Nature – Primal Source of Wealth

Mother Nature – Srishti - within us and outside, even beyond the Earth, Infinite

Mother Nature - Srishti

 

Nature – Primal Source of Wealth

Labour of living-beings creates wealth,
From Land and Waters,
with help of Five Primal Elements;
Not in a mint, factory or stock market.
There happen processes,
building-breaking, energy-expenditure.


(Translated from the original in Marathi by the author)
Remigius de Souza | Mumbai | 15-01-2013

सृष्टी साधन  संपत्तीचे

Image of original Marathi poem

Remigius de Souza | Mumbai | 15-01-2013

Note: In the image 'Mother Nature – Srishti' above, background picture is by NASA.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ © Remigius de Souza. All rights reserved.

Ganesha Festival Pandal for Green Initiative

Creative in Concept and Context

 Greenery is meant to live with, not merely for visual pleasure.

Image-1

Entrance to Ganesha Festival Pandal in Mumbai

A neighbourhood, in Dadar, Mumbai, promoted ‘Green Initiative’ as their theme for the Ganesh Festival. This indeed is unique timely move.

The youths took lead to organize the festival with Collective Participation, albeit with leadership.

They have imaginatively used the narrow lane that leads to the deity.

Image-2

Bridge over Water Pool: Ganesha for Green

The pathway to the deity has red carpet lined with potted plants. On the pathway there are a couple of water pools. One of them is under a bridge. From here you have a panoramic view of wider vista in front of Ganesha in view across another pool of water.

On the way there were statues nearly in Greek style, while the pandal is in Indian Style.
It's COOL! Looks specious!! Creative in Concept and Context!!!

This initiative indeed keeps with the concept of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who started the Public Ganesh Festival during the Independence Movement.

Image-3

Passage leading to the deity

It is important to take the Green Initiative to Action, beyond a slogan.

And there is scope also to practice the Green Initiative close by within the locality few steps away. The place is the 'Vasant Prabhu Garden'.

It is but important to decide, what corrective action is to be taken at ground level at any place.

Image-4

The Sanctuary

Temple architecture goes with Water reservoir, Coconut tree, Banana plant...

The garden indeed needs some corrective action in my opinion. But I don't claim to be an authority. I use common sense as a user of the place.

The Municipal Corporation is the recognize authority. The garden is within the jurisdiction of the corporation (BMC). People seem to be indifferent or resigned as usual.

However, a lot could be done to improve the place, if people, particularly the youth, take initiative and also take further their green initiative from the last Ganesha Festival.

Greenery is meant to live with, not merely to look at for visual pleasure.
Working with greenery rejuvenates our mental and physical health and energies. 

Image-5

The lane to Ganesha pandal and VP Garden

The lane with red carpet as in Image-2 and 3

For more on Vasant Prabhu Garden see forthcoming post.

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© Remigius de Souza. All rights reserved.

Resting on Winter Morning in Mumbai

Life and Survival in Mumbai

Resting on Winter Morning in Mumbai

No tension! No insurance!

 More than 60% people in Mumbai are slum dwellers and squatters. Many of them are daily wagers. Whenever there "Bandh" — "close-down" in Mumbai, they may not get even water, not only food. 

He, perhaps, is compensating his sleepless night in the morning sun during this winter.

The Planners, Policy makers, perhaps can't help them because there is no provision in the prevailing acts and laws, or perhaps  they are not aware of both.

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© Remigius de Souza. All rights reserved.

OLD CITY SEWER VENT PIPES, MUMBAI

 Relics of British Raj in Bombay

1. Old City Sewer Vent pipe, Mumbai

Very few of these cast iron vent pipes fixed to the sewer drains are left in Mumbai's island city. These vent pipes; about five of them are on Dada Saheb Phalke Marg.

Their height indicates Bombay's city scale then. Now Mumbai is aiming for sky, with glass-clad skyscrapers.

2. Old City Sewer Vent pipe, Mumbai

It is heartening to see people paddling bicycles even today. Banyan trees also add to the city's past. Now the defunct Gold Mohor Mill is on the breaking point. It will be taken over perhaps by new commercial buildings, sooner or later.

The cast iron vent pipes were imported from Britain about two hundred years ago. Of course, from pin to power-loom, most machine-made items ware once imported.

Every piece assembled in this pipe has the maker's name, “CEO. GAHAGAN & CO. LTD.”, placed (See Fig.5). In those days there was no need of mentioning 'Made in Britain'.

3. Old City Sewer Vent pipe, Mumbai

Britain had once invaded 90% countries of the world. Now we may change the names of places, remove statues, repeal acts, but the list is endless. How can we remove deep impressions on our psyche — particularly the elite groomed by British-made education?

City services, such as water supply, drainage etc. should generally last for 200 to 300 years, while those for houses last for 30 to 40 years. This calls for repairs and replacements.

However, the Urban Explosion has been taking place at unprecedented rate, which is worldwide phenomenon, not only in India. It is a gift of Industrialization.

 

4. Detail-1,  Old city sewer vent pipe, Mumbai

The drainage, water supply systems have been under pressure, and are replaced. Obviously these sewer vents have been long defunct.

The citizens should generally be aware of such issues, irrespective of politics of power and patriotism in polarization.

It is not only water supply and drainage but there are many other vital public services: health, education, post and telegraph, gas, electricity, transport...open spaces and, of course, spaces for the cultural needs of the people, especially in the Pluralistic Indian Society.

4. Detail-2, Old city sewer vent pipe, Mumbai

In the democratic society, the duty to bring this awareness among the people falls on the shoulders of media — radio, TV, newspapers... or multimedia, as non-formal education; besides all the levels and streams of the mass education — public or private. Entertainment is trivial aspect of living, not vital issue, but unduly exaggerated by the entertainment industry.
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© Remigius de Souza. All rights reserved.

Knife-grinder at Mumbai’s Bazaar

 Third World India Technology

Knife-grinder in Mumbai

This is an advancement from hand operated emery wheel carried on shoulder to one fixed to bicycle paddle. Knives made of iron are still popular here than made of stainless steel.

India once excelled in iron industry (!) around 200 BC that produced rust-proof iron.

Read a story: Parable of 20th Century Blacksmith of Bhal

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© Remigius de Souza. All rights reserved.