Category Archives: World Opinion

‘Green Girl’ to attend signing of Paris pact

Amazing Feats, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Lucknow:

India’s ‘Green Girl’ Yugratna Srivastava (19), a second year engineering student, will represent youth at the Paris convention on global warming. She is among the six participants selected by the UN for the April 22 ceremony – on World Mother Earth Day – where 150 countries would sign the Paris agreement in climate change.

Elated to be part of the event, Yugratna said, “COP21 (Conference of Parties) at Paris was close to my heart. When the Paris agreement was finalized after two hectic weeks in December, there was a sense of achievement worldwide. But more than that, there was an air of uncertainty. The dream is now turning into reality.”

She added, “I am happy that I will be representing youth and civil society at the ceremony. It is empowering to know that our voices are valued. Despite all differences, we all need to stand together more than ever to make this a reality.”

As to how she was selected, United Nations has rolled out a form for civil society participation wherein about 300 individuals from various organisations applied. Out of those, a selection committee formed by the UN picked six participants.

About 100 world leaders and 150 nations are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Last year, on the opening day at COP21, Yugratna had made a presentation to world leaders, including PM Narendra Modi and US president Barack Obama.

Prior to that, she had attended the conference of youths, held from November 26 to 28. There, she had to prepare youths from 66 countries to talk about climate change before world leaders at COP21.

“Youths participating in the conference made presentations on ‘climate crisis’ and concerns about environment conservation,” said Yugratna.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / April 21st, 2016

Jhansi youth completes gruelling triathlon in Putrajaya

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Jhansi:

A Jhansi youth completed the gruelling Ironman Triathlon held in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Last year, Bollywood actor Milind Soman had completed the same event in Zurich.

Rajat Pratap Singh, 26, participated along with 960 other contenders from all over the world with a physically demanding 21.1km running, 1.9km swimming in sea and 90km cycling — all in a back-to-back sequence in 80% humidity in the event held on April 3. He was one of the 400 finalists who completed the event in less than 8 hours, earning him the title of Ironman.

He is the only person from UP to have done it so far with a time of 7.07 hrs, almost a hour ahead of the stipulated time. Milind Soman had hit headlines last year for completing the same event in Switzerland at the age of 50. “Six months of hard practice and a strict diet control was what was required to achieve the feat in uncompromising weather conditions, with humidity ranging above 80% in Malaysia during the event,” Rajat told TOI.

Rajat said he could have improved the timing but for a ligament tear half way through the event. “Though doctors advised me to quit the race, I was determined to finish it. I had to do an ice message after every kilometer which spoilt my finish timing,” he added.

Son of a police officer of UP cadre posted in Jhansi, Rajat had left the city in an early stage for studies. He is a hardcore mountaineer who has opened an office in Pune to facilitate trekking enthusiasts.

After his graduation, he worked for a number of media houses but his passion was to “concur the heights”.

“During one of my business trips to Switzerland, I came in contact with some mountaineers who helped me change track in life. Till date I have climbed a number of peaks with the highest one being the 7,400 mts Mt Kabru in Nepal.Now I target Mt Everest or Mt Kanchenjunga if someone can sponsor me,” said Rajat.

His father Sharad Pratap said, “We never wanted our only son to go into adventure sports… we were against Rajat participating in the Ironmman contest, but after he qualified we gave a second thought.”

Rajat now aims to be a fitness icon for the youth. and to climb Mt Everest at the earliest

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / by Arindam Ghosh / TNN / April 14th, 2016

‘Kathak queen’ of Kashi wants to be social worker

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Clasical dancer Soni Churasiya broke the world record of longest dance marathon with her non-stop dance performance in Varanasi on Sunday. Chaurasia danced continuosouly for 124 hours and broke the five-year old previous record held by Kalamandalam Hemalatha of Kerala in the year 2011 (PTI Photo)
Clasical dancer Soni Churasiya broke the world record of longest dance marathon with her non-stop dance performance in Varanasi on Sunday. Chaurasia danced continuosouly for 124 hours and broke the five-year old previous record held by Kalamandalam Hemalatha of Kerala in the year 2011 (PTI Photo)

As of now, I want to leave on some lone adventure trip to Bali or Hrishikesh, kathak dancer Soni Chaurasia, who claimed to have broken the Guinness world record in longest dance marathon said on Sunday. The ‘kathak queen’ of Kashi said that she plans to engage herself in social work and do something for the society.

“Everything is possible if you have strong will power, determination and dedication. I am out of words to describe how I am feeling. For now, I am happy receiving words of appreciation from everyone around me,” she said.

Soni had begun her dance performance at an auditorium of a school in the city in the evening on April 4. Her trainer and mentor Rajesh Dogra said that she has created a record which would find her a place in Guinness Book of World Records. Soni had performed non-stop for 126 hours and 5 minutes on Saturday midnight against the previous record of 123 hours 20 minutes set by Keralite Kalamandalam Hemalatha.

She is the third person from the city to have sealed a place in the world record book. Others who have set a world record are social activist Jagadeesh Pillai and lyricist Sameer. Pillai holds a world record in film making for having scripted and screened an animation film ‘Elly the Clever’ in 3 hours and 24 minutes while Sameer made his way into the world record book in February this year for writing the highest number of lyrics for Bollywood films.

Soni, who was on her way to Sankat Mochan to seek blessings of the Almighty, said that she is yet to read the greetings conveyed by the PM and is grateful to everyone who had prayed for her. “I was told that the PM had sent his best wishes to me and also lauded my efforts for making the city proud. After visiting some of the temples to seek blessings of Almighty and finishing off my physiotherapy sessions in afternoon, I will see the letter and re-read it,” she smiled and said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / April 11th, 2016

Kanpur-based young business entrepreneur meets Princess Kate

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education, World Opinion

Kanpur:

A city-based young business entrepreneur got a chance of meeting Prince Williams and Princess Kate at a party hosted by the British high commissioner in India on Monday evening. The party had been thrown at the official residence of British High Commissioner in Delhi to celebrate the upcoming 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

Utsav Kasera, an alumnus of University of Edinburgh, was one among very few alumni of the UK-based universities who had been invited to take part in the pompous party. Utsav not only got a chance to shake hands with both Prince Williams and Princess Kate but also was lucky when the Princess interacted with him.

“I started off the conversation by mentioning before Princess Kate that I am your neighbour to which she asked me how. I then told her that while I had studied in University of Edinburgh and she had studied in University of St Andrews both of which are situated in Scotland,” said Utsav while talking to TOI.

He said that Princess Kate replied that Edinburgh is a beautiful city and further questioned him that how many times he had been there. “I replied that I had been to Edinburgh city many times,” said Utsav, a 34-year-old young entrepreneur.

He also mentioned that Princess said that she really miss her university days.

“I could not interact with Prince Williams but we shook hands. It was a pleasant meeting them both,” said Utsav, who is a resident of Vishnupuri locality in the city and runs his family business of chemicals.

He said that Prince Williams recalled that his grandmother had visited India thrice and emphasized how important India is for them.

The party which started off at 5.15pm lasted for about three hours. The party was attended by a small but decent gathering of politicians, diplomats and alumni of UK-based universities. Utsav also got a chance to meet Dr Farooq Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

SK Kasera, Utsav’s father was also an excited lot that his son had met the Prince and the Princess and that he was among very few who could attend the party.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / by Abhinvan Malhatra / TNN / April 13th, 2016

Prof develops cheap ‘sindur’-based technique to identify lip prints

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Moradabad:

A professor from a dental college here has claimed to have devised a cheap technology to identify individual lip prints using vermillion and indigo powder, a development that may prove helpful in criminal investigations.

Narendra Nath Singh, oral pathology professor at Kothiwal Dental College, presented his study at the 4th International Conference on Forensic Research and Technology in Atlanta in 2015.

Singh said that his technology was tested and recognized by leading experts, following which he was hailed by the forensic community.

Speaking with TOI, Singh said that during the criminal identification, print evidence (such as finger and lips prints) is often key to solving a crime. “Also the prints can be used as a DNA source as skins cells can be retrieved from them to double their identifying value.

It has been documented in western forensic sciences that lip prints, either visible or latent, could be developed successfully for study purpose using lysochrome and fluorescent dyes such as Nile red,” he said.

But the professor’s research reveals that the use of vermilion and indigo dyes can also be helpful in the process of the criminal investigation to detect the lip prints samples collected from the crime scenes. According to Singh, the use of vermilion and indigo dyes is much cheaper than other chemicals used in the world for ascertain the lips prints. Vermilion powder is commonly used by married Hindu women on the parting of their hairs.

The result of Nath’s research signify that vermilion and indigo dyes being natural, non-toxic, and cost-effective can replicate the already existing chemical reagents like Sudan Black and Sudan III, which are very costly. “The use of natural dyes for studying lip prints can be a landmark in the field of forensic odontology,” Singh said.

“University of Forensic Science of Ahmedabad, Gujarat has also introduced my latest research into the department of forensic odontology and my lab is continuously providing assistance to the investigating agencies and giving opinions on various samples and specimens collected from the crime scene,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bareilly / by Nazar Abbas / TNN / March 29th, 2016

Kathak dancer aims to set Guinness record

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

Varanasi:

The 30-year old Kathak dancer Soni Chaurasia, who had failed to break the 124-hour Guinness world record in dance in November last year, again took to stage at a school on the outskirts of the city on Monday evening.

On Monday evening, Chaurasia took to stage again and began her dance performance with Ganesh Vandana. Her trainer and mentor Rajesh Dogra said that Soni started at 6pm on Monday and completed 24 hours on Tuesday evening. As there are requirements which need to be followed before claiming for the Guinness world record, so the district administration has made all the arrangements. Supervisors have also been assigned byDM Rajmani Yadav for various sessions to be held during the next couple of days. The dance marathon will end on April 9 at 9pm.

Between every eight-hour, Chaurasia is eligible for a break of 40 minutes. After getting her act of non-stop Kathak dance on roller skates for 24 hours enrolled in Limca Book of Records in 2010, Chaurasia had started a dance marathon at Arya Mahila PG College on the occasion of Children’s Day last year to break the 123 hours and 15 minutes Guinness record in Mohiniattam dance form made by Hemlata Kamandalu of Kerala in 2011. But after performing for 87 hours and 18 minutes, Chaurasia fell unconscious.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / April 06th, 2016

Meerut girl part of US team that cracked Zika structure

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Devika Sirohi, born and brought up in Meerut, is a doctoral student at Purdue University in the US. She will submit her thesis by year end
Devika Sirohi, born and brought up in Meerut, is a doctoral student at Purdue University in the US. She will submit her thesis by year end

Meerut :

Devika Sirohi, 29, a doctoral student at Purdue University in the United States, is the youngest member of a team of seven researchers which has, for the first time, determined the structure of the Zika virus. The breakthrough is revealing insights crucial for the development of effective treatments for the deadly disease.

Sirohi, born and brought up in Meerut, spoke to TOI about the intense work that lay behind the breakthrough. “It took us four months to identify the structure of the virus. Out of the seven-member team, three were professors and four students, including me. During the period of the research, we barely slept for two to three hours a day, but our hard work finally paid off. This discovery will help doctors and researchers to find a cure for the deadly disease that has been reported in 33 countries,” she said.

Determining the structure of the virus was a major hurdle for researchers, and the team’s find, Sirohi said, would now make it possible to create effective anti-viral treatments and vaccines. The seven-member team included Sirohi, postdoctoral research associates Zhenguo Chen, Lei Sun and Thomas Klose; biological sciences professor Michael G Rossmann, Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Diseases director Richard J Kuhn, and Theodore C Pierson, chief of the viral pathogenesis section of the Laboratory of Viral Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“When I first arrived in the US, I never expected to achieve this much. It has been five years now since I started my doctoral research and I will submit my thesis by the end of this year. The entire journey of discovering the structure of Zika was full of challenges, but all is well that ends well. Now that the structure has been determined, it will be easier to research further and combat the spread of the disease,” said Sirohi, based in West Lafayette near Chicago and pursuing PhD in ‘Structure and Maturation of Flaviviruses’.

The Meerut girl completed her schooling from the city-based Dayawati Modi Academy. She went on to pursue honours in biochemistry from Delhi University and MSc from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. Both her parents are citybased doctors; her mother, Reena, being a pediatrician. Elated by her success, her father, SS Sirohi, a pathologist who lives in Delhi’s Defence Colony, said, “It is a matter of pride not only for my family, because she is my daughter, but for the whole country that an Indian was part of the team that made this breakthrough.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> India / by Ishita Bhatia / TNN / April 06th, 2016

IAS officer Bahadur to join as World Bank advisor

Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Lucknow:

Senior IAS officer, Rakesh Bahadur, will soon join the World Bank as its advisor.

Rakesh Bahadur, who is also the president of UP IAS Association, is posted at Investment Commission in Delhi. Earlier, he was principal secretary to the CM.

Chosen by the World Bank to head its affordable housing section, Bahadur will take up the new assignment in May.

Confirming it to the TOI, Rakesh Bahadur said he would supervise construction of houses under the affordable category in Brazil and Turkey, where the World Bank is working at a very large scale.

Bahadur said that the low cost houses is the pressing need for majority of Indians, and if Government of India coordinates with the World Bank, he would certainly like to contribute for his country.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / March 23rd, 2016

City boy youngest to earn royal astro fellowship

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Lucknow:

This 19-year-old has to his credit 23 research papers published in international journals. St Francis’ College, Lucknow alumnus Aadarsh Mishra holds the distinction of being one of the youngest Indians to be elected Fellow of Royal Astronomical Society in London.

Working as research and development engineer at Cardiff University, Aadarsh achieved the feat after he made a national record last year as ‘undergraduate with the most reseach papers published’, in the India Book of Records.

Cardiff School of Engineering had shared a Facebook post to highlight Aadarsh’s achievements. The post reads: ‘Cardiff School of Engineering is delighted to hear that our third-year (year in industry) mechanical engineering student Aadarsh Mishra has this week been elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS). At 19, he is one of the youngest fellows in the society’s 196-year history, and also youngest Indian ever to become a fellow.’

A mechanical engineer from Manipal University, Karnataka, Aadarsh’s interest is in ‘material sciences’ which finds application in thermal, nuclear and biomedical fields. While in second year of his engineering, he started a research in ‘condensed matter physics’ and did significant work on ‘thin films of tin sulphide for use in solar cell devices’, the topic on which he later got a paper published.

His passion and work in condensed matter physics got him enrolled in a summer research programme at the coveted Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. At IISc, his work dealt with titanium alloys which find significant application in the aerospace sector.

While at Cardiff University, Aadarsh published a book titled ‘Introduction to Wear’ which deals with wearing of materials. ‘Wear’ is one topic in tribology which is enjoying much attention of researchers and scientists , but has very few books focussing on it.

Besides, Aadarsh was also selected for a research project fellowship at the prestigious University of Oxford. Here, along with two doctoral scientists, he worked in the field of thermo-electricity. “I am working on a project which deals with eliminating surgical smoke during operations in an efficient and cost-effective way; and probably a patent will be filed on the same very soon,” said Aadarsh, adding that surgical smoke hinders the visibility during operation and it is hard for surgeons to operate during the same.

Styled as ‘Fellows’, members of Royal Astronomical Society-FRAS-are elected after the age of 18. The society acts as professional body for astronomers and geophysicists in the UK and fellows may apply for the Science Council’s Chartered Scientist status through the society.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / March 03rd, 2016

Forbes Asia’s ‘Top 30 Under 30’ features Lucknow entrepreneur

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Twenty-nine-year-old Anshulika Dubey’s name figures in the finance and venture capital segment. (HT photo)
Twenty-nine-year-old Anshulika Dubey’s name figures in the finance and venture capital segment. (HT photo)

Lucknow resident Anshulika Dubey (29), the co-founder and chief operating officer (COO) of Wishberry.in, made it to the elite list of Forbes Asia ‘Top 30-under-30’, which was announced on Thursday.

Wishberry.in is the country’s first crowdfunding platform for creative projects.

The Forbes magazine’s list features the top 300 young, promising leaders and their enterprises that have emerged as game-changers in 10 different sectors. Dubey’s name figures in the finance and venture capital segment.

An overjoyed Dubey told Hindustan Times: “I got an email in the morning from Forbes Asia editor informing that I’ve made it to the Asia ‘Top 30 under 30’ list. It was a pleasant surprise and took time to sink in.”

She added: “I had made it to the semi-finals last month. My father was eagerly waiting to find out the final result and he would ask me about it almost every day. So, I called my father and mother. They were very happy.”
As for Dubey’s venture, the numbers speak for themselves.

More than 250 ideas were received on Wishberry.in in about four years and $1 million (Rs 6.5 crore) funding was made by about 12,000 people from around the globe.

This funding is three times more than the funding of all projects handled by its Indian competitors put together and has a 67% funding success rate.

The concept fascinated her so much that she left a job opportunity in the US and started India’s first crowdfunding platform for creative artists, with her co-founder and ex-McKinsey consultant Priyanka Agarwal, in 2012.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Lucknow / by Rajeev Mullick, Hindustan Times, Lucknow / February 26th, 2016