fragrance spring edition

A1

FRAGRANCE Spring Edition

Swayam Maritime Academy Nilakantha Darshan Building (Back side of the building) Office no. 22, 23 ; Shop no. 25, 26

Near Panvel Bus Depot, landmark :-Nadkarni hospital road, Pin:- 410206

Tel :- 022 27450109, Mob :- 09768770865, email :- [email protected]

Website :- www.swayammaritimeacademy.com

JANUARY – MARCH 2012

ISSUE-1


Shipping

1. ECDIS An Over view

2. STCW 2010 & Effects on

Seafarers Certificate of

Competency

3. Piracy Update

4. RT Flex Engines

5. Marine incident case

study

Literature

1. Travelogue

2. Poem

3. Story

4. Classic - The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

5. Travelogue

6. Film review- Kahaani

Dear All,

Glad to present once again our Quarterly e-zine

“Fragrance”.

I often wonder why people need approval…. To run a

magazine you need approval, to run a company you

need approval, to publish a novel you need approval, to

get married you need approval, to show your talent

you need approval….the list may go on and on… But

why we need approval… Is it so indispensible?

I am a big fan of Chetan Bhagat. One thing I have

learnt from him is that, it is immaterial where you

have began or who has approved you. If the end is up

to the mark then nobody will be bothered to see what

approval you have got .Like Mr. Bhagat, as his novel

touches the sentiment of the mass he only sets the

trend, and nobody looks who is the publisher of his

book and what is his literary ability. Let the critics try

their level best to let him down , he shines and brings

resurgence in his way amongst the youth…If you are

doing the right thing and if you know what is the

requirement of the industry or mass then you yourself

can set your own trend and gain a high market value.

In due course all these approval will fade in front of

the shine of your quality and diligence.


ISSUE-1

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.swayammaritimeacademy.com/

A2







ISSUE-1

ECDIS IMPLEMENTATION

SOLAS Amendment to Chapter –V (safety of Navigation) on ECDIS & BNWAS as

mandatory requirements which is to be fitted on New ships (passenger ships and

tankers more than 3000GT ) built after 1st July 2012 (vessel keel laid after 1st

July,2012) and existing ships in a phased out manner. Schedule for implementation of

ECDIS is given below.

For ECDIS there are 2 types of training requirement for nautical officers.

1. ECDIS GENERIC TRAINING – 5 DAYS IMO MODEL COURSE 1.27

COMPLIANT

2. EQUIPMENT or TYPE SPECIFIC TRAINING – ABOUT 2 DAYS

In India, we are still waiting for the ECDIS guidelines to be adopted and then only

ECDIS course approval will be sought by the institutes .ECDIS Generic Training

requirement is based on the IMO model course 1.27 “Operational Use of ECDIS”

which is of 40 hours duration i.e. 5 days of 8 hours duration. ECDIS training is also

part of STCW-2010 requirements for nautical officers. Apart from Generic ECDIS

training, Equipment specific for ECDIS on board e.g.

JRC,FURUNO,TRANSAS,MARIS,DKART, KELVIN HUGHES, SAM

ELECTRONIS,TOKYO KEIKI etc. is to be carried out for model specific

familiarization which will be about 2 days. CBT programme and on board manual can

be used for type specific training .MCA has come out stringent training requirements

for ECDIS after few recent grounding and collision incidents like CFL Performer,

CoscoBusan, LT Cortesia and Pride of Canterbury . The Equipment or Type specific

training should be approved by the manufacturer in other words JRC should approve

their course and the trainer should be trained by JRC. Vetting inspectors require both

ECDIS Generic and Type specific training. For vessel to become paperless, ship

should have 2 type approved ECDIS with official ENCs on board and all 4 navigating

officers well trained with ECDIS (both Generic as well as type specific training ).

Many companies feel on board familiarization can be done w.r.t. Type specific

training if there is no time for the officer prior joining for such training ashore.

I have seen ECDIS theory training is part of our competency syllabus from 1992 But

only few ships had ECDIS which depend on owners specifically. Such stringent

ECDIS training will ensure that all officers know about their on board ECDIS

equipment properly which will enhance “SAFE NAVIGATION”. It is only matter of

time before such apprehension about so called paperless ships be stopped and

navigation can be more effective and safe using such electronic equipment. But we as

Navigators must not forget the BASICS and do not over rely on such automated

equipment which give us lot of inputs from various sensors like

GPS,GYRO,AIS,ECHO SOUNDER ETC. If we navigate with extreme caution while

using ECDIS, everything will be alright.

JRC ECDIS

Swayam Maritime Academy is conducting this ECDIS course from

the date of its inception. Intially it

was a two days course requirement.

Then we started conducting Type

specific ECDIS Course like

“TRANSAS”, then three days course

and now 5 days course as per IMO

Model course 1.27. Now we have

Type specific courses like JRC,SPERRY

VISION,MARIS,TOKIO KEIKI, SAM

ELECTRONICS, TRANSAS, FURUNO

etc. This April we got approval from

Republic of Liberia for ECDIS 5 days

Course. Right now we have Transas

NT Pro 4000 Simulator and soon we

are going to install 12 station ECDIS

Transas NT PRO 5000 . Very soon we

will start Online Training program for

Type specific ECDIS course. So stay

tuned and send us your

Requirements so that we can grow

with you all in perfect Sync…



A3







ISSUE-1

Arrested Italian Aframax allowed to leave India

The arrested D‟Amato-managed Aframax „Enrica Lexie‟ has been

allowed to leave Cochin, subject to certain conditions. The vessel was

held due to the deaths of two Indian fishermen, allegedly killed by Italian

marines on board the tanker. On Thursday of this week, the Kerala High

Court directed the police to release the ship detained off the coast after the

shipowners, Dolphin Tankers, furnished a bond for Rs30 million. In

addition, an affidavit was filed agreeing to present the Master/crew, or

security guards of the vessel before the investigating team whenever

needed. According to the Khaleej Times, the court also directed the

shipowners to fully co-operate with the investigation being conducted by

the Kerala police in connection with the deaths of the two fishermen.

The two Italian marines were charged with murder. The Court had earlier

observed that from the perspective of the family members of the victims,

the acts of the marines were tantamount to terrorism, as they allegedly

fired on the boat without firing warning shots, or giving any kind of

warning signals.

The Court also said that the fishermen were fast sleep when the marines

fired at the boat. The two marines, who were arrested on 20th February,

are now in the Poojappura Central Jail at Trivandrum. The Kerala

government had pleaded for the detention of the ship at least until the

submission of the forensic examination report. However, the Directorate

General of Shipping did not object to Dolphin Tankers‟ plea to release the

ship.

The counsel for the Federal Government said that there was no need to

hold back the vessel since the Mercantile Marine Department had

collected all the required evidence from the ship in connection with their

investigation, the newspaper reported. The shipowner sought the release

of the vessel citing huge loss being incurred. It was pointed out that the

owner was ready to fully co-operating with the investigation.

‘Enrica Lexie’

‘Enrica Lexie’ Update

The Kerala High Court on Friday stayed till

April 2 the release of Italian vessel 'Enrica

Lexie', detained off Kochi port since

February 15 in connection with the gunning

down of two Indian fishermen allegedly by

two marines aboard the vessel. The order

was passed by a division bench comprising

Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and

Justice V Chidambaresh on a writ appeal

filed by relatives of the two deceased

fishermen. Justice P S Gopinathan had on

Thursday ordered the release of the vessel

on furnishing a bond of Rs.3 crore on a

petition by the ship's owners Dolphin

Tankers, besides an undertaking that they

would appear before investigating

authorities as and when required. The

Division Bench bench orally observed that

"we are not happy with this condition" and

said it wanted to examine all records and

deferred the case to Monday. When the

court asked what would happen if the bond

conditions were violated, Advocate General

K P Dandapani said "we will not be able to

get them". The fishermen were killed when

the marines allegedly fired at their fishing

boat off Kollam coast on February

15.The marines have been arrested and

charged with murder and are in judicial

remand.

Courtesy – India Today, Updated 31st

March



A4







ISSUE-1

STCW-2010 and how does it affect your CoC ?

1 Introduction

1.1 The STCW Convention 1978 has been amended by the 2010 Manila Amendments

and contains new requirements for all seafarers. Seafarers revalidating their

Certificates of Competency (CoC) will be required to submit additional evidence to

ensure their Certificate is valid for service on certain types of ships after 31 December

2016.

2. Training Requirements

2.1 Deck Certificate of Competency Upgradation, ECDIS requirements

2.1.1 Indian CoC Requirements

The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Code bring in the requirement for Deck

Officers working onboard ships fitted with an Electronic Chart Display Information

System (ECDIS) to undergo specific education and training. India is waiting for IMO

Model Course on ECDIS (revised) to get adopted by MSC,IMO. Guidelines for

conducting ECDIS course will be issued by Directorate General of Shipping (DG) soon

after Revised Model course is accepted.

Master and Chief Officers – Management Level officers

a) Upgradation Course- 11 days course

b) ECDIS course – 5 days- IMO Model course 1.27 compliant

c) AdvanceFire Fighting Refresher course – 1 day – 5 years expiry

d) Advance Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat Refresher course – 1day

– 5 years expiry

Second and Third officers – Operational Level officers

e) Upgradation Course- 11 days course

f) ECDIS course – 5 days- IMO Model course 1.27 compliant

g) Basic Fire Fighting Refresher course – 1 day – 5 years expiry

h) Basic Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat Refresher course – 1 day

– 5 years expiry

All Preparatory competency courses are upgraded to STCW -2010 compliant.

MCA Requirements of STCW-2010 for UK CoC as follows:

2.1.2 UK CoC Requirements as required by MCA,UK

The MCA does not currently accept any distance learning courses

The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Code bring in the requirement for Deck

Officers working onboard ships fitted with an Electronic Chart Display Information

System (ECDIS) to undergo specific education and training.

As of 1 January 2012 seafarers requiring revalidation of UK CoCs issued in compliance

with STCW Regulation II/1, II/2 and II/3 (maintain a safe navigational watch; use of

ECDIS to maintain safety of navigation; and maintain the safety of navigation through the

use of ECDIS and associated navigation systems to assist command decision making)

need to comply with the new STCW requirements to ensure their CoC remains valid on

ships fitted with ECDIS after 31 December 2016.

Indian CoC Requirements :-

Master and Chief Officers –

Management Level officers

a) Upgradation Course- 11

days course

b) ECDIS course - 5 days-

IMO Model course 1.27

compliant

c) AdvanceFire Fighting

Refresher course – 1 day – 5

years expiry

d) Advance Proficiency in

Survival Craft and Rescue

Boat Refresher course –

1day – 5 years expiry

Second and Third officers –

Operational Level officers

e) Upgradation Course- 11

days course

f) ECDIS course – 5 days-

IMO Model course 1.27

compliant

g) Basic Fire Fighting

Refresher course – 1 day – 5

years expiry

h) Basic Proficiency in

Survival Craft and Rescue

Boat Refresher course – 1

day – 5 years expiry



A5







ISSUE-1

For the revalidation of UK CoC valid after 31 December 2016, the seafarer must have

completed one of the following:

• MCA approved Navigation Radar and ARPA Simulator (NARAS)/ Navigation Aids and

Equipment and Simulator Training (NAEST) (Operational Level) course completed on or

after 1January 2005; or

• MCA approved NARAS/ NAEST (Management Level) course completed on or after

1January 2005; or

• MCA approved ECDIS course completed on or after 1 January 2005; or

• ECDIS simulator training course in compliance with IMO Model Course 1.27, accepted

by the MCA and approved by an Administration whose CoC we accept for the issue of a

CEC.

The original course certificate must be submitted with the application. Deck Officers not

meeting the above requirement will receive the following CoC limitation:

“From the 1 January 2017 this certificate is not valid for service on ships fitted with

ECDIS”.

Deck Officers may subsequently request the removal of this limitation by providing

documentary evidence of MCA approved ECDIS training.

2.2 Engineering Certificate of Competency Upgradation, High Voltage (HV)

requirements

The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Code bring in the requirement for engineers

to undergo education and training in High Voltage systems, at both the operational and

management levels. This requirement comes into force on the 1 January 2017 but will

affect the revalidation of Engineering Certificates of Competency (CoC) from 1 January

2012. There is no requirement for additional training to be undertaken by all existing

Engineer Officers, whether or not they intend to work on ships having High Voltage

systems. However, High Voltage training requirements will be incorporated in the future

training programmes of Engineer Officers at both the operational and management levels.

No additional action is required for Engineer Officers who do not work on and do not

intend to work on ships with High Voltage systems. These Engineer Officers will receive

the following CoC limitation:

“From 1 January 2017 this certificate is not valid for service on ships fitted with High

Voltage (over 1000V) systems”.

Engineer Officers who do not want this limitation placed on their CoC should read the

following section applicable to their Certificate.

Note: A High Voltage (over 1000V) system is where voltage is generated and distributed

at high voltage or transformed to and distributed at high voltage. It does not include

systems where high voltage is utilised locally e.g. ignition systems, radio transmission,

Radar and other navigational equipment.

Chief Engineer and Second engineer – Management Level officers

a) Upgradation Course- 11 days course

b) AdvanceFire Fighting Refresher course – 1 day – 5 years expiry

c) Advance Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat Refresher course –

1 day – 5 years expiry

d) High Voltage Safety Course

Indian CoC Requirements :-

Chief Engineer and Second

engineer – Management Level

officers


days course

b) AdvanceFire Fighting

Refresher course – 1 day

– 5 years expiry

c) Advance Proficiency in

Survival Craft and

Rescue Boat Refresher

course – 1 day – 5 years

expiry

d) High Voltage Safety

Course

Third and Fourth Engineers –

Operational Level officers


days course

b) Basic Fire Fighting

Refresher course – 1 day

– 5 years expiry

c) Basic Proficiency in

Survival Craft and

Rescue Boat Refresher

course – 1 day – 5 years

expiry

d) High Voltage Safety

Course All Preparatory

competency courses are

upgraded to STCW -2010

compliant.



A6







ISSUE-1

Third and Fourth Engineers – Operational Level officers

e) Upgradation Course- 11 days course

f) Basic Fire Fighting Refresher course – 1 day – 5 years expiry

g) Basic Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat Refresher course – 1 day – 5 years expiry

h) High Voltage Safety Course All Preparatory competency courses are upgraded to STCW -2010

compliant.

EOOW CoC Reg. III/1 (Operational Level)

To avoid having the High Voltage limitation, Engineer Officers of the Watch will need to show compliance with

the 2010 Manila Amendments. In addition to the current revalidation requirements, they will have to provide

documentary evidence of:

• Completion of High Voltage (HV) course(*); or

• Completion of the following sea service in the engine room on vessels fitted with HV systems;

• six months in the preceding five years; or

• three months sea service during the last twelve months.

Sea service evidence can be provided in the form of a company letter signed by an authorised official within the

company.

Second/Chief Engineer Officer CoC Reg. III/2 and III/3 (Management Level)

To avoid having the High Voltage limitation, Senior Engineer Officers will need to show compliance with 2010

Manila Amendments. In addition to the current revalidation requirements, they will have to provide documentary

evidence of completion of High Voltage (HV) course (*).

* High Voltage Courses

Courses previously undertaken prior to 1 July 2013 do not need to be MCA approved but you must provide

documentary evidence confirming the course covers at least the following topics:

at the operational level

• The hazards associated with High Voltage systems;

• The functional, operational and safety requirements for a marine high-voltage system;

• Basic arrangement of High Voltage systems and their protective devices;

• Safety procedures related to High Voltage systems; and

• Immediate actions to be taken under fault conditions.

at the management level

• The functional, operational and safety requirements for a marine high-voltage system;

• Assignment of suitably qualified personnel to carry out maintenance and repair of high-voltage switchgear of

various types;

• Taking remedial action necessary during faults in a high-voltage system;

• Producing a switching strategy for isolating components of a high-voltage system;

• Selecting suitable apparatus for isolation and testing of high-voltage equipment;

• Carrying out a switching and isolation procedure on a marine high-voltage system, complete with safety

documentation; and

• Performing tests of insulation resistance and polarization index on high-voltage equipment.

The original certificate and course syllabus must be submitted with the application.

Engineer Officers may subsequently request the removal of the High Voltage limitation by providing documentary

evidence of a High Voltage training course that includes the required topics.



A7







ISSUE-1

2.3 Updating-Refresher Training Requirements

The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Code bring in new requirements for seafarers required to hold any of

the following safety training courses:

• Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Table A-VI/1-1)

• Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW Table A-VI/1-2)

• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boats (STCW Table A-VI/2-1)

• Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats (STCW Table A-VI/2-2)

• Advanced Fire Fighting (STCW Table A-VI/3)

Seafarers required to hold any of the above certificates of proficiency shall, every five years, provide evidence of

having maintained the required standard of competence, to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities

specified in the above stated tables.

Seafarers revalidating their Certificates of Competency (CoC) after 1 January 2017 will be required to submit

documentary evidence of having completed MCA approved updating-refresher training. There is no requirement to

provide documentary evidence for having completed updating-refresher training if a seafarer applies for CoC

revalidation before 1 January 2017.

From 1 January 2017 Port State Control Officers may require seafarers to provide documentary evidence of having

maintained the required standard of competence, to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities listed above.

Presenting the documentary evidence obtained on completing an MCA approved updating-refresher course will

meet this requirement.

Details of updating-refresher training will be published in a separate Marine Information Notice.

2.4 Leadership and Management Requirements

The 2010 Manila Amendment to the STCW Code brings in new requirements for Leadership and Management.

Additional education and training in human element, leadership and management will be introduced into the UK

Certification structure before 1 July 2013. It is considered that seafarers meeting the current Certificate of

Competency revalidation requirements will have gained sufficient leadership and management skills not to require

further training.

3. Tanker Endorsement Requirements

3.1 The 2010 Manila Amendments define continued professional competence for seafarers revalidating

tanker endorsements under Regulation I/11 as:

• Approved seagoing service, performing duties appropriate to the tanker certificate or endorsement held, for a

period of at least 3 months in total in the proceeding 5 years; or • Successfully completing an approved relevant training course or courses. As of 1 January 2012 seafarers revalidating tanker endorsements, in addition to the current revalidation

requirements, must provide evidence of approved tanker sea service appropriate to the endorsement(s) in their

CoC. Evidence must be submitted in the form of original sea service testimonials or an original MCA approved

course certificate as per MGN 9. Seafarers unable to provide evidence appropriate to a tanker endorsement in their CoC, but able to demonstrate the

current revalidation requirements for tanker endorsements, will have that tanker endorsement revalidated until 31



A8







ISSUE-1

December 2016. Depending on the tanker endorsement(s) that cannot be revalidated past 31 December 2016 they

will receive the appropriate limitation(s) in their CoC: For Oil:

“From 1 January 2017 this certificate is not valid for service on Oil Tankers”

For Chemical:

“From 1 January 2017 this certificate is not valid for service on Chemical Tankers”

For Gas:

“From 1 January 2017 this certificate is not valid for service on Gas Tankers”

For Vegetable Oil

“From 1 January 2017 this certificate is not valid for service on Vegetable Oil Tankers”

Seafarers may subsequently request the removal of the tanker limitation by providing documentary evidence of

approved training or appropriate sea service.

4. Sea Time Requirements

4.1 In addition to sea time requirements listed in MGN 9 the 2010 Manila Amendments allow Certificates of

Competency to be revalidated if the seafarer has approved sea going service, performing functions

appropriate to the certificate held for a period of at least:

• Three months in total during the preceding six months immediately prior to revalidating.

In addition to the current revalidation requirements, seafarers providing evidence of three months sea service

within six months immediately prior to their application will be eligible for revalidation.

5. Validity Periods

5.1 The 2010 Manila Amendments allow an application for revalidation of a Certificate of Competency

(CoC) made within six months of the certificates expiry date to be revalidated until the fifth anniversary of

the certificates expiry date.

Providing the current revalidation requirements are met, Certificates of Competency received for revalidation

within a period six months prior to expiring shall be revalidated until the fifth anniversary of the current CoC

expiry date. Certificates received outside of this six months period will be revalidated for five years from the date

of revalidation.

6. Removal of Limitations

6.1 Seafarers providing the appropriate documentary evidence with their application for a Certificate of

Competency revalidation will have the limitation(s) removed with no additional fee. Alternatively, the

limitation(s) can be removed by submitting the appropriate documentary evidence and the fee for the

upgrade of Certificate of Competency.



A9







ISSUE-1

The Road Not Taken

By

Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference

*******

Robert Frost

Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 –

January 29, 1963) was an American

poet. He is highly regarded for his

realistic depictions of rural life and his

command of American colloquial

speech. His work frequently employed

settings from rural life in New England

in the early twentieth century, using

them to examine complex social and

philosophical themes. One of the most

popular and critically respected

American poets of his generation, Frost

was honored frequently during his

lifetime, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes

for Poetry.



A10







ISSUE-1

Mrs.SwayamPrava Panda

Principal Swayam Maritime Academy

Some People...... by

Swayamprava

Smita threw a blank look towards her blinking computer. She scrolled

through the e-mail folders. There were about twenty new mails, in bold

letters, sitting in the inbox as if it was their birth right to be there. Most of

them were promotional mails from different companies. These

promotional mails in her inbox annoy her a lot........„Umm.....Marketing

strategy! I am not going to buy your product...ok....now get lost,‟ She

fiercely deleted all leaving last two mails. One was from her husband

Akash, a forward mail and the other one was from Priya. Priya had sent

her a note to visit her blog.

Two years back when she met Priya in this blog site, initially it was

always a casual interaction between them like posting a comment on her

blog or her view on certain write up......But later the interaction became a

daily affair and through there blogs they communicated with each others‟

thoughts and bring out solutions to their day to day

problems.....sometimes solacing each other, sometimes fighting with

each other......Two complete strangers bonded with an unusual

friendship.......Priya was too active a blogger but Smita was quite

irregular. Only for Priya she used to come occasionally to read her blogs.

“Blogs!” She smiled sarcastically. “What is there in a blog after all.....!

It‟s just a reflection of real life, same gossips, same selfish attitude, and

same desire to overpower others.......Some attitude to let down others.......

Sometimes while reading others blogs she used to think, “Why this world

is so much after show off..... They are like mirages......Like walking on a

hot desert thinking water is somewhere near the horizon...

Had anybody ever found any solace writing a blog or sharing thoughts

with others....she always wonder”

„But ......Priya! She is different‟ Thought Smita.

„ She really communicates with me through her blogs......both inspire

each other in some way or other......may be the fact was she possesses all

the qualities which I don‟t have......But still we are friends. We like each

other‟s attitude .......May be because she is successful in all those things,

which I always desired for and I am successful in all those areas which is

never her forte........Opposite attracts and may be this feeling is going as

an undercurrent somewhere..... ‟ She thought.



A11







ISSUE-1

„But I am fed up of with her dark thoughts.......what could be there in her blog, other than desperate thoughts and a never

ending suffering, which she can never share with anybody...and which is killing her every day every moment.....Why can‟t

she get over from that! Is it so difficult to fight back and get out from a sinking ground?‟

She put the computer in sleep mode.

She walked to her balcony, still thinking about Priya. The roses were swaying along with the smooth breeze. She touched its

petals for a while. “Even this rose has got a purpose in life. They can brighten up one‟s mood. So what if it is a short lived

one. The most important thing is whatever colour it is reflecting it is reflecting its true colour...no show off, no hired

emotions....all true.....and so innocent......Why human life is so complicated !.” she thought while casually caressing the

petals.....

“Smita.....how are you?” asked Anima in a loud voice from her balcony.

“Yaar, where are you after all. Hallo! Do you recognize me or not ...we are staying here as neighbours, right dear! ....... Tu

to Id ki Chand ho gayi hai...”........ Sometimes you should come out of your home to see others......Do you remember when

we last talked with each other....?”

Smita smiled at her shyly and said, “May be two months back....”

“Don‟t you feel bad Smita ! I know you have some work, that doesn‟t mean I am staying at my home as an empress, without

doing any work.....!”

“Nehi yaar...it‟s my son‟s exam.....!”

“Shut up! She said mockingly, “You just need some excuse.....My son is also studying in the same school ...ok.....Now come

up. I want to talk to you...”

“Ok...Coming.....”Said Smita , Reluctantly.....

Rest of the day passed talking about , Pandey‟s new strategy to attack the society administration, Sharma ji‟s daughter‟s

marriage, Talking about the achievements of their respective husbands.....sons...daughters.....And gossips about bai,

Sharmaji, Tripathy...so on and so forth....

When Smita returned home it was already quite late.

*******

When Akash came from office, Smita gave a dry smile to him.

“Not feeling well or what?”asked Akash

“No, feeling well, but thinking something else.” Replied Smita.

“What...I mean what is that thought let me know.”

“ Priya has send me a mail to visit her blog.”

“ So, She is your friend.......You often visit her blogs , what is the great deal.”

“No ...I am not feeling like visiting.....A sort of frustration is mounting inside me.”

“Why is this frustration?”

“See....everything you do, there should be some purpose to it. Now whether you write blog or in the name of friendship talk

to people hours and hours. Except a few moments of elated feelings that you have so many friends or you are a great writer

in the blog world what else one can achieve out of that. Can anybody earn his living out this?”



A12







ISSUE-1

“What do you mean to say?”

“See they all are working. Blogging is just a time pass for them.....But for me I am spending so much of my precious time for

nothing.....listening to people their pathetic stories, sometimes real, sometimes created ones....”

“Then don‟t do that.”

“Aha! What an easy way! „Don‟t do‟ is not a solution! As I too love to be part of it. I too love the way people communicate

with each other....complete strangers still a thin bonding keeping them binding with each other....A strange world where

nothing is real, except thoughts.”

“Then what you want to say” Akash was feeling terrible as it was already too late to go to bed and he had to wake up early

in the morning to go to office.....

**********

Next day she opened her mail box. She clicked on Priya‟s mail. The opened window displayed, “Hey Smita, It‟s again a tag

game.......See the picture posted in my blog and write something on it. I will be very happy if you participate in it.”

Smita land up on Priya‟s blog. It was a picture of a girl, standing inside a glass walled room. Smita started thinking about a

story line for the picture......In her mind‟s eye she concentrated on the house........and then her eyes fall on the half hidden

face of the girl.....

She looked the girl‟s picture intensely....

“For a while let‟s think I am the same girl possessing this glass house” She thought.

The first thought came to her mind, „how classy it will be to stay inside a glass house.....She must be very rich and

sophisticated, just like Priya ...but why see is in a glass house!.. Anyway let‟s see, how it feels to stay inside a glass house...‟

From there Smita transported to the world of thoughts from where she usually picks her stories...

********

Smita entered inside the glass house and landed up in the drawing room. The room was very well designed. It was fitted

with silk drapes with satin finish. The light pink colored walls took her further into a dream like situation. The thick beige

carpet below her feet was too soft and gave her a velvety touch. She proceeded further and saw the silk Sofa with a large

glass bowl on the side table. The bowl has got a few gold fishes and below that a few Chinese bamboo plants were placed in

a glass pot. The blue glass marbles below the plants were giving it an unusual aquamarine blue hue. She sat on the sofa and

gave a surprised look at the interiors. She couldn‟t sit there for a longer time. Her curiosity to see that beautiful house made

her too restless..... She felt as if something was lacking somewhere.....but she couldn‟t make out. She further proceeded to

the kitchen, and study room. The kitchen was full of glass shelves, with everything in it. The freeze was full of variety of

foods and drinks. The study was a delight to the eyes.....Variety of books, magazines were placed there. A big LED T.V

placed there and below it there was a glass shelve with a large collection of DVDs in it. She sneaked through the plush

bedroom. The soft pink bed was so well done that she got tempted to fit snugly into its length and breadth. She looked

around to ensure that no body was around so that she can get into the bed and enjoy its softness... She found none. She lay

down on the bed for a while and looked around to see the wonderful interior decorations. Suddenly her eyes fell on the roof

of the room and she was all shocked to see her own reflection on the big mirror fitted on the roof of the room. She looked at

the mirror and her surrounding for a while.....She felt proud that the house belonged to her.....She felt very happy and self

contented. She got out of the bed and roamed around the house again and again. She touched every piece of the room with

great care and love....She enjoyed every bit of it......She was in a semi dreamy state.

She did not know how long she stayed here like that. When she woke up from her deep thought she felt very lonely. She

wanted somebody else by her side to talk......To share her thoughts......Akash came to her mind first. Within no time she felt

Akash‟s warm touch on her shoulder. She was more than happy as she has got everything she wanted to..... But she could

feel the itch of some unfulfilled desire. What was that she couldn‟t make out.....?



A13







ISSUE-1

She asked Akash , “ Don‟t you think , here something is lacking?”

Akash shook his head in repudiation. Smita felt strange....

“Akash, I am feeling quite suffocated, shall I open the windows?”

“Sure, why not?”

“But where are the windows? There is one entrance door and the same is for exit too! ”

“See glass houses are like this only you can‟t put windows everywhere. It will make it weak. If you want you show me the

place, I will break it open to put a window for you.”

Smita went to one side of the wall, to see, if it was the suitable place to open a window. She looked through the transparent

wall and to her astonishment she found a huge slum in the outer side of that wall.

“A slum ......no I can‟t open my window there. Because I know there was too much struggle, dirt, dust, disease, deaths...... I

can‟t see them every day through my window. The breeze coming through that slum will pollute my mind and make me

sick.....I hate to see the negativities of life every day...... It will left me nervous and with a sinking feeling.” thought Smita.

See felt a sort of breathlessness. She ran to the other side of the wall and found big big mansions , lovely cars, landscaped

gardens were there.....She looked at them and thought, „no I can‟t open my window here too.....They are too big to scale and

It will exhaust me. Looking at their lavish life style...I will lose my faith in me ....This place is not suitable.‟

He turned towards Akash and asked, “Why don‟t you guide me?”

Akash smiled and said, “Life is a challenge, let it be slum or amongst the rich take it as a challenge and conquer it.....” Smita

looked at him awfully.

“I can‟t take it as a challenge...Life is there to enjoy it, to the fullest....achieve your dream..... ..Why to run after

others.....When everything is predestined why to struggle for it, why can‟t just breathe easy and do some miracle in my own

life.” She thought.

She turned around to the other end of the house where she could see the glamour world with jazzy lights. She could see the

blinking bulbs going on in a never ending on and off mode.......... A few seconds of blast of light making everything so

bright as if making the world go blind at its flash and in the next moment dimming and then going away making every thing

dark behind.....as if it was never existed there........She felt terrible......

“It must be very pathetic and quite heart wrenching.....Everybody looks at the flashing bulb, but how lonely is that fused

bulb......Do people ever care about that.....How selfish that world would be! That is the world of creative people....who are

only concerned about themselves and their thought and selfishly guard their own interest and achievements...........No I can‟t

be part of it either...that selfish air touching them will flow through my window and make my glass house corrupt ...I don‟t

want a stained glass house......I want it sparkling just like crystal .....” She thought.

She turned towards last wall.......Through that widow she saw the community who were busy with something or

other.......Talented people but too much indulge in some lifeless objects....no thoughts, no creativity........Just they know how

to take care of that lifeless object in which they have mastered ........She could see the living creatures turning into

numbs........She felt again breathless.......



A14







ISSUE-1

Her roving eyes looked through the length and breadth of the house and her eyes fall on the staircase in one corner of the

house. She ran towards it...She climbed up to the roof top......She looked at the view, quite mesmerized, for a while...... and

thought, “Alas! What is this! The open sky is visible but one can see it only through that transparent glass sheet.”

“Akash I want o break it open here.....See! This staircase is touching the sky! but this glass window is obstructing the

path....Can you please break it open...I just want to climb......to touch the sky....like a bird I want to breath in the open air....I

want to climb it till my death....... I don‟t want to stop myself as it makes me suffocated........I need fresh air......I need that

open sky...I need lungs full of Oxygen.......But at the same time I want to return to this glass palace. Can you make a small

window there, from where I can climb to that flight of steps to scale new heights? And when I will feel tired I can comeback

and rest in my palace.......I want that window exactly there in the roof top......”

*******

Her vigorously typing fingers rested for a while. She looked at that photo again on the computer screen........ She saw a big

crack in that glass wall and a small hole in it......She looked towards the Sky.....A big eagle was flying in freestyle spreading

its wings...... She was all mesmerized.......

A tap in her shoulder brought her back.

“It is too late; don‟t you feel sleepy......What Priya has written in the blog, which is making you so distracted? Any problem

is there?”

“ Problem? No....... in fact she has given me solution to my problem......!”

“ Your problem ! ya.....don‟t say I am torturing you.....You know nowadays these woman right activists are too active.....”

He winked.

“Shut up!‟ Smita made a face and suddenly got serious and said, “I am not joking........I want to do something.....You know

...like Priya.....but not insecure and alone like her but in your shadow I want to fulfill my aim....Will you support me......”

Akash took Smita into his embrace and said, “Why not...Don‟t tell in my shadow...but as friends and companions we can

fulfill our aims.......”

Smita smiled.

“Ok...just let me send this mail to Priya.....I will talk to you about my plans ...” said Smita.

She posted the blog and replied to the note, “Priya, posting this blog in response to your picture. Some people are there,

who come to your life and influence you so much that they become the pathfinder for your distracted mind and some people

are there without whose companionship, you can‟t do anything.............I wish in your life somebody should come as a guide

who can show you the right path and inspire you like you inspired me through this picture. At the same time, I wish some

Akash too come to your life and extend you the same companionship and can provide you a glass palace with a staircase to

the open sky too..........But at this moment, I can only wish.....But It is you who can make it come true......right

dear..........Think about it.......”

Written on :-2nd nov ,2008



A15







ISSUE-1

Kahaani- A Review

By

Swayamprava

After a long interval, I watched the Movie “Kahaani” starring Vidya Balan . And I gave a 4 ½ out of 5 to it. You must be

wondering, what is so great about this movie? Its greatness lies with its strong story line and the beautiful portrayal of Vidya

Balan as a pregnant lady. She was just amazing. Her performance was so engrossing that after a few scenes one will completely

absorbed in the agony of a seven month pregnant London returnee Vidya Bagchi, in search of her husband.

When I searched I found this interesting fact that the story of Vidya Balan starrer suspense thriller Kahaani is based on the

real life experiences of novelist Advaita Kala, who has penned the script for the film. The movie deals with a language barrier,

the chaos and poverty of the metropolis during her brief stay in Kolkata. It also shows the warmth of the people of Kolkata

shown to her.

Kahaani is all about a seven-month pregnant woman who comes alone to Kolkata from London in search of her husband.

Quite similarly, Advaita too had landed in Kolkata from the US to work at the Oberoi Grand hotel here. She was retracing the

footsteps of her then boyfriend who had worked at the same hotel a year ago.

In an interview to the PTI, Advaita Kala has revealed that Kahaani is based on her real life. "For me it was very romantic. I

would want to go to bookstores he used to visit and walk on the streets where he used to go. In the film, I have emotionally

drawn Vidya's character and her journey from these experiences," the PTI quotes her as saying.

Anyway, whenever the story of a film or serial gets its theme from real life stories, it usually touches the heart of millions…

As far as the Kahani’s story line goes, it revolves around a pretty, intelligent, urbane woman Vidya Bagchi (28), who was seven

months pregnant and in an emotionally fragile state, but with extreme reserves of determination and resolve, arrives in Kolkata

from London, looking for her missing husband…

Arnab Bagchi, Vidya’s husband and in her words, “Her reason for being”, had come to Kolkata on a software consultancy

project with the National Data Centre (NDC). The first two weeks of his visit, passed quite smoothly as Arnab and Vidya

would chat daily and anxiously await the passing of the few remaining days apart. Suddenly, one day…all communication with

Arnab ceased remained untraceable.

Worried about her husband, Vidya arrived in Kolkata and straight way went to the police station to file a missing person

complaint. As a pregnant woman, within no time she caught the attention and drew the emotions of the duty officers in Police

station. Here she met Rana, the duty officer. With the help of Rana, in an unknown city like Kolkata, Vidya began her search

while Kolkota was busy in the preparation for Durga Puja.

As the first step towards her search, Vidya went to the hotel where Arnab had stayed and was shocked to see that the hotel was

actually a very down market guesthouse. The manager insisted that no Arnab Bagchi ever stayed with them. Vidya was at her

wits end, but chose to stay in the guesthouse.

Next morning Vidya went to the NDC but the HR manager, Agnes, told her the same thing in person as she said on the phone

to Vidya in London. Agnes had not sanctioned any assignment for any Arnab Bagchi, and neither did he arrive in Kolkata.



A16







ISSUE-1

She went to the police station . The police are slightly baffled when she told them that both the NDC and the hotel where

Arnab was staying, but there was no evidence in the records The next few days were equally harrowing for Vidya. Everywhere

her search reached a dead end. . The final blow came when the police informed Vidya that both London and Kolkata

immigration had no records of anyone by the name of Arnab Bagchi leaving London or arriving in Kolkata.

Even though the police was convinced that it is a case of wife abandonment they didn’t have the heart to tell Vidya .So they

insisted Vidya to return home to London. In her condition she shouldn’t be staying alone in an unknown city like Kolkata.

Vidya relented and was ready to return when she got a call from Agnes, the HR manager of NDC.

Vidya met Agnes, and Agnes said she had a rethink on the photo of Arnab, which Vidya left with her. She said it came to her

mind later that Arnab looked exactly like an ex--employee of NDC called Milan Damji. Vidya was disheartened and

disillusioned, as this new information though baffling and intriguing, dinn’t answer any of the thousand questions running

around in her mind. She thanked Agnes and told her that she’s decided to return to London.

That night Agnes was murdered!!!

The police and the Intelligence Bureau interrogated Vidya, as hers was the last number dialed from Agnes’ mobile. Vidya told

them the truth as to exactly what transpired between her and Agnes. To her surprise, the IB department becomes very hostile

hearing Milan Damji’s name. Vidya was asked to return to London immediately.

Vidya realized that there is something very mysterious and sinister about Milan Damji. Besides, Milan Damji now seemed the

only vital clue to the answers to her husband’s identity and whereabouts. Vidya decided to stay back, against all odds and

warnings to continue her search…

The simple “wife abandonment” thought that was so far occupied by the spectator’s mind suddenly gets encountered with an

unusual turn , as story line suddenly gets twisted with the name of Milan Damji.

Who is Milan Damji? Why is the country’s most sinister and powerful department, the IB, so touchy about and interested in

him? What is his relation, if any, to Vidya’s missing husband? Who killed Agnes and why? Was her murder related to Vidya’s

persistence in her search for her husband? Would Vidya be successful in her now life--threatening search for her soul mate?

The plot becomes so complicated from that point onwards that the viewer will get complete occupied by the movie and watch

it with awe and wonder till the end. And how can I forget the role of Rana (Parambrata Chatarjee, A bengli actor), doing the

role of the police officer, who as coined by Vidya, “like Satyaki”, Arjun’s charioteer, not only helped Vidya to steer her chariot

with ease till the final culmination but also stood like a support pillar to the fragile emotion s of Vidya Bagchi in this movie.

Rana who shares almost every frame with Vidya in the film plays Vidya's distressed spouse-searching character's cop-saviour

who breaks protocol, rules and conventions to get her to her goal and somewhere down the line becomes subtly attracted to

her. His subtle portrayal of love towards Vidya was so eloquent and his sweet soft smile was so intoxicating that even in such a

dry story, it has got enough power to take his viewers to great romantic heights …

So leaving my readers in the thinking mode I think I should stop here as one can only feel the true essence of this movie by

watching it in a hall where you and the movie and nobody else in between to disturb, can give you the real space to think and

to enjoy it to your heart’s extent…



A17







ISSUE-1



A18







ISSUE-1



fragrance spring edition

Documents