Mexican artists wrap Gandhi in fusion music for children
By Liz Mathew, IANS,
Mexico City : Ravi Shankar introduced Indian classical music to the West, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi took transcendental meditation across the Atlantic, and now Latin American fusion music is being used to introduce Mahatma Gandhi to the young generation of Mexico.
A Mexican music troupe sang Indian verses accompanied by pre-Hispanic musical instruments at the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the side of a busy road here when visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil arrived to pay her tributes.
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.
Malaysian govt. approves 800 priests and musicians from India
By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian Government has approved an intake of 800 priests and musicians from India for Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu said.
Of this number, 500 priests and musicians are meant for Hindu temples while the rest were for Sikh gurdwaras.
Last night, Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam said the Cabinet had decided on allowing and renewing visas and permits for Hindu priests, musicians and artisans from India.
Exhibition of Buddhist relics in Moscow
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Precious Buddhist relics including a tooth of Buddha Shakyamuni, several teeth and bones of other Buddhas and revered relics known as 'pearls from bones' are on display here and set to draw thousands of visitors.
After an exhibition in St Petersburg, the 36 sacred relics were brought to the International Roerich Centre-Museum as part of the Heart Shrine Relic Tour, a series of shows organised worldwide by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, the spiritual director of the Maitreya Project.
Apex court directive may help non-Kannada films
By R.G. Vijaysarathy, IANS
Bangalore : A Supreme Court judgement calling for uniform entertainment tax for feature films in Andhra Pradesh may have far reaching box-office consequences for Kannada and non-Kannada films.
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.
West Bengal: Young graduate turns century-old tree into outdoor library
The tree library located in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal was started in March and houses more than 200 books in various genres.
Partho...
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.
Indian, Pakistani singers to come together at Sufi music fest
New Delhi : Singers from India and Pakistan will perform and sing in a two-day festival of Sindhi sufi music that will begin here...
Jaun Elia: A Concealed Philosopher Poet
By Mohammad Suhail
Yeh hai ek jabr Ittefaq nahi
Jaun hona koi Mazak nahi
(This is a hardship, not the coincidence
Being Jaun is not a joke)
(Jaun Elia)
Mostly...
Giant Indian veena on show in Malaysia
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Members of an Indian cultural club in Malaysia have made the country's largest veena, a stringed classical music instrument, which is now on display at a university.
The veena, measuring 10.3 metres long and 1.8 metres high with a 2.4 metre-wide base and costing about Malaysian Ringgit (RM) 25,000, is the work of 200 members of the Indian Cultural Club of the Universiti Utara Malaysia in Sintok, Kedah.
The instrument will be submitted as an entry in the Malaysia Book of Records, programme adviser Suresh David was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.
Builders of three monasteries under construction to be booked
By IANS,
Patna : The builders of three Buddhist monasteries under construction in Bihar's Bodh Gaya are to be booked for violating the master plan, an official said Saturday.
Irked by the open violation of the master plan near Mahabodhi temple, Buddhism's holiest shrine in Bodh Gaya, Magadh Divisional Commissioner K.P. Ramiyah directed the officials concerned to lodge a report against three Buddhist monasteries and a school on charges of illegal construction.
Kaleem Ajiz takes charge as chairman of Bihar Urdu Standing Committee
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Patna: Padmashree Professor Kaleem Ajiz took the charge as the Chairman of Bihar Urdu Standing Committee (Bihar Urdu Mushawarati Committee) on 25th June. He was given a warm welcome in the secretariat office after assuming the office.
Author of several books and classical ghazals, Dr. Ajiz is a retired professor of Patna University and a recipient of the much coveted Padmashree award for his contributions to Urdu literature. True to his love to Urdu, he sent the government information about his joining the committee as the chairman in Urdu language.
Porcelain: Fusing three art forms through the language of dance
By IANS,
New Delhi : What happens when three genres of art - visual, performing and audio - come together? A new language encompassing art in its totality is created.
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) What happens when three genres of art - visual, performing and audio - come together? A new language encompassing art in its totality is created.
Tamils in Malaysia prepare for Pongal fest
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : The "Little Indias" across Malaysia are agog with social and business activities two days ahead of the Pongal festival celebrated by its two-million strong Tamil community.
Much in demand are pots, sugarcane and turmeric plants to usher in the new Tamil month called Thai, with people unmindful of the economic downturn.
"Despite fears that this year's celebration may be toned down due to the economic downturn, the scene here showed nothing to that extent," The Star newspaper said in a report from Klang Tuesday.
Geoff Dyer looks for inner self in two cultures
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Jaipur : Cultures, philosophies, travel, art and people merge in Geoff Dyer's books as he chronicles a human saga that moves from Italy to India.
Hailed as one of the best novelists of the decade, Dyer in his latest book, "Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi", has threaded two cities with common legacies in art and culture in a Thomas Mann-like creation that documents a journalist's brush with hedonism, romance, spirituality and philosophy.
Rise of religious fundamentalism the biggest issue for India, Bangladesh: Professor Anisuzzaman
Professor Anisuzzaman, president of Bangla Aceademy, Bangladesh's national language authority, was in Guwahati recently. He had been invited by the Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad...
Malayalam artist Manzoor passes away
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Malayalam drama-cinema artist Manzoor, who was hospitalised following a fall from a terrace, passed away at the Medical College Hospital here. He was 38.
Kabir: An icon of a socio-cultural revolution
By Balraj Puri
Kabir’s 612th Prakash utsava was celebrated throughout north India on June 26.
He belonged to a galaxy of saints who led a socio-cultural revolution in 16th century which laid the foundation of a unique composite culture of India. It included Bhakti movement of Hindu saints and Muslim saints who influenced one another.
Indian outfits to dazzle at New Zealand’s wearable art show
By Neena Bhandari, IANS,
Sydney : Fashion guru Manish Arora's 'Butterfly Dress' and three other Indian design outfits will feature at New Zealand's most coveted fashion and arts extravaganza opening Thursday.
The 2008 Montana World of Wearable Art (WOW) Awards show in Wellington will showcase 'Emerald Tentacles' designed by N.P. Jayaraj & Pooja Bedi; 'I the Centre' by Pooja Gosain; and 'Cockroach Bra' by Pooja Rajput, besides Arora's creation.
2nd visual arts festival to feature 2,500 works
By IRNA,
Tehran : Display of 2,500 visual artworks at the Second Visual Arts Festival due to open on February 1 indicates remarkable presence of Iranian and foreign artists at the event.
Secretary of the festival, Abbas Mirhashemi said that a total of 9,427 artworks by 3091 artists have been submitted to the secretariat.
Of 3,110 paintings and 348 sculptures, some 115 and 50 respectively were selected for the competition section, he said.
In the categories of pottery and ceramics and miniature sections, 75 and 194 respectively found their ways to the competition section.
‘PK’ is against religious frauds: Vaidik
New DelhI : As Hindu right-wing groups continue their protests over "PK", veteran journalist and activist Ved Pratap Vaidik says people are opposing the Aamir Khan movie because of a "misunderstanding" and they should watch it before going against it as the movie is actually against religious frauds and people who have made a business out of religion and are conning ordinary people.
Photo exhibition shows suffering caused by Maoists
By IANS,
Kolkata : A week-long exhibition of photographs showing the suffering caused to common people due to Maoist guerrillas' actions was organised here by West Bengal's ruling Communist party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
CPI-M's mouthpiece Bengali newspaper Ganashakti organised the week-long photography exhibition "Maobadi, Noirajyer Natun Parbo" (Maoists, a new episode of lawlessness) here, displaying photographs of Maoist actions and the sufferings caused to the common people in three districts of West Bengal - Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore.
Marathi movie Khwada projects the rebel against upper-caste hegemony
By Yogesh Maitreya, TwoCircles.net
After Fandry, the Marathi movie Khwada, released on Oct 22, 2015, does a brilliant job of depicting lower castes’ struggle...
Profiling ordinary Kashmiris during Ramadan
By TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Azaan Shah is a freelance photojournalist from the city. He loves to capture daily life in the trouble torn Kashmir. Here are...
Artists can play major role in peace process: Pakistani painter
By Xinhua,
New Delhi : Artists' voices can be both provocative as well as healing and since they represent the people at large they can play a major role in the peace process between India and Pakistan, says Pakistani painter and human rights activist Salima Hashmi.
Sudarsan to build Taj replica in Berlin
By IANS
Puri (Orissa) : Sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik Sunday said he will create a replica of Taj Mahal at Berlin International Sand Sculpture Championship - a festival to be held from June 14-21.
मंटोरंग: मंटो के तीन हास्य ड्रामों का मंचन
निर्देशक इक़बाल नियाज़ी के मानक कॉमेडी ड्रामों को दर्शकों ने सराहा
फ़ैसल फ़ारूक़
मुंबई: मुंबई के ओडियम सभागार में किरदार आर्ट अकादमी के बैनर तले "मंटो...
K. Asif’s son celebrates Husain’s birthday in London
By IANS,
Mumbai : Akbar Asif, son of the late Bollywood filmmaker, K. Asif, who is better remembered today as the maker of India's first historical blockbuster, "Mughal-e-Azam," celebrated the 93rd birthday of legendary Indian artist, M.F. Husain, in London.
The much-celebrated Indian artist is in forced exile since the last two years, shuttling between Dubai and London.
Around 400 theatres shut in Kerala over film piracy
Thiruvananthapuram: Close to 400 film theatres attached to the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation remained shut for the second day in succession on Friday...
‘Chak De! India’ gets tax exemption in Chhattisgarh
By IANS
Raipur : The Chhattisgarh government Friday announced that the Shah Rukh Khan blockbuster "Chak De! India" would be tax-free in the state for six months.
The commercial tax department's notification makes the tax waiver effective from Sep 6.
The film, about a gritty women's hockey team that goes on to win the world championships thanks to its coach, has set "high standards in social, education and cultural sectors besides it has promoted team spirit in sports and also plays a vital role in women's empowerment", stated a government release.
Stand-up comedians can truly speak their mind: Hasan Minhaj
New Delhi : Los Angeles-based Indian American Hasan Minhaj, who discussed a range of subjects with Indian and South African comedians on travelogue show...
Chill, cakes and carols…Kerala peps up for Christmas
By Sanu George, IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : With a chill in the air, Kerala is ready for yet another Christmas, which has long crossed the boundaries of caste and creed and is celebrated by just about everybody in the state.
In fact the drop in the early morning temperature to about 18 degrees Celsius sets the tone for festivities as children begin telling parents that it's time to put up a Christmas star.
The next sign that Christmas is round the corner is when shops big and small and bakeries light up, announcing that cakes should be booked in advance.
Play on M.F. Husain’s life to be staged in Chandigarh
By IANS,
Chandigarh : A play on painter M.F. Husain's memoir "Pencil Sey Brush Tak", showcasing various stages of his life, will be staged here Wednesday, the play's director said Tuesday.
Tom Alter will play the role of M.F. Husain while Anup Soni will play the role of young Husain. The role of Husain's wife Fazila will be played by Juhi Babbar, daughter of actor and parliamentarian Raj Babbar.
Russian art marathon opens in Tokyo
By RIA Novosti
Tokyo : A marathon exhibition showcasing the best of contemporary Russian theatre, music, dance, movies and circus opened here Monday.
Seemanchal International Literary Festival to be held in Kishanganj
By TCN News,
New Delhi: The Seemanchal International Literary Festival (SILF), an international literary event organised by Kitaab International, Singapore, in collaboration with Insan School,...
Jamia Faculty member wins 2 Gold medals in National Power-lifting Championship
By TCN News,
New Delhi: A faculty member of Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr. Aurangzeb Khurram Hafiz, at the Department of Physics has become the National...
Prehistoric fortress in Egypt excavated
By DPA,
Cairo : Archaeologists have discovered the remains of the largest ancient fortified city in Sinai peninsula while exploring the old Horus military road, which once connected Egypt to Palestine, Egypt's antiquities authority said Wednesday.
The remains of a mud-brick fortress dating from the time of Ramses II (1304-1237 BC) and measuring 500 metres by 250 metres were found in the Sinai peninsula.
The fortress, identified as Tharu fort, has several four-metre-high towers.
At 16, Arsh Ali is India’s youngest archaeologist at work
By Mohit Dubey
Lucknow: At his age, teenagers loaf around and look for fun and adventure. Not so for the 16-year-old Arsh Ali.
He not...
Coffee table art books grow by the dozen
New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Collectors of coffee table books on Indian art are spoilt for choice. The market is overflowing with glossy tomes on Indian masters and their lives, chronicling artistic legacy for posterity.
The latest entrant is the twin-volume "The Myriad Minded Artist", dedicated to Bengal master Lalu Prasad Shaw. The books, one on the veteran artist's paintings and the other on his black-and-white graphics and prints, were released by Karan Singh at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi Monday.
India mesmerises Yankees with food, folk art and fun
By Liz Mathew
New York, Sep 24 (IANS) There is dance and music, food and drink - and some business too - at a mini India in the heart of New York. And the vibrant city is pausing to say 'incredible', India @ 60.
The eponymous event to celebrate 60 years of India's independence, which got off to a colourful start at the Lincoln Centre here Sunday evening, is giving New Yorkers a taste of spicy Indian food, a dekko at Indian handicrafts and handlooms, and a glimpse of its rich traditions of folk and classical dance.
“Destination Aligarh”, an international documentary on AMU seeks funding
By TCN News
New Delhi: “Destination Aligarh”, a television documentary which is budgeted to cost USD40,000, is a cross-border (Indo-Pak) project initiated by a UAE-based documentary filmmaker Amna E Khaishgi. “This documentary is a first of its kind and a unique audio visual tribute to this great university which has changed the lives of millions of Muslims in the Subcontinent,” she said.
Even Stones Can Speak! An exhibition by Yajanika Arora
An artist ‘finds’ herself while sketching historical ruins
By Bushra Alvi, TwoCircles.net
Sotheby’s Russian art sale totals $13.6 mn
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
New York : A two-day auction of Russian art at Sotheby's in New York brought in $13,573,000, meeting the expected $10-15 million despite poor attendance due to the ongoing Icelandic volcano-related flight disruptions.
Among the auction main features was a group of some 100 paintings by Pavel Tchelitchew from the collection of the late American actress Ruth Ford (1911-2009), who was both his muse and patron.
Tchelitchew's portrait of Ford was sold for $986,500, well above the expected $150,000-$200,000.
After Mumbai attacks Chamliyal Mela brings Indo-Pak closer
DIG BSF-Brigadier Masood exchange gifts at Ramgarh border
By News Agency of Kashmir
Ramgarh): The Chamliyal Mela (Fair) was celebrated with full fervor and joyfulness by the people of both sides India and Pakistan in Ramgarh sector of International Border, today.
After Mumbai attacks this is first time that Indo-Pak troops are meeting each other and distributing sweets among each other.
Texas doctor demands “retribution” after Kashmir Files film
The film has incited widespread calls for anti-Muslim violence.
Pieter Friedrich | TwoCircles.net
UNITED STATES — “Retribution,” declared Rajiv Pandit, a doctor based in Dallas, TX,...
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.
Husain’s Pagan Mother tops Sotheby’s Indian sale
By Uma Nair, IANS
New York : Sotheby's sale of Indian art including modern paintings and miniatures brought in $6,313,338, with M.F. Husain's Pagan Mother claiming the top slot with $658,600.
According to Sotheby's, the sale brought solid prices and senior progressive artists and their associated groups were strongly represented in top prices.
Four works by M.F. Husain were included in the top ten, and of these, Husain's Pagan Mother achieved the second highest price by the artist at an auction.
Le Corbusier gets permanent space in Chandigarh
By IANS,
Chandigarh : 'Le Corbusier centre and museum' was inaugurated here Monday by the administrator of the city S.F. Rodrigues.
The centre, dedicated to Swiss-French architect who designed Chandigarh in 1950s, has been set up by the Chandigarh administration at the Old Architects' building in Sector 19, which was the office of Le Corbusier.
Folk musicians decry ‘westernisation’ of music in South Asia
By IANS,
Dhaka : Folk musicians of India and Bangladesh have decried westernisation of music in the two countries and the rest of South Asia and said that it was at the cost of the rich musical heritage of the region.
Bangladesh's Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, who is a performer and researcher of Bhawaiyya folk music of Bengal, joined India's West Bengal-based Shukh Bilas Borma to decry this trend and to give a call to artistes to return to their roots.
World’s first oil paintings discovered in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Paris : Scientists using advanced methods to investigate cave paintings in the Afghan region of Bamiyan say they may have identified what could be the first images produced using oil pigments, the France-based European Synchroton Radiation Facility (ESRF) said Tuesday on its website.
The paintings were found in the caves located behind the site on which the Taliban destroyed two ancient Buddha statues. The caves had also suffered from damage by the Taliban and the environment.
Peruvian archaeologists find 1,200-year-old mummies
By Xinhua
Lima : Archaeologists in Peru have found 40 mummies dating from the 1,200-year-old Chachapoyas culture in the Amazon fortress of Kuelap, project leader Alfredo Narvaez said.
He told reporters Wednesday that the mummies were discovered alongside Inca pottery, and that they showed signs of being affected by a fire in the archaeological complex, some 1,409 km northeast of the nation's capital.
Indian origin music scholar stopped from entering US, gets support
New York, Sep 17 (IANS) A group of US musicologists and intellectuals are protesting an incident in which a British born, Indian origin music scholar was stopped from entering the US last year without any valid explanation.
One of them has even written a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to resolve the issue.
Nalini Ghuman, a talented musicologist and expert on the British composer Edward Elgar, was stopped at the San Francisco airport last year while returning from Britain and was told that she was no longer allowed to enter the United States.
Chhattisgarhi language to get official status
By IANS
Raipur : The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to table a bill to give official language status to Chhattisgarhi in the winter session of the state assembly beginning Monday.
"The people of Chhattisgarh have been seeking official language status for Chhattiagarhi for the past several years, now the government has decided to bring in a legislation in the assembly beginning Nov 26-Dec 7," a senior minister told IANS Sunday.
Chhattisgarhi is an Indo-Aryan language having an estimated 12 million speakers mostly in rural areas.
Third edition of India Art Summit in January 2011
By IANS,
New Delhi : Art lovers will have to wait till Jan 23-26 next year for the next edition of the India Art Summit, which will open six months behind schedule.
The last two editions of the summit opened Aug 19.
Announcing the dates, the organisers of India Art Summit Monday said the registration process is underway and galleries and art houses from across the world can apply for exhibition space.
This Muslim-run NGO run in Hyderabad helps women build sustainable livelihoods
SAFA is an NGO that has changed the lives of thousands of women from poor economic groups in Hyderabad and given them hope...
Open minds to classical arts through school curricula: Shovana Narayan
By Madhusree Chatterjee, ANS,
New Delhi : Indian dances are not attracting sufficient audiences due to "closed minds" and "non-exposure", says veteran Kathak exponent Shovana Narayan. The danseuse feels classical arts should be included in school curricula to increase aesthetic appreciation.
"There are several issues in terms of audience attendance. There is a mindset in the 'none' or 'never' attending viewers that classical dance is beyond understanding. They seem to have a closed mind to it," Narayan told IANS in an interview here ahead of World Dance Day Wednesday.
Joint show of Dhaka, Kolkata artworks in Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : Works of prominent artists from Bangladesh and India's West Bengal state are on display here in a rare show of artistic bonhomie.
Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts and Art Trust, Kolkata has organised a group art exhibition, featuring the works of a team of Bangladeshi painters along with a number of Kolkata-based painters.
The exhibition, titled "Dhaka-Kolkata", features the works of Bangladesh painters like Aminul Islam, Murtaja Baseer, Syed Jahangir, Hashem Khan and Rafiqun Nabi.
पड़ताल : मदरसों को लेकर आखिर क्या होने वाला है !
स्टाफ रिपोर्टर। Twocircles.net
उत्तर प्रदेश की योगी आदित्यनाथ सरकार ने मदरसों में शिक्षा व्यवस्था को बेहतर बनाने के लिए और आधुनिक बनाने के लिए एक...
AIM appeals MF Hussain to withdraw his controversial paintings
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Internationally famous painter MF Hussain is asked to withdraw his controversial paintings of Hindu deities. Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM), a 20 years old social organization demanded that painter remove his paintings that have offended some Hindus because of nude depiction of Hindu deities.
Eid-ul-Fitr holiday in Delhi on Thursday
New Delhi : All central government offices here will remain closed on Thursday, instead of Wednesday, on account of Eid-ul-Fitr, it was announced on...
Encounters with Husain, Pyne, Bawa…An art critic remembers
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Jamia Millia Islamia students paint global concerns
By IANS,
New Delhi: Art students of the Jamia Millia Islamia have portrayed the concerns of the world in colours in a show, "A Step Ahead", at the M.F. Husain Gallery of Fine Arts on the campus.
The exhibition was inaugurated July 2 by Uma Ravi Jain, the director of the Dhoomimal Gallery. It will close July 15, said a release issued by the centre for learning.
Radcliffe will be sensible with money
By IANS
London : "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe says he will be sensible with the money he makes and won't buy unnecessary things.
“We know very less about each other,” says renowned B’desh Baul musician Mac Haque
By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: He is very popular and widely respected in Bangladesh. A household name in the world of Baul sangeet, Maqsoodul Haque – whose roots are from Assam – has also been able to leave a mark in this part of India with his mesmerizing performances.
Gently flows the Seine
By Shinie Antony, IANS
Book: The Seine At Noon; author: Susan Visvanathan; publisher: IndiaInk (Roli Books); Price: Rs.275
Much of the plotlessness of life gains a poetic nuance as author Susan Visvanathan flows with the tide in her new novella "The Seine At Noon".
Entrants for Khushwant Singh prize for poetry announced
New Delhi : Five poetry books have been shortlisted for the inaugural Khushwant Singh Memorial Prize for poetry, to promote the genre across all...
People turn into ‘ghosts’ to appease Lord Shiva
By IANS
Ranchi : In a ritual to propitiate Lord Shiva, some residents of Jharkhand have been "transforming" themselves into ghosts throughout the Hindu month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) during religious ceremonies to get their wishes fulfilled.
The ritual, part of the Koka festival, is observed by thousands in Tamar block, 70 km from state capital Ranchi, and nearby villages. The festival is celebrated over three months. The main festival procession was taken out in Tamar Friday evening.
French painter evokes Ray nostalgia with exhibition
By IANS
Kolkata : Two decades after film maestro and writer Satyajit Ray's novel "Fatikchand" was translated into French, the 17 illustrations of the book by Paris-based painter Maite Delteil are now on display in an art gallery here, evoking nostalgia for generations of Ray lovers.
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.
Big 92.7 FM now in Agra
By IANS
Agra : In a bid to woo tier II city audiences, radio station BIG 92.7 FM, announced Tuesday the launch of its station in Agra.
The radio already has presence in the big cities - Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai.
Commenting on the launch, Achal Sharma, station director (Agra) said: "We are very excited about the launch of Big FM in Agra. Our programmes have been put together after much research and understanding of local requirements as it is our endeavour to create content that is relevant for the listeners."
Indian Americans honour US Congressman Keith Ellison with human rights award
By TCN News
The Indian American Muslim Council , an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, honoured Congressman Keith Ellision...
Extraordinary security at Taj Mahal on Fridays
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Agra (Uttar Pradesh): In the name of security and protection of the Taj Mahal, the Moghul-era monument that is one of the wonders of the world, Muslims who go to the Shahi Masjid near the monument to offer Juma Prayer on Fridays are screened and checked the way as if they were probable terrorists.
Northeast musical fest enthralls Jamia crowd
By IANS,
New Delhi : An ensemble of amazing rock music, folk songs and dances from the northeast has enthralled the crowd at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here.
Bikram Yoga packs the punch for British tennis hero
By IANS,
London : Britain's latest tennis hero Andy Murray has credited his transformation from a lanky lad into a muscle-bound machine to Bikram Yoga.
The 20-year-old Scot entered the Wimbledon quarterfinals after a gruelling match against Frenchman Richard Gasquet that lasted two minutes short of four hours, prompting speculation about the source of his strength and stamina.
Media here reported that Murray practises Bikram Yoga - a particularly difficult and physically oriented form of yoga developed by Kolkata-born Bikram Choudhury.
Ramachandra Guha, Khaled Hosseini outsell others
By IANS
New Delhi : Readers continue to be fascinated by Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and Ramachandra Guha's "India After Gandhi", with both books outperforming others in the best-selling fiction and non-fiction lists yet again.
Politicians lose their sparkle, Dhoni shines this Diwali
By IANS,
Patna/Ranchi : The Lalu-Rabri brand seems to have lost its spark this Diwali. Firecrackers named after the railways minister and his wife, a former chief minister of Bihar, were a staple but have gone missing this year to give space to "item girl brand firecrackers" and star cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
It might be scant comfort for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, but there isn't too much trace of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or Congress president Sonia Gandhi either in the run-up to the festival of lights in Bihar.
Films, stories have no religion: ‘Dozakh’ director
By Radhika Bhirani,
New Delhi : A man has a religion, not a story - Hindi novelist Zaigham Imam has blunt and sensible sentiments surrounding...
Clueless CBI gives up Nobel theft probe after three years
By IANS
Kolkata : After over three years of investigation that drew a blank, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has finally decided to stop the probe into the theft of Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel medallion from Santiniketan, the idyll of peace and learning founded by the poet and philosopher in West Bengal.
Nizam’s jewels bedazzle Delhi
By IANS
New Delhi : Subtlety is certainly not the royalty's cup of tea! When it comes to the Nizam's jewels, it's all about bedazzling size - be it the 184.75-carat Jacob diamond, the seven-stringed Satlada pearl necklace or chunky emerald studded armbands.
In possession of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), 173 pieces of precious and exquisite jewellery pieces from the 18th-20th centuries that once belonged to the Nizams of Hyderabad are being exhibited at the National Museum.
The collection will be on show for two months.
Byrne, Lahiri are bestselling authors again
By IANS,
New Delhi : Australian author Rhonda Byrne's motivational book "The Secret" remains popular among readers in the non-fiction list, while Jhumpa Lahiri's "Unaccustomed Earth" continues to occupy the number one slot in the fiction category this week.
The top 10 in the non-fiction and fiction lists are:
Non-Fiction
1. "The Secret"
Author : Rhonda Byrne
Publisher : Simon & Schuster
Price : Rs.550.00
2. "My Country My Life"
Author : L.K. Advani
Publisher : Rupa & Co.
Price : Rs.595.00
3. "The Kalam Effect: The Years with the President"
Author : P.M. Nair
Comic lovers remember Herge, creator of Tintin and Snowy
By DPA
Brussels : When the Belgian cartoonist known as Herge died in March 1983, not even Fanny, his widow, thought the extraordinary success of "The Adventures of Tintin" would live on.
500,000 finger-prints make UAE’s largest map
By IANS
Abu Dhabi : A map of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the largest till date, bearing some half a million finger-prints has been unveiled here.
The map, created in recognition of the services of the Abu Dhabi Police, was uncovered Monday by Maj. Gen. Khaleel Daoud Badran, its director general of the financial services, according to news agency WAM.
The Abu Dhabi Police department is celebrating its golden jubilee Dec 5.
The map was created in coordination with Abu Dhabi Police Watani, a social development programme, and My Homeland, My Security campaign.
Tamil Nadu villagers sore at bull-run ban
By Ganesh Nadar, IANS
Alanganallur (Tamil Nadu) : Anger was simmering among the people of this Tamil Nadu village Monday, three days after the Supreme Court banned jallikattu, the traditional bullfight - rather bull-run - held during Pongal. Villagers resorted to hunger strikes, tonsured their heads, and some even discussed self-immolation in case the apex court turns down plea to review its ban.
Some villagers had flowers on their heads, others threatened violence against anyone who came in their way, while others hoisted black flags on top of their houses to register their protest.
Odissi now in 21st century, international avatar
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Kuala Lumpur is celebrating Odissi, an Indian classical dance form, with Malaysians interpreting it in multi-media formats while retaining its essence.
Galeri Petronas, in collaboration with Sutra Dance Theatre, is holding the exhibition called Stirring Odissi in conjunction with the 4th International Stirring Odissi Festival 2008.
The event features 15 visual artists and photographers from Malaysia and India and showcases how different artists interpret the Odissi dance.
Remembering Ustad Bismillah Khan on his death anniversary
TCN News
Today is the 13th death anniversary of Ustad Bismillah Khan the Shehnai maestro who won several accolades from the Government of India and others.
Born...
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...
Shabana’s latest mission – save the Taj Mahal
By Subhash K. Jha, IANS
Mumbai : Now that the Taj Mahal has been preserved among the new Seven Wonders of the World, actress and activist Shabana Azmi is worried about the imminent erosion of the monument.
She isn't happy at the thought of Indians sitting smugly with the thought that we've made it into the Seven Wonders list.
"What about the imminent perils that the monument faces? Something needs to be done about the levels of pollution that are slowly eroding the Taj Mahal," Shabana told IANS in an interview.
Sarawak gears up for 10th Rain Forest Music Festival
By Clive Freeman, DPA
Sarawak (Malaysia) : Bands from around the world are gathering in Sarawak for the Rain Forest World Music Festival, which kicks off Friday on the island of Borneo.
Indian film venture firm to raise funds on London market
London, May 1 (IANS) A new investment firm chaired by noted director Shyam Benegal and focussed on Indian movies is set to float on Britain's Alternative Investment Market this month to raise 55 million pounds.
Artists salute India on its 60th Independence
By IANS
New Delhi : A group of young artists have decided to salute the nation on its 60th year of Independence through their own language - art.
Hailing from across the country, the group of 26 artists are presenting an exhibition titled 'Independent India - an art show of the new era artists', conceptualised and organised by the Ati Art Gallery.
"All the artists are young in age but established names in their chosen mediums of art. They have portrayed their interpretation of modern Independent India," said Aarti Sarin Jain of Ati Art Gallery.
Ban on ‘Aligarh’ doesn’t seem official: Hansal Mehta
New Delhi: Amidst reports that the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer "Aligarh" will not be screened in the city of Aligarh, the film's director Hansal Mehta has...
Meghalaya sets world guitar ensemble record
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Shillong : Meghalaya, India's northeastern state, Friday set a world record for the largest ever guitar ensemble, overtaking the existing Guinness Book of World Records held by Kansas city in the US for such an ensemble, organisers said.
"A total of 1,730 guitarists strummed in unison to create history. We are simply ecstatic over this show that went off without a glitch," Aiban Mawkhrow, general secretary of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum, that organised the event, told IANS.
‘Rise in terrorism linked to decline in arts’
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's most famous puppeteer Farooq Qaiser has drawn an unusual link between the growth in extremism and a decline in interest in the arts, prompting a leading newspaper to say the idea "needs further study and assessment".
The linkage "is a fascinating one" and "needs further study and assessment as we attempt to understand the violence and militancy that has today become a part of life," The News said Monday in an editorial titled "Outlet for anger".
Kashmiri students open window to art
By Aamir Nowshahri, IANS,
Srinagar : Their art thrived in the shadow of militancy but was never visible to the world. Now, at last, over 50 young artists from the Kashmir Valley will get to display their works thanks to a clutch of students based outside the troubled state.
The students - also from Kashmir and all in their 20s - have in a first of its kind endeavour provided the artists a platform by organising the exhibition, "Quest For The Finest Artists Of Kashmir", to be held in June.
‘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.
American chalk artist to showcase work at Mumbai fest
By IANS,
Mumbai : American chalk artist Tracy Lee Stum will present her 3D street art at the ongoing Kala Ghoda Arts Festival here, an official from the American Center said Tuesday.
BIG FM launches station in Visakhapatnam
By IANS
Visakhapatnam : BIG 92.7 FM, one of India's leading FM radio networks, Thursday launched its station in Andhra Pradesh's coastal city of Visakhapatnam.
This is 35th station of BIG 92.7 FM in the country and the third in Andhra Pradesh after Hyderabad and Tirupati.
The FM station here was launched with kids from Public and Police Association for street children (PAPA) releasing 927 balloons in air. The network had PAPA children's as the chief guests for the function.
MyGov.in announces e-greetings design contest for Eid
New Delhi : An e-greetings design contest to mark and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr has been announced by MyGov.in, with the top three designs to be...
Turn these pages for some water wisdom
By Papri Sri Raman, IANS
Book: "Towards Water Wisdom - Limits, Justice, Harmony"; Author: Ramaswamy R. Iyer; Publisher: Sage Publications, India; Price: Rs.350.
In the 21st century world, water is the most contentious of elements, its ownership more disputed than land and space.
The laws regarding water are less clear than those on land and space. For land, territories can be established and rights claimed. For space, technology determines ownership.
Babbar calls 100,000 guests for daughter’s wedding
By IANS
Agra : The much-hyped wedding reception of Juhi Babbar, daughter of actor-turned politician Raj Babbar, was held here Friday with a grand feast, complete with music and a guest list of 100,000.
Elaborate arrangements in UP for ‘alvida namaz’
Lucknow : Elaborate arrangements were being made across Uttar Pradesh (UP) for the "alvida namaz" on Friday, police said on Thursday.
The 23rd day of...
Makeover planned for Red Fort neighbourhood
By IANS
New Delhi : The historic Red Fort here, granted the Unesco World Heritage Site Status recently, will be made more tourist-friendly as authorities plan a makeover of the area around the monument.
According to the proposed Comprehensive Research Conservation Plan (CRCP), the area around the 17th century Red Fort, always crammed with vehicular traffic, will be decongested to allow free movement of tourists by constructing more subways and underpasses.
Chandigarh gears up to secure heritage status
By IANS,
Chandigarh : Gearing up efforts to gain heritage status for India's City Beautiful known internationally for its architecture and urban planning, the Chandigarh administration has sought funds from the central government to maintain important buildings.
"We have written to the union government demanding an approval and release of funds that we need to maintain the heritage status. Right now I cannot disclose the amount we demanded. We are still awaiting its sanction," director of tourism, Chandigarh, Samwartak Singh told IANS.
IIFA: Oscar winner Rahman gets best music director award
By Radhika Bhirani, IANS
Macau: Internationally acclaimed and double Oscar winning composer A.R. Rahman was Saturday named the best music director at the IDEA International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards here for his soulful compositions in the historical romance "Jodhaa Akbar".
Rahman couldn't attend the event and director Ashutosh Gowariker received the award on his behalf.
Mahatma Gandhi’s bust unveiled next to poet Virgil in Rome
By IANS
Rome : Mahatama Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence, has become an icon in Italy and found a prized place next to epic poet Virgil, overlooking the picturesque Bay of Naples.
A majestic bronze bust of Gandhi, the creation of Indian sculptor Gautam Pal, was unveiled early this week by India's ambassador to Italy Rajiv Dogra and Mayor of Naples Rosa Iervolino Russo.
The bust was installed in Parco Virgiliano, named after Virgil, the poet who sang "of armies and of men" in his epic Aenid, which is located in the heart of Naples.
‘India reaping boom in global art investment’
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Investment in art continues to be robust globally despite the credit crisis in other financial sectors. And India is reaping the benefits of the boom as it tries to emerge as a mature market, says art investment guru Phillip Hoffman.
"The art market continues to perform strongly, exhibiting long-term growth year after year," Hoffman, who is in his mid 40s, told IANS in an exclusive e-mail interview from London.
When music takes over, there are no borders
By IANS
New Delhi : Pakistan's ghazal queen Farida Khanum came, sang and conquered again. Reiterating that "music is the bridge of peace and love", the beloved singer, as popular in India as in Pakistan, had her audience in raptures and clapping endlessly for more.
Photography finding toehold in Indian art market
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : The humble camera is now the artist's brush in India. Once dismissed as a mundane device to freeze dull official frames like weddings, births, gatherings and graduation ceremonies, the camera is now seen as an alternative genre of collector's art.
Photographers say the genre is booming because of its affordability and easy availability. A good photograph can be replicated into several editions, whereas a painting has one original edition and limited reprints, which rarely fetch buyers.
German duo on voyage of discovery along the Ganges
By IANS
Patna : Two Germans have set out on elephant and camel backs for an innovative expedition to learn more about the history, culture and folklore of the river Ganges and the everyday lives of the people who live along it.
Pir and Gill aim to bring German and Indian cultures closer by their voyage of discovery of one of India's most important rivers that originates in the mountainous heights of Gomukh in Uttaranchal.
The duo, in the 30s, left Patna for Gomukh earlier this week on their 60-day trek.
First Amritraj-Reliance Entertainment film to hit screens Oct 1
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Indian-American producer Ashok Amritraj and Anil Ambani's Reliance Entertainment will Oct 31 unveil their first film under a unique five-year, co-production deal - a comedy "The Other End of the Line".
The film stars Jesse Metcalfe of "Desperate Housewives" and Shriya who recently starred opposite Rajnikanth in the Indian blockbuster "Sivaji: The Boss." Shot in Mumbai and San Francisco, it also features Anupam Kher.
And now Charlie Chaplin in Bhojpuri
By Imran Khan
IANSPatna : Charlie Chaplin is all set to go Bhojpuri to tickle funny bones in rural Bihar. A Bhojpuri version of "Charlie Chaplin" is on the anvil to entertain millions.
India, China to rule New York sale: Sotheby’s
By IANS
Mumbai : Veteran artist F.N. Souza's 1955 oil on board titled "Head of a Man" will be the costliest work to go under the hammer at Sotheby's March 19 auction of Contemporary Indian Art.
It is expected to rake in $280,000-380,000.
The preview of the works going under the hammer will be on display Thursday at Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel here.
Other works by Indian artists on display will be those by Arpita Singh, Syed Haider Raza, Anjolie Ela Menon and Jagdish Swaminathan.
A musical treat by Zubin Mehta during Euro 2008
By Mehru Jaffer, IANS,
Vienna : Music maestro Zubin Mehta is all set to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra a day before the final game of the European football championship - the third largest sports event worldwide - to be played here June 29.
The open-air concert by the Mumbai-born conductor will be held against the background of Schonbrunn, the magnificent summer palace of Austria's Habsburg rulers, on June 28 and will star Lang Lang, the Chinese pianist.
The European Football Championship is surpassed only by the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup in size and spectacle.
Zubin Mehta enthrals with his musical genius
By Surender Bhutani, IANS,
Warsaw : Zubin Mehta, who was born in Mumbai, enthralled thousands of Poles when he paid his musical tribute to the memory of millions of Jews who were killed by the Nazis during World War II.
The Polish government had specially invited Zubin Mehta, who is also the conductor of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Warsaw ghetto uprising. It was on April 15, 1943 that the remaining Jews of Warsaw came out from their ghetto to fight against Hitler's army with their Polish brethren.
Satyajit Ray inspires BAFTA-IIFA Workshop attendees
By IANS
Leeds : As a part of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend, a workshop was organised at the National Media Museum in Bradford Friday, which focussed on the legendary Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
Rajesh has got the rest he wanted
(A tribute from friend and neighbour Salim Khan)
By Salim Khan, IANS,
Veterans slog to save dying crafts of India
By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS,
Bangalore : Obaidur Rehman is 66 and suffers from a recurring eye problem. Gendilal is six years older. The two, like many others of their age, have a link - work long hours, not only to earn their livelihoods but to keep India's traditional crafts alive.
Rehman works for up to 16 hours a day weaving the famed Benarasi silk saris in the temple town of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh.
F.N. Souza’s painting fetches $380,000 in Dubai sale
By Uma Nair, IANS
Dubai : New York-based F.N. Souza's 1955 work "The Elder" sold at an estimated value of $240,000-300,000, one of the highlights of the Bonham's Dubai auction, at the Royal Mirage Hotel, sold for $380,000, excluding buyer's premium and tax.
Founder of India's Progressive Artists' movement in 1947, Souza is renowned worldwide as an articulate genius, augmenting his disturbing and powerful canvases with his sharp, stylish and provocative prose.
Art collectors’ tribe growing in India
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Emerging art collector Prerna Kohli is not as intimidated by art galleries as she was 10 years ago.
Storytelling encourages reading habits: experts
By IANS
New Delhi : Educators need to be taught the fine art of storytelling as this serves to encourage reading habits, particularly among children, experts say.
"Storytelling fires the imagination of children and makes them thirst for more, which encourages them to read books," said Deepa Agarwal, a Delhi-based writer who was among those who attended a just-concluded international conference here on storytelling for children.
His world is a stage – for 360 hours
By Azera Rehman, IANS
New Delhi : Living in a glasshouse can be fun, but allowing the world to watch you live in one is another matter. Yet, Harish Khanna has put his daily life up on show as part of a theatre festival.
The National School Of Drama (NSD) alumnus Khanna is living in a glasshouse at the Bharat Rang Mahotsav festival organised by the institute. He will stay there for 360 hours.
Artists to showcase their craft and sell them too!
By IANS
New Delhi : Bypassing the art galleries and museums, an art trade fair in the capital has brought together 40 artists from across the country to showcase their work as well as sell them to their clients directly.
Conceived by Adishwar Puri, the two-day All India Art Trade Fair, which started Friday, will give a platform to emerging as well as veteran artists to display their work as well as give customers an opportunity to interact with the artists.
Obscenity charges dropped against Husain; court slams the ‘ignorant’
By IANS,
New Delhi : Coming down heavily on the "new puritanism" being carried out by "ignorant people", the Delhi High Court Thursday dismissed criminal proceedings against eminent painter M.F. Husain, overruling the charges of obscenity against his paintings.
Giving relief to the 93-year-old painter, who lives in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said the allegations against the artist are baseless.
As dead as Naipaul’s fiction: Nobel laureates cross swords
By IANS,
London : Nobel laureate V.S. Naipaul has attracted many controversies and enthusiastically engaged himself in many literary duels, but the latest has another Nobel winner targeting him - in rhyme.
The attack comes from Derek Walcott, based in St Lucia in the West Indies, who is often acclaimed as the greatest living English-language poet.
His new poem, "The Mongoose", is a "fast-paced, savagely humorous demolition of Naipaul's work and personality", reported the Guardian.
Pakistan salutes its own Mohammad Rafi
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistanis paid rich tributes on the 16th death anniversary of legendary playback singer Masood Rana, who was widely known as "Pakistani Rafi".
Heritage of four Indian towns among 100 most endangered
By Ashish Mehta
IANSNew Delhi : The cultural and architectural heritage of four Indian towns now figure on a list of the 100 most endangered sites in the world.
Eco-Friendly Mosque Opens In Manchester
By Bernama,
London : An eco-friendly mosque, which runs on renewable energy has been opened in Manchester, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Wednesday.
The US$6.9 million mosque features solar panels, under-floor heating and lowe energy bulbs, and is built with woods and Indian pink stone. It also fuses Eastern and Western architecture, and peach-coloured deep pile carpets, a huge chandelier and plasma televisions.
Family feud sets scene for Wagner opera festival
By DPA
Berlin : A 29-year-old blonde who has staged just five operas is being lined up to run one of the world's most famous festivals dedicated to the works of Richard Wagner.
All eyes will be on Katharina Wagner when her much anticipated production of The Mastersingers of Nuremberg launches this year's Bayreuth Festival in southern Germany Wednesday.
Raza’s ‘La Terre’ fetches $2.5 million at Christie’s
By IANS,
London : Indian artist Syed Haider Raza's "La Terre" has fetched a record $2.5 million at Christie's Post War sale here.
The leading highlight "La Terre", a work done as far back as 1973 by Raza (b.1922), one of India's leading modern artists, sold for 1,273,250 pounds (over $2.5 million) setting a new record Sunday.
Three works by Subodh Gupta were unable to set any records against the high pressure bidding of international favourites, said a bidder in London who felt that Gupta has been hyped by market conditions.
All efforts on to acquire Gandhi letter
By Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) The Indian government has launched all out efforts to acquire a rare letter Mahatma Gandhi wrote 19 days before his 1948 assassination which is up for auction in London next week.
The external affairs ministry has asked the Indian high commission in London to assist the culture ministry in attempts to get hold of the letter.
"The high commission has been asked to assist the culture ministry in acquiring the letter. It will do its best to assist them," sources in the external affairs ministry told IANS.
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...
Zia’s murder mystery comes in new mango flavour
By Manish Chand, IANS,
Book: A Case of Exploding Mangoes; Author: Mohammed Hanif; Publisher: Random House; Pages: 295.
Who killed General Zia-ul Haq, the redoubtable Pakistani dictator who mysteriously died in an air crash 20 summers ago? Conspiracy theories, ranging from the bizarre to purely farcical, have never ceased since. Mohammed Hanif thickens this stew further and spices it up with a dash of dark wit to spin a page-turning thriller and an exuberant satire of the triple clichés of Allah, America and Army that colour popular perception of Pakistan.