Topics of Discussion

• Indian space effort-where we are and where we intend to go?
• Philosophical, ethical issues associated with space exploration
• Social, cultural, political dimensions- Relevance of space research for human societies, implications of Astrobiological research, race to monopolize space etc.
• Scientific issues-Space Exploration and Development- Astrobiological challenges, search for earthlike planets, quest for energy and mineral resources etc,(here) a major area is astrobiology- in the light of finding of amino acid in a comet dust sample , water on Mars and Moon etc.
• Space policy - Towards equitable and peaceful international space policies - This would have a relook or revival or redrafting at/of outer space treaty, moon treaty, demilitarization of space etc. and the need for new policies, strategies for space exploration and human colonization of space. More details can be given.

Indology Goa request you to participate in the conference and share your scholarly thoughts with other experts participating in the conference.

For more details visit indologygoa.in

Faleiro said that the first step in this direction would be to appoint one representative for each country. “Then we will work with all these people to discuss modalities for the setting up of this apex body,” he said. He said that he has plans to set up a facility wherein the Goa community from all over the world can stay when they visit India.

Goa receives several thousands of tourists from Israel, mostly ex-soldiers who travel the Himachal Pradesh-Goa tourist circuit after a mandatory stint in the Israeli armed forces. “They come to Goa during our season, at a time when it is off season in places like Manali in Himachal Pradesh,” Deshpande said. He said the police did not know the exact number of Israeli tourists visiting the state each year.

There are two Jewish prayer houses in Anjuna and Morjim, both beach villages in north Goa, which have now been kept under discreet observation by the state police. “We are taking every precaution and have made substantial arrangements for the safety of every tourist coming to the state,” the official said.

The Israeli delegation toured several places in North Goa including the prayer houses and coastal hotspots frequented in large numbers by Israeli tourists. The Israeli government has in the past issued several travel advisories asking their tourists to exercise caution while travelling to Goa and other parts of India.

Courtesy:TOI

]]> http://www.goablog.org/posts/israel-consulate-inspects-goa-for-safety-of-citizens/feed/ http://www.goablog.org/posts/israel-consulate-inspects-goa-for-safety-of-citizens/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/goablog/doAO/~3/qq1_LoKUG1I/ http://www.goablog.org/posts/surathkal-nit-to-mentor-goa-nit/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:59:00 +0000 Goa Blog http://www.goablog.org/?p=4117 The National Institute of Technology (NIT) to be set up in Goa by the ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD) will be mentored by the NIT at Surathkal for the first three years, sources in the state education ministry said. The state education ministry has received an order dated October 30, 2009 from the Union HRD ministry with regard to the process of setting up the ten new NITs as per the central government’s 11th five year plan, one institute of which will be located in Goa.

The directives state that in order to closely monitor and facilitate the work of establishment of the ten new NITs, it has been decided that the existing NITs will mentor the new institutes for the first two to three years or until such time as the new NITs are properly set up.

Sources said that the directors of the existing NITs will take all necessary steps and suitably guide the new NITs with a view to ensure that the latter are able to bring in standards as required of an NIT. “Until full-time directors are appointed for the new NITs, the directors of the existing NITs will take all necessary decisions for the mentored NIT, as the case may be. As it is also proposed to start academic sessions by leasing suitable premises for two to three years till permanent campuses are built for the new NITs, the directors of the existing NITs should make all necessary arrangements,” the order states.

In some cases, like Goa’s, where a temporary premises is not available or the site has not been finalized, the first batch of students of the new NIT will be housed in the existing NIT itself. Further, all the new NITs will also have to be registered as societies and will be brought under the ambit of the National Institutes of Technology Act, 2007 through an amendment of the Act, as per the order.

The institute at Goa will be set up at a cost of Rs 250 crore provided by the central government. The process for setting up these new NITs will start in 2009-10 with the formation of their respective societies, constitution of their board of governors, appointment of directors etc.

Courtesy:TOI

The witness has also confirmed that the shack owners often ignore drug consumption in their outlets as otherwise they would lose the business. “In most shacks, foreigners and Indians are used to Hash joints. No shack owner will stop a hash joint user.

Courtesy: PTI

Sesa Goa, India’s second-largest iron-ore miner by sales, last month said the country’s federal fraud investigation agency has notified the company about a probe into its finances and management. “This investigation pertains to 2003 well before Vedanta took over,” Mr. Mehta said. “It has nothing to do with Vedanta.

Vedanta acquired the company in April 2007.

So I was talking to one of my Goan friends and he happened to mention ‘ Lambada’ for some odd reason.  Lambada struck me like a lightning and reminded me of those nostalgic late 80s and early 90s days in Goa.  Lambada as most Goans, who lived in those times ,  fondly associate the term with fancy, flower power, cotton,  basket ball shorts with a ubiquitous ipod like white string.  Some of us would also recall, its also a name of a famous Portuguese song by Kaoma which was mercilessly copied for this Bollywood song.

By generally accepted notion, we Goans are always ahead of the pack.  Lets face it, people famously know that round the world too  While the rest of India was oblivious, the village Antao or Seby would have the original Portuguese version and they missed no opportunity whatsoever to  flaunt it as if it were the only Merc in the entire state of Goa. People talked and praised this song from Saligao ‘Titho’ to  Chorao ‘Tisk’.  Relatives from the ‘Gulf’ were welcomed with this song and please shoot me if I am kidding.  Be it Christmas or a family get together or a picnic by the beach the song was replayed over and over again.  The interesting part is that no one would understand the Portuguese lyrics and that, shamelessly, includes me as well.  Fun times really!

Disclaimer:  I mean no offense to others who are not from Goa.

Photographic Glimpses Of The Show

Honarable Chief Minister of Goa Shri. Digambar kamat, inaugurating the Fashion Show by lighting traditional lamp in distinguished presence of Hon. Speaker Shri. Pratapsingh Rane, Hon. Dy. Speaker Shri. Mauvin Godinho, Chairperson of KVIB Mrs. Monica Dias and Dr. Ulhas Parab, Vice-Chairman of KVIB. Also seen Ms. Natasha Suri, Host of the Show.

Dr. Ulhas Parab, Vice-Chairman of KVIB lighting the lamp in distinguished presence of Honarable Chief Minister of Goa Shri. Digambar kamat,  Hon. Speaker Shri. Pratapsingh Rane, Hon. Dy. Speaker Shri. Mauvin Godinho, Chairperson of KVIB Mrs. Monica Dias.

Dr. Ulhas Parab, Vice-Chairman, KVIB Goa addressing the gathering at concluding session of the Show.

Seen on Ms. Natasha Suri, Ms India World 2006 and the Host of the Show along with designer Verma De Mello and the models

]]> http://www.goablog.org/posts/goa-khadi-fashion-show/feed/ http://www.goablog.org/posts/goa-khadi-fashion-show/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/goablog/doAO/~3/TZLHGRu7YyE/ http://www.goablog.org/posts/high-court-lifts-stay-on-indian-panorama-section-at-goa-iffi/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:23:41 +0000 Goa Blog http://www.goablog.org/?p=4087 The Kerala High Court has lifted its stay order on the publication of results of the selection of the Indian Panorama for the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which is scheduled to begin on November 24 in Goa. A division bench comprising Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath and justice A.K. Basheer issued the direction on Tuesday.

Earlier last month, a single judge stayed the selection process of films for the Indian Panorama section based on a writ petition filed by Malayalam director-producer Ranjith, who alleged that one of the jury members, Gautaman Bhaskaran, had published the details of the films to be selected in the Indian Panorama on his website even before the official declaration was made.

Ranjith sought a direction to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to conduct an inquiry into the selection process immediately with particular reference to leaking of the results by a jury member and to conduct the selection process afresh.

Meanwhile, with the Kerala High Court lifting this stay on the publication of results of movies selected for the Indian Panorama, the organisers of IFFI announced the list of films to be shown under the Indian Panorama section.

Konkani movie Paltadacho Munis, directed by Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, will be the opening film of the section, which will also feature recent Bollywood releases Dev D., Firaaq, Kaminey, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, The White Elephant  and India’s official Oscar entry Harishchandrachi Factory.