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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Fitness standards and workload management central to Tamil Nadu's plans, says Vasudeva Das
As Tamil Nadu prepares for the upcoming domestic season, starting with the All India Buchi Babu tournament on Monday, where it will field two teams, the chairman of the selection committee, K. Shri Vasudeva Das, is optimistic about the challenges ahead. 'Last year, we played some consistent cricket despite many injuries. We should continue on that and build on what we have done over the past couple of years. I am confident that we are going to have a good season,' Vasudeva Das told The Hindu. TN lost in the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy to eventual champion Vidarbha earlier this year. The team had to deal with injuries, mainly to its fast bowlers, and it is something the think-tank has worked to address. 'We have taken some measures which have been implemented by the TNCA Academy, setting protocols and standards. Being the heartbeat of TN cricket, the TNCA Academy, along with the coaches, is very particular that the players meet those requirements, and I think it is on track. They have set fitness standards from the beginning of the season. The moment the season got over, we had a summer camp during the IPL time,' added the former TN middle-order batter. A part of that process is workload management, and pacers Sandeep Warrier and Gurjapneet Singh have been rested for the pre-season competition, considering the schedule ahead. In the last two seasons, TN has handed out debuts to quite a few youngsters, including teenagers like pacer R.D. Pranav Ragavendra and C. Andre Siddarth, who finished as the second-highest scorer for the side in Ranji Trophy. Last year, the under-19 boys won the Cooch Behar title, and four of them will be in action next week. Vasudeva Das, who was a junior committee chairman for three years before joining the senior set-up last year, is excited about the talent pool. 'We had set certain things in place in junior cricket, which helped us play consistently. This built us up to winning the title. So, a similar approach would be useful in the senior level, and we are on the right track. The youngsters pushing the seniors and transitioning into professional level is happening much quicker than it was a couple of years ago,' opined Vasudeva Das.
India Today
09-07-2025
- India Today
Ten timeless hideaways in the Himalayas
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated July 14, 2025)Picture a cottage in the hills, with wooden beams, an ivy-clad verandah, an old fireplace and warm lamps glowing against the mountain mist. You can find all this and more at these heritage stays across the Himalayan foothills. Once family homes or summer retreats, they have been thoughtfully restored without losing their original charm. From the forests of Binsar to the tea estates of Darjeeling, these are not just hotels but old homes with a new life—and a story to telladvertisementBLUE BOOK AT GETHIA, NAINITAL (pictured above)An 18-km (about 45 mins) winding uphill drive from Nainital brings you to Blue Book by Gethia, a quaint 1890s bungalow with eight rooms all done up in Victorian style with floral upholstery. Four additional Mediterranean-style rooms are in the new wing, a late 20th-century addition. Meals range from North Indian and Kumaoni to pan-Asian and Continental, served either in the cosy dining room or around the property or further afield, like a picnic in the surrounding wilderness or a riverside high tea. Other experiences include scenic hikes, birding and visits to nearby temples like Kasar Devi and Chitai Golu Devta. Doubles from Rs 13,000, ELGIN, DARJEELING Built in 1887, The Elgin was once the summer residence of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar. The sprawling green-roofed manor house practically oozes old-world charm with its oak wood panelling, period Burma teak furniture, crackling fireplaces and a grand piano. In all, 25 well-equipped rooms are done up in charming Victorian dcor and come with a sitting area and a working fireplace. Most rooms look out over the landscaped garden and the mountains (no Kanchenjunga views though). An inhouse spa offers a range of massages and beauty treatments. The hotel is located within walking distance of the Darjeeling Mall (High Street) lined with cafes, restaurants and from Rs 13,000; JUDGE'S COURT PRAGPUR (KANGRA) Located in the foothills of Kangra valley, The Judge's Court is a historic country manor house dating to the early 1900s. Beautifully restored to maintain the ambience of a bygone era, the hotel offers 30 well-appointed and individually decorated rooms spread over three structures in the orchard complex of the estate. The dining room serves a mix of Indian, Continental and Himachali cuisine, while the Whiskey Priest Bar offers libations of all kinds. Visit the charming heritage village of Pragpur to admire its mud-plastered and slate-roofed houses, cobbled streets and the ornamental village tank. Other activities include visiting local artisans, bird-watching and day trips to Dharamshala and its Norbulingka Institute, which is dedicated to preservation of the Tibetan from Rs 13,500; JEOLIKOTE BUNGALOW, JEOLIKOTE (NAINITAL) Formerly known simply as The Cottage, this 150-year-old red-roofed heritage bungalow with ivy-draped walls is a charming homestay with stunning mountain views. It offers six spacious en suite rooms that come with queen-sized takhat beds, cosy fireplaces and handmade wardrobes, while chintz lamps, cotton durries and patch-work quilts add to the homey vibe. The common living area, sun terrace and lush garden are perfect to curl up with a book or to just be. Meals are homestyle and include local Kumaoni dishes as well as North Indian and international from Rs 7,500; SHIMLA In the erstwhile summer capital of the Raj, Chapslee is a charming heritage building that's just a short walk from Mall Road. Built in 1830, and owned by the family of the former king of Kapurthala, the home was turned into a small heritage hotel in 1976. Since then, it's been known for 'The Chapslee Experience'—warm, personalised service and preservation of traditions like silver service, sit-down meals and high tea. Decked out in chintz, silver and crystal, each of the five suites is uniquely designed and full of bygone charm. While a summer holiday at Chapslee is wonderful, Christmas is particularly special with a traditional dinner; keep your fingers crossed for from Rs 16,500; ESTATE, BINSAR Built in 1875, and home to everyone from distinguished British administrator Sir Henry Ramsay to the Nehru family, Khali Estate is located in the heart of Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. The heritage hotel is set amidst 25 acres of orchards and wilderness, and comes with a panoramic view of the snow-clad Himalaya. Rooms—spread across the main bungalow and in stone-and-mud-walled cottages dotted around it—are cosy and have a rustic charm. The spacious library with over 5,000 books is heaven for book lovers; for the active sort, there is badminton, tennis and other games to keep busy, as well as jungle walks, treks, bird-watching from Rs 9,000; TEA ESTATE, DARJEELING A beautifully restored colonial tea plantation house established in 1860, Glenburn Tea Estate is nestled amidst a 1,600-acre working tea plantation in Darjeeling. The two cottages—Burra Bungalow and Water Lily Bungalow—feature four themed suites each, with a four-poster bed, hand-embroidered bed linens, a fireplace and a verandah or terrace that offers views of the tea gardens and Darjeeling city. The Burra Bungalow suites have the most spectacular views of Kanchenjunga (weather permitting). Sign up for the Glenburn Tea Experience, which includes a walk through the plantation, a guided tour of the tea factory, a riverside picnic or lunch and from Rs 50,000; PRASADA BHAVAN, NAINITAL Located away from Nainital's touristy bustle, Abbotsford Prasada Bhavan dates to 1876 and offers two separate accommodations—the three-room Wordsworth Cottage and the five-bedroom Apsley House. With their white faades, red roofs (with chimneys) and pine wood flooring, both cottages look straight out of an Enid Blyton book. Rooms are fitted out with colonial furniture, art and artefacts. Head out on forest trails or go birding with the inhouse naturalists and return to sumptuous Kumaoni dishes and international favourites at Caf from Rs 9,000; PALACE, PALAMPUR Located in the foothills of the magnificent Dhauladhar mountains, Taragarh Palace was built in 1951 as a summer resort for the royal family of Jammu and Kashmir, and was developed as a heritage hotel in 1971. Its European-inspired architecture with colonnaded patio, pavilions and landscaped gardens makes a pretty picture fringed by 15 acres of woodland and manicured tea estates. The palace's 26 rooms and suites feature vintage furnishing and tiled floors, and come with garden or polo grounds views. The Imperial dining hall offers a mix of Indian, Continental and Chinese fare as well as the traditional Himachali Dham (ceremonial multi-dish vegetarian meal).Doubles from Rs 7,000; BY ITC HOTELS, THE SAVOY, MUSSOORIE Built in the Gothic style, The Savoy opened in 1902 and was a favourite retreat for the British. This luxury hotel has been managed by ITC Hotels since 2009. After extensive interior refurbishment in 2013, the hotel's 80 rooms and suites offer a mix of classic charm and modern conveniences; expect high ceilings, wooden furniture and vintage dcor, not to mention views of the Himalaya from most rooms. Take your pick between three dining options, including the multicuisine Grand Dining Hall, The Royal Afghan serving North-West Frontier cusine and the colonial-style Writer's from Rs 28,000; to India Today Magazine- Ends
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
28 Bangladeshis arrested from Dinhata station while trying to return home
Jalpaiguri: Police arrested 28 Bangladeshi nationals, including eight women and nine minors, from Dinhata railway station early on Friday, intending to cross over into Bangladesh. A preliminary probe revealed that the group was fleeing Haryana, where a recent drive to round up illegal Bangladeshi citizens had spooked them. Police said several of the arrested Bangladeshis had crossed into India 22 years ago. All of them had settled in Haryana, where they worked as daily labourers in brick kilns. They got married there and had eight children. A sudden drive by Haryana Police last year to identify and arrest illegal Bangladeshi nationals, which led to the arrest of over 100 Bangladeshis, rattled them so much that they tried to flee. The group left Haryana and took refuge in Bihar, where they lived for the past 10 months. As the drive against Bangladeshi intruders intensified in other parts of the country, they planned to return to Kurigram in Bangladesh. Accordingly, they took a train to Siliguri, and then another train to reach Cooch Behar's Dinhata. Their plan was to cross over to Bangladesh with the help of agents. However, their presence outside the station at that odd hour drew the attention of locals, who informed police. An interrogation exposed their identity. "Prima facie, it seems they were trying to return to Bangladesh and came to Dinhata with that intention. Further interrogation will reveal how they were planning a return and who else is involved," said Cooch Behar ASP Krishna Gopal Meena. In Feb, Union home minister Amit Shah had directed authorities to speed up operations against the entire network assisting illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants in entering and staying in the country through forged documents.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's Cooch Behar heroes Pranav and Ambrish excited to take England flight
Earlier this year, Tamil Nadu had won the BCCI Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19) after 33 years. On Thursday, two key members of that title-winning squad, all-rounder R.S. Ambrish and pacer Pranav Raghavendra, earned their maiden India under-19 call-up for the tour of England next month. For Ambrish, it has been a roller-coaster year, considering he missed the group stage matches after suffering a collarbone fracture during a warm-up tournament. Once he returned for the knockouts, he delivered by scoring 81 and 85 in the semifinals and final against Maharashtra and Gujarat, respectively. He finished with a tally of 262 runs in four games. 'It is a special feeling for me and my family. I was happy I could make an impact for TN in the knockouts, and winning the title has now given us a chance. I want to build on it and am excited for my first tour abroad,' said the 17-year-old all-rounder who was also part of the specialist fast bowler camp at the NCA recently. Meanwhile, for Pranav, it is another step in the right direction after he made his Ranji Trophy debut last season and played two matches. 'In the last one year, I have trusted my process and this is a reward for that,' said Pranav who scalped 11 wickets in four games in Cooch Behar. The 17-year-old credited the role of the MRF Pace foundation, where he worked with Glenn McGrath and former TN coach L. Balaji, for helping him feel welcomed in the senior team. 'My target is to do well on this tour and get picked for the Under-19 World Cup next year.'
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
WB HS result 2025: Science stream records highest pass rate of 99.46% as toppers score near-perfect marks
WB HS result 2025: Science stream toppers Tushar Debnath of Bakshirhat High School, Cooch Behar – 496 marks Rajarshi Adhikary of Arambagh High School, Hooghly – 495 marks Srijita Ghoshal of Sonamukhi Girls' High School, Bankura – 494 marks Biresh Ghosh of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyabhaban, Paschim Midnapore – 493 marks Prantik Ganguli of Arambagh High School, Hooghly – 493 marks Tanmay Pati of Sonarpur Vidyapith High School, South 24 Parganas – 493 marks WB HS result 2025: Gender representation among science toppers WB HS result 2025: Result access and certificate distribution The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) declared the results of the Higher Secondary Examination 2025 today, on May 7, with Science stream candidates securing top ranks across the state. A detailed review of the merit list shows that Science stream students dominated the top positions, with several candidates achieving scores above 490 out of 500, demonstrating excellence in academic performance and subject year, the Science stream recorded the highest pass percentage among all streams, 99.46%, with 81,583 out of 82,022 candidates passing the in the Science stream have not only excelled in their respective districts but also claimed the top ranks in the state merit highest scorer in the state is Rupayan Pal, a student of Burdwan C.M.S. High School in Purba Burdwan, who secured 497 marks out of 500 (99.4%). Other top scorers from the Science stream include:While the top three ranks are held by male students, notable female representation is seen in the top 10 as well. Srijita Ghoshal and Oishiki Das (Cooch Behar), both Science stream students, scored 494 and 493 marks respectively. Their performance underscores the increasing competitiveness and academic parity among genders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in the can access their results via the WBCHSE official website and through SMS. Schools will receive the physical copies of mark sheets and pass certificates from designated distribution centres on May 8, 2025.
