Egypt discovers Ptolemaic tomb with black sarcophagus in Alexandria
By IANS
Cairo, July 2 (IANS) An Egyptian archeological mission discovered on Sunday a tomb with a large black granite sarcophagus dating back to the...
Multifaceted actor Tom Alter to receive Padma Shri
By IANS
New Delhi : In a career spanning about three decades, Bollywood actor, sports writer and novelist Tom Alter has played a variety of characters both in real life and reel life. The multifaceted actor is now all set to receive the Padma Shri Award for his distinguished contribution in the field of art.
Fondly called the "true blue Englishman on screen", Alter recently left stage buffs in a thrall in Oman with his solo play on the life, times and scholarship of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.
Tabla legend Kishan Maharaj dead
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) : Pandit Kishan Maharaj, one of India's best-known classical percussionists, passed away in this temple town after battling a brain stroke for five days. He was 85.
The leading tabla exponent was pulled off life support systems Sunday night. He had suffered a stroke Tuesday and efforts had been on to stave off brain death.
Kishan Maharaj is survived by a son and three daughters.
‘Onam iftars’ in Kerala Ramzan
By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Kozhikode: Ramzan is going active in Kerala with believers flocking to masjids for tharaveeh and iftar parties inviting people of different religions. The occurrence of Kerala’s state festival Onam during the Ramzan paved way for special Onam iftars also this year.
Theater personality Raghunandana refuses award to protest against lynching
TCN News
Theater personality S Raghunandana's name state has been announced for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award for 2018 on July 17th.
But Raghunandana, based...
Hindi Diwas celebrated in BHEL Bhopal unit
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: "Hindi Divas is a festival of commitment and dedication towards Rajbhasha Hindi, said RK Singh, Executive Director, BHEL, Bhopal in his address as chief guest on the occasion of Hindi Divas at BHEL Cultural Hall.
Singh said that BHEL Plant is committed towards compliance of statutory requirements like its production target. Highlighting the importance of Hindi as a language of business in the market today, he emphasized on increase in the use of Hindi. CK Pani, General Manager (IT & PDX) chaired the function.
MP: Christians observe ‘black day’ after youth convention called off on Bajrang Dal’s objection
Participants of the convention were forcefully stopped by the right-wing extremist group and were taken to Moghat Police Station after a ruckus.
TCN Staff Correspondent
BHOPAL...
The Untold Struggles of Rajgarh’s Muslim Jewelers: Mastering Art But Losing Identity
Abdul Waseem Ansari, TwoCircles.net
A legacy of craftsmanship is slowly fading into obscurity in the quiet lanes of Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh. A family of Muslim...
`India’s classical languages – Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil’
By IANS,
New Delhi : Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit and Tamil are the four classical languages of India, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni informed the Rajya Sabha Tuesday.
Soni said the government has not taken any view in classifying Malayalam as another classical language as they have not received any representation from the Kerala government.
She said Kannada and Telugu were notified as classical languages Oct 31 after the proposal was cleared by a committee formed by the culture ministry.
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.
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.
Khuda Bakhsh hosts Urdu poet Anand Mohan “Gulzar Dehlavi”
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Patna: Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library held its monthly session on 27th April which was attended especially by eminent Urdu poet Pundit Anand Mohan alias Gulzar Dehlavi.
Pundit Anand Mohan amused Urdu poetry lovers at the programme by his recitation of ghazals. He has specialty in Rubais (quartets). His ghazals were appreciated by the distinguished audience. With his firm belief in Urdu language, Gulzar is seen as a symbol of national integration. He is the author of the book Gulzar-e-Ghazal.
33 years of struggle and the battle is on!
By Reeti Mahobe,
What’s common between the Oscar winning movie, Life of Pi, and her? That continuously ongoing struggle not just of life but for life. But her indomitable spirit is unmatched for. She is rare yet very special. This is about Payel Bhattacharya who has seen 33 years of life with each day being a mystery to unravel bringing in either new hopes or more often the new hurdles to conquer through. On this occasion of Rare Disease Day, she expresses her intent to spread awareness on VHL or Von Hippel Lindau Disease, the condition with which she has lived for all these years.
On PM’s behalf, Naqvi offers ‘chaadar’ at Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Ajmer (Rajasthan), (IANS): Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday offered a "chaadar" on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the "dargah" of...
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.
Agra’s teenaged guitarist plays for Guinness record
By IANS,
Agra : A 14-year-old Agra boy, Akash Gupta Sunday began strumming his guitar before hundreds of music lovers at 162-year-old St. Peter's College in the city of Taj. And he plans to stop only after he has created a new Guinness world record for longest playing the instrument at a live show.
Kashmir-based youth group distributes fruit boxes among patients on 9th Muharram
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCirlces.net,
Srinagar : With an aim to send a message of brotherhood among different Muslim Sects and to...
Agra’s heritage being bulldozed to dust
By Brij Khandelwal, IANS,
Agra : The city of the Taj Mahal is home to the crumbling mansions of erstwhile royalty where dozens of families still live cheek by jowl. They are now part of a heritage that residents are trying desperately to protect from looming bulldozers.
Their lone success came last weekend, when union Culture Minister Ambika Soni intervened to save Bharatpur House in the city's Khandari area, a mansion over 150 years old.
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...
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...
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...
A Malayalam film on Gujarat riots
By IANS
Kozhikode (Kerala) : National award winning director T.V. Chandran Monday began filming here his latest venture "Vilapangalku Appuram" based on the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The lead actors are: Suhasini, who returns to Malayalam films after a long gap, Biju Menon and Thilakan.
Producer of the film Aryadan Shoukat has written the story of the film.
Speaking to IANS, Shoukat said the story revolves around Sahira, a Muslim woman who flees Gujarat soon after the riots and arrives in Kozhikode.
Breaking Boundaries: Gurez Border Youths Master Filmmaking to Share J&K’s Stories with the World
Tauseef Ahmad/ TwoCircles.net
Bandipora: For centuries, women in the border areas of Kashmir Valley have been predominantly confined to household and agricultural roles. However, a remarkable...
Muslims in Kerala observe Ramadan fast
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram: Muslims in Kerala began their Ramadan fast after prayers early Saturday morning.
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).
‘The Untold Charminar’ – tribute to soul of Nizam’s city
By IANS,
New Delhi : Hyderabad is a city where the old and the new stubbornly coexist. The distinct identities that come together and often merge are brought out beautifully in the book "The Untold Charminar: Writings on Hyderabad".
The historic Charminar vies for space with the corporate offices of cyber companies and media magnate Ramoji Rao's sprawling film city in a cosmopolitan landscape that has three distinct identities: the past, modern and the new wave.
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...
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...
‘Come Eat With Me’: Exploring caste through cooking Dalit cuisine in upper caste kitchens
In an interview with TwoCircles.net, award winning Dalit theatre artist Sri Vamsi Matta talks about his experiences as a Dalit which inform the questions,...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
Yusuf Arakkal: Portrait of artist and his haunting, taunting faces
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
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.
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,...
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...
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.
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.
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...
‘Urdu is India’s Heritage, Not Kathmullapan’: MANUU Students Protest UP Yogi Adityanath’s Remarks
TCN Staff
Hundreds of students from Hyderabad's Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) held a protest on Tuesday in response to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister...
Debate on Name Changes Reaches Delhi Assembly: BJP Leaders Push for Renaming Localities
Asad Shaikh, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: The discussion about changing names, which began before the Delhi Assembly elections, has now reached the floor of the assembly....
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".
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.
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.
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...
‘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.
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.
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.
’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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fatehpur Sikri: A Glimpse into Akbar’s Lost Capital and Struggle to Preserve Mughal Grandeur
Farheen Saifi, TwoCircles.net
Agra (Uttar Pradesh): It was around 4 PM on February 16 when a man in a round cap and a muffler stood...
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.
Dad Hafiz Ali was a simpleton: Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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.
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,...
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.
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.
105-year-old sister ties Rakhi on 98-year-old brother
By IANS
Jaipur : For almost a century, this sister has been praying for the long life of her brother. Though she has failed to visit him on Raksha Bandhan every year, this time, 105-year-old Gopi travelled all the way to her 98-year-old brother Gopal's village to celebrate the occasion.
Gopi, a resident of Charanwala village in Jaipur district received a warm welcome from the villagers when she reached Chamtali, about 50 km from here, to tie the Rakhi on her brother Tuesday.
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.
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.
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...
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...
The Waning Zardozi of Varanasi: Shadows Over a Heritage, Restless Muslim Artisans – Ground...
Aradhna Pandey, TwoCircles.net
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): The needles of Zardozi once wove miracles in the alleys of Varanasi. The craftsmanship that emerged from golden and...
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).
‘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
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.
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...
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...
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...
Disconnected in Hyperconnected World: How Work, Family Shifts Fuelling Loneliness Epidemic in Post-Pandemic Era
Devanshi Batra, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Why does it feel like we are more alone than ever in a world where we are constantly plugged in? Despite...
‘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.
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...
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...
‘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.
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...
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.
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...
Bollywood wishes Eid mumbark
By IANS,
Mumbai : Bollywood Friday wished "peace", "happiness" and "love" for friends and fans on Eid-ul-Azha.
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.
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."
Goa such a literary place: Amitav Ghosh
By IANS,
Calangute (Goa) : One of the pleasures of being in Goa is that it is "such a literary place", says Amitav Ghosh, one of the biggest names in Indian writing in English today.
Ghosh, who lives in New York but has currently set up base in the rustic north Goa village of Aldona, was speaking at the launch of his new book, "Sea of Poppies", held for a select audience - a mix of locals and expatriates, at the book boutique Literati in this beach village.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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:
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...
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...
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.
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...
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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...
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...
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.