Column | Pathe Prantare

ପଥେ ପ୍ରାନ୍ତରେ । ମୃଣାଳ । ୧୪.୬.୨୦୨୦

କରୋନା ବ୍ୟାପିବାର 

୨୧୦ ଦିନ ପରେ...

କରୋନା ଭାଇରସ୍‌ ପୃଥିବୀକୁ ଆସିଛି ବୋଲି ଜାଣିବାର  ଦିନ ଥିଲା ଜୁନ ୪ ତାରିଖ। ଗତ ବର୍ଷ ନଭେମ୍ବର ୧୭ ତାରିଖରେ ଚୀନ୍‌ର ଉହାନ୍‌ରେ ଏମିତି ଏକ ଭାଇରସ୍‌ର ଅବସ୍ଥିତି ବିଷୟରେ ଜଣା ପଡ଼ିଥିଲା । ମାତ୍ର ୧୦୦ ଦିନ ଭିତରେ ଏ ଭାଇରସ୍‌ ସାରା ପୃଥିବୀରେ ସଂଚରି ଯାଇ ଏକ ମହାମାରୀର ରୂପ ନେଇଥିଲା । ୨୦୦ ଦିନ ଭିତରେ ଏହା ସାରା ପୃଥିବୀରେ ମଣିଷର ଜୀବନ ଶୈଳୀକୁ ବଦଳାଇ ଦେଇଛି । ବଦଳାଇ ଦେଇଛି ବ୍ୟବସାୟ ବାଣିଜ୍ୟ, ଶିକ୍ଷା, ମନୋରଂଜନ, କ୍ରୀଡ଼ା ଓ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟଟନର ରୂପରେଖ । ପୃଥିବୀର ଅର୍ଥନୈତିକ ଅଭିବୃଦ୍ଧିର ହାର ଆଶଙ୍କାଜନକ ଭାବେ କମିଯାଇଛି । ଅର୍ଥନୈତିକ ସମସ୍ୟା ସହିତ ଏବଂ ଅନେକାଂଶରେ ଏହା ଫଳରେ ଅନେକ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ହେଉଛି ସାମାଜିକ ସମସ୍ୟା । ଏ ଭାଇରସ୍‌ର ଟୀକା ବା ଏହା ହେଲେ ଭଲ କରିବାର ଔଷଧ ବାହାରିବାକୁ ଆହୁରି ବହୁତ ଡେରି ଲାଗିବ ବୋଲି କହୁଛନ୍ତି ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକମାନେ । ତେଣୁ କରୋନା-ଜନିତ ଏ ଅବସ୍ଥା ଆହୁରି ବେଶ କିଛି ମାସ ଲାଗିରହିବ ।

ଇଏ ଏକ ନୂତନ ଜୀବନ । ଏହାକୁ ନୂତନ-ସ୍ୱାଭାବିକ ଜୀବନ- ନିଉ ନର୍ମାଲ୍‌ ଜୀବନ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଉଛି । ଆମେ କଣ ଏ ଜୀବନ ସହିତ ଖାପ୍‌ ଖୁଆଇ ଚଳିପାରିବା?

ପ୍ରାଣୀ-ବିଜ୍ଞାନ ଏବଂ ମନସ୍ତତ୍ୱ-ବିଜ୍ଞାନ କହେ ମଣିଷ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତିତ ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ସହିତ ଖୁବ ଶୀଘ୍ର ଖାପ୍‌ ଖୁଆଇ ନେଇପାରେ । ଏହା ମଣିଷର ବିଶେଷତ୍ୱ । ହୁଏତ କରୋନା-ପର ଜୀବନ ସହିତ ଆମେ ଖାପ୍‌ ଖୁଆଇ ନେବା । ହୁଏତ ବାହାରକୁ ବାହାରିଲାମାତ୍ରେ ମୁଖା ପିନ୍ଧିବାଠୁଁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କଠୁଁ ଦୁଇ ଗଜ ଦୂରେଇ ରହିବା, ଦିନିକିଆ କ୍ରିକେଟ୍‌କୁ ଷ୍ଟାଡିଅମ୍‌ରେ ନ ଦେଖି କେବଳ ଟିଭି ପରଦାରେ ଦେଖିବା, ବାହାଘର ରିସେପ୍‌ସନ୍‌ରେ ଏକାଠି ଭୋଜି ନ ଖାଇ ଖାଦ୍ୟ-ପ୍ୟାକେଟ୍‌ ଧରି ଘରକୁ ଆସିବା, କ୍ଲାସ୍‌କୁ ନ ଯାଇ ଅନ୍‌ଲାଇନ୍‌ରେ ଭରଚୁଆଲ୍‌ ପାଠ ପଢ଼ିବା, ସିନେମା ହଲ୍‌ରେ ସିନେମା ନ ଦେଖି ଏକୁଟିଆ ମୋବାଇଲ୍‌ରେ ସିନେମା ଦେଖଇବା, ମଲ୍‌ରେ ପାଞ୍ଚ ଜଣଙ୍କ ସହିତ ମିଶି କିଣାକିଣି ନ କରି ଅନ୍‌ଲାଇନ୍‌ରେ ଜିନିଷ ପତ୍ର କିଣିବା ଆମର ଅଭ୍ୟାସ ହୋଇଯିବ । ଅଭ୍ୟାସ ହୋଇଯିବ ସାଂଗମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ମସ୍ତି କରିବା, ଖେଳ ପଡ଼ିଆରେ ଫୁଟ୍‌ବଲ୍‌ ଖେଳିବା । ଆମ ପିଲାମାନେ ଭୁଲିଯିବେ ଅଜା କି ଆଈ ଛାତି ମୁହଁରେ ଗୁଂଜି ଅସୁର ଅସୁରୁଣୀ ଗପ ଶୁଣିବା । ଯୁବକ ଯୁବତୀମାନେ ବୋଧେ ଚୁମ୍ବନ ବି ଭୁଲିଯିବେ । ସହବାସ ବେଳେ ବି ମୁଖା ପିନ୍ଧିବାକୁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦେଲେଣି କେତେଜଣ ଚିକିତ୍ସାବିଜ୍ଞାନୀ । ବାସ୍ତବଜୀବନରେ ପାଖକୁ ଆସିବେନି କେହି । ପାଖକୁ ଆସିବେ ଭରଚୁଆଲ୍‌ ୱାର୍ଲଡରେ । ଶୂନ୍ୟ-ଜଗତ । ଇଏ ଏକ ଅଦ୍‌ଭୁତ ଜଗତ । ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କଳ୍ପନାର କଳ୍ପ ଜଗତ ନୁହେଁ । ବାସ୍ତବ ଜଗତ ବି ନୁହେଁ । କଳ୍ପନାହୀନ ଅଧା ବାସ୍ତବ । ଏକ ପରା-ଜଗତ । ଦେଖିପାରିବ । ଛୁଇଁ ପାରିବ ନାହିଁ । ଶୁଣି ପାରିବ । ଆଘ୍ରାଣ କରି ପାରିବ ନାହିଁ ।

ଏମିତି ଏକ ଜଗତରେ ବାସ କରିବାକୁ କେମିତି ଲାଗିବ ଆମକୁ? ଯେତିକି ଭାବୁଛି- ସେତିକି ଅଜବ ଲାଗୁଛି । କେବେ ଭାବି ନଥିଲି ଏମିତି ଏକ ସମୟ ଆସିବ । ଆସିଛି- ଏବେ ତାକୁ ଗ୍ରହଣୀୟ କରି ନେବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ । ସମୟର ଚାହିଦା ସହିତ ଆମକୁ ବଦଳିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ ।

ଅନ୍‍ଲାଇନ ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନ

 

କରୋନା ସଂକ୍ରମଣରୁ ଦେଶକୁ ବଞ୍ଚାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଲକ୍‍ଡାଉନ କରାଯାଇଛି । ସାମାଜିକ ଦୂରତା ଉପରେ ଯୋର ଦିଆଯାଉଛି । ଶିକ୍ଷାନୁଷ୍ଠାନ, ଅଫିସ୍‍ ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ବନ୍ଦ କରାଯାଇଛି  ।

ଏହା ଅଫିସ୍‍ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ଓ ବିଶେଷ କରି ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ବଡ଼ ସମସ୍ୟା ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଛି । ଲକ୍‍ଡାଉନ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରାଗଲା- ସେତେବେଳେ ଅନେକ ସ୍କୁଲରେ ନୂଆ ପାଠ୍ୟକ୍ରମ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେବାର ଥିଲା । କଲେଜ, ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟରେ ସେ ବର୍ଷର ପାଠପଢ଼ା (କୋର୍ସ) ଶେଷ ହେବାର ଥିଲା । 

କିଛି ଦିନ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ପରୀକ୍ଷା ହୋଇଥାନ୍ତା ହେଲେ ଏହି ସମୟରେ ସ୍କୁଲ, କଲେଜ, ଶିକ୍ଷାନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ବନ୍ଦ ହେବାରୁ ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନରେ ବଡ଼ ସମସ୍ୟା ସୃଷ୍ଟି ହୋଇଛି । ଏମିତି ସମୟରେ ଅନ୍‍ଲାଇନ କ୍ଲାସ୍‍, ଓ ୱେବନାର ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନ ଏକ ବଡ଼ ସାଧନ ଭାବେ ଉଭା ହୋଇଛି  ଗୁଗୁଲ କ୍ଲାସ, ଗୁଗୁଲ ମିଟ୍‍, ଜୁମ୍‍ ଆପ୍‍, ୱେବଏକ୍ସ ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ସଫ୍ଟୱେର ଏ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ବେଶ୍‍ ଉପଯୋଗୀ ହୋଇପାରିଛି  ।

ଅନେକ ସ୍କୁଲ, କଲେଜ, ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ, ଉଚ୍ଚତ୍ତର ଶିକ୍ଷାନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ଏହାକୁ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରୁଛନ୍ତି । ଖୁବ୍‍ କମ୍‍ ସମୟ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଅନ୍‍ଲାଇନ ଶିକ୍ଷା ପଦ୍ଧତି ବେଶ୍‍ ପ୍ରଚଳିତ ହୋଇଛି । 

ଏହା ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଶ୍ରେଣୀ କକ୍ଷର ବିକଳ୍ପ ନ ହେଲେ ବି ବହୁ ଅଂଶରେ ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନର ଅଭାବକୁ ଦୂର କରିପାରୁଛି ।

କିନ୍ତୁ ଅନ୍‌ଲାଇନ୍‌ କ୍ଲାସରେ ଆମର ଅନଭିଜ୍ଞତା ଯୋଗୁଁ ହେଉ ବା ଏଥିରେ ବ୍ୟବହାର ହେଉଥିବା କାରିଗରି ଜ୍ଞାନ ଓ ଯନ୍ତ୍ର ବ୍ୟବହାରରେ ଅନଭିଜ୍ଞତା ଯୋଗୁଁ ହେଉ ଏଥିରେ କିଛି ଅସୁବିଧା ଦେଖା ଦେଉଛି ।

ଅନ୍‌ଲାଇନ୍‌ ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନ କିଭଳି ଆହୁରି ଫଳପ୍ରଦ ହୋଇପାରିବ ସେ ବିଷୟରେ ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳସ୍ଥିତ ଭାରତୀୟ ଜନ ସଂଚାର ସଂସ୍ଥାନ ନିକଟରେ ଏକ ଷ୍ଟାଣ୍ଡାର୍ଡ ଅପେରେଟିଂ ପ୍ରସିଡିଅର- ମାନକ ସଞ୍ଚାଳନ ପଦ୍ଧତି ତିଆରି କରିଛନ୍ତି । ସେଥିରେ କେତେଗୁଡ଼ିଏ କଥା କୁହାଯାଇଛି ଯାହା ଏ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକର ହୋଇପାରେ ।

କରୋନା କାଳରେ କେତୋଟି ସାଉଁଟା କବିତା

କରୋନା କହୁଛି: ଘରେ ରହ

ଭୂମିକମ୍ପ କହୁଛି: ବାହାରକୁ ଯା

ମୋତେ ଲାଗୁଛି, ଈଶ୍ୱର କହୁଛନ୍ତି:

ଛାଡ଼ ବାବୁ ସବୁକିଛି, ମିଛ ମାୟା ସଂସାର

ଆ, ଉପରକୁ ଆ ।

**

ଆକାଶରେ ଅମ୍ଫାନ୍‌, ପରେ ପରେ ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ

ପାତାଳରେ ଭୂମିକମ୍ପ

ଚାରିପାଖରେ କରୋନା

ତିନି ଲୋକରେ ଯାତନା ହିଁ ଯାତନା ।

ତ ଏବେ ଭାବନା...

ମଣିଷ ଯିବ କଉଠି?

ଆତ୍ମନିର୍ଭର

ଆମ ନବଘନ ବାବୁ ଭାରି ଆତ୍ମନିର୍ଭର ମଣିଷଟିଏ ।

ନିଜ ପିଠି ବି ସେ ନିଜେ ଥାପୁଡାଇ ଦିଏ ।

(ସୌଜନ୍ୟ: ତ୍ରୟମ୍ବକ ଶର୍ମା, ସଂପାଦକ, କାର୍ଟୁନ୍‌ୱାଚ୍‌)

ଓକେ, ଟେଷ୍ଟେଡ୍‌

କରୋନା, ଚୀନ୍‌, ଅମ୍ଫାନ, ଭୂକମ୍ପ,ପଙ୍ଗପାଳ, ମାନ୍ଦା ଅବସ୍ଥା... ଏସବୁ ପରେ ଯିଏ ବଞ୍ଚି ରହିବ- ତାରି ମୁଣ୍ଡରେ ଷ୍ଟାମ୍ପ୍‌ ଲଗାଯିବ- କ୍ୱାଲିଟି ଚେକ୍‌ଡ, ଓକେ, ଟେଷ୍ଟେଡ୍‌ ।

(ସୌଜନ୍ୟ: ସାମାଜିକ ଗଣମାଧ୍ୟମ)

Column | Window Seat 14.6.2020

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee| 14.6.2020

 

Stop Cruise Services. Protect Environment

One of the few good things that the extended lockdown to contain the spread of Corona virus did- was to provide a respite to the environment-already stressed beyond capacity. The air of many cities notorious for  pollution is cleaner now. So is the water of Ganga and Yamuna. This happened not because of any intervention- but simply letting them alone. We must understand the fragility of eco-system; and at several places - let nature have its way.

The Odisha government’s decision to start day cruise services at five selected water bodies at Chilika Lake, Mahanadi, Bhitarkanika, Satkosia Gorge and Hirakud reservoir will be disastrous from the point of view of environment.

While a day cruise on a big vessel sounds fun and relaxing, one should consider its impact on the ecosystem of these water bodies. Chilika, Satkosia and Bhitarkanika are fragile and protected sites which are already facing dozens of unintentional and unexpected hazards. While Chilika has a dwindling Dolphin population, Bhitarkanika has the salt water crocodiles and the delicate mangroves. Satkosia Gorge comes within the Project Tiger area and the crocodiles and gharials are on a diminishing count.

As environment activist Anil Dhir says, the many hazards of starting mechanized boats include air, water, oil, chemical and noise pollution. Cruise vessels use a huge amount of ballast water for stability; the water is often filled from shore and discharged midstream. Since the ballast water contains microbes and micro-organisms in addition to vegetation and other sea-fauna, pollution aspect is mainly caused to the local species and marine life. Grey water that comes from regular activity onboard, like sinks, toilets and galleys contains nitrogen and phosphorus which lead to eutrophication and stimulates the dense growth of plants and the death of marine creatures because of lack of oxygen.

The marine diesel engines will emit various greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. Even the noise produced by the cruise boats will disturb the marine ecosystem. In addition to the noise pollutions from the vessels machinery, a lot more noise is made due to the entertainment activities on board. These noises disturb the marine animals and mammals, including the dolphins, whose sensitive hearing gets harmed and debilitated, often leading to their unwanted death and an overall loss to the eco-system.

Cruise boats are large, intrusive and dangerous vessels which have negative impacts on marine wildlife. Dolphins, turtles, otters and other big fish cannot avoid speedy watercrafts, and collisions with hulls or scrapes by propellers often do fatal harm. Many of the Dolphin carcasses found in Satapada had been killed by boat propellers.

Odisha Govt. can have cruises in the Hirakud reservoir and the Mahanadi, but should not do that at the three protected sites.

Promotion of tourism should not be done at the cost of environment. Bhopal’s Upper Lake was chosen by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation for cruise boat trips. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation stopped the move and accused the tourism corporation of polluting the lake by the over 10 motor boats and the 100 paddleboats of the Bhopal boat club.

Panchami Manoo Ukil, noted ornithologist and writer is of the opinion that Eco Tourism by its very nature must address the delicate interconnectedness in the natural ecosystems. Any attempt to disrupt these habitats by encouraging intrusions through man or machine would lead to complete destruction of these vulnerable zones and threaten the existence of species that are dependent on the eco system.

Corona Devi, Coronamma

India has had a long tradition of worshipping goddess to ward off infectious disease. The latest addition to the pantheon of goddesses (they all are goddesses) is Corona Devi. From Biswanath Chariali to Darrang district and even in Guwahati, many people, mostly women, are now performing 'Corona Devi Puja' in Assam.

In North Karnataka, several villages are worshipping 'Coronamma'. They are turning to an ancient ruse to ward off the disease from their vicinity. Like Plegamma and Maramma (goddesses of Plague and Chicken Pox), who were thrown out of village limits by their fathers and forefathers, the villagers are are trying to ward off Coronaamma.

In Bengal and Odisha, people used to worship Shitala Mata to ward off Small Pox. The dreaded small pox has long eradicated, but Shitala Mata survived and is still being worshipped.

Call it superstition or part of our religious practice, which may have originated from some medicinal good practices- as Dr. Ravindra Vaidya, an Ayurveda practitioner opine- it continues.

Photo courtesy: India Today

Clean

 

I got this from a social media forward and liked it immensely. Read this for the unique thought. 

We don’t live in bungalows, duplexes or flats. We live in our minds.   

Yes, that’s our permanent residence. And there are no constraints of square-feet there. It’s a vast space with unlimited area. And you know what! No matter how well-organized your rooms, balconies, garages and verandas are, life is good only when things are sorted there – in your mind. 

And that’s where we keep things messy – regrets piling up in one corner, expectations stuffed in a closet, secrets under the carpet, worries littered everywhere, comparisons spilt on the table, complexes leaking from an old bottle, and grudges stinking in a box.  

Be aware. For this ‘real home’ of yours, you can’t outsource housekeeping. You got to do it yourself and see the beauty that surrounds you when your inner being is stable.

Tailpiece: Question-Answer

 

This is the first time question and answers both are same  

Q: Who declared Corona as a pandemic? 

A: WHO declared Corona as a pandemic .

 

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Competition

Odia Article| Story of the First Hindi Newspaper

Published in Odia daily Nitidina on 6.6.2020

Window Seat | 7.6.2020

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 7.6.2020

100 year of Media Education!

There has been little confusion about the year of birth of journalism education in India. Some media historians say that the first journalism course was started in the year 1920 by Annie Besant, writer, activist, former president of Indian National Congress (1917); and a journalist and publisher. Annie Besant purchased the Madras Standard printing works from Mr. K. Prabhakaran Tampa in 1914, and also the right of printing and publishing the Madras Standard which was published from that press. Madras Standard, founded in 1841 was going downhill for a long time. After purchasing, Annie Besant changed it to suit her political needs under the appropriate name “New India”. New India’ trained several distinguished journalists like Sri. B. Shiva Rao. It was Annie Besant who through her paper taught journalists how to write strong articles, based on truth, denouncing the action of the government.

I tried to find out details of the course that Annie Besant ran, but could not. However, if we take that to be the beginning, than 2020 is the centenary year for media and journalism education in the country.

Some other media historians opine that in India journalism education began in Lahore’s Punjab University in 1941. Prof. P.P. Singh started this course as an evening part-time one year diploma in Journalism course. After partition, it shifted to Delhi in 1948. University of Calcutta introduced Journalism as a course in 1948. A Dept. of Journalism was started in Guahati University in 1967. It was the first formal mass communication course in North East India. In Odisha Berhampur University started a course in 1976.

Ways to become Atmanirvar: Consume less oil

 

 

The Prime Minister has given a call to become atmanirvar (self- reliant) to fight the economic slowdown. Now, how do we become self-reliant? There are two broad ways – one by producing what we need in our own country and two, by reducing import.

        Edible oil is one import which could be reduced in a big way. Consider the figures. Nutritionists say that an average person should take about  29 gm. oil  per day. The annual requirement of oil of a person is about  10.5 kg. But in India we consume about 19 kg now, and over the years our consumption is growing. Excess intake of oil is extremely unhealthy. It is making us obese. It is also a major cause of several diseases including heart diseases.

Paradoxically, consumption of oil in India is growing. In 2017 our edible oil consumption was 23 million ton. By 2030 it is projected to exceed 34 million ton.

According to data from Solvent Extractors Association (SEA), India’s average production of edible oil is 7.5 to 8 million tonnes.  Rest we import.  In 2017 we have imported 15.5 million ton of edible oil, costing the exchequer over Rs 75,000 crore.  Our oil consumption basically comprises of Palm Oil, Soya oil and Sun Flower oil.

        Palm oil (60% of all imported edible oil) is imported from Malaysia and Indonesia. We import soya oil (24%) from South America and Sun Flower Oil (14%) from Black Sea region.

        If we reduce our edible oil consumption, we can reduce costly import and also improve general health condition of our population.

So consume less oil. Besides keeping you healthy, this is one step to become ‘Atmanirvar’.

Cyclone NISAGRA

 

After Cyclone Amphan at the Odisha-West Bengal coast in Bay of Bengal on 20-21 May, Cyclone NISAGRA hit Maharastra-Gujarat coast in Arabian Sea on 2-3 June 2020.

According to IMD in the last 5 years there has been 32 per cent rise in the number of cyclones hitting Indian coast.

We need to develop resilient infrastructures, sector specific disaster management plan and adoption of new technology to minimize the risk.
But, more important than that, we must look after our environment. Cyclones are increasing because of rise in temperature of water. This has to be prevented. And this could be done only when nations across the world join hands, people understand the important of living within the tenets of nature. Otherwise, we have to face the Nature's fury.
In photos- scenes after landfall of Nisagra in Alibag of Maharashtra state.

 

Shame

A pregnant she-elephant died at 4 pm on May 27, standing in Velliyar River water in Kerala after she ate a pineapple filled with firecrackers, left by some locals. The elephant had wandered into the village in search of food. She didn't harm a single human being even when she ran in searing pain in the streets of the village. She didn't crush a single home.

As a fellow human being I hang my head in shame at what some of us had done to her. We worship the elephant headed God. And this is how we treat them in reality. Shame on us. 

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Journalist turned media academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He also writes fiction and translates poetry. An anthology of his translated poems will be published in mid –June 2020.