Here’s wishing every one of you a very Happy New Year.

It’s the first New Year since Aavaas started and we are hopeful, first of many more to come. Hope all you folks are out celebrating or inside counting down; no difference as long you are having fun. Another cracking year will get started in a few more minutes…

Time to brush up those new year resolutions mate, if you haven’t already..

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As we come to the end of 2007 a thought occurred to me, ‘Is there a separate Indian calendar and what is the year/date on that calendar?’ 

Turns out, it’s a topic one should probably steer clear of, mainly because of the sheer number calendars out there that are ‘Indian’ in origin. Take a look at this sample below for instance, Gregorian year 2000 AD/CE corresponds with:

1. Year 5101 in the Kaliyuga calendar;
2. Year 2544 in the Buddha Nirvana calendar;
3. Year 2057 in the Bikram Samvat calendar;
4. Year 1922 in the Saka calendar;
5. Year 1921 (shown in terms of 5-yearly cycles) of the Vedanga Jyotisa calendar;
6. Year 1407 in the Bengali calendar;
7. Year 1176 in the Kolla Varsham calendar.

Well that is enough to leave anyone confused. I threw in the towel.

By the way, there is an Indian National calendar as well, which has been granted official status by none other than the Government of India. This happened in 1957 and it is basically a straight forward adoption of the Saka calendar (Saka era starts from 78 AD)from what I understand. The year and date in this system is still used by All India Radio and official Government communiques! Psst.. if anyone can confirm this, it’d be great.

So let me make it simpler; officially today is 1929, Pausa 8th.

I kid you, not! Here is the link for the complete information. Go ahead and check it out..

The year starts with Chaitra on March 22nd and goes through Vaishakh, Jyaistha, Asadha, Sravana, Bhadra, Asvina, Kartika, Margashirsh, Pausa, Magha and Phalgun. So remember to celebrate new year on March 21st as well..

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This is the final part in the series “semi automatic washing machines”.

Videocon

A company which introduced washing machines more than a decade ago in India, Videocon has been constantly innovating their product lines and has been busy acquiring some companies. Until recently they had a reasonable success in the Indian market. But ever since the Korean players entered the scene, Videocon has been having some ups and downs. The website lists 7 models under the semi automatic category:

• SA-6500
• Multie 6000
• Multie 6800
• Combie 6800
• Maxie 6800E
• SA 63
• SA 43

For complete information please see manufacturer’s website here.

Whirlpool

An American company with an increasing presence in India. Very prominent in refrigerator and washing machine product lines and has Kajol and Ajay Devgan as their brand ambassadors.

Their website lists 8 models ranging from about 6500 rupees to 10000 rupees.

• Whitemagic H 70 <> 7 kg <> Rs. 9400-9700
• Whitemagic S 70 <> 7 kg <> Rs. 8800-9100
• Sparkle <> 6.5 Kg <> Rs. 7990
• Whitemagic Super-Soak <> 6.2 Kg <> Rs. 7825-8125
• Verve <> 6.5 Kg <> Rs. 7490
• Whitemagic E 65 <> 6.2 Kg <> Rs. 7625
• Whitemagic S60-Buzz <> 6 Kg <> Rs. 7100
• Whitemagic Si 60 <> 6.2 Kg <> Rs. 6600

We believe that this series of article has covered almost all the semi automatic models that exist in India (at the time of compilation). Once newer models are released, we would add them on an ongoing basis.

Comments and suggestions are most welcome.

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Cleaning floors could be a daunting task. Luckily for Indians, a company from Coimbatore - Roots Multiclean Limited, has created a range of products which could make cleaning easy and effective. One such product which can be used in homes is the “EZE Clean Mop”. 

Image Courtesy : rmclindia.com

It is constructed using natural and synthetic materials. The biggest advantage of this mop is the swivel action that is found in the system. the mop head has an easy rotation capability which makes cleaning tough to reach spots at home a painless chore.

The handle is long and strong and does not break like local brands. Also the head is large enough to clean more area with one stroke. The mop can be used for both wet and dry applications.

A spare is available for the mop which can be changed after the old one has been worn out. The attachment is done using a Velcro strap.  

It is available in three sizes 75 cm, 50 cm and 35 cm.

Some of the advantages of this mop are:

• It needs no power
• Requires minimum maintenance
• Is easy and convenient to use
• Contributes to a better environment
• Leaves the floor clean and hygienic

More details can be found on the manufacturer’s site.

http://www.rmclindia.com/cleaning-equipment/pr_mops_and_trolleys.html

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Though India has a tropical setting, owing to its huge geography, most parts of the country have quite a cold climate for months. This brings us to the inevitable chore of heating water for taking bath. Most common ways for heating water for Indian homes are:

• Heating the water on the stove
• Using an Immersion water heater
• Installing a Geyser
• Using green solutions like Solar water heaters

Our focus for this article is “Immersion water heater”.

Image Courtesy : rodexworld.com

An immersion water heater is a very simple appliance which heats a bucket of water in 10 to 15 minutes. It consists of a heating coil and has a chord similar to an electric iron.

To use an immersion heater, one simply fills a bucket of water and places the immersion rod into the bucket either directly or with an aid like a clothes hanger. Then they connect the plug into the socket and switch it on. Some models come with an indicator to show that they are working well.

Some points to be noted about immersion heaters:

• Unlike expensive geysers, they do not have an auto off system. This means, when the bucket is warm enough for one’s liking, the system has to be manually switched off.
• Just like geysers, operating immersion heaters without adequate water or no water will burn the coil and render the device useless.
• Ensure that you buy a good brand and quality product to avoid electric shock and other discomfort for you and your family.

Apart from this, immersion heater is not a complete solution for water heating. The biggest drawback is that one can only use the heated water from the bucket with a mug or external aid. This means having a hot shower is ruled out. Further there are chances of water spillage or people getting scalded as they try to transport this bucket of hot water from the place with electric connection to the place where they intend to use it. It is also quite common to get mild electric shocks from this apparatus, especially from those of poorer quality. So we advise prudent and cautious use.

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