Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Meerut scissors make the cut for GI tag

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Barber scissors hand made in Meerut with scrap metal.

For the first time, a handmade tool from micro and small and medium enterprises in India has been registered for a geographical indicator (GI) tag, an official of a body promoting this sector said on Wednesday.

The tool is a pair of scissors made of metal scrap by a community in Meerut, which is “the only scissor cluster in India” and which has been making the product for more than three centuries, Karamjeet Singh Saluja, Deputy Director- Intellectual Property Rights, Federation of Indian Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME), IP Facilitation Centre, told reporters on the sidelines of an IPR awareness programme held here.

The programme focused on innovators, micro, small and medium enterprises and other industries. It was organised by the FISME, which promotes entrepreneurship and works to improve market access for these units. The IP Facilitation Centre, sponsored by the Development Commissioner, MSME, Union Ministry of MSME, facilitated the registering of the scissors for the GI tag. Sharif Ahmad, vice-president, Meerut Scissors Manufacturers Special Purpose Vehicle, and a seventh-generation craftsman, told The Hindu on the phone: “The GI tag will make a difference to us. No one else will be able to copy our scissors or misuse the made-in-Meerut tag our handmade scissors offer…”

The tag would enable the crafters to make scissors of standard sizes and of high quality, he said. At present, the size varies, from six inches to 14 inches, and the scissors are sold at a price ranging from Rs.20 to Rs.500.

Known for their sharpness, the scissors are used at home and by industrial garment manufacturers.

They can be repaired, unlike other scissors that are thrown out after use.

In the Uttar Pradesh Hindi, the phrase used to vouch for the quality of the scissors is Dada le, potaa barpe (a product bought by the grandfather, but which continues to be used by his grandson), Mr. Ahmad said, to underscore the scissors’ quality.

The Meerut scissors are made of carbon steel blades sourced from scrap metal found in cars, buses, trucks and railways. The handles are made of plastic, aluminium or alloys, which are sourced from old utensils. All the parts are pre-used. The first pair was made 360 years ago by Asli Akhun.

Meerut has 250 small-scale scissors-making units, employing 70,000 people directly and indirectly. Both the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments have helped the industry.

While men make scissors, women do the tasks that require handwork and pack the products.

They are sent only to the domestic markets, but the makers find it tough to meet the demand at home.

Mr. Saluja said the GI tag was given to products based on certain information submitted to the Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai: proof of origin, the GI map, the statement of case and the history of the product.

At present, the FISME, which is present in Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, is working to get the GI tag for three more products.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Crafts / by Renuka Phadnis / Mangaluru – January 10th, 2018

Varanasi man makes fourth Guinness record

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Varanasi man makes fourth Guinness record. TNN | Oct 19, 2017, 14:25 IST. DM Yogeshwar Ram Mishra handed over the certificate to Jagsdeesh Pillai

Varanasi :

Jagsdeesh Pillai, a former employee of Banaras Hindu University, brought a Diwali gift to the city in form of Guinness record. It is his 4th successful entry in the Guinness Book of World records for a theme based on ‘Make in India’ by creating the largest envelop with waste paper.

The district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra released the certificate at a function held on October 19. Pillai created the envelop of 25-mt (83.80 feet) in length and 14.40-mt (47-23 feet) in width using the waste paper from industrial estate.

According to him, earlier this record was in the name of Ajmal Khan Tibbiya from College of Aligarh Muslim University in the size length 17.86 meter (58 feet) and width 13.10 meter (42 feet). He had attempt for this record for the first time on June 21, 2016 on Yoga day, but unfortunately, because of breaking some rules of Guinness authorities while attempting the record, it was disqualified that time. In his second attempt he successfully made the record.

Earier, he had made three successful records. His first record was connected with Digital India by making an animation movie within a shortest time by breaking a Canadian’s record in November 2012. His second record was on the largest photo awareness campaign “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” breaking a record of Maharashtra in November 2016. Besides, he also broke the record of China by creating the longest line of post cards to spread awareness about Indian Flag in June 2017.

Pillai is the only person who holds a Guinness World Record entry from Varanasi. “Now I am planning to make next Guinness Book of World record on the subject of ‘Namami Gange’ and ‘Swachh Bharat,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Varanasi News / TNN / October 19th, 2017

Meet Kanpur’s ‘calculator girl’

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Dilpreet Kaur

_____________________________________________________________________
Highlights

Bagging 13 records in a year, Dilpreet Kaur set a history in Limca Book of Records.

She follows the ancient Abacus theory to solve bigger problems.

She holds the record for solving 11 calculation in 15.83 seconds to 1.36 minutes.

_____________________________________________________________________

Kanpur :

A class 10th student from the industrial town has sent the records tumbling , setting 13 Limca Book of records in just a year.

Nicknamed ‘Calculator Girl’, Dilpreet Kaur set 11 national and two world records for most number of mathematical calculations in a minute, that too in a short span of one year. She received her certificates for her feat on Saturday.

In an event organized and supervised by district administration, railway officials and others in the city on August 25, 2016, she had made 11 record by doing 11 mathematical calculations in a record time, ranging from 15.83 sec to 1.36 minute. All 11 records of Dilpreet were accepted in October last year.

In total, Dilpreet, till date had set 14 records which includes two world records, Limca Book of Records authorities said.

“She has become the first person to achieve the feat of bagging a maximum of 13 records in just a span of one year, which is a rare feat in the history of Limca Book of Records.

” Anant Kasibhatla, member of the Limca Book of Records team said her father Manjeet Singh, a mathematics teacher, encouraged her by giving her bigger numbers to solve. “To improve her skill, we suggested her to follow ancient Abacus theory to perform mathematical functions like multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, square root and cube root,” Singh

The district administration has also written to ministry of child development to acknowledge her mother Simran Kaur, also a teacher, said.

The district magistrate has also made a recommendation to chief minister Aditya Nath Yogi for acknowledging her talent and rewarding her.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Kanpur News / by Faiz Rahman Siddiqui / TNN / April 17th, 2017

At flower show, Singh family springs 22-award surprise

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Travel

Lucknow:

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

‘Stove watcher’ developed by Meerut lads selected in CBSE’s national exhibition

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Meerut :

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

Kakori martyr barrack makes way for hospital

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion
The dilapidated barrack

Allahabad :

When the entire nation is paying homage to martyrs Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri and Thakur Roshan Singh, who were hanged on December 19, 1927, for the Kakori incident, the district authorities have failed to conserve a historic site associated with Roshan Singh in the heart of the city.

Singh, who was kept in Malaka Jail, which presently houses SRN Hospital of MNL Medical College, was hanged in one of the barracks. The jail building has been demolished and a new building for super-specialty facility is being constructed at the site.

Singh was a member of the organisation founded by Chandra Shekhar Azad. he was punished by the Britishers for his role in Kakori incident when a train from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow was looted in Kakori. Despite protests by the defence com mittee, which was chaired by Motilal Nehru, Bismil, Ashfaqullah, Rajendra Lahiri and Thakur Roshan Singh were sentenced to death.

“We feel ashamed that despite our efforts, we failed to have a memorial. There is a memorial at Faizabad jail where Ashfaqullah was hanged and in Gorakhpur where Bismil was hanged,” Raju Jaiswal, son of a freedom fighter, said.

Principal of MNL Medical College, Dr SP Singh said “We have approached the administration for installing a statute in the new building.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Allahabad News / by Rajeev Mani / TNN / December 20th, 2016

Meet the RTI activist who anticipated Modi’s denotification move

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy

Bareilly:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes would no longer be legal tender from November 9 might have come as a surprise and shock to most citizens, but not for Mohd Khalid Jilani, a Bareilly-based RTI activist, who had anticipated it in October this year.

On October 17, Jilani filed an RTI query with the Union ministry of finance asking whether there was a proposal pending with the government about scrapping notes in the two denominations after the income declaration scheme (IDS) had ended. Jilani had also asked for names and address of those people and organisations who had suggested scrapping of the two notes. The reply to his query is still awaited.

Jilani had two more questions for the ministry. In his RTI request, he had asked what were the reasons responsible for domestic black money which had come to light during the review fo the IDS. The final question was about the amount of money the finance ministry had spent on publicity of IDS.

Since the RTI Act states that queries must be replied to within 30 days, Jilani is awaiting the completion of the deadline in a week.

“By not replying to the query, the finance ministry maintained secrecy about its decision to scrap both currency notes,” Jilani told TOI.

Asked what prompted him to file the query, Jilani said, “The Modi government was criticised by everyone for not fulfilling the promise to clamp down on black money made by him before elections. After the last date for IDS ended on September 30 this year, I thought that the Centre could now take some strict action against black money. Civil society has been demanding a ban on circulation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes for a long time. I myself had filed a memorandum in this regard with the finance ministry nearly three years ago.” He added that the Centre’s decision to denotify the two currency notes was delayed because of the festive season, which began when the IDS deadline expired.

Welcoming the move by the Centre, Jilani said, “It will impact black money, which is being used for funding terrorism and purchasing votes for politicians. However, the government should adopt a transparent system for exchanging old with new currency and conduct inquiry against persons found to be hoarding unaccounted money. Besides, public should support the government to make the country corruption-free instead of complaining about the inconvenience faced by them for some time.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bareilly News /by Priyangi Agarwal / TNN / November 09th, 2016

World’s first official airmail was delivered in Sangam city in 1911

Amazing Feats, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Allahabad :

Sangam city had been witness to a historic occasion when the world’s first official airmail delivery took place on February 18, 1911. French pilot Henri Pequet took off on a bi-plane from Parade ground with 6,500 letters for the satellite town of Naini to raise funds for charity. The plane covered five miles in around 13 minutes to land at Naini. It was later termed as the world’s first official airmail

“The chaplain of Holy Trinity Church (presently situated on Sarojini Naidu Marg) required money to raise funds for a new hostel. In a unique coincidence, British commander Walter G Windham was in the city with airplane related machines and an imported aeroplane to participate in a cultural and handicraft exhibition on Parade Ground,” said R N Yadav, senior post master, Allahabad region.

“Later, fate brought the clergyman to Windham. He persuaded Windham to perform an aerial show to raise fund for the construction of a hostel. Windham later conceived the aerial show as as an airmail delivery event, which became historic due to its importance,” Yadav said adding that it was the world’s first officially documented airmal delivery.

“Windham felt that it could be advertisement for the exhibition as well as a demonstration of rapid and safe transportation of mails. Thus, the idea of the world’s first official airplane mail was born. Those interested in availing the service were asked to send their mail addressed and stamped to the chaplain of the Holy Trinity Church,” Yadav told TOI.

Philatelist Suryakant Awasthi said, “The clergyman had asked nominal sum of six annas per letter as a contribution for building the new hostel building. Only cards or letters weighing under one ounce in weight were accepted. A large number of people participated as the occasion was unique and letters addressed to people all over the globe were received.”

The letters include those addressed to Jawaharlal Nehru, King George V and several maharajas.

He said pilot Pequet was entrusted with the task of flying the Sommer bi-plane, which had a rotary Gnome engine of 50 horsepower. Pequet started at 5 pm and the landing took place after 13 minutes near Naini junction. When Pequet descended, there was no crowd to greet him. He merely handed over the mail bag to the only post department official present there and returned to Allahabad.

Pequet flew the plane at the speed of 60 miles per hour at a height of 120-150 feet.

The postal department, alongwith the Air Force, enacted the flying of world’s first air-mail as part of centenary celebrations on February 18, 2011, with equal number of letters but from Bamrauli airport to Naini.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Allahabad / Vinod Khanal / TNN / October 15th, 2016

Kumbh’s ‘lost-and-found’ baba passes away

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Travel

KumbhLostnFoundBabaLUCKNOW22aug2016

Allahabad :

Raja Ram Tiwari or ‘Bhule Bhatke Walon ke Baba’, known to the world as the one who ran ‘lost and found camp’ on the banks of the Sangam during Kumbh and Magh Melas for the past 71 years, died here on Saturday. He was 88. Tiwari, according to a conservative estimate, united over 14 lakh adults and around 21,000 children with their families during his self-less service spreading over seven decades. His latest passion was cleaning the Ganga.

“Babuji initiated his new venture, that of undertaking massive cleaning work of Ganga from Purnima (full moon) of April and wanted to do the same on every Purnima, but could not do much,” said Umesh Tiwari, youngest among his four sons. Raja Rama has left behind a family of 28 members including 20 grandchildren and his wife Shanti Devi (85 yrs) who lives in his native village of Gura Pure Badal of Nandu Ka Pura, Raniganj Tehsil of Pratapgrah district.

Starting the noble cause at the age of 18 along with his nine associates (in 1946), Raja Ram continued his work relentlessly for the past 71 years, starting from a handmade crude loudspeaker to a full-fledged camp having a strong team of over 150 volunteers during the previous Kumbh Mela in 2013.

When asked how his work will move forward, his long-term associate Pushkar Upadhayay said, “Such selfless service cannot stop after the demise of a person, especially the one who started it. No doubt we will miss his guidance in running the camp, but at any cost his name and work would continue, with more passion and commitment.”

Although the iconic man earned several awards and citations, including being featured in TV programme Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi (broadcast on October 15, 2015), his family members feel that his services were not recognized by the Central government.

As his body was brought from his native village to his house at Om Gayatri Nagar colony of the city, several senior officials of the district administration and prominent citizens visited his house to pay their last respect.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani / TNN / August 22nd, 2016

Another prodigy sprouts from Lucknow’s ‘talented family’

Amazing Feats, Education, Records, All
Just short of her fifth birthday, Ananya is all set to get admission in Class 9 in a Lucknow school if the state education department gives its consent. (Handout image)
Just short of her fifth birthday, Ananya is all set to get admission in Class 9 in a Lucknow school if the state education department gives its consent. (Handout image)

As her name suggests, Lucknow’s Ananya Verma is a unique child.

Just short of her fifth birthday, Ananya is all set to get admission in Class 9 in a city school if the state education department gives its consent. And it will be the first time she will ever go to a school.

The story of her two elder siblings is no different. Her brother Shailendra became the country’s youngest computer science graduate in 2007 when he was just 14 and sister Sushma holds the Limca Book of Records for becoming the youngest matriculate at seven. She enrolled in a PhD course at the age of 15 last year.

Born on December 1, 2011, Ananya can read all kinds of books, including the Ramayana and the Hanuman Chalisa, with ease.

“My elder daughter, Sushma, went to St Meera’s. This school is willing to take the child (Ananya) in Class 9. But there are certain formalities and hence she cannot be enrolled without official permission,” Ananya’s father Tej Bahadur, who works as a peon in a university, said.

“We never force her to study. When I return home from the university, she insists that I help her in her studies. Her ability to grasp new topics is commendable,” Sushma, who mostly helps her in mathematics, said.

The school has allowed Ananya to attend classes as she waits for the education department’s permission. She has been going to school regularly for the last 10-15 days and is already quite popular among students.

The management of St Meera’s School is also very happy to have Ananya.

“We spotted abundant talent in Ananya just like Sushma. We groomed Sushma after she came to our school in Class 9 when she was just 5. We will work extra with Ananya also. Her fingers are very small. She needs to be given special attention, particularly in mathematics. Our trained educators will conduct extra sessions with her,” school manager Vinod Ratra said.

He said in Sushma’s case the then district inspector of schools Vikas Srivastava gave her the permission and she could then attend school.

“We are awaiting approval from the secondary education department. Ananya is coming unofficially to the school and attending classes. But formal admission will be given once we get the approval,” Ratra added.

Tej Bahadur has no words except those of gratitude for the goddess of learning, Saraswati, who he says has blessed his children.

“I am illiterate and cannot guide my children. Whatever they have achieved is the grace of Ma Saraswati,” he said.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home / by Rajeev Mullick, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / August 09th, 2016