Making Molehills of Mountains interconnects climate change, communities & constitutional rights

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Book launch of 3rd Edition of the third edition of Making Molehills of Mountains, published by SDC Foundation

Dateline Dehradun: The third edition of Making Molehills of Mountains, published by SDC Foundation and Messrs Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, was launched today at Doon Library and Research Centre. The book, carrying the theme “Communities and Constitutional Rights in the Times of Climate Crisis,” brings together the interconnected questions of climate change, communities and constitutional rights in the context of Uttarakhand’s development and disaster narrative.

The third book in the Making Molehills of Mountains Series analyses 98 news reports of the key climate disasters drawn from the 12 monthly reports of January to December compiled under the Uttarakhand Disaster and Accident Analysis Initiative (UDAAI) for 2025. SDC had earlier brought out “Demystifying Disasters in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand” in 2023 and “Tales of Uttarakhand’s Climate Crisis and an Uncertain Development Model” in 2024 under the Molehills Series.

The foreword to the 2025 book has been written by Dr Sanjeev Chopra, former Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.

The analysis of the key 2025 climate disasters in Uttarakhand identifies five major red flags or patterns emerging from Uttarakhand’s recurring disasters, with leading experts contributing essays examining each concern.

The first red flag—“Chronic administrative delay, fragmented governance and accountability deficit in disaster prevention”—has been examined by Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, former Union Minister for Human Resource Development. The second, “Emergence of urban and semi-urban disaster landscapes,” has been addressed by urban thinker and architect Jagan Shah.

The third concern, “Glacial lakes, cryosphere change and the illusion of preparedness,” has been analysed by Dr Manish Mehta of the Wadia Institute. Dr Lokesh Ohri examines the fourth red flag, “Infrastructure-induced disaster risk and the crisis of mobility,” while Vaibhav Kala of Aquaterra Adventures addresses the fifth: “Ecological burden of mass tourism in a fragile Himalayan landscape.”

Keeping with the book’s focus on the “third C”—Constitution—the publication also examines the legal and constitutional dimensions of Uttarakhand’s development challenges. Aditya Rawat of UPES University writes on environmental laws and legislation in Uttarakhand over the past 25 years, while Gautam Kumar of UPES University examines delimitation from the perspective of Uttarakhand and its persistent migration problem. Prerna Raturi contributes a perspective rooted in the lived experience of a local resident of a hill station.

Introducing the programme, Chandra Shekhar Tiwari of Doon Library and Research Centre welcomed the participants. The programme was moderated by Dinesh Semwal of SDC Foundation.

The editors, Prerna Raturi introduced the book, while Anoop Nautiyal spoke on the importance of mainstreaming climate change, communities and constitutional concerns in Uttarakhand’s development narrative.

Contributors Dr Manish Mehta, Dr Lokesh Ohri and Gautam Kumar spoke about the issues explored in their respective contributions to the book. Abhimanyu Gehlot delivered the vote of thanks.

Large numbers of students and faculty members from Swami Ram Himalayan University, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Sardar Bhagwan Singh University, Quantum University, Doon Business School, Tula’s University, Uttaranchal University, DIT University and Doon University attended the book launch.

The launch brought together several prominent citizens including Vibha Puri Das, Aloke Lal, JP Mamgain, Kripa Nautiyal, Jagmohan Mehdirarta, Abhimanyu, Avinash Chandra Joshi, Binita Shah, Piyoosh Rautela, Major Rahul Jugran, Devendra Budakoti, Ashustoh Kandwal, Ravi Juyal, Rakesh Kapoor, Parul, Raj Mohan, Kunal Uniyal, Paramjit Kakkar, Narendra Sethi, Pawan Lalchand, Anupam Trivedi and many other PHD students and young researchers.

The editors reiterated the need for more dialogue and discussions around climate change, communities and Constitution and encouraged experts and members of the civic society to come forward and contribute with their thoughts and prospective roadmap for the way ahead.

VoW – Welham ‘Sahitya Spriha’, 2026

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VoW-Welham, 2026 hindi vertical inaugurated

Dateline Dehradun: ‘Sahitya Spriha’—a two-day literary conference organized by Valley of Words and the Sahitya Akademi—commenced at the Welham Girls’ School. Dr. Sanjeev Chopra, Festival Director of Valley of Words, and Mrs. Vibha Kapoor, Principal of Welham Girls’ School, welcomed the Hindi litterateurs who had arrived from across the country.

Young talented students perform at the hindi vertical

On the opening day, Dr. Sanjeev Chopra shed light on the objectives and history of VoW, while underscoring the festival’s commitment to providing equal encouragement to Hindi literature alongside English books and translations from the languages of India. He also shared with the young audience—through a poem by Uday Prakash—the importance of thinking, speaking, and questioning as part of the process of staying alive.

Smt. Vibha Kapoor expressed her firm commitment to promoting literature, particularly in Hindi. Among the shortlisted books, the first session focused on Manisha Kulshreshtha’s ‘Trimaya’. In conversation with Anjum Sharma, the author shed light on the environmental relationship between humans and nature, as well as the traditional structures of matriarchy and matriliny in the South and North East of India.

Meanwhile, senior poet Lakshmi Shankar Bajpai discussed the memoir ‘Chor Gali Mein Titliyan’  by veteran litterateur Jiten Thakur. The memoir addresses childhood memories, family relationships, cultural experiences, and the author’s literary journey.

Houseful at the VoW-Welham Hindi Vertical

In the third session, Jai Prakash Pandey engaged in an in-depth discussion on Pratibha Katiyar’s book, ‘Kabira Soi Peer Hai.’ The author and the moderator explored the text by examining caste, gender, and social realities within the broader context of national and global literature.

The fourth session focused on Abhay Kumar Thakur’s book, ‘Stree Asmita Ka Itihas’ (History of Women’s Identity). In conversation with Mamta Kiran, the author shared fascinating facts and perspectives spanning the spectrum from the ‘Brahmavadini’ women of ancient times to the phases of the Vedic era.

Renowned poet Dr Vinay Kumar captivated the audience during his discussion with Nalanda Pandey on the book ‘Shreyasi’ by sharing his poetry and insightful views regarding the many aspects of Saraswati.

Bharti Mishra engaged in a discussion with translator Dinkar Kumar about the book ‘Megh Malhar’—translated from Assamese to Hindi—delving into grief, along with the society and culture of Assam as well as the art of translation.

In the final book session, Anil Raturi discussed Ambar Pandey’s ‘Matlab Hindu’ in an engaging session centered on Gandhi and Hindu identity.

To conclude the event, senior poets captivated the audience with their recitations of poems, ghazals, and nazms. Further book discussions are scheduled for August 23 as part of this two-day event.

HIMS Shines in Guinness World Records

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Dr. Hemchandra Pandey, Director (Hospital Services), became an important part of a historic achievement recognised by Guinness World Records.

Dateline Doiwala: It is a proud moment for HIMS (Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences), Jolly Grant, as Dr. Hemchandra Pandey, Director (Hospital Services), became an important part of a historic achievement recognised by Guinness World Records. He, along with Dr. Abhijat Sheth (President), participated in the world record initiative. Dr.Pandey is a member of the Governing Body of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Dr. Hemchandra Pandey made a significant contribution to this historic achievement through his participation in a special live stream on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. According to the certificate issued by Guinness World Records, the live lesson on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare on YouTube set a world record for the highest number of viewers. The live stream was watched simultaneously by 17,999 viewers.

The achievement highlights the growing significance of modern technology and Artificial Intelligence in medical education and healthcare services. Dr. Pandey’s accomplishment has brought recognition not only to HIMS Jolly Grant but also to Uttarakhand on an international platform, making it a matter of pride and honour for the state.

HIMS Jolly Grant continues to advance innovation by embracing modern technologies across medical education, research and healthcare services. The national and international achievements of its faculty and medical professionals further strengthen the institution’s tradition of excellence in healthcare and academics.

1st Edition of VoW- Welham साहित्य स्पृहा

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Sachin Chauhan
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VoW-Welham साहित्य स्पृहा

Dateline Dehradun: As part of its 10th edition Dasham, this year the Valley of Words International Literature and Arts Festival is organizing its Hindi Literature Vertical ‘साहित्य स्पृहा’ under the joint aegis of the prestigious Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun, and the Sahitya Akademi.

Renowned writers, translators, thinkers, and intellectuals from across the country will participate in this literary gathering to be held at Welham Girls’ School on August 22–23 2026. Authors and translators of the five shortlisted books selected in each of the three VoW Book Award categories of Hindi Fiction, Hindi Non-fiction, and Translation from Bhashas of India into Hindi will be engaging with young minds and readers in Dehradun.

Distinguished names from the Hindi literary world such as Jiten Thakur, Manisha Kulshreshtha, Pratibha Katiyar, Abhay Kumar Thakur, Vinay Kumar, Dinkar Kumar, Ammber Ambar Pandey, Devendra Mewari, Dr. Rohini, Mujtaba Khan, Navneet Neerav, Shuchita Mittal, LS Bajpayi, Mamta Kiran, Anil Raturi, Anjum Sharma and others will take part in the event.

Speaking about the event, Dr. Sanjeev Chopra, Founding Director of VoW said, “VoW is looking forward to providing a platform for excellence in writing and translation through Sahitya Spriha, in collaboration with Welham Girls’ School and the Sahitya Akademi. The theme — ‘Beyond Words, To Ideas’ — reflects the core philosophy of the Valley of Words, for it is only through words that ideas can be expressed and through those expressions are laid the foundations of culture.”

Welham Girls’ Principal, Ms. Vibha Kapoor, stated that, “It is a matter of immense pleasure and pride for us to host ‘Sahitya Spriha’ in collaboration with Valley of Words, Union Bank of India (Dehradun Branch), and the Sahitya Akademi. Hindi is a powerful bearer of our cultural consciousness, sensibilities, and rich literary tradition. We are confident that this event, by bringing together writers, academicians, readers, and the younger generation on a shared platform, will infuse new energy into meaningful literary dialogue.”

VoW Team along with Welham Girls’ School and the Sahitya Akademi extend a warm welcome to all the invited authors and litterateurs to ‘Sahitya Spriha’—an event dedicated to the world of words, books, and dialogue.

REC-VoW announces its Shortlist for 2026

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Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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REC-VoW

Dateline Dehradun: In sync with tradition, the Valley of Words Literature and Arts Festival announced the Shortlist for the REC-VoW Book Awards 2026 to coincide with the PN Panicker National Reading Day and Digital Reading Month i.e. 19th June to 18th July.

The VoW Jury which finalizes the Shortlist comprised of previous year winners’ which included Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri for English Fiction, Soni Pande in Hindi Fiction, Sudhir Vidhyarthi for the Hindi Non-Fiction, Sulabha Kore for Hindi Anuvaad,  Kripa for Young Adult Literature, Karan Madhok for English Non-Fiction, Banibrata Mahanta for English Translation and Neil Flory for Children’s Writings/Picture Books.

The rigorous selection procedure started in February, 2026.  Over 600 books in Hindi and English were nominated to the Festival from over seventy leading publishing houses across the country. The books were read and reviewed extensively in Dehradun and then selected by our esteemed resource persons and the Jury before announcing the Shortlist of five books in each of the 8 categories.

Festival Director Dr Sanjeev Chopra stated, “The shortlist this year has been special – in terms of diversity of themes, the treatment of subjects, the forthright views on conventional subjects, and the exploration of the new. The illustrations in the Young Adult and Children Literature section embellish the text.” He further thanked the Jury stating, “We at VoW are extremely grateful to our Jury members for having read all the books so meticulously.”

The REC-VoW Book Awards are conferred upon the ‘Best Author’ across eight categories and is a major highlight of the annual VoW festival. All 8 winners will be felicitated at the Signature event being held in Dehradun on the 28th-29th November, 2026.

One-of-a-kind, not-for-profit and volunteer-driven initiative of the Valley of Words Foundation Trust, VoW | Shabdavali has over the course of a decade become a pan-Indian celebration of Indian writing and artistry. With each passing year the event reaffirms its mission and continues to spotlight new talent across and beyonds boundaries to inspire and enrich India’s literary landscape.

For latest updates click: http://valleyofwords.org

 

SDM Rahul Anand @ Mussoorie Samvaad

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Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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SDM Rahul Anand at 2nd Edition of Mussoorie Samwaad the MPC

Dateline Mussoorie: Sub-divisional Magistrate Rahul Anand was a special invitee at the 2nd Edition of Mussoorie Samvaad, organized by the Mussoorie Press Club today.

Addressing a packed gathering, Rahul Anand — IAS batch of 2022 and Mussoorie’s Sub-divisional Magistrate for close to a year — took centre stage to discuss the challenges and responsibilities of the Queen of Hills as an administrator.

SDM Rahul Anand with members of the Mussoorie Press Club

Speaking candidly during the hour long interaction, Anand acknowledged that amongst the many challenges Mussoorie faced ‘Traffic’ was the number one problem. “Instead of looking at bandaged solutions to ease out traffic in Mussoorie, I believe we have to work out a holistic solution.” He further suggested, “A complete tourist circuit with a definite entry and exit point is something that should be worked upon so that we can ease out the traffic in-flow at major landmarks such as Picture Palace, Library Point, Zero Point et al.” He also suggested to reroute Chardham Yatra via Vikas Nagar and Prem Nagar instead of Mussoorie during peak season to ease out the inflow of into town.

Responding to questions from media personnel the SDM highlighted several pressing issues concerning Mussoorie and its citizens. Questions ranged from illegal construction, change of land use, noise pollution, lack of doctors in the Civil Hospital, leakage in the Yamuna Water Project, the delay in Mussoorie being notified as a Tehsil since 2023 and removing the last few hawkers who had encroached upon View Points along the Mall Road.

He also said that his tenure as Assistant Commissioner in Nainital enabled him to replicate the same model on Mussoorie’s Mall Road, successfully removing hawkers who had encroached upon it—a move that earned him widespread appreciation. The SDM urged the town’s residents to support and commit themselves to implementing stern measures to resolve routine issues so that the town could regain much of its lost glory.

Mussoorie Samvaad, an initiative by the Mussoorie Press Club, is conceived as a monthly interactive forum bringing together distinguished personalities from Mussoorie for engaging in  conversations with the local media. Through these sessions, the platform seeks to promote meaningful dialogue and provide insights into the work ethics, challenges, work ethic, and contribution towards Mussoorie’s development.

Ratatouille & Potpourri Poems: A little book of Happiness

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Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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Ratatouille & Potpourri Poems

Dateline Dehradun: Ratatouille & Potpourri Poems is a delightful collection of 44 poems whose title aptly captures the spirit of the book. Much like the French vegetable stew ratatouille, each poem contributes its own distinct flavour, creating a rich and satisfying medley of observations, emotions, and experiences for its readers.

The collection traverses a wide range of themes. Nature blossoms through poems such as Red Gladioli, Jasmine in My Garden, Poppies, and Sunflower – The National Flower of Ukraine. The changing moods of the seasons find expression in poems on autumn and the monsoon, while love unfolds in Don’t Feign Love, Signalling Love, and One More Time. Family relationships are portrayed with warmth and sensitivity in First Light Verse, My Father’s Son, and My Mother’s Health. The collection also reflects on the harsh realities of conflict through poignant poems such as Prisoners of War and Small Light Coffin. Whether exploring emotions, home, or humanity, the poems present thoughtful observations in varied forms, including rhyme, free verse, and slant rhyme, with each evocative piece inviting readers into a world of words and quiet reflection.

Dehradun-born lawyer, poet, and short story writer Ajay Jugraan is professionally based in Delhi. Writing in both Hindi and English, Jugraan has the ability to transform everyday moments into engaging poetic experiences. His accessible style encourages readers to slow down, savour each line, and discover meaning in the seemingly ordinary.

Jugraan is the author of the Hindi poetry collection Antarang Satrang, the English short story collection The Bridge on the River Song, and the haiku collection Haiku no Hanataba. With its blend of lyrical simplicity, emotional depth, and universal themes, Ratatouille & Potpourri Poems is an ideal companion for a cosy, rainy afternoon and a rewarding read for poetry lovers across borders.

Ratatouille & Potpourri Poems Verses on Vines

Bookleaf Publishing, 2026

9789375275916

82 pages

 ‘The Unbecoming’ in Dehradun

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Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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Unveiling 'The Unbecoming'

Dateline Dehradun: Conversations on identity, purpose, the stories we tell ourselves about success, and authentic living took centre stage in Dehradun as a like-minded group of readers, writers, and members of the town’s literary community gathered for the book reading session of The Unbecoming: Let Life Reveal Its Purpose by Kartikeya Vajpai.

Pic Courtesy: Shailendra Kant
Author Vajpai and Discussant Dr Chopra

Held in collaboration with the Valley of Words (VoW) International Literature & Arts Festival the event featured an engaging conversation between the author and Dr. Sanjeev Chopra, Festival Director of Valley of Words.

Speaking at the event, author, lawyer and former state-level cricketer Kartikeya Vajpai  felt honoured to be in Dehradun and thanked all those who had made the event possible. Speaking about the book, the author stated, “ the book does not seek to provide definitive answers, but it encourages readers to embrace uncertainty. The unbecoming is a philosophy, you are born complete but you suffer from the fear of being incomplete.” He further added, “Fear and Greed are complimentary, which are the true weapons of Maya.”

The Unbecoming

Featuring forewords by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Swami Sarvapriyananda, The Unbecoming is a fiction book that explores the emotional and philosophical dimensions of modern life through the story of Siddharth, a celebrated cricketer, and Ajay, his mentor. Speaking at the event, the author expressed how when it came to give messages to the masses, every religion took to story-telling. He called the book his guru as it took him through different dimensions and concepts while writing The Unbecoming.

The hour-long interactive discussion examined how the universal themes of identity, fear, ambition, and the burden of expectations resonate in contemporary life. Dr. Sanjeev Chopra expressed his happiness at the author for choosing Dehradun, a city known for its tradition of  knowledge for a discussion around his maiden debut. He asked all those present to delve deeper into the book to take away life lessons, irrespective of their age.

The event concluded with an audience interaction, book-signing session, along with a short melodious rendition by singer Bobby Cash and a presentation of the 30th Edition of Garhwal Post by Actor-Editor Satish Sharma to the author and discussant.

Blooming Mussoorie this Harela

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Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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The wild padam in bloom in Mussoorie

Dateline Mussoorie: Mussoorie is set to celebrate Harela this year with a unique environmental initiative aimed at transforming the hill station into a vibrant landscape of flowering and ornamental trees. The annual festival, which marks the arrival of the Great Monsoon is traditionally celebrated by planting saplings, and this year around the hill station will witness the launch of the Mussoorie Bloom Initiative, a collaborative effort involving the local administration, educational institutions, government agencies, and hospitality stakeholders.

The brainchild of Mussoorie born and raised Sandeep Sahni elaborated on the pilot prohect stating, “The initiative draws inspiration from the celebrated flowering landscapes of Japan and the hill states of Northeast India, with the vision of introducing seasonal bursts of colour to Mussoorie’s predominantly evergreen forests of oak and deodar.”

Courtesy: Nilanjana Singh Roy

As part of the preparations, ten schools in Mussoorie dug more than 3,000 planting pits across the town’s hillsides on World Environment Day. Plantation activities will begin on Harela. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) have also joined hands. Beyond planting, participating institutions have committed to nurture and conserve the saplings over the coming years to ensure their healthy growth.

The Forest Department actively supported the project by recommending tree species best suited to Mussoorie’s altitude and climatic conditions. Proposed species include Kachnaar, Tejpaat, Wild Padam, Jacaranda, Gulmohar, Bheemal, Tecoma, Amaltas, and Bottle Brush.

A series of meetings were held since third week of April under the local administration chaired by SDM Mussoorie Rahul Anand who stated, “The Mussoorie Bloom Initiative seeks not only to enhance the town’s natural beauty but also to promote long-term ecological stewardship through community participation, making Harela a celebration of both tradition and sustainable environmental conservation.”

As President of the Hotelier Association Uttarakhand Sandeep Sahni further added, “The idea is to ensure that this pilot project is eventually replicated across the hill state so that our hills of green-gold come alive with splashes of colour come spring or autumn.”

Citizens Demand Scrapping of Rishikesh-Bhaniawala Four-Lane Through Elephant Corridor

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Citizens Demand Scrapping of Rishikesh-Bhaniawala Four-Laning Through Elephant Corridor; Raise Ecological, Legal and Public Safety Concerns

Dateline Dehradun: Concerned citizens addressed a press conference urging the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Government of Uttarakhand to reconsider and scrap the proposed four-laning of the Rishikesh-Bhaniawala road passing through an ecologically sensitive elephant corridor.

Opening the discussion, Ira Chauhan said that the proposed widening of the highway must be viewed not merely as a road project but as a decision with far-reaching environmental consequences for one of Uttarakhand’s most important wildlife corridors. She said the elephant corridor plays a critical role in maintaining habitat connectivity and that any large-scale fragmentation of forests could increase human-wildlife conflict while threatening the movement of elephants and other wildlife.

Speaking on the legal aspects of the project, Himanshu Arora highlighted the legal concerns surrounding the project, stating that the recent tree felling appears to have proceeded despite the matter remaining under judicial consideration. He explained that while the Uttarakhand High Court had disposed of the Public Interest Litigation earlier this year, it had done so after observing that issues relating to the elephant corridor and tree felling were already pending before the Supreme Court. Arora questioned whether the ongoing tree felling was consistent with these judicial directions and stated that legal remedies, including appropriate proceedings before the courts, were being actively explored.

Dinesh Semwal,  a long time resident, stressed that he had never encountered any traffic jams on the road and questioned the very need of the four laning. He further added that local communities have always coexisted with wildlife and expressed concern that increasing fragmentation of forests could result in more frequent encounters between humans and elephants, thereby placing both at greater risk.

Concluding the press conference, Anoop Nautiyal questioned why the National Highways Authority of India had commenced large-scale tree felling during the monsoon season, describing it as a first-of-its-kind instance in Uttarakhand. He said the monsoon is traditionally regarded as the season for plantation and ecological regeneration, making the timing of tree cutting deeply concerning from both environmental and public policy perspectives.

He questioned whether the State Government’s model of balancing economic development with ecological conservation was achieving its stated objectives, particularly in light of the growing pressures on forests, biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The speakers collectively appealed to the Government of Uttarakhand and the National Highways Authority of India to re-examine the project through the lens of long-term ecological sustainability, wildlife conservation and climate resilience.

The citizens’ group also announced the next phase of its campaign. Peaceful protests will be organised outside the NHAI office on July 8 while this year’s Harela festival will be observed as a “Black Harela” to symbolically highlight the large-scale loss of trees and forests in Uttarakhand.

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