In the absence of documented values (such as platelets count, haemoglobin) of the blood of Indian leopards, the diagnosis of diseases in these big cats used to remain a tough task for the veterinarians. But the Kanpur zoo vets have found out the haematological values of blood of the leopard by conducting two tests.
These two tests were performed in October last year and in April this year. The findings might help in the diagnosis of diseases among leopards which are Schedule I animals and highly endangered species. RK Singh, UC Srivastava and Mohammad Nasir and pharmacist Akshay Bajaj of Kanpur zoo have worked to bring out the results of the study.
Senior veterinarian RK Singh said that the study has helped in knowing biological value interval of different haematological parameters. He said that now these values will work as a standard reference. “This study has been done on captive animals but it can work as a standard for the wild. However, a number of leopards should be screened to further establish these parameters,” he added.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / June 01st, 2016
Contrary to the popular belief – both of Indian and foreign historians – that ‘Brahmi’ is the oldest Indian script as the same is used in the pillars and other inscriptions of emperor Ashoka, a young assistant professor from the University of Pune, Anirban Dash, claims that the script used in Ashokan pillars is infact ‘dhammlipi’ (script), very much similar to ‘prakrit’.
Dash, who has a long experience of working with national mission for manuscripts, Delhi was talking to media at the workshop organised by the central library on manuscripts. He further said that it is the western historian, Gorge Buhler who claimed that these inscriptions are written in Bhramhi, the fact which is distorted.
“Starting from ‘Kilakshar’ script of the Mesopotamian rule, script has travelled a long way but continued to follow three bases including pictographic, ideographic and phonetic scripts. In India we have phonetic script”, said Dash. In terms of India, the inscriptions of Ashoka are the first proof of usage of any script i.e. Brahmi and it is here that the script of Ashoka (Dhammlipi) bears significance.
Brahmi is generally believed to be attested from the 3rd century BCE during the reign of Ashoka, who used the script for imperial edicts. Br?hm? alphabet is also believed to be the ancestor of most of the 40 or so modern Indian alphabets, and of a number of other alphabets, such as Khmer and Tibetan. It is thought to have been modelled on the Aramaic or Phoenician alphabets, he explained.
Substantiating his notion that the scripts used in Ashoka inscription is infact Dhammlipi and not Brahmi, the exprt said, “Lalitavistara, (a detailed narration of the legendary life of the Gautama Buddha), is written in a combination of Sanskrit and a vernacular mentions 64 scripts, Brahmi being the first in the list of these 64 scripts”.
Those who termed the script of Ashoka’s inscriptions as Bhramhi could have just picked up the first script in the list of scripts in Lalitavistara because Ashoka has himself mentioned that ‘eyam dhamm lipi’, which leaves no doubts that it is Dhammlipi (script) which was used prior to Brahmi, said Dash. He also informed that a pot found in Dwarika is written in a script, around 30% of which is Brahmi, rest being another script.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / Rajiv Mani / TNN / May 25th, 2016
There is an urgent need for preservation and conservation of manuscripts, said former vice-chancellor of Central University of Orissa, Prof Surabhi Banerjee.
She was speaking during the inaugural session of the three-week workshop on manuscriptology & palaeography, organised by Central Library of Allahabad University and National Manuscript Mission, New Delhi, on Friday.
She shared her experience about the ignorance of the value of manuscripts in our society. She urged the AU administration to start a course in library and information science with thrust on manuscriptology & palaeography.
AU VC, Prof RL Hangloo, while delivering the presidential address, enlightened the audience by narrating the contribution of great scholars of Sanskrit and said that the Vedas, which we get to read today was first of all written by Vasuki, a scholar from Kashmir.
Dr NC Kar from National Mission for Manuscripts, Delhi, said that the mission seeks to unearth and preserve the vast manuscript wealth of India.
India possesses an estimate of five million manuscripts, probably the largest collection in the world. These cover a variety of themes, textures and aesthetics, scripts, languages, calligraphies, illuminations and illustrations. Together, they constitute the memory of India’s history, heritage and thought.
For the first time in history of AU, its annual calendar was released during the session. Dr BK Singh, coordinator of the workshop, proposed the vote of thanks.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / May 20th, 2016
A team of five students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have developed a workshop kit to spread awareness about sexual abuse of children. (HT photo)
A team of five students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have developed a workshop kit to spread awareness about sexual abuse of children.
Sexual abuse among children, though rampant, remains a taboo subject in India. At least 46% children are subjected to sexual abuse, but most don’t report the assaults to anyone.
Jhumkee Iyengar, who is guiding the team, said the workshop kit is self-sufficient and can be used by anyone with basic communication skills, affinity towards children and an interest in educating kids – teachers, NGO volunteers and school counsellors.
The team comprising of Apoorva Aggarwal, Mitali Bhasin, Sneha Parhi, Sachin NP and Swayamsiddha Panigrahi said it was difficult for them to read about child sexual abuse and understanding the current situation was an emotionally draining process. (HT photo)
Iyengar is a faculty in the Design Program at IIT Kanpur where she teaches post-graduate design students a course that she conceptualised and created on Human Centered Design.
“Children in the age group of 8-12 years and in a group of 30-35 can be benefitted in a single session,” Iyengar said.
“The central message to kids is that being abused is not their fault and that they should freely discuss their problems with parents or teachers. Our underlying vision is to save a child’s innocence through knowledge,” the professor added.
The team developed the kit after extensive research and field studies, which included talking to psychologists, counsellors, teachers, parents and doctors along with holding focus group interviews in Kanpur slums. The initiative was a part of a year-long project that culminated in April 2015.
The workshop includes lessons on personal safety, respecting one’s body and overcoming guilt. It has been designed in a way such that it’s playful, educative and interactive, and also helps the teacher tackle the embarrassment that’s likely to accompany the subject.
“The content has been approved by subject experts and psychologists,” Iyengar said.
“We tested the product internally and iteratively as it was being defined and refined. It was also tested by the staff of an NGO on the children they serve. Pilot testing is being done in schools and the product is being further refined,” shared Prof Iyengar.
The team comprising of Apoorva Aggarwal, Mitali Bhasin, Sneha Parhi, Sachin NP and Swayamsiddha Panigrahi said it was difficult for them to read about child sexual abuse and understanding the current situation was an emotionally draining process.
“Sexual abuse has so many wrong notions attached to it. So, spreading awareness about this issue is definitely of paramount importance. For instance, the middle, upper middle class societies are quick to dismiss child sexual abuse as a problem of the lower classes,” Bhasin said.
Aggarwal said she too had gone through one such harrowing experience when she was a child.
“As a child, there were instances when I was subjected to uncomfortable scenarios that disturbed me for weeks but I was unable to react to the situation at the time. In retrospect, my parents always did everything in my best interests but something was missing,” Aggarwal said.
“While they spared no efforts to send me to the best school of the city, my mom, dad, sister – no one – ever told me how to guard myself from the world. Somewhere they hesitated in giving me that one important life lesson,” she added.
Currently available in English, the kit can be translated into different Indian languages.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / HindustanTimes.com / Home> Lucknow / by Rajeev Mullick, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / April 07th, 2016
The members of Urja Club recently organised a Hindi New Year event. The venue buzzed with activity as the ladies geared to enjoy every moment of the do.
The event started with a group dance on medley of songs like Lal Meri in which Neha Ahuja , Geetu Kundanani, Neha Gangwani and Bhumika Ahuja participated. Taking further the fun mood was the enactment of a wedding scene, in which the charming ladies performed on Bollywood numbers like Lo Chali Main and London Thumakda.
Later, a skit was staged with a message but without being preachy. A message of remaining connected with one’s roots was given through the play in which Seema H Lakhmani enacted the role of a TV actor.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Varanasi / TNN / April 14th, 2016
She can play twice as many instruments as the candles on her birthday cake, pronounces Sanskrit words flawlessly and has the voice to become a singing sensation.
Meet Aarohi Agrawal of Mathura, all of four years old and already a tabla, harmonium, keyboards and bongo prodigy.
On Sunday, Avantika Foundation, a senior citizens’ group, awarded Aarohi the Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Samman 2016 for her talent in music. She was the youngest among the 108 awardees at the event.
Sanjay Agarwal, a member of the organisation, said, “Aarohi is extremely talented. I visited Mathura and spent two hours at her residence listening to her playing, and I was astonished”.
Besides playing eight instruments with ease, Aarohi sings the National Anthem and devotional songs movingly, reflecting her musical inheritance.
Her grandfather, Dr Rajendra Krishna, is a renowned musician who runs a music school in Mathura.
Avantika Foundation chose 108 people from all walks of life, out of 600 names on its longlist. Agarwal said the organisation aims to promote and motivate talented people.
“We awarded her grandfather to motivate him to further help Aarohi, but if he does not do so, we will take back his award.”
BJP’s national vice president Purushottam Rupala was the chief guest at the function and presented the awards.
source: http;//www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Agra / TNN / April 25th, 2016
For Priyanka Yadav, the 7th National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations held at Indira Gandhi Pratisthan would certainly be a special one, as the 24-year-old village pradhan from Etawah’s Sarsai Nawar (village panchayat) and a pass out of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bengaluru was felicitated by the State Election Commission.
Priayanka who seeks inspiration from Chhavi Rajawat, the woman sarpanch from Rajasthan’s Soda village (60 kilometres from Jaipur), says, “I first came to know about Chhavi Rajawat from my elder sister, who reposed faith in me that I have the attributes of leading a village.” She further stated that initially, she was apprehensive of stepping into politics, but after persuasion from her father (Jairaj Singh alias Pappu Yadav), who is also the kshetra panchayat chairman from Takha.
Elaborating her plan of action to empower the villagers, Priyanka, who is currently pursuing master in fashion business from NIFT, said, “I obtained knowledge in knitwear designing from NIFT-Bengaluru, while studying there from 2010 to 2014, and I want to empower the people of village by giving them the latest innovations in knitting techniques and designing, so that they can prosper, while staying in the village itself.” She further stated that gradually, women could start their own business and support their families.
When asked whether she would move ahead electorally, Priyanka said that if the women voters of my village start showing signs of self-reliance and self-confidence, “then I will move on, else, I would continue to work at the village panchayat level.”
Smriti Singh (23), who has done post-graduation in management (HR), and won the polls from Ratsarkala in Ballia wanted to have a word with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, and said, “I wanted CM sir to make the entire village like me.” Singh who was attached to KGMU for two-and-half years as a research associate said that she did not want to join the politics, but it was only after her siblings convinced her that she eventually decided to contest the panchayat polls.
Similarly, a couple of other elected village pradhans also wanted to use the opportunity to narrate their woes to the chief minister, but could not do so, as CM did not turn up in the event. Woman entrepreneur Pooja Kumari, who won from Majra Jatpatiyaali in Kasganj district was so overwhelmed by the award that she was unable to speak out of excitement.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / Arunav Sinha / TNN / April 25th, 2016
Princess Diana at Deewan-e-Aam at Agra Fort in 1992. (File Photo)
Two guides in Agra have been contacted by British High Commission for the royal couple’s visit on April 16. However, there is still no confirmation as to who will be deputed to guide the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
One of them is Varun Rawat, whose father Mukund Mohan Rawat was the official guide to Queen Elizabeth (II) who visited the Taj Mahal in 1961, and Lady Diana in 1992. He was contacted by British embassy about six days ago.
Princess Diana signs the visitor book at Taj Mahal in 1992. (File Photo)
The other guide contacted by British High Commission is Shamsuddin, who is the former president of Approved Guides’ Association.
“My father was the official guide to Queen Elizabeth (II) in 1961 and her daughter-in-law Lady Diana who visited the Taj Mahal in 1992,” Varun said.
“My father used to talk about Lady Diana being a down to earth person with immense interest in the history and architecture of Taj Mahal,” he recollected. “He would tell me how Lady Diana interacted politely with the Taj Mahal ‘khadim’,” Varun said.
Varun had guided former US President Bill Clinton when he visited the Taj Mahal in 2000 and again in 2003.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home / Hemendra Chaturvedi, Hindustan Times,Agra / April 15th, 2016
It was fun all the way when members of Lavanya Ladies Club in the city organised a party.
“It’s very hot these days and to beat the heat we all dressed in green colour,” said Ritu Lord, the president of the club. Aman and Jyoti were the early birds at the do, who were soon joined by Neeta, Manit, and Amita.
The ladies played a few games and Kanchan, Nandini and Payal easily won the game of antakshari with their excellent singing.
Payal, Richa and Timkin won a gift hamper each in tambola.
We also spotted Rashmi and Shruti enjoying the party. The do concluded on a high note with all the ladies enjoying a lavish dinner. Also present in the party were Rakhi, Abhilasha, Niti, Simriti and Manjari.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / Sumit Jha / TNN / April 23rd, 2016
From a 65-million-year-old fossil of a frog to a 5carat pure diamond and from a giant natural pearl from Basra to a recently formed basalt rock from Barren Island, the only living volcano in India, the Geology department of the Lucknow University (LU) has added 550 new rare exhibits to its rich collection at the museum. The collection will be on public display from Earth Day on Friday.
Other items include fossils of a 1,600 million year old alga, Grypania Spiralasis, which marked the evolution of earth, polished quartz; a Corundum mineral which produces gems like ruby, blue and yellow sapphires; unpolished, uncut and polished forms of garnet mineral of hessonite species (popularly known as Gomed) and a gallery of Stone Age tools collected from Mirzapur.
“Established in 1943 by Palaeobotanist Birbal Sahni, the museum already has over 2,000 specimens. The 500 new entries will not only help in research and education but will also be an attraction for visitors, particularly school children. Most important part is it will create awareness among people to preserve the earth to safeguard life in future generation,” said Vibhuti Rai, professor and head of the geology department, who collected new items for the museum in past two years.
Along with fossils, new additions to the museum include postal stamps on gem stones, fossils of extinct species, geomorphic features, etc, released from time to time.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Lucknow / TNN / April 22nd, 2016
