The Commonwealth Conference 2010

The Taylor & Francis Group successfully participated in the Commonwealth Conference held at the India Habitat Centre from the 28th to the 30th of March 2010.

The conference, called DELHI 2010, is an initiative of The Times of India (the premier newspaper of India) and South Asia Research Foundation, run by Boria Majumdar, General Editor, Sport in the Global Society, Contemporary Perspectives (Routledge), Executive Editor, Sport in Society (Routledge), Executive Editor, Soccer and Society (Routledge.

Routledge was one of the premium sponsors for this two day conference, which boasted of panelists from the government, media, academic circles. The chief minister, Sheila Dikshit was the guest of honour. The two day conference saw participation of various prominent politicians, academicians, cricketers, sportsmen, athletes, deans, vice chancellors and commonwealth games committee members. The discussions were fruitful hovering around the fate of commonwealth games in India and our perspective towards it.

Taylor & Francis was represented by Mr Shammi Manik, Dr David Green, Gerald Dorey, Jonathan Manley and Kate Nuttall besides the India office editorial and marketing colleagues. We have a stall at the conference displaying both our books as well as journals. The areas on display are education, asian studies, international and political relations amongst many others.

More importantly, the focus of the conference is to perceive the Commonwealth Games as a major occasion of national significance, an unprecedented opportunity to establish sport as a subject of serious deliberation and hence the summit.

The Chief Minister released a set of 10 heritage stamps tracing the history of Commonwealth Games. We have the digital print of the same proudly adorning one of the walls in the office.

The conference wraps up up in the evening today and has already been called a big Stepping Stone towards successful commonwealth games. We hope that this conference would pave way for higher visibility and brand awareness for our Sports titles and Journals in the coming year.

Queries are welcome,

With all good wishes

The Marketing Team

Earth Hour Comittment

Today, as I looked at the rising sun from my window, I realized how beautiful light is; whether natural or man made. Is it because we have this light that we do not think about conserving it? Or is it because now it has bacome a habit with us to take things for granted.

I second Sudhanshu's blog about Earth Hour. Let us all, today, 27th March, switch off our lights for an hour at 8.30 pm, whichever part of the world we are in - to show our committment towards the planet and send a strong message on the strength of individual action to tackle climate change. The Earth hour comes both as a beacon of hope and a warning to us. In 2009, global landmarks that switched off in support included the Sphinx and pyramids at Giza, Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Qutab Minar and Red Fort in India.

India Statistics: "Of all sectors, the power sector solely contributes a whopping 50 per cent to India's total carbon emission. Last year, the WWF was was able to encourage saving of around 1200 mega watts of energy in India. Growing environmental threats - most recent devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile - have rung alarm for natural resource conservation at all levels.

I strongly feel that since climate change is a situation created by persistent human exploitation, the cure, therefore, lies in a consistent and united human initiative...On my part, I have asked my society to participate in the Earth Hour and make a committment towards responding to climate change. They've all agreed happily, and that has made me very content.

Shafina

India's National Security - Book Launch on 17th March 2010

The launch of 'India's National Security' was held at the India Habitat Centre on 17th march 2010. The launch, one of the most sucessful ones, saw an audience fo about 85 people with many media persons eagerly awaiting the arrival of the National security Adviser of India, Mr Shiv Shankar Menon. PMOs, right hand, Mr menon also features in the March issue of The Week magazine on the front cover.

Professor Satish Kumar, the editor of the volume, welcomed everyone and introduced the volume. We are incidentally going to bring out rest of the volumes in the series as well. These are supposed to be a 9 volume series. 

Mr Shiv Shankar Menon, released the book and spoke about national security to the audience, who listened mesmerized, to him and his concepts........

All set for the book launch of BR Nanda's Road to Pakistan today.

Thanks

The Marketing Team

Senses - a meditative state of being....

'Recuperating' is an art. If utilized properly, it lets you introspect; about the life gone by, things that could have been, moments wasted, memories cherished. Most importantly, it makes you aware of your senses - a feeling that is so entirely our own when we are young and once we grow up, our senses become conditioned to think and behave the way we want them to.

Last evening, my dear childrood friend visited me with her 6 month old daughter. It was a courtesy visit to check on my well being. Looking at her daughter, I realized that a child is so pure and unaffected by social procedures, its a joy just watching them do things, absorbed in their own little world.......

Have you ever watched a child? Each child is born with beautiful senses. When he looks at something, he is so completely absorbd as if nothing else in the universe matters at that time, at that very moment!! When he looks, he becomes the eyes. When he hears, he becomes the ears. When he eats something, he just becomes the taste. His reactions are spontaneous, liquid, almost spiritually intoxicating.

See a child eating an orange - with what gusto and great energy......what delight!! See a child running after a butterfly in the garden - so absorbed that even if God were to pass that way, he wouldn't bother.

Such tremendous meditative state of being - and without any effort!! What lesson can one learn - Everything is precious when senses are alive, everything is worthwhile when senses are alive, everything is meditative when senses are alive..........................

Shafina

Turn off the electricity, turn on the future

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Earth Hour has done a lot to raise awareness of climate change issues. But there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year. It’s all about giving people a voice on the future of our planet and working together to create a sustainable low carbon future for our planet.

A call to stand up, to show leadership and be responsible for our future.

It’s Showtime! Show the world what can be done.

Our Delhi

For ages, I have spoken to people visiting our country about Delhi as if I am an expert on the subject. Though I must admit that I have never really bothered to find out about the city where I was born and brought up, and today – make my living in. When you live amidst history, you often begin to take it for granted. Worse, I have often compared Delhi to World class cities and never felt guilty about doing so, until now, about a year and a half ago, when I was caught badly.

This happened to me on a flight back from Thailand. ‘I’ve heard so much about Delhi. I and my girlfriend are visiting Delhi for the first time’, said an over exuburant handsome young man sittting next to me on the Thai Airways flight from Bangkok. He was very attractive and I was hoping to strike up a conversation. So, the moment he said, ‘I’ve heard it’s an ancient city with a magnanamous history’, I replied enthusisitically, ‘Yes, very much’. And because I knew nothing about my ancient city with a magnananmous history, I tried deflecting the subject by saying, ‘Its also very modern like London’. ‘Really, is it!!’ He seemed crestfallen. ‘Oh yes! We are very traditional at heart, yet modern in our outlook’, I replied bravely, not knowing what else to say.'Well, I hope you are wrong', he said.

It was here that the conversation ended. He didn’t talk to me for the rest of the 5 hours. All my opening lines were met with a polite rebuff. The moment I landed in Delhi, I purchased Khuswant Singh’s Delhi and Pawan Verma’s The Millennium Book on New Delhi. And they were sitting in my study ever since.

So, while at home for the last 5 days, recuperating after the operation, I decided to devour whatever I could about my city through these forgotten books. And I must admit that I have read it – actually devoured it – with gratitude and happiness. The internet provided a lot of information too and now I can proudly say that I know how the city got its name, its history, origin and a lot more.

1. Once when the Ganges was in spate, she threw up the shastras. The site is marked by a temple which came to be called Nigambodh.

2. From this spot, the Nigambodh, according to the Indian scriptures, rose the magnificent and opulent Indraprastha, capital of the Pandavas, in the Indian epic Mahabharata, founded around 2500 BC. 

3. In Sanskrit language, Delhi was called Hastinapur, meaning the elephant-city. Archaeological evidence suggests that Indraprastha once stood where the Old Fort is today.

4. The name Delhi may be derived from the word ‘Dhillika’. It is also said that Raja Dhilu (King Dihlu) founded ancient Delhi in 800 BC.

5. Some scholars also connect the name Delhi, as pronounced by the literati, to the famous iron pillar close to qutub minar. 

6. The modern city contains the remnants of several successive ancient cities including: Indraprastha, Dhilli, Lal Kot, Siri, Tughluqabad, Jahanpanah, Feroz Shah Kotla, Puran Qila, Shahjahanabad, Lutyen’s Delhi and Modern Delhi. 

7. Delhi was the focal point for the first war of independence in 1857. Though the revolt did not reach its desired conclusion, Delhi became a thorn in the eyes of the British. 

8. The ultimate goal of the Azad Hind Fauz during the freedom struggle was to capture Delhi and established Swaraj. The slogan 'Dilli Chalo' is still used by leaders and political parties when they oraganise any rally or demonstration. It was the hosting of the tricolour at Red Fort in Delhi which marked a chapter in the history of India.

And I have also learnt the names of all the monuments of historic significance in Delhi. I am sure I’d be able to strike a decent conversation next time with a handsome young man with ease. Afterall, Attithi Devo Bhaya!!

Shafina

Waited

Do you not hear yet
That a throb of a time
Has been ringing ever since
Gazing at the searing rush in veins
Flooding alive each crevice
From a coast that’s nigh, but runs away often
Gleaming in a wondrous reverie
A battleground mutely waits outspread.

Along that wild black ocean
Stubborn, insolent, wrathful
As waves embark on a lone row
And you hone the burnished dagger once more
While raging flames swell to spew
Lilting, tunes dangle in a queue
Awaiting the rain; to cling to clouds
To twine with one other
Become that known song
But, hush, do not speak
The night is sure to rouse
Certainly still, secretly,
Steering this feverish frenzy
You shall come tonight destined
To meet, ruffled,
An earth ravenous of sky.

SILENCE OF THE SUICIDE TREE

I
Silence has set in like an old lorn cart
Horseless in the rain on some deserted village outskirts

The wind breathed strangely, and the leaves followed it all
As if to the gatherer did they belong – with all sportive eagerness,
As if life were some flotsam I found on seaside sands
sometime back – where is the dignity of a tree
when fallen leaves of its own don’t fall at its foot and cover it?

II
Blue hills under heavy rainclouds
Herons fly over the valley
Passing the calm smoke trailing up
From the cooling crematorium.


Thoithoi Pukhrambam

Udayan Care

Hi Everyone,

Further to Shafina's entry on Udayan Care, just thought of letting you know their website address. Udayan Care can be reached at http://www.udayancare.org/
With around 9 centres and more than 150 children in Delhi-NCR alone, we could surely do our bit for enlightening a child's life.

Thanks,
Anjali

Udhyan Care, 9 March 2010

I and Anjali visited this NGO called Udhyan Care yesterday. We were a bit apprehensive before we walked in. The door at Udhyan Care welcomed us with the following word:

Change:
v/'chanj/ to make different in some particular way, to make radically different, transform, to give a different position, course, or direction, to replace with another, to make a shift from one to another.
Udhyan Care - Tiny Feet of a Giant Leap

We walked in and met the Volunteering coordinator, Gita. A simple women, she had a satisfied smile on her face that didn't seem forced or 'corporatish' in the least. We looked at her and thought,'Okay, is she the one who is going to explain everything to us?' We were not convinced. And then she started talking....in her own simple way she expressed the need NOT for money but for the time of people like us, who have a moral binding to return to the community what they have learnet but in the race of life, have conveniently forgotten the meaning of living and sharing.
Listening to her, Anjali and I realized that there was so much more to life than just presentations and corporate ethics.

That there were children living on the streets being sexually harrassed everyday with no where to go.......that there were kids like our own, whose parents were due to die in a few months of AIDS and there future was in total darkness.....that there was a small child waiting somewhere for a sucessful person like us to be his mentor, talk to him and guide him through various difficult phases of his life.......that money alone could not buy happiness because sharing a part of yourself, will bring much more satisfation......

It also dawnwed on us that forgoing a meal and round of drinks in QUBA could actually help us save a child from the red light area, that not buying just one dress in a year and giving away that amount to charity will educate a child, 5 years old, for an entire year and also give him food to eat, a blanket to cover his head and body in the winters......

And yesterday's visit taught us a very valuable lesson in life: We or our Kids could be where these children are today. If we join the chain of kindness today, someone will be there to answer our distress call when we need it. and to wrap it up: not everyone needs to wear a Gucci to make an impression. Sometimes, simplicity and passion for a cause are enough to convince the other person. Thanks Gita, for making us realize this simple truth of life......

Let's Volunteer - if not in cash then in Kind........

I'll keep you posted on how we are progressing with Udhyan Care and how we can make a difference to the lives of these children...in our own small ways.......

Shafina