ISSUES AND CONCERNS ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಷಕಿರಣ

Gandhian on hunger strike dies Jaipur: Former Janata Dal MLA Gurcharan Chabbra, who was on a fast unto death demanding liquor ban and strengthening of Lokayukta in Rajasthan, died at a hospital. Chabbra, 65, breathed his last at 4:30 am, Additional Superintendent of SMS Hospital, Ajit Singh told PTI. He was in a coma for the past couple of days and put on ventilator support, Singh said. In a statement here, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the anti-liquor crusader died due to the “insensitive” attitude of the Rajasthan government. “Had Rajasthan Chief Minister tried to meet him and persuaded him to end fast, Chabbra might have been saved,” Gehlot said. “A medical board of doctors which was formed to take care of Chhabra had decided to airlift him to a hospital in Gurgaon but before that, he died,” Rathore said. Chabbra’s family members have decided to donate the body to SMS hospital, he added. Deceased’s eyes have been donated after the death, he said.  PCC presiden...

Sex Change for a tree! London: Britain’s oldest tree, a male, estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old may be undergoing a sex change, say researchers who found that part of it is turning female. The Fortingall Yew in Perthshire, estimated to be around 5,000 years old making it older than Stonehenge, is regarded as a male tree because it produces pollen – unlike female yews, which produce distinctive seed-bearing red berries. However, botanists found three red berries on a branch of the yew this year, which indicated that at least part of the male tree is becoming female. “Yews are normally either male or female and in autumn and winter sexing yews is generally easy,” said Max Coleman, of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, who spotted the berries. “Males have small spherical structures that release clouds of pollen when they mature. Females hold bright red berries from autumn into winter,” Coleman told The Telegraph. “It was, therefore, quite a surprise to me to find a...

The Importance of Flags and banners My Dear Gauri, On Independence Day everywhere in India we fly the national flag, don’t we? It is the symbol of our sovereignty, our very existence. The national flag stands for the nation and its honour. To defile the flag is to  defile our honour. Men have fought and even died, for it. Flags and banners were not unknown to ancient India, but there never had been a common flag for all of India till we attained independence. The Sanskrit word for a flag is dhwaja and flag salutation is dhwaja-vandan. A banner is known as ketu. The Rig Veda makes two references to dhwajas, both in the plural which would suggest that many principalities had their own flags. The Atharva Veda makes a reference to a flag with the device of Surya (Sun god) on it. Our Gods, too, had their flags each with a special symbol. Siva’s flag had the bull on it, Vishnu’s had Garuda, Indra’s a sword, and Kama’a a fish. In Puranic times, Arjuna’s flag had Hanuman on ...

Friends Looking back over the shoulder, at the road traversed, has its own sense of joy and the stillness of those haunting memories of trials and tribulations. We have just completed a major milestone at No: 15. Fifteen years that have gone-by, has no-doubt tried our spirit of endurance. But that has only made us stronger to face the future with fortitude. It has been a year since we have lost our dear MV Kamath, our friend, philosopher and guide. We do miss his benevolent presence. But then what can’t be cured has to be endured. So life goes on. The completion of 15th year has also changed our subscription profile. Paid readership has seen overall improvement, but not very encouraging, also those patrons who supported us initially shall be due for renewal on completion of 15 years. Hope they all will renew. 15th Annual issue was released by Prof BM Hegde, our editorial board member and former Vice Chancellor of Manipal University along with Dr Ronald Fernandese, President of ...

NEW DELHI: Since last fortnight or so, media is, almost on a daily basis, coming up with stories of literacy awards being returned by recipients. This is sequel to the alleged attack on litterateurs, especially post Kannada writer Prof Kalaburgi’s killing so also the alleged acts of violence on minorities and the alleged non-response of authorities (read Modi). We are a democracy alright, but we are a democracy for the haves and have nots are involved only on the voting day. And those who can talk or act, do it when they think they should. Fair enough. But are they victims of some set pattern of thinking! And media, being media, has its own agenda of promoting one set against the other. Objectivity was always the victim of this hype. Hence truth was not available in the public space. There were many who went with the awardees logic of returning the award and there were those who questioned their motive and its futility to convey the intended message. And here comes the controversi...

I read at least half a dozen periodicals but none of them as frank and bold like “ISSUES & CONCERNS”. Many hidden and unheard news items to know. This makes me to understand that the Editor and his team are well read and informed on day to day happenings around the Globe. I also admire the frankness and advice of Prof. B.M. Hegde in his articles particularly in respect of Medical Profession and Multinational Pharma Companies. In the September 2015 issue on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the People’s President, the Missile Man and a fitting man to receive Bharat Ratna country's highest award, is apprecialted. Wishing Good luck to you and your entire team of ISSUES & CONCERNS. Ambrose A Monis, Mumbai, via email. Dear All Ardent Readers of the Issues and Concern. It is indeed a triumph of personal endeavours to achieve what ordinary mortals like me cannot even dream to tread. Shri Shriyan has achieved an important milestone in his journey to create an awareness about the re...

COW: What is @ stake? Is there a scope for Give & Take! In the context of human civilization, cow has always been an animal which gave milk, which in turn helped us produce different products like butter etc. These have been the single most important sources of proteins for humans. There isn’t therefore, any dispute on this utilitarian aspect of cow-across the human spectrum. But it is also true that man in his masculine superiority always usurped things, which truly speaking not his. In this case, the milk that cow has, is the rightful claim of its calf, but man being man, in his terms of trade, denied this claim of calf and usurped it all for himself and his people. Of course, this arrangement of complete subjugation of cow and calf to the demands of man, is from the beginning of co-habitation of man and other domestic animals. No question asked. Besides the milk and its allied products, cow was reduced to the palate at the dining table, largely because it is a cheaper...