Sudhir Kumar is Varanasi based senior staff correspondent.He covers all developments, politics, education--primary, secondary and higher -- crime, offbeat, tribes and human angle stories
Articles by Sudhir Kumar
In Modi’s Varanasi, his lookalike jumps into poll fray, against BJP
An ardent Modi fan, Abhinandan Pathak has filed his nomination for Varanasi North against BJP MLA Ravindra Jaiswal on an RPI(A) ticket.
Published on Feb 17, 2017 02:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Varanasi | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Hair is why this candidate matters: moustache is his way to woo voters in Uttar Pradesh seat
Building his image of his ‘moustache’ identity, Indraprakash Pandey warns people of not getting swayed by fall promises of national parties.
Updated on Feb 16, 2017 07:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Varanasi | Sudhir Kumar
‘Ustad shared a strong bond with Nehru, Indira, Rajiv’
Hussain recalled Ustad visited Russia for a concert in 1987 where the Russian government honoured him. “He returned to Banaras and got an invitation from Pakistan for a concert. Ustad, however, refused to visit Pakistan, saying he would go only if the government sends him,” he said.
Published on Feb 06, 2017 02:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Kashi’s ‘obscure’ ghats get their share of limelight through ‘Ghat Sandhya’
‘Ghat Sandhya’, an hour-long event, which begins at 6pm daily, draws attention of almost every visitor every evening. Classical music permeates the Reeva ghat and dancers provide vivid hues of history and culture with their performances.
Published on Feb 05, 2017 01:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
In Modi’s Kashi, Samajwadi Chaiwala’s loyalty to party is picture perfect
Samajwadi Chaiwala, Mahesh Yadav, 26,has put up a brand new photograph of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav at the tea stall near Dashashwamedh Ghat. His support to the party and its new president is quite evident from this act.
Updated on Feb 05, 2017 01:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Banaras ghats a unique landscape, says French prof
Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris La Villette (National School of Architecture, Paris La Villette) prof Pierre Bouche along with his pupils organised an Indo-French submitted a report on the architectural heritage of Banaras to UNESCO. He advises Indians to conserve the rich heritage of Kashi.
Published on Jan 29, 2017 03:14 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Mayawati’s Mukhtar gain is SP’s loss
Shivpal Yadav had fielded Sibgatullah on his Mohammadabad seat for 2017. SP had won this seat twice in 2007 and 1996. While in 2007 it was Sibgatullah who contested on SP ticket, Afzal Ansari won the seat on SP ticket in 1996.
Updated on Jan 28, 2017 01:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Pankaj Jaiswal & Sudhir Kumar, Lucknow/varanasi
UP election: SP names bicycle mechanic’s son as candidate from Zahoorabad
To keep its cycle of change moving, the Samajwadi Party has named Mahendra Chauhan, son of a bicycle mechanic as its candidate from Zahoorabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur.
Updated on Jan 25, 2017 08:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Varanasi | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Government, parties fail to address spinners’ plight at Charkha Maidan
The ground which houses 22 spinning wheels has played a crucial role in preserving the art of spinning. Though this maidan has witnessed countless elections, its plight did not change even after the 2014 elections in which the PM won from Varanasi.
Published on Jan 23, 2017 01:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
East meets west: Bismillah Khan’s German fan learns folk tunes
Hanschel, a great fan of the shehnai maestro, became interested in Indian classical music in the mid-eighties when he listened to the shehnai recital of Ustad Bismillah Khan for the first time.
Published on Jan 21, 2017 01:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Wrestler’s village wants SP to knock feud out of poll arena
Narsingh Yadav’s family urges chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam to resolve differences in the famliy and fight the election unitedly.
Updated on Jan 18, 2017 03:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Love for Odissi dance brought these Aussies to Kashi
The group of 14 artistes practises Odissi dance at ghats in morning and evening under the tutelage of Indian classical dance artiste Monica Singh Sangwan, who had migrated to Australia seven years ago. They came in touch with Singh and joined her Odissi classes at different times.
Published on Jan 16, 2017 01:51 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Seven decades on, Sewapuri Gandhi ashram struggles to mend broken yarn
In its journey spanning seven decades, the ashram witnessed several elections and governments and continues to carry forward the legacy of the Mahatma. The ashram still imparts training in weaving and spinning and has a store where clothes produced in other ashrams are also available.
Published on Jan 16, 2017 01:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
‘Akhilesh is SP’s heart, Mulayam its heartbeat’
Chandrajeet Yadav is a native of Murdaha village who became popular after he served curd to Akhilesh Yadav. Chandrajeet says Akhilesh caught a glimpse of ‘Mulayam Singh Yadav, Raksha Mantri (defence minister)’ tattooed on his forearm. The CM embraced Chandrajeet and gifted him a mobile phone.
Published on Jan 16, 2017 01:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Disabled wrestler gives up ‘paan’ till Akhilesh wins UP ‘dangal’
I am addicted to paan but have now decided to quit it till my leader is back to where he belongs, says a wrestler from Varanasi, Rajkumar Yadav.
Updated on Jan 14, 2017 03:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Sans education, weavers hang by thread in Varanasi
Weavers in Kashi say political parties make tall claims about taking concrete steps to improve their condition but forget their promises once the elections are over
Published on Jan 12, 2017 01:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Online payment schemes fail to gain traction in PM Modi’s constituency
Several street vendors in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi have adopted digital payment methods after the demonetisation announcements, but the lack of response from customers has left them disappointed.
Published on Dec 28, 2016 05:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Varanasi | Sudhir Kumar
Modi to gift four hospitals worth Rs 1,000 crore to Varanasi
The one-day trip will be his first visit to his parliamentary constituency after announcing a ban on two high-value currency notes.
Updated on Dec 21, 2016 01:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Varanasi | Sudhir Kumar
Bihar prohibition helping UP’s excise department make windfall gains
The liquor ban in Bihar has ensured a windfall for bordering districts in Uttar Pradesh as the rush of tipplers swells the excise department’s kitty, demonetisation notwithstanding
Updated on Dec 14, 2016 02:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Lucknow/Varanasi | Manish Chandra Pandey & Sudhir Kumar
Mulayam justifies QED merger as he launches poll campaign, Akhilesh stays away
Akhilesh had opposed the merger of the gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s Qaumi Ekta Dal with the Samajwadi Party earlier this year.
Updated on Nov 23, 2016 11:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar and Umesh Raghuvanshi, Ghazipur/lucknow
Amit Shah lauds demonetisation as flood that has destroyed black money
“A flood has been unleashed against black money and all corrupt people have come together,” said Amit Shah.
Published on Nov 18, 2016 12:40 AM IST
Sudhir Kumar, Azamgarh, Up
Indian Railways must scrap surge pricing and other exploitative charges
Indian Railways is rapidly slipping into a financial morass and terminal debt trap. To avert the impending tragedy, it’s time to think anew
Updated on Nov 16, 2016 10:27 PM IST
Lalu Prasad and Sudhir Kumar
People at PM Modi’s adopted villages in Varanasi happy with demonetisation
Despite having to stand in long queues at banks, residents of Jayapur and Nagepur -- villages adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi district -- have lauded the demonetisation move.
Published on Nov 16, 2016 08:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Modi takes on Cong in UP, says measures from Nehru’s time not implemented
In an attack on Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said eastern Uttar Pradesh would have seen the development required in the region had the HM Patel Commission’s recommendations had been implemented five decades ago
Updated on Nov 14, 2016 11:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Ghazipur
Amit Shah asks BSP, SP, Congress to spell out stand on triple talaq
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah said the party would contest the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on the twin planks of women’s rights and development.
Updated on Nov 09, 2016 06:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Robertsganj (sonbhadra)
BJP’s Amit Shah promises to make UP top investment destination
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah said on Tuesday once his party comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, it would make the state a hive of industrial activity and attract investors from the world to invest here.
Updated on Nov 08, 2016 05:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Sonbhadra
Their love is Indian: Swedish couple ties knot the Hindu way in Varanasi
There was a band and a baraat but this wedding had a Swedish note.
Updated on Nov 04, 2016 05:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar
‘Tension’ from family feud bad for ageing Mulayam, doctor tells his wife
Sadhna Yadav, the second wife of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, visited Varanasi on September 12 to meet noted Ayurvedic physician Rajvaidya Pt Shiv Kumar Shastri, her husband’s close confidant and doctor.
Updated on Oct 27, 2016 12:29 PM IST
Sudhir Kumar, Hindustan Times, Varanasi
Wrestlers’ hub moves from flower power to premier attention
Kakarahia village known for its flower cultivation and budding wrestlers to be adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will be the third village to be adopted by PM after Jayapur and Nagepur.
Published on Oct 18, 2016 09:28 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi
Woman recalls stampede: Rumour, panic and mother’s death
Kaushalya and her mother, residents of Revati town in Ballia, were among the thousands who had come to Varanasi to attend a religious congregation at Domri village
Published on Oct 17, 2016 05:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi