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December 8, 2018

Dehradun, student activist group, Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD) lashed out at the State Government for hollow promises on Rispana rejuvenation.

Highlighting the fact that not an inch has moved to rejuvenate Rispana since July, the students said that senseless pollution of natural resources was unacceptable to them. The group has announced that it plans to start cleaning small stretches of the river on its own. A hundred member clean-up will take place on Sunday in Deepnagar, one of the worst stretches of the river.

For the past seven years, MAD has been campaigning for the rejuvenation of Rispana and Bindal rivers. The activist group was instrumental in getting sanction from the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee which stated that Rispana showed signs of revival in 2014. Following which the Union of India declared the two rivers part of Ganga basin and marked a copy of the same to MAD in 2016.

When the State Government accepted MAD’s petition to work on Rispana rejuvenation and involved them for the planning of the same, the group claimed that they did not know that their efforts would cease post 2018 July plantation. Instead when the High Court asked the State to clear river beds, the State came forward with an anti-environment ordinance. The move has not gone unnoticed by nature lovers.

Pointing out how earlier this year the Chief Minister had publicly remarked that MAD was responsible in bringing Rispana’s renewed future up-close to city residents, MAD members stated though monthly meetings were convened on Rispana’s rejuvenation by senior bureaucrats with all departments in attendance.

Today too MAD wants to take concrete steps such as river cleaning, tapping of drains, recharge of springs, further hydrological inputs, implementation of the NIH Report Amidst.

In late November 2018, when MAD members inspected the plantation which were carried out in July, it was found that areas near Tapobhoomi Ashram were barren.

MAD member Gayatri whose message on Rispana was echoed on Prime Minister’s Mann ki Baat felt that despite the Prime Minister’s appeal the State government had not moved with the right intent to tackle the issue.

MAD now hopes that it’s renewed movement will wake the Government out of its slumber. Members also appealed to Dehradun residents to actively join efforts to rejuvenate Rispana.

Hills of Mussoorie come alive at the Goa Art & Lit Fest

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December 8, 2018

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The Queen of Hills Mussoorie, came alive on Friday the 7^thof December at the 9^th Goa Arts and Literature Fest (GALF), thanks to two of its resident authors, Stephen Alter and Ganesh Saili.

Three-day GALF saw an interesting line-up of authors; poets; artists; publishers descend upon Panaji, Goa, this season.

Mussoorie based writers Stephen Alter and Ganesh Saili spoke on the very first day of the fest and gently took their audience on a walk down memory lane.

The hour-long programme entitled, ‘Mussoorie & The Mountains’, was well attended with an audience that was engaged and attentive. The authors, who call Mussoorie home, shared personal anecdotes and interesting tales with their audience in rapt attention.

According to Saili, his hometown doesn’t stop to amaze him! Mussoorie keeps throwing up stories from the past for the author to put pen to paper. “Perhaps this is one of the reasons why so many authors find the town a treasure trove of stories from the past,” he added.

As for author Stephen Alter, his hometown and its surrounding hills provide the gist for his stories. At present, Stephen is busy penning his next book entitled, ‘Wild Himalayas,’ a book encompassing the natural history of the Himalaya.

Speaking to Newspost over the phone, Author Ganesh Saili said, “GALF was a great festival run entirely by volunteers and it was a pleasure to see so many young folks participating in the Fest.”

And about his interaction with Ganesh Saili, Stephen Alter added, “Always a pleasure to share the stage with Ganesh Saili, who knows the lore and legends of Mussoorie better than anyone. Enjoyed speaking with him at sea level, though we usually meet at an elevation 2,000 meters closer to the clouds!”

And on that note, we wish the Goa Fest and both the authors grand success.

143rd Regular Course Passing Out Parade held in IMA

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December 8, 2018

Dehradun, The Indian Military Academy here held its 143^rd Regular Course Passing Out Parade today morning. 427 Gentlemen Cadets including 80 Foreign Cadets marched out as officers of the Army.

Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Devraj Ambu was the Reviewing Officer at the Parade.

Braving the early morning winter chill against the backdrop of the magnificent Chetwode Hall, 347 Indian Gentlemen Cadets along with 80 Foreign Cadets from seven friendly Nations including 49 cadets from Afghanistan, 15 from Bhutan, 5 from Maldives, two each from Nepal, Srilanka and Vietnam along with five cadets from Tajakistan joined the passing out brigade as well.

The spirit of camaraderie, unity, strength and valour stood out as the young men dressed in uniform marched out for the Inspection Parade.

Gentleman Cadet Arjun Thakur was awarded the Sword of Honour along with the Gold Medal.

In full attendance, proud parents, wardens, siblings, spouses and guardians became an inseparable part of the parade, as they took pictures to capture the moment forever. For every cadet who crossed the Chetwode threshold or antim-pagh, they became Officers of the Indian Army, with rose petals being showered upon them.

A two-hour programme including a Parade Inspection, Sword of Honour, Piping and Oath Ceremony ended with the singing of the Military Song, Kadam Kadam badayee jah, Khushi kay geet gaye ja resounding throughout the Military Academy.

For decades now, the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun has kept alive the glorious tradition of turning Gentlemen Cadets not only from India but friendly nations, into excellent Officer material who then go on to join their respective regiments to serve their Nation well.

Dehradun Hoteliers air concern about online travel portals

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December 7, 2018

Dehradun, In response to the grievances expressed by most of the hoteliers regarding high commissions and deep discounting, some forty hotel owners of Dehradun held a meeting today.

All present were of the view of how indiscriminate discounts were being offered by two online travel portals (goibibo / makemytrip). Moreover these companies were charging commissions up to the tune of 35% from hoteliers on the sell rates. This was making it difficult for hoteliers to sustain their businesses and are earn revenue. “The hoteliers claimed that OTA’s business practices were exploitative, unethical and divisive and led to predatory pricing and other market distortions that had the potential to harm both hoteliers and consumers in the long term.”

Recently regional hotel associations like the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Gujarat expressed concerns regarding GI-MMT. They decided that hotels in Ahmedabad would not accept discounts from December 1 and that commissions would be below 18%.

Budget and mid-market hotels across the city also expressed their anger against OYO, as their businesses was adversely affected due to deep discounting, high commissions and arbitrary contract changes being sought by the platform.

Dehradun hoteliers came on a common platform and considered action against OYO, the room aggregators associating with hotels on SMART SELL MODEL, as well. Those present unanimously felt that OYO was disrupting the smooth operation of the hospitality market by also picking up rooms at private homes and renting them out.

Some of the important decisions taken at the meeting were:

1. TAC for OTA’s to be renegotiated and to be fixed for all hotels @ 15% Flat across the city
2. Performance Link Bonus to be denied across GI-MMT .
3. Hotels do not want any discount coupons to be applied by OTA’s ( Go-MMT) and rooms be sold at set rack rates of the hotels.
4. Deny 2.5 % Platform fee charged by OYO.
5. To deny OYO commission on GST as well as flat commissions on walk-in guests .
6. To discuss out-standing payments by OYO to hotel partners.

Dehradun hoteliers decided to be part of HRAU (Hotel and restaurant Association of Uttarakhand), and would soon hold a Meeting with local representatives of OYO , GO-MMT to update and discuss the pointers that took place at the meeting.

PEN India Foundation felicitates volunteers.

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December 5, 2018

Dehradun, Each year, 5th of December is celebrated as International Volunteer Day. On this occasion PEN-India Foundation felicitated its volunteers.

Dr. Prakash Keshaviah, the Patron of the Foundation spoke on the occasion stating, “On 17th December 1985, UN General Assembly passed a mandate to observe 5th of December as International Volunteer Day every year. In 2001, UN celebrates International Volunteer Day, a day to celebrate the contributions of the volunteers at the local, national as well as at international level.“

Mr. Anoop Rawat, the Chairperson of the Foundation informed that, “Ms. Poonam Naugain has been awarded/felicitated with the Achievers Award, for selflessly providing free education to the underprivileged children in the PEN India School.” Ms Poonam, is a B.Sc Home Science student at G.B Pant University.

Mr. Santosh Budakoti, the Director of the Foundation said, “various NGOs are coming forward (extending their help) for the smooth running of the PEN India School. Just like Ms Poonam, various students and youngsters are getting involved with PEN India Foundation as volunteers.”

Awardees of PEN India Foundation:
Aarti Pundir, Simran Sadana, Swapnil Gahlot, Mansi Negi, Poonam Naugain, Anukriti, Neha Jawa, Yamuni Bhandari, Himanshu, Piyush Kandwal, Pankaj Budakoti, Susheel Nautiyal, Prakash Pandey, Sandeep Rawat, Ritu Sharma, Deepalika Negi,

Bugwaal: Diwali in the hills of Jaunpur and Jaunsar

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December 5, 2018

Kolti, Exactly a month after Deepawali is celebrated in the plains of India, the people of Jaunpur & Jaunsaar of Uttarakhand ring in Bugwaal, a traditional Diwali being kept alive in a little over hundred villages in the region.

This traditional Diwali/bugwaal holds a special place in the hearts of the hill folks. Folklore has it that Bugwaal is the celebration of the home-coming of legendary warrior of Maletha, Srinagar-Garhwal Madho Singh Bhandari and his retinue after sealing the borders of Garhwal.

Today the people and these hills continue to celebrate with equal fervour as they turn out in their fineries as young and old, men and women sing, dance and light the bhayloo made from the bark of pine trees.

For most of the women who assemble in the village courtyard of Kolti to enjoy the three day fest, this is an annual pilgrimage to their Maith or maternal home, as Sarita Panwar speaks for all, “Our Diwali is exactly one month after the Diwali in the plains. Married girls return to their mother’s home to celebrate this festival…we get-together, shop, sing, cook and make memories that see us through to the next year.”

Megh Singh Kandhari, a social activist from the Jaunpur region adds, “these three day festivities is something we all look forward to. We celebrate Bhandh the first day, followed by Baraj and then Holday/bhyaalo (pine bark) are lit. Traditional food items such as kavalle Pakoray (fritters) and askey are distributed amongst families.”

While this tradition has been forgotten by the youth, an elder of the village, Tikaram Baderi laments, “times are changing, most of our youth are off to the Great Indian Plains in search of a job. While many cant make it home to celebrate Bugwaal, those left behind lack the fervour, it is only a matter of time when the next generation will forget the ways of the ancients.”

As the winter sun, sets behind the hills, men and women come out of their homes to gather in the courtyard swaying and singing lost to the rhythm of the dhool and damau, with just music and the sacred bhayloo for company.

Mussoorie born Aayushi crowned Miss India Ocean

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December 3, 2018

Its raining beauty crown, literally! After Nikita Rana from Chamba, Mussoorie’s own Aayushi Yashwardhann bagged the coveted title of Miss India Ocean 2018 at Global Mr. & Miss India Asia held on the 24th November, in New Delhi

For tall and beautiful 23-year-old Aayushi, this was a dream come true. Home, on a short visit to spend time with her close-knit joint-family, she shares her happiness with us, “being a famous model has always been my dream, winning this crown has made me move closer to that goal of mine.”

Aayushi completed her schooling from Nirmala High School, Mussoorie and then went onto to do her Post Graduation in English from MPG College Mussoorie. Looking back, she tells us, “my mother Rani was always supportive of my career choice. My father, a government employee Sudesh Chand, was skeptical, but winning this crown has made him believe in me.”

Standing tall at 5.9 inches was an added advantage for Aayushi. She started doing photo shoots and bridal shoots as a Cover Girl for local magazines. In the meantime, she auditioned for a few modeling assignments along with pursuing theatre. Aayushi went on to walk the ramp at district level Fashion shows and made her presence felt.

When GIP Production came to Dehradun in September for their all India audition, Aayushi was selected. She spent a few days in Delhi where she went through rigorous grooming sessions.

A week back, Aayushi walked away with the title of Miss India Ocean 2018 after qualifying for the top twenty from hundred and seventy-two participants. The judging panel consisted of tall n dusky actress Bipasha Basu, Dr. Varun Katiyar, Rita Gangwani, Ankit Nagpal and Mrs. India Worldwide 2018, Kirti Mishra Narang.

What next? “I would like to see myself walking down the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week and make to make it big in the world of modelling and give acting a shot too,” she signs off on that positive note.

MAD Eco-Friendly inputs for Dehradun Marathon, a success

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December 2, 2018

Dehradun’s own student activist group, Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD) volunteered to creatively assist Uttarakhand Police at its third edition of the Dehradun Marathon, today morning.

The Dehradun Marathon 2018, drew close to 20,000 participants who took part in the Uttarakhand police awareness run against Drug Abuse. MAD, comprising of educated, conscious youngsters of the city, the police reached out to the team and requested support. In several meetings that were convened by ADG Law and Order Ashok Kumar, MAD members stressed on using steel glasses or eco friendly paper cups against plastic bottles handed out to participants at the marathon.

Leading by example, MAD members showcased their own MADATHON- MAD’s own mini- marathon, which had been running on completely eco-friendly lines for the past seven years. In the 2018 edition, MADATHON became the first mini-marathon of the city to be a complete zero waste event as they used steel glasses procured from various Gurudwaras and Garhwal Sabha at different water filling points for their 8000 runners.

ADG Law and Order, Ashok Kumar was very impressed with the eco-friendly input and substantially implement the same for the Dehradun Marathon as well. MAD assisted the effort with over 35 volunteers at water filling stations in an attempt to minimise use of plastic.

MAD made a fervent pitch that all promotional material should be non-plastic and for this they made a cloth banner of dimensions 20 ft. by 5 ft. themselves.

The police put on record its appreciation for MAD’s creative engagement which was put together by MAD’s President Karan Kapoor, Shreya Singh Rohilla, Archie, Gayatri, Inder, Sanat, Hridayesh, Utkarsh among others.

Dehradun Marathon, The cleanest this city has ever seen!

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December 2, 2018