जागतिक रंगभूमी दिन

 

प्रिय रंगभूमी,

शिर - साष्टांग दंडवत. 

जशी कृष्णासाठी राधा त्याची गुरू, त्याची मैत्रीण, त्याची प्रेयसी, त्याची हितचिंतक आणि आयुष्याचा एक अविभाज्य भाग होती तशीच अनेक कलाकारांसाठी, रसिकांसाठी तू आहेस. आई आणि गुरू होऊन तू कित्येक कलाकार घडवलेस, मैत्रिणीप्रमाणे त्यांची साथ दिलीस, मार्गदर्शकाप्रमाणे त्यांच्या प्रगतीचा पाया रचलास आणि प्रेयसी म्हणून तुझ्या प्रेमात पडायला भाग पाडलेस. 

        खूप वर्षांपूर्वी मी तुला विचारले होते की तुझं नाव "रंगभूमी" असं का आहे गं? तेव्हा तू म्हणालीस, "जसं तुझ्या जगातल्या आकाशामध्ये तू रंगांची उधळण बघतेस आणि हरखून जातेस तसं माझ्या जगात बघ! माझ्या जगातली तर भूमी सुद्धा रंगांची आहे."

       खरं आहे गं! ऊन पावसाच्या खेळामधून विविध रंगी इंद्रधनु एका क्षितिजाला दुसऱ्या क्षितिजाशी जोडते तसेच विविध रसांची निर्मिती ही एका कलाकाराला प्रेक्षकांच्या हृदयाशी जोडते. यातून कधी हास्याचे फवारे फुलतात, तर कधी अश्रूंच्या धारा लागतात. कधी स्वरतालांची मैफिल सजते, तर कधी सामाजिक प्रश्नाने अस्वस्थता येते. तू कधी प्रेक्षकांना लहान मुलांप्रमाणे जादूच्या नगरीत फिरवतेस तर कधी जगाच्या वास्तवतेचे भान देतेस.

       पडद्यामागील कलाकार, रंगमंचावरील नट आणि प्रेक्षागृहातील प्रेक्षक यांच्या उत्तम समीकरणातून नवरसांची उधळण होते आणि एखाद्या प्रयोगाची कलाकृतीमध्ये निर्मिती होते. एखादी संकल्पना आपण वाचतो, ऐकतो त्यापेक्षा जेव्हा आपण प्रत्यक्ष सादरीकरणातून बघतो, तेव्हा ती जास्त भावते कारण आपण ती समक्ष अनुभवतो आणि त्यात आपल्याला एका वेगळ्या जगात घेऊन जाण्याची ताकदही असते.

          दोन हजार वर्षांपेक्षाही जास्त वयाची चिरतरूण आहेस तू. तुझ्या जगामध्ये तू स्थळकाळाचे भान हरपवतेस. स्वत्व विसरायला भाग पाडतेस तर कधी परकाया प्रवेशही करून घेतेस.

      "आत्मविरोधी कुतूहलधरा" या उक्तीप्रमाणे कधी कधी स्वतःचे नाव ही ओळख विसरून तुझ्या जगातलं नाव हीच एखाद्याची ओळख बनते. अशा ओळखीमुळे लोक कधी राग राग करतात, कधी हळहळतात, तर कधी तुझ्या जगातले क्षण आठवून खळखळून हसतात. थोडक्यात तू जसं मनोरंजनाचे काम करतेस तसेच समाजप्रबोधनाचेही काम करतेस.

       सिनेमा सारख्या माध्यमाला रिटेक चा पर्याय असतो. पण रंगमंचाच्या प्रवासामध्ये रिटेक सारखे परतीचे दोर कापलेले असतात. म्हणून तुझ्यावर सादर होणारी प्रत्येक कृती हा उत्स्फूर्त "प्रयोग" असतो. हा प्रयोग कलाकृती म्हणून जरी प्रेक्षकांना स्वर्गानुभव देत असला तरीही कलाकाराला तू ही जाणीव करून देतेस - की प्रत्येक वेळी इथे काहीतरी नाविन्यपूर्ण घडणार आहे. म्हणून कलाकराला माहिती असते की प्रत्येक सादरीकरण हा एक प्रयोग आहे. यामुळे त्याचे पाय नेहमी जमिनीवर असतात. बघ ना, माणसातून कलाकार निर्माण करण्याचे काम तर तू केलेसच; पण कलाकारातून माणूस घडवण्याचे कामही तू किती सहज करून गेलीस!!

      समुद्रमंथनातून चौदा रत्ने बाहेर आली, पण तुझ्या झालेल्या मंथनातून बाहेर आलेल्या रत्नांची मोजदाद करणे केवळ अशक्य. परंतु इथे फक्त कलाकार रुपी रत्नांनाच महत्त्व न देता छोट्यातले छोटे काम करणाऱ्यालाही तेवढेच महत्त्व असते. तिसरी घंटा वाजवणाऱ्यापासून ते लेखक - दिग्दर्शकापर्यंत सर्वांनाच तू त्या कलाकृतीचा अविभाज्य भाग बनवतेस.

       जसं भूमी एका बीजापासून गगनचुंबी वृक्षापर्यंतच्या प्रवासाची साक्ष आणि साथ देत असते तसेच तू अनेक कलाकृतींची, अनेक कलाकारांची आणि अनेक रसिकांची ही साथ आणि साक्ष देत आली आहेस.

     अनादी कालापासून चालत आलेला तुझा प्रवास अनंत काळापर्यंत चालतच राहणार आहे. आजच्या रंगभूमी दिनानिमित्त हे कृतज्ञता पुष्प, हे रंगभूमी तुला आणि तुझे आराध्य दैवत नटरंगाला अर्पित करते.

              ।। आत्मविरोधी कुतूहलधरा

                  नमन नटवरा विस्मयकारा ।।

     

तुझीच रसिका, 

चैत्राली

- Chaitrali Tuljapurkar

प्रिय व.पु. यांस,

 प्रिय व.पु.,

हॅपी बर्थडे..

     गाणी ऐकत असताना एखादं गाणं अगदी अचानक हाताशी मिळावं आणि नंतर ते गाणं आपलं कायमचं  फेवरेट होऊन जावं,मला तुम्ही भेटलात अगदी तसे. म्हणजे मला व.पु. माहीतच नव्हते असेही नाही अगदी; पण रोज नजरेसमोर असणाऱ्या एखाद्या गोष्टीची खूप दुर्लक्षित बाजू कधीतरी नजरेत यावी आणि “ अरेच्चा..! हे आपल्याला आधी का नाही मिळालं..?”  असं वाटावं, माझ्यासोबत अगदी तसंच झालं. तुमच्या ‘बदली’ कथेमुळे मला तुम्ही माहीत होतात. कधीतरी काम करत असताना मी प्लेबॅकला तुमचा ‘जे के मालवणकरही’ ऐकला होता. त्यामुळे विनोदी कथाकार म्हणून तुमची ओळख झाली होती. मराठी वाचक म्हणून जितके व.पु.माहित हवे तेवढे मला माहित होतेच; पण मी तुमचा फॅन झालो ते म्हणजे तुम्ही 62 व्या नाट्य संमेलनात घेतलेली वसंतरावांची मुलाखत ऐकून. मराठी संगीत नाटकाची वैभवाची वाटचाल वसंतरावांनी फार ओघवत्या भाषेत अशी सांगितली की ऐकणाऱ्याने केवळ मंत्रमुग्ध होऊन ऐकत राहावं. एखाद्या गोष्टीचा एवढा थोर व्यासंग करणाऱ्या सागरासारख्या थोर माणसाला एक मुलाखतकार म्हणून तुम्ही तेवढ्याच समृद्धतेने बोलतं केलं की समुद्रमंथन झाल्यासारखं वसंतरावांनी मराठी नाट्यसृष्टीची रंगभूमीची वैभवाची ती वर्षे अशी मौक्तिकांसारखी उलगडून दाखवली. वसंतरावांना ऐकून मी भारावलो होतोच; पण मी त्याहून भारावलो होतो तुमचा अभ्यास पाहून. तेव्हा जाणलं की, व.पु.म्हणजे कोणी सामान्य माणूस, साहित्यिक नाही. जेव्हा केव्हा संधी मिळेल तेव्हा सगळे व.पु.वाचून काढायचे असं मनाशी ठरवलं. तो खयाल मनात तसाच राहिला आणि वेळ मात्र किनाऱ्याच्या वाळूसारखा भुरभुर उडून गेला आणि मनाशी ठरवलेलं तसंच राहिलं.

     काळ सरकत राहिला आणि मला सुलेखन करण्याची लहर आली. लिहू काय..? काय लिहू..? विचार करतानाच मीडियावर कुठेतरी वाचलं, ‘ अश्रू स्वतःची वकिली करतात. वाहणाऱ्या डोळ्यांना स्वतःच्या चुका दिसत नाहीत.’  म्हटलं, “ कसलं भारीय हे..!” आणि खाली नाव पाहिलं तर तुमचं.मला काय आनंद झाला सांगू..? मला बऱ्याच मोठ्या काळाच्या खंडानंतर माझा हरवलेला दोस्त सापडला जणू. तेव्हापासून मी नियमित तुमचं लिखाण वाचत असतो आणि क्षणाक्षणाला आणखी वपुमय होत जातो. 

     खरं सांगू वपु..? ही माणसं तुम्हाला आपला ‘पार्टनर’ म्हणतात. म्हणजे त्यांनी तुमचे लिखाण तेवढे वाचले तर ते म्हणोत भले. मी मात्र तुम्हाला माझ्या जगण्याच्या महाभारतातला श्रीकृष्ण मानतो. तुम्ही ‘आपण सारे अर्जुन’ असे म्हणत असला तरीही..! कारण आपण सारे अर्जुन वाचत असताना तुम्ही मला सगळं काही त्या कृष्णाच्या ममतेनेच शिकवताय असा भास होतो. 

      माझी जात पडली लेखकाची. या जातीला जगण्यासाठी लागतात माणसं. मध्यमवर्गातली,उच्चभ्रू, नाल्या शेजारी पत्र्याच्या खोपटात राहणारी, पिवळ्या दिव्याच्या प्रकाशात मटण खाणारी, बस स्टँडवर काखेत पिशवी मारून उभी असणारी, नोकरीवर जाणारी,दरबारी कानडा ऐकत माना डोलवणारी, संध्याकाळी बागेतल्या बाकावर बसणारी अशी सगळी माणसं. आता एवढी माणसं बघत बसायची म्हणजे वेळ किती जायचा..? अशावेळी मी तुमचेच एखादं पुस्तक वाचतो किंवा चाळतो तरी म्हणजे अशा खूप माणसांपैकी कुणाचा तरी एखादा छोटासा पैलू सापडतो. ‘आपण सारे अर्जुन’ मध्ये तुम्हीच म्हणता की त्या 50 पुस्तकांमधून वेध घेतला फक्त माणसाचा. ते अगदी खरं आहे मला वाटतं. माणूस समजून घेण्यासाठी माणूसपणाच्या पलीकडे जावं लागतं आणि तुम्ही त्या स्थानी पोहोचलात. म्हणजे माणूस तुम्हाला समजलाय किंवा तुम्ही माणूस जाणलाय.

तुम्ही खूप थोर जगलात व.पु.आणि तसं थोर लिहिलंतंही. मलाही वाटतं की लिहावं खूप चांगलं. असंच माणसांवर.. पण लेखक म्हणून मला आत्ताच्या काळात एवढे मुक्त लिहायचं म्हटल्यास दोनदा विचार करावा लागतो. तुमचा काळ खरंच लेखकांसाठी किंवा कलाकारांसाठी सुखाचा म्हणावा असा. त्याकाळी माणूस जाणला जायचा केवळ त्याच्या कलेने आणि अंगभूत गुणांनी. आज मात्र माणसाला माणूस किंवा कलाकार म्हणून बघताना समाजाच्या किंवा रसिकांच्या नजरेवर चढतात वेगवेगळ्या विविध नजरांचे चष्मे. त्यातून माणसाची कला पाहिलीच जात नाही. कलाकार म्हणून आणखी काय सांगू व्यथा..? हो..! भावना..! ही आणखी एक नाजूक कण्याची बाई. कस्पटाच्या धक्क्यानेही दुखावणारी. एवढेच सांगा वपु.. आम्ही लिहिताना मुक्तपणानं लिहावं का नाही..? की सात आभाळ भेदत जाऊन, ब्रह्मांडाच्या गणितांशी खेळणाऱ्या आपल्या कलासक्त मनाच्या पाखराला घालायचा तथाकथित 'समाजजाणिवेचा' पिंजरा...? सांगा. हे एवढं निस्तरून लिहायला जमलं ना तर मीही होईन लोकांचा पार्टनर...

कळावे,

तुमचाच एक अर्जुन

- Darsh Samant 

The Story of Storytelling

 

World Storytelling Day Logo

March 20 marks World Storytelling Day, which is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. The theme for The World Storytelling Day 2024 is ‘Building Bridges’.  Weaving magical tales, captivating listeners with every word, transporting them to new worlds - it's a skill that has been cherished for centuries. If there’s one thing common among the entire humanity - it’s storytelling. What are we, if not the sum of our stories? The experiences we share and our imaginations are the very essence of what it means to be human. Every single one of us has a story to tell. We need a narrative to make sense of the world and the power of storytelling helps us function and piece it all together. Our brains are made in a way to understand stories and pass them on.

Stories have the power to connect people. For me, storytelling reminds me of my grandma. It takes me back to summer vacations when she used to narrate her sometimes mundane, sometimes exciting experiences. One such significant story I remember is of the hare and the tortoise. We all know how the story goes. It's fixed in our brains. This might seem like a pretty plain story and we might not have given much thought to it when we were kids. But now that I look back, it impacted my life a lot. Grandma said that the hare, despite having the natural ability, did not win, only because of being complacent and lazy. Another thing it taught me is to not look down upon people just because they are not performing well. They might just be tired and it gives me no permission to downgrade them for any reason. This thought has stuck with me. Such a mere, simple story. Yet, such a powerful message.

Storytelling has been a natural instinct of humankind since the very start of it. Right from when human societies started forming, the need for communicating one another’s experiences emerged which eventually developed into oral storytelling as we know it today. Stories were first passed on through word of mouth. The invention of writing ensured that these stories were recorded and preserved. The Ancient Epics like Odyssey, Gilgamesh, and our very own Mahabharata and Ramayana were written with the purpose of conveying meaning and wisdom across time. The Mahabharata and Ramayana are written scriptures, but the reason for their popularity is how they were passed on through this powerful tool of preserving culture and wisdom. Other forms of storytelling like cave paintings in the Stone Age, Chitrakathi which means telling stories through paintings, Warli, etc. are proof that we're social beings who always want to share our stories.  What else could be the reason for Stone Age cavemen wanting to imprint their daily lives on the walls of a cave?  It has been a part of every single culture right since the beginning.  Also, all the dance forms, songs, and chants in Indian culture have the aim of reciting stories. In fact, the Indian Classical dance form ‘Kathak’ elaborates that “Katha kahe so kathak kahave”. Which means that it’s a dance form solely based on storytelling. And these traditions have been carried out for hundreds and thousands of years.  It has always been an inseparable part of every culture.

When we think of storytellers, we usually think of authors movie directors, or perhaps poets and songwriters. The melodious stories, the twisted meanings of words in a song, and the magic of storytelling in cinemas are impeccable. They touch our hearts with beautiful stories like nothing else. I would say that historians are storytellers too. They tell stories that we are a part of in some or the other way. These stories create not only an image of the past but also give us a sense of who we are as a collective consciousness. They tell us stories of great leaders, kings, and unsung warriors, whom we take inspiration from. Knowing stories of our leaders, martyrs, and their struggles can move the readers from emotions like apathy to empathy and then eventually action. These stories of the past are a foundation of our present, and consequently, our future. If we never knew the stories of our past, if they were never passed down to us, I don’t think humanity would be where it is today.

The art of storytelling is an integral part of our childhood. It has an important place in our relationships with grandparents and parents. It is immensely important as through those stories children's lives are shaped, information about culture is told and values are given. Though it may seem to be a simple act of oral recital, a story can have a huge impact on the way children view themselves and society, their morals and perspective, which decides what kind of a person they will become. This beautiful art form which used to bond grandparents, parents, children, and generations after generations, is somehow fading away.  Kids are turning towards digital gadgets and that bond with parents is fading. And the art of storytelling has lost its essence now - people are not ready to listen to others and no one to tell stories to the children.

On the bright side, it might just be that the ways have changed now. Numerous online platforms and applications provide audiobooks, podcasts, and people sharing their own short stories, which people do listen to. With fading storytellers, platforms like these give access to people who like to talk about their daily routines and life lessons, almost like having an actual, your very own personal storyteller. For people with no families or the ones staying away, these storytellers are a huge relief. The platforms have a huge audience as well so we can say that this art form is still alive in some form.

What if I tell you that storytelling has science behind it? Have you ever had a dream and thought it was real- or read a book so emotional you broke into tears? That is because our brains can’t differentiate between what is real and what is fictional when it comes to stories. So the mirror neurons in our brains cause us to experience the story as if it was real. This is why we feel so connected to stories and their protagonists. This is why stories matter - because they inject real emotions into us through fiction.

As I said before, we view storytellers as authors, filmmakers, etc. Most people don’t think of themselves as storytellers. But you are. And so is everyone else. We tell the most personal and persuasive stories. Afterall, what is storytelling? A simple way of expressing our side of the story. It’s showing people parts of our lives that are special and unique to us and only us. It's like a blanket made out of small, vibrant pieces, which might seem insignificant individually, but when weaved together, become a beautiful story.

Storytelling is a beautiful art form, and this storytelling day, let us strive to preserve it.

- Chaitralee Indore

Acknowledging World Consumer Rights Day to educate consumers

March 15th is celebrated as Consumer Rights Day in honour of President John F. Kennedy's 1962 speech on the rights and the protection of consumers. The current shift in consumer rights was inspired by the lecture, which still has a rippling effect across various institutions globally. World Consumer Day sheds light on the issues faced by consumers in their daily lives. Despite all the progress we have made, many issues remain unsolved, such as malpractices, adulteration, dangerous commodities, etc. The day not only prioritizes the fundamental rights of consumers but also keeps them in focus.

Governments recognize the importance of caring for consumers to reinforce existing rules for the relevant parties involved. Standards ensure that consumers are treated fairly and protected from dangerous products. Businesses and governments should conduct seminars to ensure that unethical practices are not tolerated, as consumers are their ultimate beneficiaries, and their suffering erodes long-term trust.

Consumers should feel free to report their grievances and take legal action to address what is rightfully necessary. Despite these precautions, consumers face problems daily, including unjustified prices, unsafe products, and poor customer service. Consumer associations play a key role in addressing these issues, collecting individual consumer concerns and collectively addressing them through group protests, prompting the relevant parties to take necessary actions.

An example of consumer rights being enacted in India is the introduction of the Right to Information Act, reflecting consumers' concerns about their rights and involvement in society. Enacted in 2005, the RTI Act enabled consumers to access various databases from public experts, leading to advanced transparency and accountability. Consumers enthusiastically filed for RTI to approach the government on issues like public spending and expenditure, procedural reform and questioned delays in information processing and facts revelation. Through multiple training sessions and campaigns, consumers have now promoted an ecosystem of transparency, where the respective institutions can be held accountable.

World Consumer Day is the day we demand what is rightfully ours, raise awareness of the issues we face, and advocate for better guidelines. It is an opportunity for us to speak against biases, malpractices, and injustices. We must work together as global consumers for a better world where our rights and principles define us.

- Nandini Partani

Consumer Expenditure by Indians

A summarized analysis of the report released by NSSO

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics, and Programmed Implementation have conducted the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) from August 2022 to July 2023. This survey on household consumption expenditure aims at generating estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) and its distribution separately for the rural and urban sectors of the country, for States and Union Territories, and different socio-economic groups. The summary results of HCES 2022–23 relating to MPCE are being released in the form of a factsheet. In absolute terms, the survey noted the average monthly per-capita expenditure (MPCE) in the rural category for 2022–23 at Rs 3,773, up from Rs 1,430 seen in 2011–12. The same for the urban category was seen at Rs 6,459 in 2022–23, sharply up from the average per capita spending observed at Rs 2,630 in the same base year. The survey report prepared by NSSO is released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) every five years. However, the latest set of data comes after 10 years, as the same for 2017–18 wasn’t released by the government owing to the vast variance seen in the figures.

There has been a rise in discretionary spending in both rural and urban categories. According to the study, there has been a decline in food expenditure on cereals and food intake, but an increase in spending on milk, fruits, vegetables, and processed food. Compared to 43% in 2011–12, food expenditure will represent 46.38% of total spending in 2022–2023. According to the consumption expenditure survey, the percentage of money spent in the rural category on "non-food items" increased to 53.6 percent in 2022–2023 from 47.1 percent in 2011–2012. For urban households, the proportion of spending falling into the same group increased to 60.8 percent in the most recent survey year, compared to 57.38 percent in 2011–12. Durables make up a large portion of "non-food items," and their percentage share of spending increased to 6.89 percent from 4.85 percent in the rural category. On the other hand, during the survey period, the proportion of respondents in the urban category increased to 7.17 percent from 5.60 percent. The experts believe that the high increase in discretionary expenditure in rural households is attributable to a decrease in spending on food related items. Alternatively, this also disproves the belief that rural residents have less purchasing power.

The report has observed a sharp decline in spending on major food items like cereals and pulses compared to other items in the food basket. This has been seen across rural as well as urban categories. In the rural category, the percentage share of expenditure over cereals (like wheat, rice, and barley) was seen at 4.89 percent in 2022–23, against 10.69 percent seen in 2011–12 as a part of overall monthly per capita expenditure. The same in the urban category was seen at 3.62 percent for 2022–23, as compared to 6.61 percent seen in 2011–12. In terms of overall spending on food items, the share of average monthly per capita expenditure on food as a part of the overall MPCE has reduced to 46.4 percent in 2022–23, compared to 52.9 percent in 2011–12 in the rural category. The same for the urban category was seen at 39.2 percent, as compared to 42.62 percent in the same period. According to several policy observers, the decline in spending on cereals in the rural category in particular has been due to the implementation of the National Food Security Act of 2013. As of now, 35 kilograms of food grains are provided free of charge to each prioritized household under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The survey also notes a steady rise in the share of spending on milk, meat, and processed foods in terms of overall spending on food. This has been observed across rural as well as urban categories. This rise, in particular, has been more in the rural category. The share of spend on milk, meat, and processed foods as a part of the overall MPCE in this category has increased to 8.33, 4.91, and 9.62 percent, respectively, in 2022–23, as compared to 8.04, 4.79, and 7.90 percent noted in 2011–12. Experts have observed that the availability of more spendable money owing to the food-security benefits also means an increasing inclination towards high nutrition foods among the lower and middle income groups.

Looking at the area-wise distribution, the northeastern state of Sikkim emerged as the state with the highest MPCE across the rural as well as urban categories. In the rural category, MPCE for the state was seen at Rs 7,731, while the same for the urban category was recorded at Rs 12,105. According to the experts, this has been possible due to Sikkim also having topped the list of states with the highest per capita income at Rs 472,543 in the years 2021–22. On the other hand, Chhattisgarh emerged as the state with the lowest average monthly per capita spending across rural and urban categories. The MPCE for the state in the rural category was seen at Rs 2,466, while that in the urban category was noted at Rs 4,483. The rural-urban difference in average MPCE was also the highest in Chhattisgarh at 82 percent, only after Meghalaya at 83 percent. The report observed that those who were self-employed in non-agricultural professions in rural areas had more spending power than those engaged solely in agriculture. The average MPCE for those who identified as self-employed in agriculture stood at Rs 3,702, lower than the overall MPCE for rural areas. On the other hand, the average MPCE of those who identified themselves as self-employed in non-agriculture was seen at Rs 4,074. In terms of social categories such as Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Class, and the Unreserved, the average MPCE for all social categories was found to be higher in urban areas than their counterparts in the rural category.

These findings offer valuable insights into evolving consumption patterns and potential areas for policy intervention to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic development across India. The data suggests a move away from staples like cereals and pulses towards milk, vegetables, fruits, and processed foods. This could be due to factors like rising incomes, urbanization, and changing tastes. The rise in spending on non-food items, especially durables, in both rural and urban areas indicates an increase in discretionary spending power. This could be due to factors like government schemes, improved employment opportunities, or rural-to-urban migration. The decline in spending on cereals, particularly in rural areas, could be partly attributed to schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which provides free food grains to eligible households. The significant difference in MPCE between states like Sikkim and Chhattisgarh highlights the persistent regional disparities in income and spending patterns. Self-employed individuals in non-agricultural professions in rural areas have higher spending power compared to those solely engaged in agriculture. This could be due to factors like better returns from non-agricultural activities or diversification of income sources.

- Soham Sonar

 

 

The Emerging Heroes of Gaganyaan

Mission Gaganyaan is India's first crewed space mission, which is set to launch in 2025. It proves to be India's first human spaceflight project, which aims to demonstrate ISRO's human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members on a low-Earth orbit of 400km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely by landing in the Indian Ocean. For the mission, ISRO has reconfigured its three-stage medium-lift Rocket Launch Vehicle Mark-3 or LVM3 (formerly known as GSLV Mark-3) to meet human rating requirements and christened it “Human-Rated LVM3” or HLVM3. India also plans to conduct its first uncrewed orbital test flight for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight program in July this year. To date, only three countries, namely, the erstwhile Soviet Union, the United States of America, and China have so far achieved the feat of sending manned missions into space on their spacecraft. If the mission of Gaganyaan succeeds, India will be the fourth country to do so.

Cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma remains the only Indian to ever travel to space. However, he flew onboard the Russian made Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. It will be after 40 years that an Indian will be travelling to space again. However, this time, the rocket as well as the countdown will all be ours. One of the things that we should be proud of is that most of the equipment of the Gaganyaan is made in India. The goal of launching the Gaganyaan mission was in 2022, but various factors ranging from difficulties in the realization of complex technologies to COVID-19 and Disruptions in global supply chains due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict have upset the plans.

On February 27, 2024, our Honourable Prime Minister announced the names of four Indian Air Force (IAF) Officers who would be part of this mission. He bestowed ‘astronaut wings’ on these four astronaut designates at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. India's four astronaut designates selected for the ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission are undergoing intense training at the Indian Space Research Organization's crew training facility in Bengaluru. The mission-specific preparations commenced after the four astronauts completed their general spaceflight training in Russia at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. They are being trained on aero-medical aspects, recovery, and survival procedures in addition to academic courses on Gaganyaan flight systems. Their training sessions also include classroom sessions, simulator training, microgravity familiarization, survival drills, and flying practices. Out of the four astronaut designates, or "vyomnauts,” being trained, three will be selected for the final mission. The other one is likely to fly to the International Space Station later this year as a part of a NASA mission, following the agreement between the Space agencies in India and the USA last year.

In order to understand this mission in a better way, we must take a look at these 4 personalities and the reason behind their selection for this mission.

1. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair-

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair hails from Nemmara village in Kerala's Palakkad district. Born on August 26, 1976, he is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and recipient of the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on December 19, 1998. The fighter pilot is a Category ‘A’ flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience. As an experienced fighter pilot, he has flown a variety of fighter jets, including the Su-30 MKI, MIG-21, MiG-29, and Hawk, as well as the Dornier and AN-32 in over 25 years of his career in the Indian Air Force. He has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 squadron in the Northeast. Nair has also trained at the United States Staff College and has been a directing staff member at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington.

2. Group Captain Ajit Krishnan-

Born in Chennai on April 19, 1982, the fighter pilot is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and a recipient of the President's Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He is also an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington. He was commissioned in June 2003 in the fighter stream of the IAF. The officer is a flying instructor and a test pilot with about 2,900 hours of flying experience who has flown a variety of aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Mig-29, Jaguar, and Dornier AN-32.

3. Group Captain Angad Pratap-

Born in Prayagraj on July 17, 1982, he completed his schooling at the Army Public School and went on to graduate from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2003. He was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF in December 2004. The officer is a flying instructor and a test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience who has flown Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and AN-32, among other aircraft. Group Captain Pratap’s selection for the Gaganyaan mission is a testament to his skills and expertise as a pilot.

4. Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla-

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985. At the young age of 16, he successfully cleared the NDA examination and is hence an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned by the IAF in 2006. He is a fighter combat leader and a test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience and has flown Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and AN-32, among other aircraft. At the age of 38, he holds the distinction of being the youngest on the team. His extensive experience showcases his expertise and readiness for the upcoming space mission.

During this training period, life was not always easy for these four people. They had to undergo rigorous training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia, lasting about a year, even amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The only thing that keeps motivating them to undergo such a harsh training period is the feeling of nationalism. They symbolize the trust, courage, valour, and discipline of today’s India.

ISRO has always been a part of our country's pride and I am sure that it will continue to make India proud on international platforms with their space initiatives. It has indulged in the development of India in space research and technology. I am hopeful that the Gaganyaan will take its place in the Gagan of success. Through this blog, I would like to acknowledge everyone who contributed to Mission Gaganyaan. The countdown of the rocket inspires lakhs of children in India, those making paper planes today dream of becoming scientists. Initiatives like Gaganyaan have empowered India to expand its space in the global order. Let us hope that the Gaganyaan mission will be an exemplary success in showcasing India’s potential in the field of space research.

 - Swaraj Wandre