By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Sep 23: When floods and fires struck, the ancients used to invoke the Gods for help.
Though times have changed, the basic impulse of the vast majority of humankind is still the same.
This was in evidence at the nine-day fire ritual held here to protect innocents from natural disasters, where the most powerful Vedic hymns were invoked.
It was Satguru Kandukuri Sivananda Murthy of Anandavanam who took the initiative to hold the Maharudra Homam at Bheemunipatnam, 30 km away from the city.
He decided to hold the homam after several astrologers, in their annual predictions before the Ugadi festival, warned of disasters and loss of life. Some of them even warned that carnages of unexpected scales may occur.
All this has created fear in the minds of the devout and the homam was meant to provide the assurance that the blessings of heaven were with them.
"What power does the common man have against such disasters?" asked the Satguru. "Only the power of prayer."
According to him, it was foolish to pray for individual well-being. One's safety is intimately connected with that of society.
"The greatest prayer, therefore, is to ask for the well-being of all," he added.
At an individual level, a person should ideally pray for the protection of the dharma within. "If the dharma in each person is protected, the dharma of society is intact," he said. In all, 11 Ritviks (fire priests) including the Satguru took part in the homam in which the Rudram hymn was chanted thrice during each rite, three times a day, while oblations were offered to the sacred fire.
When this was repeated for nine days, the cycle of the homam was completed.
Interestingly, no one was invited for the ritual. According to tradition, the news of the ritual should spread by word of mouth and people should come on their own. This is exactly what happened.
Thousands of people attended the homam and they were all given sumptuous meals. In the evenings, pravachanams or discourses on the holy texts were conducted.
Here too, the Satguru focused on the Rudram hymn, which made the ritual more meaningful for people.
During the Purnahuti, the culmination of the ritual, thousands gathered at the mango grove where the homam was performed.
As the mantras touched a crescendo, the Ritwiks appealed to the deity to shower grace upon the innocents threatened by the onslaught of evil. "Every individual who lives in society must contribute for the cause of general welfare," said the Satguru. "This is our message."
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Panama Canal way to Sethu
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Sep 21: An expert has suggested a ‘Panama Canal' solution to the Rama Sethu controversy that will keep all contending parties happy.
Mr B.V. Audinarayana, a retired assistant garrison engineer of the Military Engineering Services, said that instead of cutting open Rama Sethu, the existing gap in the Pumban canal could be widened to allow ships to pass through.
The gap, created by Krishna Naik in 15th century and expanded by the British in the 18th century, is 30 km before the Rama Sethu.
This is similar to the design adopted in the famous Panama Canal and would be more economical and less controversial, he said.
Mr Audinarayana, who has done extensive research on the Rama Sethu, also known as Adam's Bridge, says that the project can be carried out, but with some modifications.
"The gap in the Pumban Canal can be further widened without disturbing the other structure," he said.
In the 15th century, Krishna Naick built a canal which was only a few feet wide and only four feet deep. Boats could pass through the canal during high tide and carts could cross when the water level was low.
When it opened to the sea the canal expanded to a width of about 2 km. This allowed the sand and silt to move from the east coast and Palk Bay into the deep sea.
The British widened the canal to allow ships to move easily to Ceylon instead of taking a circuitous route.
"The current approach being debated is based on the Suez Canal design," said Mr Audinarayana. "But it will be better if the Panama Canal model is adopted with dock locks at the Pumban Bridge."
The scientist, who had helped build the huge dry dock in the naval dockyard at Vizag in the 1970s, said that different kinds of dock locks can be provided for ships of varying sizes.
With this plan, the route would become shorter and the huge expenditure on dredging will come down.
"Also, dock locks will help check sand erosion due to further deepening of Pumban canal which will wreak major disasters," he said. "Big cities such as Vizag and Chennai will go under the sea in the long run if it is unchecked."
An expert has suggested a ‘Panama Canal' solution to the Rama Sethu controver- sy that will keep all con- tending parties happy. Mr B.V. Audinarayana, a retired assistant garrison engineer of the Military Engineering Services, said that instead of cutting open Rama Sethu, the existing gap in the Pumban canal could be widened to allow ships to pass through. The gap, created by Krishna Naik in 15th centu- ry and expanded by the British in the 18th century, is 30 km before the Rama Sethu. This is similar to the design adopted in the famous Panama Canal and would be more economical and less controversial, he said. Mr Audinarayana, who has done extensive research on the Rama Sethu, also known as Adam's Bridge, says that the project can be carried out, but with some modifications. "The gap in the Pumban Canal can be further widened without disturbing the other structure," he said. In the 15th century, Krish- na Naick built a canal which was only a few feet wide and only four feet deep. Boats could pass through the canal during high tide and carts could cross when the water level was low. When it opened to the sea the canal expanded to a width of about 2 km. This allowed the sand and silt to move from the east coast and Palk Bay into the deep sea. The British widened the canal to allow ships to move easily to Ceylon instead of taking a cir- cuitous route. "The current approach being debated is based on the Suez Canal design," said Mr Audinarayana. "But it will be better if the Panama Canal model is adopted with dock locks at the Pumban Bridge." The scientist, who had helped build the huge dry dock in the naval dockyard at Vizag in the 1970s, said that different kinds of dock locks can be provided for ships of varying sizes. With this plan, the route would become shorter and the huge expenditure on dredging will come down. "Also, dock locks will help check sand erosion due to further deepening of Pumban canal which will wreak major disasters," he said. "Big cities such as Vizag and Chennai will go under the sea in the long run if it is unchecked."
Visakhapatnam, Sep 21: An expert has suggested a ‘Panama Canal' solution to the Rama Sethu controversy that will keep all contending parties happy.
Mr B.V. Audinarayana, a retired assistant garrison engineer of the Military Engineering Services, said that instead of cutting open Rama Sethu, the existing gap in the Pumban canal could be widened to allow ships to pass through.
The gap, created by Krishna Naik in 15th century and expanded by the British in the 18th century, is 30 km before the Rama Sethu.
This is similar to the design adopted in the famous Panama Canal and would be more economical and less controversial, he said.
Mr Audinarayana, who has done extensive research on the Rama Sethu, also known as Adam's Bridge, says that the project can be carried out, but with some modifications.
"The gap in the Pumban Canal can be further widened without disturbing the other structure," he said.
In the 15th century, Krishna Naick built a canal which was only a few feet wide and only four feet deep. Boats could pass through the canal during high tide and carts could cross when the water level was low.
When it opened to the sea the canal expanded to a width of about 2 km. This allowed the sand and silt to move from the east coast and Palk Bay into the deep sea.
The British widened the canal to allow ships to move easily to Ceylon instead of taking a circuitous route.
"The current approach being debated is based on the Suez Canal design," said Mr Audinarayana. "But it will be better if the Panama Canal model is adopted with dock locks at the Pumban Bridge."
The scientist, who had helped build the huge dry dock in the naval dockyard at Vizag in the 1970s, said that different kinds of dock locks can be provided for ships of varying sizes.
With this plan, the route would become shorter and the huge expenditure on dredging will come down.
"Also, dock locks will help check sand erosion due to further deepening of Pumban canal which will wreak major disasters," he said. "Big cities such as Vizag and Chennai will go under the sea in the long run if it is unchecked."
An expert has suggested a ‘Panama Canal' solution to the Rama Sethu controver- sy that will keep all con- tending parties happy. Mr B.V. Audinarayana, a retired assistant garrison engineer of the Military Engineering Services, said that instead of cutting open Rama Sethu, the existing gap in the Pumban canal could be widened to allow ships to pass through. The gap, created by Krishna Naik in 15th centu- ry and expanded by the British in the 18th century, is 30 km before the Rama Sethu. This is similar to the design adopted in the famous Panama Canal and would be more economical and less controversial, he said. Mr Audinarayana, who has done extensive research on the Rama Sethu, also known as Adam's Bridge, says that the project can be carried out, but with some modifications. "The gap in the Pumban Canal can be further widened without disturbing the other structure," he said. In the 15th century, Krish- na Naick built a canal which was only a few feet wide and only four feet deep. Boats could pass through the canal during high tide and carts could cross when the water level was low. When it opened to the sea the canal expanded to a width of about 2 km. This allowed the sand and silt to move from the east coast and Palk Bay into the deep sea. The British widened the canal to allow ships to move easily to Ceylon instead of taking a cir- cuitous route. "The current approach being debated is based on the Suez Canal design," said Mr Audinarayana. "But it will be better if the Panama Canal model is adopted with dock locks at the Pumban Bridge." The scientist, who had helped build the huge dry dock in the naval dockyard at Vizag in the 1970s, said that different kinds of dock locks can be provided for ships of varying sizes. With this plan, the route would become shorter and the huge expenditure on dredging will come down. "Also, dock locks will help check sand erosion due to further deepening of Pumban canal which will wreak major disasters," he said. "Big cities such as Vizag and Chennai will go under the sea in the long run if it is unchecked."
Monday, September 17, 2007
Coffee plantation near Vizag under control of Maoists
By SNV Sudhir
GK Veedhi (Vizag Agency), Aug 30: Government gave away a huge chunk ofcoffee plantation to the outlawed Maoists in the Agency tracts of thisdistrict offering little resistance. The Maoists now own huge chunks ofthe plantation though the officials confess that only 160 acres ofplantation was under a short of dispute. A visit by this correspondentfound that a part of Kumkumpudi and Marripakala coffee estate in this GKVeedhi mandal, which buzzed with round the clock activity of plantationtill 3 months back, has literally turned into a no man zone now. The staffof AP Forest Development Corporation and local tribals working in thoseplantations dares not to step into these fields spread around in 160acres. The Maoists of east division sent an ultimatum a few months backwarning the APFDC, which is the leased owner of the reserve forest, toleave the fields to the local tribals. They also told the tribal labourersnot to go for work. The west division coffee plantation of APFDC has RVNagar, Gudem I, II, Lanakalapalem and Kumkumpudi estates. The totalplantation in these estates extends to 2, 600 acres of reserve forestwhere the coffee seeds of international repute are produced. The coffeeseeds that are cultivated in these plantations are exported to manycountries through Banglore and Chennai based agencies who buy them fromthe APFDC. Around 3 tonnes of coffee seeds are produced in the westdivision which fetches Rs 2 to 3 crores per anum. The APFDC is the biggestemployer in the agency and 1,000 tribals are employed in west divisionplantations.Around 200 tribals belonging to seven to eight surrounding villages, whowere working in 160 acres of Kumkumpudi estate where the naxals gainedupper hand recently, are sitting idle.Though it was a long pending demand by the naxals of the Vizag Agency ofdistribution of coffee plantation in the Agency to the tribals, it was nottaken seriously by the government. But recently naxals have sent a word toAPFDC officials through the lower staff not to enter the fields. Thiscorrespondent could see two red flags pitched by the extremists and alsosome marking stones in the hillock of approximate 160 acres where no onedares to enter. “They told us not to work in the coffee fields of APFDC instead theypromised to distribute these lands to us so that we can take up thecoffee cultivation on our own. But we cannot take up the cultivation asit needs expertise and it’s not that easy. We are in a confused state. Wecan’t ignore the warnings of the naxals and also cannot sit back at home.We already lost daily wages since 2 months. I don’t know when thisproblem will be solved,” said Somra (name changed), a native Kondh tribalof Cheepurugondi.The outlawed Maoists have also pitched a red flag on the most advancedcoffee-pulping unit acquired by the APFDC recently. “We are not able tounderstand what to do now. No one dares to go there. Entire plantationwork in these 160 acres came to a standstill since 2 months. We arehelpless,” said an APFDC official under the conditions of anonymity who isin a grip of fear. The works of fertilization, weeding, handling, whichhas to be carried in this season was stopped here.At this juncture the GK Veedhi police had stepped in and startedcounseling sessions to the tribals of these surrounding villages tomotivate them to get back to work. Police are also explaining them theconsequences which would arise if they occupied those plantations at thebehest of the naxals. “For the past few months we are going into thesevillages and conducting counseling sessions to these tribals.. They arealso losing daily wages for not attending the regular work,” said the GKVeedhi SI, K Srinivasa Rao. APFDC pays Rs 84.85 paise per day to alabourer.The Officer on Special Duty of the police department, Ch Srikanth saidthat they took a step further and started counseling the tribals in orderto motivate them to join work. “We are here to provide security toeveryone. It’s true that a problem cropped up in this particular area withthe support of some external forces. We are on our job and will definitelysort out it very soon. And as part of it we are conducting counseling”said the senior police official.
GK Veedhi (Vizag Agency), Aug 30: Government gave away a huge chunk ofcoffee plantation to the outlawed Maoists in the Agency tracts of thisdistrict offering little resistance. The Maoists now own huge chunks ofthe plantation though the officials confess that only 160 acres ofplantation was under a short of dispute. A visit by this correspondentfound that a part of Kumkumpudi and Marripakala coffee estate in this GKVeedhi mandal, which buzzed with round the clock activity of plantationtill 3 months back, has literally turned into a no man zone now. The staffof AP Forest Development Corporation and local tribals working in thoseplantations dares not to step into these fields spread around in 160acres. The Maoists of east division sent an ultimatum a few months backwarning the APFDC, which is the leased owner of the reserve forest, toleave the fields to the local tribals. They also told the tribal labourersnot to go for work. The west division coffee plantation of APFDC has RVNagar, Gudem I, II, Lanakalapalem and Kumkumpudi estates. The totalplantation in these estates extends to 2, 600 acres of reserve forestwhere the coffee seeds of international repute are produced. The coffeeseeds that are cultivated in these plantations are exported to manycountries through Banglore and Chennai based agencies who buy them fromthe APFDC. Around 3 tonnes of coffee seeds are produced in the westdivision which fetches Rs 2 to 3 crores per anum. The APFDC is the biggestemployer in the agency and 1,000 tribals are employed in west divisionplantations.Around 200 tribals belonging to seven to eight surrounding villages, whowere working in 160 acres of Kumkumpudi estate where the naxals gainedupper hand recently, are sitting idle.Though it was a long pending demand by the naxals of the Vizag Agency ofdistribution of coffee plantation in the Agency to the tribals, it was nottaken seriously by the government. But recently naxals have sent a word toAPFDC officials through the lower staff not to enter the fields. Thiscorrespondent could see two red flags pitched by the extremists and alsosome marking stones in the hillock of approximate 160 acres where no onedares to enter. “They told us not to work in the coffee fields of APFDC instead theypromised to distribute these lands to us so that we can take up thecoffee cultivation on our own. But we cannot take up the cultivation asit needs expertise and it’s not that easy. We are in a confused state. Wecan’t ignore the warnings of the naxals and also cannot sit back at home.We already lost daily wages since 2 months. I don’t know when thisproblem will be solved,” said Somra (name changed), a native Kondh tribalof Cheepurugondi.The outlawed Maoists have also pitched a red flag on the most advancedcoffee-pulping unit acquired by the APFDC recently. “We are not able tounderstand what to do now. No one dares to go there. Entire plantationwork in these 160 acres came to a standstill since 2 months. We arehelpless,” said an APFDC official under the conditions of anonymity who isin a grip of fear. The works of fertilization, weeding, handling, whichhas to be carried in this season was stopped here.At this juncture the GK Veedhi police had stepped in and startedcounseling sessions to the tribals of these surrounding villages tomotivate them to get back to work. Police are also explaining them theconsequences which would arise if they occupied those plantations at thebehest of the naxals. “For the past few months we are going into thesevillages and conducting counseling sessions to these tribals.. They arealso losing daily wages for not attending the regular work,” said the GKVeedhi SI, K Srinivasa Rao. APFDC pays Rs 84.85 paise per day to alabourer.The Officer on Special Duty of the police department, Ch Srikanth saidthat they took a step further and started counseling the tribals in orderto motivate them to join work. “We are here to provide security toeveryone. It’s true that a problem cropped up in this particular area withthe support of some external forces. We are on our job and will definitelysort out it very soon. And as part of it we are conducting counseling”said the senior police official.
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