The pond at Surajkund Park is of great historical importance, but has been lying dirty due to absence of proper care. (HT Photo)
Two stones with Persian and Hindi inscriptions dating back to 1854 were found during the cleaning of Surajkund Park in Old City, Lucknow.
Officials supervising the work said the writing in Hindi says that the pond was cleaned and renovated by Rai Tulsi Ram around 161 years back.
However, the Persian inscription on the second stone was not clear. Officials said the script would be readable once the stone is cleaned.
The two stones with Hindi and Persian inscriptions dating back to 1854. (HT Photo)
Four wells in four corners of the kund were also ‘unearthed’ during the cleaning operation, said Rajeev Kumar, OSD, Lucknow Development Authority (LDA).
The pond was cleaned as it was full of polythene bags and filth. However, locals highlighted the historical importance of this water body, stating that the kund was an ancient structure and constructed by Suryavanshi kings.
Historian Yogesh Praveen said Surajkund was mentioned in Mughul era books as ‘Shamsi Talab’.
But the historical aspect of the pond was lost with the passage of time.
“Despite its historical importance, the pond has been lying dirty in the absence of proper care,” said Mahant Sachin Shastri of Surjakund Park and temple.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities / by Hindustan Times, HT Correspondent / June 17th, 2015
Tourists visiting Taj Mahal will be able to enjoy Internet through Wi-Fi for free for 30 minutes. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has collaborated with state-run telecom services provider BSNL for the service, which will be launched by Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday.
Post the 30-minute usage, any browsing will be chargeable.
The launch is a part of the Narendra Modi led government’s initiative to provide Wi-Fi hot spots in cities with population of over 10 lakh and in tourist centres, under the Digital India programme. In February, wi-fi facility was launched by BSNL at Dashashwamedh Ghat and Shitala Ghats of Varanasi.
ASI has identified 25 spots, including Fatehpur Sikri, Sarnath Temple, Konark Temple, Khajurao, which are also likely to become public WiFi hotspots.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by Staff Reporter / New Delhi – June 15th, 2015
High humidity has led to spurt in cases of fungal infection. The easy remedy to the problem comes in form of oil extracted from various herbs. A team of scientists of Allahabad University has extracted three types of oil. Their study has been published in various international journals and further research is being conducted in collaboration with an institute in Germany.
Detailing about various sorts of fungal infections and remedies to combat them, head of the department of botany, Allahabad University, Anupam Dikshit, said: “We have extracted oil from various plants which are effective against fungus and viruses. Both bacteria and fungus are capable of harming the fibre of your clothes but fungal infection is far more deadly.” He added that fungus needs certain medium for growth and cotton clothes and leather items provide best of conditions. Cotton and leather contain cellulose, which is made of polysaccharides and on the contrary, synthetic clothes are much safer from these infections.
This work of Dikshit has given two patents to his name, one a joint US-India-German patent and another one an Indian. Apart from this the work has been published in several international journals.
Dikshit said that the best climatic conditions for fungus are the temperature ranging between 30-35 degree Celsius and 55% or above humidity.
He suggested that one should be more careful in respect to white or light clothings as the fungal growth in the vegetative stage misses the naked eyes. And by the time you recognize the dark or black colour of the second stage of fungal growth, it had already done substantial damage to the fibre.
Similarly, about the leather items, he explained that the green spot on the leather, which again is an organic material, is fungus named penicillium. The best remedy is to polish them in every two days as the essential oil controls the fungal spores from germinating at the first stage, itself.
About the remedial measures, Dikshit informed that essential oil, present in ammi commonly known ajwaien, fennel or Sauf and cumin seeds or zeera, are the best remedy.
So, the next time you spot a white or coloured patch on your dress better get it treated as this could be fungal infection already in the process of harming the fibers of the clothes.
Tips to protect clothes from fungus
* Take your outside, sunshine and fresh air will kill the mildew
* Leave a light bulb turned on in areas where the fungus is most likely to breed
* Remove clothes from plastic dry cleaning bags immediately
* Check your clothes for spots/stains every time you hang them up
* Keep about an inch between your clothes and don’t cram them in
Keep closet door open to help with air flow
* Never hang clothes in your closet, unless they are completely dry
* Stuff your shoes and handbags that you don’t wear daily with a little tissue
* Opt for paint, not wall paper on your closet walls
Tips to protect leather from fungus
* Allow air circulation around stored items
* Apply a wax dressing to leather
* Take your leather items out occasionally and place them in the sunlight
* Store leather goods for extended periods
* Clean your leather regularly
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani, TNN / June 28th, 2015
After having completed her BSc two years ago from Lucknow University at the tender age of 13, the latest feat perhaps makes Sushma the youngest post-graduate in the country.
Sushma Verma, who had cleared BSc at the age of 13, at residence, in Lucknow on Saturday. (Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav)
Her classmates, on an average, were about eight years older to her, but it was Sushma Verma, now 15, who cleared MSc (Microbiology) at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University with flying colours when her fourth semester results were declared Saturday.
With Semester Grade Point Average (SGPAs) of 8, 8.25 and 9, she topped first, second and fourth semesters, respectively, missing out on first rank in third with her SGPA of 8.5, just .25 less than one of her classmates. “She is likely to top the course but we are waiting for the cumulative marks which will be available soon,” said Dr Naveen Kumar Arora, Head of Environmental Microbiology department at BBAU.
After having completed her BSc two years ago from Lucknow University at the tender age of 13, the latest feat perhaps makes Sushma the youngest post-graduate in the country.
What makes it even more special for her is that her father, Tej Bahadur, 51, was a daily-wage labourer till two years ago and the entire family lived in a dilapidated room — until help poured in. In order to help him support his daughter, BBAU Vice-Chancellor Dr R C Sobti appointed Bahadur, class eight pass, as an assistant supervisor (sanitation) at the university. The father-daughter duo would often travel to the university together.
“I now want to pursue PhD, perhaps in agricultural microbiology,” says the soft-spoken Sushma, sitting inside her home, which is on the outskirts of Lucknow in Bargawan area. Why agricultural microbiology? “I’m interested in this field, I was especially drawn to it when we had to do fieldwork in the fourth semester, or when we would have to do lab work such as isolate Rhizobium bacteria in roots of leguminous plants,” she explains.
“During our field visits, we realised that the soil in and around Lucknow is becoming more arid by the day, so I would like to try and find out a way to make the city greener,” she says.
However, it was happenstance that led her to MSc as at one point, Sushma wanted to be a doctor.
In 2005, just a little over 5 years old, Sushma was enrolled into Class IX at the UP Board-affiliated St Meera’s Inter College. Her mother Chhaya Devi says Sushma would study books belonging to her elder brother Shailendra, who himself had completed his BCA by the age of 14.
Two years later, in 2007, Sushma was recognised by the Limca Book of Records as the “youngest student” to pass class X when she was 7 years, 3 months and 28 days old .
But it took her three years to complete Class XII as she went to Japan upon an invitation “where she stood first in an IQ test comprising people up to 35 years of age,” says Bahadur. In 2010, after clearing Class XII and wanting to be a doctor and hoping “to give something back to the society,” Sushma sat for the Uttar Pradesh Combined Premedical Test (CPMT).
“I wasn’t expecting them to allow me to even sit for the examination but they did,” says Sushma. However, she was in for a rude shock when CSJM University, Kanpur, which had conducted the test, withheld her result. Officials refused to give any reason and Bahadur says their RTI applications went unanswered. “We were told that the minimum age for enrolling in MBBS is 17 years and that’s why the university may have withheld the results.”
While waiting to “grow older”, Sushma enrolled into BSc at Lucknow University and it was around this time that her interest in Botany began developing.
Two years later, when the time to enroll for MSc came, money became an issue. But as the news spread, help started pouring in. “The greatest help to us was from (Sulabh International founder) Bindeshwar Pathak,” says Bahadur. Pathak honoured Sushma at a programme in Lucknow and showered her with a laptop, desktop, a camera, mobile phone, apart from financial assistance. As an inspired Sushma spoke with unusual maturity at the ceremony, more than a few eyes grew moist.
“She was very sincere and hardworking. She joined us at the age of 13 and we wondered how she’d manage, but she coped really well,” says Dr Arora. “We never pressurised our children to study or for anything, we just let them be,” Sushma’s mother said.
The father, however, believes his three-year-old Ananya will be “the brightest among the three (children),” as Ananya shyly but fluently reads a “difficult” Hindi poem meant for Class VIII. The two daughters are also helping their “illiterate” mother. “I can read Hindi and English now,” Chhaya said.
source: http:/www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Mohammad Hamza Khan / Lucknow – June 21st, 2015
In a “historic” decision, the Samajwadi Party government has renamed the Lucknow Prani Udyan, popularly known as Lucknow zoo, as “Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Prani Udyan, Lucknow,” making it the first official move-since Independence – to name a monument after a Nawab of Oudh, or Avadh (roughly corresponding with Central Uttar Pradesh ). Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was the last Nawab of Oudh before the province was annexed by the British under the policy of Doctrine of Lapse in 1856. He was banished to Matia Burj in Bengal.
Bird sanctuary too renamed
Another first was the decision to rename the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary in Unnao district after revolutionary freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad. The bird sanctuary will now be known as “ Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Azad Pakshi Vihar, Nawabganj.”
Though Chandra Shekhar Azad was born in Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh (July 23, 1906), his father, Sitaram Tiwari, belonged to Badarka village in Unnao district. It was on account of his parental ties with Unnao district that the bird sanctuary has been named after him.
These decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday.
The Lucknow Zoo was established in 1921 and was named after England’s Prince of Wales as “Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens.” It was renamed as Lucknow Prani Udyan on June 4, 2001.
The State Cabinet further approved the cancellation of the agreement for handing over the power distribution in Kanpur city to Messrs. Torrent Power Limited, Ahmedabad. An official spokesman said the deal was called off through mutual understanding.
Laptops for bright students
The proposal to distribute laptops to meritorious students of high school and Intermediate examinations conducted by UP Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad, Central Board of Secondary Education and the Indian Council of Secondary Education in the year 2015 was also approved by the Cabinet.
Another important Cabinet decision pertained to the demolition of three temporary structures on the service road near bungalow Number 13 in Mall Avenue (former Chief Minister Mayawati’s official bungalow).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Other States / by Atiq Khan / Lucknow – June 24th, 2015
A contemporary engraving of the massacre at the Satichura Ghat. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
By surrendering to Nana Sahib, the British thought they would get safe passage. But the evacuation did not go as planned.
By June 27, 1857 the First War of Independence had spread to Cawnpore (Kanpur, as it is known today). Cawnpore was an important garrison town for the East India Company forces. It was ideally located on the Grand Trunk Road. Initially, the sepoys at Cawnpore were not a part of the war. The British General at Cawnpore, at that time, was Hugh Wheeler. He knew the local language, had adopted local customs, and to top it all was married to an Indian woman. So confident was he that his sepoys would not join the fight, he despatched two British companies to besieged Lucknow.
The British in Cawnpore numbered 900, including military men, women and children, merchants, business people, salesmen and engineers. The war was coming closer, and although there was no trouble in Cawnpore, the European families were afraid. They began to shift into the entrenchment (a military position fortified by trenches). The Indian sepoys were asked to collect their pay one by one, to avoid an armed mob.
The sepoys on their part felt threatened by the fortifications and the prepared artillery guns. There was a minor skirmish when a lieutenant fired on his Indian guard when drunk, and was jailed for a night. The next day, however, he was released. There were also rumours that the Indian troops had been summoned to a parade, where they were to be massacred. The sepoys joined the war against the East India Company on June 5.
The besieged Company forces and the civilians were not prepared for such a long siege. After almost three weeks, they surrendered to Nana Sahib, in return for a safe passage to Allahabad. Nana Sahib was the adopted heir to Baji Rao II, the ex-Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy.
The evacuation did not go as planned. There was confusion on getting into the boats, and misunderstanding causing sepoys to fire at the departing British. This was called the Satichaura Ghat massacre.
Finally, the East India Company forces stationed in Allahabad marched to Cawnpore. Women and children who had been captured by the sepoys were killed and their remains were thrown into a nearby well. After Cawnpore was recaptured, the massacre was discovered. There was outrage and Company forces retaliated with force capturing sepoys and civilians. This came to be known as the Bibighar massacre.
The murders angered and embittered the British and inspired the war cry “Remember Cawnpore”.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Young World / by Archana Subramanian / June 25th, 2015
A city based social activist was honoured for donating blood 48 times in his life at an event held on the occasion of blood donor day in Lucknow on Sunday.
RK Saffar, who is currently serving as Red Cross Society’s secretary, was felicitated during a ceremony organised at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Sunday. He received a momento from Arvind Kumar, principal secretary, medical and health.
Expressing his gratitude to the state government for giving him the award, Saffar said that the feeling was overwhelming. “Uttar Pradesh is far behind other states in terms of percentage of blood donors. I am happy that the government has recognised my efforts,” he said.
Saffar, 56, said, “I make sure to donate blood every 3 months.”I believe that nothing can be more charitable and noble than donating blood. It doesn’t take any toll on your health and you can save so many lives by merely donating blood. Regular donations help you live a healthy life too. I have donated blood 5 times a year also,” he said.
The social activist said that today youngsters have taken the lead in donating blood because of the campaigns on social networking sites. “The other reason as to why youngsters voluntarily donate blood these days is that the blood donation certificate helps you enter foreign universities. It is the simplest charity one can do,” he added.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / June 15th, 2015
It was not just straitened financial circumstances but also the villagers’ casteist mindset that the Saroj brothers fought along their way to achieving their IIT dream. Caste biases run so deep here that even as they returned home feted by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday, stones were thrown at their house.
“There were five or six stones thrown at our home. We informed the police,” Raju Saroj told TOI. Otherwise, the brothers said, the villagers have become nice to them, especially since they shot to limelight after their incredible IIT success.
It wasn’t always like this. The villagers would mock the Saroj brothers when they dared to study. They were told that as dalits, they need not study any further as they have no future. Even their drainage line was cut off a few weeks ago. But, the family today is being idolized by the same villagers.
Raju and Brijesh with their parents.
When Brijesh was applying to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya for the first time, villagers had said he would never get through. As if that wasn’t enough, when his roll number appeared in the list of those selected, a neighbour tore up the newspaper and threw it away.
They always pulled us back. There were no words of encouragement,” recalled Brijesh.
When Raju applied a year later, 40 other children had applied as well. Only Raju made it. “The people then said our family has some ‘source’, that’s why we got admission,” said Raju, without a trace of resentment.
“Navodaya was my turning point,” said Brijesh in crisp English. Before Navodaya, the boys were always pulled into the caste yolk. They were asked their caste by villagers, bus drivers and co-travellers. “People here are stuck in another century. They don’t want to move forward,” says Raju. “As my sons were studying in cities, villagers thought I had lots of money. They asked for my BPL card to be withdrawn,” said Dharmraj.
But there were words of encouragement as well.
“These two were the stars of our village from childhood as we knew that one day they will make their family and the entire village proud,” said Rakesh Jaiswal. He’d taken CPMT but could not make it.
Hare Ram Yadav, principal, Vikas Uchchatar Madhyamik Vidyalaya, where the Saroj brothers had studied till class V, and who till a couple of days back had told Raju it would’ve been better had he had taken ITI, gave a different spiel on Sunday when TOI revisited the village. “When they were small, they used to tell me they wanted to become doctor and engineer and I only honed their skills,” he said. He tactfully concealed the fact that in 2005, one of the teachers had beaten young Brijesh when the 10-year-old had questioned his Sanskrit translation.
Gulab Soni, their immediate neighbour, said, “We were sure of their achievements since they were kids.” As the celebrations were on, he merrily sipped soft drink offered by Raju’s elder.
“Yeh log aapke saamne naatak karte hain. In logon ne hamara bathroom jaane ka rasta bhi band kara diya hai aur aaye din dhamki dete rahte hain” (these people are acting before you. They had even blocked the path I took for bathroom),” said Shiv Nath Saroj, the grandfather of the Saroj brothers.
“They’ve stopped all the approach paths, barring one, for our house claiming that it was their own land. Had it not been thin lane, we could have not able to move out to go to the loo in the open,” he added with moist eyes.
“We’ve been tormented for years as all of us have struggled against poverty and stigma to achieve what we are today. Had it not been TOI, this success story would not have been noticed,” said Munna Saroj, uncle of these boys.
source: http://www.timesofindia.inditimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Rajeev Mani, TNN / June 22nd, 2015
Katha Vachak traditions from Braj are set to enthrall people in the land of Kathak. Known as ‘Bhagat’, the ancient customs from Mathura would come alive at Saajhi Virasat, a monthly cultural series started by the UP culture department. It begins with the famous Mayur (peacock) dance and presentation of Languria and Rasia folksongs at Lohia Park Amphitheatre on Friday.
Bhagat tradition of story telling is a mix of song, music and acting which may be compared with nautanki. Bhagat, however, is revered more because it was primarily associated with temples. “Everything is pious about a Bhagat presentation,” explained Vandana Singh, an expert in dance and music traditions in the Braj region, adding, “No dialogue or songs would have even a trace of vulgarity though item-number-like-masti in nautanki is a must.
The presentation, which will be held on Saturday, gels completely with Lucknow’s Ganga-Jamuni tehzib. “The group would stage the story of Raja Morajdhwaj whose story of sacrifice is quite like that of prophet Ibrahim,” said Anita Meshram, secretary culture, UP. Giving details, manager for the group, Seema Morwal said: “Morajdhwaj was a benevolent king who worshipped Vishnu and gave away anything anyone would ask for. Once, Vishnu decided to test him and came to the earth as an ascetic along with his vehicle Garuda diguised as a lion,” she said.
The king gave away everything Vishnu asked for. Finally, Vishnu asked the king and his wife to kill their only son and serve him his meat for dinner. Morajdhwaj eventually fulfilled the wish making the extreme sacrifice. “Seeing his generosity, Vishnu returned the king’s son and gave the message of sacrifice to all,” said Seema. “Prophet Ibrahim was also asked for a similar sacrifice… in fact, Bakarid is celebrated to re-tell the importance of sacrifice each year,” says Imam of Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli.
Officials said selection of the play was made randomly but the connection between regions (Braj and Avadh) and religions (Hindu and Islam) is truly Ganga Jamuni. “Somehow, it turns our theme of saajhi virasat (shared heritage) true,” Meshram stated.
About the Saajhi Virasat Series, she said, the two-day festival would see presentations from across different cultural regions of UP. “The presentations would include dance, drama and musical renditions,” she said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / June 19th, 2015
India draws epithets mostly of two kinds from foreigners. Indophiles call it ‘exotic’ for its rich multi-culturalism, mysticism, spirituality and other cliched reasons. Yet, others scathingly dub it as a ‘dump’ for its egregious lack of sanitation, infrastructure and development. Some go as far as calling India a ‘shithole’ ‘drowning in its own excreta’.
Having grown up in both under-privileged and privileged classes in the States, Marta says her idea about the difference in the two classes shaped her view of the world.
But an American Ph.D student Marta Vanduzer-Snow (34) moved to rural India three years ago thinking that India needed a different approach altogether—”To be an invisible human who makes a difference on the ground.”
The result—Marta, a Rutgers University scholar who grew up in Boston, got 82 low-cost evapotranspiration toilets in homes and 1 in a primary school and 10 feet wide 122 meters permeable roads constructed, all at half or one-third the cost of similar governmental projects in the villages of Rai Bareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
Each government toilet, built under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan that aims to eliminate open defecation by Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th anniversary in October 2019, costs about Rs.17000, but the evapotranspiration toilet that Marta has brought to the villages costs only Rs. 9109. As against government’s Rs. 4 lakh per 100 meter of interlocking road, Marta’s 100 meter permeable road costs only Rs. 2 lakh.
A co-author of books and research papers with various academics, Marta has developed a theory for three-pronged strategy on development that integrates infrastructure, health and education. “I wanted a small scale model based on my theory that I could execute. So I did some research and found that Amethi and Rai Bareily had quite a few active self-help groups. I decided to learn, practice and contribute.”
An Amartya Sen development economics fan, Marta who spends her own personal resources on all these projects, has also set up 27 solar power plants, including two street lights and a mobile charger. One of the only villages in Rae Bareli boasts of being the beneficiary of night light set up by the do-gooder scholar. Marta also got French drains built, with rainwater harvesting techniques and has been working on myco-filtration systems for potable water.
Along with her programme coordinator Pawan Singh in some villages, she has also run literacy programs, written text books on English and organic farming, set up libraries and oversaw a pilot stage of four classrooms. The Rutgers scholar also run telehealth, ‘Mera Doctor’ a medical facility that offers 24×7 doctor-on-call service for free for a year to two villages.
Having grown up in both under-privileged and privileged classes in the States, Marta says her idea about the difference in the two classes shaped her view of the world. “The sharp difference was basically due to access or lack of access to opportunity,” she believes. The travels through Africa, Middle East, Asia and half a year she spent in Nepal running community service programs after high school confirmed her understanding of the difference in social classes. “But human life is about hope and how we look at future and what is possible for us. That is why I am doing what I am. ”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / June 20th, 2015
