
Dr. Meeta Rathod Vansadia
Ph.D. in Library & Information Science
Email : meetarathod@gmail.com Mo. no. 9725039802
“Spread Happiness – It is Contagious”
2nd January, 2019
One of the fond memories of my childhood in Bombay (now Mumbai), is the sweet and refreshing smell of Parle Glucose biscuits, emerging from the Parle factory, situated at about 10 minutes walking distance from my house. The fragrance is still alive in my mind. As a child, those were the wonderful moments, to visit the factory outlet store of Parle Products, which was placed at the front gate of the factory, along with parents to purchase the fresh Parle products. With growing age the taste diverted from glucose biscuits to other cream and crunchy biscuits and cookies and glucose biscuits disappeared in deep down lane memories of life.
After several years, Parle G again popped up in the life, during the visit of Saputara in monsoon season. Here, came across these beautiful and innocent kids of Dang districts, while passing through the lanes of Dang forest.
Since few years it has become our practice to visit “Saputara” during monsoon. In fact, it is the only beautiful hill station in South Gujarat. During monsoon, the beauty of nature reaches at its peak due to the heavy rain in the region.
One does come across several waterfalls, check dams, lakes during the journey of in and around saputara, in the forests of Dang districts. Once while passing through this, we noticed these were playing and bathing in river. We spent some time with them. In their language they narrated their stories and the games and expressed the feelings of fun. It was an amazing experience to see the kids enjoying in the natural environment, which is completely invisible in the urban kids. These playful activities not only help them in the growth of their physical strength but I suppose the sensitivity towards the environment, nature, trees, river is possible only through this type of direct involvement with the nature.

As we didn’t have anything to offer them like chocolates etc with us, to distribute to the kids, we tried to locate some stores. We found very small hut type store nearby. The only hygienic food I could gather were, Parle G biscuits. We purchased all the packets available with the store keeper and distributed it to these kids. The joy on their face is unmemorable.
While moving ahead we came across a school. The school timings were over. The kids were about to leave. Here, again we spent some quality time with them. We narrated some stories to them. They sang the prayers in complete harmony in the same “sur”. It was an amazing listening to these kids.
“The quality time spent with these lovely kids in the beautiful nature of Dang forest”
While moving ahead, came across another school, another bumch of students. The kids were running outside with their lunch plates, as they were receiving mid day meal from their school. Here again indulged with them, spoke to them. They were so happy to mingle with us and were speaking over each other in their sweet and innocent language. Very disciplinarily and enthusiastically got clicked pics with me. Here, again distributed Parle G biscuits, as we didn’t had any other option. But interestingly, they were very happy to receive this; I felt Parle G biscuits were like a big treat for them, which had been lost from my list, since long.
“The best part of this picture is the focussed eyes of every kid, perfectly on the lens of camera”
These are some four years old pictures. Next year onwards, we used to take story books, stationary materials, note books, water bottles etc and would distribute it among the kids. This is not any philanthropic activity on a big scale. In fact it is a very small attempt we are making for ourselves. And the only reason for sharing this is that it is quite essential to understand the fact that, what we are spreading in our surrounding is very important. If we can ever spread happiness in other’s life, the experience speaks that, in return we will definitely receive added amount of joy and happiness from them.
Somebody has very rightly said that in the journey of our life,
“What we give comes back to us”
24th December, 2018
Unfolding Narmada Parikrama
Maa Narmada River, by large, has great impact on the Spiritual journey of anyone dwelling in the Spiritual path.
Narmada is the holiest river of India and one of the major rivers of Central India. There are end numbers of age old historic temples, each with unique story of its own, are sited at its side.
Narmada Parikrama, a pious pilgrimage, the journey pilgrims performing a consecrated circumambulation, i.e., a circular journey covered on foot around the holy river of Maa Narmada. This journey has been practiced by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists since time immemorial. The journey covers in two states Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The total journey is almost about 2400 kms.
On my recent visit to Nardeswar, Garudeswar, situated at the bank of Maa Narmada, I got the opportunity to meet Narmada Parikramawasis. These are the devotees en route to the journey of the parikrama. They are two young females, barely in their early thirties, well educated, moved out to gain real life experience towards spiritual journey with minimum baggage and maximum “SHRADDHA”.
It was an overwhelming and an enriching experience for me, as this is for the first time I was meeting any Narmada Parikramawasis in person. We spent almost two days together. Till that moment, I didn’t have any deep knowledge about this journey of Narmada Parikrama.
When asked about the purpose of their journey- the simple answer was “MAA NARMADA CALLING”… Narmade Har…
In detail discussion, they share about their visits to several ashrams, temples, persons. The most amazing part is that in their talk, one could sense only about love, affection, mankind, which they were receiving from the people. It is quite obvious that they must have come across difficult situations and difficult people, but they never mentioned about it. It seems this yatra completely tear down the “EGO” of a person.
I did wonder “Is it a different globe than the materialistic world in which we live?”

These young devotees, called out for this very difficult journey as for their attraction towards MAA Narmada. One of the major goals of them is to gain the spiritual mileage through this journey. They have explored various ashrams and came across many saints.
Further, as they are also involved in the Socio-cultural development work of the underprivileged, it helped them in sensitising towards the habitants residing in the dense forests across the journey. They could also explore the diverse culture embedded in the tribes, and also values and principles being practiced by them.
But, it’s a long journey, and still long way to go…
We parted our paths… wishing them all the best in their wonderful Spiritual Journey!!!

“NARMADE HAR”
17th December, 2018
Episode No.1
Digitisation and Preservation of Cultural Heritage for the Netizen
On my recent deliberation at International Conference, MANLIBNET 2018, on “EMERGING TRENDS IN LIBRARIANSHIP,’ during December 10-12, 2018 at Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, discussed the “Ongoing project of Digitisation and Preservation of Manuscripts of Chunilal Gandhi sVidyabhavan of Sarvajanik Education Society, Surat”.
I was introduced to the above digitisation and preservation project in the year 2016. I still remember the first time when I came in contact with these manuscripts, the feeling and smell is still fresh in my heart and mind. They are very fragile in nature. I was very anxious to begin the work. As I got immersed in the project, I came across the intellectual work embodied in those manuscripts in different languages and on varied subjects by our predecessors. The immense efforts and pain they had taken to produce these manuscripts are unexplainable. The society at large shall always be indebted to those unknown creators and/or authors of these manuscripts. It is really essential that we pass on this knowledge to the next generation, the netizens.
I realised the importance of process of digitisation, preservation and conservation of our rich cultural heritage embedded in these manuscripts. The journey enlightened me about task of The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), an autonomous organisation under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Another important Institute I came in contact with and which I visited for the above purpose is The Maharaja Sayajirao Oriental Institute (Prachyavidya Mandir) of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. It is very amazing Institute and occupy large number of manuscripts in different forms. Infact, it is the largest centre of manuscripts in the western region.
With regard to The National Mission for Manuscripts, it was established in the year 2003. The main purpose of the mission is to survey, locate and conserve Indian manuscripts. This is the way they are creating national resource base for manuscripts. It further leads to access, awareness and use of this for educational purposes. Further, it may help in understanding and learning about the value system and social practices prevailed in those time. The most important thing I would like to highlight here is that the entire process of the survey, digitisation and preservation work is being carried out by NMM without any financial burden to the host institute. The National Mission for Manuscripts sponsors entire work of digitisation as well as conservation.
It has been come to the notice that there are many old cultural and religious Institutions in Surat, specifically Jain temples, which possesses significant numbers of manuscripts. This collection may contain very important and useful information for society. Today, from this platform, I would urge them to please go for the digitisation and conservation process of these manuscripts. For the said purpose you may contact me, I would be more than happy to be part of it. Pl check my contact details provided above. If you wish to contact NMM directly you may contact them on namami.org.
I will be back again and will touch upon in detail about The National Mission for Manuscripts, Management Libraries Network (MANLIBNET), Oriental Institute of Baroda and my parental Institution Sarvajanik Education Society.