Monthly Archives: August 2014

UP goes wild with eco-tourism packages

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Travel

Lucknow :

You need not look far for your next holiday. The state government is now offering eco-tourism packages in selected sanctuaries including the Nawabganj bird sanctuary.

At the start of the tourist season in October, there will be eco-tourism packages for Sandi (Hardoi), Katarniaghat, Chuka (Pilibhit) and Samaspur (Rae Bareli). Bookings of rest houses will be made online, making the allotment process fair.

“We plan to first equip a few centres will all tourist facilities,” said forest corporation MD Iqbal Singh. The forest department’s website has information on different categories of eco-tourism packages. It also has sections for nature lovers and eco-tourism sites in the state.

Uttar Pradesh has one national park, 11 wildlife and 24 bird sanctuaries but eco-tourism has been limited to Dudhwa National Park and a few locations around it. The state has never had an eco-tourism policy.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved an eco-tourism policy with four guiding principles: conserving environment, developing community-based tourism, developing partnership with the private sector and creating and upgrading infrastructure facilities for tourists in wildlife sanctuaries.

The forest department has tied up with an NGO to promote ?environment education’, also a part of eco-tourism. A conservator-level officer has been appointed only for promoting eco-tourism.

“It also aims at gainful employment of local people,” said the official. Locals, mostly rural folks, will be encourages to play hosts or guides to tourists and will be paid for the services.

Potential eco-tourism sites in UP

Katarniaghat on Gerua river in Bahraich; Chuka ghat in Pilibhit on Sharda dam; Chambal ravines in Agra; Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary in Unnao; Chandraprabha Rajdari waterfalls and Deodari waterfalls in Varanasi; Sarsainawar Sarus Sanctuary in Etawah; Sandi Bird Sanctuary in Hardoi; Noida Bird Sanctuary and Kalpi river cruise in Yamuna in Jalaun

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 09th, 2014

Ancestral house of Premchand remained closed

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Varanasi :

Lamahi , the birthplace of great novelist Munshi Premchand, witnessed a series of programmes being organized during Lamahi Mahotsava to celebrate the 134th birth anniversary of the great author on Thursday.

But, the ancestral house of Premchand situated adjacent to the celebration venue remained closed during the function disappointing visitors who had come to view the house.

The celebration commenced with garlanding Premchand’s statue. People started visiting the village after 11am. Several plays based on the works of Premchand were staged on the memorial ground and nearby Ramlila ground. Besides, a group of folk singers performed Birha recital on the occasion.

The three-day Lamahi Mahotsava organised by the cultural department began with a seminar at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith on Wednesday. The celebration will conclude at Cultural Complex on Friday. Several activities including dance and drama by school children will be held on the concluding day.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / August 01st, 2014

Dandupur basks in Punam’s glory; gets ready to welcome its famous daughter

Sports

Varanasi :

A nondescript one-room brick house, with an asbestos shade on the front verandah in Dandupur village, about 5 kms from the district headquarters on Varanasi-Sindhora Road, waits for its proud daughter Punam Yadav, the winner of weightlifting bronze at Commonwealth Games at Glasgow.

“It is a matter of pride for us and the entire nation that a rural girl had won a medal. We will celebrate the victory when Punam comes home,” said her mother Urmila Devi, a homemaker who has four other daughters and two sons. Punam’s father Kailash Yadav, a farmer, on Thursday left for Swami Adgadanad Ashram at Shakteshgarh in Mirzapur district to solicit seer’s blessings for his daughter.

“It is ashram seer’s blessings that gave strength to Punam to win the medal,” said her mother, who was quite excited while sharing her feelings on the success of the 19-year-old.

Punam lifted a total of 202 kgs in the final of women’s 63 kgs class at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She is also a bronze winner in the Asian Juniors.

The condition of their house is a testimony of financial constraints the family has been facing over years in backing their three weightlifting daughters. The family has a small piece of land and a couple of cattle to meet all the requirements. Punam, the fourth daughter, is performing at international level, her elder sister Shashi Yadav and younger sister Puja Yadav are national level weightlifters. Her two elder sisters Kiran and Shashilata have been married.

“The family got financial support from well-wishers particularly from an uncle of Punam to fulfil her dreams,” said Saheb Singh Yadav, her sister-in-law. It was her dedication and hard work that won her a medal, he said.

Her brothers Ashutosh and Abhishek, both high school students, were happy over the success of their sister.

The members of Saptsagar Yadav Maha Sabha too were delighted over Punam’s success. “We feel proud that a daughter of Kashi had won medal for the country,” said Pramod Yadav, president of the organization.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav recently announced to honour and give cash awards to all the medal winners of the state in the ongoing Commonwealth Games at Glasgow.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / August 02nd, 2014

US tourists top international footfall list at Taj

Records, All, Travel

Agra :

At 12%, US nationals formed the largest chunk of international tourists to the Taj Mahal in 2013 followed by UK (8%) and Germany (7%), stated a June 2014 World Bank presented to the Agra district administration. The report titled ‘Destination profiling, tourism enterprises and value chain assessment’ aimed at assessing Agra’s potential to be developed as a tourism hub under a pro-poor tourism development programme.

The programme aims to provide better tourist facilities in the state so that the poor can earn a livelihood via revenue generated off tourism. The report states that every year, over 7 lakh foreigners visit the Taj – one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the focal point of tourism in Agra. But only one-third of foreign nationals who visit the 17th century mausoleum make a trip to the equally noteworthy Agra Fort and Fatherpur Sikri.

Delhi tops the list of domestic visitors to the Taj with 17.9% share, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan. However, the report cautioned that the figures, based on ticket sales at the ASI monuments and check-ins at Agra hotels are approximations only. Agra’s potential for development as a pro-poor tourist hub remains unrealized as only a little over 50% of foreign tourists stay overnight, while others prefer leaving the city by evening after visiting the Taj.

In other words, out of 7.4 lakh foreign tourists who came to Agra in 2013, 4.03 lakh stayed overnight. On the other hand, only 5% domestic tourists stayed overnight. “Overnight stays can have greater impact on the local economy.

Hoteliers largely attribute this decline to opening of the Yamuna Expressway facilitating day trip from the national capital. Adverse publicity (crime) and lack of tourism options beyond major monuments are other factors for less night stay” the report said, adding that in comparison to 94-330 US dollar a foreign tourist should spend on a one-day tour in Agra, only 40-110 Us dollars are spent. The 2013 Uttarakhand deluge has also affected the number of tourists visiting Agra, it stated. Foreign tourists’ inflow to Taj Mahal decreased by over 29% in June 2013 as compared to June 2012.

This is attributable to the rising number of crimes in the country sand the 2013 Uttarakhand flashfloods. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), 4.29 lakh foreigners visited Taj between June and December 2012, while only 3.29 lakh turned up during the corresponding period in 2013. The trend continues in 2014 as well with 1.55 lakh visitors in January and February, compared to 1.75 lakh in 2013 fort he same period.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / Aditya Dev, TNN / July 22nd, 204

Sanskrit teaches you to become a good person: Kishwar Zubin Nasreen

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Lucknow :

Kishwar Zubin Nasreen, the head of the department of Sanskrit at Allahabad University, on Tuesday became the first Muslim woman to receive the Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan award for her immense contribution in the field of Sanskrit. The award, instituted in the memory of socialist leader Janeshwar Mishra, will be given annually to a Muslim woman scholar of the language.

Though Nasreen has been a professor of Sanskrit for 36 years, she has been closely associated with the language since 1963.

“Besides being a beautiful language, Sanskrit teaches you to become a good human being and also helps you learn a lot about Indian culture and moral values,” she said.

“My religion never came in my way. In fact, after I learnt Arabic, considered one of the most difficult languages, Sanskrit was a cake walk,” she said.

“The first thing I tell my students is that they should learn Sanskrit as a therapy. That gradually moulds the character of a student, making the person a good human being enriched with the right balance of moral values and patriotism,” she added.

Nasreen said besides parental support, her inspiration to learn the language were compilations of Kalidas, which strike a balance between ancient and contemporary messages.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 06th, 2014

Commonwealth Games 2014: Asab Mohammed wins bronze in men’s double trap event

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports
Asab Mohammed
Asab Mohammed

Shooting contibuted yet another medal to India’s medal tally as Asab Mohammed Rizvi grabbed the bronze medal in men’s double trap event. Another Indian shooter Ankur Mittal, who was leading after the qualification round finished in 5th position.

Asab defeated Nathan Xuereb of Malta 26-24 in the bronze medal play-off. Both the Indian shooters started off very well in the qualification round as Ankur and Asab with 135 and 132 points finished on 1st and 2nd respectively in the qualification round to make it to the semifinals.

Asab’s start to the semifinal round was a bit shaky as he missed 3 of the first 10 targets, but after that he didn’t miss a single shot in his next 10 rounds and scored a good 27/30. Along with Asab, two Englishmen Steven Scott and Matthew French finished with the same scoreline as the contest ended in three-way shoot-off.

Asab unfortunately missed one target in the shoot-off as the other two shooters shot a perfect 2/2 to qualify for the gold medal match.

In bronze medal play-off, Asab was leading 8-6 at one stage but then the 17 year old shooter from Malta,Nathan Xuereb made a good comeback to level the scores to 14-14. The inexperience of the Maltian shooter came into play as he missed few shots towards the end of the match.

Steven Scott shot a perfect 30 to clinch the gold medal and his compatriot Matthew French with a score of 29 won the silver medal.

With this medal, India’s medal tally has now gone up to 19 medals which includes 5 golds, 8 silvers and 6 bronze. England, Australia and Scotland hold the top 3 positions respectively.

Final Standings:

Position / Name / Medal
1 Steven Scott (ENG) GOLD
2 Matthew French (ENG) SILVER
3 Asab Mohammed (IND) BRONZE

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda / Home> News> Shooting / by Vishal Kungwani / July 27th, 2014

Akharas come alive on Naag Panchami

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, Travel

Allahabad :

While wrestlers kept the Tri-colour fluttering in Glasgow at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, their local brethrens on Friday got a chance to showcase their skills at dangals (wrestling competitions held in various akharas turned fitness centres of the city on the occasion of Naag Panchami.

Most of the akharas are decked up specially for the annual dangals held on Naag Panchami. For the rest of the year, these akharas act as fitness centres.

It is tragic change of fortune for the akharas of the Sangam City that still fondly remembers the famous wrestling match in which former world champion and legendary Gama Pehalwan defeated Rahim Sultaniwalla in an ‘akhara’ to become national champion. The match was held a century ago. Since then, much water has flowed in Ganga and even city’s landscape has undergone a sea change, robbing ‘akharas’ of sheen.

Senior wrestler Ram Dulare said that akharas get a new lease of life only in Shravan. “The traditional style of wrestling is one of the oldest discipline of sports but has now confined to an annual affair,” he added. Lamenting that local akharas had shunned Indian style of wrestling, he said “The drills include around 90% gymnasium techniques. Pure form of training involving dand baithak’ is missing as we lack mandatory equipments like Mugdals’, Gaddas’, Nals’ and Mallakhambs,” said Dulare.

As a result, the city has failed to produce even a single wrestler of repute in the last several years. In Friday’s dangals several local wrestlers won people’s applause. However, most of them lamented absence of expert trainers and equipments in akharas.

Sanu Dube, who won the dangal’ in Raghunathdas Vyayamshala said, “We don’t have the luxury of enjoying energy drink after hours of practice in akharas. Instead, we rely on tea. One cannot expect wrestlers practicing under such pitiable conditions to scale new heights.”

Shubham is a boatman and a practicising wrestler in middle-weight category. He still relies on age-old technique of Kala-jung’ and Dhaag’, while other wrestlers have turned to modern gymnastics techniques.

He was among two dozen wrestlers, including runner-up Ankur (18), Nitin (18) and Bikku Nishad (17), who won the annual traditional competition’ despite practicising in akharas (pits) that are devoid of even traditional equipment like like Mugdals (Indian Clubs), Gaddas’ (Maces), Nals’ (Stone Weights) and Mallakhambs (Wrestler Pillars).

“Energy drink and training under experts are luxury for wrestlers like us. We neither have the money to buy such expensive items nor any equipment to exercise,” said the wrestlers.

“In fact, the akharas’ (pits) have turned into gymnasium where dangals are held only in Shravan (July-August),” laments wrestler Suraj Kumar at contested at the dangal held in Loknath Akhara.

For another wrestler Kamal Singh, Shravan is the only occasion in which he and his disciples get a chance to display their expertise. For the rest of the time, the two akharas turn into a fitness centre.

Dangal was also held in Loknath Vyayamshala but there was no provision to declare winners. However, the topmost winners were feted.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanal, TNN / August 02nd, 2014

A friendship bond stronger than steel

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Allahabad :

In the present time, when people are fast losing faith on each other and best of friends forgot each other while negotiating with the challenges of fast moving lifestyle, two friends of the city, Honorary Captain Dharma Deo Singh and Haveldar Paras Rai, are living together, along with their respective families, for the past 50 years, sharing ups and downs of life under the same roof and same kitchen.

If one listens to the story of their friendship, it sounds like a perfect script for a hit film. They belong to different caste, Singh being a Thakur and Rai a Bhumihar. They met in 1960 when Singh arrived at Deoria for getting admitted in class XI. “I met him outside a cinema hall and it was a spontaneous chemistry between us. The same strong bond is also among our children and grandchildren,” said Dharma Deo Singh.

Singh joined Indian Army in 1962. Rai followed his friend after around a decade and that too after Singh persuaded him.

After retiring in July 91, Deo wanted to settle down in his native village but when his elder brother and other relatives showed no interest to support him or his family. It was Paras who supported him and floated the idea of constructing their own a house with a common roof.

The house has a common boundary wall, common entrance and the common inner courtyard. The two half’s of the house are mirror images of every minute things, be it the tiles of kitchen or toilet, utensils, windows, water taps, electric fittings etc. Everything is located exactly at the same location and point as in the other portion of the house.

When a visitor comes, he or is often perplexed on identifying the real parents. “The children respond with the word ‘papa’ or ‘mummy’ irrespective of who had called them,” said Chanda, daughter of Singh.

These friends were born on July 1, 1944, and got retired from the Indian Army in 1991. It is not only the festivals which are celebrated together in this large family, even the marriage cards have the names of both the parents and members of two families.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / August 03rd, 2014

Brace for London-like outing in Lucknow

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

Lucknow :

From Tuesday onwards, you can enjoy evenings in the idyllic settings of Janeshwar Mishra Park in Gomtinagar extension. The sprawling park, claimed to be Asia’s largest garden, will be thrown open to the public on August 5.

Initially, only one-third (96 acres) area of 376-acre park will be opened. The park, named after late socialist and Samajwadi Party leader Janeshwar Mishra, is being developed at a cost of Rs 168 crore. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will inaugurate it on Mishra’s birth anniversary on Tuesday.

The grand project will have beautiful landscapes, two huge ponds spread over 38 acres, golf course, horse riding trail, lakes, sports centre, gymnasium, cycle track, jogging track, theme gardens, children’s play area, lawns etc.

In the beginning, public will have access only to a pond spread over 11 acres and the green belt around it. The entire project has to be completed by May 2015.

Among the major attractions would be the boats resembling gondolas, which have been brought from a Noida-based mall for a trial run. “We have purchased two boats which will ferry visitors across the water body,” said an official. Around 2,500 trees have also been bought from Meerut and Saharanpur for the park. Ponds will be recharged through rainwater harvesting and the entire park will be fully solar powered.

LDA has deployed a huge team of executive and junior engineers to complete the work before deadline. Many new townships are also coming up around the site. Officials claim rates of these properties, especially LDA’s Riverview Phase II apartments, would escalate once the entire park would be ready.

“Just wait for six more months, these flats will sell like hot cakes as it will become the most prime locality (in the city) considering the large green space, public recreation facilities, golf course etc,” said an official associated with Janeshwar Mishra Park.

Janeshwar Mishra

Janeshwar Mishra, also known as Chhote Lohia, was a famous socialist leader. He represented Allahabad three times in the Lok Sabha and was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1996, 2000 and 2006. Mishra was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Phulpur in 1969-70 after defeating KD Malviya, then petroleum minister in Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet. He served as Union minister in the governments of Morarji Desai, Chaudhary Charan Singh, VP Singh, Chandrashekhar, HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujral. Mishra held key portfolios like petroleum, water resources chemicals and fertilisers, energy, shipping and transport, communication and railways. He joined the Samajwadi Party in 1990s.

LDA struggles to meet deadline

As the deadline approaches, LDA is struggling to meet the expectations of chief minister who wants the park to be modelled on the lines of famous Hyde park of London.

The grand inauguration will be held at the park’s entrance plaza but about 30% of construction work is still pending. Workers are still fixing the tiles and polishing marbles. The main pond at the entrance, which will have fountains, is under-construction.

Trees that were planted a few days back have started drying. Officials say these plants are special as they dry up on plantation and before growing into a green tree. The entire land had to be ploughed in a hurry before sowing grasses. This has led to loosening of soil particles and formation of sludge due to rains.

The last minute preparations have also led to the function being planned in absence of the statue of Janeshwar Mishra. Officials said the 25 feet statue is being sculpted by a renowned Australian sculptor. But it won’t arrive in time for inauguration, confirmed LDA.

Earlier, officials had claimed that gondolas would be imported from China or Japan or Venice, but instead LDA has bought boats resembling gondolas from Noida.

Interesting bits

Inauguration to be held without the statue of Janeshwar Mishra

Park to be developed on the lines of Hyde Park of London

Once park gets ready in 2015, rates of properties around the site to shoot up

Boats resembling gondolas to be run on trail basis

Hurried ploughing has loosened soil and led to sludge in the park

Civil work at entrance plaza still on, fountains missing

Entire focus on constructing walking, jogging and cycling track

In next phase, construction of sports facilities like cricket, badminton and lawn-tennis etc., will be done

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 04th, 2014

The Mehedis of Aligarh – sherwani makers for presidents

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

Aligarh :

Mehedi Hasan of Aligarh has served as tailor to former presidents Sanjeeva Reddy, VV Giri and Fakruddin Ali Ahmed. He is reputed to have stitched 175 sherwanis for former president Zakir Hussain, who donned these in all his 17 years of political life.

Mehedi Hasan’s shop was set up in 1947, the year India became independent. These days, the renowned tailor’s sons Anwar and Akhtar Mehedi carry forward the sartorial legacy.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, actors Saif Ali Khan and Raj Babbar, RLD chief Ajit Singh and Somnath Chatterjee, formerly of the CPI-M, have all donned Mehedi sherwanis. Rahul Gandhi’s body is easy to design for, the tailors say, while Satpal Maharaj is rather “complex”!

This Eid, the brothers are hard at work. Anwar, an engineer by training, pursued his father’s trade and entered into tailoring as he finds it far more creatively satisfying. “I learnt from my valid (father) the secrets of making a perfect sherwani. The art lies in getting the right cut and fitting and a graceful fall. Tailors in Delhi are also making sherwanis but they cannot get the right fit, all of them are making free-size sherwanis!” Anwar says.

In the month of Ramzan, the sherwani assumes formal importance,

“That is because of iftar parties, which are formal. Sherwanis go with the feel of the get-together, and has a regal look. We can’t wear this and go for work. It is too formal to be worn at the workplace. Even today, I stitch sherwanis for the DIG, DMs commissioners for iftar parties,” Anwar says.

This Eid, orders have been pouring in from across the country. The Mehedis are catering to demand for sherwanis from Mumbai, Pune, Madras, Odisha and Jammu & Kashmir. Orders from the USA, UK, UAE and Australia are also received, the Mehedis say.

“There is slight change in the demand. Youngsters want modern elements in the sherwani, so we give them open collars. But the demand for the traditional style is higher,” Anwar Mehedi says.

Visitors to the shop can see the register, which has letters from the secretaries of presidents praising him or his father for their sherwanis.

The Mehedis prefer working with silk wool, polywool and terrawool – these fabrics give a nice fitting, they say.

“The art lies in the details, and in observing the body type – shoulders, back, chest and arms, and the grace of the fall. Everything needs to be taken care of.” Anwar Mehedi said, adding, “Fat people think it won’t look nice on them, but the sherwanis gives their bodies shape because they are made to fit the body frame.”

As for women, he says: “I have made some five sherwanis for women, and sent them to the USA. But then, which woman will spend between Rs5,000 and Rs15,000 on a garment that is not-too-embellished or fancy?”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Eram Agha / July 29th, 2014