Monthly Archives: August 2015

Relic of finesse, hub of intellect buried in neglect

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Travel

Lucknow :

Famous as ‘Shahji ki Deodhi’ or ‘Saat Aangan ki Kothi’ (mansion of seven courtyards), the residence of Amritlal Nagar is now in a dreadful state. Today, the kothi with a significant history is shadowed by past and broken with time. Not just family members, artists, neighbours and culturati want the mansion restored and declared heritage building.

The mansion is facing legal problems over property rights and encroachment issues. Put up for sale, a precious piece of history is on the verge of being lost. Daughter of the writer, Dr Deeksha Nagar said, “Government can transform the mansion into a live cultural museum.” In the maze of Old Lucknow there is a subtle presence of shredded memories woven by Nagar’s writings. “The mansion can be transformed into a place where literature can be created, reworked and performed as theatre,” she added.

When TOI contacted principal secretary culture Anita Meshram, she expressed inability to talk on the issue and said, “I cannot comment on this particular problem.” On tracing the forgotten house that Nagar lived in, it found to be actually a rented part of the kothi which originally belonged to Sharf-ud-Daula. It is said to have been the place where once Shahji had given refuge to Begum Hazrat Mahal, the night before she escaped to Nepal. The part of the kothi in which Nagar lived was the mardana (men’s) area of the Kothi’s original structure.

Saat Aangan ki Kothi may be lying in neglect but has not lost the resonance of beauty. Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali remarked, “Amritlal Nagar’s residence should be protected and marked as heritage of the City of Nawabs.” Some extensions of the kothi which earlier included a Thakurdwara, wooden doors and jharokhas with flawless filigree have slowly worn out over time, added Laavi Tikkha, neighbour of Amritlal Nagar from 1964-89.

Residence of Amritlal Nagar in those times used to attract lots of personalities from the Hindi film industry. “Shashi Kapoor, Shyam Benegal, Raj Babbar and K P Saxena were among the visitors and Junoon (1978) was shot here,” recalled Manoj Kumar Mehrotra, who resided in the house opposite Amritlal Nagar’s.

Though Nagar did not own any property, the kothi used to be an evening attraction of Mirza Mandi till a couple of decades ago. “The evening of courtly entertainment of poetry was part of his life in this kothi,” his neighbour Rahul Seth told TOI. Envisaging the past of 1980’s five and eighty years old Munendra Nath Mehrotra recalls that, “Amritlal Nagar’s kothi used to be a charm of this place but now it is surrounded by buildings on all sides.”

Blended with Lucknowi Tehzeeb and Nazakat, Amritlal Nagar was one of the renowned artistes of Lucknow’s literary repertoire. Former MP of Lucknow Lalji Tandon told TOI, “We tried to restore Nagar ji’s place a few years ago but didn’t make a headway. Government spending crores of rupees on development can easily restore this invaluable piece of history.”

Standing very differently from today’s world the work of Amritlal Nagar have transcended all boundaries compelling the reader to think. Made from ‘lakhauri’ and organic paste with Mughal architecture the mansion exudes an arresting aura of uniqueness. Wild grass growing on the 400-year-old building shrouds this relic of visual and oral arts of Old Lucknow.

(Compiled by Ashutosh Agarwal)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 23rd, 2015

Chitranjan Swarup mourned, House adjourned

Leaders

Lucknow :

UP Assembly was adjourned minutes after the Question Hour when news of the demise of minister of state for parliamentary affairs Chitranjan Swarup was broken by parliamentary affairs minister Mohammad Azam Khan.

Debate was on and Question Hour was about to end when Azam Khan informed the House about Swarup’s demise.

Swarup passed away after a prolonged illness at a hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday. Swarup (69), a three-time MLA from Muzaffarnagar, is survived by wife and three sons.

He was first elected MLA on Congress ticket and then on BSP ticket after which he joined the Samajwadi Party.

Azam Khan recalled his long association with Swarup saying, “He was my associate in the last government as also in this one. He had been a dear friend who made his contribution in setting up of Jauhar University (in Rampur) too.”

Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey also recalled his meetings with Swarup and said he visited his home in Muzaffarnagar to a warm welcome.

Leader of opposition Swami Prasad Maurya, leader of BJP legislature party Suresh Khanna, Congress legislature party leader Pradip Mathur were among others who recalled Swarup’s contribution, especially to the field of education.

A two-minute silence was observed in the honour of the departed soul following which House proceedings were adjourned until Thursday morning.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 20th, 2015

UP farmer’s soccer player son heads for Germany

Sports, World Opinion

Lucknow :

For 14-year-old Akash Mishra, a student of Lucknow’s Guru Gobind Singh Sports College, it is hard to tell when soccer turned from pastime to passion. But it sure yielded fruitful returns as Akash and 14 other children from across India have been chosen for a six-year training programme in Germany, during which the youngsters will train under coaches from Bundesliga Club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Son of a farmer from UP’s Balrampur district (Tekuhikala, Pilibhit), almost 160 kilometres from the state capital, the family was initially reluctant to send their only son abroad, but when they saw the training facilities in Mumbai, their doubts and anxiety were gone.

Mishra, who plays at left full back position in his team would be leaving for Germany on Wednesday (August 19), and hopes to represent India in the FIFA World Cup 2017 (for the under-17 age group). Speaking to TOI, Akash said, “I was surprised when I came to know I had been selected for the training programme in Germany. I never expected to make it to the training schedule of Bundesliga.” Mishra and 14 others were selected through a massive talent hunt conducted across 50 cities of India in the presence of experienced coaches of the German soccer club.

Elaborating about his training module, Mishra said he is working on a strategy to use his right limb optimally to yield positive results. “In a tournament held in 2014, we were told about the possibility of selection for the German training programme,” said the budding soccer player, who idolises Cristiano Ronaldo and ace Indian footballer Baichung Bhutia.

Proud of his son’s exploits, Anil Kumar Mishra said, “We were reluctant when Akash was coming to Sports College Lucknow and when we came to know about his chance to go to Germany for a six-year training programme, we told him to decline the offer. But my son and his coaches convinced us about the bright prospects in sports, following which we relented.” Akash’s younger sister is happy for him.

“During the 6-year programme in Germany, Akash would get a chance to be with his family every six months,” said Anil Kumar.

Praising the budding footballer, coach Mahesh Gawali said, “TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is one of the best training grounds in the world and Akash would benefit from the exposure. He is a natural left-footer, a rare characteristic seen in Indian footballers. This will definitely give him an edge over others. Apart from this, he is dedicated and disciplined, an essential pre-requisite.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / by Arunav Sinha, TNN / August 20th, 2015

Ikka Daud: 200-year-old tradition in Shrawan

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, Travel

Allahabad :

The holy month of Shrawan brings along several traditions unique to a particular area. Sangam City too has a unique tradition of organizing age-old ‘Ghehre Baazi’ (‘Ghehre’ means steps and ‘Baazi’ means bet) or Ikka Daud (horse cart race) on Yamuna Bank Road on every Monday of the holy month.

The race has a 200-year-old history. The tradition was started by pandas of the city and they have continued to patronize it. Around 1940s, zamindars of Allahabad and neighbouring areas started participating in this unique race.

Winner gets accolades and appreciation of the cheering crowd as a reward for winning the strenuous race. No money is given out. “This public appreciation provides an unexplainable satisfaction for the ‘saais’ (horse keeper),” says Badre Alam, who has participated in at least 30 races and won 10 of them.

Alam’s forefathers were zamindars of Katra. He has continued his family tradition of participating in the race, which he feels “is an example of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb of the region. It is held on Monday of Shrawan. Both Hindus and Muslims participate enthusiastically in this race.” Continuing in the same vein he says, “Shiva signifies ‘shakti’ (power). Horse too symbolizes power. Hence, the race is held in Shrawan.”

“The race is unique in many ways. As per the rule, horses used in commercial activities are banned. Only racing horses can canter (movement of horse wherein it moves in fast steps) and not gallop,” says Badre and adds this race helps horse cart owners prepare for the 14-km-long competitive race held in October-November held on the route between Hanumanganj and Shashtri bridge or Sahson and Phaphamau. “This race too is quite prestigious and witnesses participants from Lucknow, Kanpur, Mirzapur, Pratapgarh etc,” he said.

Badre Alam relies on Sindhi horses for Ikka Daud. “Sindhi horses brought from the Sindh province of Pakistan are the best for the purpose. They have inborn talent for moving fast on sand and not gallop. We bring these horses from the famous animal fair of Barmer,” said Alam.

Even the cart of this unique race is equally special and manufactured in Delhi. The huge wooden wheel and the riding platform are made of Shisham wood and best ball bearings are used to give it required speed.

“Two persons sit on a cart. One handles the horse through leash and another, sitting in the rear, navigates the cart by informing the location of other competitors,” he said Alam.

Another regular participant Lalji Yadav, who has named his horse ‘Bhaiya’, said, “It is a pity that no one cares about offering prize money for the horse. Even pigeons are more fortunate as they at least get a prize after winning tournaments held for them.” He also wants proper security during race. “The district administration should see to it that people don’t jump on the road and no vehicles should be allowed on the track,” he demanded.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani, TNN / August 18th, 2015

World War I weapons on display in centenary year in Allahabad

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

Allahabad :

To mark the centenary year of the World War I, the Allahabad Museum will set up a gallery displaying arms and armours, including light machine guns and pistols, used in both world wars by August end. Renowned poet William Cowper’s quote, “War lays a burden on the reeling state, And peace does nothing to relieve the weight,” will be the theme of the gallery.

Museum director Rajesh Purohit said, “A light machine gun having a number on the outer side as MG 08/15 and manufactured in 1917 was used during the World War I. Another machine gun maxim MG 08/15 manufactured in 1918, pepper box revolver with six barrels and a six cartridge belonging to the 19th Century are prominent displays which were used during the World War-I. Their advanced versions were used in WW II.”

The other weapons to be displayed in the gallery are a muzzle loading, percussion cap firing system pistol and a smooth bore pistol with ram rod having a size 31cm and 1.6 cm belonging to early decades of 19th Century. Apart from the arms used in the two World Wars, the gallery would also exhibit pistols, swords, khukhri, bayonet and chest plates used by freedom fighters. Dumped in museum’s reserve collection along with 3,000 objects and antiquities, these arms and armours were away from public eye till 2011. After four years of classification, cataloguing and preservation, the objects classified under ‘arms and armours’ are ready to be displayed for visitors. These include various types of pistols, rifles and light machine guns. At present the museum has catalogued 211 weapons. However, the rifles that were in vogue during the WW II are yet to be displayed.

Most of these weapons are in good condition and could be used even after 100 years. The museum had roped in Allahabad University’s department of Defence Studies for cataloguing the guns and other arms. “A brigadier was also consulted to ascertain the present condition of the weapon. AU’s RK Tandon and Onkar Wankhede of the museum toiled hard towards restoration and preservation of arms. A total of 211 weapons are in the gallery,” said Purohit.

However, the museum had not documented donors of these weapons. “The museum started functioning with a small collection in 1931. With passage of time, donations started pouring in. We lack accounts of persons who donated various items, including arms and armours to the museum till 1950s,” said Purohit.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanal, TNN / August 20th, 2015

Harvard book chronicles Maha Kumbh success saga

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion

Lucknow :

The success of Maha Kumbh 2013 has now been chronicled in form of a book produced by teachers and scholars of Harvard University. Titled ‘Kumbh Mela, Mapping the Ephermal City’, the 447-page book will be formally released by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in New Delhi on Monday.

A compilation of contributions from acclaimed writers like Dina L Eck, the book praises the chief minister’s efforts to celebrate the mega event as a “Green Kumbh” by banning the use of plastic materials and other pollutants at the Sangam in Allahabad.

Diana L Eck is a scholar of religious studies and a professor of comparative religion and Indian studies at the Harvard. Her earlier books include ‘Banaras, City of Light’. Among other contributors of the book are renowned architect Rahul Mehrotra and a group of Harvard students who camped at the Sangam during Mahakumbh in 2013 on Akhilesh’s invitation.

Published by the South Asia Institute of the Harvard University, the book in a complete narration of various aspects of the event which attracted millions to one single place. Some bound by intrigue, some drawn by interest, some tied to devotion, some in quest of peace, some for research and others by the simple urge of being part of the momentous event that unfolded between January 14 to March 22, says the book

The book, right from its preamble, lists how the spade work on the mega event started, from laying the grid of the sprawling Mela premises, to the logistics and the massive sanitation, sewage disposal and mass vaccination campaigns that were taken care of by the government agencies.

Referring to the Kumbh Mela project undertaken by the South Asia Institute (SAI) of the Harvard University as a “keystone project” the book goes on to discuss in detail the entire multi-year research project findings. During the period of the project, over 50 Harvard professors, students, administrative staff, doctors and researchers made a pilgrimage to the site, with the duration of stay spanning between two days to several weeks.

Meena Sonea Hewett, executive director of the SAI in the preamble states that the book serves as an “example of sophisticated, interdisciplinary researched and produced a set of teaching tools, useful across the disciplines of public health, data science, architecture, urban planning, business, religion and culture.”

The contributors to the book also call the Kumbh much beyond the media spectacle and details the “sheer human achievement of creating the temporary and yet complex infrastructure of the 24-square-mile Kumbh city, compared to almost 2/3rd of Manhattan. Calling the entire process of making this city with an expiry date as “astonishing”, the team of the SAI also details how this city comes up for 45 days and takes in millions of faithfuls.

In the section on ‘Metrics’, the writers detail how the mela area stretches to 23.5 square km and extends to another 15 km stretch due to the receding river that leaves behind additional flood plains. “The sense of elastic accommodation within the temporary settlement is outstanding and unique” the book observes.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / by Subhash Mishra, TNN / August 17th, 2015

Police bravehearts to get gallantry award from Prez

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Lucknow :

Fifteen years after one of the fiercest gunbattles between the police and Naxalites in the state left 15 ultras dead, six police personnel of the ambush party will be awarded President’s Police Medal for Gallantry on Saturday. While the senior-most officer leading the team has retired from services, one of the junior-most members has passed away and will be awarded posthumously.

In all, 15 police personnel, including 7 IPS officers, involved in five different operations between 2001 and 2011 have been shortlisted for the gallantry award for their valour during police operations.

The encounter with the Naxalites took place on March 9, 2001 in Bhawanipur village of Mirzapur following a specific tip-off that more than a dozen people armed with latest rifles and ammunition had gathered in the village. About a dozen police teams zeroed in on the village and after evacuating the civilians, raided the hideouts of the Naxalites. As many as 15 Naxalites were killed and police recovered a total of 13 rifles, guns and pistols apart from a satchel of cartridges and countrymade rocket bombs from their possession.

The special task force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police (UPP) bagged a total of five gallantry medals for operations in Lucknow and Noida. The Lucknow operation relates to an encounter in 2006 in which listed gangster Sachin Pahari, who was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, along with his aide Vikas Kannaujiya were killed in Triveninagar area of the state capital. Police recovered two handguns from the ambush site after the encounter.

In the Noida encounter, the STF shot dead Ashutosh Rai and Ajay Singh in an ambush near the expressway in Noida in 2010. Each of the two gangsters was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. Police recovered a 9mm carbine and two pistols from the two gangsters.

Other incidents in which gallantry awards have been announced include the arrest of six criminals in Kavinagar area of Ghaziabad and an encounter in Varanasi in which listed historysheeter Satyendra Tewari, who was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, was gunned down. Tewari was reportedly wanted in more than 20 criminal cases including those of murder, kidnapping for ransom and extortion.

Apart from the gallantry awards, four police personnel will be awarded medals for distinguished services and 70 for meritorious services. As many as 25 other senior police officers and jawans will be presented with Commendation Discs as well.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 15th, 2015

Agra’s crucial role in freedom movement not documented: Historians

Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

Agra:

As the political capital, first of the Mughals and later the British, Agra was always a key centre of political action. The city played a crucial role in the freedom struggle but poor documentation of records has failed to highlight the contribution of the freedom fighters, say local historians.

Syed Ikhtiyar Jafri, director of the Mirza Ghalib Research Academy, who recently released a paper on the contribution of Urdu journalists, said “for whatever reasons the authentic history of Agra`s contribution to the freedom movement, to arts and literature, suffers from poor documentation of records, and therefore the contribution under-valued.”

Hardly any documented history book on the `Braj region` is available that could provide a true picture though fragmented pieces, mostly in newspapers are there for study. “Interestingly, Agra was a major centre of Hindi and Urdu journalism, and we have a long line of fighters with the pen,” says Prof Amit Mukherjea, head of the history department at St John`s College.

The first call for freedom in 1857, ignited by the visits of Nana Sahab, Azimullah Khan, Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah and dozens of other revolutionaries to the city, drew passionate support from the local youth who targeted government installations. Thousands of Hindus and Muslims, particularly in the rural hinterland, rose in revolt which forced the colonial rulers to declare Martial Law in the area.

The rebels against the imperialists were more active in the rural areas than in the city till Tantya Tope shifted base to Agra and the mohallas around Agra College and Gokulpura became the hotbeds of unrest. The heroes of the 1857 revolt, Thakur Heera Singh, Thakur Govind Singh, Chand Baba and Thakur Prithvi Singh continued to lead the mutineers with rare valour.

With the introduction of the railway and opening of the Tundla station in 1862, the city became the transit point of revolutionaries from the East. In 1857 the family of Jawaharlal Nehru migrated and settled in Agra following disturbances in Delhi. Motilal Nehru was born in Maithan mohalla in 1861.

The visits of Tilak, Lajpat Rai and the late Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 and 1929 galvanised the youth and the city came into prominent focus.

Revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Raj Guru and Sukhdev stayed here for days in the Noori Darwaza area, making bombs. A series of bomb blasts and conspiracies like the Hardy Bomb case, explosions in Sheetla Gali, Moti Katra, Barah Bhai ki Gali and other parts sent shock waves in British cantonments.

On the vanguard of revolutionary activities were journalists like Pandit Sri Ram Sharma, Mahendra Jain, Devendra Sharma, Goverdhan Das, Ganpati Kela and Hari Shankar Sharma, in addition to scores of poets and litterateurs.

Ram Chandra Bismil from Mainpuri had fired the imagination of youth with his revolutionary writings. Bismil`s “Shaheedon ki chitaon par lagenge har varash mele, watan par marne walon ka yahi namo nishan hoga,” rings an echo to this day.

Hindi daily Sainik of Sri Krishna Dutt Paliwal was the first to launch a frontal attack on the British colonists. Some of the best editors of the time including Ageya served as editors of this daily. The success of Sainik gave impetus to a long line of periodicals including Hanumant Singh Raghvanshi`s Swadesh Vandhav, Laxman Singh`s Praja Hiteshi, Taja Tar, Ujala, Citizen, Punch and dozens of others.

Women played a crucial role leading protest marches and participating in dharnas. Saroj Gaurihar, Parbati Devi, Bhagwati Devi Paliwal, Sukh Devi, Damyanti Devi Chaturvedi, Satyawati, Angoori Devi Jain, Shiva Dixit, Chandra Kanta Mishra, Vidhyawati Rathod and Heera Bahen Hemraj Betai of the INA were some of the leading figures of that era.

“So many others were there and there was absolutely no gender bias or differences,” says Saroj Gaurihar recalling her activities during those years, adding that “the boycott movement against foreign goods was recognized as the most successful by Motilal Nehru in Agra” in a speech.

Two stalwarts of the freedom movement, Thakur Ram Singh, the hero of Kala Pani, and Prof Siddheswar Nath Srivastav, died recently.

Officially, Agra witnessed 110 violent incidents that resulted in the death of British officials or destruction of property. The famous Hardy Bomb case, Postal Robbery case, Chamraua and Jaunia bomb cases at railway stations are still talked about.

Contrary to popular belief, the city played a very crucial and notable part in the hundred years preceding independence in 1947, but much of the record and documentation work has been lost.

“With more than 400 leaders arrested for varying terms in jail at different times, Agra`s contribution needs to be re-assessed and recognised,” says veteran media activist and former president of the press club Rajeev Saxena.

With railway connectivity to all parts, and situated on the borders of the Deccan plateau, the Thar desert and the Doaab region, Agra was naturally the key hub of revolutionary activities, says senior citizen Surendra Sharma.

IANS

source: http://www.zeenews.india.com / Z News / Home> News> India News> States News> Uttar Pradesh / Friday – August 14th, 2015

Panchala Museum plans gallery for freedom fighters

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

Bareilly :

With the 69th Independence Day less than a week away, authorities at Panchala Museum are planning to set up a gallery dedicated to the lives of freedom fighters from the Rohilkhand region.

Officials have started collecting pictures, letters and other memorabilia belonging to those who were a part of the freedom struggle.

Abhay Singh, a professor at MJP and the project coordinator, said, “We are requesting families of these bravehearts to provide photographs and texts related to their lives. We are working on a strategy to gather as many belongings of the freedom fighters as we can and we also plan to appeal to the public through newspapers in this connection.”

“Residents aren’t aware of the kind sacrifices freedom fighters from this region made. With the gallery we plan to highlight their glories in our museum. For instance, FR Rahman alias Chunna Miyan who was known as Gandhi of Bareilly worked for creating communal harmony in the city,” Singh added.

However, setting up of the gallery is subject to the availability of required material.

Shyam Bihari Lal, head of the department of ancient history and culture, said, “The gallery will be set up in the museum only after we receive enough material to put things up on display.”

Many people from the Rohilkhand region, including Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Rampur, Badaun, Moradabad, Bijnor and Sambhal played an active role in the freedom struggle.

Bareilly was the headquarter of the Rohilkhand region during the revolt of 1857. In fact, on May 31 that year, freedom fighters killed several British officials including the principal of Bareilly College.

The museum is located on the MJP Rohilkhand University campus. Till now, it was only accessible to varsity students but it will be opened to public from this month.

“There will be no entry fee for outsiders but there will be timings for public visits,” said Singh. He added the final touches are being given to the renovation and beautification work at the museum.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India/ News Home> City> Bareilly / by Priyangi Agarwal, TNN / August 10th, 2015

Award-winning teachers get invite from PM on Teachers’ Day

Education, Records, All

Allahabad :

Award-winning teachers will be in for a special treat this Teachers’ Day (September 5) as they have been invited to have an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on the September 4. The teachers, who have either been felicitated with National Award or the national incentive award by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), would be invited by the government to interact with the PM.

A notice, mentioning an invite from the government, has been sent to the principals of all the KVS’ of the country by their respective regional office (RO). The Varanasi RO has sent the letter to all the principals of the KVS” in Allahabad for the information of the awarded teachers.

The letter, by KVS’ headquarter, dated August 11 and singed by assistant commissioner KVS’, D K Dwivedi, mentions that all the teachers who have been given the national award in the last five years and principals or teachers who have won KVS’ national incentive award during the last three years (2012-14) would be invited on September 4 to interact with the PM. The letter instructs the principal to furnish the information in a prescribed format.

The invite for interacting with the PM bears special significance for the city as there are two teachers and a principal who have been awarded with national incentive award in the last three years. Principal, KV New Cantt, Shalini Dikshit, was selected for the coveted national incentive award last year.

Remarkably, Dikshit’s name features along with three other principals of the country among 1,100 odd KVS’ in 29 regions. Likewise, Pallavi Sharma, principal KV number 3, Jhansi, who was awarded the national award in the year 2014 by President Pranab Mukerjee, would also be among the invitees.

“The award in itself was an honour and recognition of our work and now an invitation to interact with the PM gives us an added sense of responsibility that our efforts are not only being recognized but the PM too wants to share his idea of grooming the next generation of the country”, said Shalini Dikshit, principal KV New Cantt.

Along with Dikshit, two primary teachers, Purnima Pandey of KV Manauri and Archana Jaiswal of KV IIIT-A Jhalwa were also awarded with national incentive award. In all, there are around a dozen teachers who have been selected for the national incentive award and will be going to New Delhi to interact with the PM.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani, TNN / August 13th, 2015