SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI
JALANDHAR


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

D E H R A D U N    P L U S

Man kills friend for money
Haridwar, November 13
In a shocking incident, Vijay Kumar (40) of Kotdwara was murdered allegedly by his friend who had brought him to Haridwar on the pretext of some family work. According to information, the accused, Raman (25) of Devi Road, Kotdwara, along with Vijay Kumar arrived at his uncle’s residence in Kankhal.

Setting up school in father’s memory is Eltaf’s dream
Ustad Eltaf Hussain SarahangDehradun, November 13
Afghanistan’s loss may have been other countries gain, more so in the case of Ustad Eltaf Hussain Sarahang, who upholds the Kabul branch of Patiala gharana of Hindustani classical music and made India his home during his exile.

Ustad Eltaf Hussain Sarahang


EARLIER EDITIONS


Doon Civic Blues: Ward No. 36
Proposed stadium land made dumping ground
Dehradun, November 13
How a blessing can turn into a curse is evident from poor condition of 12.5 bighas of land in Ajabpur (Ward No. 36), where a stadium was proposed to be built six year ago.

Heaps of garbage on a vacant plot in Ward No 36, Dehradun. A Tribune photograph

Nainital Diary
BJP speechless over Nishank’s ouster
WITH the Assembly poll approaching, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership across Uttarkhand is at a loss of words over the question, “What made the BJP remove Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank as Chief Minister and bring Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri back in his place?” The BJP leadership has been skirting this issue for two months since Khanduri came back to the office of Chief Minister.

Mayor: Road carpeting to be completed by Nov 30
Dehradun November 13
Residents of Dalanwala here aired their grievances before officials of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) and the Doon Valley Waste Management (DVWM) at a meeting called by the Dalanwala Welfare Society (DWS) in the city today.

Citizens for Green Doon celebrates tree festival
Dehradun, November 13
The volunteers of the Citizens for Green Doon celebrated the Third Annual Dehradun Tree Festival at MKP PG College here today. More than 1,200 students from 11 schools and colleges of Dehradun, including St Joseph’s Academy, Touchwood School, Hillgrange School, St Thomas’ College, Ann Mary School, Olympus High, Hilton School, Scholars’ Home, John Martin Memorial School, ICFAI University, Law College, Gautam International School, participated in it.

Play depicts plight of rivers
Members of the Nadi Bachao Abhiyan stage a play to highlight the plight of rivers at the Gandhi Park in Dehradun on Sunday.Dehradun, November 13
Members of the Nadi Bachao Abhiyan today staged a street play, “Morcha-2011” written by Dr Atul Sharma, at the Gandhi Park and MKP Girls’ College to highlight the plight of the rivers of the state.

Members of the Nadi Bachao Abhiyan stage a play to highlight the plight of rivers at the Gandhi Park in Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Dr Gaur to be awarded
Mussoorie, November 13 Dr Uday Gaur, a botanist from a government school, Gorakhori village, 50 km from Mussoorie, will receive an award for his contribution to science and climate change during the Fourth International Science Conclave to begin at Allahabad from November 26. Dr Gaud will be receiving the award from eminent Nobel laureates from across the world for imparting science education in one of the remotest villages of the state and raising various issues concerning global warming, climate change and biodiversity besides promoting the idea of green school among the students.

SGRR Nehru Gram, Bindal clinch titles
Dehradun, November 13
Sri Guru Ram Rai School (SGRR), Nehru Gram, and SGRR School, Bindal Bridge, today won their respective final matches in the girls and boys’ categories, respectively, of the Inter-school Sahodaya Complex Handball Tournament.

Madhu Chauhan, chairperson, Dehradun Zila Panchayat, gives away the trophy to the winners of a handball tournament in Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Uniyal Club win volleyball tournament
Mussoorie, November 13
The Uniyal Club win the 11th Kargil Memorial Volleyball Tournament held on the Central School premises in New Tehri today.

Hostel warden held on charge of sexual exploitation
Dehradun, November 13
Shakti Singh Chauhan, a warden of Cambridge Higher Secondary School, Khurbura, was arrested by the Dehradun police on a complaint of a school student of being sexually exploited by him.

Painting contest at Kauthig
Dehradun November 13
In the ongoing annual Garhwali festival, Kauthig 2011, a painting competition was held here today. As many as 300 students from various schools of Dehradun participated in the competition and showcased their skills.

 



Top
















 

Man kills friend for money
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 13
In a shocking incident, Vijay Kumar (40) of Kotdwara was murdered allegedly by his friend who had brought him to Haridwar on the pretext of some family work. According to information, the accused, Raman (25) of Devi Road, Kotdwara, along with Vijay Kumar arrived at his uncle’s residence in Kankhal. Raman’s uncle Buddha Singh provided them a separate room. However, after lunch, he heard some sounds from the room and when he opened the door, he saw Vijay bleeding. When he tried to stop Raman, he warned him of dire consequences. Vijay, however, succumbed to his injuries.

After getting information, the police reached the spot and arrested Raman. The police has also recovered tools used by Raman to allegedly kill his friend. A case has also been registered against him.

When the police asked Raman why he killed his friend, Raman said Vijay was not returning Rs 1 lakh that he had borrowed from him a few months ago. “I had been asking for the money for long. However, he kept on delaying it. Therefore, I decided to kill him,” said Raman.

Top

 

Setting up school in father’s memory is Eltaf’s dream
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Afghanistan’s loss may have been other countries gain, more so in the case of Ustad Eltaf Hussain Sarahang, who upholds the Kabul branch of Patiala gharana of Hindustani classical music and made India his home during his exile.

Transcending beyond the man-made boundaries, the Ustad’s music has found home in the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

Forced to flee his homeland after the Taliban takeover, even his homecoming has never been peaceful. He narrowly escaped a bomb attack during his visit to Afghanistan, but, undeterred, he plays on.

“It is very difficult to put a Pathan down. Several have done in the past and failed. Never mind the Talibani diktat on banishing musicians and music. Music reverberates in every nook and corner of my country. The Afghanis are full of life and vivacity, even the fighters, before going to war, have song on their lips. Music can never be erased. It has a strong emotional connection,” said Sarahang, who was here in Dehradun at the invitation of the Rural Entrepreneurship for Arts and Cultural Heritage (REACH), an NGO to participate in a musical evening.

By far, his stocky frame and rockstar hairstyle may belie claims of an artiste but Sarahang laughingly admits that he has also done a compulsory stint in the Afghan army during King Dawood Khan’s reign. “Even my father did his bit in the army, to tell you the truth we were a family of hakims, wrestlers and soldiers, before venturing into singing. It was my late grandfather who brought Patiala gharana to Kabul,” he said.

From court musician in King Zahir Shah’s court to globe trotting vocalist who, though based in the USA, is a frequent visitor to India and Afghanistan, Eltaf happily says that the Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Gautam Mukhopadhya together with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) are taking a deep interest to document the life of his father Ustad Mohammed Hussain Sarahang. “There is so much that I owe to India, it is here that I came on a scholarship and interacted with the best minds in the field of classical and vocal music. India and Afghanistan are my two eyes, now this project is coming up to document my father, it makes me happy. They may even institute an award in his memory,” smiled Sarahang.

Reminiscing about the influence that his father had on him, “I have been profoundly influenced by him. It seems he never departed, never left me. After my grandfather popularised Khayal, it was my father who carried forward the tradition, now after his death, it is my wish to set up a school in his memory so that students learn the intricate and nuances of this traditional musical gharana,” spoke the Ustad.

Top

 

Doon Civic Blues: Ward No. 36
Proposed stadium land made dumping ground
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
How a blessing can turn into a curse is evident from poor condition of 12.5 bighas of land in Ajabpur (Ward No. 36), where a stadium was proposed to be built six year ago.

Former Mayor Manorama Sharma had also arranged Rs 38 lakh for the project, but the plan remained confined to official files only and the plot has became an epicentre of anti-social activities.

The area councillor, Manmohan Dhanai, and residents of the area also expressed displeasure at the prevalent situation. Dhanai said: “The former Mayor had released funds for the project and referred it to the Irrigation Department. When Mayor Vinod Chamoli took over, he handed over the construction work to the Dehradun Municipal Corporation. However, except for the construction of walls, nothing has been done so far.”

Dhanai said he had also discussed the issue with the Mayor and Agriculture Minister Trivender Rawat and asked them to inspect the area. Though they visited the area, instead of doing anything in this regard, they donated Rs 5 lakh to a nearby temple, he alleged.

Representative’s View
The former Mayor had released fund for the construction of the stadium. When Mayor Vinod Chamoli took over, he handed over the construction work to the MC. However, except for the construction of walls, nothing has been done so far
— M Dhanai

Sumender Chandel, who had donated this land, said: “I had donated this land at the insistence of my grandfather. However, indifferent attitude of the DMC has hurt me a lot. It has become a central point of anti-social elements. People from surrounding localities dump all their garbage here.”

Pushpa Negi, a local resident, said: “Residents of nearby Kumhar Colony who run dairies throw cattle dung in the area where a stadium was proposed to be set up. This land has become a breeding ground of mosquitoes. When we stop them from doing so, they start arguing.”

RC Tripathi, an Air Force officer, said: “If a probe is carried out under the RTI Act, it will come to the fore that how many times funds have been siphoned off by the authorities concerned in the name of this stadium.”

Another resident, Sapna Negi, said: "Residents of nearby localities have started stealing bricks from some parts of the boundary walls. The area virtually turns into a pool during rains.”

The councillor also showed a community centre which was lying incomplete for long.

Top

 

Nainital Diary
BJP speechless over Nishank’s ouster

WITH the Assembly poll approaching, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership across Uttarkhand is at a loss of words over the question, “What made the BJP remove Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank as Chief Minister and bring Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri back in his place?” The BJP leadership has been skirting this issue for two months since Khanduri came back to the office of Chief Minister.

Although it is well-perceived that with Nishank continuing in power and allegations of corruption making headlines on a regular basis, the BJP will never even have dreamt of having made the fight against corruption a poll issue which it is desperately trying to do. Still people want the BJP leadership to come forward with an answer that is acceptable.

When this question is put before party leaders and ministers, there is nothing but embarrassed look that is visible on their faces. Recently when Cabinet Minister Gobind Singh Bisht was posed this question and was followed by a volley of supplementary ones, the result was a hilarious one.

To the first question that why Nishank was removed, he had nothing to say but the words, “Nishank was doing a good job.” When it was countered that why the BJP’s central leadership dumped him and brought in Khanduri, he could say nothing else but the words, “Khanduri was brought in to do even a better job.” Again when it was asked that had Khanduri been removed earlier for not functioning at all, the minister had nothing to say and tried desperately to divert the issue.

The general perception among the people is that it would have been difficult for senior party leader Lal Krishan Advani to even enter Uttarakhand and talk of his party’s fight against corruption if Nishank would have been in power. Nishank’s tenure was marked by a series of allegations about corrupt deals and deeds. Even after his replacement, BJP leaders have a tough time trying to defend the revelations in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) with regards to the organising of the Kumbh, the allegations pertaining to the

Citurgia land use scam and the High Court cancelling allocation of 56 mini hydroelectric projects.

Little expectation from leaders

The political class in the state has a very bad image among the public when it comes to be honest and accountable. The common man expects very little from politicians when it comes to functioning in a transparent and honest manner. To make things worse, the politicians have the tendency of shooting their mouths off and then being caught with the foot in their mouths. A recent example that is often being quoted by the persons from the media fraternity in Dehradun pertains to a senior leader from one of the opposition parties. It so happened that after holding a press conference, the politician in question made a remark, “Look at the shrewdness of the present government. After people having made money for four and half years in power, they have now brought in the Lokpal Act just when their tenure is coming to an end and that of the opposition parties is about to begin?.” Perhaps, he realised in the nick of time what he was saying that he changed the subject while being in the middle of his sentence. Although those present at the press meet failed to report it, the grapevine has spread much faster.

Politicians wooing people

The politicians from various parties who are hoping to get the party tickets for contesting the forthcoming Assembly poll have started wooing the people. The technique being adopted at the initial level is to put up their banners and posters on the occasion of religious festivals conveying their best wishes on the occasion. This was quite visible during Diwali and more recently Eid-ul-Adha and Gurpurb.

Politicians from various political parties had their posters and banners put up across the region. These posters and banners had their photographs prominently displayed while the greetings and other messages had been written along side. Perhaps the idea is to make their face familiar among the people before they can claim to be party contestants for the election exercise that is scheduled to be held in the next couple of months.

‘Vidrohi’ to the core

A personality who had taken Nainital by storm recently was none other than the poet Ramashankar Yadav “Vidrohi”. He had come to participate in a three-day-long Nainital Film Festival that had been organised under the banner of Cinema of Resistance. It was his poetry recital on the final day that marked the conclusion of the event. His recital had followed the screening of a short film on him that had been made by Nitin K Pamnani under the title “Main Tumhara Kavi Hoon” (I am your poet). Vidrohi’s poetry completely justifies his pen name. Revolutionary to the core, it hits out at the prevailing regressive thoughts and practices in the society. The poems deal with sensitive subjects like burning of brides, exploitation of a common man at all steps and his helplessness in the face of the misery being inflicted upon him.

Vidrohi was born in the Iari Ferozepur area of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh in 1957.

He had come to Jawahar Lal Nehru University in Delhi for his postgraduation and had actively participated in the students movement of 1983. Thereafter, he was thrown out of the JNU. But his popularity among the students had prevented his eviction from the campus. He is immensely popular from Delhi to Bihar and several other parts of the country. It is said that listening to Vidrohi is not just hearing him but hearing your own voice and your own consciousness.

His opening lines at the recital “Jab bhi kisi garib aadmi ka apman karti hai ye tumhari duniya, to mera jee karta hai ki main is duniya ko uthakar patak dun” (whenever this world of yours insults and humiliates a poor man, I feel like banging it down.) struck an instant chord with the listeners who asked for more and more and Vidrohi gladly obliged.

(By Rajeev Khanna)

Top

 

Mayor: Road carpeting to be completed by Nov 30
Tribune News Service

Dehradun November 13
Residents of Dalanwala here aired their grievances before officials of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) and the Doon Valley Waste Management (DVWM) at a meeting called by the Dalanwala Welfare Society (DWS) in the city today.

The officials included Mayor Vinod Chamoli, Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Sushil Kumar, Chief Health Officer, DMC, Dr Kailash Joshi and Chief Executive Officer, DVWM, Sidharth Jain.

Dr Mahesh Bhandari, general secretary, DWS, said the main problem of the residents was about the bad condition of the roads after the work of laying of drinking water pipelines was completed in the locality.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli and BM Garg, nodal project officer of the Asian Development Bank, gave them assurance of completing the carpeting of the roads in the area by November 30.

The residents also complained of small drains getting choked in the area because of the mud thrown there while digging up the roads. People feared that the choked drains could pose a major problem in rain.

The MNA said the drains would be cleared by the DMC soon. The problem of garbage pile-up on the vacant plot was also solved with the assurance of regular cleanliness on the spots. When it came to the encroachment of public land by some residents who planted trees or flower beds in front of their houses, the Mayor said soon they would carry a drive to remove these encroachments. He said the area would also have solar lights on the lines of the Chakrata road.

On this occasion, president, DWS, Major General C Nandwani (retd) was also present along with other office-bearers of the organization.

Top

 

Citizens for Green Doon celebrates tree festival
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
The volunteers of the Citizens for Green Doon celebrated the Third Annual Dehradun Tree Festival at MKP PG College here today. More than 1,200 students from 11 schools and colleges of Dehradun, including St Joseph’s Academy, Touchwood School, Hillgrange School, St Thomas’ College, Ann Mary School, Olympus High, Hilton School, Scholars’ Home, John Martin Memorial School, ICFAI University, Law College, Gautam International School, participated in it.

Children drew paintings on the topic, “My dream for a clean and beautiful world”, and posters on “Development and pollution”.

The event, “Hug a tree”, saw maximum participation where everybody hugged a tree and explained what they would do if it were their best friend. Green Voices, a theatre group of the Citizens for Green Doon, presented a play, “Ek Din Zindagi Ka”, explaining the ill-effects of excessive tree felling.

The programme culminated with the announcement of results of essay-writing and poem-recitation competitions in which Touchwood School bagged maximum number of prizes in all the categories.

Top

 

Play depicts plight of rivers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Members of the Nadi Bachao Abhiyan today staged a street play, “Morcha-2011” written by Dr Atul Sharma, at the Gandhi Park and MKP Girls’ College to highlight the plight of the rivers of the state.

The play was a satire on the policies of the state government that has projected harnessing of hydroelectric potential of the rivers of the state as its main development plank.

However, the play depicted that in reality, hydroelectric projects are playing a havoc with the ecology of the Himalayas as mountains are being blasted to build tunnels to divert river water. This has led to a massive destruction in the hills, where poor residents are losing their home, hearths and agriculture fields to these “development projects.”

The play also highlighted the struggle by Sushila Bhandari, a village woman, who spent 65 days in jail opposing the construction of a hydroelectric project near her home. It also showed the plight of Chai village in Chamoli district that was destroyed due to the construction of a major hydroelectric project near it.

Suresh Bhai, convener of the Nadi Bachao Abhiyan, announced that the play would be staged in the Alaknanada valley in the coming days to make the people aware of dangers of such “lopsided” policies of the state government that has been destroying the lives of the villagers in the hills.

Top

 

Dr Gaur to be awarded

Mussoorie, November 13
Dr Uday Gaur, a botanist from a government school, Gorakhori village, 50 km from Mussoorie, will receive an award for his contribution to science and climate change during the Fourth International Science Conclave to begin at Allahabad from November 26. Dr Gaud will be receiving the award from eminent Nobel laureates from across the world for imparting science education in one of the remotest villages of the state and raising various issues concerning global warming, climate change and biodiversity besides promoting the idea of green school among the students.

Dr Uday Gaur will also present his research papers on climate change and its impact on the Naag Tibba region in the Jaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal. Dr Gaur has also received the best presentation award from Govind Ballabh Pant University and the best young science teacher award from the International Environmental Botanist Association and the National Botanist Research Institute, Lucknow. — OC

Top

 

SGRR Nehru Gram, Bindal clinch titles
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Sri Guru Ram Rai School (SGRR), Nehru Gram, and SGRR School, Bindal Bridge, today won their respective final matches in the girls and boys’ categories, respectively, of the Inter-school Sahodaya Complex Handball Tournament.

In the girls’ final match, SGRR School, Nehru Gram, defeated SGRR School, Patel Nagar 5-1. Poonam and Shalini scored two goals each for the Nehru Gram school while Shaheen scored the lone goal for the Patel Nagar school.

In the boys’ final match, SGRR School, Bindal Bridge, defeated SGRR School, Nehru Gram, 7-5. Mohit scored five goals for the winners while Mayank from the Nehru Gram school scored three goals.

Madhu Chauhan, Chairperson of the Dehradun Zila Panchayat, gave away prizes to the winners.

Top

 

Uniyal Club win volleyball tournament
Our Correspondent


Uniyal Club with the 11th Kargil Memorial Volleyball Tournament trophy at New Tehri on Sunday.

Mussoorie, November 13
The Uniyal Club win the 11th Kargil Memorial Volleyball Tournament held on the Central School premises in New Tehri today.

The Uniyal Club defeated the Uttarakhand Police 3-1. Lokesh and Mandeep were adjudged the best players of the tournament.

President of the Van Vikas Nigam Jyoti Gairola was the chief guest on the occasion. He gave away the trophies to the winners of the tournament.

Top

 

Hostel warden held on charge of sexual exploitation
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Shakti Singh Chauhan, a warden of Cambridge Higher Secondary School, Khurbura, was arrested by the Dehradun police on a complaint of a school student of being sexually exploited by him.

A Class VII student along with his parents had lodged a complaint with the police that the hostel warden had been sexually exploiting the student and when he complained to the Principal of the school, he also beat him up mercilessly. Shakti Singh Chauhan has arrested by the police after medical examination of the student.

Top

 

Painting contest at Kauthig
Tribune News Service

Dehradun November 13
In the ongoing annual Garhwali festival, Kauthig 2011, a painting competition was held here today. As many as 300 students from various schools of Dehradun participated in the competition and showcased their skills.

The art competition was divided into three categories ranging from classes 5th to 7th, classes 8th to 10th and Classes 11th and 12th.

The chief guest on the occasion, Geeta Nautiyal, District Education Officer.

Top

 



HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail |