Haridwar, January 4
Albeit hockey is the national sport of India and accorded a priority status, the lack of facilities and poor infrastructure relate a different story. At the international level the game is played on synthetic astroturfs, but India still lacks adequate number of these.

Even the recently held national-level inter-university championship in Haridwar was played on grass. But buoyed by the recent success if the Gurukul University team that lifted the inter-university hockey cup, VC Swatantra Kumar, a hockey fan, took upon himself the task of having a synthetic surface in the university campus.

His initiative bore fruit when on the finals of the inter-university championship, Raja Randhir Singh, general secretary of the Indian Olympic Association, assured him that Uttarakhand’s first astroturf would be laid in Dayanand stadium of Gurukul Kangri University.

“Within six months, we will have approval from the Central government and with Gurukul Kangri University submitting the proposal to Uttaranchal Hockey Association, I will see to it that the state gets it first astroturf,” said Raja Randhir Singh.

According to the procedure, the central government gives financial assistance to states for laying astroturfs. First, a proposal is made by the association after site availability and requisite paperwork. Then the association sends the proposal to the state government for financial nod. If accepted, the final proposal is sent to the central government.

Out of the total cost, the central government provides 75 per cent grant while the rest has to be borne by the state government. In case the state government doesn’t give grant, the proposal agency (Gurukul University in this case) has to bear the 25 per cent cost.

Rajiv Mehta, president of the Uttarakhand Hockey Association, said: “As soon as we get final details of the proposal from Gurukul University we will forward it to the state government and if all goes in the right direction, the state will get its first astroturf hockey stadium soon.”

The lack of an astroturf was severely felt during the prestigious inter-university championship and prior to that in the North Zone inter-hockey championship. Even the All-India University Association was initially reluctant to give hosting rights to the Gurukul University because it lacked an astroturf.

Meanwhile, there is a proposal of laying out two synthetic surfaces in the stadium. One of them, called half-turf, will be for practice and training while the full-turf or the main turf will be used for the matches.

The two most commonly used synthetic turf fibers are polyethylene and nylon. The approximate cost for laying an astroturf varies from Rs 4 to 8 crore, depending on quality of the material.

“Its passé playing on grass and doesn’t augur well for hockey. Although our boys have won the trophy, we may suffer heavily while playing during the upcoming Australian tour due to lack of practice on synthetic surfaces,” said Gurukul coach Dhirendra Chauhan. The synthetic turf is being used in hockey since the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and hockey experts feel that since then Indian and Pakistan, the two leaders in hockey at that time, lost their supremacy because they could not get used to the new surface due to the lack of astroturfs in their respective countries.

Devesh Chauhan, national hockey goalkeeper, said: “The last time India clinched Olympic gold in hockey was in Moscow in 1980, largely due to the dribbling skills of the players. But with the advent of synthetic turfs, the game has changed and become faster. While European countries laid turfs in hundreds, we are still lacking them.”

Notably, an astroturf is mandatory for organising international-level tournament and no matches which are staged on grass are recognised by International Hockey Federation.

Union Minister for Sports Dr MS Gill has also held a number of meetings with Sports Authority of India (SAI) officers to look into the facilities being provided for hockey players, with a special emphasis on astroturfs. Gill has directed that the number of astroturfs should be increased and other infrastructural facilities improved. As of now, laying of astroturfs is in progress at eight venues. In April, 2008, the sports ministry had approved 12 new astroturfs.

“This will pave the way for hosting international level matches. In addition, as the winter climate in Haridwar is similar to European countries, it will be useful for practice,” said Gurdeep Singh, member of the hockey consulting board of the Indian Olympic Association.

The move has also enthused hockey players and fans of the sport across the state. “It will be in sync with time, as players were found wanting when they played on astroturfs,” said Raj Narayan Tyagi, a former hockey player and treasurer of Indian Olympic Association.

People of the state once witnessed the greatest hockey player ever, Major Dhyanchand, display his skills at the Gurukul ground in 1937. Now, with the move to construct an Astroturf, national and international players will get a chance to do the same. 

Dehradun, January 4
According to Forest Research Institute (FRI) officials here, the familial links of Angkor Vat ‘peepal’ trees in Cambodia have been traced to the ‘Mahabodhi Vriksha’ of Bodh Gaya. The DNA prints of Angkor Vat ‘peepal’ trees are in match with the Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura, Colombo, which is believed to have grown out of sampling of the original Bodhi tree in India under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

FRI officials, who had been actively working in Cambodia on projects linked to conservation of trees, had some time back brought leaves and barks from Angkor Vat ‘peepal’ trees to the Institute for DNA matching. Dr NSK Harsh, a scientist with FRI, confirmed that the trees were of the same family as Bodhi trees in Gaya and Anuradharpura. “The DNA prints of Angkor Vat ‘peepal’ trees have matched with Bodhi trees at Anuradhapura, Colombo, in the island nation of Sri Lanka, which subsequently proves its lineage with Maha Bodhi Vriksha in Bodh Gaya,” he said.

The present Mahabodhi Vriksha at Bodh Gaya, revered by the Buddhist worldwide, has grown from the original tree under which Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment about 2,500 years ago.

Significantly, the original tree perished with time but fortunately its branch planted at Sri Lanka had by then taken the shape of a tree. The present day Mahabodhi Vriksha has come from that Sri Lankan tree. The two Angkor Vat ‘peepal’ trees probably came up at the same time, which has now been genetically proved.

Notably, Angkor Vat is a temple complex in Cambodia and was built by king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple. It has been through the ages a centre of importance for both Hindus and Buddhists.

Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute has also been engaged in monitoring the health status of Bodh Mahavriksha in Gaya for the past two years. FRI scientists visit Bodh Gaya regularly and monitor the condition of the tree from time to time as part of its MoU with Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee signed in Sept 2007, after the latter’s request to the Institute towards upkeep of the tree.

Dehradun, January 4
The state health department’s ambitious programme termed Ayush that promises to provide healthcare through Ayurveda has failed to deliver.The progarmme has encountered hiccups even in the preliminary stages and has not progressed despite the top priority accorded to it by the health department.

Efforts to establishing Ayush Grams in each district, a pet project of health minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank,’ has not moved beyond Champavat.

The department has had problems acquiring land for setting up such grams. Official sources say the land issue has not been sorted out and the health department cannot acquire land at will; a government order has to be issued.

“The concept of Ayush Grams revolves around providing all ayurvedic solutions under one roof, right from treatment and cultivation of herbs to health tourism by setting up Panchkarma units,” explained Dr YS Malik, district ayurvedic officer, Dehradun.

The state plans to reap rich dividends by setting up Panchkarma units. So far it plans to set up 44 such units.Of these, only nine have taken shape. However, the unit at Uttarakashi has begun functioning, with 80 per cent of work completed.

Several players are into cultivation of herbs, including the horticulture and the forest departments, but it has been left out of the purview of the ayurveda department. Ayush Gram was to provide that link.

“Farmers continue to grow herbs but there are no experts from ayurveda who can help farmers identify the medicinal potential of herbs. We are not even in the picture,” said Dr KS Aswal, secretary, Rajkiya Ayurvedic.

However, ayurvedic doctors have begun getting their due. There are a total of 644 ayurvedic dispensaries in the state. In Dehradun there are 52 ayurvedic dispensaries,10 in urban areas and 42 in rural areas. The dispensaries receive a budet of Rs 25,000 per annum by the central government. 

Dehradun, January 4
The stall from Lucknow selling ‘chikan’ embroidery apparels at the Handloom Exhibition here is attracting crowds for its exquisite range of cotton/georgette saris, kurtis, T-shirts, suits and khadi shawls with ‘Chikan’ embroidery.

Lucknow with its Awadhi food and culture, has earned a reputation for “chikan” embroidery.

“This the third time we are in Doon city and people here appreciate our, moreso because the city doesn’t offer any variety in chikan clothes. In villages in the vicinity of Lucknow, men and women excel in this kind of embroidery. We provide material to these workers and once the work is finished we supply it to shops in Luckow,” said Samaya Beg, a salesman.

From the demure beige, yellow, white and cream to the loud black, magenta and red, exquisitely embroidered saris and T-shirts, ranging from Rs 180 to Rs 1,200, are available at the stall. For men there is a wide range of white kurtas.

“So much variety is impossible to find at local shops. I am happy that such stalls offer a large variety at reasonable rates,” said Sushma, a housewife.

“A heavy sari may take a month to be embroidered while a short kurti to be worn over jeans may take a week. A heavy sari or suit can be very expensive. For the winters, have have khadi shawls. But we will be back before the summer season as people love to flaunt their chikan suits and saris,” said Samaya Beg.