Final issue 4 final press quality-2

News Weekly • Pages 8
Shimla • Vol. I • Issue 3 • September 9, 2017
`5
Page 05
People & Voices
Toilet
Vigilantism
Ridicule to the
core
For
Subscription and Advertising
enquiries
call 9418022679
mail himachalscape@gmail.com
IT Matters
Mileage
mania driving
auto cos to
loose weight
Page 03
Top Dogs let down Gudia yet again
Arrest of 8 cops endorses that something was amiss since beginning of probe
Vishal Sarin
Shimla
Gudia brutally raped and murdered
was already enough
shame for the residents of
the ‘ Devbhoomi’. To add salt to the
wounds, the role of the local police
which was facing flak since the being
of this probe, also proved to be true.
Eight policemen, including one Indian
Police Services officer, were taken
into custody on August 29. Another
three, including the former Suprintendent
of Police Shimla, had been
called over for questioning though
not arrested.
The state police was recently adjuged
as one of the best in the country.
The recent arrests have put a blot
on the reputation of the force. Not
even a year before the whole state applauded
the local police for bringing
the little boy Yug’s kidnappers and
killers to justice. But here in ‘Gudia’
case they have earned a black spot
on their uniform which might only
weither away with time.The charges
pressed on the cops are not only extremely
grave but they also bring out
in light another face of the Himachal
police. Shattered are the faiths of the
locals who now stare at the police
with a question mark in mind.
It would be the first instance in
the state when an IPS officer would
have been arrested on charges like
custodial death of an acuused to scott
free the real culprits.
In another instance, IPS officer BS
Thind was arrested, but got bailed
out within 24 hours. Herein the eight
policemen had been sent on a CBI remand.
“Justice should prevail. These
officials of Himachal police, if have
done anything illegal, should be
brought to justice,” stated Atul Gautam
from Shimla. He said it was astonishig
to know that Shimla police
official could do an un-ceremonius
act like this. “Our police had been
known for their sincere reputation,”
he added. Though not losing hope he
said that if the police had done the
right investigation which they stated
while claiming to solve the case in
July, then they should prove it.” Otherwise
after such an act, in future, all
actions of the police would be looked
through a suspicious mirror.
Manjula Thakur, a school teacher
at Kotkhai, said that in the area the
students and teachers alike were
trying to come out of the trauma
of ‘Gudia’s rape and death, when
these policement were arrested. ”All
our hopes from the local police got
trashed that day,” she rued.
Continued Page 2

02
News
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Reaching out
How space sellers
should go about GST
Vishal
Shimla
Selling of space for advertisement
in print media falls under
different GST slabs depending on
the nature of the contract between
a newspaper, agency and the client
explained a spokesperson from the
Government of India.
He said that if the advertisement
agency works on principal to principal
basis, that is, buys space from
the newspaper and sells such space
for advertisement to clients on its
own account, that is, as a principal,
it would be liable to pay GST @5
percent on the full amount charged
by advertisement agency from the
client.
The spokesman explained
through example that 'If news paper
sells a unit space of Rs 100/- to
a advertisement agency for Rs 85/-
(after trade discount of Rs 15/-), the
advertisement agency sells the same
unit of space to an advertiser for Rs
100/-, newspaper will be liable to pay
GST @5% on Rs 85/- (=Rs 4.25/-), and
the advertisement agency would be
liable to pay GST on full amount Rs
100/- (=Rs 5/-) and may utilise ITC of
4.25/- for the payment of same.'
He said that on the other hand
if the advertisement agency sells
space for a newspaper as an agent on
commission basis , it would be liable
to pay GST @18% on sales commission
it receives from a newspaper.
ITC of GST paid on such sale
commission would be available to
newspaper.
As per new GST
norms, it all depends
on the contract between
newspaper, agency
and client
Stating another case he said if 'advertisement
agency sells unit space
to advertiser, not on its account but
on account of a newspaper for Rs
100/- and receives commission of Rs
15/- on sale from the newspaper.
In such a case advertisement
agency shall pay a GST @18%on sales
commission of Rs 15/-(Rs 2.7/-), ITC
shall be available to newspaper for
payment of GST @5%on Rs 100/-
(Value of space for advertisement
sold by the newspaper)
Adding that, if the advertisement
agency supplies any service other
than selling of space for advertisement,
such as designing or drafting
the advertisement, and such supply
is not a part of any composite supply,
the same would be liable to tax
@18%.
If such supplies are part of any
composite supply, the rate applicable
for the principal supply shall apply,
he concluded.
Top Dogs let down Gudia yet again
Continued Page 1
She said that the state police has
surpassed all levels of imorality.
Such acts by police were heard of
usually from bigger states like Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, etc, ,” she added.
“ Women would have no doors to
knock in case any crime takes place
with them,” she stated.
Adding that the fear has increased
to that level now even the
women teachers going to schools in
villages nearby get afraid when a
vehicles comes from behind of even
somebody known.
“What a paradox, in Haryana
Ram Rahim Singh conviction episode,
corrupt politicians and blind
followers were trying to protect the
culrpit, and here in ‘Devbhoomi’
the local police is playing that role,”
pranked Mohinder.
- August 29 CBI arrested 8 members of
the SIT, for charges of custodial murder
& destroying of evidence. The court ordered
the team a 7 day remand .
- September 4 CBI pleaded for increase
in remand period due to recovery. Court
extended remand till september 7.
- September 6 Shimla Bar association
suspended 8 advocates. (The advocates
were pleading for the accused police
personal).
- September 7 CBI Court sends arrested
policemen in Judicial custody till
September 20.
Members of SIT arrested by CBI including IG Z.H. Zaidi and DSP Manoj Joshi being produced before a local court in Shimla on September 4.
Pic: Amit

IT matters
Saturday, September 9, 2017 03
Taxing times for book keepers
Our Correspondent
Surat
GST is about 54 days old and
107 notifications have been
released to date. This delibrates
that the implmentation of
a well written law is being done
without application of mind. This
was stated by Chatered accountants
association of Surat in a reprensenation
given to the finance minister on
August 25.
In the letter they stated that the
push button softwares and GSP
(Goods & Services Suvidha Provider)
advertized by the Ministry are
But, Sir, as we all have families waiting to share our time (which is the real
prosperity), instead of sharing our time on GSTN portal and no one shall
compensate for loss of such time,” rued the accountants
non-existent and even if there are
some,they have started charging exorbitantly.
“Deliberations relating to GST are
being done since last 16 years by the
GOI. Its Modus operandi was also
very clear. Forms were also notified
well in time. As stakeholders and
financers of your IT Infrastructure
cost, we want to know why online
utilities are not made available to
stakeholders on time,” questioned
the represenation.
They said that the world was witnessing
a historical paradigm shift
and with lapses like such a wrong
message was going out to multinationals,
whom the government is
wanting to allure.
They represented that there was
an utter chaos in the industry, relating
to record keeping right from the
beginning as they were not given a
window for adaptation to the software
vendors as the law, on the basis
of which software was to be coded
was passed only a couple of weeks
before its implementation. The API
(Application Programming Interface)
required by the GSPs was also
not available.“
Hence we request your good office
to consider moratorium of 6
months to adapt to the newly imposed
requirements,” they requested
further.
Demanding a review straight
away, they said that they were hopeful
that GST would bring prosperity,
transparency and growth to Indian
economy. However, the implementation
of GST currently has too many
lapses which is taking toll of their
time, which is non compensatory.
“But, Sir, as we all have families
waiting to share our time (which is
the real prosperity), instead of sharing
our time on GSTN portal and no
one shall compensate for loss of such
time,” rued the accountants.
Mileage mania driving auto cos to loose weight
Why we choose
average over
personal safety,
question experts
Jagmohan
Shimla
Increasing car avarages over the
last 20 years have created a sheepish
trend for car manufacturers in
India. Average hatchbacks in india
used to be 12 to 14 kmpl in 90s which
has now increased to 24-25 kmpl or
and even more. Commenly assumed
fact that advancement in engines
is adding to the increased average.
However experts state that the truth
might be different.
They say that it is true some fuel
efficiency can be increased by altering
aerodynamics but not upto such a
great deal. They say that the increase
average is coming out of decrease in
the kerb weight of the vehicles. Kerb
weight means the weight of the vehicle
without passengers,luggage and
fuel. They state that companies have
been constantly reducing the weight
of the cars to improve on average.
A good mileage is one key aspect
of car selling strategy in India. This
becomes one primary reason why car
companies are going down on ‘Kerb
weight’ and higher on mileage. Certain
manufacturers have fallen from
1100kgs car to 800 kgs in their car
weights. Logic seems simple lesser
the weight the engine has to carry,
more the mileage. Reduction of kerb
weight is only possible by reducing
on the amount of steel or alloys,
which also means reducing strength
and safety of the vehicle cage in case
of impact.
Companies justify that safety is
taken care of by lighter yet stronger
materials and alloys plus, better
crumple zones but thats is only partial
truth state experts. They say “better
crumple zone designing is ok but
with heavier gauge of the newer metal,
won't it be safer still”. Simple logic
but manufacturers ignore as it will
increase cost and fuel consumption.
Experts add that this will put these
companies at disadvantage to competition,
given the cut throat market
positions of today.Consumers
have been cleverly programmed to
sheepishly mileage instead of safety
(which is underplayed in third world
countries unlike europe).Present and
newer generation of cars are increasingly
lighter. Their sheet metal is
being compromised in the garb of
so called "jet-materials and crumple
zones", added experts. Adding that
this is being cleverly covered up by
deploying airbags to save passengers
even when body shell fails to protect
in a collision. It is not a rocket science
to understand that in addition to the
crumple zone u need good amounts
of steel to absorb the impact of a
truck hitting you head on as big momentum
has to be absorbed.
However not all manufactures
are working on the theory of improving
mileage, as some yet are increasingly
making more efficient engines
but without going over board to increase
fuel efficiency by decreasing
the amount of steel/alloys used.
They say, next time you read that
a car manufacturer is claiming wonder
fuel efficiency do check the kerb
weight too. Because as Warren Buffet
says....price is what u pay, value is
what u get.

04
Opinion
Saturday, September 9, 2017
This political bout is repeat face-off
The impending 2017 Assembly
elections in the hill state
of Himachal Pradesh (HP)
are being keenly watched. Despite
the variability ofpolitical landscape
across India, the politics of the HP
is characterized by relative stability
owing largely to the bipolarity of the
contest between two dominant parties
- the Indian National Congress
(INC) and the Bhartiya Janata Party
(BJP).
The outcomes of the 2017 elections
however, will be rather significant
and is likely to shape the
political future of the state. With
the incumbent Chief Minister (CM)
Virbhadra Singh staking claim for a
record seventh time and the former
CM Prem Kumar Dhumal attempting
to remain politically relevant,
the elections will certainly define the
political destiny of only one among
them.
The HP Pradesh Congress Committee
(HPPCC) has been marred
with factionalismin in the recent
times. The ongoing tussle between
Virbhadra Singh and the PCC chief
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has reverberated
till the INC headquarters in
New Delhi.
With Sushil Kumar Shinde, the
general-secretary in-charge of party
affairs in HP, announcing that elections
in HP would be fought under
collective leadership without a CM
face, the struggle within the HP-
INC has only reiterated. Singh, in
contrast, firstly, added that elections
would be fought under his leadershipand
later,asserted that he would
neither contest the elections nor lead
the party in them.
Given Singh’s stature in HP politics,
the probability of him being
sidelined is rather bleak. Clearly
then, the power politics being played
within the HPINC will impact, if not
the outcomes, but certainly the organizational
prowess of the INC in
HP.
The BJP in HP, on the other hand,
has certain advantages. Firstly, the
HP, on the whole, is witnessing what is sociologically termed as ‘social
change’. Due to rampant urbanization and imitation of lifestyles unknown to
the region fueled by substantial increase in disposable incomes, the state is
undergoing changes, which are fundamental and structural in nature
party and its Hindutva philosophy
is finding wide acceptance across India.
Secondly, the charisma of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and the organizational
abilities of its President,
Amit Shah will indeed be exploited
by the party.
Thirdly, in comparison to the
INC, decision-making is democratically
centralized within the BJP, and
finally, given that anti-incumbency
has always been a deciding factor in
the state elections, the BJP will definitely
contest with an edge.
Two possible scenarios therefore,
are emerging. One, in which there is
a downturn of political fortunes for
the INC and two, in which the BJP
Morning Essentials
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
Bhujangasana where the upper trunk of the body raises just like as a Hood of Cobra
or snake, that’s why, it is known as Cobra pose yoga. Bhujangasana is one of the few
yogasanas, which gives benefits to the entire body from Toes to head.
• Stretches muscles in the shoulders, chest and abdominals
• Decreases stiffness of the lower back
• Strengthens the arms and shoulders
• Increases flexibility
• Improves menstrual irregularities
• Elevates mood
• Firms and tones the buttocks
• Invigorates the heart
• Stimulates organs in the abdomen, like the kidneys
• Relieves stress and fatigue
• Opens chest and helps to clear the passages of heart and lungs
fares as a majority party. The first
eventuality is likely to engender a
vertical split within the HPINC with
multiple stakeholders claiming for
control of the party and its leadership.
Also, with the party lacking age
dividend and leaders with mass appeal
– questioning Singh’s six-decade
long domination in HP politics
will create issues of legitimacy.
In the second scenario, one must
consider that BJP, as a policy measure,
has not declared its CM candidate
in any of the elections it has
fought recently. Odds are that this
policy will be extended to HP as well.
Adding to the complexity for leadership
claim would be the Nadda factor.
Jagat Prakash Nadda, regarded
as being close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh (RSS), and presently
the Union Minister for Health can be
projected as the face of BJP in HP in
the eventuality of the party winning.
That would certainly not bode well
for Dhumal and his faction.
For both Singh and Dhumal, the
issue is merely not of power, but
of its perpetuity and concentration
within their families. Either one in
the eventuality of being voted back
will try to entrench their dynastic
ambitions by locating their political
heirs to power positions.
The question is who would succeed
and whose political career will
subsequently be dependent upon
political exigencies.
Additionally, and perhaps for
the first time in HP, several sociopolitical
and ideological issues are
converging with the elections. The
alleged rape and murder of ‘Gudiya’,
a sixteen-year-old school-going girl,
whose mutilated body was discovered
in Kotkhai on July 6, 2017 resulted
in a huge public outcry.
The matter is simply not of a
heinous crime being committed in
a so-called peaceful state, but of a
breakdown in the moral consciousness
and the subsequent apathy in
the manner in which the issue was
handled by the state. The issue of
‘Gudiya’ is emphatically linked with
the notion of values, ethics and access
to justice and is likely to have
political implications.
Additionally, there is an issue of
communalization of politics, which
was hitherto unknown in HP. Baring
its tentacles in yet another case of alleged
rape in Tissa area of Chamba
district. Since the affected person and
the suspected perpetrator of crime
belong to two different religious
identities, the incident flared up as a
communal incident and created social
fissures.
HP, on the whole, is witnessing
what is sociologically termed
as ‘social change’. Due to rampant
urbanization and imitation of lifestyles
unknown to the region fueled
by substantial increase in disposable
incomes, the state is undergoing
changes, which are fundamental
and structural in nature. Coupled
with such changes are assertions in
the form of political mobilizations,
which will impinge on the 2017 elections.
The results will certainly be
interesting.
Prashant Negi is Joint Director,
Centre for Distance and Open Learning
and Assistant Professor, Dr. K.
R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and
Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia,
New Delhi.
• Improves circulation
of blood and oxygen, especially
throughout the spinal and pelvic
regions
• Improves digestion
• Strengthens the spine
• Soothes sciatica
• Helps to ease symptoms
of asthma
Precautions
1) This Yoga asana should not
be attempted by pregnant women
at all cost
2) A person suffering from
Hernia should not practice this
pose.
3) If you have injured your
back please, avoid this posture.

Saturday, September 9, 2017
People & voices
05
VIGILANTISM:
RIDICULE TO THE CORE!
Tikender Panwar
Delhi
The toilet vigilantism practiced
by some of the villages in different
parts of the country has
made the already vulnerable social
divide starker. The government under
the Swach Bharat mission (SBM),
has kept a goal of construction of toilets
in the country to make open defecation
free (ODF) villages and cities.
Just recently a Bollywood movie
too was released that showed about
the importance of the construction of
toilets in the villages. There is nothing
wrong in it and, in fact, there is
a dire need to have toilets in all the
households. But the desperation
shown and the method of ‘toilet vigilantism’
practiced in various part of
the country, in fact, is a draconian
move which has even widened the
social gap in the countryside. Whether
this will be able to solve the problems
is a big question mark.
We all are a witness to the murder
of Zafar Hussein in Pratapgarh,
Rajasthan, on June 16 which has exposed
the ugly face of SBM. He was
lynched for objecting to municipal
employees clicking pictures of women
defecating in the open. In several
such instances, there are reports
pouring in from Rajasthan where the
women have been kept on vigil to
face men defecating in the open thus
exposing them for more vulnerability
in the early hours of the day. In
a newspaper report from Rajasthan
it came to light that school teachers
especially women are coerced
to work on this vigilantism model
where they are forced to mark their
attendance in the ‘shit fields’ instead
of the classrooms. Accordingly, as
stated in the newspaper, quote “Anita
(name changed) , a government
school teacher from Karauli district
in Rajasthan; every morning she has
the unenviable task of visiting fields
near her village to stop people, most
of whom are men, from defecating in
the open” Unquote.
Interestingly, if she fails to mark
her attendance by clicking selfies in
the fields, surrounded by the villagers
who go out to relieve themselves
then she will face disciplinary action
from her department. Another
funny feature of the episode is that
though such women are supposed
to stop women from defecating in
the open, it’s not necessary that they
will only encounter women. Every
day they find men and definitely find
themselves in an awkward position.
Such drives initiated by the district
administration involves teachers,
anganwari workers, auxiliary nurses,
midwifes and other stakeholders
to promote SBM. Such photographs
taken in the fields are then sent the
principal of the schools who will
then forward it to the respective
sub divisional magistrates. Another
teacher from the same district reported
that she is on the verge of retirement
and it becomes difficult for her
to take photographs of the people especially
men defecating in the open.
It is ridiculous she lamented.
In another write up some interesting
facts came to light like the present
one :- quote “In the zeal to be
open defecation-free (ODF) for cash
rewards, several towns and villages
have gone into an overdrive. An elderly
man with an upset stomach
was slapped and forced to clean up
with his dhoti after relieving himself
in Ujjain, while another was forced
to do sit-ups, pants down. Villagers
in Rajasthan are being stripped off
government benefits, including subsidised
ration supply, while a panchayat
in Tamil Nadu denied work
under the MGNREGA to those not
having a toilet at home” Unquote.
Such violent means further deepen
the existing social divides because
the victims tend to be mostly poor
and lower caste, not having enough
means to build a toilet or a proper
water supply at home. Zafar Hussein
had complained many a times to the
government departments about nonrelease
of funds for toilets and lack of
a water source in his habitation.
Much is stated about the construction
of toilets but how this waste is
treated is not the concern of the state.
The central pollution control board
(CPCB) has carried out an inventorization
of Sewage Treatment Plants
(STPs) located in India in the year
2014-15. There are 816 STPs having
capacity of 23277MLD in 28 States/
UTs of India. The data from the government
website reveals that of the
816 municipal sewage treatment
plants, only 64 per cent were functional.
What happens to the waste is
anbybody’s guess. The total sewage
generated from Indian cities was 62
thousand MLD, but only 30 per cent
was getting treated which means the
waste untreated goes back into the
human cycle and contaminates water
which leads to large number of
water borne diseases.
According to CPCB the domestic
sewage is the biggest polluter of our
water sources. The incidents of contamination
happening due to leakage
Zafar Hussein in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, was lynched for objecting to
municipal employees clicking pictures of women defecating in the open
Zafar’s family in condolence
from the sewerage network to water
supply lines are also not uncommon.
Shimla happens to be a classic case
of contamination of water sources
where the untreated STP flow into
the water source in Ashwini Khad
leading to epidemic of Hepatitis and
death of over 20 people and infection
of over 2000.
What is required a syncretic
planning and integration of various
forms both conventional and modern
for the development of these
toilets. For example, several villages
in the cold desert regions of Kinnaur,
Lahaul & Spiti and Ladakh still use
the dry latrines and use the excreta
in their farms.
This way the soil nutrients we get
through food return to the soil and
help grow more food. Using water
in toilets breaks this cycle as decomposition
takes longer and promotes
diseases, including superbugs. Apparently,
the best apples produced
in the country from the two villages
called Nako and Chango in Kinnaur
use this method of manure. A new
buzz word now that is being spread
is about human waste as the biggest
source, but how it is to be used there
are no guidelines and ambiguity exists
widely.
This is not to say that toilets are
not needed. The problem is with the
way toilets are being thrust upon
people.
This coercion of forcing toilet vigilantism
not only makes the life of the
women more miserable but also is a
harassment to such individuals who
are not keen to do this exercise of
policing. This coercion at the behest
of the state is another form of vigilantism
akin to cow policing. Where
specific groups are being targeted.
It’s not easy for people living in cities
to manage their waste, but for the
time being we can regulate instead
of criminalising open defecation in
villages. This has to ensure that no
Zafar Hussein die because of governments
desperation for open defection
free status.

06
Deputy Commissioner of Solan Rakesh Kanwar receiving the award in New Delhi from
the Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar under 'Clean India - Clean School initiative
Our correspondent
Solan
Solan district of Himachal Pradesh
has been awarded 'Second Best
Clean School Award' for 2016-17 at
the national level. Deputy Commissioner
of Solan Rakesh Kanwar received
the award in New Delhi from
the Union HRD Minister Prakash
Javadekar. This award was given
under the 'Clean India-Clean School'
initiative that is “Swachchh Bharat-
Swachchh Vidyalaya prayas”.
Rakesh Kanwar informed that
Solan district had been selected
among the 11 best districts across
the country for school sanitation.
Among these 11 districts, Solan district
was placed at number two in
the country. He said the district has
also been awarded another national
award for being the best district of
the country.
He said that the Solan district has
been given two awards at the national
level. Kanwar has said that Government
Senior Secondary School,
Bhatis in Nalagarh sub-division was
also given the ‘Clean School Award'
and was one of the top 172 schools in
the country. This award was given
for the year 2016-17.
The Deputy Commissioner said
more than 3.5 lakh schools across the
country had applied online for these
Progressive
Mushroom city stands second in
Clean India-Clean School initiative
Solan district
has been ranked
second among
the 11 best
districts across
the country for
school sanitation.
The district has
also been awarded
another national
award for being the
best district of India
awards. Of which, 2.68 lakh schools
completed the self-assessment process.
He said that after this process,
648 schools of India were independently
assessed by the Government
of India of which 172 schools of the
country were selected in this process.
Kanwar congratulated all stakeholders
including the officers, employees,
teachers and students for
getting this award at the national
level.
He said that such awards would
definitely give inspiration to others
to compete in such programmes. He
hoped that Solan district would sustain
the cleanliness initiatives in the
future.
Our correspondent
Shimla
Adrain and Aishwary Thakur
of St Luke's Senior Secondary
School, Solan, won the
Shimla City Round of the annual
national level CCCC Cryptic Crossword
Contest 2017. Aanchal Mittal
and Mannat Sood of Gurukul International
Senior Secondary Schol,
Solan, won the runner-up position.
The contest was held at DAV Public
School, Lakkar Bazaar, Shimla.
Principal Kamna Beri gave away the
prizes.The winning team has qualified
for the year-end Grand Finale to
be held in New Delhi. The runner-up
team may also get a wild card entry
to the Grand Finale. The winner at
the Grand Finale will lift the National
Crossword Champion trophy.
The winner of the last edition,
CCCC 2016, is Navrachana School,
Sama, Vadodara. The contest popularly
known as CCCC is a national
Saturday, September 9, 2017
St Luke's wins Shimla city
round of National level
Cryptic Crossword Contest
level annual contest involving school
teams comprising two members
each. It is open to students from Std 9
to 12 studying in schools affiliated to
any of the recognised boards. CCCC
2017 is the fifth edition of the contest
that began in 2013.
Conducted by civil society initiative
Extra C based in Patna, the contest
is being held in association with
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya
Vidyalaya Samiti and Doordarshan.
The contest is held in two phases:
in phase 1, schools send teams to the
various city rounds across the country
for an hour long written test. The
winning teams then assemble at the
national capital for the Grand Finale
in phase 2.
The Shimla round was the last
city round in the region. A total of
16 teams participated. Earlier, city
rounds were held in Jammu, Ludhiana
and Chandigarh.
Winning and runner-up team with teacher in-charge and Kamna Beri

Saturday, September 9, 2017
Lightening
fails to boost
morels up
a look around
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07
Production sees sharp decline
Chanchal
Shimla
Where majority in the hills
dislike nature's fury (lightnings
and thunder) but a
few also find cheers in it. Virtually
due to an unknown phenomenon
caused by thunder and lightenings
‘Gucchhi’ mushroom (botanical
name: Morchella esculenta) or commonly
known as morel mushroom
sprouts every year spring season.
This phenomenon is so close to
nature’s heart that most of the attempts
of sprouting under controlled
conditions have hardly found any
results. It feels nature probably has
kept this one for its poor and needy
in the mountains.
Raju a domestic help makes extra
buck by collecting ‘Gucchhi’ after
a spell of thunder and lightenings
every season.
Though not easy to identify this
boy has a knack to find some in the
jungles most of the time. The boy
says that identifying its habitat is not
everyone’s piece of cake.
Going by the locals knowledge it
is mostly found under a deodar forest.
However experts say that it can
sprout in other places too. The mushroom
needs moist, dark and shady
environment which is usually under
the deodar, thus adding weight to local’s
myth.
Seekers set out in mid march
for the lookout. Some even stay for
weeks in jungles to return with bag
full for adding into their fortune.
The popular saying in the hills is
“if the spring in the hills is wet with
frequent thunderstorms Gucchi can
be found in plenty but only to be
eyed only by the lucky ones.
Besides the commercial value
Gucchi has its own properties. Like
other edible mushrooms they contain
the B complex, vitamin D but
the morel mushrooms have an uncommon
amino acid in them.
The polysaccharides have several
medical properties including antiviral,
immunoregulatory, anti-tumour
growth effects and they give you
more resistance to fatigue.
Extracts from the polysaccharides
have antioxidant effects and
these morels can help prevent heart
disease and colorectal cancer as well.
They are rich in minerals, potassium,
zinc and iron and contain relatively
high proportions of selenium which
prevents free radical formations.
These mushrooms potentially lower
the risks of breast and prostate cancer
too.
As per the city Gucchi dealers the
price for this herb was around 9000/-
a kilogram this season. Whereas the
state government did not even have
any data about the ‘Gucchhi’ market
the local dealers claimed that supplies
this year were down by 90%. He
said whereby last year he had trade
around 500 kgs, this year that figure
went down to 50kg. “
Expert SP Bhardwaj informs that
this year more hail was witnessed in
the spring season. “ Which could be a
reason for lesser ‘supply,” he added.
He said that hail destroys the ‘Gucchhi’
crop by burying it down further
in the earth.
But of course just knowing this is
no substitute for attending a mushroom
walk as the fun of being around
the jungle searching for ‘Gucchhi/
Cheu’ could be a delight anyday.
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08
Ahead of times
hindi movies
a look around
Blog of the week
Saturday, September 9, 2017
This time of the year
Trikal
by
Atula N Zamir Singh
When a mother left her child to hope… far from her shade
Another reflection of human behaviour, the movie uses a Portuguese family living in
the newly-liberated Goa to talk about issues like pre-marital pregnancy, prenuptial
disasters, past demons coming to haunt the family, whilst maintaining a satirical tone.
Starring Neena Gupta, Lucky Ali, Leela Naidu and Sushama Prakash, the film is one of
the most underrated satires from the 80s.
Another commentary on the socialist principles of the 99% vs the top 1%, this movie
by Shyam Benegal talks about sexual exploitation of women in rural areas. Starring
Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil in the lead roles, it
also underlines the perils of a rebellion without focus, which tramples over innocent
lives.
Anupam Kher's acting debut, the film addresses subjects like a father grieving his
son's untimely death. He later finds an opportunity for redemption when his tenant
(played by Soni Razdan) is being harassed by the goons of the local corporator for
carrying the illegitimate child of the corporator's son. Saving that unborn child,
becomes the purpose of the man late in his life.
Brain Teasers (Ques.)
1 Two girls played and completed 5 games of chess. Each of them won same
number of games and there wasn’t any tie in any game. How did it happen?
2. You can see a beautiful red house on your left and a mesmeric green house
on your right, a warming and attractive pink house on your front. Then where
is the white house?
3. When you add two letters, the five letter word becomes shorter. What it is?
4. You are running in a 5000 mtr marathon race and you overcame the person
in the second place. At what place you are?
5. What is the reason that it is considered illegal to bury a man living in North
America in South America?
1. Answer: The two girls weren’t playing against each other and they played
with different competitors
2. Answer: White House is in United States.
3. Answer: SHORT
4. Answer: Second Place
5. Answer: It is illegal to bury a man alive, when he is living
Brain Teasers (Ans.)
Nishant
Saaransh
After leaving my child at the
hostel, I wept in the two
hours’ flight from Delhi. It
felt each floating cloud was taking
me further away from my child.
After landing my husband gave
me an imploring look to compose
myself since the car will be waiting.
The driver apllied wisdom keeping
the jacket of my daughter wore on
the car seat, thinking madam might
need it, but that broke what little
reserve I had,wept four hours back
home. Food was the last thing on
mind, misery simply stretched in
that direction too as the help decided
he is in no mood to cook fed stringy
bhindi-bhurji and roti
The tears copiously wept when
watching Bajarangibhaijaan,The Boy
in striped Pyjamas, but nothing prepares
anyone for the moment when
your child leaves home.
Truly then we understand how
our parents felt when we left home.
I remember my mother would keep
staring blankly down the valley after
my sister left home. We use to wonder
why would she be so unhappy.
Still two more left to go.
Anyway we tiptoed around the
house and tried to be on our best behaviour.
For daddy we never bothered
much.
Researchers talk about the feeling
of emptiness, depression sadness or
grief experienced by parents and care
Sudoku
givers after children come off age.
But no one spoke about the depth of
pain and the tears that followed.
The sense of loss arises and slowly
realisation sinks that they don’t need
us anymore. Then the think wheel
churning, Do I text? Is she missing
me? hot/cold, sad/ happy the list is
endless. To top, the aunty next door
would keep on asking is she well,do
you miss her, followed by litany of
her experience. Little does she know
that you have been on a pilgrimage
to the child’s room held on to the
favourite nightshirt. Result, a polite
excuse for a sobbing break.
A child leaving home is more
of a challenge for the father. Today
fathers have very close relationship
with their siblings. Some fathers
have reported that they were busy
steering the child to college, later realised,
what they lost only after the
child left. They mourn for the time
not spent. They envy the emotional
connect the mother presides over the
child. Then they travel the memory
lane in private starting from the day
he brings a squealing bundle from
the hospital.
The other challenge is to stand
strong for the mother’s sake. By virtue
of her gender the mother had
the license to shed a tear or two anywhere.
Certain meals, cakes, sweetmeats
are not discussed in the house. sib-
5 3 8
2
1 9 5 4
9 6 7
7 2 5 1 9 8
8 2 4
6 3 8 7
9
1 5 6
lings lament for being younger, just a
whisper ‘pizza ‘and the younger one
gets a lecture on hostel food which
lesser mortals eat followed by sobs.
Siblings suffer in silence. Tiptoeing
on eggshells at home. Walking the
very lane, he takes with his elder sibling
every day.
If the nest is empty with the
last one gone, then discovery starts
again: wife has grown heavier or the
husband owns many loose socks.
Few months early on I cried even
in my sleep. Husband consoled both
of us by saying let us concentrate on
ourselves be on a honeymoon. Our
first dinner date alone in 20 years was
a disaster. We barely looked at each
other we were so shy as if all eyes
were on us. Next date was better but
we skirted some list from the menu.
Third time we decided the menu at
home so the self-inflicted trauma of
reading the menu was avoided. Now
we have no qualms eating our child’s
favourite food too.
We can then start rebuilding and
strengthening our marriage, walk
together to heal ourselves. Connect
with parents. Revamp the wardrobe,
cook the veggies which were met
with horror before. Do not give in
to the twilight spark of let’s have another
baby or adopt a pet. Enjoy the
grief, let it settle down and then the
second choice mentioned above can
be considered.
Published & Printed by Vishal Sarin on behalf of Chanchal Sarin, Firwood Cottage, Upper Kaithu, Shimla. Printed at The Indian Express (P) Limited, C-5/Sector-6, Panchkula, Haryana. Editor: Vishal Sarin
Title No.: HPENG01190