How it all Started ?

Padhaaro is the first “welcome visitor” program of its kind in India. The idea was born during a ferry ride in the Moscow river when we didn’t know the places to visit in Moscow in a short period of time we had at hand and the most economical way to reach there. Finally a friend (we met at a youth forum in Russia) came to our rescue, helped us around and showed us places we wouldn’t have visited if we were going just with the maps and guides.

We also had friendly exchanges with people we met on vacation travels around the world and realized that India suffered from an image problem: almost everyone we spoke to wanted to visit India, but thought the cities were too unsafe, diverse, and tough to roam around freely. We wanted the world to know India as we do: a great nation with diverse cultures, religious places to visit, fun places to dine, and friendly residents who go out of their way to make an out-of-towner feel welcome.

And hence, few of us grouped together, researched a bit about other similar services existing across the globe, got inspired by those successful models, and here we are! .. a group of young, passionate travel enthusiasts who are slowly trying to change the way tourists experience India.

“Atithi Devo Bhavah: Guest is God” is not just an ancient Indian proverb, but it’s been a practice that we Indians strive to follow. And this organization is an effort to expand this localized concept of “Guest is God” to our global guests. We want to make your experience in India more enjoyable by being your hosts. Our effort is directed towards becoming your hosts right from the time you plan your trip, to the time you depart from this ancient land!

Joy of Giving Week

India has been developing amazingly these years but there are some areas which haven't been developed. I have always been concerned about the rural India and have always wanted the rural India to grow better. I have been involved with Goonj for more than one year. Goonj is the organisation which collects clothes, papers etc , recycles them and goes to the villages, identifies their problems, and asks the financially weak people to do shramdan to solve the problem and in return it gives clothes to them. We need to create a balance growth of the country concerning that I started working for Goonj.

The people who were coordinating Goonj's vastra campaign in pune last year were not present this year. Somebody had to take an initiative this year, so Gunvant Jain and myself, who were also involved with Joy Of giving week last year decided to start the Goonj's vastra samman campaign this year in Pune. We dint have much resources this year, so we started slowly and kept on working hard and tried to get permission for as many collection centers as we could.
Due to our dedication and hardwork, we managed to start 6 public collection centers and 9 in house collection centers before the start of joy of giving week. Shambhavi Tambulvarkar supported us in contacting with media. Once the joy of giving week had started we were dependent on local media for spreading the message about our movement, thanks to local newspapers, it gave a boost to our campaign.Large number of people came forward for it, even a small canteen owner famous as Anna in front of MIT college donated loads of materials I received more than 100 phone calls on the last day of the week. In the end we have been able to collect tons of clothes from the pune city. It's a success of people of pune, its because of them that hundreds of people will get smile and happiness. We hope that next year the joy of giving week in pune city will be bigger and better.

Sanchit Malik
Organiser of Goonj's Vastra samman Campaign in Pune & Hisar for joy of giving week 2011

ARVIND KEJRIVAL vs RAHUL GANDHI

.
who is the leader of youth of INDIA???

1) ARVIND KEJRIVAL

Born in a small city of Hisar , has a background of middle class family

Mechanical Engineer -IIT Kharagpur

Jobs:-Tata Steel
Former IRS resigned from the Govt job (posted IT Commisioner's office)

Social Activist:-Man behind (Right to Information Act)
LokPal bill
Awards: Various Ashoka Fellow, Civic Engagement.
2005: 'Satyendra Dubey Memorial Award', IIT Kanpur for his campaign for bringing transparency in Government
2006: Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership.
2006: CNN-IBN, 'Indian of the Year' in Public Service
2009: Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Kharagpur for Emergent Leadership.
2010: Policy Change Agent of the Year, Economic Times Corporate Excellence Award along with Aruna Roy.
He left his job in IRS to fight against corruption.

2)RAHUL GANDHI

Education: Failed to secure passing grades in National Economic Planning and Policy graduated by any how job. Got ancestral political power and running through it

Award: he is making awards not getting it

Fight: Against Indians sentiments
For him Terror attacks are common thing... we should not be worried of that... let it happen (since they have z class security)
He will never talk about Govt. policies....and planning....since he is not intelligent enough to grasp that. (Claimed to be most eligible to be PM)
Won't talk about black money and corruption
No political vision and goals for nation
Trained well to fool poor villagers with safed kurta…nd khadhi (doing same in UP and other places)
Achievements:-
Grandson OF Nehru,
Grandson of Indira
Gandhi
Son of Rajiv Gandhi
From Gandhi Family

...Claimed to be next PM of INDIA…Future face of congress..











NOTE: ALL THE INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS AUTHENTIC AND VERIFIED BY SANCHIT MALIK
SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA

Russia 2011

hey everyone,

check this movie that I made on Russia 2011 (my experience)

Seliger 2011. An Intimate Glimpse.

Written by: Ksenia Semyonova – Russia

Until a few years ago I associated the word «Seliger» exclusively with the name of the lake but then everything changed. When this summer I found myself in International Youth Forum Seliger 2011 I realized that since that time Seliger for me is an incredible opportunity first of all to attend lectures of world famous teachers and of course meet new, interesting, ambitious people.

As I was in Seliger for the first time I didn`t get to talk about comparisons with the previous years but expectations of a coming one. So what were my hopes for Seliger? The priorities were set as follows: Seliger being an educational forum always aims at providing young people with educational programme of high quality. Thanks to different lectures, trainings and workshops students got both theoretical and practical knowledge in the sphere of business, politics and mass media.

Young entrepreneurs had a unique opportunity to promote their projects during daily World Cafe  discussions. But one shouldn`tforget about rest: my friends and I were pleasantly surprised at the variety of evening activities we had during Seliger: numerous open-air rock concerts, fairs, culture parades, parties, fashion shows and performances.

Theatre performances and guitar song evening.

One evening I found myself …by chance… at theatre performance. Why «by chance»? Just because I wasn`t a frequenter of Art Parade cultural events .The first thing I noticed was a scent of hay. Everybody was sitting on hand-made basket-chairs in the atmosphere of silence and shimmer. The acting was splendid. The plot was «fresh». So we didn`t even noticed how fast the time passed. Having thanked the actors with stormy applause we came back to our camp where a wonderful guitar song evening was waiting for us. Guys …having made themselves comfortable around the fire were singing «Beatles» and «Radiohead» hits. Our evening would probably go on unless a quiet hour that was announced soon.

Indian Night Party

Among plenty of parties that were held during the forum this one turned out to be one of the greatest. This was the only party I prepared myself for: proper clothes and hairstyle you know…besides my appearance was completed straight at the party when I was made a «tattoo» on my wrist. It seemed …that night the whole India moved to a small spot of land called Seliger!

P.S. Seliger for me is,,,,

as hospitable as Russian soul

as safe and reliable as Swiss watches

and it leaves such a pleasant aftertaste as French wine…

Best wishes

Ksenia Semenova (k.s.you)

COPYRIGHT KSENIA SEMENOVA

10 things you must know about Anna Hazare & Lok Pal Bill

1. Who is Anna Hazare?

An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2. What's so special about him?

He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra

3. So what?

This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills.

In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village. 

4. Ok,...?

This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

5. Really, what is he fighting for?

He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

6. How that can be possible?

He is advocating for a Bil, The Jan Lokpal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

8. It's an entirely new thing right..?

In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).

7. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?

The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.

Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the JAN LOKPAL BILL. 50% goverment participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

8. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?

A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

9. Is he alone? Whoelse is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?

Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.

Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.

10. Ok, got it. What can I do?

At least we can spread the message. How?

Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.

At least we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India. 

At least we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.

At least we can pray for his good health.

Thanks for reading.

India's new hope against corruption - Mr. Anna Hazare

A 71-year-old Indian anti-corruption campaigner has refused to end his "fast until death" despite government concessions on his demands for a powerful new body to stamp out graft in the country.

Anna Hazare ended his third day of hunger strike on Thursday saying he had lost weight and "felt a little weak" but could continue without food for at least another week.

Hunger strikes – which invoke the memory of those undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi – are popular political tactics in India and are frequent features of public life. However, this most recent campaign against corruption has mobilised millions of Indians. Hazare's Facebook page has more than 80,000 friends and supporters mobbed the Jantar Mantar observatory, the site of his hunger strike, in central Delhi on Thursday.

Tens of thousands also joined the protests, ranging from hunger strikes to candlelit vigils in cities around the country including Mumbai, Lucknow and Jaipur. A number of Bollywood stars have also come out in support of Hazare, a former soldier and veteran social activist.

Corruption in India is endemic and ranges from the small fees that need to be paid to avoid fines for trumped up traffic offences to an alleged £24bn fraud in the telecoms sector, which saw a former government minister jailed last month.

"This is a corrupt government, full of corrupt ministers in a corrupt country. We have had enough," said Peta Singh, an 18-year-old student from Noida, a satellite town of Delhi, who had travelled to the centre of the capital with friends to demonstrate.

The telecoms scandal was just one of a series to hit the Congress-led coalition in the last year. Others included alleged kickbacks connected with the hugely expensive 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The protesters want speedy adoption of a law to create a powerful anti-corruption ombudsman which would be able to ensure rapid investigation and prosecution of offenders. Current authorities – described as either politicised or toothless by protesters – would be placed under the ombudsman's control.

The activists reject the current draft of the law as too weak. It suggests the ombudsman, known as the Lokpal, be a recommending authority without prosecuting powers.

The wealthy and powerful in India usually escape any charges against them or succeed in drawing out the legal process for many years, sometimes decades.

A bill to set up a powerful anti-graft mechanism has been repeatedly introduced into parliament but has never passed. Many lawmakers make huge fortunes illegally.

Keshal Gunjal, 28, had come to Delhi from the southern city of Pune to support Hazare. A science graduate who had given up his government post in protest against "the system", he said Hazare and his followers would achieve their aims.

"We will definitely reach our objectives. All of India is united against corruption – except the corrupt people of course," he said.

Another demonstrator, PN Jha, said he had personal experience of "scams" while working in the oil and gas sector.

"No one believes the politicians any more," he said.

In the global list of perceptions of corruption compiled by Transparency International, India is ranked the 87th least corrupt along with Albania, Jamaica and Liberia. China ranks 78th and Pakistan 143rd, local commentators have noted.

Brahma Chellaney, a respected Indian international affairs analyst and author, has called corruption an "existential threat" to India.

Negotiations between the campaigners and the government are set to continue on Friday.

source: guardian.co.uk