Category Archives: Community Involvement / Social Issues

Supply Corps’ soldier saw first action as 21-year-old in WWI, recalls his daughter

December 14, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Lucknow :

The Army Supply Corps, which completed 254 years of existence today, is undoubtedly one of the oldest units to serve the Indian Army. From World War-1 to Kargil conflict, the ASC’s has made its presence both during war and also during peace. And as the nation gears up to salute the officers and soldiers of the ASC, an octogenarian daughter of a World War veteran (who was a part of the Royal Indian Army Supply Core) recalls the life, action and time of her father during the turbulent period in the annals of world history.

Speaking to TOI, octogenarian Probhati Bose said that even before completing 21 years of age his father Bibhuti Bhushan Dey Majumdar had become a part of the British Army, and the first major action, which the young lad from Allahabad saw was the first World War (WW-1), which broke out on July 28, 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne in Sarajevo by a Yugoslav nationalist.

“My father (Bibhuti Bhushan Dey Majumdar) was born in the summer of 1893, and in January 1914 he joined the British Army’s Royal Indian Army Supply Corps. Within few months of joining, he got to see the first major action in World War-1, when he along with his regiment went to Mesopotamia to extend support to the infantry soldiers, who were facing the enemy bullets,” said Probhati Bose.

Recalling some of the stories narrated by her father (which she could recall), Bose said, “As per my father, mostly Punjabi Muslims and Sikhs fought for the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, US and others) against Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman empire. The Lahore and Meerut infantry divisions had to stop the Germans on the western front (in Europe). The soldiers also saw significant action in Mesopotamia, East Africa and South-East Asia.”

As per the New Delhi-based Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, India contributed immensely to the war effort in terms of both men and material. Her soldiers served in numerous battlefields – France and Belgium, Aden, Arabia, East Africa, Gallipoli, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Persia, Russia, and even in China. By the end of the war 1,100,000 Indians had served overseas at the cost of 75,000 dead. They earned more than 9,200 decorations for gallantry including 11 Victoria Cross (VCs).

However, the daughter of the World War veteran lamented that military history, which is taught in most of the schools or colleges, is virtually devoid of India’s contribution to World Wars. She said, “It is really unfortunate that most of the news channels or newspapers are obsessed about the Indo-Pak wars. It is sad that the media gives comparatively less coverage to the illustrious history of India’s contribution in the World Wars. And it is only on few occasions, that the World War veterans are remembered.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Arunav Sinha, TNN / December 08th, 2014

Indian Soldiers of World War I Remembered

December 14, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourism, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Diplomats of France, Germany, Britain and Turkey along with Telangana representative BV Papa Rao (centre) paying homage to Indian soldiers of World War I memorial monument in Hyderabad on Friday | a suresh kumar

Hyderabad :

After 100 years of the first World War, Hyderabad hosted a rare moment where the diplomats from the belligerent countries of the historic war came together on a single platform to pay homage to the Indian soldiers who died fighting the war.

France and Britain together fought against Germany in World War-I. In fact they were rivals in the second World War as well.

The diplomats of the all three countries along with the Consul General of Turkey, shook hands with each other on the same stage and prayed for the world peace here on Friday.

This took place at the ‘World War-I monument’ at Chaderghat during the Commemoration Day of the Indian soldiers who died fighting the first World War. The historic monument which is located right next to the victory ground at Chaderghat was built in 1920 by the locals in the memory of Indian soldiers. Recalling the sacrifice of the soldiers, Andrew McAllister, the British deputy high commissioner in Hyderabad said, “We can’t forget the sacrifice they made in the war. This is a great opportunity for all of us to recall our past and build a bright future.” He also highlighted the role of Hyderabad in the World War. “Many soldiers from the Nizam’s Army fought in the war. In fact the Begumpet Airport played a key role as the air base for British empire during the war,” he added.

Achim Fabig, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany described the meet as a symbol of peaceful world today. “Once our countries fought against each other, but now we all are here and we all want the world to be peaceful” he said. Talking about current diplomatic relations, he said, now all the countries are making efforts to build friendly relationships with each other and it is indeed a good sign.

This commemoration meet was organised by the INTACH, Hyderabad chapter in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad. “This monument has a great history and it needs to be recognised. This the reason we organised the event,” said P Anuradha Reddy, convenor, ITACH Hyderabad. Eric Lavertu, Consul General of France and Merad Omerogul, Consul General of Turkey were also present at the event.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / December 13th, 2014

Winning matters

December 13, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Sports, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Partha Varanashi from Puttur becomes first Austswim presenter, aims to boost standards

Partha Varanashi, a 29-year-old from the state, has become India’s first Austswim presenter for swimming and water safety.

With this accreditation under his belt, Partha can coach swimmers in India, instead of a representative from Australia visiting the country. This achievement is part of an initiative by former Indian Olympian Hakimuddin Shabbir Habibulla to improve swimming training standards .

Under the programme Winning Matters, Austwim, Australia’s national organisation for the teaching of swimming and water safety provided professional and systematic training to swimming teachers from across India.

Ceri Weeks, a representative from Austswim, conducted the courses in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Mangaluru.

“With Austswim making its presence felt in India, swimming training is expected to get a whole new dimension. Training is going to be holistic and systematic with a strong foundation. The curriculum is vast, which includes child psychology, behaviour patterns and safety and candidates have to under go online tests. There is a 200page manual and there is an option to interact online,” said Partha, who has received a soft copy of the accreditation and will travel to Australia for the actual presentation.

Partha who trains about 40 budding competitive swimmers at the Balavana swimming pool in Puttur and who was responsible to teach 900 students of a swim school in South Australia before returning to India two years ago, said this was just the first lap.

“Since I worked in Australia, I know the standards. The journey has just begun. In India, the focus is only on competitions, while Austswim focuses on technique. The change will not happen overnight. It may take years like it did in Australia, but I am confident that Austswim will bring in changes in swimming standards of India,” he said.

Partha was the Mangalore University’s champion swimmer for three years (20032005). He was also a threetime national Indian swimming finalist, South Australian Masters Swimming record holder (2009) and has over ten gold medals won in Aussie Masters, SA event in the year 2009 and 2010 and coached and trained over 900 swimmers in Australia.

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Sport> Others / by Deepthi Sanjiv, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / November 26th, 2014

Arts College turns 95, not 75!

December 12, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leadersmpositiveone@gmail.com

Last week, the media was abuzz with reportage on the launch of ‘Platinum Jubilee’ celebrations of the Arts College of Osmania University. Deans, heads of departments, faculty and students and several former principals and alumni of the college participated in the event to mark the 75th year of the Arts College. But the fact is that Arts College completed 95 years of its existence on 28th August this year itself. This prestigious institution would be completing its centenary in 2019, just a year after the centenary of Osmania University.

The seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, had issued a firman for the establishment of Osmania University on 26th April 1917 for offering higher education through Urdu medium in the erstwhile Hyderabad State. The University became functional in 1918. Under the aegis of the University, the Arts College was inaugurated on 28th August 1919 and it was temporarily housed in eight rented buildings in Gunfoundry area in the city.

A faculty of 25 lecturers was recruited and 225 students were admitted in Intermediate first class in the first academic year of the college. Incidentally, Sir Ross Masood, grandson of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and founder of Aligarh Muslim University, was the first principal of Arts College. Degree and postgraduate courses were started in 1925 and PhD programme in several disciplines in 1938.

The government acquired a vast extent of land (about 2,000 acres) at Adikmet for development of the campus of Osmania University in 1928. Engineer Ali Nawaz Jung and Architect Zain Yar Jung were sent abroad to study and suggest a model plan for the campus. Monsieur Jasper, a Belgian architect, prepared the detailed plans for the campus buildings. The Nizam laid the foundation for the Arts College building on 5th July 1934. The imposing building, in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, was built in a record time of 5 years. The Arts College building was inaugurated by the Nizam on 4th December 1939.

The majestic and elegant edifice in pink granite stone retains much of it charm even today, though it has seen vicissitudes of fortune over the last 75 years. The college, being 20 years older than the building, has been witness to many more changes. While departments in modern disciplines as well as classical and Indian languages were opened, the medium of instruction was changed from Urdu to English, soon after police action in erstwhile Nizam State in September 1948. The Arts College made its name all over the globe for its academic excellence by producing eminent alumni and employing renowned academicians.

In 1973, degree courses were discontinued in Arts College and it became an exclusively postgraduate college, offering PG and advanced diploma courses and research studies in various disciplines. Though it was the hotbed of Telangana movement during 1968-71 and several Mulki agitations earlier, Arts College scaled new heights in the 1970s and 1980s. The college made its mark in both arts and social sciences, including economics, history, geography, political science, public administration, psychology, sociology, English and other foreign languages, classical and Indian languages and communication & journalism, linguistics, Islamic Studies and philosophy.

Those who studied in the Arts College or served on its faculty brought laurels. The alumni include not only great academicians but also bureaucrats, political leaders and educational administrators. Many of the erstwhile faculty or alumni of the college went on to become vice-chancellors of eminent universities in the state as well as other prominent universities across the country. Some made their mark abroad. Apart from its alumni in many other disciplines, the Arts College also produced many eminent media persons who studied at its department of communication and journalism.

Yet, after the mushrooming of colleges offering professional courses such as Engineering, MBA, MCA, B.Ed etc, there has been a marked drop in the students seeking postgraduate courses in social sciences and arts subjects. The severe financial crunch due to inadequate funding of the university through block grants by the government has led to a situation where the Arts College is forced to discontinue some courses or to keep several posts of faculty vacant. This is having its own impact on the academic excellence of the college. In the last few years, Osmania University campus witnessed intense agitation by students for separate Telangana State. Now, Telangana is a reality and it is time to strive hard to win back fame and pristine glory for Arts College before it celebrates its centenary in 2019.

(The writer is an MLC and a journalist)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Syed Amin Jafri, TNN / December 08th, 2014

Talents on display, sans any barriers

December 12, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, Educationmpositiveone@gmail.com

A scene from an exhibition-cum-sale of handicraft products by differently abled children at Town Hall in Kozhikode on Tuesday.

Seminar for teachers of special schools, competitions for students held

Rahmania School for Mentally Handicapped in association with the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped, the Parents Association of Intellectually Disabled, and a host of other organisations organised a quiz for mentally challenged students and a seminar for teachers of special schools here on Tuesday as part of the National Day for the Mentally Retarded observance.

As many as 52 teams from 26 schools across north Kerala took part in the quiz. The team from Emma’s Villa, Wayanad, consisting of Nimisha Banu and Sanil, emerged the winners.

Winners

The team from Love shore, Pannikkode, comprising Mohammed Mubarak and Faseela, and team from Pratheeksha, Mampatta, represented by Vipin and Adarsh, won the second and third prizes respectively.

The team from Manovikas School, Edarikkode, Malappuram, represented by Kabeer and Faisal, bagged the fourth prize.

Media person Y. Irshad was the quizmaster.

The seminar for special school teachers was inaugurated by Deputy Director of Education, Kozhikode, Gireesh Cholayil.

State Secretary of the National Convention of the Educators of Deaf, Kerala, V.K. Abdul Kareem, and Director of the Institute of Research in Learning Disability of Mahatma Gandhi University K. Muhammed Mustafa spoke on the subject ‘Effective Educational Practices in mental retardation.’

Exhibition

An exhibition of handicraft products made by the students of the Rahmania school was organised.

Various events, including painting and work experience competitions for students, were held on December 4 as part of National Day for the Mentally Retarded, which is observed on December 8.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Staff Reporter / Kozhikode – December 10th, 2014

Sports makes on physically fit : Dr. Saleem

December 12, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Sportsmpositiveone@gmail.com

City Police Commissioner Dr. M.A. Saleem is seen releasing pigeons along with Prof. M.G. Krishnan, Vice-Chancellor, KSOU and other dignitaries to mark the launch of Annual Police Sports Meet

Mysuru :

The city police battled it out with each other at the annual sports meet that began here yesterday. Their lathis were replaced with javelins, while the heavy rifles with shot-puts, at the Police Parade grounds, the venue of the meet.

The cops were in a sportive mood on the first day of the three-day Annual Sports Meet -2014 organized by Mysore City Police. Speaking at the inaugural, KSOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. M.G. Krishnan said, “All sports should be treated equally but unfortunately this is not happening in India.” He said that cricket was the only sport that was getting more prominence in the country compared to others. Vice-Chancellor wished the Police personnel who were participating in the meet to show their best performance.

City Police Commissioner, Dr. M.A. Saleem said “Sports activities play a vital role in keeping policemen fit and healthy. So every year sports meet was being organised.” He advised police to develop sportsmanship and competitiveness even while carrying out their duties that would improve the health of the society.

Law and Order DCP A.N. Rajanna, Crime and Traffic DCP M.M. Mahadevaiah, Armed Reserve DCP Shivanna, Mounted Police Commandant Janardhan were present.

The event will see police personnel taking part in race, tennis ball throw, discus throw, passing the ball, shot-put, lemon-spoon race, tug-of-war, table tennis, shuttle badminton, long jump, javelin throw, etc.

Valedictory: The valedictory will be held on Dec. 7 at 4 pm. Retd. ADGP Kempaiah will be present on the occasion.

Results of the first day Men’s category

Javelin throw : Satyavelu (first), S. Manjunath (second), Shivakumar (third).

Shot put : Arogyaraj (I), H.R. Shivakumar (II), Lokesh (III)

Long jump: Jayakumar (I), Mylari (II), Vijaya Kumar (III)

200 m running: Mylari (I), Vijaya Kumar (II), Amarnath (III)

Women’s category

200 m running: Asha Rani (I), Rekha (II), Vani (III)

Javelin throw : Shylaja (I), J. Rekha (II), Zareena Taj (III)

Shot put : Shylaja (I), Rekha (II), Zareena Taj (III)

Long jump : M. Vani (I) Siddamma (II), Asha Rani (III)

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Saturday , December 06th, 2014

Thousands visit wildlife photo expo

December 10, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issuesmpositiveone@gmail.com

Visitors having a look at the exhibits displayed in ‘Click Your Pic 2014’ wildlife photography contest and expo at Brookefields Mall in Coimbatore./ by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Importance of wildlife photography stressed

Thousands of visitors flocked Brookefields Mall in the weekend to see the wildlife photographs displayed by 165 photographers across the country in the ‘Click Your Pic 2014’ wildlife photography contest and expo. It was organised by the Environment Conservation Group.

The photographers displayed India’s rich biodiversity. Eminent wildlife photographer T.N.A. Perumal, who distributed prizes to the winners of the competition, on Sunday, spoke on the importance of wildlife photography and change in technology that had made wildlife photography much easier.

I. Anwardeen, Conservator of Forests, Sathyamangalam, asked the public to work towards conserving wildlife and India’s rich natural heritage.

R. Mohammed Saleem, president of ECG, elaborated on the importance of the pictures displayed in the expo and efforts taken by photographers in taking them.

Winners were given prizes in three different categories. In the mammals category, Sudharshan Murthy came first, followed by Bharathi and Dhanuparan. In the birds category, Ganesan Ram won the first prize. Anvitha Jaganath and Sivakumar came second and third. In the insects category, Sibi Ussan bagged the first and the second prizes. R. Prakash Kumar of Nallampalayam bagged the third prize.

Prizes for the drawing competition held on Friday were also given away to school students on Sunday.

The exhibition is open to visitors at Brookefields till November 19. Schools can bring their students in batches to visit the exhibition and learn our rich natural heritage.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Staff Reporter / Coimbatore – November 18th, 2014