Garry Kasparov, the chess legend, was in the capital of India at the invitation of Entrepreneurs’ Organisation which organised the RIE 2016 event. In his interview with EO president Vibhas Prasad, talked about his life, politics, and Indian Chess and also answered the questions put up by the audience. Here are some inspiring quotes reproduced from his interview.
Chess and politics are different. In chess there are predictable moves and unpredictable results.
The first step towards decision-making is to know who you are and create an environment of good decision-making. In most cases, vital decisions will be made under time pressure.
At the end of the day it is about how you use your dominant qualities to create favorable conditions.
You need to be in good physical shape to guide your intuition. You need to trust your gut feeling.
Today the fear of making a mistake is great. That pulls you back. You have to take risks.
Chess is a reflection of the society and should be part of family culture to become a mass sport.
After turning from Badgaon towards Bamra, just after few kilometers there is a place called KharikaMunda. Known to very few, the geologically interesting place is also a picnic spot. Some strange and puzzling terrain stopped us to explore more. It was some awesome place not to miss in the fall.
The place has some unusually large boulders on a very big rock or should I say a small hill with a flat top. Geologist do come here to collect rock samples for some study. I observed some strange patterns on the rock due to the presence of a layer sandwiched.
Main attraction was the scenery at the spot. The Bamra-Gangpur forest trees were shedding the leaves. Vivid colors, hues of yellows and greens, and occasionally contrast-creating red leaves all against the blue sky separated by the cliffs was spectacular.
The late-afternoon light was imparting the character to the cliff. The blue-yellow combination had some stunning role to enhance the beauty of the place.
“Traveling — it gives you home in thousand strange places, then leaves you a stranger in your own land.” — Ibn Battuta
Trend of power production using Solar photo-voltaic is increasing. India is at the 9th place while Germany seats at the top in the list of countries producing solar power. With the efforts of MNRE to implement JNNSM, soon India is expected to take a huge leap.
Visit to Solar Power Plant, Bamra
To reach Bamra from Rourkela, take highway SH10 till Badgaon. At Badgaon turn south to take the road joining SH24. This road travels through rural Odisha, bisecting the paddy fields, taking a standing ovation from the plants on roadside. A smooth road with gentle curves is awesome road to drive on with your favorite music on ! The road infrastructure is being improved, roads are widened and new 4 or 6 lane roads being laid.
Odisha is one of the developing state encouraging industrialization. However, still the state economy banks on mining and power production. In recent times, the focus is shifted to power production using renewable route. Plants like the one at Bamra, usually of 1 MW to 5 MW capacity are coming up in small villages. Currently about 10 such plants put Odisha on the Solar Energy Map of India.
Cleaning of Solar panel to wipe out the dust. Accumulation of dust may decrease the power output.
What to do on the way?
Get down the vehicle and roam around in the jungles near by. You may find some seasonal spot to get bewildered over the creation of nature.
Eat the local food at the small canteens or hotels. At Bamra I had a simple meal merely at 30 Rs.
Often interior roads of Odisha are lonely, small villages are encountered occasionally. Sometimes a small roadside temple, mostly to provide the traveler to take a break. I found a small one with a hand pump near by where a herd of cattle was gathered.
On the way back, a hunch stopped us to see the colors of fall at Kharikamunda
How to reach:
Bamra is at 90 Km from Rourkela (15 Km from Badgaon)
To visit plant you need permission from the authority.
Bhubaneshwar is state capital for Odisha with a history for above 3000 years. It replaced Cuttack as state capital in 1948 soon after independence. Bhubaneshwar gets its distinction because of the facts:
Known as 'City of Temples'
One of the earliest modern planned city
Included in the list of proposed smart cities of of India
Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar are often refereed as Twin cities
To do list in Bhubaneshwar
Bhubaneshwar is city of temples. Visit temples and understand the Hinduism and appreciate the architecture
Visit Buddhist holy places to learn how Buddhism evolved
Visit museums to understand the rich tribal culture, life and philosophy
To wander destinations in and around Bhubaneshwar, hired or shared auto would be the best way to commute. Its cheap, reliable, and fast. My rating out of five, distance from nearest square and share auto fare. This list would help you to optimise your plan to cover maximum tourist spots in least amount of time.
Bhubaneshwar is a state capital. All common facilities and infrastructure is superbly built and maintained. Photo shows the Sachivalaya marg- four lane road runs through he city connecting important government offices and other tourist spots to airport.
Railway Station Bhubaneshwar. Clean, well maintained. Proper info is provided. Waiting room facility is good.
AC restaurant at railway Station run by Food on wheels. Descent, clean. Service and food is good. Food is served cold sometime.
Auto-Rickshaw is the best and cheapest mode to travel in Bhubneshwar city. Rickshaw can be hired for a day with a fixed travel plan or one can share it to travel on common routes.
Hired vehicel can take you to destinations through a variety of routes. Driver if familiar with the internal roads, you may get a chance to see the life of common citizens.
Narrow lanes in old town of Bhubaneshwar are interesting. Often the road is blocked by the parked vehicles, people, construction works etc.
If stuck in such lanes, just get down till the road is cleared. Then, look around for such exhibits and shoot awesome black and whites.
Khandadhar waterfall is a famous tourist destination in the western part of Odisha. Horse tail type Waterfall is a 244 meters drop which secures a place to the list of highest waterfall of India. Khandadhar (Khand + Dhaar) literally means stream coming from the canyon/slit in the hill.
Pauri Bhuiya, a local tribal residing in the area near by, has an interesting story to tell about the fall. It is reproduced here from outlook:
“A Pauri Bhuiya legend speaks of how their mountains came to be so munificent. The Sundergarh branch of the community was once possessed by a rapacious goddess named Kankala Devi, who consumed trees, soil and everything else. In despair, the Pauri Bhuiya placed her on a rock, which she ate through as well—creating a deep hole from which poured out the Khandadhara (split-rock waterfall). So they had water.
Then a couple from the community went to visit relatives at the eastern, or Keonjhar, end of the Khandadhar mountain range. Their prospective hosts were away but a pile of grains had been left outdoors and, amazingly, not even the birds were eating it. Inside the heap, the couple discovered a small goddess, Khand Kumari, protector of the region’s prosperity. They stole her and brought her back to Sundergarh, and so her bounty became theirs.”
As per observations by regular visitors, the stream has reduced and apparent cause is the heavy mining in the adjacent hilly areas. The streams leading to this giant waterfall can be explored in the jungles of Khandadhar. The route to the top is different from the one which leads to the famous location of Khandadhar fall. Follow Lahunipada-Barsuan -Koira road. From Barsuan check post, turn right to reach Khadadhara Mines office.
This serene and untouched jungle is full of small streams of water flowing among the common Saal trees. Trees here can grow up-to a hundred feet straight. In the month of January when we visited, the temperature was moderate and perfect for walking around. Reaching in the early morning paid back in terms of some awesome landscapes. The best season to visit could be from November till February. Although very few visitors come to this place, it is safe for a family outing.
Interesting layers of the rocks seen around the place
Life around the valley:
Many dwellers earn bread and butter working in the mines.
A local catching the fish in the water. He overturns a rock and quickly filter the water though the net to catch the fish.
Butterflies spotted at Khandadhar:
Large Oakblue (plenty in number)
Common Pierrot
Grey count
Grass Yellow
Common Mormon
Grey Pansy
Flash
Common Cerulean
Common Leopard
Glassy Tiger
Common Sailer
Gram Blue
Common Crow
Common Pierrot at a stream
Acknowledgement:
The splendid arrangement was done Dr. Liu and Satwindarji, expert photographers from Rourkela. Students of Third Eye Photography accompanied as well. Thanks to everyone.
How to reach:
The Khandadhar Falls is 104 kilometers (65 mi) from Rourkela.
Private and sturdy vehicle must be hired. Road in some part is rough.
Vehicle must have high ground clearance. In rainy season four-wheel drive is a must.
Hockey ground near Khadadhara mine office from where a small and simple jungle walk of about 2 Km starts.
Trekking from the playground to the top (near the Khandadhara Mines office
The first step towards decision-making is to know who you are and create an environment of good decision-making. In most cases, vital decisions will be made under time pressure.
