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BJP on overdrive to outrun poll code
V’ball tourney in dire need of funds
Gun Hill: A water supply source
A view of the Gun Hill in Mussoorie. Photo by the writer |
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The good samaritan from Class XII
Rajit Garg, builds a water tank as part of the Round Square International Service Project. A Tribune photograph
All set for Euphoria
DAV college celebrates union
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BJP on overdrive to outrun poll code
Dehradun, February 18 Khanduri has started whirlwind tours of each and every district of the state, laying foundation stones or inaugurating various developmental schemes in every nook and corner. Khanduri, being a former military general, has precisely planned his campaign to meet the general public of the state with an aim to beat the election code of conduct. While his political adversaries, particularly main opposition Congress, have been busy in intra-party rivalries related to the panel of names of the candidates for the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Chief Minister Maj Gen Khanduri (retd) in the state has been way ahead in not only announcing the party candidates for the five Lok Sabha seats but also reaching out to the voters with bagful of developmental schemes and promises as well. Touring the Kumaon region this week, Chief Minister Khanduri launched a blistering attack on the Congress. He alleged that developmental schemes worth crores were announced during the previous Congress regime with no budgetary provisions and remained merely announcements. However, he has been saying to the people of Uttarakhand that whatever schemes or works he has been announcing, a proper budgetary allocation has been made to complete these works. He has also been claiming that he has come down heavily on rampant corruption in the state admitting candidly that the menace has been there and it needed time to eradicate. Interestingly, to match his words, the state vigilance department unearthed Rs 55 lakh in cash and properties from the residence of an executive engineer of the irrigation department in the state capital here. Khanduri has done his homework well by making the bureaucrats work hard to make a package for each district to be announced during his whirlwind tour. Since, Chief Minister Khanduri himself belongs to Garhwal region, he has started his campaign from Kumaon region announcing developmental schemes worth more than Rs 135 crore in Pitthoragarh, Almora and Champawat districts. He has tried to give a message that during the two years of his tenure he has been even-handed in his approach towards developmental activities in both regions. Khanduri has also romped in his arch rival in state BJP politics, former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, who hails from Kumaon region, by persuading the party high command to make him election incharge of five northern states including his home state of Uttarakhand. It is not only that the Chief Minister has started off aggressively, his entire team of ministers has also embarked on a massive mass contact programme. Each minister has been made incharge of a particular district and will be touring the districts, holding public meetings and launching developmental schemes from February 19 to 23. The programme has been named ‘Sarkar Janta ke Dwar’ (government at the doorstep of the public) in which the state government wants to reach out to the masses even at the tehsil before the announcement of general elections and the subsequent introduction of Model Code of Conduct. On the poll preparations, the BJP has also taken a lead by forming booth-level committees in the entire state. The party has been fully geared up with the active support from dedicated workers of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). Senior RSS leader Suresh Joshi alias Bhaiyya ji, who was here in Uttarakhand, has also called upon the RSS workers to work wholeheartedly to ensure the victory of the BJP candidates. The entire BJP party machinery has also been working overtime to make the proposed “Vijay Sankalp” rally to be held in Dehradun on March 8 a success. Senior BJP national leaders including the party’s prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishan Advani are expected to address the rally. All this activity has perturbed the Congress. Former Uttarakhand Congress party chief Harish Rawat has shot off a letter to Election Commission complaining about the alleged misuse of official machinery by the Khanduri government. Since two Uttarakhand ministers namely Social Welfare Minister Ajay Tamta from Almora and Education Minister Madan Kaushik from Haridwar have already been named as party candidates, Rawat charged that they were misusing government machinery for electoral gains.
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V’ball tourney in dire need of funds
Roorkee, February 18 Ram Bhuj Bhutani (85) one of the founder members of the tournament, and his some friends, is in drastic need of financial assistance or sponsorship of the tournament. The four-day league tourney is starting from February 19 at IIT Volleyball Stadium. “The glorious journey of this Volleyball Federation of India-backed tournament would be culminated very soon, if no sponsor or big corporate houses come forward to adopt it,” said Bhutani, one of the founder members of the tournament. Bhutani, who is also its organising secretary, said with the inflation and the professional approach of the participating teams as well as the players, the expenses of the tourney had been started touching roof. “It has become difficult to meet the expenses, which figure has crossed over Rs 4 lakh to hold the annual event. The organisation of the tournament is largely dependant on donations, door-to-door collections and personal contributions. But by all means we find it hard to collect the amount thus making it difficult to continue with this national-level competition in absence of any sponsorship or government’s financial help,” said Bhutani. Surprisingly, the national-level tournament, which has witnessed almost all top class national and international players in action here, failed to elicit any regular financial aid from the government. “Several times, we have approached the government authorities and the sports department for the purpose, but all in vain. The only support which helps us to run the show is from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, which provide us its stadium, hostel and mess for participants on students charges every year and local Army outfit, Bengal Engineering Groups,” said Bhutani. Though this year we have managed the funds somehow, now everybody (the organising committee) starts worrying about its continuity, Bhutani added. “We have glorious past. Most of the renowned players, including Nripjit Singh, Balwant Singh alias Ballu and Ranbir Singh (all Arjun awardees) have participated in it. So nobody wants that this national-fame tournament to meet its end for fund shortages,” said Bhutani.
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Gun Hill: A water supply source
Mussoorie, February 18 In 1865, the British mounted a cannon on top of the hill; hence the name Gun Hill, while locals called it the "top tibba" ("tibba" means a small hill in Hindi). The barrel of the canon faced the Doon valley and a person, whose salary was equally contributed to by the Army and the Municipal Board, was especially appointed for firing it daily at noon to indicate time. However, local historian and writer Jai Prakash Uttarakhandi believes that time keeping was not the main purpose for which the cannon was installed. He is of the opinion that after the 1857 mutiny, security concerns forced the British to take this step. "After 1857, the British were worried about their security and installed this cannon to guard the approach route to Mussoorie from the Doon valley," he opines. It is also believed that the firing of this cannon was a means by which the British wanted to show their might. "One of its purpose was to terrorise the local Indian community and prevent any uprisings against the British," believes Uttarakhandi. On the lighter side, folklores reveal that one day the grass and cotton ball of the canon landed right in the lap of a British lady who was at that time traveling in a "dandi" to Rajpur. The firing was, however, discontinued in 1919 and later the cannon was dismantled. The barrel was removed in 1940. But even after removal of the cannon, Gun Hill has maintained its importance as the feature was carved from inside to construct huge water reservoirs that supply water to entire Mussoorie. According to Uttarakhandi, "There are definite records to indicate that a reservoir was constructed here during 1933-35, but evidence suggests that the first reservoir was constructed at Gun Hill earlier that that." These underground reservoirs, which are fed by pumping water from nearby springs, are still the primary water supply source for this town. Another feature worth mentioning is on the north- eastern slope of Gun Hill - the famous Camel's Back Rock - and is a major tourist attraction. A small ropeway ferries tourists from the Mall road to this feature. As for the future, the Municipal Board of Mussoorie would do well to take steps to inform these tourists about the "days of the gun."
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The good samaritan from Class XII
Dehradun, February 18 In December 2008, Rajit, along with another classmates, got an opportunity to represent his school at a Round Square International Service Project held in Thailand. Round Square is a worldwide association of more than 70 schools in five continents committed to create responsible global citizens. “The Round Square ideology believes that education should be more than just academics. It should concentrate on the overall personal development and this is attained through the community service and student exchange programmes. These international service projects are aimed at developing a sense of service to others,” said Rajit. “After returning from Thailand my perspective towards social work has completely changed and today I believe that there is nothing more humane then helping poor people living in different parts of the world,” he added. Along with a group of 22 students, five from India, Canada, South Africa, the UK, Germany and Australia went for a 19-day long project to Thailand. People of Karen hill tribe community in Northern Thailand face acute water shortage and there is a problem of clean drinking water. “We constructed two tanks and dug a trench for the pipes to be laid. We taught kids to read and paint. For them it was like a dream come true,” said Rajit. From the comforts of his school, the boy had to work really hard to provide respite to the villagers.” “Initially the villagers were extremely shy as they could not speak English, but gradually we became very good friends. We constructed two tanks and dug a trench for the pipes to be laid. We taught kids to read and paint. For them it was like dream come true,” said Rajit. For the villagers it was like dream come true.
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All set for Euphoria
Want some mantras on good health, ask the doctor. Need a second opinion on your anatomy, consult the doctor. Want to have a good time, fun being the word, well, join the doctors. Yeah, it is fest again, but the festivities have shifted to GMCH-32. Organising their eleventh annual extravaganza, Euphoria the students of medicine are ready with their prescription of masti.
It will be a four-day affair, with a gathering of over 7000 students from all the medical colleges across India, it is nothing short of medical mela. "The first day will see the inaugration of the All India Medi cricket and football tournament. We had integrated activities in the month of January, a health education programme on AIDS awareness and a medical exhibition with displayed anatomical models," said Varun Kumar Singh, the organising secretary of the fest. Apart from the usual activities like dance competitions, debates and creative writing competitions, the evenings would be a mix of live entertainment. The first nite will see a laughter riot with the funny man Sudesh Lahiri performing and day two will see the ramp scorchers from Delhi walk the line in style for the fashion show. What else? Groove it out the Punjabi style with Harbhajan Mann on day three. Within the wraps of all the activities, is the message attached. "The on-stage activities have to be hip and happening but off-stage arena has a lot going on with health and social awareness. Like, Make-a-movie contest in collaboration with the state AIDS control society, on HIV awareness and the debate on Live-in relationships," said Varun. With a whopping budget of Rs 15 lakh and Airtel as the principal sponsor, the fest is sure to rock. Well, then who says doctors don't have fun?
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DAV college celebrates union week
Dehradun, February 18 “We had organised a mehndi and rangoli competition and essay and debate competitions. We are glad that a large number of students are participating in this occasions,” said Anil Verma. “Our team of teachers and student union members, are managing various activities. And for each activity, there are assigned teachers to mark their performances. The winning students are being given certificates and mementoes,” said Rahul Rawat.
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Dehradun, February 18
Mussoorie, February 18
Dehradun, February 18
The union week comprises various activities like singing, dancing, essay competition, debate and other interesting activities for the recreation of the students. “The main objective of the union week is to provide a platform, where by they can enjoy and participate in various activities which ultimately encourage them to develop their skills in different fields,” said Anil Verma, chief organiser.