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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

India’s first Elephant ambulance bringing Mia and Sita, the female jumbos rescued from Tamil Nadu circus,to Mathura.

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All, Travel

Agra :

After spending decades in the circus, Mia and Sita were rescued by wildlife SOS under their circus elephant rescue mission, coordinated by union government, on Sunday. The two female jumbos are currently traveling in India’s first modern custom designed elephant ambulance and will be sent to Elephant Conservation & Care Center in Mathura.

The female elephants, “Mia” and “Sita” are the 6th and 7th circus elephants to be rescued in the year since the Centre has teamed up with animal rescue organization Wildlife SOS to rescue captive elephants being illegally used for circus performances, as part of its project to check maltreatment of wild animals. Wildlife SOS was instrumental in the release of Raju, the elephant who cried after being released from a life of chains after 50 years, and has collaborated with the government against the practice of using bears for dance performances. The organization is partner with the government to save 67 captive elephants from across the country, starting with 17 in the first phase that started in November, 2014.

This rescue also marks the inaugural trip of the Wildlife SOS’s new elephant ambulance – the first modern elephant ambulance in India with automatic electric hydraulic ramp, showers, dual power supply, dedicated room for the veterinary team with washing and treatment preparation area. This vehicle was designed to make transporting rescued elephants safer and more comfortable for the elephants.

Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder of Wildlife SOS, said, “With the addition of Mia and Sita to the herd, we have now rescued more than 10% of all the elephants that remained in India’s circuses when our circus elephant campaign began about one year ago. We are proud of this progress, but are committed to see this campaign through to the end, when we can say that no more elephants are suffering in India’s circuses.”

Earlier rescue operations required Wildlife SOS to hire trucks that were not specially equipped to deal with elephant rescues which made transport unsafe, challenging and inefficient.

Shreekant Upadhyay, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, UPFD said, “I am very happy that Wildlife SOS’s dedicated team is travelling across India to Tamil Nadu to save these elephants. Our Forest department congratulates Wildlife SOS with the success of this operation. ”

Initiatives to protect the elephant are not recent. In 1992, the ministry of environment and forests launched Project Elephant, designed to help elephants both wild and captive. In 1998, the central ministry banned the use of wild animals like tigers, bears, leopards, lions and monkeys in circuses. The elephant joined that list recently. The Animal Welfare Board of India has issued show-cause notices to circuses found lacking in animal welfare and documented maltreatment of elephants.

Both Mia and Sita, in their 50s will reach to elephant care and conservation centre Mathura on Wednesday. While Mia, the more spirited of the two, is developing a cataract in her eyes. She has significant, painful inflammation in both hind feet, as well as abscesses in her toenails – all of which contribute to making her gait severely abnormal.

Sita, the one who is more mild and mannered is also no less in need of veterinary intervention. Her right front leg never healed properly from an old fracture and is fused so she cannot bend it. Her left front leg is hyper extended, putting pressure on her foot, which has led to nail cracks and abscesses. Because of these problems, she has likely not been able to lie down and rest properly in more than a year.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Environment> Flora & Fauna / by Ishita Mishra, TNN / November 23rd, 2015