Happy “Maha Shiv Ratri” to all of you.
As many of you no doubt know, Bhagwaan MahaDev has a special status in our Dharma and there are numerous sacred stories associated with this night…
For those amongst you who are curious to know more about this festival, here are a few links (in no particular order):
http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/festivals/mahashivratri/
http://mahashivratri.info/ (predominantly in Hindi)
http://www.mahashivratri.org/
On a related note, one of my dreams is to visit all the twelve “Jyotirlinga”(s) associated with Lord Shiva and then write a travelogue around that (I have been to six but half still remain)…Someday …

I came across this article a few days back. Although slightly dated, the points made by Shri Shourie re. the shocking state of affairs at the Indian Council of Historical Research are still valid. The saga is shocking, shameful and disgusting beyond belief.
Excerpts from ICHR’s The Eminent Entrepreneurs! by Arun Shourie (emphasis mine)
“…Answer by the Ministry for Human Resources Development to Unstarred Question number 3466 in the Rajya Sabha:
“Professor Bipin Chandra was sanctioned a sum of Rs 75000 during 1987-88 for the assignment entitled ‘A History of Indian National Congress’. A sum of …

I got an email earlier today from Dr Akalpita Paranjpe of Bharat Uday Mission (BHUMI).
She is the ”energy” behind this excellent idea of a “candle light vigil” in Mumbai this Friday to show solidarity with women who are sexually harassed or are victims of “eve-teasing” in India (Many of you would remember the shameful incident at Juhu on New Year’s eve).
I would have loved to be there. Unfortunately I am not in Mumbai on that day.
I have written on this issue before…but we need many many more awareness-building exercises such as these…Well done, …