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Exploration to ascertain ancient course of Ganga

Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All

Allahabad :

What was the course of river Ganga thousands of years ago? Was there a communication link between the Indus Valley Civilisation and Gangetic belt? In an attempt to find answers to questions like these, Allahabad Museum would carry out exploration at the 20-kilometre tract of land between Allahabad-Varanasi after the monsoon.

Earlier, discovery of fossils and tools at the Gangetic plain had revealed existence of habitat prevalent in the neolithic age. Experts claimed that the exploration is expected to detect the deposits that the shrinking river left thousands of years ago. This in turn would help find places where early civilization used to live at the banks of the river.

Several scholars and archaeologists would be participating in the exploration which is expected to be conducted with the help of satellite mapping and coordination from India Space Research Organization (ISRO).

“The stretch of land covering the two civilizations has been a subject of curiosity for excavators and archaeologists as the cultural resemblance between the two societies has till now not been identified. We would be focusing on exploring whether there existed any communication link between the two cultures,” said Allahabad Museum director Rajesh Purohit.

The exploration which was conceptualized last year is slated to start after the rainy season when the upper crust of the land softens, making it easy for explorers to execute the job.

The teams which would be taking part in the explorations include assistant curators and archaeologists Dr Sunil Gupta, Arun Wankhade and Dr Sriranjan Shukla along with the director.

“The stretch between Uttar Pradesh and Balochistan has always drawn the curiosity of archaeologists who are still studying about the root cause of differences between the two societies,” added Purohit. At present, paper work to seek permission from Archaeological Survey of India is being completed.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanal, TNN / June 04th, 2014

Three girls share top honours in city

Education, Records, All

Allahabad :

Three girls shared the top position in the city in the UP Board high school exam, results of which was declared on Friday. Smita Singh of St Anthony Girl’s Inter College along with Sakshi Pandey and Viplaw Yadav of Brij Bihari Inter College secured 94.83%.

With Kalpana Chawla and A P J Abdul Kalam emerging as the foremost role model for city toppers in high school examination this year, the message was clear that selfless service was the key to achievements and winning admirers across the globe.

Sharing her success mantra with TOI, one of the three toppers from the city, Smita Singh said, “One should be honest in his or her endeavours in any field to court success. However, one must not forget that at least 6 to 7 hours of round the year regular studies can fetch you top rankings in the exam.”

Daughter of a section officer of Utter Pradesh Public Service Commission, Smita aspires to become a successful surgeon after completing MBBS from a prestigious medical college. Giving credit for success to her parents who always remained by her side to provide the much needed guidance, the topper said: “Just like Kalpana Chawla students should be creative and focused in their studies.”

Hailing from a modest background Viplaw Yadav, daughter of primary teacher at Phaphamu, aspires to be an IAS. Pledging to follow former president’s footsteps, Viplaw said “I also want to become a renowned scientist like Prof Kalam and take my country to the pinnacle of glory in the field of science and technology”.

Similarly, Sakshi Pandey has no words to express the contribution of her parents who worked tirelessly to ensure quality education to their children.

Ishika Singh of St Anthony Girl’s Inter College and Prajjwal Saxena of SBM Intermediate College, Naini jointly stood second with 94.67% while Ashwani Singh also of SBM Intermediate College secured 94.50% to bag third position.

The fourth ranker was Preeti Yadav, 94%, Vijay Shankar Patel bagged fifth position by securing 93.50%, Jyotika Agarwal was sixth with 93.50%.

Shalini Singh and Neha Yadav shared the seventh spot with 93%, Komal Prajapati, Sanjana, Sadaf Bano, Swati Singh all bagged eighth position by securing 92.83%. Similarly, Sachin Tewari and Sheelu Singh shared ninth spot with 92.67% and 10 position spot was bagged by Shivam Singh who secured 92.50%.

Trans-Yamuna, trans-Ganga regions perform better

This year schools situated in the blocks of trans-Yamuna and trans-Ganga regions have churned out majority of city top 10 rankers. Barring St Anthony’s Inter College and Brij Bihari Sahai School, others belong to remote areas of Meja, Karchana, Naini and Amilo Deeha.

source:  http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanna, TNN / May 30th, 2014

‘Moksha’ is everything in city of Kashi

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Travel
'Moksha' is everything in city of Kashi
‘Moksha’ is everything in city of Kashi

The two-storied hospice ‘Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan’ hosts the elderly who wish to spend their last days in the search for spiritual liberation.

Shanti Devi, 85, lies wrapped in bed sheet in one of the 10 rooms of the temple-cum-building. Her corner room, lit with incense sticks, is next to a small temple inside the premises, which is most active at the time of dusk and dawn.

Devi, who travelled all the way from Newada in Bihar, mostly chants mantras near her room’s window. A priest, one appointed for every patient, comes regularly in her room to check in on her.

Barely able to speak with her tooth-less mouth, Devi says, “I become restless with the passing of every hour. My family is here who are helping me gain Moksha and I do not want to disappoint them. I know Kashi will take me inside her peacefully.”

Established by the Dalmiya Charitable Trust in 1958, the Bhawan does not charge anything from the people who come here for a purpose.

The trust bears all the expenses from the stay in the house, to all the rituals of the day, to the cremation after “the soul leaves the body.”

“This is a holy place, and charging money means we are into a business. We do not want to be labelled that way. Our Trust bears all the expenses from food to rituals because we believe in providing spiritual satisfaction,” says 60-year-old Bhairava Nath Shukla, says the Bhawan’s manager.

“Not only India, but devotees from England, Japan and Mauritius have spent time in our shelter to understand the concept of Moksha, life and death,” adds Shukla.

Varanasi is famously known for being the ‘religious capital of India’ where thousands come for various spiritual purposes. Some come for the last rites, some to conduct their new born’s’ birth ceremony and some, to die peacefully.

“People who are about to die or are on death bed, and believe in ‘Moksha’ come to this house for spiritual satisfaction. And Kashi is one such place where attaining Moksha is easy,” says Sukhla.

“This spiritual house had been serving the old for the last 45 years,” he says.

Before being given a room, the priests assess the health and life expectancy of patients.

If the patient fails to die within 15-20 days or so even after days of ‘Yagya’ and ‘Tapasya’, the stay is extended for few days.

“In most of our cases, the patient attains moksha. Till now there have not been a single case where the patient had to go back,” says the manager.

For Shanti Devi “it will be unfortunate if at this age” she fails to attain Moksha. She still has 15 days left with her.

Her family members feel that it is not the matter of “life or death, but that she must attain what she came for.”

“I want my mother to attain what she came for. I want her to end her journey peacefully no matter how much time she takes,” says Devi’s son.

Nearly a half kilometre from the Bhawan, on the banks of river Ganga, falls the primary and most sacred cremation ghat in Varanasi, Manikarnika Ghat.

When the soul leaves the material body, it is tightly wrapped in a white cloth on a slim bamboo cot, as per Hindu tradition says a priest at the Ghat.

About 32,000 bodies are cremated here every year, he points out.

“Earlier women were not allowed here to see or participate in the cremation. But nowadays women are seen here,” he says.

Shukla feels that there is nothing “horrific” about the place. The house, instead, must be seen as “a road to heaven”.

“Most of the tourist come here because of the nature of the place. Because the uniqueness attracts them,” he says.

He feels that the process of ‘Moksha’ must be seen as “immortal soul changing bodies, similar to us changing clothes.”

(Agencies)

source: http://www.post.jagran.com / Post.Jagran.com / Post / Home> States News / by Jagran Post News – Jagran Post Editorial / June 02nd, 2014

Barabanki girls tops UP board exams

Education, Records, All

Lucknow / Allahabad : 

Like UP Board intermediate results, Barabanki students bagged the top honours in class X too, results of which were declared on Friday. 

Prerna Verma of Maharani Rani Laxmi Bai Inter College topped the class X UP Board exams scoring 98%. Arnav Nigam of Saraswati Vidya Mandir Barinath, Jaunpur, was second with 97.5% marks. Two girls – Himanshi Parmar of Thakuar Abhilash Singh Inter College, Saharanpur, and Sarita Chaurasia of Sri Sai Inter College, Barabanki was joint third with 97.3% marks. 

“I was expecting good marks but never thought I would top the state. I came to know about the results from news channel reporters when they called me for the interview. I’m on cloud nine,” said Prerna, who hails from a humble family. Prerna’s father was a para-medical worker but lost his job 10 yeas ago. Thereafter, her mother took up a job at a primary school to earn the livelihood for the family. 

Prerna’s brother, Kumar Ashok, said, “It’s a big day for us. She (Prerna) has made us all proud. We knew that she will score high marks but never of this day.” Prerna aspires to become an IAS officer. 

Overall, 86.71% students – highest in five years – passed the exam. The pass percentage was 86.6% last year. Girls outdid boys with an impressive pass percentage of 90.8 against boys’ 83.2%. 

This year, there was a significant drop in the pass percentage in government schools, falling to 81.2% from 85.4% last year. In government- aided schools too, the pass percentage dipped to 84.8% from 86.3% last year. Private schools recorded a pass percentage of 86.3%. 

A total of 33.3 lakh candidates appeared in the high school examinations — 18.2 lakh boys and 15.1 lakh girls, said director, secondary education, Shail Kumari Yadav

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / May 31st, 2014