Campus notes: Hisar agri varsity secures patent
Hisar: Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, has secured a ‘chemical process patent’ for removing gossypol from cottonseed products. The Controller of Patents, Government of India, has granted patent number 555667 to this technology developed by Shiwani Mandhania, Biochemist, Cotton Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, and his team had included Rajvir Sangwan and Arun. Vice-Chancellor BR Kamboj announced that it was a matter of pride for them that the university had got the patent for removing both isomers (+ and -) of gossypol from cottonseed oil that makes it fit for human consumption. The consumption of oil with high concentration of free gossypol might be responsible for acute clinical signs of gossypol poisoning, which include respiratory distress, impaired body weight, anorexia, and weakness. As per the technical details of the process shared by Shiwani Mandhania, the oil of cottonseed mixed with organic solvent and filtered in the presence of some chemical compounds acted as an adsorbent. Mandhania thanked the Government of Haryana for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, under which funds were provided for the purchase of equipment used in analytical work of the patent. Cottonseed oil is most valued and consumed due to its high nutritive value, high smoke points and high content of Vitamin E among the non-conventional edible oils. Cottonseed oil is commonly used to produce food products, make salad dressing and some kinds of margarine.
Extension lecture organised
Yamunanagar: An extension lecture was organised by the Education Department of Guru Nanak Khalsa College, the topic of which was the importance of the martyrdom of four Sahibzadas. The programme was inaugurated by the college’s officiating principal, Pratima Sharma. The main objective of this extension lecture was to make the students aware of the importance of the martyrdom of four Sahibzadas. The main speaker of this programme was Punjabi Department head Tilak Raj. Recalling the life and martyrdom of four Sahibzadas, he inspired the students to become fearless like them. Education Department head Jagat Singh guided the students and said that they all should take inspiration from the lives of four Sahibzadas and perform their duties towards the country, society and family. College Management Committee chairman Sardar Randeep Singh Jauhar expressed happiness over the success of this programme and said that such programmes developed a feeling of patriotism among students.
Sawhney is KU Dean of Colleges
Kurukshetra: The Chairperson, Department of English of Kurukshetra University, Brajesh Sawhney, has been assigned the additional charge of Dean of Colleges by the Vice-Chancellor Som Nath Sachdeva. Deputy Director, PRO, KU, Jimmy Sharma said Sawhney was also serving as the chairperson of the Department of Foreign Languages and had the distinction of having assumed various higher administrative posts of the university. Sawhney remained the Director, Public Relations Department, KU, for nine years, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Languages, for three years and Director, Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology.
