Barbecue-partying time in December

By Sanjeev Shekhar
Amid state assembly elections hullabaloo coupled with chilling cold that has lashed the state capital of Jharkhand, denizens here are already celebrating party and get-together, much-much away from such interventions in their personal life. Simultaneously, they do not forget to discuss politics after gulping few pegs with their favourite chicken leg, chicken chest or pompret fish cooked on the grill of barbecue.
Yes, the Barbecue culture is in to beat the cold of Ranchi. The barbecue culture or idea of hosting parties in the open during the chilling winter with charcoal heater by the side has gradually pervaded the elite section of society in this state capital of Jharkhand. Such parties and get together are on the rise and the changing trend is a healthy sign of adoption of variety of food habits among the people residing here, said Rakesh Kumar, proprietor and owner of the guesthouse at Doranda.“In fact with onset of December, such parties witness increase in the number of the get-together of officials, office-party or ladies get-together”, informs Rakesh. Ranchi is colder and the people here love to drape themselves in their best of outfit to suit their requirement. “The season demands consumption of non-vegetarian like chicken and mutton to beat the cold,” he justifies adding a few pegs of hot drinks only adds flavor to the partying spirit & merriment.
A defence officer of the Colonel rank is fond of partying; particularly the barbecue preparation in which he takes pride in managing solely the entire affair from hosting to serving. He loves select gathering at his sprawling lawn with marigolds and Lillis surrounding the entire space spotted with lights that enlivens the heart of every individual present there to enjoy the party. “The exciting thing about the classic garden barbecue is that they can be as simple or as complicated as you wish to make them. A barbecue for two with a couple of bottles of your favourite drink, on the terrace or in the garden can be an enjoyable and relaxing time while you sit back & relax talking to your friends and enjoying your Barbecue food,” said the Colonel, a teetotaler.
Colonel marinates the chicken and paneer in ginger-garlic paste with perfect mixing of salt for nearly one-two hours. He does everything in advance so that he can act a perfect host on such occasion of get-together. “Colonel Sahaab is a perfect host and a cook. The chicken cooked by him on the grill is rare of its type and is mouth-watering delicacy that tickles the taste buds with green ‘chutney’ personally prepared by him,” claims his colleague.
The charcoal beneath the grill provides heat soothing to those who sits around to enjoy the food.Chill at the grill every winter apparently seems to be the punch-line of Chadrashekhar, the chief-engineer with the shipping company. He is adventurous, innovative & full of energy to prepare variety of food, out of which barbecue is one of them. He loves food and has a strong penchant for cooking. Chandrashekhar has his own thought pattern of celebrating barbecue. He reveals, “A variety of food and drink should be available to suit your guests tastes, and do use unbreakable plates and glasses, if you don't want any injuries that would end up spoiling your garden barbecue.”He suggests safety and hygiene should be the main priorities, and as tempting as it may be to cut corners. “Sensible precautions to ensure you and your guests safety are the best way to enjoy barbecue,” he justifies.
The increasing number of garden barbecue with decorations also includes brightly coloured banners, balloons, outdoor lighting and a selection of music, as does the army personnel. “Keep it varied so there is something for everyone,” an official in a party held.“You can liven up your barbecue party with a party game, a few decorations, balloons and banners. Adding a party theme is extremely popular, and adds to the fun and excitement for you and your guests. We have a great selection of party themes to choose from as well as a fantastic range of barbecue party costumes,” said a high-level official of the corporate house P. Ghosh.

Sanjeev Shekhar
Journalist/Media Consultant/PR

TATA STEEL CONTINUES TO BRING A ‘SMILE’ ON MANY MORE PINKYS

By Sanjeev Shekhar

Ranchi-
While the Indians celebrate the winner of Oscar of the noted documentary film ‘Smile Pinky’, I’m immediately reminded of the yeoman service of the corporate house, Tata Steel that has been successfully carrying out the ‘cleft lip’ operations for nearly a decade now.

The film nominated along with four others stood victorious in the short documentary category. Smile Pinky revolves around a six year old girl with a lip deformity living in Dabai village of Uttar Pradesh directed by the American director Megan Mylan. It won Oscar in Los Angeles.

Scores of social organizations as well as the corporate houses are carrying out the cleft lip operation for years together but the attention of the international media never came to an extent that could be recorded either in India or abroad. Even I, as a journalist, have personally covered the event organized by Tata Steel. The company stationed ‘hospital on wheels’ with the support of the Railways wherein the mobile train went from one place to another and successfully treated cleft lip operation of several boys and girls. The mobile hospital also conducted surgery of various diseases and the team of doctors from the Tata Main Hospital personally monitored such cases; thereby bringing about smiles in innumerable faces. Such developments should form the part of integral journalism practice.

The recent was the company’s endeavour with the Operation Smile Mission, a worldwide children’s medical charity conducted a camp at Tata Main Hospital in the last week of February. This was an effort by Tata Steel to bring smiles to faces of children born with facial deformities through cleft lip and palate operations. Tata Steel is the first corporate house to collaborate with this mission for a project of this nature.

The purpose of penning this on record is to make people aware about the noble task & give due recognition to such activity that is done for social upliftment and for the benefit of the society.

This was Operation Smile’s first international medical mission in Jamshedpur. Cleft lip operations were conducted in Jamshedpur from February 22 – February 27, 2009. The screening of patients had begun on February 19, 2009. After screening 240 cases in Jamshedpur, a total of 182 cleft lip operations were carried out at the camp from February 22 to February 27, 2009. On an average 25-30 cases were handled everyday in TMH and the patients were mainly children in the age group of 6 months to 15 years and a few adults.

The entire funding for this project has been done by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. All the medication to patients during their stay in hospital has been taken care by the group. In addition to this, medicine packets with instruction in their local language have been given to patients when they were discharged from the hospital. Speech therapy also organised for the patents as a part of the mission. A follow up check up for these patients has been arranged in TMH on March 7, 2009.

This is the first time that Tata Steel has collaborated with Operation Smile Mission which started in India in 2002. Tata Steel had entered into a MoU with another international organisation called Smile Train in 2002 and along with Smile Train more than 3000 children have been operated till date. The MoU with Smile Train is valid till December 2009. In the year 2000 and 2001, Tata Steel was able to bring smiles to 63 cleft lip cases with the voluntary effort of Dr R Bharat (the then plastic surgeon of TMH who has recently retired from TMH) and the Indian Red Cross Society of Jamshedpur. Kudos to all such bodies for their inavluable service...

Sanjeev Shekhar
Media Consultant/Journalist/PR

Parvati Omnakuttam resolve to win contest has been realised

Miss World first runner up Parvati Omnakuttam-2008 with Miss India Earth-2008 Tanvi Vyas in Jamshedpur. The ladies had stolen the show during the ramp

By Sanjeev Shekhar
When Parvati Omnakuttam became the Miss World runner up, I was one of the happiest one to learn about it. The reason being when I had met her in Jamshedpur fashion show in the month of May 2008, I had written in my blog (refer my post dated May 9, 2008), “though she has already accomplished the feat in the nation’s top platform (winner of Femina Miss India runner up), no matter the show will go a long way for her.”

This has been proved today when she is already making headlines in the fashion industry & crowned Miss World first runner up recently. “I had a dream and always aspired to become the model. I’ve already put the right step forward. But this is still the beginning, as I have a great responsibility when I’ll be representing my country at the International Miss World pageant in October this year,” informed Parvati during a chat at Jamshedpur. It may be noted that the 58th Miss World Final was held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 13, 2008. Hence the date mentioned earlier in my blog regarding the competition stands rectified including the place of event.

Russia's Ksenya Sukhinova was crowned Miss World 2008. India's Parvathy Omanakuttan finished first runners up at a glittering African extravaganza. The second runner-up was Gabriel Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.

Her ramp in Jamshepur is still fresh in the minds of people as she was the cynosure of the fashion show, where she cat walked into the hearts of the cheering youngsters.
“I participated in Miss Kochi and many more competitions. The Femina Miss India was the eighth competition of my life. I’m happy and lucky to have won it,” she had disclosed.The best part about her was that she did not believe in following anybody nor did she consider anyone as her role model. She was of belief to become an individual and imbibe in her the qualities to become the leader. “I want to place myself as a source of inspiration and motivation for others,” she had said without mincing words.

Her resolve and self confidence has put her on the citadel today, and she deserved to be there.
As like most of the stars, Parvati also had admiration for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s talent. “I love cricket and like Dhoni very much. In fact this place has the potential to give out stars in many other fields,” Parvati held at that time.

Sanjeev Shekhar

Media Consultant/Journalist/PR

21-year old Labrador dog defies average life-span of 10 years

By Sanjeev Shekhar

Ranchi-
When man bites dog, it makes news. This is rightly proved in case of Goldie alias Golu putting up at Chotanagpur Dog Hostel & Training Centre at Kanke road in the state capital of Jharkhand.

Well, you guessed it right, Goldie alias Golu is a dog. This Labrador breed animal has already entered its 21st year of lifespan, thereby defying the average age of 10-11 years only.

Golu is presently the cynosure of dog lovers, who is understandably putting on airs on the arrival of any visitor in the hostel. Deep Yellow in colour, this Labrador was named Golu because of its ‘roly-poly’ body structure in it’s hey days still surviving in its inimitable ‘rough & tough’ style. This creature has defied the basic thrust of life span and is one of the proud possessions of its owner Dr Manoj Mishra and his wife Seema Mishra.

Mishras have given their best in managing and maintaining this noble animal. Manoj has given treatment through Ayurveda and Homeopath medicines to keep the animal hale and hearty. “Though it has lost the capacity to produce issues but the dog is maintaining good health, which is basically a matter of research or study when it’s survival for so long is concerned,” informed the proud owner of the animal, Manoj Mishra.

When the world is witnessing enhancement in the lifespan of human, there are cases when the same is happening with animals too. Thanks to the medical science and contemporary medicines that have made things possible.

“Though it has lost the capacity to produce issues but the dog is maintaining good health, which is basically a matter of research or study when it’s survival for so long is concerned,” informed the proud owner of the animal, Manoj Mishra.

He is possessive about his oldest possession and fear that he will lose a very dear animal as it has grown its age. “The Labrador has produced 15-16 issues till now and is still living without any problem,” said Mishra.

Apart from physical, the dog is mentally fit. It still behaves as one of the obedient ‘son or student’ & never troubles its master unnecessarily. This is one of the rare development that needs to be recorded for animal lovers, claimed the couple.

However, this animal is enjoying the attention of not only its masters but also of its neigbours presently on account ot it being the oldest surviving animal at his master’s kennel.

Sanjeev Shekhar

Media Consultant/Journalist/PR

Hostel & Nursing Home for Dog- a unique concept evolved for animal lovers

By Sanjeev Shekhar

Ranchi-
We have heard about hostels for various category vis-à-vis boys, girls, working women hostel, bachelor hostel so and so forth. But if one comes across hostel & nursing home for dogs, it surprises many.

This may sound ridiculous but it’s true if one is visiting the state capital of Jharkhand and sees things on their own to believe it. The married couple Dr Manoj Mishra (50) and his wife Seema have undertaken a yeoman task of serving the ‘loyal’ animal known for its sacrifices for their masters.

“We take the responsibility of dogs on behalf of their actual owners, who seek our services when they are going out of station or want the animal to be more disciplined in their habits,” said Seema brimming with pride.

This couple has been successfully managing the dog hostel and nursing home for more than two decades now, wherein the team of doctors is taking care of all the needs of the animal. The hostel located at Kanke road presently has nearly 15 dogs under their care, the number of which keeps varying over the year. They treat them like their children and shower love as responsible parents, which is a benchmark for all those who want to know what love can do & how it prove wonders to tame even the ‘ferocious creature’.

Manoj was fond of dogs since his childhood as he had seen his mother late Pritimay Devi of Mahisadal Raj Gharana (Bengal) love for the animal. He mother was the owner of the estate of 500 villages and had 30 Great Dane during her times. She was fond of birds too.
As young boy, Monoj drew inspiration from his mother and develop a strong penchant for dogs.

He was the first in Ranchi to have got the Harly Queen Great Dane from outside. People from various localities used to visit his place to see the royal dog. “It’s our passion and love that has eventually turned into a profession now. But the fact remains at the back of mind that these are lovely creature and deserve all attention and love for their fine behaviour,” claimed the couple.
People from far-flung areas leave their dogs in the couple’s care. Even if the animal falls sick, they are the best people to be contacted for treatment.

“We have spent almost half of our lives with these dogs as well as other animals. We enjoy being with them. We can very well read their nature and behaviour, whatever they want we can make out by looking at them as they speak through eyes,” said Manoj Kumar Mishra.

The couple have decided to expand the arena for pets and have decided to open hostel for rabbits, birds etc. The new hostel will have the capacity to house 70-90 dogs at a time. Their number keeps fluctuating depending on the needs dog lovers. They have more than 35 years old kennel for dogs.

As for the breed, they are taking care of all the best breeds here including Spitz, German shepherd, Labrador, Great Dane, Routt Valier et al. The couple is alos providing training to dogs at their training centre.

Sanjeev Shekhar

Media Consultant/Journalist/PR

Blogging-an easy way to get connected to people

By Sanjeev Shekhar
Ranchi-

Hindi blogs have fewer visitors in the website and there is a need to make the blogs more popular, strongly felt the section of bloggers who conglomerated here on the occasion of first Bloggers Meet organized under the aegis of Kashyap Eye Memorial Hospital (KEMH) at Purulia road on Sunday.

I too was a part of the conference and enjoyed the interactive session of the bloggers. The meet, as I believe, was a sincere endeavour to encourage bloggers as well as provide information to new bloggers regarding the technical issues attached to blogging. Such conference would pave way for many to get into writing.

While inaugurating the event, the senior journalist & Editor of Ranchi Express Balbir Dutt stated that blogs have now become the extension of writing diaries wherein the individuals present their thoughts without fear. The CEO of the KEMH Dr. Bharti Kashyap was the chief guest on the occasion who emphasized that blogging is a strong means of communication to express views and ideas to the outside world. Dr. Kashyap is also an active member of the popular blog ‘ranchihalla.blogspot.com.’

About 100 bloggers participated in the meet from various parts of the state including Dhanbad, Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh etc. This was seen as an opportunity to know each other in person and share the experience of blogging including some memorable instances of their creation. “The content of the Hindi blogging needs improvement and the characterization of the blog should be well designed in order to cater to the needs and requirements of the readers or the web visitors,” stated a blogger at the conference.

The famous blogger Shailesh Bharatwasi spelled out the ways and techniques about blogging and gave statistical data that puts the figure to as many as 133 million blogs available at Blogosphere as per the technocrat survey of 2008. He, however, admitted to the query that the money earned through blogs is very less depending on the size of the visitors to a particular blog. For every 1000 visitors, one can expect to earn Rs.32-40 only, Shailesh said.

Another prominent blogger Ghanshayam Srivastava having his blog ‘jharkhandighanshyam.blogspot.com’ was of the opinion that in near future blogs would be the strong means of communication to get connected to the outside world. He believed that such interaction will bring about more understanding about the improvement in content and knowing of the newer techniques that would help in enhancing the blog qualitatively.

Sanjeev Shekhar
Journalist/Media Consultant/PR

Women Gym in Vogue-Health is wealth

By Sanjeev Shekhar
Gone are the days when the women popularly known as the ‘home-makers’ preferred to remain confined in the four walls. The state capital of Jharkhand is witnessing a change – a positive change for a better tomorrow. Women here have become health conscious and the growing number of gyms in each locality of the city speaks volume about the increasing awareness regarding health among them.

Ms Neetu Singh may be having grown up children pursuing their studies at high-school level but she prefers to take time off from her busy schedule to sweat at the ‘state of art’ gym that has come up in her locality. “The phase of running after children and preparing meal for them is over. I have realized that if your bones are in order you are living a far better and healthy life. For this, I thought of spending sometime in the gym and sweat out the extra calories that comes up automatically with age,” she explained while buttressing the age old adage ‘health is wealth’.

Neetu is a working woman and is not alone in this endeavour, her friend Nisha, Sweta and Sweety too are following suit. They strongly held that sweating during exercise has helped them to shun extra adipose and that losing weight with little bit of discipline in food habits keep them active and energetic.

“You are a confident person eventually when you realize that you have lost weight and become slim. It’s not necessary that fitness is the domain of only the models and actresses but it should be imbibed by all for their own betterment,” said Nisha.

The women of the contemporary times love to be pampered and want to look attractive, feel the trainers of the health spas. “There is nothing wrong in looking good. If a little bit of methodical work out can enhance your personality and keeps you physically and mentally strong, you should certainly go for it,” said Sajid, one of the trainers of the gymnasium.

Interestingly women spa or gymnasiums are mostly owned by women. This also helps in marketing the concept and necessity of exercising among the women-folk, as they feel secured and safe in treading such places. “Work-outs helps you de-stress and get rid of metabolic waste that ultimately cleanse your system,” said the dietician and owner of the gym.

Substantiating the point further she said that the changes in the life-pattern of women are no more seen as a taboo. Even the husbands and other family members are supporting them in their venture of keeping themselves healthy and hearty.

Sanjeev Shekhar

Journalist/Media Consultant/PR