काही कथा - ९

काही कथा - ९

नेटवर वाचलेल्या काही प्रेरणा देणारया , नितिकथा तुमच्यासाठी !

एक गणेशभक्त महात्मा होते. रोज मातीच्या गणेशमूर्तीची पूजा करीत. 

एका शिष्याने त्याना पूजेसाठी सोन्याची गणेशमूर्ती बनवून आणली. ज्या भावनेने मातीच्या मूर्तीची पूजा करीत, त्याच भावनेने सोन्याच्या मूर्तीची पूजा करू लागले. 

दुसऱ्या शिष्याला वाटले, आपण गणपतीसाठी सोन्याचा उंदीर बनवावा. म्हणून त्याने गणपतीपेक्षा मोठा उंदीर बनवून आणला. 

पूजा चालूच राहिली. कालांतराने महात्मा वयोवृध्द झाले. त्यांना वाटले, आपल्या मृत्यूनंतर शिष्यांमध्ये मूर्तीवरून भांडण नको. त्यापेक्षा मूर्ती विकून मिळणारा पैसा इश्वरार्पण करून मुक्त होऊ. सोनाराकडे घेऊन गेले. गणपतीची मूर्ती दोन तोळे अन् उंदीर अकरा तोळे सोन्याचा ! 

सोनार गणेशमूर्तीपेक्षा उंदराच्या मूर्तीचे जास्त पैसे देऊ लागला. 

तेव्हा महात्मा आश्चर्याने म्हणाले, "अरे, गणपती तर देव आहे आणि उंदीर क्षुल्लक प्राणी. तरी तू देवाची किंमत कमी का देतोस ?" 

सोनाराने उत्तर दिले, " मी किंमत सोन्याची देतोय. देवाची किंवा उंदराची नाही."

जे जे सरकारी अधिकारी, मंत्री भेटले सिंगापूरमध्ये- ते सगळेच्या सगळे नियोजन आणि अंमलबजावणी याला पुण्यकर्मच मानतात. या भेटीत एक बडा सरकारी अधिकारी भेटला. त्याच दिवशी सकाळी तो भारतातनं परतला होता. मोदींच्या सिंगापूर भेटीची तयारी करण्यासाठी तो भारतात आला होता. 

त्याचा परतीचा प्रवास लांबला. त्याच्या गळ्यातल्या बॅगेवर इकॉनॉमी क्लासचा टॅग तसाच होता. 

मी म्हटलं, ‘तुमची बॅग तेवढी इकॉनॉमी क्लासनं आली का?’ 

तो म्हणाला, ‘नाही. मीच इकॉनॉमी क्लासने आलो.’ 

मला आश्चर्य वाटलं. त्याचा हुद्दा लक्षात घेता तो इकॉनॉमी क्लासमध्ये कसा, हा प्रश्न! त्याचं उत्तर त्यानंच दिलं. 

तो म्हणाला, ‘आमच्याकडे नियम आहे. विमानप्रवासाचा वेळ सहा तासांपेक्षा कमी असेल तर सर्वच जण इकॉनॉमी क्लासने जातात. अगदी लोकप्रतिनिधीसुद्धा. दिल्ली-सिंगापूर विमानप्रवासाचा वेळ पाच तास ४५ मिनिटं आहे. त्यामुळे इकॉनॉमी क्लास.’ 

मी म्हटलं, ‘१५ मिनिटांचा तर फरक..’ 

वाक्य पूर्ण व्हायच्या आत तो म्हणाला, ‘ही वेळ ५ तास ५९ मिनिटं असली तरी नियम तोच. आणि सगळ्यांनीच पाळायचा. विमान उशीराच आलं, वेळ लागणार आहे, या सबबी आम्ही देत नाही. आणि दिल्या तरी त्या ऐकल्या जात नाहीत.’ 

नंतर तो सांगत होता- एकदा तो दिल्ली-दुबई मार्गावर एअर इंडियानं प्रवास करत होता. तर त्या दिवशी कोणी मंत्री येणार म्हणून विमानाचं उड्डाण लांबवलं गेलं. त्याच्यासाठी फर्स्ट क्लासच्या अनेक केबिन्स रिकाम्या ठेवल्या गेल्या. आणि एवढं करून तो आलाच नाही. आणि तासाभराच्या विलंबानं त्या रिकाम्या सीट्स घेऊन विमान दुबईला निघालं. 

तो म्हणाला, ‘आम्हाला ही चन परवडत नाही. आम्ही काही तुमच्याइतके सधन नाही.’ 

- इति गिरीश कुबेर (लोकसत्ता दि. २२/११/२०१५)

आइन्स्टाइनचे सहकारी इन्फेल्ड यांनी आत्मचरित्रात म्हटलं आहे, की प्रिन्स्टनमध्ये असताना आइन्स्टाइनला त्याच्या गणिती आकडेमोडीतून एक महत्त्वाचा निष्कर्ष काढता आला. तो हा की गुरुत्वाकर्षणाच्या लहरी असू शकत नाहीत.

निष्कर्ष महत्त्वाचं असल्यानं त्यावर आइन्स्टाइननं सेमिनार द्यावं असं ठरलं व भाषणाची निनावी नोटीस निघाली. ‘निनावी’ याकरिता, की जर व्याख्याता म्हणून आइन्स्टाइनचं नाव नोटीसमध्ये आलं, तर व्याख्यानाला प्रसारमाध्यमं उगाच गर्दी करत असत. मात्र, व्याख्यानाच्या एक दिवस आधी आइन्स्टाइनला आपल्या गणितात चूक दिसली. ती दुरुस्त करता करता त्याचा मूळ निष्कर्ष बाद ठरला.

सेमिनार देताना आइन्स्टाइननं आपलं सगळं गणित मांडलं. त्यातली चूक दाखवली आणि ती दुरुस्त करताना मूळ निष्कर्ष कसा बाद ठरतो, हे सर्व प्रांजलपणे दाखवलं!

- जयंत नारळीकर  (सकाळ  दि. ६/१२/२०१५)

Rourkela Steel Plant

Rourkela Steel Plant

There's a little bit of SAIL in everybody's life

View of RSP from New Suraksha Path bridge Near Indira Gandhi Park

Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), in Rourkela, was set up with West German collaboration with an installed capacity of 1 million tonnes in the 1960s. It is operated by Steel Authority of India (SAIL), one of the Maharatna company.

Recently, a Rs 12,000-crore modernisation and expansion project at the RSP was dedicated to the Nation by Prime minister Narendra Modi on 1 April 2015. RSP presently has the capacity to produce 4.5 million tonnes of hot metal, 4.2 million tonnes of crude steel and 3.9 million tonnes of saleable steel.

It is the first plant in Asia to adopt the energy-efficient LD process of steel making and the first integrated steel plant of SAIL which adopted the cost-effective and quality-centered continuous casting route to process 100% of steel produced. The plant has also, for the first time in India, had adopted external de-sulphurisation of hot metal by calcium carbide injection process. RSP is one of the unique units under the SAIL umbrella with a wide variety of special purpose steels.

View of RSP from the Vaisnodevi temple

RSP’s Steel Township is the first Township of SAIL to be certified for both ISO 9001 QMS and ISO 14001 EMS. Entire RSP has been certified to internationally acclaimed Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001: 2007). n order to have synergy and synchronization in implementation of various management systems, concept of Integrated Management System (IMS) has been initiated in RSP. An IMS Policy covering Quality, Environment, Occupational Health & Safety and Social Accountability of RSP has been introduced. RSP is the first unit in SAIL to adopt IMS policy.

RSP is committed to improving the quality of life

Life thousands of workers and their families are dependent on this single plant. RSP brings prosperity and pride to Rourkela. Workers waiting to enter the plant on a typical morning.

Women empowerment is a fact in Rourkela. RSp directly and indirectly is responsible for providing employment to women and making them self sufficient. Rourkela is a city safe for woman. It is a city where women are actively participating in the development and more importantly treated with equality and earned respect. 

Location:

RSP is located in the north-western tip of Odisha and at the heart of a rich mineral belt. Being situated on the Howrah-Mumbai rail mainline, Rourkela is very well connected with most of the important cities of India. The nearby airports are Ranchi (173 km), Bhubaneswar (378 km) and Kolkata (413 km). Rourkela also has an airstrip maintained by RSP.

Reference:

http://www.sail.co.in/rourkela-steel-plant/about-rourkela-steel-plant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rourkela_Steel_Plant

Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneshwar

RajaRani temple from Bhubaneshwar is perhaps the most beautiful temple to visit. The ancient architecture, peaceful atmosphere and absence of worshipers (since there is no god idol inside the temple) are some of the reasons for a must have visit.

Currently the temple is looked after by ASI and has categorized it as 'ticketed protected monuments of Odisha'. A five rupee ticket allows you to explore the temple for one whole day. Interestingly, the ticket is applicable for entry at one more ticketed place from Bhubaneshwar: Udayagiri and Khandgiri caves. It is possible to cover two historical places in one day, morning and evening  dedicated to temple and during day time the two buddhist caves - Udaygiri and Khandgiri. Photography charges are included in the ticket.

The first impression from the name of temple suggests, the idol might be a pair. In fact there is no idol inside the temple and thus no puja is offered in the temple.The temple was constructed of dull red and yellow sandstone locally called "Rajarani".

The temple is believed to have been known originally as Indreswara. It is locally known as a "love temple" because of the erotic carvings of women and couples in the temple.

Historical Details about the temple. Display boards by ASI.

Various historians place the original construction date between the 11th and 12th centuries, and have placed it roughly belonging to the same period as the Jagannath Temple at Puri. The architecture of other temples in central India is believed to have originated with this temple, the notable ones being the Khajuraho temples and Totesvara Mahadeo temple in Kadawa.

Rajarani Temple is built in the pnahcratha style on a raised platform with two structures: a central shrine called the vimana (sanctum) with a bada (curvilinear spire) over its roof rising to a height of 18 m (59 ft), and a viewing hall called jagamohana with a pyramidal roof. 

The highlight of the temple is the fine sculptures of dikpalas or guardians of the eight directions carved around the shrine. Starting from East we encounter successively-

• Indra (lord of the East) holding a thunderbolt and an elephant goad, with the elephant below; the potbellied and 
• Agni (southeast), god of fire, with the Ram; 
• Yama (South) holding a staff and a noose, with his vehicle the buffalo; 
• Nirriti (southwest), the god of misery, holds a severed head and a sword above a prostrate figure; 
• Varuna (West) holding a noose in his left hand, his vehicle is makara or the crocodile; 
• Vayu (northwest) holding a banner and his vehicle is deer; 
• Kubera (North) placed above seven jars of gems, he has a horse and
• Isana (northeast) shown with an erect phallus by the side of an emaciated figure. 

The Department of Tourism of the Government of Odisha organises a Rajarani music festival at the temple every year from January. The temple focuses on classical music, and all three styles of classical music – Hindustani,Carnatic and Odissi – are given equal importance. Musicians from different parts of the country perform during the three-day festival. The festival was started in 2003 with the help of the Bhubaneswar Music Circle (BMC)

Temple is a favorite among photographers. Morning time is excellent to shoot the amber-colored beauty due to the light direction and angle. Temple is surrounded by bungalows. Thus choosing n angle to avoid them from appearing in the frame is tricky. Ultra-wide angle lens perhaps be better than kit lens at minimum focal length.

Early in the morning the temple premises is used by the locals to have morning walk or light exercise. Visitors come bit late, somewhere around and after 10 AM. 

Timing and Entry Fees:

• The monument remains open from sunrise to sunset. 
• Entry fee for each Indian citizen is Rs. 5.00, 
• Foreign visitor has to pay Rs. 100.00/ $ 2.00 
• Children below the age of 15 years are not charged any entry fee.

Location:

References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajarani_Temple
• http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_orissa_rajarani.asp
• http://www.orissatourism.org/travel-to-orissa/bhubaneshwar/rajarani-temple-bhubaneshwar.html
• http://www.odisha.gov.in/portal/LIWPL/event_archive/Events_Archives/143Rajarani_Music_Festival.pdf
• http://www.asibbsrcircle.in/Ticketed-Monuments-Rajarani.html

इच्छा

इच्छा  

माझी  कविता  तशी गुणगुणण्यासारखी !
आज तुला का म्हणायचीय ?
शब्दांमधल्या दडलेल्या अर्थाला ,
का वेगळाच सुर लावायचाय ?

अर्थ नाही खिशात माझ्या ,
पण अर्थहीन उधळले नाही ,
शब्द जपुन वापरलेत मी 
त्याची किंमत मोजतोय अशी !

ऐकायला मी नसणारे ,
हे गीत गाणारेस कुणासाठी ?
दोघं बसले असताना ,
एकांतात दूरच्या तळ्याकाठी !

गाण्याची सवय लावु नकोस ,
एकांतात कदाचित मी आठवेन ,
अंगा अंगाला होणाऱ्या स्पर्शात ,
फक्त मी आणि मीच असेन !

सर्व काही विसरून जा ,
माझे नवे गित घेऊन जा ,
आनंदाने जगण्यासाठी ,
ही एकतरी भेट ठेवुन जा!  

A glimpse of Solar cell technology : Current and future

Need  of New Solar cell technology 

Food, shelter and cloths are the primary needs of the man-kind. Industrial and agricultural revolutions, occurred at regular intervals, made human race fulfill its basic needs. These revolutions were backed by a solid thought process of intelligent minds. Minds those were freedom-lovers, knowledge persuasive and hungry for development. Most of the nations got their freedom in 20th century and soon became developing or developed nation. Their goal was to achieve prosperity, stability and sustainability. 

To accomplish this socio-economic revolution, technology played a crucial part. Developments in technology, either analog or digital, transformed the nations from underdeveloped stage to developed ones. Transfer of labor, brain-drain, and emergence of new markets changed the course of economy and history. Each activity in every development sector was supported with strong sources of energy like oil and coal. Energy was the real boost of whole system and access to energy became the mantra of 21st century. However, soon the system realized that it is resting on the support of non-renewable conventional energy sources, which are depleting at an alarming rate. The damage done by these polluting energy sources in terms of global warming, added to the urgency of discovery of alternative energy sources.

The requirements from the new source of energy were obvious – clean, continuous and renewable. It was realized that such sources are readily available and are naturally occuring. Phenomenon occurring in Mother Nature was the answer for virtually infinite sources of energy. It was realized that solar radiation, forces of winds and thermal gradients has the potential to fulfill all the requirements to become natural and prolific sources of energy. Efficient technologies were needed to tap this potential and convert them to useful form of energy. Intensive research and development program carried all over the world invented technologies like wind-mills, geothermal generation, tidal generation, bio-fuels, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV). Solar PV soon becomes a technology to look for as an alternative source of energy supply. This was possible because of following reasons:

• Availability of sun’s energy, virtually infinite,
• Discovery of PV effect, showing the way to convert solar energy to flexible electrical energy,
• Realization of solar cells for using it for a wide capacity of electricity production,
• Continuous developments in PV technology, aiming to increase efficiency while reducing the per-unit cost of electricity, and
• Established Silicon (Si) IC technology – makes enable to transfer knowledge from IC manufacturing industry to solar PV production industry.

  

Need for new solar cell technology

The shift of the solar cell market from a supply-restricted to a demand-driven market has altered the economics of the trend. To maintain enormous sensation in worldwide PV production to meet future demands, different path ways have to be pursued. Few promising pathways are:

• expanding solar grade Si production capacities
• reduction in material consumption
• accelerated thin-film solar cell manufacturing

The concept of ‘third generation PV’ is to significantly enhance device efficiency (more than single junction cell efficiency) using thin film processes and by using abundant non-toxic materials. Conversion efficiency is one of the influential parameter for implementing PV cells on a truly large scale. High conversion efficiency can significantly bring down the solar PV energy conversion cost. The maximum thermodynamic efficiency for the conversion of non-concentrated solar irradiance into electrical energy for single junction was calculated by Shockley and Queissar to be about 31%. General approaches to achieve efficiency higher than Shockley-Queissar limit consists of exploiting entire solar spectrum, modification in solar spectrum and reduction in thermal losses. As single junction or classical approach cannot overcome this limit, several new approaches to outwit the Shockley–Queissar limit under active investigation includes tandem cells, hot carrier solar cells, multiband and impurity solar cells.

(to be continued....)

Image source: http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/solar-panels.jpg

तुझाच

Image Source:

http://saimg-a.akamaihd.net/saatchi/7835/art/1567391/780285-7.jpg

तुझाच

मी आहे फक्त तुझाच
तू समजून घे. 
प्रेम कधी आटणार नाही
तू उमजून घे.

साद घाल जिवाला कधीही
तू पारखून घे.
विश्वास ठेव,  फिरणार नाही
आजमावून घे.

Innocence Amplified

Innocence Amplified

Name: Pranisha

Location: Gudguda waterfall (Odisha)
Earlier post : Innocence

Siddheshwara Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Siddheshwara Temple, Bhubaneshwar

The 10th century Sidheshwar Temple, situated northwest of Mukteswar temple, houses an attractive standing figure of Lord Ganesh. 

The sanctum of the temple, built in pancha ratha style is surrounded with five-divisional walls which is further sub-divided into two parts. These walls are decorated with Khakhara and Pidha styles ornamental motifs and consist of seven mouldings. The temple tower or shikhara is grouped by a row of miniature turrets, which is surmounted by four rampant lions on the central ratha.

The temple is located in the premises of Mukteswara temple.

Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Evening view of symmetric placements of main temple among the other shrines in the campus

Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Bhubaneshwar is a city of temples and one of the best temple is undoubtedly Mukteshwar temple. Although there are iconic temples like Lingaraj and RajaRani, Mukteshwar has several characteristics which make it stand out. Mukteshwar - meaning lord of freedom - is a millennium old Hindu temple dedicated to lord Shiva.

Mukteshwar for its architecture built in pithdeula style is rightly called as " Gem of Odisha Architecture". The structure can be divided into fur major parts: Torana (porch acting as gateway to compound), Vimana and Mukhasala.  Although the temple is small compared to others in Bhubaneshwar, along with other small temples the cluster covers well maintained premise of over half an acre. Architecture introduced many new forms not known to the previously built temples of Odisha and thus called as "Harbinger of new culture".

Mukteshwar Temple complex as seen from the entrance. A small well, locally known as Marichi Kund, lies immediately beyond the sinister of the enclosure, the water of which is believed to cure infertility of women.

The temple walls and the octagonal compound both carries carvings of female dancers, Hindu deities (Saraswati, Ganesha) , animals (monkeys, peacocks) and geometric patterns (lines, squares).

The Department of Tourism of the state government organises a three-day yearly dance function called Mukteswar Dance Festival in the temple premises. This festival celebrates the features of Odissi, the classical dance form of Odisha.

Evening time, when sun sets opposite to the entrance, is the best time to visit. After a long day travel visiting plenty of other places in Bhubaneshwar, Mukteshwar is delightful to watch. Sitting in the lawns one can relish the golden rays illuminating the charming brownish sand stones of the temple. The architecture of temple and peaceful evening must be experienced.

Short history about the temple displayed at the entrance

Mukteshwara Temple

Torana, entrance of the temple

Geometric patterns on windows of main temple: diamond shaped latticed windows  around which one can see images of monkeys engrossed in several jovial and humorous scenes that are imbibed from the Panchatantra tales.

Pillars with intricate and skillfully rich carvings

Closeup of beheaded female dancers on the pillars

Ceilings of the temple

Right side view of the complex

Lawns in front of the main temple (right side), Siddheswara temple (Left side)

Other small temples in the premises

Important things:

• Temple is open from morning till evening (5 AM till 8 PM)
• Best time to visit during day is evening time
• Temple looks beautiful in all seasons and can be visited throughout the year
• No entry fee or camera fee
• Drinking water facility is available

How to reach:

Temple is located at walking distance from Raja-Rani Temple. Kedar-Gauri and Mukteshwar temple shares the compound wall. Complex also holds an unfinished temple - Siddheswara  temple.