Dr Aditi Sen De is the only female winner this year
On the occasion of its foundation day, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has put out the list of recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology for 2018.
Every year, several scientists below the age of 45 are selected from various institutions across the country and awarded for their outstanding scientific work in the last five years.
Here is the full list of winners this year in various categories
Category Winner Affiliation
Biological Sciences
Dr Ganesh Nagaraju IISc Bengaluru
Dr Thomas Pucadyil IISER Pune
Chemical Sciences
Dr Rahul Banerjee IISER Kolkata
Dr Swadhin Kumar Mandal IISER Kolkata
Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
Dr Madineni Venkat Ratnam National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Tirupati
Dr Parthasarathi Chakraborty CSIR-NIO, Goa
Engineering Sciences
Dr Amit Agrawal IIT Bombay
Dr Ashwin Anil Gumaste IIT Bombay
Mathematical Sciences
Dr Amit Kumar IIT Delhi
Dr Nitin Saxena IIT Kanpur
Medical Sciences
Dr Ganesan Venkatasubramanian NIMHANS, Bengaluru
Physical Sciences
Dr Aditi Sen De Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad
Dr Ambarish Ghosh IISc Bengaluru
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech / by The Hindu Net Desk / September 26th, 2018
Having started off as a school level champ when she was five, Nikita was named the best coach at the first UP State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament in Lucknow.
Nikita Kumar(center).(HT Photo)
Hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi went on to become a great coach after he was humiliated for missing a goal. His turnaround was such an inspiration that his story was made into a blockbuster ‘Chak De’.
Those who know paddler Nikita Kumar, insist her story is no less inspiring.
Having started off as a school level champ when she was five, Nikita was on Sunday named the best coach at the first UP State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament in Lucknow.
This, despite the fact, that her left hand had to be amputated after a road accident in 2012.
While the tragedy could have torn apart anybody’s spirit, in less than two years Nikita went on to play for India at the Asian Para Games at Incheon in TT9-10 category in 2014.
“Table tennis is my life. No tragedy could have stopped me from playing it,” she said on the sidelines of the event where she was honoured on Sunday.
Grooming the batch of 40-odd kids at Ramprastha TT Academy in Ghaziabad, she never lost her spirit.
“See, life goes on and it was my body wisdom which inspired me to come out of the shadow of sorrow and pain and make a fresh start,” says Nikita, while adding, “I always wanted to play at the Asian Games but ended up playing Asian Para Games. But then such is life.”
“It all started off with a win at Manav Sthali School Silver Jubilee Table Tennis Tournament in New Delhi when I was a kid. It was opium for me. It ensured that I pursued table tennis even when my hands were amputated,” says the girl who has played skates, cager and a few other sports in schools.
“But, table tennis still remains my first love. I find myself most happy when I teach the finer points of the game to my 40-odd trainees,” she says.
“It is true that eight hours of training of my kids keep me busy, but even in the remaining 16 hours I keep thinking only about the game and the players. So it’s a full time engagement for me,” said Nikita, who won her first title at an international Para TT tourney at Bangkok in 2013.
“I always wanted to give back something to the game so along with my sister chose to start an academy in 2014,” she said.
“There is a big boom to the sport after India’s success at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, and I am very sure of Indians doing well at the upcoming Asian Games too,” she said.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Sharad Deep,Hindustan Times,Lucknow / July 03rd, 2018
People sitting in the veranda of the district magistrate court, waiting for their turn, are absorbed by the dexterity of a certain visually impaired man who can always be seen hard at work, knitting chairs, heedless of the arguments and appeals in the courtroom. Patiram’s (he goes by his first name) fingers move flawlessly, weaving bases of wooden frames of chairs. The moment he finishes a chair, onlookers applaud with amazement. “For me, knitting chairs with blind eyes is like knitting dreams,” he says.
Patiram, 36, is one of the few men in the country that are working hard to keep alive the art of weaving chairs, which is on the verge of disappearance. An optimist, Patiram says he never let his blindness stand in the way of his dreams. He was determined to achieve things on his own instead of being favoured for his disability.
“I have been in this profession for the past 16 years. Today, I have a job, a beautiful wife and a son. Life is all about struggle and working hard to make your dreams come true,” he says. Sitting on an empty jute bag, he steadily adds layer after layer of white plastic threads, creating strong supporting bases so that those using the wooden chairs can sit comfortably.
“I am never bored with my job. I never complete a chair hurriedly. I know that even a single misstep in knitting can cause discomfort to the person sitting on the chair. I knit every chair as if it were my first,” he says.
Patiram’s chairs are used in the collectorate and all six tehsils of the district. There are 181 plastic-knit wooden chairs in the collectorate and 90 in the tehsils. Every time a chair needs repair, Patiram reaches the tehsil concerned to fix it.
Life was never easy for Patiram, who has been blind since birth. His father was a small farmer and mother a homemaker. A native of Mau district, Patiram studied up to class VIII and then left for Banda in 2001, where he completed a one-year course in chair knitting at an institute run by the National Federation of the Blind. “Since I didn’t get enough work to make ends meet, I took to teaching chair knitting to visually impaired persons at a school in Mau, which had been started by a close aide of former MP Kalpnath Rai. After Rai’s untimely demise, the school was closed due to lack of funds. After a seven-month stint there, I reached Rajkiya Kaushal Vikas Kendra in Gorakhpur, where someone introduced me to the manager of the center and I got a job there,” Patiram recalls.
Life in Gorakhpur was no easier on Patiram. He was paid a meager Rs 10.75 on the days the centre didn’t receive any orders to knit a chair. “It was a hand-to-mouth existence. I spent 10 years there only because I didn’t want to become a liability for my family,” he says.
Patiram then got to know that those with experience in chair knitting were eligible for government jobs. “I applied for my first government job in 2011 in Allahabad but couldn’t get through. I kept going to several interviews for the next three years in several cities, including Varanasi, Lucknow, Bahraich, Bareilly and Muzaffarnagar, but had no luck. Finally in 2014, I came to know of a vacancy that had been created in Bareilly after the retirement of one Zamir Ahmed. Thanks to my hard work and luck, I was selected for the post of kursi bunkar there,” he says with a smile on his face.
As living alone became difficult for him in Bareilly, he suggested some relatives to get him married. “I knew it would be hard for anyone to accept me as a husband because of my blindness, but I never lost hope. My cousin’s husband found a girl for me and when I first met ‘malkin’, I told her, till my last breath, I would never let her down. I’m not sure how that impressed her but she accepted my proposal and we got married in April, 2016.”
Patiram now earns around Rs 25,000 a month. His wife’s name is Mina but he calls her “malkin” (mistress) out of love and respect. He says he has a happy life with his nine-month-old son, who is a handful. “My son pulls at my plates when I sit down for a meal. His antics amaze me and fill me with joy. My only concern is his health, especially his eyesight, as doctors say that the first 11 years are crucial for a child with a blind parent,” he says with a deep breath.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City / by Pankul Sharma / June 30th, 2018
Stories of grit, determination and dreams coming true filled the atmosphere with positivity at Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University on Saturday. At its fourth convocation, chief minister Yogi Adityanath awarded medals to meritorious students. Rehabilitation professional and social worker Uma Tuli was the chief guest at the occasion where governor Ram Naik was also present. TOI spoke to the top three medal winners.
Inspired by differently abled, he emerges as winner
It was peer pressure which forced him to join a master’s course. He chose SMNRU for an MSc in applied statistics in 2015 because the university was close to his place. Two years hence, Vipin Yadav stands as a topper with the chancellor’s gold medal, awarded for his score of 87.7%, the highest among all students.
The turning point of Vipin’s life was seeing differently abled students: the visually impaired, hearing-impaired and physically handicapped, struggling each day to study. “They made efforts to use laptops and typewriters. I thought when they, who had 100 reasons to not come to college, are working so hard, why can’t I? They inspired me,” Vipin said.
So moved was Vipin with their dedication that he is now pursuing research in the area upliftment of the differently abled.
Mother of two conquers disability
Age and disability are no barriers to education. Anju Kumari, 42, not only decided to pursue education after a gap of 19 years but also scored the highest marks among differently abled students in PG.
An accident at the age of 10 years had totally damaged her right hand but not her determination. For one year, she practised writing with her left hand and never took a scribe. She says her husband and young children were very supportive. Anju was awarded for securing 79.6% in MA Hindi. Now, she has joined MA in Bhojpuri. “No knowledge is waste. I had always wanted to learn languages,” said Anju.
Lost eyes but not vision
She has lost 80% vision but used the remaining 20% to excel in studies. The daughter of a small farmer in Basti, Jyoti Mishra has emerged as a winner among all differently abled students enrolled in UG courses. Overall, she has scored the third highest marks—71.4% in BA.
Despite her odds, she decided to not study in Braille.
“I used my mobile phone camera to enlarge the words and then read. With the help of mobile recordings, I learnt my lessons and then reproduced it to my writer in exams,” Jyoti said.
Purusing BEd now from SMNRU, Jyoti wants to become a teacher. “It’s difficult for my family to make ends meet. Before sending me to Lucknow, my father told me to study hard. The medals are for him. He will be very happy when he comes to know about my success.” she said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City News> Lucknow News> Schools & Colleges / TNN / May 20th, 2018
Former Marine commando Praveen Teotia, 34, finished one of the toughest races in the world — Ironman Triathlon Championship 2018 — held in South Africa, a few days ago.
This Shaurya Chakra winner took four bullets during the operation to neutralize terrorists at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai in November 2008. Hit in the lung and in an ear, he became partially hearing impaired. After being given a non-active duty job by the Navy, Teotia set about trying to prove that he was still fit for service, and began participating in marathons.
“I wanted to prove myself and the Navy that I am still a commando not only in spirit but physically as well. No Navy man from India has ever finished the Triathlon so far,” said a beaming Teotia, who landed in Mumbai on Thursday. He hails from Bulandshahr.
Last year on September 9, despite a damaged lung, he participated in the grueling 72-km-long Khardung La marathon in Ladakh, finishing well within the stipulated time and earning a medal.
TOI had carried a story on his achievement in the September 14, 2017 issue. The consequent limelight helped Teotia receive help. He got a special bicycle and he began training for Ironman Triathlon in Goa.
Achieving this feat was not an easy task. The championship requires back to back three events to be finished in 16.45 hours that include 3.8-km of swimming in the sea followed by 180.2-km of cycling followed 42.2-km of run. Despite losing precious 35 minutes due to an accident on the bicycle, Teotia still managed to finish all three events within 14 hours 19 minutes and that too with an injured knee.
Teotia had taken voluntary retirement from the Navy a month before his Khardung La marathon achievement, and now wishes to run for Ultraman event to be held in Florida in the US in February next year.
“That’s the toughest championship on Earth and involves 10 km of swimming, 421 km of cycling followed by 84.4 km of running all in a span of three days,” says Teotia who will begin training soon.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Meerut News / by Sandeep Rai / TNN / April 20th, 2018
CM with awardees at a function in Lucknow on Thursday
Lucknow :
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath gave away the prestigious Rani Laxmi Bai Veerta awards in Lucknow on Thursday. As many as 129 women and girls were awarded. The CM said his government was committed towards the security and welfare of women and all necessary steps have been taken in this regard.
Among the awardees was Pallavi Fauzdar Mishra, a solo lady biker, who is also fashion and jewellery designer. Pallavi made four back-to back world records by covering 3,500 km ride, more than 5,000 metre above sea level, from Delhi to Ladakh.
Speaking to TOI, 38-year old Pallavi, a resident of Lucknow now living in Delhi, who started riding a bike when she was nine, said, “Ek zindagi kam pad jaati hai bahut kuchh karne ko.”
With just a pack of inhaler, drinking water and some clothes, Pallavi started her journey in July 2015 from Delhi to Leh, Ladakh. It took her over seven days to cross eight high passes 5,000 metre above sea level and braved seven avalanches.
In September 2015, Pallavi drove up to 54 km ahead of Badrinath, Uttarakhand, crossing passes at 18,774 feet near Indo-Tibetan border, her world record.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Urooj Khan / TNN / March 30th, 2018
Saahil Singh has just taken his spot in the room and started to perform a yoga asana with the agility of a gymnast. It’s no wonder because the 21-year-old has represented India as a swimmer in the Special Olympics Asia Pacific in Australia in 2013, winning a silver. A gold in the national championships had come in the same year.
On his birthday in January, he was made the station officer of a police station-a long cherished wish-and is now training to be an assistant teacher in sports at a school for special children.
His achievements are undoubtedly grand for a regular 21-year-old but Saahil is even more special. He has a genetic chromosomal dysfunction called Down Syndrome but is never pulled back by it.
In between colouring flowers on a paper bag and teaching yoga asanas to other specially abled children, Saahil said, “Mai kuch banna chahta hoon (I want to become somebody). I want to be a singer.”
He continued, “I will take my XII standard exam in April and then my yoga exam.”
Spending their time at Dosti-a school for the specially abled-children like Saahil have become role models for their peers with special needs.
Rishi Agarwal, 14, does not have clear speech but it is computers and technology that the young boy finds his calling in.
“He works on the system effortlessly. He is helping out his father in his business. He works on MS Excel and waits to be paid every month for it,” said his mother Bhawna, who is also a special educator at the school.
Class VI student Rishima Srivastava and class V student Abhishri Uniyal, who were in this class, have added a feather to their caps. Both have been integrated into mainstream education and study with other children.
For their parents, it is society’s role towards them that is of utmost importance.
“Society needs to be aware towards such children, deal with them patiently, let them be free and receive unconditional love from them in return,” said Surbhi Kapoor, principal of Dosti.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News> Schools & Colleges / by Yusra Hussain / March 21st, 2018
Shikanto Mandal, 15, from Mathura, who had developed a unique machine to collect garbage, was invited by the President for dinner on Tuesday. However, it was cancelled at the last moment and the dinner was hosted by science and technology minister Dr Harsh Vardhan at the CSIR centre at Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi.
Mandal, who hails from West Bengal, had showcased his innovative machine at the Festival of Innovation being held in Delhi from March 19 to 23. Earlier speaking with TOI while on his way to New Delhi, Mandal said he had dined with then President Pranab Mukherjee during the Festival of Innovation.
The young inventor said hopes to become a successful engineer one day and fulfil all wishes of his parents and give them every comfort of life. Mandal’s parents are daily wagers. Talking with TOI, Mandal’s teacher Manoj Kumar, who helped him in his project and under whose guidance he built the machine, said he had developed the manual waste lifting and dumping machine when he was in Class IX at Jai Gurudev Balya Balak Vidyadan Higher Secondary School in 2016. He is presently studying in Class XI at KR Inter College, Mathura.
Mandal’s invention, inspired by Swacch Bharat Mission, was chosen for display at the district-level exhibition organized by the department of science and technology in 2016. His machine’s model was then showcased at a state-level exhibition held in Lucknow and later, at the national level.
His model has been patented by a Gujarat-based company, where he holds a 50% stake of the market share.
In January, Mandal was invited by film star Akshay Kumar his movie, “Padman”, screened at the Innovation conclave in which 16 innovators from across the country participated and received Rs 5 lakh each for their innovation.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Agra News / TNN / March 21st, 2018
At reservation counters, too, it was women on duty for the day
Lucknow :
Women piloted express trains in Lucknow division of both Northern Railway and North Eastern Railway on the occasion of International Women’s Day on Thursday.
At reservation counters, too, it was women on duty for the day. The all-women staff on Lucknow-Prayag Intercity Express included one assistant loco pilot, five travel ticket examiners (TTEs) and sanitation staff.
The train was flagged off by divisional railway manager (DRM) Northern Railway Satish Kumar from Charbagh station around 7.30am. At NER station, Gorakhpur-Nautanwa Express was driven by a woman assistant loco pilot. With four women TTEs, the train departed from Gorakhpur around 11.30am.
According to Kumar and DRM NER Vijaylaxmi Kaushik, this was the first time in the history of NR and NER’s Lucknow divisions that maximum operational work, including piloting the train, ticket checking and reservation, was carried out by women.
For assistant loco pilot Mamta Yadav, it was the first opportunity to pilot an express train. A graduate from Gorakhpur, Mamta said, “It was a dream come true. Since childhood, I had wanted to drive a train. It felt daring to take such a responsibility.”
TTE of Lucknow-Prayag Intercity Express Vijayalaxmi said, “I have been a TTE for five years. For the first time, I have seen an all-female staff on the train.” TTE Mundri Devi said, “Incidentally today, there were around 150 female passengers on my reservation list. I felt like all women had come out to support us. I am thankful to the railways.”
Riyansha, who had come to board the train for Prayag, said, “When I woke up this morning, my husband wished me for women’s day. At the station, I saw women everywhere, even my loco pilot and TTE were females. I felt very proud.”
Gulnaaz, another passenger, said, “My friends and cousins had planned to celebrate women’s day in my hometown. On knowing that a woman will pilot my train, I immediately sent a message of thanks to railways on social media.
Rahul, who had no reservation and demanded Mundri Devi a seat, was turned by her. “I have realised that not only at home, but even outside, women uphold values of honesty and integrity. I will have to adjust in a general coach, but I also proud somewhere,” said Rahul.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Urooj Khan / TNN / March 09th, 2018
Hiding in a tree, she carefully took aim at the approaching British
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British rule saw some of the most ferocious battles fought across the nation. The soldiers were courageous and fought tooth and nail. While the revolt did not succeed, it went down in history as a righteous struggle.
Amongst all the illustrious freedom fighters, Uda Devi’s name stands out for leading one of the fiercest battles in Lucknow against the British.
Uda Devi hid in a tree, and took out more than 30 British soldiers without batting an eyelid.Representative image only. Image Courtesy:Wikimedia Commons
Born to a Dalit family in Awadh, Uttar Pradesh, Uda Devi at an early age, recognised the dissent the local people showed against the British Raj. She decided to contribute to the cause, and approached Begum Hazrat Mahal to seek help, in order to prepare for the battle against the British.
Begum Hazrat Mahal was kind and helped Uda Devi form a woman’s battalion, which the latter would lead herself. Thus, when Awadh was attacked by the British, Uda Devi and her husband became a vital part of the armed resistance.
The Battle in Sikandar Bagh
The Sikandar Bagh gate, where the battle took place.Image Courtesy: Wikipedia
In autumn 1857, north India was in a state of practical anarchy. A general revolt against the growing authority of the British East India Company consumed the cities of Delhi, Jhansi and Kanpur.
In Lucknow, a small British garrison clung stubbornly to life at the Residency (a collection of buildings) on the banks of the Gomti River.
Surrounded by rebels and bereft of adequate supplies, the small British contingent teetered on the edge of annihilation throughout the summer of 1857.
In November, General Colin Campbell broke through the enemy lines and managed to save the trapped garrison. This was the ‘Second Relief of Lucknow’, during which Campbell’s 93rd Highland Regiment advanced along the Southern bank of the Gomti, proceeding toward the Palace of Sikandar Bagh.
Here, the rebels fought desperately, after fortifying their position. A pitched battle ensued, leaving over 2000 rebels and soldiers dead, after a fierce hand-to-hand combat. It was during the battle that Uda Devi’s husband was killed. Enraged, the brave soldier decided to avenge his death.
On seeing the British army approach Sikandar Bagh, she climbed up a banyan tree, disguised as a man, and took aimed, killing 32 British soldiers.
Once the dust had settled, an officer noticed that many of the British casualties had bullet wounds that indicated a steep, downward trajectory.
The needle of suspicion naturally pointed to a sniper, who could be hidden in the nearby trees. British officers fired at a nearby pipal tree, and a rebel fell out of the tree, dead, her body riddled with bullet wounds. Upon investigation, it was found that the rebel was, in fact, Uda Devi.
The British were shocked when they realised the soldier was a woman. It is said that even British officers like Campbell bowed their heads over her dead body, in recognition of her bravery.
Uda Devi is indeed an inspiration, especially to women from non-dominant castes. Befittingly, on November 16th each year, the members of her Pasi caste gather at the site of her fall and celebrate her as a brave rebel, who defied all odds to take British lives, for a cause. It has been over a century since she was martyred, yet the memory of her sacrifice is kept alive by her community, which celebrates her unwavering and courageous spirit.
Uda Devi is also one of the inspirations behind an all-women battalion, of the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary. The government is keen on recruiting women from OBC and Dalit communities in these battalions.
The women PAC battalions will help the government in crowd control, and during agitations where the participants are mostly women. The government is currently identifying land in Uttar Pradesh, where centres for training these women cops can be built.
The raising of women PAC battalions is an excellent step towards empowering the women from the weaker sections of society, and it is only fitting, that one of the units, derives its name from a ‘Dalit Veerangana’ like Uda Devi.
source: http://www.thebetterindia.com / The Better India / Home> Inspiration> Women / by Rayomand Engineer / March 01st, 2018
