februaryrotaryclubpanaji.org/uploads/magazine/23_pic_spark-feb-18.pdf · — science day 28th feb...

Rtn. Ian H.S. Riseley

Rtn. Anand G. Kulkarni

Rtn. Prasad Pawar

FEBRUARY 2018THE SPARK

1

RC Panaji Secretary's ReportDear Rotarians & Friends,

February was loaded with many district events and RC Panaji participated in all these events. As per RI calendar February is Peace & Conflict Prevention / Resolution month, the World Understanding Day project on 23rd Feb organised by RCP was much appreciated by everyone and will be an ongoing project henceforth. Project in Feb touched all the avenues of service. Indeed, a satisfying month.

Activities in the Month of February:

— 2nd to 4th February 2018: Around 30 members of RCP along with their families registered for the district conference at Belgaum. Rotary District Conference -INDRADHANUSHYA which was held on 02nd, 03rd & 04th of Feb 2018 at Belgaum. The venue was a sprawling big campus of Permanent Exhibition Centre, Auto Nagar, Belgavi.A colourful festival of joy & happiness. Wonderful ambience & climate, thought provoking speakers & celebrities, delicious food, mood elevating entertainment & the flowing Rotary spirit of fellowship. Members enjoyed the conference thoroughly. Team RCP 16-17 were presented awards at the conference for their performance last year. Special mention about Rtn. Bhalchandra Amonkar -Youth Service Award & Rtn Sanjiv Mirchandani - Vocational Service Award.

— 7th February 2018: Rtn Parag Sardessai presented the report on district conference during the regular meeting. Certificates were awarded to members for their excellent performance in the year 2016-17 by IPP Rtn. Nilesh Shah.

— 10th February 2018: SIGNATURE PROJECTS: TEACH 40 desks & benches were donated to Shri Sharada Vidhyalaya Govt. High School, Kumbharjua.

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Govt. primary school MercesGovt. primary school Dando PillarGovt. primary school Pali SiredaoGovt. primary school Mason de Amorin.

14th February 2018: Rtn Hemant Ramani delivered a talk on Budget 2018 during the regular meeting.

18th February 2018: Two teams of RC Panaji participated in the annual cricket tournament organized by RC Curchorem Savordem.

President Rtn Kishor attended the Pre AGTS and Pre-PETS on 17th & 18th Feb at Ichalkaranji.

Briquettes project: Crematorium consisting of Cast Iron Casting and MS frames was installed at Hindu Crematorium Panaji on 18th Feb. This set was ordered from Shivamogga Karnataka. Organising, delivery & installation was taken care by Rtn Shashidhar Byali, Rtn Sunil Deshpande & Rtn Parai Dubashi. Rtn Nitin Saraf has sponsored the entire cost of this crematorium set.

21st February 2018: LCD projector was donated to T. B. Cuna Govt. High School Panaji this was a long pending request from this school.

Young Entrepreneurs Award 2018: Mr Milind Prabhu from IT industry having his own firm dealing with developing software solutions & Mrs. Archana Bhobe having a chain of beauty treatment/ therapy , saloon and SPA were awarded this year during our regular meeting.

23rd February 2018: Installation of WINS station at the following Govt. primary schools:


2

MHM Equipments donated to Bal Bharati Vidhyamandir Ribandar this includes a Sanitary Pad Dispenser & an Incinerator. Two lady teachers from this school have been trained in the operation and maintenance of these equipments.

rdWorld Understanding Day 23 Feb 2018: RC Panaji in association with Political Science Dept of Goa University and International Centre Goa organized a seminar. Students from 6 different countries along with their faculties (Indian & Foreign) presented their ideas on world understanding followed by group discussions. Countries which participated are India, France, Argentina, Japan, Iraq & Afghanistan. Looking at the success of the event, this will be an ongoing project as Goa University and RCP will partner to take this to much higher levels.

— 24th & 25th February 2018: Team RCP participated in district sports organised at Sangli by RC Vishrambaug. RCP participated in Cricket, Badminton, Carrom & Table Tennis. Rtn Samir & Rtn Sagar (RC Miramar) were the winners of the district champions in men's doubles in TT.

— 27th February 2018: 8th BOD meeting was held to discuss the various ongoing projects and plans for the coming months.

th— Science Day 28 Feb 2018: Around 160 plus students from our Four Interact Schools were sponsored for a visit to Goa Science Centre . They visited the science exhibition, Planetarium and scientific film shows. Students and Teachers were provided with refreshments etc.

During our regular meeting Rtn Dr. Dattesh

Let's continue to involve in 'making a difference'

yours-in-Rotary

Rtn Rohit PaiSecretary - R C Panaji2017-18

Prabhu Parulekar spoke on "Understanding Impulses for 21st Century Conflict & Cooperation in Quest for 21st Century Peace". The topic was perfectly in line with the RI theme for February month Peace & Conflict Prevention / Resolution.


3

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

One hundred thirteen years ago this month, the four members of Rotary's first club held their first meeting. Although no minutes were kept, it's unlikely anyone talked about service; the club did not begin focusing on the needs of the community for another few years.

The meeting was held not in a hotel or a restaurant, but in a member's office; there were, so far as we know, no agendas or announcements, no committee reports, speakers, or name tags. The meeting would have failed today's usual standards for a productive Rotary meeting most resoundingly. It was, of course, the most productive Rotary meeting ever held.

Today, as in 1905, many of us come to Rotary seeking what Paul Harris sought: friendship, connections, a place to feel at home. But today, Rotary gives us so much more than it could ever have given its earliest members in those earliest days. The Rotary of today, more than 1.2 million members strong, lets us feel at home not only in a small group of our peers, but also in our diverse clubs, across our communities, and indeed throughout the world. Today, Rotary connects us all in a way that Paul Harris could never have dreamed on that February evening so long ago. Not only can we go anywhere in the world there is a Rotary club and feel at home, but we can reach out to anywhere in the world there is a Rotary club and make a difference.

In the 113 years since that first meeting, Rotary has become far larger, and more diverse, than those founding members could have conceived. We have gone from an organization that was all white and all male to one that welcomes women and men of every possible background. We have become an organization whose stated purpose is service, reflected in our motto, Service Above Self. And we have become not only an organization that is capable of changing the world, but one that has already done so, through our work to eradicate polio.

None of us can know what lies ahead for Rotary. It remains for all of us to continue to build on the solid foundations that were laid for us by Paul Harris and his friends: to forge and strengthen the bonds of service and friendship through Rotary: Making a Difference.

RTN. IAN H. S. RISELEYPresident, Rotary International

Rotary year 2017-18

Message from RI President

2018-19: Be the Inspiration

RI President-elect Barry Rassin's theme for

2018-19, Be the Inspiration, asks Rotarians to

inspire change in the world and in each other.

“I ask all of you to Be the Inspiration to help

Rotary move from reaction to action — to take

a hard look at the environmental issues that

affect health and welfare around the world

and do what we can to help.”

When Raja Saboo was nominated to serve as the R. I. India does it again.President for the year 1991-92, several districts in India After recording an astounding growth of 125 percent in wanted to felicitate him. While accepting the invitations 1980 Rotary in India repeated its performance in Raja Saboo requested the Districts to avoid meeting the 21st Century Membership Challenge ostentatious expenses or to contribute an equal amount during 2000-01 also. Rotary district 3160 in India was spent on such meeting paraphernalia to a proposed world winner with a 52.38 per cent increase in fund to be utilized for a worthwhile humanitarian cause. membership. During the period of 21st Century Needless to say, the Rotarians heeded and the seed Challenge from July 2000 to May 2001 Rotary money for the corpus of the Rotary Awards for Service to membership posted a gain of 18,054 worldwide and Humanity (India) Trust was soon collected. In 1992 itself, India’s contribution to this figure was a very significant the trust instituted the Rotary India award to recognize 7000 members.outstanding contributions of individual or voluntary

Rotary Leaders from India. organizations in a variety of fields. Till 2000 the Trust has given away nine Rotary India Awards and the tenth During the 81 years of Rotary’s existence in India, (2001) award was on empowerment of women.several world leaders emerged from the region. The first

Rotarian to become R. I. President from Asia was Nitish Five years later, in 1997, in collaboration with the S. J. Laharry Jindal Trust, Rotary Manav Seva Award was instituted to

recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals (1962-63) from Calcutta.Only after another 29 years and institutions that crusade against corruption and another Indian could become R. I. President. In 1991-92 criminalization in politics in India. Up to 2001, three Rajendra K. Saboo (Raja Saboo) from Chandigarh had NGOs and eleven Awardees included social activist the rare opportunity of leading the world’s leading Anna Hazare, environmental activist M. C. Mehta and organization. Raja Saboo also served as the Chairman Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer. Both the awards carry a cash of The Rotary Foundation in 1996-97, the only Indian to component of Rs. 200,000 and a citation and are the hold the position in Rotary’s history till date. Sir highest recognitions given by Rotary in India for Frederick E. James was the first R. I. Director from India excellence in humanitarian service.in 1933-34. Other directors from India were Sir

Shapurjee B. Billimoria, Nitish Laharry, B. T. R. C. C. India Foundation.Thakur,Krishna Prasad, Edul Edulji, Soli S. Pavri, L.

The munificent Japanese Shig Takayama deposited Manchanda, Sudarshan Agarwal, Raja Saboo, M. K. U.S. $ 1 million, thanks to the efforts of R.I. President Pandurang Shetty, T. Ramesh Pai, Kalian Bannerji, O. P. (1986-87) MAT Caparas, and earmarked its interest to Vaish, and P. C. Thomas. Raja Saboo and O.P. Vaish also support RCC programs in India. In order to properly served as TRF Trustees. utilize the funds RCC India Foundation was formed with

When the Zone concept was introduced in 1995, Raja Saboo as its Chairman.abolishing regions, the main criteria was to have almost

For worthwhile RCC projects which can bring about a same number of Rotarians in the 34 zones so that each qualitative change in the life of people in a Director will represent the same number of Rotarians. village/community/slums RCC India Foundation Till 2001 India had 2 Zones 5 and 6. In a recent decision provides 50% of the funding, subject to a maximum of by the COL there has been a change in the zoning Rs. 50,000. Out of the balance required 15% is to be met pattern.by the RCC and the sponsoring club should contribute

Rotary India and Manav SeVa awards. 35%. ¡¡¡

Rtn. Anil Sardessai

ROTARY IN INDIA

This sixth of series of articles in this year’s spark issues is an attempt to retrace the steps of this great organization which is striving to bring world understanding and peace in the world through its humanitarian programs.

IS it not gratifying to know that Rotary thrives best where business standards approach nearest to the ideal? - Paul P. Harris


4

Rtn. Siddhesh Shetye

Making Investments in Equity Mutual Funds a Priority

Traditionally, investors associate dread with equity provide the ease of auto debit as well as direct credit in case of investments marking it to be unsafe and volatile and avoid redemptions and dividend payments, etc. Hence, these making such investments. The mind sets of investors often features make it rather easy for investors to invest.prick them to remain invested in debts, fixed deposits or Tax Benefitstraditional investment options. The investor is losing out the Investment in equities is perhaps the only avenue of most because the investment is not getting optimal returns. On investment where investors can build wealth saving taxes. the other hand, the equity oriented mutual fund schemes have Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) is an equity oriented been performing well and generating returns if invested for a mutual fund where investments up to Rs 1.5 lakhs is eligible for long term. Advisors and experts are often of the opinion that if tax rebate as per the Income Tax Act 1961 under section 80 C. an investment is being made for the long term with higher The lock in period in these schemes is three years which education or retirement as the goal then the investor should allows the fund manager to pick stocks which can generate ideally invest in equity oriented funds as they have provided returns. ELSS has the shortest lock in period among all the tax returns than any other asset class historically. Let us have a savings options making it a lucrative option for savings taxes look why as an investor you should make equity investments a and fulfilling future goals as well.priority. Diversified FundsThe Power of Compounding Diversification is that aspect of the fund that is stressed upon Compounding has often been called the eighth wonder of the by the advisors based on the idea that all asset do not perform world. It is a means of generating wealth from investments by well at the same time. Equity Mutual Fund schemes are remaining invested for a longer period of time. The longer you diversified in nature and they invest in equities of various stay invested, the more is the compounded return. The market sectors and companies through the corpus of the fund oriented returns from equities as an asset class makes the collected. Hence, in a single fund investments maybe made to rate of compounded returns more attractive than any other the pharmaceutical sector, the mining and metal industry, or asset class. The prime reason why investors need technology companies or and heavy metals, automobiles etc compounding effect for their investments is because of rising and thus making it a diversified investment.future costs due to inflation. Simply speaking, due to inflation The Liquid nature of the Fundsthe amount with which you can sustain now will be much Open ended funds provide the option to investors to redeem higher in future due to the demon called inflation. their investments at any point of time. This provides investors If a lumpsum investment of Rs 1 lakh is compounded over a with assurance that their money has not been locked . The period of 20 years at 15% p.a. the total value of the corpus money can also be redeemed or transferred to other schemes would be Rs 16.36 lakhs. Therefore, because of this in the same AMC depending upon the investors’ choice. The compounding effect on your investments, you may be able to high liquidity also allows investors a space to experiment with deal with a future goal. Similarly, if Rs 75,000 monthly is equities and gauge the progress redeeming when they deem enough to run your household today, then 20 years down the fit. Investors can either opt for the dividend pay-out option or line, assuming inflation is at 7.5%, your monthly household growth option to multiply their investments. The other option is expense would stand at Rs 3.19 lakhs. Hence, power of dividend reinvestment, where the dividends are reinvested compounding is the only tool you have, to battle the inflation and additional units are allotted allowing the investments to and stay ahead of rising costs. grow. Ease of Investment ConclusionTo invest in equities one does not need a lump sum at their Equity investments are perhaps the only means through which disposal. A minimum of Rs 500 is required to start investments you can generate wealth by ensuring the investment receive . Through Systematic Investment Planning (SIP) investors can optimum utilization. These investments aid your financial goals start investing with as small as amount as Rs.500. Hence, and the more you invest in equities the sooner you can achieve investors can choose either to invest minimum Rs 500 per your goals. If you are a young investor about to make your first month or Rs 6,000 a year, whichever is convenient to them. investment then equities are the route to take. It is time we do Investors can add lump sum to an ongoing SIP investment as away with the existing myths and the cloak of dread that has well. In a fund house if a scheme is performing better than the been shrouded against these investments. So it is time you invested scheme then investors can easily transfer from one start investing while walking down the path of equities.scheme to another. The investors need to have one Mutual

Source : Advisorkhoj.com Fund ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’ document to be able to invest across all leading fund houses. Mutual fund investments

¡¡¡

Siddhesh founded InvestWell in the year 2015 with the sole motive of providing prudent advice and fine solutions to the various investment needs of the investors. He offers a wide range of services keeping in mind the challenges faced by the customers with the aim to provide them a fulfilling and rewarding investing experience with him. In a short span of two years, InvestWell has earned a quality clientele with its prudent advisory skills and consistent performance backed by deep market research and advanced software tools.

He can be contacted on [email protected]


5

The first question, of course, is: Will India be able to bring becomes somebody's income and the governments gets back the money lying in banks located in tax havens a share of it. Somebody has estimated that out of every overseas. Assuming it does, the next question is, what rupee printed / minted by the government, more than 97 form will it take? Will the money be confiscated or will the paise, the government gets back by way of income tax persons whose money it is be made to account for it and alone. the applicable taxes, with penalties, recovered? When the tax planner saves tax (by using the investment The latter appears to be more likely. In any case, opportunities prescribed by the government), the whenever black money is brought back into circulation, exchequer, no doubt, loses revenue, but the tax planner the nation stands to gain. Black money is a scourge that, continues to spend. So the chain remains intact and like cancer, spreads and eats into the vitals of a nation's others who receive the money thereafter can pay taxes.economy. However, when the tax evader saves tax (by concealing Let us juxtapose a tax planner with a tax evader. The the income), the government loses revenue, was lost intention of both is to either reduce or eliminate the tax even due to the acts of the tax planner. But this minor liability. As a result of the actions of both, the nation loses crime automatically leads to a bigger crime is: The tax tax reveneue. Nevertheless, the tax-planner is evader does not spend (for fear of being caught). And he considered to be an honest citizen while the tax-evader a breaks the chain. He now not only deprives the nation of crook. Why? tax which could have been collected from him, but also

the tax that countless others after him would have paid.To understand this, consider the income-tax collection process. When one person earns income, he pays But when black money gets reconverted into while income-tax on it. What does he do with the money? (whether as a result of an amnesty scheme or a voluntary Maybe he spends this money on purchasing some disclosure scheme of the government or by bringing the clothes for himself. It now becomes the income of the money stashed abroad back into the country), the nation garments trader, who must pay income tax. When the benefits due to the tax that will be collected on the income garments' trader spends and purchases a pair of shoes, it generated by this amount in perpetuity.becomes the income of the shoe seller who again must pay tax. Each time money merely changes hands it

¡¡¡

Dr. Anil LambaAuthor

India Could Benefit If The Black Money Comes BackBlack money is a scourge that, like cancer, spreads and eats into the vitals of a nation's economy.

Bestselling author, financial literacy activist, and an international corporate trainer, Dr Anil Lamba is a practising Chartered Accountant and holds degrees in Commerce, Law and a Doctorate in Taxation.

Dr Lamba's training programmes are held internationally, with a client list exceeding 2000 large and medium-sized corporations spread across several countries including India, the USA, and in Europe, the Middle-East and the Far-East.

His latest book, 'Romancing the Balance Sheet' is currently making waves.


6


7

Direct taxes are an important source of revenue for any increases. It also shows that tax rates increasing after a nation. Every government faces the dilemma of certain point would cause people not to work as hard or increasing tax collection and at the same time not not at all, thereby reducing tax revenue. Eventually, if tax upsetting the electorate. Many a government has been rates reached 100% then all people would choose not to known to desist from imposing taxes, revenues from work because everything they earned would go to the which the country is in dire need of, lest they lose the government. taxpayers' votes.

At a 0% tax rate, the model assumes that no tax revenue This is, of course, based on an incorrect premise that to is raised. At the extreme of a 100% tax rate, the increase tax collection, tax rates must also increase. government theoretically collects zero revenue because However the reverse is true. taxpayers change their behavior in response to the tax

rate: either they have no incentive to work or they find a The theory, enunciated by Ibn Khaldun, a 14th century way to avoid paying taxes. Muslim philosopher, and many years later by the 20th century British economist John Maynard Keynes, and Conversely as tax rates come down, initially tax which was illustrated in December 1974 by Arthur Laffer collection decreases. But as rates are further decreased on a paper napkin while having dinner at a restaurant, tax collections actually start rising since there is less (now famously called the Laffer Curve) states that tax incentive to evade and the consequences of not paying revenues would be zero if tax rates were either 0% or appear more severe than the pain of paying. 100%, and somewhere in between 0% and 100% is a

The committee on Direct Tax Reforms appointed in tax rate which maximizes total revenue. The Laffer curve 1991 and headed by Dr Raja Chelliah in its report had illustrates the concept that taxable income will change in

strongly recommended sending a clear signal to the response to changes in the rate of taxation. It postulates population of India that we are entering a low tax regime that no tax revenue will be raised at the extreme tax

and that the tax rates will be successively reduced from rates of 0% and 100% and that there must be at least the existing 60% (in certain cases) to 30%. one rate where tax revenue would be a non-zero maximum. Dr Manmohan Singh, in his budget for 1992-93,

accepted Dr Chelliah’s recommendations in toto, and The Laffer curve is typically represented as a graph started the tax reduction process, which, with a few which starts at 0% tax with zero revenue, rises to a

hiccups, gradually did bring the rates down to the maximum rate of revenue at an intermediate rate of current 30%. taxation, and then falls again to zero revenue at a 100% tax rate. However, the actual existence and shape of the Contrary to doomsayers, the tax collection in the curve is uncertain and disputed. One potential result of country has actually risen, year after year. the Laffer curve is that increasing tax rates beyond a I think it is time to now take this to the next level. certain point will be counter-productive for raising

Encouraged by its experience the government should further tax revenue announce a new round of slashing of tax rates and a simultaneous withdrawal of exemptions to bring down Laffer’s curve: the highest rate to maybe 15% over the next 3 to 5 years.

The curve suggests that, as taxes increase from low levels, tax revenue collected by the government also ¡¡¡

Reduce Tax Rates To Increase Collection The Laffer curve is typically represented as a graph which starts at 0% tax with zero revenue, rises to a maximum rate of revenue at an intermediate rate of taxation, and then falls again to zero revenue at a 100% tax rate.


8

Rtn. Viresh K NadkarniPresident Elect Nominee/

Director Club Administration2

Jab we met-My meeting with a Rotarian-

Siddhesh Shetye is known as a passionate sports enthusiast of our Club who gets the killer instinct out of you when it comes to our club matches. A wonderful human being and a silent performer both professionally and in club activities. His passion in executing Club responsibilities entrusted to him has been exemplary. I met Sid (as he is popularly known) to extract a few unknown facts from him.

Siddhesh Thanks for talking to me, can you tell us a little about your early life?

thI was born on the 10 of April 1982 in Patradevi, which is at the border of Goa. My father Shripad was into Transport business and mother Shubhangi a house wife.

Our Family basically has its roots in the Village of Pomburpa. We shifted to Patradevi more than 25 years back for greener pastures. We still have our ancestral home at Pomburpa which we visit annually for the Ganesh Chathurthi and other festivals. My father then ventured into the lucrative Liquor business and we own a Bar and Restaurant at Patradevi. Things after the recent Liquor ban on the highways have taken its toll on the business though.

Tell us about your family and the School life at Patradevi.

We are two brothers and two sisters and I am the the Viscount de Pernem School and continued youngest. Rtn. Ankur Shanbhagis married to my there until my SSC.elder sister.

Higher Secondary and College was in the Saraswat I studied in the “Shahid Karnal Singh Banipal Govt th Vidhyalay, Mapusa from where I ultimately Primary School” at Patradevi till the 4 Std.As you

graduated. Later I did my Post Graduation in see the school is named after a Goa Liberation Martyr MFS(master's in finance).for his supreme sacrifice at Patradevi. I later shifted to

Rtn. Siddhesh Shetye & Ann. Veena


9

grown.Can you recollect a few childhood memories for us?

Don't you have any expansion plans?I had a very run of the mill Childhood and I don't

Yes of course!! I am shortly planning to have a couple remember getting any materialistic pampering during of more Branches in Goa. My wife Veena, as you our childhood, however the time and attention we got know, was a Manager with the HDFC Bank. She now from our Parents can be any Child's envy. The has quit her job to join me. It is Veena's invaluable childhood memories are still treasured. I vaguely contribution and support to my work which remember our leisure trips in our fathers Tempo to the encourages me to look at other growth areas.Shiroda Beach (Maharashtra). I was a very keen

Cricket player when in school. I was even selected for How did you meet Veena?the junior's camp for the Goa Team which was

supposed to leave for Hyderabad. However, I Well, we first met through a common friend, as time withdrew from the Team as I did not want the financial flew by, our friendship grew into a special one until we burden of my trip and in the acquisition of the Kit on tied the knot in 2014. We now stay in my flat at my parents. I conveniently lied back home that I had Porvorim. Veena now is my pillar of strength both failed to make it in the team. I could sense the difficult personally and professionally. Her advice and times in the family and did not want to add to the emotional backing has been excellent.burden of the luxury called Cricket on the Family

purse strings. I am grateful to my Parents to have Siddhesh you are one of the most passionate raised us with the right values. Thanks to our Parents sports enthusiast in RCPanaji can you share with we never felt that we had missed out on anything in us any interesting incident related to sports?life and have reciprocated their love and affection

whenever possible.Yes, I love both Cricket and Football. In football I am a Manchester United Fan. I once went to U.K specially Tell us about your first Job and career.to see a Man U-Sunderland Match. On the way to the match I was stopped at the Doha Airport by the cops Well, after graduation in 2004 I joined ING who objected to the scented candles I had picked up Investments as the Area Sales Manager. Soon I from Dubai. I told the cop I was going for a was promoted asa Territory Sales Manger and then Manchester U Match, to my luck, the cop too as a Branch Manager. I was even offered a happened to be a Man U fan and I was let go with a promotion to our Dubai and Singapore Branches but warm hand shake. I remember I sat in the North stand my other career plans and the thought of going away which was dedicated to Sir Alex Ferguson for from my near and dear ones especially my parents completing 25 years as a coach of Man U. It was a compelled me to decline the offers. I later became the proud moment to witness the felicitation of Sir Alex State Head and finally Assistant Vice President Ferguson. Man U won the match 1-0.(AVP). In 2013I quit ING Investments as they shut

their operations in India.I am also an official member of the Manchester United Club.What next?

What are the privileges you enjoy to be a member As I said earlier I always had other Plans for my and at what cost?career, this break pushed me into venturing out into

my independent business. A six months sabbatical Well I pay around 7000 bucks per year just for the and I decided to do the thing that I most enjoyed. I set passion of being a part of the Club. The privileges are shop as a Financial advisor in 2014.Today I sell the discounts on the clubs match tickets and other Mutual Funds and have helped individuals grow souvenirs. I also get a full kit signed by the Manger financially by advising and guiding them about their every year as a souvenir.portfolio. I have several happy HNI'S and Super

HNI'S (HNI is high net worth Individual).I am It was one of my dreams to be part of the club, the thoroughly satisfied with the way my business has


10

other dream being to drive a How did you join Rotary?Formula One car. I will shortly

I joined Rotary in 2010. make a trip to the Ferrari World in Rtn.Dinesh Kamat was then Dubai and my last childhood the President. It's My association dream of flying in a cockpit of a with Parag Sardessai that plane may not materialise unless I brought me in the Rotary Club buy one.of Panaji.

Who are the other Football club I am today the Chairman of supporters in our Club?Membership Development in the Club. I am also responsible for Parag Sardessai &Govind the entry of several Prominent Gawas support Arsenal, Jorge members to the Cub.Bravo DaCosta & Sarfraz

Sheikh back Chelsea, and Parai Gautam Bhende, Jorge Bravo Dubashi is a Real Madrid fan. Da Costa, Ameet Nachinolkar, We do compete and tease each Dr.Mahendra Kudchadkar, other during their matches but our G o v i n d G a w a s , S u r a j not so generous banter on the Bhomkar, Varghese Chacko to WhatsApp groups is all in a name a few.friendly manner and limited to the

WhatsApp group.What is your Experience in Rotary?You are also a passionate

Cricket loverRotary has been a second family, there is not a single day RCP today is passionate about its

where I don't interact with a Rotarian regarding Cricket team, it is hard to digest a loss with a Rotary activity or otherwise. My involvement in formidable team as ours. I have been the captain of Rotary has also helped me evolve as a human being. I Team RCP for the last few years &we have won many thank Rtn. Parag for persuading me to join this club.Rotary tournaments which include the triangular

Manek Gem Trophy (2 times) , All Goa cricket Thanks Siddhesh for sharing your thoughts.tournament organized by Rotary club of Curchorem

(2 years in a row)& All Goa Indoor Cricket tournament ¡¡¡ organized by Rotary club of Mhapsa Elite (2 years in

a row) and hope the long list continues.

Live History India is a first of its kind digital platform that works to bring alive Indian History and taking it to a wide array of new age audiences across the world.

The articles being reproduced are with the kind courtesy and consent of Live History India, Mumbai. They have earlier been published on their website www.livehistoryindia.com.

It is hard to imagine, but till even 1970, you could have the Government of the newly independent India wanted found currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India, in to restrict the drain of India’s foreign exchange reserves circulation as the official currency in the Gulf region. Till and hence, put heavy import duties on Gold imports. as late as the 1960’s and the oil boom, countries This led to large-scale smuggling of Gold into India, including UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman used mostly from the Gulf counties, due to the strong price the Indian Rupee as their official currency. Specially difference and geographical proximity to India.issued by the Reserve Bank of India, the ‘Gulf Rupees’,

By 1957-58, Gold smuggling into India had reached as they were called, reflected the close historic, political alarming proportions. A report published by the Reserve and commercial ties between India and the region.Bank of India in 1959, estimated that gold worth 92.4

For almost two hundred years from 1763 to 1971, the million USD had been smuggled into India till then. To British Empire maintained varying address the issue of the drain of degrees of political control over India’s foreign exchange reserves the Persian Gulf states. The due to smuggling, the then Indian region encompassed the various Finance Minister Morarji Desai sheikhdoms and principalities of and the Reserve Bank of India the present day United Arab under Governor H V R Iyengar Emirates (UAE) as well as began consultations with the Gulf Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. states, which were still under Prior to the oil boom that started in British suzerainty and the Bank of the region in 1960s these England. It was decided that principalities were not very special currency notes would be e c o n o m i c a l l y a d v a n c e d . i n t r o d u c e d fo r ex c l u s i ve Commerce was restricted to circulation in the Persian Gulf.trading in dates, camels, fishing

The following extract from the and pearl diving - Basra, in Iraq Reserve Bank of India Bulletin, in was home to the worlds most May 1959, explains the measures coveted and expensive natural taken by the Reserve Bank of pearls . But the economies of India:these kingdoms were so small,

that it didn't even make sense for them to mint their own ‘The Reserve Bank of India (Amendment) Act 1959, currency. As a result, they used the Indian Rupee, providing the issue of special notes of the Reserve Bank minted in India by the British East India Company and of India (one rupee notes), which are intended for then the Government of British India, instead. circulation in certain territories outside India, was

passed by the Lok Sabha on April 29, 1959 and Rajya This practice was continued even after India’s Sabha on April 30and received President’s assent on independence from the British Empire in 1947.May 1, 1959. The Indian rupee has been serving as the

Another reason for the creation of these Gulf Rupees traditional medium of exchange in the Gulf States of was India’s love for gold and its consequences. Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the Trucial State and in parts of Historically, Indians have been voracious consumers of Muscat, for a long time, and by custom, the Government gold. After the discovery of gold mines in South Africa in of India and Reserve Bank of India have been providing 1884, huge quantities of gold were imported into India to the currency for circulation.’cater to the ever growing domestic demand. After 1947 ,

The Indian Rupee’s Gulf Connection


15

These new ‘Gulf Rupee’ notes were introduced by a bill Persian Gulf countries in the decade of the 1960’s passed in both the Houses of the Indian Parliament and meant that the states began issuing their own Presidential assent on May 1, 1959 and were referred to currencies. Massive oil reserves were discovered in the as the ‘External Rupee’ or the ‘Gulf Rupee’. It must be region during this time and soon big money began noted that this issue of special notes, was not a legal rolling into these once backward economies. Kuwait tender in India and was exclusively for use in the Persian was the first Gulf state to introduce its own currency, the Gulf. Kuwaiti Dinar in 1961. Bahrain introduced its own

Bahraini Dinar four years later in 1965.The process of exchange appears to have been completed in the Gulf States with little trouble. A period The on 6th June 1966, Indira Gandhi’s government of 6 weeks was given, from 11 May, 1959 to 21 June devalued the Indian Rupee by almost 57% from Rs 4.76 1959 to exchange all the old Indian rupees in the Gulf to Rs 7.50 to a dollar. This was done to aid the Indian with the new notes. The exchange was completed economy which was in a precarious state due to the smoothly and the new notes came into circulation. It was trade deficit, reliance on foreign aid and wars with China estimated that at the time that the special notes were and Pakistan. The move was heavily criticized in India, introduced, there were 300 to 500 million Rupees but it also had a ripple effect on the Gulf economies as circulating in the Gulf. well. From early 1966, when reports of possible

devaluation of the Indian Rupee began to be circulated, The Gulf Rupee notes were similar in design to the Gulf states had raised their concerns with the Indian notes then circulating in India with a few differences. The government about the impact such a move would have notes were of different colors; they were payable only at on their economies. They had even demanded that the Bombay (rather than 'at any office of issue'), and they British Government intervene, as it was the British who carried a special serial number prefix of 'Z' over a were responsible for the circulation of Indian currency in number. the Gulf. Despite their protests, the devaluation took

place and the Gulf states had no option but to stop using Interestingly, at the time, when the ‘Gulf Rupee’ notes the Indian rupees as a legal currency.were introduced, the Reserve Bank of India also

realized that, a number of Indian rupee notes were Thus, by end of 1966, almost all states had replaced the being taken by Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia each year. Indian rupees in circulation either with the Saudi Riyals These were then returned to the Reserve Bank of India or Bahraini Dinars. Only, Oman continued to use the in Bombay for conversion into pounds sterling. To Gulf Rupee till 1970, when it too introduced its own ensure that no smuggled rupees could be returned from currency – the Omani Rial. With this, the Gulf Rupees, the Persian Gulf via the Saudi Arabian banks, the as well as Haj notes, were withdrawn from circulation.Reserve Bank of India also introduced two special 'Haj notes' of 10 and 100 rupees. These notes were not legal Today, these notes are quite popular among numismatic tender in India but could be converted at Bombay into collectors both in India as well as Gulf states. On 25th Indian rupees or into pounds sterling under agreements April 2017, at the Spinks Auction in London, a Rs 100 in place with the Saudi Arabian banks. Haj Pilgrim issue of 1950 of the serial number HA

078400 was sold for 44,000 pounds (hammer price). These ‘Haj’ notes too were of different colors from the The total cost of the note including the taxes was a ones used in India - blue for the Rs 10 note instead of whopping 52,800 pounds!violet and red for the Rs 100 note instead of purple. The word 'HAJ' appears to the left and right of 'The Reserve Bank of India' at the top of the notes and the serial

(For the Images of the Gulf Indian Rupees please numbers all begin with the prefix 'HA'.refer to page no. 14.)

The Gulf Rupee did not however remain in circulation for long. The many economic and political changes in the

¡¡¡


16


17

For all of us coins have mostly, always been round. But Since the discovery of the sea route to India, from the did you know that one of the most unique currencies, Red Sea by a Greek navigator named Hippalus around ever used in India was the larin, which was shaped like a the 1st century BCE, the Arabian Sea and the Indian hairpin or a fishhook. What’s more this was not just the ocean acted as the major corridor connecting Arabia, currency of a small kingdom or region. Named after a Persia, and East Africa with India and South East Asia. small town in Iran, till the 18th century CE the larin was In India, the trade was carried out from the west coast the currency of trade between countries across the and the subcontinent was the major supplier of spices, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. It was truly the currency cloth, precious stones and metals. Arab merchants of the seas. carried off Indian wares and returned with ivory, beads,

copper and gold from Africa. By the 14th and 15th century CE, the trade was dominated by Arab traders who had the knowledge of the monsoon winds and used it to their advantage.

Thriving trade led to the use of a common currency- the larin around the 16th century CE. Named after the town of Lars in Iran, which was a thriving trade center, the larin was first minted by the Safavid ruler Shah Tamhasp sometime around the 1550s. Made of a silver wire bent into hairpin-like shape each larin was stamped with the name of king and mint where it was manufactured.

The reason why larins were used in international trade is quite interesting. First, it was a way to avoid the complicated process of foreign exchange and so conversions in different jurisdictions. The larin, like

Larin: The Currency of the Seas

DABHOL


18

the present day Euro in Europe, Persian denomination for a small was a common currency usable silver coin.across a vast region and so in all

We know that the mint for larins the ports. Second, compared to was at Dabhol, as it was written normal coins, the process of on the coins. Dabhol, near minting larins was cheaper and Ratnagiri was then an important faster. A silver wire just had to be port in the Adilshahi kingdom. bent and stamped. It seems the The reference to Bijapur’s larins rulers just couldn’t be bothered can be found in the journals of a with minting elaborate currency French captain visiting Dabhol. which was anyways, going to Captain Jourdain in his Journal leave their shores.(c. 1610–1619) notes

The larins also provided traders ‘the factour of the Portugualls with safety. Thanks to this there pays the Governor of Dabul common currency, they were two thousand larins per year for unaffected by political turmoil in the monopoly of selling wine.'various countries. Added to this,

the fact that the larin was It appears that larins continued to internationally recognized at the be in use even by successors of same value as the silver bullion the Bijapur Sultanate. The coins, meant that it was also Numismatic Chronicle published benchmarked with international in 1854, mentions that there was silver prices. All of this made the a document dating 1711 CE, la r in a h igh ly des i rable found in the Satara Collectorate instrument of transnational of a land-grant by Shahu, the trade. grandson of Chhatrapati Shivaji,

which mentions a sum of 200 Apart from Persia, the larins Dabho l Lar ins. Th is led were also minted and used in Numismatists to believe that Arabian por ts, Sri Lanka, Larins were in use right up to Maldives and India. Sir John 18th century.Chardin, a French jeweler and

traveler wrote about his travels in But soon after the larins seem to Persia and the Middle East in his disappear from circulation! ten-volume ‘The Travels of Sir Sadly, there has been limited John Chardin’ from 1643 to 1713 academic research, either in CE. In this, he mentions that larin India or abroad, on the decline of was used not only in the port of larnis after two centuries in Khambat in Gujarat but was also circulation. Could it have fallen the ‘chief currency of the off the market because of the Malabar coast’. emergence of the European

traders who brought in their own Interestingly, while larins were in currency? Or were the larins a use all along the western coast victim of the shifting equations of from Sindh to Malabar, the only

trade in the Indian Ocean as the Indian rulers to mint them were the Arabs lost ground? Why did it Adilshahis of Bijapur.

disappear all across? There are a lot of questions. But if In 1846, a large hoard of 400 larins was found in the you want to see the larin today, you could find it in foundation of a house at Sangameshwar near Ratnagiri several museums across India as well as around the in Maharashtra. Dubbed ‘Fish-Hook money’, the hoard world. Larins can be seen at the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai created tremendous interest among numismatists Museum, Ahmedabad; Deccan College Museum, Pune across India. A part of the hoard was sent to Asiatic and British Museum among others.Society of Bombay and the rest, to the India House in London for further research. It was found that these larins were issued by Ali Adil Shah II and on the coin the (For the Images of the Larins please refer to page name Sultan Ali Adil Shah was written on one side and no. 14.)Zarb Lari Dangi Sikka on the other. Danghi being a

¡¡¡

Jean Chardin

Safavid ruler Shah Tamhasp

Dr. Vidya Kamat- Parthan

A Contemporary artist, research scholar and Professor of Comparative Mythology. As an artist she has exhibited her works in India and abroad, and her works are in various prestigious museums. She was also the recipient of cultural scholarship by HIVOS Netherlands for her study on “Documentation and study of roadside shrines in Mumbai”. She has been engaged in teaching and designing courses on comparative mythology for many years. She is an accredited research guide for doctoral students of comparatives mythology at the University of Mumbai since 2003. Currently, she is a co-founder of Talking Myths Project -the online archive on traditional tales from the Indian subcontinent. She is also the Founder Member and Secretary of Center for Study of Mythology and Culture, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research and study of Indian mythology.

FOLKTALE

Chandra’s VengeanceOnce upon a time there lived a mango. The banker’s wife ate childless banker and his wife. the pulp and the stone, the The banker’s wife decided to Rani had the juice and the go on a pilgrimage seeking a nautch girl, the skin.boon from Lord Shiva for a Soon a son was born to the child. Much against the wishes banker’s wife, he was named of her husband she left for the Koi la. The Rani had a forest and arrived at Madura daughter, called Chandra Bai. Tinivelly to find two other And the nautch girl too had a ch i ld less women, Ran i daughter called Moulee. Coplingee and a nautch girl, Chandra (the royal child) was waiting there with the same born with two golden anklets objective. The three decided to filled with precious stones and set out together. a Brahmin warned the king They found themselves in the t h a t s h e w o u l d b r i n g middle of the forest, across a destruction to his kingdom.river of raging fire. The sight Chandra had to be got rid of; scared all, but the banker’s she was put in a golden casket wife. She asked the two to wait and sent down the river. A for her as she waded through, fisherman who had no children unscathed. Twelve years of of his own found the floating wandering later, Shiva was casket and took her home. moved by her plight. He came Chandra grew up and when to her and pleased by her the t ime came for her dedication, gave her a mango. Eat it and a child will be marriage, the groom her parents found was Koila. The yours he said. banker and his wife had long died and Chandra and The young wife told Shiva that two of her companions Koila made their life as a couple.were also childless and were waiting for her. So, the Lord The third of the children born from the mango, Moulee said, share the mango. On rejoining the two the banker’s too had grown into a young woman with a melodious wife reported all that had happened and the three ate the voice. She found herself, in the course of her travels, in

Traditionally myths are oral tales. They are passed down the generations either as a sacred story or as an aphorism and treasured by a community as a valuable source of their heritage. When people migrate, their stories travel with them and over time even if the narratives change their relevance and meaning remain intact. The national and cultural character of India and subcontinent was maintained through such narratives. The Talking Myths Project will attempt to capture and engage with this shared mythological heritage of the region.

Statue of Kannaki at the Marina Beach, Chennai


19

the land of Chandra and Koila. Now Koila happened to way to save him and so reported Koila to the king, who hear her sing and fell in love with the voice. immediately ordered to kill the offender, after

confiscating the anklet.Koila went in search of the voice and found Moulee dancing in front of a band of young men, each urging her When the anklet reached the Rani, she immediately to marry one of them. Determined he came in search of recognised it and asked the King to pursue the matter. her, where she was dancing. Here the people were But the king declined. The Rani kept the anklet in her urging her to seek a husband from one of them. Moulee cupboard, and soon Koila was hacked to death. When stood with a garland and told her suitors that she would Chandra heard what had happened, she rushed to the wed the one the garland chose. She flung the garland king’s court, screaming. At the sound of her voice, her and it swung around the neck of Koila, who on being told anklet rolled out of the royal treasury on to her feet. The that Moulee would like to marry him and he was the king was shocked. And a devastated and distraught lucky man, hesitated and said that he was already Chandra tore her hair in anger. As her hair hit the married. ground, they turned into fire and burned down the

palace and the kingdom sparing none except the At that moment, the story goes, Koila was given a outcastes who had given shelter to Chandra. The fire powerful intoxicated drink that made him forget his wife. killed Moulee and her mother too.And he made a home with Moulee. Some months later, Moulee’s mother insisted that he start paying for his A wailing Chandra rushed to where Koila’s body had upkeep. Koila went to Chandra and requested her to part been kept. And as he sat there weeping, a needle and with one of the anklets. A furious Chandra refused and thread descended from the heavens and she took them the two decided to leave their country and travel to and sewed up the body, all the time praying to Shiva. Madura Tinivelly. Soon, miraculously, Koila was brought back to life and

the two lived happily ever after.On the way, they went by Lord Krishna who was playing cards with his three wives. He saw the two and What is interesting in this folktale is that this tale is announced that Koila was going to be killed and considered to have been the precursor the famous Tamil Chandra would burn the whole country. One of the wives epic Cilappatikaram. The story supposedly was told to disguised herself as a fortune teller and tried to Mary Frere, daughter of Sir Bartle Frere (1815-84), the dissuade the two from going further, but Koila ignored Governor of Bombay Presidency (1862-67), by her her. nanny, Anna Liberata de Souza, in the winter of 1865-

66. Anna had heard the story from her grandmother, a The two reached the kingdom that had sent their Lingayat from Calicut, Malabar province, then a part of daughter down the river where Chandra’s mother Rani Madras Presidency. This version was first published in Coplinghee lived. The Rani had given two of her anklets London by a John Murray in 1868, 24 years before the for cleaning to the royal jeweller. In the backyard of the publication of Ilango Adigals Cilappatikarm in 1892. It jeweller, two eagles had built a nest where the babies thus has the distinction of being the first published would be constantly screaming and disturbing the version of the Kannaki story. jeweller and his family. Unable to bear the constant screaming, the jeweller’s son pulled down the nest and Story collected by: Utkarsh Patelkilled the babies. Furious and distraught the eagles

Source: The Cilappatikaram, R. Parthasarathyswooped down and flew away with one of the anklets.Location: Tamil NaduThe jeweller was worried and took one of the anklets to

the queen telling her that the other piece would be Image details: Statue of Kannaki at the Marina Beach, brought in soon. It was at this stage that Koila walked in Chennaiwith Chandra’s anklet. The jeweller saw this as the only


20

All manner of ‘development’, progress, advancement eyes. appears to move along a trajectory of ‘a’ point of view. If

Let us take our library programs as examples of examined critically this point of view is one harboured by decisions around development made by a group a dominant group, either within a geography or outside deciding to serve another group. I must examine the but the point of commonality is that of dominance. Who motivations and the trajectories from within to hold my decides and from what point of view governs all our own argument against myself. decisions, big or small. Through our eyes, we imagine that hundreds and We know from experience that decisions that are thousands of children do not have access to books and measured, thoughtful, examined through other eyes are the stories that they offer. The children however initially the examples of development that are worthwhile. say they would love this pro-gram to offer skills, job Parks, Libraries, Promenades are spaces of opportunity, fun and dance and perhaps light banter. At progressive development, imagined as open access, a recently con-cluded parent- meeting in our community free, inclusive. library in Chimbel, Goa, the parents asked for English

Education objectives are not far behind. We know from classes, for themselves. Suddenly we have an curricular design that certain features of thinking are opportunity to look through other’s eyes at how the being projected as more ‘development’ worthy than needs for programming can change or what we need to others. So, programs are offering training in 21st do in order to include. Century skills for example - like critical thinking,

So,in order to expand our vision to include ‘other eyes’ collaboration and team work, creativity and so on but, we need to get into other worlds, other loves and other even these skills need to be examined through other


21

Sujata Noronha

Sujata Noronha is an educator with a focus on early literacy. The heart of her work is supporting processes that enable more children to read, write and think.She has two Masters Degrees, one in Financial Management from Goa University and one Masters in Education from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Sujata has an M Phil in Education and is presently, pursuing a PhD in Education from the Tata Institute of Social Science.

Through Other Eyes

contexts. So, I as ever come back to the act of reading. If Through other eyes our own understanding suddenly we are to take in multiple perspectives, we need to be leaps, and we are better poised to think, eva-luate, exposed to these multiplicities of life and even full understand, reflect and then decide. These are aspects / lifetimes lived seem too short - for the diversity of skills that the markets are calling 21st Century skills, but experiences that are out there. Enter the library and the they are skills and aspects of life that have always been perspectives are neatly lined up, awaiting an unfolding. available to us. They come alive when we read. So, the

paradigm on development cannot be imagined in the At an award ceremony recently, I had an opportunity to ab-sence of reading and critical reading around diverse think about perspectives. For Life Time Achievement in texts. writing for children, the well-known Sudha Murthy was recognized and awarded. We were all asked to stand up Every perspective we hold can be evaluated and and applaud a writer who have been contributing examined differently when seen through another’s eyes. content for the past few years in English and more in Anthony Brown brings this to the fore most dramatically Kannada. I found my knees buckling and my hips slow to in his Award-Winning Picture Book. ‘A Walk in the Park respond, not because I think recognition is ill deserved ‘was first published in 1977 and told the story of a father or that awards do not matter but about perspective. I and daughter, Mr Smith and Smudge, who take their dog remember the first Sudha Murthy title I read was “How I to the park. There, they share a bench with a mother and taught my Grandmother to read and other stories” and son, Mrs. Smythe and Charles, also on a walk with their the title bothered me. From my eyes it was a perspective dog. The neighborhoods they live in, how they dress and on literacy that I do not hold. Reading is more than the their body language make it obvious these two families literate decoding of symbols but is also about interpret- have very different backgrounds.ing life which is the sense or the meaning making we

Twenty years later and we must imagine a changing bring to texts eventually. Grandmothers read life with world affecting a brilliant writer- illustrator. An-thony wisdom few of us have, so what does a title like this Brown was discontented with A Walk in the Park and he imply? The story itself tells of how a grandchild taught a chose to redo the book and titled it Voices in the Park. grandmother to read and ends on that note. The voices of Voices in the Park refer to the four

'Yes, I need your help. You know when you were away, characters from the original story. The visit to the park is Karmaveera came as usual. I opened the magazine. I shown four times, but each time is seen from the saw the picture that accompanies the story of Kashi perspective of a dif-ferent character.Yatre and I could not understand anything that was

The text and illustrations created for each "voice" reveal written. Many times, I rubbed my hands over the pages a great deal about the characters. While haughty Mrs. wishing they could un-derstand what was written. But I Smythe gains nothing from her walk with her son and knew it was not possible. If only I was educated enough.'pedigree dog, dejected Mr Smith is reinvigorated after

I experienced a dissonance with my own understanding watching his daughter's spirited play. Mrs. Smythe's son, about inter generational literacy and looked in the library Charles, is similarly affected after playing in the park for a balance. with Smudge. His quiet discontentment with his

sheltered life is juxtaposed with Smudge's colorful and When I read A Gift from Childhood by Baba Wague carefree existence, despite her father falling on hard Diakite a powerful scene that resonated was this. times.“When can I go to school?“BabaWague asks his There are many layers to this story. The reader will see grandmother, again and again. and learn something new with each reading and we

invite you to come into the library and read with us. It is in “Don’t worry, Baba. You will go to school when you are the act of reading that our perspectives grow and our educated,” Grandma answered simply. ideas around development will be strengthened.

I was perplexed, wondering when that would be. Suddenly, we see through other eyes and it is full of possibilities. “Everyone says that one gains more knowledge by

going to school.”

Grandma responded with a big smile, showing her two deep dimples on the sides of her cheeks.

“Knowledge is everywhere around you, Baba. It can leap like a frog from one person to another, from a person to an animal to a person. But it’s something you cannot see or capture like a butterfly or lizard. It comes to you one condition only - that you have the desire for learning.”

¡¡¡


22

Geography beyond Borders

Dr. Madhulika Sagaram is a researcher, educator, and artist working to improve quality of education for all children. Madhulika is the founder and president for Adhya Educational Society, a non –profit engaged in improving quality fo education in underserved government and private schools. Madhulika, is also the founder of Ajahn Books, Ajahn Education Foundation and Ajahn Center for Pedagogy. She works with a vision to develop research and development engaging with theory, practice and outreach of pedagogical perspectives in education across socio -cultural diversity in India and the world; the manifestation of VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM!.

Dr. Madhulika Sagaram

Geography has always been considered and taught as the subject that tells us the story of the earth with details of places and their characteristics. Traditionally, the story of the earth has been separated from its social and cultural influences leading to geography becoming a very isolated subject, with its place far from human life and surrounding environment.

When individuals are removed from their cultural roots in relation to place and environment, communities fail to see and understand the invisible connections existing between natural resources, topography, natural formations, the flora and fauna that coexist in the habitat. As a result, human populations become insensit ive and immune to the destruction of natural resources and associated plant and animal life. As a society, we start making choices that result in catastrophic consequences for the environment, animal and plant life and ultimately human populations and in the native language of the area. One fundamental their way of life. methodology that can fit very well with teaching and Geography should be a celebration of all life that exists learning in Geography is ‘Place based education’ i.e. on our planet in diverse forms and places. Geography looking at ‘Place’ as environment as well as culture and should contextualize people, the food they eat, how they further building bridges between the two aspects. Scrap celebrate their festivals and special events, music and booking is a very effective tool to document learning in dance, art etc. The places people live in determine the the above described model. kind of clothes they wear, how they adapt to local However, like in any other framework, a tool can only weather patterns, what form of transportation they use create a certain impact. The philosophy of the method and the kind of homes they build. Weather patterns are that supports the tool is of utmost importance. intrinsically linked to the type of vegetation, flora and Experiential learning and the constructivist approach fauna in the area, the types of natural resources are two such influential frameworks that can be used to available for human populations and civilization to facilitate effective learning of Geography. An individual develop or dwindle. When Geography is taught in can forget a name, place and their features or isolation to the consequences created by humans, it characteristics but one cannot forget the taste of local leads to destruction of environment and natural food, the smells of the local market, the sounds of the resources. cacophony in the streets. While we know that There are many ways Geography can be integrated with experiential learning is very effective, we cannot always other subjects like Mathematics, Environmental studies, take our classes and children to travel all across the History, Civics, Economics, Science and even literature world. It is neither possible nor practical to pack our bags


23

and take off to a distant land to study geography. This is easily. The natural resources available in Tamil Nadu can where the constructivist approach comes to the rescue further be mapped on a physical map to understand of the teacher and the learner. various agrarian or industrial developments in their own

state vs Tamil Nadu. Pictures of local flora and fauna in Allowing learners to construct their own knowledge out Tamil Nadu can be contrasted to pictures of flora and of their experiences is fundamental to the constructivist

fauna captured by children in their surroundings or approach to teaching and learning. While, we cannot through a nature walk session.take our children across the globe perhaps we could bring the world into our geography classrooms using Such experiences that involve a child’s senses, technology and our own skills, talents and the perceptions and perspectives help the child internalize community we live and work in. By and large cities and and savor geography as the study of how humans and towns are becoming more multicultural day by day and other creatures live on planet earth sharing the same this can be an asset for the geography classroom. resources, similar or dissimilar weather patterns and

challenges. Creative documentation through scrap For example, if the students are studying about Tamil booking, poetry writing, music, ar t, theatre, Nadu, they can be engaged by a group of Tamilian

photography, videos, etc. helps the child understand the individuals from the community who can teach the connections between physical reliefs, topography, children a Tamil song or dance along with storytelling

weather patterns, clothing, food habits, celebrations, involving folk lores from various places in Tamil Nadu. and different ways of life around us. The same group can volunteer to drape the children in traditional Tamilian clothing or bring some Tamilian food With the recent socio- cultural changes, advances in for children. With technology and internet at our finger technology and ease of communication, way of life tips anything can be ordered online to be delivered for across the globe has been transformed in myriad ways. consumption during class. The children can also be Geography cannot remain mere memorization and engaged in local or classical art from Tamil Nadu like the repetition of names of places and physical features of very popular ‘Tanjore’ art! Celebrations such as Ganesh landscapes; it must get transformed into a story of Chaturthi can be compared with their own celebrations human challenges, and triumphs woven in the tapestry at home or the community. All the above can be very of all life surrounding our communities and within it. easily documented in a scrapbook in the form of pictures Such stories bind people to one another, help them and drawings. understand their common connections and challenges

and find opportunities to learn from each other and find The children may not be able to go to Tamil Nadu but can

alternate solutions to problems. Students become visit local railway and bus station or their respective critical thinkers with multiple perspectives and a bent for websites to understand the routes available for travel

collecting data pertaining to the story of the earth, its connecting their own city to various cities and towns in people and with a passion to support local communities, Tamil Nadu. All the above places can be further mapped

the environment and well -being of all creatures on and documented in the scrapbook. This understanding earth! This will be the true manifestation of Vasudhaiva of distances, and topography from maps can be

Kutumbakam, the family of the earth!!connected to the local weather patterns and traditional clothing. Such activity can integrate mathematics, civics, economics, and history with geography very

¡¡¡


24

Is too much water killing my veggie plantsThe health of the plants in most vegetable gardens is influenced by many factors – but one of the most important of these is the kind of watering they get.

This becomes especially important if you are growing in containers and spaces that are enclosed, since in these condi t ions water is affected by some factors which are different from beds in an open garden. In our experience many of the growing problems terrace and balcony g a r d e n e r s f a c e – perhaps over 50% of the disease – is attributable to over-watering of their plants.

· If several plants seem to be wilting and dying or suffering from fungal disease. The leaves will be yellowing or browning or have We've noticed that even gardeners who have dis-coloured spots before they shrivel and die. experience growing ornamental plants (and maalistoo) Some plants are more susceptible to these struggle with understanding the different approaches problems than others (tomatoes, brinjals, required for growing vegetables. Most ornamental cucumbers etc). However wilt related plants that you will grow are pretty hardy plants by problems can be an indicator of systemic selection and hence seem to be more immune to excess over-watering. watering. As a result you can blast away with a hosepipe

(which makes us cringe) with few adverse results. · If you see that your soil has a coating of

Growing vegetable plants is very different and we've moss (even a slight a greenish tinge). This seen that more plants are killed or lose productivity is an indicator of excess moisture being due to problems created by over-watering than by retained for long periods and needs to be under-watering. Close observation is important for addressed immediately. people new to vegetable growing because often

· If you see either a high degree of soil the plants indication of distress are very similar compaction or depressions in the level of (wilting of leaves) in both over-watering and soil your pots. The first (compaction) is under-watering situations. frequently caused by over watering and the second (depressions) are usually a sign of Some visible symptoms of an over-watering significant erosion caused by watering at high problem

Yogita

Over the last five years, Green Essentials has created an alternative food network that provides community access to higher-quality of food that is fresher, healthier and more delicious. This has been achieved by encouraging local farmers, home-gardens and collaborations like the Chorao Farmers Club. They have conducted many workshops for kitchen gardeners across Goa, running organic farms and Organic Farmers Markets and participating in the organisation of food-centric community events like the Konkan Fruit Fest.

Karan

More care with watering is especially important if you are growing in containers and enclosed spaces


25


26

pressure or a leak in the pot where soil is flowing out with the water.

Systemic solutions to reduce problems due to over-watering:

1. Get your soil/medium right: If you are watering yourself (or have a sensible gardener), then coco-soil can be beneficial because of its high water retention. But if you have concerns about over-watering then a more sand medium is a safer bet.

2. Water less – think moist but not soaked/wet: Drenching the soil creates an environment with less aerated soils and for many soil borne diseases to thrive. Just because the surface of the soil is dry doesn't mean it isn't wet just below the surface. Poke your finger a couple of inches in and if there is excess moisture, skip watering till the next day.

closer to the soil there is less soil damage 3. Regularly check for proper drainage of due to the force of the water.

excess water out of your pots: The 6. Watch that water pressure! Your water drainage holes in your pots can get blocked

pressure needs to be as low as possible to from time to time and result in stagnation. Check ensure that the water dribbles (not blasts) out them by watering deeply and ensuring that the of the hose. It's difficult for the less patient water drains out quickly without stagnating for gardeners and perhaps less satisfying, but long periods. shooting your plants with water is a terrible

4. Water in evenings so you lose less habit you need to lose immediately. Ideal moisture to evaporation: While excess watering can be achieved by using a 250ml wetness is a problem, plants grow much plastic bottle pierced with a few holes (like better if some moisture is always present in Twist soda) to replace the shower head on the soil. Your plants will be able to take up the your watering can – it delivers a soft and moisture better overnight, and additional gentle spray. watering in the mornings will be needed only

7. Seedlings should NEVER be watered with in really hot conditions. Some plants are a hose-pipe: Most of us are unable to adversely affected by watering in hot sunny regulate the flow to be gentle enough to make conditions. sure that the watering is not too hard and the

5. Water the soil and not the leaves: Many volume of watering is not high. Best to stick plants are more likely to have disease if their with the watering can with shower for your leaves are soaked (especially the nursery to improve seedling health. tomato/gourd varieties), so the majority of the

¡¡¡ water should go to the soil. Also, by watering

Use a plastic soda bottle as a shower head for your watering can – to reduce water pressure

PARSI RECIPES

Dhan dal (or mora dal chawal) is the ultimate comfort of dark sugarcane vinegar (Use as much as is required food for Parsis. This is basically white rice eaten with to grind the masalas to a soft consistency. The rest of the tur/arhar dal with a garnishing of crisply fried onions. The vinegar will be used later.)dal is boiled with salt and turmeric and mashed. In my 12 deseeded Kashmiri red chillieshome, we season the dal with finely chopped garlic fried 1 whole pod of garlicin ghee. This is generally eaten with a prawn or fish patia

1 tablespoon cuminon all festive occasions. The Prawn Patia recipe has 4-5 methi seedsbeen handed down by my paternal grandmother.¼ tsp mustard seeds

IngredientsMethod:1 tablespoon oilFry the onions golden brown. 3 medium sized onions choppedAdd the curry leaves, salt, ground masala and dry 3 large tomatoes pureedmasalas to the onions and fry for 1-2 mins.500 gms shelled and deveined prawnsAdd the tomato puree and cook on low flame till the patia 1/2tsp ParsiKhambhati Sambhar powderis nice and thick.

2 tsp Parsidhana-jeera powderAdd the prawns and fry in the masala.

½ tsp turmeric powderAdd about 1 cup of water and let the prawns cook.

About 50 gmsjiggeryWhen the water dries out, add the jaggery and the

A few curry leaves remaining vinegar.Salt Serve hot with dhandalGrind the ingredients mentionedbelow in about ½ a cup

Ms. Khurshid Bharucha

The Parsi (or Bawi as I am affectionately called) who brought you these recipes is Khurshid Bharucha. I am a retired Air Force officer’s wife, and mother of two grown sons who if given a chance would eat us out of house and home! I love eating but cook under duress! Having been posted to areas where eating out or calling for food was not an option, I had to cook for my family and friends. The recipes given here have been enjoyed by friends who often dropped by for a chat and stayed over for dinner. Hope you enjoy trying out the recipes and relish the food.

Prawn Patia


27

Sali per EeduEedu or eggs are a Parsi favourite. We can eat eggs at 2 eggs (either whole or whisked)every meal, 365 days a year. Parsis eat eggs with 1 medium sized onion, finely slicedeverything- tamota per eedu (eggs on tomato),papeta

I tomato coarsely choppedper eedu (eggs on potato)…In fact egg is eaten on top of 1-2 green chillies finely choppedjust about any and every vegetable! It is believed that the

only way a Parsi can relish a vegetable is with an eedu 1 cup coriander leaves finely choppedon it!!

1 tbsp ginger garlic pasteSali per eedu is an easy to make side dish and often

1 tsp turmeric powdereven eaten as a main!2 tsp red chilli powderIngredients:1 tsp Parsidhana-jeera masala 250 gms fine Sali (finely-julienned, crisply-fried potato)


28

Malido is a sweet dish, traditionally used as an offering simultaneous to the roasting. To prepare the syrup, at a Jashan (A Zoroastrian religious prayer ceremony). dissolve the sugar in water, adding about an extra half It’s a favourite in my home, but since it’s a little tedious to cup of water to ensure that the sugar is covered. Heat make, it is made just once a year. This recipe has been through to ensure that all the sugar is fully dissolved. passed down to my mum-in-law by her grand aunt. This forms a concentrated sugar solution. The syrup

should not caramelise at all.Ingredients: 4) Mix the roasted flour (broken up rotla) into the sugar Whole wheat flour- 4 1/2 large cups* (about 475 gms)syrup, adding a little at a time and stirring to avoid any

Rava (barik)- 2 heaped cups (about 350 gms) lumps from forming at this stage. This mixture can be prepared in the vessel to be used for making the Malida.1/4 kg pure Ghee at room temperature (This is the

original amount recommended, however we use as 5) Beat eggs and keep aside.much as required only)

6)Put the mixture on the stove, stir it at regular intervals Sugar – 4 1/2 cups (about 880 gms) to ensure it heats, through, cooks evenly and does not

scorch at the base of the vessel. Add a sprinkling of the Eggs- 3 flavouring mix at this stage.

Water 7)When the mixture begins to thicken, add the beaten

3-4 teaspoons of finely ground flavouring mix - Elaichi eggs, dribbling in a little at a time and mixing well to (Cardamom), Jaiphal (Nutmeg) and Javantri (Mace) ensure that there is no coagulation. You may prefer to

take the mixture of the stove while doing this.Mevo (about 75 gms of kismis/ sultana and 75 gms of broken / slivered cashew or almond to be sautéed in 8)Once the mixture is uniform again, let it remain on ghee till golden) slow heat for a long time, turning it at regular intervals so

that no one part gets scorched. Add another sprinkling 1 cup measures 8 fluid oz.of the flavouring mix at this stage.Makes about 2 1/2 kg The particles of flour will slowly swell, mixture will look Methodmoist but crumbly. It will come away easily from wall and

1)In a thali, mix the whole wheat flour and the barikrava. bottom of vessel. Add enough pure ghee to the flour to make a light

The malido is ready!!! (You may want to add a crumbly mix and make the 'rotla's. Use as much ghee as sprinkling of the flavouring mix at this stage)is necessary to achieve this, no more. You might have

some ghee leftover. (Rotla - A fistful of the mixture that holds itself together when pressed into shape) Special touch2)Heat tava and gently roast the rotlas, 3-4 at a time. 1.The malidois best prepared in a flat, heavy bottom pot Break up the rotlas once lightly browned and continue big enough to stir the malida comfortably at all stages. roasting to ensure that the flour is roasted through to a We use a 'kalainilangri' about 15 inches in diameter and light biscuit colour. Remove from heat and complete the 5 inches in depth.breaking up process to ensure there are no lumpy bits in

2.Garnish generously with fried meva before serving.it. It should have the consistency of a granular powder. 3.The malida tastes better on the day after it is made.3)Prepare the sugar syrup. This can be done

Nuts Over Malido

2 tbsp oil minutes.

Salt to taste (less is recommended for the potato sticks Flatten the sali and make depressions in it. Break the already have enough salt in it) eggs into these depressions. Sprinkle the chopped

coriander over the eggs.Method:Cover the pan and cook till the eggs are set.Heat the oil in a frying pan. Then add the sliced onion Serve hot with chapattis.and fry until it is light brown in colour.

OrAdd the ginger-garlic paste and chillies and fry for a minute. Whisk the eggs and pour over the Sali mixture. Sprinkle

the chopped coriander over the whisked eggs. Cook on Add the tomatoes and saute until slightly soft.a low flame, until the eggs are cooked and firm to the Add the dry masalas and salt and fry for a minute.touch.

Add the sali and stir it into the mixture. Let it cook for 4-5

februaryrotaryclubpanaji.org/uploads/magazine/23_pic_spark-feb-18.pdf · — science day 28th feb...

Documents