15th Jul
The unfading notes
Artistes from across the spectrum pay tribute to Veena Sahasrabuddhe.
Meeta Pandit
(Hindustani vocalist)
The association between our families dates back to several years since both were closely connected with the Gwalior gharana. One of the reasons why I felt an affinity towards her music was because we share our musical roots. She was one of the most significant branches of the banyan tree called Gwalior. The speciality of the gharana, the aada chautaal, came through beautifully in her singing. Her father and guru Shankar Shripad Bodas, one of the earliest disciples of the legendary Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, moved to Kanpur at the behest of his master to take music to the industrial town. Such was the family’s guru bhakti. Impeccable intonation, clarity of approach and a varied variety repertoire made her stand apart as a vocalist. A great teacher, committed musician and a balanced person, I will always regret not having been able to record her singing for the ‘Masters of Hindustani Music, a series I was working on. But she leaves behind a rich treasure for us to hold on to.
Vijay Siva
(Carnatic vocalist)
Soaked in fine aesthetic values with a strong traditional base, Veena Veena Sahasrabuddhe represented the fast dwindling community of genuine musicians. Although her music reflected her father and brother’s influence and training, it also showcased her individual brilliance. Those who listened to her last concert in Chennai at Kalakshetra auditorium will remember the ease and grace with which she sang. I was at Pune a few years ago to wish her speedy recovery. Her gentle smile of acknowledgement remains as fresh as her music in my memory.
Ranjani Ramachandran
(Hindustani vocalist and faculty member, Santiniketan)
I have known Veenatai’s (as she was fondly referred to) family since my childhood since I grew up in Kanpur. I also learnt from her brother Pt Kashinath Shankar Bodas in Kanpur. I was under Veenatai’s tutelage for more than 10 years in Pune. I have had the privilege providing vocal support at her concerts, which was a great learning experience. While steeped in the Gwalior gharana gayaki, especially the Paluskar styleof vocalism, she also imbibed nuances of the Kirana gharana. She admired Vidushi Kishori Amonkar and Pandit Kumar Gandharva’s gayaki apart from many others. Gifted with a powerful and captivating voice, her music and performances were always emotionally intense. She was a also a scholar, who took a keen interest in everything related to music — teaching, composing and writing (one of her published books ‘Nad Ninad’ is a compilation of bandishes composed by her, and her brother and father). With a Masters in vocal music and Sanskrit, she was a Sangeet Praveen (equivalent to Ph.D) from the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. Her thesis was on Tarana of which she was one of the finest exponents. As a teacher, she was dedicated and a hard taskmaster, who took keen interest in the progress of her students. As a person, she was affectionate, positive and a perfectionist. It was an unforgettable moment to be conferred the Pt. Ramkrishnabua Vaze Yuva gayak puraskar on the same day when my guru was awarded the Pt. Vinayakbua Patwardhan Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar by Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in December 2013 in Pune.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Friday Review / by Chitra Swaminathan / July 08th, 2016
Presenting, at 332kg, world’s largest samosa
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HIGHLIGHTS
– A group of 10 enthusiasts have sought a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by preparing, what they claim, world’s biggest samosa
– The quintessential Indian snack, weighing 332 kg, was made at Gopal Nagar colony of Maharajganj district.
– The group, led by 20-year-old Ritesh Soni, has now approached the Guinness Book Committee to get their feat ratified.
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Gorakhpur:
A group of 10 enthusiasts have sought a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by preparing, what they claim, world’s biggest samosa. The quintessential Indian snack, weighing 332 kg, was made at Gopal Nagar colony of Maharajganj district. Thousands of people thronged the venue where the feat was being achieved. The group, led by 20-year-old Ritesh Soni, has now approached the Guinness Book Committee to get their feat ratified.
Soni , who runs a small roadside restaurant at Gopal Nagar, says that he was inspired by the world’s largest jalebi which was made by another group in the district. “Last year, a group in Katharia Bazar made world largest jalebi and now it is in the Guinness Book. Like them, we also want to make our town famous through our feat,” Soni told TOI.
” Earlier, Bradford College of England made the biggest samosa weighing 110 kg. Our samosa is three times bigger,” said Naveen Tewari, another group member. “Through the Guinness recorgnition, I want to get the attention of leaders towards my small town as after so many years of independence it is still facing illiteracy, basic infrastructure and electricity problem,” he added.
“From the past 15 days, we are preparing for and started working on the final preparation on Monday evening. By Tuesday morning, it was ready for display,” Sonia said. Since then thousands of people have visited the site to see it. The group earlier planned to make it on Eid but later it was extended administration didn’t give them permission.
The group spent around Rs 40,000 in the making, “It took 90 litre refined oil, 1.75 quintal wheat flour and 2 quintal potato to prepare it. The samosa is 3 meter high and its three sides are 2 metre, 1.5 metre and 1.5 metre. Its radius is around 36 inch,” Ritesh said.
Most group members are involved in catering business and aged between 16 and 30 years. Four of them are class 12 students. “We all pooled in around Rs 30,000 and rest of the amount came through donations,” Ritesh said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / July 13th, 2016
Varanasi-based violinist strikes a chord with Srilanka
Varanasi:
Noted violinist and professor at department of music at BHU, Dr V Balaji, has been felicitated in Colombo recently.
Sri Lankan President Maithrieala Sirisena rewarded him during a programme ‘The State Music Award Ceremony’ organized by ministry of cultural affairs of Sri Lanka at Colombo, on the occasion of World Music Day.
Balaji presented a portrait of Bharat Ratna and BHU founder Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya to the Sri Lankan President on behalf of BHU.
Balaji was in Sri Lanka to participate in various events including a three-day workshop organized by Sandhwani Sangeet Niketan to mark its golden jubilee and also the centennial celebration of BHU.
He was awarded the title of ‘Violin Chakravarthy’ on the occasion.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / July 09th, 2016
Women city bus hit among girl students
Lucknow :
Girl students are boarding the women bus service for safe transportation.
The route of the women city bus service, ‘My Wings’ has been extended till Sarojininagar on the demand of the students of the Guru Nanak Girls Degree college, Charbagh.
As many as 32 girl students of the college had contacted the Lucknow City Transport Services, UPSRTC to extend the bus service till Sarojininagar. The women city bus service inaugurated in April had been operating between Charbagh and Engineering College.
But now it plies between Charbagh and Engineering College. “The principal of the college approached us and said that the timings of the bus were suitable for the students,” said MD, LCTS, A Rahman.
Along with 32 girls who board the bus everyday in morning at Sarojininagar, at least 45 girls board it back to home. LCTS had chosen the Charbagh-Engineering college route for the launch of the bus given the high demand.
The bus is available at every two hours from 8am till 8pm. The minimum fare charged is Rs 5 for every 4km.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / by Neha Shukla, TNN / August 10th, 2015
BHU start-up’s innovation makes a global mark
Aquvio, a home grown start-up at Malaviya Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (MCIIE), Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), has been shortlisted among the top 20 semi-finalists in the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP)-India Chapter. Only two start-ups have been selected from UP.
Aquvio innovators and civil engineering graduates from IIT-BHU, Naveen Kumar and Rohit Kumar Mittal, participated in the GCIP at UN conference hall in New Delhi where they were appreciated for their water-efficient start-up. Notably, the entries are made under three clean technology areas comprising energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste to energy and water efficiency.
The IIT-BHU graduates came up with a cost-efficient reverse osmosis-based water filtration solution that delivers potable water and promises high recovery rate of raw water unlike other water purifiers that results in increased water wastage. Technology business incubator, MCIIE, and other including former director of IIT-BHU, SN Upadhyay, senior scientist at Institute of Radioecology and Radiation Protection, Hannover (Germany), Dharmendra Kumar Gupta and former professor at department of electronics engineering, IIT-BHU, MS Maun extended help and support to them. The shortlisted semi-finalists were intimated via e-mails following which they participated in the orientation programme held at New Delhi recently.
“We sent our entry for the Cleantech Open competition that provides entrepreneurs the facilitation needed to launch and create successful clean technology ventures and start-ups. We were intimated via e-mail that we had been shortlisted among the top 20 and participated in orientation programme in Delhi,” said an elated Naveen.
GCIP was launched in 2013 by ministry of MSME, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) with support of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
One of the main objectives of the Indian Cleantech Competition is to equip entrepreneurs with critical skills that will enable them to take their innovation to the commercialization stage or to help them scale up their innovation.
The selected finalists will be brought together at Cleantech Open Global Forum in Silicon Valley, California.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / July 07th, 2016
Cancer survivor team bags ten medals in Russia
Allahabad:
A contingent of seven young Indian students who fought and beat cancer has bagged several medals in Russia in the World Children Winners Games held in Moscow between June 30 and July 2. All these participants are under 14 years of age and won 10 medals in indoor and outdoor games that were also attended by players from 14 other countries.
Yash Chandra, a 13-year-old Allahabad boy, won a silver medal in chess and a bronze medal in football. The Indian contingent won three gold, four silver and 3 bronze medals in total.
He and the other six members of the team who hail from UP, Mumbai and Hyderabad regularly visit the Tata Memorial Cancer Center for follow up check-ups. The event encourages young cancer survivors from all over the world. It is organised by the Gift of Life Foundation founded by two Russian actresses Chulpan Khamatova and Dina Korzun.
Yash was first diagnosed with cancer in his left kidney at a young age of three in 2003. He has not only survived the dreaded disease but has also become an inspiration for many who lose the fighting spirit in the life.
“I enjoyed the trip. I am so happy that I could bring medals for my country. What if these are not Olympic medals? For me and others in my team, these are nothing less than Olympics medals.” said Yash. Adding to his experience, the brave kid said, “I was very impressed by the way Russians have preserved their heritage buildings. They are so systematic.”
Manoj Kumar Srivastava, Yash’s father, said, “Events like these not only boost the morale of young cancer survivors but also spread awareness about this dreaded disease. If cancer is detected on time, these kids can also lead a normal life like my son.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / Rajeev Mani / July 08th, 2016
IIT pitches in for Namami Gange
Kanpur:
As part of its endeavour to achieve ‘aviral aur nirmal’ (continuous and clean) flow of Ganga under the Namami Gange project, IIT-Kanpur has started technical survey in five villages close to the river.
The team is working on three aspects during the survey – do villagers use toilets, where is the solid waste discharged and what is the arrangement for sanitation and water supply.
The team also found out the number of domestic animals and the arrangement for their drinking water.
Prof Vinod Tare of IIT-K, who is closely associated with the Namami Gange project, said 13 prominent educational institutions have adopted 65 villages situated on the banks of Ganga. These institutions include NIT Uttarakhand, IIT-Roorkee, Aligarh Muslim University, NIT Allahabad, IIT-BHU, ISM-Dhanbad and IIT-Kharagpur.
“These 65 villages are situated on the river bank between Alaknanda to Gangasagar. Ganga travels through seven states and covers a distance of 2,500 kms before flowing into Bay of Bengal,” said Prof Tare who has been working on Ganga for the past two decades.
Abhishek Gaur, senior project associate at IIT-K and part of the team, said the survey is almost complete in Ramel Nagar, Khayora Katri, Pratappur Hari, Hindupur and Ludhawakhera villages situated close to Ganga.
Tare said preparations are on to construct a new ghat at the barrage. He said soon the work of renovation of the city ghats will begin.
In Bithoor, beautification of the ghats would be done by Kanpur Development Authority (KDA).
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / July 08th, 2016
At 16, Vibhor may be youngest IITian this year
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HIGHLIGHTS
– Vibhor Gupta had emerged the second Kanpur topper in JEE Advanced
– Vibhor could be youngest to join IIT-K this year.
– Vibhor would be turning 17 on August 2.
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Kanpur :
With a lanky figure, meritorious Vibhor Gupta is very likely to come across as a schoolboy.
But he is one who had emerged the second Kanpur topper in JEE Advanced and seventh in the IIT-Kanpur zone. He could be youngest to join IIT-K this year. Vibhor would be turning 17 on August 2.
Vibhor’s father Lav Kumar said that his date of birth is August 2, 1999 which makes him 16 year old.
“We are native of Auraiya but I got Vibhor admitted in Sir Padampat Singhania Education Centre in Kanpur to ensure that he gets good education. He used too stay in a rented room near school and prepare for JEE Advanced. He hardly had time to do anything except studies,” he said.
Vibhor said that computer science and engineering department of IIT-K is the best and therefore, he decided to opt for pursuing BTech from here.
His 80-year-old grandmother Krishna Devi, who accompanied him, said that she was literate and able to read ‘Ramayan’ even at this age.
In 2010, 14-year-old Sahal Kaushik was the yougest entrant in IIT-K. He had joined MSc physics. Sahal was the topper of Delhi JEE zone and had an AllIndia rank of 33.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / Abhinav Malhotra / July 06th, 2016