The death knell has sounded for India’s ancient tradition of Snake Charming.

Dating back thousands of years Snake Charming is now on the verge of extinction with a ban having been imposed. This ban affects millions of people throughout India who are involved with this ancient craft.

For conservationists the implementation of the ban could not have come soon enough.

'India - Death Knell For Snake Charming'

‘So your eldest son, 42 year old Subhash, could be the last generation of India’s snake charmers?” I asked Rishal. Nath

Rishal, now over 70 years old, lives in an isolated rural village in northern Indian.  He drew slowly on his hookar (smoking pipe), then raising his head, looked me straight in the eye - he nodded dejectedly. -------------

India is a country like no other full of colour, vibrant, and steeped in ancient traditions.

But times are changing, and for one group of people in particular whose traditions have been handed down from father to sons for millennia now find their way of life has all but come to an end – India’s Snake Charmers or Saperas as they are often referred to.

One of the major attractions for tourists visiting India has been to see first hand India’s snake charmers performing their mystical craft – India without snake charmers would be like India without the Taj Mahal – unbelievable.

Unbelievable or not today India’s Snake Charmers can no longer perform their ancient craft, the last in their bloodline now have to seek alternate means to earn a living.

Whatever the outcome India and the rest of the world is witnessing the last generation of India’s snake charmers - the end of the line.

Soon it will be said that India was once the land of Snake Charmers.

Full feature available 'India - Death Knell For Snake Charming' is about India's Snake Charming community and the effect this ban is having on them.

It also includes the views of a prominent figure with one of India's major wildlife organisations.

This feature is not just concerning wildlife, but also the humanitarian aspect and the affect this ban has had on millions of people around India and their concerns for future generations within the Snake Charming community.

Aspects covered in 'India - Death Knell For Snake Charming' include:

* What the ancient craft of snake charming means to India.

* The lifestyle of India's snake charmers.

* In the field - how to catch a Cobra - care and attention of the snakes.

* Beyond snake charming - other areas of their expertise.

* The effect the ban has had on the snake charming community.

* The conservationist's views regards snake charming.

* The remedy - Humanitarian - Wildlife Organization verses Snake Charmers.

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This subject, 'India - Death Knell For Snake Charming', has been covered in depth and has input from people involved - Snake Charmers and conservationists.

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Verging on extinction – this is the scenario for many of the world’s ancient tribes along with their traditions and cultures. Yet many of these tribes have much to offer today’s modern mainstream world. The Khasi Tribe of Meghalaya is one such tribe.

'Plight Of The Khasi Tribe'

In this high tech material world we have created (we live in today) there is now a great emphasis for us all to generate more consideration for the environment.

But this is not a new phenomenon. Some ‘lesser’ mortals have been dependent on the environment for their sustainability for generations. Their lifestyle has been one of harmonising with nature

Meghalaya is one of India’s youngest states only coming into fruition in 1972 and at this point in time gave this states major tribes their own tribal lands - the Garos, the Jantia, and the largest tribe the Khasi.

Relying on nature and the environment for their sustainability over the generations the Khasi people have learnt how to work with, and use nature and the environment - not destructively, but in a sustainable way. Passing this knowledge on down through the generations.

In relative terms many areas of Meghalaya are unspoilt – mountains still covered with a variety of trees and vegetation through which many crystal clear rivers and streams flow, and where a vast variety of flora and fauna thrives - nature at its best. The question is how long will this last in our ‘modern’ world.

Possibly the best chance is if left to tribes people like the Khasi

For many of the Khasi tribe their very existence is harmonising with nature and for them the material world means far less.

There is a great deal that the ‘modern’ mainstream world can learn and benefit from these people’s bountiful ancient traditional knowledge.

By no means should these traditional tribes be dismissed and forgotten.

But there is great concern amongst the Khasi about the demise of their ancient traditions and culture particularly those concerning the environment, health, language and possibly one of the most important, the Elders.   

Aspects covered in 'Plight Of The Khasi Tribe' include:

The lifestyle of the Khasi people

What instigated the 'Plight of the KhasiTribe'

Are they working to rekindle their ancient traditions and culture.

What are the views of the younger generation.

This subject has been covered in depth and has input from Khasi people involved in an variety of activities concerning the 'Plight of the KhasiTribe'.

First hand input regards rural Khasi lifestyle offers an interesting insight of these proud Khasi people..

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Photography

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Audio

Refer to ‘Audio’ and 'Plight of the Khasi Tribe' to listen to audio extracts.

This subject, 'Plight of the Khasi Tribe' has been covered in depth and has input from people involved - Snake Charmers and conservationists.

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To learn more about the 'Plight of the Khasi Tribe' or any other subject - 

All enquiries via 'Contact' tab.

Verging on extinction – this is the scenario for many of the world’s ancient tribes along with their traditions and cultures.

The International Center for Cultural Studies (ICCS) organised the 4^th International Conference and Gathering of the Elders, Many tribes from around the world responded by taking the opportunity to participate in the conference.

The theme for this conference:

'Nourishing the Balance of the Universe'

They came from all corners of the world including; Canada, Ghana, Kyrgyzsatn, Lithuania, New Zealand, Vietnam, the UK, and beyond to attend a conference regards ancient traditions and cultures.

The four day conference was organised by the International Center for Cultural Studies and held within the confines of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (Unversity)  in the Indian city of Haridwar which is located on the banks of the world’s most revered river the Ganga.

The conference proved a great success in terms of numbers attending with over 70 traditional tribes from over 40 countries in attendance. This was considered the biggest ever gathering of traditional tribes in one location.

During the conference academics and activist presented their papers on a variety of subjects concerning the demise of the cultures including; the environment, health, language and possibly one of the most important, the Elders.   

As the conference progressed it became evident that there is much that the ‘modern’ mainstream world can learn and benefit from these people’s bountiful ancient traditional knowledge.

By no means should these traditional tribes be dismissed and forgotten.

By the end of the four day conference as people began to depart even though from all walks of life, and from various parts of the world the signs seem to reveal that in such a short space of time these people had bonded. --- united in a common cause,  

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Information is available regards:

The Conference - 'Nourishing the Balance of the Universe'

Traditional tribes - the onset of their demise, their concerns, their aspirations, and more

Benefits that today’s mainstream world can derive from the ancient traditional tribes knowledge.

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Audio

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Equestrian Polo – The Sport Of Kings

Equestrian polo is considered to be the oldest sport in the world – over 2000 years old.

Its roots are well entrenched in Asia as polo is believed to have originated in Persia before playing its way to the Indian sub-continent where the ruling British Raj of the day took to the game. 

In fact they adopted the game and refined it to produce the style of equestrian polo which is played in an increasing number of countries around the world today.

Polo is perceived to be a game for the idol rich, but polo is much more than just a game. It has become an industry creating employment for thousands of people worldwide, and without these people the game would not exist.

The feature I am able to present will reveal how equestrian polo has developed over the years and spread throughout much of the world.

It will also reveal the various facets that make up this fascinating sport and the people involved who enable the game to take to the field of play.

From the dedicated grooms, the equipment manufactures, the people responsible for transporting the valuable polo ponies, the vets, farriers and more.

The equipment used today such as polo mallets are still hand crafted by skilled craftsmen in much the same fashion as they where over 100 years ago.

Although some mallets are produced from manmade fibres the preferred mallet by many polo players are still those made from natural materials - bamboo.

There is much to reveal about equestrian polo that does not meet the eye – a sport known today as ‘the sport of kings’.

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‘The Devil’s Water’ Continued -

Rice – How Safe?

Research now reveals that rice is highly susceptible to the uptake of arsenic thus the threat to human health and wellbeing is now global.

This report looks at rice; the staple food for over half the world’s population.

It will reveal how:-

Research has uncovered that rice and many dietary products derived from rice commercially available on supermarket shelves around the world represent a significant dietary source of inorganic arsenic –a chronic carcinogenic.

“Infants and young children of all ethnicities generally have higher exposures to inorganic arsenic via rice than adults when considered on a body mass basis.” A Professor at the forefront t of this research stated.

Following analysis of UK baby rice it was found that 35% of the baby rice samples analysed would have been illegal for sale in China with its stringent regulatory limit of 0.15 mg/kg inorganic arsenic.

But these findings seem to be just the tip of the iceberg with many other dietary products found to contain elevated levels of carcinogenic inorganic arsenic.

Rice milk for example, often used by vegans and lactose intolerant sufferers as an alternative to cow’s milk.

Rice-bran products are becoming an increasingly popular ingredient for use in foods and dietary supplements targeted particularly at ‘health food’ conscious people.

“Of all the widely available commercial rice products, rice-bran was found to contain the highest arsenic content,” stated the concerned Professor.

A powdered form of rice-bran is produced known as ‘rice-bran solubles’, and when mixed with water it makes a very ‘nutritional’ drink.

This product would seem ideal for distribution internationally in food aid programmes to malnourished children in the developing world – which it is.

But should it be?

It seems ironic that rice is the basis of so many products produced which form a large percentage of the food .consumed by health conscious people such as those on a macrobiotic diet.

A disturbing fact is that globally many people are oblivious that they could be ingesting rice products containing harmful levels of inorganic arsenic – a chronic human carcinogen.

Something seriously needs to be done. Sooner rather than later, and beyond writing ‘health warnings’ on food products available in supermarkets

Perhaps now it is evident that this is a global issue and not just confined to affecting people in the developing world. More concern will be given especially by policy makers in addressing this ‘mass poisoning of humans’.

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This investigation looks into;

Fluorosis – An Agonising Death

“People do not die immediately. People die a little each day inch by inch. They may live 70 years with an unproductive life, an agonising life until the end of their day.”

“If the fatality rate would have been high I always said that it would have been better as neither would they suffer and it would have caught the attention of governments.”

Lamented one of the world’s leading authorities regarding fluoride and the affect it has on the human body.

Many people, particularly in the developing world, have to rely on tube wells that tap into underground aquifers to access the daily drinking water supply. Unbeknown to them the groundwater they rely on could be contaminated with elevated levels of fluoride.

“Following a survey conducted in 1998 it was found that 60 million people were affected by fluoride in India alone. Now I would estimate that figure to be about 75 million with 6 million being children under the age of 14.”

UNCEF reports that fluorosis is endemic in at least 25 countries across the globe. The WHO estimated that 2.7 million people in China alone are suffering from the crippling form of skeletal fluorosis.

“I am absolutely certain that large numbers of persons all around the world are suffering from fluoride toxicity, to one degree or other,”

“Fluoride being a deadly poison does not spare any tissue or cell in the body.” 

“It can develop dental fluorosis in children; it can develop skeletal fluorosis affecting the bones, and the third entity are all the soft tissues in the body such as the muscles, the blood vessels, stomach lining, testicles and ovaries. This we designate as non skeletal fluorosis.”

“It is not a curable disease in the conventional medical terminology. There are no medicines for fluorosis.”

Fluoride and the Western World

People in the Western World are not immune to this crippling disease – fluororsis.

The Professor.

“In the Western World the problem does not occur in groundwater, but in food where fluoride is used as a preservative and it is so high. Just like it is in medication too.”

“A large number of people in the Western World have fluorosis but doctors are not aware of non skelital fluorosis. They do not know how to diagnosis for this disease.”
“Fluoride poisoning can be linked with so many other complaints such as iritable bowel syndrom and poly urethra.”

“Countries like US, UK, Canada, NZ and Australia promote fluoride. Fluoridating drinking water and toothpaste say it’s good for teeth.”

“But now we understand fluorosis far better, and countries like Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands have all stopped fluoridation because of the health effects.”

“Why these five countries continue with fluoridation is not that they do not know about it, they are fully aware of the health hazards to millions of people -----------.”

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This report investigates;

‘Plight of the Kashmiri Pandits – Their Paradise Lost’

For centuries writers and poets have waxed lyrical about the Kashmir Valley, considered the ‘Jewel in India’s Crown’.
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This fertile land and invigorating clean crisp air generated by the snow capped Himalayan Mountains captivated Mogul Emperor Jehangir to the point he exclaimed when he first set eyes on the Valley, ‘If there is paradise anywhere on earth it is here!’

This ‘Paradise on Earth’, Kashmir has many distinct facets one being the people – the Kashmiri ‘Pandits’

‘Pandits’ are Hindus who are considered wise, learned people, 100% literate and their field of expertise is boundless from art, literature, religion, science and more.

Hindu’s ruled Kashmir up until the 14th century and history shows that during this period their contribution particularly in the fields of archaeology, literature and philosophy have been embraced by Indian society as a whole.

This investigation reveals what has occurred to the Kashmiri Pandits, a minority group, in recent decades.

Why over 350 000 men, women and children ‘where hounded’ out of their beloved Kashmir Valley leaving behind all they owned apart from what they managed to carry.

To take up refuge in makeshift camps in Jammu

That was almost twenty years ago.

Today thousands of men, women and children still remain ‘living’ in the squalid camps.

Camps can best be described as being ‘worse than living in refugee
camps’ - unbelievably so ‘refugees’ living in their own country!

Just one room to accommodate the whole family where husband, wife and children all eat, sleep and entertain, whilst outside are the squalid communal toilet and bathing facilities.

The environment of the compounds that these people have to endure leaves much to be desired. Their clean fertile Kashmir Valley has given way to open drains, dirt and stones where the Pandits attempt to grow vegetables in the baron soil.
 
Many of these children were born in these camps and know no other lifestyle.
 
Cramped unhygienic living conditions have given rise to a variety of diseases and with the death rate rapidly out pacing a declining birth rate it is little wonder that those Kashmiri’s who remain surviving in the camps view their future as being very bleak.

Just like the Tibetans, Kashmiri Pandits greatest fear is the loss of their language, their culture and traditions, but unlike the Tibetans the world knows little if anything of their plight.

They may be a minority group with little voice, but the voice of one Kashmiri Pandit clad in traditional attire spoke out for many exclaiming, ‘I can not understand why the world doesn’t care about us!’

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