Dehradun, January 18
In the absence of a strong foundation, the nascent film industry of Uttarakhand has lost its moorings, with film-makers unable to impart a local flavour to their plots. More often than not, Bollywood impressions are quite distinct.

And with no help from any quarter, the industry is in a state of perpetual decline. More so, the advent of DVD and CD format has made film-making so simple that one person can do several things at the same time and in the process completely overturn the concept of film-making, which has more to do with creativity, passion and a good script.

Initially, the first film produced by Pareshwar Gaud titled ‘Jagwal’, which was based on exploitation of women and released in 1982, managed to register its presence but later sank at the box office.

Another film released during the same period - ‘Kabhi Sukh Kabhi Dukh’ - that was directed by BK Sharma tried to experiment with Manmohan Desai formula. However, it too failed to perform at the box-office. Although the film did not do well commercially, when it was released in Dehradun and other towns it managed to draw the public who were keen to hear their own language and people taking up larger than life roles.

But ‘Ghar Jamai’, released later, proved to be a hit and the hero of the film Balraj Negi became a household name. “He became every girls’ dream man; the film catapulted him to instant fame. However, his later efforts did not pay dividends. The magic ended there,” said Mukesh Dhasmana, a popular television and film artiste at the national and regional level.

In the initial burst of enthusiasm, film-makers from here attempted a tad too much rather than building a strong foundation first. “In the midst of all this several films that followed after ‘Jagwal’ were far removed from the local scene. They were unable to strike a chord with the masses who did not want a Bombay masala film,” said Roshan Dhasmana, a well-known theatre and film artiste.

To make matters worse, there was no help from the government, even after creation of Uttarakhand. “The government is yet to draft a film or a culture policy that gives impetus to film-making. By offering subsidy, small-time but talented directors can be 
encouraged. There are also not many trained people taking to regional films, especially directors and producers hailing from film institutes,” said Roshan Dhasmana.

The advent of digital technology also had an adverse impact, although the process of film-making has become cheap and there is proliferation of directors, producers and writers. “But such films lack passion. The DVD version is a one-man show although I do not blame them; after all people in the creative field had to give vent to their feelings. So, in the middle of 2003-2004 we had mushrooming of this particular industry,” he added.

Strongly in favour of government support so far as building of infrastructure is concerned, Mukesh said: “The government did not take steps to stop the closure of cinema halls in several parts of the state; today even if film- makers try to release their films there not many halls left. Several of them have been converted into shopping complexes.”

He opined that the state government should adopt the Maharashtra government’s formula of supporting regional filmmakers: “The Maharashtra government has made mandatory upon cinema hall owners to show Marathi films for a period of two months in a year, which helped in their revival,” he said.

The state if also not short of talent - Himani Shivpuri, Mohan Bhandari, Sudhir Pandey, Lalit Tiwari, Mukesh Dhasmana and Nirmal Pandey are a few actors who have carved a niche for themselves in the Mumbai film industry. At the same time their strong bond with Uttarakhand ensures 
that they keep participating in theatre and films here. Sadly, these are few and far between.

Mukesh Dhasmana was cast in the first Kumaoni film ‘Megha aa’ in 1987. He also directed a Garhwali film titled ‘Meri Pyari Boi’ in 2004 that received rave reviews from critics, but failed to register much success at the box office.

All is not dark though. Much to the delight of local artists, the expatriate population from Uttarakhand settled abroad or in Mumbai continues to be attracted to film-making. “It is the strong emotional connection with their roots that draws them to the state and many of them continue to make films. Even the first Garhwali film was made possible due to a businessman’s endeavours. The director of my latest film, Santosh Shah, is settled in Mumbai but his roots are in Kumaoni region of Uttarakhand,” said Mukesh. 

Dehradun, January 18
The expansion plans of the Golden Jubilee Oil Museum here have hit a roadblock. The museum will complete its three years of existence this Republic Day. It has been visited by as many as 29,000 visitors, including youngsters and those from the petroleum fraternity.

Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam had inaugurated this first oil museum of the country and the one of its kind in Asia on 26 January 2006. He had described it as a beautiful place revealing the creativity of visionaries.

But while the Museum stands tall in the historic Patiala House, it will take some more time before the Golden Jubilee Oil Museum gets upgraded as space limitation continues to be the stumbling block.

The ONGC had been contemplating the inclusion of the secretariat building within the museum as the Patiala House is packed to capacity with exhibits and other sections. But the plan had to be shelved as the secretariat building could not be spared. The philately section that has been in the pipeline for quite some time may not see the light of the day. The Postal Department is still to provide stamps linked to the oil history to the museum.

There were few oil museums in the world that have a separate philately division. Stamps depicting oil-related themes have been released by many countries including India.

But the museum managers are hopeful of the early upgradation of the museum. “The upgradation is certainly in the pipeline and in active consideration of the ONGC management,” said DV Paradkar, chief managar, ONGC.

He said the museum, from the day one, has been a big source of attraction for both children and those linked to the oil industry in the country. The museum lucidly puts the comprehensive oil history of the world, with emphasis on India, before the visitors.

Right from the depiction of oil usage in the early eras like the bamboo rigs found in mud plasters of the Han dynasty age in China, camel loads of oil in Baku region and finally to modern day oil industry, the whole journey of oil in the world has been interestingly displayed. Fossilised bones of a Jurassic Age dinosaur, discovered by geologists of the ONGC during field operations in Kutch, are one of the star attractions in the museum for children and adults alike.

Apart from models exhibiting the animated model of the drilling process, the exhibits start from the journey of crude oil after its surfacing and finally till a refined product.

“Despite these constraints, the museum is coming up with a children’s corner. It is meant to keep schoolchildren abreast with the legendary oil history of India,” AT Jadhav, curator of the museum said.

Pragya Soin, Indian Oil official posted at Mumbai, said for officials of oil companies the visit to the Golden Oil Jubilee Museum was certainly high on priority.

Apart from the ONGC, Amity Services are taking care of the maintenance of the museum.

Dehradun, January 18
Olympian Hardayal Singh is still waiting for his pension from the state government. A member of the Olympic hockey team of 1956 that won the gold medal at Melbourne, he is the most experienced hockey player and coach that Uttarakhand has at present.

The previous state government had begun giving minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month to 81-year-old Hardayal Singh. He received this amount regularly during the Congress regime.

He had recently got his knees replaced and the surgery cost him Rs 4 lakh. Bearing the expenses of the surgery along with its day-to-day costs proved too much of a financial burden for Hardayal, forcing him to put his plight before the Uttarakhand Governor, BL Joshi, during a meeting in October 2008.

The Governor made the government take note of the matter and the cabinet passed the order increasing Hardayal’s pension to Rs 7,500.

Despite the revised pension orders having been passed by the government, it still remains to be implemented, as Hardayal Singh has not received any pension for the past three months.

“Right now, I am not getting any pension from the government. I had heard that Chief Minister Khanduri is a well-wisher of the ex-Army personnel but this has not stood true in my case,” he said.

He lives with his daughter-in-law and grandson, who is employed with the State Bank of India after his son passed away in 2003. Hardayal expressed his willingness to render his services by working as a hockey coach. “I am ready to coach children and I don’t want any salary. All I want is my pension,” he said.

He is probably the highest qualified coach that the state will ever have. He has worked chief coach at National Stadium, New Delhi, for 15 years (1972-87). He has also done a course in International Olympic Committee Solidarity for coaches. In 1973, he went to Singapore and trained their team that won a gold medal against Malaysia.

In 1982, he was the chief coach of the junior Indian hockey team that played the Indo-Pak series which ended in a draw. After the series, the junior team toured Europe in 1982 and Kenya in 1983-84 and won all its matches. In 1984, the team, under his guidance, won a silver medal at the Junior World Cup at Kuala Lumpur.

Thereafter, he worked as chief coach for Indian senior squad from 1983 to 1987 which won the bronze at the 10-nation hockey tournament in Hong Kong and silver at the second Asia Cup in Dhaka against Pakistan. In 2004, Hardayal was awarded the Dhyan Chand Award for excellence in hockey.

Referring to the scope of hockey in Uttarakhand, he said that Nainital is the only place where hockey is played throughout the year. In other places, children just play it for only two to three months.

“If the state government lays an Astro turf and provides me with two assistant coaches, I will change the face of hockey in Uttarakhand,” proclaimed the Olympian.

He expressed satisfaction at the performance of the hockey team. “The adhoc committee is doing a fine job and the team is performing well.”

He reacted sharply at the recent statement made by a renowned cricketer who demanded the declaration of cricket as the national game.

“Everybody can play cricket, but hockey is the game that requires skill, ball control, dribbling, dodging and tackling that can only be mastered by dedication and hard work.”

Hardayal Singh thinks that unless and until the financial inequality that exists in sports in India is removed, it would be difficult to bring back the golden days of hockey. “If India want to regain its supremacy in hockey, then hockey players should be treated at par with cricketers and should get the same emoluments as cricketers receive. Sports can only rise in India when men wearing the Indian blazer receive equal treatment in all respects, specially monetary,” he commented.

Dehradun, January 18
Albeit the role of allopathic medicines cannot be ruled out, more and more people are now getting attracted towards alternative systems of medicine wherein the reliance on drugs is negligible.

Promoted by the ‘Ayush’ department of the state government, the reflexology and magneto-therapy unit, functioning from the Doon Hospital, is attracting many patients. “Our motto is a world free of drugs. We treat patients through acupressure in which the hands and feet are stimulated to provide relief,” said Dr Vijay Garg, who heads the unit.

By putting pressure on certain points on the feet and hands, a reflexologist is able to remove energy blocks. The energy flows freely again and the body regains harmony.

Shedding light on the system, Dr Vijay said: “Reflexology is based on Dr Fitzgerald’s concept of the zone system. Due to wrong posture, lifestyle, etc, reflex points come under pressure and as a result blood does not flow properly. Fuse points are activated through pressure points. Magneto therapy is also a safe therapy in which a patient is exposed to a magnetic field at 15000 gauss. It has no side-effects.”

In all these systems, the flow of blood is restored properly which helps in removal of disease. The flow may be hampered due to salt deposition, bacterial attack etc. Patients suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, insomnia, knee pains and low vision benefit from such treatment, she added.

Dr Vijay said acupressure is quite popular in Canada where malls are equipped with centres that provide treatment. “The scientists abroad also undertook a study on the Hindu practice of touching feet that reportedly provides relief. In reflexology, the feet are supposed to possess important body points which when pressed restores the flow of blood,” said Dr Vijay. For magneto therapy she has devised a chair and an activator that are powered with magnets.

However, she said as the practice is gaining popularity many short term courses have also sprung up. “The system cannot be learnt in a week’s course, it at least takes three to four years to learn the intricacies. It is only then that one can set up independent centres,” said Dr Garg.

Meanwhile, from bureaucrats to politicians, to the common public, the results have been beneficial for many. Vishnu Singh Dhanik was cured of a frozen shoulder only in 10 sittings; Dinesh Lakhera of Dalanwala was cured of kidney stone and Chitra Narula was cured of a congenital defective jaw.