Spiritual leader from Junagadh adopts village in Nepal

RAJKOT: A spiritual leader Muktanand Bapu has adopted a village in Earthquake affected Nepal and started relief camps in 20 villages in the Himalayan country to help in rebuilding the nation in the time of natural calamity. Muktanand Bapu of Champarda village, some 30 km away from Junagadh, has adopted Dungana village, some 40 km away from Nepal's capital Kathmandu. 

Muktanand Bapu has been camping in quake affected villages in Nepal and oversee the relief work undertaken by his followers. 

"We have started relief work in 20 villages where we provide basic amenities like food, make shift arrangement for shelter and medical facility to victims. The food is immediate requirement to victims as they have no sources of income and they have lost everything. So, we have started the kitchens in these villages'' said Madhav Jasapara, a follower of Muktanand Bapu.  "The adopted Dungana village will be rebuilt by volunteers where all the basic amenities for the villagers including 128 housing units will be provided. 

Border security policy is not foolproof: RSS chief

Apr 17, 2012, 

RAJKOT: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that terrorists can enter India easily because the country's "border security policy" is not foolproof.

"Our defence forces are capable of meeting any security challenge, but our border security policy is not foolproof and therefore terrorists can enter India easily," Bhagwat said, addressing RSS workers at Virani High School ground here last night.

Referring to the issue of shortages of weapons and ammunition, raised by the Army chief V K Singh recently, Bhagwat said, "In spite of limited weapons, our army is strong enough and has won the difficult Kargil war. The success in the Kargil war has now become a "study-case" for analysts in many countries."

Quoting Supreme Court's directions to identify and deport illegal migrants, he said, "Due to our policy, our government has failed to find out those who are staying in the country illegally, while Naxalites are taking advantage of the government's talk of peace."

Countries such as Japan and Israel had progressed rapidly despite unfavourable conditions, he said, adding that Japan suffered two nuclear bomb attacks, while Israel had to fight a war soon after becoming independent. In comparison, India could not progress well enough, though circumstances were favourable, he said.

"Nation's resurgence can be achieved only by reestablishment of Hindutva," he added. 

Road blockade by jewellers

Apr 4, 2012, 1 Rajkot

The ongoing jewellers' strike took a new turn on Tuesday, when around 200 jewellers sat on a protest at NH no. 8 at Kamrej. This resulted in heavy traffic jam for more than four hours. Police intervened and freed the highway. They also detained 47 people.

Since early morning, jewellers and jewellery workers gathered at Sainath Hotel in Navi Pardi in Kamrej taluka of Surat district. At 10 am, 200 people obstructed NH no. 8 with stones and tyres on both sides. Later protesting jewellers sat in the middle of highway and started chanting slogans against UPA.

The protest created problems for vehicles, as vehicles up to five kmlined up on the highway. Surat rural police forces were sent to disburse protesting jewellers. Initially police tried to negotiate with jewellers, but when situation did not come under control, cops resorted to light lath-charge. Later, cops removed stones and tyres and traffic movement was restored at noon. Police had to work for more than four hours to bring situation back to normal.

A case was registered against jewellers and 47 were arrested. They were produced at a local court in Kathor late in the evening. Kamrej police are investigating into the matter.

Lathicharge in Rajkot, Morbi

Protests by jewellers across Saurashtra intensified further as the strike against imposition of excise duty on non branded jewellery entered its 18th day on Tuesday. Jewellers also vowed to vigorously continue its protest in coming days, sources said. As part of the ongoing protest programme, 'Rasta Roko' was organised at various places including Rajkot, Junagadh, Keshod, Gondal and Porbandar. "To control the crowd police had to take into custody 60-odd protestors in Junagadh. Jewellers had assembled at Sabalpur Chokdi, the main entry for visitors coming from Rajkot in Junagadh city. They closed the traffic for some 20 - 25 minutes. After the police action protestors withdrew from the area," police said.

In Rajkot, 16 jewellers have begun their indefinite fast against the budget proposal. "On the second day of the fast, two of them have developed some illness. Doctors had been called for the check up where their condition had been declared out of danger," says Bhayabhai Saholiya of Rajkot Gold Dealers Association.

In a separate incident, jewellers had also organised a 'Rasta Roko' and 'Rail Roko' at Rajkot. “Rasta Roko lasted for 25 minutes at Greenland Chokdi on the National Highway 8A. Police have detained 10 in connection with the demonstration," a jeweller said.

Meanwhile, police had to resort to lathicharge on a railway crossing on state highway connecting Rajkot and Morbi. “Demonstrators were trying to stop Saurashtra Mail from passing the line," said a source.

Rajkot machine tools industry grows despite slowdown

Apr 05, 2012

Despite an economic slowdown in economy, the Rajkot based machine tools industry is witnessing a steady growth in recent times. Thanks to increased automation in the engineering sector and good growth in manufacturing field, demand for machine tools, especially the ones with computer numeric controls (CNC).

"We were wary about our growth amidst the current economic slow down. But domestic demand for machine tools have been on a constant rise, not only in Rajkot but also across India. In fact, demand for CNC machine tools itself have increased by 30-40 per cent while that of conventional ones grew by 10-15 per cent as compared to last year," said Jay Mavani, joint secretary, Machine Tools Manufacturer’s Association of Rajkot (MTMA).

Mavani attributed the reason for growth in demand to increased automation in related industries.

"As most of the companies in Rajkot as well as in other parts of the country are moving towards automation, demand of automatic and semi automatic machines has increased during past one year and will continue this year too," he added.

At 450 units, the Rajkot machine tools industry stands at number position in the country as a cluster.

During financial year 2011-12, it pegged a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore, while this year the industry is expecting over 20-25 per cent growth, thereby tapping more than Rs 1,200 crore of turnover.

"Auto components and engineering sector is doing very well and automation progress is going on various sectors. Further, we have lots of orders yet to be completed and more are on their way in the coming days," Parakramsinh Jadeja, managing director of Jyoti CNC said.

One of the largest CNC machine manufacturing company, Jyoti CNC Automation Private Limited invested about Rs 250 crore last year on capacity expansion. The company also pegged a turnover of around Rs 400 crore.

As a cluster, Rajkot alone consumes about 600-650 high value fully automatic CNC machine every year and according to industry sources, it is expected to cross over 750 this year. "It is hard to convert conventional machine tools to CNC as it requires huge amount of investment but capable players are now manufacturing both simultaneously," Mavani added

Muslims to seek their share from Congress pie

Mar 24, 2012

RAJKOT: The red carpet rolled out by chief minister Narendra Modi to welcome Muslims at his 'Sadbhavana Mission' fasts has made the community realize its political clout at least in Saurashtra and Kutch. Muslim votes are a deciding factor in at least 18 assembly seats in the region. Thanks to Sadbhavana fasts, Muslims seems to have gained in confidence and are in a mood to bargain with Congress for their share in the political skyline of Saurashtra and Kutch.

On Saturday, at least 250 Muslim leaders, most of whom who owe their allegiance to Congress, from Saurashtra and Kutch will hold a meeting in Palitana town of Bhavnagar district where they will discuss the issues concerning their community and the strategy for ensuing assembly elections in Gujarat.

"There are at least 18 assembly seats in Saurashtra and Kutch where Muslim votes are a deciding factor. However, no political party, including Congress, is very keen to give tickets to Muslim candidates in assembly and parliamentary elections. No Muslim leader from the region has been nominated to Rajya Sabha by any party for a long time now," a senior Muslim leader from Saurashtra said.

"In the past, except Amreli district, Muslim candidates had been elected from different assembly constituencies. Now there is only one Muslim MLA. Mohammed Javid Pirzada has been elected on Congress ticket from Wankaner in Rajkot district," said M K Bloch, ex-law minister in Madhavsinh Solanki's government in 1981-85.

"Muslims traditionally have voted for Congress, but nothing much has been done to empower the community. In fact, the benefits of central government schemes are not reaching the Muslims in the state. Time has come for the community to decide its political future. Muslims hold significant number of votes in 18 assembly seats in Saurashtra and Kutch yet they are being neglected. Muslim leaders need to discuss why this has happened and what is the way out?" said Nusrat Panja, secretary, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee. Panja had contested assembly election on Congress ticket from Somnath-Veraval in 1998, but had lost.

Another senior Muslim leader said, "We want more from Congress in the coming assembly elections. Frustration is building among Muslims.''

Bhuj, Mundra, Jamnagar, Wankaner, Dhoraji, Bhavnagar, Mahuva, Junagadh, Somnath, Mangrol, Kodinar, Manavadar and Rajkot are among the places where there are a sizeable number of Muslim voters.

Indian Ginners meet at Saurashtra

At the Saurashtra Ginners Association (SGA)’s 4th Annual General meeting held on 26th September at Rajkot, Gujarat, a decision was taken to establish an All India Ginners Association.

The sector currently has no strong lobbying body, and the aim is to enlist support from ginners in all cotton-producing states. An initial membership of 100 firms is anticipated. The proposal is to be advanced further at a meeting of the Gujarat Ginners Association on October 3.

The presidents of ginners’ associations in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Khandesh (Maharashtra), Karnataka and Gujarat, together with the president of the Sauarashtra Association, Shri Bharatbhai Wala, and other officials from that association, spoke at the event. The event was sponsored by Bajaj Steel, whose marketing manager, Shri Deepak Goenka, also spoke at the meeting.

The consensus view of crop prospects was optimistic. Ginners’ expectations are for an outturn of not less than 35 million bales (170 kilos), including 12 to 14 million in Gujarat, nine to 12 million in Maharashtra and 6.5  to seven million in Andhra Pradesh. Estimates of the quantity committed to date for export ranged from 1.5 to 1.8 million bales, much of it at prices significantly below current market rates.

Saurashtra-Kutch rattled by 22 tremors in 3 days

Feb 28, 2012,

RAJKOT: There seems to be no respite for people in Saurashtra and Kutch from the low-intensity earthquakes rattling the region since long. In the last three days since February 25, 22 tremors have left people scared in several parts of these regions.

According to Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) officials, on February 26, as many as 16 earthquake tremors were reported in the state. Out of the 16 tremors, 12 were reported in Saurashtra region alone.

Moreover, a tremor measuring 3.3 on Richter scale was experienced in Talala in Junagadh district on February 26. On February 27, four low-intensity earthquake tremors were reported in Saurashtra and Kutch region.

According to ISR officials since February, 176 earthquake tremors have occurred in the state, most of them were low-intensity earthquake tremors.

Ten days ago, an earthquake tremor measured 1.3 on Richter scale was reported 30 km north-east from Sardar Sarovar dam on river Narmada in Bharuch. However, no casualty has been reported so far from any corners of the state, but frequency of the earthquake tremors have left

Five hog deers arrive in Rajkot zoo

 Feb 21, 2012

RAJKOT: Visitors at Rajkot zoological park will soon get to see one more specie of deers. Five hog deers, two males and three females, were brought to the city zoo from Punjab.

"In March last year, Rajkot zoo had given one pair of lion to the Punjab zoo and we had an agreement to get other animals in exchange. So, we have brought five Hog deers. Currently, they are kept in captivity and will be on display for public viewing at the zoo," superintendent, Rajkot zoological park, R K Hirpara said.

According to officials, the city zoo has a tiger, leopards, crocodiles and black bucks among others. Lion constitute the highest numbers in the zoo. Rajkot Zoological Park covers 55.37 hectares area which is undulating with ridges and valleys, rocky outcrops and well drained, surrounded by two big lakes Lalpari and Randarda.

"Within the next four months new species like sloth bear, four-horned antelope and chinkara will be brought from Punjab zoo to the city," Hirpara added.

In order to attract visitors, battery-operated vehicles have been introduced at the zoo to take visitors around.

Saurashtra Quresh Jamat vows to end cow slaughter

Rajkot, Thu Feb 23 2012

To avoid alleged harassment and financial losses, the Quresh Jamat (butchers) in Saurashtra has pledged not to slaughter cows. The jamat has threatened social boycott of those community members found violating its order.

This comes close on the heels of enactment of an Act banning cow slaughter in the state.

 

The announcement by the community, which dominates retail meat business in the region, came during its first-ever mass marriage ceremony held in Jamnagar on Sunday. Among others, the jamat had invited the district superintendent of police, local mayor and a few MPs to the event.

“We have pledged on Godarshah Wali, our saint and a figure of strong faith for our community... This underlines how serious the community is to completely ban cow slaughter,” said Quresh Jamat president Maksud Osman Sherji.

 

Sherji maintained that they would punish those caught slaughtering or selling cow meat. Besides social boycott, the punishments include heavy monetary fine.

 

He said said the community has always avoided cow slaughtering to respect public sentiments, particularly after campaigns by the Jiv Daya Group. And, he said, the decision was taken in the wake of increasing clashes with this group and several police complaints, which they said are baseless.

 

“We are under attack from several quarters — religious groups, Jiv Daya Group, political parties and the police. Frequency of attacks by the groups and police raids has increased after the state Assembly passed a Bill for cow protection last year,” said Sherji.

 

He said clashes with activists and police raid mean financial losses to the tune of Rs 1 to 2 lakh. Also, he said, a butcher often failed to prove that it was not cow meat. Besides, some clashes with the Jiv Daya Group had turned violent and left many people injured.

 

“The community is not in a position to incur further losses,” Sherji said, adding that by their “pledge”, they want to assure the law enforcing agencies as well as public at large that there would be no slaughtering by their community in the future.

 

The community has a significant presence in this part of the state, particularly in Jamnagar city, Khambhalia and Lalpur.

Saurashtra farmers start destroying onion crop

RAJKOT: Onion growers in Saurashtra are crying foul over not getting enough prices for their produce. Months after potato farmers in Deesa destroyed potatoes worth crores, farmers in Saurashtra are doing the same.

Onion growers in villages of Mahuva in Bhavnagar, one the highest producers of the vegetable in the state and Talaja in Rajkot are either not harvesting it or are destroying it for fear of not getting enough prices in the market.

Pravin Kathiriya, a board member in Mahuva Marketing Yard, said, "This is the worst ever scenario for onion growers as they are not even able to recover the minimum production cost of their crops. At present, farmers are getting Rs 40 to Rs 60 per 20 kg for red onion and Rs 100 to Rs 120 for white onion."

Mahuva Marketing Yard receives 1 lakh bag (one bag contains 50 kg) onion daily.

"Farmers have started destroying crops in the fields and avoiding harvest. They have already spent a lot of money on production. Now, they do not have money to take the onions to the market," said Bharatsinh Wala, a farmer in Taredi village of Mahuva taluka.

A major chunk of the total red onions produced in this region was consumed in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. "However, onions from Rajashtan and Maharashtra which are less expensive have made inroads in these regions due to which farmers of Saurashtra have lost ground and are seeing the onions pile up," said Pravin Gajera, an onion trader in Mahuva, reasoning the decline in the prices.

According to Babubhai Wala, a farmer from Dudhala village in Mahuva, "on an average farmers spend Rs 40,000 per bigha to produce onions. As against it, farmers reap 100 bags of 20 kg each per bigha. Large number farmers have opted not to harvest the crop." Moreover, Saurashtra produces around 60% of total onion production of the state.

Retailers across Saurashtra observe bandh

RAJKOT: Many shop-keepers across Saurashtra observed a bandh on Thursday as part of a nationwide stir against the central government's move to introduce foreign direct investment (FDI) into the retail sector.

Many markets in Rajkot wore a deserted look. Shop-keepers of Sangnva Chowk, Para Bazar, Danapith, Marketing Yard, Dharmendra Road, Lakahjiraj Road, Raiya Road, Yagnik Road, Gundavadi, Bhaktinagar Circle and Canal Road had voluntarily closed their shops. Traders of Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Surendrnagar and many other towns in Saurashtra too observed a bandh to register their protest against the government's move. The ruling BJP had supported the bandh even as many party workers moved around the streets of Rajkot shouting slogans against the UPA government.

"Small time retail business is going to be affected across the country if FDI is allowed in the sector. We are already in deep trouble because of entry of big players in the business," a retailer from Rajkot said. However, medical stores remained open and so were government offices and educational institutes.

Notorious criminal Vishal Madam shifted to A'dabad hospital

Rajkot, Nov 5 (PTI) Notorious criminal and nephew of Jamnagar Congress MP, Vishal Madam, was shifted to a hospital in Ahmedabad after his health deteriorated last night, sources in Jamnagar jail said today. Madam, who was wanted in various offences like murder, extortion and land grabbing, was recently arrested in Ahmedabad by the crime branch. He was later handed over to Jamnagar police and kept in district jail here where he fell ill and admitted to Guru Govindsinhji hospital couple of days back for treatment of lung infection, sources said adding his health condition deteriorated further and was shifted to U S Mehta hospital in Ahmedabad last night. PTI VJA ABC

BJP protests against latest petrol price hike in Rajkot

Nov 5.
Rajkot, Nov 5(ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today protested against the recent petrol price hike by the state-run oil companies in Rajkot, Gujarat.
 
The BJP activists burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and demanded Union Finance Minister Praban Mukherjee's resignation.
"Pranab Mukherjee is fooling the people of this country.

I believe he is not capable of running the government. They should immediately resign and seek mandate from the people. In coming days people will decide," said Dhansukh Bhanderi, a BJP worker

The fuelretailers raised petrol prices by about 2.7 percent on November 4.
 
The move, aimed at cutting revenue losses of oil firms, is likely to add pressure to high inflation in the country.
 
"We will have harness horse in it (vehicle) to make it run. The hike in petrol prices has become unbearable now. I don't know what has happened to the government," added Nilesh Parikh, a local. (ANI)

RSS chief Bhagwat in Rajkot

Nov.1 RAJKOT: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived in Rajkot on two-day personal visit. Bhagwat met Swami Parmatmananda Saraswati of Munjka-based Aarsh Vidya Mandir, a centre imparting education on learning vedas, upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. The RSS chief will call on Pravin Maniar in Rajkot on Wednesday. Maniar, a Sangh leader, lost his son a few weeks ago.
While Bhagwat will leave for Mumbai on Wednesday, two senior BJP leaders, general secretary Ram Lal and Balbir Punj, in-charge of party's Gujarat matters will be coming to Ahmedabad. They will also discuss L K Advani's rath yatra with party workers in detail.

Saurashtra backs Team Anna

RAJKOT: Large number of people observed fast and staged dharna in Saurashtra region in support of social activist Anna Hazare. Various city based organizations held programs in the city expressed their support to Anna's demand of a strong Lokpal Bill.

60-year-old Iqbal Suthar, decided to go on indefinite hunger strike and staged the dharna at Trikon Baug in the city. "If Anna is fighting for the cause which touches to everyone then we should join him in anyway we can do,'' Suthar said.

"I will also sit on dharna and will fast to support crusade against corruption in the country. We will protest at Trikon Baun on Wednesday,'' said Pankaj Trivedi, a resident of university. Interestingly, Premjibhai Patel, founding members of Vruksh Prem Seva Trust an old friend of Anna decided to go on a five day fast at his residence in Upleta town in the district to support Anna's cause.

Patel, 83, who has done exceptional work in watershed development in Rajkot district, had visited Anna's village and derived inspiration. "Anna calls me 'Prembhai' and we know each other since long. He even visited us and saw our work in water conservation,'' said Patel. "At the age of 83, I cannot join him in New Delhi but I can support his cause by fasting at home and I will do for it five days now,'' Patel said.

Patel was recently awarded by union ministry of water resources for his water conservation activity in Rajkot district. Various city based origination charted protests plan on Wednesday in support of strong Lokpal Bill.

Despite Centre’s flip-flop, Saurashtra plods on with cotton farming

Rajkot:

Acreage increases by a lakh hectares, delayed monsoon favours cotton over groundnut, say farmers



The cotton acreage in Saurashtra has increased in some parts this year despite the uncertainties plaguing the cotton export policy.



Both markets and a delayed monsoon have played a role in this. Cotton has been sown over 18 lakh hectares in Gujarat and the total acreage in Saurashtra-Kutch alone has touched the 13 lakh hectares mark. Saurashtra accounts for more than 60 per cent of total cotton production and 40 per cent of the total cotton export from India.



The Centre’s cotton export policy saw a major swing last year, which included a total ban on export beyond 55 lakh bales and introduction of new taxes, leaving farmers and traders in the lurch when prices in the international market had touched a record high of Rs 38,000 to Rs 45,000 per candy.

 This week, the government announced its decision to lift the ban and farmers are now hoping the Centre provides subsidy on incurred export expense.

Sowing figures available from regional agriculture office indicate that the total cotton acreage in Saurashtra-Kutch has increased by a lakh hectares.



Agriculture Department officials have said the sowing activity is still on in Kutch (where the monsoon arrived very late) and Porbandar (where some agriculture land is still submerged following heavy rains). According to them, the final acreage figure might see some changes.



Sowing is almost complete in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Amreli and Surendranagar districts, said officials.

Now, water connection for 600 Rajkot factories

Mon Aug 08 2011, 02:19 hrs Rajkot:

 More than 600 factories across Rajkot city, which are functioning without building use permission, will now get water connection. The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) Standing Committee has passed a resolution in this regard, despite protests from the Opposition Congress.

Local body sanctions water connection only if the building has a completion certificate of building use permission sanctioned by the civic body. This permission is denied where any rules related to town planning has been violated during the construction.



But following strong representation from the industries, the Standing Committee has now given a nod to sanction them a water connection.


As per the resolution passed by the Standing Committee on Saturday, a sum of Rs 2,000 will be charged as deposit fee, and Rs 5,000 as administrative fee for each connection. The tariff will be on industrial rates.


“This is for the development of the industries,” said Standing Committee Chairman Narendra Solanki.



The Congress has, however, put a strong objection against the resolution. Opposition leader Atul Rajani said, “These factories violate the town planning rules and the RMC is rewarding them with water connections.”



The ruling BJP has, however, said that the issue concerns more than 600 factories, most of them functioning on a small-scale basis. Besides, RMC is not giving them any relaxation in rates and taxes while approving the water connections.

Saurashtra's 900 cr diamond industry wants more security

RAJKOT: The entire diamond industry of Saurashtra was in a state of mourning over the blasts in Mumbai on Wednesday. The industry was aggrieved as one of the victims in the serial blasts was diamond trader Bhupat Navadia (45), a native of Umarda village in Gandhda taluka of Bhavnagar. His last rites were performed at Umarda village on Friday in the presence of hundreds of people.
Navadia had an office on the the first floor of Prasad Chamber and lived on Mira Road in Mumbai. He was was on his way to meet his friends when the blast at Opera House left him dead. The deceased's body was brought to his native village for the final rites.
The serial blasts in Mumbai has shaken the diamond traders in Bhavnagar. They have demanded that they be given security. Saurashtra's diamond industry is worth Rs 900 crore and provides employment to over 3 lakh people in the diamond cutting and polishing business, said traders, adding that major diamond units are located in Bhavnagar and Amreli districts.

"There are about 2,200 diamond polishing units in Bhavnagar district. They provide employment to around 2 lakh people. We have been demanding more security at our trading centres. We also want the state government to bring the import and export business to Gujarat from Mumbai," president of Bhavnagar Diamond Association Vithal Mendapara said.
"Surat and Saurashtra have an immense potential for diamond import and export business," he added.
"The diamond business provides a sustainable livelihood to even families of farmers. There is a great future for diamond industry in Saurashtra. The state government should create an atmosphere of security so as to help the industry flourish," president of Amreli Diamond Association Lalit Thummar said.
Thummar said there are 1,450 diamond polishing units in Amreli district. They provide employment to over 60,000 people in the district.

Jul 15 2011 : Times of India.

Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) - Dream Project

A long cherished dream of Mr. Niranjan Shah, Hony. Secretary of Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) and his colleagues and the members of Governing Body is to be realised soon. The work for realisation of the dream project is progressing well and rapidly. This dream project is the construction of a world-class cricket stadium.  It was a dream, it was an ambition and it was an irresistible urge and aspiration of Niranjan Shah to give to the city of Rajkot, and in turn, to the cricket fans and sports loving people of Saurashtra region an ultra-modern and state-of-the-art cricket stadium.  The dreamer Niranjan Shah firmly believes what is stated by Karen Stevens:  You can be all of the things you dream of being, if you’re willing to work at them and if you’ll believe in yourself more. Be the person you were meant to be. Everything else will follow; your dreams will come true.  With such belief in dreaming and realising the dream, Niranjan Shan and all at SCA have been endeavoring very hard, persistently and devotedly to realise, to achieve what is dreamt and aspired.

Highlights of the Dream Project: Project site : 12 kms. from Rajkot city and adjacent to road boundary of Rajkot – Jamnagar state highway Plot area : SCA has purchased a plot of land admeasuring about 29.48 acres. Proposal for acquiring adjoining plot of government waste land admeasuring about 16 acres is under active consideration. Infrastructure : Stadium project comprises of the construction of cricket stadium of international standard with all modern facilities to organise international cricket tournaments and a sports complex for other out-door as well as in-door sports.

The dream project for cricket stadium of international standard and well-equipped sports complex is and shall remain forever a very special and ever cherishable gift of SCA to the sports loving people of Saurashtra.

'Some Saunterings in Saurashtra' - Book

'Saurashtra' - sounds nice and means good, for the very name means 'the good country'. Good can be twofold, intrinsic and relative. Saurashtra is good on both counts. It is good in its own right. It is situated on the western coast of India, laved by the waves and lulled by the breeze of the Arabian Sea. It is rich in marine wealth and maritime tradition; it is richly endowed by nature with varied florae and faunae. So it is naturally Su-rashtra. Now, when you come down from the arid wilderness of Rajasthan and enter the sylvan Saurashtra, it is such a relief and matter of joy by its contrast in climate and vegetation. After the rocky cliffs and the sandy dunes, the verdant hills and vales of the coastal land are so refreshing that the mind automatically exclaims, 'Ha, lovely!' Saurashtra was a constant temptation for the hordes from across the sandy tracts and it had been the frequent victim of greedy conquerors.
Saunterings in Saurashtra are a richly rewarding experience. We shall sally forth into this lovely land for a short while, through story and history, all for the glory of His story.
Saurashtra was a cluster of native states in pre-independence days, over two hundred in number. ..The new State of Saurashtra had a brief spell as a separate entity; but with the partition of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency into Maharashtra and Gujarat, Saurashtra got merged in Gujarat. Though its political destinies are thus bound up with its added size, Saurashtra still retains its cultural soul and traditional identity.

(Swami Siddhinathanandaji is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order. The above article is an abridged version of his small booklet 'Some Saunterings in Saurashtra' published by Ramakrishna Sevashrama, Calicut, in 1989. We have added a few photographs of the places of pilgrimage and the deities associated with them.We are also grateful to Shri Rameshbhai Thakar, Rajkot for some of his)