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indianexpress: MORE than 1,500 prostitutes from 13 districts across the State gathered in the city on Monday to showcase their contribution to HIV prevention and plan out a future course of action. As peer educators, these women have played a critical role in HIV prevention in their communities.

Jointly organised by Project Mukta, Pathfinder International and Vaishya Anayaya Mukti Parishad (VAMP) a prostitutes’ collective, the convention facilitates a State-wide process of empowerment and collectivisation among prostitutes.

These women take responsibility for their own health and better access to health facilities in their community. They have also played a critical role in both the prevention and treatment of STDs and HIV prevention.

Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff said at the inauguration of the two-day event: “I am completely humbled by the tremendous work these women are doing to improve their community’s health. Their work demands recognition and applause.” Pathfinder Director Dr Michele Andina said, “What makes this convention particularly pathbreaking is that women themselves have organised it and shaped it.”

The two-day event will give women an opportunity to showcase their contribution to HIV prevention. They will also use the space for collective introspection and brainstorming to chart out their future path. Pathfinder International Community Outreach Director Pramod Nigudkar added that the organisation has been working with the prostitutes through the Mukta (freedom) project

indianexpress: THE centenary year celebrations of Akhil Bharatiya Maratha Shikshan Parishad, the parent organisation of educational institution of masses in Maharashtra, will be inaugurated by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at a function in Shahu College on Tuesday morning.

Parishad leader Vasantrao Thorat said a number of functions will be held during the centenary years and some new projects will be launched. More than 100 educational institutions across Vidarbha, Northern Maharashtra and Western Maharashtra are affiliated to the parishad. Thorat said they now plan to offer courses in agricultural science, science and technology, information technology and computer science, medical science, engineering and business management.

The first convention of Akhil Bharatiya Maratha Parishad was held at Dharwad in Karnataka in 1907. The annual conventions of parishad stopped after the 35th convention was held at Mumbai. Of these 35 conventions, 27 were held in Maharashtra, four in Karnataka, three in Madhya Pradesh and one in Gujarat

indianexpress: THE visitor’s book at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) has a blessing. It says, “With my sheer hope that this Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute will grow and proliferate much.” It is signed by the Dalai Lama.

Monday was a day of nostalgia for Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. In 1956, as a 21-year-old leader with the burden of fellow Tibetans on his shoulder, he had visited the country on being invited by the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti. At that time, he had visited Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune where his photographs were taken.

Fifty years after that visit, he was back at BORI, leafing through the albums and looking at rare manuscripts.

Though he could not fully recollect the visit, the photographs revived his memory. The photographs and Tibetan texts he saw at the institute, made him decide that the Sarnath-based Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies would collaborate with BORI. He pitched for it when honorary director of BORI M G Dhadphale expressed the desire to introduce Buddhist studies at the institute.

The Dalai Lama promised all help to the institute.

The spiritual leader also remembered other things about Pune. He spoke about Pune-based scholar of German V V Gokhale, a professor at Fergusson College, who also served as a representative of the British Government at Lhasa.