A treasure trove of old manuscripts Thanks to the National Manuscript Mission (NMM), started by the central Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Himachal Pradesh, the Department of Art, Language and Culture (HPDALC) has dug out a rich treasure trove of centuries-old manuscripts from different parts of the state. The manuscripts show not only how and what hill people believed in and practised, but they also highlight how the hill people carried on with the intellectual pursuits that governed their daily lives. Written by the “masters” of the area, the manuscripts also highlight the central role that Brahmins play in the social and cultural life in the hills. Centuries-Old Patras: Written on locally made paper, bhoj patras and other material, the manuscripts are eco-friendly.

HIllside view
The art of matchmaking
Remember the hilarious scene in Sholay where Amitabh Bachchan tries to persuade mausi to consent to Dharmender’s marriage with Hema Malini? Amitabh describes his friend’s “virtues” (like boozing, gambling, etc) with a poker face and charmingly recommends his case. If only all marriage-mediators were as truthful.

SELF-HELP: Young girls of Himachal are not behind their male counterparts when it comes to practising martial arts. — Photo: Anil Dayal

Shimla Diary
Education policy draws flak
It was a week of political rallies in the state as the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Students Federation of India (SFI) held massive rallies against the education policies being pursued by the government. The Congress put up its show of strength at Dharamsala where the AICC chief and UPA chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, made an appearance.

Devi temples get a fresh look
To preserve the essence of the ancient glory of the Brijeshwari Devi, Jwalaji and Chamunda Devi temples, these ancient shrines are being refurbished with gold-coated domes and layers of silver on the inner walls to give them a fresh look.

Groundwater aplenty in hills
Finding a solution to the demand for water of the Indian Army at various locations between Kargil and Siachen glacier has been no mean task but thanks to the ingenuity of a young geologist and his team, the soldiers no longer have to toil to get water in sub-zero temperatures as bore wells have been dug all along the route.

Fight for your rights
It’s time people learn to fight for their rights and according to Dr K.R. Arya, people can be sensitised through a sustained campaign. It’s all the more relevant for the people living in remote areas which still far away from development.

Dr K.R. Arya

Tribal unrest

Movement against power project Problems for the country’s largest private venture in hydroelectric power generation, Rs. 7,760-crore 1000-MW Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Power Project, proposed to be set-up by the Jaypee group of companies in Kinnaur, are not over. MASS MOVEMENT: A file photograph of tribal people of Kinnaur protesting against coming up of Kinnaur hydro-project. — Photo by writer

Salooni’s lot improves
Rich in natural resources, the Salooni development block in Chamba district is one of the most backward districts of the country. A majority of people in the block are still living below the poverty line. Statistics show that 67 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. The area has not been able to develop despite the fact that the land is fertile and most suitable for cultivation of high-value cash crops.

Preserving faith
Erected by the art-loving King Varman (920-940 A.D.) during the 10th century, Chamba is a ‘town of temples’. The ancient temples in Chamba are more numerous and were hitherto better preserved than in most place in the northern region of the country. These temples are of two distinct types — imposed parasol for draining off snow as in Kedarnath and Badrinath temples.

Baddi’s missing link The absence of a railway link has hit the industrial units at Baddi, reports Ambika Sharma The absence of a railway link is a major hindrance in setting up an inland container depot (ICD) at Baddi. The opening of this depot would have relieved the industry from the recurring problem of shortage of trucks, AC containers and specially designed vehicles for transporting their finished goods. The opening of an inland container depot (ICD) at Baddi would have addressed the problem of shortage of trucks.