Gujarat confidential: Ambedkar and a Vadodara Link

Ganesha gets a hitech immersion

Religious rituals and modern technology converged in Gujarat’s Mehsana on Sunday when a private firm did customary immersion of an idol of Lord Ganesha using a drone. A drone lifted the idol of Lord Ganesha and another showered flower petals on it as the first drone eventually immersed the idol in a pond. Some elected office bearers of the Mehsana Municipal Corporation were also present on the occasion. The founder and CEO of the private firm, Pradeep Patel, said, “Drone technology is being used in various fields, and now its creative and safe use has also become possible in social and religious events. The main objective of this initiative was to provide a new direction by connecting modern technology with traditional religious celebrations.” The company had installed Lord Ganesha at its office and its immersion was done through drone technology.

Daughters’ Day Discussion

On the occasion of Daughters’ Day on Sunday, Cabinet Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Science & Technology Arjun Modhwadia posted a video on social media in which he is seen making a call to his daughter Disha on a satellite phone. Modhwadia was in Surat to unveil a first-of-its-kind initiative in Gujarat – Providing satellite phones to forest department personnel to facilitate their work. In his post, Modhwadia wrote, “How could I not think of my daughter on Daughters’ Day? Due to professional obligations, I was unable to meet my daughter, Disha, today. However, while I was unveiling satellite mobile phones in Surat — a first for Gujarat, intended to facilitate the work of Forest Department personnel — I suddenly thought of her. So what if she was far away? If she was on my mind, I could simply call her! Without a second thought, I picked up the phone and called her right then.”

The video captures an adorable conversation between Modhwadia and his daughter as the call came as a surprise to the latter. Disha does not immediately realise that her father is the caller and is seen asking who is at the other end. Modhwadia laughs and tells her that it is him, her father, calling from a satellite phone. Disha says that the voice did not seem like that of her father. To this, Modhwadia as well as an official accompanying him again laugh and reiterate that it is indeed him at the other end.

‘Missing’ Mayor

A Seva Setu event organised in Katargam area of Surat city on Tuesday has become a topic of discussion among the local BJP leaders and corporators. Mayor Mayaben Mavani was supposed to inaugurate it. As she did not reach the venue at the time of inauguration, local MLAs from Surat city — Vinu Moradiya and Kanti Balar – had no other option but to wait for her. However, the Mayor did not turn up and she could not be reached over phone as well, keeping the two MLAS, applicants for the event and officials waiting. Finally, the BJP MLAs inaugurated the event in the absence of the Mayor. Sources said that the Mayor could not reach the event as she went to attend another event in the city. Under the Seva Setu initiative of the government, applicants can get multiple government services done at one place.