Monthly Archives: July 2014

Kanwariyas paints Meerut saffron

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Meerut :

With each passing day, the number of kanwariyas entering the city is on the rise. One can see the saffron-clad pilgrims walking along the national highway 58 (NH 58) towards their destination with women and children also being a part of this religious walk.

Kapil Saini, for instance, is carrying a 20 kg Kanwar and is determined to take it all the way from Haridwar to Hapur covering a distance of 180 km on foot. Similarly, 69-year-old, Gayatri Devi defies the limitation of age and is carrying Kanwar for the first time. She is accompanied by her son Vimal Prajapati. “We were blessed with a baby after almost six years. We had promised to Lord Shiva that we would go to this pilgrimage to pay him gratitude”, says Vimal.

According to ADM SK Dubey till now around seven to eight lakh devotees entered the city who are on their way to Bulandshahr and other cities.

Meanwhile, the administration is keeping strict vigil over each and every activity. Special watch is being maintained on the routes that pass through Muslim dominated areas.

Meerut, SSP, Onkar Singh said, “Since the Kanwar season coincides with Ramzan — holy month of Muslims — our forces are on a high alert especially in the areas that have sizable number of Muslim populations.”

In addition, all auto rickshaws and three-wheelers have been instructed not to ply on the road designated for Kanwariyas. The order was put in force from 6:00am on Monday and will stay put till the eveing July 25, 2014, the day devotees shall offer holy water on Shiva in different temples.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Meerut / by Sandeep Rai, TNN / July 21st, 2014

Hardoi village boy tops CPMT

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Lucknow :

Small town students excelled in the combined pre medical test results declared late on Monday night. While Shams Mohammad Khan of Tumurki village in Hardoi topped the exam, Abu Asim of Azamgarh bagged the second place.

Shubham Malhotra and Alia Zehra bagged the thrid and fourth positions. Priyanshi Swarup from Lucknow bagged the fifth position. Shobhit Garg, Mohd Arshad, Saurabh Kumar Patel, Kushagra Srivastava and Neelansha Varshney filled the remaining five slots in the top 10.

Controller of examination, prof AK Singh said that candidates would be able to see the result on the KGMU website www.kgmu.org/www.upcpmtee2014.com after 12 noon on Tuesday.

He said that the counseling schedule would be uploaded on the website www.dgme.eu in a day or two.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / July 29th, 2014

86th foundation day of Indian Council for Agricultural Research celebrated

Agriculture, Education, Records, All, Science & Technology

Kanpur :

The Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR) on Wednesday celebrated the 86th foundation day of Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) at its institute premises. Former director of IIPR, Dr Shanker Lal was the chief guest on the occasion. The programme was headed by IIPR director, Narendra Pratap Singh.

Addressing the gathering, IIPR director spoke about the history of ICAR and its achievements. Talking about the achievements of the scientists of IIPR, NP Singh said that the production of pulses has reached a milestone of 195 lakh tonnes from 140 lakh tonnes which is a record produce. He said that IIPR has remained successful in developing more than 30 varieties of pulses. On this occasion, chief guest said that there was a huge scope of jobs in agriculture sector.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / July 18th, 2014

Tigers flourish in the land of Uttar Pradesh

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

As per primary estimations for two years from 2011 to 2013, the total number of tigers found in the core area surged from 72 to 80. The final count of tigers in the Dudhwa tiger reserve is expected to be 125, according to officials.

Tigers flourish in the land of Uttar Pradesh
Tigers flourish in the land of Uttar Pradesh

In 2010-2011, the total count of tigers as per their census in the Dudhwa tiger reserve was 118.

The latest findings have been sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for screening purpose, according to an official.

Once the exact number of tigers present in the Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary, North and South kheri forest division are found, it is expected to reach 125. Primary findings for the Pilibhit forest division, which is a separate reserve now, has also come.

The Dudhwa national park and the Kishenpur wildlife sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, which are the core area of the reserve, have overseen camera-trapping exercises.

The cameras that were fitted in the core area, (in every 1.6 sq km) were placed in a way that it could record tigers of any age, height or built.
According to sources, around 382 pictures have been downloaded from these cameras and they show the presence of around a dozen new cubs in the core area. These photographs are being studied extensively to find out the exact number of new cubs.

The official tiger census by the National Tiger Conservation Authority is in its first stage right now which was started on November 15 last year at Dudhwa.

(JPN)
source: http://www.post.jagran.com / Post Jagran / Home> States News> North India News> Uttar Pradesh / July 28th, 2014

‘My father saw first major action in WW-1’

Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Lucknow :

Even before completing 21 years of age Bibhuti Bhushan Dey Majumdar had become a part of the British Army, and the first major action, which the young lad from Allahabad saw was the first World War (WW1), which broke out on July 28, 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian thrown in Sarajevo by a Yugoslav nationalist. Almost 100 years after the WW1, daughter of Bibhuti Bhushan Dey Majumdar recall some of the moments, which her parents narrated to her during young days.

Speaking to TOI, octogenarian Probhati Bose, said, “My father (Bibhuti Bhushan Dey Majumdar) was born in the summer of 1893, and in January 1914 he joined the British Army’s Royal Indian Army Supply Corps. After few months of joining, he got to see first major action in World War I, and he along with his regiment went to Mesopotamia to extend support to the infantry soldiers, who were facing the enemy bullets.” She further stated that her father often used to talk about the actions he had seen in the World War-1, when she along with her siblings tried their level best to seek a favour from their father.

Recalling some of the stories narrated by her father (which she could recall), Bose said, “As per my father, mostly Punjabi Muslims and Sikhs fought for the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, US and others) against Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman empire. The Lahore and Meerut infantry divisions had to stop the Germans on the western front (in Europe). The soldiers also saw significant action in Mesopotamia, East Africa and South-East Asia.”

According to the New Delhi-based Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, India contributed immensely to the war effort in terms of both men and material. Her soldiers served in numerous battlefields around the globe – France and Belgium, Aden, Arabia, East Africa, Gallipoli, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Persia, Russia, and even in China. By the end of the war 1,100,000 Indians had served overseas at the cost of 75,000 dead. They earned more than 9,200 decorations for gallantry including 11 Victoria Cross (VCs).

However, the daughter of the World War veteran lamented that military history, which is taught in most of the schools or colleges, is devoid of India’s contribution to World War-1 and World War-2. She said, “Most of the news channel or newspaper reporters are obsessed about the Indo-Pak wars. It is indeed very sad that most of our news channels and newspapers give comparatively less coverage to the illustrious history of India’s contribution in the world wars. And it is only on certain specific occasions, when the clan of the World War veterans is remembered.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Arunav Sinha, TNN / July 28th, 2014

Ram Naik to be sworn in as Uttar Pradesh Governor on 22nd July

Leaders
Ram Naik
Ram Naik

He would be administered the oath of office in the Raj Bhawan by Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, DY Chandrachud on July 22 evening, sources said.

The veteran BJP leader will succeed BL Joshi, who resigned last month.

Joshi, perceived to be a close confidant of Gandhi family, was the first Governor who tendered his resignation on June 17 after the Narendra Modi government came to power.

A three-time Parliamentarian, 80-year-old Ram Naik has the rare distinction of being the only minister who completed five years as Petroleum and Natural gas minister in one government.

Hit by cancer, he was bedridden in 1994 but fought back resolutely and overcame the deadly disease. He had announced in 2013 that he would not be contesting the 2014 elections.

Ram Naik would be the 27th Governor of the state, sources added.

(Agencies)

source: http://www.post.jagran.com / Post / Home> States News / by Jagran Post News Desk / Jagran Post Editorial / July 18th, 2014

Allahabad dentists to attend training in Seoul

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Two dentists of the city, Dr Sandeep Singh and Dr Vaibhav Shukla has been invited to Seoul in South Korea for ‘Advance training programme in implant dentistry’.

The training is organized by a South Korean company in implant dentistry and education. The two will join five other dental surgeons from Singapore.

Foundation Day: Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), organized a programme at Dahakudandi village of Sonabhadra district to celebrate the 85th foundation day of ICAR.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / July 18th, 2014

Ranipur Tricot awaits a messiah for revival

Business & Economy, Historical Links / Pre-Independence

Jhansi :

Till 1990s, Ranipur was a flourishing village about 60 kilometres from Jhansi. Every house boasted of a loom that spun a fine quality of fabric aptly named Ranipur Tricot. The quality and low price made the fabric popular among traders from south and east India. The demand too was ever rising with the rich and the poor both opting for the fabric. As a result, the business touched Rs 100 crore and supported around 15,000 families.

Cut to 2014. Ranipur is now a desolate place. Looms have long been closed. People engaged in Tricot business have shifted to other occupations. The industry was destroyed by power crisis that rendered powerlooms dysfunctional. On an average the village received eight hours of power supply that wasn’t enough to make business viable for families. The state government too failed to offer any package. As a result, industry’s forward movement was checked and slowly people started moving away from the business.

There used to be 5,000 to 6,000 looms in 90s which functioned day and night with over a dozen persons working in each shift in every loom to meet the demand. Today the number has gone down to merely 1,000 looms being operated by individuals.

The irony is that while successive governments, both at the Centre and the state have provided huge relief packages for weavers in Bareilly, Banaras, Agra, Surat and other places, no one is talking about the plight of poor weavers.

Recently, Union water resources minister Uma Bharati, who is also the MP from Jhansi, wrote a letter to Union textile minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar requesting him to help revive the dying trade and stop mass migration from the region.

Reminiscing about golden days, Ravidas, in his seventies, said traders from all over the country visited the village to buy his products. “I had a team of over a dozen workers and we worked over-time to meet the demand,” he said and lamented the bad days that had fallen on the village. “Today, despite working hard through out the day, I am not able to earn enough. Youths have deserted the village for greener pastures. Old people are the only left,” he added with a tinge of sadness in his voice.

Ravidas and few of his ilks have reduced the work. A few have shifted to weaving bedsheets and towels, which helps them earn bare minimum to make both ends meet.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Arindam Ghosh, TNN / July 26th, 2014

Girl from Sangam city grabs headlines in US

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, World Opinion

Allahabad :

A girl born in Allahabad and now studying at the University of California, Berkeley, has made the city proud by winning the ‘price money question’ of $ 64000 (approx Rs 38 lakhs) by asking former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, “If you don’t represent women in politics in America as future president, who will?”

Daughter of an ex-faculty member of Allahabad University, Vrinda Agarwal’s family moved to Sacramento, California some time back. Vrinda, a junior studying political science at UC Berkeley, is the founder and CEO of 100 strong (onehundredstrong.org), which works to empower underprivileged high school women by providing them with mentors and leadership training.

She won the ‘price money question’ at an event called ‘Everyone’s Mind’, organized recently at the Clinton Global Initiative University conference at Arizona State University, Tempa, US. Vrinda has done her early schooling in the city.

Such was the impression of Vrinda’s priced question that former US president Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton shared the stage with her and assured her all help in future. Her question elicited a standing ovation from the jam-packed hall, Hillary Clinton’s answer reverberated across the country, grabbing front page spaces across the entire American print media and prime time news bytes on all TV channels.

Vrinda assured Hillary that she was prepared to proudly run her presidential campaign to which Clinton replied, “I appreciate the sentiment. I’m obviously thinking about all kinds of decisions.”

“There is so much inequality around the world, including America, for women which we see in public education, where women have lower graduation rates in poor areas; or in corporate America, where women earn less than men; and even in politics, in which women are significantly underrepresented,” said Vrinda, via e-mail.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajiv Mani, TNN / May 21st, 2014

Sangam city’s Ekka Daud races with tradition

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports

Allahabad :

This may be similar to the famous bull run of Spain, large crowds of onlookers coming on the roads, risking themselves but the only difference being that in place of bulls, one witnesses horse-carts, running in full speed towards them. It is the famous ‘Ghehre Bazi’ (ghehre means steps and bazi means bet) or Ekka Daud (horse-cart race) which takes place in the city on every Monday of Shrawan month.

Having a history of around 200 years, the race was traditionally started by panda’s of the city who continued to patronize the practice for years. If was only around 1940s that the zamindars of Allahabad and neighbouring areas also started participating in this unique race.

Although, there is no cash prize but the applauds of the spectators and the appreciation for saais (horse’s keeper) comes as unexplainable satisfaction. However, this ‘showcase race’ gives a platform for practicing to horse cart owners to prepare for two important competitive races, each of 14 kilometres held in October-November and attended by horse owners from Lucknow, Kanpur, Mirzapur, Pratapgarh etc. One of these races is held from Hanumanganj to Alopidevi Chungi and second from Sahason crossing to Phaphamau market. Throwing light on ‘ekka daud’ of Allahabad, which has all the potential of being a major tourist attraction, Badre Alam informed that this race is unique in many ways, prominent being the norm that only those horses can participate which are not been used for any commercial activity. The racing horses can only canter (movement of horse wherein it moves in fast steps and not gallop).

“For the purpose, Sindhi horses (those belonging to Sindh province of Pakistan) are best as they have the inborn talent of moving fast on sand and not gallop,” said Alam, who has participated in over 30 races and has won 10 of these. We get these horses from the famous animal fair of Barmer, he added.

The cart of this unique race is equally special as it is specially manufactured in Delhi. The huge wooden wheel and the riding platform is made of shisham wood and best ball bearings are used to give it needed speed. “Two persons sits on a cart, one handling the horse through strings and the one in rear part, navigates the cart by informing about the location of other competitors,” explains Alam, a zamindar of Katra. The race is unique in a way that it gives an example of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb as it is held to stress the importance of Monday of the holy month of Shrawan in which Hindus and Muslims participate enthusiastically. “Shiva signifies sakti (power) and horse too denotes power, thus this race is held during this month,” said Alam.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / July 18th, 2014