Readers’ Club Bulletin · the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi on 21 November 2013....

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Editor / laikndManas Ranjan Mahapatraekul jatu egkik=k

Assistant Editors / lgk;d laikndx.kDeepak Kumar Guptanhid dqekj xqIrk

Surekha Sachdevalqjs[kk lpnso

Production Officer / mRiknu vf/dkjhNarender KumarujsUæ dqekj

Illustrator / fp=kdkjArup Kumar GuptavjQi dqekj xqIrk

Printed and published by Mr. Satish Kumar, JointDirector (Production), National Book Trust, India,Nehru Bhawan 5, Institutional Area, Phase-II, VasantKunj, New Delhi-110070Printed at Pushpak Press Pvt, Ltd. 203-204, DSIDCShed, Ph-I Okhla Ind. Area, New Delhi.Typeset at Nath Graphics, 1/21, Sarvapriya Vihar,New Delhi-110016

Editorial Address/ laikndh; irk

National Centre for Children’s Literature, National Book Trust, India, Nehru Bhawan 5, Institutional Area,Phase - II, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070

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E-Mail (bZ&esy ) : [email protected] Copy/ ,d izfr Rs. 5.00 Annual subscription/okf"kZd xzkgdh : Rs. 50.00Please send your subscription in favour of National Book Trust, India.d`i;k Hkqxrku us'kuy cqd VªLV] bafM;k ds uke HkstsaAThis Bulletin is meant for free distribution to Readers’ Clubs associated with National Centre for Children’sLiterature.;g cqysfVu jk"Vªh; cky lkfgR; dasnzz ls tqM+s ikBd eapks dks fu%”kqYd forfjr fd;k tkrk gSA

Contents/lwph

Singapore: Gateway for asian ...... 1

Events for Children 2

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Peacock Plumes Mayakshi Chattopadhyaya 7

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How the Camel... Ratna Manucha 14

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Stomping Ground... Neera Jain 22

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Interesting Facts... Surekha Sachdeva 27

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Vol. 19, No. 1, January 2014

Readers’ Club Bulletin January 2014 / 1

An interface with Mr R Ramachandran,Executive Director, National BookDevelopment Council of Singapore onthe theme Singapore as a Gateway forAsian Children’s Content was held atthe India International Centre (IIC), NewDelhi on 21 November 2013. The talkwas held, keeping in view that India isthe Focus Country in the Asian Festivalof Children’s Content (AFCC) in 2014.

AFCC is held annually in Singaporeby National Book Development Councilof Singapore and is one the major eventsin the world for promoting children’scontent. National Book Trust, Indiabeing the nodal body will put up a FocusCountry Pavilion with a collectivedisplay of Indian children’s books in theFestival and will hold various events andsessions on Indian children’s literature.

Focussing on the opportunities thatSingapore can provide to India forpromoting Indian content across theworld, Mr Ramachandran felt that Asiais hungry for content and India can feedthat appetite for content. Singapore hasa large Asian population and has a multi-lingual culture, excellent infrastructure,cultural sensivity, excellent libraryfacilities and gateway to the rest of theworld. He urged Indian publishers toestablish their units in Singapore andreach out to the rest of the world. Hefurther added that India and Singaporewill be celebrating 50 years of

Singapore: Gateway for Asian Children’s Content

diplomatic relationship in the year 2015and to mark this occasion both thecountries should strengthen their tiesthrough cultural, trade and otherexchanges throughout the year. “TheFocus Country Presentation of India inthe AFCC 2014 may be a nicebeginning,” he added.

In his presidential address, Prof.Avadhesh Kumar Singh, Director,School of Translation Studies andTraining, IGNOU emphasised onconstant cultural ties with Singapore.

Mr M A Sikandar, Director, NBTwhile welcoming the guests appreciatedMr Ramachandran’s pioneering effortsto promote reading culture among themasses. Coordinated by Dr S Majumdar,Chief Librarian, IIC and Shri M RMahapatra, Editor, NBT, the talk wasorganised jointly by the National BookTrust, India and India InternationalCentre. Several authors, publishers andbook lovers took part in this event.

2 / tuojh 2014 ikBd eap cqysfVu

The Chandigarh Book Fair organised by UTAdministration, Chandigarh in collaborationwith the National Book Trust, India was heldat the Parade Ground, Sector 17, Chandigarhfrom 13 to 18 November 2013. The Fair wasinaugurated by Shri Shivraj V Patil, Hon’bleGovernor of Punjab and Administrator, UTof Chandigarh.

Shri V K Singh, Principal Secretary,Finance and Education, UT of Chandigarhand Shri M A Sikandar, Director, NBT werealso present on the occasion.

National Centre for Children’s Literature,a wing of NBT organised several literary andcultural programmes for children, young adults

and general readers during the Fair. Theseincluded workshop on Skills of Storytellingfor teachers, educators and parents, Readers’Club Orientation for school teachers,workshop for children on Spin A Tale,Treasure Hunt and NBT Chandigarh BookFair Express, workshop on Enactment ofa Story and Dance—Drama for children andteachers, Career Guidance for Young Adultson Publishing as a Career, workshop forbudding authors on Creative Writing, CareerGuidance session on Book/Graphic Designas a Career for young adults andStorytelling Marathon featuring children,teachers and young authors.

Well-known authors and scholars whoconducted these events included Ms SumanBajpayi, Dr Shekhar Sarkar, Ms KshamaSharma, Ms Asha Shiklani and Shri SubirRoy. A large number of book lovers, students,teachers, educationists and scholarsparticipated in these events which werecordinated by Shri Manas Ranjan Mahapatra,Editor (NBT) and Shri M L Bhatia, Asstt.Editor (NBT).

Events for Children in the Chandigarh Book Fair

Panel Discussion at Salumbar

National Book Trust, India and Salila Sanstha together organised a panel discussion onKahani Se Natak Tak at Salumbar (Rajasthan) on 29th September, 2013. The panelistswere: Shri Prayag Shukla, noted author and art critic from Delhi, Smt. Sangeeta Sethi, ShriJaiprakash Pandya ‘Jyotipunj’ and Dr. Bimla Bhandari, noted children’s authors from thestate. Shri Manas Ranjan Mahapatra, Editor (NCCL-NBT) cordinated the event.


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Peacock PlumesMayakshi Chattopadhyaya

In the last issue, you read how the father of the little girl asks her to leave hishouse and the Mother Tree saves her from the beasts in the forest. Mother Treealso asks her to pick Peacock Plumes near the lotus pool and stitch them togetherto make beautiful fans. Read Next...

From NBT’s Treasure Trove

Day after day, the girl would go to thepool, gather a handful of lotus seeds,scatter them around the lotus pool andreturn with a bunch of peacock plumes.When she had gathered enough plumes,she fashioned them into a hundred fansof exquisite beauty and went with themto the edge of the forest, to sell themto the merchants.

All day she waited,with the beautiful fansarranged around her,when suddenly in thedistant haze, she saw amysterious copper-cloud floating acrossthe solitary desertsands. Soon, a caravanof camels showed up,shrouded in a veil ofdesert dust. As thecaravan reached theedge of the forest, the

thirsty camels went down on theirknees, to drink water from a foreststream and rest their weary limbs. Adust-covered merchant came up to herand said, “Beautiful maiden! These arerare and exquisite fans that you sell! Willyou exchange them for a bale of scarletsilk and necklace of turquoise and


pearls?” The girl willingly agreed andran back to the Mother Tree.

When the Mother Tree saw the baleof scarlet silk and the turquoise and pearlnecklace, she said, “Now, my child, sewyourself a gown of scarlet silk and wearthe beautiful necklace of turquoise andpearls, and you will be the Queen of theforest! Then, collect many morepeacock plumes and when you havegathered enough to make a thousandmore fans, take them to the edge of theforest once again, and sell them to thedesert merchants.”

The girl made a thousand fans, moreexquisite than the ones she had madebefore, and took them to the edge of theforest. Soon the copper-cloud appearedand once again, the merchant ran up toher and said, “Lovely lady, I bring yougood news! I have sold your fans to myKing and he wishes to have a thousandmore of your wondrous fans.”

But the girl looked thoughtful and,with a twinkle in her eye, replied: “Tellyour King that, if he wishes to have athousand fans, he will have to comehimself to fetch them!”

“Foolish lady!” exclaimed the angrymerchant, “the way is long and thejourney across the desert is harsh andlonesome. Besides, no King has evercrossed the desolate desert sands!”

“Even so, your King will have tocome himself, if he wishes to buy my

fans!” said the girl, as she collected thefans and ran back to the forest.

Many days went by and when it wastime for the caravan to return, the girldressed in the scarlet silken gown thatshe had stitched for herself, wore thenecklace of turquoise and pearls, andwaited at the edge of the forest, with herfans arranged around her. Once again,the copper dust cloud floated across thedesert sands, but this time, it was theKing himself who came!

At the first glance, the King felldeeply in love with the beautiful girl.“Beautiful one!” said the King, gazing ather with adoring eyes. “What would youlike in exchange for a thousand fans?”

“I would like to be your Queen!” shebashfully replied.

“Then return with me to my kingdomacross the desert and I shall marry youand you will be my Queen!” said the King.

“But, I belong to the forest and inthe forest I shall remain. If you desireto marry me and make me your Queen,you will have to build a palace for meand live here in the forest with me,” sheanswered.

So deeply in love was the King, thathe ordered his men to build a grand palacein the forest for him and his future Queen.

Hundreds of men were employedfrom the skirting villages and towns, the


forest was cleared, a thousand trees werefelled, except for the kind Mother Tree,and a green jade palace rose up aroundher beloved Mother Tree, who had giventhe little girl shelter and love.

In the new-born joy of love, theKing married the beautiful girl and gaveher all his riches and precious treasures.And, as he led the Queen to the jadepalace, the Mother Tree swayed with joyand scattered her choicest blossomsacross the golden threshold, to blessthem.

One day, many years later, as theQueen stood by her window to look outinto the palace garden, she saw a raggedold man watering the plants in her rosegarden. Something about his proud faceand noble bearing reminded her of herfather. Confused, she turned to the Kingwho was standing beside her and said:“That ragged old man who is wateringmy rose garden, has a familiar face andstrangely, he reminds me of my father!But, my father is a wealthy merchant andlives like a king in a majestic mansion!


Let us call him up to the palace and askhim who he is and where he belongs.”

The poor old man, not knowing whyhe was called, trembled in fear, as he wasled up to the palace and into the King’schamber. Humbly, he bowed to the Kingand as he looked up at the Queen, herecognised his daughter! With a startledsob he cried: “My child, my youngestdaughter, little do you know how deeplyI have regretted sending you away frommy house into the forest, because of mypride of wealth and worldly possessions!”

The King looked aghast, but theQueen said: “Indeed, he is my own fatherand though he sent me away to the forest,I still love him as I always did before.”

Sad memories gripped the Queen’sheart and words fell like drops of ice,as she asked: “What misfortune bringsyou to my door, dear Father?”

For a few moments there was a sadsilence, as the old man was too shockedand ashamed to speak. But, after a fewbreaths he answered: “My child, I havelost all my wealth and preciouspossessions! Ashamed of being poor andpenniless, I left the city, to live in theforest and have toiled day and night toearn a few pennies.”

“Where are my beloved sisters?”asked the Queen, looking at her fatherthrough a haze of tears.

“They are married to wealthymerchants and now that I am poor andpenniless, they are ashamed to own meas their father,” said the old man, insorrow.

“Dear Father, you shall have all thewealth that you had before and evenmore, and you will live with me in themy palace with pride and honour!” saidthe Queen.

Tenderly, she put her arm around herfather and as she led him to the royalguest house, the old man sighed and said,“You were right, my child—nobody livesby another’s fortune and luck, except byhis own fortune and his own luck. Now,I know that all the wealth and treasuresof the world can never buy love.”

And now my story is done,Red is the setting sun,The silence of evening settles,On flowers that close their petals.

Evening shadows are creeping,Birds on their branches are sleeping.Stars appear in the skies,Like slowly-opening eyes.

The moon from her place of hiding,Over the night come a-gliding.Now that the night is deep,Sleep, my little one, sleep.

(From the NBT PublicationThe Kingom of Blue Skies)


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cksykA^^D;ksa\ dkWih de Fkh og rks rqe dy

gh ys vk, Fks!** vEeh cksyhaA^êq>s dksV pkfg,A esjs lHkh nksLrksa ds

ikl dksV gS vkSj eSa ;g lM+k&lk LosVjigudj tkrk gw¡A eSa rc rd Ldwy ughatkm¡Qxk tc rd eq>s dksV ugha feysxkA**vCnqy dqN rst Loj esa cksykA

^^csVk] rqe rks tkurs gh gks gekjs ikliSlk ugha gSA rqEgkjs vCcw fdruh esgur

djrs gSa rc tkdj ?kj dk [kpZ vkSj rqEgkjhvkSj rqEgkjh cgu dh i<+kbZ py ik jghgSA** vEeh /hjs ls cksyhaA

^êq>s lc ekywe gS! rqe chekj gqbZ Fkharks iSlk vk x;k Fkk] ysfdu esjs dksV dsfy, xjhch gS!** vCnqy >q¡>ykdj cksykA

^^D;k ckr gS csVs\** ?kj esa ?kqlrs gq,vCcw us iwNkA mUgksaus vCnqy dh ckr lqu yhFkhA vkt og nqdku ls tYnh vk x, FksA

^^vCnqy dg jgk gS fd tc rd vkimls dksV cuokdj ugha nsaxs] og Ldwy ughatk,xkA** vEeh us crk;kA

vCnqy pqipki dejs esa pyk x;kA^^vjs] rks blesa D;k gS! eSa dy gh vius

csVs ds fy, dksV dk diM+k ykdj mldsfy, cf<+;k dksV cuk nw¡xk!** vCcw cksysA

vCnqy us vCcw dh ckr lquh rks mldkeu e;wj ukp mBkA og cgqr [kq'k gks x;kAuk'rk djds og [ksyus pyk x;kA

'kke dks vCnqy cSBk i<+ jgk Fkk] rHkhmldk è;ku ikl ds dejs esa vEeh dhvkokt dh vksj pyk x;kμ

^^;g esMy D;ksa fudky jgs gSa\** vEehiwN jgh FkhaA

^^vjs] bldk djuk D;k gS! bls cspnw¡xk rks vCnqy dk dksV rks cu tk,xk!**vCcw dg jgs FksA

vCnqy dks ekywe gS vCcw dks ;giqQVckWy esa feyk ind cgqr gh I;kjk gSA


mls ;kn gS] ,d ckj vCcw chekjiM+ x, Fks vkSj iSls dh fnDdr FkhArc vEeh us dg fn;k Fkk fd ;gind csp nhft, vkSj vCcw cgqrT;knk ukjkt gks x, FksA vCcw dksmlus blls igys dHkh brus xqLls esaugha ns[kk FkkA mUgksaus dg fn;k Fkkfd og ej tk,¡xs] ysfdu indugha cspsaxsA vCcw us gh crk;k Fkkfd igys ds yksx iQqVckWy [ksyrsFksA cktkj ds yksxksa us gh feydjturk Dyc cuk;k FkkA bl Dyc esanthZ] nqdkunkj vkfn f[kykM+h FksA izfrfnuvH;kl djrs&djrs lHkh vPNs f[kykM+hcu x, FksA bl Vhe us vusd eSp thrs FksvkSj ,d fnu turk Dyc us izns'k Lrj dhizfr;ksfxrk Hkh thr yh FkhA mlh esa lHkhf[kykfM+;ksa dks ,d&,d lksus dk indfeyk FkkA og ind vkt Hkh vCcw dks tkuls ”;knk I;kjk gSA

turk Dyc ckn esa VwV x;k] D;ksafdu, yksxksa us [ksy esa jQfp ugha yhA yksxdgus yxs fd ;g rks Ldwyh yM+dksa ds[ksy gSaA vCcw cM+s xoZ ls crkrs gSa fd tcturk Dyc dk eSp gksrk Fkk rks iwjk 'kgjgh [ksy ns[kus meM+ iM+rk FkkA

vCnqy dh vk¡[kksa esa vk¡lw NyNykvk,A vkt mlds dkj.k vCcw viuk indcspus dh rS;kjh dj jgs gSa] tcfd ogtkurk gS fd mlds vCcw bruh vf/desgur djrs gSaA blh cnkSyr mldh vkSjlyek dh i<+kbZ py jgh gSA og ,sls

fdrus gh flykbZ ds dkjhxjksa dks tkurk gSftuds ?kjksa esa Hkq[kejh ds gkykr gks tkrs gSaAmls eglwl gks jgk Fkk fd og xyr gS] mlsftn ugha djuh pkfg,A mlus eu&gh&eu,d iQSlyk dj fy;k vkSj i<+us yxkA

nwljs fnu tc vCnqy uk'rk djds Ldwytkus dh rS;kjh dj jgk Fkk rks vCcw cksys]^^vCnqy csVk] Ldwy ls rqe nqdku ij pysvkuk] vkt geyksx dksV dk diM+k [kjhnsaxsA**

^^ugha vCcw] esjk LosVj rks vHkh BhdgSA eSa dksV ugha yw¡xkA** vCnqy cksykA

^^D;ksa\ dy rks rqe dg jgs Fks fd tcrd dksV ugha feysxk] eSa Ldwy ugha tkm¡Qxk!**vEeh vk'p;Z ls cksyhaA

^^og rks eSa ,sls gh dg jgk FkkA vc eSaHkh cM+k gks x;k gw¡A** vCnqy us dgk vkSjcLrk mBkdj Ldwy py fn;kA

vEeh vkSj vCcw gSjkuh ls mls tkrs gq,ns[krs jgsA

vfHkO;fDr]iqfy;k dyka&262902 (m-iz-)


How the Camel got his Hump !Ratna Manucha

The camel was very tired indeed. He wastired of playing all day with otheranimals. He was tired of bowing beforethe lion because he was the King of theForest and he was tired of all thegreenery around him.

The grass was green, the leaves weregreen, and even the bushes were a dark,emerald green! The forest was so denseand green, that the camel could hardlysee the sky.

“I’m tired of this silly, green colour,”he thought to himself grumpily. He wasalways so unhappy and discontented thathe forgot to notice the beautiful,multicoloured-butterflies, the variousdesigns on the animal’s coats, theirlovely texture and the different hues ofthe wildflowers as they changed coloursalong with the sun’s position.

“I’m sick, sick, sick!” muttered thecamel to himself as he lazily nibbled ona blade of grass. “l’m sick of the samefriends, whose faces I see day in and dayout. I need a change.”

All the other animals would call himagain and again to play with them but thecamel kept refusing. They began towonder what was wrong with the camel.

“I am much better than all otheranimals. I have a beautiful coat and suchbig eyes! Look at my thick eyelashes!”Saying so, the camel would preenhimself by looking into a pond. He couldsee his reflection clearly in its still,glassy waters.

One day, the lion decided to organizea big party for all the animals of theforest. The dove was asked to be themessenger and carry the message to allthe animals and birds of the forest.

But, when it flew down to the camel,to tell him about the invitation, thecamel tossed his head in disdain.

“I don’t mix with ordinary folks likeyou,” he said scornfully, “I am toosuperior to be attending such sillyparties.”

The big day dawned bright and clear.All the animals woke up early and bathedin the stream so that they would be freshfor the party. It was a wonderful dayindeed!

The birds provided the music as theychirped, twittered and warbled merrily.The monkey was the drummer as he beata stick on the stump of an old tree. Theanimals were dancing without a care in


the world.

The camel could not bearthe loud noise. He stompedangrily to the clearing wherethe party was being held.

“Stop this noise at once!”he thundered. “I’m getting aterrible headache!”

The animals stoppeddancing and looked at thecamel in disgust.

“What a spoilsport!”they mumbled to each other. But the lioncould take this no longer. He was fed upof the camel’s behaviour.

“I must do something to teach thecamel a lesson,” he thought.

So, he prayed night and day to theLord of the Jungle to take the camelaway from the forest.

The Lord of the Jungle had beennoticing the camel’s discontent for along time and he understood exactlywhat the other animals were goingthrough.

The next morning, he called thecamel and said, “Since you areconstantly complaining, I have decidedto banish you from my forest. You willbe sent to the desert where you will beall alone, as you do not appreciate thecompany of other animals. Also, since

you are so proud of your looks, I amgiving you an ugly hump on your backwhich will forever remind you of howungrateful you were.”

Saying this, the Lord of the Junglewaved his arms and banished the camelinto a desert, far, far away.

This is how, the camel came to livein the desert, all alone. Now, he wouldnot complain about the noise his friendsmade, because there were no friends!

He could not call himself beautifulbecause he had a big, ugly hump whichhe carried around on his back all thetime, to remind him of his foolishness!

Little Flower School6, Haridwar Road

Dehradun–248001(Uttarakhand)


,d vuks[kh miyfC/MkW- ckuks ljrkt

Hkkjr ds iwoZ jk"VªifrvkSj oSKkfud MkW- ,-ih-ts- vCnqy dykevn~Hkqr izfrHkk ds/uh gSaA mUgsa ,VkWfedeSu] felkby eSu]'kykdk ekuo vkfnukeksa ls tkuk tkrk

gSA Hkkjr jRu MkW- vCnqy dyke ds ukevusdkusd miyfC/;k¡ ntZ gSa] ij os Lo;aviuh pkj miyfC/;ksa dks egRoiw.kZ ekursgSaA rhu miyfC/;k¡ foKku ds {ks=k ls lacafèkrgSaA pkSFkh miyfC/ mudk ,d ,slk dkjukekgS ftls vatke nsdj mUgksaus viwoZ 'kkafr dkvuqHko fd;k FkkA fodykax cPpksa ds fy,dqN djds mUgksaus vius dks /U; ekuk FkkvkSj vkt Hkh ekurs gSaA

gqvk ;ksa fd vfXu felkby ij 'kks/ dsnkSjku mUgksaus ,d u, inkFkZ dh [kkst dh]ftldk Hkkj cgqr de FkkA bl inkFkZ dksMkW- dyke us ^dkcZu&dkcZu* uke fn;kA

,d fnu fu”kke baLVhV~;wV vkWiQ esfMdylkb±ls”k ds vfLFk&jksx fo'ks"kK muls feyusvk,A mUgsa viuh iz;ksx'kkyk fn[kkrs gq,MkW- dyke us mUgsa u, inkFkZ dkcZu&dkcZu*dh [kkst dh tkudkjh nhA MkWDVj us mlsmBkdj ns[kk vkSj Hkkj esa cgqr gydk ikdjnax jg x,A ml [kkst dh iz'kalk djrs gq,og fopkjksa esa [kks x,A muds efLr"d esa os

fodykax cPps ?kwe x, tks Hkkjh dSfyilZ[khapus esa vR;f/d ihM+k lgu djrs gSaAmUgksaus dgk] ^^d`i;k vki bl inkFkZ lsfodykax cPpksa dks Hkkjh o”ku [khapus lseqfDr fnyk nsaA mUgsa rhu&rhu fdyks o”kuhdSfyilZ [khapus iM+rs gSa tks vR;ar ihM+knk;dgksrk gSA**

vfLFk&fo'ks"kK egksn; dh fodykaxcPpksa ds izfr laosnuk ls MkW- dyke nzforgks x,A mUgksaus bl laca/ esa dqN djus dkoknk fd;kA

MkW- dyke baLVhV~;wV tkdj fodykaxcPpksa ls feyssA dSfyilZ dh tk¡p dh vkSjykSVdj dke esa tqV x,A rhu eghuksa rdblh dke esa yxs jgsA fnu&jkr ,d djvarr% dsoy rhu lkS xzke o”ku okys ÝyksjvkFkksZfll oSQfyilZ* rS;kj djus esa liQygks x,A

MkW- dyke us vfLFk&jksx fo'ks"kK dkslwfpr fd;k vkSj baLVhV~;wV igq¡p x,A iz;ksx}kjk dSfyilZ dh dk;Z&iz.kkyh vkSjdk;Z&{kerk ns[kdj mu fodykax cPpksa dksfo'okl gh ugha gksrk Fkk fd vc os Hkkjhcks> ?klhVus dh ihM+k ls eqfDr ik tk,¡xsAbu cPpksa ds ekrk&firk rks Hkhxh vk¡[kksa lsMkW- dyke dk vfHkuanu djrs u Fkdrs FksA

vkdk'kok.kh ds lkeus] flfoy ykbalpanziqj (egkjk"Vª)


oSQysaMj dh vkRedFkkxksiky th xqIr

31 fnlacj dh jkr dks nwjn'kZuds fofHkUu pSuyksa ij u, lkydk jaxkjax dk;ZØe ns[kdjtc fuf[ky fcLrj ij ysVkrc mldh utj nhoky ijV¡xs oSQysaMj ij iM+h vkSj ;glkspdj fd dy lqcg ogogk¡ u;k okyk oSQysaMj Vk¡xnsxk og viuh vk¡[ksa can djlksus dh dksf'k'k djus yxkAuhan vkrs gh mlus ,d vuwBkliuk ns[kk--- mls yxk] nhokyij V¡xk oSQysaMj bulkuh :i/kj.k dj lkeus [kM+k gks x;kvkSj mls u, lky dh c/kbZnsrs gq, dqN dgus yxk---

^^fuf[ky] lksus ds igysrqeus r; dj fy;k fd rqedy esjs LFkku ij u;k oSQysaMjVk¡xksxs\ lp gS eSa vc csdkjgks x;k gw¡ vkSj eq>s ;gk¡ lsgVkrs gq, rqe ;g Hkwy tkvksxsfd eSaus rqEgkjs lkFk blh dejsesa iwjs 365 fnu fcrk, gSa] ijeSa rqEgsa ugha Hkwy ikm¡QxkA eSausbu ckjg eghuksa esa rqEgkjs lkFkgksyh dh eLrh Hkh ns[kh] xjeh


dh rfi'k Hkh] cjlkr dh ifu;kyh ckSNkjsaHkh >syh gSa] ljnh dh dM+dM+krh 'khr dhHkh vuqHkwfr dh gSA [kSj--- ifjorZu rks izd`frdk fu;e gSA tks vk;k gS og tk,xk Hkh]ij--- tkus ls igys eSa rqEgsa viuh vkRedFkklqukuk pkgrk gw¡] D;ksafd rqe ugha tkursfd eq>s vkt ds bl :i rd igq¡pus dsfy, fdruh ckj dkVk&Nk ¡Vk x;k]fdruh&fdruh ckj esjh mez ?kVkbZ&c<+kbZxbZ] fdruh ckj esjk uke cnyk x;k---

^^yxHkx 3000 lky igys jkse esa esjktUe gqvkA ml le; esjh mez nl eghuksa esac¡Vh 304 fnuksa dh FkhA rc ekpZ lky dkigyk eghuk rFkk fnlacj vafre ;kuh nlok¡eghuk gksrk FkkA bZlk&iwoZ 700 esa jkse dsiksfEify;l us lky ds 'kq: esa nks eghustsuqfj;l rFkk isQcqfj;l tksM+s] tks nsoh tSuqlrFkk isQjQvk ds uke ij j[ks x, Fks rFkkfnuksa dh la[;k gqbZ 360A jkse ds 'kkldtwfy;l lhtj (102&44 bZlk&iwoZ) ds 48bZlk&iwoZ esa jkT;kjksg.k rd vusd 'kkldesjh mez euekus <ax ls ?kVkrs&c<+krs jgs]ftlls esjh ,d:irk rFkk x.kuk dkiQhxM+cM+k pqdh FkhA rc rd eSa jkseu oSQysaMjds uke ls tkuk tkrk FkkA

bZlk&iwoZ pkSFkh 'krkCnh esa feÏ dsT;ksfrf"k;ksa us tku fy;k Fkk fd i`Foh }kjklw;Z dh ifjØek iwjh djus esa 365¼ fnuyxrs gSaA vr% mUgksaus 365 fnuksa okys o"kZdk lkSj iapkax cuk fy;k FkkA feÏh 'kkld

rsyksuh&r`rh; pkgrs Fks fd 'ks"k cps ¼ fnudh =kqfV Hkh Bhd dh tk,] fdarq iqjksfgrksads fojks/ ds dkj.k og bls Bhd ugha djldsA bZlk&iwoZ 48 esa twfy;l lhtj us;wukuh [kxksy'kkL=kh lkslhftukl ds lg;ksxls feÏh T;ksfrf"k;ksa }kjk cuk, 365 fnolh;iapkax dks è;ku esa j[krs gq, 46 bZlk&iwoZ esa,d la'kksf/r twfy;u oSQysaMj cuk;k rFkk¼ fnu dh =kqfV dks Bhd djus ds mís'; lspkSFks o"kZ esa ,d fnu c<+kus dk funsZ'k fn;kAblh ds lkFk rc rd gks pqdh =kqfV Bhddjus gsrq jktkKk izlkfjr dh fd ml lky(bZlk&iwoZ 46) esa dqy 445 fnuksa dk lkygksxk] rnarj 365 fnuksa dk] vkSj izR;sd pkSFkslky 366 fnuksa dk gksxkA

^^16oha 'krkCnh bZLoh esa jkse ds rsjgosaiksi xzsxjh (1502&1585) us ml le;izpfyr twfy;u oSQysaMj esa Hkh =kqfV ikbZAmUgksaus tkuk fd i`Foh lw;Z dk ,d pDdj365-2422 fnuksa (365 fnu 5 ?kaVs 48 feuV45-41 lsdsaM) esa iw.kZ djrh gS] u fd 365-2500 fnuksa esaA bl rjg twfy;u oSQysaMj esaHkh dqN vf/d le; tksM+k tk jgk gSAmUgks au s ;gwnh [kxksy'kkL=kh fØLVksiQjDysfo;l ds lg;ksx ls u;k la'kksf/r xzsxsfj;uoSQysaMj rS;kj fd;k rFkk blesa 21 ekpZ]1582 dks iM+us okys ouZy bDohukWDl dksvk/kj cukdj] bZlk dh tUe&frfFk dks1 tuojh] 01 ekurs gq,] fiNys 1581 o"kks±dh =kqfV dks Bhd fd;k vkSj ik;k fd


4 vDrwcj] 1582 rd dqy nl fnu vf/d tqM+ pqds FksA vr% mUgksaus 1582 dsdSysaMj ls nl fnu iwjh rjg xk;c djds'kq¼ fd;kA bl rjg 4 vDrwcj] 1582 dsvxys fnu dks 15 vDrwcj] 1582 dj fn;kx;kA fo'o bfrgkl esa ,slk igyh ckjgqvk--- gS u vk'p;Z dh ckr\

^^xzsxjh us yhi bZ;j ds fy, Hkh fu;efu/kZfjr fd,A mUgksaus dgk fd tks lk/kj.klu~ 4 ls iwjh rjg c¡V tk,¡xs ml lkyiQjojh 29 fnuksa dk gksxk vkSj lky 366fnuksa dk] ijarq ;g fu;e 'krkCnh o"kZ ijykxw ugha gksaxsA ogh 'krkCnh o"kZ ^yhibZ;j* gksxk tks 400 ls foHkDr gksxkA vr%1600 yhi bZ;j gqvk] rnarj 1700] 1800]1900 ugha] cfYd 2000 yhi bZ;j gqvkA;g O;oLFkk dSysaMj ds 'kq¼ gksus ds fy,dh xbZA vk/qfud [kxksy'kkfL=k;ksa us ik;kfd vc Hkh dqN =kqfV;k¡ py jgh gSa vkSjlu~ 3923 esa yxHkx ,d fnu dh o`f¼ gkspqdh gksxhA vr% lu~ 4000 ls os lHkhlgL=kkCnh o"kZ tks 4000 ls iwjh rjg foHkDrgks tk,¡xs os yhi bZ;j ugha gksaxsA ij ;gfu;e lkekU; lkyksa rFkk 'krkCnh lkyksa ijizHkkoh ugha gksaxs] os igys dh gh rjgpyrs jgsaxsA fuf[ky] rqEgsa ;g tkudj vk'p;Zgksxk fd baXySaM us lu~ 1751 rd xzsxsfj;udSysaMj dks ugha viuk;k Fkk vkSj ogk¡ bls1752 ls viuk;k x;kA

vc esjs ekfld ukeksa ds ckjs esa Hkh

tku yksμtuojh] iQjojh rks crk pqdk gw¡ekpZ eklZ xzg ds uke ij] ,izsfyl ds ukeij vizSy] nsoh ekbZ;k rFkk nsotuuh twukds uke ij ebZ] twu] twfy;l lhtj dsuke ij tqykbZ] vkWxLVl lhtj ds uke ijvxLr] jkseu vad lsIV] vkWDVks] usfoe ,oaMslse ds vk/kj ij flracj] vDrwcj] uoacjrFkk fnlacj uke j[kk x;kA

^^[kSj--- fuf[ky] vc lqcg gks jgh gS]eq>s vc fonk nksA eSa tk jgk gw¡A esjh ;ghdkeuk gS fd m"kk dk Lof.kZe izHkkr rqEgkjsthou dks [kqf'k;ksa ls Hkj ns! vPNk] esjsuUgs nksLr] vyfonk---!**

fpfM+;ksa dh pgpgkgVksa ls fuf[ky dhuhan [kqy xbZA mls [kq'kh gqbZ fd mls tksdSysaMj ls tkudkjh feyh og mlds fy,vHkwriwoZ gSA

^izsek¡xu*] ,e-vkbZ-th- 292dSykl fogkj] vkokl fodkl ;kstukdY;k.kiqj] dkuiqj&208017 (m-iz-)


Stomping Ground of Birds and Bird LoversNeera Jain

two hundred and fifty species of birds!Bird-watchers come from all over theworld to see the large variety of birdsthat either live here or visit it in thewinter.

We went to the sanctuary in lateAugust and found it a paradise fornature-lovers. Grasslands, wetlands anda variety of trees and bushes make youforget that dusty, crowded roads andnoisy traffic are not too far away. Here,there are pathways running through quietforests and on these narrow pathwaysyou can sit in a tonga and go bird-

watching. As our pony

trotted down thepathway that waslined with trees andbushes on both sides,we saw nothing butlots of greenery atfirst. Then suddenly,the tongawalla pulledthe pony’s rein and theanimal immediatelystood still.

Our tongawalla,Raju, pointed at a treeclose by. On the top

About two hundred kilometers fromDelhi, some thirty minutes after youcross Mathura, you reach Bharatpurwhich is famous for its bird sanctuary.Although most people still know it asBharatpur Bird Sanctuary, its propername is Keoladeo National Park.Keoladeo refers to Lord Shiva and thepark gets its name from the ancientKeoladeo temple in it.

The 29 sq km park is like an oasis ina desert and teems with birds from farand near. Before you enter it, you wouldnever imagine that – in it live more than


of a branch sat a bird. The guide passedus his binoculars and immediately thebird was clearly visible. It was a blue jayor the Nilkanth. Just then it flew awayand we saw a flash of bright blue feathers.How often had I searched for Nilkanthfeathers as a child! The blue feathersseemed absolutely magical and I usedto carefully preserve them in my books.

Another blue bird was sitting on abough overhanging a lake. It had a longbeak and orange underside and waspatiently waiting for the right momentto dive in. I was reminded of fishermenwho sit for hours with their bait danglingin water. The kingfisher also knowswhen to be quiet and when to dive in withlightning speed.

Then as we moved further down thepath, a hare darted across the road. Itsamazingly long ears looked like uprightcricket bats. We tried to follow itsmovement but it was gone in a wink andhad hid somewhere.

As we strained our eyes in thedistance, something else became visible,a full-grown deer. By and by, moreshapes became visible. There were threeor four deer grazing in the woods.“Sambhar” whispered our guide. It wasthe first time that we had seen deer inthe open and not in an enclosure.Seemed so right and natural!

Crow pheasants, peacocks, babblers,herons and egrets were so plentiful inthe park that we soon stopped exclaimingwhen we saw one.

I got excited when I saw a koel. Thiselusive bird has often tantalized me. Ihear it singing its summer song in thepark near my house and I run from treeto tree to find it but somehow I am neverable to find it.

Here at last was a koel in full view!

“Are you sure this is a koel?” I askedthe guide again and again. “Yes, yes itis.” The crow-sized black bird hadcrimson eyes and a slightly curved beak.Just then it called out and there it was,the unmistakable cry—kuuuooooo!

Another bird flew from a branch andjoined the black koel. It was brownishand spotted white. The guide told us thatthat was the female. She does not singas beautifully as the male; her song isjust—kik-kik-kik!

We also learnt that the koel belongsto the cuckoo family and like othercuckoos puts its eggs in the nests ofother birds. When the koel egg hatches,the fledgling often pushes out the eggsof the host from the nest. It wants thatthe hosts should feed only him.

Our most exciting sighting was thehuge flock of grayish-white birds thatsat on tops of trees in a distance. These


were migratory geese who had comefrom some far-off country and werepreparing to nest in the sanctuary.

Through our binoculars we couldsee that there was a great flurry ofactivity in the goose world. They werebusy building nests in which they couldlay their eggs and raise their young. InDecember, they would become evenbusier and that is when tourists wouldflock to the sanctuary to see them.

Keoladeo is famous for the largenumber of migratory water-fowl thatvisit it. Some use the park as a stopoverto rest before they continue theironward journey while others stay andbreed in the park.

The most famous of all the visitorsis the endangered Siberian Crane.

Once upon a time, this grand birdwas seen all over the Gangetic plain inwinter but extensive hunting has put anend to that.

Bharatpur is the only place wherethe Siberian Cranes winter in India. Theycome all the way from Russia, stop inAfghanistan and then spend the winterin Bharatpur. The journey is nearly 5,000kms.

It is amazing how they always knowwhat route to take and where to stop.Why do they come to Bharatpur? Mainlythey come, because it falls on their

route; and also because the park isprotected and offers them the right kindof habitat.

Keoladeo is home to so many birdsbecause it offers them food and waterin a safe place. How Keoladeo becamea haven for birds is also an interestingstory!

In the beginning, there was a foresthere which must have been quite densefor the local people called it ‘ghana’.This forest lay close to the confluenceof two rivers— Gambhir and Banganga.Maharaja Suraj Mal got a dam built herein 1760 and it became possible to floodthe low-lying area with water in acontrolled way.

Once Maharaja Ram Singh ofBharatpur happened to visit England, hesaw the duck-shooting preserves thereand thought that he too could developBharatpur as a duck-shooting area.

On returning home, he set about hisproject and created a marshy area whereducks could breed. This became apopular hunting ground for the royaltyand at times they obliged their Englishguests by inviting them to the hunts.

As time went by, people began tounderstand that instead of killing birdswe should protect them. In 1982, thesanctuary was declared a National Parkand a few years later it also got the status


of a World Heritage site. Now huntingand grazing are banned in this area.

If you look at the area of Bharatpuryou will see that it is quite dry. The treesare of the kind that grow in semi-aridareas. How is the Bharatpur sanctuaryso green and water soaked then?

The Ajan Bund (dam) that was createdby Maharaja Suraj Mal makes it possibleto flood the park with water from timeto time. Thus, artificial marshes arecreated here and fish are allowed tobreed in them. The marshes alsoencourage insects to breed and thus thebirds are assured of good meals. No

wonder water-fowl like this sanctuary!

Well whatever may be thetechnology behind Keoladeo GhanaNational Park, the fact is that when yousee cranes dancing their courtship dance,kingfishers diving for fish, mongoosestreaking across the paths and geesecackling away, you feel that this is oneplace that must never be disturbed. Andyou promise to yourself to come inDecember when the birds are mostplentiful.

[email protected]


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Interesting Facts about JanuarySurekha Sachdeva

January is the first month of the year inthe Julian and Gregorian calendars. It isnamed after ‘Janus’, the Roman god ofthe doorway. Being the first month ofthe calendar year, it brings newopportunities, joy and happiness to thepeople across the world. It is an eventfulmonth in the history of the world,especially India, because in this month,the Constitution of India came intoforce, India became Republic and manyother important historical events tookplace. Not only this, numerous Indianpersonalities were also born in thismonth.

1 January

● 1862: The Indian Penal Code cameinto effect

● 1877: Queen Victoria was proclaimedEmpress of India

● 1973: Field Marshal Sam HormusjiFramji Jamshedji Manekshaw,popularly known as Sam Bahadurwas appointed Field Marshal. He isthe first of only two Indian militaryofficers to hold the highest rank ofField Marshal of the Indian Army.The other was Field Marshal K MCariappa. Under his command,

Indian forces achieved success inthe war against Pakistan in 1971.

11 January

● 1966: Death of Shri Lal BahadurShastri, the second Prime Ministerof India in Tashkent, Russia (now inUzbekistan).

12 January

● 1863: Swami Vivekananda was bornin Kolkata. He addressed theWorld’s Parliament of Religionsheld in Chicago in September 1893and founded Ramakrishna Missionin 1897. In the year 1984,Government of India decided toobserve the birthday of SwamiVivekanand as National Youth Dayevery year.

14 January

● 1761: The Third Battle of Panipat(Haryana) was fought between theMaratha army led by Baji Rao andAfghan army of Ahmad Shah Abdali.

15 January

● 1949: General (later Field Marshal)K M Cariappa was appointed as thefirst Indian Commander-in-Chief of


Indian Army. He succeeded GeneralRoy Butcher of British Army.

● Celebrated as Army Day in India.The Chief of the Army Staff takesthe salute at the Army Day Paradein the Delhi Cantonment.

16 January

● 1761 : In the Battle of Wandiwash,the British defeated French andrestricted them to Pondichery. Thisbattle helped British establish theirsupremacy in India.

18 January

● 1842: Mahadev Govind Ranade, anoted historian, social reformist inthe field of child marriage, widowremarriage, and women’s rights and

a judge of the High Court of Bombaywas born in Nashik, Maharashtra.

19 January

● 1966 : Indira Gandhi was electedprime minister of India. She wasIndia’s first woman to headgovernment.

23 January

● 1897: Netaji Subhash ChandraBose, the founder of Indian NationalArmy (INA) was born in Cuttack,Odisha.

24 January

● 1855: Sarjoo Coomar GoodeveChauckerbutty was the first Indianto enter the Indian Medical Serviceas Assistant Surgeon.


● 1950: Dr Rajendra Prasad waselected as the first President of Indiaby the Constituent Assembly.

● 1950: The song ‘Jana Gana Mana’,composed originally in Bengali byGurudev Rabindranath Tagore, wasadopted in its Hindi version by theConstituent Assembly as theNational Anthem of India.

26 January

● 1930: Congress gave a call forPurna Swaraj and Independence Daywas observed all over the country.

● 1950: Constitution of India cameinto force.

● 2002: The Indian flag code wasmodified and after several years ofindependence, the citizens of Indiawere finally allowed to hoist theIndian flag over their homes, officesand factories on any day and not justnational days as was the case earlier.Now Indians can proudly display thenational flag any where and any time,as long as the provisions of the FlagCode are strictly followed to avoidany disrespect to the tricolour.

● Republic Day of India is celebratedacross the country. To honour theoccasion, a grand celebration is heldat New Delhi, the national capital.The different regiments of Army,

Navy and Air Force march in-synchrony from Rashtrapati Bhavan,along the Rajpath and reach the IndiaGate saluting the President of India,who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces.

27 January

● 1963: The patriotic song ‘Ai merewatan ke logon’ was sung for the firsttime by Lata Mangeshkar. Writtenby renowned poet Pradeep, the songcompleted 50 years in 2013.

28 January

● 1950: Supreme Court of India, the

highest court of justice of thecountry came into being.

30 January

● 1948: Mahatma Gandhi, leader ofthe Indian independence movement,was assasinated. It is observed asMartyr’s Day in India. A two-minutesilence in the memory of Gandhijiand other martyrs is observedthroughout the country at 11.00 am.

31 January

● 1923: Major Somnath Sharma, thefirst person to receive the Param VirChakra, the highest War TimeGallantry Award in India, was bornin Himachal Pradesh.

[email protected]


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Moin and the MonsterOne night, Moin encounters a monster.He has to learn to live with the monsterwho likes to eat bananas, sing silly songsand try out new hairstyles. But Moinfinds it hard to keep monster a secretfrom his parents and teachers anddecides to send monster back where itcame from.The author of the book has written overtwenty books for children, many ofwhich have received internationalawards. The book has been illustrated byAnitha Balachandran, an award winninganimation film-maker.

Moin and the MonsterAnushka Ravishankar

Duckbill Books` 160.00

Chika-Chik-Chik !

Shanti, a small girl who has beenhospitalized and is sick of being sick!When her friend Raj gives her akaleidoscope, her life changes. Everytime she views herself in thekaleidoscope something goes wrong.The right thing that happens is that sherecovers fast.

Jeyanthi Manokaran writes andillustrates for children. Based inBangalore, she is a versatile artist andworks in different genres and illustrationstyles. She has also been awardedUNESCO award for illustrating.

Chika-Chik-Chik !Jeyanthi Manokaran

National Book Trust, India

` 30.00

Book Review

Readers’ Club Bulletin · the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi on 21 November 2013....

Documents

Transcript of Readers’ Club Bulletin · the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi on 21 November 2013....