India is a country with a diversity of languages. Out of more than one thousand mother tongues, only eighteen languages are included in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution. Development of a particular state or region, to a very great extent, depends on the development of its regional language. This was an important reason given at the time of the formation of linguistic states, though many criticized such a linguistic “division” or “re-organization”.

India's national leaders, especially Gandhi, held the view that the true values of democracy could be spread among the common village folks only through regional languages. Furthermore, almost all the Education Commissions constituted by the Government of India stressed the need to introduce teaching through the medium of mother tongue from primary class to post-graduate level.

Then, there were some of the questions exercising the Government of India in the first months and years of independence. The question of linguistic provinces would have to wait. But, for how long? Had Jawaharlal Nehru his way, it could have waited forever. But a consistent advocate of States based on language was Mahatma Gandhi.

3rd December 1984 Shortly after midnight poison gas leaked from a factory in Bhopal, India, owned by the Union Carbide Corporation. There was no warning, none of the plant's safety systems were working. In the city people were sleeping. They woke in darkness to the sound of screams with the gases burning their eyes, noses and mouths. They began retching and coughing up froth streaked with blood. Whole neighbourhoods fled in panic, some were trampled, others convulsed and fell dead. People lost control of their bowels and bladders as they ran. Within hours thousands of dead bodies lay in the streets.

It is hard to imagine today that there existed a time in independent India when the then Prime Minister of the country, Sw. Lal Bahadur Shastriji had to appeal to the nation to skip one meal a day. Our nation saw one of the darkest era when we faced acute shortage of food in the 60s. Ships from America brought in bad quality grain as charity to feel us and the Nation battled with the problems of rising prices and hunger.

The better India that we see today is doubtlessly attributed to the revolution that came then that was to change the way the India farmer grows crop. Introduction of high yielding varieties of crop along with a host of other reforms brought to the country not just self sufficiency in food, but surplus crop. Come join in to get face to face with this modern revolution - the Green Revolution!

The Ancient Legend

In India there is an ancient legend about a girl, Amrita Devi, who died trying to protect the trees that surrounded her village. The story recounts a time when the local Maharajah's tree cutters arrived to cut the villager's trees for wood for his new fortress. Amrita, with others, jumped in front of the trees and hugged them. In some versions of the tale their dramatic efforts prevented the forest's destruction; in others Amrita dies in her valiant attempt.