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29th Mahasamadhi Day of Dr. Swami Rama Celebrated with Grandeur at HIHT

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A grand event was held on the 29th Mahasamadhi Day of Dr. Swami Rama, the founder of HIHT (Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust).
Dehradun (Doiwala): A grand event was held on the 29th Mahasamadhi Day of Dr. Swami Rama, the founder of HIHT (Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust). As the chief guest, spiritual guru Anandmurti Guru Maa remarked that Dr. Swami Rama, the founder of HIHT, is a heritage of the world. He was a true proponent of service to humanity.
At the ceremony on Wednesday, Guru Maa, founder of Rishi Chaitanya Ashram, stated that Dr. Swami Rama established the Himalayan Institute in 1989 with the guiding principles of “Love, Service, and Remembrance.” She encouraged all students to share ideas and contribute to the growth of society and the nation.
Dr. Vijay Dhasmana,  member of the Trust’s executive committee, highlighted HIHT’s identity as the place of penance for Guru Swami Rama. He shared that with Swamiji’s philosophy of “Yogaḥ Karmasu Kauśalam” (Yoga is skill in action) as guiding light the institute plays a leading role in social service. He further emphasized that we continue to carry forward the legacy of Swamiji, emphasizing welfare of others first.
At the event, Radha Bhatt, president of Lakshmi Ashram in Kausani, was honored with the Swami Rama Humanitarian Award 2024. She received a gold medal, a certificate of honor, and a cash prize of ten lakh rupees. Expressing gratitude, Radha Bhatt said Swamiji exemplified social service through the power of science and spirituality and has always been and will continue to be an inspiration for society. Receiving an award in his name is an honor for her she expressed.
On this occasion, 35 employees associated with the Trust were recognized with the Best Employee Award. Additionally, Swami Rama’s writings, including Power of Self-Transformation, Empowerment and Transformation – From the Himalayas to the Ocean, as well as the 2025 annual calendar, were released. A community meal followed in the afternoon where attendees received prasad.
Earlier, at the Swami Rama Center, homage was paid to the late founder of the Trust, Dr. Swami Rama.
The vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Vijender Chauhan.The event was attended by Swami Rithwan Bharti, head of the Swami Rama Sadhak Gram Ashram; Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajendra Dobhal; Dr. Vijender Chauhan; Dr. Prakash Keshaviah; Dr. Renu Dhasmana; and hundreds of Swamiji’s disciples from India and abroad.
Radha Bhatt: A Crusader for the Mountains for over 6 decades
Radha Bhatt, the president of Lakshmi Ashram in Kausani, has been championing the issues of Uttarakhand’s mountains for 60 years. She was born on October 16, 1933, in Dhurka village, Almora. With a love for education, she began her career as a teacher at Lakshmi Ashram in Kausani, established by Gandhi’s close disciple Sarla Behn, in the early 1950s. In 1957, she joined the Bhoodan Movement and initiated the first march from Uttarakhand, undertaking two long marches with Vinoba Bhave in Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
Between 1961 and 1965, she was active in village self-reliance, anti-alcohol movements, forest conservation, empowerment of young girls, and other initiatives. She also promoted women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, and khadi. In 1975, she led a 75-day foot march to raise awareness about forest conservation, the Chipko movement, alcohol opposition, and village self-reliance. From 2006 to 2010, she surveyed the Himalaya mountains and rivers of Uttarakhand, opposing hydroelectric projects. Her book Himalaya Ki Beti (Daughter of the Himalayas) has been translated into German and Danish. For her work in promoting Gandhian values, she has received several awards, including the Jamnalal Bajaj, Godavari Gaurav, Indira Priyadarshini Environmental Award, Muni Santbal Award, Kumaon Gaurav Award, and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
SRHU’s Outstanding Employee Awards 2024
•Best Teacher Award: Dr. SS Bisht, Dr. Sanjay Gupta
•Best Researcher Award: Dr. Geeta Bhandari
•Best Clinician Award: Dr. Renu Dhasmana
•Administrative Award: Dr. Anil Juyal, Amrendra Singh, Rishabh Dhasmana
•Nursing Award: Vipin Kumar, Shagufta Zahoor, Pawan Kumar, Kavita George, Arjun Singh, Rajni SM
•Best Para Clinical Award: Chandra Prakash Mamgain, Baldev Uniyal, Priyanka Pant, Pramod Singh
•Best Office Staff Award: Amit Agarwal, Sharad Kala, Gurjeet Pal Singh, Sukhvinder Singh, Sudha Kala, Avtar Kaur Saini
•Best Supporting Staff Award: Bhagwan Singh, Virendra Singh, Narendra Singh Negi, Virendra Singh Rawat, Raghuveer Singh Manwal, Baithal Singh Negi, Kuldeep Singh, Shahid Ahmed
•Best Housekeeping Staff Award: Surendra, Sanjay, Shiv Kumar, Savitri

Khazane: Uttarakhand’s exhibits on display@VoW,2024

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Dr Tania Saili Bakshi
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Khazane: Uttarakhand Museums on exhibit

Dr Tania Saili Bakshi caught up with Anjali Bharthari Ravi Co-convenor, INTACH and Curator of Khazane: Uttarakhand Museum Community@VoW, 2024. There will be ten exhibits on display showcasing Uttarakhand’s treasure trove on 16th-17th November at Madhuban Hotel, Dehradun.

How relevant are museums in today’s day and age?

AB: Museum spaces are not just about preserving what happened in the past, but it is also about educating the next generation and learning from them. As was seen during COVID, museums assisted in rebuilding relationships, fostering understanding and building companionship amongst people.

Why this exhibit at the 8th Edition of VoW? 

AB: As a museum professional I had been exploring the museums in Uttarakhand and decided to form a collective for their capacity-building under the ageis of INTACH.  The complimentary space provided by Vow as a member of INTACH and also keeping in mind the footfall it attracts gave me the opportunity to bring to forefront this collective of small museums as a window  to  the rich cultural heritage of the state.

There is so much to choose from, what could one expect from Nature Interpretation Centre, Forest Department and Archaeology Survey of India?

AB: The Nature Education Centres by the forest department across Uttarakhand are a hub of learning and discovery, offering a range of immersive experiences designed to engage students in the wonders of nature. These centres are dedicated to the conservation of orchids, herbs, lichens, mosses, ferns, birds, butterflies, polinators etc. and help students to explore and understand these species.

The Archaeological Survey of India is depicting their various excavation sites, where we get a glimpse into the past and how relevant it is today.

I believe there is an exhibition from Uttarakashi, what is that about?

AB: The Pratap Museum from Uttarkashi is a wonderful example of an individual, a retired school teacher, Pratap Singh Bist ji, who has invested his own resources in setting up a museum on the cultural heritage of the hill state.  His passion to preserve this heritage remains unparalleled. He interacts with the visitors himself painstakingly shows them every small artefact that he has collected over the years. This also rings true for all the other museums. They are essentially individual efforts of collection and representation of the rich cultural legacy of the state.

What is the speciality of Soham Himalayan Museum, Mussoorie?

AB: Soham Himalayan museum is again a repository of collections of Sameer Shukla who has travelled extensively in the Himalayas and collected art and artefacts from the Himalayas and showcases them in a creative way. Some of his artefacts are really unique and the product development that he has done at the museum and the creative way that he has presented his  museum is really worth visiting.

We have a very interesting Lok Sanskriti Sangrahalay from Bhimtal, what makes it stand out?

AB: This private museum was founded by Padma Shree Dr.Yashodhar Mathpal in 1983. It presents valuable artefacts and is a treasure trove of old photographs and various archaeological items and rock art found in the hill-state of Uttarakhand.

There is a special display of World War II I am told, can you shed more light?

AB: The Colonel Antiques has been curated by an avid philatelist, Col Anupam Suden who forayed into collecting antiques in 2012. He specialises in collecting Militaria and has built up a collection of some rare Military items that were used during WWI and WWII. He will display roller ball pens, ball point pens, pencils, bronze or bone tools, quills etc in sync with the written word.

What about Mussoorie Heritage Centre?

AB: Museums are very relevant in today’s times especially when a lot of frequent and fast changes are happening around us. They not only are a repository of the past, but also lay the path for the preservation and conservation of our heritage. Mussoorie Heritage Centre fits the bill. It is housed in a Heritage building previously owned by Raja of Harsil Pahari Frederick Wilson. This Centre, owned by one of the oldest families of Mussoorie, is dedicated to Archival, Research, Documentation, Curation , Craft and Design development which showcases the erstwhile history of Mussoorie.

There are two museum exhibits dedicated to Jim Corbett, what is the difference between the two?

AB: The Jim Corbett Museum at Kaladungi is the residence of Jim Corbett converted into a museum in 1967-68. It is adjacent to the village of Chhoti Haldwani. The more recent museum dedicated to Jim Corbett is the one at Rudraprayag that was inaugurated a few months back. It is located at the very same spot where Jim Corbett shot the ‘Man-eater of Rudraprayag’ in 1926. There will also be an on-screen exhibit of videos of the museums for visitors to watch.

Garhwal Rifle Regimental Centre, Landsdowne, is this one dedicated to the Regiment?

AB: Yes, Lansdowne, originally known as Kaludanda or Kalondanda, became home to ‘The Garhwalis’ in 1887. The First Battalion of The Garhwal Rifles, after being raised in Almora, reached Kaludanda on 04 November 1887. On 21 September 1890, the cantonment was renamed Lansdowne in honour of the then Viceroy of India, Lord Lansdowne.

On 1 October 1921, the Garhwal Rifles Regiment Centre was established, marking the beginning of a long and proud history. The Garhwal Rifles is one of the most decorated regiments’ of the Indian Army. The regiment has 3 Victoria Crosses to its credit along with 1 Ashoka Chakra, 4 Maha Vir Chakras, 10 Kirti Chakras and 43 Vir Chakras. The Regiment Centre has achieved numerous milestones in its illustrious journey in training of recruits and combatants, welfare of Veer Naris and veterans and taking the rich traditions forward.

There will also be an on-screen exhibit of the Rung Museum ,Dharchula, Tribal Heritage Museum, Munsayari and Jugal Kishore Pethshali Museum for visitors to watch.

Signing off Anjali reiterates, “The inclusion of the word the ‘community’ in the Uttarakhand museum community is with the mandate of making museums peoples’ museum, were communities can come together to tell stories and relate with one another. It is here where museums become story-tellers of the society.”

Do visit us on 16-17 November, 2024 at Madhuban Hotel.

Frontiers, Partitions, Poetry and Cities of the Future@VoW 2024

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Dr Tania Saili Bakshi
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VoW 2024

More of what is in store for our literary community on the 16th-17th November, 2024…

NP : Can you tell us something about  the session on the impact of migration on demography in the higher reaches of  the state, and its impact on national security?

SC: We have devoted an entire session to this very pertinent subject, which  is drawing the attention of the MHA, MoD and the NSA. As  the differential  between economic prospects as well as the infrastructure for education and health increases between the hills and the plains, there is little reason for the young and ambitious to remain in their villages. What was earlier seasonal migration is now becoming  permanent, and this has implications, not just for the individuals and communities, but for the nation as a whole. Border villages are actually the ‘sentinels of the frontier’, and their lifestyle is in sync with their ecological habitat. Any change in the fragile demography and livelihood patterns  can have a direct impact on the security scenario. This is being looked at in this session from  an administrative, political, social and defence point of view. Curated by Dr. Kuldeep Dutta, it promises to be a riveting discussion between ex-Chief Secretary Indu Pande, Ranjit Bhatia, Anoop Nautiyal and Gen Ahluwalia.

NP : I believe you have a session called Poetry @ Ninety ? What is this about?

SC: This session celebrates the life and journey of Dehradun’s  veteran  Brigadier Krishan Gopal  Behl who superannuated as the Deputy Surveyor General of India way back in 1993. While he never studied English literature formally – he was a Fauji and an engineer who devoted the best period of his life mapping the frontier areas of the country.  But post his retirement, he has been very active on the social front: providing leadership position to a range of social institutions ranging from Cheshire Homes to Consumer Forum to the Ex Servicemen League and the Doon Citizens Council.  However what brings him closer to VoW is his passion for reading, writing and rhyming. This keeps him mentally alert and active-and the range of his interests is wide and varied, and we get some idea of this from his Times of India blogs.

Poetry@Ninety will feature three of his books in rhyme – the first of these is on the Survey of India, the second on Subhash Bose, and the third on the Bhagwad Geeta . Now, all the three themes are quite distinct, and in order to render the entire text into verse while keeping the context in perspective is actually a commendable effort, which can only be described as a ‘labour of love.’ I have had the privilege of  receiving signed copies of each of these books . Often  while  going  through the rhymes, I marvel at  the clarity of his understanding  as well as the choice of words. As I want readers to attend his session, I will not delve into  all the details. But I can say that  he is a good raconteur.  He will be in conversation with  senior professor Ram Vinay Singh and Manoj Dhyani, who  are profound scholars of the Bhagwad Geeta. The session is being chaired by  Sh DS Mann, a distinguished entrepreneur and educator of Dehradun.

NP :There is a session entitled ‘Cities of the Future?’ What can one expect from that?

SC: Urbanization is one of the three mega trends facing the : the other two being interstate migration and participation of women in the workforce. Actually, in a way all three reinforce each other. The country has addressed the challenges of food and livelihood security, but in the process, urban  agglomerations have  seen an unprecedented, and if may say, unplanned expansion. Now the time has come for us to address the issue of improving  urban infrastructure, as well as creating new greenfield cities. While earlier cities were built around manufacturing centres, the new cities need IT,  power, water, housing, sports, cultural centres and open spaces. It calls for a new kind of imagination. As  this is not my area of expertise, I requested Ashish  who has done stellar work in urban planning to curate this discussion, and we have some of the best names in the urban infra space joining us for this  session . Akhilesh and Avinash are both associated with the Doon University, and the conversation is being steered by Anoop Nautiyal .

I have given this session the title  -A Square – for all the four discussants have their names starting with an A ! You may call it coincidence, or you may say it is providence, but what is certain and sure is that the session will yield many insights into the cities of the future. And we hope that Dehradun is one of them.

NP :I believe the Turkish Ambassador is also attending the festival . What will he be discussing ?

SC: The Turkish Ambassador to India Firat Sunel is an accomplished literary personality in his own right. In fact, he has attended more literature festivals in India and Bhutan  than most Indian authors. His novel The Lighthouse Family is being discussed in the festival by author-educator Ratna Manucha and Ambassador Navtej Sarna. Both  Excellencies have seen the  impact and the aftermath of population exchanges when the national borders are  altered/adjusted to suit the political dispensation of the given omen. But while  borders can divide territories, the cultural connect built over centuries cannot be  brought to an abrupt end. In that sense , the Lighthouse family is much like the  genre of Partition literature, and as Dehradun has many Partition families, it will resonate well with their lived experiences.

See you all on 16th-17th November, Madhuban Hotel, Dehradun

USPs @ VoW|Shabdavali, 2024!

By
Dr Tania Saili Bakshi
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The Valley of Words, 2024 (VoW)

Part 2..

The Valley of Words Literature and Art Festival enters its 8th Edition this year. Dr Tania Saili Bakshi caught up with Founder  Dr Sanjeev Chopra to find out what one can expect from this year’s Literature and Art Festival  scheduled for the 16th-17th of November.

How do you decide the topic for Vox Populi ? And how do you manage to get MPs from across party lines ?

Well, the credit for this goes to our Board member Dr Amna Mirza. As a distinguished teacher of political science and as a social entrepreneur she is in touch with young political leaders across the spectrum. Our challenge is to find a topic on which MPs can engage without having a strict party line to fall back upon. For example ,if we were to hold a discussion on a topic like, say the caste-based census, option is so clearly divided that MPs will have no option but to parrot the party line. As such we have always taken care to select a topic which allows for a frank exchange f views. As for example, the discussion on whether English is (also) an Indian language, or whether urbanisation is the panacea to all our problems, and whether the best debates occur outside of parliament. This is how  we brainstormed and thought  of this subject ‘Foreign Policy should be realist, not idealist.’ We are happy to share the Kamaljeet Sherawat  from  the (BJP – Bharatiya Janata Party), Gaurav Gogoi (INC- Indian National Congress), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP – Telugu Desam Party), Manoj Jha (RJD – Rashtriya Janata Dal), Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal (AAP – Aam Aadmi Party), Dr. V. Sivadasan (CPI – M – Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Pushpendra Saroj (SP – Samajwadi Party) have sent in their confirmations .

 I believe there are two tribute sessions? Could you elaborate upon them?

Last year, we lost two very active members of the VoW family Jaskiran Chopra and Dhirendra Sharma. Jaskiran had in fact attended the first preparatory meeting of VoW way back in March of 2017. She had attended every single festival, launched her books, curated our sessions, written about us in her columns, and trained our volunteers to write short crisp reports and blogs on our sessions. We will honour her by asking each of the invited poets to recite some verses from her collection, before reading out their own. My own association with her goes back  to over two decades – she was then reporting for the UNI, and I was a Secretary to the Governor of Uttaranchal ( as Uttarakhand was then called).

Prof Dhirendra Sharma was an engaged intellectual. Although for  health reasons, he could not attend any of our sessions post Covid, his support to VoW came in the form of helping us select the books on environment and ecology. As the head of the Committee of Scientists for a sane nuclear Policy, and the Editor of an ISSN numbered  science journal PSA (Philosophy & Social Action ) he led the debate on the pros and cons of nuclearization of our energy sector . The session has been curated by our Board Member Rajendra Dobhal  who  heads our science, environment and ecology vertical. He is also organising a  session which looks into Artificial Intelligence and the future of medicine. As a senior educator and as a VC, he is aware of the interface between science and society, and these sessions help in bridging a vital information gap between  the adherents of pure, applied and social sciences. I may mention that the Swami Rama Himalayan University which he helms is also one of the  eight knowledge institutions participating in the Lead@VoW initiative.

VoW is a literature festival? Why do you look at Military History and Strategy?

Because so much of our public discourse is on the issue of defence. And we would like our discussions to be fact based , and with a vision for the future. As things stand today, in absolute terms, a figure of 6 .22 lakh crores for the defence forces looks substantial. But it is just about 1.9 percent  of our GDP and less than 13 percent of our budget. Much of this goes to pay and pension, and this expenditure is likely to rise in the coming years. Therefore, finding the right balance between technology upgradation and the human resources for our defence forces ,which in the years to come have to be prepared for any and all possible exigencies becomes important. We will have a viewpoint from all the three wings – army , air force and navy about India’s strategic options and possibilities.  The MHS vertical is chaired by our Board member Lt Gen PJS Pannu.

Are there exhibitions lined up as well?

Yes. The first of these is on the museums of Uttarakhand, which is being curated by Anjali Bhartari . These include ( ask her for names of museums ). Then we have an exhibition of the products prepared by the SHGs affiliated to Hesco. There is the Iti Lekh- an exhibition of books, Iti Smriti – the Vow memorabilia and an exhibition of the best products of Uttarakhand and Tribes India.

What about Hindi literature lovers? Do we have anything special lined up for them as well?

Oh yes. As mentioned earlier, the authors of all the three Hindi  award winning books i.e. Dr Suresh Pant, Subhash Neerav and Uday Prakash will be here. We have our Board member Lakshmi Shankar Bajpai, Mamta Kiran and Anjum Sharma with us on both the days. As many of your readers may be aware, we have already held a full-fledged Hindi vertical at the Graphic Era Hill university in the last fortnight of September. The best part is that this year, we have a very active engagement with the university and school teachers. I would like to make a mention of the special edition of Sadaneera, curated by Anjum Sharma which carries the reviews of all the forty shortlisted books, including those of English fiction and non-fiction. Till last year, for the English books, we used to translate the write -ups published in The Book Review. We have a Mushaira session and a Poetry Tribute session  in Hindi, English and Urdu, along with five book launches in Hindi as well.

We hear that there is a special edition of VoWels ? Tell us about it ?

From this year, we have decided to launch our own publication – this will have reviews and author interviews of our short-listed authors , as well as opinion pieces from the curators of different verticals. This will cover almost everything we do – from the International MotherLanguage Day to all the knowledge verticals held across the country. The edition has been designed by our Board member, Kishore Menon, and will reflect his stye and aesthetic.

And is there anything that you would like to add ?

Yes, the support we have received from our sponsors – from REC, Government of Uttarakhand, Ministry of Tourism , Green Panel, ONGC, Urbana, Cello, NAFED,
Gujarat Ambuja, Nestle, LSC, Teesta, Tropolite, GVM. A very special thank you to Technopak who manages our website and our corporate outreach, The Print, Garhwal Post and Radio Zindagi and AIR for giving us all the coverage that has helped us become the numero uno festival, not just in Dehradun but also in Indore, Pune, Chennai and New Delhi.

To be Cont…

Block 16th-17th November for 8th Edition of VoW|Shabdavali!

By
Dr Tania Saili Bakshi
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The Valley of Words, 2024 (VoW)

The Valley of Words Literature and Art Festival enters its 8th Edition this year. Dr Tania Saili Bakshi caught up with Founder  Dr Sanjeev Chopra to find out what one can expect from this year’s Literature and Art Festival  scheduled for the 16th-17th of November.

This is the eighth edition of VoW. What  has changed, and what remains the same? 

Well, I would say that  each of our editions reflect both continuity and change – in equal measure. This edition will feature 75 authors in fifty sessions as well as twelve book launches, four candid conversations, six exhibitions and Vox Populi – the debate among parliamentarians. The core element – that of celebrating the eight best books in the genres of Hindi and English Fiction, non-fiction and translations remains the same, as well as celebration of poetry in Urdu, Hindi and English, besides the award-winning performances of Iti Natya and Iti Nritya are continued year on year.  The  VoW REC Award winning books include ENGLISH FICTION: Smriti Ravindra for The Woman Who Climbed Trees,  ENGLISH NON-FICTION Manoj Mitta for Caste Pride: Battles for Equality in Hindu India, HINDI FICTION Uday Prakash Antim Nimbu,  HINDI NON- FICTION Dr Suresh Pant  for Shabdon Ke Sath Sath; WRITING FOR YOUNG ADULTS Shabnam Minwalla for Zen, WRITINGS/PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Vibha Batra for The Chhau Champ, HINDI TRANSLATION Subhash Nirav for Ambar Pariya and Anjum Katyla in  ENGLISH TRANSLATION for  Truth/Untruth.

While the format of the Candid Conversations and Vox Populi is the same, the themes reflect  issues that have a bearing on the contemporary. This explains the discussions on the uniform civil code for Uttarakhand and its implications for India, the impact of migration on the demography of Uttarakhand  and the future of the print media.

What is new this year is Lead@ VoW- a unique initiative in which we have tried to connect Himjyoti School, Gyananda School, Jaswant Modern Sr Sec School, Doon International School, Mount Fort Academy, The Tonsbridge School, St. Kabeer, Kasiga with eight top knowledge institutions of Dehradun Dr. Dwijen Sen Memorial Kala Kendra, Forest Research Institute, Naval Hydrographic Office, Survey of India, Swami Rama Himalaya Institute, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Wildlife Institute of India and Sakya College. Select students have visited these knowledge centres, held discussions with  the key stakeholders, and are ready to engage with those at the helm of these institutions to understand, not just career opportunities for students, but also the contribution of these centres in the evolution of a Viksit Bharat.

How has the festival evolved  over the years?

I would say that  the evolution has been incremental. Our outreach with the universities , schools, knowledge institutions and communities has certainly increased. Our volunteers are taking over many of the communication functions – this has certainly given the festival a ‘feel young, look young look’. The introduction of Iti Natya  (over the last three years) and Iti Nritya (over the last two years) have been very positive features. We dropped the school and college debate because we felt that many other platforms were available. The idea is not to replicate anything which is being done by other institutions, but to have as many opportunities and options for our attendees.

 Tell us more about Iti Nritya and Iti Natya verticals?

The full credit  for these verticals goes to Shalini Rao. She has the tough task of inviting entries, and  heading  the adjudication  team which selects the best entries from the genre of eight classical dances. The three artists selected this year include Kirti Kurande  (Kathak),  Ratri Manik (Manipuri) and Sandip Kundu (Kuchipudi). She will also be  doing a session called ‘Mudrao ki Bhasha‘ (Language of the Mudras). With regard to Iti Natya , we have been collaborating with Young Indians of CII. This year, the theme was Abhigyan Shakuntalam in which: Doon International School,Doon Global School, Gyananda School, Himjyoti School, Jaswant Modern Sr. Sec School, Ma Anandmayi School, Shri Ram Centennial School, St. Kabeer School, The Tonsbridge School, The Oasis School, Wisdom Global School, Haridwar participated. The award-winning school will get to perform on the main stage.

Give us a brief of what all topics will we be covering over the two-day Signature Event?

I would suggest  that you include the session schedule as an annexe to the interview – for it is not really possible to cover all the sessions – and to me  each session is special and unique. In fact, one USP of our festival is that we do not bank on celebrities or controversies.  And I also run the risk of annoying the authors/ resource persons of any session that I do not mention here . Everyone is sensitive, but writers and artists, more so!

What special do we have for school students?

As  I mentioned Lead@ VoW has seen a very positive involvement of the school students . I am sure they will enjoy this. They may also like the exhibition of the Museums of Uttarakhand as well as  the session on Antiquities and Antiques, which we are organizing with INTACH and the Archaeological survey of India.

Do college going students have sessions that could interest them? Are you tying up with local universities?

Yes, indeed. And the response has been overwhelming.  Doon University, DIT, IMS, Graphic Era, GEHU, SRHU, Uttaranchal and UPES  are all participating in this edition. Some of them have adopted sessions, preparing their students as  rapporteurs and also helping in the curation of sessions. Another forum which will interest the college going students is the Candid Conversations.

 How many book launches have been scheduled over two days?

We have twelve book launches: I will not name the books for two reasons. First, I do not wish to play favourites, and second, perhaps even more importantly, I want your readers to look at the session schedule, and in any case, we will resume our conversation tomorrow.

(This interview will be presented in two parts, tune in tomorrow for more on VoW 8th Edition)

MoU Signed:Swami Rama Himalayan University & University of Tsukuba

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newspost
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In a significant step towards strengthening international academic collaboration, Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Tsukuba, Japan,

Dateline Dehradun: In a significant step towards strengthening international academic collaboration, Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Tsukuba, Japan, during the 3rd Japan-India Universities Forum. The forum was organized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency and took place in New Delhi.

The MoU was signed by Prof. (Dr) NAGATA Kyosuke, President of the University of Tsukuba, and Prof. (Dr) Mukesh Bijalwan, Registrar of SRHU, marking the beginning of a new partnership aimed at enhancing cooperation in the areas of education, research, and development. University of Tsukuba was represented by an esteemed delegation, including Prof. (Dr) SAKURAI Takeaki, Director of the Office of Global Initiatives, and Prof. Ohneda Osamu from the Institute of Medicine.

The SRHU delegation was led by Dr. Rajendra Dobhal, Vice Chancellor of SRHU, and included Dr. Vijendra D. Chauhan, Director General of Academic Development, Prof. (Dr) Mukesh Bijalwan, Registrar, and Dr. Apurvaa Trivedi, Associate Professor at the Himalayan School of Management Studies.

During the ceremony, Dr. Vijendra D. Chauhan emphasized the legacy of SRHU in providing holistic medical education and its ongoing contributions to the healthcare sector. Dr. Rajendra Dobhal highlighted SRHU’s unwavering commitment to offering the best opportunities in research and development, further strengthening its position as a leader in education.

This MoU between SRHU and the University of Tsukuba paves the way for collaborative academic initiatives, joint research projects, student and faculty exchanges, and the advancement of shared knowledge in medical education and other disciplines.

The event marks a key milestone in the global outreach efforts of both institutions, as they continue to work towards shared goals in education and innovation.

Festive cheer begins with cake mixing ceremony at Welcomhotel The Savoy

By
Dr Tania Saili Bakshi
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Cake mixing ceremony at The Savoy

Dateline Mussoorie: Welcomhotel The Savoy Hotel, Mussoorie, one of country’s most iconic historic hotels, marked the beginning of the festive season with its customary Cake Mixing Ceremony, a symbol of ushering in good tidings and happiness.

A head-start to the delectable Christmas cake ceremony brought together hotel guests, staff and the local community for a lively and traditional start to the holiday season. Held  in the Beer Garden, this time-honoured tradition symbolizes the start of preparation for Christmas, as a variety of dry fruits, nuts, spices, in-house wines, apricot, rum soaked figs, drunk raisins, dates, candied orange peel, candied ginger, dry cherries, tutti frutti, spices and candied pumpkin are soaked in spirit for weeks to create the delicious traditional Christmas cake.

Cake mixing at Savoy by 1999 Batch of SGC, Mussoorie

Adorned in aprons and chef hats, people from across age groups came together to mix the cake ingredients, filling the evening air with the rich aroma of cinnamon, cloves and rum. Over the years, the cake mixing ceremony at Welcomhotel The Savoy has become more than just a tradition; it is a celebration of togetherness and joy for the community as they rev up for the festive season.

Also present at the event were the 1999 batch of St Georges College, Mussoorie. The alumni felt nostalgic about their school days. The cake- mixing ceremony reminded them of the sense of community and happiness that they grew up with when they were in school.

The ceremony was accompanied by live music and refreshments, creating a vibrant and cheerful atmosphere. Welcomhotel The Savoy, known for its colonial charm and luxurious services, has upheld the legacy of curating memorable experiences for not only its guests but the town’s community at large.

Swami Rama Himalayan University is now NAAC A+

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Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU), Jolly Grant, has been awarded A+ Grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council

Dateline Dehradun: Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU), Jolly Grant, has been awarded A+ Grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)

The NAAC team conducted a three-day visit to SRHU for evaluation. NAAC conducts assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions to gain an understanding of their ‘Quality Status’.

Congratulating the SRHU fraternity on the achievement, Dr. Vijay Dhasmana, President, SRHU, asserted that this is a testimony to the institution’s arduous work, focus, and dedication. He said that the university will continue to achieve excellence in teaching and research while also taking on responsibility for the counseling and care of students as their guardian.

Dr. Dhasmana emphasized that this achievement comes with far greater responsibility. He assured that the university will continue its journey with the same rigour and hard work in providing best-in-class facilities and resources to teachers and students. He attributed the success to the collective efforts of all involved with the university’s day-to-day functioning.

Dr. Dhasmana further asserted that this accomplishment reflects the university’s vision to meet up to higher standards of education as a continuous process. All members of SRHU put in their best efforts that resulted in an A+ grade from NAAC. He acknowledged the future challenges and expressed the university’s commitment to strive for new milestones.

The NAAC team evaluated the university’s academic and research quality as well as its administrative and infrastructural systems. The team also held discussions with students, alumni, parents, and staff.

A university graded in the A+ category gets advantages that include graded autonomy, research grants, freedom to launch online courses, establish off-campus centers, establish foreign collaborations, and more. This status is quite an enabler and speaks of the high credibility of an institution. A grade institute brings in multifarious benefits to students, including better placement prospects.

There is a realization that the grades awarded by NAAC reflects quality of academic delivery, infrastructure superiority, faculty credentials and quality of students.

Free Mental Health Check-up Camp Held at Himalayan Hospital Jollygrant

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Mental health camp organised by Himalayan Hospital Jollygrant

Dateline Dehradun: A global awareness campaign was conducted at Himalayan Hospital Jollygrant on World Mental Health Day. As part of this, a free mental health check-up camp was organized, benefiting 67 patients who were examined and counseled.

In the free mental health check-up camp organized by the Clinical Psychology Department of Himalayan Hospital Jollygrant, Dr. Shahana Zahra, Mehzabeen, Rashmi Rekha Sheel, Nitika Kimothi, and Dr. Malini Srivastava listened to the mental health issues of around 67 patients and provided them with free counseling.

During this event, students of M.Sc in Yoga Science—Shailesh, Anmol, Swati, Anika, and Abhishek—helped the patients practice relaxation and breathing exercises based on the Himalayan tradition as taught by the institute’s founder, Dr. Swami Rama.

Department head Dr. Malini Srivastava underlined that there has been a rapid increase in mental health problems worldwide. People of all ages are facing poor mental health in some form, especially in the workplace. She emphasized that it’s time to reconsider how we perceive life. We have forgotten that work is just one part of our life. It is important to maintain a balance between work and other aspects of life, and this should not be brushed aside.

Dr. Nitika Kimothi shared her thoughts on the importance of prioritizing mental health at the workplace. The program’s coordinators, Rekha, Ameesha, and Ph.D scholar Ruhi Jain, also provided their support.

This apart a discussion on mental health was organized by the Psychiatry Department, wherein Dr. Priyaranjan Avinash informed the attendees about improving mental health in the workplace, as it can impact both the employees and the employers.

Sheetal Raj, first Indian woman to summit Mt. Cho Oyu

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Dr Tania Saili Bakshi
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Sheetal Raj, first Indian Woman to Summit Mt. Cho Oyu (8188m) in Tibet.

Dateline Pithoragarh: In a remarkable feat of grit, strength, determination, and passion, Sheetal Raj successfully scaled Mt. Cho Oyu (8188m), 6th highest mountain in the world, located on the Tibet-Nepal border. This outstanding achievement also marks Sheetal as the first Indian woman to summit the peak, adding yet another milestone to her illustrious mountaineering career.

Her previous summits include Mt. Everest (8849m), Mt. Annapurna (8091m), Mt. Kanchenjunga (8586m), among others.

Sheetal Raj, first Indian Woman to Summit Mt. Cho Oyu (8188m) in Tibet

Sheetal’s achievement is more than just a personal victory—it is a powerful symbol of empowerment for women across India, particularly those from the Himalayan region. Her journey encourages young women to step into a field often dominated by men, showing them that there are no limits to what they can achieve.

Sheetal’s story is an inspiration for young women  to explore the incredible beauty and challenge of the very mountains they call home. To push boundaries, and chart their own course. She instills the belief that women are equally capable of tackling the hardest, most demanding mountains—both literal and metaphorical.

Sheetal Raj, first Indian Woman to Summit Mt. Cho Oyu.

The Hans Foundation India’s support has been integral to her journey. Their belief in Sheetal has helped her push boundaries and break records on the global mountaineering stage. Ethical Himalaya, with their unwavering commitment to responsible and sustainable exploration, has been another cornerstone of her success.

Sheetal Raj’s triumph brings pride to the nation and paves the way for future generations of female mountaineers to dream big, push higher, and move onwards and upwards breaking down barriers. As she puts it, “Dream big, hold your belief, stay focused and work hard without any fear of stopping you to reach the summit and the world is yours.”

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