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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Plea in HC for fresh polls, new body

Dr. Rumi F. Beramji Mumbai : A senior medical practitioner has knocked on the doors of the Bombay High Court, alleging serious irregularities in the functioning of the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture (MCA) and challenging the continuation of its current Administrator.   In a petition filed through Advocate Sharad V. Natu, Dr. Laxman Bhimrao Sawant has termed the appointment and prolonged tenure of former MCA Chairman as “illegal and arbitrary,”  and detrimental to the cause of Acupuncture....

Plea in HC for fresh polls, new body

Dr. Rumi F. Beramji Mumbai : A senior medical practitioner has knocked on the doors of the Bombay High Court, alleging serious irregularities in the functioning of the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture (MCA) and challenging the continuation of its current Administrator.   In a petition filed through Advocate Sharad V. Natu, Dr. Laxman Bhimrao Sawant has termed the appointment and prolonged tenure of former MCA Chairman as “illegal and arbitrary,”  and detrimental to the cause of Acupuncture.   Dr. Beramji, who headed the five-member statutory body 's inaugural term (from May 2018 to May 2023), was subsequently appointed as its Administrator after the council’s term expired.   According to Dr. Sawant’s plea, the Administrator’s appointment was initially meant to be a stop-gap arrangement for one year, and it was ‘extended’ later. However, nearly three years later, the position continues without fresh elections being conducted, raising questions over adherence to statutory norms and principles of governance.   Dr. Sawant has further contended that while Dr. Beramji was installed as Administrator, the remaining members of the council were effectively superseded, leaving the regulatory body without its mandated collective structure, and over 6500-members directionless.   The petition claims that the delay in conducting elections was justified on the grounds of an incomplete voter list, but this reason was flimsy considering the extended time lapse.   The petition, likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday (April 21), also levelled serious allegations regarding the manner in which the MCA has been run under the Administrator. It claims decisions have been taken unilaterally, whimsically and without transparency or institutional accountability.   Besides, Dr. Sawant has made allegations of selective targeting of certain members who have attempted to raise valid issues, including the globally-renowned noted acupuncture expert Dr. P. B. Lohiya of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.   Adding to the controversy, a former MCA office-bearer has claimed that over the past three years, approvals were granted to more than a dozen acupuncture colleges in undue haste, purportedly in violation of prescribed norms and alleged shady deals.   These institutions, it is claimed, either exist only on paper or lack essential infrastructure, faculty, and facilities. In addition, around two dozen Continuous Acupuncture Education (CAE) centres were also cleared during this period.   In his multiple prayers to the high court, Dr. Sawant has sought quashing Dr. Beramji’s appointment as MCA Administrator and setting aside all policy decisions taken during his tenure in that capacity in the last three years.   The petition also urged the court to direct the state government to conduct elections to elect and reconstitute a new five-member MCA within two months.   Pending this, the plea seeks an order restraining the Administrator from continuing in office or interfering in the functioning of the MCA or the CAEs in the interest of free and fair elections or the cause of Acupuncture.   Sources within the MCA have described the situation as “deeply concerning,” alleging that individuals of international standing, such as Dr. Lohiya - who has treated prominent personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, the late Manoj Kumar, state and central ministers and other public figures - are being unfairly hounded.   The petition has called for a comprehensive review of all decisions taken during the Administrator’s tenure, a financial audit of the MCA’s financial affairs, and an independent probe by the Medical Education & Drugs Department (MEDD) into the approvals granted to the institutions in recent years.   Despite repeated attempts by  ‘ The Perfect Voice’ , top MCA officials like the Administrator or the Registrar Narayan Nawale, were not available for their comments.

India: A Continent Within a Country

Travelling the world taught me that humanity is universal.

Travel, for me, has never been about ticking destinations off a map. It has always been about understanding people.


As a global traveller, I have been endlessly fascinated by cultural differences. Landscapes may leave us speechless and monuments may tell stories of the past, but it is the living culture — the people, their values, their emotions — that truly stays with us long after we return home.


When I travelled to different countries, I chose not to remain just a visitor. I chose to observe, to listen, and to learn. I shared meals with locals, watched families interact, understood their daily routines, and formed friendships that went beyond language barriers.


I heard stories of struggles and celebrations. I observed various forms of worship — some silent and meditative, others grand and ceremonial. I observed different parenting styles, different food habits, and different ways of greeting and gathering.


Everything looked different. And yet, at the core, everything felt the same. Every prayer carried hope. Every parent carried dreams. Every family sought security and love. Every individual worked tirelessly for dignity and growth.


That realisation humbled me. It reminded me that culture may shape expressions, but values shape humanity. Wealth does not define character. Religion does not determine kindness. What truly shapes a human being is sincerity, effort, compassion, and integrity.


Travel taught me that borders divide land, not hearts.


But if I look honestly at my journey, I must admit something important — my understanding of cultural diversity did not begin overseas. It began at home, within India.


My journey

I started travelling when I was very young, exploring India with my parents. Those early journeys quietly shaped my worldview.


Growing up in Maharashtra, I quickly discovered that crossing a state border felt like entering a new cultural universe. When we travelled to neighbouring states, everything changed — the language, the flavours, the clothing, and the traditions. Even the tone of conversation felt different.


My parents never showed me only monuments or tourist attractions. They showed me how people truly lived. We visited local markets, observed kitchens, tasted regional staples, and understood how food blended with faith and tradition.


That is when I learned a powerful lesson: food is not just nourishment — it is identity.


In many communities, Brahmins are strictly vegetarian. Yet in coastal regions, even they consume fish because geography shapes tradition. When the sea feeds you, it naturally becomes a part of your life.


Geography shapes culture. Climate influences customs. Environment becomes identity.


As we travelled north, east, and south, I saw how mountains, deserts, fertile lands, and coastlines created completely different lifestyles. Temple architecture rose like poetry in stone. Festivals painted cities in vibrant colours. Local cuisines narrated stories of history and survival.


Within one country, diversity unfolded every few hundred kilometres. India did not feel like a single nation. It felt like a living, breathing continent.


Soul of tourism

Tourism within India is far more than travel. It is an emotional awakening.


From snow-covered peaks to golden deserts, from serene backwaters to dense forests and sunlit beaches — India offers extraordinary geographical richness within one border.


But beyond landscapes lies something deeper — faith, history, celebration, and connection.


Pilgrimages transform journeys into spiritual experiences. Monuments whisper stories of legacy. Festivals unite entire communities in devotion and joy. Food connects hearts across regions. Wildlife, wellness, yoga, and Ayurveda offer healing and balance.


India welcomes every traveller — the explorer, the pilgrim, the historian, the foodie, and the seeker.


Most importantly, domestic tourism strengthens unity. When we travel within our own country, we replace assumptions with understanding. We realise that while languages differ and rituals vary, warmth and hospitality remain constant.


Travelling the world taught me that humanity is universal. Travelling within India taught me that diversity is strength. And today, I carry both lessons in my heart.


Because before we explore the world, India itself is a lifetime journey waiting to be understood.


Explore the soul of India and enrich yourself with unique experiences!


(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)


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