Haridwar, June 4
While Salman Khan starrer ‘Ready’ opened to a full house on Friday, cinema halls showing the movie bore a deserted look today, as people in Haridwar are irked over Salman’s comments against Swami Ramdev’s satyagraha.

Massive protests were witnessed in the city today, particularly at cinema halls where the film is being screened. Cinema halls screening the films of Shahrukh Khan also faced the wrath of the people as he had also doubted the credibility of the satyagraha and termed it as politically motivated. Angry youths pulled down posters and hoardings of ‘Ready’ and also blocked entry to cinema halls showing the movie.

At Chitra Cinema Hall, a protest was organised, where addressing activists, Ashish Sharma, the city coordinator of the ABVP, said while Bollywood heroes were only reel life heroes, Swami Ramdev was a real life hero.

Urging people to boycott the films of both Khans, Gowaksh Joshi of the Rashtriya Krantikari Manch said their comments against Swami Ramdev had hurt the sentiments of the people.

Payal Bisht, a student, who is a fan of Shahrukh Khan, also felt annoyed at the comment of his favourite star. “Shahrukh’s remarks have revealed that he lacks knowledge. He should not have made such comments against Swami Ramdev whose life is dedicated to social causes.”

SP (City) KL Shaw said police force had been deployed at cinema halls to prevent any untoward incident. He added that as no complaint has been made against protesters, no action has been taken.

Dehradun, June 4
After winning accolades for playing the role of “Deepu” in a Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh’s comeback Hindi film “Do Duni Chaar” two years ago, this chiselled teenage actor is ready to restart his career in acting once he completes his schooling.

Here is Archit Krishna, a 17-year-old actor, with the passion of acting in his eyes and a desire to perform like Hrithik Roshan, who is his role model.

“I adore Hrithik a lot and love to see him performing on the big screen,” he chuckled.

Archit is a student of Delhi Public School, RK Puram, Delhi, and is studying humanities. He is not a trained actor but has worked a lot on stage. He had been the winner of International Children’s Festival for Performing Arts, twice where 30 countries were participated and is a good debater too.

On being asked how was the working experience with Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, he said: “Though, I was a bit nervous on the first day of the shoot as both actors are very senior from me and are professionals. But they never let me feel like a fresher in the industry. Working with Rishiji and Neetuji was a great fun and a learning experience for me.”

“Habib Faizal, a renowned scriptwriter who had worked under the Yash Raj banner, was the director of the film who believed in me and finally made the role of Deepu happen,” he added.

He loves to read fiction, epics, history and classic books in his spare time. At the same time, he feels sad that he cannot devote much time to sports and other activities due to his busy schedule.

“Right now, I am just focusing on my class XII examination and have no projects in hand. But yes, Once I finish my school, I would surely be packed with work or would join some acting school,” he replied on being asked about his future projects.

Archit also feels that there is an enormous difference between acting on screen and acting on stage.

“Performing on the stage requires a lot more exaggeration of voice, emotions, gestures, expressions and a direct bond with the audiences but on the screen every single movement or miniature wink of eye is magnified through lense and then portrayed in front of the people,” he quipped.

The actor who also performs plays, dramas and street plays mostly on social issues yearns to work with Amir Khan.

“I am very much touched by Amir sir’s recent films and if given a chance to work with him, it would be a dream come true for me,” he added.

Dehradun, June 4
Archaeological sites at Jagatgram (Dehradun) and the Purola block (Uttarkashi), dating back to circa second century BC to the second century AD, are helping historians and archaeologists piece together the history of the hilly region (from the 6th century BC onwards).

Archaeologists claim that up to the 1980s, the hills proper were considered ‘terra incognito’, though the sporadic discovery of pottery and associated material in the Terai-Bhabbar region has been well-known since the 19th century AD.

“Sanskrit inscriptions in the late third century AD and Brahmi characters on bricks used in one of the three Jagatgram altars inform that King Silavarman, alias Pona, of Yugasaila, who belonged to the Vrishgana gotra, performed four Asvamedha sacrifices here. During the third century AD, the least western part of Central Himalayas was known as Yugasaila. Similarly, King Sheel Burman in the third century BC undertook Ashwamedha yagya four times and the excavation site at Jagatgram (Kalsi) has similar yagyavedis containing the insignia of a flying eagle,” said Dr DN Dimri, Superintending Archaeologist (Archaeology Circle) Dehradun.

He added that these sites also give enough indications that the ancient ‘chakarvarti’ rulers ruled this part as well.

For the first time, systematic excavations at Ranihat (Tehri) under the direction of Prof KP Nautiyal of HN Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, brought to light the remains of the successive settlements from circa 6th century BC to the 8th century AD.

“The settlements are modest and suggest a simple technology and economy. Among these the most important ones are the brick altar sites at Purola district, Uttarkashi, circa second century BC to the second century AD, and Jagatgram (Dehradun),” said Dr Dimri.

The archaeological index provided by Ranihat excavations has proved to be exceedingly important in dating the material came to light in subsequent excavations and explorations in different sites of Central Himalayas.

Dehradun, June 4
For this social activist life is all about serving the poor and the downtrodden and continuing to learn.“I have devoted my whole life to social causes,” said Uttarakhand Gaurav awardee Shevata Rai Talwar.

It all started for Talwar when she was confronted with so many hardships in life.Then she thought of moving from all these things and devoted her life to helping the needy.

After her schooling from Convent of Jesus and Mary in Dehradun, she did her postgraduate diploma in human rights (2002-2003) from Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal. “I did diploma in human rights not only to know my own rights, but also to fight for the rights of the marginalised and the exploited,” she added.

“All rights come with certain duties. I am on the executive body of the Institute for World Congress on Human Rights, Center for Human Rights and Research and member in charge of youth welfare,” she further said. She has been involved in various voluntary groups whether these work for human rights or women’s rights. Talwar has also been teaching at orphanages and donating to slums and the poor “whatever I could amass and collect for the children,” she added.

Her father, though a Hindu by birth, became a Christian while her mother is a Brahmin. “I am a Buddhist with the belief that God is one. A God-fearing person will not normally harm even a fly. Buddhist teachings taught me to forgive and pray for the happiness of my adversaries. The law of cause and effect always gives back whatever energy is released— positive or negative,” she said.