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October 5, 2020

Dateline Mussoorie: Unlock-5 saw an unprecedented rise in tourist movement across the hill-state of Uttarakhand this past weekend.

Close to eight thousand tourists visited the Queen of Hills between 2-4th of October bringing a smile to the faces of local hoteliers and businessmen. Though there were initial hiccups in the way of traffic snarls, water scarcity, and also under-staffed hotels.

Sandeep Sahni, President, Uttarakhand Hoteliers Association, who in the recent past had stated that the tourism industry is in a coma, called the weekend business, “a fresh doze of much-required oxygen,” adding, ” if we talk about Mussoorie specifically then amongst 70% hotels which have opened, all recorded 90% occupancy, especially over the weekend. We are hoping that this will build confidence in both the tourists and the local community.”

As the cars inched forward there were traffic jams all over. Adjoining areas of Dhanolti, Kanatal, Tehri, and Chamba witnessed a surge in tourists after being close for close to seven months. SDM Mussoorie, Manish Kumar updated that, “Random COVID tests were carried out at Gandhi Chowk and Shaheed Sthal. Wearing masks and mandatory social distancing norms were enforced. Additional force both from CRD and Police force were brought in to ease traffic influx and maintain law and order.

Unprecedented tourists making a beeline to Mussoorie made most residents uneasy who decided to stay home during the weekend.

From the look of it, the tourism sector definitely got its much-awaited boost and business promises to get better over the next month or two.

Back to The Roots with Ashish Bhandari

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October 4, 2020

https://audioboom.com/channels/5023047

Dateline Pauri: This lockdown has brought a lot of things to the foreground. One such being Podcast: an episodic series of the spoken word.

These days, from experts to industry leaders are using digital audio files or Podcasts, a portmanteau of IPod and Broadcast to woo listeners. Joining this long list of Podcast hosts is Uttarakhand’s Ashish Bhandari whose, ‘Back to The Roots’ Hindi Podcast, a five-month-old venture, already has a growing number of loyal followers.

Giving us a glimpse into his pahadi heritage, Ashish tell us, “My grandfather migrated to Delhi in the early 70s. Visiting my native village in summer vacations was how I always stayed connected to my roots. For the longest time, Village Khuir, Patti Kafolysun, District Pauri was my permanent address.”

No stranger to the world of media, Ashish has an illustrious background working for the biggest Media Houses in the country for over ten years. “Intrigued by the idea of story telling, I finally took a plunge into the world of freelancers in August, 2019. I started going back to my passion for voice-overs and voice acting. I got back to the dubbing circuit of Delhi and worked on some of the finest documentaries for National Geographic,” he adds.

A skilled storyteller with a mellow voice, Ashish has successfully belted out eighteen episodes from ‘Back to The Roots.’ Each episode is different to the norm as the host has aced the art of fishing unheard, hidden anecdotes, stories and tales from the treasure trove that Indian History and our mythology is, “Upcoming festivals, auspicious days, millions of untold stories. This is an attempt to bridge the gap between young minds and our culture. In the months that don’t have an upcoming major festival, we go back to pertinent topics like Char Dham, Banyan Tree, story of Tilak etc,” he adds.

‘Back to The Roots’ podcast is definitely entertains us as well as educates us, captivating all age groups. The audio episodes are easy-to-consume and last from anywhere between five to six minutes. “Usually an episode takes around two days of research, writing, recording and editing.”

In the near future, ‘Back to The Roots’ plans to have an English version of the audio episodes as well as short video clips regaling us with tales from our history and culture.

To know more, tune in to:

An online digital exhibition of Mahatma Gandhi’s stamp collection

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October 2, 2020

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/evolve-foundation

Dateline Dehradun: On the 151st birth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation, in partnership with Google Arts & Culture, Evolve has curated a series of digital exhibits featuring World Philately that celebrates the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

The collection is a labour of love by IAS. Surjit K Das, retired Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and Chairman of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. These five specially curated virtual exhibits have been developed for online visitors from Mr. Das’s collection, who over the years has been collecting the postal stamps & First Day Covers issued by countries across the world, paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Talking to Newspost IAS Surjit K Das tells us about his early interest in the life and times of Gandhi, “I realised how almost every country, some 180 odd countries around the world published a stamp in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, which I found to be very interesting and I started collecting these.”

Adding more Nupur Agarwal, Director of Evolve Foundation, says, “The world is changing and we are growing on the technology front. For easy access and in-depth information, digital media is a great medium for the viewer. Google Arts & Culture is an amazing platform for an audience to explore more than two thousand exhibitions showcasing collections, artworks, and places from over eighty countries.”

Highlights of the online exhibit include:

Highlights of Indian postal history on Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. (Read it in depth at: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/5wVx8ThtD9_gHA)
Africa’s stamp collectables giving tribute To Gandhi (Read it in depth at: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/AQXhk3RZnpO-fw)
European postal stamp collection in honour Of Gandhi (Read it in depth at:https://artsandculture.google.com/story/AQUBMKFZBBCXUw)
A special Khadi Stamp, inaugurated by the former President of India, Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil at the World Philatelic Exhibition – INDIPEX 2011.

For more, click on the link below:

White Water Rafting begins in Rishikesh

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September 27, 2020

Dateline Rishikesh: On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the State government issued fresh guidelines to restart white water rafting on the Ganges in Rishikesh from today.

Rafting had come to a complete standstill in March 2020 due to Covid-19. Coming as a rude shock to thousands associated with the adventure sports for whom March-June are peak rafting season.

But the new relaxations have come as a fresh breath of air for the community. Speaking on behalf of relieved rafters, Dinesh Bhatt, President of the Rafting Association, welcomed the move, “March to June is peak season for rafting, but unfortunately due to Covid-19 lockdown we lost out on a good season. But with the new guidelines in place, we are hoping that business will soon make up for early loses.”

For starters, the government has reduced the number of tourists on a raft from 8 to 4, to follow social distancing while rafting, keeping safety norms in place. The growing adventure sports industry has ninety percent local youth dependent on it for their livelihood, and they are making sure to follow the rule book.

Famous for its spirituality, Rishikesh has carved a niche for itself on the international map for offering adventure sport in the form of white water rafting. Annually, from early September to June, lakhs of visitors from home and abroad throng to these rapids for that ultimate thrill.

Many adjudge the sixteen-kilometer stretch from Shivpuri to Laxman Jhula as the best-rafting course, with rapids upto grade five. Over the years, a hundred rafting camps have come up in this stretch bringing in revenue and fame that the sport offers.

Once again, rapids on the Ganga will offer that perfect playground for amateur as well as experienced rafters and kayakers, looking for that thrill, from mild to wild and everything in between.

Watch IPL 2020 with Tanya Purohit

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September 19, 2020

Dateline Dehradun: 19^th September. IPL is here! And when you all tune in to the game today evening, watch out for Uttarakhand’s rising star Tanya Purohit anchoring a ‘live’ @ 6:00 o’clock on Star Sports.

Talking to us between rehearsals, Tanya fills us in about last minute preparations. “I feel great! Cricket is making a come back. There was a point in time when we all thought IPL would not happen, but finally its here. And I am a part of it,” an elated Tanya from her Bio-Bubble in Mumbai, tells us.

In early March, Tanya was selected by Star Sports to be part of the IPL league and had attended workshops before Covid-19 lockdown happened. In the meantime, the young talent anchored the Carribean Premier League from the safety of her home, but she missed the camaraderie of her team and a professional studio set-up, but now all that is a thing of the past.

About her love for the game, Tanya tells us, “I got the love for the game of cricket from my mother, Beena Purohit. ” She remembers vividly how her father Dr. Dataram Purohit reprimanded her for scoring poorly in class 8 and 9 banning cricket for good. But luckily for us, Tanya’s love for the game only got stronger.

For the next month and a half, Tanya will be sharing screen time with her personal favorites talking and analyzing the game with experts in the studios. From Irfaan Pathan to Kiran More, Nikhil Chopra, Ashish Nehra and Sanjay Bangar, all legends of the game. Tanya adds, “For the past few weeks we all have been living in this Bio-Bubble, having our meals together as a family, learning, feeling, talking, breathing cricket. There is a great rapport with everyone, which will come across on the screen as well.”

From going live in Hindi at 6:00 o’clock India time today and then hosting shows for specific teams, Tanya’s Purohit roster is a busy one. She signs off saying, “ Everyone loves cricket. And during such testing time, IPL will be much more than your regular game. It will be like a breath of fresh, the need of the hour.”

And we couldn’t agree more.

Mangesh Ghildiyal: In a League of One’s Own

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September 17, 2020

Dateline Dehradun: Of the three IAS officers appointed to the Prime Minister’s Office includes Mangesh Ghildiyal presently posted as District Magistrate Tehri, Uttarakhand. Mangesh Ghildiyal has been appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet to the post of Under Secretary in the PMO.

Mangesh, a 2011 batch IAS officer, had secured the fourth rank, in the UPSC exam and was allotted his ‘first preference,’ his home-cadre, Uttarakhand. On why he chose this profession, Mangesh tells Newspost, “I chose the Indian Administrative Services to make a difference in the society. So that I could reach out to the last man and implement government schemes and make a difference where it matters most.”

And make a difference, he did! Mangesh’s first posting was that of a Joint Magistrate to Laksar in Haridwar in September 2014. Followed by Joint Magistrate Chamoli, Joint Magistrate Roorkee, CDO Chamoli and then as District Magistrate Bageshwar in 2016.

Almost a year later, on being transferred from Bageshwar, crowds protested on the streets. His selfless image, hard work and sincerity made him very a popular officer.

His tenure as District Magistrate Rudraprayag began in May 2017. Mangesh Ghildiyal was at the helm of overseeing reconstruction of Kedarnath and construction of Chardham all-weather road even in the heart of winter. He proved his mettle time and again which once again won the minds and heart of his people.

Anecdotes about Mangesh impersonating as a pilgrimage to take stock of arrangements and check on unsuspecting officials absent from duty, or the instance, when his wife Usha Sanyal, took up the job as a Science teacher at Government Girls Inter College in Rudraprayag to help students in Board classes, made the couple an instant hit amongst the masses.

His stint as Tehri District Magistrate, just four months long, saw him dedicated to the field of Waste Management, Covid Management and rehabilitation issues.

While Uttarakhand’s loss is definitely Delhi’s gain, we all hope that this ‘true son of the soil,’ will once again make us proud as he moves onward, upward.

IIT Roorkee introduces Term (Quarter) system in MBA programme

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newspost

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September 11, 2020

Roorke: In an endeavour to revamp the curriculum in tune with requirements over time and achieve excellence, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, has introduced the Term (Quarter) System in the 2-year MBA programme wherein each year of the programme has been divided into four terms. The objective of the new structure is to drive excellence through the expansion of the knowledge base and encourage the promotion of research and innovation. This initiative by the Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee will put the institution in the league of premier B-schools in India such as IITs and IIMs wherein this programme structure is running successfully.

“IIT Roorkee has achieved a new milestone with the implementation of the Term (Quarter) system in the 2-year MBA programme. The new structure is in tune with industry needs and has a successful track record of implementation in reputed B-schools in India and abroad. The Term system will allow students to explore a wider knowledge terrain through the introduction of diversified courses. It will be supplemented by practical components that will equip students with problem-solving, critical-thinking and decision-making skills to tackle the challenges of Industry 4.0” said Prof. M. Parida, Deputy Director, IIT Roorkee

The new structure has been implemented from August 2020 session. Henceforth, the first year of the MBA programme will comprise mostly theoretical subjects while the second year would be inclined more towards practical learning such as industry visits, corporate interactions, projects, and research. The last term (8th quarter) would constitute only the Final Project for exposing students to a greater degree of the practical aspect of the course. The move will also allow faculty project mentors to devote a greater number of hours to support students in the completion of their project.

“The Term system will expose students to a wider range of disciplines whereas the practical aspect of the course will comprise relevant industry exposure and project work. The new structure has a proven track record of upskilling the students in line with requirements of the futuristic workforce” Prof. M K Barua, Head, Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee, said.

Some of the salient features of the new program structure are the introduction of fast-paced courses of 1 credit, 1.5 credits, and 2 credits that will allow for the inclusion of more subjects in the curriculum, the ability to choose electives from the 4th term (1st year) itself, teaching the electives which are in high demand by the companies in the 1st year itself to equip students with the required knowledge before the placement season.

Vocal for Local: Herbal Salts from HimShakti

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September 11, 2020

Dateline Uttarkashi: It all happened in Didsari! A scenic village some twenty-two kilometers from the District headquarters of Uttarkashi enroute the Kush Kalyan Bugyal trek. It was while visiting this region in 2018, that Cloe Ando a French national, unhappy with the living conditions of the villagers in the region met Harshit Sehdev and after several brainstorming ideas, the duo hit upon the idea of HimShakti Seasoning Salts from the hills of Uttarakhand.

HimShakti started with a nominal investment of INR 10,000 in November 2018, with seven marginalized farmers supporting the project with their labour of love for traditional flavoured-salt recipes. The money was utilized to prepare initial samples of traditional seasoning salt that were sold to two corporates viz. Valley Farms and VKJ Projects Private Limited. Since then HimShakti has moved onward and upward, making its mark in the competitive market.

The business soon went global and today has its presence in France and the United States of America as well.

While Cloe made her way home to France, Harshit took HimShakti forward, he tells us, “Uttarakhand is famous for its flavoured gourmet salt or pisi loon. The salt mixture contains Himalayan spices and herbs with multiple health benefits.” He further adds, “HimShakti employs villagers who crush the salt along with other indigenous ingredients on a mortar and pestle. The packaging of their products is also done locally.”

Recently, Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, the energy chef of India joined hands with HimShakti to become its Brand Ambassador.

HimShakti was selected as one of the top 37 start-ups (amongst 400+ applicants) for grants and to be incubated at the prestigious Institute IIM Kashipur under Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Program, 2019.

These herbal salts are flavoured with Black pepper, hemp, garlic, cumin seed found at an altitude of 11000 feet that promise to add a distinct flavour to your feast.

Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra during the pandemic

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September 9, 2020