Mr responsible

This year’s recipient of the “Rashtriya Udyog Ratan Award” — a national recognition conferred by Indian Economic Development and Research Association — is Jharkhand-born Jagdish Singh. The award is a recognition of individual and collective contribution to the process of nation building and development. A successful entrepreneur and a businessman, Singh is a shinning example of corporate responsibility. Unlike his counterparts, he is not content with profit. With the help of numerous social activities and clean corporate practices he endeavours to make a difference to the society. And so this year, he received the award both as an individual and as a business leader, who sets an example for others to follow.

Singh received his certificate for “outstanding contributions to national development” on December 20 at a national seminar and awards’ function in New Delhi from the minister of the planning commission, M.B. Rajshekharan.

Bowled over

Barely in his teens, Jasmeet Singh of Narbheram Hansraj English School stole the show from a host of willow-wielding wannabes in the Lakhon Mein Ek Cricket Stars Contest, that was held at Calcutta recently. And boy, could the youngster ball or what? He literally bowled over 200 participants at the contest. Later, as his reward, he received a chance to train at the Sourav Ganguly Cricket Coaching Centre as a member of the East Zone team. Jasmeet was one among the final 11 selected from some 2,000-odd participants and the only star from Jharkhand to make a dhamaka at the show. Former Team India members such as Robin Singh, Chetan Sharma and Ajay Jadeja were a witness to his stellar performance. But this was not the end of the champ’s wonders. He would soon be a part of a coaching camp to be conducted by Jasmeet’s favourite Kapil Dev being organised by the Cricket Council of India. Seems like the state has yet another star in the making.

State’s pride Sinimole bags bronze

Tata Athletics Academy (TAA) cadet Sinimole Paulose has done the country proud by clinching the bronze medal in the 1500-m race in the recently-concluded Asian Games. Officials of TAA maintain that the timing for the second and third place was very close and the cadet failed to secure silver by some fraction of a second. Sinimole, a resident of Kerala, has been performing consistently in other international meets as well. She has been a cadet of the academy for more than two years now. Now, officials have already started expecting a similar feat from the ace athlete in the coming Beijing Olympics.

“We plan to prepare her for that and hope she makes us proud yet again,” said her coach Satnam Singh.

Apart from the bronze at Doha, Sinimole bagged gold in 1500-m, silver in the 800-m and bronze in 4X400-m relay in the Asian Indoor Athletic Championships this year.

She also won the bronze in the 800-m Asian Grand Prix this year.

The athlete, who understands that practice makes her perfect, is currently training extensively for the upcoming events.

Sinimole has been in the Tata Athletic Academy right from the day it was started, way back in May 2004, and has been training under coach Satnam Singh from day one.

Originally from Kerala and now in Jamshedpur for her training, Sinimole has a brother and a sister, settled in the United States of America. While her brother is in the army. In fact, Sinimole’s father, too, is a retired army personnel, and her mother, a homemaker.

While talking to The Telegraph Satnam Singh added that after returning from Doha, Sinimole went to her home for the much-needed rest.

The young athlete is expected to return to her training on January 10.

“We are also waiting for her to come back so that she can be given a hero’s welcome. Her feat is not something that we come across everyday and she deserves every bit of it,” said her coach.

Crazy about Kathak and dancing

A student of Class XI of DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali, Gargi Malkani recently clinched the second rank in the All-India examination held by the Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, Calcutta. In her sixth year of Kathak training, the young lass also bagged a silver at a function held in the city last week. But Kathak’s not Gargi’s only forte. She is also an Odissi exponent and is learning the dance form from Savita Mishra. Her Kathak guru happens to be Pandit Munna Shukla. Gargi is not pursuing Kathak just as a hobby, but wishes to make the dance her career. While talking to The Telegraph Gargi remembered that she started learning Kathak at an early age from her mother Late Manju Malkani, who was also a Kathak artiste. “I started picking up the style since I was five and slowly developed my interests in it. I wish to carry forward my mother’s dream, who also made her name in this field,” said Malkani.

Young medic

Revisiting school is a pleasant experience, but going back to school to receive a prestigious award from the principal, is rather enviable. MBBS student Bibhuti Prasad Kashyap is one lucky guy.

On Thursday, DPS principal Mahesh Bareja felicitated him for being last year’s AISSCE topper from school. He had secured 94.2 per cent at the Class XII examinations and 87.2 per cent in the Class X boards. He is now a first year MBBS student at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.

The 18-year-old wants to join his parents’ profession at the earliest. His parents are Dr B.P. Kashyap and Dr Bharati Kashyap.

Paper man

Mukund Mehta, the head of department of commerce at Ranchi Women’s College, has done it again. Mehta’s inputs at the national seminar of Indian Commerce Association held in Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from December 28 were deeply appreciated. Mehta, whose niece Simpi is married to former home minister Sudesh Mahto, is scheduled to present another paper on “Self-help Group: Its rural impediments” in another seminar to be held, late December.

Student awarded

American Federation of Muslim (of Indian Origin) felicitated Nusrat Parveen, a topper from DAV Public School, Bariatu, with an international award at Chennai on December 26.

The award that is presented to toppers from every state was rightly awarded to Nusrat a second highest score holder from Jharkhand.

On the occasion, chief guest, American Consul-General, David T. Hopper, gave away the award that included a bronze medal and Rs 3,000 cash.