I spent all of the last week thinking about mobile phone. I was trying to find out solution for being away from phone calls and text messages. Every minute the red light on my cell use to flash and it is enough to irritate me.

The rise of ‘nomophobia’- a fear being without mobile phone does not let me sleep at night as well. Despite being aware of this disease, I can’t sleep without mobile set under my pillow. While thinking about idea to get rid of mobile phone, I sipped dozen cup of coffee and earned wrinkles over forehead. I bit my nails, cracked fingers, sipped dozen cup of coffee and swim over chair but after all, does I get solution? Of course not!

It was my week off and I wanted to get relax and be away from phone calls, what’s app messages, videos, pictures etc. I switched off my phone and tried to enjoy the day. But even after that, I frequently checked my cell for messages or any call.

Finally, at night I could not control myself and switched on the mobile phone. Almost 28 messages suddenly flashed in which half of them were from my family and relatives. Oh! God, what is this? Login to facebook, there was too dozens of messages from my sister and relative, “talk to mummy as soon as possible”.

Soon after I called my mother, she started screaming, “u careless, u never care, where was you, I was trying to call you from morning hours etc… etc…”. Even my sister was about to call the police that Ankita is lost somewhere! OMG.

Yes, it is Ganeshotsav!

The city thoroughfares were agog with sounds of conch-shells, drum beats and ‘Ganpatti Bappa Maurya…’ Yes it is one of the great Hindu festivals, Ganeshotsav.

The huge, beautiful and well decked up idols of Lord Ganesha along with Riddhi and Siddhi have been brought to various pandals where those idols were installed amid chanting of slokas from various Purans. Besides, some people like to keep up idols made up of expensive material like Gold and Silver to their homes.

 The festival is being celebrated at various homes, hostels, colleges and city corners with great enthusiasm. Sounds of conch-shells, aarti, flowers too spread its hues at temples. 

However, children at few schools did it in different way. They installed the idols in school campuses and sang, “Twinkle Twinkle little star, my Ganesha super star.” Even hostel inmates too observed the festival by installing idols to their hostel room and performed all the rituals.

If you speak about Ganesh Chaturthi, you can’t afford to set aside the Modak. 

Well decorated and mouthwatering laddoos and other sweets are decorated at many shops. The ongoing celebration of Ganeshotsav leads to illuminating temples and markets are chocked with festival shoppers.

Animals have first right to cross the road!

It is not only human being caught into different road accidents, animals too lose their lives in number of fatal road accident around jungle areas.

The only difference between two is we have bunches of traffic police men, administrative officers and government to take responsibility of accidents and also to save our lives but nobody is there to be concerned for the animals killed by speeding vehicles. We have words and intelligence to raise voice for our safety concern but animals do not have words except being cruel and attack on human in-front of it. Hundreds of government authorities and department are there to make provisions for avoiding such road accidents with the help of technologies and engineers but who is there to take the responsibility of wild animals that are being brutally killed in road mishaps. Although Madhya Pradesh has proud of its rare wildlife species but the fact that many animals have been becoming victims of road accidents at National Parks, Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves of the state has become major topic for discussion among wildlife lovers.

According to data given by MP forest department in an RTI application, there has been a sharp rise in the number of fatal road accidents of wildlife. More than dozens of animals are being victim of road accidents every year at different national parks and sanctuaries but ironically no one is there to be concern for the issue. Even forest officials have not accurate data regarding the death cases of animals. When i asked about the details of animals killed in road accident, forest department accepted the fact that they do not have accurate data.

According to data given by forest department, in the last 6 years, 15 animals have killed in a road accident at various national parks of the state. However the department has claimed for death case of 15 animals but on other hand they also accepted that the number might be more than the record. They said that accident cases are being reported by field workers and sometime they forget or do not get time to update the death report on official website due to which they do not have accurate data. But death cases of 15 animals are confirmed and have been recorded at the department. In response to RTI application, forest department informed that four animals including 2 leopard (Tilakdhar), Cheetal (PWD Road) and langoor (monkey) were killed in a road accident at Satpura, Sanjay national park and Bandhavgarh in the year 2012. In the year 2011, two animals including bear (RF 243) and wild pig (193) were killed at Sanjay National Park. In the year 2010, three animals including fox, langoor and Hyena (RF 193) were killed in road accident at Satpura and Sanjay National Park while a three Cheetal (PWD Road) and a python was killed in the year 2009 and 2008 at Satpura range. Besides in the year 2013, a Cheetal and leopard was brutally being killed by speeding vehicle respectively at Bandhavgarh National Park and Mandla district. The leopard that was recently killed by speeding vehicle at Mandla district was a 6 month old cub and it was trying to cross the road but meanwhile vehicle hit that.  The cub received serious injury in its head and died on the spot. While talking about the issue of road mishap of wild animals, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) PK Shukla said that it happens naturally and we cannot blame particular one for this. He also informed about the legal provision and said that district forest officer of the area immediately make punchnama and take matter to the court. Drivers of the vehicle also get punishment including jail terms and cash penalty after proving his offence into court. Forest department register the case of hunting against the driver as well. “Neither we can remove the roads nor can we stop animals from moving into their zone,” said shukla. He further added that forest department has put some sign boards at the road side so that people would be aware of presence of animals in the area. The sign board also suggested the passers to control the speed of their vehicle and be cautious. But for all these things, general people have to be aware and everyone should take responsibility. 

Although on one side, MP forest department is eagerly waiting for Asiatic lion to boost up the tourism and enhance the wild beauty of its parks and sanctuaries but one other side number of unnatural death cases among wildlife have raise question over the management of forest department. 

* A Cheetal and Leopard was brutally killed by speeding vehicle respectively at Bandhavgarh National Park and Mandla district in the year 2013.

* Four animals including 2 leopards, Cheetal and Langoor (monkey) were being killed in road accident at Satpura, Sanjay National Park, Bandhavgarh and Kunopal Pur in the year 2012.

* Two animals including bear and wild pig were killed at Sanjay National Park in the year 2011.

* Three animals including fox, languor (monkey) and Hyena were killed in road accident at Satpura and Sanjay National Park in the year 2010.

* Three Cheetal and a python were killed in the year 2009 and 2008 at Satpura range.

In the year 2012, 13 wild cats were killed in the state including six unnatural deaths while in the year 2013 (in last 6 months) six wild cats have been killed unnaturally in Madhya Pradesh. In the last 6 years, 14 animals have been brutally killed by speeding vehicle nearby forest areas of the state.

Last Friday...! 

Last Friday was really surprising for me. Sitting on my office chair, i was busy in preparing report of an event and was totally puzzled with some figures. As usual the blue light flashed on my mobile phone and this time there was my father. I immediately picked up the phone and said, “ha Papa abi main office me hu, baad me baat karu kya???” but father said Mr TJ Thomas (my school principal) was sitting with him and he wanted to talk to me. “Thomas sir, wo St Joseph.. wale….” I remembered the 7 feet tall and thin man having dark black beard. As i seemed to be aspire to talk him, my father handed over the phone to Mr TJ Thomas.
We talked hardly for 3-4 minutes as he did not wish to disturb me at office. He expressed desire to see me and also invited me for visiting the school, my school. He was happy with my higher studies and said “Its good to know that my child has become a journalist, so... the journalist is coming to her school no?

OMGGGGGGGG, Thomas sir, after such a long time. After hanging over the phone, I started to sing “Aaj mai uper, aasma niche..aaj mai aage, zamana hai piche…”. Literally I was unable to speak for few minutes. Once I liked him too much and had crush on for him. I did not know whether he was aware of this ‘Bachpan ka Pyaaar’ or not but it was nice to talk to him, (Lol) :) He was our principal from class LKG to 5^th  and at that time I was just a sweet girl who never completed her home work. :)  I’m happy to know that he remembered me even after 18 years. When I left the school in class 6th, I heard the heart broken news that he married with a teacher of the same school :( Any way, at this age I have lots of respect for the him just like my father. 

Bansal uncle plz….Ati-Tatkal for the students

Recently I went to the railway station for purchasing a ticket to my home town. After standing two hours in queue, I did not get confirm seat in giant like railway compartments because all the seats had been already booked. So finally, I got myself satisfied with a waiting ticket and hoped to get that confirm after few days. 

While purchasing the ticket I felt that there should be three categories for railway reservation. First one should be general (before 4 months of your journey), second one ‘Tatkal’ (before a day) and the third one should be ‘Ati-Tatkal’ (before 4 hours). I expected the new system with the railway minister in 2013 railway budget but unfortunately no one is there to listen my grievances. 

However railway system has allowed to purchase the ticket before four months of your journey but neither me nor my family members have ever purchased the railway ticket before 3-4 months even we never get a reserve seat in tatkal as well. So I think, best way to travel in railway is 'waiting ticket'.  After boarding at the train with waiting ticket, TTE (Travel ticket examiner) will automatically allow you a confirm seat after acepting 50 or 100 bucks. I’m not talking about AC compartment of Indian Railway because I prefer to buy air ticket because that is comparatively low-priced and easy to get.

And if you don’t have too much amount to spend, just go for general compartment, you will reach at your destination any how, might be in torn clothes or with half of hair on your head. Our railway system is too good no? But the only thing I'm missing is ‘Ati-Tatkal’. I personally request the railway minister Pawan Bansal to accept my grievances and allow ‘Ati-Tatkal’ system for me so that I can travel freely anywhere and anytime. And if there is problem for starting the demanded system for everyone, he can allow this only for the students because most of time, interviewers call the students at evening hours and says, “ You have interview schedule tomorrow at 10 am in XYZ city”. Now, instead of concentrating on his exam, the poor guy start to screaming for his travel.