MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

Dr. M.C.Pant , Padma Shri of Kunkoli, Ranikhet


Padma Shri Dr. M.C.Pant

Dr MC Pant, a resident of Kunkoli, Ranikhet, was honoured with  Padma Shri on the occasion of Republic Day on 26 January, 2008. Dr Pant is presently Head of the Department of Radiotherapy Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow (Upgraded King George’s Medical University Lucknow) and is also a Cancer specialist. This award has been given to him for his effort in spreading awareness about Cancer in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Dr Pant is also the advisor to the Uttarakhand Government regarding this dreaded disease.


Padm Shri Front face

Fifty-two year old Dr Pant was born in village Kunkoli about 10 kms  from Ranikhet. His father Prayag Datt Pant was a famous astrologer and a revered religious preacher of the area. Dr Pant completed his Primary Education at his village Junior High School, Raghulipipal and Mission Inter College, Ranikhet. He graduated from Almora Degree College and took admission for MBBS in 1975. He joined the King George Medical College, now renamed Chhatrapati Shahu ji Maharaj Medical College, and completed MD (Radiology) in 1984 and joined the same College as a Lecturer in 1985. He went to Tokyo University in 1986 and after taking necessary training, became the first CT Scan Unit in-charge of undivided Uttar Pradesh.  He helped more than 60,000 patients in his effort to eradicate Cancer. He has to his credit a number of books on the subject.


Padm Shri Back face

Besides, the establishment of the C.T. Scan unit, Prof. Pant has established three other medical institutions, namely Lucknow Cancer Institute, the first Comprehensive Cancer hospital in Uttar Pradesh, Swami Ram Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Haldwani and Dr. Susheela Tewari Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Dehradun. Yet another Cancer Hospital to be known as Rural Cancer Hospital in Mainpuri (U.P.) is being set up with his active assistance.
During 1993-1998, Dr. Pant got established Cancer Detection Centres in the districts of Uttarakhand as a part of Cancer Control Programme, which is his great contribution to the cause of Cancer. Prof. Pant has been running the unique project of Cancer Education through schools in more than 26 districts of Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, covering about 297 science teachers and about 60 thousand students so far. He has delivered 130 public lectures on prevention of Cancer, held 109 Cancer Detection Camps and Exhibitions in various districts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand creating and spreading awareness about the prevention of Cancer, benefiting more than 7 lakhs people.
Dr. Pant started his Cancer prevention work as a social responsibility in the year 1993 and since then he has written a number of books and Booklets on the subject, produced a video film in Hindi and Teaching modules for Cancer Education through schools, which have inspired other socially conscious medical practitioners, who are running similar Cancer prevention programmes in other places.
Prof. Pant has made a significant contribution in the sphere of medical research. He is associated with number of research projects going in various research Institutions of the CSIR and has, so far, published 71 Research Papers in various International and National Medical Journals and has authored 5 books on Cancer and 10 books (in Hindi and English) on the subject of Cancer Control and Prevention.
He has participated and delivered lectures in about 22 international Conferences and has won wide acclaim for his contribution towards the cause of Cancer. The widely read and reputed magazine India Today, in its special edition brought out  on completion of its 20 years has included Dr. Pant’s name among the 20 great personalities of the country who have rendered illustrious services in the fields of environment, science, sports, literature and social work etc.
Prof. Pant has extended his services as a visiting professor to the Toko University, Japan, Rush University, Chicago, California University, M.D. Anderson Cancer Institute & National Cancer Institute, U.S.A, Dichin Bargh University Germany, Chinese University- Hongkong and Rosewell cancer Institute, USA.
In his career as an academician spanning 20 years, Prof. Pant has been honored and given awards by about 15 National and International bodies, out of which the prestigious National award – Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy National Award given by the Medical Council of India was presented to Dr. Pant by the Hon’ble President of India, in a function held on 2005 at the Rastrapati Bhawan. Besides, Prime Minister, Sri. Atal Behari Bajpayee, in 1999, Governor of U.P. in 1996 and the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand in 2006, have honoured Dr. Pant for the medico-social services rendered by him.
Dr. Pant has been instrumental in establishing a Picture Gallery and   has written the history of 100 years of K.G. Medical College (now Chhatra pati Sahuji Maharaj university- Lucknow) and set up a Picture Gallery depicting the history of the Medical College, which was dedicated to the people by Hon’ble President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in the year 2005, who greatly appreciated this work of Dr. Pant.
Presently, Prof. Pant is engaged in research on various Genes which may responsible for cause cancer so that it could be detected before is an actually affects the person. This research on Cancer, especially cancers caused by tobacco is one of the main such research project on that a number of research articles have also been published in the international medical journals.
Dr Pant’s main objective and mission is to eradicate Cancer. I visited his native village Kunkoli, on 26 January, 2008 in heavy snow. The villagers were very happy and welcomed us with the ringing of bells and blowing of conch-shells. In fact, the news about the award was given by we people to them. With the son of the soil of the village Kunkoli being thus honoured, the villagers have started dreaming of a brighter future for their village and their kith and kin. Dr Pant now lives in Lucknow and visits his village frequently With Dr. Pant being awarded Padma Shri aspirations of the villagers have now developed wings. They want the Uttarakhand Government to look to their immediate needs. They want the construction of  about 1 km long concrete cement road from village Amyari to Kunkoli, so that the villagers reach the village comfortably. The village is not connected by any motorable road. They want the Biswan-Chalsiapadauli-Kunkoli road to be constructed as early as possible, so that the village is connected by a road. The village has great scarcity of water. They want a new water supply scheme for the village. Raghulipipal School, where Dr Pant had his Primary Education, is now an Intermediate College. The villagers demand a new building for the school. This will benefit 18 Gram Sabhas. Kunkoli also has a playground, which needs some care. It could be developed as a Football and Cricket playground without much expense. The villagers have made an appeal to the Chief Minister, Uttarakhand, to look into their problems.(D.N.Barola)

ढोलकी मैं फसकिया बूबू

एक गाँव मैं कुछ नवयुवकों ने एक लड़के की शादी रचाई  शादी तय करते समय कोई भी सयाना साथ मैं नहीं था  शादी लगभग तय हो गई  लड़के वालों ने मांग रखी की बरात मैं बकरे का शिकार भी होना चाहिए लड़की वालों ने इनकार किया इससे झगडा बड़ता गया आख़िर लडकी वालों को बहुत गुस्सा आया और उन्हों ने कहा ठीक है, हम बकरा काटेंगे परन्तु हर बराती को एक बकरा खाना पड़ेगा तथा सारे बराती नवयुवक होने चाहिए. कोई भी बुजर्ग बराती बन कर नहीं आयेगा  लड़के वालों ने हामी भर दी  घर लौटकर लड़कों ने सयानों को १०० बकरों वाली समस्या बताई.  तय   हुवा की फसकिया बूबू बड़ी ढोलक मैं बंद होकर बरात मैं जायेंगे .   

निश्चित समय पर बरात चली और साथ मैं फसकिया बूबू भी ढोलक के अन्दर चले  बारातियों का स्वागत १०० बकरों से किया गया.  अब समस्या आई की प्रत्येक बराती एक बकरा कैसे खायेगा  लोडों ने ढोलकी के पास जाकर फस्किया बूबू से मंत्रणा की. बूबू ने कहा की एक बार मैं एक बकरा कटेगा और हर नवजवान एक एक टुकडा कच्पोली का खायेगा  पहला बकरा खा लेने के बाद ही दूसरा   बकरा कटेगा इस प्रकार सौ बकरे कटेंगे क्योंकि हर नवजवान को बकरे का शिकार खाने के लिए काफी समय मिल जायेगा   इस प्रकार सारे बकरे निपट जायेंगे   लड़की वालों ने देखा की वर पक्ष के लोग  बार बार ढोलक के पास जा रहें हैं और गुन्मुन गुन्मुन बात् कर रहे हैं. लडकी वालों को शक हुवा  वे ढोलक के पास आए और ढोलक खोलने पर फस्किया बूबू उसके अन्दर बिराजमान   मिले   लड़कों वालों की पोल खुल गई  और लडकी वाले भी बूबू की बुद्धिमत्ता की दाद देने लगे  कहने का मतलब है कि अनुभव और ऊर्जा दोनों का सामंजस्य होना जरूरी है  (By D.N.Barola with P.S.Mahara)

Bhalu Dam is a tourist attraction centre at Ranikhet

There are three artificial lakes in Ranikhet, Bhalu Dam, Kalu Gadhera and the recently built Ranee Jheel.  Bhalu Dam and Kalu Gadhera, both supply drinking water to Chaubatia and Ranikhet respectively. Bhalu Dam was developed by the British in 1902. The Dam is more than 106 years old.  Naturally it is now the Heritage of the people of Ranikhet. To reach Bhalu Dam, you have to go to Chaubatia, which is some 10 Kms. from Ranikhet. From Chaubatia you have to trek some 3-4 Kms. to Nagpani. Bhalu Dam is situated in a deep valley dotted with all weather green trees- Pine, Oak, Devdar, Buransh etc. stand majestically and portray a wonderful view of the lake. Bhalu Dam was developed as a picnic spot and to supply drinking water to Chaubatia and Ranikhet. For the purpose, a barrage was constructed and a 200 meter long beautiful lake came into existence. British used to enjoy Boating in the lake.

There used to be a jeep able road from Chaubatia to Nagpani, which is now in a dilapidated condition. Remains of the huts constructed for the picnickers can also be found on this trekking route. In the absence of electricity, water used to be pumped through a steam engine. Two stage pumping from Nagpani to Highest Point and then to Chaubatia, this is how the water used to be supplied to a large storage tank constructed at Chaubatia. Now the tourists seldom visit this picnic spot. There is a need to develop and popularise this picnic spot. (D.N.Barola)

Government should watch Consumer Interest

            Consumer is the Most Important Person (VIP) for any business establishment. The Government has established Consumer Courts to look after the interest of the consumers. If you purchase any product from the market, you will find the cost printed on the Product. The price is the MRP (Maximum Retail Price). Sometimes the word L.T.Extra (Local taxes extra) is also written. The shopkeeper gives the product at MRP rates and sometimes with taxes extra, as he argues that it is VAT (Value Added Tax). The Customer gives the MRP without knowing that he is paying the Maximum Price for the product. Thus the consumer is looted, without realizing that he is being overcharged.  If MRP (Maximum Retail Price) is written on the product, the Customer has a write to know the Minimum Retail price as well. If this is done the Customer can enter into a bargain with the shopkeeper. But consumer’s interest can only be looked after if the Reasonable Price of the product is printed. Government may consider printing the Reasonable Price of the Product, so that non-bargaining customers are not at a loss.(D.N.Barola)

Thanks Barola ji hum sab ki knowledge main yeh jaankaarian laane ke liye.