Berhampur born Sulagna Panigrahi rocks Bollywood

In conversation with Sulagna Panigrahi

When we saw Murder 2, we were bowled over by the performance of a new girl, Sulagna Panigrahi, the actress with the face of an angel. She has been around for past 4 years and has also done quite a few television shows. Soumil Shukla of FilmiTadka caught up with the young actress and the result was a candid chat.

So tell us a bit about your background.

Well, I was born in a small town called Berhampur in Orissa. Then my family moved to Bhubaneswar and then to Delhi where I spent almost 10 years and did most of my schooling. My dad is a serving Indian Army officer. So we have had to move around a lot. In that sense I am a true Indian!.....

Click here to read the full interview

Source: filmitadka.in

Lakhs witness Lord Jagannath''s return car festival

Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad descended on the pilgrim town of Puri to witness "Bahuda Yatra", the return car festival of Lord Jagannath amidst tight security.

Photo Source: Orissa Diary

Wrapping up their nine-day annual sojourn to their aunt''s abode, Lord Jagannath, elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra set off for their return journey to the 12th century shrine on three majestic wooden chariots.

Several special rituals were performed before the deities journeyed out of the Gundicha temple to the three colourfully decorated chariots for the return journey as sound of "Jai Jagannath" rent the air in the seashore town.

The three deities were taken to the chariots in an elaborate royal ritual called ''Pahandi'' to the beating of gongs, cymbals and blowing of Conch shells as devotees and sevayats jostled to have a closer look and to touch them.

Lord Jagannath was ensconced in the largest of the chariots, 45-feet high ''Nandighosh'' which has 16 huge wooden wheels. The chariot of Balabhadra was the 14-wheeled 44 feet high ''Taladhwaja'' and that of Subhadra known as ''Darpadalan'' with 12 wheels and standing 43 feet high.

Source: PTI 

Radiation study centre at Berhampur University

Berhampur University

The Berhampur University (BU) is all set to have a Gamma Chamber-5000 to study plant response to ionising radiation. The facility is being developed as a component of the research project on plant responses to ionising radiation, which is currently in progress at the department of botany. This is the first time that the state will have such as facility, said Brahma Bihari Panda, head of botany department. A team of experts from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) had visited the university recently and approved the building site after thorough inspection. “We constructed the building as per the guidelines of Barc. But with the onset of monsoon, the delivery of the equipment from Barc has been delayed and we are hoping it will reach us by October or November. The research has been going on since two years,” said Panda. Barc is looking after research components while the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (Brit) will provide the equipment. He said Barc has provided the Gamma Chamber-5000, which is worth Rs 40 lakh, free of cost to the university. An MoU to this effect was signed between the director, health safety and environment group of Barc and registrar of Berhampur University on August 19, 2008.

The botany department of BU is one of the four centres located in different agro-climatic zones of the country chosen under the 11th plan period to conduct the mega research project of Barc. The other three zones are Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) at Pusa in New Delhi, Barc in Mumbai and Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. “The chamber is the source of radiation from cobalt system which can be used for experimental purposes and scientific investigation. We have already constructed a building, Gamma House, at an isolated area in the botanical garden on the campus. The rest of the equipment will also be installed as soon as they reach us,” Panda said. In addition to the chamber, Barc has also provided other research tools and two research scholars and one field assistant for this purpose. The entire cost would come to around Rs 70 lakh, he said. The departments of chemistry, physics, zoology, marine and pharmaceutical sciences can also use this equipment for an inter-disciplinary approach. “The gamma centre has several applications. We can see the effect of radiation and use it for improvement of crops, sterilisation of medical disposals. Radiation helps preserve food materials. Seeds treated with radiation are not infested by insects. So it is useful for storage of material and aseptic conditions. This is also being considered as a source of income for Berhampur University because it can be used outsourced to researchers and research institutions,” Panda said. He said the importance of radiation was increasing daily with the depletion of natural bio fuel or hydrocarbons. “Radiation will be a perennial and safe source of energy. Because here the regulations are very stringent and there is no pollution from radiation,” he added. The radiological safety division is looking after the safety aspect. “It is a research programme and is well protected. The persons who will work here will be given proper training about how to operate it. A radiation monitor will measure if there is any radiation. The radiation level of this region is slightly high because of the Monazite belt and the black sand at Arjipalli. But we are looking into the safety concerns,” Panda said.

Source: The Telegraph

NIOS opened Study centre for Berhampur jail inmates

By Hrusikesh Mohanty

The inmates of Berhampur jail, who want to clear the Class X examination but are overaged, can now do so. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) under the ministry of human resources in collaboration with the state government opened an Open Study Centre in the Berhampur jail. This is the first NIOS centre inside a jail in the state.

"Those who have crossed 14 years of age can now enroll in the study center to clear their Class X examination. No formal educational qualification is required to enroll," chairman of NIOS Sitansu Sekhar Jena said while inaugurating the centre. DIG (Prisons) Dharanidhara Dash and other jail staff were present.

He, however, said a person needs to clear his Class X to appear for Class XII examination. The course can be completed from one to five years, he said. "Since several inmates have shown interest to complete their education when they were languishing in the jails, the NIOS decided to open its study centers in different jails," he said. The NIOS would conduct the examinations and also provide certificates that are equivalent to certificate given by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), he said.

Eleven such study centres have been opened across the country, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi. "We have also written to the Inspector General (Prisons) to open study centers of the NIOS in their jails of the state. We opened it in Berhampur because the jail officers were keen and extended all cooperation," he said.

The NIOS has announced 50 per cent subsidy on the enrollment fee of the jail inmates in the study centers. "The subsidy however is not applicable in case of other persons," he said. The NIOS is also providing vocational training in 86 different trades. "One can take vocational training at the time of studying in the study centre," he said. The NIOS chairman assured to provide all help to the jail staff, if they were interested to start vocational training.

Source: The Times of India

What’s leading to migration phenomenon in Bhadrak District

BHADRAK: Migration is no longer confined to KBK region. The search for better life and livelihood has had thousands of people of Bhadrak district migrate to various states. The exodus has reached an alarming rate despite the State Government’s tall claims of successful implementation of rural job guarantee scheme.

According to a survey, as many as 1.5 lakh people from the district have so far migrated to Gujarat, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi. There are about 14 lakh people living in 193 panchayats under seven blocks of the district. 

The report compiled by a non-government agency said while the highest around 40,000 people have migrated to Surat and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, 25,000 have migrated to Hyderabad and Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh, followed by 12,000 to Bangaluru, 25,000 each to Mumbai and Kolkata and another 15,000 each to Chennai and Delhi.

Among the migrated populace, most are youths below 25 years of age. They are mostly school and college dropouts having failed to continue studies, courtesy poor economic condition of their families. In the absence of work opportunities in the village, the youths prefer to migrate to eke out a living, the report stated.

The phenomenon has become rampant in Tihidi, Chandabali, Dhamnagar, Bhandaripokhari, Bont, Basudevpur, Dhamra, Chudamani and Agarpada areas. Social activist Rabindra Behera said most people of flood-prone areas in the district migrate to the neighbouring states for livelihood.

Except for the four months during paddy season, the youths in the region are mostly jobless all year round. “They have little choice. Moreover, they are not interested in the Government’s employment guarantee scheme of 100 days of work,” he pointed out.

Official records too pointed at vagaries of nature and its impact on agricultural production. While paddy was being cultivated in around 2 lakh hectares earlier, it has now come down to 1.5 lakh hectares. Similarly, production of vegetables, pulses and fibres has been affected due to regular floods.

The labour officials, however, said there was no estimation as to how many persons have migrated till now. District labour officer Bighnaraj Mohanta Mohapatra said officially about 400 labourers under 10 labour contractors are working outside the State. He, however, confirmed that people are migrating to other states. “Better opportunities and wages beckon them. The attraction for metro life is another major reason for migration,” he added.

Source: New Indian Express  

Sea of pilgrims at Puri for annual car festival

Photo source: Orissadiary.com

Three majestic chariots carrying idols of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra rolled down the Grand Road of Puri amid lakhs of devotees marking the celebration of the annual car festival on July 03, 2011. The festival marks the journey of three deities - Jagannath, brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra from the 12th century Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple, about 3 km away from the main temple.

According to an estimate, more than 10 lakh devotees from all corners of the country and outside congregated in the town. Devotees occupied every conceivable space along the 3-km-long Grand Road to have a glimpse of the deities on the chariots.

The ceremonial processions of the deities known as Pahandi (carrying the deities out of the temple to the chariots) started at 8.35 a.m. and the chariots began moving after Gajapati Divyasingha Deb, who is regarded as Puri's designated King, swept the wooden floors. By 6.30 p.m., all chariots reached the destination.

The festival culminates nine days later when the deities make their way back home to the Jagannath temple in their return journey known as Bahuda Yatra.

The state government has made elaborate arrangements in the town to prevent any untoward incident. Thousands of policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order. At least 56 special trains are running from different parts of Orissa, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh to meet the extra rush of passengers to Puri during the festival.