હું ગુજરાત છું ......
જેના મેળામાં રાજુડીનો ને’ડો લાગે છે એ ગુજરાત.
જયાં રૂપની પૂનમ પાછળ પાગલ થઇ અફીણી આંખના ગીતો ઘોળાય છે, એ ગુજરાત.
ઘોલર મરચાંના લાલ હિંગોળક રંગનું ગુજરાત.
શિવતાંડવમાં પડેલા સતીના હૃદયને ગબ્બર પર સાચવીને બેઠલું ગુજરાત.
ફળફળતાં ઢોકળાં જેવું નરમ અને માફાળા ગાડાની ધુંસરી જેવું નક્કર ગુજરાત...........
હું સિકસર મારતી વખતે યુસુફ પઠાણના કાંડાની ફૂલી ગયેલી નસમાં રક્ત બનીને ધસમસું છું,
અને પરેશ રાવલના ચહેરા પર અંકાતા રમતિયાળ સ્મિતમાં ઝગમગું છું. હું હેમુ ગઢવીના કસુંબલ કંઠનો અષાઢીલો ટહુકો છું અને કલ્યાણજીભાઇએ કલેવાયોલીન પર છેડેલી બીનની સર્પિલી તાન છું. કેડિયાની ફાટફાટ થતી કસોને તોડતો માલધારીનો ટપ્પો છું, અને દામોદર કુંડની પાળીએ ગિરનારી પરોઢના સોનેરી ઉજાસમાં કેસર ઘોળતું હું નરસિંહનું પ્રભાતિયું છું. ભારતની વાંકી રે પાઘલડીનું ફુમતું છું, મારું પોત કચ્છના રણની ધોળાશ જેવું નિષ્કલંક છે તો મારા હૃદયમા તે ? રણની વિશાળતા છે, નર્મદાનું પાણી મા ગુર્જરીનું ધાવણ છે. હું ગુજરાત!!!!!!!!!
સમગ્ર પૃથ્વીના પટ પર માત્ર એક ? એવું હું રાજય છું, જેણે બે રાષ્ટ્રોના રાષ્ટ્રપિતાઓ સજર્યા છે.
મારા કાઠિયાવાડના પોરબંદરમાંથી ભારતના મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી અને મોટી પાનેલીમાંથી મોહમ્મદઅલી જીન્નાહ! મારામાં જગતના ઇતિહાસને પડખું ફેરવીને પલટાવી દેવાની તાકાત છે,
અને તાનસેનના દિલ્હીમાં ઉઠેલા દાહને વડનગરમાં શમાવી દેવાની અમીરાત છે.........
મારામાં ધરતીની છાતી ચીરીને નકશો કંડારનારા ઇન્દુલાલ યાજ્ઞિકો વસે છે, અને નકશાઓનો એકઝાટકે આકાર બદલાવી દેનાર સરદાર પટેલ પણ શ્વસે છે.શ્યામજી કૃષ્ણ વર્માની ક્રાંતિ મા હું છું, ફિલ્ડ માર્શલ જનરલ સામ માણેકશાની જીભ પર મારી ભાષા હતી, અને ભારતભરમાં ક્રિકેટનો પાયો નાખનાર જામ રણજી મારી ગોદનું ફરજંદ હતો. મારા સંતાનો વિના ભારતના ફિલ્મ ટીવી યુગનું અસ્તિત્વ નથી. મહેબુબખાનથી મનમોહન દેસાઇ, આયેશા ટાકિયાથી હિમેશ રેશમિયા સુધી ગુજરાતની અહાલેક વાગે છે........
ભારતની છાતી પર પેદા થનારાઓને મારા ખોળામાં માથું મૂકીને દેહત્યાગ કરવો ગમે છે. કાલિંદીની પાણીદાર લટો સાથે અઠખેલિયા કરતાં ભારતવર્ષના યુગપુરૂષ ગોમતીના કિનારે છબછબિયાં કરવા અહીં આવીને વસ્યા. હા, કુરૂક્ષેત્રની વચ્ચે ગીતા સંભળાવનાર યોગેશ્વર અને શરદપૂનમની રાતલડીએ ગોપીઓને નચાવનાર મુરલીધરનું હું ઘર છું. હું હસ્તિનાપુરના સિંહાસનને ઘુ્રજાવનાર સુદર્શનચક્ર છું, અને દ્વારકાધીશના સુવર્ણકળશ પર ફરફરતી બાવન ગજની ધજાનો ઠસ્સો છું. ભારતની સૌથી લાંબી પદયાત્રા કરીને હિમાલયના ઉત્તુંગ ગિરિશિખરોમાં ટટ્ટાર ઉભા રહી, રામેશ્વરમના દરિયા કિનારે ચરણ પખાળી, નીલકંઠવર્ણી સ્વામી સહજાનંદ પણ મારા હૈયે આવીને વસ્યા, મારા થઇને વિકસ્યા............ ....
હું આખા એશિયામાં સંભળાતી ગીરના સિંહની ખુમારીભરી ડણક છું અને એવા ડાલામથ્થા સાવજની કેશવાળીમાં આંગળીઓ ફેરવનાર આપા દાના જેવા સંતોના ભજનોની ચાનક છું. હું પરબવાવડીના ફડહ રોટલાની બાજરી છું અને જલારામ વીરપુરની બુંદીનું બેસન છું.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
It is all set to showcase it cultural heritage and prop up beaches to attract tourists.
In a bid to develop tourism, the state government has decided to develop eight tourist hubs. They are;
Ahmedabad city, Ahmedabad rural, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Junagadh, Jamnagar & Bhuj, informed tourism minister Jaynarayan Vyas while addressing the media.
Vyas said the state government would focus on heritage-tourism, religious-tourism, and adventure tourism and will use its 1600-km wide seacoast to prop up beach-tourism.
Vyas said the tourists are already attracted to the 270 beaches in different parts of Gujarat, and to encourage the tourist the state government has been contemplating to hold beach festivals at selected every year. “This would help them to know the beach and environment around it,” he added.
The tourism minister said that the state government is going to develop 36tourist destinations, suggested by CEPT, with facilities like drinking water supply, roads, sanitation, garden and sitting arrangements. He said international conference of bird watcher s is going to be held at Khijadiya sanctuary in Jamnagar district.
Vyas said the state government is keen on showcasing the architectural heritage including buildings, government offices, places and havelis. “People here, enjoy variety of fairs and festivals. The state government arranging festival like Vibrant Navratri and International Kites festival, Rann Mahotsav etc. to attract tourist from all over the globe,” he said.
He said the state government is in developing places associated with Budhhism. A seminar for the same was held in January 2010.
To provide skilled man power to the tourism sector, government has tied-up with Ahmedabad Management of Association (AMA) and Institute of Hotel Management. It has decided to organize a B2B travel mart in December to acquaint national and International travel agents and tour operators with various tourism products of Gujarat.
Ahmedabad Mirror, 22nd July, 2010.
In a bid to develop tourism, the state government has decided to develop eight tourist hubs. They are;
Ahmedabad city, Ahmedabad rural, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Junagadh, Jamnagar & Bhuj, informed tourism minister Jaynarayan Vyas while addressing the media.
Vyas said the state government would focus on heritage-tourism, religious-tourism, and adventure tourism and will use its 1600-km wide seacoast to prop up beach-tourism.
Vyas said the tourists are already attracted to the 270 beaches in different parts of Gujarat, and to encourage the tourist the state government has been contemplating to hold beach festivals at selected every year. “This would help them to know the beach and environment around it,” he added.
The tourism minister said that the state government is going to develop 36tourist destinations, suggested by CEPT, with facilities like drinking water supply, roads, sanitation, garden and sitting arrangements. He said international conference of bird watcher s is going to be held at Khijadiya sanctuary in Jamnagar district.
Vyas said the state government is keen on showcasing the architectural heritage including buildings, government offices, places and havelis. “People here, enjoy variety of fairs and festivals. The state government arranging festival like Vibrant Navratri and International Kites festival, Rann Mahotsav etc. to attract tourist from all over the globe,” he said.
He said the state government is in developing places associated with Budhhism. A seminar for the same was held in January 2010.
To provide skilled man power to the tourism sector, government has tied-up with Ahmedabad Management of Association (AMA) and Institute of Hotel Management. It has decided to organize a B2B travel mart in December to acquaint national and International travel agents and tour operators with various tourism products of Gujarat.
Ahmedabad Mirror, 22nd July, 2010.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Liquor permit procedure.
In India we have two states, which are known as dry states. One is Gujarat and second is Mizoram (It is one of the Seven Sister States of North Eastern India)
This article is about liquor permit procedure in Gujarat.
When you first arrive in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) you will be able to get a tourist liquor license for 1 month by going to a large hotel and purchasing one at their liquor shops include:
-> Cama Hotel in Khanpur
-> Hotel Inder Residency, Opp. to Gujarat College
-> Comfort Inn President Hotel at CG Road.
The shop will often be full of local people making their purchases on their health licenses so it can take a while. However, if you are staying longer you will need a non-resident permit.
Photocopy of passport including your entry stamps
Photocopy of visa
Photocopy of a local resident’s ID card (drivers license will probably be easiest)
About 1200 INR
Directions
-> Get your copies notarized as ‘true’ copies. If you don’t have easy access to someone who can do this, the Prohibition and Excise Department will direct you to a nearby office. This will cost about 10INR per copy.
-> Go to Prohibition and Excise Department which is just off the Ellis Bridge on the city side.
-> Pick up the bank payment form, and get copies notarized if you haven’t already done this.
-> Fill in the name and local address for the permit holder.
-> Get a rickshaw and go to the State Bank of India which is very nearby. If a rickshaw is not available, the bank is in walking distance.
-> Pay 1050 (or the asked fee) at the State Bank of India.
-> Get an ink stamp on form from bank
-> Take your copies, your payment slip and your forms back to the Prohibition and Excise Department.
-> The Department office will provide you with form F.L. /A-1. Fill out form and ask for more than the maximum allowed (ask for about 6 units) to ensure you get the maximum.
-> Pay 2 rupees at the Department office. Receive two stamps which are to be stuck onto get form F.L. / A-1 form to show you have paid.
You will either be able to pick up the license immediately, or in a few days. Once you have your license you take it to a large hotel where they have a liquor shop, and make your purchases.
This article is about liquor permit procedure in Gujarat.
When you first arrive in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) you will be able to get a tourist liquor license for 1 month by going to a large hotel and purchasing one at their liquor shops include:
-> Cama Hotel in Khanpur
-> Hotel Inder Residency, Opp. to Gujarat College
-> Comfort Inn President Hotel at CG Road.
The shop will often be full of local people making their purchases on their health licenses so it can take a while. However, if you are staying longer you will need a non-resident permit.
Photocopy of passport including your entry stamps
Photocopy of visa
Photocopy of a local resident’s ID card (drivers license will probably be easiest)
About 1200 INR
Directions
-> Get your copies notarized as ‘true’ copies. If you don’t have easy access to someone who can do this, the Prohibition and Excise Department will direct you to a nearby office. This will cost about 10INR per copy.
-> Go to Prohibition and Excise Department which is just off the Ellis Bridge on the city side.
-> Pick up the bank payment form, and get copies notarized if you haven’t already done this.
-> Fill in the name and local address for the permit holder.
-> Get a rickshaw and go to the State Bank of India which is very nearby. If a rickshaw is not available, the bank is in walking distance.
-> Pay 1050 (or the asked fee) at the State Bank of India.
-> Get an ink stamp on form from bank
-> Take your copies, your payment slip and your forms back to the Prohibition and Excise Department.
-> The Department office will provide you with form F.L. /A-1. Fill out form and ask for more than the maximum allowed (ask for about 6 units) to ensure you get the maximum.
-> Pay 2 rupees at the Department office. Receive two stamps which are to be stuck onto get form F.L. / A-1 form to show you have paid.
You will either be able to pick up the license immediately, or in a few days. Once you have your license you take it to a large hotel where they have a liquor shop, and make your purchases.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
More PIOs seek OCI cards...
Dual citizenship for 5L PIOs in 4 Years
Scramble for the OCIs even in Finland, Venezuela
Mumbai:
In less than four years since the government first gave Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) a second chance to reconnect with the country of their forefathers, more than half a million foreign nationals have acquired the coveted Overseas Citizenship of India(OCI).
Popularly known as ‘dual citizenship’, OCI was first mooted in December 2005 to woo the rich and influential Indian Diaspora peppered across the world. Recently, the scheme was in news when Noble laureate V S Naipaul, whose ancestors belonged to UP’s Gorakhpur, was given a hard time by overzealous babus in London when he applied for the card. The celebrated author was asked to provide documentation to prove that ancestors indeed lived in India. However, the Naipaul case apart, figures sourced by TOI suggest that the scheme has been a roaring the success- especially among PIOs living in the First World. By the end of this March, the Government issued 5, 73,324 dual citizenship in 91 countries in March this year. Nearly half of these were American citizens followed by the Britishers, Canadians and Australians. The one common bond among them was that at least one of their ancestors had been an Indian.
The primary benefit of having an OCIO status is that the holder gets a life-long visa to visit India and stay as long as he wants. Second, unlike other foreign visitors, he doesn’t need to register with local police on arrival.
But, it’s also minsnomer to assume that OCI grants any real form of “citizenship”. It does not give the PIO a right to vote or contest election in India. He also cannot hold constitutional posts or buy agricultural land in the country.
Though the PIOs have often demanded more from their “dual citizenship”, the idea has caught up among the Indian Diaspora across the world.
There is a stronger presence of registered PIOs in European countries like France, Germany and Switzerland and Kenya in Africa, where Indians had historically migrated. But, in a surprise, OCIs in hundreds have also been registered in countries like China, Venezuela, Finland, Israel and Mexico.
Last, if Naipaul wanted to draw any solace he could do well to know that Indian officials were keeping another 9,285 PIOs waiting. The reasons included people filling up their forms online but forgetting to submit a hard copy at an Indian embassy in their country.
“Or, in some cases, the documents were in complete”, said an official from the ministry of overseas Indian Affairs.
Times of India. 19th July 2010
Scramble for the OCIs even in Finland, Venezuela
Mumbai:
In less than four years since the government first gave Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) a second chance to reconnect with the country of their forefathers, more than half a million foreign nationals have acquired the coveted Overseas Citizenship of India(OCI).
Popularly known as ‘dual citizenship’, OCI was first mooted in December 2005 to woo the rich and influential Indian Diaspora peppered across the world. Recently, the scheme was in news when Noble laureate V S Naipaul, whose ancestors belonged to UP’s Gorakhpur, was given a hard time by overzealous babus in London when he applied for the card. The celebrated author was asked to provide documentation to prove that ancestors indeed lived in India. However, the Naipaul case apart, figures sourced by TOI suggest that the scheme has been a roaring the success- especially among PIOs living in the First World. By the end of this March, the Government issued 5, 73,324 dual citizenship in 91 countries in March this year. Nearly half of these were American citizens followed by the Britishers, Canadians and Australians. The one common bond among them was that at least one of their ancestors had been an Indian.
The primary benefit of having an OCIO status is that the holder gets a life-long visa to visit India and stay as long as he wants. Second, unlike other foreign visitors, he doesn’t need to register with local police on arrival.
But, it’s also minsnomer to assume that OCI grants any real form of “citizenship”. It does not give the PIO a right to vote or contest election in India. He also cannot hold constitutional posts or buy agricultural land in the country.
Though the PIOs have often demanded more from their “dual citizenship”, the idea has caught up among the Indian Diaspora across the world.
There is a stronger presence of registered PIOs in European countries like France, Germany and Switzerland and Kenya in Africa, where Indians had historically migrated. But, in a surprise, OCIs in hundreds have also been registered in countries like China, Venezuela, Finland, Israel and Mexico.
Last, if Naipaul wanted to draw any solace he could do well to know that Indian officials were keeping another 9,285 PIOs waiting. The reasons included people filling up their forms online but forgetting to submit a hard copy at an Indian embassy in their country.
“Or, in some cases, the documents were in complete”, said an official from the ministry of overseas Indian Affairs.
Times of India. 19th July 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Difference between NRI, PIO and OCI
Difference between NRI, PIO and OCI
| | NRI | PIO | PIO Card Holder | OCI | |||
| Definition | A citizen of India, holding an Indian passport, but residing abroad | A foreign national who has Indian origins or Indian ancestors. | A PIO holding a PIO Card, as per the Scheme of The Ministry of Home Affairs, 2002 | Overseas Indians who migrated from India after 26th January, 1950, except those from Pakistan and Bangladesh | |||
| Apply to | | | 1) Any Indian Mission abroad or,
| ||||
| Charges | | |
Rs.7,500 for minors |
PIO card holders pay only USD 25 or equivalent | |||
| Privileges | At par with resident Indians |
c) Required to register at local FRRO in India upon arrival |
d) At par with NRIs in all spheres of activity except purchase of agricultural property |
c) At par with NRIs in all spheres of activity, except purchase of agricultural property. | |||
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