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Be the wind beneath her wings: Sheetal

By
Tania Saili
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0

Pithoragarh, Youngest Woman Mountaineer in the World to summit Mount Kanchenjunga in April 2018, Sheetal from Salmora in Pithoragarh seeks your help!

The young lady is now rearing to summit the highest peak standing at 8,848m above sea level, Mount Everest. The peak represents the purest form of wonder and magnificence of nature and what stands between her and the summit is ‘funds.’

“As a young girl, I used to love trailing my mother into the forest in Salmora fetching fuel and fodder. The feel of fresh air and the solid ground beneath my feet made me feel at peace and complete.” Narrates an excited 23-year-old Sheetal who claimed the coveted title last year.

Her’s has been a journey of pure grit, determination and hard work. Her love for mountaineering began at the age of 18 as an NCC cadet at a Basic Mountaineering Course from Darjeeling. Since then the young lady has moved onwards and upwards.

Sheetal successfully completed the HMI Basic Course in Mountaineering, with Grade ‘A’ which qualified her to undertake the Advanced Course in Mountaineering, completed from JIM.

An ace at rock climbing, cramponing, ice climbing, aid climbing, climbing knots, jumaring, rappelling, crevasse rescue system, self-arrest systems, Sheetal is armed well to summit Everest, from where she plans to achieve the objective of, ‘spreading the message of women empowerment.‘

The Deputy Leader of the Kanchenjunga expedition Yogesh Garbiyal, an accomplished mountaineer himself tells us, “I was with her as a leader in the Kenchanjunga expedition. I know she is very strong and holds an international record despite coming from a marginal background. The girl has a passion for high altitude, extreme temperatures, low oxygen and high velocity winds, she thrives in this environment.”

Despite her achieving an International feat the State government has been oblivious to her laurels. With less than two months to put it all together, the young girl has been running from pillar to post looking for possible funders for her Everest Expedition 2019.

This high altitude expedition is an expensive adventure sport that requires funds and financial support to operate. Sheetal is trying hard to win the attention of various national and international organizations, institutions, corporate homes in time to get funds together.

With the help of family, friends and well-wishers, she has already collected Rs 3,10,000/-( Three lakh ten thousand) but needs an additional sum of Rs 18,90,000/-( Eighteen lakh ninety thousand only) to achieve her goal.

She invites you to be part of her journey:

Contact Number: +918954593699

Donate now: https://www.ketto.org/contribute/contribute.php?fmd_id=79122&utm_source=internal&utm_medium=whatsappShare&utm_campaign=climbingbeyondthesummits-everest-expedition-2019&utm_content=ffa9f310fd2f9f9c8d326038b7606829

‘Dagdiya’: Stronger Together!

By
Tania Saili
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0

Pauri, What happens when siblings and cousins passionate about making a difference in their home state come together? They get wings! Officially launched on the auspicious occasion of the 70th Republic Day of India, i.e. 26th January 201, Dagdiya which means ‘friends’ across Uttarakhand, is a socio-commercial initiative that set roots in Isoti village in Pauri, Garhwal.

Founded by like-minded people, Anjilee Istwal, Col Asheesh Istwal(Retd) & Kavindera Istwal, the initiative plans to moblise the youth and empower the womenfolk of Uttarakhand. Priority being Health, Hygiene, Sanitation, Education and IT education.

Dagdiya is motivating hill-folks to take control of their own destiny, to be the catalysts, drivers and stakeholders in development of their home in the hills and eventually, reap benefits.

The concept hinges on bringing together the two pillars of society i.e. the Youth and its Women by connecting them on a broader platform through Dagdiya. Akin to a club, Dagdiya soon plans to have a chapter in every village bearing an online presence through a Facebook profile under the name Dagdiya Dagdiya & physical presence as a Dagdiya Center in each village.

Dagdiya Center will be the hub in the village where young, old, men and women will come together under one roof. Equipped with facilities like Broadband WIFI Connectivity, Library, Computers, Video Projection System and Satellite TV connectivity. The centre will provide provisions for games as well as work as a facilitation center providing venue for classes, meetings, workshops, cultural events and various other programs/occasions.

The Dagdiya Youth Centre,  will concentrate on motivating and guiding young minds by using the power of sports and social media. The youth will be counselled about various employment/Self Employment options, groomed for interviews and provided avenues for self-growth and development. On the other hand, the Dagdiya Women Connect, will  tap into the native enterprise of the women folk. Various self-help initiatives will be aligned and women will be encouraged to produce handmade items and thereafter provided with market linkage so that they are economically empowered.

Just over a week old and Isoti, the native village of the founding members of the Dagdiya Foundation will soon house a ‘Dagdiya Center.’ A small-scale food-processing unit is being established in Dharasu to give opportunities to the womenfolk here. Two Dagdiyas from the village are leading examples of reverse migration and have taken to tilling their ancestral farmland lying fallow for years. Another Dagdiya Pravesh Istwal has established two poly-houses.

Anyone and everyone can contribute to the Dagdiya cause. Material support like donating books, farming implements, old computers desktops/laptops are welcome. Better still, if you have the fire in your belly and wanted to do something for your home in the hills, but dint know how, come be a Dagdiya!

Vaidya Balendu Prakash on ‘World Cancer Day’

By
Vaidya Balendu Prakash
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1
Pic Courtesy: Shikha Prakash

I wish you all a healthy and long life on World Cancer Day. Cancer is a deadly disease which, in spite of all advances in medicine, causes a lot of fear and depression in patients and their near and dear ones. The reason is clear! We do have treatments available in the form of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and stem cell transplantation but the relapse of cancer is rather a rule than an exception.

With all the treatment facilities available, the number of new cancer patients and mortality rate due to cancer continue to rise. These treatments can help in increasing the life span of cancer patients and in some cases, even in completely eradicating the disease. But the term ‘cancer’ continues to haunt the lives of patients. The disease affects infants, children, youngsters, adults and elderly of all classes and castes alike. However, the distribution of the disease may depend on habitat, eating habits, lifestyle and genetic disposition to an extent.

Now, the question arises should we be afraid of cancer? I say no! And this is not a vague comment but is based on the 60 years long clinical experiences of my late father and me. I have been involved in cancer treatment for more than 42 years now and as per my experience, a regulated diet and lifestyle in combination with mineral based ayurvedic formulations can help revive patients even from the last stage of different types of cancer. I have seen many such patients who are alive for more than three decades now. But such single cases are not sufficient to prove the effects of the protocol. So, a pilot study was conducted in 1997 under CCRAS, Ministry of Ayush on APML, a form of blood cancer. IRCH, AIIMS was chosen as reference laboratory. 15 patients participated in the study, 8 of these were relapse cases in whom the disease had returned after successful allopathic treatment. These patients have poor prognosis in modern medicine. The other seven were de novo cases, who had opted for Ayurvedic treatment immediately after diagnosis of the disease. 4 patients died within the first month of treatment. 11 patients were able to complete the treatment protocol for 90 days. Unexpectedly, all these eleven patients were completely free from the disease after 90 days. They were completely healthy throughout the three years of follow up.

Ayurvedic medicine based on silver bhasma does not kill cancer but maintains the imbalance of silver and eliminates toxicity. Dhatu vigyan in Ayurveda states that there are seven dhatus in our body, gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Tin, Lead, Zinc. Any imbalance in these dhatus disrupts metabolism. When all of these are in proper balance and equilibrium we remain free from any disease and lead a healthy life.

There is another disease called Pancreatitis, meaning inflammation of pancreas. Up to 40% cases of Pancreatitis get converted into pancreatic cancer. But a formulation made from Copper, Mercury and Sulphur has been found effective in treating this disease. This has also been proven in experimental studies. Since 1997 more than seven hundred patients have received this treatment and about 80% of them are disease free. But only medicine does not cure the disease. It requires a well regulated diet and lifestyle.

Over eating, long gaps of eating, less sleep, eating non-seasonal fruits and vegetables, all of these increase the acidity of the body and create a base for disease development, by causing inflammation. The above stated examples show that Ayurveda maintains the health of the healthy and heals the diseased.

At the end, I just want to say that cancer, in spite of being a dreadful disease, can be prevented and even treated following the concepts of Ayurveda with a regulated diet and lifestyle.

Those who never came home: Salute Sqn Ldr.Negi

By
Tania Saili
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1
Courtesy: Twitter

Dehradun, Friday the 1st of February was a black-day in the history of the Indian Air Force. The Airforce confirmed that two of its senior pilots were killed when their French-built Mirage 2000 aircraft crashed today morning, minutes after taking off from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) runway, in Bengaluru’s eastern suburb.

The pilots of the ill-fated Mirage 2000 fighter jet aircraft were identified as Squadron Leader Sameer Abrol from Ghaziabad and Squadron Leader Siddarth Negi from Dehradun.

As the news of the sad demise of Squadron Leader Siddarth Negi reached his hometown, a pall of gloom hung heavy. Siddarth was born and brought up in Dehradun and was a resident of Dhartawala, Panditwari near Vasant Vihar. Siddarth’s father Shri. Balbir Singh Negi retired from the CBCID , was presently working in Graphic Era University, while his mother was a homemaker. Siddharth has a younger sibling, a sister who is married. Naveen Bist, Siddharth’s neighbor spoke to Newspost at length and told us how life had been cut short for the promising young man, “Today is his birthday and we got the news of his demise, we are all aggrieved and lost for words. He was a student of Seven Oaks School. Siddharth had been married for two and a half year’s. His wife works in the Air Force too.” Naveen ji tells us.

Squadron Leader Siddarth Negi was commissioned in June 2009 while his colleague Sameer Abrol from Ghaziabad belonged to the 2008 batch.

Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the single-engine jet fighter aircraft was on a test flight after an upgrade carried out by HAL that ended in a lethal crash aat 10:30 a.m. Both Sameer and Siddarth were part of Aircraft and System Testing Establishment in Bengaluru.

Within minutes of the crash, the ghastly visuals of smoke, fire and choppers hovering over the crash site went viral. Witnesses in the vicinity shared images and video clips on all social media platforms.

Siddharth’s family left for Bengaluru today. According to sources, the last rites will be held in Kalhally crematorium tomorrow morning at 10a.m.

Review of Mussoorie’s Mythistory: Mystifying Mussoorie

By
Tania Saili
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0

Mussoorie’s Mythistory                   Hugh and Colleen Gantzer

Niyogi Books                                    Pages:118

Rs. 295                                             ISBN: 978-93-86906-70-0

Well known travel writers Hugh and Colleen Gantzer’s latest book ‘Mussoorie’s Mythistory’ is a collection of twelve carefully handpicked and strung together tales. What do they have in common? Well they are set in and around Mussoorie. In this mosaic of stories, history is interlaced with myths along a 19-mile ridge, tied together with two hundred year history.

Mussoorie’s mist parts in ‘Mussoorie’s Mythistory’ to reveal alternative endings to some of the tales the town tells. Oftener than not, the Yeti comes visiting minus the misses or the Lidini. The Abominable Snowman hangs around the outskirts of the hill-station in the heart of winter, looking for company and finds one. The snow beast has struck!

Elsewhere you find the hooded Italian Capuchin Brothers of St. George’s College in Barlowgunj having their doors rattled—opened and slammed shut. All the while petrified students look on. Later we are on ‘Burnt Hill’ or Pari Tibba, or the Hill-0f-Fairies but only during the days of the Raj. ‘They are inside the Tara Bhoots. Lakhs of them. They look like little bits of glass.’ Don’t ask the reviewer, the end of this tale. It is a well-guarded secret covered by the Defence of India Act. But writers can always dip into personal diary, can’t they?

‘Fowl Play’ is set in the deep of winter. But starved chickens come out winners, with their ‘special chickenfeed.’ And how could you have a book on Mussoorie without the usual Maharaja or two thrown in for good measure. And that is when you meet the Raja of Shershahir who at 72 enjoys nothing more than the company of young people, especially if they are the kind that stay young – forever.

The author’s love for the hill station gives us delicate images of the saanp ka bhutta in the monsoon. All those who have been to school here are familiar with this Pitcher Plant. ‘The snake bhuttas appear when the mushrooms do. They send out a long spike ending in a sinister, cobra-like hood. Inside the hood is a seedpod like a small corn cog. Then, as August progresses, the kernels on the pod start to blush till they turn a brilliant scarlet, warning people to stay away.’

Later, a cabaret show upsets the moral police of the town with interesting results. In ‘Afghan Seed’ Hugh and Colleen take the reader to the unexplored word of the Afghan labourers who built retaining walls. They used no mortar. They used no cement. Yet you will find them intact, having withstood the onslaught of Time. Any visitor to St. George’s College or the Railway School in Jharipani can see for himself these mute tributes to the sheer strength, sweat and tears of these men who shaped these hills into what they are today.

In ‘Flights of Fancy’ the line between dream and reality; myth and legend; fact and fiction blurs to bring the reader into a wonderland of Mussoorie as she could have been. Often you may feel like Harry Potter has just fallen through the rabbit hole and walked into the Mad Hatter.

Voter list information to be available on Voter Helpline 1950

By
newspost
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0

Dehradun, Chief Electoral Officer Smt. Saujanya has said that the name and description in the voter list can be verified on Voter Helpline 1950. This is a toll free number, which will be formally launched on February 1. Contact can be established on this toll free number for getting Voter I-Card made and getting information related to the BLO and polling booth. In a press conference held at the Media Centre, Secretariat, information regarding the figures of voters as per the January 31, 2019 final publication of the special brief revision of the Photo Electoral Rolls, on the basis of the qualification date of 01 January 2019, was given.

Chief Electoral Officer informed that final publication of the special brief revision has been done. But still application for enrolment in the voter list can be submitted. This is not the final voter list as elections are not announced yet. The electoral rolls will be finalized till the last date of nomination during elections. However, for the enrolment in the voter list or  any amendment, the concerned person has to apply about 10 days before the last date of nomination. Instructions have been given to lay special focus on female voters and voters in the age group of 18-19 years.

Chief Electoral Officer informed that only VVPAT machines will be used. In order to give information about the EVM and VVPAT to the voters, mock poll and display programmes are being organized in the entire state.

District Election Officers have been given instructions to organise voter awareness programmes through SWEEP. Directions have been issued for transfers of officials related to the elections on the basis of the standards set by the Election Commission of India. On this occasion, EVM and VVPAT were also displayed.

Giving information regarding the figures of voters as per the January 31, 2019 final publication of the special brief revision of the Photo Electoral Rolls on the basis of the qualification date of 01 January 2019, Smt. Saujanya said that after the revision, the total number of voters in the state are 76,28,526.

The male voter are 39,84,327, female voters are 36,43,969 and transgender voters are 230. The number of voters in comparison to draft publication has increase of 65,696. The E-P ratio was 64.40 per cent in the draft, while in the final publication it is 68.30 per cent.

The sex ratio was 912 in draft, while the final publication it is 915. Total polling stations are 11235, out of which 2548 are in urban areas and 8687 are in rural areas. Similarly, the total polling station location are 8367. These include 1107 in urban areas and 7260 in rural areas It was informed that the most remote polling station is in Tharali assembly constituency 40-Primary School, Kanol and in Badrinath assembly constituency 43- Primary School Dumak.

Leprosy awareness camp organized by Himalayan Hospital

By
newspost
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0

Doiwala, Dr Y S Bisht, Medical Superintendent in Himalayan Hospital organized  a camp at 10:30 am near Sapera Basti in PEN India School. 30th January is observed as World Leprosy Day across the globe. Specialists from Himalayan Hospital Skin Department and second yearMBBS students spread awareness about the symptoms and treatment of leprosy. Dr Y S Bisht said, “people who came to the camp will be provided free registration for treatment in Himalayan Hospital.

Himalayan Hospital skin specialist Dr Rashmi Jindal and Dr Payal Chauhan said, “leprosy is a contagious disease that is caused by the infection of Mycobacterium leprae which is a slow dividing bacterium. Two common types are tuberculoid and lepromatous, the latter being more harmful. Lepromatous leprosy causes large lumps and bumps, commonly referred to as nodules in medical terms.”

Dr Nancy Bhardwaj and Dr Robin Chugh added, “Pain in the eyes and legs, Skin lesions, numbness in hands, feet, arms and legs, muscle weakness, severe disfigurement and disabilities are some of the basic symptoms of leprosy.”

Dr Prakash Keshaviah, the Patron of PEN India Foundation said, “India has the highest number of leprosy patients globally and such awareness camps will prove beneficial in achieving the aim of WHO in eradicating leprosy.” Mr Anoop Rawat, the chairperson of the Foundation and Mr Santosh Budakoti, the Director of the Foundation, welcomed the SRHU medical superintendent Dr YS Bisht and his team and thanked them for their  their initiative of providing free treatment to those who came to the camp.

Love in the time of snowflakes

By
Tania Saili
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0

Rudraprayag, Stories of valor and bravery of men in uniform fill up the hills and vales of Uttarakhand but here’s an endearing tale.

25th January 2019 was set as a wedding date months in advance. Rajnish Kurmachali, an army jawan from Trijuginarayan was to marry Shikha of Makku Math.

It was all going as planned. Or at least that is what everybody thought up until the time, the heavens opened up with the season’s heaviest snowfall. But not one for disappointments, the young man wasn’t going to let the weather god’s stand in his way.

The baraat – the groom and his entourage – set out on a walk of six kilometers near Makku Math where the wedding was to take place. Dressed in their besties, the groom and his close relatives took things in their stride and walked all the way.

Wearing an off-white sherwani with a maroon stole thrown his shoulders, the groom with his uncles, aunts, sisters and their children in tow, defied the weather gods with just shawls, jackets and the odd umbrella. They punctuated this procession with many a selfie along the snow-quilted path. Of course the wedding formalities and rituals were observed before the young couple trudged back to where their cars were stranded. What more than, a touch of snow in your face could be a perfect beginning of a lasting relationship.

Talking to us over the phone from Punjab, a coy Shikha told team Newspost: “So much preparation went to waste, but that was God’s will! ” Rajnish feels it was worth the effort: ‘And my bride is so sweet!’ he adds.

At the day’s end, those who can walk between waltzing snowflakes are singularly blessed by the Gods of Devbhoomi. Here we have Shikha and Rajnish Kurmachali who make that saying come alive in hills of Uttarakhand.

Our 70th Republic Day with a twist

By
Tania Saili
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0

Dehradun:  In the once-upon-a-time days,  Dehradun was a town for retired people –  a place for grey heads and green hedges. The only crowd one saw was during the Jhanda ka mela, Dushera Mela or when the Gemini or Apollo Circus put up their tents in Parade Ground.  Fast Forward to today to find the new resurgent India on the march in one of the many malls, that dot the valley of the Doon.

National holidays help. One needs to see it to believe it. People across all ages flock to celebrate India’s 70th Republic Day at the ‘Mall’ to end up with a lighter wallet.  Families arrive in droves to shop, some to window-shop, few to watch a movie or just to grab a quick bite before heading home or elsewhere.

The ITBP band rocks to the beat of patriotic songs, against the backdrop of  those who come visiting. Beyond the tokenism of the tri-colour painted on cheeks; tri-colour badges sitting pretty on winter wear and tri-colour balloons floating around, is all that sets Republic Day celebrations at the Mall apart from the weekend footfall.

If you are looking for a fly in the ointment then it is that everybody is lost in the world of their mobile devices. My honest advice, do not bother to dress-up or dress-down, everyone is so glued to their mobile screen that they don’t even look where they are walking, let alone admire or berate your look.

Today, as India celebrates its 70th Republic Day, our Malls are witness to a proud nation as it marches into a brighter tomorrow.

Most Men Come Home Strangers

By
Tania Saili
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0

Dehradun, Returning to Aasan was like a second homecoming. Here in 2005 for an assignment and a decade and half later I was back again, to relive the magic of the serene wetlands teeming with migratory birds.

Sprawled over 1 & a half km at the foothills of Chakrata range this is India’s first Wetland Conservation Reserve. There is this constant buzzing of birds and on close inspection one finds the rarest of birds at the Aasan barrage.

Over the years, the lake has become the winter stopover for about 150 species of migratory birds which start arriving here from October every year.

For serious birders, an experience with one particular species may become forever memorable. And for me a pair of the endangered Pallas Fish Eagle or the Pallas sea eagle or band-tailed fish eagle has been a personal favourite.

When I first came here, I remember the magnificent pair nesting on top of a palash or flame-in-the-forest tree. The pair waltzed in perfect harmony against the blue winter sky weaving a magic spell, and I was hooked for life!

Eagerly I enquire about them. They point out to the solitary male on a patchy bush thrush wetland, soaking in the sun. On asking about his partner, the locals fill me in, “Two years ago, the female passed away and since then the male has left his nest and made one of these patchy wetlands his home.”

At 2 feet tall he is as handsome as before but now a lonely sight. He hasn’t left the Aasan since his mate passed away. In spring when it warms up, he goes off to the nearby mountains, but with no other Pallas Eagle in the area his search for company looks grim.

 

 

As I leave, the lines of the poet Thomas Gray ring in my ears:

‘For many a flower is born to blush unseen,

And waste its sweetness in the desert air.’

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