Skip to content Skip to navigation

Bikaner hosts Maru Manthan, the desert forum from Feb 13

By AT News |

Bikaner, February 11: Desert Resource Center, Urmul Group, is organising Maru Manthan, the desert forum amidst the sand dunes of Bajju, Bikaner, Rajasthan. The first of its kind forum for celebrating the uniqueness and emerging dynamics of hot and cold deserts around the world, the festival will be held on 13-14 February, 2021.

Anshul Ojha, Founder Director, Desert Research Center said, “As a festival, Maru Manthan will facilitate a space where desert communities, academics, civil society groups, policy makers and media gatekeepers will get together to share their experiences and celebrate their cultures. The festival, as a shared forum, will advance dialogue on innovations and alternatives around life in the desert and its relationship to desert ecology.”

Deserts are unique in their fabric and being. Maru Manthan is a vision to celebrate this uniqueness and provide a glimpse of the complexities that life among the sand dunes.

“With panel sessions, craft exhibits and inauguration of a camel milk center, this 2-day event pays tribute to the rhythm of life in the deserts and among desert dwellers. It is a homage to resilience, jubilations and innovations amidst living in a harsh environment with its challenges and scarcities”, Ojha said.

“As a space co-created with the desert communities from Rajasthan and elsewhere, Maru Manthan aims to collectively work towards enhancing an information regime and debate to help public policy around social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects of life in the desert. The festival hopes to act as a catalyst in a change-making process in which desert communities are actively involved in decisions about their lives and their futures” Ojha added.

The key panelists include Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in India Tomio Shichiri, National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ashok Dalwai.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Girl raped and killed in Sonari

23 Aug 2015 - 12:52pm | AT News
The death of a tea garden girl in Sonari creates no less sensation across the state on Sunday.The gory incident took place in Mathurapur area where the lifeless girl was recovered on Sunday morning....

Army chief hints at huge crackdown

26 Dec 2014 - 11:39pm | Rashmita Gogoi
The Army pulls up its sleeves to intensify its crackdown against NDFB-S militants after they killed over 70 people in the recent carnage in Kokrajhar and Sinitput districts on Tuesday.Steps are on to...

Dharna in Delhi against Akhil arrest

12 Mar 2014 - 2:19pm | AT News
Hundreds of Delhi University students staged dharna n New Delhi on Wednesday demanding immediate release of Akhil Gogoi who was remanded to judicial custody a few days BJP.Award winning prolific...

Handloom exhibiton at Dudhnoi

7 Dec 2012 - 4:23pm | Bidyut Sarkar
Department of Handloom...

Other Contents by Author

Ripun Bora to contest in Rajya Sabha poll

New Delhi: Congress has named Ripun Bora as the party candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha poll slated for March 31. Bora, the incumbent, will be the candidate for the second seat who is expecting support from Congress,  AIUDF,  CPI and others.  The ruling party has already named Pabitra Margherita as the candidate for the first seat and skipped the name for the second seat since it lacks numbers.   Earlier BJP leaders claimed to have been preparing to name candidates for both seats.  Congress also had a few rounds of hectic confabulation with AIUDF leadership.  The terms of Ripun Bora and Renee Narah will expire on April 2.

BJP names Pabitra Margherita as candidate for Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The BJP's central leadership has named Pabitra Margherita as the party candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections slated for March 31. The party issued a list on Friday where the ruling party has not named anybody for the second seat.   The ruling coalition lacks the numbers to get yet another candidate to get elected smoothly.  Only a united opposition has the chance for smooth sailing in it.  Opposition parties are having hectic confabulation to ensure their candidate, while Ripun Borah is said to be a strong contender.  Bora and his party are in touch with AIUDF.

WWF Earth Hour 2022 theme ‘Shape Our Future’ signals an important year for people and the planet

New Delhi,14th March, 2022: Powered by people, Earth Hour is one of the largest environmental movements in the world. This year as we continue adapting our lives to the impacts of COVID-19 and the catastrophic events of the past two years, Earth Hour 2022 aims to signal to Shape Our Future. It will herald a new era that puts people and the planet first. As India marks its 75 years of Independence, it is important to recognize the efforts and actions made by people in the past and appeal to every citizen to be a conservation hero for the future. Joining the movement, our Harmony and Hope Ambassador,  Shantanu Moitra and leading Bollywood playback singer Mohit Chauhan have...

Case against CM Himanta Biswa Sharma

Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate-1 (SDJM 1) Kamrup (M) has directed Dispur police to register a case against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the basis of a complaint by MP Abdul Khaleque. Khaleque alleged that the Chief Minister made inflammatory remarks over an eviction drive at Gorukhuti in Darang district. Khaleque  approached the court after the Dispur police station did not register an FIR against Sarma,  Present: Sri. B. Baruah, AJS, SDJM 1, Kamrup (M) Dated: 05.03.2022 Complainant Abdul Khaleque is absent with steps showing cause vide petition bearing number 3162 and the prayer of the complainant to dispense with his personal presence...

Rajya Sabha polls on March 31

Guwahati: The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls for 2 seats. Polling will take place on March 31 from the morning and results will be announced towards the evening. The ruling coalition has every chance of winning one of the two seats while the Opposition, if it remains united,  will be able to win one seat.  Hectic confabulation has yet to take place in the opposition camp.  According to the information, Congress leadership is expected to talk to AIUDF in this regard on March 9. The term for Ripun Bora and AIUDF will expire on April 2 this year.

Last moment of by poll electioneering in Majuli

Majuli: Political parties are giving last minute efforts in Majuli to woo the voters a day before the end of the heat and dust of electioneering for assembly by polls slated for March 7. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended as many as 10 rallies in the river island urging the voters of the largest river island to support party candidate Bhuban Gam. The opposition Congress, AJP and Raijor Dal are equally escalating campaign with Chittranjan Basumatary as candidates. Congress  state president Bhupen Bora, AJP president Lurinjoti Gogoi and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi have been holding joint rallies urging the people to beat BJP. Over 60,000 voters will exercise their franchise...

President’s convoy runs over pedestrian

Bokakhat: A 60 year old daily wage earner died when he was hit by a car attached to a convoy of Ramnath Kovind as the President was on his way to Kaziranga National Park on Saturday. The incident took place in the morning as the man was trying to cross the National Highway defying the movement of the presidential cavalcade loaded with heavyweights. A pall of gloom descended into the entire area following the death of a worker who was identified as Ravidas.

Efforts on to evacuate Assamese in Ukrine

Guwahati: The Assam government is building contact with the ministry of external affairs to evacuate as many as 100 people who are trapped in the Ukraine warzone. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the family members of these people, who are mostly medical students, are also in close coordination with the government. Indian authorities are facing it difficult to jump into the rescue operation following the closure of airspace since heavy bombings by Russian forces are escalating at every passing minute.     

Straight fight awaits Majuli by polls

Majuli: A straight fight between ruling and opposition awaits Majuli in the assembly by polls slated for March 7. The fight is believed to be a tough one if one goes through the electioneering heat and dust that gathers momentum with rallies and road shows on every passing day on the largest river island on the planet. With Bhuban Gam, the ruling BJP is all out to retain the seat, hardly a year after Sarbananda Sonowal won the seat as Chief Minister. As many as 7 ministers and MLAs are campaigning for Gam, who is known for his close association with Sonowal, the Union minister. “It’s a matter of prestige for BJP. Sonowal was elected twice and took oath as Chief Minister in 2016. In 2021...

Assam engineer’s forum bats for pragmatic flex-fuel policy

Guwahati: All Assam Engineers Association (AAEA) appreciates the latest initiative taken by both the Union government in New Delhi and the State Government in Dispur to encourage the use of green fuel in all kinds of automobiles and urges the concerned authorities to launch a public awareness campaign about alternative fuel for the benefit of automobile users across India. It may be mentioned that Union road transport & highways minister Nitin Gadkari has been advocating for ethanol mixed fuel (mostly with patrol/gasoline) for the vehicles. The minister recently asked carmakers across the country to introduce flex-fuel engines on a large scale. He argued that the ethanol mixed patrol...