London Olympic 2012

The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, celebrated in Athens was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era. It was unanimously chosen as the host city during a congress organized by Pierre de Coubertin, a French pedagogue and historian, in Paris, on June 23, 1894. Coubertin never entertained female athlete in this international sports event. According to him females were not worthy to participate and it will be bad or wrong if female participates in the event. Whatever the thought of Coubertin and people like him were in those days but after 116 years at present in London Olympic 2012 the participation of female in the Olympic history is the highest till now. Among the 204 participating countries in London Olympics 2012, every country has minimum of one female athlete. If it same goes on then in the Olympic history London Olympic 2012 will be known as female Olympic year.

In London Olympic 2012 for the first time female athletes are participating from Brunei, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia at the same time this is the first time in Olympic history where female participation is more or less same to male athlete. From United States America the participation of female athlete is 269 where as male athlete is 261. If we compare past, the participation of female athlete were hardly few, in 1900 Paris Olympic out of total 997 athletes only 22 athlete were female. In the Olympic history this is the first time where, in 26 games event females are participating.

Female participation in Olympic has not increased at once. It is since last year’s Beijing Olympics in 2008 world has witnessed lot of changes. Among these the role of Middle East’s contribution is the highest, the international Olympic Committee has encouraged Middle East countries to allow female participants from their country. Beside that during last year’s Olympic, many new games have been introduced which has increased the participation of female in Olympic. In 2000 females were allowed to participate in taekwondo, weight lifting and shooting where as female boxing is introduced this year in London Olympics 2012. 1n 1900 before 112 years  females were allowed to participate only in cricket, sailing, horse riding, tennis and golf.

In nearly 100 years participation of females in Olympic has increased. In 1908 London Olympic out of total participating athlete only 1.8% were females. Where as in 2008 Beijing Olympics out of total 10947 athletes’ 4639 athletes were female. In 2012 London Olympic 1100 athletes are participating from 204 countries and female participation is more than 40 %. The American association of university women’s public policy and government relation director Lisa Maatz said that countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Brunei, has stated a good example to the world by allowing female athlete to participate in Olympic games. Olympic teaches us to be united by forgetting discrimination and for this London Olympic would be known. It will also encourage more female participation in 2016 Reo De Janeiro Olympic.

Afgani female sprinter Tahmina Kohistani is the only female who is representing Afghanistan in London Olympic 2012. A 22 year old Tahmina is the third female athlete in the history of Afghanistan to participate in Olympic. She's not so interested in winning gold than in inspiring Afghan girls to take up sport. In her interview she said that it is like a dream come true for her to qualify in Olympics. Her appearance in the stadium was unusual as she was not wearing any sports bra or shorts like other female athlete instead of that the afgani sprinter appeared with a head scarf and full sleeves sweater. Although her chances of winning the 100-meter sprint are lower than those of her competitors, she is very glad to be in London. "What's important for me is to take part in the Olympic Games - for me, my people and my homeland."

Tahmina is the only woman allowed to represent her country in London this year. She has been running and dreaming of taking part in the Olympic Games for eight years already. Her intensive training for the summer games started six months ago at Kabul's Ghazi stadium but technical restrictions have made it tough. Karim, her trainer, says that she could "win gold if she had better training conditions." She has also not had an easy time of it because of the poor security situation and social restrictions. She has been insulted several times for choosing sports. People all over the world are happy that she is encouraging females in Afghanistan to choose sports but on the other hand in her homeland and outside there are many people who hate Tahmina because of her decision to be a sportsperson. The people who hate Tahmina not only include male but also females. According to them she is going against the religion but Tahmina want to prove them wrong and says that people need time to get used to more modern conditions. But she is glad that she is very lucky with her family who always supports her and encourages her in her decision. Though Tahmina has fewer chances to win but she is glad that maybe her attempt to inspire Afgan girl to take sport would come up with bright colors. This would be worth much more than a gold medal for her and her country.  After Olympic when she will go back to Kabul she is planning to open a sport academy for women so that Afghanistan can give more female participants in future for sporting events like Olympics.

It's time to take seriously

 The year 2005, Handitola village in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district:
A Dalit hangs himself. The early stench of a decomposing body is what helps identify the tree. Yet, nobody dares go near him; for some, the man’s an untouchable. The others are just plain scared. A woman in a faded sari with that other rural staple, a very cracked heel arrives on the scene. Sukhantibai with a sickle in her hand, stands upon a stool, cuts the rope and lowers the body. The villagers mostly look on. Few days later, the villagers unanimously select Sukhantibai – a Gond Adivasi woman as their Sarpanch.

7 years hence she has been reelected. Not that anything in her home would give that away today. Her house is still a mud hut with uneven walls, a tiny courtyard; her kitchen consists of a wood stove, a couple of earthen pots and a few small tins containing tea and spices; her family has to fetch drinking water from the tap at the entrance of the village and no personal privilege of separate toilets either. She tells us, ‘The government has a scheme called Nirmal Gaon Yojana to provide a toilet and water supply for all. But the money is coming in small amounts. There are 1260 people here. So far, 170 families have received water and toilets. I am trying to ensure that the rest of the families get them before my term ends.’ What she doesn’t say, is evident from being in the village. Her home is at the far edges of it. And since the supply starts at the beginning of the village Sukhantibai will be among the last to receive the benefits of any scheme. So she has let herself be among the rest who will have to wait for their turn to come.

Could this be a sign of her honesty, good ole fashioned honesty?
The villagers and the Maoists in the area seem to think so. The latter are known for opposing any government development project and she’s had their support. But maybe it’s also because she has been a landless tribal woman herself. Has also worked as a laborer in the house of the 'Patel' - the richest man in her village. And while coming up the hard way has seen her village with no electricity, no roads and no tap water. Infact she tells us that way back in 1995, on learning that leprosy was curable; she organized several health camps with the help of the villagers. In each camp, she cleaned and bandaged the wounds of those afflicted and distributed medicine which she had collected from the block hospital. Real trust is a slow but sure thing. And some people come around. And of course there are some don’t.

For example, the hut she calls home was bought from the Patel, whom she once worked for. But, even after 15 long years, he refuses to transfer the ownership of the land in her family’s name, simply because he doesn’t think as an Adivasi she or her family has a right to own land. Yet Sukhantibai hasn’t approached a court against the Patel “Court cases are lengthy affairs and I have no time to get involved into that right now,” she says, before adding, ‘I at least can eat a square meal and wear a coarse sari. My people here don't even have that. If I, the Sarpanch, start feeling sorry for myself, who will solve the problems of my people?'

And many of the problems have been solved. The primary school has been upgraded to 8th grade; there are separate toilets for boys and girls, a primary health center, an anganwadi, a large playground, a community hall, a community temple, electricity poles and drinking water taps.

But problems never go away, do they?
Consumption of illicit liquor, for example, is a growing menace among the village youth. To stop that, Sukhantibai does what a grandmother would do to her grandchildren: threaten to break their legs, if caught drinking inside the village. If there are desperate measures, there are also inspirational asides that possibly deserve a fuller telling elsewhere.

Suffice to say that to inspire the neighbors to educate their children, Sukhantibai, who didn’t get beyond 5th class as a child  passed 8th grade under the Open school system. She feels quite strongly about women’s opportunities too, ‘10 years ago, none of our girls would step outside their homes. Today, they are running shops and businesses. During a fair, you can see so many of them setting up food stalls. It makes me very happy. Adivasi women are very strong in body and mind. So, I also want them to enter politics. Women must have a say in the affairs of the village. It will only make our village more developed.’

As a state, Chhattisgarh has a real ongoing crisis. Of trust, of violence, of people caught in the crossfire of a vicious battle of life and death. But even in the blinding heat of a war zone, there are barefoot soldiers like her who offer spaces to grow, to support and work with. With a much quieter, yet unrelenting energy.

But just who is listening to those whose heels may have cracked, but not their spirit?
 

I read this story in the net and wanted to share this along with you it is really inspiring, one should learn from her honest work and great thoughts. She has cleared 8^th class at the age of 53, she is not highly qualified like any other person at the highest position in the country but her thoughts her work is far better than any of the politicians in the country.  She does not misuse the power given to her rather; she is trying her best to deliver the benefits provided by the government to common people in her village. She resembles herself as the servant of the people and believes in  delivering the benefits to the villagers first then getting the benefit for herself, she has all the qualities of a leader in spite of any higher qualification where as our politicians who are highly qualified even though seems to be illiterate.

Tribal handicraft in India

Tribal communities in India comprise an important dimension of the Indian society. The precious heritage of the Indian tradition is an amalgam and harmonious blending of a wide variety of cultures. Indian tribes constitute nearly 8.14% of the total population of India. According to article 342 of the Constitution of India, at present, there are 697 tribes as counted by the Central Government. Each tribe has their own culture and living style and they have always been associated with a rich legacy of locally made items of art and craft, a rage among locals as well as foreign tourists coming to India from different parts of the world.

Ceramic pottery

Tribal groups create awestruck beauty with their raw form of art that tends to appeal all art lovers with a different taste. In fact, their handicrafts are dipped in originality and weaved in creativity. Right from the pre-historic paintings to modern time tribal jewelry, the tribal groups have created magic with every piece of art. They have polished their hands at jewelry, wooden crafts, stones art and carved paintings. Their art form, generally, have the impression of myths, god, legends and natural essence. The tribal people give a great emphasis on the use of bright colors and natural shapes. In fact, their art is the best example of communion with nature. After all, they know the knack of creating beautiful pieces from the nature’s elements. They are also known for making wonderful carving on masks and drums too.

Handicrafts and handlooms are two such industries in India that have their special identity. With a mode of expressing one’s mind, soul, traditions and modern outlook, these two industries have created magic all over the world. The variety and expertise of handicrafts speaks through pottery, metal work, jewelry, wooden art, marble or stone work, paper mache items and toys. On the other hand, the glory of handloom industry can be stated in the form of designer clothes with a variety in fabric, printing styles, designs, patterns and specialized embroideries. In fact, almost every state in India has their own style of handicrafts and handlooms to boast their distinctiveness.

Santhal art

The handicrafts are an expression of thoughts and innovations. It is a field of art that lays the foundation for bonding between cultures and religions. In fact, Indian handicraft and art forms are a reflection of beauty coupled with elegance. As per the tradition in art forms go, each and every state has their own ways to deal with the colors and craft materials. We, generally, get to see the influence of religion, cultural beliefs, lifestyle and traditional practices in the piece of handicrafts made. The prevailing handicraft traditions of India has seen numerous interventions that created a new art out of them. In fact, it has been the influence of passing dynasties that kept on revamping the traditions. And the ability of accepting changes enabled artisans to create masterpieces that became an identity in itself. Some of the states in India have the tradition of weaving gold and silver threads on a piece of silk or cotton, which is known to be Zari or Brocade work. Punjab has the tradition of making very fine embroidery called as Phulkari. What makes a tradition being followed for so many years, I guess it is their hard work and creative input involved in it and after all appreciators of handicraft always go for the exclusive designs that have not been available to them in their native place. Moreover, handicrafts in India have ventured in to the homes, office spaces and various other places as a mode of decoration. They enhance the overall look of a place and add vivacity to it.

Each state has their own tradition and they are the best in their field. From carvings to bronze castings, brassware, metal and stone work, Andhra people have created a special place in the field of art. The most famous thing here is the use of pearls in various designs of jewelry. And it is Hyderabad, which is well-known for this form of art. Some of the other forms of art which can be checked are Bidri craft and Kondapalli toys.

In Bihar it is the women that are dominating over the crafts. Traditional Madhubani paintings, bangle making, designer stone work and Sikki craft are some of the famous tradition which is still followed with more creativity in their art which is a blend of traditional and modern art.

The Rajasthani handicrafts are famous worldwide for its classicism and ethnicity. From stones to marble, pots, bowls, plates, wall clocks, hangings, leather, wood, painting and jewelry, one can see the touch of royalty in everything. Not just royalness in everything; but also the touch of rural lifestyle that makes Rajasthani handicrafts popular worldwide. Rajasthan is known for palaces and kingly status, which is quite visible in its crafts. The unique thing to notice in Rajasthani handicrafts is that the work is based on the life of Maharajas of Rajasthan and their love for craftsmanship in every corner. Another thing to be checked out is the use of vibrant colors, red, yellow and green being prominent. It is because of the liveliness in the culture of Rajasthan that such colors are kept in prominence.

Orissa shows a glimpse of traditions and religious practices in the handicrafts that are designed with much finesse. The tradition of Palm Leaf Writing is still prevalent; though, it is seen in some of the local households. Even, marriage cards, at present, are also written on Palm Leaf to some extent. The wooden carvings, stone art, patta paintings and appliqué art form are some of the most loved possessions of Orissa. A best part of the handicrafts from Orissa is that they make use of tamarind glue, chalk powder and various other things in making their masterpieces of painting bases.

Jharkhand being a tribal state it is quite famous for artistic handicrafts. The specialty of this state is that the artisans are well-trained in making stylish wooden door panels, windows, boxes and kitchenware. These can be used in home and office decoration for enhancing the look of a place and lending it a thematic presence. One can also catch a glimpse of woman and men making bamboo or cane baskets, boxes and other important items of daily usage. Even the Paitkar paintings in Jharkhand are also famous, as they depict life after death. Apart from this, metal work is also quite beautiful and stylish in this state.

The contemporary and traditional art and craft is seen at its best in West Bengal. With an expertise in metal work, leather craft, cane art, jute products, brass work, pottery, masks and sandalwood carvings, the craftsmen of West Bengal have created a special place for themselves in the heart of craft lovers. One of the most pieces of art from Bengal is the Terracotta Bankura Horse. The carvings in Bengal and Dhokra art form are one of the most demandable art forms in the world.

The state of Tamil Nadu has an innovative story of handicrafts to recite. Since, it is located on the Bay of Bengal; the majority of handicrafts deal with sea products and stone structures. It is the traditional jewelry that has been attracting the customers. In designing the jewelry, craftsmen give high importance to gems and stones. There is a belief that Nine Jewels (Navratna) is the symbol of warding off evils. Another form of jewelry piece famous in Tamil Nadu is gold waist belt that is worn with saree. In fact, it is form of traditional ornament that is worn by almost every woman.

Mural art

In Jammu and Kashmir along with the existing traditions of handicraft designs, latest trends and changes are also incorporated to create a perfect fusion. The most form of craft used in this state after carpet weaving is wooden work done made from Walnut wood. Boxes, trunks and furniture made from it bear very fine carvings that enhance the look of an art piece. Even, copperware and silver work is also famous in Jammu and Kashmir for their sheer beauty, creativity and magnificence.

Himachal Pradesh is the land of greenery and in such an environment one of the most sought after form of craft is wooden work. Another one to catch up is metal work, which is the proof of fine art form. The silver jewelry in Himachal Pradesh is the soul of the state. Silversmiths of Himachal Pradesh are quite skilled in making engraved silver glasses, tea pots, lamp stands and fruit trays. In fact, Himachal is also famous for woolen handicrafts in the form of shawls, jackets, caps and carpets.

 The state of Maharashtra has a perfect blend of diverse handicraft cultures. From traditional art forms of Ajanta caves to modern style leather wear, everything is designed with giving importance to minute things also. Its famous Sawantwadi painting craft form is liked by all. Another art form famous in Maharashtra is leather work, which can be seen at Kolhapur in the form of chappals and sandals. These chappals are also prepared with thread embroideries on them, so as to give them a fashionable look. Even, the Warli paintings of Maharashtra introduce us to tribal art form.

 The artisans of Uttar Pradesh are skilled in making light weight jewelry which are easy to wear, beside that the colorful bangles of Uttar Pradesh are quite famous for their exclusive designs.One can also find a touch of religious faith in the artifacts of Keralites. In this state, one can find artisans using rosewood. Along with this, another piece of attraction is the carvings on coconut shell.The women of Jalandhar, Kartarpur and Hoshiarpur, generally, make pidhi that are carved out of wood. Afterwards, they are covered with lacquer and beautiful designs are woven with threads. Beside this the designer Punjabi juttis are major attraction throughout the world.

The rich historical story of pottery making dating back to Indus Valley Civilization, Gujarat has been known for changing thoughts into reality. From that time to now, the Gujarati tradition of handicrafts has shown its expertise in the field of textile designing, wooden carvings, metal and brass work. Another thing to check out is the designer art jewelry by Gujarati craftsmen. From the vulnerable designs of jewelry art pieces, the art of using beads, pearls and other gems to the best of their creations is clearly visible. Silver art jewelry is the specialty of this state.

 Sikkim is a place where lot of idols being carved on wood can be seen in monasteries and temples. Well, that’s not all. One can also find various types of masks made from wood and paintings on them, which signifies the tribal culture and Sikkim’s traditionalism. It follows the Thangka paintings of Sikkim that are considered apt to promote Buddhism and its philosophies. Lamp shades, lanterns and designer furniture from their specialties. The Choktse tables (foldable) are quite famous world over.

 The Government has taken various steps to promote the brand image for Indian Handicrafts in the world market. These include; organizing buyer-seller meet/seminars to create awareness about Indian Handicrafts, publicity measures such as release of advertisement in print media in US and Europe through Trade magazines, launching of website for providing authentic information on handmade carpets, participation in Fairs/Exhibition abroad, organizing Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair twice a year, organizing Thematic Exhibition etc. The Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (Trifed) is also branding tribal handicrafts, which it purchases from artisans and sells them through its outlets. It has around 16 regional offices in various parts of the country and buys 5,000 tribal products from about 50,000 artists registered with it. Trifed mainly deals with iron crafts, textiles, organic & herbal products, bamboo & cane products, tribal jewelry (including lac bangles), dokra and the like. This co-operative also plans training camps for tribal artisans in Jharkhand, Orissa and various other states. Planning Commission has also constituted a high-level committee to promote small scale industries and handicrafts in the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.

India’s rich cultural diversity and heritage provides a unique and huge resource for developing craft products. The Indian Handicraft Industry is showing continuous growth rate of 20% every year. The major parts of industry operates in rural and semi urban areas throughout the country and has potential Indian and International market with around 67000 exporters to tap the market. According to the national census of handicrafts, undertaken by the National Council for Applied Economic Research the value of handicrafts produced last year were of Rs.26,213 Crore. This Industry provides huge employment opportunities to artisans that include women and people belonging to backward and weaker society. This is one of the major sources of income there. The Indian Handicraft Industry is a $100 billion industry worldwide. It’s contribution in world market is nearly 1.2%( total exports of crafts items: - Rs. 13412.92 Crore) which is 1.15% of total exports of India but in spite of having diversified products, some part of Indian market are still untapped and market is price sensitive. The major exporting countries include U.S.A, Germany, Italy, U.K, France, Canada, Japan & Saudi Arabia.  In spite of all the measures adopted by the government there is still lack of awareness about new traditions among craftsmen and there is need of technological support and training so that more foreign exchange can be earned for the Indian economy.

7 billion in action

The world population has crossed 7 billion nine months back and it is still increasing. This increasing population can be taken as a challenge as well as an opportunity for growth and development because it increases human capital which is the stepping stone of success for any country, on the same hand increasing population can be looked as a thread which leads to unemployment, shortage of food, space and basic needs. Beside that the government has to spend more on health, education, development and availability of basic needs for the people. To deal with these challenges and to aware the people against various problems arising due to rising population united nation on 11^th July 1989 celebrated first world population day and decided to celebrate every year in order to remind the people of the rising problems and create awareness against increasing population. The theme of world population day 2012 is “Universal access to reproductive health services.” The vision of united nation fund for population activities (UNFPA) is a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child is safe and every young person potential is fulfilled. In whole world reproductive health problems remain the leading cause of ill health and death of women during pregnancy. Nearly 222 billion women who would like to avoid or delay pregnancy lack access to effective family planning. Every day nearly 800 women die giving birth to life.

In 1804 world population was 1 billion which increased to 2 billion in 1927 and within thirty two years it reached to 3 billion in 1959 and in 1974 it was 4 billion where as in 1998 it was 6 billion. We can observe that the rate of population increase is very high and last year 31^st October 2011 it reached to 7 billion. Today at present the population of the world is more than double as compared to 1950. In 2050 it is expected to cross 9 billion. In poor nation population increase is highest nearly four times that of 1961. According to UNFPA we have to face new challenges every time as land is shrinking and there is lack of space, raw material and minerals are limited, gap between rich and poor is increasing day by day due to addition of 7.8 million people every year which is ultimately affecting our living environment.

In whole world China has the highest population of 1.3 billion followed by India 1.2 billion which is 17.5% of world population. There are many countries whose land area does not mark up with the population. At the same time countries like Brazil, Canada etc. has very less population as compared to their land area.

7 billion world population has given rise to many challenges and yet many more to come. In whole world more than 1 billion people sleep without having food at night. The rate of population increase does not match the rate of production of food materials. In future when this population will increase 2-3 billion more, then it would be very difficult to feed all the people. Today challenges related to environment pollution are very important for human race. Since there is an increase in population we are clearing forests to build township which is ultimately affecting our environment, due to this there is a change in climate resulting many species to extinct or are at the edge of existence and if this goes on like this then one day human will also exist from this planet.

According to scientist till 2050 the consumption of energy will be double or even more than that. Today only 20% of total energy consumption comes from petroleum products and which is limited in this earth. In coming future when this will increase to 30% then it will be difficult to satisfy the demand of increasing population because at present only we are 70% dependent on petroleum products. It is like a time bomb for this whole world. It is a fact that one day all these petroleum products will dry up then we will have to face various difficulties in terms of energy, if any supplementary means of energy is not found. It is a very critical situation for south Asia - Africa and Central America, for example; in Ethiopia where people are suffering from scarcity of food at the same time they are also suffering from scarcity of water.  At which rate population is increasing in the same rate we are also polluting water by various human activities. Two third portion of earth is filled with water but it is of no use.

Globally many countries have been inspired by the problem of better established life. According to rough figure nearly 17.5 million people are living a established and better life and this is only 3%of the total population of the world. Among these many are from developed nations, but this number is also increasing gradually in developing nations. The increase in population is also affecting country’s growth. Day by day pressure is increasing on land and there has been a decrease in 30% of animal species as human has been destroying the environment by one or the other means. If humans goes on harming the environment and rate of population does not decreases then in future earth will become small and we will need one more planet to live.