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...
Rahul Gandhi pays obeisance at two Valley shrines
Srinagar : Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday concluded his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir after paying obeisance at two shrines in...
Sufi ideology integral part of Indian ethos: Modi
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the ideology propounded by Sufi saints is an integral part of Indian ethos,...
WhatsApp Muslims: Is this your identity?
Social networking applications (apps) like WhatsApp may be creating more anxiety, confusion and divisions, rather than love, brotherhood, and peace within the Muslim community.
...
Remembering Muzaffarnagar
By Abul Kalam Azad,
"History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce" - Karl Marx
Trumpets blaring, announcing the ending of a prolonged beginning! Delirious...
Riots film screening disrupted at Bengal varsity
Kolkata : The screening of a documentary on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots at the Visva Bharati Unversity (VBU) was stalled by police midway into...
Documentary on Muzaffarnagar riots screened at 60 venues across 50 towns in protest
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: On the initiative of ‘Cinema of Resistance’, a documentary on Mzuaffarnagar riots was screened countrywide on at least 60...
Brahma Kumari sisters tie rakhi to Jamia VC
By TCN News,
New Delhi: To mark the auspicious festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ which falls on August 29, 2015, the Brahma Kumari sisters tied...
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...
Prophet’s descendant Shaikh Al Shareef visits AMU Library
TCN News
Aligarh: Al Shareef Mustafa Fouad Shafaee, who belongs to the family of the Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Mohammad Mustafa (Peace Be...
Who stopped UNESCO from declaring Delhi a Heritage City?
By Saeed Naqvi
I was on the third floor balcony of a friend's apartment in Mehrauli, Delhi's first city. It had a commanding view...
Taj Mahal perhaps the world’s most photographed monument
By Brij Khandelwal
Agra : The Taj Mahal in Agra is perhaps the world's most photographed monument. Each minute hundreds of cameras click to...
Seminar on life and works of Kaifi Azmi at AMU
By TCN News,
Aligarh: Noted film lyricist and poet, Javed Akhtar said that despite political and economic shifts in India, Kaifi Azmi retained his idealism...
Photo Feature: Independence Day celebrations in Indian madrasas
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Belying a perception that Madrasas generally show little interest in national festivals like Independence Day and Republic Day, several...
In hope for a better tomorrow at Khagrabari camps in Baksa
Even as India celebrated the 69th Independence Day on Saturday, there are many people in the country who have strive hard to understand even...
Agra’s crucial role in freedom movement not documented: Historians
By Brij Khandelwal
Agra: As the political capital, first of the Mughals and later the British, Agra was always a key centre of political action....
NGT orders ban on cutting trees near Taj Mahal
Agra: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that no unauthorised construction activities are permitted and no trees...
Tihar echoes to tunes of Sufi songs
New Delhi: Sufi singer Sonam Kalra and Kathak dancer Rachna Yadav regaled prisoners at the Tihar Jail here in an endeavour promoted by Legends...
Globalization, religion and Hindi Press: A Case Study of Nav Bharat Times, New Delhi
Read First Part here:
Communal agenda and Hindi press in a globalizing India</a
Read Second Part here:
Religious Diversity and Hinduisation of press</a
Dr Arvind Das,
Global...
Ek Vidhaan, Do Desh; not Ek Desh, Do Vidhaan – on Memon’s execution
By Irfan Ahmad
ARGUMENT: Yakub Memon’s execution presupposes and enacts two different peoples subjected to two laws under the same Constitution (if so, inferentially, the...
ABVP activists stall screening of documentary on Muzaffarnagar riots at DU College
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Activists of right wing students’ body Akhil Bharaitya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) stalled the screening of a documentary film on...
Tibet adopts statute to protect Potala Palace
Lhasa : A regulation for protecting the 1,300-year-old Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was adopted by the legislature of southwest China's Tibet...
‘Increasingly confident that wreckage is from MH370’
Paris/Kuala Lumpur: Experts are getting increasingly "confident" that the plane wreckage found on Reunion island is part of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370,...
On Rafi’s 35th death anniversary, Rishi Kapoor thanks him
Mumbai:On the 35th death anniversary of late legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi on Friday, actor Rishi Kapoor has thanked him for being his voice...
Benedict Areng: Fighting a life-long battle for betterment of Garos
“I have faced all this adversary and I came out victorious. All these motivates me to keep fighting for some reasons which will enable...
Anshu Gupta, Sanjiv Chaturvedi win Magsaysay awards
New Delhi: Social worker Anshu Gupta and former AIIMS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi on Wednesday won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay awards for "enterprising leadership" and...
Salman Khan’s ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ earns big at Pakistani box office
Islamabad: "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's Eid gift to his fans, is not only breaking records in India, but has also garnered appreciation...
Salman thanks UP CM for making ‘Bajrangi…’ tax-free
Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his government for making his latest offering, "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", tax-free...
AIPMT dress code controversy: CBSE softens stand, SC to hear PIL requesting quashing CBSE...
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Even as the Supreme Court is likely to hear at 12 noon on Friday a case by...
Agra welcomes drive against encroachment
By Brij Khandelwal
Agra: Agra is breathing easy as there are fewer road jams in the Taj city following a major drive launched two weeks...
Hema Malini feted with lifetime achievement award
Mumabi: Actress-politician Hema Malini has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Art and Cinema.
The actress was honoured by the Bank of Baroda...
Of Beautiful vistas, perfect past and future tense
All this wealth produced by them goes out of their hands and reduces them into welfare recipients from the government. All this great wealth...
Two 4,000-year-old reliefs discovered in Egypt
Cairo: Egyptian Antiquities Minister Mamdouh Eldamaty announced that two 4,000-year-old reliefs, belonging to Ptolemaic Queen Berenice, were found by Polish archaeologists in the temple...
Brotherhood and fellowship mark Iftaar mehfil hosted by GMCH
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The faculty members and students of Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) have been hosting Iftaar mehfils for the medical...
Army commander greets Kashmiris on Eid
Udhampur: A senior Indian Army commander on Friday greeted the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Eid on Saturday, hoping the...
Centre to promote places linked with Rani Laxmibai
New Delhi : The central government will extend all help to Madhya Pradesh to develop tourism around places associated with Rani Laxmibai, the woman...
Why NaMo must bite the bullet on madrasa reforms
By M. Rajaque Rahman
The Maharashtra government's decision to tag students of traditional madrasas as 'out-of-school' has put madrasa reforms back on the national discourse....
Sudarshan Shetty to curate ‘more democratic’ Kochi Biennale
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram : Sudarshan Shetty, one of the most innovative contemporary artists in India, was on Wednesday named the curator of the third edition...
PM Modi gifts miniature painting of Bedil tomb to Tajik Prez
By TwoCircles.net, Staff Reporter
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday presented to President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon a specially commissioned...
Twists and turns of NRC: Asam Sahitya Sabha slammed
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: Asam Sahitya Sabha’s decision to approach the Supreme Court with a draft proposal regarding the update of National Register of...
Salman complains to police against false messages
Mumbai: Superstar Salman Khan, who is irked by anti-religious messages being spread in his name regarding his forthcoming release "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", says police are...
Kerala to pay tributes to Shaikh Zainuddin Makhdoom
Fifty seminars on his book ‘Tuhfat Ul Mujahidin Fee Akhbaril Burthugaliyeen’ to mark the celebrations that start after Ramadan
By Shafeeq Hudavi,...
No country has shown the kind of emergence as has India: Big B
Mumbai: On the occasion of the World Population Day on Saturday, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has "thanked" the world for addressing the world's second largest...
Around 400 theatres shut in Kerala over film piracy
Thiruvananthapuram: Close to 400 film theatres attached to the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation remained shut for the second day in succession on Friday...
Renowned Urdu poet Sardar Anjum passes away
By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter
gham-e-hayaat ka jhagra miTa raha hai koyi
chale bhi aao ke duniyaa se jaa raha hai koyi
Chandigarh: Noted Urdu poet and...
Profiling ordinary Kashmiris during Ramadan
By TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Azaan Shah is a freelance photojournalist from the city. He loves to capture daily life in the trouble torn Kashmir. Here are...
Thousands attend the lecture of Dr Zakir Naik at the closing night of Dubai...
By Mohammed Hidayathullah
Dubai: The 14th Dubai Ramadan Forum, organized by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai under the patronage of...
Heritage Sites named in Norway, Germany, Israel, Britain and US
Berlin : Unesco has designated several new World Heritage Sites in Norway, Germany, Israel, Britain and the US during the 39th meeting of...
Sumptuous dates from the world over in Delhi markets
By Ruwa Shah
New Delhi: This Ramzan, replenish your Iftar delicacies with dates from almost all the countries around the globe.
In the holy month of...
रमज़ान 1436 : जामा मस्जिद में सुकून बसता है
सिद्धांत मोहन, TwoCircles.Net
'भाई, आप तस्वीरें खींचते हैं?'
'हां'
'मेरी तस्वीर खींचने का कितना लेंगे?'
'कुछ भी नहीं, मैं ऐसे ही खींच देता हूं.'
'नहीं, कुछ पैसे तो ले...
Ex-foreign secretaries to felicitate the Dalai Lama
New Delhi : India's three former foreign secretaries will felicitate Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama by speaking on his work at an...
Minorities, indigenous people left behind in Asian cities’ progress, Minority Rights Group
By TCN News,
London: Minorities and indigenous peoples have been among the last to benefit from the rapid growth of Asia’s cities, according to Minority...
Environmenatlists oppose move to shrink eco-zone near Taj
Agra: Local environmentalists on Wednesday again voiced their opposition to the Uttar Pradesh government's move to reduce the eco-sensitive zone limit around Sur Sarovar...
Victoria Memorial top choice for global travellers
Kolkata: The iconic Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) here has been inducted in TripAdvisor's 'Hall of Fame' making it the only museum in India to...
Over 1,000 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath Yatra
Jammu : Over 1,000 pilgrims of the first batch of this year's annual Amarnath Yatra left Jammu on Wednesday for the high-altitude cave shrine...
Few people understand Sufi music: Piyarelal of Wadali Brothers
By Ankit Sinha
New Delhi : The spiritual and devotional path of Sufi music has enchanted humankind for centuries but nowadays the genre is...
Sanskrit a world view, not just language: Sushma
Bangkok : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said Sanskrit is not a mere language but a world view.
Addressing the 16th World...
Satyajit Ray’s portrait at UN exhibition
New York: Indian film maestro Satyajit Ray is among the 16 global thinkers whose portraits have been displayed here at the UN art exhibition...
‘NRC update must for development of the state’
Sahitya Parishad president Hafiz Ahmed says it will also bring an end to the harassment in the name of Bangladeshi
By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter,
Guwahati: Hafiz...
For the Love of Urdu: Running free Urdu classes
"Even when Qamar Hayat retired in 2003 as a teacher from the Nagpur Municipal Urdu School, the Urdu class continues to be free of...
A.R. Rahman might sing for nephew G.V. Prakash Kumar
Chennai: Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman is most likely to sing in a composition by his nephew G.V Prakash Kumar in upcoming yet-untitled Tamil film...
Salman Khan’s ‘Sultan’ to release on Eid 2016
Mumbai: Salman Khan's fans have another reason to rejoice as the Bollywood superstar's upcoming film “Sultan” has booked Eid 2016 as its release date.
Produced...
ये भी तो ख़ुदा की मर्ज़ी है, क़ुरआन की ज़ुबां भी अरबी है
डॉ. नदीम ज़फर जिलानी
हर माह-ए-रमज़ान के वक़्त एक बहस सोशल मीडिया पर ज़रूर उभरती है, इसे रमज़ान कहें या रमदान. इंग्लैण्ड में रहने वाले...
Over 9.5 lakh NCC cadets performed yoga at 1,805 centres
New Delhi: Over nine and a half lakh cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), participated in the International Yoga Day on Sunday.
"The organisation...
Father’s Day: B-Town wishes their ‘hero’ of life
Mumbai: “Wonderful”, “hero”, “best man”, “prince” are some of the tags that Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha have...
World’s largest book on display in Australian library
Sydney: The world's largest book, a giant atlas weighing 150 kg, has been put on display at the State Library here, media reported on...
Now, click and upload pics from Taj Mahal
Agra: Tourists visiting Taj Mahal will now be able to upload selfies or photographs clicked with their loved ones directly from the 17th century...
No numbers game with Salman, SRK, says Aamir
Mumbai: After Salman Khan, even Aamir Khan has come forward to announce that there's no numbers game between them and Bollywood's third Khan, Shah...
Kerala to host South Asia’s largest film market
Kochi: Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala, will host the Indywood Film Market (IFM) and All Lights India International Film Festival (ALIIFF) 2015 from...
Aquatints showcasing Indian heritage on display in Kolkata
Kolkata: Art connoisseurs and enthusiasts can soak in some British Raj nostalgia, courtesy an exhibition of 40 aquatints showcasing India's heritage by 18th century...
Government to release stamp, coins on International Yoga Day
New Delhi : Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that the government will bring out a stamp and coins of the...
Freedom fighter threatens to jump into Yamuna river
Agra: Freedom fighter Chimman Lal Jain, 96, on Tuesday threatened to jump into the Yamnua river on October 2 if the government failed to...
The art of preserving manuscripts
By Rana Safvi for TwoCircles.net
Ambreen Shariq Khan has grown up amidst rare books. Her father Abdus Sattar has a collection of rare Urdu and...
Kamal Haasan turns make-up artist for ‘Thoongaavanam’
Chennai: Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan is busy juggling between acting and doing make-up for his co-actors Trisha Krishnan and Prakash Raj on the sets of...
Historic all-India Mushaira in Riyadh
By TCN News,
Riyadh: Prominent Urdu poets from across India enthralled a huge audience of about 2,000 Indians at a historic All-India Mushaira (poetry session)...
Voting for first ever Kashmir’s ‘Youth Icon Awards’ to start from June 6
Half of money generated through the sale of tickets to be donated to a cancer patient
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net, ...
16 मई के दिन देवीप्रसाद मिश्र की दो कविताएं
वे मुसलमान थे इसलिए बचके निकलते थे
वे मुसलमान थे इसलिए कुछ कहते थे तो हिचकते थे
देश के ज़्यादातर अख़बार यह कहते थे
कि मुसलमान के कारण ही कर्फ़्यू लगते हैं
कर्फ़्यू लगते थे और एक के बाद दूसरे हादसे की
ख़बरें आती थीं
Splash of colour, culture brightens Srinagar’s walls
By Sheikh Qayoom and Waseem Shah,
Srinagar : Inspired by internationally-known Kashmiri artist Masood Hussain, a group of students is painting murals on the walls...
Salman has Rs.200 crore riding on him
Mumbai : The verdict is out -- Salman Khan was on Wednesday sentenced to five years in jail for a 2002 hit-and-run accident. And...
Salman’s journey from superstar to ‘being human’
By Natalia Ningthoujam,
New Delhi : Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Salman Khan, 49, the eldest son of writer Salim Khan, has...
Salman pleads not guilty in arms case
Jaipur : Bollywood actor Salman Khan pleaded "not guilty" on Wednesday in an arms case in a court in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city.
Salman was in...
Aamir crusades against Indian social evils at NY summit
New York : Superstar Aamir Khan discussed India's social evils like female foeticide, gender inequality and honour killing at the Women in the World...
Collectibles, tribal art up for auction
New Delhi : An ethnic betel leaf and tobacco box, M.F.Husain's pen and ink drawings on post cards and a wooden gramophone are among...
Salman case verdict date to be announced on Tuesday
Mumbai : The date of verdict in the Salman Khan case will be declared on Tuesday by Additional Sessions Judge D.W. Deshpande, an official...
Assam singer faces gender discrimination; barred from performance as she refused putting traditional chadar
By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Even as several measures are being taken in minimizing the gender discrimination in the country, a female singer in Assam was barred from performing at a function, allegedly for not wearing a particular kind of dress.
Agra’s monuments victims of ASI’s callous neglect
(April 18 is World Heritage Day)
By Brij Khandelwal,
Agra : It's becoming increasingly clear that only professional managers can preserve this Taj city's heritage, experts say.
The parliamentary committee on environment, headed by former union minister Ashwini Kumar (Congress), after spot visits and interactions with stakeholders last week, expressed concern over the poor state of maintenance of even the Taj Mahal. In particular the committee pointed out the dark pockmarks on the white marble surface of the structure which urgently called for treatment. The committee members also lamented that the Taj Mahal was yellowing.
HC asks ‘PK’ makers to file response on plea alleging plagiarism
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the makers of Aamir Khan-starrer film "PK" to file their response on novelist Kapil...
Director Muzaffar Ali to make film on Sir Syed as part of educationist’s bicentennial...
By TCN News,
Aligarh: Noted film director Muzaffar Ali has agreed to make a film on Sir Syed’s life and contributions, which could be presented as a special tribute to the great social reformer and founder of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), which could be presented as a special tribute to Sir Syed to celebrate his bicentennial birth anniversary.
‘धर्म संकट में’ के बहाने विमर्श
By जावेद अनीस,
भारत एक धर्मान्ध देश है, यहाँ धार्मिक जीवन को बहुत गंभीरता से स्वीकार किया जाता है लेकिन भारतीय समाज की सबसे बड़ी खासियत विविधतापूर्ण एकता है. यह ज़मीन अलग-अलग सामाजिक समूहों, संस्कृतियों और सभ्यताओं की संगम-स्थली रही है और यही इस देश की ताकत भी रही है. आज़ादी और बंटवारे के ज़ख्म के बाद इन विविधताओं को साधने के लिए सेकुलरिज्म को एक ऐसे जीवन शैली के रूप में स्वीकार किया गया जहाँ विभिन्न पंथों के लोग समानता, स्वतंत्रता, सहिष्णुता और सहअस्तित्व जैसे मूल्यों के आधार पर एक साथ रह सकें.
Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan conferred with Padma Vibhushan
New Delhi : Cinema icons Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan were conferred with Padma Vibhushan -- India's second highest civilian honour -- by President...
VHP calls for ban on Kamal Haasan’s ‘Uttama Villain’
Chennai : Members of Hindu Vishwa Parishad (VHP) have called for a ban on actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan-starrer Tamil drama "Uttama Villain", claiming it will...
Telangana proposes garden, museum at Qutub Shahi tombs
Hyderabad : The Telangana government has sent a proposal of Rs.85 crore to the central government for restoration works at Qutub Shahi tombs, the...
नया फ़ैसला: फ़िल्म बनानी है? पहले तीन-तीन मंत्रालयों से इजाज़त लीजिए..
By सिद्धान्त मोहन, TwoCircles.net,
नई दिल्ली: बीबीसी की डॉक्यूमेंट्री ‘इंडियाज़ डॉटर’ को भारत सरकार ने अपने आत्मसम्मान से जोड़ लिया था. भयानक स्तर पर सरकार ने कोशिश जारी रखी कि किसी भी तरीके से इस फ़िल्म का प्रसारण रोक दिया जाए. लेकिन ‘अभिव्यक्ति की आज़ादी’ को कुचलने में सरकार असफल रही और बीबीसी ने तयशुदा तारीख से पहले ही अपनी डॉक्यूमेंट्री को प्रसारित कर दिया.
Films, stories have no religion: ‘Dozakh’ director
By Radhika Bhirani,
New Delhi : A man has a religion, not a story - Hindi novelist Zaigham Imam has blunt and sensible sentiments surrounding...
Training programme on Islamic structure held at AMU
By TCN News,
Aligarh: The Heritage Cell, Aligarh Muslim University, in collaboration with the Centre for Excellence in Islamic Architecture, Department of Architecture, organized a one-week short term Training Programme on “Traditional and Modern Materials and Techniques of Façade Adornment in Islamic Structure”.
Eid-e-Gulabi: The unifying colour and spirit of Holi
By Firoz Bakht Ahmed,
Holi has a Muslim history as well. Revered Sufi saints like Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia and Ameer Khusro have, in their chaste Persian and Hindvi poetry, adored the 'pink' festival generously.
The last Moghul Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, allowed his Hindu ministers to smear his forehead with gulal on Holi. He believed that his religion would not be affected by this social ritual.
Dam-displaced tribal students of Narmada Jeevanshalas celebrated Balmela with gusto
By TCN News,
Gopalpur (district Nandurbar, Maharashtra): Around 600 tribal children and students (studying at primary level) from nine Narmada Jeevanshalas participated in the 16th annual Balmela (Children’s fair) – from February 12 to 15 – here with gusto and renewed enthusiasm.
मेरे हमवतनों
By आयशा परवेज़,
मेरे हमवतनों...
मुबारक हो तुम्हें ये ऊंचाइयों का मंज़र
पर ज़रा रुको....ज़रा देखो तो
इन इमारतों पर कुछ खून के धब्बे नज़र आएंगे तुम्हें
कुछ तुम्हारे दोस्तों के, कुछ तुम्हारे हमसायों के
और कुछ उन जनाज़ों के जो बेनाम ही दफ़न हो गए
Sunil Abhiman Awachar: An inimitable voice in Dalit poetry and painting in contemporary India
Dr Sunil Abhiman Awachar is clearly an antithesis to discourse on contemporary Indian art.
By Yogesh Maitreya, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Dr. Sunil Abhiman Awachar is well known as a poet and painter, also an assistant professor with the Department of Marathi in University of Mumbai. Meanwhile, he is full time activist in dalit human rights movement. He has published four anthologies of poetry, all in Marathi, that include ‘Global vartamanachya kavita (2008)’ ‘Mi mahasattechya darashi katora gheun ubha rahanaar nahi,’ ‘Bravo! Fox minds of capitalist’ and ‘Poems of the occupied everything’.
I live to paint, I paint to live: S.H.Raza
By Shilpa Raina,
New Delhi : “I live to paint; I paint to live.” At 93, the revered modernist S.H. Raza continues to paint and...
Renowned Urdu poet from Patna Dr. Kalim Ahmed Ajiz is no more
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Patna: Renowned Urdu poet and the recipient of Padma Shri, Dr. Kalim Ajiz passed away on Sunday in Hazaribagh, Jharkhan. He was 90 years old.
He was currently serving as the Chairman of the Urdu Advisory Committee, Government of Bihar. The author of several books on poetry Dr. Ajiz was a retired professor of Patna University.
‘Chinar-Daastaan-e-Ishq’ depicts Kashmir sans violence
Srinagar : "Chinar-Daastaan-e-Ishq", featuring Aamir Khan's brother Faisal Khan and due for release in May, is the first Bollywood movie in 25 years to...
‘Razia Sultan’ zooms in on women’s empowerment
New Delhi : "Razia Sultan", a new historical show on the first woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, aims to bring the message of...
Artist’s ode to the Mahatma via abstract paintings
New Delhi : An intimate yet abstract portrait of Mahatma Gandhi with his wife Kasturba, a frail-looking Gandhi during Satyagraha march and many other...
Carnatic singer Sudha Raghunathan gets Padma Bhushan
Chennai : Popular Carnatic composer and vocalist Sudha Raghunathan was Sunday named for the Padma Bhushan on the eve of the 66th Republic Day.
Raghunathan...
Different similarities – daughters of legendary Urdu poets recall fathers
By Vikas Datta,
Jaipur : They were among the best known Urdu poets of their day, and though their life trajectories unfolded differently, both cultural activist Salima Hashmi's father Faiz Ahmed Faiz and actress Shabana Azmi's father Kaifi Azmi had some important things in common - belief in poetry as an instrument of social change, hope for the future and refusal to peddle hatred.
Dance of the enchantress: Muslim man breaks glass ceiling
By Sanu George,
Thrissur (Kerala) : Mohiniyattam, a classical dance form of Kerala, is often referred to as the "dance of the enchantress" and meant to be performed solo by women. A 48-year-old lecturer has now become the first Muslim man to get a doctorate in the dance form.
SC sets aside stay on Salman Khan’s conviction
New Delhi : In a setback to filmstar Salman Khan, the Supreme Court Wednesday set aside the Rajasthan High Court order putting on hold...
“We know very less about each other,” says renowned B’desh Baul musician Mac Haque
By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: He is very popular and widely respected in Bangladesh. A household name in the world of Baul sangeet, Maqsoodul Haque – whose roots are from Assam – has also been able to leave a mark in this part of India with his mesmerizing performances.
Modi, Jaitley lend support to art auction
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have supported an art auction along with prominent celebrities like M.C. Mary...
Nothing wrong in ‘PK’, says Delhi HC, dismisses plea
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday dismissed a PIL filed against Raj Kumar Hirani directed and Aamir Khan starrer film "PK", saying...
Tax-free ‘PK’ invites ire of Hindutva groups
Agra : Hindutva groups in Agra continued their protest against the Aamir Khan starrer movie "PK".
Activists of the Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagran Manch and...
‘PK’ is against religious frauds: Vaidik
New DelhI : As Hindu right-wing groups continue their protests over "PK", veteran journalist and activist Ved Pratap Vaidik says people are opposing the Aamir Khan movie because of a "misunderstanding" and they should watch it before going against it as the movie is actually against religious frauds and people who have made a business out of religion and are conning ordinary people.
Nitish gives full marks to ‘PK’
Patna : Former Bihar chief minster Nitish Kumar Wednesday gave "full 10 marks out of 10" to Aamir Khan's film "PK", saying it is...
‘PK’ tax free in UP, Akhilesh says film a ‘must watch’
Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government Wednesday announced that Aamir Khan's movie "PK" will be exempted from tax, as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said...
Bajrang Dal continues protest against ‘PK’ in Delhi
New Delhi : Nearly 200 Bajrang Dal activists Wednesday protested outside a cinema hall in Delhi and stopped the screening of Aamir Khan starrer...
VHP protests against ‘PK’ in Hyderabad
Hyderabad : Aamir Khan-starrer "PK" Tuesday faced protest here as activists of right-wing Hindu groups held a demonstration outside a cinema hall, demanding that...
‘PK’ posters vandalised in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal : The Bajrang Dal Tuesday continued its protest against Aamir Khan's “PK” in the state alleging that the film insults the Hindu religion...
‘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...
We respect all religions, faiths: director Hirani on ‘PK’ row
New Delhi : Rajkumar Hirani’s latest offering “PK” has raked in Rs.246.32 crore and is going strong at the box office, but some of...
Bajrang Dal protests against ‘PK’ in Odisha
Bhubaneswar : The Bajrang Dal Tuesday protested at various cinema halls in this Odisha capital and demanded a ban on Aamir Khan's movie "PK",...
‘PK’ angers Hindu groups
Agra/Bhopal : The “provocative, yet gentle” Aamir Khan-starrer “PK” has already crossed the Rs.200 crore mark at the domestic box office, but the Rajkumar...
VHP complains against ‘PK’
New Delhi : The VHP has said Aamir Khan's movie "PK" has several scenes that hurt religious sentiments of Hindus and has written to...
Folk artistes are a bridge between our nations: Pakistani singer Arif Lohar
By Jaideep Sarin,
Chandigarh : Folk artistes from India and Pakistan are a "bridge" between the countries and try and improve bilateral relations when things...
Play on disappearing daughters enthralled Delhities
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Kathak exponent Dr. Rekha Mehra, presented a Ballet titled “Tu Kaisi Maa” on female foeticide and women empowerment and Play - New Life, a drama on cancer, with visual effects in background.
Dilip Kumar out of hospital on 92nd birthday
Mumbai : On his 92nd birthday Thursday, veteran actor Dilip Kumar was discharged from the Lilavati Hospital where he was being treated following a...
Dilip Kumar turns 92, B-Town icons recollect his best
By Subhash K. Jha,
Mumbai : On Dilip Kumar's 92nd birthday Thursday, a host of Bollywood icons, including megastar Amitabh Bachchan and songstress Lata Mangeshkar, as well as his wife Saira Banu went down memory lane to pick their favourite among the veteran actor's popular filmography.
Ahead of Putin visit, an ‘Indian Poem’ by a Russian artist
By Biswajit Choudhury,
New Delhi : There is a large canvas, perhaps familiar to those who have visited Kolkata's Victoria Memorial, by Vasily Vereshchagin, a large part of whose work embodies the foundations of the India-Russia connection but who has remained largely unknown in this country.
Amjad Ali Khan to perform at Nobel Peace Prize ceremony
New Delhi : Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan along with Pakistani qawwali maestro Rahat Fateh Ali Khan,...
Danseuse Sitara Devi passes away
Mumbai : Eminent Kathak danseuse Sitara Devi died here early Tuesday after prolonged illness, her son-in-law confirmed. She was 94.
Sitara Devi was on ventilator...
Art for the cause of emerging artists
By Shilpa Raina,
New Delhi : In what could be seen as the first major attempt to raise funds for an independent experimental art space,...
Art auction to raise money for flood-affected Kashmir
New Delhi : A photograph of Kashmir capturing its picturesque scenery and a beautiful threaded picture of the Valley are two art works that...
Artist Subodh Gupta to receive award
New Delhi : Leading contemporary artist Subodh Gupta will Nov 18 receive the 2014 Dayawati Modi award for art, culture and education, the organisers...
MANUU launches its tarana written by Gulzar
By TCN News,
Hyderabad: The Directorate of Distance Education auditorium at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) came alive with a musical ceremony on Friday to launch the university’s tarana (song), which is written by famous writer, poet and Bollywood lyricist Gulzar.
Victoria Memorial to showcase valuable paintings on Sikhs
Kolkata : In celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti Thursday, the iconic Victoria Memorial Hall here has put on display a relatively modern miniature painting...
Haider: Kashmir’s dilemma – To be or not be
By Mir Liyaqat Nazir,
Haider is one of the first ever Bollywood movie that attempted to stage the Shakespeare’s revenge play Hamlet on the recurring Kashmir tragedy. It is meant for an audience, who, in the name of national interest, were always entertained and enthralled over the grievances and miseries of victims.
Entrants for Khushwant Singh prize for poetry announced
New Delhi : Five poetry books have been shortlisted for the inaugural Khushwant Singh Memorial Prize for poetry, to promote the genre across all...
I feel life has just begun: Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan at 69
By Arun Kumar,
Washington : Entering the 70th year of his eventful life, Indian sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan is enjoying a bit of "musical...
International mushaira held in Toronto
By TCN News,
Toronto: Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association, Canada organized its first international mushaira in Greater Toronto Area on Sunday, August 24, 2014
Muslim singer sets the stage on fire at Raas Jalsa
By TCN News,
Mumbai: Days after furor over BJP leader’s ‘Muslim men should be stopped from entering Garba pandals’ comment, a Muslim singer Osman Mir – of Deepika Padukone starrer ‘Ramleela’ fame – set the stage on fire at a Raas Dandiya event at Juhu.
Art exhibition generates Rs.60,000 for Kashmir flood victims
New Delhi : A painting exhibition here has generated Rs.60,000 for Jammu and Kashmir flood victims and the money would be sent to the...
Mandolin player U. Srinivas is dead
Chennai : Well-known mandolin player Uppalapu Srinivas died Friday here at a private hospital. He was 45.
According to a source at Apollo hospital, where...
Artist working on creating Rashtrapati Bhavan’s digital legacy
New Delhi : As you walk into artist Pratap Morey's room, you are greeted with a panoramic art panel on which the multidisciplinary artist...
Kipling’s poetry: Of soldiers, monarchs and revenue-raising
By Vikas Datta,
Gifted novelists have never been confined to a specific genre, or even to a form of literature - for they are adroit in weaving magic with words, using them in sentences of matchless prose or evoking their aesthetic and rhythmic aspects in verse. But somehow their poetic contribution is always overshadowed by their prose corpus. Sir Walter Scott, Hans Christian Andersen, Thomas Hardy, right down to Michael Ondaatje, Alice Walker, Russell Banks, John Updike, Vladimir Nabokov, Erica Jong and their ilk are not exactly more famous as poets. But there was one who strode both spheres with aplomb - and Rudyard Kipling's art was recognised by conferment of the Nobel Prize for Literature - the first ever to an English writer.
Visually challenged dancers to perform classical Indian dance in Boston
By TCN News,
Boston: The event promises to be a unique experience with a group of visually challenged dancers to perform Indian classical dance in Boston.
Will Kashmir’s street theatre die an unsung death?
By Sheikh Qayoom,
Srinagar : Traditional Kashmiri street theatre, which once occupied centre stage as the most powerful medium of mass communication in Kashmiri society,...
Assam waives entertainment tax on ‘Mary Kom’
Guwahati : The Assam government Wednesday announced exemption of entertainment tax on "Mary Kom", a new Bollywood movie on the World champion woman boxer...
Bihar to set up music varsity after Bismillah Khan
Patna : The Bihar government plans to set up its first music university, named after shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan, in Muzaffarpur district, Minister of...
From memory’s unmapped isles: A poet on alienation – and nature’s rhythms
By Vikas Datta,
One of the rather negative aspects of urbanisation is a sense of alienation, of isolation - that despite being surrounded by masses of people, you are quite unlikely to have any meaningful connection with them. And this perception can be felt more keenly at night when walking through teeming or deserted thoroughfares and markets, brilliantly lit or gloomily dark. This motif and its stark imagery have been employed quite a bit in modern Urdu poetry by some big names. But its champion was a most highly-regarded but short-lived poet of rare sensitivity, though his fame in the non-Urdu speaking world may only rest on a haunting ghazal made popular by the unmatched Ghulam Ali.
Music is the healer, think Afghan musicians as they perform in Guwahati
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: On most of the occasions, when we talk of Afghanistan, it’s either Taliban or the prolonged conflicts at the land locked country. The country was almost devastated by many from both inside and outside yet there are some beautiful things to be appreciated in the country.