Category Archives: Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Lucknow girl’s trip to highest lake fetches her a national record

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, Travel
Vartika is the first woman biker to reach Tsa Lhamo, which is the highest lake in India

Lucknow :

It was her passion and the desire to make a name for herself while pursuing it that 27-year-old Vartika Jain Srivastava put her motorbike in full throttle, felt the wind in her hair, meandered through rough roads and became the ‘first woman biker’ to reach the highest lake in the country, Tsa Lhamo, also called the Cholamu lake, in North Sikkim.

For her feat, the young woman has booked herself a place in the Limca Book of Records. While she made the trip between May 3-13, 2016, it was on Friday that the Limca book certified her national record.

As she covered over 2,616 kilometre from Lucknow to the lake situated at a height of 5,330 metre (17,490 feet) in less than 10 days, Vartika was accompanied by three close companions. Her husband Ambar, their friend Atul Ghosh and Vartika’s younger brother Pratyaksh, all of whom were also featured as the first group to reach the highest lake on a continuous bike journey in Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records. Additionally Pratyaksh, at 20, became the youngest male rider for the same in the two books.

“It took me three months to get permission for the lake which is under the Army and cannot be accessed by civilians otherwise. Once I made it to the lake, the view was mesmerising. The water is in shades of green, blue and even purple with frozen edges, ice-capped mountains on one end and clean sand spread over acres on the other. The oxygen levels are low so we had to be quick,” she said.

Recalling the most difficult part of the journey, Vartika said, “Lachen is about 55 kilometre from the lake but it took us almost five to six hours to get there because of the bad roads. The end made it worth it all.” Starting as a rider only in 2007 when her husband, who was a friend back then, pushed her to learn riding, Vartika hasn’t looked back. She was the winner in the women’s open motocross category in Lucknow first motorsports contest held in April, 2016. She has also been featured in the Asia as well as India books of record.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News> Lucknow Girl / by Yusra Husain, TNN / January 28th, 2017

Women pilot Lucknow’s first Metro run

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

Lucknow :

When the Lucknow Metro first chugged down the elevated corridor on Kanpur Road for trials on Thursday, it became a matter of pride for Lucknowites to see two women piloting the train on the priority section.

It is a conscious decision by the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) to give the opportunity to women so that they get a chance to prove their mettle before public in handling high-tech Metro trains.

“We have chosen two women operators to drive the Metro train before the CM and public for the first time. Our women train operators are so confident and excited to drive it that they wished to take lead in the trials. They have undergone rigorous training, both at the Centre of Excellence of LMRC and hands-on training at the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation,” LMRC MD Kumar Keshav told TOI.

He added that “LMRC is a progressive and coherent organization which believes in giving opportunities to both boys and girls”.

With this, Lucknow becomes the first city in the country where women operators commence Metro trials.

The two women taking the lead are Pratibha and Prachi Sharma, both from Allahabad. Pratibha has done B Tech in electronics and communication engineering from SRMSCET, Bareilly while Prachi did her diploma in electrical engineering from IERT, Allahabad. Both joined LMRC as station controller-cum-train operators on June 9.

The decision is a welcome break from the tradition as train operators’ job is generally considered a male preserve. There were a total of 97 vacancies for train operators’ job in Lucknow Metro, for which 3,827 applications had poured in from women candidates. This is 19% of the total applications LMRC received for the job. LMRC was in for a surprise to get an overwhelming response from the state’s women for heavy-duty technical jobs.

LMRC recruited a total of 21 women station controller-cum-train operators as a part of UP government’s 20% horizontal reservation policy for women in government jobs. Except for Chennai, most of the other cities with metro train systems have just 1-2% women operators. Even the Delhi Metro has only three-four women operators driving trains.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /News> City News> Lucknow News / by Priyanka Singh / TNN / December 01st, 2016

Kumbh’s ‘lost-and-found’ baba passes away

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Travel

KumbhLostnFoundBabaLUCKNOW22aug2016

Allahabad :

Raja Ram Tiwari or ‘Bhule Bhatke Walon ke Baba’, known to the world as the one who ran ‘lost and found camp’ on the banks of the Sangam during Kumbh and Magh Melas for the past 71 years, died here on Saturday. He was 88. Tiwari, according to a conservative estimate, united over 14 lakh adults and around 21,000 children with their families during his self-less service spreading over seven decades. His latest passion was cleaning the Ganga.

“Babuji initiated his new venture, that of undertaking massive cleaning work of Ganga from Purnima (full moon) of April and wanted to do the same on every Purnima, but could not do much,” said Umesh Tiwari, youngest among his four sons. Raja Rama has left behind a family of 28 members including 20 grandchildren and his wife Shanti Devi (85 yrs) who lives in his native village of Gura Pure Badal of Nandu Ka Pura, Raniganj Tehsil of Pratapgrah district.

Starting the noble cause at the age of 18 along with his nine associates (in 1946), Raja Ram continued his work relentlessly for the past 71 years, starting from a handmade crude loudspeaker to a full-fledged camp having a strong team of over 150 volunteers during the previous Kumbh Mela in 2013.

When asked how his work will move forward, his long-term associate Pushkar Upadhayay said, “Such selfless service cannot stop after the demise of a person, especially the one who started it. No doubt we will miss his guidance in running the camp, but at any cost his name and work would continue, with more passion and commitment.”

Although the iconic man earned several awards and citations, including being featured in TV programme Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi (broadcast on October 15, 2015), his family members feel that his services were not recognized by the Central government.

As his body was brought from his native village to his house at Om Gayatri Nagar colony of the city, several senior officials of the district administration and prominent citizens visited his house to pay their last respect.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani / TNN / August 22nd, 2016

At 90, Allahabad’s sole freedom fighter readies to blow Nehru-gifted bugle again

Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
Bhagwat Prasad Bhartiya will blow the simple brass bugle Pt Jawaharlal Nehru gifted him. (HT Photo)
Bhagwat Prasad Bhartiya will blow the simple brass bugle Pt Jawaharlal Nehru gifted him. (HT Photo)

The old man’s hands tremble when he holds the bugle with his shrivelled hands, but the musical blow continues to bear a steady air of pride.

No official function with a patriotic theme is complete in Allahabad without Bhagwat Prasad Bhartiya. Braving the vagaries of age and weather, the 90-year-old freedom fighter is once again readying to blow the simple brass instrument he received as a gift from Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. For, Monday is the country’s 70th Independence Day.

The nonagenarian was 15 years old—and extremely thrilled—when he received the bugle from the freedom-fighter stalwart who was to become independent India’s first prime minister. Nehru gave him the instrument on his birthday at the family’s famed residence Anand Bhavan on November 14, 1941.

Since then, Bhartiya has been blowing the bugle. Initially, it was to rouse freedom fighters. Post 1947, he blew it to remind his compatriots of the great sacrifices made to win freedom.

“I started visiting Anand Bhavan as a kid. Out of curiosity,” he winds back. “I would accompany my classmate, whose father was a gardener there.”

The two-storey mansion with a dome, constructed in the 1930s by Jawaharlal’s father Pt Motilal Nehru who was a lawyer and leader, was a vital centre for the fight for Independence.

“That provided me opportunities to meet national leaders and listen to their inspirational speeches,” recalls Bhartiya at his home in Ashok Nagar. “They encouraged me to take part in social activities and rallies—all aimed at winning freedom.”

(HT Photo)
(HT Photo)

Pleased with the boy’s commitment to the cause of an Independent India, Nehru, then 37, presented Bhartiya with the bugle in the presence of national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Vijay Laxmi Pandit and Chunnan Guru (Chandra Mohiley).

“That was a great moment for me,” Bhartiya notes. “Nehruji chose me among other five youngsters for blowing the bugle during rallies.”

The aim was to spread anti-imperialistic messages such as ‘Bharat Bachao, Angrez Bhagao’, ‘Apne Desh Mein Apna Raaz’ and ‘Sab Ek Samaan’.

“For doing that, I was sent to Malaka jail (located in the premises where now SRN Hospital stands),” says Bhartiya. “I was kept there for a few months for participating in a mass rally taken out in Civil Lines in support of Quit India Movement of 1942.”

Since then, Bhartiya has kept blowing the bugle on momentous days in his country’s calendar: Republic Day, Independence Day and Children’s Day, besides at functions of patriotic fervour.

This year, too, will be no different even after over 75 years.

The old freedom fighter, though, is sad about one thing. Neither the district administration nor the state government has come forward to provide financial assistance the Sangam City’s only surviving freedom fighter.

“In 1978, I requested (late prime minister) Indira Gandhi for monetary help. That proved to be in vain,” Bhartiya says.

Even as recently as in February this year, he wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee for pension. The letter was forwarded to the district magistrate office through the state government and he was asked to approach the official with documents. “I have not been able to meet him,” adds Bhartiya.

His two sons work as newspaper hawkers to earn a living for the seven-member family.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / by Rajesh Srivastava, Hindustan Times,Allahabad / August 14th, 2016

Indian teen from LA gives self-defence training to Bareilly girl dropouts

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Sports

Bareilly:

When an assailant grasped the hand of Taravati (who uses only her first name), the young girl twisted his arm and pushed him away, and then kicked him. Taravati, a class XII student, received appreciation from other girls and even from the assailant for her defensive skills.

Taravati is one of the 50 girls of Dhaneli village under Meerganj tehsil of Bareilly district who were briefly forced to discontinue studies due to continuous harassment by a group of youths on the way to school. They resumed studies only after police increased security in the area.

However, when Pooja Nagpal, 18, a Los Angeles resident and second-degree black belt in taekwondo, read the TOI report on the incident, she decided to visit Dhaneli to give the girls some handy self-defence tips.

“After I read the TOI report, I felt bad for the girls. I decided to visit this village to make them confident so they can take on the assailants on their own in future,” the teenager said. Nagpal has been learning different forms of martial arts since she was 12 and has been running her own organisation: For a Change — Defence.

“The Nirbhaya gangrape case really touched me and I decided to train girls in India during my summer vacation. I have conducted workshops for girls in remote areas of Himachal Pradesh and orphanages in Delhi and Chandigarh. I was teaching at a school for the visually impaired in Chandigarh when I read about the these school girls and came here,” she said.

Her father, college teacher Pawan Nagpal, “When she said she wanted to visit Bareilly, my friends told me the place is not safe. I was reluctant to come here but she had made up her mind. It was a proud moment to train these girls.”

On Friday, Pooja trained 50 girls from Dhaneli and another 150 from neighbouring villages at Dunka Inter College, nearly 40 km from Bareilly. “The girls were initially shy and kept on saying that they will not be able to punch hard. However, after a few rounds, they opened up and quickly learned a few defensive techniques. I wish I had more time to teach them but my college starts this month,” said Pooja, who will now study electrical engineering and computer science at University of California, Berkeley.

Devwati (who uses only her first name), a class XII said, “The workshop was very informative. If anybody tries to harass me, I now know how to teach him a lesson.”

Nikita Soman, from class XI, said that she will keep practising the techniques and teach other girls in her neighbourhood.

Principal of the school, Vinod Kumar said, “We will make sure the girls continue to practice these defensive skills in their games period.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bareilly / by Priyangi Agarwal / TNN / August 12th, 2016

Tourist spot to glorify Kakori train action

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel

KakoraTrainActionLUCKNOW12aug2016

Lucknow:

Kakori Train Action Smarak will be developed as a tourist place with auditorium, library and cafeteria on a PPP (public-private partnership) model.

District Tourism Promotion Parishad has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for development of Kakori Smarak and work will begin in October 2016 to be completed by March 2017.

District magistrate Raj Shekhar said, “Lucknow district administration has submitted a proposal of nearly Rs 4.5 crore to the tourism department for the overall development of the Kakori Smarak area as tourism destination.

“The proposed library at the Kakori Smarak will have most of the books dedicated to the freedom struggle, including the Kakori Train Action and other prominent historical incidents,” said the DM.

He added that apart from history books, literature pertaining to tourist places in Lucknow will also find place in the library.

The auditorium will be used for screening 10-minute documentary films in English and Hindi on Kakori Train Action showing the glorious revolutionaries of the freedom struggle.

Lucknow district administration is celebrating the ‘Festival of Freedom’ titled ‘Swadheenta Saptah’. In the celebrations there will be a series of eventsbased on freedom. The events began on Tuesday and will conclude on August 15.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 10th, 2016

Kanpur boy develops Web app, wins global competition

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Kanpur :

Simran Singh, a student of Class 12 of Sheiling House School, brought laurels to his parents and the institution by winning a global competition, ‘Imagine Cup-Earth’ which was conducted by Microsoft. Simran, who had been learning the basics of coding since 13 years of age, managed to design a web application (app) on algae named, ‘Project Vision’ which predicts algae levels and plots it in the form of an image on the desktop monitor or laptop screen.

Simran won the first prize in the competition and was awarded a cash prize of $3000 and a gift hamper. He also had the privilege of meeting Satya Nadella, CEO Microsoft at an event of the company in New Delhi on May 31 where he introduced his web app to him. Simran had never thought of that he would ever get a chance to meet CEO of Mircosoft and when he got a mail from Mircosoft in which he was apprised about his meeting with the top boss of Microsoft, the boy could not believe this. He even practised for days what to say upon meeting Microsoft CEO.

The school which earned a name because of Simran, ensured felicitating this meritorious boy in the morning assembly. The parents of Simran are an extremely delighted lot who see a bright career for their son in coming future. Simran is now both preparing for his Class XII board exams and JEE Mains scheduled to be held next year.

“One day in the month of October 2015, I got a mail from Microsoft in which there was a mention about the global competition named ‘Imagine Cup-Earth’. As I knew coding, I decided to take part in the event and informed my parents about it. Due to my exams, I had to leave the task of developing the app in the midway. It was just two days before the deadline that the app could be readied. Once it was ready, I gained confidence of winning this competition and this proved to be true”, said Simran while talking to TOI.

He mentioned that there was a requirement of developing the web application and posting its three images and a video along with the link to access it on given website address for taking part in the competition. He also said that the friends proved to be of a great help in developing the web application.

On being asked about what this web application can do, Simran said that this app can predict the level of algae in the sea by providing certain details such as weather, level of salt in the water etc.

“I was asked by Microsoft CEO during our meeting in Delhi on May 31 about the future use of this web application to which I had apprised him that this app could be integrated with the computerised machines that do weather forecast. Along with the weather forecast, the level of algae could also be known. I told Satya sir about the functioning of the app,” Simran said.

He added that the level of algae in sea has to be at optimum level. “If algae increases in water it prevents the sunlight from penetrating deep inside the sea and this is harmful for the aquatic life. If the level of algae decreases, it reduces the dissolved oxygen in water,” informed Simran while talking to TOI.

“It was wonderful meeting Satya sir. I had never thought of getting this moment in my life. The school also felicitated me during the morning assembly. My parents are a proud lot and now I look forward to pursue BTech in Computer Science engineering from renowned IIT next year for which my preparations are underway,” said Simran, whose parents own a business in Jawahar Nagar.

Simran’s parents Jaspal Singh and Harvinder Kaur and school principal, Vanita Mehrotra could not stop praising this meritorious boy on achieving this feat.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / by Abhinav Malhotra / TNN / August 06th, 2016

VC of UP Rajashri Tandon Open University honoured

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Allahabad :

Making the city and the institution proud, the vice-chancellor of Uttar Pradesh Rajashri Tandon Open University, Prof M P Dubey has been felicitated with the special ‘higher education leadership award. The award, conferred on Prof Dubey for his exemplary role in the field of higher education was given at the 7th World Education Summit 2016 which was supported by digital learning, Asia’s premier magazine on ICT for Education.

The summit, which concluded at Delhi on Saturday, aims to create a global knowledge sharing platform for thought leaders, policy makers, education leaders and industry leaders to initiate change in the entire education system. Earlier summits were held at Kuala Lampur, Singapore, Dubai, Colombo, Dhaka and New Delhi.

This felicitation is the recognition of the achievements of the UPRTOU in the field of ICT as with the aim to meet the challenges, this lone open university of the state has kept abreast the expanding frontiers of knowledge in different branches of learning, tried to prepare skilled and socially motivated human resources. The quest for quality and the concern for excellence in the academic sphere has been made sensitive to the countervailing need for assuring equity through special provisions and efforts to meaningfully help socially and academically underprivileged students, and fulfil the opportunity for higher learning.

As the University trains its teachers in modern pedagogy and updates their knowledge, they would be encouraged to use online material such as MOOCs and TED talks liberally. Mobile Apps developed by the university would make the system much more student friendly. It has implemented CBCS (choice based credit system) since July 2015 by restructuring and modernising all the syllabi.

Steps has been taken to raise the quality of administrative and financial management towards making the system ‘user’ friendly, time-conscious, cost-efficient, self-critical and team-work oriented, speedily responsive to problem situations, amenable to intervention-oriented monitoring and imbued with a positive work ethic. The accelerated automation and computerization of offices and administrative work has been of major help in this regard. The internal quality assurance cell has also been set up for the purpose of creating and maintaining quality and standard.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / Rajeev Mani / TNN / August 06th, 2016

Tiger Hill witness recalls day with cycle feat

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Lucknow:

Seventeen years after he witnessed the capture of the strategic Tiger Hill in the Kargil Conflict by his ‘Ghatak buddies’ of the 18 Grenadiers, retired Havaldar Santosh Kumar Jaiswal would attempt to create a record with his cycle covering 300 kilometres in 12 hours.

Elaborating, Jaiswal said, “I would be attempting to create a new record with an Indian gearless non-racing cycle.” His cycle is five-years-old and he is being backed by local clubs in his endeavour.

“In order to give it a look of a racing cycle, I have removed both the mudguards,” said Jaiswal. Khel Khiladi Utthaan and Champions Cycling Club is extending support to Santosh in his attempt to make the new record.

Settled in Lucknow after taking VRS from the Army, Santosh works at the UP Bhootpoorv Sainik Kalyan Nigam. On the reason for opting July 26 as the day for attempting the record, the former soldier of the 18 Grenadier said, “Initially, it was planned for July 24. But, I insisted that the event could be extended by a couple of days, and could coincide with Kargil Vijay Diwas (July 26).”

The former Grenadier said if he succeeded in his attempt, he would dedicate it to his friends in 18 Grenadiers general and the members of Ghatak platoon (which captured Tiger Hill).

Recalling the capture of Tiger Hills, he said, “Ghatak platoon attacked the Tiger Hill while I was in the reserve with the Charlie company. It was Grenadier Yoginder Singh Yadav who with his sheer grit and courage helped the Army capture the strategic post.” Yadav was later awarded Param Vir Chakra.

In a first-hand account of the capture of Tiger Hill given by then Chief of Army Staff General VP Malik (published on the official website of Ministry of External Affairs), the assault began at 7.00pm on July 3, 1999 with direct and indirect firing by artillery. It was a multidirectional infantry assault. 8 Sikh provided the firm base and engaged the enemy from ‘obvious’ approaches as part of a deception plan. 18 Grenadiers moved towards the objective from the South and North East. The weather assisted the battalions in achieving surprise. Lieutenant Balwan Singh led the Ghatak Platoon (Commando) of 18 Grenadiers on the most difficult, North-Eastern approach.

His Platoon make use of the rope to reach the top of the Tiger Hill at 4.30am and totally surprised the enemy that had already suffered due to heavy artillery shelling and air attacks. In the ensuring hand-to-hand fighting, the enemy lost 10-12 personnel. 18 Grenadiers suffered six fatal casualties. Grenadier Yogendar Singh Yadav, who was in the lead on the rope, and wounded badly, earned India’s highest gallantry award of Param Vir Chakra.

The Ghatak platoon with some reinforcements firmed in on the Tiger Hill top, but throughout the day came under enemy fire from the Western Spur. This position (Western Spur) was cleared by a very gallant and highly motivated action by 8 Sikh on the night of July 4-5, 1999.

Santosh Kumar Jaiswal was enrolled in 18 Grenadiers on November 30, 1995 and took voluntary retirement from the Army on November 30, 2013.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / Arunav Sinha / TNN / July 26th, 2016

First centre for special kids opens in Allahabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Allahabad:

Cantonment board opened Udaan, a school for special children, on Monday.

The school was inaugurated by General officer in Command (GOC), HQ Purva UP & MP Sub Area, Major General SK Singh.

Maj Gen Singh, who is also the president of the board, inaugurated the facility in the presence of chief executive officer of the board, Shalini Pandey, along with president of the AWWA (army women welfare association), Bala Singh and vice-president of the board, Arun Kumar Sonkar. A large number of parents of special children and their wards were also present at the event.

Shalini Pandey said that Udaan is the first centre for special children in Allahabad.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / July 19th, 2016