Search Results

Food and nutrition is a subject of specialization now; so many new theories and studies are published every day about what to eat, how to eat and what not to eat. But when looking back at the thousands of years-old traditional Indian food habits and dietary regulations, one cannot help but be awestruck by the level of knowledge Indians in those times had about food and dietary science. One may note that every single spice used in our food, including those in the popular digestive, muksuddhi, has science and reason behind it to be included in the complete dietary plan followed by Indians, which essentially changes with season, geography, age and in compliance with nature (people never were against the nature). Today it is possible to search on the internet and find out the tremendous benefit of the spices like turmeric, coriander, red chilli, green chilli, cumin, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, and many more used daily in Indian dishes. The food we eat, how we eat, what ingredients it contains and how it is prepared is essential for the wholesome development (both mental and physical) and wellbeing of a person. Recently researchers have found how chemicals secreted from different food items help in combating stress, anxiety, depression etc. Depending on the needs of the region, this has been done in the Indian kitchens since the olden days. For example, a daily serving of bitter gourd and green vegetables, fish and small pieces of lemon in West Bengal or curd and buttermilk in Punjab, seems very ordinary to locals but works wonders in increasing one’s immunity. An extra dose of red chilli powder in the Rajasthani diet is said to help combat the extreme temperature there. Growing up in Bhopal, I have seen people dealing with the heat during summer, especially the life threatening, ‘nau tapa’ heat waves in May by including raw onion, plain curd and aam panna (a traditional cool drink prepared from roasted raw mangoes, rock salt, mint and spices) in their daily diet and then braving out in the sun for work.Applying a paste made out of haldi (turmeric), Neem leaves and mustard oil on the body before bathing, and then wearing yellow clothes and eating yellow food on the occasion of Saraswati Puja is not only joyous but there is a whole lot of science hidden behind it. Turmeric and Neem leaves are antibacterial herbs. The yellow colour signifies the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life. The same festival is celebrated as Basant Panchami (celebrating the arrival of spring) in some parts of India. During this time the yellow rays of the sun falling on earth indicates prosperity.The custom of eating preparations made out if til (sesame seeds) and gud (jaggery) is famous all over India, especially during winters. Sesame seeds and jaggery help to keep the body warm and increase immunity at the same time. The oil present in the sesame seeds helps generate heat and keeps the body temperature from dropping.  Vitamin C and iron present in jaggery increases immunity and is also helpful for respiratory disorders and throat problems.Going down south to Andhra Pradesh, any meal whether it’s the daily regular meal at home or the meal at a grand wedding, it compulsorily ends with curd rice. Curd is a natural pro-biotic, and when used with rice it’s good for heart, builds immunity and reduces weight. The famous rasam (a traditional South Indian dish) is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals and facilitates digestion. Tamarind is rich in antioxidants and helps in reducing weight.Even today I have a clear and vivid memory of my grandmother boiling, deseeding, adding rock salt and then sun drying amla (gooseberry) so that it could be stored and consumed year long till the next season. Having this homemade amla candy every day after lunch and dinner was made into a habit; a fantastic way to receive vitamin c and iron and increasing immunity in the body. Can any vitamin tablet replace the benefit received naturally? We know the answer is NO. Let me share one more personal experience. I am talking of the time when I was in my B.Sc 1st year final exams (1994).  I was going to college, driving a borrowed scooter, early in the morning at 6.30 am when I met with an accident. My scooter crashed with another scooter and I fell down along with it. But I got up, picked up my scooter, gave a ride to a friend of mine on the way who was waiting for me, reached college in time, appeared in the exam and came home after dropping off my friend. I didn’t tell anything to mother about the accident, otherwise she would have made me return the scooter, and finding public transport that early in the morning would require getting up twice as early, which wasn’t possible when every extra minute before exams matter. As a result I couldn’t go to a doctor nor get a painkiller, but I was in a lot of pain nonetheless. Fortunately, turmeric powder from the kitchen mixed with milk, taken twice a day saved me. Our tradition also has a complete step by step plan for introducing adult food to a baby. Special laddoos (made from dry fruits, spices and many other specific items) are made and given to women who have recently given birth for her recovery and healing; even her overall diet has some specifications because she is breast feeding. These specifications may change with geography in India according to climatic conditions and availability of items in that place but people know what to eat in the specific situations. Whichever part of India one travels to, the traditional food habits passed down from generations to generations is scientific, well rehearsed, and perfect for one’s overall wellbeing. Just because the western countries are more urbanised and industrialised doesn’t mean that everything is good about them – yes, we do need to learn discipline, cleanliness, dignity of labour, importance of hard work, punctuality etc. from them, but definitely not at the cost of forgetting our own strength. We should be open to improving and beginning, but we also need to be proud of our own culture and traditions and instil them in our children, who are the future of our country. For their sake, it is time we revisit, revive and share our old traditional food habits. About the Author:Nivedita Mukherjee After completing her Master’s Degree from Bhopal, Nivedita has had the opportunity of staying in cities like Jaipur, Hydrabad, Pune and Mumbai before finally coming to Kolkata. In the past she has worked in various organisations including the Times of India and a premier school in Kolkata and feels that life is the biggest teacher. She is currently a homemaker enjoying the growing up years of her three kids.

Pursuant to the Budget Announcements of year 2018-19 and year 2019-20 Ministry of Tourism has identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the country for development as Iconic Tourist Sites namely Taj Mahal & Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh), Ajanta & Ellora (Maharashtra), Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort & Qutub Minar (Delhi), Colva (Goa), Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Somnath & Dholavira (Gujarat),  Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Hampi (Karnataka),  Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Kaziranga (Assam), Kumarakom (Kerala) and Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar). The Ministry shall be developing the above sites in an integrated manner with focus on issues concerning connectivity to the destination, better facilities/experience for the tourists at the site, skill development, involvement of local community, promotion & branding and by bringing private investment. Availability of land free from all incumberances for the proposed developments under the scheme is the responsibility of the respective State Governments/UT administrations. This information was given by the Minister of State (I/c) of Culture and Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. [Source: 16 MAR 2020 5:55PM by PIB Delhi]

The one day conference on sustainable of tourism was primarily on the various aspects of sustainability directly or indirectly linked with tourism industry. Conference started on  high note with top officials from the government sector  with inaugural lamp lighting followed by speakers’ presentation. Each speaker was allotted 15 minute time and question &answers after their presentation. Registration for the conference was open to student, academic professor/ teacher, Industry participants , visitors  Research Scholars.  Prior registration was more than on spot registration. Attendees: i. Students and professors from MBA colleges across the country. ii. Students and professors from Hotel Management colleges iii. Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. iv. State Tourism boards in  India. v. VP Technical Head of 5 star Hotels. vi. Student and professor of state university. vii. Student and professor of private University. viii. Private company engaged with tour business. Student Involvement: To encourage student participation in the conference, students were supported to attend through travel grants from their respective institutes, complementary attendance certificate and subsidized registration costs. Students and emerging scholars accounted for approximately 30% of the total participants. Conference Speakers’ Presentation As reported in Touriosity Travelmag, August 2019 : Opening session: Inaugural Lamp Lighting was done  by Special Guest: Sri J. P. Shaw, Former RD (East), Indiatourism and Sri R. K Suman as Chief Guest, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Tourism, Government of India. A short introduction on the conference, the first International conference on sustainable Tourism of Eastern India was organised by Touriosity on 23rd August 2019 at the venue of IIHM Global Campus, Kolkata. It was a day of extensive brainstorming, research, presentation fo paper, debate and discussion amongst thought leaders from various fields who came together under one roof to discuss sustainable tourism.

Touriosity Travelmag is organizing the 1st International Conference on Sustainable Tourism on 23rd August 2019 at Kolkata with the objective of examining critical sustainability issues for the Tourism Sector and to explore what they mean for business in tourism. The objective is also to explore the pressing issues, bringing together the country’s opinion leaders for a day of debate and high-level discussions. Venue : IIHM Global Campus in Saltlake, Kolkata. A bunch of highly renowned speakers  are from  Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India, Calcutta University, St Xaviers College, The Bhawanipur Education Society College, University of Burdwan and few notable international personalities in the field of Tourism are participating from London, Germany, Netherlands, Israel and Macedonia etc. ITC Limited and WBHIDCO  are also participating as ITC has won LEED Platinum award for its brand ITC Sonar and this is indicative of the fact that ITC is very serious about sustainability in its business all along. TRACKS for the conference are: A.   Sectoral analysis of traditional tourism practices vis-a-vis sustainable tourism principles. B.  Economic efficiency of eco-tourism business with sustainability practices through traditional outdoor activities like hiking, canoeing, hunting,     fishing, as well as traditional touring experiences like scenic drives, shopping for local goods, and visiting local natural and cultural landmarks C.  Global standard and best practices of sustainable tourism: Assessing the effectiveness and determination the barriers of social change for   sustainability D.   Understand park planning principles and procedures and the major phases of facility design Email your registration details  event@touriositytravel.com

The conference will be an ideal platform for high-level theoretical research and empirical studies with policy-relevant analysis in regard to tourism and allied industries. It is designed to be an influential and challenging intellectual confluence not only for the business world but also for the society at large. The conference is an open platform for collaborations with National and International public and private research institutions, governmental bodies, professionals, representatives of industrial groups active in the policy arena and various stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry. We are collaborating with a number of national and international organisations for this conference.For registration you are requested to visit  http://www.touriositytravel.com/conference/ for the tracks and other issues. For participation and /or submission of paper you are requested to email event@touriositytravel.com or call +91-9836511995 for further details. Media registration will be onsite and you can email event@touriositytravel.com or call +91-9836511995 for further details.

Tannistha Nandi is now the youngest novelist in India (at the age of 10). Shri Harshvardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, the Chief Guest for the book launch ceremony held on 5th December at the Oxford Bookstore, Kolkata, speaking about the novel beautifully remarked "It is gripping enough even for an adult like me. and I finished the book at one go" Here's link to the books on Amazon https://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tannistha+nandi Link to review by The Statesman

Kolkata based EnVERT E-Vehicles unveils its first electric cycle which is going to disrupt the market primarily because of its price range. The cycle comes with 250 W DC motor and 24 Volt with absorbent glass mat battery. The looks cool with a mat finish look with the following technical specification :EnVERT Electric Cycle EM18 comes with  comes with two modes i.e. manual (pedal only) and throttle (accelerator). It is powered by AGM battery which gives up to 20 kms of ride in a single charge, with a max speed of 25 km/hr. Full Throttle Mode (No manual pedaling)Turn the E-Cycle (motor) on by turning the key. If the cycle moves in an average of   50% of the top speed level the battery gives maximum output. Manual Pedaling Mode It is just like convention cycle riding. Price of  the available e-cycles on the popular e-commerce websites starts from Rupees thirty thousand or so. Glarepost asked the CEO of EnVERT E-Vehicles Dr Paritosh Nandi about the price parity and the USP of their e-cycles and Dr Nandi said " all the popular e-commerce websites are selling the e-cycles majority of which are using  Lithium ion  batteries and that is why price remains in the higher side. In a year or two price of the lithium ion battery  is expected to come down  so is the e- cycles. For the last mile connectivity our range is moderately fine". He also added " Carry-in charging facility and detachable battery box is our USP"

The Secret of the Goldbug Castle is taking the town by storm. Written by Tannistha Nandi, a 10-year-old, the book explores stories of courage and bravery in a world of fantasy and ‘Fantomese’. Compared to the likes of Enid Blyton’s series and Harry Potter, the little author has matched her writing with her inspirations beautifully. With vivid descriptions and rapid pace, the book is a gripping tale and only the first in the series ‘The Summeres Diaries’. On 5th December, 2017, the book was launched at Oxford Bookstores, Kolkata in the auspicious presence of Chief Guest Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of the Ambuja Neotia group, and Shri Vishambhar Saran, Chairman of Visa group with many eminent people from media and publishing. With kind words of encouragement from these prominent personalities, not only was author Tannistha inspired to reach greater heights, but children all across the city were encouraged to explore their talents. Ms Rupanjana De, Company Secretary and Lawyer, as well as an avid writer ( and mother of Tannistha), was also a part of the panel discussion that took place that evening. Dr. Paritosh Nandi, the young prodigy’s father said that the idea behind encouraging the child to write was to ensure that  she is exposed to the world of literature from a young age and is not trapped in the world of gadgets.More children coming across and unveiling their talents is what is required in a country like ours, where children are burdened down only by their academic pressures. Exploring hobbies and talents is a must for not only the development of the child, but also for the development of the country.

Kolkata: 10-year-old Tannishtha Nandi has stirred the reader’s circle in Kolkata. By publishing her first ever book The Secret of the Goldbug Castle (The Summeres Diaries Book 1), she has created history by being the youngest author in India at the tender age of 10! A pre-launch video of the author talking about her book was released last Sunday where she spoke about her inspirations and aspirations. The book can be found on Amazon and Kindle. Her book will be formally released in the first week of December in the presence of prominent personalities including Harsh Neotia. Her book has received accolades from even the Hon’ble Governor Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi. Watch the pre-release video here: http://bit.ly/2zwPdqk Get your copy of the book here: http://amzn.to/2yqsXvd

Each forest of the world has its own charisma, something very unique to itself. And this is not with respect only to its physical characteristics, but in terms of the very soul of it. The sounds, smells, whisper and the air of each forest is different. So is true for its residents. Robert Louis Stevenson had aptly remarked that “It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.” The eternal relation between humankind and trees need no introduction. But unfortunately, the forest cover of the world is declining every day, thanks to technology advancements, urbanization, increased mining and agriculture. And if mankind continues to be fascinated by modern technology to the extent that surrendering the future generations’ wellbeing becomes immaterial, it is not difficult to imagine that forests will vanish some day. Environmentalists today are increasingly concerned about the Climate Change – the increase of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Out of various reasons attributable to this deadly phenomenon, deforestation is one, and this, few of us know. In fact, a fifth of the greenhouses gases results from deforestation, more than that caused by automobile pollution all over the world. Doesn’t this sound really alarming? Many decades back, Mahatma Gandhi had said “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” Nobody could have possibly put this concern in a better phrase. Those who have spent childhood or at least a major period of life in the vicinity of forests can tell you that forests are not gloomy or fear provoking. Rather it is the city that looks naked – ugly because shades of green are absent. The Global Concern Since forests constitute an integral part of sustainable development, the role of forests is gaining importance in international conventions on biodiversity and climate change. Increased attention is also being paid to sustainable forest development in international trade of forest products. In some parts of the world there is increased preference amongst consumers for buying products obtained from sustainably managed forests and manufactured by environmentally acceptable processes. Conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests worldwide have now emerged as priority items on the international policy agenda, particularly in the context of the United Nations Conference in Rio, first held in June 1992, followed by Rio+10 at Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002 and Rio+20 again held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012. Policy-makers at the national and international level are concerned about reconciling the role of forests in meeting national socio-economic and environmental objectives as well as the global environmental and socio-economic interests of the community of nations. Failure of Five Year Plan targets in India As per India State of Forest Report 2001, 20.6% of the total land area in India was under forest cover and another 2.5% of land in the country was under tree cover. This amounted to a total of 23% of the total land area of the country out of which about 61.7% was categorized as dense forests. The Tenth Five Year Plan had proposed raising the forest and tree cover to 25% by 2007 and to 33% by 2012. This implied bringing additional area under forest and tree cover by afforestation and tree plantation. It called for joint efforts for maintenance and expansion. However, the target miserably failed. The India State of Forest Report 2011, revealed that forests and tree cover as in 2011 was only about 23.81% of the country’s geographical area. The main reasons attributable to this failure, as per the report, were prevalence of shifting cultivation practiced in the forests of North East India, illegal timber trade and smuggling and rapid urbanisation. Sustainable Forestry Management and its stakeholders Innumerable attempts at Sustainable Forestry Management around the world have failed because adequate attention was not paid to the various stakeholders involved and their particular interest. The local populace dwelling in the forests, local farmers, the private sector deriving benefit out of forests and the government departments, national and international policy makers and planners are the stakeholders in sustainable forestry management. Proper management calls for a cooperation in sharing the burdens and benefits. The stakeholders are those who have a stake in the exploitation and management of the forest resource. Each stakeholder is expected to have different but conflicting interest regarding the usage and management of forest resources and these differences may be vital. Exploitation or conservation initiatives imply that some stakeholder stand to lose while some stand to gain. It is the failure to identify this conflict in interest of the different stakeholders that has often led to local resistance to government policies and development initiatives. In effect, these fail to meet their desired objectives. However, despite the various conflicts at different levels, countries should be more proactive to promote sustainable development. As for instance, the local forest dwellers mostly rely on wood fuel for their cooking needs. Hence, for subsistence, they need to cut trees. The introduction of solar cookers among these dwellers would go a long way towards reducing deforestation. In addition to these usage of solar lighting among the forest communities, that do not have access to grid power, is expected to answer their inherent developmental needs. Man-made disasters For maintaining the ecological balance, it is very important to identify the associated evils which need to be uprooted or converted into sustainable practices in a phased manner. Government regulations are essential to this effect, but so are individual initiatives. As long as each individual is not aware of his / her own contribution to ecological instability and climate change, so to say ‘Damage Per Person’ (DPP), it is difficult to curb the evils and move towards sustainable development. Some of the man-made disasters contributing to damage to ecology are discussed hereunder. Suggestions to improve them and remove the harmful effects are also provided. Urbanisation Perhaps there cannot be a bigger evil than urban development stretching beyond limits and trespassing into the areas reserved for forests. The increase of population and improvement in the standard of living of people are both pushing the urban boundaries. With increase in urban cover, forest cover is diminishing. While development is essential for meeting human needs and for progress of humankind, sustainable development is essential for long term gain. To reap the benefits of sustainable development, therefore, there has to be a trade-off between development and forest conservation so that forest can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development in the country. Putting this trade-off between development and forest conservation and management in proper perspective will lead us to the emergence of stakeholder participation in ecologically sound development strategy, which should emphasize harmonization of economic, social and environment concern in the process of development. Forest Tourism The flora and fauna of the wilderness beckon us and we often seek refuge under the starry sky. While forests and wilderness in Africa are treasure troves of wildlife, India is also blessed with diverse geography and climate and consequently a varied range of flora and fauna. It offers a diverse platter of sights and wildlife experience for enthusiasts. While animals, birds and reptiles can be protected under the care of experts in zoos, there is no substitute for protecting them in their natural habitat. The 550 National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserves in India are home to an incredible number of fauna varieties, some of which are endangered while some are to be found only in this country. These protected areas of India abound in more than 350 species of mammals, 2100 varieties of birds, 350 varieties of reptiles and countless species of insects. This goes to make India an ideal location for viewing wildlife as well. However there are pros and cons. Revenues generated through wildlife tourism can be effectively utilized for the betterment and protection of wildlife. But by mindless and careless tourism, we stand the chances of endangering the wildlife. Forests often suffer the negative impacts of tourism in the form of deforestation caused by fuel wood collection and land clearing by trekkers. Throwing of garbage is another evil and so is the enhanced pressure on endangered species and increased chances of forest fires. Excessive tourist activity may also result in degradation of the ecosystems of forests. Over-commercialised wildlife viewing programmes have been proved to bring about stress to the animals to the extent that they alter their natural behavior when tourists come too close. Safaris are invariably accompanied by noise created by over-excited tourists chasing wild animals with their cameras. This puts a lot of pressure on animal habits and degradation of their natural habitat. The present day urban dwellers, in an attempt to survive today’s growing competition and meet the ever increasing demands for commitment, often fulfill their passion by switching on the television and remaining glued to wildlife channels like Discovery, Animal Planet and National Geographic. And then, when you get the much awaited holiday, but naturally you opt for the wilderness, the irresistible urge almost invariably gets the better of you and you escape. For majority of us, the call of the wild is almost impossible to resist. Visiting the forest areas opens up a whole new world to city dwellers, giving them the chance to unravel the wildlife treasures, be closer to nature and breathe fresh air. So long as the eternal desire of mankind to explore the natural habitats of animals does not result in damage or destruction of their habitat or threatening the existence of endangered species, so long as humankind shoots the animals with camera and not with guns, and so long as all other associated activities are sustainable and harmless, there is absolutely no harm in wildlife tourism. In that manner we can also avoid a number of other associated evils. For tourists, travelling is a chance to broaden the mind, explore the world, meet new people and see the unseen. In order that we continue to get the chances to, a sustainable practice is the need of the hour. As a part of initiative towards sustainable forest tourism, to ensure that vehicles entering forests do not disturb the peace there, the introduction of battery-driven electric vehicles (BEV) may be considered. The number of safari elephants may be increased so that they are not forced to work against their will. And strict actions need to be taken against the hoteliers encroaching on the forest land. Poaching for monetary gains The forest cover of the world has been shrinking over the centuries. This also has an impact on the population of animals worldwide. Existence of animals is vital for maintaining proper ecological balance. Poaching is another evil that has been continuously on the rise. It is the illegal hunting, killing or capturing of animals in order to get animal products like hides, furs, horn, teeth, ivory and bone. These are illegally traded for handsome amounts of money and in turn are used in the making of attires, fashion accessories, home décor and medicines. Despite the conscious efforts by the government, the continuous poaching of animals for monetary gains has been quite alarming. The list of endangered animals over the years has been expanding. The 2012 Red List updated at Rio+20 Earth Summit lists 132 species of plants, birds and animals in India including the Asiatic lion, Indian elephant and Royal Bengal Tiger as endangered and a few more including leopards and black bucks as threatened. It is saddening that so many species of animals have already become extinct from the face of the earth. However the silver lining is that the awareness for the world’s forests has been increasing over the last decade or so due to the combined efforts of animal rights activists and environmentalists. The positive awareness has also been augmented due to the role of forests in the global carbon cycle and their capability of mitigating the climate change. But individual enlightenment and conscious efforts towards animal conservation is also very important to stop the evils of poaching. Conclusion Forests are abundant renewable natural resources that bring to mankind a variety of economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits and services. The global demand for their products and services is ever increasing with the growth of population. Unfortunately, the growth of forest resources has not been impressive mainly due to deforestation, conversion into other landforms, overharvesting, some traditional types of cultivation like Jhum and degradation resulting from air, water and soil pollution. Forests are also often exposed to evils like forest fires which have devastating effect on the ecosystems. These not only adversely affect the climatic stability, they also contribute to excruciating poverty because forests are home to about 60 million people of the world and they depend upon them for their life and subsistence. They live on and derive their survival needs from a variety of forest products like fruits, vegetables, oils, roots, spices, herbs, meat, bark and clothing material like animal fur and skins, building materials, gums, dyes and medicinal plants. Needless to mention forests promote sustainable development and also help to stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere. Forestry leads to sustainable development in numerous ways. Of these the most important are environmental, social and economic benefits arising from forests. To maximise these benefits broader land management plans are required. For city dwellers an escape from the monotonicity of routine city life is essential from time to time. But this many of us eager tourists fail to keep in mind while traversing their lands. Consequently, a necessary evil that has come to be associated with the tourism industry is the rapid destruction of the fragile ecosystems due to overuse, degradation of forests due to their trampling under the feet of ill-concerned tourists and pollution of scenic location due to throwing of garbage by vacationers. The increasing intensity of such unsustainable tourism has led the authorities in many countries to rethink the overall efficiency of tourism industry as the economic benefits arising out of it seem to be grossly outweighed by environmental degradation and cultural destruction. Indian forests are treasure troves of wildlife and there should absolutely be no problem in people wishing to visit those to see their wild friends in their natural habitat. All that is required is proper care and appropriate regulations in place. The government of India has been taking necessary steps for the conservation of forests and preservation of the critically endangered wildlife species. To help make its efforts successful, initiative is also required from the citizens. Our ancestors have seen much more of forests than us. For decades we have been constantly told that forests are to be conserved if we want to give the gift of a good future to our children. It is one of those important investments one would like to make for the coming generations. There has perhaps never been a time as important as the present. So, if any steps are to be taken, NOW is the time!

Bloomsbury India Professional recently launched the book “A Practical Guide to Corporate Social Responsibility - Law, Accounting and Taxation Aspects” written by CS Rupanjana De as a complete one stop solution to all problems and queries related to the rising concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR, now a mandate for prescribed classes of companies under the Companies Act, 2013 has been growing in popularity with the aim of alleviating the crippling social problems of India that have been decaying the country for decades. The book not only focuses on a company’s legal aspects of complying with the norms, but also discusses which related aspects of Schedule VII are allowed or disallowed as activities of CSR. The book has lucidated on the accounting aspects, disclosures, taxation aspects, practical problems and solutions for understanding the various norms, and the history of CSR, and implementation of this concept in other countries have been penned impeccably by Ms De. A research of CSR spending by top companies has also been shown in the book to understand the path in which CSR is headed for the development of the country. Perhaps the first guide on CSR in the market, this book is set to be a forerunner in the field of corporates striving to do better in the social sector, and for the layman, students and professionals with a knack for CSR. Ms De, apart from being a practicing Company Secretary (with an expertise in the field of CSR) is a gold Medalist in Economics, LLM and EMLE. She is a regular speaker at events organized by ICSI, ICAI, ICMAI and other professional events and a regular contributor to journals published by the same. Editor of her own brainchild, Touriosity TravelMag, a theme based travel magazine, she has also co-authored the famed book, “Company Law Ready Referencer” which had a grand launch at Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industries last year in the presence of esteemed dignitaries and received accolades from across the corporate world. Priced at Rs. 795 per copy, the book is available at bookstores across the country as well as on online shopping sites. (https://www.bloomsbury.com/in/corporate-social-responsibility-9789386606945/).

City-based travel magazine Touriosity Travelmag recently joined hands with Calcutta Tram Corporation and West Bengal Tourism to gift the city a unique present - a tram painted in the colours of Kolkata. The idea was conceptualized by Rupanjana De, Editor of Touriosity Travelmag, who felt that the trams, which are waning from the city and losing out to its fast-paced counterparts, need an upheaval so that it withholds the heritage that Kolkata is identified with. Renowned Spanish Illustrator and regular Touriosity Artist’s Impression columnist Joaquin Gonzalez Dorao was more than happy to lead this initiative, he himself being a lover of  trams. An avid traveler and travel illustrator, Joaquin on hearing of this initiative, agreed to paint the tram in the myriad hues of the city. Joaquin was taken round the city of Kolkata to all the places that make it the City of Joy – from College Street to the Ghats, from China Town to Park Street; from all the buildings of the British Era to temples - for inspiration. Needless to say how delighted Joaquin was to visit all the nooks and corners and soak in the culture of the city. A tram was provided by CTC to paint on, at its Nonapukur Depot. A lime green hue was chosen as its body colour (to stand out in the crowd!) over which the actual paintings would be done. On 11th and 12th August, Team Touriosity, along with Joaquin, sketched, painted and put effects to make the objects look real, and wrote down names of each and every thing painted, so that a non-Calcuttan would have no difficulty recognizing them. It is not only about upholding the beauty of Kolkata on an iconic medium like the tram, but it is also about the revival of the tram itself, something that has stood witness to the evolution of the city through the ages and  is dying today, amidst the private cars and AC Volvos. A surreal reflection of the city can be seen on the tram. Chai in Bhaanr, yellow taxi, the two Setus on the Ganges, Maa Durga, Maa Kali of Kalighat, almost all the famous monuments and personalities of the city and even quintessential Bengali cuisines like Rosogolla, Daab Chingri and egg rolls made their way to the body of the tram. To commemorate World Tourism Day on 27th September, the West Bengal Tourism inaugurated the tram, and the Chief Guest, Mr Ghulam Rabbani, Minister of State for Tourism, flagged off the event with a joyride on the tram with underprivileged girls from a local shelter home. The event took place at the legendary Esplanade Tram Depot, in the presence of dignitaries from the West Bengal Tourism Department, on a beautiful autumn morning, perfect for the tram to be shown off to the world for the very first time! The tram coursed through Dharmatala to Shyambazar, touching major heritage spots of North Calcutta. The tram is turning heads of locals and tourists alike. With projects like these, implemented with the impetus of heightening the city’s glory to attract tourists, Kolkata tourism is sure to get a hiatus like no other!