Monthly Archives: April 2016

‘Green Girl’ to attend signing of Paris pact

Amazing Feats, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Lucknow:

India’s ‘Green Girl’ Yugratna Srivastava (19), a second year engineering student, will represent youth at the Paris convention on global warming. She is among the six participants selected by the UN for the April 22 ceremony – on World Mother Earth Day – where 150 countries would sign the Paris agreement in climate change.

Elated to be part of the event, Yugratna said, “COP21 (Conference of Parties) at Paris was close to my heart. When the Paris agreement was finalized after two hectic weeks in December, there was a sense of achievement worldwide. But more than that, there was an air of uncertainty. The dream is now turning into reality.”

She added, “I am happy that I will be representing youth and civil society at the ceremony. It is empowering to know that our voices are valued. Despite all differences, we all need to stand together more than ever to make this a reality.”

As to how she was selected, United Nations has rolled out a form for civil society participation wherein about 300 individuals from various organisations applied. Out of those, a selection committee formed by the UN picked six participants.

About 100 world leaders and 150 nations are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Last year, on the opening day at COP21, Yugratna had made a presentation to world leaders, including PM Narendra Modi and US president Barack Obama.

Prior to that, she had attended the conference of youths, held from November 26 to 28. There, she had to prepare youths from 66 countries to talk about climate change before world leaders at COP21.

“Youths participating in the conference made presentations on ‘climate crisis’ and concerns about environment conservation,” said Yugratna.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / April 21st, 2016

Old is new at Geology dept museum at Lucknow University

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

GeologyLUCKNOW22apr2016

Lucknow:

From a 65-million-year-old fossil of a frog to a 5carat pure diamond and from a giant natural pearl from Basra to a recently formed basalt rock from Barren Island, the only living volcano in India, the Geology department of the Lucknow University (LU) has added 550 new rare exhibits to its rich collection at the museum. The collection will be on public display from Earth Day on Friday.

Other items include fossils of a 1,600 million year old alga, Grypania Spiralasis, which marked the evolution of earth, polished quartz; a Corundum mineral which produces gems like ruby, blue and yellow sapphires; unpolished, uncut and polished forms of garnet mineral of hessonite species (popularly known as Gomed) and a gallery of Stone Age tools collected from Mirzapur.

“Established in 1943 by Palaeobotanist Birbal Sahni, the museum already has over 2,000 specimens. The 500 new entries will not only help in research and education but will also be an attraction for visitors, particularly school children. Most important part is it will create awareness among people to preserve the earth to safeguard life in future generation,” said Vibhuti Rai, professor and head of the geology department, who collected new items for the museum in past two years.

Along with fossils, new additions to the museum include postal stamps on gem stones, fossils of extinct species, geomorphic features, etc, released from time to time.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Lucknow / TNN / April 22nd, 2016

​Bareilly man Rahul Johri becomes BCCI CEO

Leaders, Sports

Bareilly:

In welcome news for the city, one of its sons, Rahul Johri, has been appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Son of former state minister and BJP leader Dinesh Johri, Rahul is an avid cricket lover and sportsman, earlier working as South Asia head for Discovery Channel.

An alumni of Sherwood College, Rahul Johri graduated from Bareilly College in 1989 and did his MBA from MJP Rohilkhand University in 1991. He started his career at a media house in Delhi from where he moved to Discovery.

“At Discovery I could produce and direct programmes which were informative and provided unique insights, such as interior views of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Indian women’s expedition to Mount Everest, the lives of soldiers on Siachen Glacier and even the elections of 2014, where Discovery looked at the entire process behind election of an MP,” said Johri, talking to TOI on the phone.

At the moment, he said, he was trying to focus on his new assignment, under which he is expected to take over the reins of BCCI in the first week of June. “The work profile here is nearly the same, as in the capacity of CEO I will be in charge of logistics and administration of the world’s biggest and wealthiest cricketing body,” he added.

Johri made no bones about his love for cricket. “It has always remained my favourite game since childhood and I am glad to be associated with it in the later part of my life,” he said.

Friends and contemporaries remember playing cricket and other games with Johri in their youth. “I remember the days when my cousin Ashish and Rahul, both batchmates at Sherwood, used to play cricket and gilli-danda under the neem tree at Rahul’s house near Sod weigh bridge,” said Manoj Sharma, Bareilly resident and an old friend of the Johris. “It is good to hear he will be heading BCCI and looking after cricket in the whole country,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bareilly / Mrigank Tiwari / April 21st, 2016

Jhansi youth completes gruelling triathlon in Putrajaya

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Jhansi:

A Jhansi youth completed the gruelling Ironman Triathlon held in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Last year, Bollywood actor Milind Soman had completed the same event in Zurich.

Rajat Pratap Singh, 26, participated along with 960 other contenders from all over the world with a physically demanding 21.1km running, 1.9km swimming in sea and 90km cycling — all in a back-to-back sequence in 80% humidity in the event held on April 3. He was one of the 400 finalists who completed the event in less than 8 hours, earning him the title of Ironman.

He is the only person from UP to have done it so far with a time of 7.07 hrs, almost a hour ahead of the stipulated time. Milind Soman had hit headlines last year for completing the same event in Switzerland at the age of 50. “Six months of hard practice and a strict diet control was what was required to achieve the feat in uncompromising weather conditions, with humidity ranging above 80% in Malaysia during the event,” Rajat told TOI.

Rajat said he could have improved the timing but for a ligament tear half way through the event. “Though doctors advised me to quit the race, I was determined to finish it. I had to do an ice message after every kilometer which spoilt my finish timing,” he added.

Son of a police officer of UP cadre posted in Jhansi, Rajat had left the city in an early stage for studies. He is a hardcore mountaineer who has opened an office in Pune to facilitate trekking enthusiasts.

After his graduation, he worked for a number of media houses but his passion was to “concur the heights”.

“During one of my business trips to Switzerland, I came in contact with some mountaineers who helped me change track in life. Till date I have climbed a number of peaks with the highest one being the 7,400 mts Mt Kabru in Nepal.Now I target Mt Everest or Mt Kanchenjunga if someone can sponsor me,” said Rajat.

His father Sharad Pratap said, “We never wanted our only son to go into adventure sports… we were against Rajat participating in the Ironmman contest, but after he qualified we gave a second thought.”

Rajat now aims to be a fitness icon for the youth. and to climb Mt Everest at the earliest

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / by Arindam Ghosh / TNN / April 14th, 2016

B’khand home to water conservation marvels

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All

Lucknow:

Acute drinking water crisis adversely affecting common life across the country has prompted scientists to formulate principles on surface water management and activists to push ‘save water’ campaigns. Historians in UP, on the other hand, offer lessons on water conservation from parched Bundelkhand.

“Bundelkhand has had a strong tradition of water conservation. Water bodies in Mahoba are a classic example,” said Navratna Kumar Pathak, chief of Archaeological Survey of India’s Lucknow circle.”Based on the principle of rainwater harvesting, these water bodies were built by the Chandela kings about 800 years ago in public interest,” Pathak added.

“The success of the simple effort can be guaged from the fact that one of the five main ponds, the Madan Sagar, supplies drinking water to entire population of Mahoba even today,” Pathak said. Some of these bodies are spread across several kilometres and have a huge catchment area to trap every drop of water in its range. Pathak said that to spread awareness on rainwater harvesting, ASI held several events along a pond named Kirat Sagar on the occasion of World Heritage Day on April 18.

Chief patron, Indian Journal of Archaeology, Vijay Kumar said, “Water Sructures in Ajaigarh, Kalinjar Fort, Jhansi” were a perennial source of inspiration for water conservation. Prof Vinod Kumar Singh, archaeologist at Centre for Advance Studies, department of history, Aligarh Muslim University, who has brought out more than 50 publications on water conservation in Bundelkhand, said the ponds amaze researchers in hydrology and history.

“Locals find the ponds miraculous but there is simple science behind the secret. The biggest reason for their perennial character are the extensive topographical studies done before selection of spot for the pond,” he said.

Citing an example, he said, “The natural flow of water is driven towards a depression from where it is stored.”

He added that the Chandela kings promoted conservation and harvesting by associating it with religion. “Temples were constructed to prevent people from misusing the place,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / Shailvee Sharda / TNN / April 19th, 2016

‘Bael seeds can help fight diabetes’

Agriculture, Nature, Science & Technology

Allahabad:

Scientists of Allahabad University led by Geeta Watal have found that the seeds of bael have qualities to fight diabetes.

Those suffering from diabetes often refrain from having drinks made from the pulp of ‘bael’ (aegle marme-los), oblivious of the fact that the seeds of this fruit are beneficial in controlling diabetes and also bring down cholesterol level.

In their research paper published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, the scientists have reported that the extract from bael seeds bring down the level of blood glucose up to 60.84% and that too just after a fortnight of consumption of the extract.

The extract was derived after drying the seeds and making its powder.

The powdered extract was boiled in water and administered to rats. When a chronic diabetic rat was administered the dose of 250 mg for 14 days, its FBG level came down by 64.84% and the urine sugar came down by 75% as compared to the pre-treatment level.

The seeds of bael have also shown promising results in terms of benefiting the patients suffering from high blood pressure as the extract of this seed reduces the level of cholesterol.

“Our results show that the total cholesterol (TC) came down to 25.49% and the high density lipoprotein (HDL) increased by 33.43% and low density lipoprotein (LDL) decreased by 45.77%.

It means that patients suffering from high blood pressure are likely to get benefited by consuming the extract,” Watal said.

With mercury soaring high, sale of drinks like ‘panna’ and ‘bael sharbat’ is on the rise.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / April 17th, 2016

‘Kathak queen’ of Kashi wants to be social worker

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Clasical dancer Soni Churasiya broke the world record of longest dance marathon with her non-stop dance performance in Varanasi on Sunday. Chaurasia danced continuosouly for 124 hours and broke the five-year old previous record held by Kalamandalam Hemalatha of Kerala in the year 2011 (PTI Photo)
Clasical dancer Soni Churasiya broke the world record of longest dance marathon with her non-stop dance performance in Varanasi on Sunday. Chaurasia danced continuosouly for 124 hours and broke the five-year old previous record held by Kalamandalam Hemalatha of Kerala in the year 2011 (PTI Photo)

As of now, I want to leave on some lone adventure trip to Bali or Hrishikesh, kathak dancer Soni Chaurasia, who claimed to have broken the Guinness world record in longest dance marathon said on Sunday. The ‘kathak queen’ of Kashi said that she plans to engage herself in social work and do something for the society.

“Everything is possible if you have strong will power, determination and dedication. I am out of words to describe how I am feeling. For now, I am happy receiving words of appreciation from everyone around me,” she said.

Soni had begun her dance performance at an auditorium of a school in the city in the evening on April 4. Her trainer and mentor Rajesh Dogra said that she has created a record which would find her a place in Guinness Book of World Records. Soni had performed non-stop for 126 hours and 5 minutes on Saturday midnight against the previous record of 123 hours 20 minutes set by Keralite Kalamandalam Hemalatha.

She is the third person from the city to have sealed a place in the world record book. Others who have set a world record are social activist Jagadeesh Pillai and lyricist Sameer. Pillai holds a world record in film making for having scripted and screened an animation film ‘Elly the Clever’ in 3 hours and 24 minutes while Sameer made his way into the world record book in February this year for writing the highest number of lyrics for Bollywood films.

Soni, who was on her way to Sankat Mochan to seek blessings of the Almighty, said that she is yet to read the greetings conveyed by the PM and is grateful to everyone who had prayed for her. “I was told that the PM had sent his best wishes to me and also lauded my efforts for making the city proud. After visiting some of the temples to seek blessings of Almighty and finishing off my physiotherapy sessions in afternoon, I will see the letter and re-read it,” she smiled and said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / April 11th, 2016

103-year-old kin of WWI soldier wins pension fight

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Lucknow :

After a nine-year legal battle, the 103-year-old daughter of a First World War soldier has won back the right to her late father’s pension.

Giving the verdict in favour of Siri Kumari Gurung, the Lucknow bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal ruled that her pension was arbitrarily stopped by the Principal Controller of Defence Account (Pension), Allahabad. Passing the order, a bench of Justice DP Singh, member (Judicial) and Air Marshal Anil Chopra, member termed PCDA decision as “ex-parte and against the canon of just ice”.

The tribunal also imposed Rs 1 lakh cost on the respondents – Government of India and Army officers concerned – which would be given to the petitioner within four months. It also directed the respondents to refund the recovered amount of pension (Rs 1.17 lakh) to her along with 10% interest.

Siri Kumari’s pension was stopped in 2007 on the grounds that she was not entitled to two pensions. She was also asked to refund Rs 5 lakh received in pension. Her father, Naina Singh Gurung, served in the First World War and died in 1916 in Italy. Siri, then a 5-year-old, got family pension which was sanctioned for life with effect from March 1916. Siri now lives in Nepal.

Sire married an armyman in 1930. After her husband’s death in 1964, she became entitled to his pension. This way, Siri started getting two pensions. In 2007, the matter came to the knowledge of Principal Controller of Pension Department, Allahabad. He wrote a letter that her pension sanctioned in 1916 be stopped and since it had been paid illegally, recovery may be made.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / Arunav Sinha / TNN / April 16th, 2016

AU scholar turns flower waste into scented dyes

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Education, Science & Technology

Allahabad:

A research scholar of the Allahabad University (AU) has created scented dyes from the petals of marigold and rose dumped outside city temples. The dyes have been accepted for patent and the research could help check pollution in rivers where tons of flowers are thrown after puja.

The dyes — yellow from marigold and pink from rose — have been prepared by Manpreet Kalsy, a research scholar under head of the department Prof Sangeeta Srivastava. The patenting authority has issued temporary patent numbers 27/DEL/2015 and 253/DEL/2015 for dyes prepared from marigold and rose respectively.

“The two scented dyes have been prepared under controlled lab conditions and tested on silk. They could be used for a number of times after being prepared and the dyed fabric would retain the fragrance for over six months,” said Manpreet.

“Huge quantity of flowers are offered in temples daily and later dumped in rivers, adding to environmental pollution. This gave us the idea of utilising used flowers. Our research is aimed at extracting natural colour from this huge quantity of floral waste,” said Prof Srivastava.

Natural dyes are one which are eco-friendly, biodegradable and non-toxic in nature. Moreover, the dyes prepared by us are antioxidant and antimicrobial in nature, she added.

Manpreet, a junior research fellow (JRF) who has done this work along with her guide, said: “The samples for preparing these dyes were specifically collected from the major temples of the city besides the banks of the Ganga because it was this menace that we wanted to handle. We are confident that at least one of the major sources of river pollution, ie, marigold and rose, could be used for colouring silk.”

Silk could be the fabric of choice as it is used for bridal dresses and scented dye would add to the fragrance, she added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / Raveev Maini / TNN / April 12th, 2016

Cleansed in jail, ex-bandit cleans public places

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features
Suresh Sarvoday is now a Gandhian.
Suresh Sarvoday is now a Gandhian.

Jhansi:

There was a time when he ruled the badlands of Bundelkhand as an outlaw. Charged for over two dozen case, Suresh Sarvoday served over two decades in jail and now, at 64 has transformed completely—into a Gandhian. Originally from Mahoba, Suresh is settled in Mauranipur, a small hamlet of Jhansi. He is seen everyday at railway stations, bus stops, civil hospital and other public places, cleaning up the place voluntarily.

Born in village Supa of Mahoba in 1952, Suresh—then Soni—was highly inspired by freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad and aspired to be the local Robinhood. As a result, after he passed XII he made a gang of over 10 ‘like-minded’ boys and for over a a decade, they executed a number of loots, dacoity and murders. What they always ensured was that no harm was done to the poor or depressed class. “My ideas were anarchist and I was of the opinion that British may have left but the upper-class people were still torturing the poor and I wanted to cut them to size,” says Suresh.

His name spelled terror in districts of Mahoba, Jalaun and Hamirpur where he was famous for extortion and hold-ups. His biggest mistake in life was when he accidentally bumped off a CBI officer who was travelling through jungles of Mahoba with his family. He had over two dozen cases against him until 1973 when he was arrested. Within a couple of years he managed to escape from the jail— for which he got the idea from a book.

He reunited his gang and resumed till he was arrested again in 1977. This time he was treated strictly and was put into a special cell in the Hamirpur district jail with iron rods in his legs so that he could not escape. It was during his second imprisonment that he was transformed after reading books by and on Gandhi and Vivekanand. “I read more than a hundred books including the Gita and Ramayan and was transformed completely. I have been doing social service since 1980 from inside the jail”, Suresh recalls.

After serving 22 years and 8 months in jail, he was released for good conduct in 1999. Right from the day he came out, he resolved to follow the Gandhian thoughts and to change the society the way Gandhi had visualised. “Today, I neither follow any religion nor believe in caste system and that is why I have adopted the name of Sarvoday”, says Suresh who calls himself a wanderer of the world, all of which is his family. One can find all kinds of cleaning materials in his khadi bag which he uses daily at public places for at least three hours. He cleans public toilets, corridors and gardens on his own. He has done it in Delhi, Kolkata, Gorakhpur, Allahabad and Varanasi and enjoys a fan following among youths who volunteer their services in his mission of cleanliness.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / Arindam Ghosh, TNN / April 14th, 2016