States to be asked for land for Urdu language centres
By IANS
New Delhi : The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) Tuesday decided to approach state governments for land to open Urdu language and Urdu cultural centres.
Foreign artists to donate art works to Chandigarh’s garden
By IANS,
Chandigarh : In a bid to salute the immaculate masterwork, nearly 25 artists from the US and Europe will donate their art works to the Rock Garden, one of the most sought after tourist destination of this union territory.
Rock Garden, which is spread over an area of over 40 acres, was designed by its self-taught curator Nek Chand. It is completely built from thrown-away household and industrial waste items.
Archaeologists find rare fruit, textiles in Greece
Athens: Greek archaeologists have discovered a rare find of textiles and fruit dating back over 2,600 years in a bronze funeral urn in northern Peloponnese.
The seventh-century BC urn, dating between the Late Geometric and the Early Archaic era, contained ash, bones and pomegranate fruits. It was found in a construction site near the city of Argos, approximately 150 km west of Athens, the culture ministry said Wednesday.
President, Vice President greet people on Diwali
New Delhi : President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari on Saturday greeted people on the eve of Diwali.
"Diwali is a harbinger of...
Sonia inaugurates new wing of art gallery
By IANS,
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Monday inaugurated the new wing of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) here, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world.
"The genius of the Indian artists and their creativity is being sought after. They are exhibited in the leading museums of the world," said Gandhi at the inauguration function.
Bakrid and the fight over choice of food
By Kouser Fathima for Twocircles.net
As if we don't have enough reasons to fight.
Food wars seem to be the new trend especially during the...
बढ़ता जा रहा है गुरुग्राम मे नमाज पढ़ने को लेकर होने वाला विवाद
स्टाफ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles. net
दिल्ली से सटे गुड़गांव में नमाज़ को लेकर जारी विवाद थमने का नाम नहीं ले रहा है। आज गुड़गांव के सेक्टर...
Documenta art-expo catalogue is top secret
By DPA
Kassel (Germany) : Sleuths have so far managed to crack about one third of the secret catalogue for the world's leading contemporary-art expo, Documenta 12, which opens next month.
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).
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.
Nadira Babbar recreates 1857 Mutiny at Old Fort
By IANS,
New Delhi : The historical characters of Tantiya Tope, Nana Saheb and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah were brought to life at the 16th century Purana Qila here as theatre personality Nadira Zaheer Babbar recreated the Sepoy Mutiny through a play.
"1857: Ek Safarnama" by Nadira, the wife of Bollywood actor and MP Raj Babbar, was part of the yearlong events lined up to celebrate 50 years of the National School of Drama (NSD), the capital's premier theatre school.
Art behind bars – prisoners to showcase paintings in Mumbai
By Quaid Najmi, IANS,
Mumbai : Rahul More and Naresh Jadhav are serving life sentences in Pune's Yerawada Jail. The two may not get to see the light outside the prison walls for a long time to come, but their paintings and sketches, made behind bars, will be out very soon.
For the first time, Mumbai Police has collaborated on an artistic venture involving some prisoners, serving or undertrials, in different jails of the state.
An exhibition of nearly 125 artworks, water colours, pencil and charcoal sketches, by five prisoners and a policeman will open here March 25.
Trafalgar Square to light up for Diwali in London
By IANS
London : Trafalgar Square, London's favourite point of assembly, will light up with Diwali lights for this year's celebrations of the festival of lights.
Organised by the Mayor of London and the Diwali in London Committee, and sponsored by Tilda Basmati, the free event Oct. 28 will be open to all and will see the cemented square transformed by magical light displays, floating lanterns, and music and dance performances.
China’s earliest household registers deciphered from Qin bamboo slips
By Xinhua
Changsha : China's earliest household registers have been deciphered from a bunch of Qin dynasty (221 BC-207 BC) bamboo slips excavated from Liye, in Hunan province in Central China.
"According to the registers, slaves and maids were listed as their masters' household members by the population management system in China's first united empire of Qin," said Yun Chae Sok, a Korean scholar, who specialises in reading Qin bamboo manuscripts.
Youth breaks beer bottles on own head for a record
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : A youth in Orissa has broken at least 185 beer bottles on his head and about 100 tube lights on his body in an attempt to create a new world record.
Ramiya Ranjan Parida, a 20-year-old from Malkangiri, some 700 km from here, demonstrated his feat to hundreds of people in his hometown Wednesday, eyewitnesses said.
At the beginning of his stunt, two of Parida's aides beat him up with old tube lights one by one and smashed at least 100 tube lights in the process, Binash Kumar Mishra, a local martial art trainer, told IANS.
Spread India’s cultural richness: President to Asiatic Society
By IANS,
Kolkata : The 225-year-old Asiatic Society should go for more partnerships with other academic institutions in the country as well as abroad to disseminate India's cultural richness, President Pratibha Patil said Saturday.
"I would encourage the Asiatic Society to develop partnerships with other academic and research institutions in India and abroad to enrich work about Indian cultural thought," Patil said at the Bi-Centennial Silver Jubilee celebration of the society here.
Husain joins million-dollar club
By IANS
New Delhi : Maqbool Fida Husain's oil painting "Tribute to Hashmi", a homage to slain theatre activist Safdar Hashmi painted in 1989, has set a milestone for the celebrated artist at the Emami Chisel Art auction in Kolkata by raking in Rs.44 million ($1.1 million).
"This is the first time a Husain painting crossed the $1 million mark, placing the master in the million-dollar club with S.H. Raza, F.N. Souza, Amrita Sher-Gil and Tyeb Mehta," Vikram Bachawat, director of Emami Chisel Art, told IANS from Kolkata over phone.
India-Britain co-production treaty kicks off with ‘London Dreams’
By Venkata Vemuri, IANS,
London : The historic India-Britain film co-production treaty has come into force with British Culture Minister Barbara Follett launching it on the Trafalgar Square sets of Vipul Shah's Ajay Devgan starrer "London Dreams".
"London Dreams" is Shah's latest venture after "Singh is Kinng" and "Namaste London". On Wednesday, Shah and Devgan were present on the sets and the unit also got permission to shoot Trafalgar Square from a helicopter.
Book to unveil celebrities drug problems
By IANS,
London : A book by authors Adriano Sack and Ingo Niermann will reveal drug problems of celebrities like Sir Elton John, Courtney Love and Whitney Houston.
These artists have struggled with drugs and the book "The Curious World of Drugs and Their Friends" claims to give "fun and fascinating facts" about "every conceivable kind of drug and the people who use them", reports contactmusic.com.
Sack and Niermann write about John admitting to his drug addiction problems saying: "I did not know how to speak to anyone unless I had a nose full of cocaine."
I was born here, I will die here: Aamir Khan
Mumbai: Bollywood actor-producer Aamir Khan - who kicked a huge controversy over the intolerance issue last year - on Monday said he had no...
Jurassic Park comes to life in the centre of Berlin
By Ulrike von Leszczynski, DPA
Berlin : You would be forgiven for thinking you should make a run for it when the giant reptile suddenly appears from around the corner.
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.
This Muslim shrine in Prayagyraj is holy to all faiths
The devotees at the shrine of Sheikh Taqi include a large number of Hindu men and women who flock to the shrine to take...
Kirtans of Hindu bard popular in rural Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : A CD of Hindu devotional kirtans composed by 19th century composer-singer Radharaman Dutta, popular in Bangladesh, has been released here. They have been sung by Bishwajit Roy.
The disc was unveiled by noted singer of Tagore songs Ajit Roy, The Daily Star reported Saturday.
Radharaman (1833-1915) is believed to have composed over 2,000 songs that are popular even today in the rural areas of northern Bangladesh, besides Assam and Tripura in India.
Making Indian classical music for fashion shows
By Brij Khandelwal, IANS
Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) : This should be music to the ears of fashion show choreographers and art gallery owners. An Aligarh-based sitar maestro has developed background scores for such events.
Acharya Trigunateet Jaimini, who teaches at Mangalayatan University here, told IANS that he has "worked hard" for several years to develop a brand of contemporary fusion music to provide "appropriate background scores for Indian art galleries and fashion shows, particularly those showcasing traditional Indian attires".
Artists don’t subscribe to India-Pakistan differences: Ghulam Ali
By Ruchika Kher, IANS,
Different similarities – daughters of legendary Urdu poets recall fathers
By Vikas Datta,
Jaipur : They were among the best known Urdu poets of their day, and though their life trajectories unfolded differently, both cultural activist Salima Hashmi's father Faiz Ahmed Faiz and actress Shabana Azmi's father Kaifi Azmi had some important things in common - belief in poetry as an instrument of social change, hope for the future and refusal to peddle hatred.
Chinese kites becoming popular in Jaipur
By Anil Sharma, IANS
Jaipur : With Makar Sankranti falling on Monday, Jaipur seems to be ready to welcome the festival with special varieties of kites. Huge Chinese kites in the shape of birds and dragons are the major attraction of this year's festival.
"Chinese kites are giving a tough fight to the domestic kite makers. Ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 300, these kites are 7-8 feet high and made up of a fine membrane of cloth," said Arshad, a kite maker.
Pakistani Muslim paints Sikh gurus, spreads their message
By Alkesh Sharma, IANS,
Chandigarh : He is Muslim, but 78-year-old Syed Aftab Ahmed Shah has come from Pakistan with an exhibition of his paintings and calligraphy aimed at spreading the spiritual teachings of Sikh gurus among youth.
Shah is an industrialist and painter based in Lahore and is in Chandigarh with a message of harmony. He is displaying 47 of his creations at the show titled "Ruhaniyat" that began last week.
पढ़िए गौहर रज़ा की वह ग़ज़ल, जिसके लिए जी न्यूज़ ने उन्हें देशद्रोही साबित...
TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
नई दिल्ली: शायर गौहर रज़ा भी मुल्क में फ़ैली देशद्रोह की फिज़ा से अछूते नहीं रहे. हालांकि यह फिज़ा मुल्क में जितनी...
China to build ‘cultural city’ to revive Confucianism
By Xinhua
Beijing : China plans to spend billions of dollars to build a symbolic "cultural city" in Shandong province to revive the traditional values of Confucianism.
The Chinese Shandong province was home to ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Jiang Daming, governor of Shandong, has announced in Beijing that the "Chinese Cultural Symbolic City" will be built in the Ji'ning City, spanning more than 300 sq km.
The city will also include two counties Qufu, the ancestral home of Confucius, and Zoucheng, home of Mencius, and the Jiulong mountain range.
Over thousand rare ancient archaeological pieces found in Yemen
By NNN-SABA
Sana'a : Excavation operations at the area of Khamis Bani Sa'ad in Tehama district of Hodeidah province have discovered over a thousand of rare archaeological pieces dating back to 300 thousand years BC.
A French expert said that some pieces indicated that the area's inhabitants had been fishermen not farmers as they are now, but the most important discovery is a horse tooth and what is amazing here is that this kind of horses does not live currently in this area but in the Middle Asia.
Restore Taj Mahal or demolish it, SC tells government
By IANS
New Delhi, July 11: The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Centre and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for...
Even Stones Can Speak! An exhibition by Yajanika Arora
An artist ‘finds’ herself while sketching historical ruins
By Bushra Alvi, TwoCircles.net
Feast awaits book lovers at World Book Fair
By IANS
New Delhi : Book lovers from across India will get an opportunity to browse through millions of books and broaden their horizon of knowledge at the 18th New Delhi World Book Fair beginning Feb 2.
Organised by National Book Trust (NBT), an autonomous organisation under the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry, the nine-day knowledge extravaganza would be held at Pragati Maidan.
Four-day carpet expo in Varanasi from Oct 17
By IANS,
Lucknow : The India Carpet Expo, the country's only fair for handmade carpets and floor coverings will begin Oct 17 in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, an official said Tuesday.
The four-day carpet expo being organised by the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) is a central government initiative to promote Indian rugs.
According to CEPC chairman Ashok Jain, on display will be various types of oriental and contemporary hand-knitted and hand-tufted carpets, as well as flat weaves made of wool, silk and staple fibre from Bhadohi-Mirzapur, Jaipur, Agra, Panipat and Kashmir.
And now 24-hour TV channel on real estate
By IANS
Bangalore : The Rs.44-billion realty-cum-property developer firm Alliance Group is set to launch next month a 24-hour TV channel dedicated to real estate, a top company official said Thursday.
Youm e Ashura : A Sunni perspective
By Mohamed Ajmal for TwoCircles.net
The month of Muharram, is an evidently an historical month for Muslims, and also which highlights the differences between Sunni...
Aquatints showcasing Indian heritage on display in Kolkata
Kolkata: Art connoisseurs and enthusiasts can soak in some British Raj nostalgia, courtesy an exhibition of 40 aquatints showcasing India's heritage by 18th century...
British historian pens new book on 1857 uprising
By IANS
London : A new book by a British academic offering a fresh alternative to popular accounts of the 1857 war of independence is just out.
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...
‘Mappila Haal’: SIO observes 100th anniversary of Malabar rebellion
The interactive virtual exhibition 'Mappila Haal', which contains comprehensive readings on the struggle, historical writings, documents, personalities and events of the rebellion has been...
Building brands through art and culture
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi: Liquor bottles with commissioned drawings, art themed around a ketchup brand, music projects sponsored by leading beverage
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.
West Bengal rocks to fusion Puja chic
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Kolkata : The sultry October afternoon does not deter the crowd in a south Kolkata market from thronging the shops that line a busy thoroughfare. It is carnival time for shoppers in this eastern megalopolis scouting for the best festival bargains.
For the Durga Puja, the biggest annual festival here, the flavour this year is fusion. It swings between the glittering chic from Gujarat and Maharashtra to eco-crafts from rural Bengal.
Islam has nothing to do with terrorism: Imam of Kaba
Patna : The Imam of Islam's holiest shrine Kaba in Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Saturday denounced terrorism in the name of Islam, making...
Indian literature to be translated into Arabic
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS
Dubai : As part of its efforts to boost cultural diplomacy with the Gulf, India is planning a project to translate major Indian literary works into Arabic.
"We propose to translate major Indian literary works - fiction, non-fiction and poetry - into Arabic as part of our larger vision to improve ties in the cultural area in the Gulf," India's Ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmad told IANS.
Around 20 to 50 Indian titles are being planned to be translated a year in the next couple of years.
West Bengal celebrates rathyatra
By IANS,
Kolkata : Lustily chanting 'Hare Krishna' and distributing sweets to people as they passed on, thousands of devotees joined the annual rathyatra here Friday.
A large number of members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) from various parts of the world, also joined in, pulling the chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balram and their sister Subhadra over a four-km route till the yatra (procession) concluded at the Park Circus Maidan in south Kolkata.
Rahul Gandhi pays obeisance at two Valley shrines
Srinagar : Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday concluded his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir after paying obeisance at two shrines in...
Taj Mahotsava to begin Feb 18
By IANS
Agra : Taj Mahotsava, the 10-day annual festival at Shilpgram near the Taj Mahal will begin Feb 18, promising a cultural extravaganza featuring international artistes.
The theme for this year will be Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam (one world one family). It will be a grand festival of dance, drama, fun and exposition of local arts and handicrafts, said Divisional Commissioner S.R. Meena.
The festival organising committee has decided to institute the Taj Ratna award to be conferred on eminent artistes.
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.
Elephants missed at Republic Day parade
By IANS,
New Delhi : The huge disappointment of this year's Republic Day was the absence of the elephants that normally carried children recognised for exemplary bravery. When the boys and girls came aboard open military vehicles, they failed to generate the usual attention and cheer.
In contrast to earlier Republic Day parades, the ride did little to lift the spirits of the 20 young ones. Eventually the shy youngsters sat waving to rather placid crowds.
***
M.F. Husain revives ‘Mughal E Azam’ through paintings
By IANS,
Mumbai : Noted painter M.F. Husain has paid his personal tribute to K. Asif's epic film "Mughal-E-Azam" by recreating the movie's fabulous scenes in a series of exquisite paintings.
Over 9.5 lakh NCC cadets performed yoga at 1,805 centres
New Delhi: Over nine and a half lakh cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), participated in the International Yoga Day on Sunday.
"The organisation...
Rudyard Kipling’s Allahabad bungalow in a shambles
By S. Neelam, IANS,
Allahabad : A bungalow close to Allahabad University where Rudyard Kipling - the renowned author of such classics as "Kim" and "The Jungle Book" - lived for a year in the late 19th century is now in a shambles.
With successive governments in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and Allahabad University turning down requests from the bungalow's owners to purchase it, it is gradually collapsing for want of upkeep. A major portion of the land where it was built has already been sold off.
Delhi plans a heritage museum at Lahori Gate
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
New Delhi: In order to introduce the history and civilization of historic Walled City area of Delhi to domestic and foreign tourists, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has decided to establish a Heritage Museum and a Tourist Information Centre at Lahori Gate.
The museum will showcase the history of old Delhi in five sections: pre-Mughal period, Mughal period, 1857 Revolution, 1857-1947 period and 1947-2008 period.
‘Jumatul Vida’ prayers pass off peacefully in Hyderabad
Hyderabad : Muslims in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh offered prayers to mark 'Jumatul Vida' or last Friday of the...
Lucknow University teacher in Limca Book of Records
By IANS,
Lucknow : A Lucknow University teacher, Madhurima Lall, has made it to the Limca Book of Records 2008 as the "highest qualified woman". She has two D.Litt degrees.
With that, Uttar Pradesh too would for the first time find a mention in the Limca Book of Records.
"The Limca Book of Records has acknowledged me for my two D.Litt (Doctorate of Literature) degrees in applied economics and business administration," an elated Lall told IANS Thursday.
Indian paintings’ exhibition opens in southern Kazakh city
By IANS,
Astana : "Kalpana", an exhibition comprising the works of 14 renowned Indian artists, has opened at a glittering ceremony in Shymkent, the capital of South Kazakhstan at the newly constructed and prestigious art gallery.
Speaking at the inauguration Thursday, Indian Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar noted that the exhibition has been brought to Shymkent after it was held successfully in Astana for three weeks because of the strong and dynamic relations that India has always enjoyed with this region of Central Asia.
Spanish writer Odon Betanzos dies
By IANS
Huelva (Spain) : Spanish writer Odon Betanzos has died in New York, the head of the author's foundation told Spanish news agency EFE. He was 82.
Antonio Ramirez said Betanzos died Monday morning at a hospital following a combination of a variety of ailments in recent years.
Among his works were anthologies like "Santidad y guerreria", "Hombre de luz", "La mano universal", "Poemas el hombre y las desolaciones" and "De ese Dios de las totalidades" as well as the novel "Dios dado de alto" about the Spanish Civil War.
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.
Joy and relief in Tamil Nadu as court allows bull-run
By IANS
Allanganallur/New Delhi : A wave of relief swept across the expectant crowds in this small town in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district Tuesday as news filtered in that the Supreme Court had allowed jallikattu, the traditional sport of bull-runs held during the Pongal festival.
The villagers, including several hundred women, have been on fast to protest the apex court's 'no' to the bull-run, which the villagers believe brings good luck.
British group’s plan to honour 1857 dead evokes protests
By IANS
Lucknow : The 42-member British delegation slated to visit Lucknow to pay homage to their ancestors killed during India's first war of independence in 1857 - described as the mutiny by the British - is likely to be asked to go back following protests against the visit.
The Uttar Pradesh government Monday took the decision after much debate and discussion in the wake of controversies surrounding the visit, informed official sources said here.
Theatre, women artist’s problems on new Rajya Sabha MP’s mind
By IANS,
Bangalore: Noted Kannada theatre personality B. Jayashree, the newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, says she will raise in parliament the concerns of Indian theatre and the problems faced by women in the performing arts field.
"I am very extremely happy at this recognition. I think my responsibilities have increased. I think this recognition is not just for me but for the achievements of Kannada theatre and also for the state of Karnataka. I will work with responsibility to find solutions to many problems facing Indian theatre as a whole," Jayashree told IANS
Punjabi film to be released in Pakistan
By IANS,
Chandigarh : What the Salman Khan-starrer "Ek Tha Tiger" could not achieve, Punjabi movie "Ajj De Ranjhe" has accomplished -- it will be released in Pakistan.
Australian academics explore stories from the Raj
By Neena Bhandari, IANS
Sydney : Among the many Australian academics working on literary links with India now is self-confessed Indophile Ralph Crane, who is resurrecting the writings of a forgotten Anglo-Indian novelist Maud Diver.
Diver (1867-1945), author of more than two dozen books, was a regular on the bestseller booklist in Britain during her lifetime. But like many women novelists of the Raj, her star faded while those of her male contemporaries - notably Rudyard Kipling - never waned.
2,400 classical vocalists to sing on one platform
By IANS,
Pune : From Pt. Rajan and Sajan Misra to Shankar Mahadevan -- over 2,400 classical vocalists from around the world will perform here Tuesday to showcase the vast repertoire of Indian classical music and to provide a platform for the exponents of this ancient Indian art.
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation is organising the concert at the SP College Grounds from 6 p.m.
Anjuman-e-Haideri condemns Paris attack, says will increase measures to counter IS propaganda
By TCN News
New Delhi: Joining a host of other Muslim organisations in condemning the Paris attacks, Anjuman-e-Haideri said the Paris attacks were a reminder...
London art fair to highlight Husain’s work
By IANS,
New Delhi : Leading Indian contemporary artist M.F. Husain's art will be the highlight of the 20/21 International Art Fair in London Feb 17-20.
At top expo, artist mourns Beijing’s lost character
By DPA
Kassel (Germany) : A leading Chinese artist, Lu Hao, has taken his criticism of international architecture to the Documenta art show in Germany with a huge installation that highlights the soulless appearance of modern office buildings.
Oriyas in America ready for 40th convention
By Jatindra Dash, IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Art, dance, theatre and other facets of Oriya culture will be in full play at the 40th convention of the Orissa Society of the Americas (OSA) to be held in the state of New Jersey next month.
The annual event will be held at Trenton from July 2 to 5 this year. OSA is one of the oldest Indian American associations.
"There would be several special events this year starting from the classical and traditional dances of our state to drama competitions," Dhirendra Kar, former vice president of OSA, told IANS on phone from the US.
‘City of Love’ author blends 16th century spice and spirituality
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : The year is 1510, half-a-century after Vasco da Gama made his first landfall in India. Bengal is under the rule of the benevolent sultan Hussain Shah. Four people set out on individual journeys in the quest of enlightenment and bags of gold. One travels to the end of the world, another meddles with the fates of kings, the third loses all he had and the fourth finds the city of love.
Delhi celebrates Dussehra with fervour, excitement
By IANS
New Delhi : A sea of enthusiastic spectators broke into a loud applause as the towering effigy of demon king Ravana crackled in the fire at the Ramlila grounds in the capital Sunday.
People, both young and old alike, jostled, pushed and pulled to get a better view of the effigy-burning and clapped with fervour. This was, after all, the moment everyone waited for in celebration of Dussehra, one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
Ancient idols found, devotees throng Gujarat temple
By IANS,
Palanpur (Gujarat) : The Palaviya Jain temple in the walled city here is seeing an unusual rush of devotees - and art lovers - to catch a glimpse of 35 ancient idols recovered last week during the temple's reconstruction.
The idols, said to have been crafted during the 14th century, are of the Jain deities Parshavnath, Adinath, Devendranath and other Tirthankars.
Vikram Samwat 1310,1320,1330,1335 and 1340 are the inscriptions on these idols, clearly etching the years according to the Hindu calendar when they were made.
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...
Contemporary art is flavour of October auctions
By Uma Nair
London, (IANS) As back-to-back sales by Christie's and Sotheby's this month show, contemporary art at high-profile auctions is changing the complexion of interest in art.
"Contemporary art is becoming a global language; the interest is massive," Francis Outred, head of evening auctions and private sales at Sotheby's, told IANS.
"We've seen a generational change that is certainly here to stay," Outred said, adding that new "masterpieces are created all the time.
Centre should clear hurdles to build Ram temple: VHP
New Delhi : The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday urged the central government to clear all hurdles within a year to ensure construction...
Hyderabad to host international seminar on Prophet Muhammed
Hyderabad : An international seminar on the life and ways of Prophet Muhammed will be held here from February 21 to February 23.
Eminent Islamic...
On Rafi’s 35th death anniversary, Rishi Kapoor thanks him
Mumbai:On the 35th death anniversary of late legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi on Friday, actor Rishi Kapoor has thanked him for being his voice...
Potter’s spell breaks sales records
By IANS
New Delhi : The 'P' phenomenon sure has it's grip strong over India, like elsewhere. Just 12 hours after the seventh book of the Harry Potter series was released Saturday, it sold 170,000 copies in the country, making it one of the fastest selling books on the first day of its release in all time.
Art of Arabic Calligraphy opens in Sharjah
By IANS/WAM,
Sharjah : Aesthetic intricacies of 333 artists from 28 countries are on display at the Art of Arabic Calligraphy 2010 being held in Sharjah.
The biennial show featuring masterpieces of calligraphy, photography and Arabic letters will be open till June 7.
The show was inaugurated Wednesday by Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who visited the exhibition and interacted with the participants.
Dam-displaced tribal students of Narmada Jeevanshalas celebrated Balmela with gusto
By TCN News,
Gopalpur (district Nandurbar, Maharashtra): Around 600 tribal children and students (studying at primary level) from nine Narmada Jeevanshalas participated in the 16th annual Balmela (Children’s fair) – from February 12 to 15 – here with gusto and renewed enthusiasm.
Sarod maestro wraps up successful British tour
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has wrapped up a successful concert tour of Britain with the London finale of his Samagam concerto performed with the Scottish chamber orchestra.
Samagam, the first concerto written for the sarod, marks the maestro’s foray into western music after years of reticence, and has inspired him to write more.
“There was this responsibility of the huge musical lineage behind me - its sheer purism,” said the scion of the Senia Bangash gharana.
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...
Celebrating Hazrat Ali in Bangalore
By Nigar Ataulla for TwoCircles.net
I was overwhelmed to be invited to a program held on the 21st of April amidst special guests from...
Urdu Journalism legend Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Mustafa Siddiqui Rahi no more
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Urdu Journalism legend and Chief editor of Islami Digest ‘Huda’ and ‘Taha'...
Hindi edition of seventh Harry Potter book released
By IANS,
Bhopal : The Hindi edition of the seventh book in the Harry Potter series "Harry Potter Aur Maut Ke Tohafe" (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow) was released here Friday.
"The quality and look of the Hindi edition is at par with international standards," said Vikas Rakheja, managing director of Manjul Publishing House that has been publishing the Indian language editions of the Harry Potter books in India.
The seventh book, having 724 pages, has been translated into Hindi by Sudhir Dixit and edited by Rajeev Agnihotri, Rakheja told IANS.
Tibet adopts statute to protect Potala Palace
Lhasa : A regulation for protecting the 1,300-year-old Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was adopted by the legislature of southwest China's Tibet...
Media promotes ghazals poorly in India, Pakistan: Asif Mehdi
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Pakistani ghazal exponent Asif Mehdi says the media is responsible for taking young listeners away from ghazals. Aware of his family's deep roots in India, he is now looking forward to singing for Bollywood.
"The media has been aggressively promoting pop music and packaging it in such a way that youngsters do not feel like listening to anything else," Mehdi, the son of legendary ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan, told IANS in an interview.
33 young artists honoured with Akademi award
By IANS,
New Delhi : Thirty-three young artists were honoured with the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for the year 2010, the Ministry of Culture said Wednesday.
Malaysia’s old architecture beckons tourists
By Aparajita Gupta, IANS,
Penang/Malacca (Malaysia) : Mention Malaysia, and the iconic twin towers in the heart of capital Kuala Lumpur come to mind. But move deeper into the Southeast Asian nation, and you will be captivated by architecture steeped in history.
Penang, a state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, is a perfect example.
Gifted with mountains on one side and the sea flowing on the other, the serenity of Penang is a big attraction for tourists. Side by side, the huge malls and condominiums blend with the old architecture and greenery.
World Sufi Spirit Festival: A perfect treat for music aficionados
Jodhpur : A fusion of Sufi music and history at the three-day World Sufi Spirit Festival had aficionados from across the world soak up...
Trade links of Kerala city date back to 500 BC
By Liz Mathew, IANS
New Delhi : An ancient city excavated on Kerala's Malabar coast had trade links with many key centres around the world as far back as 500 BC, fresh archaeological evidence says.
The Institute of Physics in Bhubaneswar has also concluded that the site, which archaeologists named Pattnam, was actually the ancient city of Muziris. It is located seven kilometres from Kodungallur in Ernakulam district.
Sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to begin in Delhi
By IANS
New Delhi : In less than three weeks, Indians from around the globe will get together in the national capital for the sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the annual conclave of the diaspora.
The conclave will start Jan 8, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivering the inaugural address at Vigyan Bhawan here. The chief guest will be Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
Jodhpur fort to come alive with soulful music in October
By IANS,
New Delhi : The historic Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan's Jodhpur town will reverberate with the sounds of traditional Rajasthani folk and classical music during the four-day Rajasthan International Folk Festival in October.
This is the second edition of the festival, which has been billed as one of the top five music festivals in the world by British newspaper The Guardian. Mick Jagger, the lead vocalist of the popular pop-rock band "Rolling Stones" attended the festival in 2007.
New officers for Bihar Urdu Academy
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Patna: Bihar government today appointed two new vice chairmen and four new members to the Bihar Urdu Academy.
Dr. Ghayasuddin Rai and Dr. Abdul Wahid Ansari are appointed as two Vice Chairman of the Urdu Academy. Shahzad Anwar Ansari is appointed Secretary.
Also, four new members nominated are Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, director of Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library; SM Ashraf Farid, Editor of Qaumi Tanzeem; Dr. Syed Shahbaz, Editor, Roznama Rashtriya Sahara and Md. Irshad, editor of Daily Pindar.
‘Since I was nine years old, I wanted to make a movie on Jinn’
By Ras Siddiqui, TwoCircles.net,
“In the Beginning, three were created. Man made of clay. Angels made of light. And a Third made of fire.” These form the elemental core of Jinn, a movie written and directed by Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad, an American of South-Asian origin with a passion for imagery. Jinn is slated to hit the screens on the first Friday of April, 2014 when it will attempt to capture viewer our imagination and the attention of a worldwide audience. Starring Dominic Rains, Serinda Swan, Ray Park, William Atherton and Faran Tahir, the movie highlights man’s meeting with that elusive third race “born of smokeless fire”, a rare encounter. “Similar to humans in many ways, the Jinn lived invisibly among us and only under dire or unusual circumstances were our paths ever meant to cross.”
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.
Climate change photo exhibition shows peoples’ resilience
By IANS,
New Delhi : It was a photo exhibition on climate change, but instead of the negative impact of the phenomenon, it showcased how people in rural India are coping with changes in climate and evolving new ways to cope with it.
Organised by international NGO Oxfam India, the exhibition was inaugurated Thursday and will be on till Nov 22 at the Aga Khan hall in central Delhi.
Dance of the enchantress: Muslim man breaks glass ceiling
By Sanu George,
Thrissur (Kerala) : Mohiniyattam, a classical dance form of Kerala, is often referred to as the "dance of the enchantress" and meant to be performed solo by women. A 48-year-old lecturer has now become the first Muslim man to get a doctorate in the dance form.
India highlight of prestigious European art fair
By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian art will be the highlight of one of Europe's best-known contemporary art fairs - ARCO Madrid 2009, which will be held in February 2009 and showcase the works of stalwarts like Subodh Gupta, M.F. Husain and Tyeb Mehta.
The 28-year-old fair's special section Panorama, which features art from guest nations, will be dedicated to India.
The Indian cache, curated by leading contemporary artist Bose Krishnamachari, will comprise 13 leading galleries, including three from Delhi, featuring works and photographs by 50 artists.
‘Jodhaa Akbar’ screening disrupted in Gurgaon multiplex
By IANS
Gurgaon : A group of over 150 people tried to disrupt the screening of Ashutosh Gowariker's just released epic romance "Jodhaa Akbar" at a multiplex here, shouting slogans against the film and tearing down posters.
The protesters gathered outside the PVR multiplex in Gurgaon's Metropolitan Mall, demanding that screening be halted.
The theatre stopped screening the movie for 5-10 minutes when the unruly crowd tried to get into the hall, said Satish Balan, deputy commissioner of police (Gurgaon East).
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...
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.
Rourkela city tallest statue of Hindu deity Hanuman in Asia
By NNN-PTI,
Rourkela, India : Rourkela city in Sundargarh district of Orissa state has to its credit of having the tallest statue of a Hindu diety in Asia.
On entering the city, one cannot miss to have a look at the giant statue of Lord Hanuman, measuring 74 feet and one inch.
The statue which is in 'Hanuman Vatika', a temple complex surrounded with beautiful gardens, is said to be the tallest statue in Asia.
Hundreds of visitors, including devotees, throng the temple daily to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman.
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.
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...
ITC launches Miss Players fashion brand
By IANS
New Delhi : Apparel major ITC Lifestyle Retailing Wednesday launched its Miss Players line of trendy fashion wear targeting "the vivacious young woman between 18-25 years".
King’s end spells doom for Nepal’s ‘living goddesses’
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : With Nepal's Maoists having begun an inexorable countdown for the ouster of the once all-powerful King Gyanendra, the fate of one of the oldest religious institutions of the nation - the Kumaris or "living goddesses" - also lies in jeopardy.
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.
Globalization on the silk route
Movie review: The Culture of Here
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
Since 1980s, globalization has been a much used and rather abused word. But the fact is that trade between civilizations, countries, and continents have been going on for thousands of years. Until the middle of the twentieth century, borders between countries were never well defined.
Passenger train service from Agartala likely from April
Agartala : The much awaited passenger train service between Tripura and the rest of India is likely to start in April, a railway official...
Mumbai mega music concert called off
By IANS,
New Delhi : Live Earth India, a mega music concert featuring western and Indian musicians including Bon Jovi and Anoushka Shankar scheduled for Dec 7 in Mumbai, has been called off after the terror attacks in Mumbai.
“Everyone involved with the Live Earth India, from our US- and India-based staff, artists and crew to our India-based broadcast, production, non-profit and marketing communications partners, is stunned and saddened by the tragic events of the past few days in the host city Mumbai," a joint statement said Saturday.
Mercedes bionic car at New York’s Museum of Modern Art
By DPA
New York : Mercedes is showing a bionic concept car in New York's Museum of Modern Art as part of an exhibition showcasing "trailblazing innovations" in the fields of design and science.
The bionic car, taking design cues from the tropical boxfish, boasts near-perfect aerodynamics combined with a lightweight concept.
Powered by a high-tech diesel engine with BLUETEC technology, the bionic car has a fuel consumption of 4.3 litres per 100 km, which makes it 20 percent more economical than a comparable production model, according to the car-maker.
Facts and Fiction of Padmavat – the movie
By Misbahuddin Mirza:
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s recent movie – Padmaavat, is supposed to be based on the silly fictional tale written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi...
Filmmakers compete to show Muslim life, experience in the US
By Heather Yamourm, KUNA,
Washington : US filmmakers use experience to bridge the cross-cultural divide, and to breakdown stereotypes, by offering a unique window into the lives of American Muslims, and a chance to win USD 50,000 in prizes.
The "One Nation, Many Voices" online film contest, which kicked off this month, asks filmmakers to create a short video that "reflects the American Muslim experience" and is open to any US citizen, regardless of race or religion.
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.
Return of modern masters at Sotheby’s India Art Auction
By IANS,
New Delhi : Masters of modern art are set to grab the limelight at Sotheby's India Art Auction in London next week.
Twelve rare figurative compositions by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore painted in 1938, an untitled canvas of horses by Maqbool Fida Husain, a large-format 1956 composition of a pagoda by F.N. Souza and a 2004 self-portrait by Manjit Bawa are the highlights of the India Art Auction at Sotheby's Bond Street Gallery June 15.
The masters are ruling the lots, the country representative of Sotheby's said.
Hema Malini feted with lifetime achievement award
Mumabi: Actress-politician Hema Malini has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Art and Cinema.
The actress was honoured by the Bank of Baroda...
Zulfiqar – An attempt to negatively stereotype Muslims
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Kolkata: Otherization of Muslims in movies is nothing new but a recent Bengali movie went over the top in its negative...
Lyricist Kecheri receives Vallathol Award
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Lyricist Yousuf Ali Kecheri has been conferred the prestigious Vallathol Puraskar by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ kid writes memoir
By IANS,
London : Nine-year-old "Slumdog Millionaire" star Rubina Ali is writing her autobiography, expected to be released next month.
Ali's life story, "Slumdog Dreaming: My Journey to the Stars", will be released in Britain and the US July 16, reported contactmusic.com.
"(Ali) tells her own incredible story, from playing marbles with her friends beside the sewers of Garib Nagar in Mumbai, to dancing along to the Bollywood films she and her family watch on their old television set," said a statement issued by publishers TransWorld.
Remembering Hindi litterateur Prof KP Singh
By Dr Mohammad Sajjad,
It is quite befitting for a reputed and historic university to commemorate its distinguished and accomplished academics: people who combined...
Colourful tiger art with folk dance for Onam
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Thrissur (Kerala) : Over 600 dancers painted like tigers and 300 percussionists took to the main thoroughfare of this sylvan Kerala town to perform the ancient Pulikali or the tiger dance as part of the Onam festivities.
More than 20,000 people Thursday lined the streets of this town, around 300 km from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, braving the steady drizzle to witness the Pulikali folk dance that is being promoted as a tourist attraction and competitive event like the snake boat race by the state government.
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...
Exhibition of contemporary art from Pakistan to commence in Mumbai on Saturday
NEW DELHI, Dec. 14: Indus Strokes an exhibition of contemporary art from Pakistan will commence in Mumbai on Saturday.
The exhibition being organized jointly by Ishi Jami from Pakistan and Ritu Jain from India in association with other organisations including Pakistan International Airlines, will be participated by twenty eight artists from Pakistan.
Leading Indian writer Javed Akhtar will be the guest of honour on the occasion. The Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah will also be guest of honour on November 18.
यूपी : मोहर्रम की सरकारी गाइडलाइन पर नाराजगी, धर्मगुरुओं ने बताया तनाव बढ़ाने...
स्टाफ़ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles.net
उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार ने 10 अगस्त से शुरू हो रहें मोहर्रम को लेकर गाइडलाइंस जारी करी हैं। सरकार द्वारा जारी करी गई...
Rhonda Byrnes, Amitav Ghosh – bestselling authors once again
By IANS,
New Delhi : Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" is back as the number one non-fiction seller this week while Amitav Ghosh's "Sea of Poppies" continues as fiction favourite.
The top 10 in the non-fiction and fiction lists are:
Non-Fiction
1. "The Secret"
Author : Rhonda Byrne
Publisher : Simon & Schustar
Price : Rs.550.00
2. "Crossed Swords: Pakistan, its Army, and the Wars Within"
Author : Shuja Nawaz
Publisher : Oxford
Price : Rs.695.00
3. "The Post-American World"
Author : Fareed Zakaria
Extraordinary finds on China’s Silk Road origins revealed
By DPA
Berlin : The sensational recent archaeological finds from Xinjiang, China's most northwestern province, are on show for the first time in Europe at the Origins of the Silk Road exhibition here. Some 190 objects recovered from the Tarim Basin in Central Asia are featured in the show, which brings together extraordinary archaeological finds dating from around 2000 BC - among them items from the Bronze and Early Iron Age as well as the Han Period.
मस्जिद में गैर मुस्लिमों को दी गई दावत,मुंबई में ट्रस्ट की पहल हमें जाने...
जिब्रानउद्दीन। Twocircles.net
इस रविवार को मुस्लिमों के प्रति बढ़ते हुए गलतफहमी और नफरतों को मिटाने के लिए मुंबई की जुमा मस्जिद बॉम्बे ट्रस्ट ने...
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.
Site of ancient city of Muziris in danger
By Liz Mathew, IANS
New Delhi : A site on the Malabar Coast that may have been home to the ancient city of Muziris and that continues to throw up artefacts dating back to the 1st century BC is now in danger of being damaged as archaeologists have not been able to acquire the land.
It is now believed that the small town of Pattanam in Kerala's Ernakulam district was Muziris, which served as a major trading port between the 1st century BC and the 5th century AD.
Bengal art gets its hype, but not the price
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS
New Delhi : Art from West Bengal is back in focus after a lull. Over the past fortnight, Delhi and Mumbai have played host to more than a dozen shows by artists from Bengal, and an equal number of coffee table volumes on masters from Kolkata and Santiniketan have hit the stands.
Potential buyers and investors across the country have finally woken up to the market value and aesthetics of art from Bengal, though in terms of prices, artists from the state still lag behind their counterparts in Delhi, Mumbai and Vadodara, despite all the hype.
4-day convention on theatre and conflict opens
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Ahmedabad : A 4-day National level Convention on Theatre and Conflict organised by Samvedan Cultural Programme was inaugurated here Tuesday. The convention aimed at searching for a way ahead for theatre and the role it can play in the age of globalisation where theatre itself is perishing against the infotainment onslaught.
Introducing the programme and setting the tone for the convention, Hiren Gandhi maintained that the role of theatre is primarily to address socio-political issues.
HC asks ‘PK’ makers to file response on plea alleging plagiarism
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the makers of Aamir Khan-starrer film "PK" to file their response on novelist Kapil...
Danseuse Sitara Devi passes away
Mumbai : Eminent Kathak danseuse Sitara Devi died here early Tuesday after prolonged illness, her son-in-law confirmed. She was 94.
Sitara Devi was on ventilator...
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.
Roman sex artefacts on show at Germany’s Trier museum
By DPA
Trier (Germany) : Erotic carvings and excavated Roman artefacts connected to sex will go on display Saturday in Germany's best-preserved ancient Roman city Trier.
The temporary exhibition, 100,000 Years of Sex, comprises 250 items, mainly archaeological.
They date back to the Stone Age and show how our ancestors experienced lust and procreation, said Mechthild Neyses-Eiden, deputy director of the museum.
Court verdict should bring Husain home, says son
By IANS,
New Delhi : The son is waiting for his father to come home. With the Delhi High Court Thursday dismissing three of six disputes against M.F. Husain, son Shamshad is hoping his 93-year-old father will be back from his self-imposed exile in Dubai.
For Maqbool Fida Husain, one of the hottest selling names of Indian art, the high court striking down three of the six major legal disputes pertaining to his controversial Bharatmata painting must be welcome news.