliki kopou
Status = E (Endemic)
Sharma Baruah, 11
Dendrobium aphyllum ( Roxburgh) Fisher .
Plants with pseudobulbs, 60-120 cm long,
pendulous leafless when flowering; leaves linear-
lanceolate, deciduous, sessile, sheathing, internode
3-4 cm; flowers 1-3 each node, pale rose, 4.5- 5
cm across; lip yellow, pubuscent, 3-3.5 x 1.5-2.2
cm, orbicular at the base, shortly convolute ciliate,
pale yellow with radiating streaks at the base.
Flowering = April June
Vern name = Saliki thutiya kopou
Status = eR ( extremely Rare)
Sharma Baruah, 12
Dendrobium fimbriatum Hooker var.
fimbriatum .
Epiphyte, pendulous, 75-150cm long; erect
or sub- erect; tapering towards the apex; light
yellowish-green, sheathed, striate, older stems are
leafless and arcuate or pendulous; leaves several,
lanceolate acuminate, gradually tapering to an
acute apex, 10-15 x 1.5-2.8 cm; raceme on leafy
or leafless stem, lateral, pendulous, sub-apical, 15-
20 cm long, 8-12 flowers each; flowers 4 5 cm
across, bright yellow, sepals broadly oblong,
rounded entire; petals broader, sub-orbicular; lip
orbicular fimbriate.
Flowering = April - May
Vern name = Sokhiyoti kopou
Sharma Baruah, 6
Dendrobium fimbriatum Hooker var.
oculatum
Epiphyte, pendulous, 75-150cm long; erect
or sub- erect; tapering towards the apex; light
yellowish-green, sheathed, striate, older stems are
leafless and arcuate or pendulous; leaves several,
lanceolate acuminate, gradually tapering to an
acute apex, 10 =15 x 1.5 2.8 cm; raceme on
leafy or leafless stem, lateral, pendulous,
pendulous, sub-apical, 15-20 cm long, 8-12 flowers
each; flowers 4 5 cm across, bright yellow, sepals
broadly oblong, rounded entire; petals broader, sub-
orbicular; lip orbicular fimbriate, with a deep
purplish brown blotch in the middle.
Vern name = Sokhiyoti kopou
Sharma Baruah, 7
Dendrobium lituiflorum Lindley.
Plants with pseudobulbs upto 60-80 cm long,
pendulous, slender purplish brown; internodes 2-
3 cm, leaf sheaths spotted purple; leaves 7.5-10 x
1.6-2 cm, linear, lanceolate, deciduous, absent at
the time of flowering; flowers in fascicles of 2-5,
4-5 cm across, pale purple.
Flowering = March - May
Vern name = Mota Kopou
Sharma Baruah, 2
Dendrobium moschatum (Buchanon-
Humilton) Swartz.
Plants with pseudobulbs upto 1-2 long, terate
striate, pointed towards the apex, erect or sub-erect;
leaves several, 10-15 x 3.5 cm, alternate acute or
faintly notched, ovate to lanceolate ovate;
inflorescence arising from apical region of the
leafless or leafy stem; 10-30 cm long; flowers 4-
15; 5-7 cm across, showy orange yellow.
Flowering = April June
Vern name = Komola sohiyoti
105 /
Sharma Baruah, 13
Dendrobium nobile Lindley .
Very rare, epiphyte, flowers purple rose, 5-
6cm across. Pseudobulb 3070 cm long;
sometimes more, erect or pendulous, tufted, some
what laterally slightly compressed, 1.2 1.5 cm
thick, yellowish green on maturity; leaves many,
8-12 x 2.5 3 cm, persistent, ovate lanceolate,
apex- unequally bilobed; inflorescence 1 5
flowerred, flowers arranged on short peduncles at
nodes, 5 7 cm across, white merging with purple
at apex, wary in texture.
Status = endangered (en)
Sharma Baruah, 3
Dendrobium transparens Willich ex Lindely
Plants with pseudobulbs, 30 60cm long,
pendulous, terete, swollen at base, faint yellow,
more than 5 leaved; leaves 7.5 10 x 1.2 cm,
linear, lanceolate, acute, recurved; inflorescence 2-
4 flowered, borne on leafless stem, flower 4 5
cm across; sepals lanceolate acute 2.8 3 x 1.3
cm; lip oblong cuncate at base, 3.2 x 1.0 cm, white
with purple patch on the disc.
Sharma Baruah, 4
Eria rufinula Rchb f .
Epiphytic, stem 10-30 cm long about as thick
as ducks quill. Leaves lancolate, very coriaceous,
10 cm long, inflorescence short, 2 to 4 flowered;
bracts ovate-lanceolate acuminate flowers 8mm
long, whitish flushed with pink; lip blotched with
red at base.
Flowering = May August
Status = R (Rare)
Sharma Baruah, 20
Flickingeria fugex ( Reichenbacb. f .)
Seidenfaden.
Epiphytic, pendulous, upto 60- 80cm long,
braches cylindric; pseudobulbs compressed ,
fusiform, 4 6 cm long; leaves solitary, terminal,
oblong- lanceolate to elliptic oblong, 10 20 x 2
3 cm; flowers white ,1or 2, arising at the base of
leaf, fugacious.
Flowering = March - October
Status = endemic (E)
Sharma Baruah, 23
Gastrochilus dasypogon ( J.E. Smith) 0.
kuntze.
Epiphytic, pendulous, stem short 2-3 cm
long, leaves 4-5, oblong 10 25 x 3-4 cm, sheathed
at base, obliquely bilobed; inflorescence many
flowered, corymbose; peduncle upto 4 cm long,
green, densely purple dotted, flowers 2.5 cm across;
yellowish green, with purple spots.
Flowering = October November
Sharma Baruah, 24
Gastrochilus inconspicum ( Hooker f.) 0.
kuntze.
Epiphytic, erect, 20- 30 cm long;
inflorescence extra axillary, 2-3 flowered, flowers
greenish white when young.
Flowering = June August
Sharma Baruah, 18
Kingidium deliciosum ( Reichenbach f.) H.R.
Sweet
Epiphytic, roots numerous, long and flat;
stem short, 2.5 long; leaves 23, pendulous, oblong,
15-20 x 4-6 cm, margins undulate, apex blunt;
inflorescence 10-12 cm long, 6 8 flowered;
flowers yellowish green, with purple spotted; lip,
2 cm across.
Flowering = May - July
Status = R(Rare)
Sharma Baruah, 16
Luisia trichorhiza ( Hooker f.) Blume
Epiphytic, stem 30 60 cm long, stout,
/ 106
branched; leaves terete, 10- 20 cm long, narrowed
at apex; inflorescence axillary, 4-5 flowered,
flowers purplish green, 1.5 cm across.
Flowering = March - June
Status = (E) endemic
Sharma Baruah, 14
Oberonia mucornata (D. Don) Ormerod &
Seidenfaden.
Epiphytic, leaves 5 7 , 5 20 x 1-2 cm,
ensiform, acute, broad at base inflorescence
decurved, densely flowered, flowers yellowish;
sub-verticellate; lip orbicular in outline.
Flowering = September - October
Status = (E) endemic
Sharma Baruah, 22
Papilionanthe teres ( Roxburgh) Schlechter.
Epiphytic, stem terete, upto 2.5m long; leaves
terete, 10-20 cm long, semi- erect; inflorescence
erect, extra- axillary, 10-15 cm long 2-8 flowered
flowers 6-8 cm across, purple rose with dark rose
lip and yellowish spur mouth.
Vern name = Vatou phul
Status = (E) Endemic
Sharma Baruah, 8
Phaius tankervilleae ( Aiton) Bl.
Terrestrial orchid, with leaves upto 3ft. long.
Flowers have reddish- brown petals, purplish-
brown lips. Numerous blooms appear on upright
racemes in the onset of summer. Flowers 4 -5
Flowering = April May
Vern name = Nuns orchid
Status = Rare (R)
Sharma Baruah, 5
Pholidota articulata Ldl.
Epiphytic, pseudobulbs jointed, 2 leaved,
cylindric, slender about 10 cm long. Leaves thickly
membranous, many- nerved, elliptic, acute, short
stalked, about 10cm long and 4 cm broad, long
petiolate. Inflorescence about 15 cm long, slender,
drooping and many flowered. Flowers 10,each
1.25 cm across, of then not opening well. Musk-
scented yellowish white, bract yellow shaded with
green; sepals and petals widely spread and nearly
equal, hollow basal part of lip with 5 low
longitudinal yellow ridges, narrowed at its end with
bears the blade. Lip about as long as sepals, broadly
cymbiform.
Flowering = June August
Sharma Baruah, 19
Pholidota imbricate Hooker
Epiphytic, pseudobulbs conical or ovoid, 5
7 x 1.5 3 cm; partly enclosed in conspicuous
fibrous sheaths; leaves solitary, 15-30 x 5 8 cm,
petiolate, elliptic- lanceolate; inflorescence densely
flowered, 20-30 cm long, drooping; flowers white.
Flowering = May - August
Sharma Baruah, 21
Rhynchostylis retusa ( Lindley) Blume
Epiphytic, stem 10- 12 cm long, leaves
several, 5-45 x 2.5 3 cm; oblong linear, deeply
channeled, fleshy, bilobed at apex, keeled;
inflorescence 30-45 cm long, densely flowered;
flowers 1.5 2 cm across, white or pink rose,
spotted with pink.
Vern name = Bohagi kopou
Sharma Baruah, 1
Results/ Statistical Analysis
The total number of collections of orchid
species in Nazirating Reserve Forest is 25 species
under 16 genus. Out of this, the genus Dendrobium
represents the highest number of species ( i.e. 7
species) followed by the genus Aerides and
Gastrochilus represented by 2 species each and
the remaining 13 genus represented by single
species each. These 13 genus include Acampe,
Bulbophyllum, Cleisostoma, Cymbidium, Eria,
Flickingeria, Kingidium, Luisia, Oberonia,
107 /
By using the data from table 1, a bar diagram is drawn. The genus are placed on the x- axis and
percentage of species are placed on the y- axis.
Sl. Genus Species Total %age Total Total
No no of no of no of
Sp. Genus Species
within a
Genus
1. Acampe i. A. rigida ( Buchanon-Humilton . 1 4% 16 25
ex. J.E. Smith) P.F. Hunt. species
2. Aerides i. A. odoratum Loureio 2 8%
ii. A. roseum Loddiges ex.Lindley& 1 4%
Paxton
3. Bulbophyllum i. B. caryunum ( Hook.f. ) Spreng 1 4%
4. Cleisostoma i. C. subulatum Blume 1 4%
5. Cymbidium i. C. aloifolium (Lindley) Swartz
6. Dendrobium i. D. aphyllum (Roxburgh) Fisher
ii. D. fimbriatum Hook var. fimbriatum
iii. D. fimbriatum Hook var. oculatum
iv. D. lituiflorum Lindley 7 28%
v. D. moschatum (Buchanon
Humilton) Swartz.
vi. D. Transparens Willich ex. Lindley
7. Eria i. E. rufinula Rchb.f. 1 4%
8. Flickingeria i. F. Fugex (Reichenbacb.f.) Seidenfaden 1 4%
9. Gastrochilus i. G. dasypogon (J.E. Smith) 0. Kuntze 2 8%
ii. G. inconspicum (Hooker.f.) 0. kuntze
10. Kingidium i. K. deliciosum(Reichenbach f.) 1 4%
H.R. Sweet
11. Luisia i. L. trichorhiza (Hooker f.) Blume 1 4%
12. Oberonia i. O. mucornata (D. Don) Ormerod 1 4%
& seidenfaden
13. Papilionanthe i. P. teres (Roxburgh) Schlecter 1 4%
14. Phaius i. P. tankervilleae (Aiton) Bl. 1 4%
15. Pholidota i. P. articulata Ldl. 2 8%
ii. P. imbricate Hooker
16. Rhynchostylis i. R. retusa (Lindley) Blume 1 4%
/ 108
Sl. No S P E C I E S Status
1. Acampe rigida (Buchanon E
Humilton ex. J.E. smith)
P.F. Hunt.
2. Aerides odoratum Loureio eR
3. Aerides roseum Loddiges eR
ex. Lindley & Paxton
4. Bulbophyllum caryunum
(Hook. f.) Spreng R
5. Cleisostoma subulatum E-?
Blume
6. Cymbidium aloifolium E
(Lindley) Swartz
7. Dendrobium aphyllum eR
(Roxburgh) Fisher
8. D. fimbriatum Hook. eR
var. fimbriatum
9. D. fimbriatum Hook. var. eR
oculatum
10. D. lituiflorm Lindley eR
11. D. moschatum (Buchanon- eR
Humilton) Swartz
12. D. nobile Lindley eN
13. D. transparens Willich ex. eR
Lindley
14. Eria rufinula Rchb. f. R
15. Flickingeria fugex
(Reichenbacb.f.)Seidenfaden E
16. Gastrochius dasypogon E
(J.E. Smith) 0. kuntze
17. G. inconspicum E
(Hooker f.) 0. Kuntze
18. Kingidium deliciosum R
(Reichebach f.) H.R. Sweet
19. Luisia trichorhiza E
(Hooker f.) Blume
20. Oberonia mucornata (D.Don) E
Ormerod & Seidenfaden
21. Papilionanthe teres E
(Roxburgh) Schlecter
22. Phaius tankervilleae R
(Aiton) Bl.
23. Pholidota articulata Ldl. eR
24. P. imbricata Hooker eR
25. Rhynchostylis retusa eR
(Lindley) Blume
E = Endmic Total no of species
which are E = 8
eN = Endangered Total no of species
which are eN = 1
eR = Extremely rare Total no of species
which are eR = 11
E-? = Possibly endemic Total no of species
which are E-? = 1
R = Rare Total no of species
which are R = 4
Percentage of species which are Endemic (E)
=
8
x 100 = 32
25
Percentage of species which are Endemic eN
=
1
x 100
= 4
25
Percentage of species which are Endemic eR
= 11
x 100 = 44
25
Percentage of species which are Endemic E-?
= 1
x 100 = 4
25
Percentage of species which are Endemic R
= 4
x 100 = 16
25
Papilionanthe, Phaius, Rhynchostylis respectively.
CONCLUSION
Orchids have been considered to possess
ornamental as well as medicinal value. Kopou-
phul ( Rhynchostylis retusa) is intimately linked
with the culture of Assamese societies. The whole
inflorecence is used by the girls to adorn their hair
during the festival Rongali Bihu. About 53
species of orchids known in India are employed in
medicine for various ailments. Some of them are
Aerides odoratum, Dendrobium nobile, Cymbidium
aloifolium, Pholidota imbricata, Rynchostylis
retusa, etc.
Nazirating Reserve Forest has been
considered as a dwelling home for orchids. This
project work has established this fact. It has also
proved the need of a detailed investigation on
orchid flora in Nazirating Reserve Forest.
It is very sad to mention that, this unique
property of nature is nearly in the path of
109 /
From the data of Table 3, a pie diagram is drawn
to show the percentage of status of the species.
From the data of table 2, a pie diagram is drawn to
show the ratio between the percentage of epiphytic
and terrestrial orchids species.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Bose, T.K. & Bhattacharjee, S.K. ( 1890) : Orchids of India, Calcutta.
2. Hooker J.D. (1890: The flora of British India, 5: 667- 858, 6:1 198 London.
3. Kataki, S.K. ( 1986): Orchids of Meghalaya, Shillong .
4. Meheshwari, J.K. et al (1995) : orchids in India Scient. Pub. Jodhpur.
5. Pradhan, U.C. (1976, 1979): Indian Orchids Guide to identification and culture 1 & 2, Calcutta.
6. Rao, A.S. (1979) : Orchids of India, New Delhi.
7. Gogoi, A.B (1997) : Floristic Composition of Tinsukia District of Assam : A Systematic Study Vol 1 & 2 Ph.D Thesis, G.U.
(Unpublished)
8. A. Borgohain, A.B. Gogoi and P.G. Nath (2010), Orchid Diversity and Host Specificity in Deopani Reserve Forest, Sadiya
Assam : NeBIO (2010) Vol. 1(3), 16-20.
extinction, due to rapid destruction of their natural
habitat and over collection by orchid-lovers
through out the world. Now, the right time has
come, when we should join our hands together to
save this wonderful gift of NATURE.
[Dr. A.B. Gogoi teaches Botany and Prantik studies in B.Sc IIIrd Yr (Botany)]
was panic everywhere when my family members
were brutally slaughtered by the human. All of
them fell down one by one. What a sorrowful sight
that was ! I cant imagine how I felt when I was
chopped down into several pieces. The intolerable
pain left me senseless and when I regained my
conscioussness, I was here in this room. So, this
is the story of my life. You people destroyed my
family and society. Our dreams were shattered. But
where did you get the right to do this type of
heinous crime ? Is it just ? No, it is not. But time
has come. You must consider your actions in a
logical and sensible manner or get ready to face
the consequences !!
Hearing this, the small boy became dumb
founded. Unknowingly tears rolled down from his
eyes and his growing hatred and anger for human
race could be clearly seen in his face.
(Contd. from 114) An Unusual Talk
(The author studies in B.A. IInd Year)
/ 110
so they launched a
follow-up spear phishing attack.
Almost half of phishing thefts in 2006
were committed by groups operating through
the Russia Business Network based in St.
Petersburg.
Most methods of phishing use some form of
technical deception designed to make a link in an
e-mail (and the spoofed website it leads to) appear
to belong to the spoofed organization. Misspelled
URLs or the use of subdomains are common tricks
used by phishers. In the following example URL
http://www.yourbank.example.com/ it appears as
though the URL will take you to the example
section of the yourbank website; actually this URL
points to the ''yourbank'' (i.e. phishing) section of
the example website.
Once a victim visits the phishing website
the deception is not over. Some phishing scams
use Java Script commands in order to alter the
address bar. This is done either by placing a
picture of a legitimate URL over the address bar
or by closing original address bar and opening a
new one with the legitimate URL.
An attacker can even use flaws in a trusted
website's own scripts against the victim. These types
of attacks (known as cross-site scripting) are
particularly problematic, because they direct the user
to sign in at their bank or service's own web page,
where everything from the web address to the
security certificates appears correct. In reality, the
link to the website is crafted to carry out the attack,
making it very difficult to spot without specialist
knowledge. Just such a flaw was used in 2006 against
PayPal.
A Universal Man-in-the-middle (MITM)
Phishing Kit, discovered in 2007, provides a
P
hishing term originates from the word
fishing and the well known pre-fix ph
like in Phreaks traces back to early hackers who
were involved in phreaking The hacking of
telephone systems. Phishing, also referred to as
brand spoofing or carding, is a variation on
fishing, the idea being that bait is thrown out
with the hope that while most will ignore the bait,
some will be tempted into biting. Nowadays, it is
mostly meant as a conjunction of password and
fishing. Also termed as the 21st century crime,
phishing is basically a form of online identity theft
employing tricking, social engineering and
technical action to steal user credentials such as
usernames and passwords. The term phishing
covers not only obtaining user account details,
but now includes access to all personal and
financial data. What originally included tricking
users into replying to e-mails for passwords and
credit card details at a fake website whose look
and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one
delivered through any electronic communication
channel.
Where can Phishing take place and what are
the methods ? Phishers are targeting the
customers of banks and online payment services,
e-mails, social networking sites are now a prime
target of phishing. Since the personal details in
such sites can be used in identity theft.
Experiments show a success rate of over 70% for
phishing attacks on social networks.
Attackers who broke into TD Ameritrades
database (containing all 6.3 million customers'
social security numbers, account numbers and
e-mail addresses as well as their names, addresses,
dates of birth, phone numbers and trading activity)
also wanted the account usernames and passwords,
Tinkal Gogoi
111 /
simple-to-use interface that allows a phisher to
convincingly reproduce websites and capture log-
in details entered at the fake site. To avoid anti-
phishing techniques that scan websites for phishing-
related text, phishers have begun to use Flash-based
websites. These look much like the real website, but
hide the text in a multimedia object.
Another attack used successfully is to forward
the client to a bank's legitimate website, then to
place a popup window requesting credentials on
top of the website in a way that it appears the bank
is requesting this sensitive information.
One of the latest phishing techniques is
tabnabbing. It takes advantage of the multiple tabs
that users use and silently redirects a user to the
affected site. There are lots of other phising
techniques are there which are limited only to the
imagination of a malicious creator.
How to avoid Phishing :
Be aware when submitting personal or financial
information on Websites : Before submitting
financial information through a Website, as shown
in the above image look for the ''padlock'' icon on
your browser's status bar. This indicates that your
information is secure during transactions. To ensure
that you are on a secure Web server, check the
beginning of the Web address in your browser's
bar. It should read https://, rather than just http://.
Recognize it : Be alert for scam e-mails. It you get
an e-mail that warns you that an account of yours
will be disabled unless you reconfirm your
information, do not reply or click on the link in the
e-mail. Phishers typically include upsetting or
exciting (but fake) statements in their e-mails to
make people react immediately. These e-mails are
typically NOT personalized, while valid messages
from your bank or e-commerce company generally
are. Internet users need to resist clicking on the link
immediately. No matter how upsetting or exciting
the statements in the e-mail may be there is always
enough time to check out the information more
closely.
Browse wisely : Make sure that you are using the
latest browsers like internet explorer 8 or Mozilla
3.6 as the web browser includes some built-in
protection against known phishing websites. They
compare visited sites with the database of
discovered phishing websites.
(The author is doing Post Graduation on Information Technology in Assam University, Silchar)
The modern world is just getting better and better in shortening distances. We have become
a global village. My point here is not about coming close to another metamorphically but to
literally shorter English language just because we have come closer sounds confusing.
I assume that the readers of my article are mostly mobile phone users. Cell phones are in
vogue today. SMS or short messaging services are the rage of the country. Now-a-days, about 98% of
teenagers of the world are prone to send 10-20 messages per day or even more and these are the people who have
shortened English to such an extent that it is scarcely recognizable. So, if there is any double letter in a word, one of it is
cut off. I wnt 2 tlk 2 u 2dy A laugh really.
Is this helping us in saving time, space and money or deteriorating our sense of english language ? Have we
conquered this language so much that we have gained access to demolish it ? Worth thinking! Many people say that it is
only in the mobile phones that they use such words. But those who are really into this Messaging thing know better.
Will this article make any difference in the messaging world ? Certainly not. Some may say that I have gone
nuts. Others may comment my article as failure. Though some may not give a glance at it. But I will not set back by
it because for me, this is an interesting topic, really.
(The author studies in TDC Part II)
Payel Malakar
/ 112
I
ntroduction : Maize (Zea mays L.) is a genus
of the family Poaceae, commonly known as the
grass family. It is a tall, monecious annual grass
with overlapping sheaths and broad conspicuously
distichous blades. Plants have staminate spikelets
in long spike-like racemes that form large
spreading terminal panicles (tassels) and pistillate
inflorescences in the leaf axils, in which the
spikelets occur in 8 to 16 rows. The whole structure
(ear) is enclosed in numerous large foliaceous
bracts and a mass of long styles (silks) protrude
from the tip as a mass of silky threads. Cultivated
maize is presumed to have been derived from
teosinte (Z. mexicana) and is thought to have been
introduced into the old world in the sixteenth
century (Mahmoud et al. 2007). Maize is
cultivated worldwide and represents a staple food
for a significant proportion of the worlds
population. Now-a-days, maize is the third
important cereal crop beside wheat and rice. Low
temperature is a major factor limiting the
productivity and geographical distribution of
important agricultural crops like maize (Allen and
Ort, 2001). But maize has high temperature needs
for germination and growth and is, therefore, a
thermophilic plant species (Miedema, 1982). Early
development of maize is already affected by
temperatures below 15
0
C (Stamp, 1948).
Seedlings emerging from seeds of varied
sizes exhibit deferential competitive performance
due to variation in emergence time and growth rate
(Barik et al. 1996; Tripathi and Khan, 1990;
Mahmood et al., 2005). Large and heavy
seeds have better seedling survival
and growth than small seeds
(Bonfil, 1998; Vera, 1997).
However small
S. Chakraborty
Gayatri Sarmah
seeds confer the advantages of greater dispersal
efficiency (Ganeshaiah and Uma Shankar, 1991;
Hedge et al. 1991). Thus the present study tries
to resolve the conflicts of selection pressures for
two components of fitness; namely, seed
germination and seedling establishment
efficiency, in relation to variability in seed mass.
Materials and methods : Seeds were collected
from healthy and disease free plants and weighed
individually, and classified into two different seed
classes seed class - I (SC-I, Big seeds; 0.26 gm-
0.36 gm) and seed class - II (SC-II, small seeds;
0.11 gm 0.25 gm). Fifty polythene bags with
uniform soil were prepared for each seed class
and seeds were placed there after imbibing in
water for 21 hours. Regular monitoring was done.
The number of seed germination and seedling
growth were recorded separately from each class
at a specific periodic interval.
Results :
Germination : A total 50 seeds of each class were
shown in each class on 15.5.2011 and the first
germination was recorded on 18.5.2011 with 21%
of seeds of SC- I and 19 of seeds under SC- II. After
6 days maximum numbers of germination (47; 94%)
were recorded in SC-I and it were 43 numbers (86%)
in SC-II (Table 1). The rate of germination recorded
maximum in SC-I on 3
rd
day with 42% while it was
only 38% in SC-II. Similar case was also observed
on 4
th
day where SC-I showed 40% of germination
and only 36% in SC-II (Figure 1).
Table : 1 Number of germinated seed per day
with their percentage in parenthesis.
Gayatri Sarmah
Dr. S. Chakraborty
Date of Date of Seed Seed
showing Germination Class I Class II
18.5.2011 21 (42%) 19 (38 %)
15-5-2011 19.5.2011 20 (40%) 18 (36%)
20.5.2011 3 (6 %) 5 (10%)
21.5.2011 3 (6%) 1 (2%)
Total 47 (94%) 43 (86%)
113 /
References :
1. Allen, D.J., and Ort, D.R., 2001. Impacts of Chilling Temperatures on Photosynthesis in Warm-climate Plants. Trends in Plants
6: 36-42.
2. Barik, S.K., R.S. Tripathi, H.N. Panddey and P. Rao. 1996. Tree regeneration in a subtropical humid forest: effect of cultural disturbance
on seed production, dispersal and germination. Journal of Applied Ecology 33:1551-1560.
3. Bonfil, C. 1998. The effect of seed size, cotyledon reserves, and harbivory on seedling survival and growth in Quercus rugosa and
Q. laurina (Fagaceae). American Journal of Botany 85: 79-87.
4. Khan, M.L. and Uma Shankar, 2001. Effect of seed weight, light regime and substratum microsite on germination and seedling
growth of Quercus semiserrata Roxb.
5. Tropical ecology 42 (1) : 117-125.
6. Mahmood, S., Hussain, A., Saeed, Z and Athar, M. 2005. Germination and seedling growth of corn (Zea mays L.) under varying
levels of copper and zinc. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech. Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 269-274 Mahmoud, A.M., Ahmed, K.H., Hanan, F.K. and
Mona K.K. 2007. Prediction of seed germination and seedling growth of four crop plants as affected by root zone temperature.
World Journal of Agriculture Sciences, 3 (6) : 714-720
7. Miedema, P., 1982. The Effects of Low Temperature on Zea mays. Advances in Agronomy 35:93-128.
8. Stamp, P., 1984. Chilling tolerancce of young plants demonstrated on the example of maize (Zea mays L.). In Advances in Agronomy
and Crop Science 7. Paul Parey Berlin.
9. Tripathi, R.S. and M.L. Khan. 1990. Effect of seed weight and microsite characteristics on germination and seedling in two species
of Quercus in a subtropical wet hill forest. Oicos 57: 289-296.
10. Vera, M.L. 1997. Effects of altitude and seed size on germination and seedling survival of heathland plants in north Spain. Plant
Ecology 133 : 101-106.
(Dr. Sushmita Chakraborty teaches Botany and Gayatri Sarmah is her student.)
R
a
t
e

o
f

G
e
r
m
i
n
a
t
i
o
n

i
n

p
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

(
%
)
Rate of Germination of two different classes
Seedling Growth :
The average daily height of the seedlings is
increases gradually in SC-I with 28+ 8cm while it
was recorded with 20 + 8.9cm in SC-II after 12
days of sowing (Fig 2 and 3).
Discussion : Germination of seed depends on
environmental factors as well as seed quality. Seed
mass play vital role in seed germination and seedling
growth (Khan and Uma Shankar, 2001). From so
far information recorded, it is showed that the seed
mass have direct effect on germination and seedling
growth. Seeds of seed class - I with average seed
weight 0.3 gm. showed the higher rate of
germination (94%) than seed of seed class - II (86%)
(Table-1). Thus it is experimentally proved that the
variation in rate of seed germination was directly
proportional to seed mass. On the other hand in case
of seedling growth moderate variation was observed
between two seed classes (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).
Through this experiment it is clear that healthy
seed with higher seed mass have the ability to produce
offspring at higher rate with rapid growth rate than
that of less seed mass seeds of a same species. Thus it
suggested that farmer should prefer seeds with higher
seed mass for better crop production.
Fig.2 Graphical Representation of average daily growth
(height in cm) of seedlings. SC-I, n=47; + = SD
/ 114
(An unusual
conversation between a
small boy and a desk)
I
n a classroom, a small boy was
writing something on a desk. At that
time,
Desk : Hi friend ! How are you doing ?
Boy : My goodness, you can talk !
Desk : Yep, I can. I tried to talk and now I
can talk. So, simple !
Boy : Simple ! What do you mean ?
Desk : I wanna say that nothing is impossible.
You, people have taught us to overcome every
obstacle, simply everything that comes in our way.
Boy : Really ?
Desk : I wanna say that nothing is impossible.
You, people have taught us to overcome every
obstacle, simply everything that comes in our way.
Boy : Really ?
Desk : Yes, but one thing about you surprises
me a lot, i.e., you have never-ending wants and
your preoccupation is only to fulfil them by hook
or by crook. As if the world is only for you and
you would do whatever you like to fulfil your
wants. Your indiscriminate acts have endangered
many species and some of them have already
become extinct. You are even defying nature which
is a matter of grave concern. Going against her is
very dangerous to all of us.
Boy : Why ?
Desk : Because nature is the ultimate power
on earth. Nothing can triumph over her. Everything
must bow down before her. We are all her children
and she equally loves all of us. We are endowed
with almost everything by her. But she is in a lot of
pain because of your acts. She is still silent but it
does not mean that she cant retaliate against your
aggression. No doubt, you are progressing ; your
wants are met, your lives have became easy and
comfortable but at the cost of other species
sufferings. But you dont pay any heed to it. You
can take my own example in this regard.
Boy : What happened to you ?
Desk : Well ! Today, I am heart broken ! I
am a helpless victim of your indiscriminate
actions. The sweet memories of my family and
other society members haunt me.
Boy : Sorry !
Desk : Once I had a very big family in the
southern part of Kaziranga. My family consisted
of my grandparents, parents, children and
grandchildren. With the innocent birds, insects,
animals and other trees, we formed an ideal
society. We were in good terms with other
society members. We maintained peace and
harmony among ourselves. Every member of our
society was cooperative and stood by one
another in difficulties. We did not hurt and envy
others as we regarded it to be sin. Thus, we
enjoyed every moment of the day as happiness
all around prevailed round the clock in our
society. But !!
Boy : But, what ?
Desk : One day, we heard the murmurings
of a strange species (later I came to know they
were human, the best of all living beings !). They
were holding some sharp objects in their hands,
Ouch ! Fear engulfs my whole body when I
remember that ill fated day. From that day, our
peaceful existence was disrupted and our lives
became miserable. Oh! What a tragedy ! There
(Contd. on Page 109)
Prachurjya Pran Bora
115 /
+- =| n` (:| t|=+=| -| : ) = ~+ =|t = n| t|=|
|+n = =| =|:| r|ts-; (|t+ -: r|ts-; ;|t| |=|o+
+|= `= r|ts-;` =| +|=) =| |-+| ++|| =|+| r ,
`+ ||t| :-|+:` - :=| +|- = = +| =| : o |
|-=+| r |=-+ : =t r |+n = :| +|| - |=r ~| t
|s||-+ =| ~|-=| +|+; |:+| ~| t ; =| |n=|t r| =t ~+t
- == + |||-+ :-r =: r -+ =+| |r+ =+|=
|=r + ~-+ - + += = :-r ~|=|n-|+ - r| :-| ==|
|:| ++= :=| :n| - == r - | =| -|t= -| =t tr
r :+= - r =| =|t- = ~||: |+t| :=| = =- +|n| +:|
:; + r : r =r| +|=| +|:| | +| +|= |+= | : | =| +|
= ~+|t+ r : r r| =- +|n =| =| + -|+| r = +:
:=||= r ~-- - ~| t ~| |o+ r , =-| =| +|n =t+
|=| r , = ~- =| - |+n = =| +|t| r| +| ++|| +| r
=| r| =r|-=r| r : o | |-=+| r |= : ; + |+n = =|
-+ = += = |:| |
o t, =|-- t|-~|c|+-=| = ||= =| | =r
:= =|: =| n ==|+ =| =| : =| = =|t +r| r |= =- +|n|
= =|+| =|++| +:| =| +|- r , :== + =| +=|=+| - |
=| r| =|+t|+-+t|+ +=+| tr| r +=+| tr +| = =| |=
= =|t =| ~- +|:| = +|t -t +=| -|+ +|-+| - r| +|
~|| r , r| +| tr +| = r ~| t :==| =| : +-| | +r|
r |= :|+r|= = |==| =|=o : - |=+ -=t-+|- :==|
=t|+-+|= = =| =| : :x+ =-+| :== |=+|t -+-|--=|
r| , r| ==+| r |= :=+ t|=|~| -+t n| , ~|++||~| -
~|= -=||t| = =|-=-=t + : o r| , r| ==+| r |=
:== + -t += +| -=|t = |==| + r- = t =| ~ + t|
=| =t| - |==| -r|+ ~|-| + =-- + |=| r| , + r| |==|
-r- |+-| ~| t |+|n =| =| : -r|+|| :== == ~| t
:=- |= =t+ |= =|+||t| -+--|+| =| :-|-|+ =
= :| r| |=t | | :++| t + r| + = r| := -rr|+,
- -r|+ +| ~-|+ -|+ |=| =|+| |r
(:|t|= = |=;-t |=r -n - |n= r +n - |r-:| =||r = =-|t|+ =o= r :+=| +||= =o -c+ = |= :|o
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=:= ='+=+ =+= + = .................../ =

:= :-:r = ++ '-:+ -=: := + :+r + : '- + := :+ ++ = '+='t= := + '-'=

=:= ='+= = :+ |'=+ =:

='+= ='+ :+ '- +r= =-+= '= +

='+=+ +r== '::= == =

='+=+ 'r + :='

='+= ' :=:= =+ :=

='+= '-''=- ' := :=:= :=:

='+= '-':= := =+= + =

='+=+ = === + '++= '+ ='='=s

='+=+ :r==+ = '+=:= ''=- ',

='+= :=:+ '==+ ==| '=+ ='+

='+=+ = = 's= :+ =+ :'+=+ + '+

='+=+ ='s= + '= ++

=:= ='+=+ ' '- + =! :+:=-

==, = = =|' =:r :| ==

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