Gujarat tourism: Spread culture with tourism

(This article was published in Organiser Magazine dt. 03 December 2017).

Gujarat and Gujarati loves tourism. I mean to say Gujarat is great center of tourism and Gujaratis are great tourists who visit from Char Dham to Kanyakumari and from US to Thailand. But until Narendra Modi became chief minister and he decided to promote Gujarat tourism in big way, Gujarat was lesser known for tourism. People from out of Gujarat used to visit Dwarika, Ambaji, Somnath and Palitana temples. Who had imagined that dry desert can be also a great spot for tourism? It can be only visionary person like Narendrabhai who can imagine and develop Kutch desert as tourism place.

Actually Kutch was devastated after major earth quake of 2001. But due to BJP government’s pro active efforts and religious NGOs help Kutch was developed like never before. At this time, Narendra Modi was doing great work overall in Gujarat regarding road connectivity. And Kutch was also included. In 2005 Narendrabhai decided to host Rann Utsav. He knows importance of marketing and promoting. So his government promoted this festival in a big way. This festival provides glimpses of Kutch as well as Gujarat culture. Be it paintings or dance, dresses, handicraft things or any other culture programme hosted during the festival, everything echoes Gujarati culture.

Narendrabhai also ropped mega star Amitabh in to promoting Gujarat tourism. Well written slogans like Gujarat naheen dekha to kutch naheen dekha, Kuchh din to guzariye Gujarat mein and Khushboo Gujarat Kee, script,  locations, direction and presence of Amitabh Bachchan made ads very popular. It helped in promoting Gujarat tourism very well. Even seven years after this campaign, state still manages to hold on to impressive growth rates in tourist footfalls. It has accomplished a 16.94 per cent growth in tourist arrivals in FY17 over the previous year.

Moreover, Narendra Modi promoted Navratri festival in big way by hosting Vibrant Navratri programme since 2004. This programme projects not only Gujarati culture but national and international culture too. Many national and international stars come here for performing arts. This festival also helped to promote Gujarat tourism.

This year present chief minister Vijay Rupani government took it to next level by promoting ‘Selfie With Cow’! Seculars only love chicken and hate cows. Due to constant vicious propaganda, new generation also start to love chicken and hate cows. But in this Vibrant Navratri, four month old calf Saraswati was key attraction. Saraswati adorned in green Navratri dress wearing silver anklets and earings. BJP leader and chairman of state Gauseva Ayog and Gauchar Vikas Board Vallabh Kathiria said, “Selfie with Saraswati' is the cow board's initiative to attract youth towards cow and inculcate love and respect towards gaumata”.

International Kite festival is also big opportunity to attract not only national tourists but international tourists in a big way.

Efforts started by Narendrabhai way back in 2010 to get Ahmedabad declared as world heritage city saw result this year when UNESCO made this announcement. This will help to boost Gujarat tourism and Gujarat culture.

CM Vijaybhai Rupani also launched Seema Darshan programme at zero point of Nadabet border in Banaskantha district. It is a concept of border tourism which helps tourists to realize how our Jawans live and fight at border and boosts not only tourism but patriotism in our countrymen too. Exhibition of arms, border view, film about BSF, retreat of Jawans, BSF fusion band, camel show and bird show are main attractions of this border tourism. Added attraction is darshan of Nadeshwari Mata.

And now Gujarat Tourism Corporation has added a new tourism package! It is named ‘Modi tourism’! Tourists taking this package will get visit of Vadnagar and places around it. It is well known fact that Vadnagar is birth place of Narendra Modi. Gujarat can launch this type of tourism because Vadnagar is well developed during Modi government period and then afterwards Anandiben-Vijaybhai governments. Can there be Amethi or Raibareli tourism?

Today Sabarmati River front has become one of major tourist point. Before Narendra Modi took over as CM, Sabarmati used to be dry bed and youth used to play cricket there. But Modi government brought Narmada water into Sabarmati. And he also developed River front. Now there is water sports adventure in Sabarmati. Even, when Rahul Gandhi, vice president of Indian National Congress decided to hold Samvaad programme to raise unemployment and non development issues in Gujarat recently, he choose Sabarmati River front as location!

Last month Vijaybhai inaugurated lion safari park at Ambardi in Amreli district.  The park has been developed by carving out around 400 hectare or four square Km area out of Ambardi reserved forest.

Recently Gujarat tourism baged ‘Hall Of Fame’ award for being the Best State in comprehensive development of tourism category at the National Tourism Awards.

But there are more things that can be done to attract more tourists in Gujarat. There are many places that can be developed and promoted through advertise campaigns. Here are some:

1.       Kranti Teerth

Mandavi is a city based in Kachchh district. It has beautiful seashore. There is Vijay Vilas Palace which is historic. Many films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam are shot here. And more over there is Kranti Teerth a memorical of Shyamji Krushna Varma who was great freedom fighter. Nobody thought to bring back his ashes from Geneva but Narendrabhai and then birth place was developed as Kranti Teerth where one can know about freedom fighters. 

2.       Gopnath

Located 70 km away from Bhavnagar, the beach is on the Gulf of Khambat. It is rich in biodiversity and natural beauty. This beach is famous for the Gopinath Temple where famous Krushna Bhakta and ‘Adya Kavi’ Narsimha Mehta pleased Bhagwan Shiv. Shiv gave him Darshan. There are many beach places in this strip like Hathab, Kuda and Mahuva.

3.   Nishkalank Mahadev

Nishkalank Mahadev temple is located in Koliyak village at Bhavnagar District. This temple is unique in a way. Bhagvan Shiv here is well-known as Nishkalan Mahadev. There an idol of Shivjee was situated in an island, over the sea about 2 km to the east part of Koliyak village. That is very holly place. Sea itself performs Jalabhishek on Shiv Ling. It is said that Pandavs got all sins washed away here as they established Nishkalank Mahadev.

4.  Blackbuck National Park

 One remember well black buck as it is alleged that Salman Khan killed blackbuck in Rajasthan. But this blackbuck national park is situated in the Bhavnagar district. It was established in 1976. Population of the park mainly includes blackbucks, wolves, Macqueen's bustards, hyenas and lesser floricans, with foxes, jackals and jungle cats as the main carnivores. Other species include wild pigs, hares and rodents typical of the savannah type grasslands and thorn scrubs.

5.   Pirotan Island

Pirotan Island is an Arabian Sea island. It is known for Marine National Park, Jamnagar District of Gujarat state, India. It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast (Bedi Port), consists of mangroves and low-tide beaches. Here tourist can see various marine life forms that include various types of Crabs,  Neptune, hermit crab, sea scorpion, wiper iscoceles, sea horse, octopus etc.

Donating for soldiers

(My article on Janardanbhai Bhatt and Rakshaben Dave from Bhavnagar donating for soldier hefty amount for soldiers published in Organiser on 28th May 2017)

Really, our nation is changing. There is lot of talk and care being expressed for soldiers nowadays. But opponent views are also being expressed against nationalists. They say - nationalists are doing just lip service. Actually they are nothing doing for soldiers. Anti nationalists are not right.

Generally at war time, many charitable organizations or NGOs start collecting donations for soldiers. We had witnessed such events at time of Kargil (1999) war. But right now, no war is declared officially. Even then, people have come forward for donating for soldiers.

Bhavnagar is known for social service works. It is railway terminus. So many times mental patients travelling in train are dropped here and many persons and organization work for them including giving bath them. Bhavnagar is called ‘Ganda nun Gaam’ (city of mental persons) in lighter vein but real reason is care being taken of mental persons done here. Shishuvihar and late Maanbhai Bhatt are also known for such works. But at present three persons have come forward for cause of soldiers. They are Janardanbhai Bhatt, Rakshaben Dave and Nimeshbhai Trivedi. They all belong to Bhavnagar.

Among them, Janardanbhai Bhatt is highest donator. He has donated whooping Rs. 1.02 crore for soldiers! And that is too when he is living on pension! How could he afford for such huge amount? How can he have such big amount for donation?

Generally, when one have such whooping amount of Rs. 1.02 crore, what he/she may think to spend this money? Answers will be according to sex, age and hobby of person. One may think to buy a flat. Other may think to buy luxurious car like BMW. One may think to go on foreign tour. Person like Mukeshbhai may think how to convert this crore amount into Abaj (billion). If person is lady, she may think to buy costly sarees or dresses or she may think to have beauty treatment or surgery to look more beautiful.

But Janardanbhai Bhatt who is 85 years old has donated such big amount without hesitation.  He says on telephone, “When our country is passing through severe crisis, it is our duty to do whatever we can do at our level.” Janardanbhai Bhatt is retired SBS (State Bank Of Saurashtra, founded by Bhavnagar maharaja which was merged in SBI) clerk. He joined this bank in 1954. In year 1962, Janardanbhai established an employees’ union. According to him, his union is non political. In 1970 bank G.M. late B. K. Chatterjee suggested, “Janardanbhai! You are doing lot for union. Why don’t you start contributing for society also?”

This suggestion made Janardanbhai thinking for society. Actually Janardanbhai is also a swayamsevak of RSS. He used to go in Neelkanth Shakha which was being held at Ruvapari Darwaja, Bhavnagar. For study, he discontinued going in shakhas, “But,” he says, “My all society service work is due to “Samskar” of RSS which I learnt in shakha- honesty, sincerity, integrity, devotion and dedication.” He has worked with Chandabhai Dave in union who is among pioneer swayamsewaks.

So from 1970 Janardanbhai started doing social work like gifting sweets, fire crackers to orphanage children. (Liberal-leftists bombard messages on Diwali/hindu festivals for not celebrating festivals and donating needy children but they don’t know there are many persons like Janardanbhai who are doing social service anonymously.) Janardanbhai’s union donated Rs. 1 lac to electrification of hindu cremation center. He inspired his union members to do relief work at time of Junagadh flood or Machhchhu dam disaster.

Janardanbhai has done this work and is doing because he has great support from his better half Padmabahen who is Swadhyay Pariwar worker. Both got married in 1955 and since their marriage life has become inspiration model for many couple. Janardanbhai says, “She has never demanded to go on tour of Mahabaleshwar of Panchagini. She has always stood firmly with my decisions.”

Janardanbhai had donated Rs. 6 lac for dialysis to Bajarangdasbapa Hospital, Bhavnagar. Her wife gave Rs. 16 lac to same hospital next year in memory of her parents. Janardanbhai says, “Samsar rath (chariot) can run smooth only if both wheels are good and equal. We have no such desires for worldly pleasure. We never went to have dinner or lunch at hotels. We never went on picnic. Yes, when I retired from bank service, I visited Shree Somanath temple to pray.”

Janardanbhai has no siblings. He has no child even. So, there was no opposition from family for his huge donation for soldiers. Instead, family members also pledged to donate as per their capacity. Janardanbhai could donate such big amount because his friend’s father advised him to invest in stock market long ago. This investment is now giving good returns. Janardanbhai had decided to run household on just pension income. He had prepared a will paper in which he decided to contribute for society and nation but sudden situation after Kashmir and Sukama attacks demanded him to implement his will partially.  He has proposed to SBI for opening a bank account in which minimum Rs.5 will be cut from salary of bank employees and deposited per month. Many employees have shown their wish to contribute Rs. 100, 500 or 1,000 per month! Janardanbhai was of view to donate online but friends and colleagues suggested donating publically so that many would get inspiration.

After his initiative, significantly two persons came forward for donation. One is Rakshaben Dave. She is also retired professor. She has donated Rs. 1 lac! One Nimeshbhai Trivedi donated Rs. 25,000.

Rakshaben says on telephone, “When news of video of soldier complaining about food served to them broke out, she could not take her meal. I thought what could be done for them? Then I heard news that soldier was detained.” Rakshaben thought to do something for soldiers but didn’t know how to do. She is very spiritual person. She is unmarried. She was HOD of Gujarati at Mahila College, Bhavnagar. She has written more than 70 books on Hindu dharma. So she thought, “When there is will, she will found way also.” And then news came from Ashokbhai Pandya, a colleague of Janardanbhai Bhatt about donation. So, Rakshaben donated Rs. 1 lac with help of Ashokbhai Pandya. She is now thinking to donate Rs. 1 lac more on Raksha Bandhan.

In year 2013, I had read a golden thought behind a public bus. It can be loosely translated as: If you can give up from hand, it is called ‘Tyaga’ (Sacrifice), but if you can give up from your heart, it is called ‘vairagya’ (ascetism). These people have done both things. Vandan to such souls

Report: ISIS agents caught from Saurashtra

(My first English article published in well reputed Delhi based English weekly Organiser. It was published on 12 March 2017)

It was 26^th February again, the day when 59 innocent Hindus were burned to death in well planned conspiracy. After 15 years, another major conspiracy to kill Hindu devotees at famous Maa Chamunda temple of Chotila was planned but thanks to Gujarat government and specially ATS who nabbed two ISIS operatives from Rajkot and Bhavnagar and major terror attack was averted.

It was Sunday, generally known as no news day. In afternoon, news channels started flashing two ISIS operatives being arrested from Gujarat. They had planned to conduct ‘lone-wolf’ attack in the state. According to Gujarat ATS, arrested persons’ names are Waseem and Naeem Ramodiya. Both are brothers. They are not low educated persons, but highly educated persons. Wasim is having MCA degree and Naeem is having BCA degree. This shows how ISIS and other terrorist organizations are influencing highly educated persons too. And more shocking fact is that they were not directly recruited by ISIS but they were impressed by ISIS ideology through pro ISIS material on internet during last two years. This situation demands ban on pro ISIS literature on internet by Government. After impressed by ISIS, they attracted to work for ISIS and came in contact with ISIS through Skype, Telegram, Twitter and Whatsapp.

They were also in touch with ISIS’ controversial preacher Mufti Abdus Sami Qazim. Qazim was arrested by NIA in last year. Incidentally, it was also month of February. According to ATS ACP B. S. Chawda, “They were on our radar since last three months. When we arrested them, they were in process of making an improvised bomb to carry out lone-wolf attacks.”

What is lone-wolf attack? When any person tries to attack violently without joining any group or without assistance of any group, it is called lone-wolf attack. Generally terror attacks are committed by a terrorist organization in which organization, either based in Bharat or in outside Bharat manages various persons linked to each other, known to or not known to each other. In this regard, lone-wolf attack is more dangerous as you don’t know person who gets impressed by ISIS so called philosophy and tries to attack on his own. So it may be difficult to catch this type of single or couple terrorists.

"They were attracted to ISIS two years back and started taking interest in its activities. They were in contact with main ISIS persons as well as unknown handlers to get guidance. Evidence collected during raids, including some audio clips, established that the duo were having links with the terror outfit," said Inspector General of Gujarat ATS, J. K. Bhatt.

During the raids, police seized computers and mobile phones with jihadi literature, knife, gun powder and masks to hide their identity during terror attacks. They have been charged under IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act.

Following intense questioning, the Ramodiya brothers — Waseem and Naeem —have reportedly revealed that they had twice attempted to carry out a terror attack. Their first attempt was to kill a person while the second was to set ablaze a vehicle. After these unsuccessful attempts, they had planned to attack the Chamunda temple at Chotila. On December 5 last year, there was a hoax call received at the temple about a bomb being planted there. They confessed that they were to make bombs. Rajkot was on their target. They also visited Chotila. They learned to make bombs through internet. They had planned to plant bombs in Trikonbag and Gundawadi areas of Rajkot. Both were sent to 12 days police custody.

Gujarat police is not ruling out the possibility of others being involved in the ISIS terror module. The Gujarat ATS has also recovered three-four pen drives, three mobile phones, books believed to be written in Arabic language, and print out of chatting from the Ramodiya brothers. Gujarat police have now approached their Uttar Pradesh counterparts to hunt for more suspects in this case. Sources in the ATS claimed that a call intercept had revealed Waseem telling Naeem that he dreamt of slain al-Qaida kingpin, Osma bin-Laden.

Both brothers were in contact with ISIS men in Syria. They had planned attack at various Hindu religious places including Chotila and also cutting necks of ‘kaafir’ (word for unbeliever in Islam). ATS has intercepted 173 call records of Vaseem with handler.  As per one phone record, Waseem informs to Qazim, “Waseem muqammel kaam karne ke liye taiyar hai.” Qazim asks him, “Kill kaafir and shoot video.” In reply, Waseem says, “Ek kaafir ki katla karnee hai jo shahar se 30 km dooree par hai. Wahan inka (Hindus’) bada famous mandir hai.” In another conversations, ISIS bosses in Syria ordered Waseem, “Kuchh aisa kaam karke dikhao ke Allah khush ho jaye!”.

Gujarat ATS got shocking details from computer of Waseem in which ISIS’ sent news. Message in news was that they had to wipe out US and Israel. If they wouldn’t do it, Muslims in Syria will be wiped out. But they wouldn’t let this happen and would destroy US and Israel. Christians would convert to Muslims and would join with them.

ISIS agents use to keep propagate so called brutality on Muslims and injustice to them through cds, audios and books. ISIS agents use to provoke to attack Hindus, explode bombs on Hindu religious places.

But it was not just ISIS handler Qazim who was guide and ‘instigating’ factor. It was Waseem’s wife Shahjeen too. As per new reports, Waseem visited Chotila on 24^th February. But Waseem called Shahjeen and told that he was feeling nervous. He felt attack was not going to succeed. At this point, Shahjeen told Vaseem, “Kaafir ke saamne ladai hai. Allah tumhara saath dega. Gabharaya vina kaam purun karee naakh. (Go ahead without hesitation.)” She also told, “Dhadaka kartee vela e koi aadun aave to tenan mathan vaadhee naakhje. (Cut head if someone comes in way of attack.)” However, it is surprise that Shahjeen is not arrested still.

Waseem had facebook account on name of ‘rebel rebel’. He had put profile picture in which one terrorist can be seen with gun. He has written in cover photo “Let dooms happen, let anything happen to me, I love you.” He has posted many posts related to Islam. He has posted against demonetization decision of Modi government too.

Waseem has studied in Saint Mary School. He used to work at a Rajkot-based graphic designing firm after completing his MCA, while Naeem used to work with a ship recycling unit in Bhavnagar after completing his BCA. Naeem was fond of “Counter strike game” and used to go to play this game in Game Zone at Samskar Mandal, Bhavnagar.

Both brothers’ father Areefbhai caught unaware about his sons’ terror activities. When ATS raided his house located in Moradiya area of Rajkot, he was shocked. Areefbhai is said to be living simple life. He was speechless when he heard from police and slapped his son three-four times. He said he would have to consume poison due to his sons’ terror activities. Areefbhai is retired steno typist from Saurashtra University. He retired just two years ago. He used to serve as cricket umpire in Saurashtra Cricket Association’s district level matches. 

Kanubhai Kalsaria: Bhavnagar-land of revolutioneries

So, Kanubhai Kalsaria, doctor and three time mla from Mahuva joining new Aam Aadmi Party is not a big news,at least for those who are Bhavnagaries or those who know well Bhavnagar district politics.

Infact it was Kanubhai himself who made an upset by defeating sitting mla and then chief minister Chhabildas Mehta. It was big news at that time also but as I said earlier for Bhavnagaries it was repeatetion of history. 

Jaswant Mehta got elected from Praja Samajwadi Paksha (PSP) when there was complete Congress wave. Pratap T. Shah from Praja Samajwadi Paksha defeated Balwantrai Mehta from Bhavnagar north, recalls Himmat Thakkar, well known journalist from Bhavnagar. Batuk Vora was first and last mla from CPI elected from Palitana. Leftist ideology is still getting existing in Gujarat by Subodh Mehta and his son Arunn Mehta. In last assembly election, Shaktisinh Gohil was defeated by Purushottam Solanki. 

Bad or good, whatever you say, every ideology gets patronage in Bhavnagar.