New Delhi, December 27
Delhi Metro began the AIDS Awareness campaign (Phase –II) yesterday by organising a sensitisation workshop at the office of the Chief Project Manager (CPM), East Region of the Delhi Metro. The workshop has been designed for safety managers and other senior contractors’ staff.

The workshop has been organised by the Voluntary Health Association of India, which is also the implementing agency of DMRC’s campaign for the mitigation of AIDS.

This workshop will initiate the implementation of VHAI’s project on “Implementation of Awareness Campaign for Mitigation of HIV/AIDS Risks under the Delhi Mass Rapid Transport System Project”.

Managers and other staff members were made aware of all aspects of HIV/AIDS, including its mode of spread and symptoms, vulnerability of the migrant population to HIV and the role that managers and other senior staff can play in reducing the vulnerability of the labour force.

According to DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal, information regarding voluntary counseling and testing centres was also made available during the workshop.  

New Delhi, December 27
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has many features about its campus. One of its most unique features is that students do not want to leave the campus once they are enrolled in the university. Some start their lives at the JNU as undergraduates and end up becoming professors.

For those who are not able to make it to the faculty, Mamu, alias Shahzadi Ibrahimi, one of the most popular persons on the campus, has explored another option.

Mamu, a doctorate from the School of languages, joined the university as a post graduate student in 1993. He got enrolled in MA Urdu. After he spent a decade on the campus, students began to address him as Mamu.

Mamu, who runs two dhabas (food joints) on the campus, says, “I am attached to this campus, I will never leave it by choice. Students relate to me as their family member.”

After trying his hands at media and getting tired of its internal contradictions, Mamu decided to do something on his own. JNU campus was of course the first choice. “People who were studying with me have become professors, but they can never fly high in front of me,” he said.

Once a brilliant student, Shahzadi is interested in Indian food. “When I was in a madarsa, I would pray for the chef not to come, so that I get a chance to try my hands in the kitchen,” he said.

Besides food, Mamu’s dhabas are famous for a lot more things. “This is the only dhaba on campus, where even professors lounge around,” said Aditya, a student of Spanish. “Mamu knows everyone and we can discuss our problems with him,” adds Aditya.

He cooks, serves and in the process, develops a strong bond with students. “He is passionate about food. He tells us how food can be made better,” said Priyanka from Political Science department.

Mamu is to publish his first book. “I have always been the master of the languages that I know. My first book is an academic piece and the second one would be based on cookery,” he said. “Every mother would gift this book to her daughter,” he says with a gleam in his eyes.

Mamu has been instrumental in starting a tradition called ‘Chaat Sammelan’ on campus. Under this, students gather to celebrate laughter every year before Holi. Mamu has been elected as the ‘Chaat Samraat’ for six years in a row. “His sense of humour is the best. I love the way he carries himself on Chaat Sammelan,” said Garima, a Political Science student.

Shahzadi, however, is not the only one on the campus. With the growing unemployment in the country, many unemployed post-graduates are taking resort in small-scale enterprises.

Tauseef has always been interested in Mughlai food, but he never expected his life to revolve around them. After completing his PhD from the university, he started working full time at his dhaba. “Mughal durbar offers excellent cuisine. It is good to have it on campus,” said Praveen from the School of Social Sciences.

But there are many JNU scholars, living on the university campus, who are not happy with their profession. Salahuddin, with a PhD in Persian, has a general store to earn a livelihood. “We are doing this work, but it is not that we never wanted to do anything. Even after securing the highest degree, we have not been able to get a good job,” he lamented.

Some JNU scholars run some sort of small businesses near the campus. Rehman brothers are PhDs, again from the School of Languages. After not getting success at other places, they decided to start an Internet café. Hilltop café turned out to be popular due to its proximity with the national university.

If the students have not been able to find some appropriate job opportunities, the university has in some way helped them to develop an alternate vision. “Though I got a job, I was not satisfied,” said Mamu. “I work 18 hours a day and, still I don’t get tired. I like the university too much to leave.”  

New Delhi, December 27
A woman allegedly shot dead her lover in Sector 15 of Rohini area in the Capital early today, police said.

The bullet-ridden body of Dimple Rana, alias Manu (23), hailing from Qutubgarh, Sultan Puri, was found after the police received a call about the crime at 0124 hrs.

Dimple was shot at his chest at point-blank range with a 7.6 mm pistol, police added.

Dimple had been living on rent in Sector 15 for the last eight months along with Suman, alias Simran (35) with whom he had been sharing a live-in relationship for the past five years. Around 15 months ago, he employed one Muskan (19) to look after the house.

But Muskan developed illicit relations with Suman which was said to be the bone of contention behind the murder.

Police was on the look-out for the prime suspect Suman. — UNI 

New Delhi, December 27
Thousands of devotees who thronged the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple here Thursday were greeted with huge hoardings announcing the Guinness certification for the world’s largest Hindu temple.

On December 17, the management committee of the Guinness World Records handed a double treat to the temple when it was adjudged the “world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple” and also found a space in the record books for the head of the Swaminarayan Sanstha— Pramukh Swami Maharaj, under the category “Most Hindu temples consecrated by a single person”.

Almost 10 days after the feats were acknowledged most authoritatively, the temple Thursday afternoon was a sea of devotees with busloads of pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and tourists on package deals from the eastern and the southern states, along with hordes of schoolchildren on vacation trips.

Most made a beeline to the marble sanctorum with its imposing bronze statue of the founder, the surrounding icons of Hindu god Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi in all their avatars. The spiritual slide shows were also big draws.

The Akshardham made it to the Guinness list on the sheer strength of its size and the ornate handcrafted architecture in pink sandstone and marble that conforms to the ancient architectural traditions of vaastu shastra, and does not make use of any structural steel.

Chief spokesperson of the temple J.M. Dave said: “The shrine is unique because the structure does not make use of steel and iron. It is totally crafted in stone.”

The temple is spread over an area of 86,342 square feet, is 356 feet long, 316 feet wide and 141 feet high, and was built by 11,000 artisans, he said.

Inaugurated on November 6, 2005 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the temple was built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Gujarat-based religious sect founded by seer Neekanth Varni (1781-1830). The organisation has 713 shrines spread across five continents.

It is home to the idols of all the 24 avatars (incarnations) of Hindu god Vishnu, not the usual 10 as is believed. The temple, according to officials, has 208 sculptures of almost all Indian deities like the Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, Parvati-Mahadev, Laxmi-Narayana, Revati-Balram, Savitri-Brahma, Nar Narayan and Aksar-Purushottam.

It draws 8,000 visitors on an average every day. And the number has shot up since the Guinness honour.

Narrating the history of the temple, Dave said the temple is the culmination of the 39-year-old dream of seer Yogiji Maharaj, who foresaw a grand spiritual movement on the banks of the Yamuna.

“In 2000, we were told by our spiritual teacher that a temple had to be built on the banks of the Yamuna. Initially, we gathered 1,000 stone crafters. They were not enough and so we then told them to bring all their male relatives, teach them the art of crafting stones, as the skill is inherited, and hired them as artisans.”

“We now have a pool of 7,000 stone artisans, barring the masons and carpenters, who hand-craft the ornate stone pillars for all the Akshardham temples worldwide,” he said. — IANS 

New Delhi, December 27
It was flashback time on Thursday as a Delhi landmark wrote its epitaph in the dying days of the year. The Chanakya theatre complex that had seen bunking students grow up to teens on their first date and then as parents accompanying their children to a film called it curtains.

After 37 years of looking on as generations of Delhiites thronged its vast foyer, Chanakya theatre close to the Capital’s Diplomatic Enclave screened its last show on Thursday night with Aamir Khan’s “Taare Zameen Par” —ending as it began with another masterpiece, Raj Kapoor’s “Mera Naam Joker”.

It was the last popcorn, the last hot chocolate fudge in the adjoining Nirula’s that was so much part of the movie watching experience, the last time they walked the leafy passage from the restaurant to the hall for many Delhiites.

And for some who couldn’t manage a ticket for even an afternoon show to watch Akshay Kumar’s “Welcome”, it was one more walk down nostalgia lane.

How many times over the years people stood in line only to be told at the end that no tickets were there.

This had been the hangout zone that witnessed many a romance; some that actually culminated in marriage, others that fell by the wayside and looked back as something that was just not to be.

For many, it was where they watched their first English film, where they shrieked in abandon while watching “Abba: The Musical”, where they sneaked in to watch their first adult film; and where they introduced themselves to quality cinema—trying to take in the complexities of “Sex, Lies and Videotape” or simply enjoying blockbusters like “Pretty Woman”.

“There is something of Chanakya in all of us,” said old-time Delhiite V. Romesh Kumar as the theatre lost the battle to the Capital’s civic authority NDMC and prepared to give way to a multiplex sometime in the future. Workers said about 150 people would be unemployed from Friday onwards; a not very happy New Year, said one.

Romesh Kumar, who saw “Abba” nine times in Chanakya, remembers his first real date there— on November 13, 1973 to see Michael Caine’s “Alfie”.

Banker Rajnish Vasudev, who watched “Welcome” in the matinee show, said it was a sad day. “But then this is life. It is a sad day but I am watching a comedy and laughing.”

Some suggested that the complex, along with Nirula’s, be preserved as a heritage site. According to cameraman Malay, who always checked out whether a film was running in Chanakya before he watched it anywhere else: “They could have built a multiplex but on top of this. This should have stayed.”

On the surface it was business as usual in Chanakya, one of the last alternatives to expensive multiplexes.

But in adjoining Nirula’s, reminiscences hung in the air. The Chanakya Nirula’s, which has completed 27 years and calls it a day on December 31, went ahead and asked people to relive the milestones of their lives. The first day, the first job celebration and all those moments forgotten in the pages of time.

Lining the walkway into the fast food joint were posters recalling that Delhi boy Shah Rukh Khan and wife Gauri had dated here, and that Sushmita Sen loved her hot chocolate fudge.

Others scribbled their memories on white boards inside the restaurant—where everything has been auctioned off, chairs for Rs 150, the light shades for Rs 300 and so on to Delhiites anxious to grab a bit of history that is to be demolished forever.

“The place was witness to all my joys and sorrows, laughter and heartbreaks, fights to patch-ups and as we call it—it was our ‘Mandir’— going to miss you Nirula’s,” said Aprajita Bajaj.

Amita from north Delhi’s Roopnagar wrote how a boy came to see her “for marriage”. In time, she got engaged to him and frequented the café to get to know him. “In olden times it happened like that... Today, I’m here with the same guy, my husband of 23 years. I hate to see this place go. I’m here to say bye-bye.”

On this Thursday afternoon, others were bidding farewell too. As the sun filtered in through the bamboo blinds, many sat around in the restaurant over their last hot chocolate fudge and that last pizza. A middle-aged couple, a mother and daughter and some colleagues taking some time off.

It was adieu Chanakya, so much more than a mere movie hall and an ice cream sundae. And as Delhi wrote another requiem, a modern multiplex sometime in the future seemed scant compensation. — IANS 

New Delhi, December 27
For the theatre lovers in the Capital, the New Year couldn’t be heralded in a better way: The National School of Drama (NSD) is staging a plethora of plays to celebrate its 50th anniversary this January.

The New Year bonanza, beginning on January 3, will be full of scintillating performances by NSD alumni such as Naseeruddin Shah and the like.

A total of 76 productions, including several foreign plays, will be staged during the 17-day festival titled the “10th Bharat Rang Mahotsav.”

“In all, there will be 76 plays put up for the festival by NSD’s alumni and others at seven venues. Also, 19 foreign groups will participate in the festival,” an NSD official told IANS.

“The festival will kickstart with Ratan Thiyam’s “Prologue” at the Kamani auditorium. Thiyam is an NSD alumnus and is from Manipur,” the official said. He added that veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah will also take part in the festival.

Adaptations of renowned Russian playwright Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, dramatised versions of short stories by Hari Prakash, and new interpretations of Dharamvir Bharati will be some of the highlights of the festival.

Also, festival directors from countries like Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Pakistan and Croatia have been invited and will interact with the Indian theatre directors.

In the international category, “Delirium”, a Swiss play and Pina Bausch’s latest work “Bamboo Blues” would be awaited.

The NSD premises, Kamani auditorium, the Shri Ram Centre and the LTG auditorium are among the seven venues at which the plays will be staged.

The tickets for the festival will be on sale from December 30, and are priced at Rs 20, Rs 25, Rs 50 and Rs 100. — IANS 

New Delhi, December 27
The executive council of Delhi University today discussed about the election of a governing body for some 28 government-run colleges across the city. The Delhi government has given its list to the executive council, but the final nod lies with the DU executive council. 

The meeting has been creating tension within the academic bodies spread across DU.

“The term of the governing body for the 28 government colleges expired in March. Some 15 persons constitute it. The Delhi government has given a list to the executive council,” said DUTA president Aditya Narayan Misra.

“The vice-chancellor has kept the list confidential. But the DUTA feels that the list for the governing body be circulated so as to keep democracy alive. This direct tabling is undemocratic and we at DUTA feel that it is against the norms,” added Misra.

Another senior academic, Dr Khuntia informs, “Yes, the executive has been deliberating all day to approve the governing body. However, the agenda for the meeting is not known clearly. It is silent about certain key subjects like — the list of the governing body election. The list given by the government has not been circulated. The entire process should have been open to scrutiny.” He added, “Many governing bodies at DU are not functional and we feel that democratic life on campus is getting affected.”

Apart from the governing body’s approval, a discussion and approval of the Institute of Life-long Learning also figure on the agenda.

Khuntia added, “The approval for this institute could have been conducted in a more open manner. I work with the center of distance learning and many courses to be offered by this institute duplicates ours. I feel there is no point in having two similar centers. It is a waste of time, money and effort” 

New Delhi, December 27
The dawn of 2008 will see a gathering of Pakistani artists, poets and writers among those who will observe the death anniversary of well-known Indian theatre artiste Safdar Hashmi here. 

It is a ritual observed every year, but it will be held on a bigger scale this time.

For Safdar’s friends and acquaintances, the year begins with a lazy winter afternoon spent in regaling themselves with some theatre performances, music and active discussions, all in the memory of Safdar, who was killed while he was staging the play ‘Halla Bol’ back in 1989 in Ghaziabad, on Delhi’s outskirts.

“Every year on January 1, my friend and I inevitably go for the event organised by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (Sahmat). It’s beautiful — people gather to watch plays, listen to some music or take part in some discussion.

“Poets, writers, theatre artistes... it’s a culturally enriching ambience and we love soaking in as much of it as we can,” said Prachi Misra, who works in an NGO in New Delhi.

While the gathering comprises much of Delhi’s art fraternity, the upcoming event on January 1 will have some new components.

Rajan Prasad of Sahmat said that they have invited 40 people from Pakistan for the event.

“Of them 10 are artistes, poets, writers and musicians while the others include advocates, journalists, trade unionists and peacekeepers.

“The event will be a one-day affair which will start at 1 p.m. and continue until late in the evening at the Vithalbhai Patel House,” Prasad told IANS.

Some of the artistes from Pakistan expected at the event are writer Rahat Saeed, singer Nasarullah Khan Asif, artist Farookh Tanvir and poet Saeed Kurban Raza.

And of course, there will be the usual list from the art, theatre and music fraternity of India who will perform.

“Other than the participation of the Pakistani artistes which will be for the first time, we will have a presentation of the works of Sunil Jana and poet and photographer Chittoprasad.

“Their works questioned the modernity of Indian culture and are simply beautiful. Like every year, we hope that this time too the event will see a big participation by the people,” Prasad added. — IANS 

New Delhi, December 27
Saffron flags will flutter all over the Capital on Sunday, as thousands of Hindu activists gather for a rally to protest the proposed demolition of the ‘historic’ Ram Setu bridge off the Tamil Nadu coast to make way for a shipping canal project.

“Around one million people will converge to Delhi for the December 30 Virat Sammelan rally. More than 2,000 Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists are engaged in preparations for it for the last one month,” said Anil Kumar, a member of VHP.

Over 40 Hindu organisations associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would participate in the rally at the Japanese Garden in Rohini, West Delhi, which is being organised under the banner of Rameshwaram Ramsetu Raksha Manch.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, VHP leader Ashok Singhal said, “I have spoken to railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and he has assured that arrangements would be made for the people coming via train from different parts of the country to attend the rally.”

According to VHP member Vinod Bansal, the Ram Setu ‘shilapujan yatras’, rallies to protest damage to the Setu, have proved very effective in “educating people about the destruction of Ram Setu. Hundreds of such yatras are being taken out all over the country, including remote villages.”

Bansal told IANS that temples, dharmashalas (free lodgings), community centres and several schools in the Capital have been booked for the ‘Ram bhakts’ coming from different states.

“We have so far booked 1,000 temples, 70 schools, 250 community centres and more than 50 dharmashalas for four days from December 28 to 31,” said Bansal.

He said that an awareness programme is being undertaken all over the country to urge people to attend the rally.

“Prominent among such activities is the Ram Sethu shilapujan yatra. It began in Delhi on November 20 and concluded on December 16, after traversing several districts. Besides, two million pamphlets are being distributed in Delhi to educate people about the destruction of the Ram Setu, the symbol of our great cultural heritage,” said Anil Kumar, another member.

The VHP has also decided to turn the whole Capital saffron. All main roads of Delhi will be decorated with saffron flags and buntings. People will be requested to hoist saffron flags atop their houses that day. Welcome camps will be set up at all prominent borders of Delhi for the rallyists.

The ‘Ram bhakts’ will be provided with food packets and water as well as medicines, if required. Workers will fan out in the Capital from Saturday to ask people to donate food for the rallyists.

Invitations have been issued to nearly 1,000 guests, including all Members of Parliament irrespective of party affiliations, for the rally that will be addressed by VHP leaders and Hindu holy men, said Kumar.

Ram Setu or Adam’s bridge is a chain of limestone shoals forming a link between Sri Lanka and India. The setu, which holds a sacred place in the heart of many Hindus, finds evidence in the ancient texts of Ramayana, which mentions that, Lord Ram and his army of monkeys built the setu to rescue Sita, who was abducted by King of Lanka, Ravana.

The dredging of Ram Setu was undertaken when the Indian government gave its nod to the multi-million dollar Sethusamudram project, which requires breaking a portion of Ram Setu to make the route navigable for ships around the Indian peninsula. — IANS