Mazars in Malda reminder of advent of Islam in Eastern India
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
TCN series on Malda and Murshidabad : Part 2
Collective effort needed to preserve heritage: PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Calling on civil society groups and citizens to take part in the protection and preservation of India's heritage and monuments, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said conservation should not be seen as an "elitist preoccupation".
In the same breath, Prime Minister Singh reminded scientists, archaeologists and anthropologists to look beyond the government to protect historical monuments, pointing out that a change in the mindset was important to care for heritage.
Two-day seminar on the life & legacy of Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
By TCN News
New Delhi: A two-day seminar on entitled Azad Qalam: Revisiting the life & legacy of K A Abbas begins today in the...
1,000-year-old mystery Buddhist steel case opened in east China
By Xinhua,
Nanjing (China) : Chinese archaeologists Wednesday opened a 1,000-year-old steel case that was believed to contain Buddhist relics.
A pagoda top wrapped in silk emerged after archaeologists removed two steel panels of the cube-shaped case, which is 0.5 metre long, 0.5 metre wide and 1.34 metres high.
Hua Guorong, vice curator of the Nanjing City Museum where the case was opened, said an initial analysis showed the object was a pagoda about 1 metre high.
Sitarist Shujaat Khan pays musical tribute to Mahatma Gandhi
Mumbai : For Gandhi Jayanti on Friday, sitar maestro Shujaat Khan, who has enthralled Indian classical music aficionados for several decades, has paid...
How online hate, trolling engenders social ostracization, cancel culture
By Laraib Fatima and Aafreen Khan, TwoCircles.net
The internet is no stranger to trolls and abuse and is a powerful tool in the hands of...
India’s ancient tribal art adapts to a modern market
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Ethnic art from the tribal heartland of India is trying to strike a balance between modernism and tradition and experimenting with contemporary issues to adapt to a growing market and changing patron bases.
A time to elope among Bhil tribals
By Sanjay Sharma, IANS,
Bhopal : Elopement is not frowned upon at this time of the year among the Bhil tribals of Madhya Pradesh. The colourful seven-day Bhagoria festival that precedes Holi is a celebration of romance during which young people are encouraged to elope with their soul mates.
This is the time when in village after village of West Nimar and Jhabua regions of Madhya Pradesh, young men and women gather in large numbers. They take part in the festivities, during which they decide if there is someone they want to elope with.
Banglaore set to rock Sunday with music fest
By IANS,
Bangalore : Seven rock bands are all set to make Bangalore jive to their beats Sunday at the south zone finals of the Independence Rock Festival.
"We're expecting a huge crowd, more than 70,000 people. The response to this year's festival has surpassed previous years," said Sheetal Bangera, Manager (Sales) of E18, the organisers of the annual musical fiesta.
This is the 23rd edition of the festival that will culminate in a grand finale in Mumbai next week.
The show will see performances by professional bands Synapse, Avial and Karma 6 and four finalists.
Malaysian artistes fear curbs in opposition-ruled states
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian Artistes' Association (Karyawan) has expressed fear for the local arts and entertainment industry following the formation of new governments in five states by opposition parties perceived as conservative.
Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadalan Rakyat (PKR) and the Islamist party PAS wrested control of five states in this month's general election, also winning an unprecedented 82 seats in parliament.
Western classical music making inroads into capital’s heart
By Azera Rahman, IANS
New Delhi : It may not have as big a fan following as its more popular relatives - rock and pop. But Western classical music, the "deeper and more pure form of melody" as music aficionados call it, is slowly catching on among the Delhi-zens.
A glance at the last few months' cultural events calendar of the capital and one can be sure that even if not at par, the number of Western classical music or even jazz concerts in Delhi is giving the head-banging rock music concerts a good competition.
And yes, they are attracting house-full auditoriums.
Dubai to have museum of Middle East modern art
By IANS,
Dubai : Work on a new museum of Middle East modern art has been launched here at the initiative of Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Located in Dubai’s Culture Village on the banks of Khor Dubai or Dubai Creek, the museum is being designed by Netherlands-based architectural firm UN Studio, which would bring together elements of the sea and Dubai’s tradition of seafaring, the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
World’s first oil paintings discovered in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Paris : Scientists using advanced methods to investigate cave paintings in the Afghan region of Bamiyan say they may have identified what could be the first images produced using oil pigments, the France-based European Synchroton Radiation Facility (ESRF) said Tuesday on its website.
The paintings were found in the caves located behind the site on which the Taliban destroyed two ancient Buddha statues. The caves had also suffered from damage by the Taliban and the environment.
Abu Dhabi to have Louvre museum branch
Paris, Oct 10 (IANS) The French National Assembly has approved a project to build a branch of the famous Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi under a 30-year cultural agreement between the UAE and France.
The project entails development of the museum, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel on Al Sadiyat island off Abu Dhabi. It is expected to be opened in 2012, WAM news agency said.
The agreement allows the Abu Dhabi Louvre to borrow masterpieces from major French museums, including the Louvre, to be displayed for 6-18 months.
Artistic tribute to Dr. Ambedkar planned to celebration his 125th birth anniversary
Yogesh Maitreya, TwoCircles.net
Mumbai: Photography Promotion Trust (PPT) and Ambedkar Institute for Social and Economic Change (AISEC) are planning to organise a massive exhibition of...
‘Sikhs Unlimited’: London to LA via Punjab
By Jaideep Sarin, IANS
Chandigarh : At a time when the Sikh diaspora is set to complete a century of existence in the West, many of them settling to the riches of their adopted countries and thousands more aspiring to be part of those 'greener pastures', a book by a Punjab-based citrus farmer has attempted to chronicle the extraordinary lives of some of these enterprising Sikh men and women.
First time author Khushwant Singh, 35, got the inspiration to write a book from his famous literary namesake in India during a meeting in 2004.
Rs.4-mn sari from Tamil Nadu flaunts Ravi Varma
By IANS
Chennai : A silk sari bejewelled with precious stones and the replicated paintings of Raja Ravi Varma is creating ripples in Tamil Nadu after it was showcased here Tuesday.
The drapery created by Chennai Silks, costing Rs.4 million, is seeking entry into the Guinness Book of World Records after it made to the Limca Book Of Records as the most expensive and intricately designed sari.
Husain, you’ll live through your creations: Rahman
By IANS,
New Delhi: Paying tributes to M.F.Husain, acclaimed composer A.R.Rahman says the ace painter will live through his creations.
Dance drama tribute to M.S. Subbulakshmi in Malaysia
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : The story of Meera Bai, the 15th century Rajput princess who renounced royal luxuries for devotion to Hindu god Krishna, was brought to life through a dance drama staged at Johor Baru as a tribute to legendary Carnatic musician M.S. Subbulakshmi.
The audience was swept away on a mesmerising journey through the life of Meera Bai, The Star newspaper said Wednesday, calling it "a night of splendour".
The performance paid tribute to Subbulakshmi who immortalised Meera Bai with her portrayal of the princess in the 1945 movie "Bhaktha Meera".
Extraordinary security at Taj Mahal on Fridays
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Agra (Uttar Pradesh): In the name of security and protection of the Taj Mahal, the Moghul-era monument that is one of the wonders of the world, Muslims who go to the Shahi Masjid near the monument to offer Juma Prayer on Fridays are screened and checked the way as if they were probable terrorists.
‘PK’ part of scheme to discredit Hinduism: VHP
New Delhi : Demanding a ban on Aamir Khan-starrer "PK", right-wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Tuesday termed the film part of a larger...
Aalaap: First movie out of Chhatisgarh will take on Naxalism head on
By TCN News,
Mumbai: Chhattisgarh is caught between Capitalism and Naxalism. A group of people who hail from the region are making a movie to change the perception of the region.
Husain’s ‘Mahabharata’ record – irony for India
By Uma Nair, IANS
M.F. Husain's epic work "Mahabharata: The Battle of Ganga and Jamuna" fetching a world record of $1.6 million at the Christie's sale is the best example of situational irony in a nation that has virtually exiled its finest living artist. The world record can perhaps silence hardline Hindu groups.
MyGov.in announces e-greetings design contest for Eid
New Delhi : An e-greetings design contest to mark and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr has been announced by MyGov.in, with the top three designs to be...
Lata may make international debut
By Subhash K. Jha
IANSMumbai : After reigning as the queen of Bollywood playback singing for more than 60 years, Lata Mangeshkar may finally make her international debut.
Youth breaks beer bottles on own head for a record
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : A youth in Orissa has broken at least 185 beer bottles on his head and about 100 tube lights on his body in an attempt to create a new world record.
Ramiya Ranjan Parida, a 20-year-old from Malkangiri, some 700 km from here, demonstrated his feat to hundreds of people in his hometown Wednesday, eyewitnesses said.
At the beginning of his stunt, two of Parida's aides beat him up with old tube lights one by one and smashed at least 100 tube lights in the process, Binash Kumar Mishra, a local martial art trainer, told IANS.
Jaipur literary fest gets off to exciting start
By IANS,
Jaipur : Pledging to promote diverse genres of writing, both foreign and indigenous, the fourth edition of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival Wednesday kicked off to an exciting session of reading and discussion featuring novelist Vikram Seth.
औरतों का मासिक धर्म, सेहत और रमज़ान
अफ़शां खान
‘जानमाज़ मत छूना… क़ुरआन से दूर हटो… अपने कपड़े अलग धो लेना… तुम्हारा रोज़ा नहीं, लेकिन सबका है, इसलिए छुपकर खा लो…’
क्या...
Lata Mangeshkar to sing for Shiv Sena on Maharashtra Day
By IANS,
Mumbai: Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar will sing a specially-composed patriotic song May 1 at a celebration organised by the Shiv Sena to mark the golden jubilee of Maharashtra's formation.
Making the announcement, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray told mediapersons here Saturday that the song would be composed and set to music by well-known music director Anil Mohile.
"He is famous for his musical works. We have requested him to perform his magic with a composition for this momentous occasion," Uddhav said.
Why don’t more Indian films do well globally?
By DPA
Cannes : The big cultural movie gap between India's vast film market and the rest of the world acts inhibits the nation's films from conquering new territory in global markets, a forum at the Cannes Film Festival was told Sunday.
Kolkata’s Old Silver Mint to have a makeover
By Aparajita Gupta, IANS,
Kolkata : Kolkata's Old Silver Mint, a city landmark that is a crumbling symbol of Grecian architecture, is set for a makeover.
Real estate company Eden, which has bagged the contract for restoring the city's 179-year-old heritage structure, plans to construct a mint museum, an art and culture centre, a food court as well as a hotel at the site.
The company also hopes to rope in Home Minister P. Chidambaram to lay the foundation stone Monday. It hopes to complete the project by 2011.
Scholars headed for Sri Lanka to study Ramayana sites
By IANS
Patna : A temple trust in Bihar will soon send a team of Sanskrit scholars to Sri Lanka to study sites there associated with the Hindu epic Ramayana, including the place where Lord Rama killed Ravana and the cave in which his wife Sita is believed to have stayed.
The Patna-based Mahavir Mandir Trust will be sending the experts to the island nation "in the next three-four months", said trust secretary Kishore Kunal.
The Sri Lankan government had last month said that religious scholars had identified over 30 places associated with the Ramayana.
HRD ranks JNU, HCU among top four universities
New Delhi : Jawaharlal Nehru University and Hyderabad Central University, which recently faced controversies, have figured in top four rankings released by the union...
Tihar inmates paint stark images against drug abuse
By Prashant K. Nanda, IANS,
New Delhi : Drugs as the mythological demon Ravan, alcohol as poisonous snakes, a funeral pyre made of cigarette butts...Such stark illustrations have come out of the minds of prisoners at Delhi's Tihar Jail, especially drug addicts.
Many of the prisoners revisited their hellish past to paint their thoughts on tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse - in a way succeeding where Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss failed to do on cigarette packs.
Pakistanis win global award for film on drones
By IANS,
Islamabad: A short film on the US drone attacks in Pakistan, made by students of Iqra University, has won an award at an international annual film festival held in the US.
Kerala expects Rs.2 bn liquor sales during Onam season
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Liquor shops in Kerala are well-stocked for the ongoing Onam season and alcohol sales are expected to touch Rs.2 billion (Rs.200 crore) during the 10-day festival.
The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC), the sole wholesalers of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer in the state, said there has already been an increase in liquor sales since Sunday.
Jurassic Park comes to life in the centre of Berlin
By Ulrike von Leszczynski, DPA
Berlin : You would be forgiven for thinking you should make a run for it when the giant reptile suddenly appears from around the corner.
Terror threat fails to dampen Tripura’s Durga Puja spirit
By Sujit Chakraborty, IANS,
Agartala : Colourful pandals (marquees), beating of drums and festivities - Tripura is in a celebration mode for the five-day long Durga Puja, but under a tight security cover amid fears of terror strikes.
"We cannot rule out possibilities of extremist violence and hence massive security arrangements have been made to ensure that the festival passes off peacefully," Director General of Police Pranay Sahaya told IANS.
Animated film on the life of Buddha
By DPA
Bangkok : Thailand's first animated film of the life of the Lord Buddha will open in cinemas on Dec 5, commemorating the 80th birthday of the much-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, media reports said Thursday.
Tamil Nadu bull-run ends, officials heave sigh of relief
By IANS
Alanganallur (Tamil Nadu) : More than 100,000 people, including foreign tourists, Thursday witnessed traditional bull-run or jallikattu in Madurai in Tamil Nadu, under the watchful eyes of officials, animal welfare activists and closed circuit cameras.
The Supreme Court of India Jan 12 banned jallikattu (kattu means taming), saying the ritual was "barbaric". But later allowed the traditional Pongal ritual but only under specific guidelines.
Tribal art, Mughal architecture in Jharkhand church
By Soudhriti Bhabani, IANS,
Dumka (Jharkhand) : Bright fibreglass windows, arches shaped like onion domes and a statue of Jesus Christ bearing resemblance to tribal art are some of the unique features of a church in Jharkhand.
The Mount Carmel Church in Murugini village of Dumka district is a blend of Santhal tribal art and Mughal architecture.
Subrata Ganguly of Church Art, a Kolkata-based designing agency that helped build the church, said a number of new interior décor concepts were implemented in the church.
Archer overtakes Jhumpa Lahiri, Byrne rules non-fiction
By IANS,
New Delhi : British writer Jeffrey Archer has overtaken desi writer Jhumpa Lahiri on the top-selling fiction list this week, while Rhonda Byrne still outsells everyone in the non-fiction category with "The Secret".
The top 10 in the non-fiction and fiction categories are:
Non-Fiction
1. "The Secret"
Author: Rhonda Byrne
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Price: Rs.550.00
2. "Crossed Swords: Pakistan Its Army, and the Wars Within"
Author: Shuja Nawaz
Publisher: Oxford
Price: Rs.695.00
3. "Eat, Pray, Love"
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Publisher: Bloomsbury
A book by this Dalit author has left RSS fuming
The 72-page book on RSS by a Dalit writer Devanur Mahadeva from Karnataka criticizes the right-wing Hindu nationalist party and is hitting record sales...
Rahul Gandhi meets women artisans in Gujarat
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi interacted with women artisans in a Kutch village Sunday as part of his two-day tour of the Kutch, Saurashtra and northern regions of Gujarat.
The young Congress MP met women engaged in handicrafts in Bhujodi village of Kutch district, which was devastated by a major earthquake on Jan 26, 2001.
Hues of Ladakh through a traveller’s lens
By IANS,
New Delhi : Ladakh has its natural colour scheme. The land of rugged brown hills, windswept plains and remote monasteries shimmering white against the backdrop of an azure sky is a photographer's delight. Shamim Akhtar's ongoing exhibition captures the Buddhist land in all its moods.
The exhibition of photographs, "Rode to Heaven", a biker's account of the colourful state through pictures, opened at the India Habitat Centre Monday. It will close Aug 17.
West Bengal to find export markets for handicrafts
By IANS
Kolkata : The West Bengal government is commissioning studies to find out if handicrafts from the state will have a market in the US, Britain and Germany. Several Bengal artisans are also to take part in international exhibitions in Belgium, France and Spain after their successful participation earlier in Milan and Barcelona.
Eco-Friendly Mosque Opens In Manchester
By Bernama,
London : An eco-friendly mosque, which runs on renewable energy has been opened in Manchester, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Wednesday.
The US$6.9 million mosque features solar panels, under-floor heating and lowe energy bulbs, and is built with woods and Indian pink stone. It also fuses Eastern and Western architecture, and peach-coloured deep pile carpets, a huge chandelier and plasma televisions.
Gulzar to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award
New Delhi : Veteran poet and film lyricist Gulzar has been chosen for the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2013, the ministry of information...
Remembering Qurratulain Hyder : The fierce, unapologetic and bold Urdu writer
By Sharjeel Usmani for TwoCircles.net
The Union Hall building of Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union (AMUSU) is buzzing with supporters of the newly elected...
Ramayana a fight between animal and divine: Devdutt Pattanaik
By IANS,
New Delhi : What is the essence of the epic "Ramayana"? The fight between the animal and divine in man, said author Devdutt Pattanaik, the author of "The Book of Ram" launched in the capital Wednesday.
"Ram is divine, while Ravana, the symbol of 'matsyanyaya' or the Piscean law of the water in which the big fish has the right to eat the small fish, is the animal. The tussle is to overpower the 'animal' in man and embrace divinity," Pattanaik told IANS in an interview.
South Africa opens Freedom Park for public
By IANS
Pretoria : The South African government has opened to visitors a unique Freedom Park that has two heritage themes based on the wall inscriptions of heroes who fought eight great wars and a monument for spiritual enrichment.
The Wall of Names is a series of inter-connecting walls inscribed with the names of men and women who died during the eight conflicts that shaped South Africa, BuaNews reported.
Sufi poet Rumi is Islam’s smiling face: American scholar
By IANS
Patna : Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi, a 13th century mystic, scholar and poet, is Islam's smiling face, noted American scholar Nevit Ergin said here Tuesday.
"Jalaluddin Rumi's message of love, tolerance, devotion and compassion made him the most popular face of Sufi poetry in the Western world. He is Islam's smiling face," he said.
Doyen of Hindi poetry Gopal Das ‘Neeraj’ passes away
By IANS:
Lucknow/New Delhi, July 19 : Doyen of Hindi poetry and legendary lyricist Gopal Das 'Neeraj' passed away at the All-India Medical Institute of...
Rs.4-mn sari from Tamil Nadu flaunts Ravi Varma
By IANS
Chennai : A silk sari bejewelled with precious stones and the replicated paintings of Raja Ravi Varma is creating ripples in Tamil Nadu after it was showcased here Tuesday.
The drapery created by Chennai Silks, costing Rs.4 million, is seeking entry into the Guinness Book of World Records after it made to the Limca Book Of Records as the most expensive and intricately designed sari.
Top Mideast, Arab musicians set for Cairo musical dialogue
By Marwa al-A\'sar, DPA
Cairo : Surrounded by a panoramic view of the ancient monuments of Cairo and Salah Eddin citadel, seven top oriental musicians are due to engage in a three-day musical dialogue July 6.
And now 24-hour TV channel on real estate
By IANS
Bangalore : The Rs.44-billion realty-cum-property developer firm Alliance Group is set to launch next month a 24-hour TV channel dedicated to real estate, a top company official said Thursday.
A surfeit of love is endangering Taj Mahal
By Brij Khandelwal, IANS
Agra : Mughal emperor Shah Jahan wanted it to be a place of peace and tranquillity. But the 17th century Taj Mahal today suffers a daily invasion of nearly 12,000 visitors.
An ever-increasing human load on the fragile white marble wonder on the banks of the Yamuna is causing concern among conservationists who feel the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) must come up with a plan to regulate the tourist inflow.
Prof Mushirul Hasan’s demise has created a great void: AMU VC
TCN News
The death of distinguished historian, Professor Mushirul Hasan (1949-2018), today, has saddened the entire fraternity of the Aligarh Muslim University. He was an...
Rs. 2 lakhs available for digitization of rare books & manuscripts
Rs. 2 lakhs available for digitization of rare books
By TwoCircles.net correspondent
New Delhi: National Archives of India has launched a scheme to help individuals and organizations in cataloguing, translation, and digitization of manuscripts and rare books.
China hosts world martial arts championships
By IANS,
Beijing : More than 2,200 contestants from 83 countries will participate in a world martial arts competition to be held in China over the next three days.
Get draped in elegant, flowing linen this summer
By Prithwish Ganguly
IANSNew Delhi : Indian fashion designers are experimenting with traditional linen this summer and say its neutral palette will not only beat the heat but also make heads turn with its subdued yet elegant look.
Artists salute India on its 60th Independence
By IANS
New Delhi : A group of young artists have decided to salute the nation on its 60th year of Independence through their own language - art.
Hailing from across the country, the group of 26 artists are presenting an exhibition titled 'Independent India - an art show of the new era artists', conceptualised and organised by the Ati Art Gallery.
"All the artists are young in age but established names in their chosen mediums of art. They have portrayed their interpretation of modern Independent India," said Aarti Sarin Jain of Ati Art Gallery.
Workshop “Artist in Residency” organized
By TCN News,
Aligarh: he Department of Fine Arts at the Aligarh Muslim University today organized a five-day Workshop “Artist in Residency” with Professor M. Shashi Dharan Nair of M. S. University, Baroda to provide opportunity to the artist community to interact with other artists, to learn, develop, share and improve their art.
Jamia commemorates World Day against Nuclear Tests by observing a minute of silence
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia, honouring the UN Resolution No.64/35, organized a ‘minute of silence’ on August 29, 2015 at...
Water colour struggles to breathe in age of new media art
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Halal chicken in Nagaland
Photo by Anju Azad, text by Kashif-ul-Huda
A Muslim man purchasing chicken at the Dimapur market. Dimapur, has one of the largest proportion of non-Nagas in Nagaland.
According to the 2001 census, Muslims are merely 1.76% of Nagaland population. 1991 census puts them at 1.71% of the state population. 2001 census counts 35,005 Muslims in the state, up from 1991’s 20,642.
Mauritius PM announces $250,000 for ancestral Bihar village
By IANS
Patna : Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam late Monday announced $250,000 for the development of roads and a hospital in his ancestral village in Bihar and also annual scholarships to two students from the state.
Describing Bihar as his motherland, Ramgoolam announced $250,000 for Harigaon village in Bhojpur district. He is to visit his ancestral village on Tuesday and spend about three hours there. He will also take part at a public reception in his honour.
ICCR to open regional centre in Bhopal
By IANS,
Bhopal : The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is all set to open its 17th regional centre in the Madhya Pradesh capital.
Explorer claims discovering prehistoric cave art in Bihar
By IANS,
Patna : A young explorer says he has discovered prehistoric cave art in Bihar's Rajgir hills that are known for their Buddhist heritage and has asked the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) to validate his claim.
"We have found cave art of the prehistoric age in the dense forest of Rajgir hills. The discovery is of immense importance," Deepak Anand, an explorer associated with Nav Nalanda Mahavihara, a Nalanda-based deemed university, told IANS on telephone.
Ramachandra Guha, Mohsin Hamid top authors of the week
By IANS
New Delhi : Ramachandra Guha's take on "India after Gandhi" takes over from the enormously popular "The Last Mughal" as non-fiction favourite this week, while Mohsin Hamid's "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" continues as top fiction book.
Rahman named best music director at IIFA
By IANS,
Bangkok : A.R. Rahman was named the best music director for his score in "Guru" at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2008 awards here Sunday night, while the Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Om Shanti Om" swept a number of technical awards. Shreya Ghoshal won the honours for the best playback singer (female) for "Barso re" from Mani Ratnam's "Guru", which film also bagged awards for the best background score (Rahman) and best song recording (H. Sridhar). The best playback singer (male) award was bagged by Shaan for "Jab se tere naina" from "Saawariya".
India-Pakistan, film stars to play hockey match
By IANS
Chandigarh : With Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Chak De India" fanning resurgence of interest in hockey, two exhibition matches have been planed next month here - one between traditional rivals India and Pakistan and the other featuring film and TV stars and former hockey players.
Mukhtaran Mai in New York for film fest
By IANS,
Islamabad/New York : Pakistani gang rape victim Mukhtaran Mai, who is now an icon of women's struggle in the country, is currently in New York for the screening of a film based on her life at the Tribeca Film Festival that started Wednesday.
Mai will participate in a question and answer session after the screening of "Shame", which chronicles her struggle against the system and her determination to get justice for all wronged women in her village and elsewhere, the Dawn newspaper said Wednesday.
Ibn Sina Academy Aligarh organises national seminar on works of Ibn al-Haytham
By TCN News
Aligarh: The Ibn Sina Academy, Aligarh, organised a national seminar on “Life and Contribution of Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen)” between 14 and 15...
Kalam visits site of proposed Nalanda university
By IANS
Patna : Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Friday visited the site of the proposed Nalanda International University modelled after the ancient seat of Buddhist learning at Rajgir near Nalanda in Bihar.
Kalam, accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and officials including architects, visited the university site at Rajgir, nearly 100 km from Patna.
An official told IANS that Kalam was visibly impressed. "He spent more than an hour and discussed the project with Nitish Kumar and officials. He was happy and lauded the choice of the place."