Category Archives: Nri’s / Pio’s

UPSC Lucknow topper quits US government job to serve nation

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's
Niharika Bhatt with her family on Saturday.
Niharika Bhatt with her family on Saturday.

Lucknow :

Aspiring for a career in civil services, Niharika Bhatt—UPSC all India rank 146— returned to India in May 2014 after quitting a US government job in Washington DC and what better reward than hitting the jackpot in her maiden attempt. Apparently, her first question in the UPSC interview was what made her quit the job and return to India and pursue civil services.

Niharika is daughter of a doctor father and mother is a home-maker. After finishing her electronics and instrumentation engineering from Lucknow’s Institute of Engineering and Technology, she pursued MTech from University of Michigan. “I then took up job of a researcher in department of food and drug administration (FDA) of the US government. Here, I worked for one-and-a-half year on how nano particles impacted human health,” Niharika told TOI.

“During my US government service, I travelled to China. It was then I realised the biggest impact I can make on the society is being a part of the government machinery. And then it struck me, why US and not my own country…India is a growing power, after all and I must help my country move forward” said Niharika, adding that the job of a civil servant is the most prestigious, challenging and diverse.

“It not only gives chance to serve people but also helps understand issues and problems of people. With this thought, I decided to quit the job and returned to India to prepare in May 2014,” she said.

She settled in Delhi where she didn’t attend a classroom coaching and instead studied Sociology—her optional subject in UPSC Mains—on her own. “I only joined the mock tests. During my stay in Delhi, I was cut off from everybody. Except my parents, no one in the family had my phone number,” she said.

Niharika put in 10-12 hours of self-studies daily and made efficient use of internet to understand current issues. For instance, when she read about sanitation drive taken by the government, she consolidated all data such as on sanitation schemes of different governments.

In her interview, she was asked about role of khap panchayats, to which she said, there is good khap and bad khap. The positive side is it held reduce conflicts in societies. The negative side is it takes extra-judicial decisions leading to killings, which should be curtailed.

Since interviews were conducted just before PM Narendra Modi was about to visit China, she was also asked on what should be the priorities of the Modi-led government vis-a-vis China. “Trade deficit was undoubtedly priority number one followed by security issues,” she said was her reply.

Being a women aspirant, she was also questioned on recommendations made by Justice Verma committee, set up after Nirbhaya incident, to recommend amendments to Criminal Law so as to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault against women.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Isha Jain, TNN / July 05th, 2015

Lucknow University and Lucknow sub-chapter of TiE organise ‘My Story’

Business & Economy, Education, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinion
(L-R) Simran Sahni, Rajesh Ramchandani and AK Mathur
(L-R) Simran Sahni, Rajesh Ramchandani and AK Mathur

The Department of Business Administration, LU, along with the Lucknow sub-chapter of TiE, an association of entrepreneurs, organised a seminar for college as well as school students, and budding entrepreneurs.

Titled, ‘My Story’, the event saw two successful entrepreneurs of the city, Rajesh Ramchandani and Pankaj Agarwal, addressing the gathering and sharing with them their journeys.

While Pankaj spoke about his experiences in the education sector, Rajesh narrated his remarkable journey from a small town boy to a globe-trotting industrialist. The speeches had their share of emotional as well as humorous moments, and were thoroughly appreciated by the audience.

The objective of the event was to inspire management students to take to entrepreneurship rather than pursue the time-honoured goal of getting a ‘good job’.

The event was well attended by students from LUMBA and other management institutes, as well as by members of Lucknow Management Association’s Young Managers Forum.

Sachin Sahni, member of TiE took care of the proceedings along with Khushal Bhargava. Prof Medhavi, the Head of the Department of Business Administration of Lucknow University also addressed the audience.

The event concluded with the students of a city school giving a presentation on entrepreneurship, led by their principal Dr Manjula Goswami.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Saloni Tandon, TNN / March 12th, 2015

NRI trio brings hope of good health to UP

Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Lucknow :

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will sign an MoU with a US-based group to set up a healthcare infrastructure in the state under SVADESH (Silicon Valley and Avadh’s Development for Entrepreneurial Services for Humanity) an investment initiative by NRIs and also a way to bring East and West together.

SVADESH is the brainchild of three non-resident Indians, including sisters Dr Nandini and Priya Tandon from UP, and Dr B R Shetty, based in Abu Dhabi.

Investing in UP is like a “homecoming” for the sister duo. The hospital they own and run in Silicon Valley has made its standing among the best healthcare institutes. “Our mother wanted us to make a similar hospital in UP,” said Dr Nandini Tandon.

The Tandon sisters are set to invest more than a billion dollar in UP to develop a “teaching hospital”, an integrated healthcare system. “The eye hospital in Sitapur was set up by our great grandfather. My father is from Agra and we have relatives and friends across UP,” said Dr Nandini.

The Tandon family has been living in US since early 80s. “I did my schooling, my undergraduate and PhD from there,” said Dr Nandini. The two said they also wanted to invest in UP.

SVADESH aims at skill development and job creation, as also to bring Silicon Valley entrepreneurship to UP. “People would not need job when they set up their enterprise,” said Dr Nandini. The three NRIs wish to set up a multi-facility hospital and institute in UP patient care and research.

“We shared the aims of SVADESH with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav,” said Dr Nandini, adding that the group wants a big chunk of land at one place and expects UP government to help find it.

NRIs of UP origin can invest in their home state as the state government is eager to attract investment from them. NRI department created for the purpose has got its first investors in the Tandon sisters.

UP government will help the group obtain necessary permisisons/registrations/approvals/clearances as per existing facilities and rules and regulations of the Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) and would also help them avail incentives under various schemes announced by state/Central government, wherever applicable.

GoUP has also thought of appointing a brand ambassador of UP to attract investment from US, especially from California, from US companies and NRI at large. The MoU is valid for 3 years.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Neha Shukla, TNN / December 21st, 2014

Sufi music, poetry inspires this Kathak dancer

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's

Bareilly :

After touring Europe and America, US-based Indian dancer Aastha Dixit, who plans to take a distinct Sufi style of Kathak across the world, visited the dargah Khanqah-e-Niyaziya recently.

Her love for Sufism and admiration for the medieval Persian poet Amir Khusru brought the Kathak exponent to the dargah, which is looked after by descendants of the great Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti of Ajmer Sharif.

Dixit has her own ballet group in US, and she plans to perform and showcase her unique style of dance with the group.

Dixit learnt Kathak under Malti Shyam of the Lucknow gharana, a disciple Pandit Birju Maharaj. She has been practising and performing the art form for more than 15 years.

“Over the last five years, I have been drawn to the Sufi style of music, poetry and expression of Amir Khusru, whose shayari, raag and taal provided an instant bonding with the occult,” Dixit said in conversation with TOI here on Monday.

She said raag-based compositions sung in the Sufi style, along with thumris now hold a huge attraction for her. Amir Khusru’s style explores the feminine side and is rendered in all dialects including Braj Bhasha, which is why it appeals to the masses, she said.

It was her interest in Sufism that brought her to Khanqah-e-Niyaziya, she said. After visiting the Dargah and meeting the head of the Khanqah, the dancer said her interest and desire to learn more about Sufism has only deepened. “This visit has strengthened my bond with Sufism. During my performances, I rope in dancers who can present the Dervish (saint) aspect of this cult with ease,” she said.

The dancer plans to perform at Dargah Khanqah-e-Niyaziya some time in February next year, during the annual Urs. The Sajjadanasheen (leader) of the dargah, Shabbo Mian, said it would be a good way to bring art and spirituality together.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bareilly / by Mrigank Tiwari / September 23rd, 2014

G.B. Pant University honors U.S. Chief Agricultural Negotiator Ambassador Islam A. Siddiqui

Agriculture, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, today honored its former student, United States Chief Agricultural Negotiator Ambassador Islam A. Siddiqui, with an honorary degree of Doctor of Science. The degree was conferred upon Ambassador Siddiqui in recognition of his contributions to agricultural research and development, as well as agricultural trade policy development and his work’s influence on world agriculture.

“I feel humbled and honored at the same time to be receiving this honorary degree of Doctor of Science. Thousands of agricultural scientists, engineers, and veterinarians graduating from Pantnagar and sister universities provided the foot soldiers to make the Green Revolution a reality. This massive technology transfer of modern agricultural practices – combining education, research, and extension — turned India from a net food importing country to a food exporting nation. As a student of the first batch of this great institution when it opened its doors 51 years ago, I had not imagined in my wildest dreams that one day I would receive this prestigious award.”

Ambassador Siddiqui was born in Haldwani, Uttar Pradesh and attended G.B. Pant University before taking a scholarship at the University of Illinois in the United States. Throughout his career, he has advocated for international cooperation, technology transfer, capacity building, and new technology development to achieve food security in the 21st century.

source: http://www.newdelhi.usembassy.gov / Embassy of the United States, New Delhi, India / Home> News & Events> Press Releases / New Delhi – May 20th, 2011