~
a description in an old book about Ranchi.
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India carved out of the southern part of
Bihar in Nov. 2000. The state shares its
border with the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West
Bengal. The industrial city of Ranchi is
its capital and Dumka its sub capital. Jamshedpur is the largest industrial
city in the state, while Dhanbad and Bokaro Steel City are the second and
fourth most populous cities respectively. The State has so many mines and
accounts a very high %age of the mineral reserves of India, yet is one of the
poorest States.
In
olden days, Ranchi was a happy hunting ground for the sportsman (!) – meaning
those involved in game hunting, killing of animals – as it was a vast reserve
of wild animals, many of which have now disappeared. The name Chutia or Chuta Nagpur [Chota
Nagpur] is found in Rennel’s map (1792) and in Hamilton’s Gazetteer (1815) and
the latter explains the name stating that the district is distinguished by the
term Chuta (little) to distinguish from the other Nagpur possessed by Bhonslah
Maratha family –however, some state that the name is probably derived from
Chutia, a village close to Ranchi, reputed to be the original home of Nagbani
chiefs.
In
its historic past, Moghul King Jahangir tried to have complete subjection of
this part whence diamonds were said to be found of the value of lakh of rupees
each and he directed Ibrahim Khan on his appointment as Governor of Bihar to
invade the district and drive away the Maharaja. Ibrahim invaded Chota Nagpur in 1616, refused
to be satisfied with the few diamonds and elephants which the Raja had sent
him, fought and took control of the diamond kingdom. The Raja was captured and sent to Delhi with
his diamonds and 23 elephants. The 45th
Chief, Durjan Sal was removed from Delhi to Gwalior and kept confined for 12
years. Once there was a diamond of
which, the jailed Raja pointed out a flaw – but the Court jewelers were at
variance. As a test, it was tied to the horn of a ram and made to fight with
another ram which had unblemished diamond on its horn. The former split, while the true diamond
remained undamaged. The Delhi Sultan was
so pleased and granted his release and also granted that the other Chiefs
imprisoned with him might be set at liberty, if he so desires.
Jharkhand
is set to shine – in a bid to boost the
‘Make in India’ initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. NarendraModi, and to
develop high value investment opportunities in the State , the Government of
Jharkhand led by Chief Minister Shri.
Raghubar Das organsiedthe maiden ‘Momentum Jharkhand Global Investors Summit’
in Ranchi. The summit’s aim was to establish Jharkhand as a premier Investment
destination for both foreign as well as domestic investors. Addressing the Investor’s summit, Union
Minister of Law and justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad, spoke about the development of the country.
The Union Minister stated that 111 crore people in the country have Aadhar
cards and also speaking on the digital growth of India, Prasad said that in the
last two years 72 mobile manufacturers have come in India. Earlier, asserting
that Jharkhand is of strategic importance to Adani Group, Adani Enterprises
Managing Director Rajesh Adani said it will invest Rs 20,000 crore in the
various sectors including investment of ultra mega power plant. The two-day summit,
was attended by about 6,200 delegates.
The summit’s partner countries were Japan, Czech Republic, Tunisia and
Mongolia.
On
a day Virat Kohli and team began their Test challenge against Australia in Pune,
Mahendra Singh Dhoni had a fresh challenge on his hands seemingly oblivious to
what's happening in Team India. The man, who impresses to be a great leader but
relinquished first Test and later ODI captaincy and now with IPL captaincy too
going away, made an impressive mark on people’s mind by choosing to travel with
his teammates in a train from Ranchi, checked in at Eden Gardens in Jharkhand
jersey, motivating his state team in his usual 'captain cool' manner. Having given up other Captaincy, he has opted
to lead in the upcoming domestic one-dayers for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.Dhoni
wore his usual cool demeanour but the intensity was evident as he took out his
team under the scorching afternoon sun and began the session in his familiar
manner -- a pep-talk followed by playing football.
He
rolled his arms bowling off-spin, though IshanKishan is there, MSD would still
keep the wickets and none can match his style, especially those runouts –
receiving throws and pushing them on to the stumps, without caring to turn his
head ! Jharkhand lefthander Virat Singh, who was instrumental in East Zone's
recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 title triumph, said they were privileged to
play under the most successful Indian captain during his Vijay Hazare stint.
For him like every other player, the presence of MSD motivates. Dhoni-led
Jharkhand will open their campaign against Karnataka at Eden Gardens on
February 25.
Last
season, Dhoni turned up for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy but not as a
captain. This year, he was announced as the captain two days after IPL
franchise Rising Pune Supergiants removed him from captaincy. The South Eastern
Railway served a very special passenger
when its former employee Mahendra Singh Dhoni preferred to travel by
train with his Jharkhand one-day cricket team from Ranchi to Howrah to
participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.Rewinding the clock back to his struggle
days in early 2000s when he was posted as a ticket inspector in Kharagpur,
India's most successful captain, Dhoni traveled in second-tier AC of 18616
Kriya Yoga Express. Reportedly it was
not any special coach but the usual 2 AC which was block booked for 23
passengers including MSD.
Thala
is unique and rocks all the time. Away in Pune, the ball is not spinning to the like of
India ! In Mar 1987, Gavaskar’s farewell test,
Shivlal Yadav, Maninder Singh were turning the ball so much and there was Ravi
Shastri – yet Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahamed won the match on a turning match
by pitching the ball at right places.
The man at the start - Stephen
Norman John O'Keefe, born in 1984 in Malaysia has played IPL and knew that it
was his big chance, for he has often been bullied, more so, by Shane Warne. He has
played 4 tests before, but never more than one in a series. One in Dubai, one
in Sydney, one in Pallekele, another in Sydney. So when he saw a pitch that
threatened to be a raging turner, he knew the pressure was on to perform. And,
having been given the new ball to share with Mitchell Starc, O'Keefe went to
lunch on day two with 0 for 23 from seven overs.
This is a pitch on which 15
wickets tumbled on day two, including nine during a frenetic middle session,
and on which India managed only 105 in their first innings. Steve O'Keefe
ransacked the Indian middle and lower order for six wickets, which all came
during a 25-ball spell after lunch. Three of those wickets came in one over,
which triggered a stunning collapse during which India lost their last seven
wickets for 11 runs, their worst such capitulation in Test history.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
24th Feb 2017.
