What do the progressive and secularists have to say on this ?
New Delhi : ‘Maha Kumbh-Mela’ was held at Prayag in the year 2013. Arrangements made for this Kumbh-Mela were better than the arrangements made by Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) for World Cup Championship in Brazil, stated a renowned group of researchers from Howard University, USA. A book published on the same titled ‘Kumbh Mela – Mapping the Ephemeral Mega City’ was released by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav. The Government of ‘Samajwadi’ Party had made arrangements for ‘Maha Kumbh-Mela’ of 55 days duration, in the months of January – February 2013.
50 scholars formed the group of researchers !
There were 50 people who formed this group, comprising of scholars from 5 fields viz. town-planning, public health, trade, vastu-shastra and culture. The study group studied various facilities provided for Kumbh-city and its planning from various angles. In their 447 page-book, the researchers have described the ‘Maha Kumbh-Mela’. India has been trying to provide facilities to people from all levels but her efforts have not been successful so far. The scholars expressed opinion that by successfully planning to host ‘Kumbh-Mela’, the above goal would also be achieved.
Indian bureaucracy, otherwise known to be sluggish, making arrangements for Kumbh-Mela is a unique thing!
Discussions were held about ordinary arrangements made in Brazil in 2014 while hosting World Cup Football Championship. The Commonwealth games held in the year 2010 also earned bad name due to corruption. Billions were spent on organizing both the Championships and the Government also participated in making arrangements. Indian Government is otherwise known for its sluggishness; still making arrangements for Kumbh Mela is unique.
Creation of ‘Kumbhnagari’ the biggest task accomplished by men !
It is worth for town-planners to study and learn about how to set up a city like ‘Kumbh-nagari’ in such short time which has population more than Manhattan city; how do 100 millions devotees come to such small area and stay for 55 days; how on the confluence of Rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, 5 million devotees manage to have bath everyday; meet each other, perform ‘puja’, pray etc. stay with ‘sadhus’ and later, safely return to their original places. It has been stated in the above book that all these things were worth studying. The arrangements at ‘Maha Kumbh-Meal’ were so good that every facility was made available for all and that erecting ‘Kumbh-city’ was a commendable thing achieved by human being.
Communication system developed for Kumbh also worth studying !
Kumbh-Mela is an example of maximum usage of cell phones in a particular field. If study is to be undertaken of devotees making use of cell phones, one will require 12 years to study SMS sent by devotees and calls made by them. During the period of Kumbh-Mela, 14, 57, 36, 764 SMS were exchanged and 24, 52, 52, 102 calls were made using cell phones.
Rulers should make efforts for ideal planning of ‘Kumbh-Mela’ !
Howard University has praised planning made for 2013- Kumbh-Mela but there is no need for Uttar Pradesh Government to get carried away. The slovenly planning and discomfort experienced by Saints-Mahants was already published by ‘Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’. The Kumbh-Mela takes place smoothly only because it is God’s planning and faith of devotees in God! It is therefore, expected that the Government takes more efforts for good planning of ‘Kumbh-Mela’ in future. Howard University is praising UP Government for good planning of Kumbh-Mela although the Government had not done any effective work; so if the Government really works sincerely, the University would have no words to glorify UP Government !
Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
