Monthly Archives: November 2014

Boat race adds adventure to festival

Lucknow:

One of the most awaited events of Lucknow Mahotsava, the boat race, brought much needed adventure to the festival. Organised at Awadh Water Sports Club in Nishatganj on Saturday, the race saw high turnout and enthusiasm from participants.

Every rower wanted to be a champion. Be it single scullers, double scullers or coxless pairs, everyone was eyeing the winner’s trophy.

On cloud nine after being declared the winner of the men’s pair ore race along with his partner Prateek Jaiswal, Prakhar Tiwari said, “This victory became possible due to our coordination which was better than that of others”.

Contestant Varsha Jaiswal said, “This is the first time I am taking part in a water sport at Lucknow Mahotsava. I had only one week practice to be the part of this boat race”.

Events included single sculls, double sculls, pair oars and coxless fours (crew consisting four rowers, each with one oar) covering a distance of 1km.

The most colourful race was of the manjhis (boatmen) who had beautifully decorated boats. The excited bunch was cheering for all their fellow rowers. There were also special prizes for the most beautiful boat and the oldest rower. Dayalu won in the first category and 88-year-old Sunder Lal in the second.

Manjhi Rameshwar bagged the winner’s trophy for being the fastest in this category.

“I have been participating in this festival for four years. In the first year, I didn’t win anything. The year after, I stood third and then second. This time, I am the champion”.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / November 30th, 2014

Fun time for batch of 1964 at IIT-K

The ‘batch of 1964’ arrived on the IIT-K campus with their spouses to celebrate the Golden Jubilee reunion on Saturday. None of them was ready to waste a single moment as they went around the campus reliving the nostalgia. A total of 43 alumni participated in the meet. The batch had a strength of 225.

The reunion officially began with the lighting of lamp by IIT-K director Prof Indranil Manna in the presence of Prof Manindra Agarwal and Prof Prabhat Munshi. However, for the alumni fun started as soon as they reached the campus on Friday. They got group photographs clicked and shared experiences of life with current students. The former students were excited to see a sea-change at IIT-Kanpur. Many of them claimed that several new buildings have come up on the campus.

Sumant Sareen, who is currently settled in Dubai, said, “It is pleasing to come back to IIT-Kanpur.” He said that the institute had changed a lot in these years and lots of infrastructure too had come up. His batch-mate Padma Jyoti accepted, “Institute has undergone a massive change.”

The institute said that the ‘batch of 1964’ has been quite successful within India and abroad. The institute administration mentioned that these ex-students would leave the campus as role models for students with whom they interacted not just as their seniors but as well-wishers interested in their successes.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / November 24th, 2014

KGMU performs first live renal transplant

Lucknow:

First live renal transplant surgery was performed at the Centenary hospital of King George’s Medical University in a five hours long session here on Saturday.

A team comprising 20 doctors, assistants and support staff performed the operation with the help of experts from Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences where live renal transplants which has been performing live renal transplants for the past 25 years.

The recipient in Saturday’s operation Kushiram is a 28-year-old farmer from Amethi a patient of end stage kidney disease (ESRD) and was admitted to KGMU’s transplant department. His sister Kusum donated her kidney and both of them were reported stable after the operation.

Speaking to reporters, KGMU vice chancellor Ravi Kant said, “The procedure would give hope to poor patients awaiting transplant.” A patient approaching SGPGI has to wait for at least 7-8 months for a renal transplant.

SGPGI director Rakesh Kapoor who supervised the surgery stated that incidence of kidney diseases was expected to go up considering rise in problems like diabetes and hypertension, diseases with stones, high intake of painkillers & alternative medicines like powdered heavy metal, aristolochic acid (found in herbal remedies and Chinese slimming teas), besides hereditary reasons.

“Majority of problems may be contained if addressed on time. But, poor diagnosis and lack of facilities complicate these problems and patients end up developing end stage kidney disease. Dialysis and transplant are the only options to manage ESRD and accessible to only about 2% patients,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / November 23rd, 2014

Maths whiz creates another marvel

Lucknow :

After devising a calendar containing dates of over 10 lakh years, city-based mathematics enthusiast Jagrat Chatterjee has now been able to jot down multiplication tables from 1 to 2072 on a single chartpaper.

Speaking to TOI, Jagrat, said, “It took me almost 50 hours to give final shape to the multiplication tables on a chart paper. I am now planning to officially register this feat into the Limca Books of Records and subsequently in the Guinness Book of Records.” He further stated that at times, even he had to use a magnifying glass to locate a certain number on the chartpaper.

Jagrat said numbers and their games fascinate him. “Unlike other creative pursuits, number games widen various faculties of mind, and that’s why I am interested in designing new arrangements and other similar patterns using numbers,” Chatterjee added.

In 2013, Jagrat had compiled a calendar which could provide dates for 10 lakh 8 thousand years. He was honoured with Shaan-e-Shahar Samman in the 2013 edition of Lucknow Mahotsava for the achievement.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / November 25th, 2014

Former UP advocate general SMA Kazmi killed in road accident

Pratapgarh (UP):

Former Uttar Pradesh advocate general S M A Kazmi was today killed and three others were injured when the car they were travelling in rammed into a tree in Hatigawan area, a senior police officer said here.

According to deputy Superintendent of Police S P Tomar, the driver lost control while he swerved the car to avoid hitting a motorcyclist and rammed into the tree near Bhadri this afternoon.

He said that three more car occupants — Shakeel Ahmad, Shakir Ahmad and Syed Iqbal — were injured in the accident and have been referred to a hospital in Allahabad.

The accident took place when Kazmi was returning to Lucknow from Allahabad.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / PTI / November 25th, 2014

LU to honour famous alumni on foundation day

Lucknow :

Lucknow University’s 94th foundation day on November 25 will be homecoming for its alumni. To mark the day, LU alumni society will felicitate illustrious alumni who have made a mark in their life and brought laurels to their alma mater. Jharkhand Governor Syed Ali Naqi is likely to be conferred with the lifetime achievement award. Naqi completed his MA from LU.

Those who will be felicitated this year include Khan Masood Ahmed, the vice-chancellor of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi University, DJ Narain, the director of Film and Television Institute of India, SWA Naqvi, the director of the National Institute of Oceanography, Rachna Govil, the executive director of Sports Authority of India and NK Verma, the managing director of ONGC Videsh Ltd, Justice Ashwani Kumar Singh, judge, Lucknoew bench of Allahabad High Court.

Masood Ahmed did his BSc (statistics, mathematics and physics) from Lucknow University in 1971 and then MA in economics with advanced statistics and econometrics in 1973.

A 1990 batch of Indian Information Service, DJ Narain is an alumnus of IIT-Kanpur. He was a lecturer of monetary economics at Lucknow University.

Working on the biogeochemistry of the oceans, Naqvi did his BSc in physics, chemistry and mathematics from LU in 1972 and then MSc with specialization in physical chemistry in 1974.

NK Verma joined ONGC in 1980 after completing MSc in applied geology from LU. In 1986, he obtained an MTech degree in petroleum exploration from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad.

Justice Ashwani Kumar Singh graduated in law from LU in 1978. He was enrolled as an advocate in December 1979 and he practiced mainly on criminal side at Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court. He took oath as a permanent judge in December 2010.

Established in 1920, LU is one of the oldest universities in the state. In the past, the university has honoured some distinguished alumni such as Justice AS Anand, former Chief Justice of India, senior journalist Vinod Mehta, former Union ministers NKP Salve and Harish Rawat and renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Padma Shri Dr Naresh Trehan.


Rajnath to grace occasion

Union home minister Rajnath Singh will grace Lucknow University’s convocation scheduled on January 19. The home ministry has accepted university’s invitation. The university’s degree committee has proposed four names for honoris causa. The names include Chief Justice, Allahabad High Court, Dhananjaya Y Chadrachud; film actor Amitabh Bachchan; singer Anup Jalota and IAS of Gujarat cadre Jayanti Ravi. The committee will finalise one out of these four names.

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

Architectural nuances of Chhatar Manzil impresses INTACH team

Young conservation architect Shweta and her team have come on behalf of INTACH to prepare an inventory of defects and damages.
Young conservation architect Shweta and her team have come on behalf of INTACH to prepare an inventory of defects and damages.

Lucknow :

Their maiden visit to the Chhatar Manzil reminded them of one of the primary lessons in architecture — Rome was not built in a day. The sentiment ruled the mind of young conservation architect Shweta and her team who have come on behalf of INTACH to prepare an inventory of defects and damages.

“The roman proverb is quoted to teach that conservation of an architectural building is sure to take months and years and instill some sense of patience in us. In this sense, Chhatar Manzil is our patience test,” said Shweta who’s accompanied by architect Shaista and interns Dhravi and Mukul.

They reached Chhatar Manzil at around 1 pm with a camera, a couple of torches, measuring tapes, notebooks and observations in mind made during an assessment of building’s old pictures and descriptions. Presence of an extra floor at many places was the first problem the team noted.

Showing the one on the front facade, Shweta said, “Photographic evidences suggest that the 2nd floor is extra. And from the inside, the twin-floors break into 3-4 sections against the original look.” They discovered that portion housing canteen was the most altered segment. Here, old pillars have been scooped out to make way for drains. Shifting of CDRI has left behind scores of huge holes and burrows in this part. Chemical waste and other glass substances is also to be disposed.

Air conditioners ducts have created many bruises on the oriental building. “Rectangular tin boxes to fit ACs inside circular windows look like a patch stitched over velvets,” remarked one of them. On the rear side of the building, temporary structures particularly tin sheds ruin the look.

Dampness and vegetation are the other two challenges. However, biggest of all problems is unavailability of material that describes the inner portions of the building. “In this case, we would bank on the characteristics of the construction system of the age,” said Vipul Varshney, convener INTACH Lucknow chapter who also inspected the place later during the day. “Lack of dampness in the basement is a good news as it would make restoration easy,” she added.

"Chutter Munzil, Lucknow," a photo by Edward Sache, c.1880's; and * / www.columbia.edu
“Chutter Munzil, Lucknow,” a photo by Edward Sache, c.1880’s; and * / www.columbia.edu

Journey of the building

Nawab Saadat Ali Khan bought this grand piece of architecture 200 years ago for Rs 50,000 from Claude Martin, a French army officer and architect.

Not meant for public eyes, Saadat Ali Khan commissioned the construction of an extension, which is now Chhatar Manzil. From then, it became the principal residence of the Avadh sovereign.

Nawab Saadat Ali Khan died before the completion of the construction of Chhatar Manzil and it was completed by his successor Nawab Ghazi-ud-din Haidar.

After the war of independence in 1857, the British acquired the palace and turned it into the United Services Club — stripping much of its former grandeur.

After Independence, it was taken over by the government and on February 17, 1951, then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) here to start the first drug research laboratory in the country.

Now that it has been handed over to the state archaeological department, the doors of Farhat Baksh Kothi and Chhatar Manzil will be opened to public for the first time in history.

Later, the even more opulent Qaiserbagh Palace by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah overshadowed Chhatar Manzil’s grandeur. During the mutiny, Indian soldiers used the palace as a shelter.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Shailvee Sharda, TNN / November 20th, 2014

3-day Manfest-Varchasva fest begins

Lucknow:

The three-day Manfest-Varchasva 2014, the annual business, sports and cultural fest was inaugurated at Indian Institute of Management Lucknow on Thursday.

IIM-L director Prof Rajiv K Srivastava inaugurated the fest. The event also witnessed a captivating performance by professional Kathak dancers from Rashtriya Kala Akademi.

Earlier, Manfest, the Business Conclave, and Varchasva, the Sports and Cultural fest, were held separately. This year the two events have been merged, creating a vast canvas of events and offerings catering to all.

The management events such as the Next CEO, Strategica, Stratstruck, Travel Trails and Finesse among others will be held. The cultural events include Hallabol, Antarnaad, Imperio, Inferno, Vivakshita, Vibes, Stairway to Hell and Uttarang.

Miss India International 2013 and Bollywood Actress Zoya Afroz will judge Miss India Campus Princess on Friday. The event will give a direct entry to the winner to the final round of Miss India 2015 auditions in Mumbai.

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam, professor of Marketing at Emory University at USA Jagdish Sheth and former deputy governor of RBI Subir Gokarn are expected to attend the three day event.

Lucknow City Run in which over 2000 individuals will “Run for a Greener Tomorrow” will be held on Sunday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / November 21st, 2014

Ignorance turns Nehru’s closed associate’s house in ruins

Allahabad :

While the country fondly remembers Pt Jawaharlal Nehru as India’s first Prime Minister, the role of his close aides in small districts is often forgotten. One of his close aides, Pundit Krishna Chandra Dubey, is one such example.

Popularly known as ‘Vaidji’, Pt Dubey used to play host to Nehru when the latter came to Phulpur during canvassing in his constituency. Nehru used to stay at Pt Duey’s home for months at times. Once known for its grandeur, Pt Dubey’s house, located in Phulpur tehsil (around 35 kilometers from Allahabad), is now in ruins.

The entire area has turned into ruins, dominated by half-exposed bricks and shrubs which have cropped up at several places. Wooden frames, of doors and windows, are on the verge of collapsing and the well, which once used to give potable water, is filled with mud and debris.

The entire area is now known as remains of a forgotten civilization than a place which once housed country’s first Prime Minister.

Nagesh Kumar Vaid, 52, a descendant of Vaidji, points out, “Until the time of our father Shiv Kumar Dubey, a close associate of Indira Gandhi, every dawn came along with promises for the change but things are not the sam now. However, we still take pride in being associated with Nehru’s”.

Another old-timer of the tehsil, M L Jaiswal, who was often part of Nehru’s local entourage when he came visiting said, “He had a special fondness for his jail mates at Naini, one of whom was Krishna Chand Vaid in whose house Nehruji stayed whenever he came here”. Once Vaidji had asked Nehru about the neglected state of Phulpur after which Nehru sent him to Orissa and Bastar. When he returned, Nehruji asked him what he saw, and Vaidji replied that he saw hunger and deprivation to which Nehru replied, isn’t Phulpur better off? My concern is for people who have nothing, Nehru had said,” remembers Jaiswal.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani, TNN / November 14th, 2014

Prez lays foundation of world’s tallest Krishna temple

Agra:

The holy town of Vrindavan should strive to become the world centre for spiritual enlightenment, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Sunday after performing the “ananta shesha sthapana” puja for the construction of the world’s tallest Shri Krishna temple here.

The “Chandrodaya Mandir”, an architectural marvel seeking to restore the glory and the times of Lord Shri Krishna, is planned to be three-times the height of the 72.5m Qutub Minar in Delhi.

Mukherjee praised the temple architect and congratulated the authorities of ISKCON who are building the shrine. UP governor Ram Naik and BJP MP from Mathura and yesteryear actor Hema Malini were also present.

“I am glad to know that Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh have taken various initiatives towards making Vrindavan a hub of religious tourism. The present project adds a new dimension to these initiatives and shall hopefully generate positive spin-offs both for local society and the economy,” Mukherjee said.

He hoped that ‘Vrindavan’ strives to become a world renowned centre for spiritual enlightenment, from where the message of divinity and peace resonates across all humanity.

Mukherjee said as the country is undergoing a change from being a developing to a developed economy, there will be immense pressures on our socio-economic and moral fabric.”It is, therefore, imperative that we reconnect to our spiritual dimensions. There can be no better way of doing this than spreading the Bhagvad Gita’s message of universal love and humanity.

The Chandrodaya Temple site is strategically located on Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, which was formerly called Chhatikara road. The temple has main access to Vrindavan on the Delhi-Agra highway.

The skyscraper temple project will be spread across 5 acres, surrounded by the recreated forests of Braj, conceived by the devotees of ISKCON-Bengaluru.

The temple will be 210 meters or 700 ft in height (70 storeys). A capsule elevator will takes visitors from the ground level to the 700-foot tall viewing gallery giving an immersive 3D sound and light experience of the different planetary systems described in the Vedic literatures.

The temple authorities have also planned to create forests of Vrindavan around the temple based on descriptions in the Srimad Bhagavatam. A sprawling 26 acres will consist of the 12 forests (dvadashakanana) of Braj.

There will be a Krishna Lila theme park whose main attractions will include themed story telling areas, musical fountains, lawn and water features, a Yamuna creek for boating experience, a Braj heritage village and a goshala to recreate the atmosphere of Vrindavan of Lord Krishna. Krishna Heritage museum, Bhagvad Gita Expo, lecture halls and a centre for Krishna heritage studies.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / TNN & Agencies / November 16th, 2014