Dehradun, September 11
Often ignored working condition of women in informal organised sectors such as the salt mines of Rann of Kutch, feverishly using their feet to prevent salt from breaking to the darning women of Delhi, who give life to old torn clothes, or women of Munger, who the make agarbati and their struggle for survival is the theme of photograph exhibition “Hands of Hope” at Tussat Function Center.

Visitors at the exhibition in Dehradun on Friday. Tribune photo: Anil P. Rawat

Youngsters take to toe-rings
Dehradun, September 11
Gone are the days when only married women had to wear toe rings to follow a traditional norm. With the increasing craze for nose rings, toe rings are also attracting women of all age groups and silver toe rings no more remain restricted to married women. Rather, today these have become a part of every youngster’s lifestyle.

 

 

In Doon, traffic signals are without light
Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
For the past more than a year, all traffic signals installed at various intersections in Doon are non-functional, which has made traversing these roads a literal hell.

Out of order lights at the busy Darshan Lal Chowk in the heart of the city. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir

In the absence of functional traffic lights, commuters have to face everyday hassles. Accidents have also become a routine affair, especially during the night.

Dehradun Assistant Superintendent of Police (traffic) Sweety Agarwal said two traffic personnel have been deployed for managing vehicles from 8 am to 8 pm. "However, after 8 pm, we are not responsible and there is a lot of problem on the roads after that," she said.

There are 24 traffic intersections in the city and none of them is functional. "Why has the administration wasted lakhs of rupees if they cannot make them function? Cops are sometimes available at the intersections, but who is responsible if someone loses his or her life due to non-functional lights?" rued Pritam Singh, a resident of Paltan Nagar.

"Authorities have to ensure that lights are made functional as soon as possible," said Ram Mohan, a local resident.

On the other hand, traffic police is passing on the buck to the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC).

"We have written to the MC several times, but they have done nothing in this regard," said Sweety Aggarwal, ASP (traffic). She added that if the lights are made functional, traffic personnel could be deployed at other important places in the city.

On the other hand, the DMC is also passing on the buck. The charge of the traffic lights was with the MC till August last year, but after it was unable to maintain them the responsibility was handed over to the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA).

Ravi Pandey, executive engineer of the MC, said when the charge was with them, traffic signals were functioning properly and these have gone out of order afterwards. "This is the job of the MDDA now," he said.

Officials at the MDDA informed that they had invited tenders to get the work done and the lights would soon be functional.

According to information, 1,155 challans were issued for jumping of red lights last year. However, this year the number of such challans is nil as the traffic lights are out of order.

In 2006, 6,020 challans were issued, in 2007 the number increased to 8,068 while in 2008 it reached to an astounding figure of 19,947. Till august this year, 11,255 challans have already been issued for offences other than jumping of lights.

The department earned Rs 17,77650 as fine last year, which is the highest figure earned till now. This is excluding the fine that was paid on the spot.

Ashutosh, a traffic cop, said the increasing number of challans was also due to the increase in the number of cops deployed on duty.

In 2008, there were five traffic sub-inspectors, but this year it has increased to 10 besides two traffic inspectors.

However, non-functional lights reamin a matter of concern. "If we want to make Dehradun a modern city, proper management of ever- increasing traffic on roads is of paramount importance," said Deepak Rawat, an elderly resident of Doon.

"Times have changed, earlier there was less traffic on roads but due to the huge rush now, functional traffic lights are of utmost importance," he added.

Ilbert Manor — A heritage restored
The Ilbert Manor was built by Major Brace in 1840. In 1890, Sir Courtenay Ilbert visited Mussoorie and upgraded the building
Sanjay Tamta

Mussoorie, September 11
"A man travels the whole world in search of truth...and comes home to find it." At the Ilbert Manor in the Queen of the Hills, a lady has done the same and come back for good to the place she fell in love with during her growing days.

The picturesque environs of the Illbert Manor in Mussoorie. A Tribune photograph

The young and energetic Devika Pasricha, on her own, left no stone unturned to gather historical facts related to her pristine property — the Ilbert Manor — in a bid to restore the same as a heritage destination.

The Ilbert Manor happens to be one of the very few buildings of the colonial times in Mussoorie and was built by Major Brace in 1840. In 1890, Sir Courtenay Ilbert, related to the Ilbert Bill controversy of 1883, visited Mussoorie and upgraded the Manor.

In its many incarnations, this fine heritage building was an up-market boarding house run by a descendant Miss E Rose in the 1900's. During the post-Independence years, Rani Laxmi Kaur Sahiba of Shivgarh, near Jhansi, owned the estate.

Recently, the property has been renovated and restored by businessman Ashok Pasricha and his daughter Devika Pasricha as a heritage boutique hotel keeping in mind a complete balance of five elements of nature i.e. air, water, wood, earth and fire.

The building and the surroundings retain the ambiance of the Victorian age where the whiff of the times gone by still lingers.

The unique concept of the property makes it the first of its kind in India as every room and common area is named after a person from the Victorian era who has made a strong contribution in the development of Mussoorie in there respective field.

The heritage hotel has 17 rooms, three eating venues, one library and an entertainment zone for children. Devika Pasricha, who administers the heritage hotel as the vice-president, has come back all the way from London where she did a spa management course at the London College of Fashion, University of Art, only to reform her property even as she discovered her affection for the antiquities during visits to various museums.

Devika has been to every nook and corner in and around the town in order to scan through the government records and to locate the local historians and authors to compile a documentation of the erstwhile witness of the regal elegance and mystic romance of the Queen of the Hills.

The "Jungle Waali Kothi", as the Ilbert Manor is also known as, stands solitary amidst thick Oak Jungle that often remains embraced with a mesmerising cover of fog and offers excellent view of the mighty Himalayas on a clear day.

The whispers of love and intimacy of the bygone times can still be felt in the very air that hovers inside the big halls, rooms and the fireplaces of the Ilbert Manor, which still bestows the grandeur of the colonial times to the Queen of the Hills. 

Exhibition showcasing plight of working women
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Youngsters take to toe-rings
Divya Semwal
Tribune News Service