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are a few abstracts of articles published
in May - June issue of G&Y
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Skiing to the South Pole
Staff Reporter
 Representing five continents, six faiths, and seven languages a team of eight women from across the Commonwealth countries arrived at the South Pole at 23:09 on 29th December 2009. The first women from India to ski to the South Pole, Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu was selected to be part of the expedition. Skiing 900 kms in 38 days from the coast of Antarctic, the team achieved a number of records.
The first women from India to ski to the South Pole, Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu, is a trained and experienced mountaineer. Comparing mountain climbing with her first expedition on skies she said, “In both kind of expeditions, success depends on team work, looking out for each other, taking care of oneself, looking after the equipment, communicating well and sharing a vision. Also, both need the person to be mentally and physically strong with tolerance for adversity and uncertainty.”
Short listed from about 800 women who had applied to join the Expedition, Reena was one of the two women from India invited to join a training/selection camp in Norway in February 2009. At the camp on the Hardangervidda plateau, after rigorous training the eight members for the expedition were finalised, Reena finding a place among them. A second training took place in New Zealand in September 2009. During this entire period Reena worked on individual fitness. Her training regime focused on improving stamina and endurance as well as strength through a combination of low-intensity endurance work and high-intensity resistance training.
The route selected for the expedition began at sea level, at the edge of the Ronne-Filchner ice shelf and then gained more than 9000 ft in altitude. It ended at the Geographic South Pole marked by the Amundsen-Scott base operated by the American science programme.
During the Expedition the team survived on lightweight dehydrated rations and melted snow. They slept in tents on the ice at night and pulled sledges containing all the food, fuel and equipment they needed. Travelling without a guide, the team relied on each other to navigate themselve s safely to the bottom of the world. Reena currently freelances as an outdoor instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership Schoo l, USA and hopes her achievement will inspire other girls in India to participate in adventure activities.
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Tribes of Chhattisgarh
Story Dr Saraswati Raju
The State of Chhattisgarh is transforming and contrary to the older generation where tribal or non-tribal status impacted the way people would access amenities such as literacy, the disparities in the population are disappearing rapidly.
About one-third of Chhattisgarh’s population is tribal. Another 16 per cent belong to scheduled castes while 42 per cent are from other backward
castes. The State is largely rural in character with about 80 per cent of its population living in rural residences and largely depending upon agriculture as means of livelihood. Although the share of primary sector in the net state domestic product has gone down over the years accompanied by progressively increasing share by the secondary sector indicating that the State is undergoing industrial development, agriculture is still the mainstay of thousands of tribes. As per the 2004-2005 data by the National Sample Survey, the tribal and non-tribal population is not very different in their social attributes such as marital status, but the tribal and non-tribal divide manifests itself in the parameters of literacy and attainment of education. The tribal females are much closer to non-tribal females than their male counterparts suggesting that females irrespective of their non-tribal/tribal status occupy a gendered space in the educational hierarchy as females.
The Author is professor in Social Geography at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
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Sanitation Initiative: involving schools
Story Staff Reporter
Under the National School Sanitation Initiative, a launch event was organised on April 27, 2010 by the Ministries of Urban Development and Human Resource Development. The initiative aims to involve children by sensitising them on issues related to sanitation as well as other ecological concerns like energy efficiency, conservation of natural resources and segregation of waste. Brand Ambassador for School Sanitation, film star Aamir Khan participated in the event.
The National School Initiative is a part of the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP) which was adopted in October 2008, with the vision to develop sanitised, healthy and liveable towns and cities. Some measures initiated for implementing the Policy include, awareness generation and behavioural change; open defecation free cities; integrated city wide sanitation; sanitary and safe disposal and proper operation and maintenance of all sanitary installations. The NUSP requires each state to formulate its own State Urban Sanitation Strategy taking into account its local urban context. Cities will operationalise the state strategy by preparing and implementing City Sanitation Plans. With the active participation and involvement all stakeholders, including the children, India may yet achieve its vision of totally sanitised cities.
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Evolution, Climate Change and Oriental Monsoon
Story Dr Nityanand Singh, Dr H N Singh and Ashwini Ranade
The Earth’s atmosphere comprises of 78.08 per cent of nitrogen, 20.95 per cent of oxygen; rest are argon, carbon dioxide, water vapour and traces of various other gases. The total mass of the atmosphere is 5 x 105 metric tons, 80 per cent of which is confined to about 12 km. There is no definite boundary between the atmosphere and the outer space although the atmospheric effect is noticeable up to the altitude of 120 km. For practical purposes, the altitude of 100 km is the presumed boundary between the atmosphere and outer space, known as the Karman Line.
The following vertical layers are identified in a standard atmosphere - thickness and vertical temperature variation: troposphere (surface to 10 km; 17 oC to -60˚C), stratosphere (10 to 30 km; 0˚C to -60˚C), mesosphere (30 to 80 km; 0˚C to -90˚C), thermosphere (80 to 400 km; 500˚-1500˚C to -90˚C), ionosphere (50 to 400 km) and exosphere (beyond 400 km). Generally, atmospheric parameters display relatively stationary behaviour for a period of about 30 years; the mean of which is therefore treated as its normal value for any climatic parameter. The earth’s climate has a history extending over ~4.5 billion years.
The Author are scientists from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.
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Plants that Absorb Too Much
Dipanjan Ghosh
Plants have varying capacity to absorb water for sustenance. While a large tree may absorb a huge amount, others may store water for use during scarcity. A judiciously planned layout that accredits the physiological background of a plant is a must before using it for ground water reclamation.
The water crisis in Darjeeling hills of India has become common knowledge. A mix of human and physical factors such as the arrival of refugees, yearly influx of tourists, indiscriminate use of underground water and irregular rainfall have contributed to this state of affairs.
However, a little known cause for this water shortage can be traced to the Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) trees, locally known as Dhuppi - widespread in Darjeeling and brought to the hills by the British. Recent observations suggest that the rate of water absorption and transpiration of Japanese cedar is much higher than any other tree species found in the Darjeeling region. Japanese cedar is exotic to India and its role in ground water depletion has remained imperceptible for a long time. Let us see, how different trees/plants use water and understand their implications.
The Author is based in Burdwan, West Bengal, keyurghosh777@hotmail.com.
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Managed Aquifer Recharge
Story P K Naik and K C Naik
MAR is a term that has been suggested for a process through which recycled water is stored in an aquifer under controlled conditions. As this water enters the sub soil and aquifer it is subjected to several organic processes which remove pathogens and harmful chemicals from the water, reducing contaminants which may adversely affect health and environment.
By 2025 at least 40 per cent of world’s 7.2 billion people are likely to face serious problems related to freshwater for agriculture, industry or human health. Water management would thus be the key to meet present and future needs with currently available surface and groundwater resources while at the same time preserving terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) refers to intentional storage and treatment of recycled water in aquifers under controlled conditions either for withdrawal at a later date or to be used as a barrier to prevent saltwater or other contaminants from entering the aquifer. The term ‘artificial recharge’ has also been used to describe this activity - which however, has an adverse connotation particularly when community participation is becoming increasingly prevalent in water resources management. Hence the suggestion for a new name.
Water can be recharged through infiltration by basins, galleries or by use of injection wells. Different types of water can be used as a source of MAR such as captured storm as well as treated wastewater depending upon availability, conditions of the aquifer and the potential uses of recovered water.
The Author are scientists, Rajiv Gandhi National Ground Water Training and Research Institute and Central Ground Water Board, Raipur
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Ambika Kalna Temples of Burdwan
Story Rajesh K Singh
Ambika Kalna is a small town in West Bengal,made famous by its terracotta temples which are devoted to the gods and goddesses of Indian mythology. The various sculptures etched in terracotta synthesise a wide range of indigenous architectural forms of the Bengal country side.
Located in Burdwan district, about 75 kms north of Kolkata, Kalna is one of the very few places where a wide variety of terracotta temples can be seen. As per several historical sources the town takes its name after Goddess Ambika Siddheswari - one who fulfils the cherished desires. The composite nomenclature is ‘Ambika-Kalna’.
Kalna’s location on the bank of river Hooghly had led to its development as an important port. Its location enroute to the holy cities of Puri, Varanasi and Prayag ( Allahabad) further helped the town to become a pilgrimage centre. The port of Kalna gained importance during the 15th and 16th centuries and retained its dominant position as long as the river served as the only channel of communication and trade. With the introduction of railways in the 19th century the importance of Kalna as a port declined. However, its remarkable brick and laterite temples have ensured that it retains a permanent place of prominence on the pilgrim and tourist map of India.
The author is Deputy Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority, New Delhi, email: singhkrajesh@hotmail.com
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The Chhau Dance of Purulia
Story Sumit Chakraborty
 Chhau, a form of tribal martial dance of India, is believed to have originated in the former princely state of Mayurbhanj. Today, three variations of the dance are performed in eastern India - Seraikella Chhau in Jharkhand, Mayurbhanj Chhau in Orissa, and Purulia Chhau in West Bengal. All the dances are performed with masks. However the masks, style and accompanying music of each form is noticeably different.
Origin
Purulia is the westernmost district of West Bengal. Its location is a funnel for the monsoon current from the Bay of Bengal to the north western parts of India - it also forms a corridor between the hinterlands in Orissa, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, and the developed industrial belts of West Bengal. The present district came into existence only in 1956 and unavailability of proper historical documents makes it difficult to determine the origin and antiquity of the Chhau dance form. In the past, parts of eastern India was inhabited by the so called ‘hostile tribes’. However, it is believed that during 12 to 14 AD few Hindu rulers established control over small pockets in the region. It was perhaps under their influence that Chhau became a part of the tribal life. In the recent past the Bagmundi ruler patronised the dance form. The diminishing royal support, unproductive land and ever failing rains forced the performers to migrate to nearby urban areas in search of a living.
The author is a freelance writer and photographer from Kolkata. Email: goodfriends19@gmail.com
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