Roots and Reflections - Exploring Ideas, Experiences and Wisdom

                                                 Vedas declare "Yetri Sitresto Samanta Tatra Ramantay Deva" meaning where women are respected, Gods travel there. In Indian spirituality/Sanatan dharma and culture women have been accorded an exalted position. Feminine power is the manifestation of Durga. We worship small girls during Navratras. Our government has given an important position to women and they are being empowered by giving them 33 per cent reservation in parliament, and Panchayats and urban local bodies. Efforts are on in giving due representation to women in state legislatures. It is in fact women who is the cause of this creation and women are an important part and parcel of our society. Government and political leaders are claiming women empowerment day in and day out. Girls education and employment is being given top priority by the government by...

                                                      Women empowerment has remained as the talk of the town for decades and has been a much talked, debated and discussed issue of far-reaching importance. Our prime minister is the ardent believer and advocate of women empowerment and for empowering women, he got reserved 33 % seats in parliament for the fairer sex and it will be implemented on the ground in near future and the state legislatures will also reserve 33 % seats for women. It is praise worthy that in our Panchayat’s 33% seats are already reserved for the women and this is not an ordinary thing but is a matter of extra-ordinary importance. One question crops the mind is that all including the central, state, UT governments and Panchayat as well as Urban local bodies talk of women empowerment but the pertinent question arises if the women...

                                                                                                                      Kothari Education Commission has long ago said,’’ the destiny of a nation is shaped in her classrooms’’. It is the apt observation of this education commission. Further all of us are conversant with the dictum that a sound mind rests in a sound body and by education is meant all round development of body, mind and spirit. So, it is obvious that educators, parents and society should pay top priority to children’s physical well-being. But alas! We have burdened the small school -going children with the excessive book loads and other reading material as if these are not small childre...

                                                   The Amarnath Yatra is one of the most inspiring manifestations of faith in the world for devotees, this is not merely a journey through rugged mountains but a sacred quest for spiritual awakening ,inner peace, and divine blessings. The pilgrimage itself is a test of both body and spirit. Pilgrims walk over steep mountain trails, cross glaciers and streams, endure freezing temperatures and adapt to thin air and low oxygen levels. Every step requires patience, discipline, and dertermination. yet the chants of "Har Har Mahadev’’ and "Bum Bum Bhole" echoing  through the valleys create an atmosphere of devotion that strengthens pilgrims and fosters a sense of unity. The annual Amarnath Ji Yatra is far more than a religious pilgrimage. It is a timeless testament to the extraordinary power of faith, resilience,...

                                                                                Those gathered at Chisoti village for having breakfast on way to Machil Mata Yatra were taken unawares and the nature’s fury that in this case was cloud burst and consequent flash floods and landslides washed away everything, which came in its way. There was much loss of human lives and properties. At least 65 people mostly yatries were killed and hundreds injured and as many as 33 people are still missing. Chisoti tragedy was in fact unprecedented and there were no fore warnings which would have saved precious human lives and also averted destruction of the properties. The make shift shops were damaged and destroyed beyond repair and there is stoic silence all around in the tragedy hit areas and the centr...

                                                                                  Jammu’s summer is often described as one of the most challenging seasons for residents. Located, in the subtropical belt of northern India, Jammu experiences extremely high temperatures, dry winds, water shortage, power disruptions and various health concerns. The season typically extends from April to June with May and June being the hottest months.          Jammu has the distinction of being city of temples and Jammu is also known for sizzling and scorching heat and the people of Jammu, neigh almost Jammu division suffer due to hot climate and heatwaves especially in summer months. The people of Jammu thus plan tours to cool places like Patnitop, Sudhmahadev, Dalhousie, Shimla a...

Lord Maha Ganesh has got the privilege and distinction of being worshipped first of all from all gods and goddesses. Ganesh is the deity of wisdom, prosperity and is called Vighanharta that is the removers of obstacles. The Lord Ganesh temple constructed at Lower Muthi Jammu near and behind the Rama Krishna Ashram Udhywalla and adjected to Ram Krishna Vihar colony stands testament to the resilience ,faith, religiosity, spirituality and above all to the cultural heritage of the Displaced Kashmiri Pandit community and the Ganesh temple recollects and recalls the memories of the Ganesh Bal of Hanad Chawalgam Kulgam which is a natural and ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesh and is a symbol of communal amity and diversity as it continues to be visited by both Hindus and Muslims of the village and surrounding villages.The Ganesh temple constructed some years back at Lower Muthi is in fact the replica of the original Ganesh Bal of H.C.Gam. But the new Ganesh temple complex varies from the...