'Jago Banaras Jago' campaign held

Thousands of students from different local schools formed a human chain under their "Jago Banaras Jago" (wake up Varanasi) campaign to draw the attention of local administrations towards prevailing civic problems and deteriorating shape of roads due to construction work in Varanasi on July 28, 2010.

Students and teachers wrote their comments on a huge banner.
Later, school representatives under banner of Varanasi Schools' Association submitted a memorandum to the divisional commissioner AK Upadhyay at latter's office.

Photos: Samrat

Kanwariyas start arriving in Varanasi

As the holy month of Sawan or Shravan (July-August) began, Kanwariyas started arriving in Varanasi on July 26, 2010, despite all confusions whether Shravan starts on Monday or Tuesday. Devotees observe vrat (self imposed discipline) on all Mondays of Sawan and throng Shiva temples to pour water and milk on Shivalingam. Offering prayers at Jyoitrlingams are said to be the most auspices in the month of Sawan.
Photo: Samrat

Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar offers prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar visited Varanasi on July 26, 2010. Kumar offered prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Photo: Samrat

Heavy rush of devotees at Vishwanath Temple

Heavy rush of devotees was witnessed at Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on July 26, 2010 said to be the first day of the holy month Sawan. Though there was a bit of confusion on the first day of Sawan, it hardly mattered for thousnads of Shiva Bhakta. They just want to offer holy Ganga water and milk on Shivlingam to appease Lord Shiva.
Photo: Samrat

General Than Shwe visits Sarnath

Myanmar head of state Senior General Than Shwe reached Varanasi on July 26, 2010. Shwe along with other Myanmar delegates visited several imporatnt locations of Buddhism in Sarnath.
Photo: Samrat

Guru's day in Varanasi

Devotees offered prayers to Swami Narendranand Saraswati at Kashi Sumeru Peeth near Assi on the occasion of Guru Purnima in Varanasi on July 25, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

On the cloud nine

It was almost a fair-like atmosphere at Garvaghat on the auspices occasion of Guru Purnima in Varanasi on July 25, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Getting Guru's blessings on Guru Purnima

Mahant of Garvaghat Ashram (Ramna) Swami Sarnanand gives blessings to his disciples on the occasion of Guru Purnima in Varanasi on July 25, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Gurupad Sambhav Ram of Parao Ashram

Gurupad Sambhav Ram of Parao Ashram in Varanasi acknowledged the obeisance of disciples on the occasion of Guru Purnima on July 25, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Heavy rush of devotees at Bhagwan Avadhut Ashram

Disciples made a bee-line to offer prayers to Guru at Bhagwan Avadhut Ashram at Parao on the occasion of Guru Purnima in Varanasi on July 25, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Western Railway swimmers rule the DLW pool

Western Railway (WR) emerged overall champions in the 51st All India Railway Aquatic Championship at DLW Swimming Pool in Varanasi on July 23, 2010.
WR's swimmer Merywn Chen was declared overall individual champion.
Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) General Manager KK Saxena gave away the prizes.

Former MP Jawahar Jaiswal arrested in land grab case in Varanasi

Varanasi, July 23: Former MP Jawahar Jaiswal and his brother Vijay Jaiswal were arrested here in connection with a land grabbing case, according to police.
The Jaiswal brothers were arrested after a probe found that they were involved in grabbing gram samaj land in Cantt area in Varanasi, police said.
Police said that on March 5 one Ajay Kumar Gupta lodged a complaint against Jawahar Jaiswal, Vijay and others as well as registry department staff alleging that they grabbed gram samaj land by submitting forged documents.
"On the basis of the complaint a case was lodged and during investigations the allegations were found to be true," said the police.

Photo: Samrat

SP leader Shiv Pal Yadav meets Amar Mani Tripathi in Varanasi Central Jail

Senior Samajvadi Party (SP) leader Shiv Pal Yadav met former UP Minister Amar Mani Tripathi in Central Jail in Varanasi on July 22, 2010. Tripathi recently feared threat on his life.
Photo shows Yadav and other SP leaders on their way to Central Jail.
Photo: Samrat

Security put on alert in Varanasi jails

In the wake of a jail-break incident in Meerut where nine prisoners escaped, district magistrate Ravindra and DIG DK Thakur visited Shivpur Central Jail in Varanasi on July 21, 2010 to inspect secuirty arrangemnts in the jail. They also inspected Chowkaghat District Jail.
Photo: Samrat

Mahamana Malaviya Mission felicitates BHU V-C Professor DP Singh

Varanasi, July 21, 2010: Mahamana Malaviya Mission organised a felicitation function at Malaviya Smriti Bhawan in New Delhi to celebrate the historical occasion of Banaras Hindu University’s achievement of getting first rank in the country.

The theme of the function was “Celebrating Our Pride: BHU-Rank No. 1 in the Country” Delhi NCR Chapter of BHU Alumni Association felicitated BHU vice-chancellorProfessor DP Singh for guiding and leading the University in achieving this coveted recognition.

The BHU got first position among 140 universities in the country in the latest survey called “India’s Best Univerities” conducted by Nielson and India Today (May 31, 2010) by scoring 9 per cent higher index than its nearest rival JNU. The survey was focused on various criteria like “Reputation of the University”, “Quality of Academic Input”, “Quality of the Faculty”, “Research Publications/Reports/Projects” and “Infrastructure”.

BHU was ranked first on all these five criteria with overall first position followed by JNU second and Delhi University third. On this occasion, Professor Singh expressed his immense happiness and extended heartiest congratulations to the BHU community for its becoming instrumental in achieving this historic success.

Putting another feather in its cap, BHU again emerged as the top university in another survey conducted by Outlook and MDRA of Indian College Association of Professional Association among multi-disciplinary universities (Outlook June 28, 2010).

BHU was also ranked first for bringing out highest number of publications. It figured among the top five universities as per the Citation Index and Impact Factor of Research Publication (Current Science Vol. 97, No. 6, 25th September, 2009). Earlier BHU was ranked first by the Principal Scientific Advisor, Govt. of India, on the basis of the highest number of Bhatnagar Awardees, INSA fellows and publications in research journal.

In the function, “Wisdom for Happy Life” a book by Dr. DS Rathore, former vice-chancellor Himanchal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, former Assistant Director General, ICAR and currently EC member of BHU was jointly released by former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Bhisam Narayan Singh and Professor DP Singh.

This book aims to serve as a practical manual for people to learn and practise wisdom in order to lead a happy life.

In this programme, a presentation of BHU was made by Professor Rajesh Singh, Chairman, PPP Cell, BHU. The guest of the honor of the programme was former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Bhisam Narayan Singh. The programme started with welcome address by president of MMM Trust, Veena Modi. PL Jaiswal, trustee of the MMM Trust also spoke on the occasion. Hari Shankar Singh, secretary general, MMM Trust proposed a vote of thanks.

Vice Chancellor Professor DP Singh announced that Information Center of Banaras Hindu University would start functioning very shortly at the Malviya Smriti Bhawan in New Delhi.

Press release and photos from PPP Cell-BHU

Diving for glory

A participant took somersault after diving from high board in the All-India Railway Aquatic Championships at DLW swimming pool in Varanasi on July 21, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Sandeep Sejwal shines in All-India Railway Aquatic Championships

Sandeep Sejwal of Western Railway, Mumbai, created a new meet record in 200-m butterfly and won the gold in the All-India Railway Aquatic Championships at DLW swimming pool in Varanasi on July 21, 2010. DLW CME Naivn Kumar gave away the prizes.
Photo: Samrat

Chen wins 1500-m gold in Railway aquatics

On the first day of All-India Railway Aquatic Championships at DLW swimming pool in Varanasi on July 21, 2010, Merwin Chen of Western Railway, Mumbai hogged limelight winning the gold medal in the 1500-m freestyle event. Chen also improved his own meet record.
DLW CME Navin Kumar presented Chen the coveted medal.
Photo: Samrat

Navin of DLW wins platform diving gold medal

Navin Kumar Yadav of Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) won the gold medal in platform diving event of the All-India Railway Aquatic Championship at DLW Swimming Pool in Varanasi on July 21, 2010. DLW CME Navin Kumar gave away the medal.
Photo: Samrat

Students and kids take out save environment rally

Students and kids took out Environment Rally to create awareness on global warming from Roshan Hobby Classes in Varanasi on July 18, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Five girls get Savitri Bai Phule Memorial Awards

Five girls got Savitri Bai Phule Memorial Awards at a function in Varanasi on July 18, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Research scholars protest allotment of one room for two students in Birla Hostel

Research scholars of Birla Hostel staged silent protest dharna in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) against allotment of one room for two students on July 18, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Congress workers stage dharna to raise civic problems of Varanasi

Congress workers staged dharna at Gulab Bagh in Sigra on July 17, 2010 in protest against overflowing sewage and dilapidated conditions of drains and roads in Pitarkunda and Lallapura areas of Varanasi.
Photo: Samrat

BJP workers protest alleged misbehavior with party leader

Superintendent of Police (City) Vijay Bhushan held talks with agitating BJP workers outside his ofice in the presence of ADM(City) A K Rai for his alleged misbehavior with a party office-bearer in Varanasi on July 17, 2010. The situation was brought under cotrol after SP (City) said sorry to BJP workers.
Photo: Samrat

'Dereka Darpan' released

Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) general manager KK Saxena released new edition of 'Dereka Darpan' (DLW Mirror), an in-house magazine in Varanasi on July 16, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Lekhpals call off 11-day-long dharna

Cholapur police station in-charge tendered apology to Lekhpals at Sadar Tehsil in Varanasi on July 16, 2010. With this lekhpals called off their 11-day-long dharna.
Photo: Samrat

Counseling for BHU Science Faculty admissions begins

Counseling for the admissions in different faculties began in Banaras Hindu University. Students appeared in counseling in the Faculty of Science on July 16, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

BHU to institute Mahamana International Award for Excellence

Varanasi, July 17, 2010: Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice-chancellor Professor DP Singh announced to institute Mahamana International Award for Excellence in the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya. The award is to be instituted with help of university alumni.

Addressing the teachers of the university on the eve of new session 2010 at Swatantrata Bhawan here on Saturday, he said India is fast emerging is a “global power” and paving way for new social order based on ‘humanity, humanism and egalitarianism’.

“In order to contribute BHU’s role in it, we have to contribute “human resource pool” acting an agent of human development of intellect”, he said.

“The year-long birth anniversary celebrations of our great founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, provides us an occasion to make our selves “a best representative of developed India” and fulfill obligations bestowed by the founder”, he asserted.


“We have also to fulfill our social obligations like strengthening Sir Sunder Lal Hospital’s facilities for 90 million people of the Eastern Uttar Pradesh”, he said.

He invited BHU community for the creation of academic atmosphere and a different kind of global and national image. “In this family there exist no place for the jealousy and hatred”, he said and added that BHU would launch academic and extra curricular activities in university hostels.

The vice-chancellor reminded teachers that BHU had been adjudged ‘the best university’ in India by various agencies and also referred to No. 1 rank amongst university in ranking of the institutions. “This has only been possible with sustained and collective hard work maintaining peace full and learning atmosphere in BHU campus”, he maintained.

Prof. Singh said that he was aware about the difficulties because of the increase in the seats in various courses. “Facilities are being created which will make available very soon”, he added.

The BHU vice-chancellor said the university was not signing blindly MoUs with university from abroad and was very selective keeping in mind Malaviya’s vision for holistic education and Indian knowledge systems.
Till date 12 MoUs have been finalized this year.

He said students from 48 countries were enrolled with BHU. He said during last visit to Denmark, Norway, Sweden and USA, he signed number of MoUs and had finalised academic understanding with UNESCO for signing a MoU very soon in Jordon.

“An Asia-Africa chair of peace and inter cultural studies of UNESCO will also be instituted in BHU”, he said.

Photo caption: BHU vice-chancellor Professor DP Singh addressing the university teachers in Varanasi on July 17, 2010.

Source: PPP Cell-BHU

Rath Yatra festival begins in Varanasi

Hundreds of devotees gathered around the chariot of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadra before the start of the Rath Yatra in Varanasi on July 13, 2010.

Photo: Samrat

Delicious Nankhatais are on sale

Nankhatai ( a kind of sweet biscuit/ cake) shops were installed in Rathyatra Mela (Rathyatra Fair) area in Varanasi on July 13, 2010.
Photo: Samrat

Kal Bhairav Sobha Yatra taken out in Varanasi

Kal Bhairav Sobha Yatra was taken out in Varanasi on July 13, 2010 under the banner of Swarnkar Kshatriya Committee.
Photo: Samrat

Queen's Baton Relay leaves Varanasi

Queen's Baton Relay moved forward to Bihar after moving in and around Varanasi for two days. On July 13, 2010, Varanasi district magistrate, IG of Police and DIG of Police participated in the relay run at Sarnath.

Later in the day, the QBR reached Krishna Murti Foundation at Rajghat where it was given "good-bye".

Photos: Samrat

Queen's Baton Relay gets rousing welcome in Varanasi

Queen's Baton Relay of the forthcoming XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi arrived in Varanasi on July 12, 2010.

The baton received a rousing welcome from all sections of the society.

After arrival of Queen's Baton Relay at Dashaswamedh Ghat traditional welcome was accorded and participants offered prayers to Maa Ganga for successful completion of the Games.

Milk was offered to river Ganga to mark the starting of Queen's Baton Relay in Varanasi.

Former Ranji player Dharmendra Mishra, former Olympian Mohammed Shahid, former Congress MP Rajesh Mishra and other prominent denizens of the holy city participated in the QBR.

Photos: Samrat

Commonwealth Express reaches Varanasi

Commonwealth Express, a museum on wheels, showcasing the history of Commonwealth Games and India's achievements in it, arrived at Varanasi Junction railway station on July 12, 2010. The train halted in Varanasi for two days before leaving for Patna.

Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) general manager KK Saxena inaugurated the Commonwealth Express at Platform No. 4 of Varanasi Junction railway station and watched the exhibition inside the train.

School students and sports lovers made a long queue to watch the memorable exhibition .
A function was also organised to felicitate outstanding players and athletes of the holy city. Four outstanding former players including ex-Indian hockey team captain Mohammed Shahid were felicitated on the occasion.

Photos: Samrat