Monthly Archives: March 2016

Guv felicitates six oldest city schools

Education, Records, All

Kanpur :

Virendra Swarup Education Centre (Kidwai Nagar) celebrated its silver jubilee function in the school premises here on Saturday.

Governor Ram Naik, who was the chief guest on the occasion, felicitated six oldest schools of the city for their outstanding services in the field of education.

The principals and representatives of Methodist High School, St Mary’s Convent College, St Aloysius’ School, Huddard High School, Sheiling House and Seth Anandram Jaipuria School received trophies from the governor.

Naik also felicitated teachers and staff of Virendra Swarup Education Centre in recognition of their 25 years of service to the school.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / March 28th, 2016

10 kg wood apple attracts all at AgriHorti Tech fair

Agriculture, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

Kanpur:

A 10 kg wood apple, popularly known as bel, remained the centre of attraction on the second day of AgriHorti Tech international fair in Saifai, Etawah.

The wood apple has been displayed at the stall of Chandra Shekhar Azad Agriculture university of Kanpur.

The farmers visiting the fair also showed interest in ‘Rabi’ crop seeds, saplings, farming literature, agriculture equipment and new technologies, at various other stalls.

“During ‘Rabi’ season, the farmers should go for maize instead of sowing wheat crop as it’s yield is quite high as compared to latter,” said Dr Athar Husain Warsi, a scientist, Agriculrure department, Etawah.

Chief development officer Anil Kumar Singh said visitors are showing interest in farm machinery developed by various institutes and ‘chukandar’ and wood apple plantation, stalls of which have been put up by the CSA University of Kanpur authorities.

Scientists from the university said the seeds of the 10 kg wood apple are available at the university. Farmers are being trained on cultivating onion and garlic.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / March 29th, 2016

Scientists at IVRI develop vitamin-rich ‘chocolates and ladoos’ for cattle

Science & Technology

Bareilly:

As most farmers are unable to provide “nutritious meal to ruminants, including cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep”, scientists at the prestigious Indian veterinary research institute (IVRI) have developed chocolates and ladoos for them which will complete the requirement of proteins, minerals and vitamins.

The scientists have also developed a machine that will make these chocolates, which they say will eventually increase the milk production capacity of animals.

Principal scientist, animal nutrition division, Dr Putan Singh told TOI, “Most of the famers are not in a position to feed nutritious meals to ruminants and provide them just straw. Though wheat or paddy straw is rich in energy, other nutrients, like protein, vitamins and minerals, are missing from their diet.”

The scientists have developed these chocolates and ladoos after four years of extensive research. The power-packed meal, rich in protein, vitamin and minerals, contains molasses, wheat bran, oil cakes, minerals and non-protein nitrogen.

Explaining how these chocolates and ladoos will work, Singh said, “These animals have four parts in their stomach. In one of the parts, animals do not digest food, but it is microbes which digest the fibre and remaining products like volatile fatty acids and ammonia are used by animals.” The scientist added, “The chocolates and ladoos have been prepared considering the requirement of both microbes and animals. When animals will lick these chocolates or eat ladoos, it will increase the digestion of fibres among microbes and hence, animals will feel hungrier and eat more straw.”

According to the scientists, consumption of this superfood will also increase the milk production capacity of the animals. “If a cattle is given 500 gram of these chocolates or ladoos daily in two meals, it will increase the milk production capacity of the animal by 0.5 to 1 litre. However, this increase depends on the breed and capacity of cow,” Singh added.

The scientist, however, warned against the overuse of this superfood. “In greed of increasing milk production, people should refrain from giving excess amount of these chocolates or ladoos as it will cause harm to animal,” he said.

The scientists have also developed a machine that will make these chocolates. The ladoos, however, can be prepared manually. The shelf life of these chocolates or ladoos is one year. It will approximately cost Rs 20/kg each.

Even farmers can learn the process of making these chocolates or ladoos at IVRI for a nominal fee. However, for selling these products commercially, people can enter into an agreement with IVRI for training and technology.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bareilly / Priyangi Agarwal / TNN / March 30th, 2016

City biker becomes first solo woman to cross Mana Pass

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, Travel

Agra :

She did not stop after scaling eight Himalayan mountain passes, all above 5,000 metre, last year.

Pallavi Fauzdar, 35, from Agra became the first woman solo biker in the Limca Book of Records to reach the tip of Mana pass in Uttarakhand, arguably the world’s highest motorable mountain pass.

Mana rises to a staggering altitude of 5,638 m (18,497 ft) above sea level, on the border between India and Tibet, and is reckoned as one of the most difficult biking trails.

“I received the acknowledgement and a certificate from Limca earlier this week”, said an elated Pallavi.

Mother of two kids, Pallavi is married to Parikshit Mishra, an Army officer, who has been extremely supportive of her passion for biking. “My family do have apprehensions whenever I set off for my expeditions alone but they also have confidence in my abilities,” she said.

Pallavi rides an Avenger and said she had been passionate about biking for several years and the travel bug had bitten her early. Packed with a pepper spray to ward off miscreants and a GPS device to ensure she is not lost, Pallavi set off for her Himalayan journey of seven days.

Describing the expedition as ‘arduous’ involving inclined boulder tracks, numerous water crossings, snow-covered roads and low oxygen levels, Pallavi said biking has always given her an adrenaline rush.

“As a child, I was passionate about motorcycling and I’m lucky to be married to Parikshit who has been always supportive of my endeavours”, she said, while adding that the toughest part of the long and tiring road trips was leaving her kids and family. She also attributes a ‘divine intervention’ in her success.

Pallavi is also the first female rider to reach Deo Tal Lake, located at 17,950 ft, one of the world’s highest.

When not biking, this adventure lover is also an accomplished fashion designer, a social worker and a Rekki practitioner.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Agra / Anju Jaswal / TNN / March 27th, 2016

Lucknow: Bureaucrat makes Bollywood debut

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders
Hari Om, 40, currently serving as commissioner consolidation, has made an entry into Bollywood with his first composition. (HT Photo)
Hari Om, 40, currently serving as commissioner consolidation, has made an entry into Bollywood with his first composition. (HT Photo)

His position in office and the workload of the designation don’t deter him from living his passion. And that’s what made him a singer, lyricist and composer in addition to being a bureaucrat.

Hari Om, 40, currently serving as commissioner consolidation, has made an entry into Bollywood with his first composition. The song has already been recorded in Mumbai and the film would be released soon.

“I would not tell much about the song and the film is yet to be named. But the song has been written, composed and sung by me,” said Hari Om.

An IAS of 1997 batch, Hari started learning music after being selected for the services. “Wherever I got posted, I learnt music. But each time due to transfers, my teachers kept changing. However, my passion continued and I made it a point to continue learning music,” he said.

He has been district magistrate of 11 districts, including Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Moradabad, Allahabad, Saharanpur etc.

Already into performances and compositions, Hari Om feels that this is just the beginning. “Film music is a big platform. But this is just the beginning. There are bigger things to come,” he said.

Hari Om has written three books and the fourth one would soon be released. These include ‘Bhoot Ka Parcham’ (a collection of ghazals released in 2002), ‘Amrica Meri Jaan’ (collection of stories released in 2009), ‘Kapaas ke Agley Mausam Mein’ (a collection of poetry released in 2011). The upcoming book is a collection of ghazals.

Om has also sung two songs for Moxx Music Company – ‘Yaara Ve’ and ‘Socha Na Tha Zindagi’. Even in the busy office schedules, the officer makes it a point to do his ‘riyaz’ for at least two hours every day. The rest of the free time is spent in writing and compositions, he added.

A PhD in Hindi, Hari Om isn’t the lone music lover and singer at home. His wife, Malvika is also a singer and their two daughters – students of Class 10 and 6 respectively, also sing

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Lucknow / HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / March 14th, 2016

A queen’s story

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
A still from Gallantly Fought the Queen Photo: Special Arrangement
A still from Gallantly Fought the Queen Photo: Special Arrangement

This weekend watch the life of Rani Laxmi Bai unfold on stage

“Some historians say Rani Laxmi Bai was 33-years-old. Others say she was 22 and of course, that sounds more gallant,” says V. Balakrishnan, founder and artistic director of Theatre Nisha.

His play, Gallantly Fought the Queen, which premieres in the city this weekend, chronicles her story, which is one of a young widow and a regent queen who rises to command many men in battle.

She was one of the leading warriors of the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, and also, a celebrated character in history.

Inspired by Mahasweta Devi’s book, The Queen of Jhansi and D.V. Tamhankar’s The Ranee of Jhansi, the play endeavours to stick to facts and historical references. “We start the play with the Doctrine of Lapse being imposed on her kingdom.

There’s a very famous line in history, where she is supposed to have said, ‘Meri Jhansi nahi dungi’ (I will not part with my Jhansi). For a woman of her stature, who had never been bold, to have said something like that, sets the tone for the next two years of her life.”

With music by Srivaralaxmi ‘Maya’ and percussion by Vishwa Bharath, the play is juxtaposed with Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s famous poem Jhansi Ki Rani. “This play has all elements of theatre: storytelling, live singing, dancing and martial arts. All that should be part of an actor’s repertoire, Meera Sitaraman will be exhibiting on stage.”

The play, which is largely in English, interspersed with a little Hindi, will be staged at Alliance Francaise on March 26 and 27 (3 p.m. and 7 p.m.). Tickets are priced at Rs. 200 (Rs. 100 for schools) and available on eventjini.com. For details, call 96771 72897.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Raveena Joseph / Chenai – March 24th, 2016

IAS officer Bahadur to join as World Bank advisor

Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Lucknow:

Senior IAS officer, Rakesh Bahadur, will soon join the World Bank as its advisor.

Rakesh Bahadur, who is also the president of UP IAS Association, is posted at Investment Commission in Delhi. Earlier, he was principal secretary to the CM.

Chosen by the World Bank to head its affordable housing section, Bahadur will take up the new assignment in May.

Confirming it to the TOI, Rakesh Bahadur said he would supervise construction of houses under the affordable category in Brazil and Turkey, where the World Bank is working at a very large scale.

Bahadur said that the low cost houses is the pressing need for majority of Indians, and if Government of India coordinates with the World Bank, he would certainly like to contribute for his country.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / March 23rd, 2016