Patels rule at Umiyaji and Vadnagar

Did I really miss updating here? Well, not really coz when the newspapers are full of news, it reduces hassles for online updates. Especially, the most important news right now can be rated 5 stars for the coverages of Umiya Mata Mandir. DB has made all the efforts to provide indepth information on Patel Community and why would'nt I be proud? I am a Kadva Patel from Vadnagar!

Btw, Global warming and the issue burns as we hear that Seas are rising heavily on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat! This means, it may impact investments in Gujarat.

You can read on rising seas on Environment pages on Kidsfreesouls and find about Copenhagen Conference too.

- ilaxi

Get Well Soon CM Narendra Modi - Treatment responding

On 29th October morning, after he came back from Russia, Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi showed signs of cold, cough and body temperature and doctors examined him. He insisted doctors to take H1N1 test.

It turned to be Positive! Doctors attending have expressed that there is no cause for any concern regarding Chief Minister health and he is responding to the treatment. He is advised complete rest and isolation for one week. All facilities for isolation and medical treatment has been arranged at the official residence of the Chief Minister and the doctors team is on 24 hours attendance. An expert team of Doctors consisting of Dr. Atul Patel, Dr. Kamlesh Upadhyaya, Dr. R.K.Patel and Dr. Paresh Vora is attending on Hon. Chief Minister.

We pray God that Hon. CM recovers fast to be back at work with full force to serve Gujarat. You too, please pray for our CM.

Click for CM's Health Bulletin here.

- ilaxi

Perfect Team Work: www.gujaratindia.com

The New Year begins with a result of PERFECT TEAM WORK!

Official Gujarat State Portal go live and I am proud to be a part of the Team as Web Content Analyst for www.gujaratindia.com - The Gujarat State Portal Gujaratindia.com provides a unified interface to all Government websites and acts as a logical front-end to the Government’s vision and foresight.

With profound interest in technology and science, Hon'ble CM Narendra Modi has sculpted Gujarat into an e-governed Stated and has fostered several innovative applications of technology.

The thematic Portal provides glimpse into 5.5 Crore Gujaratis ‘Apnu Gujarat – Agavu Gujarat’ (Our Gujarat, Unique Gujarat) and act as catalyst to positively influence Gujarat and its rich Culture and traditions which has marked its footprints internationally. The Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi lives on to the boom of a 21st century Gujarat with robust and mass movement of Development and Progress with a Proactive Government.

Developed by Silver Touch Technologies and co-ordinated by CMO (Chief Minister's Office - Mr. Hiren Joshi (OSDIT) and all Departments, the site is an attempt to give a vision into the potentials of the state.

Watch this space as I write more on this. Enjoy:-)

- ilaxi

Happy Diwali & Prosperous New Year 2009

Happiness keeps you sweet,

Trials make you strong,

Sorrows keep you human,

Failures make you humble,

Success keeps you glowing

And

God Keeps you Going!

Happy, prosperous, healthy n peaceful New Year!

An sms I just received and yeah, we all need the wonderful thoughts to keep going.

Well, Diwali is rocking as it never was before! Illuminated lights bring in joys in abundance as people are found rejoicing on the streets, at home - sharing the joys of living.

Wishing all my readers who pass this way - good health, long life, peace and joy - click kidsfreesouls for reading on Diwali. Enjoy.

- ilaxi

My First Freesouls Page on Gandhiji

Friday, 1st October, 1999 - A copy of Freesouls in Sambhaav Newspapers.

My first Freesouls page of 15th October, 1997 was of Gandhiji too!

And the most highly surfed page on Kidsfreesouls.com is of Gandhiji!

And Khadi, I use to wear and still do. My wardrobe has Khadi silk sarees and dresses!

Gandhian values and it comes from within.

I agree with some, it is difficult to follow the Gandhian principles today but I guess, pick some and leave some, Attitude is all that makes a Big Difference!

Here is Gandhi's view On Self Development :

* Don’t hide your ignorance out of false shame.

* Never mind if you are mistaken for a fool, but don’t take the risk of going wrong as a result of your ignorance.

* The mind itself is our enemy as well as our friend. It is our duty to keep it under control. No medicine from a doctor is required for this.

* Contentment is best of riches.

* Thought is father of action. Watch your habits as they become permanent and so adopt good ones.

Click for Kidsfreesouls cover on Gandhiji. And yes, go down memory lane. Send your or your child's drawing/painting and get featured on cover and Color Paste Board. Join the Facebook Event too.

- ilaxi

In Spotlight : Gujarat

Rural Sanitation Awareness Mission and the State level address of the CM Narendra Modi of Gujarat will be at Town Hall, Gandhinagar. If you want to hear him live, just click to Gujaratindia.com sharp at 3.30 pm for the live telecast.

Btw, CM has already launched his prestigious CM Fellowship Program during Dushera festival. This will provide an opportunity to the youth to study and be a part of Government's administrative departments and other social sectors. They get a chance to work with top officials and experience the functioning of various departments. It aims to improve the declining HDI. The main values in this concept focus on ensuring security of life and secure livelihoods, provide equality between men and women and equity in opportunities and capabilities.

You can find further details, how to join etc. here on this website launched for the purpose.

As the CM says, "This is a chance for the counry's best young achievers to take on the highest challenges. You can take a step to change the future. I welcome you to contribute to transform in social development"

Well, tremendous changes and fast paced development - in spotlight, Gujarat - Gujaratindia.com

- ilaxi

Joys of Giving - Free chai

Joys of Giving - Chai - This is the real way to go! Amdabadis love to have a cup of chai especially in a cup and saucer and that too, half cup of tea.

"Let's discuss our duties, over a cup of tea. And then put them into action...over, lots of teas..." Says Nitesh at Facebook Group. Free Chai is a group of volunteers who believe in random acts of kindness and importance of selfless service, sharing and care for people.

The Free Chai Group began its activities on March 22, 2009 and now around 1100+ people across the world celebrate 'Free Chai'. They are encouraging people to act selflessly and motivate them to give some part of their valuable time towards the wellness of this earth.

You can be anywhere, in any part of the World and spread the Free Chai message of Nitesh. Join the Group here and Join the Joys of Giving 'Free Chai' week here in events. The group spreads the Joys of Giving for a week as a part of Joys of Giving campaign .

If you are organizing the Free chai event in your area, don't forget to send the Photos to Nitesh to post it at the group as it can be inspiration to others.

And yes, in your Free Chai Talks, do ask people one Question from me: How will you spread the message of Love, faith, peace and unity among human beings? Email me the answers you get:-) or Join the Group and post answers.

A lot things can happen over a cup of tea, isn't it?

- ilaxi

Above Pic courtesy: 'Free Chai', Vastrapur Lake

Fantastic Navratri

Vibrant Gujarat 2009 - Life is indeed a Celebration. And I just experienced this during my visit to University grounds.

Memorable remains the Tourism Pavilion, the Saputara corner and the Special Investment Region presentation apart from Aishwarya's Garba and the huge unbelievable crowd celebrating the way they can dance and sing the venue. The venue is simply superb and Management ala grande!

At the food courts, most memorable was eating Rotla and oro prepared by women from Jasdan Taluka. The sweetness in their nature was just appealing.

My experience has been great and I would say, its 'Fantastic Vibrant Navratri 2009' here in Gujarat.

- ilaxi

Navratri begins - Check Faith

Navratri begins and as you watch live the inaugural function at Gujarat University, click Kidsfreesouls Navratri pages to listen to Arti (wait till it plays or download) and find info.

CHECK FAITH:
Dive deep to your inner self and see what your conscious say!

Do you go to temple to pray & hardly take the trouble to join hands in your own home temple
Do you have bias against other religions? If yes, .Why?
Have you fought over religion with someone anytime?
Do you insist on your own religious beliefs or respect others too?
Do you think religion is more a hype nowadays?
Do you think people have turned religious as temples line up with devotees or is it due to problems they turn?
Has religious places turned to be business booming?
Do you keep prejudice because of religion?
Do you read the books of your own faith or others too?
Have you read the book of your religion?
Do you think religious stories were ‘framed’ by our ancestors?
When you celebrate a festival, do you try to find the Religious aspects behind it?
When you pray, what do say? Where are your thoughts?
Do you have faith in yourself and things that you can do? In others?

- ilaxi

Anti Terror Quick Response Teams

Gujarat plans to set up 111 anti-terror Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in it's move to toughen the drive against terrorism. The QRTs will operate 365 days round the clock in every corner of the State with hi tech weapons, equipments and vehicles.

Awaiting for approval for its proposal sent to the centre, Gujarat will be the first state to have such high level security. The 111 QRTs will be set its base with 78 Quick Response Teams in Districts, 12 in Ahmedabad, 6 in Vadodara, 6 in Surat, 3 in Rajkot, 3 in Western Railway (Vadodara) and 3 in State Control Room (Gandhinagar)

Read further on MSN for the India Syndicate news content.

Where there is a mass, there is a movement and where there's a dynamic leader, State develops!

- ilaxi

What you can do for your Gujarat?

September 17 and it had to be wishing the CM Narendra Modi on his birthday! Though he seems to be in Delhi and out of reach for many of his fans, you can always step into the new look designed website of CM and even get an opportunity to do something for Gujarat by being a volunteer.

What best gift can you give? Think and there you find the answer 'What you can do for your Gujarat'

- ilaxi

GCCI Business women wing Exhibition

GCCI Business Women's Wing recently held an Exhibition named 'Garima 2009' at its premises for products manufactured, traded and marketed by women Entrepreneurs. The Inauguaration was by Mr. Bharat Sharma, Zonal Head, ICICI and Guest Mrs. Jimmy Nanda, Mrs. India, Mrs. Universe Runner up.

This year, being the Silver Jubilee Year of the Wing, a committee is initiated to lift the self-esteem of businesswomen. The committee will focus on five areas, namely textiles, food processing, jewellery, handicrafts and tourism, informed Mrs. Neeta Shah, Chairperson of the Business women's wing. Priorities for overall development of women - enhancing their skills of English language and Computer skills will also be a major program considerations, she said. Supported by Co-Chairperson Deepa Shah and other active committee members, the Business women's wing is set to pace ahead to make women See Dreams, Think Big and Do IT.

The Exhibition stall participants were exclusive 'Women Entrepreneurs. The Exhibition was applauded by Women Entrepreneurs/stall holders who appreciated the Business women wing's efforts by providing three ps - proactive, platform and problem solving to lead to progress.

The wing conducted a three-day seminar on entrepreneurship for women to guide them on finance management, marketing management and other aspects of business. The programs and seminars were conducted for women on all the three days by various field experts who imparted their knowledge.

The expert Designer, Villoo Mirza also shared her experience and knowledge with the women entrepreneur. " We should feel hungry for knowledge. I am not a textile person by profession but learnt in process of love of work. I am an artistic and an aesthetic person," Villo Mirza said. She gave insight to various design techniques while she learnt with her wide experience being the Design Head at Gurjari, later NID and NIFT and now with associated with SEWA. She believed in 'No Spoon Feeding' but students should learn to understand the fabric behavior, material usage and many other things while they work with garments. Having imparted training at Arvind, she spoke on marketing and how to sell the products while focusing on quality. A presentation of Garment Design, fashion and styles was showed to the members explaining in detail.

A participant Prerak Soni and his wife who deal with Jewellery (SIPL) raised their concern on how to reach maximum customers apart from such exhibition. It so happens that due to time constraints of women and lack of reach and awareness, business drops at a time. They requested the wing to form an Association and provide information of such buyers with respective products. Mrs. Neeta Shah showed her cooperation and said, will initiate and help women to find resources. Mrs.Villo Mirza came with an idea to make constructive use of closed Mills and set up Clusters at one place for products like production units, packaging, marketing etc. so that all required facilitate easy working.

Well, I think, Sparks and they are sparklers - A positive 'Team Work' plays a role and a well 'Delegated' Leader's team can only bring results!

- ilaxi

Newspapers in Gujarat - Get Inspired!

'Khabar Lahariya', a newspaper produced entirely by women in rural India, distributed to more than 20,000 readers in Uttar Pradesh is awarded United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (Unesco) King Sejong Literacy Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Literacy.

Khabar Lahariya has 15 women, newly literate "low caste" women who are trained as journalists by Nirantar. Besides developing their literacy skills and honing their reporting abilities, the women reporters are trained to talk to public figures, gather information and sharpen editing skills. The coverage of Khabar Lahriya includes politics, crime, social issues and entertainment for a readership that spans 400 villages in both Chitrakoot and Banda districts of India's most populous state.

Unesco's King Sejong Literacy Prize was instituted by South Korea and this year, out of the four winners, Khabar Lahariya gets $20000.

Newspapers in Gujarat - get Inspirations!

- ilaxi

Let's Start Giving!!!

Get ready to give your money, time, skills or kindness during the Joy of Giving Week, to be celebrated from 27th September to 3rd October. Geet Sethi, Nandita Das and Parimal Trivedi have supported the mission of the NGO 'Give India' encouraging people to come forth and start Giving. A series of events has been planned in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore during the week. A nation wide movement!

Yuva Unstoppable, Darpana and Riverside school are active with their part for joyfests and shows and competitions.

Causes and they are on rise. You find them on Social Vibe or Facebook and now, headed by celebrity! Be a better person and be a part to community togetherness. Reminds me of the Song, 'We are the World, we are the Children.....So, lets start giving...(check for a video on my blog)

I wonder, we can have a week on 'Joys of Living' first! Joys come from what you do with a passion and for most of the people, at a time of money crunch, giving doesn't come so easy, does it? From a rich writing a cheque to a poor sharing a roti don't come so easy....However, if there was spreading the message of Joys of Living, I am sure, many would love to take the tips on How and Be Happy and Live life to the fullest.

- ilaxi

CM addresses Teachers

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi felicitated 35 teachers from across the state and address over one crore students of various schools through video conferencing on Teachers' Day, today - 5th September 2009 at Tagore Hall.

CM's speech was broadcasted live in 7,600 primary schools and 4,391 secondary schools which have computers with LCD screens, 410 colleges and 90 self-financed institutes and 62 government polytechnics. Also broadcasted live on 8000 e-gram panchayats and local cable services. The Online website of Gujarat and CM's website featured online live web cast too.
- More on CM Narendra Modi's website Gujarat website

Sure, we all have the memories of childhood with a teacher who has changed our life. For teachers, it's sometimes children who makes a Big Difference! For more on Teacher's day, click Kidsfreesouls for the links and read my blog.

- ilaxi

Environment column at Kidsfreesouls.com

Environment column on Kidsfreesouls Question this week: Since Obama took office, have any new incentives been put in place for homeowners looking to increase energy efficiency and reduce the overall environmental footprints of their homes
And the answer by Editor Doug Moss:
In fact, yes. Homeowners can get up to $1,500 back from the federal government for any number of energy efficiency upgrades at home. If you upgrade to energy efficient insulation, windows, doors, heating, air conditioning or water heaters between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010, you are eligible for a tax credits of up to 30 percent of product costs.

(Read more)

If you are living in India, you know where we stand! How could we want to 'Go Green' without incentives? GoG, please note the point!

- ilaxi

The winner

Narendra Modi,the Chief Minister of Gujarat has been chosen as The Asian Winner of the fDi Personality of the Year awards for 2009 by fDi Magazine, a premier publication and a leading title for the business of globalization.

Narendra Modi is the Chosen One. The most proactive, dynamic and innovative in securing foreign investment and improving the business environment. Last year, Gujarat attracted $2.8bn in FDI, 10.3% of all foreign investment inflows into the country and an increase of 57% on the previous year.

There is no doubt, NM's Leadership takes Gujarat on a higher scale on the world map and way back home, developments speak of Modi transforming Gujarat to Economic Powerhouse.

Click to read further on the winner's Official website.

- ilaxi

Parsi New Year

The best part of Gujarat is that we celebrate all festivals - be it Janmastmi, Mohorrom, Pateti, Diwali or any.....And the beauty is that communal harmony exist with diverse faiths and people live in peace and harmony - It's only vicious minds who have devious plans and play their wicked games. After all!

Click for the Parsi New Year info 'Pateti' and we just love those sweet talking gujju with those antique cars and intricate borders and laces and the dhan shak...(mouth-watering).

In the news, A town of Silence built in 1767, Nagrol has more than a 100 houses owned by the fading Parsi Community. The town is set to become the first village in the country to host a Parsi Festival like the Tarnetar fair and kite festival. This historic village was developed by first generation immigrant Parsis who landed on the Arabian Sea coast in Valsad's Umbergaon Taluka bordering Maharashtra about 1200 years ago.

- ilaxi

Bhagvad Gita review

Celebrations of the birth of Lord Krishna and here's wishing 'Happy Janmashtmi'

This reminds me to share the review of Bhagvad Gita. With over two dozen languages and more than five million hardbound copies in print, undoubtedly, Bhagvad Gita As it is by Divine Grace A.C.BHAKTIVEDANTA Swami Prabhupada is the best selling and widely read classic in world literature. It reflects the main literary support for the great religious civilization of India, the oldest surviving culture in the world. This sacred book is well explained, easy to read with sanskrit shlokas well translated and pronunciations made easier. The subject of Bhagvad Gita entails the comprehension of five basic truths. First, science of god is explained and than the position of living entities, jivas. The living entity is controlled by the controller 'God head krsna' and the material nature 'prakriti' and time, the duration of existence of the whole universe and karma 'activity' are discussed. Finally, its god's wish and he makes or breaks the world! Bhagvad gita is written with 18 chapters - the conversation of krsna with Arjun.

You can find the Book review here on Krishna pages on Kidsfreesouls, if you've missed out earlier.

Enjoy the festival.

- ilaxi

Join Hands, August is Friendship Month - Spread the message of love, faith, peace and unity among human beings..

Watch this Space here - Transforming for better egovernance!

Well, August is the month of Friendship and as usual, here's the Projects and Calendar for August month - Not a kid? Don't worry, still you may like to step to peek-a-boo Kidsfreesouls as there is much more than this - coming and coming.........

- ilaxi