Monthly Archives: October 2017

Urvashi Sahni, founder of SHEF, wins social entrepreneur award

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Urvashi Sahni, founder of Study Hall Educational Foundation, was awarded the Social Entrepreneur of the Year award 2017 for her work in educating India’s most disadvantaged girls
Urvashi Sahni is an Ashoka Fellow, an honorary member of the Clinton Global Initiative and a non-resident fellow at the Centre for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution in the US.

New Delhi:

Urvashi Sahni, founder and chief executive of Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF), was awarded the Social Entrepreneur of the Year award 2017 for her work in educating India’s most disadvantaged girls.

She won the award, beating candidates from more prominent non-profit organizations including Akshaya Patra. Commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu presented the award to Sahni.

Jointly founded by Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in 2010, the award recognizes promising and high impact social entrepreneurs implementing practical and sustainable solutions.

Sahni was chosen from over 100 applicants. The other two finalists for the award were Safeena Husain of Educate Girls and Madhu Pandit Dasa of the Akshaya Patra Foundation.

SHEF has demonstrated a business model of education for inclusion, empowerment and leadership building for India’s most disadvantaged and girls at risk. It has scaled its model across 993 government schools of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, training 24,000 teachers in the process and impacting 501,000 girls.

To ensure that women from ultra poor communities have the resources to keep their daughters in schools, Sahni has started Didi, a catering and tailoring venture that has captured the Lucknow market for corporate meals and has doubled the incomes of its women employees.

Accepting the award, Sahni said the perfect tool for changing mindset is education. “Education should be broader, deeper and wider. Until then we cannot call ourselves a fully democratic country,” she added.

Sahni is an Ashoka Fellow, an honorary member of the Clinton Global Initiative and a non-resident fellow at the Centre for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution in the US.

In an emailed response before she won the award, Sahni said in her girls education programme, the organization uses the government curriculum but makes sure that it is infused with critical feminist pedagogy or a gender-empowering methods of education. “We have also added a separate programme called ‘critical dialogues’ in the official curriculum,” she said.

Sahni said the biggest challenge to remain sustainable is building teams that believe in the idea, the mission, the underlying philosophy, the culture of the enterprise and above all a culture of entrepreneurship. “Having a secure flow of funding is important too, but in my opinion if the social entrepreneur has invested enough in building a strong team, they will ensure the flow of funding. I work very hard at building my team in the ways described above. We are a learning organisation and that is what sustains us,” she said.

To be a successful social entrepreneur, passion is more important than expertise, Sahni said. “Expertise is sterile without passion. But passion alone can only go so far and will burn itself out if it isn’t guided by expertise. Passionate social entrepreneurs, either seek out and develop the expertise they need to execute their ideas, or then find people who have the expertise. But they are very good and fast learners themselves. In our case, we are all thinking and learning all the time and working at developing the expertise we need and reaching out to other partners who have the expertise we don’t have,” she said.

Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is a sister organization of the World Economic Forum. The Foundation provides unique regional and global platforms to promote social entrepreneurship as a key element to advancing societies and addressing social problems innovatively and effectively. It also fosters a peer global community of social entrepreneurs.

Jubilant Bhartia Foundation, established in 2007, is the not-for-profit organization of the Jubilant Bhartia Group. It focuses on conceptualizing and implementing the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives (CSR) for the Group. The Jubilant Bhartia Foundation’s activities include various community development works, health care programs, cultural and sports events, an environmental preservation initiative, vocational training, women empowerment and educational activities.

Seema Chowdhry contributed to the story.

The promoters of HT Media Ltd, which publishes the Hindustan Times and Mint, and Jubilant Bhartia Group are closely related. There are, however, no promoter crossholdings.

source: http://www.livemint.com / Live Mint / Home> Companies / by Asit Ranjan Mishra / Thursday – October 05th, 2017

‘Weather helped us in Guinness record attempt to keep diyas alight’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion

Ayodhya :

There was an unusual flicker emanating from the banks of Saryu river on Wednesday. Lined up coherently on the ghats of Ram ki Paidi, around 2 lakh oil lamps shimmered on the steps leading to the holy river as renditions of ‘Hey Ram’ bhajan played out from gigantic speakers.

It was with this that the state government attempted a Guinness World Record to light up 1.71 lakh diyas for at least five minutes continuously amid thundering cheers of residents and tourists present in the temple town.

Having aligned beautifully around 2 lakh diyas filled with over 10,000 litres of oil, 2 lakh cotton buds and around 25kg of camphor, the target was to break the previously held record by Dera Saccha Sauda that had lit up 1,50,009 diyas. Wednesday’s Deepotsav was claimed to be bigger and brighter.

“We were able to keep alight 1,87,213 diyas, as was counted by the team from Guinness records. The official letter after verification of the same will be handed over to us in the next five days,” said Prof Manoj Dixit, vice chancellor of Avadh Faizabad University who with the local populace and the tourism department had attempted the feat.

“The weather was favourable to us with no breeze; that helped us through and through. If all goes well, we will make this a Diwali tradition in Ayodhya now to be followed every year,” added Prof Dixit.

Around 3,000 volunteers, mostly students, helped set up the diyas neatly on the ghats, that later served as the perfect background for people’s Diwali festivities, with reflection of the many temples on the ghats showing in Saryu’s shining waters.

The occasion was followed by innumerable photographs being taken etching for people a memory of the historically unique moment.

Following this, a laser show recreating the Ramayana succinctly followed. A huge white screen showed scenes from the life of Lord Ram in laser light, leaving all enthralled.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / Yusra Husain / TNN / October 19th, 2017

Lucknow girl tops PCS-J exam

Education, Records, All

Allahabad :

Swarangi Shukla of Lucknow bagged the top slot in PCS (J) exams-2016, the result of which was announced by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) here on Friday evening. Vinod Joshi of New Delhi stood second while an IAF ex-sergeant Vinod Kumar Pandey of Pratapgarh clinched the third spot.

Talking to TOI, Swarangi Shukla credited her success to her parents. “I had not expected to top the exams as this was my first attempt,” said an elated Swarangi.

Swarangi had completed her schooling from Lucknow’s City Montessori School in science stream before joining the five-year degree course from Gujarat National Law University . “I think it is hard work and dedication which pays and not the years that one dedicates for preparing the exams,” she said.

Third ranker Vinod Kumar Pandey was motivated by Mumbai blast case proceedings in court to become civil judge (junior divi sion).Vinod had served as a sergeant in IAF for 19 years before superannuation.

“I used to closely follow the Mumbai blast case of 1993, in which public prose cutor Ujjwal Nikam made appearances.

This motivated me to study law and I started taking night class of LLB at Mumbai University ,” said Pandey, who is serving as an entertainment tax inspector at Allahabad.

Similarly , second ranker Vinod Doshi belonging to Uttarakhand is presently employed in CBI in New Delhi.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Allahabad News / by Vinod Khanal / TNN / October 14th, 2017

Varanasi man makes fourth Guinness record

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion

Varanasi man makes fourth Guinness record. TNN | Oct 19, 2017, 14:25 IST. DM Yogeshwar Ram Mishra handed over the certificate to Jagsdeesh Pillai

Varanasi :

Jagsdeesh Pillai, a former employee of Banaras Hindu University, brought a Diwali gift to the city in form of Guinness record. It is his 4th successful entry in the Guinness Book of World records for a theme based on ‘Make in India’ by creating the largest envelop with waste paper.

The district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra released the certificate at a function held on October 19. Pillai created the envelop of 25-mt (83.80 feet) in length and 14.40-mt (47-23 feet) in width using the waste paper from industrial estate.

According to him, earlier this record was in the name of Ajmal Khan Tibbiya from College of Aligarh Muslim University in the size length 17.86 meter (58 feet) and width 13.10 meter (42 feet). He had attempt for this record for the first time on June 21, 2016 on Yoga day, but unfortunately, because of breaking some rules of Guinness authorities while attempting the record, it was disqualified that time. In his second attempt he successfully made the record.

Earier, he had made three successful records. His first record was connected with Digital India by making an animation movie within a shortest time by breaking a Canadian’s record in November 2012. His second record was on the largest photo awareness campaign “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” breaking a record of Maharashtra in November 2016. Besides, he also broke the record of China by creating the longest line of post cards to spread awareness about Indian Flag in June 2017.

Pillai is the only person who holds a Guinness World Record entry from Varanasi. “Now I am planning to make next Guinness Book of World record on the subject of ‘Namami Gange’ and ‘Swachh Bharat,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Varanasi News / TNN / October 19th, 2017

Varanasi celebrates birth anniversary of Jhansi ki Rani Laxmi Bai

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Travel

Varanasi:

To mark the 182nd birth anniversary of the warrior queen of Jhansi Laxmi Bai, a colourful procession was taken out at her birth place in Bhadaini locality on Wednesday. A function was held at Shri Goyanka Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya by by Maharani Laxmi Bai Nyas to celebrate the occasion.

Students from different schools took out the procession and performed a ‘Parikrama’ of the birth place of Rani Lakshmi Bai. The students of of Panini Kanya Mahavidyalaya recited ‘mangalacharan’ followed by a series of cultural events.

Speaking on the occasion V Shanta Kumari of Rashtra Sevika Samiti highlighted the bravery of Rani Laxmi Bai who struck terror in hearts of the British during 1857 war of Independence, and called upon girls to take inspiration from the life of warrior queen. The Trustee Rajendra Pratap Pandey said that the government should arrange ‘Akhand Jyoti’ and build a grand memorial of the queen at her birth place.

The district gazetteers of Varanasi record that in the city of Varanasi in 1835 was born to Moropant Tambe (a Maratha scholar) and his wife Bhagirathi a girl whom they named Manu Bai, and who later came to be known as Lakshmi Bai.

In 1844, she was married to Ganga Dhar, the king of Jhansi and, on his death in 1853, she herself became the ruler of Jhansi. She was destined to become one of the most famous personages who took active part against the British in the struggle for freedom in 1857. She lived in Varanasi for four years and, after the death of Peshwa Chimmaji Appa, Moropant Tambe along with his daughter returned to Peshwa Balaji Bajirao at Bithoor in 1839.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Varanasi News / by Binay Singh / October 18th, 2017

‘Lucknow Has Come Up Big Way on the Map of Indian Hospitality Industry’

Business & Economy, Travel, World Opinion

Pankaj Gupta has recently appointed as the General Manager at Renaissance Lucknow Hotel. With his new association with Renaissance Lucknow Hotel, Gupta aspires to provide unmatched guest delight to the citizens of Lucknow and take the Hotel to new heights. BW Hotelier spoke to Gupta to know more about his plans.

WITH OVER 17 years of experience in hospitality operations, Pankaj Gupta has recently appointed as the General Manager at Renaissance Lucknow Hotel. With his new association with Renaissance Lucknow Hotel, Gupta aspires to provide unmatched guest delight to the citizens of Lucknow and take the Hotel to new heights. BW Hotelier spoke to Gupta to know more about his plans.

Expressing his views on the hospitality market of Lucknow, Gupta said, “With just 300-400 rooms in branded 4-5 star category till 2016 to almost 1200 rooms by the end of 2017 Lucknow has come up big way on the map of Indian hospitality industry. This is the only a good sign for the city since it can be looked at the destination for holding large city wide conferences, events and can cater big social events as well.”

How Renaissance Lucknow Hotel does plan to promote the Tourism? Answering to this Gupta said, “We closely work with some of the most reputed Inbound and domestic tour operators who operate regular itineraries on Heritage arc, Buddhist circuit and Golden Triangle extension. Apart from this our global loyalty program Marriott Rewards brings the well-travelled leisure travelers to Renaissance Lucknow.”

According to Gupta, brand Renaissance itself is the biggest USP of the hotel since it is the only second Renaissance hotel in India after the success of first one in Mumbai from Marriott International. “While most of the other hotels are pure business brands, Renaissance globally is known to provide experience beyond business through features like RENmeetings, Navigator, Rlive. Apart from this our guests always compliment us for our location, mesmerizing view of Gomti river front and Ambedkar Park from almost all parts of the hotel and the human touch full of compassion and hospitality that team demonstrates all the time,” he told us.

“Within such a short time of my tenure with Renaissance Lucknow I have been fortunate to welcome and host some of the most respected personalities from sports, politics and Bollywood,” Gupta added. Gupta plans to take forward the hotels’s reputation as the most premium ultra-modern hotel in city of Nawabs and to be the most preferred hotel for our niche guests who wish to explore and discover something unusual every time they go to a luxury hotel.

source: http://www.bwhotelier.businessworld.in / BW Hotelier.com / Home> News> Opinion> Interviews / by Sakshi / October 16th, 2017