mechanical platform weighing scale

Mysore: A rare piece of late 19th century railway heritage has been restored and unveiled at the Mysuru Railway Museum. The restored exhibition, mechanical platform weighing scale with 2,000 kg capacity was inaugurated by Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal. It offers visitors a glimpse of the engineering excellence and operational practices of a bygone era.The heritage asset has now been dedicated to the public as part of the museum’s efforts to preserve and showcase the rich heritage of Indian Railways, a release on Saturday said.Built by the renowned British engineering firm Henry Pooley & Son of Liverpool in the late 1880s, the weighing machine was originally purchased by the South Indian Railways. Following the reorganization and merger of the railway network in 1951, which included the then Mysore State Railway, South Indian Railways and Madras and Southern Mahratta Railways, the equipment became part of it. Southern RailwayIt said. Its last known operational location was Bangarapet Junction, now under the South Western Railway zone.Designed to weigh passengers’ luggage, parcels and freight consignments, the scale is a remarkable example of Victorian era engineering. Constructed with durable cast iron components and a precision lever-and-beam mechanism, it was capable of accurately measuring loads of up to two tons, the release said.The release said that in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Henry Polley & Son earned a global reputation for manufacturing reliable weighing equipment used extensively in railways, ports, factories and commercial establishments.Railway officials said the restored exhibit highlights the evolution of railway operations and shows how goods and parcel traffic was managed before the introduction of modern electronic weighing systems. This scale also serves as an important link connecting the historical heritage of South Indian Railways with the present day South Western Railways.Visitors to the museum are invited to view and photograph the exhibits. However, officials have urged the public not to climb on the platform or handle its delicate mechanical components, to ensure that this valuable heritage asset is preserved for future generations.

Kochi: Higher Education Minister Rosy M John on Saturday said the state government is adopting an open-minded approach towards welcoming foreign and private universities while giving priority to modern, job-oriented courses.John said, “In principle, we are in favor of it (setting up foreign university branches in the state). We cannot remain isolated without knowing the changes around the world.” He said official policy decisions would be taken soon.Along with structural entry to global institutions, the government is giving priority to immediate introduction of contemporary, industry-relevant courses. In response to various institutional requests, several modern courses have already been approved in the last fortnight. The government aims to approve the remaining proposals within this academic year, provided the institutions strictly follow the prescribed guidelines and standards.He said to counter the shortage of medical seats due to students moving to neighboring states, the government is exploring the possibility of increasing seats in both government and private aided sectors.The minister said the previous government implemented the four-year undergraduate program without adequate preparation, leaving students and teachers stranded. He said that to improve it, a team of experts will be appointed to conduct a comprehensive study and suggest necessary amendments.The policy change also addresses the continued migration of students abroad after senior secondary education. The administration plans to upgrade domestic infrastructure to retain talent locally. Additionally, the government is finalizing the modalities to implement the ‘Indira Guarantee’ to provide a stipend of Rs 1,000 per month to college-going girl students.The Minister expressed serious concern over the ongoing CBSE assessment crisis, which has led to the delay in the KEAM rank list and parents are worried about how the revaluation marks will be integrated. He said that the uncertainty of the Central Government should have been avoided.Turning to regional development, John, Minister in-charge of Ernakulam district, said that high priority is being given to the eight-lane Angamaly-Kundannoor bypass and the Kochi Metro Phase 3 extension to Angamaly via Kochi Airport, for which the detailed project report (DPR) is currently underway. The minister blamed the previous LDF administration for the delay in GIFT City land acquisition, and promised to secure central approval to unlock its employment potential.Finally, with regard to the Governor’s direct appointment of pro-RSS academic D Mavuthu as pro-tem MG University Vice-Chancellor, the Minister said the government will firmly place its stand before the Governor to protect academic quality and prevent political interference while avoiding direct constitutional confrontation.He said, “The governor appointed Mavuthu without asking for the list of nominees from the state government. Also the new government did not get enough time to give the list. But we will protest against all such political appointments and focus on the quality of education.”

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran on Saturday met party workers to meet former state chief K. Annamalai appealed not to leave the BJP after resigning and starting a new political movement and said that the party would not be affected by this development.Addressing reporters in Chennai, Nagendran urged workers to stick with the BJP and avoid joining any other party or movement.“My request to BJP workers is – do not go to any other party or any other movement. Please stay here. BJP is a big party in the world. We have the world’s number one leader.” PM Modi,” He said.Nagendran also rejected suggestions that Annamalai’s departure would impact the BJP’s support base in Tamil Nadu.“There is no impact. BJP is a big party. So many leaders left the party, then joined again,” he said.

The appeal comes amid resignations and new political movement

Nagendran’s comments come a day after Annamalai formally quit the BJP and unveiled a new political initiative which he said aims to promote “common man’s politics” and end “cults” and dynastic politics in the state.Even before Annamalai’s exit, a series of resignations have begun within the Tamil Nadu BJP, including that of state vice president Karu Nagarajan, state secretary Sumathi Venkatesh and several other functionaries, leading to speculation that more leaders may join his new political platform.Annamalai, a former IPS officer who led the BJP’s expansion efforts in Tamil Nadu, has said his political goals require a new and more inclusive platform.He has said that he has left BJP on amicable terms and will continue to respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP dismisses concerns over cadre exodus

Despite the resignation, Nagendran had earlier insisted that the BJP would remain strong and continue to grow in the state.He said that the future of the party is not tied to any one person and expressed confidence that the workers will remain committed to the ideology of the BJP.He said, “BJP is not a party that was formed recently. It is an ideology-based party and this development will definitely not have any impact. Anyone is free to start a political party. Everyone has this right in a democracy. Annamalai’s resignation from BJP will not have any impact on the party.”His comments reflected the party’s earlier position that the BJP is an ideology-driven organization and the departure of even a single leader would not be a shock to it.The appeal comes at a time when Annamalai’s newly launched movement, “We the Leaders”, has attracted significant attention.The initiative attracted over eight lakh volunteers within hours of its launch, indicating strong initial interest in the former BJP leader’s new political venture.Annamalai has said that the movement will focus on encouraging professionals, technocrats and ordinary citizens to participate in governance while promoting “development-oriented and culturally-rooted” politics in Tamil Nadu.

If you’ve ever eaten sushi, you know that bright green paste lying on the side of your plate. An accidental bite can send a fast, furious wave straight to your nose. While most people think it’s just to add a spicy kick, the real reason for associating wasabi with sushi goes back centuries — and it used to be a matter of survival.InventionYears ago, long before the invention of the refrigerator, it was incredibly difficult to keep raw fish fresh. Japanese cooks discovered that freshly grated wasabi acted as a natural shield against food poisoning. It contains a compound called allyl isothiocyanate, which fights harmful bacteria. Originally, cooks would hide a piece of wasabi between rice and fish as a natural preservative to keep diners safe. Today, we have modern refrigeration, but wasabi sticks around because it makes sushi taste incredible. High heat destroys the richness of fatty fish like salmon and tuna. This balances the oils, reduces any heavy fishy aromas, and cleanses your palate between different pieces.

love for wasabiSurprisingly, the green paste you usually find at local restaurants is not actually true wasabi. True wasabi comes from a rare plant called Eutrema japonicum, which grows only near cool mountain rivers in Japan. Because it takes up to three years to mature and is incredibly expensive, most places use a clever imitation.The “fake” wasabi that most of us eat is actually a mixture of horseradish, mustard powder, and green food coloring. Since horseradish contains similar spicy compounds, it mimics the kick perfectly. However, real wasabi is more delicate, slightly sweet and smooth, while the fake version gives you a harsher, more aggressive burn.

Tracing the History of Wasabi:Wasabi has been a part of Japanese history for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence showing that people ate the wild mountain plant as far back as 14,000 BC. Long before anyone touched a piece of sushi, ancient Japanese society used it strictly as a medicine to treat respiratory and digestive problems and to preserve wounds. Actual cultivation began in the early 1600s when a villager from Shizuoka successfully grew it in a mountain spring and presented it to the shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. The shogun liked it so much – partly because the plant’s leaves resembled his family’s crested – that he declared it a highly guarded treasure, and banned anyone else from growing it outside his territory. By the late 1700s and early 1800s, following the invention of modern, unfermented sushi in Tokyo, wasabi officially came out of the medicine cabinet and onto the dinner plate as a natural defense against food poisoning.

alert: This article discusses allegations of sexual harassment.The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has strongly reacted to actress Shilpa Shinde’s recent confession that the sexual harassment allegations leveled by her against the producer of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain were false. Shilpa recently revealed that she had made false allegations against the show’s producer during a podcast with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa. Many celebrities from the industry have reacted to this revelation on social media.In a recent statement, AICWA expressed disappointment over Shilpa’s confession and said that such actions can have serious consequences. In the statement, AICWA urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene in the matter and ensure that strict action is taken as per law. “A false allegation of sexual harassment can cause irreparable damage to a person’s reputation, family, children, career and mental well-being. Such allegations can permanently tarnish a person’s image and can have devastating consequences not only for the accused but also for their family members and loved ones,” the statement shared in the Hindustan Times report said.It further added, “The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) believes that if an individual knowingly makes false allegations, it not only harms the accused, but also undermines the credibility of genuine victims seeking justice. Such incidents can create doubt about legitimate complaints and make it more difficult for genuine survivors of harassment within the Bollywood film industry to be heard and believed.“It also requested the Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis to take strict action in the matter. “All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) urges the Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis to ensure an impartial and thorough investigation into this matter. If it is established that false allegations have been made knowingly then strict action should be taken as per law. Accountability is necessary to protect both innocent persons from false accusations and genuine victims who seek justice. Truth, fairness and justice must prevail. Both false allegations and actual harassment are serious matters, and the law must deal with each appropriately,” the statement concluded.Shilpa Shinde recently appeared on a podcast with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, where she admitted to making false sexual harassment allegations against the producer of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain. She said, “No one knows this. I am no longer afraid of speaking the truth, and I will say it even now because it is a big revelation. I filed a sexual harassment case against my producer because I had no other option. Ultimately, I came out of that situation by reaching a settlement.” At that time no producer supported him and I filed the case on that basis.She further said, “The police tell you straight away that if you want to file an FIR, you have to write serious allegations. I come from a law background.”After his confession, this matter became a matter of great debate. Disclaimer: This article is based on statements issued by the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA), comments made by Shilpa Shinde in a public podcast, and publicly available reports. The article is for reporting purposes only and does not make any independent claims regarding this matter.