 |
| In the next episode of BAHIKATHA, my weekly column on books, I’ll be writing on ‘Indians in London’. It’ll be posted on 26.1.22 |
Sunday, 23 January 2022
BAHIKATHA | Weekly Column on Books | 26.1.22
Saturday, 22 January 2022
BAHIKATHA | WEEKLY COLUMN ON BOOKS | 19.1.22
 |
| READ IT HERE: https://www.odishasahitya.com/bahikatha-28/?fbclid=IwAR1Utb9nBqnNTvWnKro91Ci58hMOTcBxW5TiGnUQ8LhcrKZLnT5V6JQS840 |
WINDOW SEAT | Weekly Column in English | 23.1.22
Window
Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 23.1.22
Azad Hind Radio
Like
many other freedom fighters of India like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subach Chandra Bose like Mahatma
Gandhi and many other freedom fighters was a good communicator. He was a public
speaker, wrote on contemporary socio-political issues and edited newspapers.
His speeches and letters were later compiled into books. He wrote on the
history of India’s freedom struggle. He was one of the prominent freedom
fighters who used radio as a communication medium extensively.
The
name of the radio station he established was Azad Hind Radio. It was
established in Berlin, Germany. It began broadcasting from January 7, 1942. On
February 19, 1942 in his first broadcast to the world over the Azad Hind Radio
Netaji indicated the war aims of the Azad Hind movement. He ended his address
with these words: “The hour of India’s
salvation is at hand. India will now rise and break the chains of servitude
that have bound her so long. Through India’s liberation will Asia and the world
move forward towards the larger goal of human emancipation.”
Azad
Hind Radio was shifted to Singapore and then to Rangoon. When Netaji came to
South-East Asia, it was A. C. Nambiar who continued operating radio Azad Hind
in Germany. He was the head of the Indian legion in Germany and then the
Ambassador of Azad Hind Provisional Government.
In
Azad Hind Radio weekly news was aired in English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil,
Marathi, Punjabi, Posto and Urdu. The volunteers from Indian legion in
Germany and Indian National Army were
preparing and airing the news bulletin.
The objective of Azad Hind Radio
was twofold – first – to inspire people living in India and Indians living
abroad to join in freedom struggle and second -
to counter the propaganda of the British government. In Azad Hind
Radio Netaji Subash Chandra Bose once termed British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) as ‘Bluff and Bluster Corporation’ and All India Radio as ‘Anti-India
Radio’.
Some
of the addresses Netaji delivered on Azad Hind Radio are still available in
some museums across the world.
Mangrove Forests
“Mangroves
are an important bulkhead against climate change: they afford protection for
coastal areas from tidal waves and cyclones and are among the most carbon-rich
forests in the tropics.”
Mangroves play a
crucial role in protecting human and animal communities from massive storms. Mangrove roots can break up the force of a storm surge,
soaking up some of its energy and protecting people living on coasts from
cyclone damage. The
aerial roots of mangrove forests retain sediments and stabilise the soil in the
areas between high tide and low tide (intertidal areas) by reducing erosion
during storms and floods. The roots, trunk and canopy of the mangroves can
dissipate storm surges and waves. Mangroves can also cope with sea level rise
through gradual vertical growth.
In
the face of rising sea levels (in many parts of coastal Odisha and West Bengal
the impact is visible) and changing climates, coastal buffering against
negative impacts of wave action will become critical and will play an important
role in climate change adaptation.
However,
mangrove ecosystems, which make up less than 0.4% of the world’s forests, are
being lost at the rate of about 1% per year (FAO, 2007); in some areas, the
rate may be as high as 2 to 8% per year. From 20% to 35% of the world’s
mangrove area has been lost since 1980 according to a 2007 FAO report. The rates of loss are highest in developing
countries where mangroves are cleared for coastal development, aquaculture,
timber and fuel production. Experts believe that in as few as 100 years, the
world’s mangrove forests may become so degraded and reduced in area that they
would be considered to have “functionally disappeared”.
In
this situation it is heartening that over the last two years mangrove forests
in India has actually increased. As per the State of Forest Report 2021, with a total of 4,992
sq km of mangrove cover, the nation has had an increase of 17 sq km over the past two years. The maximum
increase in mangrove cover was reported in Odisha (8 sq km) followed by Maharashtra
(4 sq km) and Karnataka (3 sq km). The increase is not much, but increase never
the less. It indicates with right policy framework and resolve, we can arrest
the gradual fall of the forest cover both in area-wise shrinkage and quality of
the forest. And we must do that as the climate
change has resulted in a spike in frequency and intensity of cyclonic storms.
Tailpiece: The Grand Slam
World number one tennis player Novak
Djokovic was recently embroiled in a visa controversy over his visa
to Australia, which was termed as “messy” and “embarrassing”. It has been
viewed as a clash between individual belief on vaccination vrs rule of the
land. It has also created loads of jokes- mostly at his expense. Here are some
samples:
- The Aussies have banged the door shut right in front of his face. They call it a Grand Slam!
- With Twenty won, he could have made
it Twenty-One, but he will now have to kiss this chance goodbye. Clearly,
a Grand slam.
- One needs lots of guts to create a racket and, when tension is increased, it becomes high strung.
- A flurry of exchanges, are going on between the Balkan and Australian governments – it is called “Serb and volley”.
- No one expected ‘the one seed’ to
‘exceed’ and become a Tennis, the Menace.
-Someone overheard Djok saying “O my crown. Lost because of Omicron”.
Tailpiece: What is Haldi?
My British friend
asked me ”In Indian wedding what is this Haldi ceremony?
Me: It is like
getting ‘marinated’ before getting ‘roasted’.
(Courtesy: Social
Media)
++
Journalist turned media academician
Mrinal Chatterjee lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He also writes fiction and plays.
mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
Thursday, 20 January 2022
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
BAHI KATHA 28 | 19.1.22
ବହିକଥା । ଡ. ମୃଣାଳ ଚାଟାର୍ଜୀ
ହାତୀର ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ
ବହି: ଜୁମ୍ବୋଜ ଅନ ଦି ଏଜ୍ - ଦ ଫ୍ୟୁଚର ଅଫ ଏଲିଫ୍ୟାଣ୍ଟ କନଜରଭେସନ ଇନ ଇଣ୍ଡିଆ
ଲେଖକ: ସଞ୍ଜୀବ କୁମାର ଚଢ଼ା
ପ୍ରକାଶକ: ନଟରାଜ ବୁକ୍ସ
ପୃଷ୍ଠା: ୩୦୦,
ମୂଲ୍ୟ: ୪୯୯ଟଙ୍କା
ଭାରତ ବର୍ଷରେ
ହାତୀ ଏକ ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ଏବଂ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରିୟ ପ୍ରାଣୀ । ଆମ ଗଣେଷ ଠାକୁରଙ୍କ ମୁଣ୍ଡଟି ହାତୀର । ହାତୀକୁ ପୁଣି ଆମ ଦେଶର ନେସନାଲ ହେରିଟେଜ ଆନିମଲ ବା ଜାତୀୟ ଐତିହ୍ୟବାହୀ ପଶୁର ମାନ୍ୟତା ଦିଆ ଯାଇଛି
ଏବଂ ହାତୀ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣକୁ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଆଇନ (ୱାଇଲଡ୍ ଲାଇଫ ପ୍ରୋଟେକ୍ସନ ଆକ୍ଟ ୧୯୭୨) ଅନୁସାରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱ ଦିଆଯାଇଛି । ଏହା ସତ୍ୱେ ବର୍ଷକୁ ବର୍ଷ ହାତୀମାନଙ୍କର ସଂଖ୍ୟା କମି କମି ଚାଲିଛି । ହାତୀ ମଣିଷ ବିବାଦ ବଢ଼ି ଚାଲିଛି ।
ଭାରତୀୟ
ଉପମହାଦେଶରେ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ୨୬୦୦୦ ରୁ
୨୯୦୦୦ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ହାତୀ ଅଛନ୍ତି । ସମଗ୍ର ଏସିଆ ମହାଦେଶରେ ଥିବା ବନ୍ୟ ହାତୀ ସଂଖ୍ୟାର ଏହା ହେଲା ପାଖାପାଖି ଅଧା ।
ଭାରତରେ ହାତୀ ସଂଖ୍ୟା କ୍ରମଶଃ କମି ଯିବାର ଗୋଟେ
ବଡ କାରଣ ହେଉଛି ଯେ ହାତୀ
ରହିବା ପାଇଁ, ବଞ୍ଚି ରହିବା ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରଚୁର ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ କରେ ଏବଂ ଏ ଖାଦ୍ୟପାଇଁ ହାତୀ ପଲକୁ କ୍ରମାଗତ ଭାବେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲରେ ଗୋଟେ ଜାଗାରୁ ଅନ୍ୟ ଜାଗାକୁ ଯିବାପାଇଁ
ପଡେ । କାରଣ ଗୋଟେ ହାତୀ ଦିନକୁ ପାଖାପାଖି ଅଢ଼େଇ କୁଇଣ୍ଟାଲ ଓଜନର ଡାଳପତ୍ର ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ଖାଏ । ହାତୀ ପଲ ଗୋଟିଏ ଜାଗାରେ ରହିଲେ ଏତେ ଗଛପତ୍ର ପାଇବା ମୁସକିଲ ହୋଇଯିବ । ତେଣୁ ହାତୀ ପଲକୁ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ କ୍ରମାଗତ ଭାବେ ଗୋଟେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲରୁ ଅନ୍ୟଗୋଟେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲକୁ ଯିବାପାଇଁ ପଡେ । ଲୋକସଂଖ୍ୟାରେ ବୃଦ୍ଧି ଏବଂ ଇନ୍ଫ୍ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରକ୍ଚରର ଉନ୍ନୟନ ସହିତ ଗୋଟିଏ
ବଡ଼ ବନଖଣ୍ଡ ପାଇବା ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ କଷ୍ଟକର ହୋଇଯାଉଛି ।
ଯାହାଫଳରେ ହାତୀ ତାର ଖାଦ୍ୟ ପାଇବାକୁ ଅସୁବିଧା ହେଉଛି ଏବଂ ଯାହାଫଳରେ ସେ ଗାଁ ଭିତରକୁ ପଶୁଛିା ଲୋକଙ୍କର ଘର ଭାଙ୍ଗି ଦେଉଛି । ମଣିଷ ହାତୀକୁ ପ୍ରତିରୋଧ କରିବାପାଇଁ
ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପ୍ରକାରର ଉପାୟ ଅବଲମ୍ବନ କରୁ ଛନ୍ତି । ହାତୀ ଆଉ ମଣିଷର ବିବାଦ ବଢ଼ି ବଢ଼ି ଚାଲିଛି । ଭାରତର ବହୁ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ଏ ସମସ୍ୟା ଉତ୍କଟ ହୋଇ ଉଠିଲାଣି । ଶ୍ରୀ ଚଢ଼ା ତାଙ୍କ ବହିୋର ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲାରେ ଏ ସମସ୍ୟା ବିଷୟରେ ଲେଖିଛନ୍ତି ।
ଏ ପୁସ୍ତକରେ ହାତୀ ଭାରତରେ ହାତୀ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣର ସମସ୍ୟା ଗୁଡିକ ବିଷୟରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ତଥ୍ୟପୁର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭାବରେ ତାକୁ ରେଖାଙ୍କିତ କରାଯାଇଛି । ଦେଶରେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଉନ୍ନୟନ ହେଉଛି ତା ଅର୍ଥ ଲିନିୟର ଇନଫ୍ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରକଚର ବଢ଼ୂଛି, ରାସ୍ତା ତିଆରି ହେଉଛି ନୂଆ ରେଳ ଲାଇନ୍ ତିଆରି ହେଉଛି, ପାୱାର ଟ୍ରାନସମିଶନ ଲାଇନ୍ ତିଆରି ହେଉଛି, କେନାଲ ତିଆରି ହେଉଛି ମାଇନିଂ ପ୍ରୋଜୋକ୍ଟ , ପାୱାର ପ୍ରୋଜେକ୍ଟ ହେଉଛି, ଏ ସବୁଥିରେ ପ୍ରଥମ ଯାହା ବଳି ପଡ଼ୁଛି
ତାହା ହେଲା ଜଙ୍ଗଲ । ଉନ୍ନୟନ ମାନେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ କଟା ନିଶ୍ଚିତ । ଆଉ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ସହିତ ହାତୀଙ୍କର ଜୀବନ ଅଙ୍ଗାଙ୍ଗୀ ଭାବରେ ଜଡିତ । ବିନା ବଡ ଜଙ୍ଗଲରେ ବା ଗୋଟିଏ ଜଙ୍ଗଲରୁ ଅନ୍ୟ ଜଙ୍ଗଲକୁ ନିରାପଦରେ ଯିବାର ରାସ୍ତା ବିନା ହାତୀ ବଞ୍ôଚପାରିବା ମୁସ୍କିଲ୍ ।
ଭାରତରେ ଯେତେ ବନ୍ୟ ହାତୀ ଅଛନ୍ତି ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ୪ଟି ଭାଗରେ ବିଭକ୍ତ କରାଯାଇପାରେ ।
ଉତ୍ତରରେ ଉତ୍ତର-ପୂର୍ବ ରାଜ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କରେ, ପୂର୍ବ ରାଜ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କରେ, ପୂର୍ବାଞ୍ଚଳୀୟ ରାଜ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କରେ, ଦକ୍ଷିଣାଞ୍ଚଳ ରାଜ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କରେ । ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ହାତୀମାନଙ୍କ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣର ସମସ୍ୟା ଭିନ୍ନ ।
ଏ ପୁସ୍ତକର ଲେଖକ ସଂଜୀବ କୁମାର ଚଢ଼ା,ଭାରତୀୟ ଫରେଷ୍ଟ ସର୍ଭିସ୍ର ଜଣେ
ଅଧିକାରୀ । ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ସେ ନେସନାଲ ଏଗ୍ରିକଲଚରାଲ କୋଅପରେଟିଭ ମାର୍କେଟିଂ ଫେଡେରେସନ ଅଫ ଇଣ୍ଡିଆ (ନାଫେଡ) ର ମୁଖ୍ୟ ପରିଚାଳନା ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ଅଛନ୍ତି । ସେ ତାଙ୍କର
ବାସ୍ତବ ଅଭିଜ୍ଞତାରୁ ଏବଂ ପୁସ୍ତକଗତ ଜ୍ଞାନ ଏବଂ ତଥ୍ୟଭିତ୍ତିରେ ଏ ପୁସ୍ତକଟିରେ, ଏ ସମସ୍ୟାର ସମାଧାନର କେତେକ ବାଟକୁ ରେଖାଙ୍କିତ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ଏବଂ ଙ୍ଗଲୋର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପ୍ରଜାତିର ପଶୁ ପକ୍ଷୀର ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ପାଇଁ ହାତୀର ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କାହିଁକି ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୁର୍ଣ୍ଣ
ସେ କଥାକୁ ସେ
ପ୍ରାଞ୍ଜଳ ଭାବରେ ବୁଝାଇଛନ୍ତି ତାଙ୍କ ବହିରେ । ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନର ଯେତେବେଳେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ଅନେକ କମି ଆସିଛି, ଏ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ବି
ହାତୀ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ପାଇଁ କଣ କଣ
କରାଯାଇପାରେ ସେ ସଂପର୍କରେ ସେ ବେଶ୍ କିଛି ଉପାୟ ତାଙ୍କ ବହିରେ ଲେଖିଛନ୍ତି । ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ଯେଉଁମାନେ କାମ କରୁଛନ୍ତି, ଯେଉଁମାନେ ନିତି ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରଣ କରୁଛନ୍ତି ବନ୍ୟପ୍ରାଣୀ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ବିଭାଗରେ ଯେଉଁ ଅଧିକାରୀ ମାନେ କାମ କରୁଛନ୍ତି
ସେମାନଙ୍କ
ପାଇଁ ଏହା ଏକ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଉପାଦେୟ ପୁସ୍ତକ । ହାତୀ ମଣିଷର ଯେଉଁ ଲଢ଼େଇ ତାକୁ କେମିତି କମ କରିହେବ ଏବଂ ଉଭୟ ହାତୀ ଏବଂ ମଣିଷ କେମିତି ସହାବସ୍ଥାନ କରିପାରିବେ ଯାହାକି କରିବା ଉଚିତ
ସେ ସଂପର୍କରେ ଏ ବହିରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଉପାଦେୟ ଉପାୟମାନ
କୁହାଯାଇଛି । ହାତୀ ମଣିଷ ସମସ୍ୟା ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବାପାଇଁ
ଚାହୁଁଥିବା ସ୍କଲାର ମାନେ, ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିମାନେ ଏ ପୁସ୍ତକଟିକୁ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ପଢ଼ିବା ଦରକାର ।
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