Monthly Archives: April 2015

Deogarh, a potential world heritage site in UP

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence

Lucknow :

In a quiet corner of Uttar Pradesh that sticks into its neighbouring state, amidst lush greenery, is a slice of heritage that few have set eyes on. The Betwa flows nearby, separating the area from Madhya Pradesh. If a visitor enters this tranquil setting, he is startled by the beauty and antiquity of what he witnesses. A short drive from the district headquarters Lalitpur, the forests running on both sides of the road part to give a glimpse of a small shrine on the right. A board put up by the Archaeological SURVEY of India advertises the presence of the Dashavatara Temple.

Time and ignorance have camouflaged this structure well and what looks like a nondescript structure from a distance is striking up close. As the name suggests, the temple is dedicated to the god Vishnu. Created on each of the four external wall faces of this otherwise innocuous temple is a riot in stone. While the front entrance has sculptures of various gods and goddesses in moods varying from contemplation to affection made on it and above them is Vishnu flanked by two of his avatars Narasimha and Vamana, it is the sides of the temple that arrest the viewer. On each of the three sides of the temple is a niche made in the wall and carved into the niche are dramatic representations of Vishnu’s various FORMS. One niche has Vishnu lying in relaxed pose on the coils of Sheshnag, shown here in full glory with seven hoods. At Vishnu’s feet is Laxmi while various gods and goddesses soar around them. Another niche – the one at the back – depicts the concept of Nar Narayana or the fusion of the divine and the human. The third niche brings alive the story of Vishnu coming to the aid of the trapped elephant Gaja. So delicate are the lines made on stone that the elephant’s faith in his god is almost tangible. Sadly, the idol in the inner sanctum is missing and one can only imagine its beauty, on the basis of the rock cuts on the outer walls.

The forested grounds opposite the Dashavatara rises abruptly into a hill. Covered in vegetation, the hill directly overlooks the Betwa on three sides. The fort atop the hill was built at this spot with a view to cement a line of defence on the river, from any attackers coming from the south or west. While the fort is largely ruined, conservation efforts within have seen a set of Jain temples being preserved. The ASI lists as many as 31 Jain temples here, dated into two broad periods of temple-building. Given the wide range of Jain religious craftsmanship displayed here, it seems that the religion thrived here for several centuries. In what is a virtual museum of Jain art, the place has manasthamba votive pillars standing in the courtyard of temples; sahastrakuta pillars each depicting a thousand gods as well as panels showcasing mythological events such as the penance of the various tirthankaras. Both the quality of the rock cuts and the sheer NUMBERS amaze a visitor. The place is a growing pilgrimage center for the Jain faith, but needs greater exploration. Amidst the dense undergrowth that surrounds the Jain complex on the hill, human hands have cut through a walking path which allows visitors to reach further treasures around. In one corner is a ruined Varaha shrine. In three separate spots, steps cut into the cliffs overlooking the river from ghats. Alongside most of these are Hindu rock cuts which predate the Jain temples at the top of the hill. In recent times, fresh archaeological finds in the vicinity have revealed that the site also had a Buddhist past in ancient times.

The obscurity of Deogarh and the startling beauty of its heritage make for a lethal combination. The area has been witness to antique thefts. Visitors are few and density of local population is low. Locals present in the area are pathetically poor and do not have the means to a better lifestyle. At a time when the state government is speaking in terms of the Heritage Arc, Deogarh and the region around it present a great opportunity to extend the arc to include such pockets. Better CONNECTIVITY, especially by way of a road bridge to neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, would help. The place has a ramshackle UP Tourism tourist bungalow whose sole redeeming feature is a hardworking caretaker, but it needs serious investment to become a reasonable place to stay in. There are no other stay options than a dharamshala. Mobile networks in the area are extremely poor. Infrastructure development in this area could transform this backward zone into a cockpit for the development of all of Bundelkhand.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / April 18th, 2015

This two-wheeler won’t budge without helmet

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Lucknow :

His innovation has power to save lives. On Monday, Himanshu Garg, a student from Agra, received cash prize of Rs 5 lakh from Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for developing a technology that ensures a motorcycle cannot start until the rider straps on a helmet.

For Himanshu, it is not his first experiment with practical science. His most recent innovation involves a bike that not does start unless the rider wears a helmet. More over, the engine’s power will be cut off if the helmet is removed during the ride.

The electronic fuse can be charged with a solar panel or mobile phone chargers. The price of the helmet, once the prototype is finalised and ready for commercial use, will be higher than of regular ones. Garg also said on Monday he had earlier developed a technology that could prevent train collisions by bringing a train to a halt at a 300 meter distance of each other if they were on the same track. He also said he was felicitated by former Railway minister Mamata Banerjee for his feat.

On Monday, the wiz kid demonstrated the technique in the presence of Akhilesh at the latter’s official residence. Lauding his efforts, the CM recommended that industry bodies like ASSOCHAM help commercialise the product. Announcing the award to facilitate more innovations by Garg, Akhilesh also said his government will set up an Innovation Fund to encourage scientific temper among students.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / April 07th, 2015

Forest dwellers turning jewellery designers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Lucknow :

Black and red `ghunchi’ seeds can turn into exquisite necklaces and danglers when beaded with sandal and other seeds. Bamboo similarly can be made into an eco-friendly strap for a wrist watch or a piece of jewellery for neck, ears and fingers. Women who have for ages depended on forest for their livelihood are turning designers in converting forest produce into attractively done jewellery pieces and souvenirs for home decor.

Training of the women folk is a part of the community development programme taken up by state government in forest areas under its eco-tourism policy. The programme aims at making forest dwellers self-dependent. Training has been completed at Dudhwa and, at present, is being conducted at Rampurwa village in Katarniaghat.

“Most of these people cut trees for firewood. I am making them learn other uses of forest produce,” said trainer Neera Sarmah.

Once eco-tourism starts at all the locations identified for it in the state, tourists may get to buy the products directly from locals. But providing market linkages to local communities so that they can fetch fair price for their products is also being worked out.

“A traditional `dalia’ (basket made of twigs) is what many may like to buy but do not know where to get the ethnic one. These forest dwellers have been making it for ages,” said director, Dudhwa tiger reserve, Sanjay Singh.

Programme is being conducted along with the UP Forest Corporation (UPFC) which is a nodal agency for eco-tourism in the state.

Sites like Katarniaghat on Gerua river in Bahraich, Chuka ghat in Pilibhit on Sharda dam, Chambal ravines in Agra, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary in Unnao, Chandraprabha Rajdari water falls and Deodari water falls in Varanasi, Sarsainawar Sarus Sanctuary in Etawah, Sandi Bird Sanctuary in Hardoi, Noida Bird Sanctuary and Kalpi river cruise in Yamuna in Jalaun have been identified as eco-tourism spots.

Despite being announced two years ago, eco-tourism policy of UP government is yet to catch pace.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Neha Shukla, TNN / April 06th, 2015

Sangam city safeguards rare ‘Agamas’ of Jainism

Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel
Sangam City is a proud custodian of rare manuscript of a scripture related to 'Agamas' or 'shastra' of Jainism based on Lord Mahavir's teachings
Sangam City is a proud custodian of rare manuscript of a scripture related to ‘Agamas’ or ‘shastra’ of Jainism based on Lord Mahavir’s teachings

Allahabad :

Sangam City is a proud custodian of rare manuscript of a scripture related to ‘Agamas’ or ‘shastra’ of Jainism based on Lord Mahavir’s teachings. A few of its verses are even coated with gold. The script of this rare invaluable manuscript is yet to be deciphered. Experts believe that the text could be in the oldest spoken language of ‘Prakrit’. However, few others believe that the script could also either be Sanskrit, Oriya or Bengali.

The manuscript, currently in the possession of state’s only Government Manuscript Library, has remained out of public eyes owing to paucity of fund. For record sake, the library has been safeguarding the manuscript for the last 55 years.

Due to lack of proper conservation and preservation technique, several lines of ‘verses in gold’ faded away in 1987. Later, the then officials re-wrote the missing part with yellow ink. Currently, the regional archive officer has the additional charge of the library owing to absence of experts.

Regional archive officer Amit Agnihotri said that since the manuscript kept at library was in Prakrit language prevalent among common masses around 2,000 years ago, its composition in writing started around 10th Century AD. “The minute gold work started in later period so its date could range from 1500 to 1600 AD,” added Agnihotri.

He added, “We are in the process of engaging Lucknow University and IIT-Kanpur in conservation and identifying the language in which the texts are written.”

Highlighting the importance of ‘Agamas’, former dean of Allahabad University and an expert in Jain literature, PC Jain said: “Earlier teachings of Lord Mahavir were passed on by his disciples by word of mouth owing to absence of writing technique. Over 500 years after the Nirvana of Lord Mahavir, some disciples led by seer Pushpdant started compiling Lord’s teachings in taadpatra (palm leaves) at a place, around 35-kms from Mangalore in Karnataka.”

For the last three decades, Jain has been involved in restoring places visited by Lord Mahavir during his life time.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanal, TNN / April 03rd, 2015

Katheria pushes for Agra’s less known monuments

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

Agra :

Agra is a home to around 100 centrally protected monuments. Most tourists, however, visit only the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the nearby Fathehpur Sikri. Union minister of state in the Human Resources Ministry and Agra MP Ramshankar Katheria has now sought that the Centre take steps to promote Agra’s less popular tourist destinations, so that those arriving in the city are also encouraged to stay longer.

Among the lesser known monuments are the tomb of Mariam-uz-Jamani, Rajput princess who married Mughal emperor Akbar and mother of Jahangir. The structure in which the tomb was laid was built originally by Sikandar Lodi in the late 15th century; the tomb was laid in it by 1623, and a crypt was made below the central compartment by the Mughals, who substantially remodelled the structure.

The Roman Catholic cemetery in the Civil Lines area, considered among the oldest Christian cemeteries in north India, is also a little-visited spot of tourist interest. Many early European adventurers and travellers have been laid to rest here. Many of the gravestones date back to the 17th century.

Chini ka Rauza (chini refers to the colourful tiles; rauza is a funerary monument) is the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan Mullah, who served as prime minister in the court of Shah Jahan. It dates back to the year 1635. The building represents a milestone in Indo-Persian architecture, and is the first building in India to have the glazed tiles that give it its name.

Kanch Mahal at Sikandra, near Akbar’s tomb, was used, some historians say, as a hunting lodge by Jahangir. This monument too is not very well known to visitors to the city.

Just five km from the Taj is Ram Bagh, the oldest of Mughal gardens in India – laid by the founder of the dynasty, Babur. This garden too does not see as many visitors as it might, if it were better promoted.

Mehtab Bagh, an integral part of the gardens around the Taj, also sees few visitors. The Chhatri of Raja Jaswant Singh – which some claim is the only monument built by a Hindu in Agra in the time of Mughal rule – is also a neglected monument.

Katheria pointed out that the website of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) does not offer descriptions of the lesser known monuments. Information and photographs of these too should be uploaded, the minister said, in a letter to Union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma.

Sources said Katheria was raising this issue as Mahesh Sharma is set to visit Agra on April 8.

Rajiv Tiwari, president of the Federation of Travel Agencies, said, “Many less known monuments are dilapidated, many have become a den for anti-social activities. Travel agents cannot risk allowing guests to include them in their itinerary.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Aditya Dev, TNN / April 04th, 2015

Raina ties the knot with UP girl

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports

Evoking some cliched `maiden over’ puns, cricketer Suresh Raina got hitched to his childhood friend Priyanka Chaudhary at a hotel in the capital on Friday . The two had gotten engaged on April 1. The cricketer had earlier told us that it was a match fixed by his parents.

The private ceremony was attended by many from Team India and his IPL teammates, politicians and Bollywood celebs, apart from the cricketer’s friends from Lucknow. Indian team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and wife Sakshi, International Cricket Council chairman N Srinivasan, Virender Sehwag, Raina’s CSK teammate, and his wife Aarti arrived at the venue to wish the newly-wed couple. West Indian cricketer Dwayne Bravo, another CSK teammate, and coach Stephen Fleming were also in attendance, along with Australian cricketer Michael Hussey , Mohit Sharma and Ishwar Pandey . India vice-captain Virat Kohli and girlfriend Anushka Sharma were also said to be on the guest list, but apparently gave the wedding a miss. The high profile wedding had Twitterati lapping up pictures posted by guests and the hashtag #RainaKiShaadi trended on the site till much after Friday night’s celebration.

From across the border, Shoaib Malik wished Raina and tweeted, “My heartiest congrats to my friend & fav batsman @ImRaina on joining the club! May u b happy forever sorry cudnt join.”

Reportedly , PM Narendra Modi, who was also invited, had sent a letter congratulating the cricketer.

Other notable attendees were wrestler Sushil Kumar, Anupam Kher, Shweta Tiwari, Irrfan Pathan, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, politico Jyotiraditya Scindia and UP CM Akhilesh Yadav .

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / April 05th, 2015

Visionaries narrate success stories

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders

Kanpur :

The Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT-Kanpur organised TEDx on Saturday. In this event, seven visionaries and performers from different fields narrated their stories before the audience both from IIT-Kanpur and the city.

The event started with a formal inauguration by IIT-K director Indranil Manna and Prof B V Phani. The first talk was given by Ad-man Abhijit Avasthi, followed by Amit Deshpal, a graduate from IIT-Madras in 2008 and joined the private equity arm of World Bank. Inspired by Tagore’s and Tolstoy’s thoughts on education, he quit his job a year later to start a learning space for children.

He spent nearly three years travelling around the country learning from different places and tried to understand meaning of education beyond formal schooling.

Talks were also delivered by renowned pantomime artist Padma Shri Niranjan Goswami and Anand Patwardhan, a critically acclaimed and socio-political documentary film-maker and activist. Other speakers were Irfan Alam, a social entrepreneur based in Patna working towards organising and empowering rickshaw-pullers through his organisation Sammaan, Aabid Surti, National Award winning author, artist and playwright-turned-environmentalist, Dipendra Manocha, founder of Saksham Trust that works towards developing communication devices for the visually impaired. The organisers of TEDx said that these talks may seed the notion of entrepreneurial zeal in individuals to think differently and act smartly. Many entrepreneurs and well-known people of the city attended the programme.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / March 29th, 2015