Family of city based government employee Prashant Singh couldn’t have asked for more when they won 22 awards under various categories at the annual flower show organized at the Raj Bhavan.
The awardees included his two daughters, eight-year-old Prashasti and four-year-old Prashansa. Prashant, his wife Swati, mother Uma Singh and daughters bagged eight first prizes, three second and 11 third prizes. The daughters won eight awards for flowers decoration, dry flower decoration, petal rangoli, bouquet arrangement and plant photography.
Along with the award for best lawn, kitchen garden and window decoration, the family bagged first prize for flower rangoli, flower arrangement (imagination), bouquet decoration, dry flower arrangement and plant photography.
“We decorated the garden and developed four corners showcasing different seasons. For winters we used blue and white streamers, carved figures of children from potted plants and placed them on a swing made up of plants too. For window decoration, our theme was ‘Open window to nature’ and we used a variety of plants and flowers,” said Swati.
Talking about their love for gardening and nature, Swati said the hobby was passed on from her mother-in-law to her and now to the third generation. The family has been participating in the annual show for the past 12 years. Along with them, 902 others participated in total 45 categories and displayed their love for nature during the event.
Hundreds of citizens visited with family and friends, clicked selfies with beautiful flowers and also learned about plants that devour toxins and leave the environment cleaner to breathe.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / TNN / February 27th, 2017
Excavation work underway in Sakatpur village ofSaharanpur district .(HT Photo)
A chance discovery of six copper axes and some pieces of pottery has spurred the Archaeological Survey of India into excavating a site in Sakatpur village of Rampur Maniharan area in Saharanpur district, in the hope of recovering more remains of an old civilization that once flourished in the doab (plains) of Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
A team of archaeologists began the excavation on Friday under the supervision of Dr Bhuvan Vikram, supervising archaeologist, ASI Agra Circle. Vikram, who believes that the excavation may unearth many interesting facts, said, “Excavation is a very slow process and we hope to find pottery and habitat deposition in the depths of the soil.”
Dr Vikram said that a chance discovery of six copper axes attracted the attention of historians and archaeologists towards this tiny village. Some labourers of a nearby brick kiln were digging to collect soil to manufacture bricks and they found six copper axes. They reported the matter to their owner and it was eventually reported to the ASI while passing through different routes. “It sounded interesting and we decided to excavate the land to ascertain the historical and archaeological significance of the region’, said Dr Vikram, who has been camping here to supervise the excavation.
He said the use of copper axes and the type of pottery found here was quite prevalent in the Ganga valley civilisation. Locals very often came across remains of pottery and other things in their fields.
Earlier, the ASI had excavated a site at Sinauli village on Baraut-Chaprauli Road and discovered graveyards and other archaeological remains, including stone jewellery and axes. The site is still an attraction for students of history and archaeology. The then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s daughter had also visited the site and collected inputs about it.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by S Raju, Meerut, Hindustan Times / February 26th, 2017
The smell of the mitti and some “purje-tight-kar-degi” Phogat-vibe channelling wrestlers. Khabar Lahariya in the front row at the Gosaiganj Nagar Mahadangal.
In its supreme takeover of box office record history, the movie Dangal has been an inspiration not just to those in Haryana, but to girls interested in wrestling elsewhere as well. It’s brought in excitement and a new wave of energy amongst the girls – and we witnessed it up close in Faizabad, in the pit and off it, in our chat with local contestants Shivangi and Anjali.
It’s the annual wrestling contest, with the no-nonsense title of ‘Mahadangal’, which is organised in Gosaiganj Nagar, Faizabad usually in the months of January and February. And it’s little wonder that this time, it’s open for girls who’d like to contest. Such as Shivangi from Gorakhpur and Anjali from Lucknow. We first see them somersaulting through the air and managing seemingly impossible manoeuvres, as we catch in on the vibe around that’s buzzing on about who’s got a better chance at winning the title, who’s going to get better at her game.
Shivangi. Photo Courtesy: Khabar Lahariya.
Shivangi, a national level player from Gorakhpur, oozes confidence. A wrestling pro, she tells us that she’s got some 70-odd medals lying around her house. Very matter-of-fact. “I have never lost a state level match”, she smiles, and adds, “Every contest I take part in, I win.” Shivangi spent years practicing in her village, which has nothing in the name of a proper wrestling ground, she tells us, but “there are always mats”. She got chosen for trials and is today undergoing more formal training. Her family, not a picture-perfect postcard in terms of initial support, has today come around what with having to make space for those 70-odd medals. She also trains younger girls now and not just in wrestling. Athletics, she tells us, is her other love.
Anjali. Photo Courtesy: Khabar Lahariya.
Anjali is the big city girl, and speaks of encouragement at home in a slightly better vein, but confesses that rewards can only be appreciated when they are seen. Like Shivangi, she is extremely confident about her wrestling career and its future. “I am doing quite well now. I am positive that if I continue like this, there will be bigger and better opportunities that will come my way.”
The organisers of the Mahadangal, Hanuman Prasad Soni and Surajbhan Singh, have no doubt factored in The Aamir Khan effect with this year’s contest. We hear about lucrative ticket prices – the sound of kaching! is blissful to everyone, after all – and hear them talk about positive channelling of youthful energy. Singh speaks of social bonding that comes alive during dangal time and adds the message, “There is such rampant alcoholism amongst the youth today. We sincerely hope that this inculcates in them, a healthy outlook to life.” Soni wants to do more for the sport and looks to the people of Faizabad and beyond to “take it to greater heights”. “This is our traditional sport, and we have it in us to do more for it.” We ask Singh about women participating and he nods, “Women are representing our country internationally in sports. They are protecting the nation’s borders. So why not here? That’s why we thought we should have them participate and fight. Women, they should be everywhere.” Amen.
This article was first published on Khabar Lahariya
source: http://www.theladiesfinger.com / The Ladies Finger / Home> Sports / by Khabar Lahariya / February 08th, 2017
Chahlari Ghat Bridge, UP’s longest over a river, has become a unlikely picnic spot, attracting families and youth to Sitapur and Bahraich, the two districts it connects
Chahlari (Sitapur / Bahraich):
For local residents, it isn’t a bridge too far.
Chahlari Ghat Bridge, UP’s longest over a river, has become an unlikely picnic spot, attracting families and youths to Sitapur and Bahraich, the two districts it connects.
The 3.26 km-long bridge is called the “mini Agra-Lucknow Expressway” by the people here. “That’s because it takes less than 10 minutes to drive over the stretch now …Earlier, someone travelling to the district (Bahraich) had to come via Mahmudabad, which took more than 90 minutes,” Vinay Mishra, the owner of a medical store, said.
“The bridge is being used by Samajwadi Party supporters to campaign for the candidate in Sevata and the word has spread,” said Akhilesh Bajpai, a businessman and social worker from Sevata.
Local candidate Shiv Kumar’s supporters started telling people to take a ride on the bridge for an Agra-Lucknow Expressway-like experience. Talking to TOI, a supporter, Ajay Singh, said, “Bridge saboot hai ki kaam hua hai … tabhi bolta hai. (The bridge is proof that work has been done, that’s why it speaks (for development).”
He said chief minister Akhilesh Yadav urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drive down the Agra-Lucknow Expressway to see the work done by his party was the cue. In one of his speeches, the CM, in fact, had said that if the PM used the Agra-Lucknow Expressway once even he would vote for the Samajwadi Party. “If the PM can’t take the expressway, he can come here,” said another supporter, Rajesh Kumar.
Word of mouth turned the place into a picnic spot. On hearing about the place, Vimal Maurya and his friend Kishor Prajapati visited the place on Valentine’s Day. “Hum Sidhauli se aa rahe hain … check karne ki jo bola hai woh sachh hai ya nahi (We have come from Sidhauli to check if what is being said is true),” said Vimal, who was impressed.
Mohammed Kamil and his family came from Biswa for the sunset. “This is beautiful… Though not comparable with the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, the locals may surely get a feel,” he said.
Clicking selfies and taking pictures of the place, Haroon Rasheed, a marketing executive for a Bahraich-based solar panel manufacturer, even walked up to the old pontoon bridge. “Pipay ka pul toh ab itihas hai.. isliye photo kheech rahe hain,” he said, adding that he loved the bridge because it had added Sitapur market to his area.
Before the bridge was built, one had to take a boat across the Ghaghra and Sharda rivers to reach the other end.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Shailvee Sharda / TNN / February 18th, 2017
A high-pitched battle between two female gladiators has brought Lucknow Cantonment in the limelight like never before.Samajwadi chhoti bahu Aparna Yadav is challenging sitting MLA Rita Bahuguna fielded by the BJP. In 2012, Rita won the seat contesting on a Congress ticket.
Of the 13 cantonment assembly seats in the country, six are in Uttar Pradesh.Apart from capital Lucknow, Meerut, Kanpur, Agra, Bareilly and Varanasi have a cantonment seat.
Going by election results since 1991, voters in most cantonment assembly seats have shown a preference towards BJP. However, in the 2007 assembly elections, BSP won Agra Cantt and Bareilly Cantt seats while BJP was able to capture the cantonment assembly seats of Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur and Meerut.
In the 2012 assembly polls, the BJP bastion of Lucknow Cantonment fell to the Congress, with Rita Bahuguna Joshi defeating three-time winner and sitting MLA Suresh Chandra Tiwari. Agra Cantt (SC) witnessed a BSP hat-trick, while Bareilly Cantt saw the advent of BJP for the first time.
However, the BJP continued its dominance in Meerut Cantt, winning it for the sixth time. Kanpur Cantt chose the party for the fifth time while Varanasi Cantt won it for the sixth time.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Arunav Sinha / TNN / February 19th, 2017
Gone are days when you have to keep a tab on your gas stove to save your foods from over cooking or burning. Now, just like a microwave, not only you will be able to set time of your gas stove, but can also keep the temperature under check — thanks to a ‘stove watcher’ developed by Class XI students Yash Bansal and Abiraam T.S of Dewan Public School here.
Their stove watcher is among 18 models chosen from nearly 500 models displayed by 450 schools at a national-level CBSE Science Exhibition in Delhi. Their model is also only one from Meerut to have made it to the list.
Taking about their feat, Yash, 17, said, “One day, my mother told me to keep a tab on the milk boiling on the gas stove, but I forgot and the vessel burnt. The idea to make a device to keep a check on the gas stove came to me from this incident. It took one month to complete the model, which is affordable and compatible with all gas stoves.”
The students have fitted a timer in the gas stove, which can be fixed to switch on the gas, thereafter it will be switched off automatically. Besides, a temperature sensor, which has been designed by them, can be fixed at the tip of the vessel to ensure that the food does not spill out or burnt in the process of cooking.
Geetika Gupta, science teacher and mentor of the project, said, “In the regional round, out of 300 schools, 18 were selected for the national level. At the national level, 18 schools were selected and awarded by CBSE. While the students received certificates, the school has been awarded Rs 3,000 cash prize. This is the second time in the past 10 years when our school has been selected in the national level CBSE science exhibition.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Meerut / by Ishita Bhatia / TNN / February 15th, 2017
Ritika Singh said, “I am enjoying the attention right now. I want to act in future too but I am a realist. I am prepared to get no work after this.”
Ritika Singh is being praised for her performance in her debut film “Saala Khadoos” but the boxer-actress says she doesn’t expect to be flooded with movie offers.
“I am enjoying the attention right now. It feels nice that people want to know about your work, your first film. I want to act in future too but I am a realist. I am prepared to get no work after this,” Ritika told PTI.
Also starring R Madhavan in the lead role, the sports movie released this Friday.
A professional boxer, Ritika says acting was never on her mind but the opportunity of working with Madhavan and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who has produced the film, was too big to let go.
“I never thought about acting. I felt I wouldn’t be able to do this. I don’t know how Maddy sir contacted me but when he narrated the story, I went into complete shock. My first reaction was ‘When are we starting it?’ A Rajkumar Hirani production and a co-star in Madhavan, you can’t let this go. Also it was giving me a chance to play a boxer on screen.”
Even though the film has hit screens, it still feels surreal to her that she has entered the industry and made friends with some influential people here.
Narrating one such incident, Ritika said, “One day I was at Raju sir’s home for a photoshoot. Maddy sir was also present. He, Raju sir, his wife all were sitting with me and talking their personal stuff..It didn’t feel real.”
Having finally been bitten by the acting bug, Ritika wants to do characters of substance and focus on strong scripts.
“I really want to act and act in great roles, which have scope of performance. I don’t want to do sing-and-dance routine. I believe script is the king so I would go for powerful stories,” she said.
The actress wants to juggle between her acting and boxing, and use her fame to help boxing gain more attention in the country.
“I have this ambition that when I become powerful and famous, I will host an event of boxing or kick-boxing which the entire nation watches. That way, this sport will gain attention. People will realise that there is a lot of talent in India.”
source:http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by PTI, New Delhi / January 30th, 2017
Though it has a big compound, the house of Tantya Tope—a leader of the first war of Independence in 1857—in Bithoor is located in a crowded locality near the famous Ganesh mandir and there is nothing outstanding about it. The compound of the brick-and-mortar building has been encroached and the descendants have been fighting a legal battle for ages for their removal. The house has only two remnants from that era—a well from where Tantya Tope drew water and the mud wall. The well has a cemented eddy and the wall is still strong.
Vinayat Rao Tope, fourth generation descendant of Tanya Tope,in Bithoor
None of the successive UP governments did anything for the family. Though the 400-page visitors’ register kept at the family’s museum in the front hall of the house is almost full, “No one has helped us,” said Vinayak Rao Tope, son of Tantya’s nephew, Narayan Rao Tope. The only honour the family keeps receiving is being invited at random events to be presented a shawl, he said, adding, “I was even called by Raj Bhawan for ‘poochh-taachh’ (enquiry) about my family background but nothing happened.”
“Modiji kehte hain na ki jiska ghar hai ussi ka rahega, is liye jo zabardasti ghus bhi gaye hain woh kab tak rahenge (We believe in what Modi says that house would always belong to the owner. Those who have entered forcefully will not live for long),” said the woman of the house, Vinayak Rao’s wife Sumati Tope about the encroachment. But asked if ‘Modiji’ or his party ever came calling, Sumati’s answer is “No”.
This fourth generation of Tantya Tope said they were indebted to “Laluji” (former railway minister and Bihar ex-CM Lalu Prasad Yadav). As railway minister in 2007 Lalu offered a job to Vinayak Rao Tope’s daughters in the container department of railways. “When Laluji came to our house, he saw the well and marvelled at its construction,” she said, adding, “We were called to Delhi too. Laluji got every fact about us verified before he gave my daughters the job,” said the woman.
Vinayak Rao was running a ‘parchoon’ (grocery) shop at that time. “We were discovered by a Delhi-based journalist who told Laluji about us and he helped us. Now that our daughters are married, we are at odds again,” she said. Their son has completed graduation and has done a 14-month course in computers but has no job. Both father and son are now into ‘panditaai’ (priesthood) to make a living.
There are about nine Marathi families residing in Bithoor. The Moghe family too has a Peshwa-era connect. Living at Dhruv Teela in Bithoor, it’s the sixth generation of Raja Ram Pant Moghe, one of the five commanders sent by Bajirao Peshwa (I) in 1700 to guard Bithoor. Bajirao Peshwa (I) was the general of the Maratha empire in India. None of the Peshwa’s direct descendants is left in Bithoor. The descendants of other commanders are also not found in the city.
“Bithoor was called ‘Veeron ka thaur’ or the hub of bravehearts but British could not pronounce it and they distorted the title and it came to be known as Bithoor,” said Sunny Rao Moghe sitting at his more-than-300-year-old home at Dhruv Teela. The house is decrepit and because of the weathered off plaster, the lakhauri bricks, of which the wall of the compound is made is visible. New construction comprises the main entry door, a temple at the centre and two rooms.
In 1996, archaeological department took possession of the Teela. The family is entwined in a legal battle with the department since then. Dattatreya temple at the Teela receives several VIP visitors. When TOI visited the spot on Tuesday, sitting MLA from SP Munindra Shukla’s wife had come to offer prayers at the temple. Moghe family is respected in Bithoor for the lineage. Ask anyone on the Bithoor’s streets, and he would know of the family. Politicians come asking for vote. “But none of us ever got any help be it in the form of government job or a pension,” said one of the family members.
Moghe’s also have around six beegha land almost adjacent to the house. “We owned several beegha land but most got encroached,” said Sunny Rao Moghe. “We got our land under ‘Sankramani Bhumidari’ where Chakbandi does not apply,” he said. A rusted, more than 300-year old sword with frayed edges, of Raja Ram Pant Moghe, is also one of the prized possessions of the family.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / City> Lucknow / TNN / February 16th, 2017
Doon Valley School, Lucknow, has been declared the winner of the ‘Bala Janaagraha National Civic Fest’ held here today.
The annual National Civic Fest is a final event for the Civic Fests being held across the country in various cities.
Over the last six months, Civic Fests have been held in 25 cities, and 40,000 students have participated in them, according to the organisers.
Bala Janaagraha is a civic learning programme of the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, a non-profit organisation based in Bengaluru.
The Doon Valley School project was to improve and develop a road in Mulayamnagar ward in Lucknow by approaching the local corporator and the Mayor, a Janaagraha release said.
They also raised concerns about safety, street lighting, paving and asphalting of roads in the area which led the local administration to take action resulting in a patrol guard by the city police, and the construction of a pavement and a motorable road in the ward.
The Doon Valley school students also conducted various awareness sessions on themes ranging from crime against women to drunken driving to eve teasing to garbage collection and water logging on streets, the release said.
Doon Valley High School, Lucknow; Oasis International School, Bengaluru; St Michael’s High School, Ranchi and St Kabir School, Ahmedabad were the finalists.
Bala Janaagraha, one of the flagship programmes of Janaagraha, is running a civic education programme for students of government, aided and private schools across 25 cities in the country.
(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA, Daily News & Analysis / Home> India / Saturday, February 11th, 2017
A group of seven school children have come together in the city to break the existing world record of the maximum number of hours spent painting. The record is currently held by France, where a group painted for 60 hours. The attempt comes close to the heels of the city holding the position of the longest painting by numbers.
Children from Class X and XI of Guru Tegh Bahadur Public School started started painting on Monday afternoon, and will be allowed a two-hour break per student, in a manner that five students are always painting for 72 hours.
Arrangement of proper food has been made on the school premises and authorities have also commissioned a team of doctors. The theme of the painting marathon is ‘Cleanathon’ and aims to showcase Swachch India. The school authorities have also put up the event on record by means of a video camera and it can be seen on a projector in the school hall, which will be open for school students and parents who wish to have a look at the record being made.
The students vying for the record include Bhanu Dev Sharma, Akhil Kumar, Jatin Kumar, Sawan Verma, Piyush Kumar, Lakshay Verma and Bhavya Grover.
“When Meerut got its name for the longest painting by numbers, all students interested in art started looking up for records that could be broken. We researched well, and discussed it with the school authorities, who readily agreed,” says an elated Bhanu.
Bhavya Grover, a Class X student, who is also suffering from Cerebral palsy, said, “I have a difficulty in walking but the doctor here ensures I don’t put a lot of pressure on my legs. The small breaks I get are also good enough. I want to give thi my best.”
Speaking to TOI, Kapil Sood, the school’s principal, said, “A dietician and a doctor will be attending to the students from time to time. Also, two teachers and two class four staff will have a duty every night to keep a check on anything that the students might need. We’re supporting the students in every way possible.” Authorities added that going directly to Guinness was an expensive affair, which is why they chose to go via India Book of Records, which can further refer it.
Poorti Garg, one of the two adjudicators from India Book of Records, said, “We will keep a close eye on the students and ensure that no rules are broken. If they succeed in their attempt, they will break the already existing world record of 60 hour non-stop painting marathon created by team Roland Paulmaters and group from France.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Meerut News / by Ishita Bhatia / TNN / February 14th, 2017
