Monthly Archives: December 2017

Lalji Singh, ‘father of DNA fingerprinting in India,’ passes away

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology
A file picture of Lalji Singh, former Director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, in Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled Lalji Singh’s death.

Eminent scientist and ‘father of DNA fingerprinting in India’ Lalji Singh died following a heart attack on Sunday. He was 70.

Dr. Singh was one of the leaders instrumental in making DNA fingerprinting mainstream in India, both at the level of research as well as for forensic applications.

This was after techniques advanced by him led to DNA profiling being used to establish parentage as well as solve some high profile crime cases in India.

Based on his work he was tasked by the government — in the late 1990s — to establish the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) with a mandate of making it a nodal centre for DNA fingerprinting and diagnostics for all species and several diseases.

He also set up a slew of dedicated labs that worked on several aspects of genetics such as population biology, structural biology and transgenic research.

Dr. Singh served as a director at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad from 1998 to 2009.

He went on to become Vice Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University (2001 – 2014), his alma mater.

Until recently, he was active in the Genome Foundation, a non-profit organisation that aims to diagnose and treat genetic disorders affecting the underprivileged, especially from rural India.

PTI adds…

“He complained of chest pain when he reached the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport to board a flight for Delhi. He was taken to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Trauma Centre from there but he could not be saved,” O P Upadhyaya, chief medical superintendent of the Sunder Lal hospital in the BHU, said.

Singh, the 25th vice chancellor of the BHU, hailed from neighbouring Jaunpur district’s Kalvari village.

He was also an alumnus of the BHU and completed his BSc, MSc and PhD degrees from there.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled Singh’s death.

“Lalji Singh was the father of DNA fingerprinting. The country has lost a great educationist and scientist after his death,” he said.

Singh was also the recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Science / by Special Correspondent / Varanasi – Lucknow, (U.P.) / December 11th, 2017

Lucknow’s first woman mayor, 110 corporators sworn in

Leaders, Records, All

Bharatiya Janata Party’s Sanyukta Bhatia was on Tuesday sworn in as the first woman Mayor of the Uttar Pradesh capital

Along with her, 110 newly elected corporators were also administered the oath of office in presence of a large number of their supporters, party workers, family members.

Soon after taking oath, Bhatia said that her top most priority was to improve the cleanliness rankings of the state capital and added that the corporation would seek all support and help from the state government to faster development of the city.

She also batted for more teeth to the civic body and the Mayor as well as implementation of the Constitution’s 74th Amendment. Bhatia also hinted that the municipal corporation would soon crack down on encroachments on roads.

Urban Development Minister Suresh Khanna as well as other senior colleagues like Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Ashutosh Tandon and Brajesh Pathak along with legislators of the ruling party were also present at the oath-taking ceremony.

–IANS

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source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-IANS> Lucknow – December 12th, 2017

Meet the Lucknow girl who designed Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli’s beautiful Italian wedding

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Travel
Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli | Photo Credit: Instagram

While people can’t get enough of how stunning and much in love Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli look in their wedding pictures, which are being circulated on social media, not many know the couple who made everything look so beautiful. Lucknow girl Devika Narain was entrusted with the task of designing the wedding and her husband, Joseph Radhik, was the one who clicked all those inspiring photos.

After the couple made their official pictures public on their social media accounts, Devika and Joseph, who had to keep all their work a secret from everyone, finally got a chance to reveal what had kept them busy for a few months.

“Some days, the whole world conspires to make things right. Thank you @virat.kohli and @anushkasharma, it has been an absolute honour and privilege to be a part of your journey,” posted Devika on her Instagram account.

She also wrote a post on her company’s Facebook account, “It’s finally all settling in, the cold is seeping back in and at this point I’m an odd mix of relief and immense excitement. We’ve been keeping a secret for a couple of months now and all of it has come to life today, in a beautiful tuscan village, where Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma got married. We’re overwhelmed to have been chosen to be a part of such a special day. It means a lot to us to have had their trust, not just in keeping all of this a secret but to create a setting for their big day! Congratulations and thank you! #virushka.”

Devika made several trips to Italy’s Borgo Finocchieto to get every detail in place and make all the arrangements for a wedding that had the nation interested. Devika’s father told a national daily that she had kept her assignment a secret from her family as well.

After completing her schooling from Lucknow’s Loreto Convent Intermediate College, Devika studied English honours from Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College. She worked at a popular wedding planning company for a few years before starting her own.

Devika has also designed the weddings of Indian cricketers such as Robin Venu Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik and more.

source: http://www.timesnownews.com / Times Now News / Home> Zoom> Entertainment / Times Now Digital / December 12th, 2017

Jungle safari on vintage train in Uttar Pradesh

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

Initiative to attract a large number of tourists from Nepal.

The train will run on a 15 kilometer route and will carry eco-tourists through the forest area

Lucknow:

A vintage train that stopped moving for over 30 years now will start its journey once again.

The train will soon run through the thick foliage of the lush green Sal trees in Laxmipur range of Maharajganj forest division which is famous for the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary that has a huge population of antelopes besides rare and endangered birds and wildlife.

The train will run on a 15 kilometer route and will carry eco-tourists through the forest area.

The initiative for this was taken by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath who wants to give a boost to tourism in eastern UP.

The railway authorities have already completed the survey of the track and found it fit for operations. The vegetation on the track, however, has to be cleared. Mr Manish Singh, divisional forest officer of the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary, said that while the train earlier used to run on steam engine, it will now be driven by a diesel engine between Laxmipur and Ikma. The forest official said that since the area is near Sonauli border with Nepal, it is sure to attract a large number of tourists from Nepal.

The track that runs along Taungya villages also has a parallel road alongside on which there is a heavy movement of people all day through.

The vintage train that used to run on a narrow gauge track had 56 bogies and four engines, apart from a saloon.

Incidentally, the train was started in 1922 to ferry wooden logs and its operations was stopped in 198

source: http://www.asianage.com / The Asian Age / Home> India> All India / December 10th, 2017

Varanasi gets first woman coolie before woman mayor

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
Kamlawati, widow of a coolie Pramod Kumar Gaud, received her badge on Wednesday

Varanasi :

The city before getting its woman mayor after the results of civic polls on Friday got the first . With her ‘Billa’ (badge) no-243′ Kamlawati, the mother of four, is mentally prepared to carry the luggage loads of passengers. Kamlawati, widow of a coolie Pramod Kumar Gaud, received her badge on Wednesday.

“As per policy guidelines of the Railway Board, the badge may be transferred to the family member, irrespective of the gender,” the chief area manager Ravi Prakash Chaturvedi told TOI.

“I am happy that the badge of my late husband was transferred to me. It will help me in rearing my children,” said Kamlawati (35), whose husband died in December 2016 owing to some ailment. She is ready to carry the loads of others to look after her three daughters and a son. Her eldest daughter Saloni (14) studies in class 8th, while Soumya (11) in 7th and Shrishti (10) in 5th class. The three-year-old Shresyansh is yet to begin his schooling. “I know the job of coolie needs physical strength as it is a difficult task for a woman like me, but I will do it for the sake of my children,” she said adding that she will join her duty when asked by the authorities.

Hailing from Deoria district Kamlawati lives with the family of her brother-in-law Sikandar Gaud, who is a constable in GRP, in a railway quarter of New Railway Colony near Cantonment station.

The coolie fraternity at the Cantt station is also haapy and ready to extend all support to her while on duty. “We tried to get the badge transferred to her so that she can earn living for her small kids. All of us will happily provide all support to her,” said the president of Varanasi unit of All India Coolie Union Kedar Yadav adding that she will be the first woman coolie in Northern Railway. According to him, a total of 194 coolies are there at Cantt railway station.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Varanasi News / by Binay Singh / TNN / November 30th, 2017

This childless couple in UP are now parents to 51 children

Inspiration / Positive News and Features
Meena (far L) & her family in Muzaffarnagar

HIGHLIGHTS

The couple runs an orphanage on an eight-bigha plot of donated land in Shukrtaal

Nearly a decade into their marriage, they discovered that a tumour in Meena’s uterus rendered her unable to bear children

Currently, they have 46 children under their care and the entire expenditure is met through donations
_________________________________________________

Muzaffarnagar :

Unable to have children of their own, a farmer couple here decided to adopt an abandoned, disabled boy in 1990. Nearly three decades later, they are the proud parents of 51 such children.

The couple runs an orphanage on an eight-bigha plot of donated land in Shukrtaal. There is also a small school on the premises. Currently, they have 46 children under their care — most of the others grew up, took up jobs, got married, and moved away — and the entire expenditure is met through donations.

Meena Rana, 50, of Kudana village in Shamli, married to Baghpat resident Virender Rana, 55, in 1981. Nearly a decade into their marriage, they discovered that a tumour in Meena’s uterus rendered her unable to bear children. They then moved to Shukrtaal in 1990, bought a small plot, and adopted a one-year-old abandoned boy whom they named Mangeram. The child died five years later, but the couple did not stop bringing other abandoned children home.

“I do not care whether they are Hindus or Muslims. All I know is that they are my children. Our main focus is the education of these children,” said Meena.

Of the 46 children living with them now, 19 are girls and 27 boys, many of them physically challenged. The orphanage has a fully equipped kitchen, rooms and a big playground.

“The Shukrtaal gram panchayat provided us with a bigger plot of land. For supplies and other essentials, we mostly depend on donations. Our neighbours provide us with wheat and other basic food items,” said Virendra

Mamta, a 22-year-old raised by the couple, is currently pursuing postgraduation at a district college. “I do not know what my future would have been had they not taken me into their care. I owe them my life,” she said. Mamta is among several charges who have completed their graduation and now volunteer at the orphanage.

“Not many can do what Meena and Virendra have been doing. Giving them the land was the least we could do to help them,” said Shukrtaal pradhan Susheel Sharma.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Mohd. Dilshad / TNN / December 08th, 2017

Nutan Rathore youngest mayor in UP

Business & Economy, Leaders

Agra :

By winning the Firozabad municipal corporation election, Nutan Rathore has not only became its first mayor but also the youngest in the state.

Firozabad was upgraded to a municipal corporation in 2014 but elections for it have been held now.

Rathore secured 98,932 votes and won by a margin of 42,392 votes from her AIMIM rival, Masrur Fatima.

After completing her MBA, she worked with NGOs. Before getting associated with Mahila Chetna Manch, Bhopal, she also worked with Oxfam India.

Talking with TOI, Rathore said her education and working experience with NGOs would help her in meeting the aspirations of the people and fulfill her responsibilities as a mayor. “For understanding the problems of people and for doing development work, proper management is require and my experience will surely help,” she said.

She said her father, Mangal Singh Rathore who has been associated with BJP for several years, is her political mentor. “My father was city president of the party and a district office-bearer,” she said. She campaigned for the mayor’s post under his guidance.

An elated Mangal Singh Rathore, who is a lawyer by profession, said he always wanted someone from his family to take over the political baton from him but he had never thought that it would be his daughter. “BJP’s slogan is ‘beti bachao, beti padhao’ but I wanted to extend it to ‘beti badhao’ for my daughter,” he added.

“When the seat was reserved for OBC woman candidate, I asked my wife to contest but she refused. Then, my daughter expressed her desire to contest and today, she has won,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Agra News / by DM Sharma and Anuja Jaiswal / TNN / December 02nd, 2017

To end VIP culture, UP ADM commutes on cycle for official meetings, daily chores

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders

Muzaffarnagar :

Taking a step towards ending VIP culture and spread the message among other officials in the district, additional district magistrate (ADM) of Muzaffarnagar, Harish Chandra, is trying to set an example here.

Chandra not only commutes by bicycle from his home to office and other places for official meetings, but also completes his daily chores on it. He also never has security personnel with him.

A 1997 batch provincial civil services (PCS) official, 40-year-old Chandra had taken to riding a bicycle during his previous stint in Saharanpur as well. On seeing the ADM take a bicycle to work, the district bar association president, Thakur Anup Singh, also appealed to his associates to start using bicycles instead of travelling by cars or buses in a bid to reduce pollution. “I will soon put a proposal to bring bicycles while coming for the bar meeting,” he said.

“I use the bicycle even for my daily chores. It saves time and fuel,” said ADM Chandra.

Advocate Firoz Rana, who has a chamber only 100 yards away from the ADM office, said, “I know many my associates would like to bring the bicycle to work. I am sure in the coming days they will also use it.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Meerut News / by Mohd Dilshad / TNN / November 29th, 2017

Joyti Shankar Gaute creats history: wins Indira Marathon Fifth time in a row

Records, All, Sports

Allahabad :

The finishing line on the tracks of Madan Mohan Malviya stadium of the Sangam city witnessed history in making when three ace runners from the services finished back to back with a difference of few seconds, to bag the first three positions in the 33rd all India Indira Gandhi prize money marathon, held on Sunday.

Along with this Joyti Shankar Rao Gaute also wrote history by winning the marathon for the fifth time in a row and winning the prize money of Rs 2 lakhs.

In the men’s category, Yashpal Singh (chest number 323) of the services won the marathon by clocking 2:25:33 seconds. Wearing chest number 323, Yashpal, hailing from Kanpur, was applauded by the audience as the two of his competitors, one among whom was from Allahabad itself, were putting their best efforts to beat him. Yashpal bagged the prize money of Rs 2 lakhs by winning the marathon.

Close to Yashpal, Anil Kumar Singh (chest number 138), also from services and a native of Allahabad, bagged the second position staying just few seconds behind Yashpal. Anil clocked a timing of 2:25:39 seconds.

On the third position was Anand Singh (chest number 280) from Kanpur. The runner from services finished the marathon by a timing of 2:25:51 seconds.

In the women category, Joyti Shankar Rao Gaute (chest number 1162) made history by winning the title for the fifth time in a row. She had been the winner of this marathon since 2013. Gaute, a runner from Maharashtra, won the marathon by clocking a timing of 2:54:26 seconds, which was around four minutes more than her last year’s record when she completed the marathon in 2:50:57 seconds.

Gaute was followed by Anita Chaudhary (chest number 1200) of Gazipur who clocked a timing of 3:07:40 seconds to bag the first runner up of the marathon. The third place was won by Rani Yadav (chest number 1191) of Varanasi. She finished the marathon in 3:08:06 seconds, around one minute behind Anita.

Earlier the marathon was flagged off by ace Olympian and Laxman awardee Pramod Tiwari along with district magistrate, Suhas L Y and the International shuttler Abhhin Shayam Gupta who also distributed the prices of this 33rd all India Indira marathon.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Allahabad News / TNN / Rajiv Mani / TNN / November 19th, 2017

A Yatra to Lucknow’s lesser-known marvels

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel
A woman poses for a selfie during the heritage walk and (right) the poor state of the road leading to Kashishwar Mahadev temple

Lucknow :

A journey called ‘Yatra’ to lesser-known yet important landmarks of Lucknow on the city outskirts was organized on Sunday by INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage.

The ‘Yatra’ started from Chatori Gali near Gomti Riverfront and had four stops, Kashishwar Mahadev Temple at Mohanlalganj, Shivala and Kakori Memorial at Kakori Road and Kudiya Ghat in Old City.

“The idea was to explore the monuments in Lucknow that are not much talked about. The tourism department doesn’t keep them in its itinerary despite their historical and architectural value. For instance, Kakori Memorial, it is one of the landmarks that tells so much about Lucknow’s association with the freedom struggle but it’s nowhere on the list of places to visit in Lucknow,” said Vipul Varshney, convener of INTACH’s Lucknow chapter.

She added, “Mostly when people speak about Lucknow, they talk of Imambada or Tunday Kebabi. Not even all Lucknowites know that these places exist. So, we want people to get acquainted with these monuments and give them their due importance.” The ‘Yatra’ was attended by 50 people, including 25 architecture students. Several among them visited these monuments for the first time.

“The most interesting stop of the trip was Kashishwar Mahadev Temple at Mohanlalganj. Built in 1860, it is a perfect example of Vastu Shastra. It has eight ‘Shivalayas’ and the top of the main compound has a ribbed dome on a rectangular base with inverted lotus finial and metallic pinnacle. It was fascinating to see anything so architecturally wonderful,” said Shweta Singh.

Expressing concern over the poor upkeep of monuments, Vipul said, “Despite their historical importance they are in shambles, be it Kashishwar Temple or Kakori Memorial. Despite getting lakhs of rupees for Kudiya Ghat’s beautification, river there is full of water hyacinth; even the stairs are not cleaned properly.”

“Kashishwar temple is ASI protected, but the approach is not cemented. Garbage was strewn everywhere,” said Aparna Mishra.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Vidita Chandra / TNN / December 04th, 2017