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Rising prices make Mussoorie folk turn to local veggies
Day 3: Trained teachers continue protest
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DAV (PG) College Students union Poll At least three scuffles in the past few days Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service
Dehradun, July 28 College authorities and the police are also perturbed at the early start to the poll campaign and the resultant ruckus. The college opened just a few days ago, but as per student organisation members, they have already seen three to four scuffles among students during campaigning. Yesterday, a number of college students got injured, with most of them sustaining injuries on their heads, after a clash between the NSUI and the ABVP. Sticks and helmets were used during the fight. The police later registered FIRs against the two groups. Clashes and student elections have been synonymous with each other in the past in this biggest college of Garhwal. Last year too, students clashes and the nuisance created by them on city roads caused immense hardship to common people and continued despite police presence. BL Nautiyal, Principal of the college, said it was really unfortunate that such an environment had resulted on the college campus much before the elections. He added that he would hold a meeting with the SSP and the administration to curb violence on the campus. He said he would request the SSP to deploy police force at the earliest. “There are anti-social elements among the students and they are instigating students to indulge in violence. Such persons will be identified. We want that elections should be held peacefully and for this, we will organise meetings with student organisation leaders from time to time,” the Principal added. Former college president Ashish Bahuguna of the ABVP said there was a need to check the entry of outsiders as they are the ones who were hampering the order at the college. The police said it would not allow students to create any nuisance on the roads or on the college premises. Dalanwala Circle Officer Premender Dobal said sufficient police force would be deployed at the college.
Students fire into air at Astley Hall
A few rounds into the air were fired by some students during a student election campaign rally at Astley Hall here today.
The police denied that shots were fired in the city, but eyewitnesses confirmed the incident. According to eyewitnesses, the incident took place during the rally of DAV (PG) College student Nitin Joshi who is contesting the post of general secretary. Dalanwala Circle Officer (CO) Premender Dobal said the police had not received any information. However, he maintained that if reports turn out to be true, they would initiate action. Sources in the college informed that students during the rally had pistols and ‘khukhris’ on them. Sticks and helmets are anyway being openly flaunted by the students.
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Notes of Barmer come alive in Doon
Dehradun, July 28 Manganiar singers began singing some 800 years back and to this day, they have managed to retain the authenticity and dulcet quality in their rendition. It is organisations like the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture among the Youth (SPIC MACAY) that continue to support and nurture these nomad singers from Rajasthan. For students and citizens of Dehradun, an opportunity to interact with these artistes and sample their performances came in good measure today. “There is a popular anecdote that is narrated again and again and passed on from one generation to the other which says that Hazrat Ali and his wife Biwi Fatima were so impressed with the singing of a Manganiar singer several years ago that she presented him a necklace as reward. From that day, these tribesmen began to be known as Manganiar,” said Rojey Khan, lead singer of the Thar Lok Kala Sansthan. Carrying on his family tradition, Rojey Khan has travelled to different parts of the country and held several concerts abroad. “The love and affection showered on us gives me immense satisfaction. No wonder, my 19-year-old son Debu Khan has joined me. Unlike the classical stream, we neither have gharanas nor the lofty tradition of guru-shishya parampara to boast off. “My son has picked up the nuances of singing in an informal way. I am sure my grandson too would be travelling the familiar route,” said Khan with pride. In fact, stories of resilience and adaptability of the younger generation continue to unfold on reality television as young Manganiar singers try their luck at several musical shows. “We are proud of Swaroop Khan. He is among the four finalists at Indian Idol-2, a show currently being aired on Sony Television. “If he is crowned Indian idol, you can imagine what it will do to the morale of our youth, when he will come on a visit. “In all, there are 2,000 families living in a little village called Bhinyar in Rajasthan. Till now steeped in anonymity, the exploits of Swaroop Khan have given us instant fame now,” opined Rojey. The clever lifting of the popular Rajasthani song “Nimbuda, nimbuda” for the Hindi film “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” still rankles Khan. At that point, these singers had even lodged a protest asking the producers and directors to give credit to Manganiars. “The song has been sung by us. Ethically, they should have given us credit. The song became so popular, but think of those unknown singers who have died unsung while others live in penury. “Some contribution could have been made for their cause,” asserted Khan. Along with cultural organisations like SPIC MACAY, Rajput patrons in Rajasthan have ensured the longevity of the nomadic tribesmen. “But for them, we would not have come this far. The colourful turban that you see on my head has been presented by them and this relationship is carried forward from one generation to the other,” said Khan.
Performances at two schools
A blend of Hindu and Muslim traditions, Manganiar singers from Rajasthan first performed at the Asian School, followed by Col Brown Cambridge School today.
At Col Brown School, the guests were welcomed by Deputy Headmaster SK Tyagi and staff members. The concert began with a song dedicated to Lord Ganesh. Despite being Muslim Rajputs, the artistes sang songs about Lord Krishna and Ganesha. The highpoint of the programme was a jugalbandi performed in the folk style. The Manganairs use traditional instruments like khamachiya, khartal, mochang, dholak and harmonium. At Asian School, Rojey Khan, the lead singer answered several queries raised by students about their style of singing and how they were managing to keep their kind of music alive among the present generation. The artistes who performed included Rojey Khan, Ahmed Khan, Babu Khan, Deen Mohammed, Razab Khan, Kheta Khan and Debu Khan.
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Rising prices make Mussoorie folk turn to local veggies
Mussoorie, July 28 Fiddlehead fern is commonly found in watery or damp environments. Lengada, called locally, has become the first choice for households in the town as it is affordable at Rs 15-20 per kg in the market. Fiddlehead ferns have been part of traditional diets of local villagers, but the urban population is also finding the taste for the ferns to its liking due to the budgetary constraints. Milk are making hay as sun shines, as they pick the ferns on their way from swampy slopes in the mountains adding a few more bucks to their kitty. Housewives rush to local jeeps coming in from villages to get their share of the vegetable early in the morning. Soumya, a housewife, speaking to The Tribune, said the rising prices of the regular vegetables had made those out of reach of the common people. Therefore, she had to change her preference towards fiddlehead ferns which are easily affordable. Lengadas are the unfurled fronds of a young fern harvested for consumption. The fiddlehead, or circinate vernation, unrolls as the fern emerges from the ground with new growth. It is also called a crozier, after the curved staff used by bishops, which has its origins in the shepherd’s crook. Fiddlehead’s ornamental value makes these very expensive in temperate regions where these are not in abundance. The fiddleheads of certain ferns are eaten as a cooked leaf vegetable by locals. A resident of Mussoorie, Sunil Panwar, says these must be cooked first to remove acid. Lengadas are cut into fine pieces, seasoned with oil and cooked for some time, and then savoured by the locals as a dry, but delicious vegetable after adding jakhya (cleome viscose) for taste. According to horticulture experts from Yasimine fernery, Bimal and Harish Sharma, lengada is a type of fern and it belongs to the family of violinae orchestras found at a height of 1,900-2900 metre above sea level in the Indian subcontinent, especially the Himalayan wilderness. It contains 8 per cent carbohydrate, 4 per cent proteins, 0.56 per cent iron, 86 per cent water and some amount of calcium also. It is also found in the Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh where it is known locally as lingri and used to make a pickle “lingri ka achaar”. In the Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh it is called lungdu. In Darjeeling and Sikkim regions, it is called ningro and is loved as a vegetable side dish, often mixed with local cheese. The fiddleheads are also available seasonally in some supermarkets and restaurants and aren’t cultivated. Fiddleheads have also been part of traditional diets in much of northern France, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, as well as among native Americans for centuries. The vegetable has medicinal properties too. It helps in curing insect stings and bites, leprosy, urinary diseases, constipation and rheumatism, added Sharma. Local historian Gopal Bhardwaj says the British used it as an inexpensive asparagus and a continental delicacy. He is of the view that the fern can be cultivated commercially during monsoon and help villagers earn an extra buck. It can be rightfully said fiddlehead ferns have succeeded where the governments have failed in providing solace to the consumers reeling under rising prices of vegetables.
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Day 3: Trained teachers continue protest
Dehradun, July 28 The protesters have started staging hunger strike to press their demands on the administration. Baldev Singh Bhandari, president of the Garhwal region, Pankaj Muyal, district president, and Brij Mohan Singh Rawat, president of Uttarkashi district, are on an indefinite death. While speaking to The Tribune, Bhandari said, “We have given several memorandums to Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Secretary (Education) and the Education Minister, but except fake assurances nothing has materialised yet. In fact, the affected are facing such a financial crisis that there families are at the state of starving”. “We request the state government to immediately take action in favour of our demands or else we would be compelled to commit mass suicide along with our families,” said Bhandari. The BEd and BPEd trained teachers are requesting the state government to open 8,000 vacancies of special BTC teachers and 5,000 for LT teachers. Himanshu Rajput, state vice-president, Birpal Bisht, state secretary, Himmat Rawal, treasurer, Mahendra Chauhan and others were also present at the protest.
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City Young thrash Gorkha United FC 8-0
Dehradun, July 28 Gorkha United FC seemed a mere spectator in the match. They hardly could make any clue of the attack of the strikers of the rival team. Rakesh scored the first and last goals of the match. He was instrumental in scoring four goals (11th, 19th, 46th and 60th). While Hemant Thapa (27th), Vijay (30th), Atul Sood (32nd) and Goswami (50th) chipped in with one goal each. Meanwhile, the Don Star and Akranta will face each other in the tomorrow’s match.
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SGRR Patel Nagar beat Race Course
Dehradun, July 28 Sandip Negi (45th), Vaibhav (55th) and Vishal Selwan (60th) scored a goal each to fashion the win Patel Nagar while Raman netted the lone goal of his side in the 25th minute, which wasn’t enough for Race Course. In the second match played today, the SGRR Bhaniawala easily beat the SGRR Nehru Gram 4-1. Kamal Sharma (13th), Udit Chauhan (30th and 55th) and Shasank (42nd) scored in the win of Bhaniawala. Shubham (38th) of the rival team scored the only goal for his side. Tomorrow fixtures: SGRR Bindal and SGRR Shastrdhara will play the first match. SGRR Basant Vihar will take on SGRR Balawala.
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50 enter second round of snooker championship
Dehradun, July 28 Akash, Babu, Hitender Soni, Chinu, Mohit, Amit Gujral, Raman and Vivek are among those who won the second round match. Organisers said as many as 100 players are participating in the competition. Players from Chandigarh, different districts of Punjab, Mussoorie, Rishikesh and Dehradun are playing in this championship.
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Mussoorie, July 28
