|
|
|
|
|
on record
profile |
|
|
Doctor who does more than just heal people Dr Ratna Bharti has been serving village residents with unwavering commitment. Now they are supporting her initiative to touch more lives and make a difference. By Sunit Dhawan WHERE there is a will, there is a way; all one needs to be is firm in purpose and determined in the face of adversity to come out triumphant. Her own physical affliction notwithstanding, Dr Ratna Bharti had resolved at a fairly early stage in life to mitigate the suffering of humankind. She got admitted to a medical college and acquired an MBBS degree. She went on to pursue MD in gynaecology and subsequently got selected in the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS).
|
|
on record From 10,000 visitors for the first summit to over one lakh footfall, do you think it is a big achievement? Absolutely. It is a testament to the growing art space in the country, the immense talent of our artists and the developing tastes of the increasingly wealthy Indian consumer. What’s vital while designing an edition? We are consistent in our endeavour to bring something new and different every time. Contemporary art is constantly evolving and it is our mission to provide a platform for Indian and international artists to showcase their new works. We want to bring the new trends in art and culture from across the world to the forefront. Is it true you wrote the business plan on an air sickness bag and asked for a loan from your employers? Yes, the idea came together while I was on a flight to Mumbai a few years ago. I took a private loan from my then employer for Rs 60 lakh, which helped me launch the first edition of the fair. The loan has been paid since. In 2011, I roped in Will Ramsay and Sandy Angus, co-founders of the Hong Kong Art Fair, as partners. How is the partnership working out? Why is the collaboration important? Both the fair and the art market have witnessed several changes since 2008. The decision to bring in Sandy and Will as partners was partly because they are both very well experienced in the global art industry, and each runs successful international art fairs. They bring along their expertise and synergy and have also made possible a wider access to global network. What is the achievement of the fair? The biggest achievement is bringing together a fantastic pool of talent that India has. Every year the fair brings together people from all over the country and the world, and has been the starting point for several exciting conversations, ideas, collaborations, commissions between artists, galleries, collectors, museums and others. Why the change from summit to fair? We wanted to highlight that this is not only a showcase, but also an opportunity for people to not only see great works, but also buy and take these home. Was not belonging to the art community a disadvantage? It has been a boon. As an impartial organiser, I have no favourites. I can view the art world from a neutral vantage point and therefore, I am equally interested in promoting all galleries and all artists. It also means I understand our visitors, who are not art specialists, but who have a thirst to see and learn. Do you approach the fair as a business model or an art event? It is both. It is a place to see works and learn about art, but the commercial aspect is important. Collectors and museums visit the art fair and look at works from a business point of view. It is an important event for the art industry as a whole. There are many different businesses involved in it, from art insurance to transportation and art publishing. What is your response to the criticism that the fair is an elitist celeb event? We do have a VIP programme and a number of well-known collectors and artists visit the fair. But I must emphasise that the idea is to make art accessible to people. We have had 2,60,000 visitors at the India Art Fair from 67 cities around the world in the last four years. All of them could not have been elitist celebrities. Do you think the fair would have been a big draw if it didn’t include star artists? Big names definitely help draw the crowds and attract the media but we are focussed on showing both established and young artists at the fair. Last year many big international galleries like White Cube and Lisson had come to the fair. Are they coming again? We have 40 galleries from 24 countries visiting the fair. Some are returning, but many are new. India is a budding art market and it will take several years for the market to develop, and for the international galleries to cultivate clients yet they are all eyeing India as a long-term investment. They see the fair as an ideal place to test the market, connect with clients, and get a deeper understanding of the Indian art scene.
|
|
profile “My husband was attacked in 1995 by unidentified militants but had a miraculous escape,” she says. She roped in a few people to form a dedicated team and raised funds through zakat, a mandatory payment for charity made by Muslims during Ramzan. The Mumbai-based Dorabji Tata Trust also chipped in. The foundation launched its flagship programme, Shehjaar (Oasis), from a three-storeyed building at Saida Kadal in Srinagar. It provided free education and board and lodging to orphans. In 2007, Shehjaar Complex was built at Inderhama, 10 km from Srinagar. Members of Shehjaar were admitted to some of the best schools in Kashmir. Their talent was noticed when some of the children won the first prize in a school-to-school interface in Delhi. From education to healthcare to imparting skills to widows, there is hardly any area that Nighat and her team hasn’t ventured into. The foundation arranged for interest-free loans and sponsorships for meritorious students, enabling 40 children to go for higher studies. One of them got a Fulbright scholarship and a job abroad while some others have become aeronautical engineers, industrial chemists and food technologists. HELP also prioritises education of underprivileged children. In 1998, it reconstructed Shah Anwar Primary School at Lolbal, Kupwara, close to the LoC and provided furniture, computers, a laboratory and a school bus. A new class was added every year, and today, it is a higher secondary school with 620 students, including 184 orphans. The scheme was replicated at Model School in Mawar, Kupwara, where 600 children, including 155 orphans, were sponsored by the foundation. At the Shehjaar Craft Centre in Jammu, 50 girls have been trained in various skills and 5,000 people from nearby areas have been provided with free treatment. “Be it an orphan, destitute or a widow, we want these people to stand on their feet,” says Nighat. “That is why our micro-financing programme for women has been a success.” Under this programme, a woman can take a loan for starting a small venture by depositing Rs 1,100 and there are sponsors for those who are unable to pay. They also provide succour to the physically challenged. “We provide artificial limbs to those in need,” says Nighat. In 2003 and 2004, two batches of visually impaired children were sent to Dehradun for a year-long course in Braille and vocational courses. They now impart similar skills to other such children. She also works for inter-communal harmony and visits violence-affected areas.
|
||
|
good news
WHERE there is a will, there is a way; all one needs to be is firm in purpose and determined in the face of adversity to come out triumphant. Her own physical affliction notwithstanding, Dr Ratna Bharti had resolved at a fairly early stage in life to mitigate the suffering of humankind. She got admitted to a medical college and acquired an MBBS degree. She went on to pursue MD in gynaecology and subsequently got selected in the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS). Having decided to remain single all her life, the young doctor immersed herself in the service of the people. Apart from performing her duties as a doctor religiously, Dr Ratna Bharti undertook a silent mission to improve the lot of the people at her place of posting. Having served as a medical officer at a number of stations across Haryana, she is now posted as Senior Medical Officer at the state government-run Community Health Centre at Mangali in Hisar district. Service before self Dr Ratna took several initiatives aimed at ensuring good healthcare and education, especially of girls, women empowerment, hygiene, environmental conservation and welfare of the elderly. She proved nothing is impossible and one can achieve even the unthinkable with sincerity, dedication and persistent efforts. For instance, when Dr Ratna was transferred to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Kaimri village of Hisar district, she found herself in a dilapidated building lacking even the basic amenities. Refusing to get bogged down by the circumstances prevailing there, she began the enormous task of “curing” the hospital building. Charity, they say, begins at home -- in this case hospital. Seeing her labour for improving the provision of healthcare facilities at their village, some residents of Kaimri also pitched in. An NRI doctor and his family learnt about her initiative and extended their support for the cause. The village panchayat, too, backed her and their collective efforts soon began to show results. Will works The district and state health authorities played their part and set up a delivery hut at the PHC, apart from sanctioning other provisions required at the centre. The PHC underwent a transformation and started providing facilities like quality healthcare
along with free medicines, round-the-clock deliveries and other emergency health services. So great was the villager residents’ affection for her and appreciation of her hard work that when she was transferred elsewhere, a delegation of Kaimri panchayat members and other village elders went to Chandigarh and persuaded the authorities concerned to get her posted back to the village. Dr Ratna, who hails from Hisar and has a parental house in a posh colony there, left her comfort zone and shifted her base to Kaimri. She also facilitates training for girls in various skills like stitching and tailoring, swimming, computer applications, basic education and so on with a view to making them confident and self-reliant. She has also undertaken the responsibility of bringing up and educating two small girls whose parents could not give them a good education due to their meager means. Dr Ratna has been honoured by the district administration for her notable social service and worthwhile contribution to society. “Her devotion is exemplary. It is good to see such passion for one’s work and social endeavours,” says Deepti Umashankar, Deputy Commissioner of Hisar. The doctor herself, however, is quite modest about the positive difference she has been bringing to people’s lives. She attributes it to the Almighty and her parents, but feels there is a lot of work to be done within the limited time and means. In a fiercely materialistic era when commercial approach reins supreme and even the noble profession of medicine is being adopted more because of high monetary considerations and less for serving people, doctors like Dr Ratna are a whiff of fresh air.
|
||
|
Shyam Benegal, filmmaker Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition Ashwani Kumar, law minister Mayawati, bsp supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, rjd chief
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
FIVE years ago when Neha Kirpal, Founding Director, India Art Fair, conceived the mega art event, odds were heavy against her. Her youth — she was 27 — meant nobody would take her seriously. Add to it the fact she knew nothing about art made her seem like the wrong contender even if her detractors conceded the cause was right. But Neha has proved skeptics wrong by successfully running four editions of the India Art Summit and putting Delhi on the art map of India. From an event planned in four months to one whose planning gets started even before the previous edition comes to a close, this young visionary has ensured her dream grows from strength to strength. Last year the event saw record participation of international galleries. She is all set to unveil the fifth edition of the fair on January 31 with galleries from countries as diverse as Bangladesh, China, Russia, the US and even Argentina participating. She has figured among the top 25 powerful women in the country. Excerpts:
THIS year’s prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation Award was given to an outstanding woman from Kashmir, Nighat Shafi Pandit. She was a housewife until she decided to do something for the destitute. She set up Human Effort for Love and Peace (HELP) Foundation with the support of her husband, Muhammad Shafi Pandit, an IAS officer. 
Mumbai came up the way it did because people who took from the city gave back to it. Now it is Allah miyan ki gaai (cow). People keep drawing milk from it without feeding it.
Atalji never cited coalition compulsions like Manmohan Singh does. This is because he was not just a PM but also a leader. Manmohan Singh on the other hand is a PM, not a leader. 
Law is perceived as impotent in the face of grave injustice, leading to an unacceptable erosion of faith in the justice delivery system and the rule of law. 
If the BJP was honest and, integrated and committed, UPA allies would have joined the NDA. It is the BJP’s lack of discipline that has given ‘jeevan daan’ to the UPA government. 
No party is going to get a majority in the 2014 elections. We will go with Sonia Gandhi, who is ‘Bharat ki bahu’. Rahul is a good candidate for the PM’s post. Many people are eyeing the post.