Historical

Santiniketan-Roadway and Lodging Review

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The place was named Amrakunj as Tagore had planted by himself 108 mango trees in this garden. As I saw little children studying beneath the trees I kept comparing it with the classes held in our city schools with air-conditioners and state-of-the-art technology. How claustrophobic the city children must be feeling, I wondered. For once, I imagined myself to be a child, sitting with those little kids beneath the shadowy mango trees reading TagoreтАЩs verses or perhaps solving sums even. We also visited the various schools inside the campus like тАШPatha Bhavan, China Bhavan, Hindi BhavanтАЩ where various subjects are taught in foreign languages as well. With alumni list including Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and Satyajit Ray, nothing more is required to be said about this world class university. On our way back to hotel we took a glimpse of the prayer house.

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Bone Church of Kutna Hora

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The guide there gave us a leaflet and the (short) story behind the church goes like this
тАЬThe tradition in this town was that whenever any influential person of the city died his bones were used to be donated to the church and buried under it. Around 18th Century the city was hit by plague and a large number of population died. The supply of the bones was too much to handle for the church, so they dig up a large area under the church and dumped all the bones there. Still many were left, one of the rich of the city hired some workers and used these bones to create what you see in the pics тАЭ
The center of the church has a grand Chandelier, all of bones. The special thing about this chandelier is that you will find each bone that exists in human body as a part of it. You will be amazed to see the beautiful patterns created with human bones and the number of humans тАЬconsumedтАЭ to create this one structure.

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Getting lost in Sambhar Lake

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On the way back, we drove the entire distance over lake only. Trying to absorb more of that dry-dusty frame. We also learned that ‘Jodha Akbar’ was shot here and apparently they created the entire war set here. Another movie, this time of junior Bacchan was shot in the main town. We dropped the Sambhar Salts gentleman back after thanking him for all his help and started back.

As we were driving back, I was thinking that how long the lake would remain like that. Probably 50 years down the line, this story would look like a legend. May be the area would get habituated, the land would be reclaimed to build SEZs and factories or may be the new Jaipur Airport. Who can imagine a 230 sq KM dry lake which is open for driving. You tell that to your grandkid and he would laugh it off. Go and look at it before it vanishes.

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рдЭреАрд▓реЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рд╢рд╣рд░ рдФрд░ рдмрд╛рд░рд┐рд╢ рдХреА рд░рд┐рдордЭрд┐рдо (рдЙрджрдпрдкреБрд░ рдореЗрдВ рджреЛ рджрд┐рди)

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рд╕рд┐рдЯреА рдкреИрд▓реЗрд╕ рдХрд╛ рднреНрд░рдордг рдкреВрд░реНрдг рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдкрд╢реНрдЪрд╛рдд рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдг рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╕рд┐рдЯреА рдкреИрд▓реЗрд╕ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдирд┐рдХрд▓рддреЗ рд╣реА рдСрдЯреЛ рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рдЦрдбрд╝реЗ рдереЗ, рдЙрдирдореЗ рд╕реЗ рд╣реА рдПрдХ рдСрдЯреЛ рдкрд░ рд╕рд╡рд╛рд░ рд╣реЛрдХрд░ рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмреИрдЧ рдХрд┐ рд╕реИрд░ рдкрд░ рдЪрд▓ рдкрдбрд╝реЗ. рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХрд╛ рдирд╛рдо рд╕реБрдирдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рддреЛ рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХрд╛ рд╣реА рдкрд░рд┐рджреГрд╢реНрдп рдЖрдБрдЦреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдШреВрдорддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдкрд░ рдЗрд╕ рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдореЗрдВ рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХреЛ рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖рдХрд░ рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд▓реБрднрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЬрдиреНрддреБрд╢рд╛рд▓рд╛ (zoo), рдЯреЙрдп рдЯреНрд░реИрди рдХрд┐ рд╕рд╡рд╛рд░реА, рдЭреВрд▓реЗ, рдЬрд▓рдкрд╛рди рдЖрджрд┐ рдХрдИ рдЕрдиреНрдп рдордиреЛрд░рдВрдЬрдХ рд╕реБрд╡рд┐рдзрд╛рдПрдВ рднреА рдЙрдкрд▓рдмреНрдз рд╣реИрдВ. рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рддреЛ рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХрд┐ рд╕реИрд░ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рдЖрдирдВрджрджрд╛рдпрдХ рд▓рдЧ рд░рд╣реА рдереА. рдЗрд╕ рд╕рдордп рдмрд╛рд░рд┐рд╢ рднреА рд░реБрдХ рдЧрдпреА рдереА. рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЭреВрд▓реЗ рдЕрднреА рднреА рдЧреАрд▓реЗ рдереЗ рдФрд░ рдЙрдирдХреЗ рдЖрд╕-рдкрд╛рд╕ рдкрд╛рдиреА рднрд░рд╛ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдХрд╛рд░рдг рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЗ рдЭреВрд▓реЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдкреВрд░рд╛ рдордЬрд╝рд╛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд▓реЗ рд╕рдХреЗ. рдЗрд╕ рдХрдореА рдХреЛ рдЯреЙрдп рдЯреНрд░реИрди рдХрд┐ рд╕рд╡рд╛рд░реА рдиреЗ рдкреВрд░рд╛ рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛. рдЯреНрд░реИрди рдореЗрдВ рдмреИрдареЗ-рдмреИрдареЗ рд╣реА рдкреВрд░реЗ рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХреЗ рднреНрд░рдордг рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рдЬрдиреНрддреБрд╢рд╛рд▓рд╛ (zoo) рджреЗрдЦрддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЗ-рдмрдбрд╝реЗ рд╕рднреА рд░реЛрдорд╛рдВрдЪрд┐рдд рд╣реЛ рдЙрдареЗ.
рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рдмрд╛рдЧрд╝ рдХрд┐ рд╕реИрд░ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╣рдорд╛рд░рд╛ рдЕрдЧрд▓рд╛ рдкрдбрд╝рд╛рд╡ рджреВрдз рддрд▓рд╛рдИ рдирд╛рдордХ рд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдерд╛. рджреВрдз рддрд▓рд╛рдИ рдЙрджрдпрдкреБрд░ рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рд╕реБрдиреНрджрд░ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдг рд╣реИ. рджреВрдз рддрд▓рд╛рдИ рдирд╛рдо рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдЫреЛрдЯрд╛ рд╕рд╛ рддрд╛рд▓ рд▓реЗрдХ рдкрд┐рдЫреЛрд▓рд╛ рд╕реЗ рд╕рдЯрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ. рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдЖрд╕ рдкрд╛рд╕ рдХрд╛ рджреГрд╢реНрдп рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рд╕реБрд╣рд╛рдирд╛ рдФрд░ рдорди рдХреЛ рдореЛрд╣ рд▓реЗрдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рд╣реИ. рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдХреЗ рдореБрдЦреНрдп рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдгреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдкреИрджрд▓ рдмреЛрдЯ, рдореЛрдЯрд░ рдмреЛрдЯ, рдХреИрдорд▓ рд░рд╛рдЗрдб, рд╕рдирд╕реЗрдЯ рдкреЙрдЗрдВрдЯ, рдХрд░рдиреА рдорд╛рддрд╛ рдордВрджрд┐рд░, рд░реЛрдкрд╡реЗ рдЯреНрд░рд╛рд▓реА рдЖрджрд┐ рд╣реИрдВ. рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдЪрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдФрд░ рдордиреЛрд░рдВрдЬрди, рд░реЛрдорд╛рдВрдЪ рдФрд░ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдХреГрддрд┐рдХ рд╕реМрдВрджрд░реНрдп рдлреИрд▓рд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ. рджрд┐рди рднрд░ рдХреЗ рд╕реИрд░-рд╕рдкрд╛рдЯреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рджреВрдз рддрд▓рд╛рдИ рдХрд┐ рдпреЗ рд╢рд╛рдо рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рдЖрд░рд╛рдорджрд╛рдпрдХ рд▓рдЧ рд░рд╣реА рдереА.

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Some Days in Gujarat…. Adalaj Ni Vav and GandhiNagar sojourn

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Legend says that Mahmud Begara was mesmerised by the beauty of the Queen Roopoba, the wife of the chieftain and had promised to complete the structure if the queen marry the ruler as the Vaghela ruler had died till then. Structure was completed by Mahmud but the queen instead of marrying him, committed suicide by jumping from the uppermost story of this step well.

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Road Journeys – Towards Somnath, In search of enlightenment

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Soon, we reached at my fourth Jyotirling, Somnath. Parking the car a few meters away in a very large space with unorganized parking facility though I hurriedly jogged to have the glance of the magnificent temple about which I have read so much in our history books during school and also in visual media. Soon a right turn left me in awe with eyes wide open to see the magnitude and glamour of the historical and mythological grand shrine at the shores of Arabian Sea, an architectural marvel standing erect in pride.

A large boundary around the shrine, with many visible vigil eyes, armed guards, innumerable CCTV cameras and steel barricading with metal detectors, scanners besides checking physically to every entrant beyond the permissible limit, reminds the history of destructions of the shrine in the past and its prone to vulnerability in the future.

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Sanchi тАУ of Serene and Secluded Stups

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After wandering around the hill, you are drawn back to the crown jewel that is the Stup 1. The four magnificent gateways with their exquisite carvings are the main attraction of Sanchi and its trademark. The stup was embellished with the eye-popping carved torans in the 1st century BC by the Satavahans. Satavahans were the right people with the right credentials for the job. They gave us the glorious Ajanta temples. You are just relieved that the torans have survived for over two thousand years in almost pristine condition. Of course credit goes to Cunningham and Marshall for the restoration efforts.

The four gateways are installed at four cardinal directions of the stup. They have a common design тАУ two square pillars with capitals and surmounted by three parallel architraves. All sides of the columns and the rear and front of the architraves are profusely carved. You could mistake the carved panels for wood or ivory. A lot of carving is overlapping and would require highly skilled workers. Reportedly, the workers were ivory carvers of Vidisha.

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Road Journeys – Ahmedabad to Jungarh

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Finally a huge granary, a few steps from the step-wells, covered with stage wise storage facilities enabled the curators to use the stocks in hardships as per its requirement by taking it out of the selected chamber designed by high class engineering technique without disturbing the entire storage. Preserved with natural herbs and their way of modern-ancient techniques of keeping the grains dry and free from pesticides is a matter of research. We are happy with pride to know that we were always ahead of time.

An interesting fact, which I feel prominent to mention, is that Zulfikar Ali Bhutta, the deceased veteran of Pakistan, hanged in a political trial was an administrator of the Nawab of Junagadh and played a role during annexation, post independence. Also the very famous, beautiful actor in Bollywood, Parvin Babi was a kin to Junagadh Nawab of Babi dynasty, sadly died in pitiable condition. A few fresh blooms and a solitary eagle on a dead dried tree impressed me with the balance of nature.

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Road journeys – Nashik to Ahmedabad

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In 30 minutes we reached the famous abode of the Mahatma, the father of the nation and a legend preaching lessons on peace even today. We were enthralled with the mere feeling that we are actually at the site where, Mahatma Gandhi once lived, preached, enlightened our political revolutionists with his successful spiritual ideas of peaceful revolution and earned independence through his ardent anshans, un-armed and without blood shed. The river Sabarmati alongside flowing timidly adds tranquility in the already pacific atmosphere of the heavenly adobe. A few foreign visitors accompanied with philosophers on Gandhian studies were keen in learning with humility. We visited the whole area pursuing every facts preserved in pictures, models and writings with great respect and honour. A stall with GandhijiтАЩs books and relevant works by other legends was very worth visiting. A classic piece on crystal with GandhijiтАЩs portrait in it was what we couldnтАЩt resist purchasing besides few artifacts and books. The hutment of Mahatma, a much revered place and the replicas of the items used by the immortal was also of interest. A charkha in working condition at its verandah is still there, in remembrance to the veteran, honouring his omnipresence in every Indian heart and beyond. A man weaving on the charkha drew every ones attention and was framed in all cameras including mine. The room, where Gandhiji resided was found locked for no better reasons but one can see through the netted wires on its windows, the resting place of the Mahatma, Later we also visited VinobajiтАЩs hut which is a thatched roofed mud hutment with two rooms one for him and another for Mira Ben the Anglo follower of Gandhiji.

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Rome – The city of just-about-everything

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Like Delhi, Rome is also circular and even has a ring road (called Autostrada) that is about 56 kms long. So travelling from one place to another takes a maximum of an hour in regular traffic. Cab fares begin from 4 Euros and for a single hop should not exceed 30.

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Road journeys – Delhi to Udaipur-the Lake City

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Enjoying the splendid landscapes we reached Baewar by 1.30 pm on our first major stop for refreshment and lunch. I was so energetic till then that my wife didnтАЩt ask me why we are heading towards Udaipur and not Chittorgarh for the break journey. Filled the tank of the car alongwith our tummy, we were again lost in the nostalgic picturesque landscape full of greenery, on an average speed of 100 kmph with ease due to good tar and less traffic. Our first visiting place was Rajsamand Lake which soon appeared with an awesome view of a natural wild lake on the left side of the road. Rajsamand Lake is an artificial lake created in the 17th century by Rana Raj Singh of Mewar. We stopped and hurriedly captured the view both in our eyes and in the camera. Surprisingly, none other was available to enjoy the serene virgin beauty of the so natural place in wilderness. A clear water in the lake, yet uninterrupted by artificiality, was a soothing sight. A rusted board mentioning victory of Maharana Pratap over AkbarтАЩs huge army in 1582, fought there was boasting its historical importance. We stayed a few minutes clicking photographs and watching the silence in the tranquility, glooming hearted was back to our seats. It was sad to see that a place of so rich history, so beautiful is so unattended.

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рдЖрдореЗрд░ рджреБрд░реНрдЧ : рдЪрд▓ рдЦреБрд╕рд░реЛ рдШрд░ рдЖрдкрдиреЗ….

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рд░рд╛рдЬрд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрди рд╡рд┐рднрд╛рдЧ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рд╕реЗ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рд╕рдкреЗрд░реЗ,┬ард╢рд╣рдирд╛рдИ рд╡рд╛рджрдХ рдФрд░ рд╕рд╛рд░рдВрдЧреА рд╡рд╛рджрдХ рдмрдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ,┬ардХрдИ рд▓реЛрдХ рдХрд▓рд╛рдХрд╛рд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдХрд▓рд╛ рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рджрд░реНрд╢рди рдХрд░рддреЗ рднреА рдорд┐рд▓ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗрдВрдЧреЗ,┬ард╣рд╛рд▓рд╛рдВрдХрд┐ рдкрд╣рд▓реА рдирдЬрд╝рд░ рдореЗрдВ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд▓рдЧ рд╕рдХрддрд╛ рд╣реИ,┬ардХрд┐ рдпрд╣ рд╕рдм рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдордиреЛрд░рдВрдЬрди рдФрд░ рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЗрдВ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рд┐рдд рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рд╣реИ, рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕ рд╕реЗ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдХреА рд╕рдВрд╕реНрдХреГрддрд┐ рдЭрд▓рдХрддреА рд╣реИ,┬ард▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдпрджрд┐ рдЖрдк рдЬрд░рд╛ рдЧреМрд░ рд╕реЗ рд╕реЛрдЪреЗрдВ рддреЛ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдкреАрдЫреЗ рдХреА рд╕реЛрдЪ рдФрд░ рдорд╛рдирд╕рд┐рдХрддрд╛ рдкрд░ рд╣реИрд░рд╛рдиреА рд╣реА рд╣реЛрдЧреА┬а|┬ардореЗрд░реА рдЕрдкрдиреА рд╕рдордЭ рд╕реЗ,┬ардЗрд╕ рд╕рдмрдХрд╛ рдХреБрд▓ рдордиреЛрд░рде рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдЖрдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рдЙрди рдпреВрд░реЛрдкрд┐рдпрди рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рджрд┐рд▓реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╕реА рд╣рд┐рдиреНрджреБрд╕реНрддрд╛рди рдХреА рдЙрд╕ рдЫрд╡рд┐ рдХреЛ рдкреБрдЦреНрддрд╛ рднрд░ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рдФрд░ рдХреБрдЫ рдирд╣реА рд╣реИ,┬ардЬрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рд╡рд╢реАрднреВрдд рд╡реЛ рдЖрдЬ рднреА рд╣рд┐рдиреНрджреБрд╕реНрддрд╛рди рдХреЛ рд╕рдкреЗрд░реЛрдВ,┬ардЬрд╛рджреВрдЧрд░реЛрдВ рдФрд░ рдорджрд╛рд░рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рджреЗрд╢ рд╣реА рд╕рдордЭрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ,┬ардЙрдирдХреА рдЗрди рдорд╛рдиреНрдпрддрд╛рдпреЛрдВ рдФрд░ рдкреВрд░реНрд╡рд╛рдЧреНрд░рд╣реЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд╕рдЪ рд╕рд╛рдмрд┐рдд рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рд╣реА,┬ардРрд╕реЗ рдХрд▓рд╛рдХрд╛рд░ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдмреИрдард╛рдпреЗ рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ,┬ардЬрд┐рдирдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЖрдк рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдЦрд┐рдЪрдБрд╡рд╛ рдХрд░ рдЬрдм рд╡рд╛рдкрд┐рд╕ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рджреЗрд╢ рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рддреЛ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдБ рдХреЗ рд╕рдорд╛рдЬ рдХреЛ рдРрд╕реЗ рдЪрд┐рддреНрд░ рджрд┐рдЦрд╛ рдХрд░ рд╕рд╛рдмрд┐рдд рдХрд░ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдХрд┐ рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╡ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рднрд╛рд░рдд рдЖрдЬ рднреА рдЙрд╕ рджреМрд░ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рд╣реИ,┬ардЬреИрд╕рд╛ рдХрднреА рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдкреВрд░реНрд╡рдЬ рдЫреЛрдбрд╝ рдХрд░ рдЖрдпреЗ рдереЗ ! рдЗрди рд╕рдмрдХреЗ рдЕрд▓рд╛рд╡рд╛,┬ардЗрд╕ рджреБрд░реНрдЧ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рдЕрд▓рдЧ-рдЕрд▓рдЧ рджрд┐рд╢рд╛рдпреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдЦреБрд▓рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢ рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╕реЗ рддреНрд░рд┐рдкреЛрд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рджрд░рд╡рд╛рдЬрд╝рд╛ рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рдкреНрд░рд╕рд┐рджреНрдз рд╣реИ,┬ардХреНрдпреВрдВрдХрд┐ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рд╕реЗ рддреАрди рдЬрдЧрд╣реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рдирд┐рдХрд▓рддрд╛ рд╣реИ,┬ардЬрд┐рдирдореЗ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рдЖрдореЗрд░ рд╢рд╣рд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рднреА рд╣реИ┬а|

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