UK industrialists, particularly those with Indian lineage, are interested in making investment in Bihar

 

"I met people associated with industries and their response was very good," Manjhi told reporters at Patna airport on his return here after a five-day tour of the UK.

 

Lord Karan Bilimoria, an Indian-origin British entrepreneur, told chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi at their meeting here on Tuesday.

Manjhi was in London last fortnight and Lord Bilimoria was instrumental in arranging his meetings with entrepreneurs there. The CM informed him about the decisions taken at the Udyami Panchayat . Bilimoria said the state is following the same trajectory of growth for which former CM Nitish Kumar had laid the foundation stone.

Earlier, at an interactive session at BIA, he said there were enormous opportunities in Bihar. Lord Bilimoria quoted Manjhi's struggle in life and said if a man from the most underprivileged section of the society could become the CM, one could achieve any height in the state. Highlighting the rich pedigree of the state that includes Emperor Ashoka and the ancient Nalanda University, he said Bihar is the foundation of India.

Congratulating the state for the re-establishment of Nalanda University, he said it was one of the oldest seats of education across the globe that was older than the Cambridge University founded in 1209.

He was all praise for the state government and its agencies that are working for ensuring hassle-free start-ups of business ventures in Bihar. He, however, ventilated his own agony of going through long procedures for getting necessary permissions here. He said he applied for some permission in April last but got them only after the summers were over. That apart, he highlighted the issue of scarcity of land for the establishment of industries in Bihar.

Describing himself as the "unofficial British ambassador to the state", Lord Bilimoria advised the budding entrepreneurs of the state to "start believing in themselves" and said once one decides to go against the grain, people follow his footsteps by joining his bandwagon. He said once one conceives a goal and finds the possible way of achieving it, success follows.

source TOI

Classes Begin in Nalanda University, more than 1000 Years

NALANDA:  After a break that lasted about 800 years, classes began today at the Nalanda University in Bihar with 15 students.
 
The  ancient Nalanda University, which  functioned from 413 AD to 1193 AD, was renowned internationally as a centre of learning and attracted research scholars from all over the world.  It was destroyed in the 12th century by an invading Turkish army.

For now, classes are being held at a conference centre about 100 kms from the state capital of Patna, but in about three years, the university will move to Rajgir, 12 kms from where the original once stood proud.

Taking inspiration from erstwhile Nalanda Mahavihara, which was reduced to ruins hundreds of years ago by foreign invaders, a 21st century varsity conceptualized with the same philosophy is all set to start its inaugural classes, just 12km from the ancient site, from September 1. The Nalanda University administration says it will not be a run-of-the-mill institution and the mission rather is to make it "the Nalanda of our times".

The revival of the university was mooted by former president APJ Abdul Kalam in 2006.

From over 1,000 applicants, just 15 have been accepted so far for two disciplines - Historical Sciences and the School of Environment and Ecology.  Defending the tiny student population,  Vice Chancellor Gopa Sabharwal said, "We are a research university and we wanted only the best." 

"I think this university will offer an excellent research opportunity and that's why I am here," said Jyotirmayee, a research scholar from Vijaywada.

Foreign students include a Bhutan University dean on study leave and a postgraduate in Buddhist Studies from Japan

The formal inauguration of the university will be held later this month by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The fully-residential university, to be completed by 2020, will eventually have seven schools, all for post-graduate and doctoral students, offering courses in science, philosophy and spirituality, and social sciences. Each discipline will have a maximum of 20 students.

The orientation programme for the students will be held on August 29 at the Rajgir's signature building, International Convention Centre. "It will be an interaction among the students and faculty members and they'll also get to know the expectations from one another," Sabharwal said, adding postgraduate classes of both the schools would be conducted in two rooms of the convention centre.

While the 455-acre permanent campus of NU is yet to see any construction work except a boundary wall, a run-down SDO office near the Rajgir bus stand is being renovated to serve as a temporary campus housing classrooms, offices and semi-furnished residences for faculty members.

For now, students will be lodged in a state government hotel adjacent to the convention centre. "We've hired 40 rooms and three suites which will be used as a temporary hostel for students and guesthouse for visiting faculty members. One floor of the hotel will be for boys while another for five girl students," the VC said. The university will also run a mess at the hotel for students and faculty members.

It will be a five-day week for the faculty at NU. But the VC says the administration will not micromanage the classes. "If students feel like studying on a Saturday or Sunday and teacher is fine with it, classes would be held on weekends too," Sabharwal said.

The tuition fee for PG courses is Rs three lakh per annum and the administrative charges round up to about Rs 75,000 besides costs related to boarding and lodging. The pioneering batch students, however, will have to pay only 50% of the tuition fee. According to sources, the faculty members are to get a pay package ranging from $20,000 to 50,000 per annum each.

suorce :TNN

Ancient stupa. the Buddha relic stupa was built by Lichhavis as a mud-stupa in the 5th century BC in Vaishali 55 km northwest of Patna.

An ancient structure at the Buddha relic stupa under which a casket containing ashes of the spiritual leader was kept and (right) the waterlogged premises of the park around the stupa in Vaishali. Pictures by Piyush Kumar Tripathi

Buddha relic stupa, enshrining one of the eight parts of the mortal remains of Lord Buddha after he attained Mahaparinirvana, is facing utter neglect in Vaishali.

Despite being one of the most revered sites for Buddhists and a protected one for Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), several security and management issues are posing threat to this stupa, located around 55km northwest of Patna in Vaishali district.

There is no security guard deputed here. Waste material, including plastic bags, can be seen spilled around the ancient stupa. Lack of drainage leads to waterlogging, posing threat of structural damage.

According to historical texts, the Buddha relic stupa was built by Lichhavis as a mud-stupa in the 5th century BC. The stupa was later discovered in an archaeological excavation carried out under the aegis of Patna-based K.P. Jayaswal Research Institute during 1958-1962.

The relic casket excavated from the core of the stupa contained the holy ashes of Lord Buddha mixed with earth, a piece of conch, pieces of beads, a thin golden leaf and a copper punch-marked coin. The casket was brought to Patna Museum in 1972.

Though the relic casket has been kept at Patna Museum to ensure its security and conservation, the upkeep of the relic stupa site at Vaishali is being neglected.

Sources in the ASI said there is no rainwater drainage system at the site. A senior ASI official at Vaishali said there was no permanent security guard deputed at the stupa. “Two guards were earlier deputed here for the security of the monument but they retired recently. We are facing a dearth of guards, as there has been no recruitment in the past few years. Consequently, we appoint local security guards on contract basis,” said the ASI official.

Residents claimed the stupa, famous here as Buddha Asthi-Kalash Asthal, is visited by Buddhist pilgrims from across the globe.

“Buddhists treat the stupa with utmost reverence and devotion. Every year, thousands of tourists from Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Taiwan among others, visit the site, especially during the peak season between August and March. However, issues like scattered garbage and waterlogging leave a bad impression on them,” said Amitabh Keshav, an entrepreneur at Vaishali.

Director of K.P. Jayaswal Research Institute Bijoy Kumar Chaudhary said the excavations carried out by the institute had revealed that the relic stupa was enlarged thrice between the 4th century BC and the 1st century AD, during the reigns of Mauryan, Shung and Kushan dynasties.

“After the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha, his corporeal remains were kept in the parliament house of the Republic of Mallas. However, several other republics and states also desired to possess portions of the holy relics on the basis of their association with Buddha,” said Bijoy.

He added that according to the Mahaparinibban-Sutta of Digha Nikaya, finally it was decided to distribute the mortal remains of Lord Buddha among eight republics — King Ajatshatru of Magadh (Rajgir, Nalanda), The Mallas of Kushinagar (UP), the Mallas of Pava (Saran, Bihar), the Brahman of Vetha Dipa (Bettiah, Bihar), the Bulis of Alakappa (Saran), the Sakyas of Kapilvastu (UP), the Koliyas of Ramagram (Nepal) and the Republic of the Licchavi of Vaishali.

According to Buddhist literature, king Asoka collected three-fourth mortal remains of Lord Buddha from the seven stupas enshrined with Buddha’s relics — except the Koliyas of Ramagram — and divided the mortal remains into 84,000 parts.

Asoka then built Asokan stupa and Asokan pillars on the nirvana — path of Lord Buddha from Lumbini to Kushinagar.

Most of the Asoka stupas vanished in the 2,500 years’ time but four such stupas can still be seen in Bihar.

source :The Telegraph

Urban development and housing department (UDHD) is set to launch the first lot of 20 semi-low floor buses in PATNA

 

UDHD minister Samrat Chaudhary will commission the buses to be deployed under the Centre-sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The minister said the operators would have to maintain the vehicles.

Bihar urban infrastructure development corporation (BUIDCo) managing director Anupam Kumar Suman said the buses would be parked at the Phulwarisharif and Malsalami depots belonging to Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSTRC). Suman said Adie Broswon, a Delhi-based firm, would look after the operation of the buses and their drivers, conductors and other support staff. It would also look after the daily cleaning of the buses once they reach the depots.

Commuters would be issued printed tickets from electronic ticketing machines (ETMs) and a strict vigil would also be kept on overloading on the buses using high-end surveillance system, including closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and global positioning system (GPS). The provision for monthly passes is likely to be introduced in a month.

The buses will ply on two routes ? Gandhi Maidan to Saguna Mor via Bailey Road and Gandhi Maidan to Danapur via Digha-Kurji. A per the JNNURM provisions, Rs 2 will be the fare for the first two kilometres, Rs 7 for 5km, Rs 11 for 10km and Rs 15 for 15km.

The 32-seater buses will have dedicated space for one wheelchair. The GPS and CCTV cameras will be installed on them for surveillance. Light emitting diode-based electronic route display system besides an announcement system will also be installed on the buses.

Ozone Overseas Private Limited, a Delhi-based firm, has already started installing 216 swanky queue shelters at 108 locations across the city. The locations have been decided considering the existing major corridors for traffic movement in the city, including Ashok Rajpath, Patna-Digha-Danapur Road, Bailey Road, Hardinge Road and Kankarbagh road, among others. The new queue shelters are being made of stainless steel, polycarbonate sheets and prefab material at estimated cost of Rs 13.72 crore.

The central sanctioning and monitoring committee under the JNNURM at its 69th meeting on February 20 and 21, 2009, had approved Rs 135 crore for purchasing buses for Patna and Bodh Gaya under the urban transport scheme.

source TNN>TOI

Bihar's first time Spinal Cord Injury successfully treated by Stem Cell Therapy in AIIMS PATNA.

AIIMS-Patna achieved a major feat  by performing first stem cell therapy in Bihar. A very rare experiment done in select hospitals of the country, stem cells therapy was performed on a Chhapra patient whose spinal cord has been damaged.

Stem cell therapy includes impregnation of cells of bone marrow in a patient. It is done in cases when all other therapies fail to repair the damaged cells of an organ, a team of AIIMS doctors extracted 190ml of bone marrow from the patient. A special kit was procured for the purpose by the institute from Delhi. The marrow cells were then sent to Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, which is very close to AIIMS, for centrifugation. After centrifugation, 30 ml of stem cells were obtained from the marrow.

The doctors brought the marrow cells back to the institute in afternoon and at 1pm they impregnated the cells in the patient. They were able to successfully impregnate them into vertebral artery. Via brain, the cells travelled to the artery of spinal cord and settled exactly at that portion of the cord in which the cells were damaged. The doctors took all precautions to avoid any complication, that included a possible brain stroke.

The speciality of the stem cells is that they settle only in that portion where they are required, and not anywhere else. The cells are now expected to grow of their own and it is expected that they will replace the damaged cells of the cord. As of now, the doctors are not in position to say anything about the success of the therapy. Empirically, they say, the success rate of such experiments is not bad.

The patient, 24-year old Shankar, had fallen from roof and got his spinal cord damaged. He was admitted to AIIMS-Patna a month ago. The doctors were thinking of doing stem cell therapy on him for 20 days.

If the cells grow successfully in the damaged spinal cord of Shankar, it will be a great boon for him because, as of now, the lower half of the body is completely paralysed. He is not able to move his lower limbs.

AIIMS-Patna director Dr G K Singh said, "It is a major achievement for us. After three months, we will be able to asses the development of growth of cells. The patient is fit and under observation." The team that performed the therapy included doctors of orthopaedic, biochemistry, anaesthesia and radiology departments.

source TOI