Ghaziabad, September 21
While the country is on the threshold of a revolution in the education system, lakhs of degrees issued by Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, have been reportedly dumped in garbage heaps there.

When some students produced their certificates while facing job interviews, they were told that their degrees were fake. When they returned their certificates to the university, the university allegedly took the certificates and dumped them in garbage.

However, the students were later issued new degree certificates.

The earlier degree certificates were reportedly full of errors.

The department’s name was printed in place of the subjects in which students had qualified. Roll codes and serial numbers were also incorrect.

Former vice-chancellor professor S.P. Ojha said that the design of the new certificates had been made attractive.

According to sources, the university has spent Rs 70 lakhs on getting the new certificates printed.

However, the vice-chancellor was inaccessible.

Defending the vice-chancellor, university registrar V.K. Sinha said that the vice-chancellor had nothing to do with the matter.

New Delhi, September 21
Boys dressed in impeccable white and girls in colourful dresses thronged the historical Jama Masjid here to offer the morning prayers while celebrating Eid–ul-Fitr today.

Eid, celebrated on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, also marks the end of month-long fasting of the holy month of Ramazan.

Savouring sweet dishes, especially ‘sewayians’, people greeted each other.

“I am a Hindu but my fiancee is a Muslim, so I decided to fast during Ramzan with her. We are celebrating Eid with our friends here. I have learnt to cook sewayians for her.” Local mosques also saw a heavy footfall with people decorating them and going for prayers. Couples with newborn babies also performed special ceremonies, confirmed a Moinuddin.

Eid is an Arabic word meaning ‘festivity’, while Fitr means ‘charity’.

Shehzad Khan, resident of Chandni Chowk, says, “Many of my friends are Hindus but during Eid, they eagerly participate in the family celebrations and gatherings. I think Eid is a festival of happiness and brotherhood. Like Diwali, it is celebrated by people of all religions.”

The shops in Chandni Chowk were also in a festive mood. People decorated their shops and offered special discounts.

Ramji Deva is in his early sixties. He has seen more than 45 Eids in his life. He has an eatery shop where he makes kachoris. According to him, there has been no difference in the way Eid was celebrated when he was six years old. “When I was in my twenties, we used to roam around during night in the streets of Chandni Chowk. This was the real fun of the festival.”

The police also stepped up security in and around the city to avoid any untoward incident on the occasion.

Delhi police made elaborate security arrangements—apart from diverting traffic at various places, particularly near mosques.

“We have made adequate security and traffic arrangements for the day,” a police officer said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, describing it a festival that celebrates “austerity” and “brotherhood.”

New Delhi, September 21
A 32-year-old man who was going to offer Id prayers in a mosque was shot at by two bike-borne assailants in the Welcome area of east district this morning.

According to the police, the victim Fakre Alam who lives in a double-storeyed flat in the area was going to a nearby mosque when he was attacked.

The assailants who had come on a bike fired at him. Fakre received a bullet on his chest. After committing the crime, the assailants fled. The police was informed about the incident around 8:45 am, said a police official.

Fakre’s brother Aslam said that Anil Sharma, alias Abba, a bad character (BC) of the area had an enmity with his brother.

“It is Anil who shot at my brother. Earlier, he lived in our colony and often picked up fights with us,” alleged Aslam.

New Delhi, September 21
The economic downturn has taken some glitter off the Durga Puja this year, the centenary year, in the Capital. Enthusiasm and a peaceful run-up to the festivities, unlike last year which was marred by bomb blasts, though make up for it.

The afternoon sun beats down on the dilapidated compound of Chandralok Cinema in a far corner of Chittaranjan Park, residential neighbourhood, in the Capital.

Manik Pal, a clay artisan from Krishnanagar in West Bengal, has just finished making his 16th idol inside a makeshift tent crammed with clay moulds of the goddess and her four children. When installed per religious tradition, they will be worshipped for four days from September 26 to 29 by the Bengali community across the country. Pal has sold four idols. Recession has taken its toll on his business.

The idols are priced between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000. "I have been forced to reduce the price of idols because the Durga Puja organisers are not willing to pay more. But the prices of clay and other accessories like 'shola' (thermocol), glue, mirrors, zari, sequins, rope, ornaments and even the silk textiles have risen," said Pal.

The artisan uses clay from Kolkata and Punjab. "One tractor of clay from Punjab costs Rs 7,000 and I required nearly 10 tractors of clay. The clay that I brought from Kolkata is cheaper at Rs 2,000," said Pal, who belongs to a family of artisans.

The craftsman, who uses eco-friendly inputs like natural colours, is not sure whether he will be able to come back the next year.

"The mood, however, is optimistic and people are upbeat unlike the last year, when bomb blasts before the Puja dampened spirits. The enthusiasm makes up for the downturn and the slash in Puja budgets," said Dipayan Mazumdar, vice-president of the Kashmere Gate Durga Puja Samiti, which is heralding a century of celebrations this year.

Most of the Pujas have cut down on their entertainment budgets by at least 30 per cent, but core festivities and rituals have not been touched, shared Samir Banerjee, secretary of G-K-II Puja Samiti.

"Star performers from Kolkata and Mumbai, who charged Rs 1,00,000 and more are charging nearly 25 per cent less. Most of the pujas have roped in local performers," he said.

Banerjee said all four major Durga Pujas in Chittaranjan Park -- the Mela Ground Puja, B Block, K Block and the Shiv Mandir -- have reduced their expenditure.

"The downturn has forced us to change the nature of entertainment programmes so that we can connect to the masses and yet keep the purse smaller," said Shuvendu Mazumdar, one of the organising honchos of the Shipra Sun City Puja.

As most of the national capital region (NCR) pujas are funded by corporate bodies, Shipra Sun City near Indirapuram in the east of the national capital region and its adjacent technology and private residential complexes had to knock more doors for money, said Amitabh Mazumdar, a member of the Shipra Sun City Puja Committee.Shipra Sun City has one of the largest cluster of 600 Bengali families.

However, the historic Kashmere Gate Puja has increased its outlay. "We raise funds by personal donation. People who donated Rs 10,000 last year gave us Rs 15,000. This is our centenary year," Dipayan Mazumdar said.

The Kashmere Gate Puja has taken several novel initiatives to spread the centenary message. On Sunday morning, it organised "Prabhat Pheri" or morning procession in CR Park, to let people know.

"Our Puja is green. We will donate the used flowers to an NGO to make perfumes. The idols are made of eco-friendly 'khodi' or chalk clay and vegetable dyes that dissolve in water," he said. — IANS

New Delhi, September 21
The administration at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) refused to give in to the demand of students to have round-the-clock health centre even as students’ hunger strike enters its fourth day tonight.

There has always been a demand for better health facilities at JNU, however, two deaths on campus recently have sparked off intensive agitation.

Whereas the students said it was the responsibility of the administration to provide for basic healthcare, the administration has made it clear that it does not have funds for employing 24-hour staff or a permanent doctor.

“The strike is entering its fourth day tonight and we haven’t heard from the administration. However, we are hopeful that there would be rounds of negotiation starting from tomorrow as the university opens after a gap,” said Shephalika, vice-president, JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU).

Around 25 students were participating in the relay hunger strike each day.

Even in the absence of any communication from the authorities, the students seemed hopeful. They said it was only through strikes and demonstrations that they have achieved some of their most important demands.

“We are hopeful that our struggle would result in achieving something positive. In JNU, strike has been one of the most effective modes of struggle,” said Shephalika.

Roshan Kishore from Students’ Federation of India (SFI) said strike as a mode of protest has always been a weapon.

Meanwhile, the JNUSU also mentioned that their struggle would be intensified and could go out of the university campus if the administration did not accept the demands.

“If the JNU administration continues its policy of insensitivity and refuses to provide 24-hour health facilities, properly equipped ambulances and emergency healthcare facilities, the JNUSU would intensify the struggle. We will also march to the UGC demanding more funds, if the need arises,” said Sandeep, president, JNUSU.

New Delhi, September 21
During the four-day Arogya 2009 fair, which culminated today at India Trade Promotion Organisation, need for holistic care and natural medicine was stressed with curative powers of Ayurveda, homeopathy, acupuncture and yoga taking the centrestage.

The objective of the expo was to revive the interest of people in the ancient science of healing and naturopathy. A range of exhibits were staged at Hall No 12 A by several private hospitals and pharma companies.

The eighth edition of Arogya displayed a comprehensive picture of the traditional system of medicines, unique to the country. Chairperson of ITPO, Dr Subhas Pani said the fair projected India’s capabilities and requirements in traditional healthcare system, and this time the podium was shared by about 60 firms. Besides, there were hospitals like Sir Ganga Ram (SGR) that had conducted free camps and offered medication.

Enumerating the potential of diverse systems of medicine in India, the chairperson of SGR, Dr B K Rao, emphasised “We need to incorporate a holistic healing to the mainline therapy with useful adjuncts like Ayurveda. It’s not just India but the entire globe which is recognising the magical wonders of these alternative healings.”

The annual event was as an excellent platform for medical practitioners of an array of specialties to exchange the recent advancements in Indian medicine. And this time the display profile ranged from products and services like Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, homeopathy, unani, siddha, herbal medicines, medical technology, surgical and hospital equipment, etc.

New Delhi, September 21
Gender violence, terror and family politics — the 53rd edition of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra’s much-feted ‘Ramlila’ weaves all contemporary realities into the ancient Indian epic of Ramayana to give it a modern face.

Valmiki, known as the creator of Ramayana, says in the play, “King Rama was born at a time when demons were abusing women, torturing innocent people, unleashing terror and causing family feuds.” Lord Vishnu, narrates the sage, decides to descend on the earth to “uphold cosmic order and vanquish dark forces of terror.”

As the lord descends to the earth, male and female dancers in embroidered silk and brocade costumes perform a dance to recount the story in north Indian folk tradition. They portray the people of Ayodhya where the king was born.

“I have tried to make this year’s Ramlila as socially relevant and gender-sensitive. Sita’s agnipariksha has been stretched to highlight her suffering, feelings and the status of women,” said production director Shobha Deepak Singh.

The 34-day dance drama would be on till October 19.

Singh, also the director of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, said she had simplified the text of versions of the Ramayana by Valmiki and Goswami Tulsidas — from which she adapted the plays.

“I wanted the text to be legible to the youth. Even the songs which are not in Hindi can be easily understood,” she said.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said she had been watching ‘Ramlila’ at Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra since long.

“The Ramayana, one of the most popular Indian epics, is relevant even today,” she said, lauding the Kendra “for keeping alive the Ramlila,” which she said had been “graced by all former presidents and prime ministers of India.”

The performance, which was slightly folksy with music and dances drawn from across the states of India, began with “a grief-stricken sage Valmiki chanting the first ‘shlokas’ of the epic after watching a pair of mating birds shot by an archer.”

As one of the birds dies, the grief pours from his heart in the form of the Ramayana that hinges on the story of warrior king Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, his estrangement from his father Dasharatha for 14 years and Rama’s battle with demon king Ravana to rescue his wife Sita. An army of apes and the king’s brother Lakshman helps the mighty warrior in his tussle with demonic forces.

The cast has 70 artists, dancers and technicians.

Shobha Deepak Singh has designed the costumes and make-up “keeping in mind modern and ancient sensibilities.” She has more than 40 years of experience in costume design and make-up.

“But the visions are all mine,” she said adding, “It took me three months to put together the play.” Singh said she was inspired by the traditional Ramlila which she had seen as a child in Varanasi.

Singh said they had rehearsed for 120 days and 200 musicians recorded the tracks over 90 days.

“It seems yesterday when the production started in 1957 and I exchanged ideas with (late) Nirmala Joshi, the first secretary of Sangeet Natak Akademi. Eminent Hindi writer Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’ wrote the script for us and Tapas Sen, along with Inder Raazdan, set up the stage and lights,” she said, walking down memory lane. — IANS

Gt Noida, September 21
The labour unrest and murder of Oerilkon Graziano CEO, Lalit Kishore Chaudhary in Greater Noida last year, not only dampened the investment climate, but the whole episode also adversely damaged the image of Greater Noida as an industrial hub.

Since then no multinational or even national company has chosen Greater Noida as its investment site, notwithstanding the assurances given by the state government to entrepreneurs.

The incident affected the morale of the investors with the result that during the last one year, only two-dozen industrial plots were allotted, though the GNIDA had been at pains to attribute it to world economic recession as the reason for lack of interest among investors.

During 2007-08, Greater Noida had attracted an investment of over Rs 1,660 crore but this trend could not continue in the 2008-09 for which, according to investors, the main reason was the tragedy at Oerilkon Graziano.

Sehdev Sharma, president of Association of Greater Noida Industries (AGNI), said that though GNIDA was not to blame for the Graziano incident, the law and order situation and police presence in the area is far from satisfactory.

Lots of problems appear to have blocked the path of recovery from Graziano tragedy.

Authorities have failed to improve the law and order situation in the area, said AGNI general secretary, Aditya Ghildayal.

For want of an atmosphere of security, fresh investments in Greater Noida are not coming forth, Sehdev added.