Siliguri: North-east Frontier Railway authorities have introduced a special toy train to promote tourism in the region. The train with a steam engine and three coaches will run between New Jalpaiguri and Gayabari on weekends. It will start every morning and return in the evening. "We wanted to popularize the toy train because there are many tourists from outside the state also. We wanted a train exclusively for Siliguri. We provided only for first class, but people have demanded that we should start a second class also. So, we will consider it", said T N Bhattacharya, the Assistant Commercial Manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway. Passengers too are very enthusiastic about the trip. "The train is good, but they should introduce a second class also. The number of rides should be increased as it is a beautiful journey", said Pragati. "The fares should be reduced and a second class should be introduced to make it more affordable for people", said Nani Gopal, another passenger.
- Oct 5, 2004

Army scales peak in Nun Kun (Go to Top)

        Srinagar: Paratroopers of the army have scaled a mountain peak Nun Kun in the Kashmir three times in a week, an army spokesperson said today. The expedition team, comprising 45 members, climbed the Nun Kun mountain from the western side, considered to be the most difficult because of regular avalanches. The gradient of the summit requires 17 ropes as compared to 25 from other routes. Captain Ajay Sharma, a member of the expedition team, said the mission was successful despite difficulties. "This was my first expedition. It was mostly for adventure activities.But most of us were trained for it as we are not very well trained. We wore snow shoes as it is very difficult to walk on snow. Our experience was good," said Sharma. The team was flagged off by army chief Nirmal Chandra Vij in New Delhi in July this year. S.Shekhawat, the team leader of the expedition, said the motive behind the expedition was to prepare the paratroopers for more adventure. "The main motive behind this expedition was to turn the paratroopers into mountaineers and to prepare lead climbers for paratrooping regiment so that they can participate in more expeditions and adventure activities. So that they can climb higher peaks. Also, during operations lead climbers can make them more successful. This was the motive behind it," said Shekhawat.
- Oct 4, 2004

Sweepers strike turns Dehradun into a waste dump (Go to Top)

         Dehradun: Sweepers in Dehradun have been on strike for the past 10 days. leaving the capital of Uttaranchal without an effective waste disposal system. So hazardous has the situation become, that the state administration has ordered the state police to chip in and clean the city's streets. The striking sweepers are reportedly demanding the recruitment of more staff, even as the city is bursting at its seams with filth and squalor. "I have 200-250 policemen, some trucks and some cranes available. We are trying to clean the whole city so that the public gets rid of this garbage and its stink," said V.P Singh, the superintendent of police of Dehradun. "This protest has started from 23 September and now it has been 8-10 days. The garbage could cause diseases among the masses so this operation was needed. I believe cleaning at night would be easier for the workers," said N.K Singh, the head of the sweepers union working under the aegis of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation. Initially, the strike was state-wide, but after a six-hour meeting between various sweeper unions and the state administration, an agreement was reached in which the sweepers with the exception of those affiliated to unions in Dehradun agreed to resume work. "City has become larger.Population has increased to 6-7 lakhs. We are 600 people (sweepers) in total,who cannot clean the whole city. We have demanded to the administration to recruit more sweepers. Salary should be given on time and it should be permanent also," said Ghasita Ram, a sweeper.
- Oct 4, 2004

Ahmedabad gears up for `Dandiya' and Navratri (Go to Top)

         Ahmedabad: Preparations are in full swing here for the forthcoming Navratri Festival of which the unique "Dandiya" dance forms a major part. The young have already started practising for the dance, which will test both their stamina and skill in synchronising the movement of their feet with that of their hand-held sticks. Dandiya, which is also called "Garba", has over the years been popularised by the Gujarati community. But traditionalists claim that today the dance has fallen a victim to crass commercialisation. Hemand Kothekar, a dance instructor, said Garba has undergone a sea change but the beats remain the same. "Earlier, the people used to play Garba as part of their culture and tradition. Now, they want to play on digital music with an addition of western style of dancing to it. This form of dance helps them to dance at parties too. Hence they want learn the dance," Kothekar said. "Now, the music is new, the steps are new too. The old songs have been remixed and set on English tunes. The steps are also western and different from what it used to be earlier. When we go to clubs, we feel out of place," said Shruti Shah, a 19-year-old. For others like Rupal Mukim, who is learning dance for the first time, it is about adapting to the trends. "My friends used to take part in Navratri festivals since college times. I was unaware of the steps of Navratri so I thought that I should also learn the steps and take part in it. I decided to learn dancing," she said. During the nine-day festival these young boys and girls will wear colourful long skirts and hit each other's sticks to the tune of folk music across streets and clubs. "Navratri," which literally means nine nights, is observed twice a year. It lasts for nine days in honour of nine manifestations of Hindu goddess Durga and fall in the months of April-May and September-October.
- Oct 1, 2004