'No One Can Separate Me From God': Octogenarian Visiting Kumbh Since 1945

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 14, 2025 | top-stories

New Delhi:

Millions took a dip at the Maha Kumbh 2025 on Tuesday, but an octogenarian woman who has attended the religious festival since 1945 was among the devotees that stood out.

Taramati, who hails from Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, said she boarded a train at 10 pm and was in Prayagraj within 11-12 hours. The elderly lady, who travelled alone to the Kumbh, said no one can separate her from God, not even her own family. “When people ask my son why he lets me travel to the Kumbh alone, he says he can’t do anything about it. He tells people she feels like going, toh nikal jaati hai (so she leaves),” she told NDTV.

The woman said she has an issue in one leg, but that does not stop her from undertaking the rigorous journey to Prayagraj.

Also Read | Steve Jobs’ Wife Falls Ill At Maha Kumbh: “Never Been To Such Crowded Place”

The ‘Amrit Snan’ took place on Makar Sankranti on January 14, where a sequence of 13 Akharas led the holy dip. Rose petals were showered on devotees during the ‘Amrit Snan’, who responded with chants of Jai Shri Ram and Har Har Mahadev.

Maha Kumbh is one of the largest and most significant religious congregation in the world, held every 12 years at one of four locations in India.

आस्था का अद्भुत महासमागम…श्रद्धालुओं का पुष्प वर्षा से अभिनंदन !!

आज मकर संक्रांति के पावन पर्व पर तीर्थराज में महाकुम्भ के प्रथम ‘अमृत स्नान’ पर सभी अखाड़े एवं श्रद्धालु मां गंगा, यमुना व सरस्वती की त्रिवेणी में डुबकी लगाकर पुण्य अर्जित कर रहे हैं। ऐसे में श्रद्धालुओं पर… pic.twitter.com/B7w7qCQ5xl

— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) January 14, 2025

The Maha Kumbh-2025, which is Poorna Kumbh will take place till February 26. Key ‘snan’ dates include January 14 (Makar Sankranti – First Snan), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya – Second Snan), February 3 (Basant Panchami – Third Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and the final day February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

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Psychologist Arrested For Sexually Exploiting Students For 15 Years: Police

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 13, 2025 | top-stories

Nagpur:

A 45-year-old psychologist was arrested in Nagpur for allegedly blackmailing and sexually exploiting at least 50 of his students over the past 15 years, a police official said on Monday.

The accused, who operated a clinic and residential program in east Nagpur, faces charges under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Hudkeshwar police station official said.

“The psychologist allegedly lured students, particularly girls, with promises of personal and professional development. He organized trips and camps where he would sexually abuse them, take explicit photos, and later use these to blackmail them. The incident came to light after a former student, who was being blackmailed by the accused, approached the police,” he said.

Several victims are married and may be hesitant to approach police to file complaints, the official added.

Police have formed a special committee to assist victims and ensure a thorough investigation, the official added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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IIT Kharagpur 3rd Year Student Found Hanging In Hostel Room By Parents

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 13, 2025 | top-stories

Kolkata:

A student of IIT-Kharagpur was found dead inside his hostel room, an institute official said on Monday.

Shaon Malik, a third-year student of Electrical Engineering, was found hanging inside the room by his parents who had come to meet him on Sunday.

His parents and institute personnel had to forcibly open the door of the hostel room after he did not respond to repeated calls, the official said.

Malik had spoken to his parents over phone the previous night and “things seemed perfectly normal”, according to the official.

The institute will conduct an internal probe into the death and take steps to prevent such incidents in future, he said.

A senior police officer said the post-mortem has been completed and the process was videographed.

Investigation is underway, he said.

IIT-Kharagpur, in a statement, said: “With a sense of utter shock, the students, staff and faculty members deeply mourn the sudden loss of Shaon Malik, a third-year student from the Department of Electrical Engineering. He was found dead in Azad Hall of Residence premises on the morning of January 12.” The Azad Hall of Residence is one of the hostels in the institute.

“Upon discovery of the incident, the campus security and medical teams were immediately alerted… The police are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Malik’s death. The institute is fully cooperating with the authorities,” it said.

Describing Malik as an academically gifted student, the institute said “he was known for his intelligence, dedication and promising future in the field of Electrical Engineering”.

“The institute is devastated by this tragic event. Our foremost priority at this moment is to extend our heartfelt condolences and support to Malik’s family and friends. We are providing all necessary assistance to help them through this incredibly difficult time,” the statement said.

IIT-Kharagpur said it is committed to the well-being and mental health of its students.

“We have a range of support services available, including counseling and mental health resources, and we urge students to utilise these services whenever needed,” it said.

A few days ago, the body of an IIT-Kharagpur junior lab technician-cum-assistant was recovered from one of the quarters on the campus.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2 Sisters Fall To Death From Businessman's House In Gurugram: Police

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 12, 2025 | top-stories

Gurugram:

Two sisters in their early 20s died after falling from the fourth floor of a local businessman’s house at Sector 40 in Gurugram, police said on Sunday.

While the house owner’s family claimed they fell from the balcony on Friday in a desperate bid to escape after a “theft attempt”, the deceased family has alleged foul play behind the deaths though no formal complaint of murder has been lodged yet, police said.

The deceased have been identified as Chandni (23) and Rashmi (21), who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, they said.

Chandni, who used to work at the businessman’s residence as a domestic help, left the job around a month back, police said.

The deceased lived in the servant’s quarter of the building.

The house owner told police that he and his family members were going to the Khatu Shyam temple in Rajasthan’s Sikar district on Friday. However, they returned home after travelling some distance as he had forgotten to take his medicines, police said.

On reaching home, they found the main door open before hearing a loud thud. As they rushed to the balcony and looked down, they saw the two sisters lying in a pool of blood below. Both were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were declared brought dead, police said.

The house owner’s family suspects that the two women broke into the house, as Chandni knew the access code of the electronic lock.

Sector 40 police station SHO Lalit Kumar said the bodies have been handed over to the family after autopsy, adding that police are examining CCTV footage from the house.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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CBSE Directs Schools To Implement Skill Education Initiatives Without Delay

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 11, 2025 | top-stories

To align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and NCF-School Education, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools to implement skill education initiatives urgently. These initiatives aim to integrate vocational skills into the school curriculum, helping bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world applications. CBSE seeks to prepare students for a rapidly changing workforce and promote a skilled, self-reliant generation for India’s future growth by emphasising the need for swift action.

Key Initiatives For Skill Education

Skill Modules for Classes 6-12: CBSE introduced skill modules for students from classes 6 to 12, which can be opted through classes, hobby clubs, or self-learning online. The modules are project-based, and CBSE has developed a portal for registration and certification.

Skill Subjects in Classes 9-12: A range of 22 skill subjects for classes 9-10 and 43 skill subjects for classes 11-12 are available for students. Schools need no separate permission or fees to introduce these subjects.

Handholding and Mentoring: CBSE is providing resources to assist schools in introducing skill subjects and modules, with links available for submitting details about the offerings.

National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF): The skill subjects are mapped to NSQF levels, ensuring a clear pathway for students in job roles with defined study hours. Students are advised not to change skill subjects in classes 10 and 12.

Composite Skill Labs: Schools must establish Composite Skill Labs by 2026, providing the necessary equipment for skill education. Further details on the lab setup will be shared soon.

District Skill Coordinators (DSCs): CBSE is appointing DSCs across districts to ensure the smooth implementation of these initiatives at the grassroots level.

Awareness and Capacity Building: Regular programmes are being organised for principals and teachers, including industry collaborations. All skill education programmes are free and recognised for continuous professional development (CPD).

Skill Expos and Career Guidance: CBSE organises a variety of events such as hackathons, ideathons, and skill expos to provide students with experiential learning opportunities.

Comprehensive Career Guidance: A ‘Compendium of Careers and Education Pathways’ has been prepared to guide students pursuing skill subjects in Class 12, available on the CBSE website.

Access to Resources: Textbooks, sample question papers, and other materials for skill subjects are available on the CBSE Academic website.

For feedback and suggestions, schools are encouraged to share the success stories of alumni and provide input to the Board.

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Manoj Tiwary Recalls Gautam Gambhir's Old Overseas Coaches Remark, Defends 'Hypocrite' Tag | Cricket News

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 11, 2025 | top-stories

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary left the cricket world shocked with his relentless attack at current national team head coach Gautam Gambhir. Tiwary called Gambhir a ‘hypocrite’, owing to his recent results with the Indian team, particularly the losses at home to New Zealand and against Australia Down Under. Tiwary didn’t mince words as he questioned several decisions taken by Gambhir, in the capacity of the team’s coach, especially with regards to the selection of a few players and his own coaching staff.

Gambhir, notably, handpicked Ryan Ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel as part of this support staff after being named Team India’s head coach. Tiwary, during an interview with the Hindustan Times, said that Gambhir himself once criticised the BCCI for hiring overseas coaches. Now, he himself did the same.

“Why did I call him a hypocrite? It is because of one of his interviews if you remember. In one of the interviews, he said, ‘All these foreign coaches, all the guys who come from abroad, have no emotions, they have no feelings. They earn money and enjoy themselves.’ When the time was there for him to select all the Indian coaches and all the Indian-origin support staff, why did he put forward the names of Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel? He got everything he wanted but he is not able to produce the results. Actions don’t match his words, so I called him a hypocrite,” said Tiwary.

Despite getting the support staff of his choices, Gambhir has had some forgettable results as the Indian team’s coach. Be it the ODI series loss against Sri Lanka, the home Test sweep against New Zealand or the most recent 1-3 defeat against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Tiwary even questioned Gambhir’s appointment as the Indian team’s head coach, saying he didn’t have much coaching experience, having only worked as a mentor in the IPL so far in his career.

“You tell me, before taking up coaching in the Indian team, did he have any coaching experience in first-class cricket or IPL or anywhere in the world? Did he coach any one of the teams? Mentoring and coaching are totally different. That is where everyone mixes up. That is where fans mix up, and a lot of others mix up. Coaching and mentoring are totally opposite. When you don’t have experience, how do you expect to perform? That is what is happening right now, and the results are there for everyone to see,” said Tiwary.

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