Indian Railways successfully conducted the first trial run of the country’s fastest train on the New Delhi-Agra route on Thursday, with the train covering a distance of 200 kms in 100 minutes against the stipulated time of 90 minutes. While during the journey its average speed was 125-130 kmph, it touched a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
At present, the Bhopal Shatabdi Express is India’s fastest train with a top speed of 150 kmph.
Equipped with an electric locomotive of 5,400HP, the semi-high speed train was flagged off from platform number 6 of the New Delhi railway station at 11:15am. The train reached Agra Cantt railway station at 12:55pm on platform number 5. The train was halted at Mathura for 10 minutes for a functionality check.
Commissioner (railway safety) PK Vajpayee, divisional railway manager (DRM) of Delhi Anurag Sachan, DRM, Agra, Vijay Sehgal and other senior officials involved with the project were on board.
Addressing the media, Vajpayee said the trial run was successful and that the train service is likely to start in November this year.
Sehgal added that there are 16 speed restriction areas and curves on the Delhi-Agra route which were upgraded to improve the speed. The upgradation was for trial and further maintenance and budget will be declared in the upcoming railway budget.
It is estimated that a cost of Rs 15 crore would be incurred to make the track ready for the train. The railways placed temporary barricades in parts of the stretch to prevent obstruction and ensure speed. Later, permanent fencing will be done in the entire 200-km route.
The New Delhi-Agra train will reduce travel time between the two cities from 120 minutes to 90 minutes, and will come as a boon for tourists from Delhi looking to visit the Taj Mahal.
The project was announced by the railway board chairman, Arunendra Kumar, in March. The detailed project report (DPR) for the semi-high speed train on Delhi-Agra route was prepared by the high-speed rail corporation. Railway authorities are also planning to launch similar trains from Delhi to Kanpur, and Delhi to Chandigarh as Shatabdi trains.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Ishita Mishra, TNN / July 03rd, 2014
Shocked by the Badaun gang-rape and murder case, Sulabh International, which works in the field of sanitation, has decided to construct toilets in all households at Katra Sadatganj village where the horrific crime took place.
Founder of the non-governmental organisation Bindeshwar Pathak decided to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to begin a campaign to build toilets in each household across India and end the problem of open defecation.
“By providing toilet facility in the village, we want to exhort the government and corporate houses to come forward and participate in providing toilet facilities to poor people in villages and towns across India. Lack of toilet facility was the main reason for the rape and murder of the two girls … By adopting this village, we are just setting an example,” Dr. Pathak told The Hindu.
“We will make all efforts to ensure proper toilet facilities in as many poor households as possible. I urge the corporate sector to donate freely to ensure that no house in India remains without a toilet … Each corporate house and big company should adopt one village for this purpose. It will not only address this social evil but will also help in tackling several diseases that happen due to open defecation.”
Dr. Pathak said it was the duty of the government to provide toilet facilities, which would also help check crimes. “Any woman defecating in the open is vulnerable and the government must acknowledge this,” he noted.
Welcoming Sulabh International’s initiative, former Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the Centre as well as all State governments need to work collectively on the issue of sanitation and women safety. “It is clear from what has been seen in Bihar and now Badaun that open defecation is not just an assault on the dignity but also on security of women,” he told The Hindu.
Referring to Mr. Modi’s slogan “Toilet first, temple later,” he said, “Building toilet at every household will herald an effective social change in society … I will urge the Prime Minister to make it his government’s top priority.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / by Sandeep Joshi / New Delhi – June 02nd, 2014
The Taj Mahal, built between 1632 and 1653, is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture.
Agra :
In an interesting discovery following excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India recently, remains of a summer palace, presumably a baradari, a pavilion designed to allow free flow of air – have been reportedly found at the centuries-old Mughal-era garden Mehtab Bagh located opposite the Taj Mahal.
The garden was reputedly Shah Jahan’s favourite spot which he used to visit to get a view of the Taj at night, hence it’s name (Mehtab means moonlight in Urdu).
“The remains of the baradari-like structure have been found just opposite the Taj Mahal which strengthens our belief that the Mughal emperor must have built this place to enjoy the view of the Taj sitting near the bank of river.
The place seems to have sunk beneath the surface either due to floods or because of the presence of hollow space under the structure,” said a senior ASI official.
The excavated remains of the walls at the garden complex, situated on the opposite bank of the Taj Mahal in Agra. (PTI photo)
Incidentally, Mehtab Bagh has been associated with the myth of the black Taj which is believed to have been spun by guides to fascinate foreign tourists. According to the story, Shah Jahan wanted to build another Taj in black marble across the Yamuna and connect the two by a bridge. Mehtab Bagh is pointed out by some as the possible site where the black Taj would have come up.
“There has never been any historical evidence to prove the existence of a black Taj,” said the official.
During excavation work carried out between 1997 and 1999 at Mehtab Bagh, the ASI had found remains of a huge octagonal tank furnished with 25 fountains, a small central tank and a baradari in the east of the garden. “The present work is going in the south direction of the garden in the straight alignment of the Taj Mahal which makes the discovery an interesting one,” added the official.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / by Adithya Dev, TNN / July 02nd, 2014
Allahabad University alumnus Prashant Kumar Rai has bagged the prestigious Young Scientist Award from the Council of Science and Technology (CST). He was selected for the honour by an expert committee constituted for science awards – 2011-12.
The award, conferred by the UP government, includes an amount of Rs 25,000, a citation, a shawl and a memento. Rai has done his PhD from Allahabad University’s Medicinal Research Lab (MRL), department of chemistry, under the supervision of senior faculty member Geeta Watal.
The award function was organised at Sir CV Raman auditorium of CST in the state capital recently.
For his post-doctoral, Rai went to University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and is currently working in the department of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging at AIIMS, New Delhi.
“My work in MRL was on screening of some medicinally important plants like Tricosanthes dioica (pointed gourd or parwal), cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), psidium guajava (guava), emblica officinal (Indian gooseberry), ficus bengelansis (Indian banyan tree), etc, for diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. I also purified few compounds from Tricosanthes Dioica and the fraction pointed gourd was found to be active mycobacterium,” shared Rai about his work done at AU while expressing happiness over receiving the award.
With 47 research papers published in referred journals of high repute, five book chapters and two Indian patents including on oral delivery of insulin, which is in order to be granted to his credit, Rai said currently he was working at AIIMS on metabolomics or identifying the metabolites from natural products using high resolution NMR (700 MHz).
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / June 26th, 2014
Dr Surya Prakash Singh, a scientist at the Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Division of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, has been given the prestigiouYoung Scientist Award by the government of Uttar-Pradesh. The Council of Science and Technology UP Government selects bright and young scientists below 35 years age for this award every year for the recognition of their significant contributions in their respective area of research. The award has been bestowed to Dr. SP Singh on his contributions in the area of chemical sciences particularly on solar energy research.
Dr. Singh is working as a Scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad. He studied chemistry at the University of Allahabad, India, and obtained his Ph. D in 2005. After working at Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan, as a postdoctoral fellow (2006-2008), he joined, as an Assistant Professor at Osaka University, in 2008. He worked as a researcher at Photovoltaic Materials Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan (2010-2011).
He has been involved on novel C-C bond forming reactions and synthesis of New and Highly Efficient Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Organic-Thin Film Solar Cells and published over 85 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 5 patents, editor of two books and author of two book chapters. He is guest editor in chief for several international journals like Advances in Optoelectronics, Journal of Nano Energy, Current Organic Chemistry, and Power Research etc.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Ch. Sushil Rao, TNN / June 28th, 2014
It was time for celebrations for the students of CLAT Possible, from the house of Team Satyam located at Sikanderabagh Chauraha, Lucknow, who recently cleared their CLAT 2014 exam. Aditya Wakhlu
The spotlight was on Aditya Wakhlu, who was the Lucknow topper in CLAT 2014 with an all India ranking of 27, along with other 15 students, who made it to the most sought-after national law universities in India.
The do started with the felicitation of the students by Satyam Shanker Sahai and Surabhi Modi Sahai, chief mentors at the coaching in stitute. Surabhi then gave tips for college life to the students: “The new style mantra for col lege is, un style,” she said.
However, Satyam was quite excited about the successful results of his insti tute. “You are a CLAT Possible success sto ry and make sure you carry this legacy to your law schools and make us the number one brand in Law,” he said.
Tokens of appreci ation and mementos were later distributed to successful aspi rants by Himanshu Kumar, Principal Secretary , Finance, Government of UP .
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / June 29th, 2014
What gives late 19th century photographer Raja Deen Dayal’s work the acclaim it has received? An exhibition showcasing arguably India’s first professional photographer’s works tries to dissect.
LISTENING TO THE PHONOGRAPH: DEEN DAYAL, GHALIB JUNG AND FRIENDS AT HYDERABAD 22ND MAY 1891The palpable excitement of Nawab Ghalib Jung and his friends whilelistening to the first phonograph in Hyderabad is visible. Such naturalexuberance is seldom seen in 19th century photography
Lala Deen Dayal was to Indian photography what his peer Raja Ravi Varma was to painting. As a 20-something civil engineer, Deen Dayal was working at the draughtsman office at the Indore Public Works Department when he heard an ominous rumour — all draughtsmen were to be replaced by photographers. It was 1866. Dayal decided to brush up his photography skills; a subject that he had learnt during his final year in college. A decision that paved the way for Deen Dayal to eke out a successful career in professional photography.
Vikram Sampath, Executive Director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), says: “The heavy Bellow cameras of the 19th century would have been cumbersome. But his photographs are so extensive that they can be the starting point for fleshing out the socio-cultural aspect of that period.” IGNCA is presenting the exhibition Raja Deen Dayal Photographs, a collection of 150 rare period photographs which will be shown in the city for the first time.
Sampath says he can imagine how hard it must have been for Deen Dayal to get people to be photographed, considering the superstitions around the act. “People believed that if photographed, their life span would be reduced.” It was not uncommon for him to break the glass-plate negative in front of the subject after giving them their photographs, probably to assure them that it wouldn’t be used again. But he would have stealthily kept another copy in the archive.
Grand old man
Here was an Indian photographer appreciated by Indian maharajas (the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, in fact, wrote a verse in praise of him) and British Viceroys. His photographs were exhibited to great reviews in international exhibitions. He was appointed the court photographer for Hyderabad (1885); Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad, conferred on him the title Musawwir Jung Bahadur (the Bold Warrior Photographer) and referred to him as Raja Deen Dayal. In 1897, Queen Victoria granted him the Royal Warrant, which meant he could cover the Delhi Dubar (1903). He had flourishing studios in Secunderabad, Indore and Bombay that were operated by his firm Deen Dayal & Sons. And even after his death (1905), his fifth generation has photo studios in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Not bad for a man who was born (1844) in a small town near Meerut.
Luck and talent
In 1870, when Deen Dayal was hired by the Archeological Survey of India, his brief was to capture 78 monuments of Central India. The technique used was refreshingly different. The monuments stood out against the sky as he captured them from a low angle, making them imposing and grand. Some, like the Gwalior Fort, had an extraordinary view of the sharp precipice below the steep path leading up to the main entrance. The portraits of the monuments form an extensive collection of places across India.
Deen Dayal quit his government job to pursue photography when he realised that the albums prepared by him on Indian monuments were a hit with the British officers returning to Britain. Sir Henry Daly appointed him the official photographer for the Prince of Wales’s tour of India in 1875. He started accompanying the Viceroys, Lord Dufferin and Lord Elgin, on their tours. His interactions with Indian royalty gave him unmatched access to their world. By being the court photographer of the Nizam, Deen Dayal secured a generous patron and an easy access to British officers in the cantonment. He was probably the first Indian photographer to have a Zanana (ladies only) studio at Hyderabad which was run by a specially-appointed employee, Kenny Levick.
From glass plates to digital
Deen Dayal’s family had preserved the glass-plate negatives with history recorded on them. Those negatives required long exposures and hours of work. Each comes with documentation of the place and year, apart from the name of the royals or nobles. The commoners were categorised broadly with captions such as ‘Maratha’ and ‘Brahmin’. IGNCA has reproduced the originals after the entire collection of about 3,000 negatives were handed to them by the family in 1989. These were then digitised and the first exhibition took place in New Delhi in 2010. For all aficionados of photography, this show remains the best place to know how it all began for one photographer, arguably the first Indian professional photographer.
Raja Deen Dayal Photographs, 10 am to 5 pm till July 20, NGMA
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Entertainment> Lounge / by Jayanthi Madhukar, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / June 23rd, 2014
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certificate awarded to Lucknow-based Indian Institute of Toxicology Research has brightened prospects of those involved in micro, small and medium-scale enterprises as also cultivators of mango and betel leaves that are exported all over the world.
IITR is the first among 37 CSIR laboratories in India to receive the coveted certificate (initially for a period of three years). Speaking to media, IITR director Dr K C Gupta said “GLP is a quality system concerned with organisational process and conditions under which pre-clinical health and environmental safety studies are planned, performed, monitored, recorded, archived and reported. The national and international regulatory authorities/agencies require the safety data of all new products including industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs, pesticides, cosmetic products, food products, feed addictives, etc prior to their launch in the market.” He added that GLP is a system evolved by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and is used for achieving such safety goals.
Dr A B Pant said “this certification states that specified studies in toxicity and mutagenicity studies conducted at CSIR-IITR are in compliance with the principles of OECD principles for GLP.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / June 27th, 2014
If you think rocket science is not a child’s play, think again. Rohit Kumar, a class XI student from NAS Inter College Meerut, created a working model of a hydro rocket based on the concept of Newton’s Third Law of Motion using commonly available waste at home.
But, Kumar is not the only greenhorn. Four other school children who were awarded by Council for Science & Technology for scientific innovations and projects did it within limited resources. Entries were invited from all schools in the state and these five, all from humble background, were selected for the coveted award from among 50 entries shortlisted for the final round. Significantly, four out of five students were of government colleges, where quality of education is deemed poorest in the state.
If Kumar was selected for rocket making, Sonali Mishra a class X student from Radha Kishore Government Girls Inter College, Basti was awarded for her outstanding work in the concept of mathematics. Umesh Chandra Jaiswal a class XII student also from a Government Inter College in Basti was awarded for his Unnayan Angle reader machine, a mathematical toy which determines the angle of a fixed object relative to a larger object. Mohammad Sajid, another Government Inter College student of class XII was awarded for his work on a working model of conversion of Kinetic energy into Electrical energy, his father Mohmmad Saeed is a welder. S Samridhi Jaiswal, an SKD academy student of class X received the award for her report on ‘Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water and Soil’.
Rohit explained “the bottle is partly filled with water and sealed. It is then pressurised with compressed air from a bicycle pump. Water and gas are used in a combination resulting in a 60-70 meters flight. It took me around two weeks to make it functional.” Another awardee, Sonali, remarked “I wanted to simplify the much feared mathematical concepts so that students afraid of the subject may also take interest. I was helped and motivated by my family and teachers making it easier for me to dedicate more time towards studies.” Her father Uttam Mishra is manager in a plywood factory. Mohammad Sajid said “my brother gave me the inspiration for this project. The motor utilises rollers in the road to generate electricity, so when any car passes over the rollers they turn to generate electricity,” his proud father Mohmmad Saeed.
The felicitated students of Government and private colleges give force to the thought that if provided with equal opportunities children from all walks of life can perform well on educational front. All of them were given prize money of Rs 10,000 along with mementos and certificates.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / June 20th, 2014
Taj Mahal of India is widely recognized as “the jewel of art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. It’s a unique monument built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and one of the best examples of Islamic architecture.
Millions visit India to get glimpses of this unique architectural beauty and this includes a large number from Middle East. How about seeing the beauty of Taj Mahal here itself in Kuwait?
Inspired by the architecture of Taj Mahal, Kuwait has designed a mosque exactly like Taj Mahal, a replica. The mosque is a bigger version of India’s Taj Mahal. It’s 3 times bigger.
Sadeeqa Fatimatul Zahra Mosque, a prayer place for the Kuwaitis, looks similar to India’s Taj Mahal from the outside. Located at Block 6, Abdullah Al-Mubarak area, West of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, the mosque is already gaining a reputation as one of Kuwait’s most distinctive buildings and is called the “Taj Mahal of Kuwait”.
It’s learned that Hassan Johar, a Member of Parliament, who was behind this unique project here, received the blessing of the Indian embassy before building the mosque.
Internal design of the mosque differs from the original. It consists of carvings of verses from the Quran. The four minarets and central dome of the mosque are adorned with brass crescents. The main prayer area is at the ground floor with library and utilities. It has a separate prayer hall for the women in the first floor. The Mosque was officially opened for the public in 2011.
The beauty of the mosque in middle of the desert is mesmerizing. It’s a proud feeling for all Indians here in Kuwait to witness a replica of the Taj Mahal in Kuwait. Those who have not seen the Taj Mahal in India, they can now see it in Kuwait.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> NRI> Contributions> Contributors / by Deepika Nambiar, TOI Contributor / April 30th, 2014
