FTII Community to celebrate International Women’s Day

By

-

March 7, 2019

Pune, Film and Television Institute of India will celebrate International Women’s Day in the campus on 8th March with a lecture by Maj. Gen.Madhuri Kanitkar, Dean and Deputy Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.

She will be addressing FTII community on the topic: “MY LIFE, MY JOURNEY AND INDIAN ARMY.”

Maj. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar, AVSM, VSM, MBBS, MD (Paediatrics), DNB (Paediatrics) is AFMC alumnus of 1978 batch. She was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps in 1982 and is a Paediatric Nephrologist trained in AIIMS, New Delhi. Following which she did fellowships at NUH Singapore and GOS London. Her area of special interest is Voiding and Bladder Disorders in children.She is credited with having set up the first Paediatric Nephrology service in the Army Medical Corps.

She was awarded the GOC-in-C (Southern Command) Commendation in 2004 and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Commendations on five occasions.

“The valour of India’s armed forces have taken centre stage in public discourse in recent times. FTII thought it befitting to bring the spotlight on a crucial institution of the forces—-AFMC—-in which incidentally a woman of distinguished achievements currently holds a leadership position,” said Bhupendra Kainthola, Director, FTII, adding, “It is indeed creditable that she was awarded the VSM in 2014 and AVSM in 2018 for her exemplary service and dedication to scientific research. Maj.Gen.Kanitkar’s narration of her life journey and challenges faced in the Indian Army will be very inspiring to the FTII community, particularly it’s women members,” announcing the Women’s Day event in the campus.

Gauchar: ‘Best Ganga town’ in India

By

Tania Saili

-

March 6, 2019

2

Chamoli, Beginning of the year and there is good news for Uttarakhand. For the first time ever, a Swachh Survekshan 2019 was done throughout the nation. Considered the world’s largest cleanliness survey, the survey threw up some interesting names.

In the survey 4,237 cities through the length and breadth of India were surveyed on the basis of its cleanliness in which Gauchar town in Chamoli District of the hill-state was adjudged the ‘Best Ganga town’ in India.

Enroute to Badrinath, the town of Gauchar is surrounded by seven mountains and is a fertile flatland where the historic annual Gauchar Fair is held. This quaint little town also boasts of the only airstrip in the border district of Chamoli.

Speaking to Newspost, Gauchar Municipal Board, 36 year old Chairman Anju Bisht sounded happy, “I have yet to receive any official confirmation, but if its true, then the credit goes to our Executive Officer Radhay Shyam Chachar and his team of safai karamcharis along with the residents of the town who made sure Gauchar remains spick and span.”

With close to a population of ten thousand residents, and divided into seven wards, the Chairman started ‘palika ki choti sarkar apkay dwar’ campaign before elections laying stress on house-to-house collection of segregated waste. The local administration also ensured that none of its hotels in the town emptied their drains into the Alaknanda river.

The Swachh Survekshan 2019 survey was completed at ground breaking speed in just 28 days, and what made it more unique was that it was a paperless survey and completely digitized in which 5.64 lakh citizens gave their valuable feedback.

Just a few hours ago, President Kovind presented the Awards in a ceremony in New Delhi tweeting, “the nation has paid the best tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by making cleanliness a mass movement.”

While Indore won the ‘cleanest city in India’ award, Bhopal was adjudged the ‘cleanest capital in India’. Even Delhites had something to cheer about, the Delhi Cantonment won the ‘cleanest cantonment in India’.

Woman, Ride for a Mission!

By

Tania Saili

-

March 6, 2019

0

Dehradun, In an initiative to celebrate the ‘essence of a woman,’ women riders are being encouraged to take part in ‘Uttarakhand Women Bike Rally’ on the 8^th of March, organised in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

The idea behind this first-of-its-kind rally is to showcase “Women Transforming India” and bringing to the forefront pertinent issues such as Women Empowerment and Road Safety.

While, women today, are being recognised worldwide for their active role in every domain of life be it political, social or economical, and the organisers wanted to celebrate this feat along with spreading the message of ‘Road Safety’ and ‘Women Empowerment’ amongst the masses.

So how and who can take part? All women two-wheeler riders along with a navigator, which is a prerequisite, have to register themselves through the link shared below. All kind of two wheelers be it bikes, Activas or scooties of any make are welcomed to be part of the 55 kms rally.

Governor Baby Rani Maurya will flag off the bike rally from Dehradun, Rajbhawan at 7:30 a.m. sharp on the 8^th of March. The ride will end at the Natureoville Resort and Spa on the Haridwar Bypass, near Fun Valley.

Not only this, there are prizes to be won. Top five winners along with five special guests will be the proud recipients of prizes worth Rs. 12,000/- and all participants will receive goodies as well.

For now, block the date and time to become an inseparable part of a mission close to everyone’s heart.

Register Now: https://www.facebook.com/events/2111776372201258/?ti=cl

Weeping for Hotel Metropole, Nainital

By

Tania Saili

-

March 5, 2019

0

Nainital, The Jewel of Nainital, a symbol of the hill-station’s rich architectural heritage, its oldest Hotel, Hotel Metropole was ravaged in a fire last night.

One of the best living examples of the flat non-corrugated, galvanized tin-roof which came to be known in British records as the ‘Nainital Pattern Roofs,’ built in 1880 in a grove of deodar trees, the hotel went up in flames at around 7:00 p.m. last night.

Infernos like this destroyed the Standard Skating Rink, Mussoorie in the 1960’s and the Charleville Hotel, Mussoorie in the 1970’s.

SP Crime Nainital, Rachita, updated Newspost about the current status stating, “the exact cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained and post which we will take this forward. Four fire brigade trucks took two hours to douse the fire, in which the roof of the property and three rooms were turned to ashes.”

The property had been lying neglected ever since the 11 acres of prime land was declared Enemy Property as the Nawab of Mehmodabad, Raja Amir Ahmed Khan left for Pakistan, leaving the property to be run as a hotel by a Parsi couple. Hotel Metropole housed seventy-five rooms and five tennis courts. This saga of neglect saw the tennis lawns, shamelessly being used as a parking lot for vehicles, in a hill-station that is constantly struggling for parking grounds.

Counting among its many guests was Mohammad Ali Jinnah the Founder of Pakistan who stayed there for his honeymoon. Numberless film stars, crews, units made Hotel Metropole their base, as they went shooting in the beautiful hills of Kumaon.

Tied up in legal tangles and the lack of a Uttarakhand Heritage Act, despite High Court orders, its not Nainital alone that has lost a part of history, but the hill-state of Uttarakhand. Enough to make the hardest of hard hearts weep.

Movie “PM Narendra Modi” being shot in Dehradun

By

Tania Saili

-

March 4, 2019

0

Prime Minister, Biopic, Modi — Pic Courtesy: Twitter

Dehradun, Doonite Satish Sharma will once again make his presence felt on the silver screen, with yet another big Bollywood banner shooting in the valley.

Directed by Director Omung Kumar known for ‘Mary Kom’ and ‘Sarbjit’, and co-produced by Suresh Oberoi, Vivek Oberoi’s father along with Sandeep Singh the film “PM Narendra Modi” is being shot on-location for the fourth day in a row in Dehradun’s premier institute Forest Research of India.

The biopic is being shot on war footing, with three separate film units working simultaneously in the city.

Actor Vivek Oberoi is essaying the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a get-up complete with prosthetics and beard, this daily routine takes the actor close to three hours. The first look of the actor was revealed on twitter on the 7th of January this year. Scenes from the PMO are being enacted with Actor Prashant Naraynan and veteran actor Anjan Shrivastav and Satish Sharma in the conference room of the Forest Research of India which will be showcased as the Prime Minister’s Office in the upcoming movie.

In another corner of the premier Institute, the magnificent corridors of the Forest Research of India come alive with a different set where a few scenes of the movie are being filmed as well.

With a month to go, the entire unit is making sure that the movie will be released by 4^th of April in 23 regional languages, before the next election dates are announced.

It may be recalled that Satish Sharma is Editor of “Garhwal Post” published from Dehradun. Journalist turned actor Satish has worked in a dozen movies so far. His upcoming movies are ‘Firkee’ and his first South Indian film ‘Kaappaan’ will release in May this year.

Been There Doon That releases ‘Walking with Laata’

By

Tania Saili

-

March 3, 2019

0

WhatsApp Image 2019-03-03 at 18.06.16 — Pic Courtesy: Girish Sharma

Mussoorie, In collaboration with the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration, Mussoorie the ‘Been There Doon That Society’ organized a heritage walk and book release of their book, “Walking with Laata.”

Braving the winter morning hundred odd participants from all walks of life, from in and around Dehradun made their way to the IAS Academy, Mussoorie for a one and a half hour event. Director, Sanjeev Chopra, IAS welcomed the keen participants to what used to be the oldest hotel in Mussoorie and was taken over in 1959, for training officers of the All India Services.

Professor Ganesh Saili spoke about Charleville’s Rudyard Kipling connection and how it today trains the Steel Frame of India.

Lokesh Ohri then took the participants for a walk around what used to be the Happy Valley Club. The walk culminated with the launch of “Walking with Laata,” a compilation of essays of walks and trails from the Valley of Doon. The book was launched by Director Sanjeev Chopra, Joint Director Arti Ahuja, Joint Director Manoj Ahuja and Professor Ganesh Saili.

Lokesh Ohri spoke about how ‘Been There Doon That’ (BTDT) was Dehradun’s Heritage Walking Group that was set up 4 years ago and had done over three hundred walks not only in Dehradun but its environs and how, ‘Walking with Laata was the culmination of all these interesting walks.”

The 386 page book traces the history of the Doon from the Gurkha War of (1814-1816) to its becoming the seat of the Forest Research of India, Survey of India, Wildlife Institute of India, Oil and Natural Gas Commission and many other premier institutes.

Interspersed with history, flora and fauna, collection of interesting black and white to recent colour pictures, the book includes maps and instructions for its reader who wants to explore Dehradun afoot and soak in the sight and sounds of the valley, ‘Been There Doon That,’ call home.

KoKo Power Studio: Giving wings to your health

By

Tania Saili

-

March 3, 2019

0

Dehradun, “Creating what’s not there!” has been the leitmotif of Dehradun’s KoKo Power Studio, which opened shop in Rajendar Nagar in December last year. The Studio brings with it new concepts of personalized fitness training, making it one-of-its-kind personal training studio in the valley.

Standing out, KoKo Power Studio isn’t your regular gym. Boasting of ‘Only Pilates’ the Studio comes inclusive with state-of-the-art equipment ranging from Reformer, Wunda Chair, Barrel, Step Ladder along with a TRX training center module suspension training, 3D functional Training and TRX RIP Cord Training.

Along with all this you also have the conventional resistance training area equipped with kettle-bells, trampoline, Bosu Ball that makes your workout fun, exciting and something to look forward to.

A highly qualified fitness professional, armed with many International certifications Chetna Gurung aka Koko shares with us, “the idea of personal training is primarily to target those who feel the need to train under a professional who know what’s best for you,” the woman behind the Studio.

A teenager trying to make into a a sport selection, a person looking forward to lose those extra kilos before an upcoming event or even your 50plus looking to improve their health, the Studio caters to their customized needs.

Covering all major components KoKo Studio gives training from renowned training staff along with nutrition counselling, lifestyle assessment and lot more. So when joining KoKo Power Studio you are bound to go in for a complete transformation, as Chetna puts it, “let the weight scale go down and the quality of living go up.”

Vaidya Shikha Prakash who joined KoKo Studio in the month of December 2018, tells us, “The workout has helped me with stamina fat loss and muscle gain. It has been a positive change for me.”

No matter your gender, age or profession, if you want to stretch your limits and give your health new wings, then KoKo Power Studio is the place for you.

A Hero return’s home

By

Tania Saili

-

March 1, 2019

0

Amritsar, Attari-Wagah Border. All eyes from home and abroad were tuned in to their television sets all day today to catch a glimpse of the homecoming of a real hero, 35 year old Wing Commander, Abhinandan Varthaman.

Despite the ceremonial Beating Retreat Ceremony at the Wagah Border being cancelled, people poured in from all over, some with garlands, some with the tri-colour flag, some playing the dhol and damau braving the cold and rain, anxiously awaiting WC Abhi to cross the border all day today.

Abhinadan or ‘Abhi’as he is fondly called by his loved ones, overwhelmed a nation with his courage, fortitude and grace in enemy captivity. On his late night return, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor addressed the media, “Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been handed over to us. We will be taking him for a medical check up which is mandatory because the officer ejected from his plane. Indian Airforce is happy to have him back.“

Yesterday at 16:28 IST Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan announced a ‘Peace gesture’ of returning captured Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. Within seconds the announcement was greeted jubilantly across the globe. Politicians, citizens, netizens rejoiced the news of the possible homecoming of their hero.

Taken into custody by Pakistan on Wednesday when his parachute wafted by the wind, landed on the other side of the Line of Control as he ejected from his MiG-21 before successfully targeting the Pakistani F-16.

Soon after being taken into custody, a short video clip of Wing Commander Abhinandan sipping a cup of tea on the other side of the border went viral. His cool demeanor, confidence and chivalry won him instant fame and fan following across all ages.

The pilot’s proud and relieved father S Varthaman stated to the media “just look at the way he talked so bravely. A true soldier. We are so proud of him.”

His parents Dr. Shobha Varthaman and Air Marshal S. Varthaman took a late night flight from Chennai to Delhi. Video and pictures of the parents receiving a standing ovation, with cheers and claps from co-passengers went viral within minutes of being shared on social media.

His returning home safe and sound is seen by many as a positive sign of de-escalation of tension on our borders.

Joint briefing of the Indian Army, Airforce and Navy

By

Tania Saili

-

February 28, 2019

0

New Delhi, A joint Army, Airforce and Navy briefing that was to take place at 5:00 p.m. today was pushed back to 7:00 P.M. post what is being seen as Imran Khan’s ‘peace gesture’ of stating that they would be handing over Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow.

Maj Gen Surendar Singh Mahal from the Indian Army, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor of the Indian Air Force and Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral of the Indian Navy, addressed the media gallery from the Raisaina Hill, in New Delhi.

First to address the media gallery was Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor, who stressed on the timely intervention of the Indian Air Force which had thwarted the plans of the Pakistan Air Force and minimized damage to Indian military installations. Air Vice also stressed on the fact how they had electronic signatures of the Pakistan fighter jets entering Indian airspace, and also that the Pakistan Army had just one indian pilot in custody and not two or three that they had initially stated.

Talking about the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan return tomorrow, the Chief stated that they were happy, “the Wing Commander will be returned to India and we are happy and look forward to his return.” He also added, that the gesture, “was in consonance of the Geneva Convention.”

Maj Gen Surendar Singh Mahal highlighted the fact that there were over thirty five ceasefire violations since the 14^th of February carried along the Line Of Control, “the Pakistan Airforce was targeting our military instalments, brigade battalion, headquarters and our logistic installations, but our high level of preparedness and immediate response by our forces foiled their designs.”

Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral assured the preparedness of the Indian Navy, if need arises, “ I can assure you of a resolute, swift and strong response by the Navy when needed. We stand as one with the Army and Airforce to ensure the safety and security of our nation and its citizens.”

Evidence in the form of shrapnels, shards, and pieces of the shot down F-16 Pakistan Air force were also displayed in front of the media.

India Strikes Back

By

Tania Saili

-

February 26, 2019

0

26^th February 2019, 3.30 a.m. in a pre-dawn attack by India which took less than half hour Balakot, Muzafarabad and Chakoti nurseries of terrorism and JeM camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir were decimated by 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets today.

Expertise fighter pilots equipped with rapid seek and destroy mission, aided with laser guided bombs and heron drone took off from Ambala airbase and destroyed the Jaish Camps. The air-strike comes twelve days after the Pulwama attack in which we lost 40 bravehearts of the Central Reserve Police Force to a suicide bomber of the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

In an early morning tweet Congress President Rahul Gandhi wrote, “ I salute the pilots of the IAF.”

Sources tell us that the aircraft dropped 1,000 kg laser guided bombs, completely destroying the terror camps.

Speaking to Newspost Retd Wing Commander Praful Bakshi said, “Its high time, the whole nation was waiting for this action. Let me make this clear that this was an attack on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir which is our land, and NOT Pakistan and its time we claim what is ours.”

Former PCC Chief of Uttarakhand Kishore Upadhyay stated, “it is our prime duty to stand in solidarity with the defence forces of the nation.“

Addressing the media, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale stated, “There was credible intelligence report that there was possibility of JeM attack in various parts of country and the Fihadeen Jehadis were being trained for this, so in the face of imminent danger a pre-emptive strike was necessary . India struck JeM largest camp in Balakot, in this operation large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, group of Jehadis were eliminated, the facility was headed by Ustad Ghori, the brother in law of Masoor Ahmed. The target was conditioned to avoid civilian casualties. As the strike was a short while ago we are awaiting further details.”

Father of martyred Major Chitresh Bisht of Dehradun lauded the air-strike saying, “I wish this would have been done earlier. Yet the precision with which the Airforce undertook the strike is worth praising. I hope that in the future such action is taken against terrorists and those who give them safe haven.”

Editor's Choice

Popular Posts