Newsletter - October 2020
Read Coverting Letter
Dear Friends,
When “I” is replaced by “WE” even “ILLNESS” becomes “WELLNESS”. We would like to share an old story which we received on WhatsApp. The story depicts the spirit of “Team-work”:A business man gets stranded in a lonely highway in the countryside; The tyres of his car get stuck badly in a mud pool. He looks around for help and finally finds an old farmer. So the businessman goes to him asking for help to get his car out of the mud.
The farmer gauges the situation, and agrees to help him and says, “Ok, let us take the help of Warwick”.
Warwick was an old bull around, but the helpless business man agrees.
The farmer ties the bull to the car and starts shouting loudly, ” Fred, Pull .. Jack, Pull.. John, Pull… Warwick, Pull.”
As the farmer keeps shouting these words, the bull Warwick gets the car out of the pool of mud.
The businessman is relieved, but has a doubt in his mind.
He thanks the farmer and asks him, “you said the bull’s name was Warwick, and he was alone, then who were these Fred, Jack & John?”
The Farmer coolly answered, “see, Warwick is old and is also blind. He does not know he is pulling this car alone. However, the moment he hears the other names, He thinks he is in a “team”, so he gives his “best”.
So is the case with all of us.
The very thought that there are people to help us, blesses us with a great deal of comfort, hope, confidence and encourages us to put in our heart and soul into any task that we undertake and thereby achieve the best results.
Indeed, the greatest civilizations have always been built on the foundations of a greater level of co-operation from their citizens and the smartest animals we know — apes, cows, bulls, elephants, wolves, dolphins, and crows — tend to live together in cooperative groups and work together for survival.
We at Green Rameswaram project trying to develop a similar team spirit by repeatedly calling partners and especially the local stakeholders for their involvement. So that the project will be sustainable as the locals will take the ownership of the project.
This month’s newsletter has the following highlights:
- Dr. Sanjay Banerji in his blog writes about Sustainable Development Goal– 10 (Reducing Inequality)
- Shri.Rangarajan, Chennai writes on Thevaram related with Rameswaram.
- Shri.Paranthamam and Premkumar, REACH Foundation continues his blog on Archaeology of Rameswaram in Tamil. This month, he covers Teerthas.
- Solid waste management work by Hand in Hand Inclusive Development Services, Chennai.
- Dr.A.Abirami, Programme Officer of C.P.R. Environmental Educational Center writes about the herbal plant – Jatropha gossypiifolia (Siria Amanakku)
- Tree plantation drive by A.P.J.Abdul Kalam International Foundation, Rameswaram
- Discovering new Teertham (Traditional water body)
- Regular events for building Social capital and finally
- 'Green Rameswaram newsletter’ by the students and for the students of Rameswaram.
With best wishes,
Editorial TeamGreen Rameswaram Project
Mahabeer Dharmasala
Rameswaram - 623526
Tamilnadu.
Ph: 04573 - 222296(office)
E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.greenrameswaram.org
Sustainable Development Goal - 10
By
Dr.Sanjay Banerji
Founder Director/Dean of Amrita School of Business
Dear Friends,
This month we shall discuss the 10th Sustainable Development Goal: Reducing Inequality. In this blog, we shall try to explain:
- What it is and why is this relevant
- What are its indicators and targets
- Where do we stand in India
- What can we do to support the goal
Thirumurai/Thevaram songs on Rameswaram
By
C.Rangarajan, Chennai
Saivite saint-poet Sri Gnanasambanda Perumaan has composed some beautiful hymns on Rameswaram. This comes as part of the 3rd canto of “Thirumurai”, a compendium of devotional songs on Lord Siva.
உரையுணராதவன் காமமென்னும்முறு வேட்கையான்
வரைபொரு தோளிறச் செற்றவில்லி மகிழ்ந்தேத்திய
விரைமரு வுங்கடலோதமல் குமிரா மேச்சுரத்
தரையர வாடநின் றாடல்பே ணுமம்மா னல்லனே
இராமேஸ்வர தீர்த்தங்கள்
வே.பரந்தாமன் மற்றும்அ.பிரேம்குமார்
ரீச் பவுண்டேஷன், சென்னை
மனித வாழ்வில் வழிபாடு என்பது ஒரு பகுதியாகவும், அவற்றில் தீர்த்தங்கள் மிகமுக்கிய இட்த்தைப் பிடித்துள்ளது.இந்தியாவில் ஒவ்வொரு கோயிலிலும் ஒரு தீர்த்தமாவது உண்டு. தீர்த்தங்கள் ஆறு, பொய்கை, ஊற்று, தெப்பக்குளம், கிணறு, ஆகியவனவாக உள்ளன. கங்கை, யமுனா, சரஸ்வதி, பிரம்மபுத்ரா, காவிரி, வைகை போன்ற ஆற்று நீர்கள் தீர்த்தங்களாக உள்ளன.இராமேஸ்வரத்தில் 64 தீர்த்தங்கள் உள்ளன. இவற்றைப்பற்றி சேதுபுராணம், தேவையுலா, அக்னி புராணம், வால்மிகி ராமாயணம், ஆனந்த ராமாயணம், பாகவதபுராணம், சிவபுராணம், கந்தபுராணம், மனுஸ்மிருதி, கௌதமஸ்மிருதி, தேவலஸ்மிருதி, மற்றும் பல புராணங்கள் குறிப்பிடுகின்றன.
Solid Waste Management
By
Hand in Hand Inclusive Development and Services, Chennai
Ayudha Poojai Celebration
Ayudha Poojai festival was celebrated at the Agni Theertham Office on 25th October. During the event, Ms. Saraswathi from Vivekananda Kendra, and Municipal Sanitary Inspector and Sanitary Supervisor distributed gifts and sweets to the Green Friends and staff.
Herbal Garden (Muligai Vanam)
Siria Amanakku
By Dr.A.Abirami
C.P.R. Environmental Education Center, Chennai
Distribution and Habitat
Jatropha gossypiifolia L. belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and is a perennial herb distributed throughout the tropics of the world and the plains of India. It is a weed of degraded pastures, open woodlands, grasslands, riparian vegetation, coastal foreshores, roadsides, wastelands and old or abandoned gardens. It forms a small, spreading shrub with a sparse, open canopy reaching to 1m in height. The plant releases a sticky, yellow, translucent latex when injured.
Landscaping and Beautification
By A.P.J.Abdul Kalm International Foundation,
Rameswaram
Landscaping and Beautification
Our partner A.P.J.Abdhul Kalam International Foundation on the occasion of Kalamj’s 89th Birth anniversary on 15th October 2020, launched the tree plantation from Kalam Memorial to Pamban Bridge on both sides of the road. Shri.K.Veera Raghava Rao IAS, District Collector, Ramanathapuram started the planting activity from Kalam Memorial. This year the target is 1000 trees.
Revival and Renovation of Water Bodies
(Discovering Vetala Varadha Teertham)
By
Vivekananda Kendra – Nardep
Locating Vetala Varadha Teertham
Locating Vetala Varadha Teertham was not easy. Sister Saraswathi and team took a variety of steps to locate the Traditional water body.
Formalizing the presence of Vetala Varadha Teertham
On 20 October 2020 Sister Saraswathi and Teertha Mitras along with Green Rameswaram volunteers visited Mandapam Panchayat union office and requested the support in locating the Vetalai. The party visited Saathakone village and then they reached Vetalai Oorani.
Social Capital
By
Green Rameswaram Trust
Green Rameswaram Trust
Mask Distribution
On October 15, 2020 Green Rameswaram team gave 2000 masks to Shri. Veera Raghava Rao IAS, District Collector, Ramanathapuram on the occasion of late Dr. Apj Abdul Kalam’s 89th birth anniversary at Kalam memorial, Rameswaram. Shri.Saleem, Trustee, Green Rameswaram Trust gave the masks to the District Collector. Later on Sister Saraswathi gave the entire lot to the District health official Dr. Mahendran. Masks were donated to Green Rameswaram Trust by Camofi medtech private ltd. The masks are Anti Viral, Anti Bacterial and Anti pollution and supported by CAWACH (Centre for Augmenting War against Covid 19 Health Crisis) an initiative of Dept of Science and Technology, Govt of India.
