District Collector D. Divya on Sunday underscored the need for consuming healthy food to maintain good health and suggested bringing traditional food, especially millets, back on the menu of locals.

The Collector was interacting with Adivasi and other women who cooked traditional food items as part of a food festival on the last day of the three-day Deepotsav at Kala Ashram here. She was also introduced to the tradition of women singing songs while making vermicelli on wooden contraptions almost a thing of the past now.

The food festival was hosted by Hyderabad-based noted millet food expert Ram Babu, who demonstrated a few types of healthy food that can be made with millets.

Mr. Ram Babu opined the key to good health was seasonal food which included not only dishes made of millets and other grains but seasonal fruits too.

Besides outstation guests, locals also partook of a lunch which was part of the food festival.

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Turning the focus on ancient grains for a healthier future - The Hindu

BY RADHIKA RAMASESHAN

The eastern state, which polls in three weeks from now, could be the first test of Ayodhyas impact on voters for the RSS, Modi and Shah

Knowing the BJP, it must have returned to the drawing board straightaway after the Ayodhya verdict to revisit and perhaps rework its strategy for the assembly election in Jharkhand. The little eastern state, which was carved out of Bihar in 2000, was a BJP stronghold, indeed its only bulwark against Lalu Prasads domination at a time when the RJD strongman had ruled Bihar like his fief. The BJPs Hindutva theme, pegged on the Ram temple, was used to effect in south Bihar, which later became Jharkhand and has nearly 20 per cent Muslims and Christians. Expectedly, the Church and the charge of Christian missionaries proselytising the gullible tribes worked well for the BJP. Its campaign was supplemented by the propaganda unleashed by the RSS through its tribe wing, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, which adopted a strategy of spreading Hinduism-through-service (health, education) among the adivasis.

Jharkhand will be the first test of the impact of the Supreme Courts verdict, and the fruition of a Ram temple on his birthplace, on voters. Do emotive subjects impinging on faith and the majority-minority divide always work for the BJP? Not necessarily. For instance, there is evidence that its offensive against the infiltrators and the threat of deploying the NRC the country over did not take off in the Maharashtra and Haryana polls. The polemics over infiltrator versus domicile is problematic in states other than Assam. Interstate migration has been a reality for ages, ever since the Tamil-speaking population from down south travelled in droves north-westward to construct the Bhakra Nangal dam and Malayalis from Kerala fanned out as far east as Arunachal Pradesh, braving Arunachals stringent inner line permit regime and laws for taking up residency and jobs. The infiltrators are clearly Bangladeshis but many migrants think that Amit Shahs warning to weed out ghuspetiya from Maharashtra and Haryana was meant for them a throwback to the MNS period.

Ayodhya, on the other hand, resonates beyond castes and regions. On social media, a thread that questioned the involvement of the southern states in the Ram temple project provoked a heated debate that was settled when it was argued that the largest contingents that arrived as kar sevaks before the 1992 demolition were from the south of the Vindhayas, including Tamil Nadu. The issue is, having experienced less-thanthe-expected degree of success from the use of Article 370 and NRC in the most recent elections, would the BJP let Ayodhya overwhelm the Jharkhand discourse? Its a double-edged weapon: on the one hand, the absence of the temple or a marked dilution would take away from the sense of elation that pervaded the Sangh Parivars responses on Saturday. On the other hand, an overuse might be counterproductive against the Oppositions tactic of playing up local issues against the incumbent BJP-led government.

The Opposition in Ranchi is more sure-footed than it is in many states. Learning a lesson or two from the betterthan-anticipated showing for the Congress in Haryana and the NCP in Maharashtra, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) swung into the act and cemented apact with the Congress and the RJD, leaving most of the non-tribe seats to the last two and itself focused on the adivasi pockets that Shibu Soren held in thrall for decades.

Ayodhya may not be a dilemma for the Opposition, not after the Congress embraced the verdict and articulated a pro-temple position, possibly reckoning that the new generation of young Muslim adults may not be terribly bothered about the fate of the Babri site.

The 13 ST seats have created issues for the BJP because the strategy to have a non-tribe CM in Das, whos from the backward caste Teli, was borne out of the need to coalesce the others against the adivasis and create a dedicated vote bank of the upper castes, the OBCs and Dalits. Just as the projection of a Punjabi, Manohar Lal Khattar, rankled with the Jats of Haryana, the tribes of Jharkhand havent exactly taken to Das. On his part, Das played to his non-tribe constituents by attempting to amend the tenancy laws and creating land banks in Adivasi areas for the others. The Christians opposed the anti-conversion bill.

Like in Maharashtra, the BJP bit the bait of taking away purported influencers from the Opposition to shore up its strength. The trouble is those like Sashi Bhushan Mehta of the JMM and Bhanu Pratap Shahi, an Independent MLA, arrived with a baggage: Mehta is on trial in a murder case while Shahi is battling corruption charges. Therefore, how will the BJP defend itself while accusing the JMM, Congress and the RJD of being mired in corruption?

Jharkhands not a breeze for either side. An interesting, if keen, battle lies ahead.

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Over to Jharkhand - Mumbai Mirror

Kushaan (second from left) and Medhnaa Saran (right) visit with the children of Bal Ashram in India. Photo courtesy of Touch of Life

It was a privilege this week meeting the remarkable sibling duo, Medhnaa and Kushaan Saran of Vienna. Medhnaa, 15, and her brother Kushaan, 14, attend Pinnacle Academy in Oakton. Their school offers a dual-enrollment program that allows high school students to take college-level courses at Northern Virginia Community College in Manassas. There, Medhnaa takes three classes on top of her five high school classes, and Kushaan will begin NOVA classes next fall. Only a sophomore and a freshman, Medhnaa and Kushaan head their schools National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society, respectively. This is only the start of many accomplishments these siblings have achieved.

EIGHT YEARS AGO, Medhnaa and Kushaan traveled to India, where they volunteered at Bal Ashram, an orphanage in Jaipur. Medhnaa and Kushaan wondered why the children wouldnt talk to them right away or why some had wounds or bandages. It wasnt until later that the Saran siblings learned these children were rescued from human trafficking and child slavery. The childrens injuries were typically from abuse or dangerous labor they were forced into, and their hesitation to trust was a result of PTSD and living in fear of strangers intentions.

We knew we needed to help them, Medhnaa said, reflecting on the call she felt to support the children, and began raising money for Bal Ashram. In 2016, Medhnaa and Kushaan founded their own nonprofit organization, the Touch of Life Foundation, in an effort to spread awareness about the dangers and the exploitation individuals experience when they are victims of human trafficking. Touch of Life now hosts many events throughout the year such as community barbecues and clothing, toy, and book drives. They have also created lasting partnerships with local businesses who donate a percentage of their earnings to give to the children in India. They frequently mail packages of supplies to the children, and on some occasions, are able to hand deliver all they raised on their yearly trip to India. We have so much to pack this year, because so much of it is going to the kids, Kushaan said about his trip to India coming up in December.

It was for her work advocating for the victims of human trafficking that Medhnaa was nominated for the International Childrens Peace Prize this year. The prize was organized by Nobel laureates who recognize young people campaigning for a social right. Including climate change activist, Greta Thunberg, Medhnaa was a finalist selected out of over 2,000 nominees.

Medhnaa and her brother have also worked closely with state representatives in an effort to implement mandatory education in Virginia schools on what human trafficking is and how to identify it. The program is called Not My Child and has since been adapted for all school ages. People that are trafficked are in life-threatening danger. Trafficking is so detrimental because it causes a lot of mental and physical trauma, so thats why it is so important that people know the signs and the risks involved, Medhnaa added.

Theres a story about a hummingbird that saved a forest from being engulfed in flames, by bringing droplets of water to the fire again and again. The rest of the animals realize what shes doing and begin to help her, carrying more water and eventually putting out the fire.

A childrens rights activist and Medhnaas mentor, Kailash Satyarthi, calls her the hummingbird because he knows that she is making, and will continue to make such an important change for childrens rights.

ON NOV. 16, the Touch of Life Foundation will host its 4th annual cultural function at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax to benefit the children at the Bal Ashram orphanage in India. The event is for all ages and is to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Guests will be able to light a diya, a small oil lamp or candle, in honor of a child at Bal Ashram.

Read more here:

Sister-Brother Team Spreads Awareness of Human Trafficking - Virginia Connection Newspapers

Illustration by C R Sasikumar

As we celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji, saint-composer and amongst the great spiritual leaders, his ideas, thoughts and teachings assume far greater relevance today than ever before. They can promote peace, equality and prosperity across the globe.

In a world that is increasingly fragmented with a narrow, tunnel vision, bigotry and dogmatism, we have to walk on the path shown to us by Nanak and other illustrious gurus to dispel the darkness that constantly threatens to envelop individuals, communities and nations.

Our worldview has been continually broadened by the timeless messages of enlightened pathfinders like Guru Nanak.

The seers like Guru Nanak see what ordinary people do not. They enrich peoples lives through their insights and ideas. In fact, that is the meaning of the word guru. Guru is one who provides illumination, dispels doubt and shows the path. Each one of us, in whatever walk of life we are in, has so much to learn from the teachings of this great personality.

Guru Nanak was a great champion of equality. For him, the differences and multiple identities based on caste, creed, religion and language were irrelevant. He had said, Preposterous is caste, vain the distinction of birth. The Lord gives shelter to all beings. He aimed at creating a casteless society in which there is no hierarchy.

Respect for women and gender equality is another important lesson to be learnt from Guru Nanaks life. Referring to women, the Guru says: How can they be inferior when they give birth to men? Women as well as men share in the grace of God and are equally responsible for their actions to Him.

For him, the whole world is Gods creation (Jeeye kaa ik daata) and all are born equal. There is only one universal creator. Ik Omkaar Satnaam.

Echoing the Sanskrit saying Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam that describes the whole world as one family, Guru Nanak Dev goes on to say:

When he stops thinking in terms of mine and yours/Then no one is angry with him./When he clings to my own, my own/Then he is in deep trouble./But when he recognises the Creator Lord/Then he is free of torment.

This spirit of living together and harmoniously working together is a consistent thread of thought that runs through Guru Nanak hymns.

What is remarkable about Guru Nanak is the fact that he not only formulated the principal doctrines of Sikhism, but took care to ensure that his teachings would endure.

The ideal of equality was given a concrete institutional form in the community meal, langar, where all devotees, irrespective of caste, creed, region and religion sit in a row called pangat to share a meal. The place of their meeting, called dharmsal, is regarded as sacred and the common religious congregation sangat was open to all.

These institutional structures are an eloquent testimony to the Gurus timeless vision of equality and non-discrimination. This spirit of equality began with Guru Nanaks clear recognition that there is no distinction between a Hindu and Mussalman. For him, no country was foreign and no people were alien.

It is worth noting that Guru Nanak initiated inter-faith dialogue way back in the 16th century and had conversations with most of the religious denominations of his times. The world needs such spiritual leaders who can engage in a meaningful dialogue to exchange ideas in order to promote peace, stability and cooperation.

Guru Nanaks vision was pragmatic and holistic. It was not a vision of renunciation but of active involvement. Between the ascetic and the epicurean, Guru Nanak chose the middle path the Grihastha Ashram or the life of a householder. It was an ideal path as it offered opportunities for social, material and spiritual growth of an individual.

Work, worship and share (kirat karo, naam japo and vand chhako) was the motto he placed before his disciples. Earn by honest labour and share the earnings with the needy. He suggested that one should share ones prosperity with others who needed help. He advocated the concept of daswandh or donating one-tenth of earning among needy persons.

Nanak was an extraordinary saint who synthesised the best elements in various religions and spiritual traditions.

I am happy that the corridor that connects the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in Punjab to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan, the sacred space where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life, has been opened to enable pilgrims to visit the shrine.

Guru Nanaks vision is timeless and has as much relevance today as it was when it was expounded five centuries ago.

If we can internalise and integrate these messages in our daily lives and reshape our thinking and actions, we can certainly discover a new world of peace and sustainable development.

The writer is Vice President of India

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A vision for equality - The Indian Express

Locals are unsure of taking sides whom do they support, the girl or Chinmayanand?

Further, taking into account Chinmayanands clout in Shahjahanpur, many townsfolk were hesitant to speak on camera. Many people, especially young boys and girls, who spoke off the record, had a very clear idea of what goes on inside Swami Chinmayanands Mumukshu Ashram. One even mentioned a racket which operates in the ashram and many dismissed the credibility of such babas.

Chinmayanands hold over the town was evident when he wasnt arrested for almost 15 days after the complainant lodged the rape FIR (at Delhis Lodhi Garden police station for lack of trust of UP police) and UP polices leniency in his arrest and questioning.

He was eventually arrested but not under Section 376 (the rape charge) but 376 C, which deals with sexual intercourse with a woman by a person of authority or someone with whom the survivor may have a fiduciary relationship, or a public servant, superintendent of jai/remand home/womens or childrens institution.

The complainants father has also accused DM of intimidation and asking him to file a missing complaint instead. He said the DM asked him if he was sure of filing the FIR.

Read more:

Rape, Extortion, Power Play: What Really Happened in Shahjahanpur? - The Quint

BJP MP Tirath Singh Rawat from Pauri in Uttarakhand was injured in a road accident on Sunday morning. The accident was serious, but thankfully he did not suffer much injury. His PS, gunner and driver also suffered minor injuries.

He was rushed to a private hospital after the accident, where doctors advised him to go to higher center after first aid. All have been admitted to the Trauma Center in AIIMS Rishikesh. Here a joint team of doctors is monitoring his health. According to doctors, everyones condition is out of danger.

Tirath Singh Rawat reached Haridwar from Delhi by train on Saturday night. After resting at Damkothi here, people were going to Pauri along with Public Relations Officer Vijay Sati, Gunner Subhash Maithani, Driver Harish Singh at 8.30 am.

His car overturned after hitting a car near Jairam Ashram turn on the highway. The MP was rushed to the City Hospital and examined. Seeing complaints of pain in the legs and hips, he was advised to go to higher center after first aid.

Doctor Mahendra Kumar Singh said that MP Tirath Singh Rawat has not suffered serious injuries, but in view of the pain, he has been advised for a detailed investigation. After some rest in Damkothi, he left for Rishikesh AIIMS.

Kotwali in-charge Praveen Singh Koshyari told that a search was on for the white car which hit the MPs car. The car was going from Delhi towards Dehradun. Here, local leaders of the BJP gathered after the MP was injured.

Originally posted here:

Pauri MP meets with accident referred to AIIMS Rishikesh - Uttarakhand News Network

What did that teach you?It taught me to live with less. Id fallen in love with another person [Kee began a relationship in 1990 with the late sculptor Danton Hughes after the disintegration of her 21-year marriage to artist Michael Ramsden] who had one pair of jeans and one pair of dirty old boots; he was also a carpenter and builder. I went from a very glamorous life to a very simple one with him.

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How did you recover financially after that?I had the most fabulous person working with me, my manager Louise. She cut up all my credit cards and put me on $100 at a time. [Laughs] It saved me from going bankrupt. From then on, my life radically changed and the simplicity started. We moved to a rundown property up in Blackheath, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, that was just so beautiful. The house was falling apart, but it had exquisite views and was shrouded in pine trees. We got rid of the pines and all the tree ferns came back. Now Im living with ancient tree ferns and looking at a view thats 350 million years old. To me, thats being rich.

Did you grow up with religion?I grew up going to Sunday School Church of England in Bondi. I loved it.

What did you love about it?I loved Jesus! I just thought Jesus was a great, wonderful being. But this was before I became a teenager and discovered ... well

What did you discover, Jenny?Sex!

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Sex and Jesus werent compatible?I wouldnt say they were incompatible but there was another high that was coming. [Laughs] I became a very wild child and other beings became more glamorous than Jesus, like John Lennon. And this was beyond the night we had together [Kee and Lennon had a brief liaison in Sydney during the 1964 Beatles tour]. I didnt worship John Lennon but I loved what he stood for; his beautiful energy.

At what point did Buddhism come into your life?Surviving the 1977 Granville rail disaster [when a Sydney commuter train derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge that collapsed onto two of the carriages, leading to 83 deaths] led me on a great search. My daughter Grace and I were in the carriage that brought the bridge down. When a train splits in two, and you fall to the side with your 22-month-old child, and youre scrambling to get out of that wreck, and people are lying dead all around you you question life and death. In 1983, I visited a yoga ashram. Later, in Thailand, I met a Buddhist monk, who sat in this extraordinary cave, with a limestone formation of Buddhas body. I thoroughly surrendered to his understanding of Buddhism: that we are all connected.

Do you doubt what you believe in? Or yourself?I doubt myself a lot, which leads to me doubting everything. But the thing is, my practices are so strong. I do a purifying practice every day, a 100-syllable mantra that gives me a great sense of peace.

You lost your partner, Danton, to suicide in 2001. Does losing someone to suicide make grieving and recovery different?When my father, Billy, was dying in 1988, I felt really good about him going. He said, I want to go, Jen. Do you think its okay? I said, Dad, do what you need to do. The darling man looked like a beautiful little golden Chinese prince when he died. With Danton, it was shocking. Youre with a partner you love. He was suffering from depression but never in my heart did I ever think he was going to go. To find him was the greatest shock. His death propelled me into the deepest, deepest, deepest grieving and depression. People feared I would go. But the thing is, I didnt go. I am a survivor. Ive come back.

Ideally, how would you like to leave the planet?Doing my mantra, with my family and my dharma [Buddhist] friends around me. Im completely fine with dying. [Pauses] Well, I think I am. Do another interview with me when Im on my deathbed and well see!

Is there an outfit that youd like to be buried in?Yes, wrapped in beautiful waratah fabric. [Laughs] Buried beneath my waratahs, in my waratah fabric. Thatd do me.

Writer, author of The Family Law and Gaysia.

More here:

Jenny Kee: 'My life radically changed and the simplicity started' - Sydney Morning Herald

PTI

Sheikhpura: A 'Sadhvi' (holy woman) was gang-raped in Bihar's Sheikhpura district, police said on Monday.

According to SHO, Mahila Thana, Yashoda Devi, theincident took place late Sunday night near Phulchod village in the district while the 'Sadhvi' was on her way to her native village in Uttar Pradesh's Basti district.

The SHO said the woman had been staying at an ashram in Kakolat a tourist spot in Nawada district after renouncing the world.

On Sunday, two residents of her native village visited the 'Sadhvi' and said her mother was seriously ill following which she left for Basti in her vehicle flanked by the duo and two of her associates at the ashram.

After she was sexually assaulted by the four, the 'Sadhvi' lodged a complaint with the police, the SHO said adding that the accused have fled and efforts were on to nab them.

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'Sadhvi' Gang-raped by Four, Including Her Associates at Ashram, in Bihar - News18

CM Arvind Kejriwal said all roads of Delhi will be entirely redesigned as per international standards. (Express Photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

Nine arterial roads in Delhi will be redesigned to get rid of bottlenecks and to add separate lanes for non-motorised vehicles, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Tuesday. The Delhi government project, stuck for over four years, will take off with the stretch between AIIMS and Ashram being redesigned first.

All roads of Delhi will be entirely redesigned as per international standards. We have been trying to do this for a few years now, and our hard work has paid off. Nine stretches spanning 45 km will be redesigned on a pilot basis. Work orders for one road have been given today, and will be given for two more tomorrow. For the rest, orders will be given in November. We hope to improve the condition of these roads and tackle the problem of traffic congestion by redesigning them within a year. The cost for these nine stretches will be Rs 400 crore, Kejriwal said.

After AIIMS-Ashram stretch, Vikas Marg and Narwana Road will be redesigned. While the changes include streetscaping, they will not just be about making stretches pedestrian-friendly, but will also look at the issue of bottlenecks.

Wide roads in Delhi turn into significantly narrow lanes after a few miles, and then back into wide roads, which creates a bottleneck and heavy traffic at some locations. Our priority will be to remove bottlenecks first for smooth flow of traffic and an organised lane system. Our second work would be to increase efficiency of space on the roads, so they are best utilised, he said.

Pradeep Sachdeva, the consultant for the first three projects, said geometric improvement of roads is the primary concern.

According to the new Indian Road Congress guidelines, width of car lanes can be reduced to carve out a special lane for non-motorised vehicles. We also plan to improve pedestrian access and create space for those who want to cycle. On our roads, the width of the lane keeps varying, and a road is only as good as the narrowest stretch. This has to be rectified, Sachdeva said.

The BJP, meanwhile, hit out at the project, with Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel saying that through these announcements, Kejriwal was accepting that he did not do anything in Delhi for five years. There is no drainage system on roads, no space to park autos and rickshaws. They are issuing tenders despite knowing they will not be able to complete the project during their term, he claimed.

The project was first mooted in 2015 and a creative team was put together for planning. The then L-G, however, did not clear the project and the team disbanded. After the SC judgment earlier this year, that said the elected government was the primary decision-maker in areas except for law and order, land, police and services, the project was revived.

See more here:

Delhi: Bid to decongest 9 arterial roads to begin with AIIMS-Ashram stretch, says Kejriwal - The Indian Express

To commemorate the birthday of Vigyan Deo ji Maharaj a blood donation camp was organised here on Monday. Numerous volunteers and guru bhai of the Ashram along with local people donated blood on the occasion.51 units of blood were collected during Vihangam blood donation camp here on Monday at Ashram. The camp was attended by K.P.Singh,Ramesh Thakur, Deepak Kumar, Prameshwar Nayak,Parwat Singh, Nilkanth Ravidas,Dr S.K.Singh of K.M.Memorial blood bank hospital,Chas Bokaro.

DVC,Bokaro thermal power plant, Chief Engineer and project head ,Kamlesh Kumar along with other engineers were present during the occasion. In the program every one also received the holy blessing of his holiness Sadguru Shri Vigyan Deo Ji Maharaj. Addressing the event his holiness Guru Bhai Kesho Singh said, I am expressing extremely happy by donating blood and we do not live for ourselves. It has never been the message of the Indian culture to live for our self. Our donation of small amount of blood can save alive."

With the message of Blood service is human service Sadguru Sadafal deo social welfare trust has been spreading awareness of blood donation among all the class of society.Total 51 units of blood were collected.

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Blood donation camp organised at Bokaro thermal - Daily Pioneer