सर्जेकोटाचा राजा!

सर्जेकोट

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सर्जेकोट हा अलिबागच्या कुलाबा किल्ल्याचा शेजारी. खरे तर हा कोट नव्हे एक मोठा बुरूजच आहे. कित्येकदा सर्जेकोटाला कुलाब्याचा अठरावा बुरूज म्हटले जाते!
हा सर्जेकोट बांधला गेला तो संभाजी महाराजांच्या कारकिर्दीत. त्याला कुलाब्यचा अंगरक्षक म्हटल तरी चालेल. तर असा हा सर्जेकोट, ह्याच्या भक्कम भिंती आजही शाबूत आहेत. दरवाजा तेवढा नाही आहे.
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महाराष्ट्र दिना निमित्त मी एकटाच निघालो फिरायला. मी ट्रेकिंग करतो ते मज्जा मारण्यासाठी नव्हे. मी गड पाहायला जातो. त्यामुळेच मला लोकांना सांभाळत बसायला आवडत नाही. मी काहीसा एकटा असण्यात आणि ह्या किल्ल्यांच्या सहवासात हरवून जाण्यात आनंद मानतो. मला इथला इतिहास मग जाणून घेता येतो आणि मुख्य म्हणजे प्रत्येक गड बारकाईने पाहता येतो. त्याचा अभ्यास करता येतो!

कुलाबा किल्ला, अलीबाग वरून.

जेव्हा मे अलिबागच्या किनार्‍याला पोहोचलो तेव्हा ओहोटी लागलेली होती. त्यामुळे कुलाबा हा भुईकोट झाला होता. कुलाब्यचा अगदी बाजूलाच उभा आहे तो सर्जेकोट. आपल्या मोठ्या भावाला सार श्रेय देऊन निवांत उभा.

लोकांचा ओघ होता तो कुलाब्याच्या दिशेने. सर्जेकोटाकडे कुणी ढुन्कून देखील पाहत नव्हत! आणि ही मंडळी कुलाब्यावर करत काय होती? एकमेकांचे फोटो काढणे, गप्पा मारणे ह्यात रममाण. करा ना गंमत, काढा ना फोटो, मी कुठे नाही म्हणतोय? पण इतिहासाची काही जाण? का सत्य माहीत नसेल तर खुशाल काहीच्या काही फेकायच? आणि सगळ्या थापा मारुन पुढे एक शिवाजीच नाव लावला की ते सत्य होत?

असो.

मे जेव्हा तिथल्या एका माणसाला विचारल, की बाबा, सर्जेकोटवर जाता येत का? तिकडे कुणी जात की नाही? तर तो म्हणाला की तिथे जाता येत पण तिथे फक्त एक विहीर असल्यामुळे तिथे कोणीच जात नाहीत! ही तर माझ्या साठी एक मेजवानीच होती जणू! संपूर्ण सर्जेकोट माझीच जणू वाट पाहत उभा होता!

सर्जेकोट, कुलब्याहून!

माझा कुलाबा पाहून झाल्यावर जणू कुणी हाक मारुन बोलवल्यासारखी पावल आपोआप सर्जेकोटाच्या वाटेवर पडली. कुलाबा आणि सर्जेकोट, ह्या मध्ये एक दगडी सेतू आहे. तो सेतू ओलांडून मे सर्जेकोटाच्या द्वाराकडे निघालो.

सरेजोकोटाच पडलेल दार.

सर्जेकोटाच द्वार कधीच पडून गेल आहे. त्याचे भक्कम बुरूज मात्र तसेच उभे आहेत. असंख्य लाटांचा मारा थोप्वित! सर्जेकोटमध्ये प्रवेश केल्यावर सर्वात प्रथम नजरेस पाडते ती एक विहीर आणि त्यावर उगवलेल एक सुंदर फुलांनी सजेलल चाफ्याच झाड.

झाडावर सुंदर चाफा आणि विहिरीत गाळ!

झाडाला फुला खूप आहेत न सुंदर आहेत पण विहिरीत पाणी कमी आणि गाळ जास्त आहे. शेजारीच तटावर जाण्यासाठी पायर्‍या आहेत. पायर्‍या मात्र अगदी सुस्थितीत!

अत्यन्त सुंदर आशा पाय्र्या!

मी तटावर चढलो आणि सार पाहून घेतल. उत्तरेस खान्देरि-उन्देरी ही जोडी पहिली.सार झाल्यावर मी आलो आणि तटावर बसलो. त्या उष्ण वातावरणात देखील एक थंड हवेची झुळुक आली आणि मन सुखावून गेली.

सर्जेकोटाचा तट

लहानपणी एक गोष्ट वाचलेली, ती आठवली. गोष्ट अशी होती की एका रिकाम्या गढीचा ताबा घ्यायला एका शिपायाला पाठवल जात. त्याला एकट्याला पाठवतात कारण शत्रू त्या गढीवर चालून येईल अशी मुळीच अपेक्षा नसते, तो शिपाई तेथे पोहोचतो खरा पण शत्रू चालून येत असल्याचे त्याला कळते.

जराही विलंब न करता तो लगेच गढीचा दरवाजा लावून घेतो आणि शत्रू जवळ येताच त्यावर बंदुकींचा मारा करतो. एका बंदुकीचा बार उडवून लगेच धावत जौन दुसरी बंदुक उडवण अस तो करतो आणि शत्रूला अस भासवतो गढीवर भरपूर सैनिक आहेत. शेवटी तो थकतो आणि गढी शत्रूच्या स्वाधीन करतो तेव्हा कुठे शत्रूच्या ध्यानात खरी गोष्ट येते.

माझ अगदी तसच झाल! गडावर मी एकटाच. बसल्या बसल्या मनाला एक विचार चाटून गेला. कधी ना कधी कान्होजी आंग्रे स्वतः ह्या तटावर आले असतील.ह्याच मातीमध्ये त्यांची पावले पडली असतील! इथली धूळ पवित्र झाली असेल! तटावरून आपली जाणती नजर त्यांनी फेकली असेल. सभोवतलीचा परिसर न्याहळला असेल. गडातील अधिकार्‍यांना सूचना केल्या असतील....अंगावर कसा रोमांच उभा राहिला!

आज इथे फक्त मीच होतो. कुलाब्याला येणार्‍या एकाही व्यक्तीला इथे यावेसे वाटत नव्हते. इथे गडकरी मी, शिपाई मी, गोलंदाज मी, सार सार काही मीच! जणू काही सर्जेकोटाचा राजाच झालो मी! आज जर सर्जेकोटावर कोण चाल करून आल तर तो दरवाजा लढवण्याची शर्थ मीच छातीचा कोट करून केली असती! आणखी कोण होत तिकडे?

म्हटल, "अरे सर्जा, तू एकटा. तुला सार जग विसरून गेल, कोणाच्या ध्यानात देखील तू नाहीस. मी देखील एकटाच आलो आहे तुला भेटायला. तू एकटा आणि मी देखील एकटाच! सार जग आपल्याला विसरून गेलय. तुझ्या ह्या दगडी अस्तित्वात काय रहस्य दड्ली आहेत कुणास ठाऊक? कधी ते कुणाला कळणार देखील नाही! माझ्यासारखा एखादाच वेडा असेल जो तुला भेट देईल! आजतू माझा गड न मे तुझा गडकरी! राजाच जणू एका दिवसाचा!"

-प्रांजल वाघ

This work by Pranjal A. Wagh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License

Marathi Saunskruti Sangraha is online!!

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Marathi Saunskruti Sangraha or MSS, a venture of which I am proud of being a part launched its website on 1st May 2009 that is on the auspicious ocassion of Maharashtra Day. The sentiments and the reason behind the foundation of MSS and the website is what Ojus Narawane attempts to tell you through this article!

Visit the website and do give us the feedback!!
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मराठी संस्कृती संग्रह
लाभले आम्हास भाग्य बोलतो आम्ही मराठी!

Namaskar Mandali ,

We are extremely delighted to announce the release of our website, MarathiSS.com; that’s right, we have our own home on the web now. It also gives us great pleasure to tell you that we are particularly lucky to have Maharashtra Day as the auspicious day of our site release :).

After going through the Vision and Mission, you must have recognized the reason we are pushing for more and more text being written in English script, but of course in Marathi Language. This site chiefly aims to promote other Marathi Sites, which beautifully capture the essence of the rich and varied Marathi culture.

I felt there was a need to have something that provides a snapshot, as well as a doorway to the Marathi Culture online, especially for people like me … an average Marathi youth disconnected in many ways from Marathi Culture, yet proud of being Marathi, based on whatever knowledge I have about Marathi culture :). I felt that a website, especially something like File hippo, a directory that would point to all interesting sites grouped into various categories would serve the purpose.

So, thus began my discussion regarding the site, with Harshad, who is an expert when it comes to knowledge about Marathi culture. Having grown up in the Culture capital of Maharashtra, Harshad is, especially very well acquainted with anything that is related to Marathi Food, Theatre and Music ;). Ok, after brainstorming for a few weeks we had a few plans in mind now, but then who was going to put them up online in a proficient way, so that people actually felt like visiting the site again and again ;). The answer obviously was, Amey. Amey is an expert when it comes to web designing and related technologies. The entire site’s beauty is attributed to none other than him.

So thus began the journey of MSS…

After facing few restrictions in terms of creativity at the wiki dot site, we decided to buy our very own domain, and marathiss.com sounded so perfect and beautiful ;). And thus began the process of collecting interesting Marathi sites and grouping them in their relevant categories. We also have a forum which serves as a platform for members to discuss anything regarding Marathi culture. Just recently, Pranjal has joined the MSS team. We now have a professional blogger and experienced trekker with us to give a boost to MSS .

You can consider this site as hobby work done by four youngsters who are passionate about Marathi culture. We feel there needs to be greater representation of budding Marathi Culture talent and entrepreneurship on the World Wide Web as well as the real world. This idea was basically born after facing certain situations in the very capital of Maharashtra. To be precise, we usually have had situations where we have gone to the extent of organising weekend food trips to cities like Pune, cause there is a severe non availability of Marathi Food when it comes to places like Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. This is perhaps because Maharashtrians are not that enterprising or business minded as compared to other communities of India :). Which is why it’s sometimes sad to see an extremely rich and varied culture not receiving the appreciation and visibility it deserves. Through this site, we wish to promote Marathi Culture in our very own small way and also appeal to people to be a little more enterprising when it comes to publicising and promoting a product, an item ,a foodstuff or a bit of Marathi culture, however small or tiny it maybe. Just like Vada pav, Pav Bhaji, Misal Pav, Veg Kolhapuri are popular, wouldn’t it be nice to see Sabudanyachi Khichadi, Thalipeeth, PuranPoli, Varan Bhat, Piyush or Basundi or even Faral items listed in a regular restaurant menu along with the regular North Indian and South Indian cuisine? There are many small specialities which are linked to specific regions of Maharashtra like Konkan, Varad, Marathwada and their availability is limited to that region only. Kai Majja yete when naatevaikankade gelyavar kadhi Kokanatali fish curry khayala milate, kiva Varadaat ani Kolhapurat jaun masta tikhat jevan and thecha milato. It would be even nicer to see ashya chotya mothya goshti commercialised and documented on the World Wide Web before the knowledge base is lost in the coming years. The best way to start this is, I feel, through the medium of the internet, which is the first choice of seeking information for the present generation … I mean, wouldn’t it be nice to see a greater representation of Marathi Culture in a Bollywood Film, when it’s possible to have every alternative song in Bollywood, in Punjabi ; or isn’t it high time we have a entry about Music Directors like Ajay Atul featured in Wikipedia? By stating this example in a blog entry, we are basically trying to explain our feelings behind having such a site online. In fact there are many aspects to this, which can be discussed here, not restricted to Food, Movies and Music alone. We don’t mean to show disrespect for any culture or demean anyone; we have tremendous respect for cultures of all other states and regions and also for their peopleJ. It’s only that, we are simply fans of Maharashtra, its Culture and its simple and loving people, just the way you are, and are very happy to be involved with a project that will promote ‘Aapala Marathmola Culture’ in our own special way :).

We encourage well wishers to support the site if they like what we are doing. Our aim is not content creation, but to simply promote the already existing or newer content on the web and put it forward to the world, in the form of a Sangraha. Great efforts have been taken by the members of The MSS Team to gather information about sites which can be listed, but I am sure you too have a lot more suggestions regarding interesting sites which can be added in the Sangraha. So, do get your sites, personal WebPages, Picasa albums and blogs and help us promote you in our own small way. We have even made a forum for you to have discussions with likeminded individuals in your area of interestJ. Your comments and suggestions and praises and even curses are most valuable and will only help us improve. Do report dead links, incorrect classifications or any other mistakes from our side. We will try to rectify the errors as soon as possible. Finally, we would like the Sangraha to grow and take the shape of something like a Google or Yahoo online web directory…

Hope you have a wonderful experience throughout your time spent at MarathiSS.com :).

Regards,
Ojus Narawane
Team MSS

A Wild day at the Stock Exchange!

Here is something I picked up from the Internet. This cartoon was published in the International Herald Tribune on October 27 1989.

Have a look and a laugh!

 

Cheers!!

Pranjal Wagh

Right To Information Act, RTI 2005

Be informed....

We Indians always live and look up forward to be the most successful as a democratic nation & as a whole always seek for ‘Right of Righteousness’ in every sphere of life. ‘Democracy’ is not defined anywhere but in short all can be said is that democracy is a form of Government which is indirectly run by citizens, this being the most fundamental definition seen in the civics textbooks, although quite meaningful. Well there might be bit surprise as to why Democracy is being defined, if yes then there’s a simple answer that with every issue we face in India, we bring democracy into picture.

Why was it needed?

There in backyard lies the way to achieve this right of righteousness. To seek this, constitution laid down many fundamental rights for citizens and made it suited for people from the most diverse culture. The primary aim was to setup a People’s Government, although practical stories are rather lunatic and nowhere close, but anyways any elaboration on that part being fruitless.

There is a long chain of problems in India prevailing among masses. I found this chain of problems the most logical way to express the hierarchy of problems. Each problem depending on the predecessor and giving birth to a new problem.

Population à Masses Illiterate à Rich and poor difference/fissure à A mass competitive world àRat Race à Crime à Corruption à Ambiguous system à Frauds à & many more.

This is not the complete chain. On the contrary this all led to a sense of insecurity, injustice, & corrupted the minds of the common man. Then there emerged this fundamental right, though entrusted quite late, Right to information act, 2005.

Back to the topic again

RTI, the acronym for Right to Information is one of the indispensable acts passed by the Parliament and approved by the then Hon President of India in 2005. June 15^th, 2005 was date when this was given the approval. The aspect here is to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central Information Commission and State Information commissions and those all related matters.

It falls in the 56^th year of our nation being republic. All lies in the vested interest of the general public and boon in the process of harmonising the democracy and nation building. Successively this led to win people’s heart and confidence in the system was reinstated once again.

However the act does not apply to the state of Jammu and Kashmir unless endorsed by the State’s Legislature. Now as per the act General Public has the right to get the information of almost every ministry affairs, appellate affairs, those all falling under the Union Government i.e. Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha, the Indian embassies over the worldwide, Indian Parliament.

Hereby for the General Public, PIO’s(Public information officers), APIO’s(Assistant Public information officers), CIC(Central information Commission), SIC(State information Commission) acts as a interface and are appointed to help cordially and provide the needed information.

Who all are these people? A brief description:

PIO(Public information officers):

PIOs are the officers appointed by the public authorities appointed in administrative units or offices under it to provide the information the citizens who requested for it. PIO seeking for the needful information must get all the kind attention and also the concerned officer whose assistance is sought should render his/her duties, as per the act. The officer entrusted with this duty is recognized as a PIO.

APIO(Assistant information officers)

Every PIO is essentially designated with a APIO and forwarding the requisition are some of the duties entrusted upon him/her.

CIC(Central information commission)

This appeal is made through a Gazette Notification (Leading Newspapers do publish this). On the appointment of the Commission every time a Chief of information commissioner is appointed by the President of India and not more than 10 information commissioner’s are appointed at the same time. The eligibility to get appointed is to have an intellect in various fields of administration, commerce, economics, Science and Technology, Law and Government affairs. The office is centrally located in New Delhi but other offices for IC’s are sorted out with the permission of Central Government.

SIC(State information commission)

The same way as CIC, the appeal for SIC is made through a Gazette Entry. The Chief of Commissioner is appointed by the Governor of the State. Along with that several IC’s are also appointed, the number not exceeding than 10. The same way, office locations are decided by the State Government.

The Common rules are set for both the commissions.

An Eligibility criterion is set, and is same for officers of both the Commissions.

Term of office is for 5Years and no officer is entitled to get re-elected.

Salary

The salary in case of CIC is the same as that of Chief of Election Commissioner.

In case of SIC, the salary is same as that of the Chief Secretary of the State Government.

The CIC/SIC hold due powers of governance:

1. The Central Information Commission/State Information Commission has a duty to receive complaints from any person -

a)	who has not been able to submit an information request because a PIO has not been appointed;
b)	who has been refused information that was requested;
c)	who has received no response to his/her information request within the specified time limits ;
d)	who thinks the fees charged are unreasonable ;
e)	who thinks information given is incomplete or false or misleading ;and
f)	Any other matter relating to obtaining information under this law.

2. Power to order inquiry if there are reasonable grounds.

3. CIC/SCIC will have powers of Civil Court such as -

a)	summoning and enforcing attendance of persons, compelling them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce documents or things;
b)	requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;
c)	receiving evidence on affidavit ;
d)	requisitioning public records or copies from any court or office
e)	issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents
f)	Any other matter which may be prescribed.

4. Power to secure compliance of its decisions from the Public Authority includes-

a)	providing access to information in a particular form;
b)	directing the public authority to appoint a PIO/APIO where none exists;
c)	publishing information or categories of information;
d)	making necessary changes to the practices relating to management, maintenance and destruction of records ;
e)	enhancing training provision for officials on RTI;
f)	seeking an annual report from the public authority on compliance with this law;
g)	require it to compensate for any loss or other detriment suffered by the applicant ;
h)	impose penalties under this law; or
i)	Reject the application. Well, let’s summarize and take it cut-short way. RTI, 2005 Ø The application procedure is also simple and can be taken in stride by almost anyone. Ø The application is to be made on a Plain Paper writing the details of the information that is needed, however it is not mandatory to explain the reason for seeking the information. Ø A subscribed fee is to be submitted. Usually it ranged around Rs 2, Rs 3-5 as per the medium of information reception requested. Ø It may include almost every type of information transmission, electronic, prints and almost every document can be scrutinized. Such is the significant act passed by our Parliament. As per internet source, around 42000 people have applied in 2005 and requested for the information covering various areas of ministry. Lastly, this blog-entry is meant to provide some inputs about the act and also make the general people aware about our rights. People should approach the authorities and make the system transparent and apparently reduce the flaws to put our nation at a Stead-fast growth. For more on the Act and regulations visit http://rti.gov.in/ Regards, Chaitanya Wakhale