Kurukshetra: Legendary banyan tree under which Krishna believed to have delivered Bhagvad Gita is dying.

JYOTISAR (Kurukshetra): The legendary banyan tree under which Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered his message of “Bhagvad Gita” to Arjuna is dying a slow death, reported TIMES OF INDIA (TOI).

The legendary banyan tree under which Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered his message of "Bhagvad Gita" to Arjuna

Considered to be more than 5,000 years old, this tree at Jyotisar near Kurukshetra in Haryana is reportedly the only remaining relic from the time of the Mahabharata. Now, a tussle between the two claimants over the holy place on a puerile issue has left the tree completely neglected putting it on the verge of extinction.

TOI found that the area surrounding the tree has been covered with marble pavement and it can’t draw nutrients for its growth. Fancy lights and lamps are fitted with nails on the tree for lighting during night and big bells are tied all over it. The ‘holy thread’ tied by the visitors has covered most of the lower branches. Tying threads is considered to be wish-fulfilling. Sadly, chunks of branches were also chopped off recently by the caretakers without any expert advice.

The two stakeholders – Hindu Mission, a local religious body that has been taking care of the tree for years and the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) – are sparring over the ownership of the space where the tree is located.

The legendary banyan tree under which Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered his message of "Bhagvad Gita" to Arjuna

Pandit Sukhpal, who is currently taking care of the disputed portion on behalf of Hindu Mission, said, “We have been looking after the holy tree and even constructed a marble pavement for its upkeep. Our gardener prunes it from time to time.” Sukhpal added that there is no need of any scientific preservation of the tree because that would invite some ‘problem’ for this holy area, as the KDB would then levy fee on visit to this place.

When contacted, KDB curator Rajender Rana told TOI that for scientific assistance for maintenance of the tree, they had contacted officials at the Sunderbans in West Bengal, which has the largest forest cover of old trees in the world. He added that on receiving feedback from the Sunderbans, they had chalked out a plan for its preservation but the claim by some individuals over the area has prevented them from taking any concrete step.

A case between Hindu Mission and KDB is pending in the apex court, which has ordered to maintain status quo.

Agriculture scientist and plant pathologist of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) Ludhiana, Dr Jagtar Dhiman said that any construction near such trees would restrain flow of nutrition required for its growth. He also added that as the roots of such trees expand in acres, it requires periodical treatment from pests and diseases. “Old branches of such trees are replaced by new if they are cut down scientifically,” Dhiman pointed out.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bhagvad-Gita-banyan-tree-dying-in-Haryana/articleshow/14007134.cms

India climbs into top 10 wealth markets

NEW DELHI: India is poised to occupy the sixth position in the top 10 wealth markets this year after edging out Spain for 10th slot in 2011, says a report.
“Uncertainty about the future of the euro and the worsening of the sovereign crisis in Europe are predicted to cause continuing problems, but many emerging markets are expected to continue marching ahead,” according to Datamonitor’s 2012 global wealth market report.

The report further said the world order of wealth markets is witnessing a tilt towards emerging economies which are expected to overtake their Western European counterparts going forward.

The top 10 wealth markets, in terms of dollar millionaire holdings at the end of 2011, in descending order, were the US, Japan, China, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Brazil, and India, it said. Moreover, the cumulative value of the liquid assets held by millionaires in the emerging economies of Brazil, China, and India are likely to triple to USD 4.6 trillion from USD 1.5 trillion between 2006 and 2015.

India, in particular, will experience explosive growth, and is anticipated to jump sixth place by the end of 2012, the report said.

Top 10 wealth markets in 2015 will be the US at number one, with China in second place, followed by Japan, the UK, Germany, India, Brazil, Italy, Canada, and France, it added.

Some of the mature markets have, however, proven more resilient, with the UK and the US, in particular, expected to perform strongly. The US will remain the largest high net worth market in the world till 2015, the report said.

Spain’s fall from the top 10 wealth market in 2011 was largely due to the combination of its poor performance and the explosive growth seen in India and Brazil, the report said.

“The collapse of Spanish real estate and the highest unemployment rate in Western Europe are taking their toll on the market, and the austerity measures recently announced by the government are further aggravating growth prospects for the already struggling sector,”Datamonitor said.

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/India-climbs-into-top-10-wealth-markets-Report/articleshow/14202545.cms

Church of England observes ‘Hindu Day’

London: St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Bridport in South West England (United Kingdom) celebrated “Hindu Day” recently complete with blowing a conch shell. Dressed-up in Hindu costumes, students learnt about respect within Hindu religion, attended a sample Hindu wedding and participated in Indian dance on this Day in May. “The children are all now engaged in doing follow up work to find out more about Hinduism, having had an inspirational start”, school website says.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, described it as a “step in the right direction”. He stressed the need of organizing Hindu Day in all the primary schools of United Kingdom (UK) where children should learn about basic concepts, symbols, art, music and traditions of Hinduism.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that awareness about other religions thus created by organizing such days would make the UK pupils well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know the beliefs of “others” in a global community. Moreover, students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society.

Spiritual development is an important element of education in this St Mary’s Church of England Primary School where Hinduism is also taught under Religious Education. Helen Farmer is the Headteacher while Janet Tolley and Chris Causon are Chair and Vice Chair respectively of its Governing Body, whose children are aged between 4-11 years. Stunning countryside and charming rolling hills surround Bridport, which is known for making hangman’s rope.St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Bridport in South West England (United Kingdom) celebrated “Hindu Day” recently complete with blowing a conch shell.

Dressed-up in Hindu costumes, students learnt about respect within Hindu religion, attended a sample Hindu wedding and participated in Indian dance on this Day in May. “The children are all now engaged in doing follow up work to find out more about Hinduism, having had an inspirational start”, school website says.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, described it as a “step in the right direction”. He stressed the need of organizing Hindu Day in all the primary schools of United Kingdom (UK) where children should learn about basic concepts, symbols, art, music and traditions of Hinduism.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that awareness about other religions thus created by organizing such days would make the UK pupils well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know the beliefs of “others” in a global community. Moreover, students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society.

Spiritual development is an important element of education in this St Mary’s Church of England Primary School where Hinduism is also taught under Religious Education. Helen Farmer is the Headteacher while Janet Tolley and Chris Causon are Chair and Vice Chair respectively of its Governing Body, whose children are aged between 4-11 years. Stunning countryside and charming rolling hills surround Bridport, which is known for making hangman’s rope.

India to gift e-network to Central Asia

NEW DELHI: Stepping up its diplomatic footprints in energy-rich Central Asia, India is set to replicate the success of the Pan Africa e-network by creating a similar project of tele-education and tele-medicine that will span all the states of the strategically important region.

The e-network project will be unveiled during minister of state for external affairs E. Ahamed’s visit to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, June 12-13, a senior official familiar with the region, told IANS. Ahamed will be accompanied by senior officials of the external affairs ministry, including Ajay Bisaria, joint secretary in charge of the Eurasia division.

In Africa, the e-network has been a success with 47 African countries signing onto it.

The Central Asian e-network will be a pioneering attempt by India to leverage its prowess in the IT to bridge the digital divide in developing countries and to bolster their capacity in critical areas of health and education by linking India’s top hospitals and educational institutions with hubs in the region.

The Krygyz capital will also see India unfurling its Central Asia policy, the first such attempt to articulate New Delhi’s vision for the region where China has made deep inroads.

Bishkek will host a Track 1.5 dialogue that will bring experts and academics along with officials from India and Central Asian countries to map out a coherent and effective India-Central Asia partnership. The dialogue has been organized by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).

Given the critical importance of the resource-rich Central Asian nations, India has been raising its profile by proactive initiatives on multiple fronts in the region which is already sold on the charms of Bollywood cinema. Culturally, India is strongly placed with its soft power attractions – many Tajiks and Uzbeks who trained in India speak fluent Hindi and love humming Hindi songs.

With its core strengths in capacity building, IT and human resource development, India is uniquely poised to transform the resource-rich strategically located region that suffers from a massive infrastructure deficit. During his visit, Ahamed will also inaugurate a potato processing plant, part of a slew of small development projects shepherded and assisted by India in the region.

The presence of Islamist militant networks and the geographical contiguity of Afghanistan with Central Asian nations have added to the region’s strategic significance for India. Defence cooperation with the region is also growing. India has the only overseas military base in Tajikistan, which is operated by the Indian Air Force in collaboration with the Tajikistan Air Force.

India’s proactive diplomacy in the region will also complement its efforts to join the six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which brings together Russia and China along with Central Asian states, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

India made a strong pitch for joining the SCO at the June 6-7 summit in Beijing by outlining its strong multi-faceted relations with the region and myriad strengths it could bring to bear on the development of Central Asia.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-to-gift-e-network-to-Central-Asia/articleshow/14002001.cms