MALARIA-life threatening disease can diagnose from a single drop of blood or saliva

Washington, November 28 (ANI): A team of researchers including an Indian origin has developed a new and sensitive method that makes it possible to diagnose malaria from a single drop of blood or saliva.

With the development of this method, the researchers hope to go one step further in identifying and treating all patients suffering from malaria.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that strikes more than 200 million people every year - mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The disease is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is spread by infected mosquito bites. Today, malaria can be prevented and successfully treated, but more than half a million people nevertheless die every year from the disease.

Large-scale monitoring and treatment programmes during the past decade have reduced the distribution of the disease, and the frequency of actual epidemics has fallen. However, the number of malaria patients with relatively low infection counts has increased, and the need for more sensitive methods to diagnose the disease has thus increased dramatically.

To meet this need, researchers at Aarhus University have developed a new method that can diagnose malaria infections with very high sensitivity. The method is based on measuring the activity of an enzyme called topoisomerase I from the Plasmodium parasite.

The researchers have developed a technology called REEAD (Rolling Circle-Enhanced Enzyme Activity Detection) - which makes it possible to diagnose malaria from a single drop of blood or saliva. This method is much more time-effective and cost-effective than current diagnostic methods, and can be performed by personnel who have no specialised training. It can therefore be used in low-resource areas without the use of expensive equipment, clean water or electricity.

The ongoing fight against malaria is complicated by increasing problems with resistant Plasmodium parasites. In addition, several Plasmodium species (P. vivax and P. knowlesi) cannot be detected with the usual quick-test methods.

The new REEAD-based method distinguishes itself from other quick-test methods because it can measure whether a given Plasmodium infection is resistant to drugs. The newly developed technology is also the only quick-test method that makes it possible to diagnose the less common malaria parasites (P. ovale, P. knowlesi and P. malariae) in addition to the most common Plasmodium parasites (P. falciparum and P. vivax).

The unique sensitivity, combined with its ability to detect infection in very small samples of blood or saliva, makes the method suitable for large-scale screening projects. This is of great importance in areas where the disease is close to being eradicated, and where it is therefore essential to identify and treat all patients infected with one of the above-mentioned parasites - even those who do not show symptoms of the disease.

"This combination of molecular biologists, doctors, engineers and statisticians has been important for our success in developing the new method," said Associate Professor Birgitta Knudsen, who is the driving force behind the project.

In addition to her group, which is affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO) and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, researchers from both Denmark (Department of Pathology and Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital) and abroad (Duke University, University of Rome, University of St Andrews and University of Lyon) contributed to this project.

The research team behind the new method for diagnosing malaria include Charlotte Harmsen, Pia W. Jensen, Magnus Stougaard, Emil L. Kristoffersen, Rikke Frohlich, Eskild Petersen, Amit Roy, Christine J. F. Nielsen, Birgitta R. Knudsen, Rodrigo Labouriau and Megan Yi-Ping Ho. (ANI)

Jai Prakash University,Chhapra-Corridors of Learning--AUGMENTING EDUCATION IN THE LAND OF HEROES-The !st Annual Convocation of the Jai Prakash University,Chhapra, will be held today at the University premises.

Bihar,with its rich culture heritage,has played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of India.And chhapra one of the state's most important districts,has been in the vanguard of this socio-political change.

A Land of leaders,revolutionaries and thinkers alike,Chhapra-or saran,as call it-is famous for its Bhojpuri heritage.It was constituted a municipality in 1864

It is in history as mentioned in the "Ain-E-Akbari" record Saran as one of the six sarkars (Revenue division) constituting the province of Bihar,The erstwhile Saran and Champaran were later combined to form a single unit name Saran,which later on become Chhapra.

Home to Stalwarts of national stature like Dr,Rajendra Prasad,the President of India,Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan,the revolutionary who changed the face of India Politics,Bhikhari Thakur,the Shakespeare of Bhojpuri,Mazaharul Haq,the Great freedom fighter,Chitragupta,the famous music composer of Bollywood,elal,Chhapra has a legacy but perhaps the whole country.

Fittingly enough,chhapra has gradually emerged as a great centre of learning in Bihar and East India.It has its own University -The Jai prakash Vishwavidyalaya- that is dedicated to his mission to provide Education to all by offering high quality and international standard courses at different levels,especially to the deprived section of society,at reasonable cost.

Jai Prakash Vishwavidyala was established at Chapra on 22^nd Nov 1990 by the enactment of Section 3(b) of Bihar State Universities Act 1976. The territorial jurisdiction of the University is stretched over the whole of Saran Division comprising three districts of Chapra, Siwan and Gopalganj. The Colleges situated in these districts were under the territorial jurisdiction of the then Bihar University (now B.R.A. University), Muzaffarpur. After establishment of J. P. University these colleges were automatically transferred to Jai Prakash Vishwavidyala, Chapra. There are altogether 21 constitutent Colleges, 2 affiliated deficit Grant Colleges (including one minority college) and 10 affiliated Colleges.

J. P. University offers several graduate, post graduate progammes and PhD in various disciplines. It also facilitates the study of Intermediate (10+2) programme in its college, which runs by Bihar Intermediate Council and examination is conducted by Bihar School of Examination Board (BSEB), Patna.

Jai prakash Vishawavidayalay offers teaching and examination facilities in several discipline like Hindi, Sanskrit, English, Urdu, Philosophy, Political Science, Economics, History, Psychology, Geography, Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Commerce  etc. These courses are available in Three year degree programmes (Bachelor courses) and Two year Post Graduate Programmes (Master Courses). Graduate courses are available at Honours level or General level.Beside this university also offers Three year Degree in Law (L.L.B) in Ganga Singh College (must have a graduation degree with at least 40% marks).

Jai Prakash University has distance learning council (Directorate of Distance Education) which provides distance education. Currently university offers 3 year degree programme in Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) through distance education mode.

The University also provides several Vocational courses (Under Self - Financing Scheme) like:

B.Sc. (H) in Biotechnology, Industrial Microbiology, Industrial Fish & Fisheries, and Environmental Science.

B.A. (H) in Functional Hindi, Functional English, Communicative English and Advertising, Sales Promotion & Sales Management.

JP University has also going to add following Vocational and Professional courses:

B.B.A, M.B.A, B.Lib, P.G. D.C.A, B.Ed. (One Year and Four Year Integrated) and Mass Communication

Over the past 22 years, J P University has emerged as a seat of Quality learning and as an enabling agent of social change,bearing a fitting tribute to Chhapra,Home of the Learned Dr.Rajendra Prasad,and to its namesake,the Firebrand Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan.

Insulin Degludec : Dr Ajay Kumar noted Diabetologist of Patna has contributed as one of the Principal Investigators in the clinical research and development of new insulin.

 Noted physician and diabetes specialist of Patna, Dr Ajay Kumar, has contributed as one of the Principal Investigators in the clinical research and development of new insulin called, Insulin Degludec. This molecule has been developed by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.  under the brand name Tresiba. It is injected subcutaneously three-times a week to help control the blood sugar level of those with diabetes. It has a duration of action that lasts up to 40 hours, unlike the 18 to 26 hours provided by current marketed long-acting insulins such as insulin glargine and insulin detemir.

Insulin degludec is a modified insulin that has one single amino acid deleted in comparison to human insulin, and is conjugated to hexadecanedioic acid via gamma-L-glutamyl spacer at the amino acid lysine at position B29.

Dr Ajay Kumar returned from London on Sunday after presenting his analysis of the research data at the Insulin Degludec result meeting held there on November 16.

This new insulin is far better than existing insulins available in the market both in terms of efficacy and safety. It is an ultra long acting drug with a half life of 25 hours. This makes it eminently suitable for once daily administration to keep the blood sugar control for 24 hours a day. 

Another advantage is significant reduction in the incidence of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which is a big problem with existing insulins. Insulin Degludec reduces both total and nocturnal hypoglycemia. Nocturnal hypoglycemia can be particularly dangerous as the subject might not be aware of its occurrence and may not take corrective steps to treat.

Unlike currently available insulins, Degludec does not cause significant weight gain. This is considered a big advantage as any weight gain in a diabetic subject might increase the risk of heart disease.

Degludec can be injected at any time of the day depending upon what might be the largest meal for that particular individual. This flexibility is going to make it very user friendly and yet achieve the best possible blood sugar control. 

Dr Ajay Kumar presented the analysis regarding one of the most wonderful properties of Insulin Degludec called reduced glucose variability. Peaks and nadirs of blood sugar fluctuations are extremely dangerous with respect to development of heart disease and other complications of diabetes affecting kidneys, eyes, nerves and other organs of human body. Insulin Degludec has shown to reduce the glucose

variability in comparison to the existing insulins. This could be helpful in reducing the diabetic complications, incidence of hypoglycemia and overall mortality from diabetes.

Bihar Sonepur mela:The world famous Harihar Kshetra mela to begin on 27th. November 2012

SONEPUR: The world famous Harihar Kshetra mela, popularly known as Sonepur mela, is all set to begin here on 27 November 2012, that the day falls on the eve of "Kartik Purnima" which is considered inauspicious in Hindu mythology with regard to beginning of any new work.

The Sonepur mela is held here on a sprawling 200 acres of land. The mela will continue for 25 days. As per the tradition, lakhs of people assemble at different ghats of Harihar Kshetra at Hajipur and Sonepur on the eve of "Kartik Purnima" and take holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, the Gandak and the Mehi rivers. The devotees offer "Gangajal" to the Hariharnath temple and this ritual marks the beginning of the Sonepur mela.

The Sonepur mela has a profound historic grandeur. According to the travelogue of a British administrative officer, W W Hynter, in 1919, the Sonepur mela used to be held in over 43 villages in the past.

According to sources, the mela venue in the past also used to serve as a prime place for freedom movement. In fact, the fair was for the first time held on the Hajipur side around the 16th century. Later, the mela was shifted to the Sonepur side at the initiative of the then British officials to suppress the freedom movement.

The temple of Harihar Nath is believed to have been originally built by Lord Rama, on his way to the court of King Janak to win the hand of Mata Sita. Raja Man Singh got the temple repaired later. The Harihar Nath temple, as it stands today, was built by Raja Ram Narain, an influential person during the late Mughal period. According to a legend King Indrayamuna and the Gandharva chief Huhu, who were turned into an elephant and a crocodile respectively by the curse of great sages Agasthya and Dewala Muni.

One day the elephant's leg was caught by the crocodile. Ultimately the King Elephant weakened and prayed to the supreme god Vishnu to save him. Vishnu heard his prayer and cut down the crocodile with his Chakra. Both of them were released from their curse.

Harihar Kshetra Mela, popularly known as Sonepur Mela, is held on Kartik Poornima (the full moon day) in the month of November on the confluence of river Ganges and Gandak. Till date, it is the biggest cattle fair of Asia and stretches on from fifteen days to one month. Many people who visit the Cattle fair also visit this temple and take a holy dip at the convergence.                                                                              

Test that can predict death - with a terrifying degree of accuracy

Could a simple blood test predict a person’s risk of dying from heart disease or cancer?

Reporting in an early online publication of the Journal of the American Medical Association and at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, Johan Arnlov and his colleagues say that a certain enzyme that is measured in the blood may be linked to both heart disease and cancer, and therefore could serve as an early predictor of who is mostly likely to die from these diseases.

In the study, which involved nearly 2,000 people enrolled in two separate long-term trials, Arnlov’s team measured the levels of cathepsin S, an enzyme involved in breaking up proteins. They then tracked these volunteers for up to 12.5 years, and found that those with the highest levels of cathepsin S were more likely to die than those with lower, or about half those levels.

What is unique about the study is that it’s the first to identify a marker associated with both heart disease and cancer, two of the leading killers of American adults. The effect remained strong even after the scientists adjusted for other factors that can contribute to heart- and cancer-related death, such as age, blood pressure, history of heart disease, diabetes and cholesterol levels.

Arnlov decided to focus on cathepsin S because previous studies have linked the enzyme to atheroslcerosis, or the buildup and hardening of the arteries that increase the risk of heart disease. In animal studies, mice without the gene for cathepsin S developed less heart disease, and, interestingly, less cancer, compared with those animals that had the gene. Early studies in people have also showed that obese individuals tend to have higher levels of cathepsin S, and that if they lose weight, their levels go down.

“Cathepsin S is involved in several processes in the body,” says Arnlov. “It is involved in the immune system, in regulating how [foreign material] is presented to the immune system, and it is highly expressed in [fat] tissue. It is involved in several crucial steps in the atherosclerotic process as well as in tumorgenesis.”

But, he says, it’s not clear exactly how cathepsin S might contribute to either heart disease or cancer. Nor is it obvious yet which tissues are producing the enzyme and whether there is a normal or healthy level. For example, the enzyme appears to be involved in inflammation, which can make plaques in the blood vessels unstable and trigger a heart attack, but it does not seem to be affected by levels of other inflammatory factors that have been linked to heart disease risk, such as C-reactive protein, or CRP.

“To be honest, we don’t know really what circulating levels of cathepsin S reflect,” says Arnlov. “We can’t be sure in what tissues it originates; we have no idea. So further studies need to elucidate what the circulating levels of cathepsin S really [mean].”

He says it’s too early to know whether cathepsin S can be useful in predicting who is at greatest risk of having heart disease, or whether levels of the enzyme in the blood can even become an early warning for cancer. But already pharmaceutical companies are targeting cathepsin S with compounds that block its activity. Those studies will likely provide answers to some critical questions about whether the enzyme really can be a biological crystal ball.

A blood test to determine how fast someone is ageing has been shown to work on a population of wild birds, the first time the ageing test has been used successfully on animals living outside a laboratory setting.

The test measures the average length of tiny structures on the tips of chromosomes called telomeres which are known to get shorter each time a cell divides during an organism’s lifetime.

Telomeres are believed to act like internal clocks by providing a more accurate estimate of a person’s true biological age rather than their actual chronological age.

This has led some experts to suggest that telomere tests could be used to estimate not only how fast someone is ageing, but possibly how long they have left to live if they die of natural causes.

Telomere tests have been widely used on experimental animals and at least one company is offering a £400 blood test in the UK for people interested in seeing how fast they are ageing based on their average telomere length.

Now scientists have performed telomere tests on an isolated population of songbirds living on an island in the Seychelles and found that the test does indeed accurately predict an animal’s likely lifespan.

“We saw that telomere length is a better indicator of life expectancy than chronological age. So by measuring telomere length we have a way of estimating the biological age of an individual – how much of its life it has used up,” said David Richardson of the University of East Anglia.

The researchers tested the average telomere lengths of a population of 320 Seychelles Warblers living on the remote Cousin Island, which ornithologists have studied for 20 years, documenting the life history of each bird.

“Our results provide the first clear and unambiguous evidence of a relationship between telomere length and mortality in the wild, and substantiate the prediction that telomere length and shortening rate can act as an indicator of biological age further to chronological age,” says the study published in the journal Molecular Ecology.

Studying an island population of wild birds was important because there were no natural predators and little migration, meaning that the scientists could accurately study the link between telomere length and a bird’s natural lifespan.

“We wanted to understand what happens over an entire lifetime, so the Seychelles warbler is an ideal research subject. They are naturally confined to an isolated tropical island, without any predators, so we can follow individuals throughout their lives, right into old age,” Dr Richardson said.

“We investigated whether, at any given age, their telomere lengths could predict imminent death. We found that short and rapidly shortening telomeres were a good indication that the bird would die within a year,” he said.

“We also found that individuals with longer telomeres had longer life spans overall. It used to be thought that telomere shortening occurred at a constant rate in individuals, and that telomere length could act as an internal clock to measure the chronological age of organisms in the wild,” Dr Richardson said.

“However while telomeres do shorten with chronological age, the rate at which this happens differs between individuals of the same age. This is because individuals experience different amounts of biological stress due to the challenges and exertions they face in life. Telomere length can be used as a measure of the amount of damage an individual has accumulated over its life,” he added.

Source :www.independent.co.uk/

Vidyapati Dham:-यह मन्दिर विश्व मे एक मात्र ऐसा है , जहा भगवन और भक्त एक साथ वीराजमान है । इस मन्दिर मे दर्शन से मन की सारी मन्नत पुरी होती है ।

A historical Nirvana asthali of great Maithili poet vidyapati once whose height of devotion compelled hard Shiva to serve him as his servant ugna. As it say's the please vidyapati at the place where the temple of lord Shiva is visited by the people with religious bent of mind for worship of marriage.

The place, situated in Dalsinghsarai block near the bank of River Ganges, is named after the most revered Maithili poet Vidyapati. It is believed to be the place where the renowned Poet breathed his last in search of Lord Shiva. As the myth goes, Lord Shiva was associated with him since long in the guise of his servant named Ugna. It is said that he wanted to breath his last at the banks of Ganges and was travelling towards it. But due to his failing health, he was not able to reach the banks of Ganges and so the river changed its course to reach him. There is a big old temple of Lord Shiva known as Vidyapati Dham.

यह मन्दिर विश्व मे एक मात्र ऐसा है , जहा भगवन और भक्त एक साथ वीराजमान है ।

इस मन्दिर मे दर्शन से मन की सारी मन्नत पुरी होती है ।

इस धाम मे भगवन शिव और उनके भक्त विद्यापति जी ने एक साथ समाधि ली थी ।

Aryabhata : The Great BIHARI Mathematician and Great Astronomers Birth place In Taregna,Bihar,

Aryabhata  (Sanskrit: आर्यभट) or Aryabhata I (476–550) was the first in the line of great mathematician-astronomers from the classical age of Bihari mathematics and Bihari astronomy. His most famous works are the Āryabhaṭīya (499 CE, when he was 23 years old) and the Arya-siddhanta.

Aryabhata is also known as Aryabhata I to distinguish him from the later mathematician of the same name who lived about 400 years later. The year of Aryabhata's birth can be calculated since he tells us that he was twenty-three years of age when he wrote Aryabhatiya which he finished in 499. Kusumapura, a place thought to be close to Pataliputra (which was refounded as Patna in Bihar in 1541), as the place of Aryabhata's birth but this is far from certain, as is even the location of Kusumapura itself. It is known that Aryabhata wrote Aryabhatiya in Kusumapura at the time when Pataliputra was the capital of the Gupta empire and a major centre of learning, Kusumapura became one of the two major mathematical centres of India, the other being Ujjain. Both are in the north but Kusumapura (assuming it to be close to Pataliputra) is on the Ganges and is the more northerly. Pataliputra, being the capital of the Gupta empire at the time of Aryabhata, was the centre of a communications network which allowed learning from other parts of the world to reach it easily, and also allowed the mathematical and astronomical advances made by Aryabhata and his school to reach across India and also eventually into the Islamic world. 

Time and place of birth

Aryabhata mentions in the Aryabhatiya that it was composed 3,630 years into the Kali Yuga, when he was 23 years old. This corresponds to 499 CE, and implies that he was born in 476.

Aryabhata was born in Taregna (literally, song of the stars), which is a small town in Bihar, India, about 30 km (19 miles) from Patna (then known as Pataliputra), the capital city of Bihar State. Evidences justify his birth there. In Taregna Aryabhata set up an Astronomical Observatory in the Sun Temple 6th century.

There is no evidence that he was born outside Patliputra and traveled to Magadha, the centre of instruction, culture and knowledge for his studies where he even set up a coaching institute. However, early Buddhist texts describe Ashmaka as being further south, in dakshinapath or the Deccan, while other texts describe the Ashmakas as having fought Alexander.

Taregana or Taregna (literally, song of the stars), is a small town in Bihar, India, about 30 km (19 mi) from Patna.

In Taregna, his birthplace, Aryabhata set up an astronomical observatory in the Sun Temple 6th century. It is believed that here he proposed the Heliocentric Model, and suggested for the first time in history that Earth revolves around the Sun.

Taregna is located at25.350289°N 85.035222°E. Average elevation from sea level is 61 meters as per Google Earth. Its is close to Patna and the Jahanabad too. You can get here by train (Local, usually called PG i.e Patna Gaya)or by the road from patna which goes to gaya.

Taregna is small town now growing at a fast pace. There are many people coming to get settled here permanently. There must be over 10,000 people here. Its has some good markets that attracts all the villager that are close to it Lawaich, Bela, Jagidishpur to name some.It has a famous temple called the "Manichack" which has witnesses over 1,000 of marriages every year.

The railway station of Masaurhi sub-division, which is by all account a township of Patna district, is named after Taregana . Village has railway station (Station Code- TEA) is well connected to nearby cities like Patna through Railway.

Taregna experienced a sudden load of visitors coming to the village to see the solar eclipse of July 22, 2009, as, according to various sources, it will be one of the best locations within the path of totality to watch the solar eclipse. It was reported that the solar eclipse should be visible for at least three minutes and 38 seconds from Taregana. However, the maximum duration of the eclipse will be six minutes 38 seconds in the Pacific Ocean. However on 22 July the eclipse was obscured by heavy cloud cover.

Education

It is fairly certain that, at some point, he went to Kusumapura for advanced studies and lived there for some time. Both Hindu and Buddhist tradition, as well as Bhāskara I (CE 629), identify Kusumapura as Pāṭaliputra, modern Patna. A verse mentions that Aryabhata was the head of an institution (kulapati) at Kusumapura, and, because the university of Nalanda was in Pataliputra at the time and had an astronomical observatory, it is speculated that Aryabhata might have been the head of the Nalanda university as well. Aryabhata is also reputed to have set up an observatory at the Sun temple in Taregana, Bihar.

We should note that Kusumapura became one of the two major mathematical centres of India, the other being Ujjain. Both are in the north but Kusumapura (assuming it to be close to Pataliputra) is on the Ganges and is the more northerly. Pataliputra, being the capital of the Gupta empire at the time of Aryabhata, was the centre of a communications network which allowed learning from other parts of the world to reach it easily, and also allowed the mathematical and astronomical advances made by Aryabhata and his school to reach across India and also eventually into the Islamic world.

 The mathematical part of the Aryabhatiya covers arithmetic, algebra, plane trigonometry and spherical trigonometry. It also contains continued fractions, quadratic equations, sums of power series and a table of sines. Let us examine some of these in a little more detail.

  it is extremely likely that Aryabhata knew the sign for zero and the numerals of the place value system. This supposition is based on the following two facts: first, the invention of his alphabetical counting system would have been impossible without zero or the place-value system; secondly, he carries out calculations on square and cubic roots which are impossible if the numbers in question are not written according to the place-value system and zero.

Aryabhata was India's first satellite, named after the great Indian astronomer of the same name. It was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April 1975 from Kapustin Yar using a Cosmos-3M launch vehicle. It was built by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to gain experience in building and operating a satellite in space.

Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) :-Bihar government work out to promote adventure sports -rafting and mountaineering,,,,Among the number of places of tourists interest in the area is Valmiki Ashram.

 Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) forest area. Its eco-tourism and some other projects are still in the pipeline.

"We have plans of introducing boating, rafting and mountaineering to draw adventure sports enthusiasts to the VTR," said divisional forest officer (DFO), Range 1, Kanwaljeet Singh, adding, "We will also have a guide training programme to instruct 20 local boys, in the first phase, on how to interact with the tourists and brief them about it."

Singh said plans to put up a stall of VTR at the Sonepur fair were also underway. "Entry gates would be put up at Madanpur, Goberdhana and Manguraha. Tourists will be charged a reasonable amount for sightseeing," he said. The government also plans to develop more rest houses with the increase in the number of tourists.

Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said, "About 90 motion sensor cameras would be placed at the VTR by this December to determine the exact number of Royal Bengal Tigers or other species in the area." The government is working on a proposal to arrange paying-guest accommodation for tourists wishing to stay in villages to know more about Bihar culture, he said.

 "We would also talk to the Nepal government about improving the condition of 'Valmiki Ashram' at Chitwan National Park, Nepal," Modi said, adding that cheap LPG connections would be provided to the local households to reduce the cutting of trees for firewood as it would also benefit women who suffer due to smoke. "Timber would be provided at reasonable rates to locals for constructing their houses to minimize deforestation," Modi said.

Regarding the shortage of armed guards and field staff at the VTR, Dipak Kumar Singh, secretary, environment and forest department, said the problem would be solved soon. "Under the Tiger Management Plan, grasslands, that are a natural habitat of wild animals, would be developed at the VTR. Anti-poaching camps would be organized, sensitive points would be marked for intensive patrolling and security arrangements would be tightened to prevent and put off forest fires," he said.

The state government would also promote the folk and traditional art forms of the area to attract tourists. Under the Tharu Development Authority, efforts were being made to develop the skills of the Tharu youth and commercially market their works, said PHED minister Chandra Mohan Rai.

The government also plans to encourage local youths to invest in vehicles and hire them out to tourists for jungle safari and make it a source of income.

Valmiki Ashram

Among the number of places of tourists interest in the area is Valmiki Ashram. Travelling through the VTR, one reaches the ashram at the Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal. It has a small temple and is the hermitage of Valmiki, the sage who wrote the epic Ramayan. 

The ashram is believed to be more than 17 lakh years old, said its head priest Shekhar Suvedi. He said the hermitage is of the Ramayana era and is thronged by believers in the month of 'Magh'. "All through the year, people who come to the park also visit the ashram. However, in January-February, many believers especially come to visit the temple," he said. 

Valmiki Ashram is the place where Sita, wife of Lord Ram, is believed to have taken shelter after she was renounced by Ram. It is here that she gave birth to Luv and Kush who, later, stopped the horse of the famous 'Ashwamedh' yajna. The relics of these events and their tokens, such as 'Gauri-Shankar conch', 'Amrit Kuan' and Sita's 'spice-grinding spot' are still present at the ashram making it a centre of attraction for tourists from across the world. 

"The 'Vishnu chakra' at the ashram is photographed by many tourists who keep it in their lockets or rings as it is believed to shield one against accidents. The ashram also has a 'yajna kund' where Rishi Valmiki performed havan with 88,000 other rishis for world peace," Suvedi said, adding, the local people developed the ashram and a few families living nearby took care of it. 

Apart from the ashram, the VTR has another spot of religious interest - the 'Nardevi' temple. Lakhmani Puri, the temple priest, said, "The temple is believed to have brought happiness to many lives. People come here to pray for their wishes and the Goddess bless them with all they want." He said the temple attracts a huge crowd on Mondays. 

Not far from these two places is the 'Jatashankar' temple of Lord Shiva. It's priest, Rifali Puri, who has been here for about 11 years, said, "The temple is ancient and believed to belong to the times of 'Alha-Udal', famous Rajput warriors. It is believed that all your wishes are granted here." 

The 'Madanpur Devi' temple is also a few kilometers from the VTR. 

Apart from the religious places of interest, nature lovers can also experience some beautiful sightseeing locations. The Gandak barrage is one of the major attractions of Valmiki Nagar. The barrage is jointly owned by India and Nepal and has 36 gates, of which both countries have 18 each. 'Triveni' in Nepal and Ganauli and Harnatan forest range offer diverse wildlife shelters. 

Ashokan Pillar at Lauriya, Bhikhna Thori, Done area, Udaipur wildlife sanctuary, Goberdhana and the Someshwar hills also provide options to tourists who want to relax in the lap of nature.

source :TOI

No one should stand between you and God:-God,incidentally,is much in demand and does not need any marketing.Then how do you get to be the agency that delivers God Its simple.You make a temple and regulate it!

A God who has different rules for different people is not your God.Suffering does not take you to God because that is the ultimate fallacy 

My films were not doing well at the time,and my mother called an astrologer home.She said he knew his business well and would have ways to sort my present out,to make for a better future.Desperate times call for desperate measures,and in came Mr Astrologer.He told me shani was the problem.and suggested I should go to the temple every Saturday to offer oil and kala urad.I nodded.It seemed like an easy recipe to sort life out.

Saturday at the temple I was.In all sincerity,I made the offering.I stretched my hand out to touch the idol to feel sufficiently blessed,when the pujari pushed my hand aside quite rudely,I must add.What the hell,I thought and said as much.The pujari told me that touching the idol was not allowed.I protested and asked him,in that case why was he allowed He simply said that he was allowed.Who allowed him End of conversation,as far as he was concerned but my heart was ablaze.

It took me a while to figure this out,but here is a pretty straightforward principle: any God that is regulated by another person is not your God.

This hullabaloo is not against any idol or temple,but as I stated,just against the Regulation of God,which also makes me think whether certain interested parties had taken it upon themselves to market God.

What exactly is marketing Simply put,marketing is the concentrated design by which you make an idea or a product seem invaluable and create a need within people to crave for it.The next step is to literally step in and become the agency that delivers the thing you crave the most.Create a demand and become the supply.

God,incidentally,is much in demand and does not need any marketing.Then how do you get to be the agency that delivers God Its simple.You make a temple and regulate it! 

A temple in the south of India has different ticket rates available to suit the varying pockets of pilgrims.The very rich need not wait too long in a queue and can meet their God really fast.The lesser mortals have to suffer the long lines.If you are a VVIP,then you can actually enter the sanctum sanctorum,and unlike me,be lucky enough to touch the idol.

We see this,know of this and bear this.A God who has different rules for different people is not your God.Suffering does not take you to God because that is the ultimate fallacy.

Its bizzare really,if you imagine that you come home from school and want to hug your mother but your building watchman thinks that its not a good time.You can only do it when he allows you.If you find this ridiculous,then its equally,or perhaps,more ridiculous that someone should stand between you and the God you love.No one should be able to tell you when you can meet your God and how you can meet your God.If that is happening,then know that you must change.

We have a responsibility to free God from the clutches of the ones who think they have more right on our God than we do.God does not choose to live in a specific place,God does not believe in rituals that you dont understand,God does not speak a language that only a pundit can speak and God certainly does not take siesta in the afternoon! 

source: Vikram Bhatt ,TOI

Hindus observe Muharram in Bihar village : Moharam means different things to different people.

In a rare show of communal harmony, dozens of Hindu families in a Bihar village observed Muharram Monday to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and took out a ‘tazia’ (replica of Hussain’s shrine) in a procession.

“We observed Muharram and also took out a tazia procession along with the Muslims,” Lalan Choudhary, a resident of Thepha village in Siwan district, where the procession took place.

“It is an old tradition in our village that Hindu families observe Muharram,” he said.

His brother Ramayan Choudhary said that five tazias were built in the village for Muharram.

“Four tazias were built by the Muslims and one by the Hindus to prove that we also mourn martyrdom of Imam Hussain,” he said.

Sita Devi, a Hindu woman who observed a fast, said that in last one decade more Hindu families have been observing Muharram after one ‘miracle’ or another in their lives.

“We strongly feel that god blessed us for observing fast to mourn martyrdom of Imam Hussain,” she said.

Cleric of the village mosque, Shamshul Haque, said: “Hindus observing Muharram sends a message of peace, harmony and brotherhood to others.”

In this village, Muslims and Hindu families participate in each other’s religious functions

Muharram  is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited.Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.

Muharram is so called because it is unlawful to fight during this month, the word is derived from the word haraam, meaning "sinful". It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. Some Muslims fast during these days. The tenth day of Muharram is the Day of Ashura, which to Shia Muslims is part of the Mourning of Muharram.

What is Moharam?

Moharam means different things to different people.

Moharam is the new year.

Moharam means remembering the rebirrth of Islam cleansed by the blood of its martyrs, led by a single man called Hussain on the burning sands of Karbala.

Moharam is a page tattered and torn by Yazidiyat, a black page in the history of Imam.Some call this a political battle , yes the Caliphs in the name of Islam did vie for political power, a power they needed desperately , a power that Imam Hussain the grandson of the Holy Prophet did not need.

If he needed political supremacy than I think the Battle of Karbala was uncalled for he should have shook hands with Yazid and history would have been read differently.

Moharam is a month that brings forth all these thoughts , throws us back into time , our earliest childhood memories.

This is what seperates a Shia Child from the child of the majority community.

Moharam is memories that live and relive year after year.It has the brilliance not found in any other Muslim feast on the Calendar .

We remember Idd, our first Roza, we remember Bakra Idd the Bakra bought to the house for slaughter, but Moharam we remember through Bakra Idd too, because here to the slaughter is depicted vividly, and as we watch the butcher place the knife on the Goats throat, that has had its last drink of water, we remember Hussain and Shimr straddled above him decapitating his head , the same neck that was kissed many a times by the Holy Prophet and his daughter Princess Fatima..

Yes Moharam we can never forget it is embedded in our cosmic comciousness passed on from mother to daughter , father to son.Yes you have to be a Shia to understand our Pain, our immortal tears , for the outsider it is an event , but for us Shias Moharam is a state of Mind.Its a continuance of a Pledge.A pledge that is marked as Hussainiyat.

A Shia child from the day she is born or he is born is carried by the mother to the Majlis, Matam, and this grief becomes part of the childs Heritage.

Yes this is Moharam, its my grandaughters first Moharam, and I am shedding tears as I write this..This spontaneous shedding of tears of a grandfather is called Moharam.. and I can imagine what the Grandfather the Holy Prophet felt when he saw Hussain for the first time.. and when he looked at the snow white neck already silhouetted with the traces of blood.. Yes this is Moharam.

The Shias are a unique race and I am proud that my Grandfather a Sunni born accepted Ahle Bayth gave up his ancestry , his home his wealth.. my father too followed the tenets of his father , so did I and there is no looking back.

Yes this is Marziya Shakirs first Moharam.. 

We have come a very long way..and Karbala is not very far its waters drop and flow from the pitchers of our eyes.

Yes Ya Hussain two words that surmise the meaning of Moharam..

Ghame Hussain , the Tragedy of Karbala is our path that brings us closer to our Maker.

Shah ast Hussain, Baad Shah ast Hussain,

Deen ast Hussain, Deen Panah ast Hussain,

Sar dad na daad dast, dar daste Yazeed,

Haqqah ke binaaye La Ilaha ast Hussain!

Bihar's growth story.'Attracting foreign investment in advanced fossil fuel technologies'. Technical experts from Ukraine and Uzbekistan will visit Bihar early next year to explore the possibilities of investing in the energy ...

PATNA: Technical experts from Ukraine and Uzbekistan will visit Bihar early next year to explore the possibilities of investing in the energy sector in the state.

This was conveyed to the CMD of Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL), P K Rai, during his recent visit to Almaty in Kazakhstan to attend the two-day global meet on 'Attracting foreign investment in advanced fossil fuel technologies'. Rai said many global players at the meet were curious about Bihar's growth story.

"We have received encouraging response from some of the participating investors. They showed eagerness about knowing the government's policies to encourage investment in a state like Bihar," Rai told TOI.

In order to attract international players, Rai discussed with them about the enabling environment for independent power producers (IPPs) in the state. Under the new industrial policy, several incentives are given to help felicitate the involvement of IPP firms to end the power crisis in the state, Rai said.

He also said the state government would invite international bidding from global players for its upcoming ultra mega power project (4000MW) in Bihar. The Union energy secretary, who also attended the meet, told the investors about the potential and opportunities in Bihar.

In view of the coal reserve for another 30 years, he said Bihar has already started exploring alternative sources of energy to meet the demands. Participants appreciated Bihar government's policy for promotion of new and renewable energy sources to harness the potential of the renewable energy based power generation projects in the state.

Rai's paper on 'Opportunities for foreign investments in electricity generation' was applauded by the global participants, mainly from India, China, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, France and Canada.

Talking about the state action plan against climate change, Rai said 82.5MW biogas-based cogeneration projects in the state were already in operation and supplying power to BSPHCL. These sugar plants are: New Swadeshi Sugar Mills, Narkatiyaganj, Bharat Sugar Mills, SidhwalIia (Gopalganj), Harinagar Sugar Mills, Harinagar (West Champaran), HPCL Biofuels Limited, Sugauli plant and Lauriya plant.

He said the existing capacity of the small hydro projects in Bihar is 54.95MW. Talking about the prospects of gas power plants in the state, he said the gas pipeline connecting Haldia (West Bengal) and Jagdishpur (UP) will cross several districts of Bihar. M/s Sravanti is pursuing 450MW combined cycle gas plant in Rohtas district. In addition, a 206MW gas plant at Kumarbagh industrial area in Bettiah is jointly envisaged by IFFCO and Gail.

In order to make less pollutant coal-based power plants, Rai said the renovation and modernization (R&M) of the existing 2x110MW units at Barauni and Muzaffarpur were under progress to reduce auxiliary consumption and chimney emission. Sufficient green land has also been identified around future projects. Ash utilization is a part of individual stations environmental plan.

Copyright 2012 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd.
All Rights Reserved

"Mera pehla naal 30kg ka tha aur main 20kg ka tha,"A native of Samastipur, Arjun inherited the love for music from his self-taught father Pandit Lakshmikant Chaudhary.

PATNA: Ask even a child what is a trumpet or a bagpipe, and he will promptly come up with the description of the instrument. But ask him if he knows of 'pipihi', and his response would be definitely of bewilderment. Even many of the elderly do not know that 'pipihi', 'dagar dhol' and 'janam dhol' are some of the intrinsic instruments belonging to the ancient musical heritage of Bihar. However, they have slipped into oblivion with the passage of time and due to the onslaught of foreign melody on ours. This angers Arjun Chaudhary. "People are pretty well informed of guitar, drum and trumpet but are clueless about 'veena', 'pakhawaj' and 'pipihi'," he says.

This man in his early 40s can be frequently seen acquiring a corner on the stage with his 'naal' and 'tabla' while noted singers like Sharda Sinha, Vindhyavasini Devi, Pandit Shyam Das Mishra, Pandit Balram Ram and Barali Bandhu regale the audience with their musical rendition - to the accompaniment of Chaudhary's tabla, of course. What agonizes Chaudhary is not the fact that he is provided a corner seat but the increasing disuse of indigenous musical instruments that once spoke tall of Bihar's rich tradition.

A native of Samastipur, Arjun inherited the love for music from his self-taught father Pandit Lakshmikant Chaudhary. As a child he saw musicians at his village play the 'naal' and from that instance he developed a fascination for 'naal'. "Mera pehla naal 30kg ka tha aur main 20kg ka tha," he quipped.

His passion for ancient musical instruments took him to every nook and corner of the state, the avowed aim being excavating the dying tradition. "While travelling I once came across nonagenarian Sumarit Goswami who plays 'iktara' in traditional folk style. May he live long," Chaudhary prayed as he said few, if any, 'iktara' players were seen these days.

'The Rhythm of Bihar', a musical group of senior instrument players of Bihar, is the brainchild of Chaudhary. The group members are skilled to play 15 ancient instruments such as 'dafli', 'nagara', 'mandar', 'jhaal' and 'pakhawaj' which through their various rhythms create beautiful canvas portraying the culture, the change of seasons and the rituals like marriage and childbirth. The team gave its debut performance at the Commonwealth Games - 2010 in New Delhi.

Chaudhary wishes to see 'The Rhythm of Bihar' perform at an international platform so as to let the whole wide world know about Bihar's rich musical heritage. He also wishes to organize an exhibition of the dying instruments so as to arouse people's interest in them. For now, meanwhile, he is busy chronicling the details of the art of playing these instruments so that the ancient tradition may be preserved for the coming generations. For, he regrets, there's no text which has even a passing reference to the state's indigenous musical instruments.

'Community Reserve and Breeding Centre for Peacocks' First of its kind in BIHAR,in Bapu dham under Kalyanpur block in East Champaran District.

Indian Peacock or peafowl - the national bird of India - is one of the most beautiful indigenous birds of India. Indian peacock is known for beautiful feathers and romantic dance under the black-clouded sky. Owing to its national importance and religious sanctity, peacock are abundantly found in each part of India. Lord Krishna is always presented with colourful feathers of peacock. Indian peacock is also regarded as the vehicle of Shanmukha son of Lord Shiva. Their depiction in the work of art and literature has been of great value. 

 In order to increase population of the national bird, peacock, the state government has chalked out a plan to set up a 'Community Reserve and Breeding Centre for Peacocks' at Madhopur-Gobind village under Kalyanpur block in East Champaran district, which has become natural habitat to a large numbers of peacocks since 1990, first of its kind in Bihar. 

Under the scheme, the environment and forest department has launched an ambitious plan for plantation of different types of saplings in the village on the bank of canal and government land to make natural habitat for peacocks. Divisional forest officer (DFO) L B Manjhi said that plantation work will be launched soon. This unique village has been listed in the route-chart of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) and Navin Kumar, deputy general manager of BSTDC, Patna, recently visited this village for proper verification and to see the road communication. 

Madhopur-Gobind, a non-descript village near Chakiya on the western fringe of NH-28 Kolkata-New Delhi road is increasingly becoming a centre of attraction for rural people as well as foreign tourists as it is 17 KM north from the tallest Budha stupa at Kesariya. 

Chief minister Nitish Kumar during his recent 'Seva Yatra' in East Champaran visited the village on April 20 and he went in orchards and bamboo bushes to see the peacocks. Expressing happiness, he assured the villagers that a team of bird expert will examine the possibilities to develop it and he asked the environment and forest department officials to prepare a plan to boost the numbers of peacocks as well as their protection. He said peacocks prefer to live on trees, especially on fruits bearing trees. 

On the direction of CM Nitish Kumar, a two-member team of Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) of Mumbai and DFO, Motihari, visited the village and discussed with the villagers about the living of peacocks. They examined the soil, environment and habits and food of the birds. They identified places in the village to develop safe nesting, safe breeding and protection of their eggs. 

Bihar state co-ordinator of IBCN Arbind Mishra talking to TOI said, he had already submitted a blue print of a plan to the government to increase the numbers of peacocks, protect their eggs and develop locations for safe nesting. There is big threat from a large number of dogs in the village, who are habitual eater of the eggs of peacocks . Dogs and children destroy 80% eggs as he has gathered from the villagers. There is a need to increase awareness among the children and youths of this village to protect the peacocks.

Vandana Jyotirmayee, the 'Daughter(Beti)' of Gaya, who is currently a lecturer in Salalah College of Applied Sciences in the Sultanate of Oman. "Music runs in her veins.shines on foreign shores

PATNA: Thousands of kilometres away from the Indian shores and despite being a teacher by profession, she passionately continues her pursuit of classical vocal Indian music. Decades of her 'sadhna' resulted in the release of her first album, 'Ardaas', in New Delhi earlier this month. The album is a collection of eight devotional songs, including bhajans in praise of Shirdi's Sai Baba, penned and composed by her. 

Music has to be part of my life. Music and spirituality go hand in hand for me and Sainath helps me in balancing every other thing in my life," she said in reply to an online questionnaire from Muscat, the capital of Oman. 

Releasing 'Ardaas' on November 2, India's eminent esraj player Ustad Alauddin Khan said, "It was a pleasant surprise for me to hear such a soulful voice from a person who is not a full-time singer. This shows her dedication for music." Vandana sang bhajans, Sufi songs and ghazals at the concert that followed at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. 

She was initiated into music at the tender age of three. Speaking of her music legacy, she says, "I got it from my maternal side. My mother who was trained in Bharatnatyam and Kathak dance forms during the 1960s, also sings very well. My interest in ghazals and qawwalis was developed because of my uncle's very fine taste of music." 

She was introduced to the formal training of Indian classical music by famous thumri singer Kameshwar Pathak from Gaya gharana. "After I moved to my father's place, I became the disciple of Pandit Shambhu Upadhyaya from Kirana gharana." 

Her grandfather was a professor of Hindi in Magadh University and their house is located in Professor's Colony on West Church Road of Gaya. "I owe a lot to Gaya as all the memories of my childhood are simply golden. I was brought up in a completely musical and poetical atmosphere. Poets like Janaki Vallabh Shastri and Mahadevi Verma would come and stay with us." 

After studying at Nazareth Academy, Gaya, Vandana studied music as a subject till BA from MDDM College, Muzaffarpur. She got her Master's degree in English literature and media management and later completed MPhil in mass communication. She has also done television programme production course and was sponsored by Unicef to do a six-month trainers' training course on community development. She shifted from Patna to Muscat in 1984. 

Asked about her role models, she says, "I grew up with the ghazals of Begum Akhtar, Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali. Farida Khanum and Asha Bhosle are my favourites in terms of ghazal and I adore Abida Parween and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan when it comes to Sufi music. Bhajans of Kumar Gandharva and Kishori Amonkar are very close to my heart. In Indian classical music, Parveen Sultana and Girija Devi are my favourite." 

Vandana would now prefer to "give more time to music and carry on with performances and concerts as and when time would permit because nothing can be more fulfilling and enriching than music". But, then, she says, "My plans are all designed by the Almighty." It is this unflinching faith in Him that makes her write and sing in one of her bhajans: 

... Mann bhawara hai

Sai naam ras 

Peekar bhoola hai jag saara
Rain basera in charanon mein
Ab toh karega ye banjaara.






source :TOI

New insulin called, Insulin Degludec.Developed by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.New insulin is far better than existing insulins available in the market both in terms of efficacy and safety.

Patna,(BiharTimes): Noted physician and diabetes specialist of Patna, Dr Ajay Kumar, has contributed as one of the Principal Investigators in the clinical research and development of new insulin called, Insulin Degludec. This molecule has been developed by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. 

Dr Ajay Kumar returned from London on Sunday after presenting his analysis of the research data at the Insulin Degludec result meeting held there on November 16.

 It is an ultra long acting drug with a half life of 25 hours. This makes it eminently suitable for once daily administration to keep the blood sugar control for 24 hours a day. 

Another advantage is significant reduction in the incidence of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which is a big problem with existing insulins. Insulin Degludec reduces both total and nocturnal hypoglycemia. Nocturnal hypoglycemia can be particularly dangerous as the subject might not be aware of its occurrence and may not take corrective steps to treat. 

Unlike currently available insulins, Degludec does not cause significant weight gain. This is considered a big advantage as any weight gain in a diabetic subject might increase the risk of heart disease.

Degludec can be injected at any time of the day depending upon what might be the largest meal for that particular individual. This flexibility is going to make it very user friendly and yet achieve the best possible blood sugar control. 

Dr Ajay Kumar presented the analysis regarding one of the most wonderful properties of Insulin Degludec called reduced glucose variability. Peaks and nadirs of blood sugar fluctuations are extremely dangerous with respect to development of heart disease and other complications of diabetes affecting kidneys, eyes, nerves and other organs of human body. Insulin Degludec has shown to reduce the glucose

variability in comparison to the existing insulins. This could be helpful in reducing the diabetic complications, incidence of hypoglycemia and overall mortality from diabetes

Bihari Girl Shilpa Singh small village of Samastipur (Bihar),who is the Miss Universe India at present would wear costumes designed by Designer duo Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor at Miss Universe 2012 Finale at La Vegas next month.

Shilpa Singh is an Indian model, from a small village of Samastipur (Bihar), beauty queen and the 1st runner-up of I Am She - Miss Universe India 2012 will now represent India at the upcoming Miss Universe 2012 to be held in month of December 2012 at Las Vegas. Presently, She is working as a software engineer at Infosys Technologies.

Shilpa will represent India at the Miss Universe pageant scheduled for Dec 19 at Las Vegas, US. She was selected by I AM She, a national beauty pageant that sends the winner to the international pageant.

“Yes, we are the official designer for the finale round. The garment that we have prepared for the round is nude corset with pink crystal and Swarovski work on the bodice. It’s free-flowy neon pink coloured gown,” Anjalee told IANS.

The designer duo is known for styling some of the known faces of Bollywood, including Bipasha Basu and Minissha Lamba.

They hope that India Shilpa wins the crown.

“I have given the best shot… I am very confident about my work. I know that Shilpa will look glamorous and will stand out. Wishing her luck, hope she gets the crown back,” Anjalee added.

Model-turned-actress Lara Dutta was the last Indian representative who won the Miss Universe crown in 2000.

Kisan Chachi-A self-made farm expert, she is respected in many Bihar villages for her astute assessment of land and crop quality

Cycling through dusty lanes to share her self-learnt techniques for farming success, Rajkumari Devi is a familiar sight in the villages of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar. 

Rajkumari Devi is no astrologer. But with self-acquired expertise in agriculture she has become proficient in assessing the quality of soil in her area and ensuring successful harvests. With three decades of experience, Kisan Chachi or Farmer Aunty as she is called, has learnt all the nuances of good farming practices. Today, this 58-year-old mother of three grown-up children, cycles through the dusty lanes of villages in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, giving tips to people on kitchen farming and developing the right agri-based products for business. She has mobilised more than 300 women to form self-help groups (SHGs) and become financially independent.

Rajkumari laughingly explains how she got the nickname Kisan Chachi: “Since most people in the area called me chachi, and I also was a successful kisan, everyone started calling me Kisan Chachi.” Although at first glance she appears to be like any ordinary village woman, the moment Rajkumari starts talking about farming practices, she emerges the true expert that she is. In fact, people from across the block regularly invite her to inspect their land and predict their crop quality. “I am no scientist. But over the years, I have come to know the soil of this area well. I might not be 100 per cent right always, but I do know what can grow in this region,” she says.

But Rajkumari was not born a farm expert. Thirty-five years ago, she was just another timid housewife of an unemployed man in the remote village of Anandpur, in Saraiya block of Muzaffarpur. At that time she had nothing, except one acre of arid land she inherited from her husband's family. But she had the will to make life better for herself and her family.

Indomitable spirit

So, in the early 1980s, a determined Rajkumari picked up the shovel and sickle to help her husband. He grew tobacco for many years because, like most farmers in this block, that was the only thing he knew. When he was away in nearby towns to sell the leaves, Rajkumari would single-handedly toil on the farm.

That's how she learnt everything there was to know about her land. As time went by, this hardworking farmer realised that there was much more to agriculture than just growing tobacco. So she embraced change. “Over time, I understood my farmstead so well that I knew what to grow where. So I divided the land into plots and began to grow vegetables and fruits instead of tobacco,” she says.

Initially, people had a hard time accepting her new role. Even the elements were not really on her side — the annual floods would wipe away all the assets she built over the year. But despite the tough times, Rajkumari persevered and perfected the cropping cycle. She grew paddy and wheat in the low-lying fields and rows of banana, mango and papaya trees in the remaining land.

As she got busy transforming her land, fellow villagers — especially women — watched her hard at work. Soon, her neighbours began emulating her and she, in turn, gave everyone her wholehearted support by sharing her expertise freely. She also helped form SHGs in her block.

SHGs at work

Today, inspired village women across Saraiya have got together in groups of 10 and formed around 35 SHGs that are working on integrated farming and agri-business. They get the capital to run their farms from bank loans and government support from the Swarna Jayanti Swayam Rozgar Yojna. A happy Meera Devi, 40, of the Pipra Khusboo SHG, says, “We were simple housewives until Kisan Chachi taught us how to grow vegetables and fruits. We are now self-reliant and can earn up to Rs 3,000 a month.” Manju Devi, a group member, adds, “Life has changed here. Women have started earning. It is true that we were only experts in household chores but now we also sell our home-made products in the market.”

Dharamshila Devi of Poonam Basuchak SHG says, “There was a time when we were totally dependent on the government's NREGA scheme for work and it's common knowledge that even on these jobs, there is bias against women. We have now started working on our own, even if we take up NREGA work.”

Today, the fields of Saraiya block are never barren. Renewable crops are rotated between major seasonal crops for better yields and soil recycling. And thanks to the government's financial support and easily available low-interest bank loans, most SHG members are also expanding their farms to include fish farming, poultry and cow breeding.

Employing women

Rajkumari has also set up a non-profit organisation that not only picks fresh produce from the SHG-run farms nearby but also employs women to make agriculture-based products. Such has been the impact of Kisan Chachi on farming practices in Muzaffarpur, a district that is just 80 km from Patna, that even Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited her when she was conferred the Kisan Shree Award a few years ago. “He had asked me what I wanted. And I said, ‘All I want is that our backward district be less afflicted by the devastating annual floods,'” she recalls.

The welfare of her district and its people is high on her priority. Before she entered farming, the people of Anandpur and 19 other villages in Saraiya and Manikpur panchayats had no idea they could change their cropping patterns. They were happy growing wheat, paddy and tobacco. Now, women from Pipra, Manikpur, Basochak, Saraiya and Karhara panchayats have enthusiastically taken to the ‘Kisan Chachi way of cultivation'. To further her work, this feisty woman took the plunge and contested panchayat elections from the neighbouring Manikpur Gram Panchayat, which is reserved for women. She lost. Rajkumari says ruefully, “I did not win because people here vote on the basis of caste and that matters more than development.” But despite the defeat, Kisan Chachi continues to be a greatly respected figure in these parts. Manju Devi, the present Mukhiya of Manikpur Gram Panchayat, speaks for everybody when she says, “Kisan Chachi has done a lot for all of us. She is a real role model.”

© Women's Feature Service