n Set up electric or gas-fired crematoriums.
n Wood can be imported from neighbouring states.
n Engage private timber dealers to supply firewood across the state without putting any additional burden on the government.

It is the fragrance of roses and lavender, which could bring prosperity to the growers in the lower and middle regions of the state if the plans of the government to popularise cultivation of armoatic and medicinal plants takes off.

The state Horticulture Department has undertaken an extensive survey to divide the state into four agro-climatic zones suited for growing aromatic and medicinal plants. The state government is keen to launch a project and has sought funding from the centre for this purpose.

Since the agro-climatic conditions are ideal for cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants, the government is keen that this area is given a boost. Interestingly, the climatic conditions are ideally suited for growing roses and lavender, which are in great demand for their oil use in the perfume industry.

Despite earlier efforts, the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants has not taken off as there is a lot of problem as far as marketing is concerned. “Unless and until cooperatives are formed and that too with a buy back arrangement with the companies who are keen to buy the produce grown here, it cannot be a profitable venture,” admitted a senior official.

This time the government is keen to rope in big companies who enter into a buy-back arrangement with the growers. So far, the area under cultivation of medicinal plants is merely 170 hectares, while the area under aromatic plants is 116 hectares. This includes the cultivation area by the government as well as private agencies.

As per the survey undertaken by the Horticulture Department, the sub-tropical mountains and low hills are suited for growing safed musli, aloevera and roses, the sub-tropical and sub-humid middle hills are ideally suited for growing tulsi, aloevera and stevia.

The wet temperate high hills have been found to be suitable for cultivation of roses, texsus bacatta, auth and lavender. The dry temperate high hills are suited for growing hops, used in making beer, sea buckthorn and kaala zeera.

The cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants has not become popular so far as there are marketing problems. Some of the farmers who have been cultivating medicinal plants say that with very limited produce they face marketing problem along with very poor prices given by companies.

It is for this very reason that the cultivation of sea buckthorn, which is used for many making many items, including juice, has not gained popularity.

The government is keen that the farmers be given incentives so that they take up cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.

Since the famous Bhuri Singh Museum in Chamba is completing a century of its foundation, the management of the museum has decided to hold a two-day seminar on “History and culture of Himalayas with special reference to Western Himalayan” on March 26 and 27.

According to Hari Chauhan, the Curator of the museum, 15 eminent researchers, archeologists and historians have been invited for the seminar to give their presentations in their specialised spheres.

K. P. Notiyal, ex-vice chancellor, Awadh University Lucknow and Garhwal, Devinder Handa, retired professor, Punjab University, Chandigarh, M. P. Joshi, retired professor, Kumaon University and B. M. Khanduri, professor, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna (HNB) University Garhwal and other distinguished experts in their fields. It is for the first time that such a seminar is being organised.

Raja Bhuri Singh (1904-1919), the ruler of erstwhile Chamba State, took keen interest in this epigraphic collection and other relics of the past and transferred them in one of the public buildings suitably located by the side of Chaugan.

Raja Bhuri Singh also gifted his inherited art collection to this museum and J. Ph. Vogel imparted his invaluable services for setting up this museum. The dream came true on the September 14 1908, when the museum was opened to the visitors and named after Raja Bhuri Singh.

The objects displayed in the museum are related to art, craft and culture of the Chamba state. These relics stand as an eloquent testimony to the life of the past and have their value for the appreciation of art and culture of this region.

At present, the museum possesses more than 5,350 objects related to art, archaeology, craft and cultural anthropology. The museum-complex also has a reference library, a seminar hall and an exhibition hall.

Stone sculpture, bronzes, memorial stones, pahari miniature paintings and Chamba rumals, etc., reflects on the workmanship, art and tradition of the region. The art style of this area was greatly influenced by the adjoining Kashmir region, which was apparently discernible in the artefacts displayed in the galleries. 

All things chickeney and mutton’y, taste better far when served with chutney”, was a Brit-saying during the Raj. Vijay Kumar and Rajendra Kumar, the Sood brothers, selling mouth-watering pickles and chutney today at Thakur Bhrata completing 83 years of its existence, support the saying and confirm that favourites with the British was sweet and sour chutney, less-soured brinjal pickle and mango kasaundi (a grated pickle).

Thakur Das (9), a primary class pass small boy, left his Paragpur village in Kangra in 1911 to work at Dagshai, but greener pastures in Shimla attracted him here in 1917 to serve in a general merchandise shop at the central Lower Bazaar on Rs 5 per month.

He gathered courage to hire a shop on the east end of Lower Bazaar from owner Mangat Ram on May 3, 1925, where he started selling Lahore-made pickles.

When his brother Prithvi Chand, working for a clothier, joined him in 1927, they became Thakur Bhrata and started making pickling at home. They made pickles and chutneys in the old-fashioned way, following ancient traditions, being respected even today.

The vegetables or raw mangoes for pickling are washed and left to dry in the sun completely as slight water develops moulds in the pickle. Smothering with salt, another bout of sunning, spicing, stuffing in crocks, giving the required mustard oil-dip and finally the pickle is left to mature.

The preparation is given a swish with a wooden ladle repeatedly. When ready, the pickle is kept for sale on shelves in the shop in attractive looking, big rectangular jars made of thick glass.

These jars have a historical value as these are the outer covers of Leclanche cells used in Shimla for electrification prior to and even after the functioning of Chaba hydroelectric station in 1913. Lala Thakur Das purchased 22 of these jars from a kabari for a rupee and-a-half each in 1925.

The USP (unique selling point) for Thakur Bhrata since then has been the use of the finest quality of spices, the purest oil and the fresh vegetables and this home-made mouth-watering achaar and chutney sells like ‘hot cakes’. Thakur Bhrata has established itself as an institution of quality products in Shimla attracting many a customer from the hills and plains alike. The, Wife of the first Indian Governor of Punjab, Sir Chandu Lal Madhav Lal Trivedi, used to personally visit the shop for purchasing pickles of her choice, also Bhim Sen Sachhar, the Chief Minister of Punjab (1952-56).

The ever-young Dev Anand, on his visit to Shimla and stay at Clarke’s Hotel, used to get the pickle and honey picked from Thakur Bhrata.

They had started selling ayurvedic products of Gurukul, Haridwar, since 1935. This is the only addition that the Soods have made in their old shop. They had acquired it in 1985. Vijay, an educated gentleman and Rajendra, a metallurgical engineer from BHU, had left their lucrative jobs to join the family business in 1972. Spiritual India, GAP Adventures writes ‘Shimla’s like a graceful old lady...she may have put on a bit of weight recently and got a few gimmicky clothes, but underneath she’s still elegant, still got class...’ and to taste its class recommends varieties of pickles and chutneys — from the common mango, lemon, garlic, red chilli to the unusual mushroom pickled by ‘a minor institution in Shimla’ — Thakur Bhrata.

The home page of global online newspaper launched by Instablog. — A Tribune photograph

It has also emerged as a source of earning for the regular contributors, who are making reasonable money. But more importantly, it has come to be seen as a powerful platform for putting across their viewpoints through to the global community. A live newswire service from the Associated Press keeps the site updated.

Wilson’s stint brief, but a good one

It is not unusual to see vice-chancellors being forced to quit after a change of government in the state. A hostile atmosphere is created on the campus as various teachers, students and employees’ bodies start gunning for the man in office. More often than not he has to quit without completing his term.

However, it has been a different story this time. Dr Anil Wilson has resigned but for personal reasons. Unlike most of his predecessors there is sympathy for him on the campus. His 14-month tenure has been free from student unrest and agitations. More importantly, even after the change of government there was no demand of his removal, which was quite unusual.

During his short stint in office, Wilson took some important initiatives and policy decisions with long-term implications for the university. For instance, the recruitment policy framed by him will ensure that merit was not ignored in making appointments in future. Similarly, the electoral reforms he managed to carry out will enable holding of polls to the students central association in a peaceful manner.

He had plans to build a parallel campus to reduce congestion in the existing one, but his sudden exit from office will affect such plans.

Introduce cab service from Chungi Khana

Resentment prevails among the residents of the Lower Kaithu area over the failure of the state road transport corporation to regularly ply the bus service from Chungi Khana introduced last year.

To make things worse, the corporation has decided to introduce cab service from Annandale instead of Chungi Khana. Annandale is already well connected with bus services plying throughout the day, whereas there is no bus service form Chungi Khana.

The SJVN started work on the H.E. project at Bail village across River Sutlej opposite Datt Nagar Panchayat of Rampur Tehsil. The project work is in progress and the site is now prone to soil erosion due to removal of vegetation cover at the project site. The wind blowing over this site causes air pollution, which has affected the production of almond, plums and vegetables in the area. I apprehend that the production has been reduced due to the project activities. The SJVN authorities have earmarked well-defined dumping sites at Averi, but muck is being thrown in nullahs and open space below Bail-Averi road opposite Nirsu village. The SJVN authorities have resorted to heavy and uncontrolled blasting, which have developed cracks and fissures in some of the houses in the area. I hope the government looks into the issue and takes necessary action.