Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) Assistant Engineer Ajay Malik participated in the fourth edition of Mussoorie Samvaad
Dateline Mussoorie: Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) Assistant Engineer Ajay Malik participated in the fourth edition of Mussoorie Samvaad, a monthly meet-the-press initiative organised by the Mussoorie Press.
During the interaction, Malik discussed the key challenges and priorities of the MDDA, whose jurisdiction includes Mussoorie and 13 revenue villages. He also explained the authority’s functioning under the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, as adopted by Uttarakhand.
Malik emphasised that court orders and directions issued by competent authorities were being strictly enforced. He said action would continue against building owners found violating regulations and carrying out unauthorised construction or activities.
He urged property owners to obtain the necessary approvals for their building plans from the MDDA and comply with prescribed construction standards before beginning any work.
Highlighting the risks posed by unplanned development in a sensitive mountain region such as Mussoorie, Malik said illegal construction was not only a violation of the law but also posed serious threats to the environment and public safety. He added that unauthorised constructions across the Mussoorie area were being continuously monitored.
The authority appealed to the public to refrain from illegal construction and ensure that all building activities strictly follow approved plans.
Ajay Malik being felicitated by the Press club members
Providing details of enforcement measures, Malik stated that 71 notices had been issued within two days, of which 51 properties had already been under scrutiny and had received notices earlier.
During the interaction, he also responded to questions from members of the Mussoorie Press Club on various issues concerning development and urban planning in the hill station.
Malik outlined the work undertaken by the MDDA since its establishment in 1984. He said the authority was spending approximately ₹10–15 crore on development works in Mussoorie, including road repairs, retaining walls, parking facilities, community halls and railing installations. He also highlighted the ongoing development of an eco-park.
Addressing members of the Mussoorie Press Club, Malik reiterated that development was both necessary and inevitable, but stressed that it should not come at the cost of Mussoorie’s fragile environment.
Poems have a way of whispering sweet nothings into our ears, stirring memories we thought we had forgotten and feelings we perhaps never quite learned to name. Harjit Lally’s Echoes of My Heart does precisely that. It is a tender, deeply personal collection—an intimate rendering of a life well-loved, well-lived, and deeply felt.
Spread across 117 pages, the book brings together three short stories—The Red Ruby, A Confession, and Parting Reunion?—alongside 38 poems exploring an evocative range of themes: love, ageless love, beauty, silence, ecstasy, the full moon, sorrow, music, happiness, remembrance, surrender, and the quiet complexities of the human heart. These are poems of feelings and memories—some meant to be felt, others meant to be honoured.
Harjit Lally is grace personified, and both her fiction and poetry bear the unmistakable imprint of someone who pays the price for possessing a heart that feels deeply. Aptly titled Echoes of My Heart, the collection is as much an introduction to the author cum poet as it is to her poetry. Her pen reveals her pain, passion, poise, personality and persona. Even when she descends into the depths of the ocean of emotion, she does not return empty-handed. She returns with a pearl.
This is particularly evident in ‘Memories’, where the past refuses to remain buried:
Memories sprout like beans
Even though a decade old,
Fresh like daisies they seem
Crumbling my attitude cold;
Like nine pins falling
The defences of being bold;
Leaving me utterly shaking
‘In my moments of gold….’
If Memories looks backwards, ‘Hope’ looks ahead. Here, a season becomes a metaphor for renewal and the continuity:
Yellow mellow autumn leaf
Come rest on my sleeve;
Golden tinted rust and brown
Never ever fall down.
Your end of days,
My end of days,
While comparing …. Why drown in a sea of sorrow brown?
A new life begins
When this one ends.
Hope lives on
Love god send.
Her three short stories bring alive the local ambience of Dehradun in its 1970s. She writes passionately about her beloved hometown with its iconic buildings like the Astley Hall, the Dehradun Club, The Kwality Restaurant, The Napoli etc.
Echoes of My Heart is therefore more than a collection of poems and short stories, Lally writes from the heart, and the heart, in turn, becomes both her subject and her language. Harjit Lally’s Echoes of My Heart invites us to pause, remember, feel and, above all, to hope. And sometimes, that is precisely what poetry is meant to do.
6th Edition of the VoW Children Vertical at the Valley of Words|Shabdavali Literature fest.
Dateline Dehradun: St Jude’s School won the Book Enactment with Alternate Ending and Him Jyoti School won the Musical Story Creativity of the 6th Edition of the VoW Children Vertical at the Valley of Words|Shabdavali Literature fest. John Martyn Memorial School took away the prize in the Creative Ad category, while Delhi Public School came in first in the Character Hot Seat-Walk into the Book, and Cover Page Redesign was won by Scholars Home, who walked away with the first prize.
In its 6th Edition this year, the Children’s Literature Vertical of the Valley of Words International Literature and Arts Festival 2026, hosted at the Him Jyoti School, saw the participation of seven schools: Delhi Public School, Him Jyoti School, Jaswant Modern School, John Martyn Memorial School, Scholars Home, St. Jude’s School and Purkal Youth Development Society.
The day began with the arrival and registration of schools, followed by draw of lots, a moment that set the stage. Addressing the guests and audience, Him Jyoti Principal Monika Arora welcomed all the participating schools, guests, jury and authors to the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Varun Gulati from the Sahitya Akademi recalled his own journey as a teacher, beginning in 2004, and thanked the Jury as well as authors and festival team for making the event such a success. He reminded participants that performance is more important than winning or losing, and also recited the poetry he had composed for the Gen-Alpha audience: “The mountains don’t copy each other, the stars don’t compete, and your imagination has no wifi limit. So dream big, think different, stay curious, be kind… your imagination is your superpower!”
The jury for the day — Deepanjali Singh, Pooja Marwah and Siddhant Arora — had their hands full as they set to accomplish the impossible task of evaluating young learners, but they made sure to encourage all the participating students and teachers who had put in their best efforts.
6th Edition of the VoW Children Vertical at the Valley of Words|Shabdavali Literature fest.
The program was enriched by the gracious participation of four VBA shortlisted authors under the Children’s Literature Vertical, 2026. Speaking at the occasion, Vaishali BK, author of Amma’s Magic Handbag and a keen scholar of emotional regulation techniques, said that, “The most difficult part of writing a children’s book is to be patient, to understand that a book has its own journey, to wait until it comes, to accept that our thinking may not be the only way.”
Nandita Da Cunha, the mind behind What’s the point of KIKI? talked about writing stories for her two daughters and spoke about talking to them through the language of stories. She also said that, “We really don’t all need to be flashy superheroes — if we can just be ourselves, the kindness of who we are is more than enough.”
While Samina Mishra, author of The Night Sky, spoke for all when she said, “Whether we tell stories from our imagination or stories from the world, they are each about discovery… My attempt is to write stories in which different readers can find their own meaning, so that you actually interact with the story and bring your own experience to the book.”
Adding to that, Bangalore-based author Niveditha Reddy, who wrote the book Rain Perfume, recalled her childhood fondness for jumping in puddles and said that, “I wrote this story when I was living in a very-very dry place, and I was really craving for rain. It hadn’t rained for about a year – and I realised that rain is a major part of my life.”
Ishan Trivedi via video message took viewers into the process of his illustration and story-telling, sharing his love for the city of Banaras which inspired his book Damroo Man and the Monkey Gang: “Look around you – some thin gully, some old building, some strange sound — or some monkey, or your favourite dish — they might each have a story hidden in them. Just ask yourself sometimes: what if this could talk? What if there was a story here? And then see where your imagination takes you.”
Dr Sanjeev Chopra, Chairperson, Valley of Words, applauded the dedication of the students and teachers who made this literary celebration so special signing off, “Valley of Words has always prided itself on being a festival that bridges generations, cultures, and ideas, and nowhere is that more visible than in its children’s programming, where young readers not only encounter books but also inhabit them, perform them, and reinvent them with their boundless creativity.”
The day culminated with prize distribution, group photographs, and a heartfelt vote of thanks, before the students dispersed with memories of a literary celebration unlike any other.
launch of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan: Lal Bahadur Shastri aur Atmanirbhar Bharat
Dateline New Delhi: On the auspicious occasion of the 122nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Hindi translation of Dr. Sanjeev Chopra’s book The Great Conciliator, titled Jai Jawan Jai Kisan: Lal Bahadur Shastri aur Atmanirbhar Bharat, was launched at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, New Delhi, on 2nd October.
The event featured Anil Shastri, former MoS, Ministry of Finance (GoI); Sunil Shastri, former Member of Parliament; senior journalist Neerja Chowdhury; Author Dr. Sanjeev Chopra; Translator of the Hindi edition Tapas Kumar Roy. The conversation was moderated by Deepak Tenguriya, Research Head, Indian Express (Hindi).
As the morning sun-rays filtered through the memorial, the session began with Tapas Kumar Roy sharing his experience of translating the book. He spoke about the challenges involved in bringing the work into Hindi while retaining its original spirit and meaning.
Jai Jawan Jai Kisan: Lal Bahadur Shastri aur Atmanirbhar Bharat launched at Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial
The discussion then moved to Dr. Chopra, who spoke about the difficult circumstances in which Lal Bahadur Shastri became Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru. He discussed Shastri’s rise within the Congress party, particularly his role as its General Secretary, and the qualities that enabled him to emerge as a leader in his own right.
Anil Shastri then spoke about his father’s personality, political legacy and continuing relevance. He emphasised the need for a leader like Lal Bahadur Shastri to remain part of the political consciousness of the country, particularly among young people. He also highlighted the importance of the Hindi translation and described The Great Conciliator as one of the most important works written on the former Prime Minister. He shared a personal anecdote from the 1965 war. At a time when India was facing a food shortage and seeking greater self-reliance in food production, the United States was exerting pressure through the PL-480 programme. Prime Minister Shastri appealed to citizens to skip one meal a week. Anil Shastri recalled that the appeal was not merely meant for the public. Shastri followed the same principle at home and asked his wife, Lalita Shastri, to not cook dinner that day. For Anil Shastri, this was not simply a symbolic gesture but reflected Shastri’s empathy and his belief that a leader must share the difficulties faced by the people.
Senior journalist Neerja Chowdhury reflected on how Shastri, despite having a brief tenure as Prime Minister, remains one of India’s most decisive leaders. Discussing what makes Shastri special, she observed that young Indians often do not remember the contributions of political leaders, even when their decisions have had a lasting impact.
Sunil Shastri emphasised the importance of taking Lal Bahadur Shastri’s stories and ideas to future generations. He called for more intellectual initiatives to bring Shastri’s life and legacy closer to citizens.
The event concluded with Dr. Chopra recalling important episodes from Shastri’s life and expressing hope that the Hindi translation would go beyond conventional reading circles and make his life and ideas accessible to a much larger Hindi-speaking audience.
I had lost Toro, my seven-month-old baby with four legs, last week on a cold, autumn morning.
He had waited for me to wake from my power nap, as I had nursed him through the night – I woke up to his low growls—just enough to get my attention. I knelt beside him and whispered a prayer into his ear as he raised his head one last time, then collapsed into my lap.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Evening seemed difficult to arrive. Later, I snuggled into bed with Unanchored, Geetanjali Gusain’s debut book, looking for some company and solace.
And then I came across her chapter, The Raindrop.
It resonated deeply with what I was feeling. As Geetanjali writes, “To love a creature that cannot speak, cannot carry our legacy, and will almost certainly leave us before we are ready, is a specific kind of courage. It comes from the acceptance of a love that is completely useless to the world’s grand designs and, therefore, incredibly pure, and undoubtedly invincible.”
Her words hit me at exactly the right moment.
Unanchored is a work of fiction comprising fourteen poignant narratives that explore resilience, nostalgia and human connection. The stories take us across the subcontinent: home to the foothills of the Himalayas, through the narrow by-lanes of Udaipur, into the perpetual shades of grey that define Daman, and through the golden-green landscapes of Bhimtal. Along the way, we encounter ordinary lives poised at the crossroads of change, at the very fulcrum of being.
Geetanjali’s characters speak to you. They nudge you forward, urging you to keep moving onwards and upwards. Whether it is a layman rebuilding his life after a stroke or a young man navigating the crushing weight of familial expectations, each protagonist stands at a threshold of longing, carrying a quiet need to be seen, understood and discovered.
Steeped in nostalgia, resilience and the human need to connect, the book’s intriguing chapter titles reveal little of what lies within. The Cuckoo’s Nest, The Mango Tree, Friends at Sunset, The Bonsai, The Migratory Ducks and others slowly unfold into stories of hope, enduring love, friendship and the courage to never let go.
Perhaps that is what made Unanchored such fitting company for me that rainy evening. Some books entertain us. Some make us think. And some arrive quietly, when we need them most, and sit beside us, holding our hand and making rock bottom feel like a spring board.
Members of the Mussoorie Press Club with DFO DP Baloni
Dateline Mussoorie: As part of its meet-the-press initiative, the Mussoorie Press Club invited Devi Prasad Baloni, who assumed charge as the new Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Mussoorie Forest Division, as the special invitee at the third edition of Mussoorie Samvaad held today.
Addressing a packed house, Baloni—who assumed charge about a month ago—discussed the key challenges and priorities before him as DFO of the Mussoorie Forest Division. The division covers approximately 39,000 hectares and is a compact forested patch spread across two districts, with around 15% falling under the Dehradun-Raipur range and approximately 75% in Tehri district, giving the division a dual-jurisdiction character.
No stranger to Mussoorie, Baloni has previously served in the town on two occasions. He made it clear that protection and conservation remain his foremost priorities.
During the interaction, Baloni responded to questions on a range of issues, including public grievances, notification of 218 private estates, identification of designated dumping zones for construction material and debris, recent leopard attacks in the Nainbagh area, damage to healthy trees caused by creepers and climbers, fencing around private estates that can restrict the movement of wildlife, illegal mining in areas surrounding Mussoorie, illegal tree felling, and broader environmental protection within the Mussoorie Forest Division.
Addressing members of the Mussoorie Press Club, Baloni reiterated that while development was inevitable and necessary, it should not come at the expense of the region’s natural beauty, forests and environment.
He also spoke with pride about his team, highlighting its commitment and willingness to take considerable risks despite limited resources, particularly while responding to forest fires and other emergencies.
The interaction provided an opportunity for the media to raise concerns directly with the new DFO and seek clarity on some of the pressing environmental and wildlife-related issues confronting Mussoorie and its surrounding areas.
As part of National Pharmacovigilance Week, the Department of Pharmacology of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), Jolly Grant
Dateline Doiwala: As part of National Pharmacovigilance Week, the Department of Pharmacology of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), Jolly Grant, organised an awareness programme.
At the program held in the Adi Kailash Auditorium, Dean HIMS Dr. A. Shariff said that drug safety is not the responsibility of doctors and health workers alone. The participation of patients and the general public is equally important. People should report any suspected adverse effect experienced after taking a medicine to the concerned health worker or through the designated reporting channel.
Dr. D.C. Dhasmana said that pharmacovigilance is the means by which adverse drug reactions occurring after the use of medicines are monitored. He said that if any unusual or adverse effect appears after taking a medicine, reporting it is extremely important. Information received in time helps in identifying the potential risks associated with medicines and in improving patient safety.
Head of the Department Dr. Taruna Sharma said that this year’s campaign has placed special emphasis on the use of digital platforms. She explained how mobile apps, QR codes and other digital means can make the reporting of adverse drug effects easier and faster.
The chief speaker at the programme, Dr. Lalit Gupta, Director of the Department of Pharmacology at Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, delivered a lecture on understanding the relationship between adverse drug events and assessing their causes. He shared important information on understanding adverse events occurring after taking medicines, their causes, and how to identify them correctly. He said that the safe use of medicines is a shared responsibility of all. With the cooperation of health workers, patients and the general public, medicines can be made safer and better protection of patients’ health can be ensured.
Eight Dermoid Cysts, Both Ovaries Preserved: Complex Laparoscopic Surgery Successfully Performed at HIMS Jollygrant
Dehradun: In a rare and technically challenging case, a 29-year-old unmarried woman from Karnal, Haryana, with eight dermoid cysts involving both ovaries, was successfully treated through advanced laparoscopic surgery at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Jollygrant. Five cysts were present in the left ovary and three in the right. As per available information, this is the first reported case of its kind in Uttarakhand.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Pragya Khugsal. All eight cysts were meticulously enucleated and removed without rupture or spillage using an endobag. Considering the patient’s young age and future fertility potential, maximum possible healthy ovarian tissue was preserved, followed by ovarian reconstruction.
Dr. Pragya Khugsal said, “The real challenge in such complicated cases is not merely removing the cysts, but doing so without spillage while preserving maximum healthy ovarian tissue and future fertility potential.”
The minimally invasive approach enabled a rapid recovery. The patient was ambulatory within 24 hours and fit for discharge on the second postoperative day. She expressed her appreciation for Dr. Khugsal and the entire team for their care and commendable management.
Dr. Khugsal expressed her gratitude to HOD Dr. Ruchira Nautiyal for her guidance and encouragement. She also extended special thanks to Dr. Vandana Rajput, Dr. Anjali Kaushik, and scrub nurses Roma and Mamta for their valuable assistance during the surgery, while acknowledging the coordinated efforts of the anaesthesia team.
The successful procedure marks another significant step in Himalayan Institute Of Medical Sciences growing expertise in advanced laparoscopic and minimally invasive gynaecological surgery—particularly in complex cases where surgical precision and preservation of future fertility are equally important.
The team behind the digitization of Garhwali and Kumaoni songs
Dehradun: The Doon Library and Research Centre has successfully traced and digitised 46 lost gramophone folk songs sung by eighteen Garhwali and Kumaoni artists.
Speaking about the unique project, Raju Gusain stated, “Ten years ago, I started searching for Jeet Singh Negi’s record. I established contact with many leading gramophone collectors in India, but failed to find it. This time, we managed to get it from Faridabad. Two different versions of the famous Kumaoni song ‘Bedu Pako’ were digitised; each presents a different flavour. Gramophone restoration expert Moloy Ghosh helped us digitise the collection.”
The records span the period from 1939 to 1979. Six songs each are by Jeet Singh Negi and Gopi Devi, while four songs each are by Mohini Sharma, Uma Shanker Satish, Gopal Babu Goswami, Raj Kishore Mishra, Vachaspati Dyundi, Chanda Bai and Champa Devi. Other artists whose songs have been recovered include Master Sher Singh, Indira Bai, Ram Pyari, Keshav Anuragi, Mohan Upreti, Nayam Khan, Vijay Chhetri, Sushma Chandola and Bijendra Lal Shah.
After procuring five gramophone records from Jugual Kishore Petsali, the project secured another five records from the collection of Brigadier (Retd.) Rajendra Rawat in Dehradun. Gokul Negi from Faridabad approached the library and shared seven rare gramophone records from his father Chand Singh Negi’s collection. Record collector Zafar Shah from New Delhi provided digital copies of four records, including two non-commercial recordings produced by the Uttar Pradesh government.
A total of 21 gramophone records, produced by leading companies such as His Master’s Voice, Columbia, Aero-Phone, Indian Records Manufacturing Company (INRECO) and Star Hindustan Record Company, were traced and digitised. Of the 21 records, seven were produced before Independence and 14 after Independence.
Chander Shakhar Tiwari of the Doon Library and Research Centre said, “After digitising the songs, we are now preparing a research report on the history of gramophone records in Garhwal, Kumaon and Jaunsar as well. Last time, we digitised five rare gramophone records in the library, and the wide media coverage helped us reach many other gramophone collectors who extended their help in this project.”
Dateline Dehradun: Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU), Jolly Grant, marked a significant milestone with the successful execution of the inaugural edition of TEDx-SRHU, organized by the School of Management Studies (SMS). Centered around the theme “The Spark Within,” the landmark event brought together nine trailblazing speakers from diverse fields—including emerging technology, social entrepreneurship, media, aviation, sports, and corporate leadership—to share transformative personal journeys, insights, and actionable lessons with the university community.
Presiding over the occasion, SRHU President Dr. Vijay Dhasmana highlighted that every major societal shift begins with a single idea. Emphasizing that young minds harbor infinite potential, he noted that “The Spark Within” serves as more than just a thematic slogan; it acts as a call to action for students to align their inherent strengths with national and social progress.
SRHU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajendra Dobhal remarked that platforms like TEDx extend learning beyond traditional curricula, granting students rare access to real-world challenges, leadership lessons, and lived achievements. Outlining the vision behind the initiative, SMS Director Dr. Taruna Gautam shared that TEDx provides an ideal space to amplify ideas that broaden perspectives and foster innovative thinking.
Nine Visionaries Share Lessons of Grit and Innovation
SRHU Jolly Grant, marked a significant milestone with the successful execution of the inaugural edition of TEDx-SRHU,
The summit featured an eclectic lineup of nine distinguished thought leaders who delivered impactful talks:
Dr. Vijay Dhasmana: President, Swami Rama Himalayan University
Sakshar Duggal: Youth leader and expert in emerging technologies and cyber law
Wing Commander Anupama Joshi (Retd.): Former Indian Air Force officer and Advisor, Samunnati Foundation
Rituraj Sharma: Founder & CEO of Zetta Farms and Founder of CrowPilot
RJ Kavya: Renowned radio presenter, digital storyteller, and media personality
Shashi Bahuguna Raturi: Founder & CEO of Namakwali, advocating local heritage and entrepreneurship
Binita Shah: Founder & CEO of Saranga Vikas Samiti, championing community development
Adv. Harshal Dilwali: Director & CEO of Clarissa Group, entrepreneur, and advocate
Shaurya Saini: World Champion Shooter and distinguished SRHU alumnus
An Enthusiastic Academic Gathering
The event, seamlessly anchored by Dr. Apoorv Trivedi, drew an audience of students, faculty, and administrative heads. Prominent university dignitaries in attendance included Dr. Vijendra Chauhan, Dr. Prakash Keshaviah, Dr. Renu Dhasmana, and Sadhana Mishra, alongside principals, department heads, and faculty members from across SRHU’s constituent colleges.
The successful debut of TEDx-SRHU underscores the institution’s commitment to nurturing purpose-driven, future-ready leaders equipped with a strong moral and intellectual compass.
