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July 13, 2020

https://youtu.be/IKi8m6E8ZZ8

Dateline Dehradun: Within hours of its online release today, ‘Genda Phool’ by Rapper Badshah and artists from Uttarakhand, Priyanka Meher and Rongpaz has broken all records.

The two and half minute song was shot in Dehradun and Rishikesh by a talented motley five member crew, including Priyanka and Rongpaz Vivek Pal DOP, Director Mohit Siswal and Costume Designer Aishwarya Bilwal who all gave a regional flavor to the pahadi rap remix.

Priyanka Meher and Rongpaz are an elated duo. Dream comes true for the artists who have made a niche for themselves in the world of rap music. Talking to Newspost, Priyanka Meher said, “It was a great experience working on the song. We have a lot of Garhwali songs in the pipeline, but if all goes as planned, we might soon be working on another song with Badshah.”

Talking about the outfits of the artists, Aishwarya Bailwal of Agnipadma Fashion stated, “the outfits we chose for the song was a fusion of traditional and western. As the artists are young they wanted to make their onscreen image unique and different. So we gave them that exact look as per the requirement for the song.”

In an interview Rapper Badshah had called him self a ‘mountain soul’ and mentioned how he would love to collaborate with artists from Uttarakhand. The rapper kept his word and this latest release ‘Genda Phool’ is both an audio-visual delight for the people of the hill-state.

Director Mohit Siswal, a resident of Pauri in Uttarakhand and here since the lockdown directed the video shoot, and he shares with us, “we have tried to bring out the beauty of Uttarakhand through the song lyrics, locales, dance steps, costume and jewelry. We have shot in locations, with the mountains as our backdrop.”

By the look of it, the pahadi version of Genda Phool is all set to make new records in the days to come.

The Hans Foundation steps in to help during Covid-19

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July 10, 2020

New Delhi: The Hans Foundation (THF), one of India’s largest public charitable trust has stepped up its efforts in the fight against COVID-19. Renowned spiritual leader Bhole Ji Maharaj and Mata Mangla Ji have been the guiding force behind The Hans Foundation’s COVID-19 relief work during the pandemic. The relief drive has especially targeted the underprivileged communities impacted with the pandemic and lockdown. Since March, lakhs of people have been extended help and support in terms of food supplies, medicines, ventilators, hospital beds and other forms of support in 17 states across the country through the foundation.

According to The Hans Foundation’s Founder & Chairperson Ms Shweta Rawat, in the last three months alone, “The Foundation has contributed more than 16.5 crore rupees to help and empower people in distress affected by COVID-19. THF has donated INR Four crores in PM Corona Cares Fund and INR One crore fifty-one Lakh in the Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s fund during the pandemic.” The Chairperson while talking about the COVID-19 relief drive of the Foundation shared that” in collaboration with our partners, we have benefitted more than three lakh families by providing nutritional kits/ration kits to the families of migrants, daily wage earners, informal sector workers. Also, the foundation helped several state and govt. hospitals by providing lifesaving ventilators, setting up isolation centres, distributing healthcare kits were for the frontline health workers and partial salaries as well.”

THF also presented PPE kits, sanitizers and gloves to the State Home Minister Mr Reddy and Delhi Police Commissioner. “The Foundation has assisted in setting up quarantine centres with a capacity of 10,000 for migrant workers in Udhamsingh Nagar and Champawat District Administration in Uttarakhand. A total of 6000 beds, electric fans, iron folding beds, fishing etc. have been provided in these centres. Such quarantine centres were also established in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh,” added Shweta Rawat.

Commenting on the COVID-19 initiatives, Shweta Rawat, The Chairperson, The Hans Foundation said ‘The Hans Foundation is proactive and propelled towards the fight against COVID-19. The Foundation through close cooperation and collaboration with governments, partners and public health providers are providing food security, livelihood development in these tough times across the country to ensure that the marginalised communities survive through this crisis. We are more convinced than ever that we have the resilience, the grit and the resourcefulness to get through this together.’

Staying creative during lockdown 2020

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July 9, 2020

Dateline Dehradun/Champawat: Lockdown 2020 has seen many a young mind from the entertainment business making their way home to Uttarakhand. Today we decided to check on a few artists, to see how they are braving it through this crisis. Young, artists Priyanka Karnwal and Raghav Juyal from Dehradun and Pawandeep Rajan from Champaat were kind enough to share their ‘Lockdown Mantra,’ and what has been keeping these busy bodies busy.

Priyanka Karnwal began her career with TV commercials such as Close Up, Himalaya, Malabar Gold and plenty more. She then moved onto television serials like Pavitra Rishta and Mariyamkhan Reporting Live amongst her latest. The talented youngster has also got a Kannad film, ‘’NeenaDeena ‘’ under her belt.

Forthcoming and soft-spoken, Priyanka’s mantra has been spending quality time with her family and friends in her hometown of Dehradun. She has been busy doing yoga, trying her hand at culinary delights as well as exercising her green fingers. Free from household chores, she has found the time to make a musical-ode dedicated to Uttarakhand Police – at the forefront of fighting the present pandemic.

Raghav Juyal, who has come home after a long time, this young dancer-cum-actor’s mantra of dealing with the Covid-19 lockdown has been football, video games, bonding with family and plenty of ‘me’ time since March.

Raghav looks forward to a fruitful July with a lot of releases slated over the next few weeks. From his serial Abhay, Entertainer Number 1 also a movie in hand, Raghav basks in glory.

Pawandeep Rajan, the winner of Star Voice of India from Uttarakhand has been in Champawat since the 22nd of March. The lockdown has given him time to reinvent his digital presence on all social platforms. Setting up a state-of-the-art home-studio with proper sound equipment, keeps his creative juices flowing as well as gives an outlet to musical aspirants from his hometown.

Taking up freelancing projects like developing background scores for various web series platforms or e-concerts in Dubai, Hyderabad, all the while spending quality time with his family is a bonus for this youngster.

Lockdown 2020 may have pushed us into our cocoons. But from this darkness at noon, some emerge, rested and refreshed, to flutter like butterflies on to newer horizons.

Online Sanskrit Camp organized by IIT Roorkee

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July 8, 2020

Roorkee, The Sanskrit Club of the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Roorkee, in association with Sanskrit Bharati (Website: samskritabharati.in), a non- profit organization, organized a worldwide program of online 15-day Spoken Sanskrit camp. This one-of-a-kind event titled ‘Subhashitam Sanskritam’ witnessed participation by over 4800 language enthusiasts from India and abroad.

The 15-day spoken Sanskrit classes will be followed by four advanced courses in Sanskrit. The objective of the event was to create awareness about the significance of Sanskrit among the young generation.

“Sanskrit is among the oldest languages in the world. There is a need to explore the pearls of wisdom hidden in Sanskrit literature in disciplines like science, astronomy, medicine and diplomacy,” said Prof. Ajit Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee

Dr. H.R.Vishwasa, Head, Teacher Training, Sanskrit Bharati, in his inaugural address said, “The uniqueness of Sanskrit lies in the derivation of words from root syllables and a highly inflected grammatical structure. Since antiquity, it has continued to exist in its pristine form without any alteration in pronunciation of its 36 consonants and 16 vowels. ‘Sambhashan’(conversation) is the first step towards reviving Sanskrit and making the young generation aware of its significance.”

The inaugural session was followed by an online session wherein Sanskrit experts taught the foundational aspects of the language in an amicable and engaging manner.

Unlock ‘2’ in Mussoorie

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July 7, 2020

Dateline Mussoorie: Unlock two in the hill-station of Mussoorie has brought in hordes of tourists. Of course hoteliers and shopkeepers are not complaining as it means the cash registers are ringing. But it’s a Catch-22 of sorts: “There is 10% occupancy that might go up to 35% by the end of the month. Walk-in guests are a complete no-no. We allow only those who have proper papers to stay,” says Vineet Aggarwal, CEO, WelcomHotel The Savoy.

The local police are busy tackling day tourists from adjoining cities by enforcing rules and regulations in public places. Over one hundred and fifty chalaans have been issued in the past one-week. Speaking to Newspost, Devendra Aswal SHO Mussoorie says, “There are numerous entry points to Mussoorie. We are setting up check-posts at all entry points. We are issuing chalaans on the spot to violators as per the rules and regulations under the Epidemic Act.”

Life over livelihood seems to be leitmotif for many business establishments who have decided to remain shut, but for others it is a constant struggle between ‘do’ or ‘die’.

Ashish Srivastav, District Magistrate Dehradun assures us: “Tourists coming to Mussoorie are following government protocol. A Corona negative report by any ICMR lab, 72 hours prior of coming to Mussoorie is mandatory. These papers are being checked at all three entry points to Dehradun District and then again at Kothal Gate for those going up the hill,” adding, “Hotels have been asked to recheck Corona report of customers online once they check-into their property, to further verify their claims.”

With the town inadequate medical facilities, residents have been on an edge with cars and two-wheelers heading to what has been a safe heaven for its residents. Since the past hundred days and counting of the lockdown, the town has so far seen half a dozen Covid positive patients. But to some ‘Unlock 2’ is nothing short of a nightmare.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV 85th birthday

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July 5, 2020

Dateline Mussoorie: As ‘His Holiness in Maroon‘ arrives to the 85^th summer of his life tomorrow, his extended family in exile all over the world, including monks, nuns, students, young and old shall join together, only in spirit, to celebrate the life of spiritual leader His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

In a letter released from the office of His Holiness in Dharamshala, Himanchal Pradesh the Tibetan Guru requested his loved ones to keep the celebrations a low-key affair due to the worldwide Pandemic. He appealed to every household to chant the ‘Lotus Awakening Mantra,’ Om Mani Padme Hum, a mantra to spread humanity and compassion in the world during these testing times.

Revered all over the world, His Holiness The Dalai Lama has always had a close affinity to Mussoorie. It was here in Birla House, Happy Valley that he came to oversee the setting up of the first Tibetan settlement in 1959. Since that exodus, it has seen some eleven thousand Tibetan refugees who arrived to make the hill-station and Dehradun valley their home.

For over seven decades and counting, the hill-station and its Tibetan establishment have held a special place in the heart and mind of the XIV Dalai Lama, who often visits the region.

Talking to Newspost, Tsering Luding Vice President, Doon Buddhist Committee tells us, “Every year we celebrate His Holiness’s birthday in our homes, community and settlements. It is a very special day in our lives. This year due to Covid-19 the celebrations will be understated, we have been asked to keep the gathering below fifty people. We shall ring in His Holiness birthday in our homes with the chanting of mantras, praying for global peace.’

While the world prays for the long, healthy life of His Holiness in Maroon, he, in turn, asks for nothing more than the welfare of humanity and compassion for all beings. A prayer for peace is a befitting gift to him on his 85^th birthday from all those who treasure him.

IIT Roorkee researchers develop hassle-free driving under fog

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July 4, 2020

Roorkee, A team of researchers at IIT Roorkee has developed an efficient architecture and algorithm to enable better driving experience and lower the risks of accidents in low visibility scenario. This research has been published in the IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.

The presence of fog decreases the visibility distance exponentially, thus making it one of the most dangerous weather conditions for driving. The drivers tend to overestimate the visibility distance while travelling in fog and tend to speed. Also, different components of an automatic driver assistance system (ADAS) such as blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, and collision warning require clear image data. Therefore, every year hundreds of vehicle accidents are reported that claim thousands of lives.

“The objective of this research was to design a system for real-time defogging that produces a clear image stream from the input foggy frames. In addition to that, a high frame rate is essential in transportation to avoid frame lag or drop,” said Prof. Brajesh Kumar Kaushik – Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

“Operations such as exponential function, floating-point multiplication and division, full image buffer, data transactions between the processor and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), deteriorate the performance. To circumvent these challenges, they developed an efficient method and architecture for real-time video defogging that are co-designed to attain high performance and image restoration quality while reducing the power and memory requirements,” he added.

The team used several standard foggy datasets containing a variety of fogs from light to dense. They devised an approach for atmospheric light and transmission map estimation that is suitable for high-speed parallel hardware such as field-programmable gate array (FPGA). They also utilized a flicker reduction technique to ensure temporal consistency among the video frames. To validate the design, they have used the Xilinx FPGA development kit and FMC card.

“The collision of vehicles due to poor visibility caused by fog leads to numerous fatalities annually. This advanced defogging system will aid drivers by providing real-time information and minimize the risks of road and train mishaps due to fog,” said Prof. Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee

The research team comprised three members namely Prof. Brajesh Kumar Kaushik, Department of Electronics and Communication, IIT Roorkee, Prof. Balasubramanian Raman, Department of Computer Science, IIT Roorkee, and Mr. Rahul Kumar, Department of Electronics and Communication, IIT Roorkee.

The team is also working on prototyping and commercializing this technology.

IIT Roorkee collaborates with the University of Alberta for Joint Doctoral Degree Programs

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July 1, 2020

Roorkee: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee has signed an agreement with the University of Alberta, Canada, to provide Joint Doctoral Degree Programs (JDPs). Under this collaboration, the JDPs create a two-way flow for academic exchange, giving University of Alberta and IIT students the chance to undertake research at the partner institution for six months up to a year and providing them with international experience and special certification upon graduation.

IIT Roorkee is one of the three IITs partnering to provide Indian and Canadian students with JDPs others being IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur. Under the program, each collaborating institution will admit up to a maximum of two (2) Joint Degree students each academic year for the Joint Degree Program.

Elated with the alliance, Prof. Ajit Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, said “This agreement will begin a new chapter in strengthening India-Canada ties in the education sector. IIT Roorkee looks forward to bolster and formalize our long-standing research collaboration with UAlberta since the 1980s. Apart from improving the quality of exposure of our students, the JDP agreement will hopefully catapult our research collaboration to greater heights”

During their JDPs, collaborating professors from the University and the IITs will serve as joint supervisors, identifying research projects for students to pursue during their doctoral studies. Both Alberta and participating IITs have agreed to create doctoral fellowships that will provide financial support in the form of a monthly stipend to cover the cost of accommodation and meals for JDP students during the duration of their visit.

Taking note of the benefits, Dr. David H. Turpin, President, UAlberta said “These programs create new opportunities to equip doctoral students with perspectives and skills that will benefit a global society. When we connect with leading international institutions such as the IITs, we’re fuelling new capacity for teaching, learning, and research.”

“The University of Alberta’s overall relationship with India is of key importance and a high priority in achieving innovative solutions to global issues,” said Dr. Cen Huang, Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President (International) at UAlberta. “I am encouraged that the launch of the Joint Degree Programs with IITs Bombay, Kharagpur and Roorkee will help further establish academic relations with India in Canada and allow our students to enhance their global learning and perspectives.”

“In recent times, our academic collaboration with UAlberta, is witnessing a progressive exchange of students and faculty. This agreement will ensure a stable avenue for the aspiring scholars as well as for established researchers having an overlap with the research interests of UAlberta. The thrust will be given on providing adequate advice and support to the Joint Degree students for seamless study during the course” said Prof. P Arumugam, (Dean of International Relations), IIT Roorkee.

UAlberta has a rich history of academic collaboration with India, holding various partnership agreements to support academic mobility and joint research in place with IIT Roorkee since 2011, IIT Bombay since 2009, and IIT Kharagpur since 2013.

“Engage India was launched in April 2019 with the aim of promoting academic exchange and relations between U of A and India,” said Dr. Amit Kumar. “Our membership has expressed considerable interest in collaborating on joint research with Indian partners as well as recruiting high-quality graduate students from India. The Joint Doctoral Degree Programs with the IITs will help us accomplish both of these goals.”

Picketing Uttarkashi with Messages

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June 30, 2020