May 2012 issue 

Civic Citadel

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also known as Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is the civic body that governs the city of Mumbai and is India’s richest municipal organisation. Its annual budget is even more than that of some of the small states of India. Established under the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, it is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of Mumbai and its extended suburbs. Many great personalities who played an important role in shaping the destiny of India during the freedom movement have held the august office of the mayor at some point of time. OIOP May issue, Civic Citadel, is a Collector’s Item on BMC and it traces the history and evolution of the Corporation.

The lead article ‘Such a long journey’ is on the evolution of the BMC. The epoch-making Bombay Act of 1888 led to the creation of three co-ordinating authorities—the Municipal Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Municipal Commissioner. Dilip Chaware, veteran journalist who has covered state and national politics for over 35 years, delves into history to tell us how the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) evolved.

In ‘The Hall of Fame’, we have profiled a few stalwarts whose vision and contribution has made Mumbai the city of dreams.

Arthur Crawford was Bombay’s first Municipal Commissioner who did much for the city, using his dynamism and single-mindedness for the purpose. In her article ‘Arthur Crawford – Hero and Villain,’ Lina Mathias, Senior Assistant Editor, Economic and Political Weekly, gives an insight into the colourful record of this controversial figure.

In ‘A steady decline’ – P. K. Ravindranath, senior journalist, rues the deterioration in civic standards in the last three decades. Unless we find an army of selfless, devoted, public spirited young men to govern us, he feels there is no hope of redemption.

In his article ‘Bombay’s Birthday, Mumbai’s Future,’ S Shankar Menon, an IAS (retd.) officer and former Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra (1995-97), throws up a number of innovative ideas to have a corruption- free BMC in five years and elevate Mumbai to unprecedented stardom. Any takers?

In the article ‘Pipeline, lifeline,’ we look at the unique water supply system of Mumbai. Dense population and other issues have been a cause for water shortages in the city but with new schemes in the pipeline, this too might be a thing of the past, says Dilip Chaware.

The quality of health care provided by the municipal hospitals leaves much to be desired. In the article ‘A health check,’ Anuradha Dhareshwar, Associate Editor, One India One People, says that with a slew of new initiatives to bridge the gaps, the BMC hopes to upgrade its services.

Mangroves represent the spirit of Mumbai, says Bittu Sahgal, eminent environmentalist and Editor of Sanctuary Magazine in ‘Mangroves, Mumbai’s green armour’. They are without question plucky survivors that have managed to overcome toxic chemicals, heavy metals and human avarice. The unfortunate truth is that little do people understand just how important mangroves are to the quality of life of the citizens of Mumbai, he says.

Open spaces are the lungs of a city as it gives its residents a pollution-free place for rejuvenation and recreation. While these spaces in Mumbai are disappearing fast, it is heartening to note the work of civic activists and citizens to reclaim open spaces, writes Irene Lewis in ‘Let the city breathe’.

In the article, It’s in your hands - Dr. Akalpita Paranjpe, associated with various citizen forums like Mumbai 227, Freedom Team of India and Bharat Uday Mission, writes on how citizens’ forums can play a vital role in improving civic governance at the ward levels. 

While BEST’s bus service is one of the most affordable and reliable modes of commuting across the city, its round-the-clock electric supply at reasonable tariffs drives Mumbai’s swelling service sector. Dilip Chaware takes us through the history of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking in BEST’s ride to fame.

The May issue has three features in its Know India Better section.

In Mumbai: From Dreamy Isles to the Isle of Dreams, Akul Tripathi explores some of the less frequented places in the city. Walking across Mumbai, Akul Tripathi, media professional and travel writer discovers there is so much that he never knew about the city he was born in. He rides through the many 'rabbit holes of wonder' and pieces together how the destiny of seven small pieces of soil became the destiny of a billion people. He comes out surprised, addicted and in awe - his current quest over, but a journey that has just begun.

Resplendent heritage is about the architectural grandeur of the Brihanmumbai headquarters. The BMC Headquarters near the historic Victoria Terminus is one of the first imposing heritage structures visitors to Mumbai encounter. Designed by Fredrick Williams Stevens, the architecture of this building is in the Victorian Neo-Gothic style, though the minaret forms and bulbous dome were adapted to relate to Indian forms, write Abha Narain Lambah and Kruti Garg, conservation architects.

In ‘An icon of the colonial past’, Akul Tripathi visits the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghrahalay) to discover how Mumbai’s cradle of time is faring.

In ‘Face to Face’ Dilip Chaware interviews Johny Joseph, senior IAS officer who retired as the Chief Secretary of the Government of Maharashtra on 30 November 2009. Mr. Joseph says, “Mumbai has unlimited potential, it only needs to be channelised.”

‘Great Indians’ profiles three icons whose contribution to Mumbai is incomparable

 

Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, The Lion of Bombay (1845-1915);

Nanasaheb V. Modak, Architect of modern Bombay (1889-1971)

and Sadashiv Kanoji Patil or S. K. Patil, The uncrowned king of Bombay (1898-1981).

To order this Collector’s Item on BMC, kindly contact….

And also read our regular columns and other features. To book a copy, email to oiop@vsnl.net or call Nagesh Bangera, OIOP Subscription-in-charge at 022- 2353 44 00.

We look forward to your feedback.

April 2011

According to 2011 census, there are 10 crore people above the age of 60 in India. A figure good enough for government and like-minded institutions to focus on the needs of senior citizens. Loneliness, safety, abuse, neglect, health are all major issues of concern, which families and government need to address with compassion. With nuclear families on a rise, many children do not have enough time to look after their ageing parents. As a result many of the aged land into old age homes, either out of force or by choice. While these old age homes provide shelter to the aged, they cannot make up for the family. Hence, a concerted effort should be made by children to willingly take up the responsibility of their ageing parents, and, an old age home should be considered only when someone does not have a family to fall back upon.

We all age. Therefore, a mental and physical preparation to ensure that our autumn years are healthy, happy and productive must begin early in life. And adults should work towards it. There are many ways to make the post retirement years joyful and fruitful. The April issue of One India One People “Silver Innings”, tries to address some of the concerning issues of senior citizens and also shows many ways of living happily ever after.

In our lead article, ‘Ageing gracefully’, Prof. N. K. Chadha, Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, says that old age is not a phase of decline and loss, nor does successful ageing begin at 60. How a people age is determined by their lifelong behaviour and choices—many of which are adopted early in life. If approached properly, old age harbours many opportunities for positive change and productive functioning, he adds.

Dr. Mala Kapur Shankardass, a sociologist working as Associate Professor at Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, in the article ‘A safety net for the aged’, writes that abuse, neglect, violence and other crimes against senior citizens are on the rise. While a strong legislation is needed to address these issues, taking precautionary measures, better vigilance by the police and monitoring by welfare organizations can go a long way in providing security to senior citizens, she says.

Dr. Olav Albuquerque

Lawyers Krrishan Singhania, Dr. Olav Albuquerque and Madhur Kabra  in More teeth to the law, highlight the drawbacks in the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. They offer suggestions to make the legislation more effective. 

Where there’s a WILL there’s a way, writes Nilam Pawar, a practising advocate at the Bombay High Court. She simplifies some of the legal jargons associated with the execution of a WILL and stresses the importance of executing a will. This is especially relevant to senior citizens. She also speaks about the pros and cons of the reverse mortgage scheme for senior citizens.

Old age homes have been around for decades, especially for the aged who have no one to fall back on. In ‘A home away from home’, Anshika Swaroop, a student of Journalism at Harkisan Mehta Foundation Institution of Journalism, Mumbai, visits an Old Age home to understand the emotions of the aged living in these homes.  She writes that, with the disintegration of the traditional Indian family, old age homes are becoming a familiar feature even for those coming from better economic backgrounds. While these homes are a necessity today, they lack heart, she feels.

When you find a purpose in life, there can be no dull moment, exhorts Dr. S. D. Gokhale, Hon. President, International Longevity Centre–India and an eminent international social scientist, administrator, researcher and writer. He says that people can make their post-retirement years constructive and happy in umpteen ways. He shares experiences of people who have made their late years golden.

Few elders too share their views on ageing gracefully in the article ‘Adding life to the years’. They tell us how senior citizens can make their autumn years joyous and productive.

Modern grandmas are doing things that were an anathema to them during their youth. In ‘Grandma comes of age’, Soma Mitra tells us how, by consciously adapting lifestyle changes to keep up with their grandchildren, these new age grannies are learning hobbies, sporting the ‘happening look’, and living their life to the fullest.

The ‘Know India Better’ section features ‘Amritsar: The fabled city of Golden Temple’. Amritsar, which literally means ‘pool of nectar’ is famous for its magnificent Golden Temple, a symbol of spiritual freedom. The city founded in the second half of the 16th century by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, is host to a unique religion and the venue of one of the most horrible massacres during India`s freedom struggle.

In ‘Face to Face’, veteran journalist P. K. Ravindranath confabulates with 83-year-old A. R. K. Pillai, Founder, Indian Development Foundation (IDF), dedicated to leprosy and tuberculosis eradication, who relentlessly works for a better tomorrow with a band of like-minded volunteers. Pillai tells how IDF has built up a huge cadre of committed social workers all working for a happy, contended society, freed of want and hunger to lead a life of self-respect and dignity, and without any communal, casteist or religious inhibitions.

Great Indians – we feature –

Kanjibhai Desai, The Socialist Zamindar (1886-1961) – He dedicated his entire life to the cause of the nation, first as a freedom fighter and post-independence, as an active participant in the developmental programmes.

Mario Miranda, The graceful illustrator (1926-2011) - His inimitable illustrations made Mario Miranda one of the most renowned and loved cartoonists of India. Anyone who saw his sketches for even one time could not help but become an admirer. That was the pull of his work.

Colonel N J Nair AC, KC, The best soldier in field craft (1951-1993)-Colonel N J Nair is the only Indian to have received country’s two highest awards, the Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra. He was a great leader. He lived and died true to the slogan of his unit “Duty, Honour and Courage.”

In the ‘General’ section –G. Venkatesh, a freelance writer speaks about the relevance of the Bhagavad Gita even in the post-modern era. He tell us how the 18 chapters in the Gita help the deluded to understand the state of their minds, and the advisors and mentors amongst us to structure our approaches to healing, motivating and living a responsible life.

And also read our regular columns and other features. To book a copy, email to oiop@vsnl.net or call Nagesh Bangera, OIOP Subscription-in-charge at 022- 2353 44 00.

We look forward to your feedback.

Career Course

The last decade has seen a plethora of choices emerge on the career front. Traditional careers like engineering and medicine are getting phased out or redesigned to suit the new market demand. The information age has seen a rise in exciting and unconventional careers such as event management, TV anchoring, choreography, wildlife photography, wine tasting, pet grooming, podiatrist, fitness expert, forensic expert, etc. More the merrier might be the adage but the large numbers of options have also left students confused about their career course. Students now turn to career counsellors to know their aptitude. While aptitude tests have their own relevance, education experts advise students to choose wisely and not get carried away by the lure of money or popular trends; as trends can be cyclic. The bottom line for students is to know their own aptitude and choose a career, which will bring them happiness in the long run. The March 2012 issue of One India One People talks about the emerging career trends and tries to address some of the issues concerning careers.

In the lead article, ‘A plethora of choices’, Swati Salunkhe, Managing Director of Growth Centre (I) Pvt. Ltd; a Career Counselling firm in Mumbai, analyses the career trends and spells out the key factors that students should consider before making a choice. She says, ‘From wine taster to image consultant and graphic designer to yoga instructor, Indians have a host of avenues to choose from. New courses are being constantly evolved and traditional careers are either getting phased out or being redesigned to meet market demand.’

Choose wisely, is what Pratibha Jain, international education consultant and founder of Eduabroad Consulting, Mumbai, advises to students who are on a threshold of choosing a career, as it will determine several years of happiness, fulfillment and achievement.

How relevant are aptitude tests, – is what students and parents want to know. Sajma Aravind, Project Coordinator at The Promise Foundation (Counsellor and Career Guidance specialist), Bangalore, says, every person has a range of abilities and strengths that go beyond what can be captured by an aptitude test. So students must think and consider other factors too before opting for a particular career.

The sheen of an MBA degree seems to be waning. Is it because we are focusing more on the perks of an MBA degree such as the salary and social status rather than expertise and values an MBA should be able to provide to an organisation. In ‘Upscaling the MBA’, Priya Vasudevan, Deputy General Manager - Learning and Development with ACG Worldwide, offers some basic tenets that can help upscale the MBAs and bring back the shine to the degree.

Anshika Swaroop, a student of Journalism at Harkisan Mehta Foundation Institute of Journalism, Mumbai, tells us about some lesser known but interesting careers that the defence services offer to those who love to don the uniform and want to serve the country.

The fields of media and entertainment offer a host of avenues for those who are creative, have good communication skills, presence of mind and ready to work hard. Disha Khemchandani, also a student of Journalism at Harkisan Mehta Foundation Institute of Journalism and Mass Communication, Mumbai, explores the options for students who want to pursue a career in this field.

Sourcing the right candidate and nurturing them can create a valuable talent pool for any organisation. While the interviewee is expected to be prepared so that he is successful, the interviewer should also possess the requisite interview skills, writes Jolly J Mathews, who recently retired from Novartis India Limited where he headed the Training Function. He currently heads – The Pedagogue, a Human Strategies Organisation that offers services in Training Consultancy, Life Coaching and allied H R projects.

With new career vistas opening up in the last decade, students are spoilt for choice. However, aptitude and passion are the key drivers of a career choice. And high salaries and perks are just the cherry on top. OIOP has featured stories of a few professionals who chose unconventional careers and are enjoying every moment of their work. Mayank Vahia, Professor, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai; Santosh Raut, Forensic Expert, Scientist and Investigator at IFS INDIA, Forensic Dept., Pune; Revendra Tir, independent Research Associate; Dr. Govind Singh Bisht, Podiatrist (Footcare Specialist)  practising in Delhi and Preeti and Sanjeev Kumar, Pet groomers  give insights into their professions.

Know India Better features Visakhapatnam, the second largest city of Andhra Pradesh, locally known as Vizag. Virgin beaches, blue-green sea, green-capped hills, breathtaking valleys, lush green parks, million-year-old caves, ancient Buddhist sites, a natural harbour, the only submarine museum in Asia and a lot more places to explore, makes Vizag a tourist paradise. 

The text and photos are by Rangan Datta, a mathematics teacher, who is also an avid travel writer.

Face to Face - Anshika Swaroop interviews Capt. Suresh Vanjari, an engineer who served in the Indian Army from 1963-1968 and runs an Academy in Chembur to train young boys and girls for the armed forces and other entrance exams. He talks about motivating students and preparing them for a flourishing career in defence.

Great Indians

Air Chief Marshal P C Lal DFC (1916-1982) – He was a manager and leader par excellence. To him goes the credit for the grand performance of IAF in 1974 War.

B. G. Deshmukh (1929-2011) – Bhalchandra Gopal Deshmukh was a model civil servant – polite, firm, fearless, clean and stern, who maintained the dignity of the administration. He was among those who zealously guarded certain values.

Indira Goswami (1942-2011) – Compassion was her second name. It showed not only in her love for her people and land but in her writing too. Indira Goswami’s life, her works and her courage to speak against oppression, had made her a feminist icon in Assam.

Also read our regular columns on culture, vedic mathematics, environment, patriotism and current issues. 

To order copies, call Nagesh Bangera at 022-2353 44 00 or email to oiopsub@fouressindia.com or oiop@vsnl.net

February 2012

‘Wounded Earth’

 The earth is facing innumerable damages, thanks to human profligacy. India which was blessed with nature’s abound resources has been no different. With excessive mining, deforestation, concrete jungles and unsound eco policies, India’s green cover and its fauna are diminishing with each passing day. It is time we, as aware citizens stand up to this destruction and save our forests and rivers from greedy corporates and corrupt politicians, or else, our natural resources will disappear in no time. We owe at least this to our next generation.

In the February issue on ‘Environment’ prominent environmentalists have contributed thought-provoking articles that force us to pause and think about human profligacy that is wounding our planet. We hope our readers like this issue and will do their bit in protecting the environment and saving the Earth from further damage.

In the lead article ‘Stop human profligacy!’ eminent environmentalist and the Editor of Sanctuary magazine, Bittu Sahgal, whose work today revolves around saving the tigers and the forests of India, highlights some of the most dangerous threats to the planet from homo sapiens and calls us to protect and restore our eco systems. “The planet is forcing us to pause, contemplate our actions and then alter human ambitions, laws and social mores to bring them in line with nature's laws. As we debate the issues, nature will neither sit on the sidelines nor judge us, it will simply deliver consequences”, cautions Sahgal. But is anybody listening?

Climate change is not a problem of present deeds but of past contributions. The world has run out of atmospheric space ­­­­- and time. Will the rich, who contributed to emissions in the past and still take up an unfair share of this space, reduce emissions? Or will emerging countries be told to take over the burden? In Equity-the next frontier in climate talks, Sunita Narain, noted environmentalist, editor-publisher of the fortnightly magazine Down to Earth and also the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), throws light on this big question, in the light of the recently concluded climate change conference in Durban.

Mindless mining has only led to people losing their land, access to livelihood and cultural identity. Unfulfilled promises and cash paybacks cannot restore ecological landscapes, notwithstanding The Draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011, writes Kanchi Kohli, in ‘What lies beneath’. Kohli works and writes on environment, forest, and biodiversity governance issues. In her writing, she seeks to explore the interface between industrialisation and its impacts on both local communities and ecosystems.

In ‘A thoughtless nuclear path’, Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, former Chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Government of India, flays the government’s decision to import nuclear reactors as a “mad programme” that should be abandoned immediately. He calls for a thorough debate on the Nuclear Power Policy in Parliament with energy specialists and a re-look at the overall energy policy of our country. Dr. Gopalakrishnan was also Chairman of the 15-nation IAEA Drafting Committee for the International Convention on Nuclear Safety (1994). Since 2003, he is an Honorary Professor, Energy & Security, at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad.

Hospitals can contribute to a healthy planet by adopting good waste management practices, starting with segregation of the waste, writes Anu Agrawal, Senior Programme Co-ordinator with Toxics Link, a Delhi based environment NGO in the article ‘The challenge of bio-medical waste’. She has been working on Medical Waste Management and Mercury issues for last 13 years. She has researched and authored many books and articles on these issues.

Genetically modified (GM) crop production has increased pesticide use, made Indian farmers slaves of these products and unleashed an ecological disaster In GM crops and BRAI Bill – A bitter harvest, Sridhar Radhakrishnan warns that the GM crops and the proposed BRAI Bill will soon mark the end of desi seeds, safe food and food security. The writer is the National Convener of the Coalition for a GM-Free India, a large platform of over 300 organisations across the country advocating towards a safe, secure food and agriculture system free of GM crops and other toxic materials. He is also currently Programme Director of Thanal, a public interest research, advocacy and campaign organisation, in Kerala. 

Renew the world, renew yourself – In the article, Narasimhan Santhanam, Cofounder and Director, EAI (www.eai.in), one of the leading Indian research and intelligence firms focused on renewable energy and clean technology, writes besides reducing carbon emissions in the atmosphere significantly and building a greener earth, there are exciting job opportunities for the youth in the field of renewable energy. Santhanam has co-authored over 15 reports in the fields of second and third generation biofuels, biomass power and solar PV power plants. He has also cofounded CleanTick (www.cleantick.com), a global online community for renewable energy and cleantech professionals.

Our General section focuses on FDI in agriculture. In FDI in Retail – Danger signals for the Indian Economy, Sachin Kumar Jain, Social Researcher, Food rights activist, who also works as State Advisor to the Supreme Court Commissioners in Right to Food Case, warns that the proposed FDI policy will pose serious challenges for our country, impoverishing our culinary culture, impairing the physical and mental health of our people, compromising the independence of our farmers, endangering our economic system and jeopardizing the livelihood of 4.5 crore Indians.

Book Review - Senior journalist P. K. Ravindranath reviews the book LOKPAL: Facts and Arguments, by Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr., published by Har-Anand Publications.

Know India Better features the historic monuments of Bijapur, also known as Rome of the East.  Md. Masarrath Ali Khan, freelance travel writer, takes us through the historic town of Bijapur located 530 kms from Bangalore, which beckons the visitor to bask in the architectural glory of its uncountable opulent palaces, mausoleums and gardens. These heritage buildings and ruins are scattered almost all over the town, so much so that one encounters a monument at almost every step.

Great Indians – OIOP pays tribute to three different personalities who had one thing in common – passion for work.

Dev Anand (1923-2011), A legend then, and always – the star whose swaying walk and crooked smile became his trademark. Dev was a man who lived life to the fullest. At an age when people retire, he made films. He will forever remain ‘the handsome romantic hero’ for all his fans. Profiled by Deepa Gahlot, Mumbai-based film and theatre critic

Satyadev Dubey (1936-2011), The enfant terrible of Indian theatre – In 50 years he did an average of two plays a year, his last being as recently as 2009. Satyadev Dubey was a name synonymous with theatre. Working with him was not just a learning experience to new actors but a cherishing experience forever. There will never be another maverick talent like him. Profiled by Shanta Gokhale, well-known theatre critic

 

Captain Hanifuddin VR C (1974-1999), Captain Courage – It was his unwavering courage that helped Indian Army retain the Turtok sector, strategically the most crucial feature in the 1999 conflict. Despite being wounded, Captain Hanifuddin stayed on to give covering fire and fought till his last breath. By Brig Suresh Chandra Sharma (retd)

In addition, read our regular columns on Economy, Rural Affairs, Culture, Vedic Mathematics and Satire. Our Young Readers’ section has a collection of interesting tidbits from all over the world.

Call Nagesh Bangera, Subscription-in-charge, OIOP, to get a copy now! Call 022 – 2353 44 00 or email to oiopsub@fouressindia.com