Soldiering on

Tragedy struck Nargis when her husband Naqvi, an air force pilot, was killed as his helicopter crashed in the Siachen glacier. Nargis, who had only studied till class XII, had to take care of her children — son Nihal (4), and daughter Sabiha (3). She resolved to give her children a comfortable life, a dream that she and her husband shared.
But the meagre pension was insufficient for good education. So she decided to graduate; later enrolling for a PG degree, and a teacher's training course, all the time working in temporary teacher's jobs.
Says Nargis, "Naqvi treated me like a queen, but suddenly that queen was on the road. I would have broken down, but for my children." During this period, she also dismissed her relatives' suggestions of remarriage.
Fighting initial despair, she told herself she was a soldier's wife and so should face difficulties. Her husband's colleagues and relatives gave her strength in those hours of crisis. Every night, during dinner, she would talk to her children about Naqvi, as she wanted them to feel that they were not orphans, and "this strengthened our relationship."
But life was a struggle and it took her eight years to get a gas agency for which she was eligible. "If an IAF pilot's wife has to face such a challenge, I wonder the plight of other women in my situation," she says.
Even after she got the gas agency in 1995, local goons laid siege to her agency threatening to `slit the throat' of anybody who dared to enter the premises. But she fought back, telling the female relatives of the gang leader that she was the widow of an IAF pilot, and was being harassed. This worked!
Today, her agency has won awards for excellent service. Sabiha is happily married, while Nihal is studying to be a dental surgeon. Nargis has also become a prominent name in social work in East Delhi and Noida. Says Nargis, "Today, when I see both my kids dealing with life so beautifully, I can't help admiring them.
"My message to women in similar circumstances is: Trust yourself and remember that the more hurdles you cross, the stronger you get."

Kheer medicine for asthma!

He is a practising physician for 364 days in a year. But on the full-moon night of Poovar's Poranmashi (the last full moon prior to Diwali), Dr Anoop Kumar Srivastava, sheds his doctor's robe to distribute a traditional medicine for chronic asthma patients.
Thousands of patients from far and near descend on his house, bringing along kheer (a milk delicacy) in earthen bowls to consume the medicine at midnight.
This practice has continued at Dr Srivastava's house in Lucknow for the past 75 years, right from the time of his grandfather, Pyare Lal Srivastava, a locally famous homeopath.
The kheer is made using old chawal (rice) cooked in cow's milk in an earthen vessel heated by burning cow-dung and without any sugar. No metal, not even a steel spoon, can be used during the cooking. The medicine is added to the kheer and consumed on the spot. The patient is advised not to sleep or drink water for two hours after taking the medicine. "It is purely a traditional medicine and contains neither steroid nor anything harmful," says the doctor.
He, however, admits that he doesn't believe that there is anything special about that particular night chosen for distributing the medicine. "As a doctor I think this night is same as any other," he says and adds, "Or, perhaps, it is one way of fixing a day for the medicine as otherwise people would queue here every day."
The fact that he has seen people benefiting from the medicine is what spurs him to continue the practice, he says.
"It is a matter of faith as some people believe that amrit (elixir) falls from the sky on this night. More importantly, I am following the tradition of my father, Dr R.P. Srivastava, who had followed the tradition set by my grandfather."
Asked whether the medicine could be taken on any other day, he says he has not tried this until now.
The medicine is distributed free of cost on the full-moon night. "Earlier we distributed the kheer as well, but that practice has been discontinued," he says. Whether one has faith in the practice or not, the endless queues of people waiting with kheer in earthen vessels on the lawns of Dr Srivastava's house is to be seen to be believed.

The Winter Travel Options

Agra -- and the quintessential Taj
Described as ``an emperor's dream'' and ``a poem in marble'', the Taj remains an ultimate destination for all lovers. Standing serene and perfect in its garden of flowers and reflecting pools, its cypresses, terraces and green lawns, the Taj spells love and beauty.
Apart from the lovely Taj, Agra has Fatehpur Sikri -- an entire city-capital preserved in near-perfect condition since the time it was built by the Mughal emperor, Akbar.
Love is manifested in so many ways in this area. Lord Krishna's love for Radha in the Brij Shetra, for instance, replete with legendary traditions and folklore, is just perfect for romantic getaways.
The Royal Orient -- Exotica-on-rails
Passing through the enchanting lands of Gujarat and Rajasthan, The Royal Orient takes you on one of the most exciting train journeys in the world. From the sprawling 7th-century Chittaurgarh Fort to the romantic and regal opulence of Udaipur, the triumph and tragedy of Junagarh, the inspiring Somnath Temple, the home of the Asiatic lion -- Sasan Gir, the sun-warmed beaches of Ahmedpur-Mandvi and Diu, the sanctum sanctorum of Jainism -- Palitana, the land of Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram -- Ahmedabad and the mesmerising grandeur of Jaipur city.
Aboard the train, a princely treatment awaits you -- right from the red-carpet welcome at Delhi to well-furnished saloons and well-equipped restaurants serving delightful cuisine. The train crosses the great Indian desert at nights, leaving the entire day for tours and sightseeing. Commencing at Delhi every Wednesday evening, the trip concludes at Delhi a week later, on a Wednesday morning.
Bhubaneswar -- Romancing the stones of time
Capital of the modern State and the ancient kingdom of Orissa, Bhubaneswar is also known as the temple city. From the towering heights of the Lingaraja temple to the windswept ruins of the Konark temple, there are more than 600 temples in the city.
Mukteshwar Temple, built in 10th century A.D., is famous for the stone arch at its entrance. Filled with carvings depicting tales from the Panchtantra, the temple is a glorious synthesis of old and new styles of architecture.
The monumental sun temple, Konark, is anchored on the sands of Konark beach. The edifice is hoisted upon 24 enormous and intricately carved wheels. The Raja Rani temple, likewise, is noted for the intricate carvings. The 11th-century temple is also noted for its unusual tower and the absence of any deity in its precincts.
Bhubaneswar also has several sites of Buddhist importance, museums, hot springs, wildlife park and beautiful beaches.
Kaziranga National Park -- Destination One-horned Rhino
Located along the banks of River Brahmaputra in Assam, Kaziranga National Park is 450 sq. km of lush forest and open land and a haven for wildlife facing near-extinction. From the poacher's paradise of the past, Kaziranga has today evolved into one of the most-visited wildlife reserves in India.
Located about 200 km from the State Capital, Guwahati, Kaziranga is home to rare wildlife species such as the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros and the east Asian swamp deer. A variety of flora flourish around its numerous lakes and huge tracts of marshy land, adding to its wild allure.
Goa -- True-blue seas
From the azure waves of the Arabian Sea to the lush green of the Western Ghats, Goa offers miles and miles of silken-gold beaches set against a backdrop of swaying palms.
The large number of spectacular resorts and the small, quiet stretches of sun-and-sea make Goa an almost ideal holiday destination. Some of the world's finest beaches can be found in Salcette and Gaudalim -- they are picture-postcard beautiful.
But then, Goa is much more than just beaches and sea. Old Goa abounds in churches and cathedrals built in Portuguese-Gothic style. If you leave the coastal areas and travel in Goa's interiors, you will come across some of the prettiest natural scenery in the country. Palm trees, mangrove forests, cashew groves, banana plantations and a host of other tropical vegetation sway in the breeze, in striking contrast to the rusty-red soil of the region.
Aurangabad -- Forlorn hot-spot
Located in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, the rock-hewn caves of Ajanta and Ellora bear testimony to the astounding excellence of Indian architects, sculptors and artists, dating back to 200 B.C. The horse-shoe formation of the cave series at Ajanta predate the Ellora caves, about 80 km away in the hilly terrain.
Aurangabad also has a 50,000-year-old meteorite crater -- a fairly recent discovery, located about 165 km from the city which is the third-largest meteorite crater in the world. The crater walls have turned into a perennial spring, forming a saline lake in the depression and an unusual eco-system around it. There are ruins of a temple on the floor of the crater, giving rise to many interesting legends.
Kumarakom -- Serene backwaters
Stretching over 1,500 km, the serene, palm-fringed backwaters -- a glistening web of lakes, lagoons, canals and rivers -- are the essence of Kerala. The best place to begin would undoubtedly be Kumarakom -- a small town on the shores of the Vembanad Lake, 83 km from Kochi.
A prime tourist attraction are the houseboats which can be hired for days on end. The floating luxury `home' comes with a living room, bedroom, attached bathroom and other help such as a cook, oarsmen and so on!
You can glide down the waters with lush greenery on either side, the enveloping hush broken only by the music of a thousand birds. As green paddy fields, homes, farms, temples, churches and mosques glide past, you are blessed with the experience of a lifetime.
Mamallapuram -- Deep-south flavour
The 7th-century port-town of the Pallava dynasty is a popular holiday resort today, located about 55 km from Chennai. The romantic 7th-century Shore Temple and the five Rathas are worth a visit. Other prominent sites include the world's largest bas relief -- Arjuna's Penance -- the rockcut caves and the monolithic temples displaying distinctive styles of architecture.
The ocean waters at Mamallapuram are ideal for sea-bathing. Visitors can shop around for curios, indulge in water-sports or simply sunbathe on the beachfront.
As many as 14 beach resorts are clustered together, ranging from deluxe cottages to standard rooms. Don't miss the classic sunrise and the fishermen rowing into the dawn in their boats. Come evening, the beach shacks offer sizzling fish netted just that morning.

A total package

Limpid water springs, pomegranate orchards, pistachio gardens, rows of Lombardy poplars, star-lit nights, rocks, deserts, mountains, endless high and low lands, snow-clad extinct volcanoes, the luxuriant forests of the Alborz mountain range, and the coastline of the Caspian Sea are amongst the eye-catching and memorable landscapes of Iran -- all of which have the potential to attract tourists from around the globe. There are innumerable historical sites as well, and also buildings that are an amalgam of old and modern architecture. Iranian history dates back to the 2nd century B.C. and the country boasts of a culture that has continuously evolved since then.
The Alborz mountains descend abruptly near the Caspian coast, at places leaving only a narrow strip between the sea and the mountains. Ramsar, about 200 km from the Iranian capital Tehran, presents this unique and breathtaking attraction where it's possible to swim in the warm waters of the sea, idle around on the sunny beaches or amble across to the top of the mountain where it is much cooler.
The shores of the Caspian Sea in the north and coasts of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman in the south have popular recreational resorts. The islands of the Persian Gulf such as Kish, Qeshm, and Hormoz, with world-class shores and beaches, as well as pleasant sunshine, are popular vacation choices.
Iran also has over 500 mineral water and thermal springs, which are used for recreational and therapeutic purposes. The thermal springs and shores of Orumyeh lake and its sludge are famous for their therapeutic value.
The desert regions of Iran also enjoy huge tourist traffic. Dasht-e-Lout and Dasht-e-Kavir are the famous deserts. These regions, once the route of merchant caravans between east and west of Iran, encompass the remains of hundreds of old caravanseraies and water reservoirs. Their natural landscapes, with running sands, scattered large and small oasis, present a dry and hot, yet spectacular scene. In this diverse natural topography, several important cities also vie with each other to attract tourists. The most important cities of this region are Isfahan, Shiraz, Meshed, Tehran and Tabriz.
Located on the banks of Zayandeh-rud, Isfahan is famous internationally for its carpets. The region is endowed with the best of nature -- verdant mountains, wetlands, rivers, springs, and caves. A tour of Isfahan commences from Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan (the World's image) which Shah Abbas planned to be the centre of the city. The square is framed by a wall of blind arches and surrounded by the Masjid-e-Imam, noted as the supreme perfection of Islamic architecture, and the Sheikh Lotfollah (the ladies mosque) with its colourful detailed work ranking among the world's best tile-work. Another palace still intact is the Hasht-Behesht (Eighth Paradise) Palace, recently restored to its former glory. Isfahan also boasts of some of the most beautiful bridges in the world. Other sites not to be missed in Isfahan are the Shaking Minarets (Minar-e-Junban), two churches in Jolfa (Vang and Maryam) and the Sassanid Atashgah (Zoroastrian fire temple).
Another important city, Shiraz, has always been synonymous with learning, nightingales, roses and poetry. It was home to legendary poets like Hafez, Sa'adi, Ferdausi and Rumi. Rabindranath Tagore visited Shiraz in 1932. He wrote, ``I used to dream of a Persia where bulbuls made love to the roses, where in dreamland gardens, poets sat over wine cups and invoked visions of ineffable meanings.''
The most attractive places to see in Shiraz are: Persepolis (514 B.C.), Passargad, Bazaar-e-Vakil. The ancient Jameh Mosque, and a number of museums and parks with magnificent trees too confirm Shiraz as a tourist centre.
Meshed city, situated in the northeast of Iran, is known for the mausoleum of His Holiness Imam Reza, the eighth Shiite Imam who died in 818 A.D. and was buried next to Abbasid Caliph, Harun-al-Rashid. Every year, millions of pilgrims pass through the chambers of glittering mirror work and tiles to reach the tomb of the Imam. The Imam Reza Shrine Complex, including one of the richest libraries of manuscripts and hand-written books, is truly one of the most magnificent religious centres all over the world.
The hub of all activity is undoubtedly Teheran, ringed on three sides by the Alborz mountains. It is a beautiful clean city with good mortar roads and innumerable overbridges to ease traffic.
There are several museums in Tehran and the most popular ones are the Iran Bastan (archaeology), Carpet, Jewellery, Glass and Ceramic and Reza Abbasi (art) museums. The Jewellery Museum located inside the National (Melli) Bank houses the famous diamond Daryayeh Noor (the sea of light) and jewels and crowns of Iranian kings. Saad Abad Complex, Golestan, Marmar and Niyavaran are some of the palaces that are worth a visit.
There are various holiday resorts, sport and recreation centres in and around Tehran such as skiing resorts in Ab Ali, Gajereh and Dizin. Iran does boast of a very high tourism potential and Iranians travel as if there is no tomorrow. But ironically not many international tourists make it here.
Fact File:
By air: There's a weekly direct Iran Air flight to Tehran from Mumbai. Emirates and Gulf Air too provide convenient connections to Tehran. In Iran, Iran Airline (Homa), Iran Air Tour, SAHA, Aseman Airline, Bon Air, Mahan Air, Kish Air, and Caspian Air are the domestic airlines which connect all important cities in the country. There are train services to most major cities. Capital cities of all provinces are linked through a road network.
Climate: Climatic conditions differ from zone to zone.
Accommodation: Hotels are easily available at most places of tourist interest. In most hotels the health club and pool are reserved for women for only a few hours a day, otherwise they are open only for men. There are also a few places akin to our dharamshalas, particularly in the pilgrim cities.
Cuisine: In cities, local and national dishes as well as international ones are available. A must try is the traditional cafe in Iran -- Ghahveh Khaneh (coffee house) -- which, however, serves only tea.
Pic.: Pilgrims gather at the Shrine of Imam Reza at Mashhad.

A jute harvest

Jute is fast replacing plastic in today's eco-conscious world. Aziz Haider on an entrepreneur's experiments with jute.

It is known as the golden fibre. Yet it is as cheap as dust. Referred to as Corchorus Olitrius of Tiliacea family, West Africa Sorrel or even Krin-Krin, jute is famous for its fibre production, second only to cotton.
Since ages, it has adorned the back-yard gardens and fields belonging to innumerable families, it being one of India's most authentic creations. Its shiny leaves make it easier to distinguish from other vegetable plants, with whom it is often interspersed with. If allowed, it produces bright yellow flowers that grow into elongated pods that contain several small, dark green seeds.
Traditionally been used for packaging in India, jute's versatility is only coming to light now as the world looks on for natural options to save the environment. Unbelievable it may sound, but this natural fibre has been found to be the ideal solution for conserving the soil and environment and also in applications such as civil engineering, which are so essential for human progress.

Jute artefacts too are very popular. The art carries all the connotations of creation and repair, of holding things together and nurturing, of gathering in and conserving, of growth and peace and beauty. Some of these artefacts could also be an alternative to plastic bags and leather items, whose harmful effects are a menace to society.
As the fashion of plastic bags wear off and as the realisation dawns about its harmful ecological effects, the harmony of nature brought about by jute will become visible again. Once this awareness comes, it will never again be possible to see jute as something only for those who are not so rich.
A revival is underway and Abhishek of Adyar International may well be contributing towards this. An alumini of National Institute of Fashion Technology, Abhishek attended an Entrepreneurship Development Programme from National Center for Jute Diversification before embarking on his mission to eradicate the usage of plastics from our lives. In the process, he hopes to earn some money as well.
And why shouldn't he do so! After all, he is taking pains to make some of the finest jute items that I have seen, replete with lace work, crochet work, patchwork and fine embroidery. Starting small with only a few shopping bags as sample, Abhishek now participates in several exhibitions all over the country. Moreover, his company's retail network has now expanded to Hyderabad, Udaipur, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, besides Delhi.
FICCI too has been a great help in his pursuits. It was FICCI that initially invited him to their `Look South' conference on tourism, held first in Hyderabad and then at Udaipur. Says Abhishek, "Generally, wherever I go I try to fix a marketing person. Several of these tie-ups have materialised courtesy FICCI."
Playing smart, this young entrepreneur does not work on commission basis. Instead, he sets a wholesale price for products, and the buyers can fix any mark-up on the products as per their wish. This way, he ensures that money does not get stuck in the market.
As part of his expansion drive, Abhishek is now planning to go on a whirlwind tour of Europe. FICCI's contribution is also there behind this trip as it was in one of FICCI's programme that he met a delegation from Croatia. The talks with them bore fruits when they invited him to come to Croatia.
The name Adyar International is a story in itself. Initially Abhishek had named his company Adyar meaning unparalleled. It got printed as Adyar courtesy the printer. Since he had heard of Adyar on his previous visit to Chennai, he decided to carry on with the name.
Belief in himself and his abilities is one chief reason for this young man's success. Today, he is prospering in a business in which few fashion designers would have dared to venture. "I always wanted to do my own work. I started with reselling low cost shopping bags. Once I started getting orders, I employed a few karigars and started manufacturing myself."
Despite all the success, most of Abhishek's products are small-budget items. Don't be surprised if you find a men's wallet for as low as Rs 45. Ladies' purse is available for Rs 90, while a file folder, most suitable for college-going students, comes for Rs 80. Average price of Adyar's items is less than Rs 100. The costliest are the executive bags costing between Rs 150 and Rs 200.
His continuous experimentation with jute has reaped rich dividends, so much so that he also has coasters, pen and candle stands and several other decorative items to adorn the sidewalls.