Sharing is success

By Arjita & Priyanka                                                                  

Jyoti Dogra during one of the rounds in the
Miss Himalaya 2014

TAB:“That day I came back confident, being the only one who spoke for the 10 minutes that we had to,” she reminisces first day of the Miss Himalaya 2014 contest. Contestants had an hour to prepare a 10 minute speech. Speaking on ‘negative impact of tourism in Himachal’, she opined that increasing commercialization, drug abuse were some of the problems, while solutions lay in ecotourism – where environment protection and making a profit went hand in hand. In the ‘talent’ round that followed, she sang ‘Climb’ by Miley Cyrus.

On the second and final day of the pageant, models hit the ramp and introduced themselves. “With courage and determination, one can do absolutely anything," she said. It looked like a festive carnival – colorful dresses, heavy ornaments – Tibetan and Himachali culture filled the stage when participants adorned their ‘traditional wear’ in the second round. “What does success mean to you?” she was asked in the 5th and final ‘Q&A’ round. “It is not the amount of money or bank balance, but the satisfaction one gets by sharing, and giving back to the society. So when I die, I’ll tell myself, this was a big success,”  she said.

                Jyoti Dogra is Miss Himalaya 2014. Back in her university, she is a student, struggling to complete her projects in time. And making time for the socio-cultural activities, she recently won the pan-India debate on ‘Role of Earth Sciences in Preventing Environmental Degradation’ organized by the Indian Geological Congress.

Surjeet: Its all in his name

Surjeet training with student of Govt. degree college , Shahpur                                                                                                                                                                        

By Arjita & Alka

Chattri:Nights in the hills are especially quiet; a heavy voice resonates through the wind, a classical melody slowly fills up a silent valley. At its height, it meets the hills which keep it alive long after it has stopped - what echoes is a madhya-raatri raag. Surjeet is living his name. It’s time for his riyaz.

                Daytime is a striking contrast. Upbeat music blasts off the speakers, in tune with the college tempo, his tiny stationary shop is full of college girls who find the musical setting very comforting. They bring their own tracks and play it on his new laptop that has replaced the phone. Meanwhile, he photocopies - work that gets so loaded during exams that he finishes it after a quick dinner at home, back at the shop - with the shutter down and his favorite music playing.

Fighting winter in cotton shirt

By Arjita & Shradha

TAB:Woolen sweater: check, gloves: check, socks: check, warm bunny cap: check – folks are bundled up to battle chilly Himachal winters. But one man walks around like summer’s here. “If Gandhiji could wear a dhoti and shawl the entire year, why not us?” he explains. Famous in the campus for his all-year-round outfit – a white cotton half-sleeve shirt, trousers and chappals, it’s the curious case of Dr. S. Sundraraman.

We hear often of ‘a flexible mind and a strong body’, but his motto comes with a twist, “A strong mind and a flexible body”. Movement is the key, “Pilgrims who walk up till Vaishno Devi start removing their warm clothes on the way – as the body becomes hot”. He enjoys a walk, uses little transportation. After an early morning cold water bath, he walks around while completing house chores. He always bathes with cold water, twice a day.

A vegetarian, he consumes seasonal food - sometimes in raw form, sometimes without salt - the diet varies. “People get defensive, I get adaptive,” says he. In the scorching summers of Tamil Nadu, in his home-state, he doesn’t use a fan. No prize for guessing then his dislike for AC. The trick is to, “manipulate little of the outside, instead change the inside.”

He pursued higher education alongside a 16 year service in the Indian Air Force. Retired, he completed a PhD, and began teaching at the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior. He has been in Himachal for two years now, teaching at the School of Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Management in CUHP. Never once spotted as someone biting the cold, he seems to taste it.

"Jo dar gaya, wo mar gaya,” he believes. Is it that easy to adapt? “To get used to a change in weather, my body needs 48 hours. I don’t suggest anyone to follow my routine suddenly. This has been my way of life for 25 years.”

TAB: After news arrived of Sushma (50), a lady from Dramman succumbing to Swine Flu on February 26, an awareness lecture on the Swine Flu epidemic was organized at the CUHP. “Social networking sites are spreading many myths, like the camphor and cardamom powder medicine.” warned Dr. Sushil Sharma, Block Medical Officer, while addressing the students and faculty.

                To guard against the Swine Flu infection, Dr. Sharma urged the students to boost their natural immunity – by eating Vitamins C rich food, regularly washing their hands, gargling with warm salt water twice a day, and cleaning their nostrils with warm salt water. One can also wear a mask as an added measure.

                Symptoms of infection caused by the Swine Flu virus can fall into 3 categories. Mild fever, cough or sore throat, body ache, or vomiting are Category A symptoms, while Category B includes the same symptoms but in a higher degree. In both cases however, testing is not required, “Instead, taking rest in isolation and symptomatic treatment will be enough”, said Dr. Sharma.

                Under Category C, the patient may experience breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, low blood pressure, sputum with blood and discoloration of nails.  This requires immediate testing, treatment, and possible hospitalization.

                In Himachal, 37 cases have tested positive of Swine Flu, while the death toll has reached 9, of which 5 were from Kangra district. IGMC, Shimla and RPGMC, Tanda are the authorized centers to handle Swine Flu cases in the state.