Monthly Archives: September 2015
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Aligarh dairy farm: A Colonial-era legacy lost in time
Aligarh :
In a quaint corner of the nondescript Aligarh village Cherat, time seems to have stopped several decades ago. A pile of rust iron, an old Ambassador, a dust-laden Royal Enfield, a few worn-out offices where locks are still hanging but the doors have given way — are all that is left of the iconic Aligarh Dairy Farm, set up in 1899 by the legendary Swedish dairy expert Edward Keventer.
The once sprawling farm seems like a ghost town now. It has rugged towers watching over a deserted stretch which is being gobbled up slowly by overgrowth of foliage. There are dilapidated quarters with no population and even a railway track which hasn’t seen a train in decades.
Keventer, who was appointed by the British government in 1890 to ensure good health of their soldiers in India, came to India the same year, strengthened his knowledge on dairy products and developed a unique and efficient dairy purification technique that marked the beginning of the Keventer saga. By 1899, he had established a strong network of dairy farms and plants, promoting modern dairy technology. He set the Aligarh Dairy Farm in the same year.
His business flourished and expanded rapidly across Karachi, Rangoon, Calcutta, Lucknow and Delhi, reaching its peak between 1908 and 1920. His dairy products became so popular that British King George V conferred on him a Royal charter for supply of fresh dairy and farm products.
Aligarh farm began to lose sheen soon after Keventer’s death in 1937 and the departure of the British from the country in 1947 further pushed it into oblivion.
In 1948, the Uttar Pradesh government took over this farm and renamed it Central Dairy Farm. It worked well until 1998 when it ran into losses and went out of business. Piling up liabilities as well as a host of court cases made it financially unviable, said officials.
Chief veterinary officer RK Yadav told TOI, “In 1948, the entire farm was given to the UP government. It was well-maintained and functioning. The ghee, butter, cream and pork was supplied to different states as well as the Army till 1998. After that, the farm stopped functioning because it came into losses and many court cases were filed against it. There are about 150 court cases against Central Dairy Farm at present.”
In another corner of the sprawling 1,700-acre Colonial-era farm, the state government runs a pig breeding centre, currently under the animal husbandry department.
As spiders listlessly make life-size cobwebs around the century-old farm’s rusted gate, its fate remains equally uncertain in the government files gathering dust in the faraway state capital.
“There are many court cases, and then there are different departments in the administration vying to get this farm. Some want to convert it into a green belt. Whatever the government decides will shape the future of this farm,” farm in-charge Abhinesh Pal Singh told TOI from Lucknow.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Cit> Agra / by Eram Agha, TNN / September 09th, 2015
UP Tourism Department to put Draupadi’s home town on the tourism map of the state
Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is collaborating with the Draupadi Dream Trust to put the Draupadi’s home town Kampilya in Uttar Pradesh on the tourism map of the state.
Neera Misra who is a resident of that area and has been carrying out a extensive research on Draupadi for the past several years said that they have already sent a proposal to the UP Tourism Department for the formation of the Kampliya-Sankisa Heritage Development Board for its development.
A senior Tourism official while talking to “The Pioneer” said that the the proposal for the Board has been sent to the various Government Departments for NOC. “After receiving the NOC from the various departments it will be sent for approval for the next cabinet” he said.
Neera Misra who has actively mooted for the project said that this it is necessary to highlight Draupadi who was the first iconic women who spoke against the prevalent traditions and was a great inspiration for women empowernment.
She said that the main aim of the exercise was to recognize the enhancement of the status of girls and women of this region, and UP as a whole and bringing positive change in attitude towards women “In the words o Ram Manohar Lohia –“If I have to Choose between Sita and Draupadi, I would always look upon Draupadi as the ideal woman. It is very important to highlight Draupadi” she said.
Giving a brief history of the place she said that Farrukhabad is under Kanpur Commissioner and formed part of erstwhile rich Panchala Janapada mentioned in ancient Texts which comprised of Kanpur, Farukhabad, Bareilly Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Etah, Etawah Mainpuri, Rampur districts.
She said that Draupadi’s Kampilya was now a kasba in Tehshil kaimganj and has as a Nationally Protected site of ASI
“If we talk about the highlights of Kampilya there is Kapil Muni’s ‘Tapasya Sthal’ and Kampilvasini Mandir, Rameshwar Mandir (Shiv linga) established by Shatrughana and Lakshmana, Kaleshwar Mandir established by Draupad. It was visited by Buddha, Chinese Traveler Fa-Hein and Alexzendar Cunningham, Surveyer General of ASI” she said.
She said that as per the Development Plans Phase I, II they had proposed DPR – Infrastructure Development to Develop Farrukhabad (U.P.) as Tourism Destination. As per the Development Proposal Phase II they have proposed Creation of Yajna-Kunda on Vedic lines, renovation of ancient temples
“We have proposed the creation of Panchal Cultural Heritage University for Vedic studies, Buddhist and Jain studies, Ayurvedic Centre, Food Technology and Fashion Technology “ she said.
In the Development Proposal Phase II (contd.) they have proposed the establishment of Draupadi Museum (at Kampilya)– Diorama, facilities for showing Mahabharata – Panchala history and Culture of Ancient to British Period through Art, Artifacts and Interactive Information Technology including a cultural journey like Akshardham Temple Delhi.
“We have also proposed establishment of Food Park to popularlize and conserve agro heritage , Charak Memorial Ayurvedic Center for health care management, Annual Panchala Mahotsav – Cultural and Trade Promotion Festival with Draupadi Samman Award ceremony for women empowerment” she said.
Neera said that there were various misconceptions regarding Draupadi, “She was the Princess of Panchala Kingdom, and thus called Panchali and not because she had five husbands. Draupadi, did not emerge out of the fire, but was born to the Queen of Panchala Kingdom, after King Drupad performed the Fire Sacrifice ritual to beget a warrior child. Few realize the intense emotional turmoil Draupadi experienced when her mother-in-law asked her to take five Pandav as husbands. But she converted a challenge into an opportunity, to emerge a victor of gender parity” she said.
“She was the first ever woman to openly raise her voice against injustice and inequality towards women, refusing to succumb to evil desires of men. Being a Queen, she still worked as a Hairdresser to another Queen, during exile, teaching us the dignity of labor and the value of developing the talent for self empowerment. The dialogues for women’s empowerment cannot run on western concepts. It is our classical liberated women who stand heads above all as examples who lived the most progressive lives and took decisions that established gender equality” she said.
source: http://www.dailypioneer.com / Daily Pioneer / Home> State edition> Lucknow / by Sharmila Krishna, Lucknow / Thursday – September 10th, 2015
Lost his leg, but hero of Keri didn’t lose courage
Lucknow :
Loss of limb in the battlefield in the Indo-Pak war of 1965 at the prime of his youth could not affect his will to live and set example for others. For the past half century, Major Dhirendra Nath Singh witnessed various developments on domestic and global fronts—walking on an artificial limb. The Vir Chakra awardee, now 74-year-old, who lives in a double-storey apartment in Lucknow’s Aliganj, has successfully overpowered his disability and inspired his sons and grandson to join the Army.
On September 18, 1965, Major Singh was commanding a company of a battalion of Kumaon Regiment which was ordered to capture Keri. The assaulting platoons ran into the enemy minefield and there were many casualties. Major Singh moved in front with his men to attack the enemy and lost a leg. He was lying wounded in the mine-field, when he saw an enemy medium machine gun firing nearby and he crawled up with an LMG from one of his men and fired at the enemy MMG to silenced it. Under his able leadership, the post was captured by his men after fierce hand fighting.
“Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri came to see him while he was undergoing treatment at Military Hospital in Delhi,” Major Singh recalled. Later, he went to attend Vir Chakra award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan on artificial limb.
Major Singh, who hails from Gorakhpur, shifted to Lucknow in 1989. While age doesn’t allow him to undertake physical activities now, Singh actively cycled, drove cars and tractors, when he looked after his agricultural work in his native village and had practically no problems in adjusting to life with his artificial limb.
Recalling some of the tense moments, in which there were reports that almost 30,000 infiltrators has sneaked into India, Major Singh said, “Our stay in and around Jawahar tunnel was for almost 10 days during which we drove away infiltrators across river Chenab, and subsequently took over Doda, and then conducted a flag march. During the same period, we were also able to secure the Reasi bridge over Chenab.”
Legacy continues in the family
While Major DN Singh left the Army in 1971, he ensured that successive generations of his family join the armed forces and embrace the olive green uniform. Two of sons – Brigadier VPS Kaushik and Brigadier SP Singh are posted at Kargil and Kupwara respectively, while his grandson Digvijay Singh is a gentleman cadet and is undergoing training at College of Military Engineering, Pune. One of his sons is currently commanding a brigade, which had captured Hajipir on August 28, 1965, while another is commanding the brigade, which had captured point 13620 in May 1965.
Benevolent gesture of Dara Singh & Teji Bachchan
After the war was over Bollywood actor Dara Singh announced cash award for the gallantry award winners. As a result each PVC winner got Rs 250, while each MVC and Vir Chakra awardee got Rs 100 and Rs 50 respectively. While, Major DN Singh was undergoing treatment in Delhi, he was looked after by Teji Bachchan (mother of Amitabh Bachchan).
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / by Arunav Sinha, TNN / September 15th, 2015
Harappan settlement razed to expand farmland, build houses
A 5000-year-old Indus Valley settlement located in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, stands abandoned and unprotected.
The archaeological site, discovered in 1957 in Alamgirpur village of the district, is regarded as one of the most historically significant finds in the country as it showed for the first time evidence of habitation pertaining to the Harappan period in the Upper Doab region between the Ganga and the Yamuna.
However, at present the settlement, which lies just 70 km. from the national capital, faces destruction by the villagers who have flattened the centuries-old structures to expand their cultivable land.
Worse, some of the villagers have built houses, memorials and temple-like structures on top of the settlement, where excavations till last year had given crucial insights about life and society during the Harappan period, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization.
During excavations of the site which dates back to the Harappan period of 3300-1300, the ASI archaeologists found ceramic items like roof tiles, dishes, terracotta cakes and figurines of a humped bull and a snake.
After its discovery the site was declared “protected.” But it is anything but that now.
The chief of the ASI Agra Circle, Bhuvan Vikram, underlined the importance of the settlement but also accepted the complications which led to the encroachment by the villagers.
“The settlement marks the eastern most limits of the Harappan culture and belongs to the late Harappan phase, a period starting around 1900-1800 BC when the Indus Valley Civilization, popularly known as the Harappan Culture, began to decline,” he said.
The civilization, which is known for its superior urban planning, is believed to have flourished in the period between 3300 BC and 1300 BC in what is today Pakistan, northwest India and parts of Afghanistan and Balochistan.
With the continued encroachment by the villagers, the overall area of the protected settlement has been reduced from 28 bighas to just 6 bighas now.
“It is true that the area is protected but the land rights of the place are still with the farmers and the villagers cannot be stopped from farming on the land.” The ASI, he said, was making efforts to ensure that there was no further encroachment.
‘Harm already done’
“Whatever has been encroached, we cannot take back from the villagers. Our priority now is to prevent further encroachment,” he added.
However, a senior ASI official in Meerut told The Hindu on condition of anonymity that given the construction and flattening of the protected mound, there was a likelihood that the ancient heritage might have already suffered great harm.
“The farmers and villagers have in the last few years cut the mound and reduced the protected area at a disturbing pace to increase their farming land. I am afraid that important articles of the ancient heritage might have already been destroyed,” he said.
He also said that the ASI had written to the State repeatedly to prevent encroachment and fence the area off to prevent further encroachment. But there was lack of awareness in bureaucratic circles about ancient heritage. ASI officials also expressed helplessness.
The ASI notice warns the inhabitants against any kind of construction within a radius of 100 metres of the protected site. But the warning has never been heeded.
Locals recall how they built, one by one, four samadhis, on top of the mound without any objection from the administration or the ASI.
“The four samadhis were built in memorial of the great souls of the village,” said Dharmendra Raghav, a villager in his late thirties who had seen the mound since he was born. While pointing to the huts, built atop the protected mound, he said it was “good” that the “old structure” was of some use to the villagers.
“We got to know that old things were found during excavation in this mound. But, you tell me, is archaeology more important than farming. How can you ask a farmer not to till his land and grow crops. What will he eat if he doesn’t get the land to do farming,” said Raghav, who works at a construction site in Delhi, while questioning the logic of not flattening the mound for farming.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Other States / by Mohammad Ali / Meerut – September 14th, 2015
SBI Life felicitates village level entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow :
SBI Life Insurance, a trusted private life insurer, felicitated village level entrepreneurs (VLE) in Lucknow region for taking ‘SBI Life – CSC Saral Sanchay’ life insurance plan to the doorstep of rural Uttar Pradesh. This regular premium plan would help consumers to systematically save so as to achieve their future goals in life and at the same time also supports one’s family in achieving those goals in the event of any eventuality.
Speaking on the occasion, Arijit Basu, MD and CEO, SBI Life said, “The village level entrepreneurs have set an example in taking the ‘SBI Life – CSC Saral Sanchay’ plan to the last mile of the rural hinterland. The plan is specifically aimed at the segment of the population who are largely uninsured. With this offering we are trying to give these families a relief by securing the life of their bread earner and help them save to achieve their goals in the near future.”
‘SBI Life – CSC Saral Sanchay’ life insurance plan, which was launched recently by SBI Life Insurance, is an individual, non-linked, non-participating, variable insurance plan that claims to provide a guaranteed interest rate of 1.00 percent per annum, which will be applicable throughout the policy term. In addition, an additional interest rate (AIR) of 4% pa will also be applicable during the first 5 years and an AIR of 0.5% will be applicable from the sixth year. Further, at the end of each policy year starting from the fifth policy year, residual additions may be added.
Any individual between 18- 60 years can purchase this plan from an authorised Common Service Centre (CSC) under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) of Government of India. The policy will be issued based on the information provided on their Adhar card and other enrolment details and the plan can be availed for a policy term of 10 years or 15 years.
The plan provides for benefits on death of the life assured or on maturity of the policy. “In addition, it also provides an option of partial withdrawals, which is the flexibility to withdraw a portion of the policy account value from 6th year onwards to cater to liquidity needs. The plan also provides tax benefits as per the prevailing tax laws”, said the company.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / by Priyanka Singh, TNN / September 03rd, 2015
Students get AIDS awareness lecture in Sanskrit
Meerut :
To spread awareness about AIDS among children, a lecture on the life-threatening disease was organized at Bilveshwar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in Sanskrit on Thursday.
The lecture was given by Dr Tungveer Singh Arya, nodal officer, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centre, who is quite well-versed in the language. The function was inaugurated by Dr MS Fauzdar, district tuberculosis officer and was conducted in collaboration with Sunil Dutt, a social activist.
Giving details, Dutt, said, “A total of 100 students from Classes 8 to the graduation level participated in the event. Though Dr Arya conversed with the students in Sanskrit, he also spoke in Hindi as the gathering included other people as well.”
The students were informed how AIDS is transmitted through the route of shared needles and syringes or engaging in unprotected sex with multiple partners.
Addressing the students, Dr Arya, said, “AIDS awareness is just like Satya Narayan Katha; it will do good only if you tell it in front of others. All of you should spread the word so that the disease does not spread further.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Meerut / by Ishita Bhatia, TNN / September 11th, 2015
Star parade in UP’s roadshow
Mumbai :
The UP roadshow was studded with not only business honchos but also stars from Bollywood. A galaxy of cinema icons attended the day-long event and an entire session was devoted to them as chief minister Akhilesh launched the single-window portal of Film Bandhu to facilitate filmmakers.
“Now, film makers need not come all the way to Lucknow just for paper work as to support production of films in the state, the government has facilitated filling up of form from anywhere. They can send it to us and we will respond,” Navneet Sehgal, principal secretary, information and chairman of Film Bandhu, adding “the applications will be cleared in a time-bound manner.”
The session was attended by film personalities including veteran actor Sanjay Khan, producer Boney Kapoor, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Manoj Bajpai, directors Ketan Mehta, Sudhir Mishra and Anurag Kashyap, producer-director Pooja Bhatt and Bhojpuri Ravi Kissan. All the film personalities present on the occasion praised the newly launched initiatives of UP government.
“Filmmaking has become very convenient in UP,” said Sanjay Khan, the first to share his experience, adding, “Now, we find government officials ever ready to help us out.” Boney Kapoor, too, had a similar experience while shooting in the state.
Anurag Kashyap was all praises for Film Bandhu. “It has emerged as a friendly institution for filmmakers,” he said. “The fact that the CM is taking personal interest has come as a great boost for the film industry,” added the director of ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, shot in Mirzapur.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / by Subhash Mishra, TNN / September 11th, 2015