Source: www.hillpost.in
Shimla : In what is being described as the heaviest snowfall this time in twenty years in Himachal Pradesh’s apple belt in Shimla district the damage to apple trees is widespread , say farmers .
As the skies begin to clear and farmers begin trudging into the snow covered terraced orchards they say the scale of the damage to trees is beginning to unravel.
Anguished farmers say the damage is very high in some orchards by the snowfall which fell earlier this month .
At several places giant trees have either been uprooted or have broken down the middle . There is also damage to branches and twigs by the heavy snowfall .
Large tracts of land in Rohru , Jubbal , Chopal , Kotkhai , Kotgarh , Narkanda , Theog among other places are still under deep snow .
The record total snowfall in January this time has varied between 3 to 6 feet in orchards located between 6000 ft and 9000 ft altitude , the heaviest in at least twenty years.
This kind of snowfall is unheard of in recent years and has caused large-scale damage to apple trees at most places .
An apple tree can grow up to 20 feet in height and takes 15 to 20 years to attain full size .
Farmers say the gravity of the loss can be gauged from the fact that it takes such a long time to wait for a tree to grow and then one fine snowy winter night it comes crashing down .
Although apple cultivation takes place in about six districts of the state . Shimla district alone accounts for 80 per cent of the production .
And it is in Shimla district the snowfall has been heaviest and most damaging .
Leh to Spangmik 165 kilometres
Ladakh offers some of India’s most majestic and mystical landscapes. This is no more evident than on the route from Leh to Spangmik, a small settlement on the shores of the vast Pangong Tso lake. The bare, brown mountains tower over you as you negotiate the twists and turns of the narrow road. The view is at its best near the top of Chang La, the world’s second highest motorable road after Khardung La. On the other side, you may see either green pastures with herds of yak or white sheets of snow. Of course the best part is at the end where you’re met by the gentle lapping of the lake’s piercing blue waters and very welcome silence.
Shimla to Kalpa 235 kilometres
The stretch from Shimla to Kalpa offers stunning views of the Himalayas. En route are the famous apple belts of Kotgarh and Kumarsain descending to the Sutlej Valley. In the Kinnaur valley many roads are cut so they jut out over a sheer precipice; beautiful and dangerous. This route also has several waterfalls near bridges. The beauty of the road from Reckong Peo, the district headquarters, to Kalpa, ostensibly the final leg of the journey, is unsurpassed in its beauty. No words can do justice to the sights of the Kinnaur-Kailash range. Finally, in Kalpa, do visit the ancient Kalpa monastery set against the backdrop of the majestic Mt Kailash.
Naples to Florence 550 kilometres
This drive along Italy’s west coast can be completed in a day, thanks to excellent traffic and road conditions. The route passes through lush greenery on either side and occasionally through some hills as well. One interesting stopover comes up about a third of the way. What seems like a regular service station-cum-foodcourt also houses a museum for a Necropolis, which was found by construction workers digging at the site. That isn’t all. Italy’s stunning landscapes line the entire journey and are occasionally punctuated by medieval castles or ancient settlements that hang on the sides of undulating hills.
Prague to Ceske Budojevice 160 kilometres
Prague’s popularity as a holiday destination for Indians has gained momentum fairly recently. The city itself though, is ancient and boasts, among many other monuments, Hradcany Castle, the world’s largest. Driving out of Prague one is immediately captivated by the beauty of the Czech Republic’s bohemian countryside. Rolling green meadows and endless rows of bright yellow sunflowers as the road dips and then rises gently make you feel as if you’re lost in a painting. Even the sun seems to shine at a more mellow intensity here as you drive on to the 13th century settlement of Ceske Budojevice, renowned for its breweries since medieval times.
With Ridhima Ahluwalia
Churches in Shimla deck up for Christmas
Surekha Dhaleta, TNN Dec 25, 2011, 05.42AM IST
SHIMLA: All prominent churches in Shimla are decked with their finery to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with the holy communion service starting at midnight on Saturday. Apart from the founding mainline churches including the historic Christ Church Ridge, St Michael’s Cathedral, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Baptist Church and Evangelical church of India, a host of independent churches have sprung up over the years in Shimla.
Bazel Dean, who plays more than a century-old pipe organ at the historic Christ Church, said, “Around 2,000 people of the Christian community live in Shimla and amongst these, more than 150 families are aligned to the five major churches.”
“The Christ Church has 78 families associated with it as we have St Michael’s Church Jutogh under the same pastorate. However, 60-65 families are associated with the Christ Church on the Ridge,” said Rev Mushtaq A Malk, presbyter in charge of Christ Church.
General secretary of YMCA Naresh Scott said, “Besides the founding churches, other churches include the Methodist Church, Pentecostal Church, Assembly of Church developed around the 80′s, and the later developments include New Life fellowship, Mukti fellowship, BSS Bathal’s Satsang, Nepali Church and Grace Home in New Shimla, Harvest Ministry, Miracle Church of Jesus Christ, Believer’s Church Shimla, among others.”
According to church historians a large number of families related to the main churches are second and third generation of Christians from Kotgarh in Shimla and Kangra district. Besides them, there also exist Punjabi Christians. Some South Indians are members of the Catholic Church. According to Rev Malk: “Unlike the old churches, the newer institutions work independently and do not have a set constitution, structure and rules. In the main churches, pastoral and management committee approves of everything, and a liturgy is followed like the holy communion.”
Apart from being centres of reverence for the community, some of the mainline institutions have been landmarks in the city and stand testimonials to the history of Shimla. The Christ Church on the Ridge enjoys better footfall as compared to others due to its location and ambience and is visited by people from all faiths.
It is credited to be the second oldest church in North India and was consecrated in 1857, built of stone and bricks in lime mortar by Colonel J T Boileau with neo-Gothic elements. Decorated with fine stained glass paintings and memorial plaques, the church still maintains pews designated for the viceroy, commander-in-chief, and the governor of Punjab.
Built in 1886, St Michael’s Cathedral was the first Roman catholic church in the hill station, and served as the cathedral of a new diocese. The cathedral too has stained glass window said to have been brought from Germany. Made of exquisite stone, the church is built with a partial vocabulary of French-Gothic style.
A place comes to my mind,
This place is one of its kind.
Up in the mountain it shines;
Basking in the glory of Whistling pines.
Where peace in the wind blow,
Carrying flakes of Snow.
Starry nights and morning dew;
Golden sunshine with a river view.
Here the silence flows slow;
Feeling of resentment one let go.
Brothers watch each others back,
And lay their bodies on tracks.
No Pearls & Diamonds;
It has the best Apples & Almonds.
Its rich flora & fauna;
Is a perfect cure for city’s life trauma.
It’s my nest, it’s the best;
Visit it, you’ll forget the rest.
Don’t wait for August & September;
Any season, you can take a walk to remember.
Whenever, I say its name;
The feeling drives me insane.
Call me obsessed;
But my beautiful Kotgarh is the best.
I want to go back home,
And run to the hill top and roam.
I want to soar high and roar;
“I am from Kotgarh… Need I say More”.
- Rajat Singha
Source: HILL POST
Shimla :Fear prevails among locals as black himalayan bears are frequently being spotted at the edge of many villages in Kotgarh and neighbouring areas of Himachal Pradesh , locals say.
A woman was badly mauled in the Brehri Dhar area a few days ago. A few others have also had close encounters with passing bears , locals told the Hill Post .
After night fall villagers are avoiding moving out of their homes for fear of running into a wild bear . They have complained to the forest and wildlife department .
In neighbouring Narkanda and Kumarsain villages , people say bears have even been raiding apple orchards . At a few places these burly creatures even broke and uprooted some small apple trees recently .
L.S.Thakur DFO Kotgarh was quoted as saying that efforts were being made by the wildlife wing to drive away these bears . Also locals were being educated to be alert and vigilant .
Posted by SWARAAJ CHAUHAN, International Columnist
Sep 10th, 2011 |
At a time when America appears lost, and its leadership continues its reckless bid for global supremacy, it is interesting to recall the story of the only American who participated in India’s freedom struggle and was imprisoned by the British-Indian government. He gave up Western clothes and donned home-spun Khadi dress.
A highly impressed Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his Young India: “No Indian is giving such battle to the (British-Indian) Government as Mr. Samuel Evans Stokes Jr. He has veritably become the guide, philosopher and friend of the hill men.”
Born into a famous American Quaker family (and son of a Philadelphia millionaire), Samuel Evans Stokes Jr. made India his home when he was only 21. He turned into a political activist. Stokes is also credited with the introduction of “American Delicious variety” of apples in Shimla Hills, which resulted in many significant social and economic changes in the region.
On Stokes’ arrest 17 years after his arrival in India, Mahatma Gandhi wrote: “That he (Stokes) should feel with and, like an Indian, share his sorrows and throw himself into the (freedom) struggle, has proved too much for the (British-Indian) government. To leave him free to criticize the government was intolerable, so his white skin has proved no protection for him…”
Stokes’ portrait adorns the walls of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library at New Delhi (a building where India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru lived), but few people outside India’s northern State of Himachal Pradesh are aware about the legacy of this great man.
Better known by his Indian name “Satyanand” Stokes, he arrived in India in 1904. Kotgarh in Shimla Hills, overlooking Satluj river, became his new home. It was the last outpost of the British Empire, situated on the Hindustan-Tibet mule track. Rudyard Kipling described the area as “The Mistress of The Hills”, and based one of his stories “Lispeth” on Kotgarh. Stokes soon became the most loved and respected member of this area.
Stokes’ journey to India began on January 9, 1904, when he boarded the old Haverford at Philadelphia, writes his granddaughter, Asha Sharma, in her book An American in Gandhi’s India. “Little did he know this would be a journey of no return. His destination was Subathu, a small town in Shimla Hills, to work in a leper home.
“Among the crowds of friends and relatives assembled to bid goodbye to ‘Sam’ were his father, Samuel Evans Stokes, Sr., engineer, holder of numerous patents, successful businessman, pioneer of elevators in America, and founder and proprietor of Stokes and Parish Machines Company in Philadelphia; his mother Florence Spencer Stokes, a devout Christian, devoted mother, an American proud of her heritage and family values: his brother Spencer,20; and sisters Anna, 19; and Florence, 14.”
After a short stay in England where he met leading personalities working among leprosy patients in India, Stokes began his India journey aboard “Olympia” in February 1904 and headed towards Shimla Hills. He travelled extensively in Punjab to learn about leprosy work there. Although he himself came as a missionary to spread Christianity, he was soon disillusioned by the work and lifestyle of the missionaries, and differences arose.
The story of how a “Sahib” Stokes became a “Sadhu” (ascetic mendicant) Stokes is equally fascinating … He grew a beard, wore a saffron choga (a loose cloth) and hemp slippers on his feet. His austere belongings were a blanket, lota, and a degchi to cook food and eat in. Stokes’ family was distraught to get the news of his new life. But more distraught were the Christian missionaries in and around Kotgarh.
Kotgarh was one of the few small pockets in hill areas of north India directly under British rule, surrounded by big Princely hill states (including my hometown – the Princely state of Nahan or Sirmaur). The British forces, invited by local hill Rajas and Maharajas to help repulse the attack from Gurkha army from Nepal, reached Kotgarh in 1814. In such small areas as Kotgarh, the British Political Agent to Hill States, Captain Charles Pratt Kennedy, wanted to help spread Christianity to win the loyalty of the locals.
Stokes arrived in Kotgarh at a time when local missionaries were tearing their hair because they could not make much headway
in conversion work. A handful of converted people were declared outcastes by the locals. With his sadhu’s attire and a different attitude, Stokes was welcomed by high caste families, including Rajputs and Brahmins.
Stokes’ granddaughter Asha Sharma, who studied at Columbia University, gives a detailed and fascinating account of this legendary American-turned-Indian’s journey … from his childhood in America to his role as a leading member of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent freedom movement in India; from his ascetic life to his marriage to a local girl; from his pioneering work in treating leprosy patients to bringing about a horticulture revolution in hilly northern India.
Where do I fit into this narrative? My association with Kotgarh began when I was in school. I would visit my aunt in Kotgarh during my school/college summer holidays, providing much relief from the dust and heat of Delhi. My aunt was married into a local Rajput family who were leading apple growers in the area.
Her husband, Govind Ram Bhalaik’s two sisters were married to Prem Chand Stokes and Pritam Chand Stokes, sons of Samuel Evans “Satyanand” Stokes. Hence the children of Prem and Pritam, the third-generation Stokes, were my contemporaries and, in a way, my second cousins. These families are highly talented and we used to have spirited discussions, and wonderful pahari food, at their home “Harmony Hall”, named after their ancestral home in America.
I would often walk from Bhareri Estate, my aunt’s house (a spacious and elegant colonial mansion that once belonged to the British Political Agent during the East India Company rule), to the Stokes house at Thanedhar, a few kilometres away – with apple orchards on both sides of the road. The temple built by Stokes, after his conversion to Hinduism, overlooks the rolling hills around and has shlokas written on the walls.
Almost all among the third-generation male members of the Stokes’ immediate family have returned to America. But many of them do return to the land of their legendary grandfather who left all the luxury in America to work among the poorest of the poor … and sincerely believed in the dignity of human life and freedom.
Kotgarh: Focusing on improving quality and quantity of apple producing methodologies, Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) organized a days’ workshop here at Thanedhar, Kotgarh that was attended by scientists and fruit growers.
Speaking on the occasion Gurdev Singh, director horticulture stressed upon adopting new techniques, water conservation and using better planting material for improving quality and yields.
He said that whereas late Satyanand Stokes pioneered in introducing commercial growing of apple as a cash crop from Kotgarh but it was time to revisit the subject as climate change and global warming has had an impact in the fruit producing belts of the state.
Plant scientist GP Upadhaya spoke about the need to keeping a check on the soil health as “we feed the soil, so the soil will feed the plant.” Constant monitoring of soil health was drawing desired results, he added.
TP Dutta, a former director with Indian Institute of Packaging Management made a presentation about packaging methods that has lately been introduced in the horticulture sector.
Many leading apple growers, which included Vijay Stokes, a grandson of Satyanand Stokes, participated in the workshop.
Vijay Stokes, after retiring from teaching engineering at IIT and in the US, is already experimenting with rejuvenating old orchards by re-planting them with high yielding stock trees on a large scale.
“An interactive session with apple orchard owners, representatives, scientists and officials from horticulture department proved very fruitful,” said Neeta Chauhan, CII’s zonal head at Shimla.
Discussion were held on orchard management, soil health, drip irrigation, rootstock, hill horticulture, post harvest management and cold chain, diversifying fruit growing, floriculture and growing exotic vegetables.
Ajit Butail, Member, CII Himachal Pradesh State Council assured the apple growing community that CII continue its commitment to improve the overall horticulture scenario in the state.
The industrial chamber is scheduled to hold another workshop at Kothkai, another important apple growing centre on September 8.
Source: www.zeenews.india.com | Updated on Sunday, September 04, 2011, 10:25
“Age cannot wither her nor can custom stale her infinite variety,” is what Shakespeare wrote for Cleopatra. The same, it seems, could be true for Himachal Pradesh`s `iron lady` and leader of opposition Vidya Stokes, who has been on a non-cereal diet for 50 years. No grains for this doughty, energetic 84-year-old, who eats salads, soups, vegetables and dal. And the octogenarian is growing stronger.
“This is the power of food,” Stokes told reporters in an interview. It began some five decades ago when Stokes, a Congress leader and a long-time administrator of women`s hockey, was holidaying in Europe with her husband (the late Lal Chand Stokes). “During the vacation, I decided to forgo grains,” said Stokes, a prominent apple cultivator in the region. “We were invited by an Indian friend for a dinner during our stay in Germany. A number of Europeans were also invited. One of the Europeans remarked that `Indians are literally crazy for grains. They are obsessed with sugar and white flour. They eat a lot of trash most of the time`.”
“Thereafter, I encountered a book written by American nutritionist (Gayelord) Hauser in a bookstore in Germany. As I was going through the book, I was making up my mind to forgo grains as they cause obesity, excess release of fat-promoting insulin and trigger digestive problems,” she said. She returned to India, astonishing everybody with her decision to stop eating grains. No more rice or chapatis for her. “Initially, I had to face a lot of problems, especially from my husband. He was quite upset with my decision of not savouring even non-vegetarian dishes. My family members used to laugh at me,” recalled Stokes, whose family is credited with pushing Himachal Pradesh`s apple boom. “This is my secret of staying fit and active. There are a lot of people who are regularly consuming grains that make them sick… I still don`t take medicines,” she said.
Stokes, who was power minister in Himachal Pradesh from 2003 to 2007, loves a banana or an apple with yoghurt or low-calorie biscuits in breakfast. Her lunch is usually baked vegetables and a soup. And dinner comprises `dal` and salads. But she indulges her sweet tooth, even eating a gulab jamun now and then. “After dinner every day, I yearn for a low-calorie sweet dish,” she said. Stokes believes: “If you`re not ready to give up grains, make sure you eat the best quality grains, especially organic. These can be eaten in sprouted or soaked.” Stokes` father-in-law Satyanand (Samuel Evans Stokes Junior), an American missionary, first introduced high quality apples in the Kotgarh-Thanedar belt in upper Shimla in the early 1920s. Stokes now manages most of her family`s orchards. She also loves collecting dolls, some rare ones handpicked from across the globe. She gifted some of them to the International Dolls Museum in Chandigarh.
After putting in more than four decades in state politics, Stokes, who is known in political circles for her proximity to the Gandhi family, said: “I think I should have another term. If you are physically and mentally fit, there is no harm in continuing.” “I am a soft-spoken politician… It`s my strength, not weakness. By the way, I am stronger than many others as I have no vested interests in politics,” she said. IANS
Posted by Baldev S. Chauhan | Monday, September 5th, 2011
Shimla : For the first time the Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) is organising an apple workshop at Kotgarh and Kotkhai the two prominent apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh.
“The workshops are scheduled on 6 Sept at Kotgarh and at Kotkhai on 8 Sept.It will comprise a one day conference at these places, including an interactive session for apple farmers, representatives,scientists and horticulture officials,” said Neeta Chauhan, CII’s zonal head at Shimla,Monday.
The sessions will involve a discussion on orchard management, soil health,drip irrigation,rootstock, hill horticulture,post harvest management and cold chain,diversifying fruit growing,floriculture and growing exotic vegetables.
The apple harvest is on since July and is likely to end early this year sometime later this month.
Source: www.himvani.com
By: Kishori Lal
Mandi (Aug 11): What teams of horticulture scientists have failed to do after decades of research involving huge expenditure, has been done single-handedly by an ordinary farmer with an extraordinary zeal. He has been able to grow an apple plant which grows and flourishes in the lower areas of Himachal Pradesh, not necessarily requiring any snowfall.
A bare matriculate, Hari Man Sharma has ushered in a revolution wherein he has 
shown the way for others to grow apples in lower areas where so far only plums and wild peaches grew. Today, his village, Paniala, in Ghumarwin sub-division of Bilaspur district, where temperatures can soar up to 45 degree Celsius in the summers, boasts of a well-planned apple orchard which is not just giving him financial returns, but also motivating others to tread the same path.
His decade-long efforts have borne fruits much to the surprise of horticulture experts across the country who had abandoned the idea of growing apples in the lower heights. The idea of growing apples in lower valleys struck Hari in 2000 when he saw an apple plant growing in his kitchen garden from seeds of consumed apples strewn there. He was astonished to see that after three years the plant started bearing fruits.
“I missed no time in multiplying this plant by grafting it on plum trees. His joy knew no bounds when his experiment clicked successfully. Subsequently he yielded a bumper crop. This inspired him to propagate plants on a large scale on crab brought from Kashmir,” the progressive farmer said.
The proud farmer has now over 100 full-grown plants in his small apple orchard. The first yield of the crop was three quintals of apples ready for marketing. It fetched high price because of its early arrival in the market. Har Man says it is the fastest growing apple plant in the country which starts bearing fruit after three years.
A down-to-earth person, Har Man, who ushered in a new era in the sphere of horticulture in the state by applying an ordinary technique of grafting, has not only disclosed the secret to one and all, but also distributed about 3,000 plants to
fellow fruit growers in six lower districts of the state namely, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Kangra, Chamba and Solan. His nursery has over 42,000 plants at present.
He strongly feels that farmers in the state can easily get out of the mire of poverty if they start raising apple orchards in the lower valleys. He is proud to reveal that many plants distributed by him have started bearing fruits.
The unique feature of the new variety of apples is that it ripens around June 10 along with mangoes and fetches very high price. No other variety of apples is there in the market at this point of time. During the past 4-5 years, many teams of horticulture experts, fruit growers and VIPs have visited his orchard and have lauded his efforts. His success story has transcended the boundaries of the state and experts from other states have also evinced keen interest in his new technique.
Dr Chiranjit Parmar, a noted horticulture scientist, who has launched a globally acclaimed website “fruitipedia” has all praises for Hari Man, a person equipped with no professional skills for his great contribution in the apple revolution. He did what the government failed to do despite spending crores of rupees at Bagthan Research Center, which had to be closed after ten years, said Dr Parmar.
Dr Parmar says the only drawback in the new variety developed by Hari Man is that its shelf life is short compared to the traditional apples grown in the high hills. “But ten to 12 days are sufficient to market the early variety of the new apple. The quality, taste, look and the size are good,” he asserts.
Hari Man has done all this without any financial assistance from government. It is now up to the horticulture department to encourage fruit growers of lower belts to adopt apple growing.
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