About Advocate Ashish Shelar Bandra MLA ..President Mumbai BJP

From Wikipedia

Ashish Shelar (born 3 October 1972) is an 13th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly represents Vandre West (Vidhan Sabha constituency).[1] He is a member of Bhartiya Janata Party and President[2] of Mumbai unit of the party.[3]

He was elected as Vice President of Mumbai Cricket Association, Mumbai on 17 June 2015.[4][5]

On 9 September 2015, Shelar gained controversy when he helped ban the sale of meat for 8 days for the annual Jain celebration, Paryushana, at which time a fast from meat is required.[6] Most constituencies in Maharashtra ban the sale of meat for only 4 days. The ban was criticized by the BJP's Maharashtra coalition partner, Shiv Sena.

Education and early career[edit]
Shelar attended B.Sc from Parle College in the year 1992, after which he completed a five-year law degree from G. J. Advani College, University of Mumbai.[7]

He was Originally a native from Sindhudurg district of Konkan, Ashish was born in chawl system dwelling of mile-workers area. Later in his childhood he shifted and settled in Bandra West with his parents and family. A people’s man since early age, Ashish joined RSS in school days and completed Prathamik Varsha course. He went on to join ABVP in college and successfully rose to the leading position of Mumbai Secretary of ABVP.[8]

Family and personal life[edit]
Ashish Shelar married with Pratima Dalvi. They have a son named Omkar. Pratima Shelar is Director of Opera Realtors Private Limited.[9]

Sports[edit]
Elected Mumbai Cricket Association member in June 2015.[10]
Chairman of Mumbai district football association representing Mumbai’s 350 football clubs.
Vice President of the Rajasthan Sports Club.
Social and cultural[edit]
President of Bandra Sarvajanik Samanvay Samiti
President of Kshatriya Gadkari Maharashtra Samaj – In this role, Ashish has organised book distribution, coaching camps for poor students, and health camps across Maharashtra.
General Secretary Akhil Maharashtra Karmachari Sangh – Ashish has helped build an 8500-member strong union in the unorganised sector.
Role in Spandan films production[edit]
Film on 26 July Mumbai floods which was selected for Goa film festival
Film on life of Guruji Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar on the eve of his 100th
Dead chimney a film which chronicled the changing topography due to the demise of Mumbai’s mills and subsequent hardships of the mill workers.
Currently working on a film on life of swami Vivekananda on eve of his 150th Answering his artistic and cultural moorings. * Marathi films - Chang bhale and Kajali Spandan arts instituted the Mohammad Rafi awards, in 2012 presented to Naushadji and Mr. Rafi this program was attended by Shri Lalkrishna Advaniji.
Political career[edit]
In 2002, Ashish was elected as a BMC corporator from Khar West Ward 77[11] and elected as Chairman of Mumbai Improvement Committee. He also played a key role in renovation of the Bhau Daji Lad museum, a vital archive of Mumbai’s rich historical and cultural heritage. As President of BJP’s North West Mumbai district, Ashish sharpened his organisational energies in building the party’s strength, and helped increase the party tally of BMC corporators. As a testament of his strong grassroot work, Ashish was re-elected to BMC with record margin of votes in 2007.<[12]

Working closely with then CM Vilasrao and Ashok Chavan, Ashish helped engineer implementation of development friendly policy in BKC zone Ashish was also elected to Mumbai metro regional planning commission an important body dealing with DP of MMR. Enthused by his work, Ashish was appointed as Governor of Mumbai Metro heritage society by MMRDA,[13] working alongside stalwarts like Shri. Arun Tikekar, Shri. Dinesh Afzalpurkar, Ashish represented the citizen’s voice in the formulation of heritage conversation policy.<[14]

On the International Fora, Ashish was selected by US State Dept under International visitors leadership program (the only municipal corporator from India), As part of this programme, he travelled across USA over 45 days engaging with 82 NGO’s for leadership development, laying foundation for lifelong bonds, which continue to enrich his administrative perspective. As a devoted party worker, Ashish was the head of organising committee for the 25th BJP convention. Under the leadership of Pramodji Mahajan, Ashish conceptualised and oversaw the successful organisation of Sahastra Chandra darshan for Shri.Atalji in Dec 2005[15]

Positions held[edit]
Within BJP[edit]
Mumbai Secretary, ABVP
President, Mumbai BJYM
Core team, organising committee, BJP Maha Adhiveshan, 1995
BMC Corporator, Khar West
President, North West Mumbai district BJP
BMC Corporator, BJP Group Leader in BMC
MMRDA member
Governor of Mumbai Metro heritage society.
Currently President Bharatiya Janata Party, Mumbai.
[16]

Legislative[edit]
Member, Maharashtra Legislative Council, 28 July 2012 - 27 July 2018[17][18]
Member, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Since 2014 [19]


Shot by International French photographer Laurent Salisse

The Naga Sadhus And The Cops ,, Was Just Waiting To Happen

I was living with the Naga Sadhus from 19 May till the conclusion of the first Shahi Snan on 22 April 2016,,, I left Ujjain on 24 April..

Since this time there was a spate of robberies at the variou Akharas on our stretch at Bhuki Mata Road ,,,and the poor cops stressed out by the overwhelming crowds were clueless about the same ,, there were several meetings of the Naga Sadhus and my Naga Guru was privy to some but the robberies did not stop..

The anger got worse when the car of a Maha Mandleshwar was broken by the thieves ..they cut open the glass window decamped with Rs 30000 I was told by my Guru ,,, this was the last straw .. and professional thieves were at work for sure ,, there was hardly any investigation ,,, the Akharas stood on flattened fields there was no security ,, the only security was at the huge opulent tents of the Godmen .

The modus operandi in some cases the Nagas told me was ..entering the tents with the intention of using their toilet or as their devotees and robbing them.. much of the robberies happened when the Nagas left for the Shahi Snan and the few devotees that remained back could not stop the robberies .

The Naga Sadhus are volatile short tempered when provoked and this is not an excuse but law and order at the Ujjain Kumbh was not upto the mark...I was there and I saw it and there was hardly any surveillance to speak of... the largest crowds passed Bhuki Mata Road and there was no public toilet on this stretch...

When we came back from the first Shahi Snan at our Akhara my Gurus Guru had a lady Naga Sanyasin posted at the gate ..she was very strict a stick in hand she would not allow strangers to enter our dwellings ,, and in the night the gates were closed with cloth curtains ,,, lol... you could squeeze in from below and no one would know.

The only sense of fear were the huge hoardings of the CM on the roads but that certainly did not stop the robbers from looting the Naga Sahus or the pilgrims .

And this is my fourth Kumbh not only as a photographer but we are pretty bad in management of the same ,,,and this event is something too huge to be compared to the Commonwealth Games ,,, we have hardly any dissaster management that works ,,,

These are some of my humble personal views ,,, as an aftermath of what is happening at the Samistha Ujjain Kumbh 2016.

On the other hand the only Akhara with robust security , bouncers a Media center well organized well planned .. with CCTVs was the Kinnar or Hijra Akhara under Guru Laxmi Narayan Tripathi.. you simply cant enter the space where they live as it was heavily guarded ,,,

Being her oldest disciple I had to go through three layers of security before I could meet her with my photographer friends from France .

Om Namo Narayan

Har Har Mahadev

Happy Morning

The Naga On A Swing..

told me to take his selfie
i made sure with my mobile
i hid his pendulous ling ,,
he had lesser crowds than
the other naga down the road
a bell hanging from his ding
that you had to ring ,,he was
confident hope and happiness
it would bring.. here in Ujjain
not the politician taking dip
with the dalits its the Sadhu
that is King...faster than the
bee his royal  sting.. holding fort
on the dhuna within the
cosmic ring ,,,hope cavorting
with faith...a nectar of life
from the Shipra eternal
spring...beauty and bling

Reminiscing The Ujjain Kumbh Mela Through The Eyes Of The Lens

There is a huge unexplored canvas waiting to be shot at the Kumbh Mela ,,and though I hardly moved out from my Akhara where I lived with the Nagas of the Juna Akhara and my Naga Guru Shri Vijay Giri Maharaj,,,

I shot extensively mostly portraits of Naga Sadhus ,, the naked Naga Babas on Bhuki Mata Road ,.and we had a large exotic group of Naga Babas ..there was Ghantiwale Baba a bell dangled from his flaccid penis .. you dangled the bell to take the blessings of the Baba ,,, you paid him for his blessings and there was a huge crowd of men women mostly kids dangling the bell of Hope .

There was another Bollywood Naga Baba with sexy dark glares every time I shot him I had to offer him from my depleting money pouch..

My favorite was the Naga Baba on the swing he took an instant liking to me ,,though he was not aware I was a camouflaged Muslim in the garbs of a Sadhu he thought I was a NRI Sadhu.. but could never understand why I gave him Indian currency instead of crispy dollar bills ,,,he would call me up on the mound where he hung from a swing on a tree ,,, give me ash. and than called me closer and put one of his legs on my shoulders ,,this was his yogic blessing to me ,,and he loved being shot by me ,,,he asked me my name I told him Ashok Bhartiya the name given to me by my Naga Guru.. to save my ass if I ever got caught as a Behrupiya...

I already told you about the Naga Sadhu near Dutta Akhara who chased me with a stick but could not catch me ,, I wanted to tell him to learn tennis under Coach Surendra Pawar ,,,I was so fast that even the foreigner began shooting our chase .

Well back to photography ,,there is a lot of people photography near the bazar ,, common people sadhu foreigners beggars ,,and early mornings on the banks of the Shipra when groups of Sadhus from various Akharas come to bathe ,, here you get some great portraits too.

The other place are the tea stalls for Kumbh gossip and Sadhu faces gulping tea ,, or cold water .

As I was part of the procession with my Naga Guru during the Shahi Snan I shot from within.. and a lot of Naga Sadhus at the Naga stronghold called Tanni.

I just got a call from Gurus man disciple Mahesh Bhardwaj.. he participated in both the Shahi Snans and has gone home to Hardwar ,,he will return for the third last final Shahi Snan 21 May ..he was hoping I come too...I told him I will try ,,,

I am unable to get in touch with my Naga Guru in Ujjain.. but I remember my sojourn at the Kumbh fondly ,,,

The Kumbh Mela is the best place to hone your skills and unlearn photography ,,

He Searches For Peace Hope Humanity On The Banks Of The River Shipra

I first met him at a procession passing my Akhara ,,his procession was totally packed with foreigners all devotees of a Indian Mahant Saint ,,

He looked at me dressed in saffron bald and said you are Firoze the Malang.. and he said he reads my blogs at Flickr and my series on the Naga Sadhus .

Than I met him the last time along with his Guru taking a dip at the river Shipra ,,, he told me his name but I cant recall it ,,

And these are true lovers of the Indian spirituality ,,of Hope and Hindutva.

"Om Batuk Bhairvaye Namaha"

The Kal Bhairav temple is a Hindu temple located in the Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is dedicated to Kal Bhairav, the guardian deity of the city.[1] Located on the banks of the Shipra River, it is one of the most active temples in the city, visited by hundreds of devotees daily.[2] Liquor is one of the offerings made to the temple deity.[3][4]

The present-day temple structure was built over the remains of an older temple. Images of Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu and Ganesha belonging to the Parmara period (800–1305 CE) have been recovered from the place.[5] The temple walls were once decorated with Malwa paintings. However, only traces of these paintings are visible now.[6]

The original temple is believed to have been built by an obscure king named Bhadrasen. It has been mentioned in the Avanti Khanda of the Skanda Purana.[6][2] The present-day temple structure shows Maratha influence.[4] According to the local tradition, after the Maratha defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761 CE), the Maratha general Mahadaji Shinde offered his pagri (turban) to the deity, praying for victory in his campaign to restore the Maratha rule in North India. After successfully resurrecting Maratha power, he carried out restoration of the temple.[7]

A replica of the temple has been established on the Bhuj-Mundra road in Gujarat.[8]

The deity[edit]
As the name suggests, the temple is dedicated to Kal Bhairav (or Kala Bhairava). The deity's image is a face in form of a rock layered with kumkuma or vermilion. The deity's silver head is adorned with a Maratha-style pagri, a tradition dating back to the days of Mahadaji Shinde.[7]

The worship of Ashta Bhairava ("eight Bhairavas") is a part of the Saivite tradition, and the Kal Bhairav is considered their chief. The worship of Kal Bhairav was traditionally popular among the Kapalika and Aghora sects, and Ujjain was a prominent centre of these sects.[6]

Kal Bhairav is the guardian deity of the Ujjain town:[1] he is considered Senapati (Commander-in-Chief or Chief General) of the town.[9]

Liquor offering[edit]
Liquor is offered to the temple deity as one of the five tantric ritual offerings known as panchamakara: madya (alcohol), maansa (meat), meena or matsya (fish), mudra (gesture or parched grain) and maithuna (sexual intercourse). In older times, all five offerings were made to the deity, but now only alcohol is offered; the other four offerings are in form of symbolic rituals.[3]

Outside the temple, vendors sell baskets of offerings, containing coconuts, flowers and a bottle of liquor.[10] In 2015, the State Government set up liquor counters outside the temple to ensure that the devotees are not swindled by unlicensed vendors of alcohol. The counters sell both country liquor and foreign liquor.[11]

Every day, hundreds of devotees offer liquor to the deity.[2] The devotees hand over the liquor bottles to the priest, who pours the liquor in a saucer. He then offers prayers, and takes the saucer near the deity's lips, which have a slit. He tilts the plate a bit, and the liquor starts disappearing.[3] About one-third of the bottle is returned to the devotee as prasad.[10]

The temple priests as well as several devotees claim that the slit doesn't have any cavity, and that the deity miraculously swallows the liquor offered to him. However, the temple priest does not allow the visitors to examine the statue. He also claims that only he can perform the miracle, and that the others who have tried to make the statue swallow the liquor have failed.[3]

Shooting The Kinnar Hijra Akhara At Ujjain

Both these comely ladies transgender touched my feet and asked me to bless them and they were in awe as Guru Laxmi informed them I was her oldest disciple and to take care of me and my friends Francois and Antione ,,and their friend Sandip.

We were served cabbage bhaji chappatis rice and Francois  and Antoine were very hungry they had not eaten since morning ,, so this was much needed ,,and they made the most of it ,, there was a lot of picture taking as Antoine was the cynosure of all hijra eyes they wanted selfies with him...

I treated them with respect and this fatherly attitude towards them made a great impression.. and most of the Hijras at the Kinnar Akhara were from Mumbai ,,

Guru Laxmi and I have been friends much before she became a transgender those early days of Bollywood when we worked together on a film.. she was the dance teacher and I was the high end tailor ,,,,

It was Guru Laxmi who urged inspired me to start my Hijra Eunuch blogs that I later named it as Hijras of India ..

However I surrendered the domain and now all my Hijra poems stories blogs are at Flickr not for public view ,, I also removed my documentary on Crossdressers , The Androgyne and the Mumbai Gay Pride from public view /

I have shot the transgender at almost all the Kumbhs that I have shot till date ,,,but I regret i could not shoot the Hijra Shahi Snan on 9 May 2016.

I was cooped up in Mumbai.

I have shot over 25000 images of the Hijra community ,,,,all for myself.