Mammootty to star in film on Rajiv Gandhi killing
By Raman Kutty
IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : After two Tamil films on Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, a third big-screen interpretation of the tragedy is on the cards, this time in Malayalam with matinee idol Mammootty in the main lead.
The film is titled "Mission 60 Days" and Mammootty plays a special investigation office named Major Sivaram. It is expected to treat the theme very differently from its Tamil predecessors, "Kutrapathirikai" (Chargesheet) and "Kuppi" (Cyanide Capsule).
Rise in flower prices hits Onam celebrations
By IANS,
Kozhikode : The colourful and often intricate floral patterns called pookkalam, which are made at the entrances to homes in Kerala during the harvest festival of Onam, are a bit smaller this year due to the huge hike in the price of flowers.
It is from Atham, the first day of 10-day Onam festivities, that pookkalam is laid. On the Atham day Tuesday, flower outlets, many of them temporary sheds that come up on Onam days, attracted hundreds of customers but they bought only small quantities of flowers as prices have almost doubled since last year.
‘Religious Identity has never been a barrier for acquiring knowledge in India’
By Syed Muhammad Raghib and Abhay Kumar for TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Akhlaque Ahan is an associate professor of Persian...
सर्विस में रहते हुए दाढ़ी रखना चाहता था कांस्टेबल, अदालत ने याचिका की खारिज
स्टाफ़ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles.net
इलाहाबाद हाईकोर्ट ने यूपी पुलिस के एक सिपाही की एक याचिका को खारिज कर दिया, जिसमें उसने दाढ़ी रखने के लिए उसके...
Taslima Nasrin vs MF Hussein’s case
By Syed Ali Mujtaba
The current episode of Taslima Nasreen once again has brought out the hypocritical attitude of many Indians. I am amused about the hullabaloos made by the BJP the Sangh Privar and some others for this Bangladeshi writer.
The current episode of Taslima Nasreen once again has brought out the hypocritical attitude of many Indians. I am amused about the hullabaloos made by the BJP the Sangh Privar and some others for this Bangladeshi writer.
Mian Bashir releases “Gojri Ka Lal”
By News Agency of Kashmir,
Srinagar : "Gojri Ka Lal" a book on life and works of prominent Gujjar saint Mian Nizam-ud-Din Larvi was released by famed religious leader Padam Bhushan Mian Bashir Ahmed today on concluding day of annual Urs here at Wanghat Kangan.
End of a golden age: Artist Paritosh Sen passes away
By IANS,
New Delhi : High priest of Bengal modern art Paritosh Sen passed away in Kolkata Wednesday evening. He was 90.
The artist is survived by his wife.
Sen was admitted to the hospital Sep 5 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was on life support. Sen was cremated Thursday.
Rock paintings reveal species that once roamed India
By Quaid Najmi, IANS,
Mumbai : Sivatherium, a giraffe-like creature with two pairs of horns and extinct for 8,000 years, once roamed central and western India. So did the aardvark, an ant-eating creature now found only in Africa. The stunning finds have emerged from ancient rock paintings found along the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border.
Lack of development of AMU Malappuram may hurt chances of IUML’s Manjalamkuzhy Ali
By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net
Kozhikode: The AMU Malappuram centre was established in 2010, but even after six years, it is no secret that the off-campus...
Dumped in Toshakhana, foreign gifts to go on display
By Devirupa Mitra, IANS,
New Delhi : Carpets from Afghanistan and Pakistan, electronic items from Bhutan, jewellery and watches from the Gulf...The public could soon catch a glimpse of these exquisite foreign gifts given to Indian leaders!
The government plans to display some of the items that have for long gathered dust at the Toshakhana, the official storehouse made up of three rooms at Akbar Bhavan housing a sizeable section of the external affairs ministry.
Protesting ‘dark times’, filmmaker Bharatiya returns National Award
Shillong : Political filmmaker Tarun Bharatiya, who won the National Award for Best Editing Non Fiction for "In Camera - Diaries of a...
दिलीप साहब को राजकीय सम्मान के साथ अंतिम विदाई
जिब्रानउद्दीन।Twocircles.net
भारतीय सिनेमा के दिग्गज अभिनेता दिलीप कुमार का बुधवार को मुंबई के एक अस्पताल में निधन हो गया। वो लंबे समय से बीमार...
Catch artist Amitesh Verma’s biggest horses at Mumbai show
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Amitesh Verma, one of the most talented line artists in the country today, has changed. And so have his horses. His power stallions on canvas now pack more punch and energy.
Verma is going to showcase his horses in an exhibition called "Stallion Search", featuring a body 20 horses in various stages of motion at the Jahangir Art Gallery in Mumbai Sep 9-19.
Dev Anand remembers Mohammed Rafi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Veteran actor Dev Anand remembered Mohammed Rafi on his 31st death anniversary Sunday, saying the legendary singer was one of the greatest souls.
नन्हें रोज़ेदारों की दिलचस्प दास्तान
फ़हमिना हुसैन, TwoCircles.net
दिल्ली: रमज़ान के पाक महीने में रोज़े के साथ इबादत का मज़ा ही कुछ और है. तभी तो बड़े तो बड़े बच्चे...
Cuddalore tribes to get design help for traditional skills
By IANS
Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) : The Federation of South India Producer Associations (SIPA) has tied up with the National Institute of Fashion Design to train tribes from Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu to use new designs in traditional handicrafts.
The project, known as "Vazhndhu Kaatuvom" (will live and show you), will create societies for the artisans in Cuddalore, some 400 km south of state capital Chennai.
"It aims at reducing poverty and empowering the poor and marginalized," says project manager S. Rajan Babu.
Delhi University organizes national seminar on comedy in Arabic literature
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: The Delhi University’s Department of Arabic organized a national seminar on ‘Comedy in Arabic Literature’ on 25th March wherein papers on various aspects of the topic were presented by scholars and researchers.
Assam tea baron’s biography reveals encounters with ULFA
By IANS
Guwahati : Noted Assamese tea industrialist Hemendra Prasad Barooah has revealed in a new book some gripping insights into his life that include being tracked by ULFA militants while holidaying in Philadelphia and searching for Bhupen Hazarika's lost Rolex watch on a street.
The legendary planter, who has remained away from media glare, shares many intimate details of his life with journalist Wasbir Hussain in "Life and Times: Story of an Assamese Tea Baron", an authorised biography.
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...
No fees for girls upto higher secondary level in state schools, says J&K government
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: In a significant move which will benefit thousands of girls studying in state run schools in Jammu and Kashmir,...
विधायक इरफान सोलंकी ने मांगा विधानसभा में नमाज के लिए अलग कमरा
स्टाफ़ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles.net
झारखंड सरकार द्वारा झारखंड विधानसभा में नमाज के लिए अलग कमरा उपलब्ध कराने के बाद अब उत्तर प्रदेश में भी मुस्लिम विधायकों...
Acclaimed playwright Vijay Tendulkar cremated
By IANS,
Pune : Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar, one of the greatest Indian playwrights of the post-Independence era, was cremated here Monday a few hours after his death following prolonged illness. He was 80 years old.
Tendulkar had been suffering from diabetes and myaesthena gravis, a disease affecting the muscles. He was undergoing treatment at the Prayag Hospital here. He died at 8 a.m.
Malayalam director Shaji to make documentary on M.F. Husain
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Veteran film director Shaji N. Karun is set to make a full length documentary on master painter M.F. Husain.
Speaking to IANS, Shaji as he is popularly known, said that he has spoken to the 94-year-old legendary artist, who has agreed for it.
"The documentary would begin in October and is slated for release next year. We are soon going to meet. More details can be revealed after we meet," said Shaji.
How did Mina Stampede happen – Who is Responsible for it – Saudi Arabia...
By Dr.Ajmal
769 Haj piligrims died in the Mina Stampede, and the preceding week around 107 died in the Crane Crash in...
चुनाव बाद बिहार की छठ पूजा
अफ़रोज़ आलम साहिल, TwoCircles.net
पटना: ‘बिहार जीत’ पर दो-दो दीवाली मनाने के बाद छठ के मौक़े पर भी पटना के लोगों में ज़बरदस्त उत्साह नज़र...
Art and life of Bismillah Khan in school texts
By Prashant K. Nanda, IANS
New Delhi : Fate may not have allowed shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan to fulfil his last wish to hold a concert at the historic India Gate but his name will be enshrined in the minds of children as his life and art become part of the school curriculum for Class 9 students.
In its recently published Class 9 English book, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has devoted an entire chapter on the legendary musician who died at the age of 90 last year.
’39 Clues’ to succeed Harry Potter?
By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : Those gnawed by emptiness following the completion early this year of the Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling can take heart. Scholastic, the books' US publisher, has unveiled plans Tuesday to launch what it hopes will be a follow-up blockbuster series.
Called "The 39 Clues", this series of mystery novels will feature 10 books - the first of which will be released next September - as well as related Web-based games, collectors' cards and cash prizes.
Yusuf Arakkal: Portrait of artist and his haunting, taunting faces
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Indian students set record for largest Sushi mosaic
By IANS
Mumbai : Mumbai students Monday created a new Guinness world record for making the world's largest Sushi mosaic. The 15.16 square metre Sushi mosaic consists of a whopping 5,814 sushi pieces.
The attempt, by a group of 20 students of the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, started at 7.00 a.m. and the record was broken at 4.35 p.m.
Orissa artists on a mission to save tribal art
By IANS
Balasore : Tribal artists in Orissa are painting the walls of houses in and around Balasore town with pictures depicting the lifestyle of tribals, their culture, flora and fauna and designs. This is meant to promote and popularise ancient tribal arts and crafts among people at large.
The artists are led by Kesudas, a popular cartoonist and executive director of Baleswari Kalakendra, an organisation spearheading a movement to revive ancient arts. The painting spree has been on for the past one month.
I intend to paint women forever: Suhas Roy
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS
New Delhi : He is one of the biggest and the most enduring names in the genre of Indian modern art. Often dubbed the father of female figurative forms, Suhas Roy says he still draws inspiration from beautiful women at the age of 71.
"It is basic instinct, age has nothing to do with sensuality," Roy told IANS in an interview.
Consequently, his recent body of works, "Drops of Silence", executed in oil, pastels and pen-and-ink etchings on backdrops in watercolours, are all studies of "sad, slightly surreal nude women floating in a void".
My art flourished in isolation: Jharkhand photographer
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Jamshedpur : For veteran artist-cum-photographer Bhudev Bhagat, the winner of 350 national and international awards in photography, geography may have been a constraint in reaching out, but the "relative isolation from urban glare has helped" his photography scale new heights.
Indian theatre music takes in more from the world
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : From Bal Gandharv, who gave the Marathi stage a definite musical genre in the early 20th century, to eminent music director Bhaskar Chandavarkar, who fused traditional Indian music with western jazz and folk, Indian theatre music has acquired a more global face.
Wonderlands of illusion and other miraculous tales
By Vikas Datta, IANS,
Cloaks of invisibility, small bags holding far more than their apparent capacity, appearance-changing potions, spells that can enable you to assume...
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.
Am a fan of Bismillah Khan, Satyajit Ray: French musician
By IANS,
Kolkata: French musician Thierry Robin, who arrived here Saturday to perform his self-styled Mediterranean music, said that he was a great admirer of legendary shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan and eminent filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
"I am a great admirer of Ustad Bismillah Khan and Satyajit Ray. Indian music has influenced me to a large extent. In the early 1980s, I had performed with tabla player Hamid Khan in France. I had also performed in Jaipur on several occasions," said Robin.
Prime minister releases stamp on Bismillah Khan
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday released a commemorative postage stamp on shehnai legend Ustad Bismillah Khan here, terming it "a token of our nation's and our government's respect for him".
“The release of this commemorative postage stamp in memory of Khan saheb is a token of our nation's and our government's respect for him and the noble tradition he represented,” Manmohan Singh said.
Colours of the week: Raza Foundation awards young artists
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Every year, the Raza Foundation, instituted by senior artist S.H. Raza, awards talented and young Indian artists.
The foundation, a multi-discipline cultural platform, promotes young aspirants in the fields of fine arts, performing arts and poetry.
Delhi-based gallery Art Alive has brought to the capital a consolidated exhibition, "Divigations: Spaces of Possibility", featuring works of the Raza Foundation awardees for 2006-2008 - Atul Dodiya, Jayashree Chakravarty, Avadesh Yadav, Vanita Gupta, S. Harsha Vardhana and Sheetal Gandhi.
Rare icons on sale at India’s first gemstone art auction
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's love affair with gemstone carvings dates back nearly 5,000 years ago when Alexander the Great invaded the country. They flourished during the reign of the Mughals, though never finding a place in the genre of conventional Indian art - but they will now be available to aficionados.
Jaipur-based Ma Passion, a house of gemstone crafts, is giving this ancient Indian tradition the legitimacy of contemporary Indian miniature art with the country's first-ever auction of gemstone sculptures in Mumbai Oct 22.
Indian theatre lost a prominent star with the demise of Habib Tanvir
By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
After a long illness at last Habib Tanvir took his last breath at the National Hospital, Bhopal where he was admitted about 20 days ago. He was 85-years old at the time of his death.
Habib Tanvir was one of the most popular Hindi playwrights, a theatre director, poet as well as a successful actor. He wrote many famous plays such as, Agra Bazar (1954) and Charandas Chor (1975). He founded, the Naya Theatre, Theatre Company in Bhopal in 1959.
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.
Ten days after kidnapping of Muslim teenage girl, Darbhanga police remains clueless
By Afroz Alam Sahil, TwoCircles.net
For the past ten days, a teenage Muslim girl who was kidnapped in Darbhanga district of Bihar has been...
Why Assam govt sealed a museum showcasing Muslim culture and arrested five people?
Traditional farming tools, including the plough, gamusas (traditional hand-woven clothing), and bamboo fishing equipment, were displayed in the museum to preserve and showcase the...
At age 135, is he really world’s oldest person?
By IANS,
Dubai : At age 135, the world's oldest person might well be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The identity card of Nasir Al Hazry, a resident of Al Ain in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, shows his age as 135, the Khaleej Times newspaper reported.
Al Hazry's family came to know about it only recently when the Al Ain office of the UAE's department of naturalisation and residency officially mentioned his age in the identity card. His exact date of birth has, however, not been revealed, the Khaleej Times said.
Dad Hafiz Ali was a simpleton: Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Will Congress’ faith in dynastic politics save it in Dima Hasao?
By Amit Kumar, TwoCircles.net
Haflong: Dima Hasao, the least populated district of Assam, goes to polls on April 4 and like most of the state,...
चौपट संस्कृति में तीन फ़िल्में
सिद्धांत मोहन, TwoCircles.net
यह बहस बड़ी है कि असम और अरुणाचल प्रदेश के बाद का समूचा पूर्वोत्तर भारत ‘भारत’ है भी या नहीं? लेकिन इसे...
Darjeeling boy in Indian Idol becomes new Nepali icon
By IANS
Kathmandu : A 22-year-old policeman from Darjeeling, who is one of the contestants in the popular "Indian Idol" show hosted by Sony television channel, has become the new icon for the Nepalese diaspora with Indian viewers of Nepalese origin whipping up a campaign to boost his chances.
Onam’s journey from harvest festival to shopping carnival
By B.R.P.Bhaskar, IANS,
There is a morning-after air in Kerala as the state recovers from the hectic annual Onam festivities.
Onam, the most important day in the Keralite's calendar, fell on Sep 12 this year. Keralites spread across the globe celebrated the festival with as much enthusiasm as their kinsmen at home.
Onam is built on nostalgia. According to tradition, on this day, Mahabali, the righteous ruler of ancient Kerala, visits his erstwhile subjects. The people, who remember his reign as a golden era, decorate their homes with flowers and put on new clothes to welcome him.
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.
RSS khakhi shorts to make way for brown trousers
Nagaur (Rajasthan): RSS activists will soon be seen in brown trousers in place of their traditional khakhi shorts.
"We have taken the decision to...
भारत रत्न उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह खां की बरसी पर उनकी एक याद
व्योमेश शुक्ल
[आज की बहस का सबसे बड़ा सच यही है कि मुसलमान को बारम्बार यह साबित करना होता है कि वह इस वतनपरस्त है. आज भारत रत्न उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह खां की बरसी है. उन्हें और लता मंगेशकर को एक साथ भारत रत्न दिया गया था. आज से तकरीबन दस साल पहले. अब यह बदहाली का ही आलम है कि मदन मोहन मालवीय को पिछले साल भारत रत्न दिए जाने के बाद उस्ताद के शहर बनारस में ही यह हल्ला होने लगा कि बनारस को मिला यह पहला भारत रत्न है.
Holi symbolises spirit of tolerance, harmony: President
New Delhi : President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday greeted the nation on Holi and hoped the festival of colours will “strengthen the fraternal bonds...
VHP slams Darul Uloom over ‘Bharat Mata’
New Delhi : The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday slammed Darul Uloom Deoband for opposing the chanting of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' which...
India long way off from becoming fashion power: Rathi Vinay Jha
By Prithwish Ganguly, IANS
New Delhi : India is a long way off from being recognised as a fashion power although its designers are showcasing their lines at top global ramp shows, says the head of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI).
Seminar on Allama Shibli Nomani at Jamia Millia Islamia
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: “Allama Shibli Nomani was a nationalist who tried to build a bridge between nationalism and Islam,” said Prof. Mushirul Hasan, vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, at a seminar on Allama Shibli Nomani.
Amitabh, Kiran Bedi to get Bismillah Khan awards
By IANS
New Delhi : Millennium star Amitabh Bachchan, sand artiste Sudershan Patnaik, former cricketer Kapil Dev and the country's first woman Indian Police Service officer Kiran Bedi are among 12 recipients of the 'First Ustad Bismillah Khan Awards For Excellence 2008'.
The award has been instituted by Bismillah: The Beginning Foundation, a private initiative that had also brought out a pictorial monograph on the life and art of the shehnai maestro in 2006 to extend financial support to him.
Music director Yuvan converts to Islam, quits twitter after getting abused
By Agencies,
Chennai Famous young Indian music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja announced that he has converted to Islam. Yuvan, son of Indian music maestro Ilayaraja,...
Malayalam film technicians call for indefinite strike
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : The Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) Tuesday staged a one-day strike demanding a pay hike, but later decided to continue it indefinitely.
Taj Mahal builders used Harappan measurement units that British discarded
By K.S. Jayaraman, IANS,
Bangalore : Designers of the 17th century Taj Mahal, the finest piece of Mughal architecture, employed the same unit of measurement used by the Harappan civilization as far back 2000 BC, according to a study by an IIT-Kanpur professor. These units were used by builders in India till the British imposed their own units in the 18th century.
Bollywood wishes Eid mumbark
By IANS,
Mumbai : Bollywood Friday wished "peace", "happiness" and "love" for friends and fans on Eid-ul-Azha.
Amaan, Ayaan collaborate with San Francisco-based vocalist
New Delhi : Sarod maestros Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan have collaborated with a San Francisco-based vocalist Devika Chawla to create a...
Re-living the legacy at Gwalior Heritage Festival
By Azera Rahman, IANS
Gwalior : Hundreds of earthen lamps floated around, throwing their soft beam on the artistes as they performed on a stage set in the midst of a pond at the picturesque Moti Mahal Palace, making the Gwalior Heritage Festival a truly royal experience.
Re-living Gwalior's legacy could have hardly got better than this. As artistes performed, the audience sat around on the steps, getting washed over by the brilliance of the evening.
‘Sea of Poppies’ breaks many myths of migrant Indian labour
By Shubha Sing, IANS,
Book: "Sea of Poppies"; Author: Amitav Ghosh; Publisher: Penguin Viking; Price: Rs.599.00
‘Karna’ – tribute to the anti-hero
By Robin Bansal, IANS,
New Delhi : Showing how social barriers can prevent people from attaining success, Bobby Bedi's play "Karna - Warrior of the Sun" tells the tale of the unsung hero of the Mahabharata and his struggle to rise above his social station to become a respected warrior.
Karna was born of divinity but raised as the son of a lowly charioteer. The play captures his quest for honour despite unfavourable circumstances.
Louis Banks eyes Grammy nomination
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : India's best known jazz musician Louis Banks is keeping his fingers crossed. He hopes that one of his two latest international albums wins a Grammy nomination this year.
"And I wish one of them wins an award. Both have been sent to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the US, which presents the awards every year," Banks told IANS in the capital.
In MIT, a celebration of Faiz’s life and works
By TCN News
Cambridge, Massachusetts: A program to celebrate the life and works of one of Urdu’s greatest poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz attracted a room full of Faiz fans to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on June 27, 2010.
Building support for public intellectuals in times of cultural intolerance
(Courtesy: Hindustantimes)
Badre Alam & Sanjay Kumar
It will not be an exaggeration, to say that extremism and cultural intolerance has not been growing...
AMU Vice Chancellor conferred India’s Most Eminent VC Award
By TCN News,
Aligarh, December 15: Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor Lt General Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd) has been conferred the ‘India’s Most Eminent Vice...
Trinidad & Tobago Hindus celebrate Shivaratri with fervour
By Paras Ramoutar, IANS
Port-of-Spain : Spirituality, meditation, chanting of mantras, singing of devotional songs and benediction formed the tenor of Shivaratri ibn Trinidad and Tobago. The Hindu festival is celebrated to mark the wedding of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati.
T&T's nearly 500,000-devout Hindus, like those in India and in over 80 countries where the Indian diaspora resides, marked this auspicious and religious day of Shivaratri Thursday.
NDTV Indian of the year: Amjad Ali, Satish Gujral honoured
New Delhi : Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and eminent artist Satish Gujral were Tuesday honoured with the NDTV Indian of the Year...
‘Nawabi era grandeur of Bhopal’s Taj Mahal to be restored’
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: The renovation work of Nawabi era Taj Mahal building in Shahjahanabad locality here in Bhopal would be completed soon. Efforts would be undertaken to complete the work within a year to restore the lost grandeur of this great monument. For this purpose an action plan would be chalked out and discussed with various departmental heads in the district.
AMU organises seminar on life and works of Ismat Chugtai
By TCN News,
Aligarh: The Women’s College, Aligarh Muslim University, is organising a two-day seminar to celebrate the works and life of Urdu literary giant...
Two Indian names in Man Booker long list
By IANS
London : Two writers of Indian origin - Indra Sinha and Nikita Lalwani - figure in the 13-writer strong long-list for this year's prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction worth 50,000 pounds.
Sinha is the author of the book "Animal's People", while Lalwani's book is titled "Gifted".
The chair of judges, Howard Davies, said Wednesday: "This year's long-list is very diverse, with four first-time novelists as well as some more familiar names. All the books chosen are well-crafted and will appeal to a wide readership."
Urdu Litterateur Dr. Khalid Mahmood honoured in Bhopal
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: A litterateur being adored and eulogized in his life time for his literary pursuits and his overall personality when one is alive and kicking is a rare moment. It is certainly a break from the set tradition and trend of praising one to the skies after one is dead and gone.
Muslims insecure under Modi rule: Rafi’s son
By Preetha Nair
Agra: Minorities, especially, the Muslim community feel insecure under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says Shahid Rafi, son of the legendary singer Mohammed...
First Serve Toonz signs up BBC for Wolverine series
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : First Serve Toonz, a joint venture between Toonz Animation India and London-based First Serve International, Friday announced a deal with the BBC for a new animation series, based on the iconic character, Wolverine.
The deal sees the BBC secure television rights in Britain for the first series of 26 half-an-hour episodes.
Jesse Cleverly, head of CBBC (BBC Children's) Co-Productions and Acquisitions, said the Wolverine scripts were "amongst the best we have ever read and the show promises to be a highly involving experience for the audience".
Experts suggest mudpack to restore Taj sheen
By Sharat Pradhan, IANS
Lucknow : Having failed to see anything else working to save the Taj Mahal from yellowing, experts have now come up with a novel idea. They will apply a mudpack to the 17th century white marble monumental wonder next month.
Experts at the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are confident that this non-abrasive experiment could work the same kind of magic that mudpacks do to lend sheen to women's faces.
An art exhibition that `speaks’ for the differently abled
By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS,
Bangalore : Their world is silent. Spoken words hold no meaning for them as they are hearing- and speech- impaired. Twelve of them, however, are attempting to give voice to the "voiceless" population of India through an art exhibition in Bangalore.
Global Kuchipudi convention gets dancers, experts together
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The second international Kuchipudi dance convention began here Friday, bringing together five generations of dancers and over 4,000 delegates from 16 countries.
Short film contest winners to be honoured in Singapore
By IANS,
Singapore: The five winners of a short film contest that saw participation of over 100 young filmmakers from about 30 countries will be honoured here May 17.
The Ghalib I like to remember
By Amit Basole
Ghalib's haveli in Ballimaran
On occasion of Mirza Ghalib's death anniversary (Februrary 15th) once again, we can expect articles on the man and...
Dargah Nizamuddin – an abode of spirituality and secularism
By Sarwar Kashani
New Delhi: As the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya reverberated with Qawwalis towards the end of the 703rd annual Urs, thousands of milling devotees - Muslims, Hindus and other faiths - were lost in a world of their own.
The ambience, called Mehfil-e-Sama, demanded so. Qawwali singers, tunefully shouting "Moula Ali Moula Moula", compelled every visitor to erase the concept of time from the minds and experience the spiritual ecstasy.
That is what precisely defines the goal of Sufism - a mystical belief and practice seeking the truth of divine love and knowledge.
Chidambaram quotes Tiruvalluvar on good governance
By IANS
New Delhi : Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Friday quoted Tamil saint poet Tiruvalluvar in the Lok Sabha to emphasise the need for compassion and righteous rule.
Speaking during the presentation of the budget for 2008-09, Chidambaram said: "As always, I turned to my muse, Saint Tiruvalluvar, for guidance and reassurance.
"Two thousand years ago he set the benchmark for good governance in the following immortal words:
Renowned Bangladeshi instrumentalist dead
By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh's renowned instrumentalist Abinash Chandra Shill is dead. Shill, 54, died here Saturday following a heart attack.
He was a specialist on playing Dotara, a two-bowed instrument of the Sarangi family popular across South Asia.
Belonging to a family of musicians, he was a freedom fighter who used to broadcast on Bangladesh Betar, the radio network that contributed to Bangladesh's separatist movement against Pakistan.
Religious fervour marks Gurpurab in Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh : Holiest of Sikh shrines 'Harmandar Sahib', popularly known as Golden Temple, in Amritsar and other gurdwaras elsewhere across Punjab and Haryana saw...
Saffron hegemony due to lack of education on diverse practices
By Nazish Hussain for TwoCircles.net,
Over the last two years the topics of debate in the India’s public sphere have been on the issues of...
‘Shooting USAF plane brought Seventh Fleet to Bay of Bengal in 1971’
By IANS
New Delhi : The unwitting shooting of a US aircraft parked at Chaklala air base in Pakistan, hours after the India-Pakistan conflict began in 1971, may have prompted the Nixon administration to send a naval task force to the Bay of Bengal, says the pilot who flew the mission.
Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash, who flew a Hunter while on deputation with the Indian Air Force in the wee hours of Dec 4, 1971, destroyed a number of light aircraft parked at the base.
Italy-based artist Kammie Soni in India to help challenged children
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Veteran Italy-based designer-cum-abstractionist Kammie Soni, who left India over 40 years ago to pursue her passion - travel and art - is back in the country to help challenged children.
Soni, who belongs to the generation of senior artists like Kishen Khanna and Satish Gujral and is a student of doyen Biren De, has worked for international fashion houses like Valentino, Versace and Paloma Piccaso - legendary painter Pablo Picasso's daughter.
The artist, in her 70s, shares a special friendship with Paloma, with whom she discusses her art.
सैय्यद हसन की याद में नज़्म
आह सय्यद हसन!
(अपने उस्ताद मुहतरम जनाब सय्यद हसन साहब, को मनज़ूम खिराज-ए-अक़ीदत)
By नदीम ज़फर जिलानी
हर शख़्स सोगवार है, हर आँख अश्कबार,
ग़ुंचे, लिपट के फूलों...
Documentary on Rafi to premiere on his 92nd birth anniversary
Mumbai : "Daastan-E-Rafi", a documentary based on the life of Mohammad Rafi will have its television premiere on the occasion of late legendary composers...
Amitabh to brief media about eighth IIFA event
By IANS
New Delhi : Amitabh Bachchan, one of the brand ambassadors of International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), will give an overview of the various activities planned for the eighth IIFA awards Tuesday at a press conference.
Kader Khan’s comeback film is a clean comedy: Director
Agra: "Hogaya Dimaagh Ka Dahi", an upcoming film starring character actor and comedian Kader Khan in his comeback role, is a clean and original...
Fresh scripts fail to make cash counters ring in 2007
By Prithwish Ganguly
IANSNew Delhi : Bollywood's hope of recreating last year's box office successes has taken a big blow in 2007, with collections of only $5.8 million in the first six months compared to $135 million in 2006.
IOS to celebrate 30th anniversary in 2016, hold national & international seminars
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Institute of Objective Studies, (IOS), will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year by organising national and international seminars and workshops...
10 Bulgarian diplomas of honor for young Iranian artists
By IRNA,
Tehran : Iranian children and young artists won ten diplomas of honor in Bulgaria's International Nova Zagora Painting Contest.
According to a report by the Public Relations Department of the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA), the competition was held with a free subject and 559 diplomas of honor were presented to participants from 26 countries.
Maedeh Bahrami, 5.5, from Tehran was the smallest Iranian winner at the event whose painting portrays a scarecrow in a sunflower farm with two crows on its hands.
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...
दस्तकारों, शिल्पकारों के आर्थिक सशक्तिकरण का “मेगा मिशन” साबित रहे हैं “हुनर हाट”: नक़वी
इंदौर। केंद्रीय अल्पसंख्यक कार्य मंत्री मुख़्तार अब्बास नक़वी ने किया है कि उनके मंत्रालय की तरफ़ से देश भर में आयोजित किये जा रहे...
Old man gored to death by jallikattu bull
By IANS
Theni (Tamil Nadu) : An elderly man was gored to death by an angry bull during the traditional jallikattu bullfighting event in Tamil Nadu's Theni district, reports said.
Local reports gave contradictory accounts of the incident that happened at Kottur village, about 800 km south of state capital Chennai.
One report said the dead man, identified as 70-year-old village leader Muthu Ravuthar, was a spectator perched on a temporary stand and fell into the arena, drawing the wrath of an angry animal which gored him to death.
Book review: Curfewed Night
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
There is a Kashmir of numbers- half a million soldiers, a hundred thousand killed, thousands disappeared, hundreds of militants; and then there is a Kashmir of people- people with names and faces, with hopes and aspirations, with pains and sorrows, and with past and present. Basharat Peer, a Kashmiri journalist, in his book “Curfewed Nights” reveals this second Kashmir that ironically, even with Kashmir always being in the news, few know about.
Exhibition recapitulates spiritual master Sohan Qadri’s journey
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Indialogue Foundation invites entries for National Photo Story Contest
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: As a part of their peace-building initiatives, Indialogue Foundation in collaboration with Rajan’s School of...
Jaipur to host six-day Teej festival
By IANS
Jaipur : To promote tourism in the state, the Rajasthan government is holding a six-day-long 'Sawan Teej' festival here from Saturday.
"The Sawan Teej festival this year will have various cultural activities like dances, plays and songs," Usha Punia, Rajasthan tourism minister, told IANS.
Eminent singer Shubha Mudgal, actor and singer Vasundhara Das, band Euphoria, a play "Rangili Bhagmati" by Ashok Rahi, a musical show by Veena Cassettes and a Kathak performance will delight the tourists during the mega event from Aug 11 to Aug 16.
‘Anarkali’ dresses a hit as Malaysian Indians go Diwali shopping
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Elegant 'Anarkali' churidar-kurta women's dresses in layered fine cloth, a throwback to India's Mughal era, are becoming a big draw with Malaysian Indian women as they begin shopping for Diwali.
The shops here in Brickfields, Jalan Masjid India and other avenues popular with ethnic Indian shoppers are stocking up on Anarkali Suits, named after the beautiful Mughal era courtesan Anarkali, with whom Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jehangir, fell in love.
Woman priest, a mother – they fight cultural beliefs for change
By IANS,
New Delhi : At first glance, Suniti Gadgil doesn't look like a Hindu priest. One of the very few women who have broken yet another male bastion, Gadgil always wears a bright smile though not necessarily a priest's robes.
"My journey to becoming a priest has been a challenging one. Initially, people were not ready to accept it, even my husband did not support me. But now things have changed," Gadgil said at the UN Population Fund's (UNFPA) report release function Wednesday.
Intolerance debate getting chaotic: A.R. Rahman
Panaji : Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman on Tuesday said the intolerance debate in India is becoming "chaotic", adding "we should set an example...
AMU’s Minority Character, the Judiciary and the Executive
Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood
ZakatIndia.org
The citizens of India would be grateful to the Hon'ble Supreme Court for very kindly taking note of the contents of...
Now a museum for domestic appliances
By Gerd Korinthenberg, DPA
Ghent : They come from flea markets across Europe and the US, from Internet auctions or dusty lofts - the vacuum cleaners and hot irons, toasters and pans from the avantgarde of modern design, which French collector Jean-Bernard Hebey has picked up over decades.
Around 375 of these extraordinary domestic appliances from the 1920s to the 1970s are on display at the design museum in the Flanders' metropolis of Ghent, northern Belgium, in an exhibition entitled 'Esthetique Domestique' (Domestic Aesthetics) open to the public until Sep 30.
Remembering Ghalib’s angst through his life, poetry
By Firoz Bakht Ahmed, IANS,
'Aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak/
Kaun jeeta hei tirii zulf ke sar honey tak'
(The sighs of love a...
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...
Cremation ground near Taj Mahal gets new lease of life
By Brij Khandelwal, IANS
Agra : As the Taj Mahal fights for a place among the seven wonders of the world, the cremation ground near the love memorial is being given a facelift by artists here.
Chennai remembers Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer with 100-hour concert
By IANS,
Chennai : Lovers of Carnatic music here are marking the birth centenary of legendary musician Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer with a hundred-hour concert.
The event, organised by the Global Carnatic Music Association, began on July 31 and ends Monday night, with nearly 40 artistes performing for the last four days.
Srinivasa Iyer was born July 25, 1908, at Semmangudi village in Thanjavur district, and began his music training at the age of eight, under gurus like Gottuvadyam Sakharama Rao and Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer.
The burden of history: Aurangzeb to Abdul Kalam
By Wahidul Islam for TwoCircles.net
History cannot be repeated neither we can go back to time to check its credibility. We can demonise and...
Bangla language ‘martyrs’ of Assam and the fight against linguistic aggression
Utsa Sarmin, TwoCircles.net
Guwahati: A two-week commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of a turbulent and bloody moment in Assam’s history culminated at Silchar on May 19....
Indian art market gets a reality check
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi: If there were a brighter side to recession, it's in the Indian art market right now. The bubble has burst, sifting out the investors from the collectors and bringing back that crucial connect between artistic achievements and prices.
Art magazines and publications - a spate of which has flooded the market - are also playing an important role in educating buyers by highlighting "good and unusual art" to a wider cross section.
Deep-rooted conspiracy behind Punjab turmoil: Badal
Gurdaspur (Punjab) : Amid tension in many parts of Punjab following the desecration of the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib, Punjab Chief Minister...
Ramadan to begin in Kerala on Monday
Thiruvananthapuram : The islamic holy month of Ramadan would begin in Kerala from Monday, announced Muslim clerics here.
P.V. Suhaib Moulavi, the Imam of the...
New York Aligs names Shamsur Rahman Faruqi for Lifetime Achievement Award 2010
By TCN News
New York: The Aligarh Alumni Association of New York has announced that the eminent literary critic, poet and novelist, Mr. Shamsur Rahman Faruqi will be honored with this year's "Sir Syed Day Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Literature, Poetry, Arts or the Sciences.'
This award will be presented at the Association's annual Sir Syed Day Dinner and Mushaira to be held on October 2, 2010 at Akbar Restaurant, Garden City, New York. The award includes the presentation of a plaque and a cash purse of Rupees one lakh.
German expert reveals true identity of Mona Lisa
By DPA
Heidelberg : A German expert has confirmed the real identity of Mona Lisa after centuries of speculation about the woman in Leonardo da Vinci's famous portrait.
It is Lisa Gherardini, wife of a Florentine cloth merchant named Francesco del Giocondo, said Viet Probst, director of the Heidelberg University Library.
Probst confirmed Friday a German television report which said the discovery was made two-and-a-half years ago by the head of the university's handwriting department.
My career is peaking at 75: artist C.D. Mistry
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS
New Delhi : Age has not dulled the fire of his ambition. "At 75, my career as an artist is finally peaking," says Ahmedabad-based artist C.D. Mistry, who has experimented with tribal folk and religious motifs from the south of Gujarat in his latest series, "Force & Fantasy".
The series, one of the best executed by the artist in his four-decade-old career and which is currently being exhibited in the capital, is the talk of the country's haute art circuit.
Orissa celebrates harvest festival ‘Nuakhai’
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Millions of people in Orissa Sunday offered the first crop of the season to their presiding deities in celebration of the harvest festival of 'Nuakhai' that spreads the message of goodwill and brotherhood.
People celebrated the festival in western Orissa to welcome the first crop of the season in their fields and offered the new yield to gods and goddesses and also worshipped cattle.
After offering it to their presiding deities, the worshippers from different castes and communities ate the offerings called 'nua' (new).
Eco-friendly priests set for green Durga Puja
By IANS
Kolkata : Durga Puja, the biggest carnival of Bengalis, is all set to go eco-friendly this year with a prominent body of the priests ordering its members to perform the rituals sans plastic.
Vaidik Pandit O Purohit Mahamilan Kendra, an organisation of priests performing pujas, issued the diktat to all its members in West Bengal, urging them not to use plastic in any form while performing the prayer rituals.
Vintage one rupee coin auctioned for Rs.220,000
By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS,
Bangalore : It may sound unbelievable, but a vintage one rupee coin fetched Rs.220,000 at a numismatic auction in India's IT hub on the country's 62nd Independence Day.
The proud owner of the rare coin, minted in 1960, outbid stiff competition from two other rivals to pocket the prized possession.
"A record of sorts was created when the one-rupee coin of mintage 1960 went under the hammer for Rs.220,000. The coin is rarest of the rare, as it never came into circulation," auctioneer Farokh S. Todywalla told IANS.
Haryana declares Karva Chauth holiday for women
By IANS,
Chandigarh : The Haryana government Thursday announced that Friday would be observed as a public holiday for all women employees in the government on account of the Hindu festival of Karva Chauth.
There are thousands of women posted in government offices, educational institutes, boards and corporations in the state.
As Karva Chauth is a festival that sees married women keeping a day-long fast - during which they do not even consume water - to pray for the long lives of their husbands, all women working in government offices will find the going easier due to the holiday.
Bengali music maestros enthral Toronto
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : Bengali classical artists set the tone for Diwali festivities in Canada's largest city in a rare musical evening sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Held at City Playhouse in Vaughan near here, the evening kicked off with a vocal recital in Raga Hamsadhwani by Indian Canadian artist Gauri Guha.
Then renowned sarod maestro from Kolkata, Prattyush Banerjee, cast his spell on the Toronto audience with his immaculate rendition of Raga Patdip, followed by a small piece in Raga Maluha Kedar.
Blind martial arts expert dances into audience’s heart
By Alkesh Sharma, IANS,
Chandigarh : Thirty-year-old Rashpal Kaur, who lost her eyesight to a brain tumour in 2004, overcame the handicap and danced her way into the hearts of the viewers of television reality show "Dance India Dance", thanks to her training in martial arts.
"I do not have any formal training in dancing, but the moves of gatka (a Sikh martial art) help me in my performances. I love to mix the steps of gatka while dancing. I managed to perform on the show by counting the dimensions of the stage and by psychologically evaluating my steps," Rashpal told IANS.
Polish-born artist completes 40-metre picture of late pope
By DPA,
Muenster : A Polish-born artist has completed a 40-metre-long painting depicting Pope John Paul II, and said she believes it is the largest oil painting ever of the late pope.
Made up of a series of 26 canvasses, each 2.5 metres tall, the composite picture is to go on public view from Wednesday until April in a theatre in the northern German city of Muenster.
"Oh Karol" depicts Polish-born Karol Wojtyla, who was pope from 1978 till 2005, at various stages of his papacy.
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...
Chhattisgarh wants world heritage status for Sirpur
By IANS
Raipur : Chhattisgarh will lobby for world heritage status for Sirpur village, which was a famous Buddhist study centre from the 6th to the 10th century.
US museum showcases works of ‘Father of Indian Modern Art’
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The exquisite and historically groundbreaking work of noted Indian painter Nandalal Bose, often called the father of Indian modernism, has been showcased at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of America' largest museums.
Called "Rhythms of India: The Art of Nandalal Bose", it's the first travelling exhibition outside Asia to highlight the works of Bose (1882-1966) includes nearly 100 of the artist's finest paintings in a variety of styles and media.
‘Scattered Voices’ on Gujarat riots resonate in scribe’s book
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : Almost two years after the 2002 Gujarat violence, journalist Ayesha Khan was attending a 'mushaira' when she found two participants being shushed for reciting verses on the riots.
"Why did they have to be cloaked in silence?" she wondered. The incident at the poet's meet was one of the many incidents that goaded Ayesha into compiling the verses of Gujarat Muslim poets on the violence that shook the state six years ago.
Indian classical dance now a global heritage
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Once confined to temples, Indian classical dance is crossing the seas, creating new cross-cultural idioms and churning out foreign exponents.
Classical dancers of foreign origin say genres like bharatanatyam, kathak and mohiniattam have become fashion, wellness and cultural statements among GenNext in Southeast Asia and in the West because of their heritage and mystic pull.
Discussing gender, sexuality through a film festival
By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian capital is set to host a film festival on "gender and sexuality, identities and spaces" starting May 12, with works of several artistes from different parts of the world.
My Spider-Man will bring peace to Bihar: Ravi
By Subhash K. Jha
IANS Mumbai : Flamboyant Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishen will go hammer and tongs at corrupt politicians and Maoists in the Bhojpuri adaptation of Hollywood blockbuster "Spider-Man".