Holi Festival : Destination Mandangad

    Holi is, after Ganesh Chaturthi, only the second most important festival of the paradise land of Konkan. Unlike the traditions of most northern regions Konkan does not observe it as merely a fest of colours. It is known as Shimaga and occupies a large span of almost three quarters of Falgun, eleventh month of Hindu calendar and all the dwellers of villages involve in it. Interestingly, there are several customs and traditions with little difference throughout whole of the Konkan region. 

     Mandangad, a tiny village like tehsil (county) town is situated to the north of the Ratnagiri district along the Konkan coast. Shimaga festival observed in Mandangad tehsil is unique on its place. Mandangad has the smallest sea shore of all the district coast line, but it is famous as a protected tortoise reproduction center. Velas, a small village is the hub of this activity. It is the native place of Nana Phadanis, historically famous wise chieftain of the Peshawa court. Amidst the villages surrounded by hills and valleys, Ambadve is a place which is the native land of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the framer of Indian Constitution. There is one more village - Plawani from where Prataprao Gujar, one of the military generals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had hailed. Mandangad itself was an important fort in the state of Shivaji Maharaj.

Temple of Bhairy - village deity of Mandangad 

    A land of peasants and fishermen, Mandangad tehsil is presently very busy with Shimaga. It begins on the fifth day of Falgun, when the first holy fire is ignited. It is repeated in every evening till the full moon of the month. During these ten days Palquins of surrounding village deities and entertaining folk dance groups visit Mandangad. Palquin is a wooden box or swing with long shafts at both ends to carry it on human shoulders. Interestingly, being county Head Quarter, the village deity does not go out and folk dance teams too don’t cross town borders. 

        Palquins are very happily welcomed and aukshan is performed. It is to move a holy lamp in circular motion before the deity. The idea behind the visits of deities has some sociological context. It is believed that god himself and goddess herself go to meet the dwellers once a year. In the course of time, several families of former village chiefs have shifted to cities and their native houses are deserted, however the palquins visit the closed houses and return, as a sign of paying homage to the chiefs. Traditions reflect. 

        Among the palquins, that of the deity of Konawali village has a little more importance. It is accompanied by Sankasur, a symbolic remembrance of demon born out of a cone in ash. He wears black clothes with a tall conical cap covering even his face and has a long white beard and a hunter in hand that is for children an attraction as well as a fearful entity. The palquin of Konawali is famous for searching Sharan hidden under ground. Sharan is a set of edible leaves, betel nut and coconut wrapped with a cloth, which is to be extracted by the palquin. It is a belief that by her divine power the deity finds it out. 

Search of Sharan

    Searching a Sharan is a short event of half an hour. The palquin dance is performed, initially with low pace, gradually the movements become fast. The breathtaking dance makes the spectators feel afraid there shouldn’t be any accident. It is also said that during the dance the holy open oil lamp remains ignited and safe on its place. Drum beating uproar grows. The deliriously dancing carriers are frequently relieved by fresh pairs. Within a few last minutes their whirling rotations become speedier and continuous, and are ultimately pushed forcefully (by the divine power of the deity) to the place where the Sharan is hidden, the palquin leans towards the ground and remain steady for a while and then suddenly plunges upwards and runs along madly…… Experienced mature men shout with joy, “Uncovered! Found!!.....” and so on. 

    There are certain folk dances performed only during this festival. ‘Dera’ is main among them. Dera means earthen water pot. The mouth of a big such pot is sealed by a leather screen; two belts are attached to it that make wonderful sound when rubbed stressed. (Watch video)

    Mandangad is a historic Head Quarter and an important place for monitoring the vast surrounding area. Although not much information is available, there must be a colony of well to do people on the fort and in the town beneath it. Present surrounding hamlets of milkmen community is evident. Dera is perhaps a symbolic presentation of the sports of Lord Krishna and Radha, which may throw light on the history of this underprivileged region.

Industry Support Movement On Back Foot

        The month of February was stirred by an horrible event of the accidental death of a local journalist. Road accidents are usual in India but this was an accident purposefully committed as the accused's statement given to the Police while investigation. The victim journalist was a regular writer against the proposed oil refinery project in Rajapur tehsil. The worst is that the accused is himself the leader of the supporters of the refinery and has pleaded himself guilty. Now he has appealed for bail and conviction or acquittal is to be decided by the court of law.  

        Whatever may happen with the accused, the movement for supporting huge projects proposed in the Konkan region has been pushed miles back. Refinery was the first proposed project which has received strong support of the masses, on the background of several "No Project' movements in this region. We have already published articles on this blog about the growing public realization of the need of huge projects and increasing massive support. (see Archives Mar 18, June 21, July 16, July 20) There are hoax of the rise of several estate agents and blaming supporting leaders as the agents of land purchasers is a major tool in the hands of the opponents. The accused in this case was by the opponents calculated among them. 

       The problem is not about the future of the accused leader. The problem is that a supporting and positive mindset of the people of the land that was just being built has been suddenly hit creating certain suspicion about the so called leadership of supporters' movement. Even if the circumstances favour and the accused is acquitted people would hardly back such a man. What is actually happened that the entire positive movement of supporting huge industry has rapidly pushed on back foot. 

 

Welcoming A Group From The Island Of Knowledge

 As per the scheduled programme, exactly at 2.30 pm a procession started. A group of teen ager school boys was ready for beating drums in local band. A large group of teen ager girls wearing traditional Maharashtrian sarees with lezims stood prepared making disciplined rows. The master whistled and the band started. At the same time rhythmic movements of the girls' team began and the procession started moving slowly towards the venue.

From the top ; Lezim and drums, Swedish 
group, aukshan

    It was really a pleasant afternoon when I witnessed a group of Swedish students involving youth exchange activity at Devrukh, a small town in the costal Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. A group of about a dozen of Sweedish students and teachers was following the lezim playing team with astonished faces and very happy mood. They were keenly watching the lezim exercise. When they reached the door of the hall, female teachers welcomed them with aukshan (moving a lamp in circular motion before one to wish long and happy life).

    They had been on the visit to Devrukh to attend an international workshop on the emerging trends in education in Sweedon and India. The half day workshop was held at Devrukh Shikshan Prasarak Mandal's (DSPM) Padhye English Medium School. It was jointly organized by Athalye - Sapre - Pitre College and 'Srushtidnyan', an NGO working in the sector of environmental awareness. The college has recently received autonomous status and has been devotedly working for environmental awareness and gender sensitization.
   With Chief Guest Mrs. Heike Hands, Principal of the college Dr. Narendra Tendolkar, Mr. Shirish Phatak, Secretary of DSPM, Mr. Krushnakumar Bhosale, Vice President, Mr. Prashant Shinde from Srushtidnyan NGO and Dr. Pratap Naikwade, HoD, botany were present on the dias.
Dignitaries enlightened the holy lamp (deep prajwalan) and watered a small tulsi plant. Tulsi is a symbolic plant of domestic piousness and hygiene.
    Function of the workshop initiated with felicitation of all foreign guests. They were offered mementoes displaying the Preamble of the Constitution of India.  
 

Principal felicitating Mrs. Hands

   Professor Arvind Kulkarni spoke on the 'Trends in Education In India'. In his discourse he stated how India has a long legacy of a high standard of learning, the great ancient universities enriched with libraries, and the tradition of reverence to Guru- the teacher. He also stated that the process of learning and teaching was confined to certain classes and until the British rose as a power, education was not made open to all. He took a brief account of the academic destruction due to Islamic invasions, the strategic attempts of British government to spread education with a motive of Christianization of Indian populace; as well as the educational development in post Independence era.
    Professor Kulkarni said that a paradigm shift appeared in 2014 which would take the learning system towards character building.
    Following him, Mrs. Heike Hands delivered her thoughts on the 'Trends in Sweedish Education.' It was an introductory speech. Stating the outline of their education system, she proudly described her country as the island of knowledge. Children in that country start learning at age of one and a half year, actual school years span from 6 to 16. It is primary education free to all which is followed by volunteery education with several options.
    Sports and study of English and Sweedish languages are important parts of education, and the learning process includes climate change awareness. Education in Sweedon aims quality and ability building, Mrs. Hands concluded. 
   Mr. Shirish Phatak, Secretary of DSPM stated the significance of the society's work for facilitating education to rural students of Devrukh which would be otherwise hardly affordable to them. In his presidential address Principal Dr. Narendra Tendolkar said that new education system would bring changes and provide a holistic backup to education. In the new system nothing will be extra-curricular and anyone could be able enjoy privilege to learning facilities. He appealed for good things to be done in the interest of the nation and the world.
    Students of Athalye -Sapre - Pitre College made presentations on experiments related to climate change. Mr. Prem Jadhav, an ambassador of climate change awareness project of Sweedon and India spoke on a survey of about one thousand farmers from heterogeneous groups. The findings brought forth that farmers are aware of the hazard among whom 80 pc know how to face it.
     Miss. Sakshi Jadhav and Miss. Shrushti Kotkar, a pair of students presented the observations of the use of home developed organic pesticides in college laboratory. These are Agniastra, Brahmastra and Neemastra, which are proven as better nutrition for crops and vegetables.
    Dr. Pratap Naikwade, HoD, botany convinced through his presentation how the students of all faculties of ASP College have realized responsibility of environment conservation.
    Demonstration of first aids to save life of the injured ones was performed by a group of Sweedish students as a part of disaster management education. They used a rubber dummy of man to present the methods of chest pumping for respiration and extraction of a foreign object choking one's throat. 

Ceremony Opens A Hopeful Session Of Development Dialogue

Dr. Masurkar hands over the adreess to Babansheth Lende, President

"Times have changed, Mandangad has no longer been remained second Andamans. Once a very remote and backword town Mandangad is now throwing off old coat....and forwarding to new make over, It is the time to unite to bring change," said Adv. Vilas Naik, Chief Guest at the Silver Jubilee function of the English Medium School, Manadangad. A prodigal ceremony opened a hopeful session of dialogue on the issues in the interst of the hilly konkan region. The famous Alibaug lawyer, and non residing Madangadian (NRM) Mr. Naik fetched back the silver memories of days five decades ago. The dias of Silver Jubilee function of a school soon turned into a joyful gathering of the people of that often neglected tehsil head quarter place. 

Adv. Vilas Naik being honoured by Society Adviser Dattatray Lende

Also Read :A Pride Journey

Mr. Naik recollected the memories of social and public life of the town, its festivals and cultural traditions and commemorated several persons of their time that devotedly worked for welfare of the village like town. Noting ongoing pursuit to establish the town as district head quarter amidst State moves to create new districts. He strongly argued for the tehsil's own representative in the State Legislature. He spoke for the very need of united efforts of local public bodies and the citizens to give the town new face. He suggested to form a committee to chalk a comprehensive development plan, and to adopt a village to develop into a model traditional hamlet.

Persons including well wishers and donors of the institute as well as successful students were honoured, and trophies of appreciation were conferred upon the teachers for their servitude. Taking into account the academic contribution of the society Dr. S.S.Masurkar Memorial Trust, a local foundation offered an address to 'Yojak' with the hands of their President, Dr. Chandrashekhar Masurkar.  

Mr. Rajendraprasad Masurkar delivering his speech, on dias from left Balusheth Lende, Adv Vilas Naik, Chairman Dr. Suresh Lende, President Babansheth Lende, Founding President Vikas Shetye and Town Counciler Dinesh Lende

Following Mr. Naik's inspiring speech, another NRM Mr. Rajendraprasad Masurkar, veteran journalist delivered his anticipating thoughts. Pointing towards the natural beauty and multifold tourism potential he stated the need of organized efforts for its development. He stated the idea of youth groups providing standardized passenger service, with trained tourist guide personnel; a network of bed and brakefast points and arranging tailor service to satisfy customer demand. He focused on the necessity to demand for well conditioned State Transport buses and the earnest need of sufficient water reservoirs to overcome scarcity.

Entertainment performance of school children 

A Pride Journey

There were days when Mandangad,  the hilly and remote rural region to the north of the Ratnagiri district was known as another Andamans. During the course of time development slowly crawled into the tehsil and now the face of this village like town has changed. A region, once having only a trio of middle schools has now grown as a fair place facilitating the rural youth to access many branches of education.

Also Read : 
Ceremony opens development dialogue

In this journey, the work done by English Medium School conducted by Yojak Shikshan, Kreeda and Arogya  Seva Mandal has its significance. The school was started to meet timely need of providing education through the English medium. It is a pleasant day bringing opportunity to witness the occasion of its silver jubilee function.

The story of the journey of Mandangad cannot be completed without the mention of Late Mr.Keshavshet Lende. He was one of the pioneer tradesmen of this tehsil, who started as a hawker cum small seller and grew as a reputed wholsale grocery trader. His three sons raised as traders and businessmen, while the youngest, Suresh, a physician. He started a clinic where he treated the patients at possible lowest charges.

Dr. Suresh had suffered to learn, not monetarily but from the difficult and very limited access to educational facilities. The Middle school education was provided by institutions conducted by local bodies and influenced by teachers from outer regions. The result was lack of attachment, poor performance and stalled development of the schools. 'Yojak' came up to cover the gap.

The idea to start new school would be zero without substantial monetary support. Shreeman Keshavshet offered a big hand donating a piece of land in the heart of Madangad town and patronized the project till his last breath. Mr. Vikas Shetye was the first President of the society and now Mr. Babanshet Lende is chairng the seat. The most appreciable is that all four Lende brothers are associated to this task, surprisingly not narrowing the channel to themselves; and have keenly maitained a democratic atmosphere in the decision making process.

During twenty five years of its journey the school maintained securing a heritage of cent percent outcome of the final examinations. They have record of district level acheivements. Despite this its students acheive abilties and skills that enable them to live a better life compared to other students coming from rural area. They have plans to offer additional courses oriented to more job opportunities. It will help drive the students on the path of skill development.

A range of persons deserves gratitude for helping this project throughout its quarter century journey. They include devoted teachers that worked against only a nominal amount as salary, some among them even worked free. Many tradesmen from the town forwarded to assist whenever needed. It would not be unfair if the mention of Mrs. Rashmee, wife of Dr. Suresh is made here for her practical support involving free instructions to the students for initial years. She showed no sign of towards her husband's devotion to this social activity, as usually the wives do.

I see a bright future before this activity, and hope and wish every success feathered in the caps of the institution and its conductors.

Thousands Joined March To Demand Refinery

Perhaps it was for the first time in Ratnagiri district that the people of this land carried out an organized march in the demand of a huge industry. RRPCL, a grand petroleum refinery project of  proposed investment of three thousand billion INR; that was expelled from the district before Lok Sabha Poll, is now receiving growing support of the local people. The march led by no political party was participated by several business and entrepreneurs’ associations in the district along with thousands of land owners in the region of the factory site.

The march began following public reading of the petition to be given to State Chief Minister through district collector. The history of the short period commenced with the primary notification was revealed how the land owners were positive and supportive from the beginning and later so called environmentalists from Mumbai intervened to raise the agitation. They created a picture of hostility, intimidated the women of baseless fear of infertility and inborn disability. The supporting and responding peasants were threatened of social boycott and menace like a spit march which discouraged them to come up to express themselves. The land owners who had shown readiness to give their land in the public hearing even had been made to swear after the name of the local deities.

Although there wasn’t any single person to lead the march a delegation comprised of eminent citizens of the district met Collector and submitted the petition. The large mob awaiting outside the collector office compound was appreciated by the passerby people as the participants maintained peace and did not give any slogans; and too for cleanliness and discipline they observed.  

  

Refinery supporters ready to fight till the end

Land givers are coming up / Demand March on 20 at Ratnagiri 

In spite of government decision to relocate the proposed ‘Nanar’ refinery, the number of its supporters is rapidly growing. The huge project with enormous employment potential must be erected at the first proposed site, stated Mr. Keshav Bhat and Mr. Avinash Mahajan, spokespersons of ‘KonkanVikas Samiti (KVS)’ before the Press in Mumbai. The KVS is a large group of supporters of the project. Mr. Bhat and Mr. mahajan were accompanied by a group of eminent citizens of Ratnagiri town. They expressed their resolute preparedness to strive until they get complete success to bring back the project to Nanar. As a part of this positive agitation a Demand March to District Collector of Ratnagiri is organized by KVS. It will start at 11 am on 20 July from Maruti Mandir, the CBD of Ratnagiri town.

            Ratnagiri  Refinery and Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (RRPCL), a three billion grand project was proposed to be erected in the creek side area in south west of Ratnagiri district. RRPCL is formed by four Indian petroleum factories in public sector, with the collaboration of Saudi ARAMCO, one of the largest rifineries in the world. The project has enormous employment potential that could entirely transform the present picture of Konkan economy which is mostly based on fishing, mango and labourship in metropolitan cities out of Konkan.  It can fetch job opportunities to almost one hundred thousand (One lakh) persons during the erection process and not less than 50 thousand when in full functioning. Despite this, a lot of urban amenities, good schools, training institutes, hospitals and research centers would take place; and local products like Alphanso mango and fish will get market at the door of the producers, as well as a vast field for traders and service providers.

            Many proposed projects have been expelled from this land in the past under the pretext of environment conservation; neither the environment was properly protected nor the industries could grow. Only the slogans of converting Konkan into California echoed. But the mindset of local people is now changed and they are coming up to express their positive will to support such projects. The causes forwarded by so called agitators have no grounds and people are realizing the advantageous potential conceived by the proposed refinery.

            The spokespersons addressed to the reporters that owners of more than 7500 acres of land have come up to respond the acquisition. The picture of protest was created by those who had no connection to the Konkan land. Those who led the agitators were not losing even one square inch of their land. But regretfully the atmosphere was painted with hostile colours; and the people already prepared to give their land were threatened of boycott and public humiliation like ‘Spit March’.  The meetings to agitate the people were organized in temples where it was difficult to resist and move against the peasantry. It was the reason why the supporters could not raise to express themselves. Even the State appointed Sukhtankar Committee was bent to stall their work.

They told that it was unfortunate that despite the supporters had already approached Honourable Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Phadanvis, their voice was unnoticed. But now the people would not withdraw, they will have the project erected in their region and walk on the way to regional prosperity, Mr. Mahajan reiterated.     

The people are the ultimate losers!

Till date some people of Konkan have deep hopes that it will come back.

When on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections the Chief Minister declared that the refinery to be erected at Nanar, near Rajapur would be shifted to Rohe in Raigad district, a number of people thought that it was but to attempt to satisfy the coalition party.

Now there are a few people who are convincing themselves that after the oncoming State elections are over the project would be brought back to Nanar.

There are other persons who have realized that the huge project is finally gone out and they see no chances for its return.

Yet there is a large group of the sons of this soil that is dreaming for the refinery, not only that they are earnestly striving to convince the government that no longer there is any protest against the factory nor a refusal to respond land acquisition; and ask if the government would resolve to erect the plant at Nanar.

Apart from all hoax and rumours it is an unfortunate fact that RRPCL is not going to stay at Nanar. Rohe is already prepared with the requirements for a refinery and public protest is not a tradition there. The Konkan Railway track is doubled and electrified recently. Rohe also includes in the Mumbai Delhi Industrial Corridor project and skilled workforce is readily available. Why should an investor prefer Nanar to Rohe if all including building roads and training people is to be initiated from ABC?  

There was lot of discussion about RRPCL (Ratnagiri Refinery and Petroleum Corporation Ltd). A large group of peasants was agitating to cancel it. The elected representatives of the region, perhaps with the only hope of public support through ballot, backed the people. This time unlike they had done in case of the protest to Jaitapur atomic plant. The leaders did not directly step in for agitation. They appeared before the people saying that they would live with the people. When shifting of the project was declared the same leaders told that all it depended on the public will. If the people demand for the project they would accept it, said the leadership; but it was the fact that the voice of the project supporters was always suppressed. Had the leaders an earnest respect to the public will they would have allowed the Sukhtankar Committee to carry on their work.

Now the same leaders are saying that they would not let any such project to wind up against a noutanki (drama) of somebody. If it is so will they admit that RRPCL was cancelled to entertain somebody’s noutanki?

Talking about so called demerits is easy than to convince for the bright side.

What has happened is that the people lost a golden opportunity of mass employment potential, great infrastructural development and overall progress of the region.

What has happened that the leaders have again raised to power.

The people are the ultimate losers!

He Has Resumed Attempts For Public Cause

A looser of political polls hides oneself for long. However he did not wait to settle the dust,

continued his visits to his native region, Konkan, which itself was the ground of his Lok Sabha battle. 

Ad. Sanjay Gangnaik, a Socialist Forward Block Lok Sabha candidate, recently made two Konkan tours. He has now become more familiar to the problems of this narrow paradise land. The Lok Sabha candidate who received response from all sections of the Ratnagiri Sindhudurg constituency has initiated to push forward his struggle for public cause.

Ad. Gangnaik has been already fighting for comfortable journey of Mumbai metropolitan suburban rail commuters. May it be an extension of this work in the Konkan region. Ad. Gangnaik has demanded an urgent infrastructure to double the Konkan Railway track as rapidly as the progress of the bullet train project. He seeks merger of the Konkan Railway into Indian Railway for rendering better service to the people of Konkan. 

During his Konkan visit in the last week the discussed with a few people to learn more about their grievances. "Mumbai Goa Kochi road, a major national highway  is undergoing four track widening. The work is progressing very slowly," Mr. Gangnaik said, pointing many aspects of public safety and environment. He forwarded that concreting on many places is incomplete, heaps of soil for reclamation at several sections suddenly come ahead while driving and the vehicles are thrown out of control. Drivers often face unavoidable shocks and jumps due to uneven road surface, and there is no sign of finishing of this work before monsoon. Ad. Gangnaik has demanded immediate erection of the road, with due care taken to protect road users from possible sliding of soil from the elevated tracks. 

He specially attempts to pull attention of the administration to heavy tree slaughter for the highway widening work. Already 55 thousand plus trees have been cut and the portion of the land is deserted. Ad. Gangnaik has earnestly appealed to the constructing agencies for  tree plantation five times more than the trees cut to restore inborn natural beautiful of the coastal land stripe of western Maharashtra. 

Ad. Gangnaik also noted the problem of frequent failure of mobile and internet service that badly hits the e-banking and ATM facilities. He said on one hand the government is calling for enhanced cashless transactions and on the practical front the people suffer thanks to collapsed network. Many ATM booths in the region are not working properly. Sometimes there is no power, sometimes there are no currency notes, and for the remaining period there is no network, how the people would carry on? He asked. He added that if the banks tax fine for exceeding the number of attempts to withdraw money from the ATM, why should the banks not be fined for inconvenience of the citizens.

Ad. Gangnaik is also pursuing for early completion of Talamba (Kudal) and Shirshing (Sawantwadi) irrigation project to satisfy people suffering from utter water scarcity. The bridge connecting Dande Ansure village to Jaitapur should be repaired at the earliest and to restart the ST and heavy transport that has stalled for last three years.

Ad. Gangnaik has keenly drew attention to a severe problem regarding land ownership and concerned disputes. There are many cases in which the land on paper is not in actual possession of the owner due to wrongful acquisition by another person. He appealed the administration to eliminate such cases at the earliest and to punish the wrong doers.     

An Election Candidate Who Promises On A Bond Paper…..!

It was really amazing. He submitted his candidature form on the very last day, along with an affidavit typed on a one hundred rupees stamp paper presented its copy before media and said that he would be subjected to legal action if he fails to keep his words after winning the election!

Who was he?

What was typed on the paper?

His name is Mr. Sanjay Sharad Gang-Naik, a Lok Sabha candidate from Ratnagiri –Sindhudurg constituency. He is contesting as a candidate of Socialist Forward Block. Like other candidates he too is giving some promises to the electorates, claiming how he would serve the people stating before them a list of what he has done before, and making appeal to vote for him. What is surprising that he has put his agenda in the form of an affidavit, which if proven false the person making it may have to face a legal action.

Mr. Gang-Naik, a lawyer by profession has his roots in Sindhudurg district. He has shaped his career crossing numerous obstacles of hostile circumstances. He is State General Secretary of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and an active organizer of railway commuters.

Through the declaration of his programme Mr. Gang-Naik has promised to the people of Konkan to fetch regional development by means of government schemes, to visit every sub division (taluka) at least once in a month and presenting regular audit of the expenses made out of the fund he would obtain for the constituency.

Mr. Gang-Naik is set upon for efforts for double track of Konkan Railway. He wants to make available plenty of career and employment opportunities through environment friendly industry.

Although Mr. Gang-Naik’s agenda is not a dreaming document; and perhaps less lucrative, what is novel is its declaration with a promissory note. It is rather the first and only case of its kind in the entire history of Indian public election. He believes his honest announcement would attract the voters and he would obtain opportunity to serve his constituency.    

Let’s Bring Back The Frozen Project!

Mr. Uday Lodh, President, State Petroleum Dealers Association expressing his views

             May it be too late; may it be days after the fair; but they gathered under one roof. They protested the protest and talked much to bring it back. Their voice may have a little sound, but their solemn resolution had the ability to reach the goal crossing the walls of the auditorium. They were the supporters of the frozen refinery project that was to be erected near the west coast of Maharashtra, in the rural circuit of Nanar in Ratnagiri district.  

             A meeting of the supporters of Ratnagiri Refinery and Petroleum Corporation Ltd (RRPCL) was organized at Ambar Hall at Ratnagiri, on last Saturday. A power point presentation focusing on the development potential of RRPCL was made by Mr. Keshav Bhat, retd deputy engineer, MIDC. Following it Mr. Avinash Mahajan addressed to reveal the modus operandi of the protesters and stated how pointless were the issues raised by them. A few speakers stated their views and urged that the people of Konkan must become optimistic.

             Mr. Bhat systematically stated the outline of the structure of the factory. He explained how the project would help creation of a large magnitude of employment opportunity, growth of allied industry and regional economic development. Mr. Bhat said, “A refinery requires close sea shore, desert table land and easy accessibility to a port. The venue selected was fulfilling these. This largely invested factory had a potential to promote at least 150 to 200 thousand jobs in infrastructure development and around 80 to 100 thousand jobs after erection. Despite this it will help growth of allied industry, construction business, hotel and IT sector; as well as auxiliary and health services in the surrounding region.” Mr. Bhat also told that the huge industry would bring quality educational and skill training facility; and promote establishment of research and technological development centers.     

            RRPCL was proposed with a claim of as huge as INR 30 thousand billion of investment; and could fetch to the state a GDP growth of 10% and 1.5% to the country. It could produce petroleum fuel complying BS VI standard of which 80 t0 90 per cent was to be carried through pipeline to reduce transportation cost and risk of danger. The factory could produce zero effluent and a system to monitor ambient air quality of the surrounding area was to be deployed. The Konkan people have lost grand socio economic development opportunity, the meeting concluded. The speakers and audience deeply regretted for wrong political pressure and sightless agitation.

Sanskrit Is The Identity Of Indian People

Sanskrit is the language of the universe, it is the language of cosmic atmosphere, said Baldevanand Sagar, famous Sanskrit news reader of All India Radio (AIR) during his visit to Ratnagiri. Sagar has been invited by Gogate Jogalekar College, Ratnagiri as Guest of Honour for Mahakavi Kalidas Series Of Lectures. The lectures will be delivered on 1 nd 2 March. On the eve of the series he had an informal interaction with journalists and media persons in Ratnagiri when he spoke about the linguistic power and comprehensiveness of Sanskrit. "Sanskrit is the bedrock of our culture, it is our very identity,” said Mr. Sagar.     Read more

(In photo : Mr. Baldevanand Sagar, photo : Makarand Patwardhan)

Will Konkan Leaders Strive To Drag Funds?

     Konkan never gets center place in State budget. This year is not an exception. The budget stated by Finance Minister Sudheer Mungantiwar has not directly granted any scheme for the development of the narrow belt of Konkan. However, if they think about, the political leaders of this land can drag a lot from several funds declared by the minister.

        Although Konkan is famous for substantial rain, water scarcity is increasingly tightening its clutches. Last monsoon was not satisfactory and several villages have been enlisted as to be drought shaded. They must get aids. The farm pond scheme is useless for Konkan as the land is already divided in small pieces. Especially the size of ponds is needed to be reduced. The minister proposed a provision to support farmers does not include mango cultivators. They have not yet received arrears of compensation promised long back.
     The Konkan farmer cannot enjoy loan waiving as he does not lend for cultivation. He cannot enjoy special subsidy as he does not own required land to comply the norms. He cannot even drag attention and sympathy as he does not commit suicide. Finally he remains as he was. The local public servants have to strive more than they do for protesting a project to come this region.

    The provision proposed by Finance Minister for PM Jan Arogya Scheme are worth welcome, but the problem of the Konkan belt is that the public health centers do not have adequate staff. On one hand the posts of medical officers are vacant and on the other hand appointed medical officers do not join or leave soon.  

    We welcome substantial provision made for road construction and communication projects and hope the rural roads will be well repaired and newly built wherever necessary. However the government claims of completion of 12,984 km of national highways, why did the four laning work of the only national highway of Konkan, the Mumbai Goa Kochi Road walk heavily? They would blame on public protest that prolonged the settlement of compensation and affected land acquisition; then what happened that let the construction of dual bridges stalled for years?

    The minister made specific mention of four railway lines in Marathwada and North Maharashtra. Two more lines to connect Konkan to the rest of the state are also awaiting funds. Perhaps they will be more helpful for the concept of dry ports than those mentioned by the minister.

     We thank the minister for including the name of Ratnagiri, a major district town in the konkan region as well as of Sindhudurg for speedier work of airports. Considering the threat of terrorist activities the most priority to this work is essential.

    The minister should have spoken about ports and harbours. Voyage on ship is now simply a past for Konkan. Don’t be nostalgic. But fisheries, a major sector of Konkan economy is badly in need of proper infrastructure of fishing jetties and cold storages. In the national budget the Finance Minister of the country had stated an idea to establish a separate fisheries department which was warmly welcomed by the people of Konkan. The idea does not seem to be reflected in the State budget.

   Therefore it comes to the regional leadership to keenly study and divert sufficient monetary aids to Konkan. Otherwise the narrow paradise land belt will continue to live with the want of development and its people poverty stricken.  

500 STUDENTS EXAMINED IN FREE MEDICAL CAMP

In a grand FREE MEDICAL CHECK UP CAMP at Mandangad, 500+ middleschool and highschool students were examined by Dr. Chandrashekahar S. Masurkar, President of the Trust. He was assisted by Dr. Miss. Sana Solkar. The camp was organized jointly with the help of  S.S. Tambe Charitable Trust and Krushna Sarvajanik Pratisthan at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar High School, Mandangad. 

Dr. C.S. Masurkar told that most of the students come from rural and hilly area. Considering the local need thereof he throughly checked the students especially for skin diseases, animic conditon, digestion problems and malnourishment. Dr. Miss Sana contributed to both physical examination of girls and their counselling for special care to be taken in growing age. 

In spite of activities throughout the year the month of February being his death anniversary month, is specially observed in the memory of  Late Dr. S. S. Masurkar by organizing programmmes such as medical camp and theatre performance. 

Prizes to the students securing top rank in English, Sanskrut and Mathematics in the S.S.C. examination have been declared this year. The prizes will be distributed after the name of Late Smt. Bhaminee S. Masurkar, founding patron of the Trust who passed away on 14 Oct 2018. Initially the prizes of INR 500/- each will be given to the complying students of Keshavshet Lende English Medium School, Mandangad and P. D. Vidyalay, Kelshi. 

As a part of the Trust activity, Mr. Rajendraprasad S.Masurkar, Managing Trutee delivered a speech and PPT presentation on Career Guidance before the students of P.D. Vidyalay and Junior College at Kelshi. 

The trustees have also decided to establish a library and reading room at Golap, a village along Ratnagiri Vengurle coastal highway.

Please visit - https://drmasurkartrust.webs.com/

All the Efforts To Enable Them To Speak English……..!

• A crash course of Spoken English was organized by the Govt B. Ed. College at Ratnagiri
• Despite their competency of teaching skill most of the students need an ability to talk English
• Madam Principal expressed satisfaction for realization of her dream project 

No longer may British Empire exist, the language of those rulers is still ruling over the world. The ability to communicate in English has its special importance in all affairs. The number of students adopting English as the medium of instruction right from their first day in the school is ever growing. However there is yet a great magnitude of people with fear of this language, especially when it comes to conversation. What Government College of Education at Ratnagiri did in the last week was exactly to remove this fear. A very rapid crash course of Spoken English was organized by the college to enable the ‘to be teacher students’ of the college speak fluent English.

Read More On Events Page

“Saving One Life Will Lead To Safer Traffic”

·         Role of trucking and logistics in industrial development.

·         Regional economic transformation brought by JSW.

·         Road Safety Training and Awareness programmes for truck operators.

Trucking and logistics play significant role in industrial development. ‘JSW Port Ltd,’ located at Jaigarh, dist. Ratnagiri, a Konkan coastal region of Western India that is visited by over four hundred trucks every day has transformed the district industrial scenario to a growing economy. In spite of developing a large tiled base for parking hundreds of huge lorries and providing with standard amenities for halting truck operators the company also regularly organizes Road Safety Training and Awareness programmes for them. One such programme was recently arranged in which an educative slide show was presented by ‘Motor Jagat’ and ‘Masurkars’ Academy.’

              Saving One Life

Citizens Of Ratnagiri Walk For Safer Roads

Marathon has become a keyword for conveying messages to the masses. Government of Maharashtra made its perfect use to carry the message of ROAD SAFETY, NO HONKING and RESPONSIBLE DRIVING. Sunday morning was enthusiastically spent by as much as 300 thousand people in the state to respond government organized ‘WALKTHON 2018.’ Ratnagiri, a major district town in coastal Konkan led to participate with an involvement of hundreds of citizens including considerable transport personnel.   
                                                         (Read More On EVENTS PAGE)

FAMILY HOME

On the way to the famous Adiware Mahakali temple, in the district of Ratnagiri, a palatial building along the road attracts your attention. It is ‘Tawde Sadan’, the home to the stock of the Tawdes. Being erected by ‘Kshatriya Maratha Tawde Hitwardhak Mandal’, under the leadership of Mr. Santosh Tawde, eminent architect, the huge building is aimed to be the home of the Tawdes on Konkan tour, their community programmes and the shrine of their community goddess, Lord Saptkoteshwara.

The marvelous structure stands on a spacious piece of land. It is built of locally available red laterite stone. Constructed in north Indian style the building is erected without using cement concrete and fitting the load bearings with traditional technique of wedging perfectly measured key stones. The arches, the walls and even the roofs are absolutely free from any cementing material. Several windows decorated with specially designed banisters and large doors with dual wooden frames are evident enough not only to reflect its prodigy but also the painstaking long term labour of the grand team of skillful artisans.

The two storied mansion houses a spacious hall at its centre, eight decent residential rooms on each floor, and a cooking space with a dining hall in the backside basement. In front of the stately home an artistic garden provides the visitor a delightful mood and the back corners of the avenue put on the views of lovely sunset.   

PAST AND PRESENT

Having their roots in Rajasthan the Tawdes belonged to the warrior Rajput race. With the decline of Jainism in the early 11^th century aroused the Kshatriya dynasties such as Kadam-Tawde. During the Mogul rule Adiware division had been administered from Pune. The Tawdes had their dwellings in Adiware and fourteen surrounding hamlets. They stamped out the coercive recovery campaigns of the Mogul officials. Failed to curb the brave community, the emperor’s lieutenants once caught men of Tawdes enjoying sea bathing and slaughtered them all. Their wives ended their lives on the pyres of sacred sati.  An only woman escaped as she was moved to another place for the period of her pregnancy, which brought forth a son that sustained the stock of the Tawdes. Due to the fear of the oppressive rulers’ dread she perhaps never returned to Adiware and the signs of the community had been annihilated from the neighbourhood of the famous place of goddess Kali.

Although not a single house of a Tawde exists in the area, a few persons of the community being intent of the affinity to their very native place, sought to create a noble monument of their brave ancestors at Adiware. It was Mr. Santosh Govind Tawde who stated the idea of a FAMILY HOME that would resort all Tawdes under its grand roof and would create a strong band of fraternity. An architect by occupation Mr. Santosh Tawde thoroughly studied the structures of monumental buildings in the country and abroad and prepared the plan of this prodigious mansion.

The half hector plot to the north of Adiware village is being carefully utilized to accommodate this majestic building of ‘Tawde Atithi Bhavan’ with sizable open space around. It would be a splendid blend of historic and modern architecture, as the community strives to trace their prosperous past; and a combination of Rajasthan grace as they had their origin in that state and local building material as they hold intense affection to Adiware, the land of their accomplishment.   

Do They Really Represent Us?

They have again vowed to drown down the proposed project of Nanar Refinery. Long back, two decades ago an influential BJP leader had pledged that they would drown the Enron power plant in Arabic Sea and would drag fetch Dowd Ibrahim, the mastermind behind Mumbai bomb blast. Nothing happened. They provoked people against proposed Jaitapur nuclear project, a lot of hue and cry was spread, activists that had never been connected to Konkan before, agitated, an innocent was victimized to Police firing. The project wasn’t called back, the work is going on.

Do they really represent people as they claim?

Do the people really want to drive the projects out of Konkan?

In case of Enron, the opponents had organized a lecture of certain Mahajan to enlighten the citizens about the high cost of the electricity to be produced by the American company, soon after that they had a meeting with Ribeca Mark, Enron Chief and they themselves were enlightened and influenced by the usefulness and reasonableness of the same plant.

Meanwhile Enron faced some trials in their own land of the U.S. and wound up to handover to others. The result was that the power plant at Dabhol/ Anjanwel remained under authority of several bodies, was time and again reformed and reorganized, but did never prove to be efficient and never produced sufficient power. Despite wastage of capacity, theft of water and a huge unpaid tax amount to the Gram Panchayat of Anjanwel nothing came out.

They also had protested before the energy plant being erected by Finolex, near Ratnagiri. A very honest and loyal party worker went on fast and suffered; the leaders thundered and received applause. The factory is working well. The people who always carried on protest drag substantial monetary aids for their sports events and so on…!

At the same time a very influential local leader concentrated on the energy plant of JSW at Jaigad and strategically spread agitation among surrounding dwellers for his own political benefit. The project itself did much to offer services to local people and utilized the CSR as good as possible.  

Now the project of Nanar Refinery. After declaration of the project estate agents rushed to that area. It is a fact that before a few months all lodgings at Vijaydurg were houseful and people discussed that a certain capitalist had purchased a huge land to erect a private port. It is the other side of the fact that some outsiders have already purchased land in Nanar area.

After all, for whose interest all this is happening? The leaders who never spoke clearly on this issue are set to hurriedly visit the area after it was declared that a Saudi company is going to invest. Is it for public interest or benefit of somebody else?

The leaders of Konkan might be very keen about the possible harm to regional environment. But they are so busy with the task of resistance to proposed projects that they must not have found time and space to think about the heavy pollution and hazards that have already present in the State industrial area around Chiplun. Occurrences of ruthless draining hazardous chemicals into agricultural land have taken place there. Several plants have caught fire that tolled lives. The river and streams near Gane Khadpoli MIDC area are worst polluted. It is for the people’s astonishment that not a single figure has been pointed to this deadly fact by any leader in the district.

If they don’t get time in their busy schedule as mentioned above we hope they will  look after;

And if they are ignoring the facts we should better say they are not representing us and should give up running after them!