Super cyclone Phailin (फाईलीन समुद्री तूफ़ान) blows down Indian northeast coast of Bay of Bengal

In emergency Call at:

1. Phailin Srikakulam control room number: 08942 240557 
2. Phailin Emergency toll free number:  180042500002  

- Harish Jharia

12 October 22013

The super cyclone Phailine*** (फाईलीन समुद्री तूफ़ान / चक्रवात / बवंडर) has formed somewhere in the Bay of Bengal and moving at 20 kmph speed towards Indian coast. The deadly cyclone is expected to hit Gopalpur of Orissa, India at about 8pm India time today, 12 October 2013 at a speed of 220 kmph. The Phailine Cyclone is going to sustain for about 6 hours minimum.  

In addition to Orissa, where Phailine is going to devastate the most, this cyclone will also hit Andhra Pradesh coast and West Bengal seashores severely.  Today on 12 October 2013 at noon rain and wind lashed India's east coast and forced about 4,50,000 people to flee their habitats and take shelter in government camps. 

Spreading over most of the waters of Bay of Bengal, the cyclone Phailin was about 200 km (124 miles) offshore at noon on Saturday and was expected to hit the land by late evening. As per the estimates of the weather forecast authorities, It expected to be a "super cyclone", and is expected to affect 12 million people.

It is for the first time that the government has taken advance evacuation of people as disaster management process in India. Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have been pressed in attending to rescue operations. The weather forecast department is keeping content vigil on the progress of the super cyclone. Sources from the National Disaster Management Authority NDMA and National Disaster Response Force NDRF have said that more than 440,000 people have been evacuated, as disaster management action and this is one of the largest evacuations ever undertaken in India.

People are advised not to panic and better keep cool and move to safer places as and when advised by the rescuing personnel. The advance preparations made by the authorities will definitely minimize losses of lives to the super cyclone Phailine.

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*** The super cyclone ‘Phailin’ has been named so by Thailand. The meaning of Phailin is sapphire (नीलम), a precious stone.   
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Clogged Drains in Delhi Result in flooding water, Traffic Jams and deaths:

     Flooding rain-water on roads of Delhi

© Harish Jharia 

This happens year after year in the Indian capital city of Delhi. Whenever it rains in Delhi… water stagnates, traffic jams and the life of people becomes hell. 

I do not want to write an article on this ongoing problem because I have already written a couple compositions, the links for which have been given at the end of this post.

           Traffic Jam due to rains in Delhi

I would rather like to list out the following points for the information of the readers and of course for the authorities to follow and get rid of this shameful catastrophe: 

1. The main reason for water logging, flooding and traffic jams is CLOGGED DRAINS.
2. Clogged drains do not drain out the rain water and accumulate on the roads and in the low-lying areas. 
3. The main authority responsible for this catastrophe is the MUNICIPAL CORPORATION who is meant for providing effective drainage system for draining-out rain-water and waste water.
4. Municipal Corporation or Committee, who-so-ever it is, should immediately clear the garbage from the drains in Delhi.
5. Municipal corporation should have periodical inspection teams to inspect drainage system and maintain the same properly.
6. Municipal Corporation is collecting compulsory Taxes / revenues from the citizens and it is their basic duty to provide services in return.
7. This problem of ‘GARBAGE IN DRAINS’ exists across the country, all over India. I browsed across the internet and found that all the cities in India are extremely dirty.
8. India should not expect effective tourism in this country, unless we learn to live in neat and clean environment. 
9. A dedicated action plan is required to be chalked out and implemented sincerely and effectively to remove TRASH from DRAINS.

            Trash and garbage in drains

          Trash and garbage in drains
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• 3-hour Rains in Delhi Resulted in 5 Hours of Traffic Jams and 11 Deaths: http://www.discovery-of-life.com/2010/07/3-hour-rains-in-delhi-resulted-in-5.html
• Why rainwater stagnates in New Delhi? : http://www.discovery-of-life.com/2010/08/why-rainwater-stagnates-in-new-delhi.html

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What Is Sabudana / Tapioca / Sago (साबूदाना): Is Sabudana a Vegetarian Food?

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Sabudana is a pure vegetarian food ingredient... 
साबूदाना एक शुद्ध शाकाहारी भोज्य पदार्थ है...
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© Harish Jharia

What is sabudana? 
This is a question that struck in my mind in my school days during 1950s. Ever since, for over 50 years I was in search of the answer to this question, until I got it on the internet. Being a curious child I got different answers from my elders and teachers. They were “I don’t know”; “it is made of flour of water chestnut आरारोट (सिंघाड़े का आटा)”; a senior doctor went to the extant to say that “If you come to know the reality about sabudana, you would hate to eat it”.  In all, I was told by my elders that it was really a mysterious food in spite of its rampant use among Indian consumers.  

Nevertheless, the reality is quite different. In fact Sabudana / Tapioca / Sago (साबूदाना), available in the shape of granules / globules of 2 to 4 mm, is  a natural vegetarian food made out of the milk of a root resembling sweet potato (शकर कन्द).

Sabudana (साबूदाना) is called Tapioca Sago in English and Javarishi in tamil.  Sago is a produce, prepared from the milk of Tapioca Root. Its Botanical name is ‘Manihot Esculenta Crantz Syn Utilissima’. It is a highly nutritious food that contains Carbohydrates and appreciable amount of Calcium and Vitamin-C. 

There are varieties of dishes made out of sabudana including papad,  kheer, vadas and the most popular Sabudana Khichdii (साबूदाना खिचड़ी) that is used as a phalahaar (fruity food / फलाहार) and eaten as a non-cereal refreshment during Hindu religious fasting. 

This is a well-known crop that is recognized by several names in various regions across the world wherever it is consumed. It is known as Yuca, Rumu or Manioca in Latin America; Manioc In French-Speaking Africa and Madagascar; Cassava In English-Speaking Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand; Mandioca Or Aipim In Brazil; Tapioca And In India and Malaysia And Bi Ketella Or Kaspe In Indonesia. 

Tapioca Sabudana / Sago (साबूदाना) root has a high resistance to plant disease and high tolerance to extreme tropical conditions such as drought and poor soils.

The cassava or manioc plant has its origin in South America. Amazonian Indians used cassava instead of or in addition to rice/potato/maize. Portuguese explorers introduced cassava to Africa through their trade with the African coasts and nearby islands. 

Tapioca was introduced in India during the latter part of 19th Century, Now, mainly grown in the States of Kerala, Andhra-Pradesh, & Tamilnadu. Products from Tapioca like Starch & Sago were introduced in India only in 1940s onwards. 

Tapioca plant on Seychelles 5 cents  coin

Process of making Sabudana / Sago (साबूदाना):

In India, Sago was produced first in Salem (Tamilnadu) somewhere in 1943-44.  Sago sabudana production started as a cottage industry in India by pulping the tapioca roots, extracting and filtering the milk-extract, forming globules and drying these globules in sun.
Subsequently, advanced process of mass production was developed that continues until today. 

Sago Roots, received from the farms are hygienically cleaned in water and after peeling it is crushed, for extracting its milk. The milk is then filled in tanks to settle for nearly 3 to 8 hours.  All the residual impurities float at the top of the juice settled in the tanks and the same are drained out of the settled milk. 

From this concentrated settled milk globules are prepared with the help of typically designed unique manufacturing plants consisting of very simple indigenous machines and modules. These globules or small balls are then sorted in proper sizes by passing through different sieves.  Finally, the globules are roasted on hot plates or heated in steam, depending upon the desired final product Sabudana / Sago (साबूदाना) in globular shape & than dried under direct sunlight spread over huge platforms.

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Click here to read more about Sabudana: 

Sabudana Recipe: Tasty and nutritious vegetarian snack (Hindu fasting diet फलाहार)

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Indian Government Borrowing Rs 40000 Crore from the Market:

India today cartoon “India Zero Tolerance for Corruption”

Indian Government Borrowing Rs 40000 Crore from the Market: 

- Harish Jharia 

Indian government pronounced on Friday that it will borrow Rs 40,000 crore extra from the market, a move impelled by sluggish tax revenues and rising spending obligations. This is the second additional borrowing announced by the government for the current financial year as public finances have been under pressure.

For common men a simple question arises in their mind that what in fact the government is really doing with the financial management of this country. We think that it is a shameful situation for such a big country that it has to borrow loans from the business houses for its survival. 

It is even more shameful for the government who has Indian blocked black money worth Rs 79500 Lakh Crore dumped in Swiss Banks + Rs 176000 Crore eaten away by corrupt politicians in 2G scam + 8000 Crore gulped by Commonwealth Games Officials. 

We are borrowing 40 thousand Crore only… Just see the following amount of Indian money that has either been dumped in Switzerland or eaten away by corrupt Indian bigwig(s) right under the nose of the Law Makers and Law Enforcement Authorities…

The details goes as follows:

Black Money Of Indian Bigwigs  In Swiss Banks:  

$ 1500 billion
= $ 1500 lakh crore 
= Rs 79500 lakh crore 
=  Rs 79500000000000000 (quite difficult to count or write)

Money Embezzled In 2g Scam By Indian Telecom Minister A Raja And Company: 

Rs 1.76 lakh crore
= Rs 1,76,000 crore
= Rs 1760000000000 (quite difficult to count or write)

Misappropriation Of Money In Commonwealth Games By Suresh Kalmadi And Company:

Rs 8000 crore 
= Rs 80000000000 (not so easy to count or write)

Note: I might have committed mistakes while writing the figures, calculating and putting zeros. If so would someone correct those errors... Thanks...

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The Making of Terminal 3, IGI Airport, New Delhi India (VIDP/DEL)

The Making of Terminal 3, IGI Airport, New Delhi India (VIDP/DEL)

Why rainwater stagnates in New Delhi?

© Harish Jharia

This is the most difficult question as on today when the Commonwealth Games are knocking at our doors and we seem to be caught unawares. 

Nevertheless, the answer to this question is as simple as 2 + 2 = 4. 

The answer is that the drains laid along the roads leading to the main drainage pipes are clogged with trash, mud, pebbles and debris.  The water will not clog and will flow down the drains if the drains are kept clean. For that the municipal corporation and civil administration has to do their normal day-to-day job. They need not do any thing overtime. The officials, staff and workmen need to do average normal office work and field job for that they are drawing monthly salaries for their bread and butter. 

If we stop anywhere on a New Delhi road and peep into the drain running alongside the road, underneath the road divider or right below the foot path; you will find the drains full of stinking trash, filth and debris. This very stinking waste left unattended is solely responsible for the widespread water logging in the Indian Capital. 

The solution to this mammoth problem is also as simple as 2 + 2 = 4.  

The civic authorities are required to feel a little civic responsibility.  The solution is to just remove the trash and debris from the drains and you are done.  That is fine that the municipal corporation is responsible for doing this cleaning job. Yet, the other civic authorities are also responsible to watch that the drains are being kept clean and in working order. Who has stopped the district authorities from stopping their cars at the side of any road and check for themselves whether the drains are really maintained in good condition so much so that thy should be able to carry the rain water under heavy rains in the city.

Even the MLAs, MPs and any minister may also send any of their subordinates to find out whether the drains in their constituencies and jurisdiction are kept in good working condition.

The taxpayer would like the municipal staff and workmen to takeover the cleaning task right away and make the drainage system functional. The district authorities should also watch whether the job is done right away and in a satisfactory manner. Ministries may also tighten up their officers and staff to keep a watchful eye on the effective, efficient and high quality drainage system in the capital of the largest democracy on this planet. 

We should shed away the old superstitious myth that working on drainage system is a low grade work. Cleaning our surroundings is the primary requirement for maintaining the high grade of life rather than living with stinking trash all around us. 

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Public Park Goes Commercial in Ghaziabad, India

- Harish Jharia 

Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has made an extremely beautiful huge public park called Swarna Jayanti Park, at Neeti Khand, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. It is constructed on a 25 acre public land the cost of which might be more than 10 crores Indian Rupees. GDA might have spent another about 25 crores plus on development, construction, installation of status and plantation of plants and trees in the park out of the tax payer’s public money.

                Main Entrance, Swarna Jayanti Park

Swarna Jayanti Park is a central place for man, women and children for spending leisure time for getting relaxation and to forget the worries of the struggling hard life that they live in the national capital of India. This place is mainly used by senior citizens for taking morning walks, evening walks and meeting other old age friends to forget the solitary lives that they are forced to live in the dusk of their lives. 

        Rani Jhansi Statue, Swarna Jayanti Park

GDA Imposes Entry Fee:
A few months back the people of this place were shocked to learn that GDA has imposed entry-fee on the people who were the sole owners of this park being a public property. 


GDA Imposes Parking Fee:
After another couple of months GDA slapped additional taxation on the people by barricading all the dozen odd parking lots constructed all around the 25 acre park.  In addition, they have handed over these parking lots to private parking contractors who are charging parking fees from the people who come to visit this park.  


GDA and UP Government are well aware that Swarna Jayanti Park is already earning revenues from the Ghaziabad Hat situated right inside the park. In addition, the government is collecting many other taxes from the residents.  The GDA and UP government have many other funds and budget provisions for providing parks and playgrounds for the people of those respective areas.  


As such both of these government bodies need not go for imposing additional financial burden on the people who are the taxpayers; out of the financial contributions of whom, Swarn Jayanti Park has been constructed. 


In view of the above, GDA and UP Government may issue orders to lift all the restrictions, including the entry fees and parking fees, imposed by the concerned authorities on the people for visiting the public park. 

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3-hour Rains in Delhi Resulted in 5 Hours of Traffic Jams and 11 Deaths:

Review of The News Item Published in The Times Of India: 

3-hour Rains in Delhi Resulted in 5 Hours of Traffic Jams and 11 Deaths:

Three hours of heavy rains in Delhi left 11 people dead and resulted in 5 hours of traffic jams, submerged roads with knee-deep water and traffic lights blinking. Hundreds of trees uprooted and rainwater entered right inside homes.

A sudden downpour began in central Delhi and subsequently spread towards east, south and north of the NCR. The city recorded 51.4mm rainfall and wind blowing at 82-90 kmph between 5.30pm to 8.30pm. 

Rains are natural calamities but the traffic jams and deaths of innocent citizens are not. They are the results of irresponsible attitude and carelessness of the civic authorities. Let us discuss about them in brief:

11 Deaths: 

As reported in the press these deaths have resulted out of electrocution of the victims when they came in contact with necked live electric wires left unattended on the roads by civic authorities. A couple victims died when high-tension live electric cables fell over them. All of these 11 deaths could have been avoided and the victims would not have been trapped in the deadly accidents had the civic authorities maintained the electric lines and kept them ‘safe’ for the people moving around in those public places. 

5-hour Traffic Jams:

Expect for a couple of incidents of uprooted trees and fallen branches on the roads the traffic jams that prolonged for full 5 hours in many parts of Delhi were due to stagnated water that inundated the roads above knee depth. At some places there were incidents of caving-in of roads as a result of widespread water clogging. 

This water clogging has simply resulted due to clogged drainage pipes that were laid for carrying rainwater to the main drainage system of the city. You may look at any drain ports provided at the sides of Delhi roads and you will find that they are blocked with garbage, soil and rocks. 

The civic authorities should come together and make sure that all the public utility systems are made up-to-date and subsequently maintained properly so that such stalemate can be avoided in the time to come.  

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Rampant Poverty in Indian Villages and Slums

© Harish Jharia

We live in cities, move on two-wheelers or four-wheelers, beat summers and winters by electric appliances and live a life of a modern human being. We might not lead luxurious lives; yet, we get food to eat, clothes to wear and a shelters for covering our heads. We are busy in earning our bread and struggle to survive.

Nevertheless, there are more unfortunate people, in rural India, who do not get even one time food to fill their bellies. They are undernourished because of prolonged starvation. They struggle around for getting a handful of food with eyes sunk in the eye-sockets and rib-cage bones projecting out of their sun-burnt dark skins. We on the other hand discuss for hours reaching out for the best possible sunscreen lotion on internet and find solutions for sun tanning.

It is not only in rural India; the people living in the slums in metros also live lives that are even more pathetic. I remember a couple of poor children picking grains of boiled rice from an open drain in Pune. Such scenes are common where there are open drains near restaurants and the housekeeping staff dump leftover food along with the garbage. 

That is the reason that I felt offended when I read reviews about the British film ‘Slum-dog Millionaire’. I observed with pain and helplessness the inhuman neglect of the slum kids after the release of the film, its box-office success and the award giving ceremony in Oscars.  I felt it so intensely because I have seen poverty so very closely whenever I made trips to villages close to my hometown Narsinghpur in MP and dedicated visits to slums and downtowns in different metros.

I had the same feeling when I saw poor people in the US also, I happened to visit Washington DC and New York while being on a long stay in Ashburn, Virginia County. When I went to visit a nearby area for spending an evening, I saw a poor man on a road crossing, holding a placard in his hands written with a request asking for alms. On another day, I happened to see a poor man squatting on the floor of a staircase in a metro-station when I was on a trip to New York.

When I went to Maryland for shopping of some Indian stuff, I felt as-if I was in an Indian town a place dominated by middle class crowd, mainly from asia. The American glamor and luxurious style of life was just missing in Maryland. There were very few cars around; most of the people were moving around on foot.

After seeing the people living in super-luxury and on the other hand, the most unfortunate poor people living in utter-poverty and struggling to survive in a starving hell, I have concluded that the various religions and casts and creeds followed across the world, are only eyewash... There are only two religions and they are ‘The Rich’ and ‘The Poor’.

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Disclaimer:
This article / Story / fiction is written based on my personal observations. My intention for publishing the same is to provide healthy reading and intellectual entertainment and not for educating the visitors. Names of people, societies, communities and description of faiths, beliefs, incidents are imaginary and fictitious. They have neither any relevance to the prevailing entities and traditions nor have any similarities with ongoing lifestyles, political ideologies and legal doctrines. The contents of this creative work has not been written with any intention to criticize, condemn or oppose anything what-so-ever present in reality in any country in the world. No literature or authentic books have been referred for writing the contents of this article. The visitors are advised not to refer the contents of this article for any research or testimony on scientific, geographical, political, civic, social or legal purposes. The visitors are further advised to consult relevant experts before adapting any information from this article. The author or the website are not responsible for any errors, mistakes, or omissions there in.
- Harish Jharia
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