Pitthoragarh, November 12
The tri-nation trade fair at Jauljivi on the banks the Kali, about 60 km from Pitthoragarh, which once represented old economic pattern of Uttarakhand hills along with other major fairs of the region, Uttarayani in Bageshwar and Gauchar in Chamoli, has now started shunning its old image and gradually changing, according to experts and old timers.

“During the fifties, the Jauljivi fair happened to be a place of trade between Indian Shauka traders from all four high Himalayan valleys of Pitthoragarh district as well as the Dokpa traders of western Tibet and traders from Nepal, but at present it has been reduced to a simple extended market of manufactured goods,” said Lalit Pant, an expert of Bhotiya trade.

According to Pant, the fair of Jauljivi, along with 100 more fairs of this region promoted by the British, was an instrument of economic exchange between the Tibetan traders and customers from the Soor, Sira and Askot areas as well as the traders from inner parts of western Nepal. “During those days the established market were faraway from the local farmers and they used to sell their surplus produces in these local ‘hats’ which were essential for them to get goods for daily use,” said Pant.

The Jauljivi fair was started by the Katuri landlords of Askot, called Pal Kings, in 1910 only to create a facility for their subjects in getting essential woollen goods and agriculture instruments as also with an intention of earning money out of giving facilities to Bhotiya traders at one place to sell their goods brought from Tibet by land trade. “During 1950 the fair reached its peak as not only the traders from western Tibet and from western Nepal as well as from Ram Nagar, Tanakpur, Haldwani and faraway towns of Kolkata, Kanpur, Ludhiana and Panipat started participating in the fair but also the political activists from the Kumaon region also poured in to awaken the people for freedom movement,” said Pant.

According to the Shauka traders of olden days, they used to bring Tibetan wool skins, Pashmina wool, borax, yak tail, musk and various Himalayan herbs at the fair with their counterparts from western Nepal who used to bring in honey, ghee, rice, pulses as well as the Tangshan horses from district of Humla and Jumla. “Only in 1950 I have witnessed 3,000 tins of ghee and 1,000 tins of honey from western Nepal which was brought by a trader from Ram Nagar,” said RS Datal, a resident of Jauljivi.

According to Pant, not only the Tibetan Indian and Nepali traders were essential part of this trade but the traditional copper craftsmen from Almora and Ringal craftsmen from Katyur and Danpur area of Bageshwar besides the iron utensil from Kali Kumaon were essential part of the trade. “This was added by the agriculture instruments made by Ban Rawat community and daily use goods from the traders of Ram Nagar, Tanakpur and Haldwani in the fifties,” says Pant.

“But the fair along with other two fairs have started changing, now the goods from Tibet are not seen in the fair neither the herds of horses from Humla is witnessed,” said Pant, adding that the ghee and honey from Nepal are now directly sent to Mahendra Nagar by motor road from Nepal itself. The woollen goods are now available at every town in the Kumaon region during winter still the Jauljivi fair is continue filing the need of local people of the consumer items from China, Korea and Indian companies.

Pitthoragarh, November 12
Even as high Himalayan tribal people are still shifting as part of the seasonal migration during winter, people of Kali Kumaon, who used to migrate to Terai areas to escape cold and earn their livelihood there from time immemorial, have abandoned the tradition for the past 30 years.

“Not only are they now getting jobs and a good price for their produce near their village, but also the snowfall which used to be heavy and unbearable those days, has now got less severe,” says Ram Datt Pangria (79), who would earlier go to Mall (Bhabhar) areas during winter till.

“Earlier, after celebrating Divali almost 90 villages from upper ridges of the Kali Kumaon region of Champawat district, that used to experience heavy snowfall, would prepare for this mass migration in which families used to leave for plain areas of Terai Bhabhar on a auspicious day,” says Devendra Oli, a researcher on history of Kali Kumaon.

According to Oli, the people after travelling 10-15 miles a day used to reach at their destination in the plains of Tanakpur, Banbasa and Khatima within seven-eight days with their herds of cattle. “After reaching in the plains of Tarai, the villagers would erect a long span raw hut in their ancestral migratory plots on dense forests and live there for the next four months,” said Oli.

The migrated people then get divided into two categories from employment point of view in Terai. The first category used to produce milk and its allied product like ghee which used to be sent to Haldwani, Ram Nagar, Kotdwar and various mandis to be sent to the plains of Pilibhit, Bareilly areas and second category used to raise cattle to be sold for agricultural purpose,” said Oli.

But, the centuries-old tradition has now ceased. The migration got slowed down some 30 years ago and stopped five year ago when the villagers of Bisung in the Lohaghat area of Champawat district migrated to Tanakpur plains for the last time. “As the roads have been linked with villages, employment opportunities are available at the village level, nearby towns have developed and local agriculture produces have got market near the village, the villagers have stopped to migrate to the Bhabhar area,” says SS Dev, a retired Colonel living in the Mallakot area of Khetikhan.

The poor villagers of the Kali Kumoan region in olden days compelled to leave their villages deserted as they used to get jobs in Terai in the Forest Department, honey gathering, construction work and agricultural work in Tharu villages. “But, now they have constructed permanent residences at their old bases (goths) in Terai, started separate business there and are also producing commercial crops in hill villages. They are also getting permanent jobs in the Champawat and Lohaghat areas,” said Ram Dutt Pangaria.

Devotees performing Chhat Puja at Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar on Friday

Dehradun/Haridwar, November 12
Chhat Puja was celebrated with religious fervour in and around Dehradun and Roorkee. It was a beautiful scene in the evening at various water bodies, particularly at Ganga ghats at Roorkee, to which devotees thronged carrying cane baskets on their heads filled with fruits.

Loud and devotional music was played at various venues. Devotees sang folk songs at the river banks while taking a holy dip.

In Dehradun, people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh gathered at the Raipur canal to offer obeisance to the Sun God.

At Roorkee, devotees were unhappy with the cleanliness of the Gang canal as garbage was still visible despite the closure of the canal. The exercise was an eyewash, said Kamaleshwar Mishra of the Purvanchal Jagriti Sanstha.

The fast during this festival is probably the longest as men and women abstain from water for 36 hours.

Devotees were seen offering deep-fried sweet rolls of stone ground wheat flour, grapefruit, coconuts, bananas and grains of lentils in small, semicircular pans woven out of bamboo strips.

Devotees today offered water to the sun at sunset and will return tomorrow to worship the rising sun.

Crackers were burst, folk and religious songs were sung to the beating of drums.

At Har-ki-Pauri and other Ganga ghats in Haridwar, thousands of women performed rituals.

Dehradun, November 12
Children’s Day was celebrated at Eurokids Dalanwala here today. To celebrate this special occasion the school was decorated with roses and balloons.

Many activities were organised for the kids at the school that entertained toddlers. A puppet show, movie show and dance party were the main attractions of the Children’s Day party.

Through the puppet show the children were told stories that besides being entertaining were also full of moral values. The children thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations.

After this, a party was organised and the kids danced to some lively numbers. They were also provided with snacks as well.

Kids were told about Jawaharlal Nehru and his love for kids and they were told that this was the reason his birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day.

Dehradun, November 12
The mesmerising ballet titled “Vasundhara”, based on the famous poem “Samanya Shati” by Rabindranath Tagore marked the 109th annual day of Convent of Jesus and Mary (CJM) High School here today.

The chief guest on the occasion was Governor Margaret Alva while accompanying her was Additional District Judge Kaushal Kishore Shukla as the guest of honour. The students and guests gathered at the event welcomed and appreciated the inspiring speech of the Governor wherein she mentioned the importance of education for all.

Sister Gracy Paul addressed the gathering that included eminent personalities of the town and Principals of various known schools of the capital. In her speech, she emphasised the need and importance of value-based education and all-round development that has become an integral part of the school curriculum.

The most sought afterwards, scholarships and trophies were also given away on the same day. Some of the outstanding students recognised on this day were Nupur Bansal who bagged six scholars and running trophy was given to Ishtha Kapoor for best all-rounder, Trisha Dewan for best sports girl and Nikita Kakkar was given medal for most compassionate CJMite.

The function was stupendous success, thanks to the tireless efforts of the CJM students, staff and management headed by the Principal, Sister Gracy, Bursar, Sister Josna and junior school Headmistress Sister Teresa.

Dehradun, November 12
Children’s Academy held the Inter-House Hindi Debate competition here today. JP Dargoda, Principal, Government Inter College, was the chief guest on the occasion.

The debate was divided into two categories - doha chopai for juniors while a Hindi debate competition for senior section. The participants cogently argued for and against whether “Aadhunikta mein insaniyat kahi kho gayi hai”.

The participants presented their perspective while analysing each aspect of the topic. The debate was intelligibly rendered for an enlightened understanding of all who had attended this important annual event. However, over all open House trophy was given to Subhash House for senior section and Nehru House for junior section. In junior section, consolation prize was given to Pratishtha Prajapati, third prize to Priya Bajaj, second prize was given to Charu Nanda while Ananya Chhetri stood first among all other participants.

In senior section, consolation prize was given to Aditi of Class XII, Subham Goyal stood third, second prize was given to Yash Kulshreshtha while Lorita Shukla was declared winner. The judges of the debate were Kiran Kashayp, Principal of the school and Madhvi Joshi. The chief guest presented the prizes.

Dehradun, November 12
Project Unnati, computer education for underprivileged children, was launched at Government Girls Inter College, Ajabpur Kalan, here today. The project is handled by NIIT in association with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited as its corporate social responsibilities.

PK Sehgal, Senior Regional Manager, Dehradun Retail RO, Hindustan Petroleum, enlightened the ceremonial lamp. Alok Tandon, Director of NIIT, Dehradun, and Ashim Tuli, Regional Institutional Alliances Head of NIIT accompanied him. The HPCL sponsored project Unnati was launched for about 250 girl students, which would continue for the next four months in the form of basic computer education.

Essentials of computer education, including Microsoft Office curriculum, will be covered for all students and HPCL/NIIT will issue certificates after successful completion of the programme. While addressing mediapersons, Tandon said, “This year marks the 20th anniversary of NIIT, Dehradun, in shaping the careers of thousands of students in the past two decades. While this education will also definitely go a long way in shaping the career of poor children”.

Dehradun, November 12
From performing a jugalbandi with fellow musicians to being part of a symphony orchestra in Slovak Republic, one would think requires a great deal of tuning but not for sitar maestro Gaurav Majumdar, who is part and parcel of philharmonic orchestra just as easily as he plays sitar at the numerous recitals in India.

“The meeting ground between two different streams of music is melody and rhythm and four years ago when I was asked to be part of the Slovakia Philharmonic Orchestra for recording of Yehudi Menuhin’s compositions, the notes we shared were musical. Their music has different cycles but when world artistes collaborate they usually work on rhythm,” he said, while lifting the veil off eastern and western musical styles.

Performing at a concert organised by the Society for the Promotion of Indian Art and Culture Among Youth (SPIC MACAY) at Kendriya Vidyalya (Ordnance), here today Majumdar, while speaking with The Tribune, said a great deal of home work has to be done for these kind of collaborations. “While working with the fellow artistes for four years in Slovakia, complete music was written, otherwise Indian and Western Classical music has nothing in common,” he emphasised.

Performing pilu dadara raag on the sitar along with Vineet Mishra who accompanied him on tabla, Gaurav was at pains to highlight the point. “I have performed with top jazz artistes and realised that the best way to approach them is through rhythm. No wonder the sitar and the tabla are associated with world music,” he opined

However, it is his grounding in classical music under the tutelage of uncle JD Majumdar, father Dulal Majumdar and finally under Ravi Shankar that allowed him to see the merits in the Gurukul parampara of studying classical music in India that the student in him continues to learn again and again. “It is the best mode of education and cannot be supplanted by the modern schools, the perfect métier and grammar are learnt at these traditional Gurukuls, he emphasised.

Sitarist Mazumdar seemed to have found a perfect partner in Vineet Vyas, who accompanied him on the tabla. The riveting chemistry was all too palpable throughout the performance.

“Music has no barriers. All classical musicians are trained in the basic grammar so there is not a problem. All of us respond to rhythm and melody, it is a natural evolution. In 1996, out of the blue my Guruji asked me get ready for a solo performance and perform at the Mahashivratri utsav in Benares hours before it was to begin. It was my first performance and a test of my apprenticeship. I was nervous and excited at the same time. At the end of the performance Guruji in his characteristic style said so far so good. The performance went of well but I also saw that during the recital you seemed not to take notice of the people around you and even me, it seemed you were deeply absorbed in your performance, maintain the same level concentration as my Guruji. These observations remain an abiding part of my learning”, stressed Vineet .

Almost going down the memory lanes he says that from Toronto (Canada ) to Benares where he came in 1987, life was made easier by the training that he received from his Guru. “You got to experience the whole atmosphere. Benares has made an immense contribution in the field of music and culture. In the morning, a mélange of musical notes could be heard, we too will begin practising our notes,” he said.

Extremely versatile Vineet can play with any accompaniment be it the sitar, sarod, dhamar or dance even giving sangat to his wife Bhagyashree who is an accomplished kathak dancer and at ease with both delicate and powerful playing, though Benares gharana is known more for its powerful sound.

Dehradun, November 12
A four-wicket haul by Ankit Kumar helped SGRR Public School, Basant Vihar, beat SGRR Public School, Nehru Gram, by five runs to annex the title of the SGRR Sahodya Complex Inter School tournament today.

In this 15-over final match, Basant Vihar chose to bat first after the result of the toss came in its favour. The team scored 92 runs before getting all-out in 14.5 overs. Kunal (15 off 12) and Nishant (11 off 15) were the main scorers for the batting side. While for Nehru Gram, Sandeep and Himanshu got two wickets each.

Batting second, Nehru Gram put up a spirited fight to its rival. Saurav Panwar (27 off 12) played a short hurricane knock to help its side reach a good total. Manish Mishra (17 off 13) also chipped in.

However, Nehru Gram fell short of five runs and got out on 87 runs in 15 overs. Ankit Kumar of Basant Vihar shown with the ball claiming four wickets to pave the way of his team’s success.

Dehradun, November 12
Royal Challengers posted one-sided nine-wicket win over Fitness Solution here today during the Chaudhary Charan Singh Memorial Twenty20 Cricket Tournament held at Matawala Bagh.

The decision of Fitness Solution of batting first didn’t go well with it as the team was bundled out for meagre 45 runs in 13 overs. Ankit topscored for the team with 14 runs and none other batsmen of the batting side could even reach double figure.

This was a brilliant bowling attack by the bowlers of Royal Challengers that restricted the rival team for just 45 runs. Ravinder was instrumental in picking four wickets. Pawash and Ranjeet also got two wickets each too.

Replying to the easy total, Royal Challengers achieved the target in five overs only with a loss of a wicket. Amit Rawat (30) made his bat score the maximum runs for his team. Shanky was the lone wicket taker for the opponent team.