Siege of cawnpore

Historical Links / Pre-Independence
A contemporary engraving of the massacre at the Satichura Ghat. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
A contemporary engraving of the massacre at the Satichura Ghat. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

By surrendering to Nana Sahib, the British thought they would get safe passage. But the evacuation did not go as planned.

By June 27, 1857 the First War of Independence had spread to Cawnpore (Kanpur, as it is known today). Cawnpore was an important garrison town for the East India Company forces. It was ideally located on the Grand Trunk Road. Initially, the sepoys at Cawnpore were not a part of the war. The British General at Cawnpore, at that time, was Hugh Wheeler. He knew the local language, had adopted local customs, and to top it all was married to an Indian woman. So confident was he that his sepoys would not join the fight, he despatched two British companies to besieged Lucknow.

The British in Cawnpore numbered 900, including military men, women and children, merchants, business people, salesmen and engineers. The war was coming closer, and although there was no trouble in Cawnpore, the European families were afraid. They began to shift into the entrenchment (a military position fortified by trenches). The Indian sepoys were asked to collect their pay one by one, to avoid an armed mob.

The sepoys on their part felt threatened by the fortifications and the prepared artillery guns. There was a minor skirmish when a lieutenant fired on his Indian guard when drunk, and was jailed for a night. The next day, however, he was released. There were also rumours that the Indian troops had been summoned to a parade, where they were to be massacred. The sepoys joined the war against the East India Company on June 5.

The besieged Company forces and the civilians were not prepared for such a long siege. After almost three weeks, they surrendered to Nana Sahib, in return for a safe passage to Allahabad. Nana Sahib was the adopted heir to Baji Rao II, the ex-Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy.

The evacuation did not go as planned. There was confusion on getting into the boats, and misunderstanding causing sepoys to fire at the departing British. This was called the Satichaura Ghat massacre.

Finally, the East India Company forces stationed in Allahabad marched to Cawnpore. Women and children who had been captured by the sepoys were killed and their remains were thrown into a nearby well. After Cawnpore was recaptured, the massacre was discovered. There was outrage and Company forces retaliated with force capturing sepoys and civilians. This came to be known as the Bibighar massacre.

The murders angered and embittered the British and inspired the war cry “Remember Cawnpore”.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Young World / by Archana Subramanian / June 25th, 2015

56-yr-old donates blood 48 times, honoured in Lucknow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Kanpur :

A city based social activist was honoured for donating blood 48 times in his life at an event held on the occasion of blood donor day in Lucknow on Sunday.

RK Saffar, who is currently serving as Red Cross Society’s secretary, was felicitated during a ceremony organised at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Sunday. He received a momento from Arvind Kumar, principal secretary, medical and health.

Expressing his gratitude to the state government for giving him the award, Saffar said that the feeling was overwhelming. “Uttar Pradesh is far behind other states in terms of percentage of blood donors. I am happy that the government has recognised my efforts,” he said.

Saffar, 56, said, “I make sure to donate blood every 3 months.”I believe that nothing can be more charitable and noble than donating blood. It doesn’t take any toll on your health and you can save so many lives by merely donating blood. Regular donations help you live a healthy life too. I have donated blood 5 times a year also,” he said.

The social activist said that today youngsters have taken the lead in donating blood because of the campaigns on social networking sites. “The other reason as to why youngsters voluntarily donate blood these days is that the blood donation certificate helps you enter foreign universities. It is the simplest charity one can do,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kanpur / TNN / June 15th, 2015

UP brothers, who cracked IIT, fought dalit stigma as much as poverty

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Rehua Lalganj (Pratapgarh):

It was not just straitened financial circumstances but also the villagers’ casteist mindset that the Saroj brothers fought along their way to achieving their IIT dream. Caste biases run so deep here that even as they returned home feted by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday, stones were thrown at their house.

“There were five or six stones thrown at our home. We informed the police,” Raju Saroj told TOI. Otherwise, the brothers said, the villagers have become nice to them, especially since they shot to limelight after their incredible IIT success.

It wasn’t always like this. The villagers would mock the Saroj brothers when they dared to study. They were told that as dalits, they need not study any further as they have no future. Even their drainage line was cut off a few weeks ago. But, the family today is being idolized by the same villagers.

Raju and Brijesh with their parents.
Raju and Brijesh with their parents.

When Brijesh was applying to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya for the first time, villagers had said he would never get through. As if that wasn’t enough, when his roll number appeared in the list of those selected, a neighbour tore up the newspaper and threw it away.

They always pulled us back. There were no words of encouragement,” recalled Brijesh.

When Raju applied a year later, 40 other children had applied as well. Only Raju made it. “The people then said our family has some ‘source’, that’s why we got admission,” said Raju, without a trace of resentment.

“Navodaya was my turning point,” said Brijesh in crisp English. Before Navodaya, the boys were always pulled into the caste yolk. They were asked their caste by villagers, bus drivers and co-travellers. “People here are stuck in another century. They don’t want to move forward,” says Raju. “As my sons were studying in cities, villagers thought I had lots of money. They asked for my BPL card to be withdrawn,” said Dharmraj.

But there were words of encouragement as well.

“These two were the stars of our village from childhood as we knew that one day they will make their family and the entire village proud,” said Rakesh Jaiswal. He’d taken CPMT but could not make it.

Hare Ram Yadav, principal, Vikas Uchchatar Madhyamik Vidyalaya, where the Saroj brothers had studied till class V, and who till a couple of days back had told Raju it would’ve been better had he had taken ITI, gave a different spiel on Sunday when TOI revisited the village. “When they were small, they used to tell me they wanted to become doctor and engineer and I only honed their skills,” he said. He tactfully concealed the fact that in 2005, one of the teachers had beaten young Brijesh when the 10-year-old had questioned his Sanskrit translation.

Gulab Soni, their immediate neighbour, said, “We were sure of their achievements since they were kids.” As the celebrations were on, he merrily sipped soft drink offered by Raju’s elder.

“Yeh log aapke saamne naatak karte hain. In logon ne hamara bathroom jaane ka rasta bhi band kara diya hai aur aaye din dhamki dete rahte hain” (these people are acting before you. They had even blocked the path I took for bathroom),” said Shiv Nath Saroj, the grandfather of the Saroj brothers.

“They’ve stopped all the approach paths, barring one, for our house claiming that it was their own land. Had it not been thin lane, we could have not able to move out to go to the loo in the open,” he added with moist eyes.

“We’ve been tormented for years as all of us have struggled against poverty and stigma to achieve what we are today. Had it not been TOI, this success story would not have been noticed,” said Munna Saroj, uncle of these boys.

source: http://www.timesofindia.inditimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Rajeev Mani, TNN / June 22nd, 2015

From Braj region comes an event of harmony

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Travel

Lucknow :

Katha Vachak traditions from Braj are set to enthrall people in the land of Kathak. Known as ‘Bhagat’, the ancient customs from Mathura would come alive at Saajhi Virasat, a monthly cultural series started by the UP culture department. It begins with the famous Mayur (peacock) dance and presentation of Languria and Rasia folksongs at Lohia Park Amphitheatre on Friday.

Bhagat tradition of story telling is a mix of song, music and acting which may be compared with nautanki. Bhagat, however, is revered more because it was primarily associated with temples. “Everything is pious about a Bhagat presentation,” explained Vandana Singh, an expert in dance and music traditions in the Braj region, adding, “No dialogue or songs would have even a trace of vulgarity though item-number-like-masti in nautanki is a must.

The presentation, which will be held on Saturday, gels completely with Lucknow’s Ganga-Jamuni tehzib. “The group would stage the story of Raja Morajdhwaj whose story of sacrifice is quite like that of prophet Ibrahim,” said Anita Meshram, secretary culture, UP. Giving details, manager for the group, Seema Morwal said: “Morajdhwaj was a benevolent king who worshipped Vishnu and gave away anything anyone would ask for. Once, Vishnu decided to test him and came to the earth as an ascetic along with his vehicle Garuda diguised as a lion,” she said.

The king gave away everything Vishnu asked for. Finally, Vishnu asked the king and his wife to kill their only son and serve him his meat for dinner. Morajdhwaj eventually fulfilled the wish making the extreme sacrifice. “Seeing his generosity, Vishnu returned the king’s son and gave the message of sacrifice to all,” said Seema. “Prophet Ibrahim was also asked for a similar sacrifice… in fact, Bakarid is celebrated to re-tell the importance of sacrifice each year,” says Imam of Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli.

Officials said selection of the play was made randomly but the connection between regions (Braj and Avadh) and religions (Hindu and Islam) is truly Ganga Jamuni. “Somehow, it turns our theme of saajhi virasat (shared heritage) true,” Meshram stated.

About the Saajhi Virasat Series, she said, the two-day festival would see presentations from across different cultural regions of UP. “The presentations would include dance, drama and musical renditions,” she said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / June 19th, 2015

Meet the Boston woman who builds toilets in UP

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

New Delhi :

India draws epithets mostly of two kinds from foreigners. Indophiles call it ‘exotic’ for its rich multi-culturalism, mysticism, spirituality and other cliched reasons. Yet, others scathingly dub it as a ‘dump’ for its egregious lack of sanitation, infrastructure and development. Some go as far as calling India a ‘shithole’ ‘drowning in its own excreta’.

Having grown up in both under-privileged and privileged classes in the States, Marta says her idea about the difference in the two classes shaped her view of the world.
Having grown up in both under-privileged and privileged classes in the States, Marta says her idea about the difference in the two classes shaped her view of the world.

But an American Ph.D student Marta Vanduzer-Snow (34) moved to rural India three years ago thinking that India needed a different approach altogether—”To be an invisible human who makes a difference on the ground.”

The result—Marta, a Rutgers University scholar who grew up in Boston, got 82 low-cost evapotranspiration toilets in homes and 1 in a primary school and 10 feet wide 122 meters permeable roads constructed, all at half or one-third the cost of similar governmental projects in the villages of Rai Bareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

Each government toilet, built under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan that aims to eliminate open defecation by Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th anniversary in October 2019, costs about Rs.17000, but the evapotranspiration toilet that Marta has brought to the villages costs only Rs. 9109. As against government’s Rs. 4 lakh per 100 meter of interlocking road, Marta’s 100 meter permeable road costs only Rs. 2 lakh.

A co-author of books and research papers with various academics, Marta has developed a theory for three-pronged strategy on development that integrates infrastructure, health and education. “I wanted a small scale model based on my theory that I could execute. So I did some research and found that Amethi and Rai Bareily had quite a few active self-help groups. I decided to learn, practice and contribute.”

An Amartya Sen development economics fan, Marta who spends her own personal resources on all these projects, has also set up 27 solar power plants, including two street lights and a mobile charger. One of the only villages in Rae Bareli boasts of being the beneficiary of night light set up by the do-gooder scholar. Marta also got French drains built, with rainwater harvesting techniques and has been working on myco-filtration systems for potable water.

MartaLUCKNOW02jun21

Along with her programme coordinator Pawan Singh in some villages, she has also run literacy programs, written text books on English and organic farming, set up libraries and oversaw a pilot stage of four classrooms. The Rutgers scholar also run telehealth, ‘Mera Doctor’ a medical facility that offers 24×7 doctor-on-call service for free for a year to two villages.

Having grown up in both under-privileged and privileged classes in the States, Marta says her idea about the difference in the two classes shaped her view of the world. “The sharp difference was basically due to access or lack of access to opportunity,” she believes. The travels through Africa, Middle East, Asia and half a year she spent in Nepal running community service programs after high school confirmed her understanding of the difference in social classes. “But human life is about hope and how we look at future and what is possible for us. That is why I am doing what I am. ”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / June 20th, 2015

Ram Prasad Bismil’s birth anniv celebrated

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All

Gorakhpur :

Various programs were organised in Gorakhpur to mark birth anniversary of Pt Ram Prasad Bismil on Thursday.

Rashtriya Sewa Parishad and Uttar Pradesh Yuva Kalyan Sangathan paid floral tributes to the freedom fighter, organised a seminar and a special prayer at Bismil Park.

The photograph of Ram Prasad Bismil was garlanded at Gorakhpur journalist association office.

While speaking on his life, Dr Ashok Srivastav, a social activist said, “Ram Prasad Bismil sacrificed his life for the country. He participated in Mainpuri conspiracy of 1918, and Kakori conspiracy of 1925 against British Empire. He was hanged in Gorakhpur jail on December 19,

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / June 12th, 2015

UP starts cultural mapping of its rich heritage

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Travel

Lucknow :

The UP culture department has undertaken a cultural mapping of its tangible and non-tangible heritage. In this a district-wise detailed inventory of music, dance, monuments and handicrafts would be prepared.

Anita Meshram, secretary culture, on Thursday said, “Cultural mapping will help in framing better policies to conserve the richness of heritage UP has.” Letters have been sent to the district magistrates to start the work at their level, she added.

A committee of officials and experts has also been formed at the state level for this work. The department has also prepared a directory of artists across UP which has the details of artists representing 30 forms in four areas namely theatre, songs, dance and music.

In another development, to associate children and youth with the State Museum, the culture department will organise free excursions at Lucknow, Mathura and Gorakhpur museums. Different activities will also be organised for the two groups to make the experience memorable. “We are in the process of tying up with the school,” she said.

* Artists to share experience with Gen Y: In a first, budding artists of UP will get guidance from culture custodians like Pandit Birju Maharaj, Nalani Kamalni, Muzaffar Ali among others. The department has planned a lecture-demonstration series for this.

* Resource centre at state archives: This would ease the process of spade work for any kind of research. The state archives will also start a series of theme exhibitions. “We have lot of material which may be divided into sectors like health, education, 1857, freedom struggle etc.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / June 19th, 2015

Siddharth Univ becomes 25th state university

Education

Gorakhpur :

The 25th state university of Uttar Pradesh, Siddharth University, Kapilvastu, Siddharthnagar at Indo- Nepal border came into existence from June 17 after receiving the approval of Governor and formal order of UP government on Tuesday.

Around 185 colleges of various districts including Maharajganj in Gorakhpur zone, Siddharthnagar in Basti zone, Santkabir Nagar, Balrampur in Devipatan zone and Shravasti district will be affiliated with the varsity. The university is considered as the dream project of speaker legislative assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey.

The founder vice chancellor of the varsity, Rajnikant Pandey told TOI that chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is all set to develop residential facilities in the varsity for Nepalese students which will certainly strengthen the Indo-Nepal ties.

He said, “The foundation stone of the varsity was laid on October 30, 2013 by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and at that time he made an announcement that the university will be activated in two years and the university started within two years which is remarkable. The varsity will certainly lighten the burden of DDU Gorakhpur University and RML Awadh University as 21 colleges of two districts which were under Awadh University and 164 colleges of four district that were under DDU Gorakhpur University will come under Siddharth University. The students taking admissions in session 2015-16 in all the affiliated colleges under Siddharth University will be the students of first session of Siddharth University. ”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / June 18th, 2015

Scoring century with a purpose

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Lucknow :

Senior IAS officer Rajan Shukla on Sunday reached a rare milestone donating blood a hundred times. Along with other blood donors, Shukla was determined to continue the practice.

He termed it unfair to quantify the blood donation process (i.e. number of times a person has donated blood), and said, “The importance of blood donation lies in the timeliness of the act, as it can not only save a life, but also inspire others to adopt the practice.”

Before addressing the group of blood donors, Shukla ensured he registered himself for the 100th donation. Shukla is project co-ordinator (DASP) & principal secretary co-ordination department, government of UP.

A number of blood donors were felicitated on the occasion, including Sant Kamal Kishore (of Saharanpur), Pradeep Ishrani (Varanasi), Swarn Singh Insha (Ghaziabad), Iqbal Singh (of Bareilly), Arlin Mylicent (Gorakhpur) and B L Sharda (of Kanpur).

Sant Kamal Kishore of Saharanpur, who has etched his name in the India Book of Records for donating blood 128 times, said, “If all matchsticks are used for lighting the lamp, it may be difficult to light the same lamp next time. But, if one candle is used to do the same job, it can be repeated a number of times. The same concept holds true for blood donation.”

1965 born Pradeep Ishrani, donated blood for the first time, when was 18 year-old (1984), and on Sunday, he completed 81st blood donation in Lucknow. Recalling one of his earliest blood donation experiences, Ishrani said, “I was moved by an advertisement in a local newspaper requesting for some units of blood. After contacting the party, I went to a pathology to donate blood.” He said he was shocked when relatives of the patients asked him how much they should pay him for the timely blood donation. “This incident changed my life, and I decided to donate blood voluntarily,” said Ishrani.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Arunav Sinha, TNN / June 15th, 2015

Artistic route, from kiln to kitchen

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Ceramic wonders

CeramicLUCKNOW15jun2015

A 600-year-old pottery art, whose ceramics are alluring in their sheen, with multifarious shapes, beautiful colouring, varied sizes and usage, has drawn admiration from around the world. Khurja ceramics are made in a city by the same name in the district of Bulandshahr, in Uttar Pradesh, about 85-100 km from Delhi. The ceramic industry here is called the Khurja Whiteware Cluster. Due to the hundreds of factories here, Khurja is known as the ‘ceramic city’.

The ceramics are used for ornamentation, as utility items in the kitchen or as tableware. Vases, crockery (including beer mugs), pickle containers, pots, candle stands and jars come under the awning of Khurja-ware. Also included are artware, bone china crockery, stoneware, earthenware, toys and figurines, sanitary ware and other chemical porcelain items. Khurja ceramic gardening tokens in the form of flower pots and planters are produced.

The ancestry of Khurja pottery is attributed to the many potters who had migrated from Delhi to Khurja during the reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. It is also possible that many potters had settled here from overseas. Khurja ceramics’s appeal is ascribed to their surface embellishment in the form of historical and contemporary designs. Tribal, floral, Mughal and raised motifs are many of the designs exhibited.

One can see many colours on the ceramics: startling shades of blue, sober or dark green, simple hues of white and off-white, glazed grey, sparkly yellow, deep chocolate, muddy brown, sleepy mustard and other earthy and vibrant shades. An old world charm and raw enchantment accompanies these ceramics.

Khurja and some places in Delhi that display these ceramics present a colourful ambience for tourists. Basic processes for Khurja ceramic and pottery creation are similar in most factories, but there are variations within a few units.

The old kilns (downdraft) and the new, more efficient shuttle and tunnel kilns, firing systems and improved methods for the processing of raw materials are used for the production of Khurja ceramics. Raw materials used are China clay, Bikaner clay, ball clay, kundan clay, feldspar, quartz… Generally for ceramics, first the chosen clay is prepared, and depending on the output, it is made to undergo a specific procedure — throwing, turning, casting, jiggering and jolleying — to form greenware (a stage of clay), which is later fed into a firing system. Some products are glazed first, then fired.

Brothers S P Dadoo and Hari Dadoo founded Dadoos Ceramics in Khurja, in 1975. Naman Dadoo, Hari Dadoo’s son, shares, “We are involved in the creation of tableware, like plates, bowls, coffee mugs — in fact, most crockery, and artware, like flower vases, home decor like oil burners and potpourri. The raw materials used are 50 per cent clay and 50 per cent quartz, and feldspar (this could be potash or soda.) We also add some chemicals. Clay options available are China clay, Than clay, Amrapali clay… We usually get our clay from Rajasthan and Gujarat. We follow the jigger-and-jolley process. Moreover, hand-painting is done prior to glazing and firing.”

About the colours on the ceramics, Naman Dadoo explains, “We use high-temperature ceramic colours and chemical oxides in powder form. Colours are blended to prepare new ones. All the designs are hand-painted. Some are called decal prints. We use food-grade paints. There is no lead in our products. They are high-fired wares, that is, fired at high temperatures and are safe for food storage. It’s all handwork. Colours are stronger in Khurja ceramics, unlike on Jaipur pottery, which is only for the purpose of decoration. They use low-fired products and limited colours like blue, yellow and green.”

The brothers inform that their products are exported to Europe, Australia and USA. And, in the domestic segment, they cater to retail and hotel industry.

Images of moulds of clay, machines and processes, a potter’s wheel, handiwork, skills and patience of those craftspeople corroborate the essence and long-standing tradition of Khurja pottery. Coloured motifs following part narratives are engaged permanently on surfaces. Even monochromatic ornamenting, perfected by painters and craftsmen, makes the final pieces exquisite. Of course, they catch everyone’s attention.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Sunday Herald – Arts & Culture / by Trisha Bhattacharya, DHNS / June 14th, 2015