Father of India's White Revolution passes away

A true visionary who made India the world’s largest milk producer, Verghese Kurien, 90, passed away on September 16, 2012. India’s best known milkman, Kurien had his last breath in a hospital in Nadiad town. His death was due to the complication arising out of the kidney ailments. The body of Dr. Varghese Kruien was shifted to Amul Dairy’s Sardar Patel Hall where it was kept in a glass casket for visitors before it was cremated as per his wishes.

Verghese Kurien was born on Nov 26, 1921 in Calicut to a Syrian Christian family. His father was a civil surgeon and, mother an accomplished pianist. He graduated in physics from Loyola College. Immediately after graduation he joined TISCO technical institute as graduate apprentice. Later in the years, he completed his masters in engineering from Michigan State University, U. S.

This Syrian Christian who could not speak Gujarati found it difficult to find a paying guest accommodation when he first reached the city of his destiny, Anand to serve out bond period for scholarship which he had taken for his studies. Kurien being not happy with the bond failed to realise the turning of small Gujarat town into the heart of India’s white revolution.  Kurien was about to leave Anand, the Chairman of District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd, Tribhuwandas Patel requested Kurien to stay. In the process, Krurien stitched together a cooperative movement of millions of women and farmers into owning a brand which generations of Indian would be unable to forget- Amul (Anand Milk Union Limited).

At that time, the cooperative he joined managed just a few 100 litres of milk a day. By the time Kurien was ready to hand over the baton in 2006, the Amul brand was selling over 90 lakh litres a day. Awarded the Padma Vibhushan, Magsaysay award beside numerous others accolades, Kurien gained respect and the space to run the cooperative movement as he knew best.

His model of cooperative dairy development today links over 10 million farmers at 200 dairy across India producing over 20 million litres of milk every day. India’s milk procurement has increased from 20 million metric tons per year in 1960 to 122 MMT in 2011. Ad agency ASP created iconic Amul girl as a response to rival Polson’s butter- girl.

This extraordinary agent of social transformation as Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board began ‘Operation Flood’ that spanned 26 years and eventually ushered in the white revolution. He began it all by turning buffalo milk into milk powder: a feat that experts worldwide at that time was not possible.

His model of cooperatives spun networks of farmers that first brought milk from Gujarat to Mumbai and then hooked up farmers across several states. The business multiplied in areas beyond milk- bringing a sense of ownership and control to farmers.

Dr. Varghses Kurien did not like drinking milk, but as the father of White Revolution, he turned India into a nation of milk drinkers. In the 6 decades he spend in Anand he insured India’s transformation from a milk- deficient country into one of the world’s biggest milk producers. 

Delayed Flyover Construction at Ghodbunder Road

State Highway 42 commonly referred as ‘Ghodbundar Road’ started the construction of three flyovers at Waghbil, Patlipada and Manpada under the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) on 21^st September, 2010 and halted for a while as the forest department had put brakes on the ongoing infrastructure projects in Thane.

          

The forest department claimed that the construction of the three flyovers was violating the Private Forest Act. The private contractors hired by MSRDC were Valecha Engineering Ltd. The contractors had been directed to stop the work till they get the approval from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

         

The three flyovers being built by the MSRDC at Manpada, Waghbil and Patlipada junctions is to ease the heavy vehicular traffic driving in and out of Thane. The work on the flyovers began one year back and was scheduled to be completed by January 2011. However, the project has been extremely delayed and till date just about 10- 20 per cent of the work has been completed.

          

The Ghodbunder Road is one of the major roads leading out of Thane city and that connects the Eastern Express Highway which becomes National Highway 3 at Thane and the Western Express Highway becomes the National Highway 8 leading to Gujarat and also the growth of Thane city due to the rapid industrialization, infrastructure development, real estate and property demand, increase in population, change in lifestyle and recreations like Suraj Water Park and other resorts resulted in a phenomenal increase in road traffic on this link and so the MSRDC took the step of widening the road. In 2002, they completed building footpaths along with the widening of the Chenna Bridge. The notification for collecting the toll was issued by the Government of Maharashtra from 1^st December, 2002.

          

The ‘stop work’ notice further delayed the work on the flyovers which turned to be a nightmare for the residents going up and down for jobs as the areas where work had been going on with cement boulders, cranes and dug up patches was at a standstill leading to a very rough time for the residents travelling in the heavy traffics.

         

 A working resident in Waghbil said, “the delay in these constructions of flyovers makes me delayed to my work daily especially now in the rainy season. However early I leave home for work I end up getting stuck in the heavy traffic caused because of this incomplete construction.”

         

Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik took up this issue and questioned the Government making it a major controversy. He told the Times of India "The realization that these projects are going on over private forest land dawned on the forest department only recently. Why did they remain silent for two years?" He added that “if these flyovers are in violation of the law, then the entire Ghodbunder road is illegal and if that be the case, then the toll collection centre on this road is equally bad in law."

          

 A forest official told that there was a doubt about this entire construction coming under the private forest area for a very long time but the Supreme Court resolved this issue in 2007 only. And afterwards the ownership of these plots was given to the forest department. He added saying “the forest department has been asking the MSRDC and the MMRDA and the private contractors to obtain the approval for the flyover from the centre but none of them is bothered to do so. A public infrastructure project can come up on private forest land only if they are provided with an approval by the forest department authorities.’

         

The Times of India carried an article saying that the District Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik directed the forest officials to give an approval for the ongoing flyover construction at Waghbil, Patlipada and Manpada. "Lakhs of motorist use this road every day and stopping work on an ongoing project will needlessly delay it. With all responsibility I direct the forest officials to issue orders to resume the work on the flyovers. If there is any administrative or legal issue I am prepared to face it but a public project cannot be suspended for so long,' Naik told the officials at the meeting of the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) meeting.

         

One of the MSRDC engineer said that the work order for the project has been issued and the field work is expected to commence soon. The work for constructing the four-lane 1,300 metres flyover has been awarded to Valecha Engineering Ltd. at an estimated cost of Rs 131Crore. The construction of the three flyovers at Waghbil, Patlipada and Manpada would be wrapped up by the end of 31^st December, 2012.

        

  The flyover at Manpada will be 434 m long with approaches of 63 m long and 21 m using fish belly shaped box girder superstructure on architecturally shaped RCC piers over piles or open foundation.

         

The flyover at Patlipada will be 395 m long with approaches of 122 m long and 153 m using fish belly shaped box girder superstructure on architecturally shaped RCC piers over piles or open foundation.

          

The flyover at Waghbil will be 455 m long with approaches of 195 m long and 110 m using fish belly shaped box girder superstructure on architecturally shaped RCC piers over piles or open foundation.

         

A resident at Patlipada said “the flyovers will not only ease the traffic at Ghodbunder Road but will also give a big boost to the real estate prospects of these areas. Thanks to the improving connectivity.”

          

A resident of Hiranandani at Patlipada said “when it comes to the residential projects on Ghodbunder Road, today the biggest limit for home buyers is the long distance from Thane station. Whether you are taking a bus to the railway station or driving up to Mumbai, the Kapurbawadi and Manpada junction are always a nightmare to negotiate. With the new flyovers the traffic will zoom over the bottlenecks and the travelling time will hopefully be reduced.”

          

Initially a trial bore was dug up to check the nature of the soil and rocks below the road. Depending on the nature of soil and rock, the depth of the foundation for the piers to support the flyover will be decided.

          

The Kapurbawadi area holding major traffic in Thane will have another flyover divided into three other routes one joining the flyover at Cinewonder, second will be to the Bhiwandi Road and the last one will be joining the Mumbai Nasik Highway intersecting the Ghodbunder Road leading to Surat through the Manpada flyover.

         

 Besides these three flyover projects, earlier an announcement was made that other than these three flyovers at Waghbil, Patlipada and Manpada, the MSRDC would also fund for the construction of another three flyovers at Meenathai Thackeray Chowk, Hariniwas area and the Telephone Exchange area.

          

The MSRDC said that they had even planned to construct 10 foot over bridges on the Ghodbunder Road stretch as people have problem crossing the busy street at Ghodbunder Road. The FOBs (Foot Over Bridge) will be constructed at a 6-metre height while its width will be 3 m. The FOB will hence ensure the safety of the people. Residents have been demanding for FOBs in the area since quite some time now and their demands have finally been met. The tenders have also been invited. The areas where the FOBs will come are The Tatvagyan Vidyapeeth, R-Mall, Brahmand chowk, Muchala Polytechnic College, Kasarwadavli, Ovala, Bhaynderpada, Gaimukh Junction, Waghbil and The Fountain Hotel. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had also invited tenders for seven FOBs in the city, including the existing two FOBs, one at Dnyansadhana College and the other at Louiswadi on the Eastern Express Highway. So in all, the city will have a total of 17 FOBs. The budget for the FOBs will be around Rs11 Crore. The FOBs will have escalators and lifts which will be able to cater to around 10-12 people at a time. It will also be very useful for the physically challenged and senior citizens.

          

The official at MSRDC said that the project of FOB would delay a bit because of the delay in the construction of the three flyovers at Waghbil, Patlipada and Manpada. Most of the lanes are shut down due to the ongoing flyover construction work. And the construction of the FOBs will not coincide with the ongoing flyover work.

 A resident at Waghbil said that it is very difficult to cross the road, which is actually a highway, and especially for young children, but now it will be much easier and safer once the FOBs are constructed.

Finally the construction of the flyovers at Waghbil, Patlipada and Manpada has resumed and is estimated to be completed on the eve of New Years after which the construction of FOB’s will start. Seems, the residents of Waghbil, Patlipada and Manpada are going to have a great New Year ahead. The residents expect nothing but to reduce the congestion on the busy Thane Ghodbunder Road. 

St. James Church Turns 185!

The mass of St. James church was celebrated by Joseph Alameda, the bishop, on its 185^th anniversary wherein the bishop highlighted the power of love and said that it is the most powerful force in the world. He pointed out that a number of songs, poems, stories and novels have been written on love. He emphasized the fact that Mother Theresa is known throughout the world because of her love to Jesus Christ and the love that she shared with the poor and homeless.

          

St James Church was built in 1825. And certainly the church has gone through lots of trouble in the years and yet it stood firmly, may it be in the hashed sun or in the gustiest winds or even in the flooding rains. It lies near the jail reservoir and the Thane Head Post Office in Thane.

          

The church has significance in its rich Gothic architecture and tall pillars. The church which was managed by the Government until the dawn of Independence is now under the administration of the Bombay Diocesan Trust Association. The naming of St. James Church was made in the memory of James a disciple of Jesus Christ.

          

St. James church celebrated its 185^th anniversary on the 25^th July, 2011, with lunch. The ceremony of communion coincided with the anniversary of the church. The annual parish feast of St. James Church was celebrated with great devotion, joy and merriment by the parishioners at 9.30 am. Prior to the morning mass priest John Fernandez distributed candles to honour the founders, donors, members of the parish, pastoral council and to the Bishop.

          

The church was filled to the capacity with the parishioners and the neighbouring parishioners that they had to set up a pandal in the church compound. The choir’s melodious singing enhanced the spiritual atmosphere of the mass. The choir was coordinated by Mrs. Julie Philips and the organ was played by Alan Abraham.

          

The white marble alter in front of the church’s entrance was surrounded with ruby red roses along with the glittering candles around it. The chandeliers on the wooden ceiling right in the centre couldn’t stop sparkling upon us even in the early morning bright sun. The main entrance of the church has 6 pillars measuring 15 feet were all covered with ribbons and balloons. The church was newly painted in red and yellow colour making it look like all new over and again.

          

People were dressed in their best Sunday clothes. Right from the young girl wearing a pink frock with a ribbon on her head to her grandfather in his black and white tux.

         

At the end of the mass, Father John thanked the bishop and the priest guests for being a part of the celebration of the annual parish feast. He also expressed gratitude to all those who helped in making the celebration a grand success. A four tier scrumptious chocolate cake was brought in and was later cut by the bishop and was distributed to the parishioners along with a glass of wine.

          

The feast was organized in a newly levelled ground. According to the parishioners it was for the first time that such an arrangement was being made as on previous occasions the feast used to be at some other place due to lack of space inside the church premises. The buffet consisted of Indian and Chinese cuisine. There was a fair selling religious article which was filled with people who made purchases and the amount collected would go to the needy.

         

Thus, St. James church had its 185^th birthday.

                                     

Phool Galli

If you leave Mumbai without at least visiting the Dadar Flower Market, which is the largest wholesale market of Mumbai, popularly known as the 'Dadar Phool Galli ', your experience will be incomplete. If you are up even before dawn in Mumbai, you may want to do something different for a change, skip the jog for one morning in the sparse green belts & head out to the Flower Market. If you pay a visit to Mumbai's Flower Market in Dadar, you will soon realize besides the riots of colours & freshness of petals & the dew how much money you land up paying for a nicely packaged bouquet of flowers brought straight off the road & creatively packed for yourself.

The market comes alive at 4 am in the early dawn & is wrapped up before the sun starts to heat up say about 9 am. The time is short but apparently enough for the retailers & decorators to stock up their stores. This is where you will find Mumbai's best florists shops. For the traveler, Dadar Phool Galli offers unique photo opportunities of colors, people & the regular Mumbai life. Dadar station is chaotic & in front of it is a huge flower market having amazingly display of colours & scents. The vendors out there sell such eye catching & sweet smelling flowers.

For those who prefer local trains one has to head towards Dadar station, exit from the western side & ask anyone where is Dadar Phool Galli. It won't take more than a minute before you land right in the middle of the Dadar Phool Galli. & for those who hate locals, well it depends on the highway you take. All I can assure you is that Bandra- Worli Sea Link is quite near Dadar Phool Galli which is worth giving it a shot. 

Formally opened by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, this is the first market to be built by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) exclusively for the flower sellers. Dismissing allegations that a number of reluctant flower sellers were forced to shift to the new site which was next to the Kamgar Maidan on Senapati Bapat road. The chief of Dadar Navin Phool Vyapari Mandal & fomer MSEB director, Sudam Mandalik said, all hawkers union had, for the very first time united under the banner of the Feriwala Kruti Samiti & unanimously decided to move to the new plot. The shift was necessary if Dadar had to be decongested.

Everyday, the street turns into a colourful carnival of flower sellers, snack stalls & sadhus who do business with devotees coming to visit the temple. Over 1500 regular workers control this wholesale flower market & selling flowers happens to be the only source of income for them. Pune & Nashik is the only source of all flowers from where loaded trucks arrive in Dadar Phool Galli before dawn.

There are flowers everywhere. Marigolds heaped on tarpaulins on the ground & sold by weight, Champa in tiny baskets & sold by the number & delicately wrapped in broad leaves, the dazzling Orchids & the coloue co-ordinated Gajras of mesmerizing blooms, the cacophony of the sellers & buyers screaming & jostling all contributes to a spectacular audio visual symphony. It is indeed a delightful experience.

The accompanying smiles on the flower sellers faces early morning lingers in the mind. From the woman sitting cross legged on the ground weaving busily, to the young men weighing the flowers, the older man convincing you to buy garlands, to the young lady with matted hair selling fragrant Lotuses, they all have beaming smiles on their faces. But sometimes the Municipality officials arriving with those ugly grey vans & the street vendors fleeing with their wares & flowers.

They probably wake up very early in the morning to be here to sell the flowers. Their sales probably determined what they ate for dinner or if they went hungry. Many a times it appeared, that their whole life belongings were right there in that little jhola by their feet yet their grace & joy with the world, came through loud & clear. Indeed this market is a lovely experience..

Happy Birthday Emoticons :*

To some, an email or text message is incomplete without the use of J orL. Whereas, to others the very idea of using ‘emoticons’ or the so called ‘communication graphics’ makes the blood boil representing all that has gone wrong with the English language.

          

However, these emoticons celebrated their 30^th anniversary last month. Sorry emoticon haters, regardless of your views and opinions on it, it’s 30^th anniversary clearly indicated that it is accepted that the emoticons are here to stay with us for a long time, for now.

          

The inception of the emoticons was way back in 1982, to be more précised, September 19, 1982. On that particular day, Prof. Scott Fahlman of Carnegre Mellon University in Pittsburgh sent an email on an online electronic bulletin board that included the first use of the sideways smiley face. Fahlman had seen how simple jokes were often misunderstood. He attempted to find a way around this issue, ergo.

           

The aim was simple; to allow those who posted on the university bulletin board to differentiate between those attempting to write humorous emails and those who weren’t.

          

Fahlman considers his this act of inserting emoticons in his email silly. He expected his note might amuse a few of his friends and that would be the end of it. But once his initial email had been sent, it wasn’t long before it spread to other universities and research labs via the primitive computer networks of those days. But within months, it had gone international.

         

Now, dozens of variations are available, mainly as little yellow computer graphics. But Fahlman is not a fan of his creation. He finds them ugly and unnecessary. According to him they ruin the challenge of trying to come up with a clever way of expressing emotions using the standard keyboard characters.

          

Whatever the emoticon haters or its creator has to say, emoticons still have many of its admirers for whom their day is incomplete without an emoticon in their texts or emails.