Monthly Archives: November 2015

Ratan Tata impressed with U.P.’s industrial development

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Leaders, Sports

Impressed with the pace of progress in Uttar Pradesh, business doyen Ratan Tata on Friday assured full support to the state for its industrial development.

“The development which has taken place in Uttar Pradesh or which is on the cards that I have come to know in my meeting with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav … I can only say that I am very much impressed,” said Tata, chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons.

Terming the picture of development of the state as fantastic”, Mr Tata also assured that he will extend full support in the development of the state in future.

He was speaking here during the foundation laying function of Shahid Chandrashekhar Azad handicapped sports academy to be set up by Padma Shri Arunima Sinha, the first female amputee to have climbed Mount Everest.

Speaking on the occasion, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, recalling Arunima’s struggle, said, “when she met with the accident (in which she lost her left leg) I was the state unit president of the Samajwadi Party and on coming to know about it I had also gone to the hospital to meet her.”

“She had later met me in the Janata Darbar and on my question as to where will she go, she had replied that she will go to Mt Everest. I could not believe that she will scale it,” Mr Yadav recalled.

He also said that he had asked Arunima to set up her special sports academy in the capital city of Lucknow but she chose the adjoining district of Unnao for her project.

However, the CM assured all possible support to the academy.

He added that despite the state having a large number of poor people, balanced development is taking place here.

On the occasion, Arunima said that during treatment when she lost her leg in a train mishap in 2011, a resident of Bethar village, Umashankar Dixit, had promised her land and other facilities for setting up the academy and so despite the Chief Minister’s desire she opted for Unnao.

She said that in case the government extended facilities, one branch of her academy will be set up in Lucknow also. – PTI

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Other States / PTI / Unnao – November 28th, 2015

Kothari Group founder passes away at 90

Business & Economy, Leaders

Kanpur :

Founder of Kothari Group, Mansukhbhai Kothari, breathed his last at his Tilak Nagar residence here on Friday morning. He was 90 and is survived by his wife Sharda Ben, two sons Vikram Kothari and Deepak Kothari and daughter Reeta Ben, besides grandsons and great grandsons.

Kothari was ailing for a long time. His death plunged the entire Kothari family into grief. His last rites will be performed at Bhairoghat on Saturday at about 10.30 pm.

Kothari was born in July 1925 in the village Nareli district of Surendra Nagar in Gujarat in the family of Mahadevbhai Kothari. His father was an ordinary merchant.

At a tender age of 16, he started his journey of life away from home and moved to the greener pastures in the field of business and made Kanpur his Karma Bhumi.

Starting with a meager capital of Rs 500, he set up the trading business of consumable products. Year 1973 became the turning point in his entrepreneurial skills, and foundation of his famous family business of a mouth freshener brand.

Many more manufacturing units of FMCG products were later added to the family business.

Kothari was also concerned and aware about the hardships of the society at large especially about the weaker sections of the society and established charitable trusts and educational institutions for medical treatment, scholarships to the needy students, community buildings helping in the marriage of poor daughters.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / November 27th, 2015

44 years later, LU honours Chemistry wiz

Education, Records, All

Lucknow :

At the age of 65 and after a long wait of 44 years, Anil Kumar Singh finally received his M Raman Gold medal for Inorganic Chemistry from the Lucknow University (LU) on Saturday.

Singh had secured highest marks in the subject and was eligible for the said gold medal since 1971. But, the university did not hold convocation that year and none of the medals were handed over. With Singh’s unprecedented win, gates for other medal holders and achievers from 1971 to claim their due are flung open.

Ironically, Singh completed his education, served as a teacher in chemistry department and retired as a professor in June 2012. He is also executive president of the Rashtriya Shikshak Mahasangh.

“Everytime I queried anyone at the university or voiced my concern, I was told it’s the university rule not to give medals or degrees, if convocation was not held for any reason in that year,” said Singh.

His mark sheet from the university said he stood first in order of merit and a certificate issued in 2007 also confirmed his eligibility to the coveted award. This had given some relief to Singh until on March 24, he filed an RTI in the case.

Quoting a clause in section 15.05 of the first statute of the university that said that if due to any reason the university fails to hold the convocation, the degree, diploma and academic distinctions maybe sent by registered posts, Singh shot an RTI asking if this was being followed.

“I didn’t get the reply to this question, but I also asked them if one puts an application to the effect, will the medal be given then?” informed Singh. It was to this question that he got an answer stating that if the Vice Chancellor (VC) consents to the application, the medal might be handed over.

The matter however didn’t even reach the VC. “The current controller of examinations, SK Shukla taking personal interest in the case, found the records, got my medal made and gave it to me today,” said Singh, who feels the fight was an in principle one.

Previously in 2004, Singh had fought a battle with the university over his daughter’s rightful claim over the most prestigious Chancellor’s Gold Medal at LU. It was after that win, that LU introduced the system of inviting applications to the coveted honour. Prior to that head of the departments nominated any student they wished to.

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

Billionaire NRI Manoj Bhargava unveils electricity-generating cycle

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Billionaire Philanthropist and Entrepreneur Manoj Bhargava demonstrate Electricity-Generating Bicycle during its Launch in New Delhi. (PTI photo)
Billionaire Philanthropist and Entrepreneur Manoj Bhargava demonstrate Electricity-Generating Bicycle during its Launch in New Delhi. (PTI photo)

New Delhi :

Indian-American billionaire philanthropist Manoj Bhargava, on Friday, unveiled a stationary bicycle that can generate electricity and help rural households meet their energy needs.

“The stationary bicycle generates power. The pedalling turns a flywheel, which spins a generator that charges the attached battery,” Bhargava said while unveiling the product.

He further said the cycle is estimated to be priced between Rs 12,000-15,000 and will be available by March next year.

One hour of pedalling can meet a rural household’s electricity needs for 24 hours, including running lights, a small fan and charging a cell phone — all without electricity bills, fuel costs or pollution, a statement issued by him said.

Bhargava said he had a discussion about the product with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“I had a discussion with Modiji about a year ago,” he said.

Bhargava was also not very enthusiastic about collaborating with government departments.

“…if I go to a government department…they are not bad people but efficiency is zero. Besides, it will take six months to decide which department of the government should help me out,” he said.

Bhargava said he will first start selling the product in Uttarakhand and later target rest of the domestic market.

He also said that Uttarakhand is a power surplus state but households face electricity shortages and this product can help them meet their basic requirements.

He added that the product will be manufactured in India at the facilities of some industrial houses, as well as in US.

The product would have one model where the user can also measure the calories burnt while using it.

These kind of products are especially useful for the 1.3 billion people around the world who do not have access to electricity, he said.

Bhargava, whose net worth is estimated at USD 4 billion, has pledged 99 percent of his fortune to finding solutions that can help people across the world.

Bhargava also supports The Hans Foundation, one of the largest charitable organisations in India.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> NRI> NRI Achievers / PTI / November 27th, 2015