|
|
|
|
Protected monuments withstand rains
SAF Winter Games |
|
|
Despite differing legends, Nanda Devi continues to bind U’khand
The palanquin of Nanda-Sunanda being taken out in the Kumoan region.
A Tribune file photo
Hindi Day: Tributes paid to poet Barthwal
RIMC wins inter-school debate
Eminent Hindi writer Vidya Sagar Nautiyal presents the All-India Kashi Naresh Hindi Debate trophy to the RIMC team in Dehradun on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
Chamoli presented Hindi Gaurav Award
Hindi Diwas celebrated at BHEL
The prize distribution function in progress during Hindi Diwas in Haridwar on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur
Students participate in a science drama in Haridwar on Tuesday.
A Tribune photograph
Election of DAV (PG) College union gen secy revoked
Elephants continue to ravage crops
Players vie for the ball during a match in the Junior Council Football Tournament in Dehradun on Tuesday.
A Tribune photograph
SGRR Sahodya Complex Soccer
The final of the SGRR Sahodaya Complex Football Tournament in progress in Pathribagh on Tuesday.
A Tribune photograph
Pharmacists to get training in Doon Hospital
Easy win for St Thomas’ College
|
|
Protected monuments withstand rains
Dehradun, September 14 In fact, the monsoon season is viewed as a God-sent opportunity by archaeology experts to put into use various conservation techniques and preservation material as part of advance preparations. “Most of the protected monuments are safe in Uttarakhand despite the incessant rain. In fact, the monsoon season gives us indication about the line
of treatment that needs to be followed for the next season. So a majority of the activities undertaken by the ASI are
part of advance planning,” said Dr DN Dimri, Superintendent Archaeologist, Dehradun Circle. Since last year, the ASI has been involved in controlling seepage at the Pandukeshwar temple in Chamoli and at the Katarmal temple in Kumaon. “Except for the Baijnath temple in Bageshwar (Kumaon) where the roof structure covering it was blown away in the storm this season, all monuments are safe. We will be working on the canopy that was put in place some 25 years ago, to provide protection against rain. But, it has broken from several places and will be removed. We will have to examine if there is any need for the canopy now, whether the temple can be protected from rain water without the canopy,” said Dr Dimri. The monuments are periodically given treatment and are monitored on a regular basis, usually the effects of rain are in the form of seepage and plant growth. “Our immediate attention as soon as the monsoon ends will be to tackle the vegetation and algae that suddenly emerge in corners and arches, assuming gigantic proportion, and also check the seepage because stagnating water can be dangerous for monuments,” stressed Dr Dimri.
|
|
Tiger census: 52 clicked at Corbett
Dehradun, September 14 This was revealed in a report of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun’s project linked to density evaluation of tiger and its prey species in a part (six ranges) of the Corbett Tiger Reserve conducted during February-July 2010. “A total of 57 camera locations were sampled in the area, based on our reconnaissance survey and local knowledge of the forest staff. The effort of 41 trap nights yielded 237 photographs of 52 individual tigers,” disclosed Shikha Bisht, junior research fellow. According to Shikha, the phase IV protocols evolved for the assessment and monitoring of tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitat were followed. The area was sampled through sign surveys for estimating carnivore presence. Line transects were carried out for estimating wild ungulate presence and abundance and habitat parameters including anthropogenic pressures. Camera trap based capture-recapture (Pollock’s robust design) was done between May 23 and July 2 in an area of 215 sq km to estimate population size, density and survival of tigers. Closed population estimators selected Mth Chao as the best-fit model, thereby accounting for time-induced heterogeneity. The population estimate computed using the Mth Chao estimator was 68. Present results were compared with the estimates obtained in 2006-2007 using the same model. Mth Chao estimator based population estimate was then 65. The exercise was part of WII Project titled “Monitoring source population of tiger in Corbett Tiger Reserve” being funded the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Uttarakhand Forest Department under guidance of Principal Investigators Dr YV Jhala and Qamar
Qureshi.
|
|
Blame federation for 3-year delay, not us: State govt
Rajeev Khanna Tribune News Service
Nainital, September 14 When confronted over the issue of hosting the Games, Cabinet minister Prakash Pant categorically stated that the state government was not responsible for the delay in the event and said that the federation could not take proper decisions on this count. “It needs to be kept in mind that we are mere facilitators for the event. We recently held a trial event on the Auli track that was totally successful. We are ready to hold the event any time the federation comes up with a schedule,” he said. Initially scheduled to be held in the winter of 2007, the SAF games have seen one postponement after the other on various counts. The event has been embroiled in a series of controversies also. To begin with, the SAF Games had run into rough weather following some objections raised by the Chairman of the organising committee Kedar Singh Fonia in 2008. Fonia had resigned from the post on the issue of the failure of the BC Khanduri-led state government to check irregularities highlighted by him. He had raised the issue of construction of a private hotel in the skiing zone, an allegedly illegal sale of 15 ‘nalis’ of land in the skiing zone and illegal leasing out of a piece of a large tract of land. Khanduri had to take immediate fire-fighting measures. In 2008, it was the doubts over the Pakistani participation on account of the existing chill in Pakistan’s relations with India following the Mumbai terror attacks that the Games were postponed. It was related unofficially that without Pakistan's participation, the Games would lose their sheen, as it is the only country among the visitors that has good quality competitive players. However, the official reason given for the postponement was that the newly developed infrastructure for the event needs to be tried out first. Hence the organising of the event continued to hang fire on one count or the other. More recently, it was the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that had come out with scathing criticism of the state government for failing to hold the event three times in a row. The CAG had raised its doubts about the preparedness of the state for hosting the event and the quality of works done.
|
|
Despite differing legends, Nanda Devi continues to bind U’khand
Pitthoragarh, September 14 “Tomorrow, the entire day will be spent worshipping this royal goddess of the Kumoan kings. The idols will be carried in a palanquin around the town and immersed in Doba Nullah on September 17,” said Harish Agarwal, manager of the festival committee here. The idols of Nanda and Sunanda are set up with tantrik rituals and worshipped till these are immersed in some water body. “Earlier, tens of goats and buffaloes were sacrificed on Nanda ashtami, but this tradition has now become a thing of the past,” said Naveen Bisht, a journalist and Kumaoni poet in Almora. “In Nainital, though the face of the idols is different, the tradition came from Almora some 300 years ago. Moti Ram Shah organised the festival from 1903 to 1925. Since 1926, the Ram Sevak Sabha is organising the event in Nainital,” said Ganga Parshad Shah, a veteran social worker and organiser of the Nanda Devi Festival in Nainital. Champawat district, which happens to be original capital of the Chand Kings of Kumaon, has been organising the festival for the past three years. “In Champawat, Nanda Devi is awakened by various local deities who have been embodied in some persons. This tradition is not found anywhere in Kumaon. Our celebrations are held at Baleshwar temple, the oldest temple in Kumaon,” said Dinesh Pandey, a journalist and organiser of the festival in Champawat. The tradition of Nanda Devi worship in Bageshwar and Pitthoragarh districts is different. In the upper reaches of Danpur Pargana in Bageshwar, the worship of Nanda Devi begins in Badiakote village. After travelling through more than 20 villages of Malla Danpur, the dola (palanquin) of the goddess returns to its starting point after visiting Nanda kund at 14,000 ft. Residents of Talla Johar in Pitthoragarh district travel to Heramani glacier, 80 km from their village, to gather the flower Brahm kamal (saussurea obvallata) to offer at the Nanda Devi temple which is situated in Bala village. “These villagers sometimes go to the glacier with their livestock, especially sheep” said KN Joshi, a social worker from Nachani in the Talla Johar area of Pitthoragarh district. According to Rajendra Bora, a Kumoani poet and theatre artiste, Nanda was the daughter of a Kumoani King in ancient times. Bora added that the Nanda, who had adopted a buffalo calf during her childhood, was married off to some prince. But the calf, who by then had also grown up, wanted to marry Nanda. When Nanda refused, the buffalo ran after Nanda to kill her. To save herself, Nanda fled towards Nazibabad from her palace in Kumaon, then to Garud, Bageshwar, Kote Bhramari Tharari, but the buffalo did not stop. Finally, she pulled out her hair and struck these on the ground from which a lion emerged that killed the buffalo. The tired Nanda ultimately rested at Trisul, the highest peak in the snow-clad Himalayas in Garhwal. According to another legend, Nanda hid behind a banana tree, but when the leaves of the tree were eaten by a goat, Nanda became visible and was killed by the buffalo. To commemorate the incident, male buffaloes and goats are sacrificed during the festival every year. According to BD Pandey, writer of the book “History of Kumaon”, Kumaoni King Baj Bahadur Chand (1638-1678) once attacked the Garhwal King. He captured the fort of Badhan Garhi and Juna Garhi and brought Nanda Devi, the clan goddess of Katuri Kings, from there and established her at Malla Mahal (the upper place) in Almora. Ever since, Nanda Devi is worshipped as the clan goddess of Kumaoni Kings as well. Garhwali tradition describes Nanda differently. Nanda is considered a daughter of the region who is married to Lord Shiva who resides in some far-off place in the Himalayas. Every year, when Nanda goes to her in-laws’ place from her parents’ home here, the entire Garhwal region come to see her off. Every 12 years, this send-off is celebrated as Nanda Jat. During the ‘Jat’, the entire population, including local deities, of 22 villages on the 300-km route gather to see Nanda off. “The Nanda Devi Festival is perhaps the only cultural festival which unites the regions of Garhwal and Kumaon. The tradition also represent the feudal past of the region,” said Dr Ram Singh, an eminent social historian from the region.
|
|
Hindi Day: Tributes paid to poet Barthwal
Mussoorie, September 14 Later, at a symposium held on the Palika premises, school students recited poems written by the poet. Dr Barthwal said it was a perfect setting that tributes were being paid to the poet by celebrating Hindi Diwas on the same day. Chandra Kunwar was a philanthropist who considered Hindi as his working language and composed many poems filled with immense emotions. He was inspired by Rabindra Nath Tagore’s poetry which is evident from his work, but he freed his poetry from the shackles of genre. Through his work, he fought for the right of the downtrodden and Dalits. He was a nature lover and that showed from his composition “Itne Phul Khile”. Chandra Kunwar wrote poems wherever he went and even wrote poems on petty objects like cremation grounds and the ripening of the berry known in local language as kafal. His “Kafal Pako Kafal Pako’ is recited till date. Dr Barthwal said Chandra Kunwar was a man who loved nature and humanism and has been compared with the famous poets like John Milton and Wordsworth. The research institute was doing a lot of work to preserve his writings and this year one person has already completed research on the famous poet and will be soon awarded a research degree. Dr Barthwal, however, felt the state government had completely neglected the legendary poet in its home state. He demanded that the poems of Chandra Kunwar should be introduced in primary classes of the state schools so that children learn from the richness of language used by the poet. Shoorvir Singh Bhandari, president of Chandra Kunwar Barthwal Research Institute, said no other poet had caught the imagination of readers in describing the spirit of the panoramic view of mountains, cloudscape and the grandeur of the rivers and mountains like he did. Press Club president Bijendar Panwar said the poet had not yet received rightful recognition from the government. Panwar demanded that a memorial or a statue of the poet be installed in the Vidhan Sabha as mark of respect. Palika president OP Uiyal also praised the work of the poet and said that his poems should be promoted among the students. Chandra Kunwar was born on August 20, 1919, at Malkoti village, near Talla Nagpur, now in Chamoli district. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis in early age and died young at the age of 28 in a village called Panwalia. State president of the Senior Citizen Forum RS Mishra, Congress president Bharosi Rawat, Madhuri Nautiyal, Abhah Saili and others were present on the occasion.
|
|
RIMC wins inter-school debate
Dehradun, September 14 The debate comprises three rounds. In the first round the topic was “Paryavaran Asantulan Ke Liye Viksit Rashtra Zimmedar Hain” in which Rashtriya Military School (RMS), Ajmer, Scholar’s Home, RIMC (A and B teams) emerged winners and Mayo Girls, Daly College and Scindia School qualified for the second round as wildcard entries. Being the host school, RIMC withdrew its team B. In the second round, the topic for the debate was “Sammaan Raksha Ke Liye Hatya Galat Hai” and Rashtriya Military School, Ajmer, Scholar’s Home, Dehradun, Scindia School and the RIMC qualified for the finals. The topic for the final round was “Satat Samagra Mulyankan Se Chatron Par Tanav Barh Raha Hai”. The chief guest for the final round was well-known Hindi writer Vidya Sagar Nautiyal. The esteemed judges were Dr Ram Vinay Singh, Dr Pushpa Khanduri and Jagdish Babla. After the finals, the standing was as follows: RIMC, Dehradun (first); RMS, Ajmer (second); and Scholar’s Home, Dehradun (third). The best speaker for the first round was Deepika Aggarwal of Mayo Girls. For the second round, the award was given to Anupam of RMS, Ajmer. Cdt Sachin Lakhawat of the RIMC was adjudged the best speaker of the competition. Since the RIMC was the host school, the trophy was awarded to Rashtriya Military School, Ajmer. The chief guest presented mementos to the participating teams. Col Pankaj Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC, presented a memento to the chief guest and the judges and thanked them for spending their valuable time. The organiser for the event was Khushi Ram from the Hindi faculty and the overall coordinator was CS Vishwakarma, Head of Hindi Department. Other dignitaries present were Lieut-Col Rajesh Nathawat, KS Ahlawat, Wg Cdr SK Thapliyal, Lt Cdr S Chakrobarty and teachers of the participating schools. The participating schools were: Rashtriya Military School, Ajmer; Mayo College Girls School, Ajmer; Daly College, Indore; Scindia School, Gwalior; The Doon School, Dehradun; Scholar’s Home, Dehradun; and Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun (A and B teams)
|
|
Chamoli presented Hindi Gaurav Award
Dehradun, September 14 The organisation also gave scholarship of Rs 500 to two girls, Nargis and Komal, who are students of class II and belong to poor families. Niranjan Sharma Deepak, president of the manch, said they would be giving this amount to these two girls every month so that they could continue with their studies as they belonged to a poor family and their parents could not afford their studies. With this amount they could at least buy their dress or other items when required. Palak Bhatia, Sooraj and Manvinder were also awarded prizes for attaining first, second and third position, respectively, in a debate held by the manch. Vice-Chancellor Pant was the chief guest, while Mayor Chamoli was the guest of honour. The two of them also released the book “Mere Yatarth” written by Pawan Kumar.
|
|
Hindi Diwas celebrated at BHEL
Haridwar, September 14 Addressing the gathering, he said seeing the enthusiasm of the people one could easily say that in coming time 100 per cent working in Hindi is achievable. Terming Hindi as an important bonding language among crores of people, Modi said without the development of Hindi our country couldn’t attain development. “Hindi is a language of crores of people not only in India but also in various countries having a great tradition. Without it India can’t be in the league of developed nations as language plays a pivotal role in the development of society and the civilisations,” he added. Earlier, children of Shiksha Niketan Prathmik Vidyalaya welcomed the guests with a song. Vimal Kumar highlighted the efforts and schemes applied in BHEL to encourage working in national language as well as future scheme of things related with the language. He pointed out that in this age of the IT, the base of development was only language and so we had to use in our daily chores Hindi language particularly in schools, colleges, working institutions and in common parlance too. Prizes were presented to the winners of various competitions held alongside the main event. Among others present were Nirmal Khandelwal, Ishwar Din, Dr NC Aggarwal, Trilik Bhatt, Shriniwas Joshi, Rajbhasha Kriyanvan Samiti members, BHEL-situated school staff and students.
|
|
Students impress with science theatrical presentations
Haridwar, September 14 In the overall category, host PB Municipal Inter College team came first among all six blocks participating teams. Following closely were Girls Government Intermediate College Khadkhadi team. Students of Anandmany Sewa Sadan Women's Inter College were adjudged third in the overall category. Lauding the efforts of the participating students, host school Principal Surendra Singh Beniwal said the competition was informative as it made students think about the scientific aspects and conveyed these to the common audience in an easy way. Competition judge Sushma Jugran said such competitions helped inculcate scientific aptitude in children, with they not only mugging up, but understanding science concepts in a much better and effective way. Other judges in the panel Rajni Nischal and Annu Singh too were impressed with the demonstrative performances of all teams. Later, prizes and merit certificates were given to the top three prize-winnng teams, while other teams were given participation certificates. Meanwhile, in Mangalore, a science mahotsava was organised wherein representative school teams participated in making science-based models and various science-related events. In the debate Ashu Public Inter College team won the first prize which was on “Changing Environment”, while on another topic “Science in Society” Mangalore Girls Inter College won the first prize. School Principal Kamlesh Singh urged students to have a scientific attitude and help in eradicating various ills and wrong social notions prevalent in society.
|
|
Election of DAV (PG) College union gen secy revoked
Dehradun, September 14 According to college officials, Joshi need not resign since he had not taken the oath for the post yet. The decision has been taken debarring Joshi from performing in the student council after the high voltage drama that prevailed at DAV PG College here today. Since morning, the college had been abuzz with Aryan group created ruckus on the campus, pressing for their demand to restrain Joshi from serving as general secretary. “Rumours of Nitin Joshi, the newly elected general secretary, DAV PG College, resigning from his post of student council got confirmation late in the evening. The grievance committee of the college has passed a decision on conducting a re-election of the general secretary as the credentials presented by Joshi turned out to be bogus and phony,” said Vishal Pancholi, president of the Aryan group. It was learnt from Rakesh Kumar, chief election officer, that the issue had been raised in the college and the complainant had also written an application to the grievance committee. “The nominations of the contesting candidates were submitted on the basis of certificates presented at the time of admissions. The documents and other credentials of each and every individual were thoroughly checked during the election procedure. The allegations have been proved true after the grievance committee held investigation into this matter,” he asserted. The Principal of the college, BL Nautiyal, who is also patron of the student union, said Mahinder Pal Rana (Mahi) of the Aryan group had complained to the grievance committee accusing Nitin Joshi of being ineligible for the post as he had submitted high school certificate with incorrect date of birth. “Actually, the facts that emerged in the investigation tell Joshi appearing for high school examinations twice, first from the CBSE and second time from the Allahabad board. At the time of admission, he produced the certificates of the latter board, which created chaos among students,” said Nautiyal. “The committee has decided to conduct free and fair re-election for the post of general secretary. The new date of re-election is still to be decided by the college management till then the oath-taking ceremony of other elected candidates has also been postponed,” confirmed Nautiyal.
|
|
|
Elephants continue to ravage crops
Haridwar, September 14 Herds of elephants have been noticed by villagers numerous times ravaging their crops. The beasts dare them when the villagers try to shoo them away. Such is the jumbo scare that villagers have stopped venturing out early in the morning and after four in the afternoon. The affected villagers have demanded compensation from the administration for the hundreds of hectares of crops that have been destroyed by elephants particularly sugarcane and maize. Rajkumar, a Missirpur resident, said that at sunset yesterday, four elephants were seen near their fields on the main road. When they made a noise to ward off the beasts, the jumbos ran towards them forcing them to take shelter in a cordoned area. Villagers have complained to the forest authorities and district officials about the matter. Forest authorities informed that they had received a few official complaints and the department is doing its bit to solve the problem. Forest officials said that forest guards had been sent to the affected areas. “As sugarcane is a favourite food of elephants, it is quite tough to keep them away. Better coordination between villagers and forest employees is needed,” said forest officials. Meanwhile, villagers have also written a letter to the Chief Conservator of Forests and the state Forest Minister apprising them of their problems and demanding appropriate action. "We are left with no option as our fields are being ravaged by elephants while the Forest Department remains a mute spectator,” said Vijay Saini, a farmer residing in Jiopata village.
|
|
|
Moravian Institute, Carman School win
Dehradun, September 14 Lucent School got
their first goal when Aman Kumar of IPS scored the self-goal. With the score at 1-0 in Lucent’s favour, IPS made desperate attempt
to equalise. Success came for the IPS in the second half when Bhawani Singh scored in the 42nd minute. In another match, Moravian Institute defeated Marshall School 2-1. Asif
Ali (46th) and Pankaj (58th) netted a goal each in the victory of Moravian while Mayank Thapa (15th) scored the lone goal for the
losing side. It was an easy 3-0 win for Carman School, Premnagar, over Sanskar International School. Abhishek
Gairola (5th) and Surveer Singh (10th, 18th) were the scorers. All goal came in the first half. In another fixture, Summer Valley did not reach the venue and Heritage School got a walkover.
|
|
|
Patelnagar pip Vasant Vihar for title
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, September 14 In the tie-breaker, Patelnagar beat Vasant Vihar 4-3. Vishal, Pardeep, Rupinder and Sandeep Negi scored for the winning team, while Amar, Kunal and Guru Sagar found the target for Vasant Vihar. The winning and the runners-up teams were given trophies. Individual prizes were also distributed to the players.
|
|
Pharmacists to get training in Doon Hospital
Dehradun, September 14 The arrangement mutually beneficial for both parties comes at a time when the financial health of the hospital is quite poor. “Every year the institute will pay the hospital Rs 14 lakh in lieu of six months’ training to be provided to the students. The arrangement is for a period of five years, and the government order was signed last year by then Principal Secretary, Keshav Desi Raju,” said Dr RK Pant, CMS, Doon Hospital. The institute will be allotted 250 beds by the hospital and the students will have the advantage of having their queries answered by the medical and nursing staff of the hospital. The students will also train at the pathology laboratory and the blood bank, and, initially, 12 students will be joining.
|
|
Easy win for St Thomas’ College
Dehradun, September 14 Anchal scored eight points for the winning team and Sharda scored six points for CNI. Hosts St Thomas’ College had a one-sided win over Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy 19-4. Once again, Paridhi of the host team played major role in the win with 12 points. In the last match of the day, Wyneburg Allen School beat DAV Public School 20-8. Manisha and Sangeeta scored six points each for Wyneburg and DAV, respectively.
A match in the Gardner Silver
Jubilee Basketball Tournament under way in Dehradun on Tuesday. A
Tribune photograph
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
The heavy downpour this monsoon season notwithstanding, most of the
protected monuments in Uttarakhand are safe, giving enough indications that the conservation activities taken by the Archaeology of Survey of India (ASI) by and large
are effective.
The Kumaon region is nowadays busy celebrating the Nanda Devi Festival. Nanda Ashtami - the eighth day of the waxing moon (shukla paksh ashtami) in the month of Bhado this year falls on September 15.
“The Nanda Devi Festival started on September 12. Today, some persons set out to bring banana trees to carve out Nanda and Sunanda idols. Tonight, these idols will be set up and vitalised.
Dehradun, September 14
Haridwar, September 14
