20
19
18
17
World’s first official airmail was delivered in Sangam city in 1911
Allahabad :
Sangam city had been witness to a historic occasion when the world’s first official airmail delivery took place on February 18, 1911. French pilot Henri Pequet took off on a bi-plane from Parade ground with 6,500 letters for the satellite town of Naini to raise funds for charity. The plane covered five miles in around 13 minutes to land at Naini. It was later termed as the world’s first official airmail
“The chaplain of Holy Trinity Church (presently situated on Sarojini Naidu Marg) required money to raise funds for a new hostel. In a unique coincidence, British commander Walter G Windham was in the city with airplane related machines and an imported aeroplane to participate in a cultural and handicraft exhibition on Parade Ground,” said R N Yadav, senior post master, Allahabad region.
“Later, fate brought the clergyman to Windham. He persuaded Windham to perform an aerial show to raise fund for the construction of a hostel. Windham later conceived the aerial show as as an airmail delivery event, which became historic due to its importance,” Yadav said adding that it was the world’s first officially documented airmal delivery.
“Windham felt that it could be advertisement for the exhibition as well as a demonstration of rapid and safe transportation of mails. Thus, the idea of the world’s first official airplane mail was born. Those interested in availing the service were asked to send their mail addressed and stamped to the chaplain of the Holy Trinity Church,” Yadav told TOI.
Philatelist Suryakant Awasthi said, “The clergyman had asked nominal sum of six annas per letter as a contribution for building the new hostel building. Only cards or letters weighing under one ounce in weight were accepted. A large number of people participated as the occasion was unique and letters addressed to people all over the globe were received.”
The letters include those addressed to Jawaharlal Nehru, King George V and several maharajas.
He said pilot Pequet was entrusted with the task of flying the Sommer bi-plane, which had a rotary Gnome engine of 50 horsepower. Pequet started at 5 pm and the landing took place after 13 minutes near Naini junction. When Pequet descended, there was no crowd to greet him. He merely handed over the mail bag to the only post department official present there and returned to Allahabad.
Pequet flew the plane at the speed of 60 miles per hour at a height of 120-150 feet.
The postal department, alongwith the Air Force, enacted the flying of world’s first air-mail as part of centenary celebrations on February 18, 2011, with equal number of letters but from Bamrauli airport to Naini.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Allahabad / Vinod Khanal / TNN / October 15th, 2016
Two from city get first Kalam award
Lucknow:
Two key personalities from the city have won the first edition of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award for ‘Innovation in Governance’.
Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation managing director Kumar Keshav and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) chief operating officer Jayant Krishna were awarded for showing exemplary work in improving governance and delivering value to the citizens.
The awards were given on Saturday during the memorial summit organized at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to commemorate Kalam’s 85th birth anniversary.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Lucknow / TNN / October 16th, 2016
Stories of UP attract travel writers
Lucknow:
For travel blogger NP Prasad, Uttar Pradesh is a “land of many Indias in one place.” “Everything you can think about India is there is Uttar Pradesh. “Each of these has an interesting story behind,” said Prasad.
Prasad is a part of a team of 44 travel writers and bloggers from across the world who were here to participate in the second edition of the UP Travel Writers’ Conclave.
Organised by Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Worldwide Media Private Limited, the effort aims at promoting places of interest in and around Agra, Varanasi and Lucknow – the three destinations in the Heritage Arc, the tourist corridor being developed by UP government.
The itineraries, which span four days, cover the length and breadth of the three cities that form the core of Uttar Pradesh’s cultural heritage.
The participants would get to explore the various facets of the state — from food, heritage to wildlife, textiles and landscapes. The travels will culminate into a travel writers’ conclave in Varanasi on October 16.
Fourteen persons of the large group chose Lucknow over Varanasi and Agra. Their journey began on Wednesday with the inauguration ceremony at chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s residence here. In his interaction with team, the chief minister said: “Historic places in UP are interesting because of interesting anecdotes of existence besides their living traditions. I think you will have enough material to pen down.”
“I have come to see the heart of Uttar Pradesh,” said Lakshmi Sharath from Bengaluru. She has been to Agra earlier but is convinced that the land of the Taj is not UP’s heart. “It’s too touristy,” she remarked adding, “I look forward to the crafts and culture and their stories in Lucknow.”
Travel journalist from Delhi Malavika Bhattacharya confessed that Lucknow appeared to be more beautiful than her expectation. “I can feel a good mix of architecture and food in Lucknow,” she said.
Award-winning travel journalist from Ireland Isabel Conway was also impressed by the partly-Colonial nature of Lucknow’s heritage. “I have to visit the Residency,” said the resident of Ireland.
Anita Raokashi is another foodie travel writer from Bengaluru. “I look forward to the original Tundey (famous kebab makers in Lucknow),” she said . Sejal, editor of Mumbai based nature and focus portal, was more interested in getaways from Lucknow. All set for Dudhwa and Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuaries, she said, “Wildlife in UP is being talked about.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Lucknow / by Shailvee Sharda / TNN / October 14th, 2016