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Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Remembering an organizer par excellence: Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar
Among various leaders who have spearheaded mass organisations in India, Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar, also known as Guruji Golwalkar, is distinctly remembered for his organisational prowess and credited for his exemplary leadership. During his tenure as the Sarsanghchalak, the RSS managed to overcome multiple existential challenges, achieved unprecedented expansion in Shakhas and the grassroots network, and successfully established multiple new organisations. Dr Hedgewar Spotted Guruji's Organisational Prowess. Guruji's organisational prowess was spotted by Dr Hedgewar himself. Both met each other in 1932, and later that year itself, Dr Hedgewar invited Guruji as one of the Chief Guests for the Vijayadashmi celebrations in Nagpur. Guruji was merely 26 years old at that time. It is obvious that something about him must have stood out for Dr Hedgewar that he decided to invite him as the Chief Guest in Nagpur. A few years later, in February 1939, Dr Hedgewar conducted a ten-day-long Chintan at Sindi, near Nagpur, to discuss the organisational structure and procedures of the RSS. Apart from his colleagues, Appaji Joshi ji and Nanasaheb Talatule ji, the meeting was attended by a select group of young Karyakartas, including Guruji. An article in Appaji Joshi ji's memoirs mentions an informal conversation between him and Dr Hedgewar. The latter had asked what if they were to nominate Madhavrao Golwalkar as the next Sarsanghchalak. To this, Appaji had replied, 'Excellent'. Guruji and Sangh's Organisational Culture The Sangh's steady expansion and success in mobilising and training Karyakartas have been attributed to its robust organisational structure. Various practices in the Sangh's organisational culture were either initiated or strengthened by Guruji. Over the years, these practices were actively adopted by innumerable Pracharaks and Karyakartas. The Sangh practice of staying with Karyakarta families during Pravaas started with Guruji, who embedded it as a systematic arrangement. Guruji travelled across the country for organisational expansion and spent considerable time with Karyakartas. He once said, 'The train is my home', as he used to travel so regularly. During visits to various states for Sangh activities, he would never stay in a hotel or a Dharamshala. He would only stay with workers or office bearers. Over the decades, this practice has played a pivotal role in strengthening the organisation as it enabled Pracharaks to directly engage with Swayamsevaks and their families, understand their concerns, and motivate them to actively undertake organisational work. Moreover, during his visits, Guruji used to actively interact with Karyakartas and their families across the country. Usually, he would meet parents and well-wishers of Karyakartas together, followed by one-to-one meetings. Apart from official work, he would utilise these interactions for understanding local traditions, cultures and languages. Encouraging full-timers Guruji used to consistently advise that the success of organisational work was contingent on own resources and efforts rather than others. In 1941-1942, there was an acute need for young Karyakartas to expand organisational activities and fulfil the growing demand for Sangh activities. Guruji urged young Swayamsevaks: 'We need Pracharaks…we need Pracharaks'. He emphasised that, 'Karyakartas don't fall from heaven. For this, we will have to make efforts ourselves and create Karyakartas from amongst ourselves. We will have to walk the path of duty with firm resolve and austerity by giving up all thoughts about our personal lives…the mission before us is enormous with very little time in hand…..Let us close all the doors of our personal lives and take a pledge to put in concerted effort. Let us become Sanyasis for one year.' Efforts led by him bore fruit, and innumerable young Karyakartas beyond Nagpur volunteered to dedicate themselves full-time to the organisational work of the RSS. Leadership in tumultuous times A hallmark of Guruji's organisational leadership was leadership by example. During the ban on the RSS, he was arrested and initially kept in the Sivni jail in Maharashtra. Subsequently, he was moved to the Baitul jail, which was considered to be similar to Cellular jail in Andaman and usually meant for dangerous prisoners rather than political prisoners. Despite the horrible conditions of the Baitul jail, Guruji maintained his policy under arrest: 'no demands, no complaints'. His consistency had a positive effect on the cadre and motivated them in testing times. The ban on the RSS was lifted at midnight on July 11, 1949, and Guruji was released from the Baitul prison on July 13. He immediately started Pravaas for organisational work. In addresses to Swayamsevaks across the country over the next couple of months, Guruji encouraged them to focus on organisational activities rather than ruing over government actions. On July 24, Guruji addressed Swayamsevaks at the Parshuram Mahavidyalaya. He clearly stated, 'What had to happen has happened, but there is no need to swell with pride'. He appreciated Swayamsevaks for maintaining due conduct during the Satyagraha, not breaking any rules, and avoiding confrontation with the government. Guruji's qualities as a leader focused on the growth of the organisation is evident in the fact that he did not demonstrate any kind of vengeance against the government. He said, 'This is our government, why should we oppose it? Why should we have animosity towards it?' He added, 'It is true that there are differences between the government and us, but is there any place where there are no differences? There are differences even within families.' In August 1949, Guruji received a rousing welcome from Swayamsevaks when he visited Delhi. In his speech, Guruji thanked supporters, re-emphasised the Sangh's objectives and encouraged them to continue their work. He said, 'Obstacles come up on the path of renaissance of Bharatiyataa, and that too from our own people. But, against whom should we show our anger? People who desire to destroy this national life force may express anger any number of times, but one who has envisioned this grand national personality, he cannot be angry.' His words of encouragement for Swayamsevaks were: 'We shall move ahead in this job of human-building and move ahead towards progress of Bharatvarsh, looking at various problems from cultural perspectives in accordance with their wishes and feelings, and build a well-organised power-house for the nation.' Growth of the Sangh Parivar Guruji played an instrumental role in the founding of various Sangh Parivar organisations. It is helpful to recall some initial interactions between Guruji and Pracharak Dattopant Thengadi ji that culminated in the formation of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. In 1950, Thengadi ji received an invitation from the President of INTUC, the Congress-affiliated trade union, PY Deshpande, to work for their organisation. Guruji asked him to join the organisation and advised, 'Follow the discipline of the organisation you are going to work.' Thengadi ji's rich experience led to the founding of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh in 1955. A unique aspect of the BMS has been the commemoration of Vishwakarma Jayanti as Bharatiya Shramik Divas. This was based on Guruji's advice, as Thengadi ji had once asked him whether there is an honoured day for labour in Bharatiya tradition. Guruji had mentioned Vishwakarma Jayanti in response to this query. Similarly, Guruji played a crucial role in the entire process that culminated in the formation of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, from initial conversations to formal foundation. Apart from mentoring the establishment of new Sangh organisations, Guruji also motivated them to remain independent and self-sufficient. This is evident in his conversation with Balasaheb Deshpande, who played a key role in founding the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. In 1958, the Madhya Pradesh government denied a grant to Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram after initial approval. Deshpande was clearly told that it was due to their association with the Jana Sangh. When Guruji heard about this matter, he clearly advised that such organisations should be self-reliant and conduct all activities with people's cooperation instead of dependence on government funds. Conclusion In this light, Guruji was more than a person leading an organisation. He was a builder of movements, individuals, and institutions. Through discipline, vision, and quiet determination, he inspired Karyakartas to devote themselves to national awakening. His legacy as an organiser par excellence lives on in every dedicated Karyakarta and every institution that he helped create. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Scroll.in
6 days ago
- General
- Scroll.in
White roofs can cool down homes – but scaling up this simple solution is a challenge
In the last few years, Sahani Begum found that the desert cooler she owned was barely effective enough. Her small, two-storeyed home in RK Puram's Hanuman Labour Basti in New Delhi would become unbearable in the summers, the temperature inside rising much higher than outside. Then, her son heard about a quick and simple solution through the internet – painting their roof white. Studies have found that applying reflective white paint on cemented roofs can reflect between 30% and 70% of direct sunlight, significantly reducing indoor temperatures. Begum's son bought the paint and finished painting two coats on the roof in a single day. They felt the difference immediately. 'We could sleep in relief,' Begum, who is in her fifties, told Scroll. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense in India, experts say it is no longer enough to simply avoid direct exposure to the sun – even indoor heat poses a risk to human health. In fact, during summers, depending on the material used for construction, temperatures inside buildings can be as much as 12 degrees Celsius higher than outside, said Bharati Chaturvedi, director at Chintan, a non-profit that works on waste management and livelihoods. In Delhi, low-income communities that cannot afford air-conditioning are experimenting with small-scale, low-cost solutions like the one that Begum's family tried. City-level heat action plans have also recommended these – the 2024-'25 Delhi heat action plan recommends a 'pilot project on roof painting with white color – cool roof and or distribution of gunny bags for putting on the tin roofs/asbestos in slums'. However, while these affordable solutions are attractive, they face considerable challenges on the ground. Begum's family, for instance, has struggled to continue painting their roof year after year. A year after the family first did the job in 2023, Begum noticed that the paint had chipped off at places and needed a redoing. The NGO Chintan helped her household along with 39 others in the basti to complete the work. The organisation took care of all associated costs – they bought the paint and paid workers to do the painting. This year, however, the project ended. Begum's family will have to incur their own expenses to repaint the now chipped roof once more – she explained that the cost could go up to Rs 3,000. 'It's not going to be possible,' she said. Indeed, experts working on interventions like these are concerned about whether they can be scaled, considering that they can be expensive or do not last long. Indeed, as a report by Chintan found, in the around 200 houses they had introduced the intervention in, 'not even a single painted cool roof' was 'almost fully white, as initially applied' after a year. 'Painting white roofs does not work for everybody,' said Vinita Rodrigues, a project manager at Fair Conditioning, a Mumbai-based organisation that works on thermal comfort across five cities including Delhi. In fact, Rodrigues explained, many solutions that focus on roofs are not even feasible to attempt given that families do not always find it easy to use the area. In some places, their team found high-voltage wires in close proximity to roofs, which would make it unsafe for home owners to carry out any kind of work on them, while in other places, goats would venture on the roofs, and damage structures that had been installed to help tackle the problem of heat. Rodrigues added, 'A diversity of solutions has to be accessible to people. We cannot have a one-size fits-all approach.' A range of problems Other experts agreed that proposed solutions had to take into account a range of conditions on the ground. Thus, apart from concerns of cost and availability of material, 'practicality of the interventions also becomes a factor', said Manu Gupta, co-founder of SEEDS, an organisation that works on improving disaster resilience among communities. For instance, Anshu, another resident of Hanuman Basti, found that painting her home's roof white was ineffective because it was made of tin. 'Compared to other cemented roofs, the cooling effect was not as much since the tin captures a lot of heat,' she said. Another practical problem that many residents faced was that they used their roofs for a variety of purposes, limiting the space available to do any kind of work, and the effects of solutions such as painting. 'Most of the people here sell scrap for work,' said Anshu, pointing to several roofs we could see around, which were covered with material such as cardboard, paper, glass, metal and plastic. 'For them, the roof is an important storage space and many continue keeping their material.' Close to the Bhalswa landfill in north Delhi, residents faced a more unpredictable hurdle while experimenting with a solution. With Chintan's support, they had used large plastic bottles filled with water on roofs: the water's ability to absorb large amounts of heat created a thermal mass, which helped lower the temperature inside buildings by as much as 3 degrees Celsius compared to the outdoors. However, many residents found that after a few months, the bottles began to be stolen for their high resale value. To ensure that solutions provided are effective for specific kinds of houses, Fair Conditioning carries out 'house audits', which help them to understand 'if structurally, a certain solution works for a certain type of home', said Rodrigues. These audits document information like the age of houses and water availability. The problem of affordability As in Begum's case, many proposed solutions are also unaffordable to communities. For instance, Rodrigues explained, in situations where people use roofs for other purposes, experts have recommended working with other materials, which can be used under the roof to cool the home. Among these is alufoil, an industrially made material, which can be layered indoors, on the ceiling of a house, to trap heat. 'But we found that this was an expensive material and so we have been looking for alternatives to this,' said Rodrigues. One replacement they have been experimenting with is multi-layered plastic, such as the kind used on the silver side of packets of chips. 'We have found it to be quite effective,' she added. But communities told Rodrigues and her team about another problem that they encountered when they tried this solution – rat infestation. 'Somehow, rats were finding a way to enter the sheets we had installed,' she said. 'And now we are looking for ways to block their entries.' Rodrigues explained that the most effective solutions to the problem of heat were 'dynamic solutions'. She was referring to designs such as one involving a chain and sprocket mechanism, which rotates installed panels so that they can be positioned horizontally in the morning to block heat, and vertically in the evening to release trapped heat. This can reduce the indoor temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius. 'But the problem is that since there is a lot of metal in this design, these are expensive,' she said. 'So our design team is currently working to find local alternatives to replace this as well.' The report by Chintan also pointed out another aspect of the chain and sprocket solution that increased its costs. 'Chain sprockets need constant greasing to work which may not be sustainable in the long run and incur additional costs,' the report stated. Anshu noted that even a cheaper solution such as painting roofs was unlikely to catch on since most families in her locality did not own their houses. 'Anyway I live on rent. Why would I want to spend this much money on a house which is not even mine?' she said. Some organisations have tried tapping into existing government policies and grants to fund such work. 'In Pune, we found that communities in low-income areas are eligible for housing repair grants every year through the city administration,' said Gupta. Involving communities to ensure durability Many experts believe that involving people in projects from the time they are initiated can inculcate a sense of ownership over them, and thus increase the likelihood that communities will carry work forward even without the support of NGOs. SEEDS' Gupta explained that they constantly received a 'live feed' from communities about their experiences. 'In one experiment, we had used cow dung and mud as a binding material on a bamboo frame,' he said. After households began using it, 'people told us that it smells. We had not thought of it,' he said. The best solutions, Gupta added, came from 'codesigning with communities', which would involve 'negotiations of cultural nuances' and soliciting their active participation in the work. Fair Conditioning conducts 'listening workshops' that encourage communities to be involved right from the designing of a solution. 'Our approach is that the communities know their homes the best,' Rodrigues explained. 'And having these discussions ensures that a certain type of solution works for a certain type of home.'
Time of India
11-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
This Mother's Day, meet the women who sort waste, raise families and protect the planet
On a day when gifts, cards and wishes mark the celebration of motherhood across the country, four women in the lanes of Delhi's huge urban sprawl begin their day not with rest, but with responsibility to their children, to their communities, and to the planet. Jyoti, Reshma, Anita and Shagufa - while these women are all waste pickers living in different slum clusters of the capital, they are also deeply involved in grassroots environmental work . #Operation Sindoor India responds to Pak's ceasefire violation; All that happened India-Pakistan ceasefire reactions: Who said what Punjab's hopes for normalcy dimmed by fresh violations They tirelessly work on the ground, seldom seek recognition and rarely appear in headlines. From sorting and collecting recyclable waste to spreading awareness door to door, and to reaching out to the victims of domestic violence, their contribution to the city's development is as relentless as their role as mothers. "I wake up at 4 am every day. I prepare food and lunch boxes, take my children to school and only then go to work," Jyoti, who lives in Vivekananda Camp and works with the Chintan environmental group , told PTI. However, Jyoti's day does not end with her job as a waste picker. She spends afternoons picking up her children from school and sending them to tuition. Whereas, her evenings are all about finishing household chores. Live Events "From 4 am to 10 pm, I don't stop. Sundays are the only days I take off, to be with my children," she said. Chintan, an environmental research and action group, engages women like Jyoti in community-based work. Many of them go door to door in their neighbourhoods, not only spreading awareness on waste management and environmental issues but also helping women facing domestic violence, injustice or medical distress. Another 41-year-old slum dweller Reshma, who lives in the Bhalswa Diary slum, said that she balances similar responsibilities, but without a partner's support. "My husband left me a long time ago. I've raised my five children alone," she told PTI, adding that only two of her children go to school. She said that she does not take on other waste collection jobs when she is engaged in projects by Chintan. She was also a part of the recent 'Heat Solutions' initiative to reduce indoor temperatures in low-income homes. "I got white roofs painted and used bamboo and jute sheets to cool homes. I've done this for 70 to 80 houses. I only take a day off if one of my children is sick. Otherwise, I keep working," Reshma told PTI. Without any gifts, cards or even appreciation on days like Mother's Day , these women live vastly different lives. What remains with them instead is grit, sacrifice, and quiet resilience. In another part of the city, Anita, 40, lives in a slum in the Nizamuddin area. She too juggles environmental work, waste picking and the full-time demands of motherhood. "I have six children. Three of them go to school. It's hard to manage everything," Anita said. Anita's husband left her 15 years ago, and she has raised her family alone since. Her work with Chintan includes community surveys, plastic waste collection, and awareness campaigns. "We speak to women in the area, listen to their problems, and try to help. We also talk about health, environment, and safety," she said. In the same area lives 30-year-old Shagufa, who said her health has suffered due to the constant strain of managing work and family. "There are several health issues I've been facing because I don't get rest. I work as a waste picker and also help with the environment group's work," she told PTI. Even as these women work in the harshest conditions like sorting through garbage, walking long distances and breathing polluted air, they also carry out critical environmental interventions that touch hundreds of homes. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
06-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Low-cost eco-roofs may help cool informal settlements by up to 6°C
New Delhi: A new report on urban heat resilience in Delhi's informal settlements, based on on-ground insights, suggests the use of low-cost, multi-layered roofs made from localised materials, including bamboo, jute and cardboard. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These roofs can reduce indoor temperatures by 2 to 6 degrees Celsius of the outside temperature, stated the report. The report, Heat Solutions: Unboxing Learnings on Heat Resilient Housing from Urban Poor in Delhi, by Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group was released on Tuesday. It offers insights into how climate resilience can be built where it's needed most—in informal settlements vulnerable to rising heat. According to the report, roof-type models were implemented in the identified wastepicker settlements in south and central Delhi. "Model 2, which used a layer each of tarpaulin, existing tin, insulation sheet, cardboard, bamboo and jute, was the most effective," it pointed out. Under model 1, a layer each of tarpaulin, existing tin, insulation sheet, thermocol, bamboo and jute were used as a roof. "It was found that the temperature was 5°C less than outdoors, and 12°C less than a non-installation house (without such roofs)," said the report. Under model 2, the roof uses tarpaulin for waterproofing and retains the tin roof, but substitutes thermocol with cardboard for insulation, making it a more environmentally sustainable option. The insulation sheet, bamboo and jute are used similarly to model 1, providing insulation and structural support. "In this model, the temperature was 6°C less than outdoors and 13°C less than a non-installation house. However, the use of jute in informal settlements infested with pests caused these to destroy the roofs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Thus, this model won't work for pest-infested areas or will have to be repeated every year," said the report. Under model 3, a layer each of tarpaulin, cardboard, bamboo and existing tin were used, and mercury was found to be three degrees less than the outdoor temperature. According to the report, based on GIS mapping and Chintan's area of operation, five informal settlements were identified for the current study on heat-resilient housing for the urban poor. This includes Bhalswa landfill, Nizamuddin Basti, Vivekananda Camp in Chanakyapuri, Hanuman Mazdoor Camp in RK Puram and Sihani in Ghaziabad. "A team of Chintan and STS Global surveyed 484 people living in identified wastepicker settlements. 100% of the respondents reported facing health impacts due to heatwaves," said the report. While 45% of the respondents reported fainting and nausea when exposed to heat, 32% complained about a constant sense of fatigue and weakness. 27% of people reported breathlessness and asthma, which intensified during the peak summer. Bharati Chaturvedi, founder and director of Chintan, said up to 30% of people in an Indian city lived in informal settlements, and their experience with heat was more intense and needed to be addressed with more nuance. "We have to address their thermal comfort if we want cities to continue to be running and we want health equity," she said.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Operator planned to set up crypto exchange in Gujarat
Mumbai: The Dubai-based FairPlay operator intended to establish a cryptocurrency exchange in Gujarat but abandoned the plan after the government imposed tax regulations on crypto transactions two years ago. According to the ED chargesheet, FairPlay promoter Krish Shah accumulated illicit profits from online gaming through bitcoin transactions to avoid detection. He also provided cryptocurrency transfer services, which drew him towards the crypto business despite his lack of expertise. Shah aimed to expand FairPlay operations across multiple countries, with separate currencies for each territory after having his crypto exchange. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai In his statement to ED, arrested accused Chintan Shah disclosed their cryptocurrency and blockchain business aspirations, mentioning that Kaleido (a blockchain platform) planned to develop the INDT Wallet App for Krish Shah and offered assistance in creating unique cryptocurrencies. The chargesheet, citing Chintan's statement, revealed that Krish was pursuing crypto-related licences for the app whilst being uncertain about managing such projects due to their inexperience. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Krish Shah intended to establish his venture at Gift City Ahmedabad. "However, they abandoned this plan following the government's implementation of a 30% tax on cryptocurrency transactions in 2023." ED investigations, including mobile phone examinations, revealed Krish Shah's involvement in cryptocurrency operations to layer his illegal betting app earnings whilst pursuing his own crypto exchange. According to arrested accused Chirag Shah's statement, a WhatsApp group called Crypto Exchange IND was created to launch a new crypto exchange in India. The group comprised himself, his brother Chintan, Krish Shah and Siddhant lyer alias Joe Paul. Chirag informed ED officials that FairPlay aimed to create a regulated cryptocurrency wallet for the global market, enabling users to store cryptocurrency in hot and cold wallets, but the project stalled due to compliance and technical security challenges. Evidence from the WhatsApp group demonstrated that Siddhant lyer alias Joe Paul transferred USDT to Betfair (a listed betting company in London) to provide odds for online betting and gaming.
