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Munsiyari Tulip Garden: God’s own Paradise

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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Dateline Pithoragarh: Come summer and Munsyari’s Tulip Garden is blooming away in all its glory, a dazzling display of colour that gives us some respite in these otherwise gloomy  Covid days.

This year around too, at an elevation of nine thousand feet at Munsiyari, Dr. Vinay Bhargav, IFS & DFO, Pithoragarh with his multi-skilled team has managed to double the Tulip crop and given us a sea of tulip flowers to behold.

The location’s elevation and weather makes it a perfect combination for Tulip bloom in the region which you will see for half a year. Some twenty thousand bulbs, of five varieties: Queen of Night, Hakuun, Laptop, Abba Red and Close to Red Impression’s were brought in from Netherland. Under tulip trial project twenty thousand tulips were planted in and around Pashupatinath Temple, in Chandak region, some seven kilometers from Pithoragarh in 2019 on a trial basis, the first crop bloomed in the summer of 2020.

This year around, the bumper crop at Munsiyari leaves us spell-bound. Experiments with respect to altitude, season, new daughter bulbs and breaking of dormancy, has yielded a bumper crop. The target of a longer bloom season, a better flower size and ideal stalk length with a better life span has been achieved. The backdrop of the snow-laden Panchachuli mountain range makes this riot of colours, a sight to behold and a ‘must-visit’ post the pandemic.

Talking to Newspost, Dr. Vinay Bhargav tells us: “Results are phenomenal! This time there is more self-sufficiency for now and greater sustainability for the future.” Adding, “Tulips being a native wild species of Kumaon Himalaya, we were confident of better results, but this is an astounding deliverance. We can now showcase more than six months of Tulips’ bloom in a year.”

The Tulip Garden is a joint vision of the Forest Division with the Tourism Department, assisted by the Horticulture Department and Rural Department. The working model came up with the basic objective of preventing migration, promoting livelihood opportunities and developing self-employment in community owned business model.

Urvashi YouTube channel earnings for COVID-19 relief fund

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Mumbai: Urvashi Rautela is once again making headlines and that too for the right reasons. The face of many recent musical videos which have broken both national and international records, the actor has decided to relaunch her YouTube channel and donate its funds to the Covid-19 relief fund in India.

The young talent had first launched her YouTube channel in the year 2011 when she was crowned the 17th ‘Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International.’ Her first video on the channel was of her being crowned at the ceremony. Since then Urvashi’s career has reached newer heights giving her little time to update her YouTube Channel, but all that is set to change.

The actress had earlier announced that she would be contributing her earnings from “Versace Baby” to the Covid-19 Relief Fund and The Palestine Red Crescent Society. Urvashi’s international debut album “Versace Baby” alongside the Egyptian singer-actor Mohamed Ramadan is a song  loved by people across the globe.

In the little over three minute video which Urvashi shared yesterday from her YouTube channel has garnered close to fourteen thousand hits and counting. It films her skydiving feat from 30,000 ft in Dubai.  Talking about her experience she writes, “Skydiving one of the most exhilarating experiences of my entire life. If you’re even considering skydiving, I highly, highly recommend it. I would do it multiple times in a heartbeat!!

On the work front, Urvashi Rautela will be making her Tamil debut with a big-budget sci-fi Tamil film,  playing the role of a microbiologist and an IITian. She will also appear in a bilingual thriller “Black Rose” along with the Hindi remake of “Thirutu Payale 2.” Urvashi is starring in web series “Inspector Avinash” alongside Randeep Hooda, which is a biopic based on the true story of super cop Avinash Mishra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5lwOJMLMTY

Mussoorie: No more tangled webs

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Mussoorie: Good news from pandemic hit Mussoorie. As the town tries to limp back to normalcy after the second wave, Mussoorie’s Mall road has managed to get a much-overdue facelift. No small thanks are due to the UPCL or the Electricity Department for this stellar effort.

Seeing the before and after images of the underground laying of electric cables and wires carried out along the Mall, gives the residents of Mussoorie something to smile about. The ugly mess of the tangled web of electricity cables, wires and lines dangling overhead are now a thing of the past courtesy the electricity department.

Under the first phase, the underground laying of electricity lines was carried out in the year 2015, a whopping cost of Rupees 374 lakhs to lay these wires across town from the Mussoorie Library end all the way to Jhulaghar, over a distance of some three kilometers.

Five years down the line, under the second phase, work began in mid-September 2020 with a target of 900 meters extending from Masonic Lodge Bus-stand to Sai Mandir along the Mall at a cost of 189 lakhs. This took about six months from start to finish. Done and dusted, the pleasant effect is on display for everyone to see.

What remains is a patch of some 800-900 meters extending from Sai Mandir to Shishu Mandir School. If all goes according to plan, this too will see completion in the third and final phase.

Mussoorie SDO, Pankaj Thapliyal tells Newspost: “We got immense support from the local administration as well as the police department which made it possible to complete this work without any glitches. Following all Covid protocols in place during the lockdown, work carried on seamlessly as there was almost no traffic to worry about. We went ahead and managed to finish the task at hand.” He adds: “We are certain that in the coming months, the final stretch too will also see completion.’

Renowned environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna passes away

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Dehradun: The pandemic claims an environmental gem from Uttarakhand. 94-year-old Sunderlal Bahuguna breathed his last in AIIMS Medical Hospital, Rishikesh today morning. He was suffering from Covid-19 induced Pneumonia.

Khaadi kurta-pyjama and a white headscarf, this man needed no introduction. Gentle, passionate, soft spoken, veteran Padmabhushan Awardee Sunderlal Bahuguna brought the Garhwal Himalaya into the limelight internationally with this headstrong campaigns against liquor mafia, the 1973 Chipko Movement of the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda Valley and the Anti-Tehri Dam agitation which lasted nineteen years. He fasted twice: 49 days and then 74 days against the coming up of the Tehri Dam.

Sunderlal Bahuguna and his wife Bimla Devi were amongst the last residents to leave Old Tehri when it sunk in the waters Bhagirathi and Bhilangana.

Born on 9th Jan 1927 in a hamlet near Tehri, Bahuguna ji finished schooling from these hills and then moved to Lahore to finish his B.A. honours in Political Science. His love for the mountains couldn’t escape his blood and he found himself drawn to the hills where in 1957 he found his companion and greatest support in Bimla Devi his wife.

From a freedom fighter at 17, to being the General Secretary of the Congress, the octogenarian had seen it all. But being a social worker or an environmentalist gave him immense pleasure as he strongly believed that a social worker saw a vision for generations to come, but a politician was shortsighted and lived only for the moment.

In my last interview of the old sage at his abode ‘Ganga Kutir,’ next to the Tehri Lake, he spoke with a twinkle in his eyes when I asked him what kept him going? He said his magic-formula was ‘3-A formula: Austerity, Alternative and Afforestation,’ words of wisdom spoken by someone who spent his life living by example.

‘Help Me’ a WhatsApp group making a difference

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Dehradun: Since the first Covid-19 wave in 2020 to now the second, many nameless, faceless Covid heroes have emerged from our community across the hill-state of Uttarakhand.

Adding to the long queue of help-groups is a WhatsApp group of like-minded women called ‘Help Me,’ based in Dehradun. Started towards the end of April 2021, the group, like many others, came up with the sole agenda of wanting to help those in need.

For the past many weeks ‘Help Me’ has been working relentlessly to make a difference in the lives of our frontline workers, from the crematorium to the hospital staff, Covid vaccination centres and even Covid positive patients recuperating in the district.

The idea behind ‘Help Me’ they tell me is, “Our’s is an informal, like-minded friends and family members group who came together with the sole purpose to help during these extraordinary times. We want to to do our bit and help as many frontline workers as we can.” Stating further, “we got in touch with officials on the ground to get the exact number of people in need and have been sending out home-made meals to staff as well as refreshments and water to our frontline warriors for the past few weeks and counting.”

Mood-boosters protein rich snacks make up these daily refreshment packets that contain cookies, buns, potato chips along with water bottles that bring a smile on the face of the receiver. Other than that, these dedicated women, moved by the plight of the staff manning the Raipur Covid Crematorium in the outskirts of Dehradun have been sending wholesome meals to sustain them through the never-ending day.

‘Help Me’ is looking for donors in order expand their circle further so that they are able to reach more such people in their hour of need.

Please make your donations @ +917906202376 (Paytm)

As sweet as it can get during pandemic

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Dehradun: Young. Type-1 diabetic. Covid survivor. Yet, helping those like her in their hour of need.

When Rekha Negi set up Uttarakhand Diabetes Awareness Initiative (UDAI), a community support for those living with type-1 diabetes in the year 2018, little did she know she would be a frontline warrior during Covid19.

Starting her day early to follow up with children on their fasting sugar count so that they can have a good day ahead, to then assisting diabetic patients who are Covid positive living across Uttarakhand to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh and even Delhi.

Rekha tells us, “Underprivileged people and especially children with diabetes are undergoing difficult challenges during Covid19. I am providing them free online consultation, dietary changes if any with the help of doctors and even organising medicinal supplies to their doorsteps.”

Her NGO helps Rekha to stay connected with local volunteers, she adds, “We have 6-7 volunteers (including SOCH members) in Tehri who have connected us with eighty Gram Pradhans from the region. We take down their requirements which we forward to Dehradun group member Himalaya Ramola who in turn arranges for these requirements to make their way to Tehri the following morning.”

From Glucometer Strips, medicines to pen needles, except insulin that she tries to procure locally with the help of volunteers or community-aid groups, Rekha has been making it easy for diabetic patients to have easy access to these life-saving drugs while they battle Covid.

From those as young as two year old, to young men and women and senior citizens, Rekha Negi is offering them support, comfort and kindness in a number of ways. From free online doctor consultation for the family to sending across diabetic medicines, the young lady says No! to no one, but sprinkles a little stardust in such testing times.

‘Sohne Di Pasand’ touches five million hearts and counting

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Mumbai: Punjabi romantic song ‘Sohne Di Pasand’ released on YouTube has garnered five million views and counting within a month of its online release.

The song not only articulates the visual tale of an adorable love-story but it is also thought provoking. The song seems to have pulled on the heartstrings of young lovers across the globe and made an instant connect with their fans. While singer Jind has lent his soulful voice to ‘Sohne Di Pasand,’ beautiful and talented leading lady Akaisha adds magic to the musical saga. Shera Dhaliwal of Donut Music is the producer as well as the lyricist of the four minute song which has been Directed by Abhaynoor Singh who is making his debut in the industry with this Punjabi song.

Shot on location in Chandigarh, the love story of ‘Sohne Di Pasand’ revolves around a small town innocent love story. It is the story of how a humble Muslim girl played by talented Akaisha falls in love with a rich Hindu boy enacted by Jind himself. While the girl’s brother is skeptical about the match, the storyline ends with the boy convincing his parents to ask her hand in marriage and then getting engaged. The musical video highlights the pertinent message of how sentiments of love cannot be justified in terms of religion.

Though sung in Punjabi what makes ‘Sohne Di Pasand’ extraordinary is its unusual Gujarati beats, a first-of-its-kind experiment in the Punjabi music industry thanks to Jaymeet.

‘Sohne Di Pasand’ as envisioned by Shera Dhaliwal has been beautifully scripted by the dedicated team who worked with the aim of not only producing a melodious song but also on sending out an important social message to the younger generation on how religion should hold no barriers when it comes to true love.

Urvashi’s latest look styled by Donatella Versace

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Mumbai: Bollywood’s young superstar Urvashi Rautela is no doubt a fashion icon for the young generation. The young talented actor never disappoints her fans. Over the years, the fashion diva has managed to weave a magical spell on her growing number of fans with her complete persona be it her outfit, make-up, styling or acting in her music videos, web-series, movies etc.

Urvashi Rautela latest look in the Egyptian song ‘Versace Baby’ with Arabic superstar Mohamed Ramadan has been styled by none other but the diva of fashion world, designer Donatella Versace. Actress Urvashi Rautela’s looks have been styled by the Beyonce team which cost a whopping fifteen crore. The project took just over a year to pre-plan Urvashi’s outfit and themed look for the video.  Every scene in the video has been tailor-made for the occasion with carefully chosen outfits. In the song, Urvashi portrays the Greek Goddess ‘Medusa’ one of the monsters from Greek mythology.

Sharing more about recreating her as Medusa in the video, Urvashi says, “the six minute project took more than one year to plan my outfit for the song. Every scene is packed with carefully chosen outfits.” Adding, “The Versace family as we are all well aware, is no stranger to tragedy and triumph, making the mythic Medusa a fitting choice.”

‘Versace Baby’ Urvashi’s debut international music video is trending at #number 1 all over the world, while going viral on social media handles. The song is said to be one of the highest budget songs for the year 2021. Released on Eid, Urvashi had earlier stated that,  “all proceeds and my earning from this video will be donated towards nation’s fight against Covid-19.”

Doonites: The Gift of Food during Covid19

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Dehradun: If you happen to be around Dharampur area in Dehradun and see two young men in their thirties driving around, distributing food packets to labourers, homeless and frontline workers, then you have come across Arvind Pundir and Amit Negi two friends who are feeding hungry mouths in times of Covid19.

Arvind Pundir is the owner of ‘Samose-Wala’s’ in Nehru Colony, a five-month-old café famous for serving 18 to 20 kinds of samosas that had to down shutters towards end of March. Covid’s second had struck. Making the most of his kitchen and staff, Arvind along with his friend Amit started out by delivering wholesome home-cooked meals to Covid positive patients living in isolation for a nominal charge of 120/- rupees. Today they deliver close to thirty such meals within a radius of five kilometers of Dharampur.

Out on delivery, the duo came across umpteen frontline workers like policemen, homeless, the poor and labourers working at various construction sites who couldn’t manage meals. They grabbed this opportunity and decided to feed close to hundred people a day either rajma chawal or chole chawal free of charge.

Not stopping there, Arvind and Amit have decided to make 25-30 bottles of interesting thirst quenchers for those out on duty as the mercury rises.

Arvind tells me, “ I have a well-equipped kitchen with two cooks and we deliver food from morning to evening. What we are looking for are genuine volunteers and people who can call us and point us in the right direction. All we need is information about the homeless, the helpless or the lesser fortunate ones whom we can feed.”

Next time if per chance you see someone who needs help, call Arvind on the number given below. Nothing is more distressing than one who sleeps on a hungry stomach.

For Volunteers/ Information:

Amit Negi: 6395412108

SOCH keeping Covid-19 at bay in Uttarakhand

By
Dr. Tania Saili Bakshi
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0

Dateline Tehri: Covid-19 has crawled its way into our hills of home. At present, there is not a single district in Uttarakhand that is not battling the pandemic wave that has left many infected in its sweep.

Taking notice of the gravity of the issue, the Centre came out with special SOPs to curtail the spread of the pandemic in rural and semi-urban towns giving weightage to village-level surveillance, tele-consultation with community health officers, training in rapid antigen testing, but in the meantime, young people are making all the difference.

Rising to the occasion, young volunteers from the community are coming together to do their bit to ensure that the pandemic doesn’t make its way beyond their village gate. SOCH is one such consortium of fifteen-twenty young men and women spread across five hill-districts of Tehri, Uttarkashi, Pauri, Chamoli and Pithoragarh who have taken charge to limit the spread of the disease.

Leading from the front, the team has been working relentlessly distributing masks and sanitizer kits, put together with their personal funds. The volunteers head out early morning to adjoining far flung villages to distribute kits as well as spread awareness amongst the hill-folks about Covid SOPs, dos and don’t’s.

Deep Negi, from the hospitality industry in Dubai was home visiting family when the second Covid-wave struck. Since then making the most of his extended holiday, Deep and his team of volunteers are working on war footing trying to streamline the distribution of masks and sanitizers in over two hundred households across five districts and counting.

This enthusiastic and dedicated team of SOCH has been going door-to door with the single mission of preventing the Covid pandemic from spreading in their villages,  they believe, ‘Prevention is better than cure! And it is no secret that there is negligible if not completely unequipped medical assistance in our villages to deal with the growing pandemic.

For those who wish to support SOCH in their endeavour, please contribute to the below given account:

Account Details:

Account Name – Social Organization for Connecting Happiness

Account No – 37064757554

Bank Name – State Bank of India

IFSC – SBIN0005475

MICR – 248002006

Dharampur Branch, Haridwar Road

Dehradun, Uttarakhand -248001, India

For more information, please follow up on – 7300758707 (m)

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