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Doon University opens on August 6
Mohun Bagan picks Maithani
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The rare living fossil
Don’t shift bus
637 children get lessons in ‘Lakshya’
Truck driver held in hit-and-run case
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Doon University opens on August 6
Dehradun, June 9 Faced with the daunting task of creating a centre of excellence, the guiding principle of the university would be providing quality education and ensuring participation of bright minds. The academic session of the university begins on August 6. Admissions will be through an entrance test. “The Jawaharlal University (JNU) is only a reference point; we are committed to building a centre of excellence capable of charting its own course, not unduly impressed or overshadowed. “However, we would be replicating certain success stories. The student-teacher relationship that exists outside the classroom at JNU is worth emulating. “We will be introducing several new courses. Along with the academic curriculum, stress would be on involving students in community programmes so that they become solution providers to problems in the community,” said VC Girijesh Pant. Aware that initially it would be hard hiring experienced faculty, the university plans to invite eminent personalities for delivering guest lectures. The guests would be housed at campus hostels. “The task of the guest faculty would be to reinforce young lecturers who would get enough exposure to hone their skills,” said Prof Pant. There would be 40 seats in the School of Communication and 20 each for postgraduation in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management. VC Pant said: “As the university will get funds from the state, I am of the view that while maintenance needs would be looked after by the state, the university would have to bank on its own sources and we have several projects, including private participation and international funding, in mind. “Because of its unique geographical location in the Himalayas, international In addition, the university is keen to take up “Knowledge Incubation Programme” with private industry so that research carried out at the university is not only funded, but is also made need-based. “Our students will benefit enormously from such tie-ups, as they will be easily absored in respective research and development departments. For economic independence, we will be creating residential chairs maintained through corpus funding by private and public sectors. “The arrangement would help us pay our faculty. The National Thermal Power Corporation has already agreed to be part of the arrangement. On June 17, we will be holding a discussion with the CII (Uttarakhand chapter) to deliberate on inking tie-ups in research and development. The university will have two campuses dedicated to science at Sahaspur and non-science at Kedarpuram. Work at the Sahaspur campus has yet to start while construction activity is full swing at Kedarpuram which is sprawled on 55 acres. Once complete, the Kedarpuram centre will house 1,100 students with a faculty of 200. The university is keen on building schools of environment, communication, technology, languages, sciences and pharmacy which would follow the semester system. And from 2010, admissions would be made in Phd programmes. “The state is facing a piquant situation. Though our school education is popular worldwide, we have not done that well in higher education and research. “The Doon University will try to address the problem of research keeping in mind the specific needs of the state. Relevant short-duration diploma courses (six months) would be offered in disaster and waste management. “We are also aware of the problem of braindrain and that too has to be tackled at any cost. In order to maintain standards, the faculty members would be constantly evaluated by their peers. Those applying for jobs would have to demonstrate their communication skills and on selection their lectures would be evaluated for rating and improvement,” explained Prof Pant. Confident that the university would be able to function on its own without political interference, he said rules and regulations would ensure a fair degree of autonomy. “Centers of excellence should be allowed to function independently and it is in the interest of the state that our nascent experiment in higher education becomes result- oriented and helps in the evolution of the state. A better functioning university can be advantageous to everyone,” he maintained.
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Mohun Bagan picks Maithani
Dehradun, June 9 “Playing for Mohun Bagan is like a dream come true. Kolkata is the Mecca of football in India. There is just one mantra that holds true there and that is performance, and nothing else. “Fans may make you a hero for your performance but they may also take you to task for poor performance,” said Manish. It was hard time for Manish in 2007 when he sustained an ankle injury while playing in Sikkim for the FCI team. He had to undergo surgery. “Once you are injured, clubs don’t risk signing you. But it was Bernard Oparanoi (national coach) who reposed faith in me. “I have been receiving coaching under him for the past two years. It was he who prompted Mohan Bagan selectors to take note of my skills”. Manish considers two persons instrumental in shaping his career. First Bernard and second Harbeer Singh, his coach at Maharan Pratap Sports College. Manish belongs to the first batch (1993) of the college. The college at that time had inadequate infrastructure. “The atmosphere at the college was different then. The facilities were not as good as they are today. But the coaching even then was of ‘A1’ standard. Whatever I am today is because of the high standards of coaching by Harbeer Singh.” Manish passed out from the sports college in 1998 and started playing for the Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostel team in 1999. He played for u-17, u-19 and u-21 teams. He came into the limelight at Subroto Cup football in 2001 where he was awarded best player of the tournament. His first break in professional football came in 2005 when he was selected by the Amity Club Haryana, for which he played for two years. He had then shifted to Hindustan Football Club and later joined the Indian National Football Club. His skills were noticed at the Delhi League finals where he was declared the best midfielder of the tournament. “It was the toughest match of the tournament and to have a team like New Delhi Hero’s in the finals to play against was a test for all. “It proved to be my day as I scored two goals that included a 35-yard shot and our team lifted the trophy.” Manish father, Satish Chand Maithani, is an assistant engineer in Uttarakhand’s minor irrigation department and his mother Pushpa Maithani a housewife.
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The rare living fossil
Mussoorie, June 9 The tree is considered sacred by the Chinese and the Japanese and is of great medicinal value. Described by Charles Darwin as a living fossil, Ginkgo is the world’s oldest surviving tree species. It has grown in China for more than 200 million years and an individual tree lives for a thousand years or even more. The Ginkgo was brought to Europe in the 18th century as an ornamental tree. Ginkgo leaves are used for making tinctures and antioxidants that strengthen blood vessels and improves blood circulation. It has been used in China for more than 4,000 years to treat memory loss in the elderly. Now, it is being cultivated in France and the USA for the pharmaceutical industry. American pharmaceutical companies are already making herbal supplement tablets for healthy brain functions. “The Gingko Biloba is a rare tree with high medicinal value and the climate of Mussoorie is very favorable for its cultivation. I have nurtured over a dozen trees in my backyard and am open to the idea of selling them,” said Harish Sharma, director of Durga Agros and Forestry Private Limited, which also happens to be the ally of the Company Garden Welfare Association. The Association, which took over the garden from Mussoorie Nagar Palika under the public- private partnership scheme, has done a commendable job in the reformation, beautification and preservation of the garden. The Association has spent over one crore for the purpose and provides employment to 35 people. “We understand the historical importance and medicinal value of the Ginkgo Biloba. So we have planted six cuttings of the tree, which are growing healthy and we intend to grow more in the near future,” said Surendra Singh Rana, president of the Company Garden Welfare Association. Interestingly, the fact whether Ginkgo was planted in the company or grew by itself is still not known, as the garden itself has a long history. It was established in 1842 by Dr. King of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta, Dr. Royal of Saharanpur Botanical Garden and General Vildoff of the Bengal Engineers. Later, the Mussoorie Nagar Palika bought it for Rs 10,000. “We are determined to revive the old charm of the Company Garden with exotic plants and flowers. We will also ensure a round-the-year attraction with Ginkgo as the prime magnet,” said Chandi Prasad Saklaani, vice-president of the Company Garden Welfare Association.
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Don’t shift bus stand: Protesters
Dehradun, June 9 In order to ease traffic pressure in the periphery of Parade Ground, district municipal authorities in collaboration with the Regional Transport Office had decided to shift the Raipur bus stand from its existing and heavily congested Lansdowne Chowk location to Chunna Bhatta, which is at a distance of 2 km from Lansdowne Chowk. Chunna Bhatta residents, who resented the shifting today, alleged that they would be uprooted due to the new bus stand. They also held that there was no justification in shifting the bus stand as there was not enough space in the locality to operate a fleet of 40 buses. As a result of the protests, the MC uspended the shifting for a few days and have asked the agitating residents to bring their registries and other
documents for clarification on the matter.
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637 children get lessons in ‘Lakshya’
Dehradun, June 9 Addressing the participants, Dr Balyan said such camps are helpful for community, development and also for the development of leadership. Dr Balyan said one should have the knowledge of our country’s heritage and history. He said wherever Indians are residing in the world, they are contributing in the development of those countries. Dr Balyan said India is one of the leading developing countries and it has ample talent by virtue of which no one can stop its progress. He gave a few tips for achieving success in life. He said education, good conduct, sense of responsibility and time management are essential to achieve success in life. To have a healthy mind and healthy body, one should take part in sports activity also. Children should have a sense of curiosity and should have team spirit. Dr Balyan said the three most important things for achieving success are- hard work, discipline and clear goals. AK Mehra said that ONGC has sponsored the camp in which 637 children are participating. The camp will continue till June 12.
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Truck driver held in hit-and-run case
Roorkee, June 9 The driver, identified as Dildar Singh, a resident of Manak Mou (Saharanpur), hit Sandeep Kumar when he was crossing the road at Dhandera on April 10. He fled away along with the truck (HR38H 6529) from the spot. Sandeep, a Class XII student, died on the spot. Today, the police arrested Dildar Singh on a tip-off and also impounded the truck.
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The university authorities intend to bank on its own resources and have several schemes,
including private participation and international funding, in mind
country and keen
have made it
