A postman with a difference Thursday, October 25, 2001
BY JAHNAVI CONTRACTOR, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: Sorting mail and delivering letters in the city by the day and writing 'garba' songs and poems by the night have become a part of life for Ramesh Makwana, a commerce graduate from M S University. Makwana is a postman with the Fatehgunj post office for the past 12 years.
But he is a postman with a difference -- not only is he a budding poet and singer, but he also has to his credit an audio cassette, 'Mataji na Garba', with the lyrics penned by him. Many of his poems have been published in Gujarati magazines and newspapers.
While his colleagues return home to relax after a hard day's work of delivering mails throughout the city, Makwana's literary and artistic side comes to fore after his duty hours.
He first goes to the MSU faculty of performing arts for his diploma classes in Indian classical vocal singing and thereafter returns home to embark on his next passion -- writing poems and songs -- as and when inspiration dawns.
"Being a postman is my profession which keeps me physically active and healthy. It also earns me a livelihood. But writing poems, 'Mataji na garbas' and songs keeps me mentally fit. I enjoy writing and singing. If I am able to earn enough to produce my own audio cassette (where he sings as well as writes the songs), I would definitely do so one day," he said.
"I was always interested in literature and writing since childhood. Though nobody in my family is a writer, my uncle used to sing. I used to stay in Salatwada where as a child I studied at Sharda Mandir. I started writing a few childish poems that I used to show to Harshad Trivedi (a poet and the then school principal). He used to encourage me, correct me and that's how I developed this passion," said Makwana.
Though Gujarati literature and music beckoned him, Makwana was forced to seek admission in the MSU department of commerce. "Everyone told me the only way to find work was to study commerce. I was not interested. I wanted to take up arts and specialise in Gujarati literature. But had to choose BCom instead. I did manage to get the job of a postman," he said.
"But I have now sought admission in Ambedkar Open University where I have registered for BA in Gujarati literature. Though I am not sure when I would get the degree. It is difficult to find that much time to study," he said.
Makwana, however, said earning a diploma in Indian classical vocal from the faculty of performing arts and a BA in Gujarati literature would not help him financially. "There is no commercial objective. I am doing this because I enjoy it," he said.
"I also love my work and look forward to it daily. As a postman I do not get the same kind of respect that I get as a literary person. People look at a postman as just another common man. But once they come to know that I also write poems and 'garba' songs their attitude change. They look amazed and respect me," he said.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Support price for groundnut, bajra fixed Thursday, October 25, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
GANDHINAGAR: The state government on Tuesday fixed the per quintal support price of groundnut and bajra at Rs 1,340 and Rs 485, respectively, to assist drought-hit farmers in the state.
The finance ministry has approved a revolving fund of Rs 26.25 crore to GUJCOMSASOL for the purchase of one lakh metric tonne of bajra from farmers in two phases.
Making the announcement, finance minister Nitin Patel said in presence of agriculture minister Purshottam Rupala that the state was poised for a record bumper production of 21 lakh tonne of groundnut during the current Kharif season. So the state government fixed the support price of groundnut at Rs 1,340 per quintal against the prevailing market price of Rs 1,130 per quintal.
He said this would help farmers to get a remunerative price for groundnut. The support price would become effective from October 31, to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
On October 31 GUJCOMSASOL will purchase groundnut from farmers at a function to be held at Amreli in Saurashtra in the presence of Chief Minister Modi. Agriculture minister Purushottam Rupala will also attend.
The chief minister also declared the support price of bajra at Rs 485 per quintal, after consultations with Rupala, to ensure remunerative price of the commodity to farmers.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Support price for groundnut, bajra fixed Thursday, October 25, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
GANDHINAGAR: The state government on Tuesday fixed the per quintal support price of groundnut and bajra at Rs 1,340 and Rs 485, respectively, to assist drought-hit farmers in the state.
The finance ministry has approved a revolving fund of Rs 26.25 crore to GUJCOMSASOL for the purchase of one lakh metric tonne of bajra from farmers in two phases.
Making the announcement, finance minister Nitin Patel said in presence of agriculture minister Purshottam Rupala that the state was poised for a record bumper production of 21 lakh tonne of groundnut during the current Kharif season. So the state government fixed the support price of groundnut at Rs 1,340 per quintal against the prevailing market price of Rs 1,130 per quintal.
He said this would help farmers to get a remunerative price for groundnut. The support price would become effective from October 31, to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
On October 31 GUJCOMSASOL will purchase groundnut from farmers at a function to be held at Amreli in Saurashtra in the presence of Chief Minister Modi. Agriculture minister Purushottam Rupala will also attend.
The chief minister also declared the support price of bajra at Rs 485 per quintal, after consultations with Rupala, to ensure remunerative price of the commodity to farmers.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Vadodara all set to celebrate Ramlila Thursday, October 25, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: Lord Ram is a shopkeeper, Pavanputra Hanuman is a school teacher, Ravana is a trader, Sita is a talented actress and the Vanar and Rakshas sena comprises of orphaned children from a remand home.
This is the cast of the traditional Ramlila that would be organised on Friday (Dussehra) at the Polo ground here by the Northern Indian Cultural Association (NICA). Keshav Mitra of NICA said this year organisers have decided to improve the lighting arrangements on the stage.
"We have kept the tradition of Ramlila alive for many years. This year too, a large number of our members have offered their services -- some as actors, others as stage hands or as organisers," he said.
The programme would begin at 5 pm on Friday. Mitra said transport commissioner G R Aloria would be the chief guest this year and expects over four lakh visitors. Three 60-feet effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad would be burnt on the occasion.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Vadodara all set to celebrate Ramlila Thursday, October 25, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: Lord Ram is a shopkeeper, Pavanputra Hanuman is a school teacher, Ravana is a trader, Sita is a talented actress and the Vanar and Rakshas sena comprises of orphaned children from a remand home.
This is the cast of the traditional Ramlila that would be organised on Friday (Dussehra) at the Polo ground here by the Northern Indian Cultural Association (NICA). Keshav Mitra of NICA said this year organisers have decided to improve the lighting arrangements on the stage.
"We have kept the tradition of Ramlila alive for many years. This year too, a large number of our members have offered their services -- some as actors, others as stage hands or as organisers," he said.
The programme would begin at 5 pm on Friday. Mitra said transport commissioner G R Aloria would be the chief guest this year and expects over four lakh visitors. Three 60-feet effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad would be burnt on the occasion.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
