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50th anniversary of Nuranang day
POW praises Chinese forces
Ensuring peace govt priority: Bahuguna
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Seasonal migration from villages halts
Non-govt directors appointed in GMVN, KMVN
Quiz on Shakespeare
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50th anniversary of Nuranang day
The veterans recalled the supreme sacrifice made by the officers and jawans who participated in the battle of Nuranang. 95-year-old Leela Devi, the mother of rifleman Jaswant Singh MVC (posthumous), who laid down his life at the age of 17 in the Nuranang battle, was also present on the occasion along with Gayatri Devi, wife of Col Hasta Bahadur Rai, who was the then company commander and had participated in
the war. He said while writing citations, he had also recommended Maha Vir Chakra for 2nd Lt VK Goswami, “But his parents were still taking him to be missing and finally when they agreed, a Vir Chakra came his way,” he further added. Those present included Col (retd) VP Barthwal, Lt Col (retd) IS Rawat, Brigadier (retd) JS Rawat, Hon Captain (retd) Jai Kishan Kanti, Hon Captain (retd) Ganga Ram Binjola, Hon Captain (retd) Birender Singh Negi and rifleman (retd) Balwant Singh Bisht. During the 1962 war, the battalion also suffered heavy casualties, losing three officers, four junior commissioned officer (JCOs), 148 other ranks and seven combatants (enrolled) killed in action. The battalion also received several gallantry awards, including Maha Vir Chakra awarded to Lt Col BM Bhattacharjea (CO) and to rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat (posthumous). Vir Chakras were awarded to 2nd Lt VK Goswami (posthumously), 2nd Lt SN Tandon, Subedar Udai Singh Rawat, Jem Jatan Singh Gusain, Naik Trilok Singh Gusain (posthumous) rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain and rifleman Madan Singh Rawat (posthumously). Sena medal was awarded to NK Ranjit Singh. |
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POW praises Chinese forces
Recalling his days spent in Lahasa for more than five months with other Indian prisoners of war, Bisht said that the Chinese followed the protocol designated for the prisoners of war. "The Chinese were very careful. We were not harassed and received food on time," he recalled. Interestingly, Bisht who hails from Chamoli, along with Narain Singh, Madho Singh and Govind Singh of 4 Garhwal Rifles, were taken as prisoners of war after the ceasefire was declared. "There was utter confusion as soon as the ceasefire was declared. Before the withdrawal, we were asked to look for the withdrawing enemy troops from above the passes. Four us somehow lost our way. We did not have maps, nor did we possess compasses to ascertain our positions. So, we kept walking continuously for 17 days, eating grass and drinking ice water," recalled Bisht. On the last day, before they were taken prisoners by the retreating Chinese forces along with others, they had spent an entire night hiding behind the rock holding the grass for support. "One of the soldiers knew Hindi and told us to follow them, or we would never be able to reach India. We did as we were told," added Bisht. In the 1962 war, 4 Garhwal Rifles occupied defences to cover approaches from Bumla, Shakti to Tawang. "We were so young, I was in my twenties, but the only thought playing in our mind was to give a fitting reply to the enemy," stressed Bisht, who retired from the Army after spending seven years in the force. Significantly, after they were repatriated back to India, their ordeal was not over. "All of us were sent by airplane to Barrakpur in West Bengal, from where we were sent to Ranchi, where long interviews were held and files maintained about our experiences as prisoners of war," said Bisht. Meanwhile, Bisht has been unable to keep touch with Govind Singh and Madho, as both of them live far away. "While Narain Singh died in the 1971 war, Madho and Govind Singh are alive," said
Bisht. |
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Ensuring peace govt priority: Bahuguna
Dehradun, November 17 The Chief Minister was chairing a meeting of senior police officers at the police headquarters here today. He said it was the responsibility of the police officers to gain trust of the people and criminals should fear them. Bahuguna said the law and order situation was better in Uttarakhand in comparison to other states but there was need to strengthen it. He added the police officers were free to work without any pressure, albeit maintaining transparency and justice. He exhorted them to pursue sincerely criminal cases so that culprits could be brought to book. He added it was necessary to keep the morale of police personnel high and the state government would take all possible steps in this direction. The Chief Minister said the Police Welfare Fund had been increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore. In an era of technological transformation the state Police Department would also be upgraded. Sufficient funds would be provided to meet the requirements of vehicles, telecommunication, buildings and other necessities. To make the department financially sound, the possibility of giving it a fixed per cent of amount collected through challan by police personnel would be explored, he said. Bahuguna also sanctioned Rs 3 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to six police personnel who died while performing duty at Rudraprayag. He took note of huge dues of daily allowance of police personnel and assured to take appropriate measures to address the issue. He directed the police officers to keep an eye on criminals coming from other states and also maintain contact and coordination with the police of other states. He also stressed on strengthening intelligence network and traffic management in Dehradun city. DGP Satyavrat Bansal gave a presentation on the present condition of the police and the law and order situation in the state. He said traffic management, checking terror threats and ensuring security arrangements during the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra were on the priority list of the police. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary DK Kotia, Additional Secretary, Home, MK Joshi, Additional Director Generals BS Sidhu, SK Bhagat, Anil Kumar Raturi and other senior officers. |
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Harish Rawat pays courtesy call on former CM Tiwari
Dehradun, November 17 Interestingly, both Harish Rawat and ND Tiwari had remained bitter political foes for the past three decades. Tiwari had opposed Harish Rawat from Uttar Pradesh days and was made the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand by the party high command after the first ever state Assembly elections in 2002, much to the chagrin of Harish Rawat, who had led the
party to victory. During the Tiwari regime, Harish Rawat, who was Uttarakhand state Congress chief, acted more as an Opposition leader. However, after his victory in 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Haridwar, he was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers and made Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing and Parliamentary Affairs. He had to raise a bannerof revolt after he was again denied a chance to become the Chief Minister of the state after the Congress victory in 2012 Januray state Assembly elections. This time Vijay Bahuguna beat him to bag the top post in the state. However, Harish Rawat was compensated by the party by being made a Cabinet minister in the recent reshuffle of the Union Ministry. Harish Rawat
went to the residence of former BJP Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to pay his condolences on the demise of his
wife recently. |
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Seasonal migration from villages halts
Pithoragarh, November 17 “It was a tradition in Kali Kumaon villages of Champawat district to leave for the plains to escape the chilling cold of the hill region,” says Devendra Oli, a researcher in the history of the Kali Kumaon region. According to Oli, villagers along with their cattle used to leave for the plain area of Bhabar to spend four winter months. During the months, the villagers used to work with various agencies run by the Forest Department to earn their livlihood. “After spending four months, the villagers returned in March with consumer goods sufficient for their families for the coming year,” said the researcher. Experts say that after the employment opportunities and communication and transportation means have increased in the hill villages, the villagers have now started seeking jobs near their villages or towns. “Even the winter has not remained that chilling in the hills now as the snowfall has almost stopped,” said the researcher. According to sources, plots (Goths), the Forest Department now doesn't allow the migrated villagers to stay on its plots due to provisions in the Forest Act. “Even the families, who had migrated to the Tarai region these days, are jobless as the Act has banned all forest operations. Forest officials do not issue work permit to these villagers now,” said a department source in the Tanakpur range. “The villages in Champawat, Khetikhan and Lohaghat hill tops, which remained deserted due to this seasonal migration, are now abuzz with activities even in winter as the job opportunities have come to their doorsteps,” said Oli. Job opportunities rise
After the employment opportunities and communication and transportation means increased in the hill villages, villagers have now started seeking jobs near their
areas. |
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Non-govt directors appointed in GMVN, KMVN
Dehradun, November 17 He said these appointments had been done with the consent of the
Chief Minister, Vijay Bahuguna. Suresh Bisht has been appointed for GMVN office Mehalchori, Pankaj Bhatt at Muni ki Reti, V Thapli at Sahaspur, Darshan Singh at Beerokhal, Dilip Singh Gusain at Thalisen, Sukhdev Rana at Chelusain and Deepak Badola has been appointed as GMVN's non-government director at Duggada. Further, in KMVN, Amrik Singh has been appointed at Ramnagar, Sher Singh Nauliya at Haldwani, Ganesh Updhayaya at Udham Singh Nagar, Gurjeet Singh at Kanalicheena and Dhirendra Singh Chauhan has been appointed as KMVN non-government director at
Pithoragarh. |
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Quiz on Shakespeare
Dehradun, November 17 Students from Dehradun and adjoining areas enthusiastically participated in the quiz. Over 75 schools participated in it. The winning team received the ‘First folio trophy’ crafted in silver and designed to look like the first published volume of Shakespeare’s work. Rajlaxmi Das and Dhruva Shukla from Welham Girls’ School were declared winners. The enthralling quiz was conducted by Adittya Mubayi, content editor for popular television shows Kaun Banega Crorepati, Kamzor Kadi Kaun and Mastermind India. The quiz format was entirely based on the life and literary works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare has left a rich legacy of 38 plays, 154 sonnets and numerous other poems. It is worth a mention that he is said to have contributed 1,700 words to the English language. Ranjan Kaul, acting managing director, OUP, said, “The OUP, India, has played a key role in enhancing the quality of English language and literary skills of schoolchildren. As part of our centenary celebrations, we have planned a series of quizzes, including the Oxford quiz on Shakespeare. It was overwhelming to see the enthusiastic response of the participants to this quiz and their depth of knowledge.” |
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Dehradun, November 17
Recalling the sacrifice made by rifleman Jaswant Singh, Lt Col (retd) IS Rawat said, “The legend of Jaswant Singh continues to inspire the soldiers and a memorial in his memory exists in Nuranang (25 km from Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh), which was renamed Jaswantgarh,” said Lt Col (retd) Rawat.
The war veterans also resolved to turn the commemoration into an annual event and approved the setting up of a trust.
Dehradun, November 17