Gulam Jeelani writes on politics, national affairs and socio-economic issues for Hindustan Times. A journalist for seven years, he worked in Lucknow and Srinagar, before moving to New Delhi.
Articles by Gulam Jeelani
ASI denies reports, says excavation at Daundia Kheda very much on
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has dismissed reports of stopping the excavation at Daundia Kheda in Unnao, where a seer has claimed a hidden treasure of 1,000 tonnes of gold lies buried in the ruins of Buxar fort.
Updated on Oct 30, 2013 10:18 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Meet the mystic who triggered the Unnao treasure hunt
Sixty-five-year-old seer Shobhan Sarkar, who kept the world spellbound for over a week with his 1000 tonnes’ gold prediction in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh shuns limelight. But once one is there in his ashram in Buxar, his aura is quite palpable.
Updated on Oct 26, 2013 07:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Buxar (unnao)
Unnao gold rush: forget treasure hunters, the claimants are here
The gold in Unnao, if any, is yet to show up. But the queue of claimants is about to reach Lucknow. If not for the law, the govt would have had a tough time to adjudicate. Haidar Naqvi and Gulam Jeelani report.
Updated on Oct 25, 2013 12:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Haidar Naqvi and Gulam Jeelani, Kanpur
Express train that travels at a speed of 10.6kmph in Karnataka
At a time when the Indian railways is mulling high-speed trains across India, an express train takes six hours and 35 minutes to cover a distance of 69 kilometers between two stations of Karnataka, travelling at a speed of 10.6km per hour.
Updated on Oct 23, 2013 12:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
ASI worried about copycat digs, asks CM for help
The hunt for gold by the ASI in Unnao has resulted in at least 10 copycat excavations by gold diggers in the past week who have damaged sites of historical and religious importance in the bargain. Haidar Naqvi and Gulam Jeelani report.
Updated on Oct 23, 2013 12:15 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Haidar Naqvi and Gulam Jeelani, Kanpur
Widespread and violent search for gold in Unnao
In the places named by Shobhan Sarkar, rituals related to exorcism have taken place for gold. Havans were organised in Kanpur Dehat and Unnao to make sure the seer’s revelation held ground.How a village shot to prominence
Updated on Oct 22, 2013 11:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Haider Naqvi and Gulam Jeelani, Kanpur/lucknow
Dream led to gold rush at Unnao, proves govt report
Following global attention at its decision to start an excavation to locate 1,000 kg of gold on the basis of a dream by Kanpur seer Shobhan Sarkar, the Archaeological Survey of India has denied that it went by the dream. Gulam Jeelani reports.
Updated on Oct 21, 2013 08:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
UP: experts trash gold claim as ASI sifts through soil
Till a few days ago Daundia Kheda was a non-descript village on the banks of the Ganga in Unnao district-southwest of Uttar Pradesh capital, Lucknow.
Updated on Oct 20, 2013 01:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Unnao
Gold-hunt village turns into global curiosity overnight
The gold-hunt village has literally turned into a spot of global curiosity with Indian and foreign media pitching their camps to report the state-sponsored dig for a seer’s dream---1000-tonne precious yellow metal. Gulam Jeelani reports.
Updated on Oct 19, 2013 08:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Daundia Kheda (unnao)
Unnao gold hunt: ASI inches closer to 'treasure'
The team of gold diggers is excavating without the help of any modern equipment at Duandia Kheda. All they have are spades and pickaxes which will take months to reach the "metal-like, non-rocky layup".
Updated on Oct 19, 2013 09:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Sold on a dream? ASI starts digging for gold at Unnao fort
A 12-member team comprising archaeologists, geologists and workers on Friday began digging a mound in the ruins of the fort built by Raja Rao Ram Baksh Singh, in Duandia Kheda village in Unnao district in UP, after a meeting with local officials. HT reports. Modi takes a dig at Centre's gold hunt
Updated on Oct 19, 2013 09:59 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Haidar A Naqvi and Gulam Jeelani, Unnao
CM Akhilesh reaches out to Muslims
In what many saw as an attempt to assuage the feelings of Muslims who are purportedly disenchanted with the Samajwadi Party government post the Muzaffarnagar riots, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav promised his government would work for the progress of the minorities, especially Muslims.
Updated on Oct 02, 2013 09:39 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Lucknow's Qaiserbagh facelift project in limbo
Estimated cost of project in Lucknow crosses Rs 20 crore, which may be too much for the govt to sanction.
Updated on Sep 26, 2013 12:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Lucknow: Indian Railways plans LNG-run locos for long distances
The Research Design and Standards Organisation - the Lucknow research wing of the Railways -is working on development of a prototype of an LNG-powered locomotive, as part of its efforts to adopt environment-friendly and costeffective alternative fuels.
Updated on Sep 20, 2013 09:39 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Mumbai
Lucknow Women feel edgy at ‘nuisance junction’
Cops may be guarding compartments, but the station has become a hangout zone for mischief makers and drug addicts
Updated on Sep 18, 2013 10:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Muzaffarnagar riots: Haj pilgrims to pray for peace in UP
Communal clashes weighed heavily on the mind of Haj pilgrims who said they would pray for peace in the riothit regions of state.
Updated on Sep 13, 2013 10:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Booking a ticket to a dream job in Lucknow
Currently underway at AGDC and Bijli Pasi College, it aims to enhance employability skills of students
Updated on Sep 09, 2013 09:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Lucknow : Qaiserbagh heritage walk stuck in secret passage
A narrow underpass on the heritage walk route connecting the Raushan-ud-Daulah Kothi to Qaiserbagh Gate (West) in Lucknow has become a bone of contention between the tourism department, which conceptualised the walk, and the owners of Raja Salempur House
Updated on Sep 04, 2013 12:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
CNG: Cheap option but still ‘out of reach’
Cheaper and fuel-efficient Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles may have come as a relief for the common man, but getting a refill each time is no mean feat.
Updated on Sep 02, 2013 10:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Antique paintings fading into history
The life size portraits of Nawabs of Awadh adorning the hallway in the Hussainabad picture gallery are gradually falling prey to the ravages of time.
Updated on Aug 27, 2013 10:25 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
7 yrs on: Man wins battle with insurance co, to get over Rs 30 Lakhs
A consumer court in the state capital has foiled an insurance company’s attempt to skip payment for loss of property to a claimant, as promised in a seven-year-old policy.
Updated on Aug 02, 2013 11:07 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Mumbai
‘Relieved’ kin ready for legal battle
The life imprisonment to Shahzad Ahmad, the 2008 Batla House encounter case convict, has come as a relief for his family and friends, who were prepared for even the worse.
Updated on Jul 31, 2013 12:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
UPSIC moves hearing to respondent’s office
Commission draws flak by experts who say the move would discourage applicants and favour respondents
Updated on Jul 30, 2013 11:45 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Akhilesh's free laptops: Quite a gift even for the 'computer-illiterate'
Even the 'computer-illiterate' were happy to receive laptops from Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav during the second phase of distribution in Lucknow on Saturday. Gulam Jeelani reports.
Updated on Jul 27, 2013 06:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Heritage suffers, administration goes slow
At a time when the government is mulling a facelift for Qaiserbagh heritage zone, other historically important monuments in the Old City are clamouring for attention.
Updated on Jul 26, 2013 11:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
Azamgarh residents vow to continue fight to clear name
The court verdict on Thursday convicting local boy and alleged IM operative Shahzad Ahmad might not have been the resolution Azamgarh residents were hoping for, but the latter half of the day saw them struggling to cope with the disappointment. Gulam Jeelani reports.
Updated on Jul 26, 2013 02:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Sarjanpur/khalispur (azamgarh)
Batla House convict Shahzad's family vows to challenge ruling
Batla House encounter case convict Shahzad Ahmad’s relatives who remain in his village expressed surprise and disappointment over the court ruling today. Gulam Jeelani reports.
Updated on Jul 30, 2013 12:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Azamgarh
Special prayers in Azamgarh mosques
Time seems to have stood still for the people of Azamgarh. It was Ramzan month when the Batla House encounter of 2008 happened and today, as the small town 90km north of Varanasi waits to hear Thursday’s court judgment on the case, it is Ramzan once again. Haidar Naqvi and Gulam Jeelani report.
Updated on Jul 25, 2013 06:15 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Haidar Naqvi and Gulam Jeelani, Kanpur
Taking the train to trouble
The Indian Railways has a long way to go before it can claim to have provided a safe travelling atmosphere for women on its trains.
Updated on Jul 16, 2013 01:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow
RTI query spurs women empowerment
Launched in 2009 to empower minority women, Union government’s Nai Roshni welfare scheme had not moved beyond papers till just a few months ago.
Updated on Jul 15, 2013 11:20 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gulam Jeelani, Lucknow