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.
One-day mourning in Karnataka for Hindustani music doyen
By IANS,
Bangalore : The Karnataka government Saturday declared a one-day mourning to pay homage to Puttaraj Gavai, a doyen of Hindustani music, who passed away Friday.
Tyeb trumps Saffronart auction with $987,000
By IANS
Mumbai : Mumbai-based artist Tyeb Mehta's work Kali sold for a hefty $987,000 at the Saffrontart Online Auction of modern Indian artworks.
Abstract artist captures urban landscape, promotes green cause
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Leading abstractionist Sanjeev Varma's works promote the green cause, drawing inspiration from simple things like stray dogs longing for affection and the first raindrops.
His show "Little Does Matter", a spread of 37 canvases done in oil and tackled with a riot of "unadulterated" colour, comes at a time when art as an object of mass appeal is promoting a variety of causes in India.
A bit of bohemia in Delhi boudoirs
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Andy Warhol, the American artistic icon of the 1960s, has entered the minimalist drawing rooms of the capital. He may not have come as an original - but signed prints are no less precious. It is Warhol, after all.
Chandigarh’s Rose Festival to begin Friday
By IANS
Chandigarh : Colourful roses will be in full bloom at Chandigarh's 36th annual rose festival, which begins Friday.
The Rose Garden, located in Sector 16 here, is the largest of its kind in Asia. The garden, also called Zakir Rose garden, is named after the late president Zakir Hussain.
The three-day festival attracts thousands of visitors from the city and adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Scores of tourists from other parts of the country and foreign lands come to see the festival.
Tagore house to Twenty20, Rabindra Jayanti revelry sweeps Kolkata
By Sreya Basu, IANS,
Kolkata : Kolkatans made it a point to celebrate their "Bengaliness" Thursday. They may love their discos and lap up Bollywood-Hollywood through the year, but on "Pochishe Boishakh" only one name ruled their hearts - the famous bard of Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore, whose 147th birth anniversary it was.
Tagore exhibition opens at Edinburgh Napier University
By IANS,
New Delhi: An exhibition of photographs on the life of poet Rabindranath Tagore has opened at the Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland.
Aadivasi’s cultural identity in Jharkhand’s under assault
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
As I boarded the Rajdhani express from New Delhi for Parasnath for my intended visit to Jharkhand...
Magic festival in Kerala
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Over 1,000 magicians from across the country and abroad will participate at a four-day magic festival here from May 1.
The mammoth festival, called Vismayam 2008, is being held under the joint auspices of the Department of Tourism and the Magic Academy of veteran magician Gopinath Muthukad.
Speaking to reporters here Friday, Tourism Secretary V. Venu said that more than five stages are being set up for exhibitions of magic, culminating in a record-setting mass magic show for world peace.
The record breaking musician who came back from the brink
By Brij Khandelwal, IANS,
Agra : Following his brother's death in 1982, Dinesh Shandilya went through severe depression that led him to attempt suicide. And then, in his darkest hour, he discovered music of the flute in the land of Lord Krishna. Today he finds his name in the record books and is a man at peace with himself.
A retired engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, Shandilya holds a world record for making the shortest flute (three inches) and longest flute (5.6 feet).
The Vanishing Art of Hand-Painted Signs: Inside Painter Kafeel’s World
Aamirah Thayibah, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Behind a frayed curtain, a modest and dimly lit room in a narrow alley in Old Delhi houses a treasure...
US museum showcases works of ‘Father of Indian Modern Art’
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The exquisite and historically groundbreaking work of noted Indian painter Nandalal Bose, often called the father of Indian modernism, has been showcased at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of America' largest museums.
Called "Rhythms of India: The Art of Nandalal Bose", it's the first travelling exhibition outside Asia to highlight the works of Bose (1882-1966) includes nearly 100 of the artist's finest paintings in a variety of styles and media.
Pakistani spices curry favour with Indians
By Sahil Makkar, IANS
New Delhi : From chikan to the kitchen, the allure of Pakistan never fails to capture. As is evident from the long queues outside Pakistani stalls at the Trade Fair here with Indians stocking up on spices just as they buy the famed embroidered fabric for their wardrobes.
The aroma of Pakistani quorma and Sindhi biryani is wafting all the way across the border to the India International Trade Fair (IITF), which started Thursday and goes on till Nov 27. The tagline, 'The Original Pakistani Meal Express For India', aims to attract and it does.
German expert reveals true identity of Mona Lisa
By DPA
Heidelberg : A German expert has confirmed the real identity of Mona Lisa after centuries of speculation about the woman in Leonardo da Vinci's famous portrait.
It is Lisa Gherardini, wife of a Florentine cloth merchant named Francesco del Giocondo, said Viet Probst, director of the Heidelberg University Library.
Probst confirmed Friday a German television report which said the discovery was made two-and-a-half years ago by the head of the university's handwriting department.
NGT orders ban on cutting trees near Taj Mahal
Agra: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that no unauthorised construction activities are permitted and no trees...
Souza’s ‘Red Road’ highlight Of Sotheby’s May sale
By IANS,
London : Francis Newton Souza's "The Red Road", estimated at 250,000-350,000 pounds (approx. $495,000-$695,000), is one of the key highlights of Sotheby's Indian sale to be held May 2 here.
The sale will present 120 lots of exceptional quality tracing the course of Indian art over the last century. It will encompass important works by key figures of the Modern Indian Art movement like Souza and Akbar Padamsee through to contemporary names like Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher and Jitish Kallat.
Congress demands Bharat Ratna for Mohammed Rafi
Mumbai : The Mumbai Congress on Thursday demanded that legendary Bollywood playback singer late Mohammed Rafi be conferred the Bharat Ratna.
Congress leaders led by...
Pranab Mukherjee, Ashim Ghosh bag ‘Bengali of the Year’ award
By IANS
Kolkata : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Hutchison Essar Managing Director Ashim Ghosh have pipped popular Bengali icons like cricketer Sourav Ganguly and Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty to bag the "Best Bengali of the Year" award jointly.
From amongst 10 eminent personalities, Mukherjee and Ghosh were chosen the "Shera (best) Bengali of 2007" for their memorable contributions at a function organised by Bengali news channel Star Ananda here Saturday night.
Nepal’s palace holds key to nation’s history
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Not just gems, rare artefacts and archaeological treasures from all over the world, Nepal's palace under siege also contains priceless old documents that can throw light on the past events of history hitherto shrouded in secrecy and silence. Historians and members of civil society are concerned that hundreds of rare documents, including old treaties, could be destroyed.
Gandhi manuscript back in Indian hands
By IANS
New Delhi/London : After more than a week of feverish diplomacy, the Indian government Tuesday acquired the priceless manuscript of Mahatma Gandhi which was withdrawn from auction a day before it was set to go under the hammer at Christie's in London.
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.
33 years of struggle and the battle is on!
By Reeti Mahobe,
What’s common between the Oscar winning movie, Life of Pi, and her? That continuously ongoing struggle not just of life but for life. But her indomitable spirit is unmatched for. She is rare yet very special. This is about Payel Bhattacharya who has seen 33 years of life with each day being a mystery to unravel bringing in either new hopes or more often the new hurdles to conquer through. On this occasion of Rare Disease Day, she expresses her intent to spread awareness on VHL or Von Hippel Lindau Disease, the condition with which she has lived for all these years.
Quaint melody – young musicians play for street children
By Shweta Srinivasan, IANS,
New Delhi : Adheer Ghosh, 20, is very busy like many other Delhi University students who are juggling daylong extra-curricular activities in addition to academics. But there is a distinction in this young guitarist's weekly schedule - a two-hour session when he conducts music workshops for street kids at Shastri Nagar in north Delhi.
Ghosh is a volunteer with Music Basti, an initiative of young musicians of the city to interact at a forum with street and homeless children.
Indira knew of threat to life before Blue Star: Pranab
New Delhi : Indira Gandhi knew her life was at risk when she decided to go for militarily storm the Golden Temple, President Pranab...
Handkerchief art gets legal protection in Himachal Pradesh
By Vishal Gulati, IANS,
Shimla : The Himachal Pradesh government has now provided legal protection to a dying art form - miniature embroidery on handkerchiefs on the lines of the globally famous Chamba school of miniature painting.
The art of embroidery on the Chamba rumal (handkerchief), as it is known, originated and flourished in the same princely hill state of Chamba (now Chamba district) in the 16th and 17th centuries where the Chamba school of miniature paintings got royal patronage.
Back to basics: Masters show importance of lines and strokes
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : In this age of digitisation of art, lines, drawing, figures and manual artistic skill have taken a backseat. To highlight the importance of these basics, the capital's oldest art display house, the Dhoomimal Gallery, is holding an exhibition of 100 works by 80 artists.
"Drawing: The Essence II" shows the importance of line, strokes and basic drawing in the journey of Indian art - from its pristine classical forms to modernism, abstraction and complex digital play.
Uttar Pradesh artist prepares 60-foot New Year card
By IANS,
Allahabad : An Uttar Pradesh artist has prepared a 60-foot-long greeting card to welcome the new year and bid farewell to 2009.
Titled Memories 2009: Lost and Found, the card carries portraits of personalities who received honours for their achievements and those who breathed their last in 2009.
The work of the 25-year-old artist, R.K. Chitera, 25, is being displayed at the Chandra Shekhar Azad Park here.
"With the 60-foot-long greeting card, I have tried to collect painful and joyful memories of 2009," Chitera told IANS.
President Pranab Mukherjee greets nation on Diwali
New Delhi : President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday greeted the nation on the festival of Diwali saying that it may dispel "darkness of ignorance"...
Kerala poet Nambudiri conferred MP Govt’s Kabir Samman
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal, May 10: Malayalam poet Akkitham Achyutan Nambudiri of Kerala was conferred Kabir Samman, which carries an award of Rs. 1,50,000 and a citation, here last evening at a glittering function as Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), ruled Madhya Pradesh Government's eight national and state-level awards were presented to distinguished artistes and writers.
Former Union Minister and BJP national president Rajnath Singh was the chief guest while Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presided over the function.
Ancient pilgrimages in Bhaderwah, Kishtwar tell a willful tale of neglect
By Eff Ahmed,NAK
Jammu : The mainstay of state economy is tourism but ancient pilgrimages like Kailash Yatra, Machail Yatra and Reushira Devi Yatra in mountainous Bhaderwah and Kishtwar tell a tale of willful neglect.
Sources told News Agency of Kashmir that those at the helm of affairs have not done enough to develop these places of tourist pilgrimages with required infrastructure to attract pilgrims.
Modern art bonanza for Vienna’s Albertina museum
By DPA
Vienna : Visitors crowded the rooms of Vienna's Albertina gallery, eager to see an art exhibition that is likely to change Austria's museum landscape.
The Albertina Friday began exhibiting 295 works - including many milestones of modern art - from the private Batliner Collection.
The collection of Rita and Herbert Batliner consists of about 500 works and is regarded as one of Europe's leading private collections. It can boast a who's who of painting - Monet, Picasso, Chagall, Matisse and Lichtenstein, to name just a few.
Eleanor takes last of Raj memories with her
By IANS
London : Eleanor Hopkinson, wife of the last British political officer and resident in Sikkim, who was one of the very few western women to have travelled extensively in the old Tibet, has died at the age of 101.
In 1947, her 20th year in India, Eleanor and her husband A.J. Hopkinson undertook a month-long tour of the Tibetan administrative centres of Shigatse, Gyantse and Sakya to tell them that the British were gone and thenceforth they would be dealing with an independent India.
“Firaaq” is a personal response to the Gujarat carnage: Nandita Das
By TwoCircles.net special correspondent
Gujarat set to come alive, with dandia and garba
By Rafat Quadri,IANS,
Ahmedabad : Come Wednesday and Gujarat will be at its vibrant and colourful best. For one full week, Gujaratis will immerse themselves in Navratri and Dussehra celebrations with all-night dandia dances as they combine religion and devotion with recreation and fun.
This is when Gujaratis young and old come on the streets in their traditional attire in a riot of colour. To be in Gujarat during Navratri is to witness the state at her best.
यूपी की शान बंदायू के उस्ताद राशिद अली खान को पदम् भूषण सम्मान
आकिल हुसैन।Twocircles.net
भारत सरकार ने कला क्षेत्र में योगदान के लिए यूपी के बदायूं के राशिद खान को तीसरे सबसे बड़े सम्मान पद्म भूषण से...
Adding sparkle to lives with poetry: Diwali at a Gurudwara
By Bushra Alvi Razzack for TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: In a unique celebration of the festival, poets from the literary group Delhi by Verse, along...
‘Sri Sri conveyed message of Indian spirituality, heritage to world’, says Union Home Minister...
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj lauded Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Saturday for conveying the message...
‘Hindustani classical influenced by Persian music’
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : For centuries, musical legacies have crossed geographical boundaries, says world music guru Laurent Aubert, citing how Hindustani classical got its Persian influence and how the Beatles opened the window to Indian notes.
Aubert, curator of the Geneva Ethnographic Museum and the director of the Ateliers d'ethnomusicologie, says global migration has changed the tenor of music irrevocably.The Ateliers d'ethnomusicologie is an institute dedicated to the dissemination of world music.
British twitter on if a twat is the same as a twit
By IANS,
London : Britons are far from being prudes when it comes to salacious writing. They have the entire Victorian era to swear by. Using a questionable vowel in a four-letter word normally does not cause panic, unless it appears in a book for children.
Jacqueline Wilson has arrived at this literary truth the hard way.
One of Britain's best selling authors has been made to look foolish after a woman decided she will not have her grand-niece read Wilson's "My Sister Jodie" when she found that the four-letter word, twit, appears later in the text as twat.
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...
Marathi film ‘Harishchandrachi Factory’ is India’s Oscar entry
By IANS,
Mumbai : Marathi film "Harishchandrachi Factory", Mumbai-based theatre actor-director Paresh Mokashi's debut movie, will be India's official entry for the Oscars.
Mokashi told IANS Sunday that his film has been nominated by the Film Federation of India as the country's official entry in the Foreign Language Film category.
The movie is on the making of "Raja Harishchandra", India's first full length feature film made in 1913 by the pioneer of Indian cinema Dadasaheb Phalke.
Bangladeshi Sufi-Baul musician enthralls Delhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Fifty-year-old Kangalini Sufia sings of freedom and god. The wandering minstrel from Bangladesh is a Baul folk musician of the Sufiana tradition - a blend of Bengali baul (village folk music) and the Islamic Sufi music that originated in Persia and subsequently travelled to India.
A follower of Bangladeshi Sufi-baul legend Lalon Fakir, Kangalini was in the capital to perform at the ongoing Delhi International Arts festival with her nine-member band at the Ashok amphi-theatre Sunday.
A glance through the new Seven Wonders of the World
By Xinhua
Lisbon : Around 100 million Internet and telephone voters participated in a poll to select the new Seven Wonders of the World, among which are India's Taj Mahal marble mausoleum, the Great Wall of China, Brazil's Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Peru's Machu Picchu Inca trail and Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid.
When theatre teaches lessons from life
By Vidhu Aggarwal, IANS,
New Delhi : Bedraggled boys hawking magazines and trinkets at traffic crossings in the national capital would irritate nine-year-old Saumitra Khuller to no end. He never thought he would some day re-enact their lives on stage. Today, Khuller, a class four student of Delhi Public School, Vasant Vihar, has a totally different insight - thanks to a theatre workshop he attended and where he reprised the role of a street child who begs for a livelihood.
Special parliament session to celebrate 60th Independence Day
By IANS
New Delhi : Mellifluous strains of the sarod by Amjad Ali Khan, patriotic songs by Pandit Jasraj and a poetry recital by Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi will be the highlights of a 90-minute special parliament session on Aug 15 to mark the 60th anniversary of Independence Day.
The special session will be held in the evening at the Central Hall of Parliament and be attended by President Pratiba Patil, the newly-elected vice president, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, said officials in the Lok Sabha secretariat.
Malaysian artistes fear curbs in opposition-ruled states
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian Artistes' Association (Karyawan) has expressed fear for the local arts and entertainment industry following the formation of new governments in five states by opposition parties perceived as conservative.
Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadalan Rakyat (PKR) and the Islamist party PAS wrested control of five states in this month's general election, also winning an unprecedented 82 seats in parliament.
‘Ramchand Pakistani’ – a tale of two countries
New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Following the footsteps of fellow Pakistani director Shoaib Mansoor, Mehreen Jabbar too raises some complex issues in her directorial debut "Ramchand Pakistani", releasing Thursday. Nandita Das, the only Indian actor in the movie, says it will have widespread appeal.
While Mansoor's "Khuda Kay Liye", which was the first Pakistani film to be released in India, showed the trauma of liberal Muslims in Pakistan, "Ramchand Pakistani" talks about the trauma of people living in India-Pakistan border areas.
Rahman to perform at Indian & American Achiever Awards
By IANS
New York : Renowned film music composer A.R. Rahman will present the national anthem of India Thursday at the inaugural CineMaya Media Group Indian & American Achiever Awards at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C.
"It is my great honour to be able to sing 'Jana Gana Mana', during the 60th Year of independence celebrations in the heart of the US Capital," Rahman said in a press statement.
Pakistani filmmaker keen to make film on cross-border social issues
By Prathiba Raju, IANS,
Prophet’s descendant Shaikh Al Shareef visits AMU Library
TCN News
Aligarh: Al Shareef Mustafa Fouad Shafaee, who belongs to the family of the Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Mohammad Mustafa (Peace Be...
Greenhouse effect at Documenta art expo in Germany
By DPA
Kassel (Germany) : When the Documenta 12 art exhibition opens in Germany June 16, some of the world's most admired art of the present day will be arrayed in a sprawling plastic greenhouse on a palace lawn in Kassel city.
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.
Eminent Indian artist Balu dies in road accident
By IANS
Bangalore : Eminent Indian artist Velachery Balu, 79, died in a hit-and-run road accident near his residence here, the police said Friday.
Basavangudi police inspector Ramalinga Gowda told IANS the accident occurred Thursday when Balu was hit from the side by a speeding two-wheeler while crossing the road after his evening walk.
"Balu was crossing the road towards his house from the nearby M.N. Krishna Rau Park when the unidentified scooterist knocked him down and sped away, leaving the artist bleeding with severe head injuries.
Artist Manu Parekh’s 20-year love affair with Varanasi
By Madhushree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Veteran modern artist Manu Parekh is one of the few old-timers whose style and artistic content have remained unchanged over the years despite the changing socio-political circumstances around him. What has also not changed is his love for the Hindu holy city of Varanasi (Benares).
ASI seeks High Court help to protect Sher Shah’s tomb
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India has moved to Patna High Court to protect Tomb of Sher Shah in Sasaram.
The tomb that is part of the heritage site is encroached by unauthorized and illegal constructions. The ASI moved the court to remove these illegal constructions.
Actors hone their skills in theatre workshops
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Schools have opened after their summer holidays. Now it is the turn of professional actors to hone their skills in theatre workshops and learn new techniques from experts.
Acting, as Russian actor and director Constantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski - the father of naturalistic acting - says, is a serious method where an actor uses his tools to portray reality.
Muslims in Kerala celebrate Eid
Thiruvananthapuram : Muslims in Kerala on Wednesday celebrated Eid ul-Fitr with religious fervour at the end of Ramzan, the 30-day period of fasting.
Since it...
Seminar on Urdu poet and political activist Makhdoom Mohiuddin inaugrated
By Press Information Bureau
Hyderabad: A three-day seminar on noted Urdu Poet and political activist Makhdoom Mohiuddin was inaugurated today. In a message sent by the Human Resource Development Minister, Shri Arjun Singh described Makhdoom a genuine poet who gave topmost importance to his social concerns. His poetry still fills the people with energy and enthusiasm.
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.
Stolen 525-year-old map found in Sydney
By DPA
Sydney : After a journey around the world, a stolen map from 1482 based on the work of the ancient astronomer and geographer Ptolemy has been recovered in a Sydney art gallery.
The find was reported Saturday in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
The map, known as the Ulm Ptolemy World Map, illustrates what was known about the world in the late 15th century. Spain's National Library, which owns the map, describes it as "perhaps the most famous and highly sought after of 15th-century world maps, and certainly the most decorative".
‘Spider-Man 3’ hitting Indian screens with 700 prints
By Arpana
IANS
New Delhi : Hollywood's much-awaited comic book-based action adventure "Spider-Man 3" is releasing in five languages in India Friday.
Based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, "Spider-Man 3" will open with 700 prints and has been dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Bhojpuri. This is the first time Indian audiences will watch Spider-Man delivering his dialogues in Bhojpuri.
Kolkata hotel goes veggie to campaign for good health
By IANS
Kolkata : A leading Kolkata hotel has joined the league of veggie Bollywood stars John Abraham and Mallika Sherawat in promoting vegetarianism, by holding a festival of vegetarian food.
The Kenilworth, in association with the NGO, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Thursday announced the holding of a food festival that would serve a variety of Italian and Rajasthani vegetarian dishes from Aug 25 to 28. Vegetarian kebabs and sizzlers will also be on the menu.
My father was too versatile to establish poetic identity: Javed Akhtar
By Subhash K. Jha,
Mumbai : Hindi film industry's renonned lyricist Javed Akhtar remembers his father and poet Jan Nisar Akhtar on Father's Day Sunday...
Amercians are respectful of Indian music: Zakir Hussain
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, who is out to present a picture of a new vibrant India through the music and rhythm of its diverse culture across the United States, says Americans are very respectful of Indian music and listen to it with "reverence and focus".
"It has been going very very well," Hussain told IANS over the phone after a show at the San Francisco Jazz Festival last week as part of a month-long 17-concert "Masters of Percussion" tour across a dozen American cities, including New York, Chicago and Atlanta.
Star tenor Luciano Pavarotti dies of cancer
By DPA
Rome : Luciano Pavarotti, one of the most famous opera stars of the 20th century, died Thursday at his home in Modena, Italy, his manager said. Pavarotti was 71.
The tenor had battled pancreatic cancer for more than a year, and his death followed reports that his health had worsened overnight. Pavarotti had lost consciousness several times, the ANSA news agency had said, citing people close to the singer.
He was hospitalised last month for a lung infection but allowed to leave Aug 25 after two weeks of care.
कुर्सी बचाने की खातिर आगरा की प्रिंसिपल ने रच दी नफरत की झूठी कहानी,...
विशेष संवाददाता। Twocircles.net
आगरा की जिस प्रिंसिपल ने स्कूल में अल्पसंख्यक समाज के बच्चों का बहुमत होने पर खुद को धार्मिक उत्पीड़ित दिखाया था उसकी...
Curbs on Tamil TV shows, Hindu priests in Malaysia
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia's Information Ministry has decided to ban screening of Tamil dramas imported from India and shown on its TV2 channel.
Former minister and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu said that the decision to ban such dramas was surprising as India was the only country that produced Tamil dramas for Malaysian viewers, Malaysia Namban newspaper said.
Vellu said that the MIC secretary general and Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam had raised the matter at this week's cabinet meeting.
wait to be known as my son’s father: Naseeruddin Shah
Mumbai, May 17 (IANS) After creating a distinct niche for himself, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah now wants to be identified as his son's father.
Currently he is off to Dehradun with wife Ratna Pathak to watch his younger son's first stage production.
"It's a play that Vivaan has directed in school," said the proud father. "My wife and I are going to watch it. He has been winning the best actor award on stage for two years. But this is his first stab at direction," the actor, known in the industry as Naseer, told IANS.
Salman Khan’s ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ earns big at Pakistani box office
Islamabad: "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's Eid gift to his fans, is not only breaking records in India, but has also garnered appreciation...
Tehelka to auction Indian art in London
By IANS
New Delhi : India's political newspaper Tehelka will promote, preview and auction Indian art at a summit it will host in London next week to explain the growing economic and social importance of India.
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.
Hindi, Chinese may dethrone English
By Prabhat Sharan, IANS
Mumbai : Hindi and Chinese, languages spoken in the emerging markets of the world, may dethrone Queen's English from the coveted status of "preferred lingua franca", believes an American expert.
US economist David Rosen said the official languages of the two emerging markets, India and China, will soon be the most preferred language in the workplace in coming times.
Indian awards will overtake Oscars: Kamal Haasan
By IANS,
Chennai : Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan, whose latest release "Dasavatharam" is making waves across the country, says Indian film awards will soon overtake the globally famed Oscars.
"The day when Hollywood would yearn for awards from India rather than (us) running behind the Oscars is not far off going by the improving quality of our films," Kamal said while releasing the audio of the forthcoming film "Kodaikanal" Monday.
Artist performs against rape at Delhi art fest
By IANS,
New Delhi: Nagpur-based sculptor and performance artist Surbhi Bhattad began her month-long performance art here Saturday to protest gender abuse and rape.
Development for some is loss of livelihood for others: Filmmaker
By IANS
New Delhi : What goes by the name of development for some may be a loss of livelihood for others, filmmaker Paranjoy Guha Thakurta says.
सर्दी आई तो हजारों किमी दूर दोआबा में माउंट एवरेस्ट लांघ आशियाना तलाशने चले...
आस एम कैफ । Twocircles.net
गंगा और यमुना के बीच का यह इलाका जिसे दोआब कहा जाता है पिछले कुछ सालों से नए कारणों को...
Tagore Nobel theft case closure unfortunate: Somnath
By IANS
Kolkata : Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee Sunday described as unfortunate the decision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to close the probe into the theft of Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel Prize medallion.
"It is unfortunate that the CBI has decided to end the probe into the Nobel theft. The decision has saddened the people of the country and especially me as I represent the Bolpur constituency from where the medallion was stolen," Chatterjee told newspersons on the sidelines of the Indo-Vietnam Friendship Festival here.
2,000-year-old tomb frescos found in east China
Jinan, (Xinhua) Chinese heritage workers said Tuesday they have discovered well-preserved frescos in a tomb dating back to 2,000 years in east China's Shandong province.
The frescos painted with blue, green, black and red colours were found on the walls of a tomb at an old residential yard in Dongping county, south-western Shandong, when a real estate company was excavating the foundation for a planned shopping mall.
Three Muslim women in Man Asia long list
Three Muslim women in Man Asia long list
New Delhi: Three Muslim women found themselves among the 21 selected for Man Asia Literary Prize. The long list of 21 unpublished works includes work from Anjum Hasan, Daisey Hasan, and Salma.
The 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize long list was chosen from submissions received from all over Asia. The largest single group of submissions was from India, followed by the Philippines.
A short list of five works will be announced in October 2008 and winner awarded in November.
New piano pedal developed for paraplegics
By IANS,
Washington : Paraplegics immobilised from the hips down can now play the piano by operating the right pedal wirelessly, thanks to a method developed by Heidelberg Univeristy researcher Ing Rüdiger Rupp.
For more than 20 years, there have been electromagnetic pedal controls for paraplegic pianists - mostly accident victims - that were invented by Bayreuth piano manufacturer Steingraeber & Söhne and are custom made.
India increases cultural presence in Trinidad
By Paras Ramoutar, IANS
Port-of-Spain : Three Indian musicians will join the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Trinidad, from India to teach Indian music and dance forms to those interested in Indian culture.
The three are dancer Pooja Malhotra, musicologist Raskia Ekbote, and tabla player Sangeeta Agrawal.
The Mahatma Gandhi Institute, located in Caroni, central Trinidad, is a cultural organisation promoting Indian arts and culture in the country for the past one decade.
मुस्लिम महिलाओं के सम्मान में हर वर्ग से उठी आवाज़
सिमरा अंसारी।Twocircles.net
कर्नाटक के उडुपी ज़िले से शुरू हुई हिजाब प्रतिबंध की आग अब देश के दूसरे हिस्सों में भी फैलती जा रही है।बुधवार...
Dilip Kumar out of hospital on 92nd birthday
Mumbai : On his 92nd birthday Thursday, veteran actor Dilip Kumar was discharged from the Lilavati Hospital where he was being treated following a...
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.
India, Bangladesh celebrate hundred years of Bengali songs
By IANS
Dhaka : Music lovers from Bangladesh and India celebrated the grand finale of a musical series "Shotoborsher Bangla Gaan" by presenting a bouquet of 33 songs including romantic, patriotic and modern numbers.
Taking Bengali songs from 1905 to 2005, Bangladeshi singers performed songs of the century's greats from Rabindranath Tagore and Qazi Nazrul Islam to latter day Salil Chowdhury and Manna Dey, at the musical soiree organised Friday by the HSBC Bank.
Bollywood wishes Eid mumbark
By IANS,
Mumbai : Bollywood Friday wished "peace", "happiness" and "love" for friends and fans on Eid-ul-Azha.
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...
‘Aligarh’ about right to privacy not homosexuality: Hansal Mehta
Mumbai : “Citylights” director Hansal Mehta says his upcoming venture “Aligarh” is not about homosexuality but is about the importance of right to privacy.
"This...
Nepal’s heritage sites out of danger: Unesco
By IANS
Kathmandu : Seven historic destinations in Kathmandu, popular with art lovers, tourists and pilgrims but thought to have been under threat of destruction, are out of danger now, the Unesco has certified.
Police cover sought for Ghulam Ali during Mumbai visit
Mumbai: The makers of Bollywood film "Ghar Vapsi" have demanded police protection for Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, who will arrive here on Thursday...
Heritage Sites named in Norway, Germany, Israel, Britain and US
Berlin : Unesco has designated several new World Heritage Sites in Norway, Germany, Israel, Britain and the US during the 39th meeting of...
VHP calls for ban on Kamal Haasan’s ‘Uttama Villain’
Chennai : Members of Hindu Vishwa Parishad (VHP) have called for a ban on actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan-starrer Tamil drama "Uttama Villain", claiming it will...
Hope floats for Bhopal’s very own Taj Mahal
By IANS,
Bhopal : There are plans to restore the lost glory of a monument here known as the Taj Mahal, which is a grand structure in its own right but has been facing neglect for decades unlike its namesake in Agra.
The Taj Mahal here was built by Shah Jahan Begum over 130 years ago for residential purposes. Incidentally, Bhopal was a rare Muslim state to be ruled by four women monarchs in succession.
Jethro Tull, Anoushka dedicate concert to Mumbai terror victims
By IANS,
New Delhi : Jethro Tull, one of the world's leading western music bands, and sitar exponent Anoushka Shankar dedicated their two-hour concert in the capital to the "security forces who lost their lives defending Mumbai against terrorists and to victims of the three-day siege".
Spokesperson for the band, lead vocalist and flutist Ian Anderson, appealed to the crowd Sunday night to observe a minute's silence in memory of the victims.
Even ‘backward’ regions can host Literature festivals if promoted well: Zafar Anjum
The first Seemanchal International Literary Festival (SILF) kicks off tomorrow, November 18, at Insan School, Kishanganj. Its main organiser, author Zafar Anjum, spoke...
Award worth Rs. 51,000 for contribution to Malwa’s culture, literature & arts declared
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced to give award worth Rs.51,000 for the person making distinguished contribution to Malwa's art, literature and culture.
Chouhan made this announcement while inaugurating five-day Malwa Utsav by Lok Sanskriti Manch at Indore. As many as 450 craftsmen from all over India are displaying pieces of their arts and crafts at this fair. Besides, folk artistes from 12 states would come out with their enchanting performances.
Make Hindi a strong internet language: Manmohan Singh
By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday called for making Hindi a strong internet language and the development of better Hindi software and search engines.
He also said books by non-resident Indian (NRI) authors should be included in the syllabi of educational institutions in India as the 8th World Hindi Conference began here Friday.
The prime minister's message was delivered by video to the conference.
Move to stop Bollywood-Hollywood piracy
By Arun Kumar
IANS
Washington : The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has asked the Indian arm of Ernst & Young to study how entertainment and media piracy hurts India as part of its "Bollywood-Hollywood" anti-piracy initiative.
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...
Ancient art of Dastaangoi (story telling) relived in Lucknow
By TCN Special Corespondent,
काशी की मस्जिद : बोर्ड, कमेटी का ऐलान, फैसले के खिलाफ हाईकोर्ट में लड़ेंगे
आकिल हुसैन।Twocircles.net
वाराणसी की फास्ट ट्रैक कोर्ट ने काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर-ज्ञानवापी मस्जिद मामले में मस्जिद परिसर की पुरातात्विक जाँच कराने के आदेश जारी किया...
UAE works to restore historic buildings in cultural city
By IANS,
Dubai : Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have launched a major initiative to preserve a number of historic buildings in the cultural city of Al Ain.
The projects include the restoration of Al Jahili Castle and House of Hamad bin Hadi Al Daramaki, according to Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, director general of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), the government agency in charge of overseeing the initiative.
A slice of Persian culture for Indian aficionados
By IANS,
New Delhi : Culture seemed to forge a stronger pact between India and Iran than energy pipelines and uncertain political partnerships, with the three-day 'Days of Iranian Culture in India' kicking off here.
The Iranian cultural showcase, which was inaugurated here Wednesday evening, a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's brief visit to the Indian capital, is the first in the country to promote the "historic land" as a vibrant tourist destination.
India is ‘second home’ for Pakistani band Jal
By Shweta Sharma, IANS,
New Delhi : India is like a "second home", say members of the popular Pakistani rock band Jal who have produced chartbusters like "Woh Lamhey" and "Aadat".
"Though we get the same kind of respect wherever we go, there is something special about being in India," Goher Mumtaz, rhythm guitarist, composer, lyricist and the founder of the band, told IANS.
The band members - Farhan Saeed, Shazi and Goher - were in the capital to promote their new album "Boondh", which has 12 songs.
A quick look at India’s 2010 art gallery
By IANS,
New Delhi : Here's a look at what made news in Indian art in 2010:
- Anish Kapoor Retrospective at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mehboob Studio (Delhi, Mumbai)
Peaceful start to Chhath Puja in Mumbai amid heavy security
By IANS,
Mumbai : Police, paramilitary forces and CCTVs kept a close watch over scores of Chhath Puja venues here Tuesday despite Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's assurance about not disrupting celebrations.
There are 19 main locations around various beach fronts in the city, including the oldest and most popular venue, Juhu beach, where nearly half a million devotees are expected in the evening. The festival is primarily celebrated by people from Bihar.
Bajrang Dal continues protest against ‘PK’ in Delhi
New Delhi : Nearly 200 Bajrang Dal activists Wednesday protested outside a cinema hall in Delhi and stopped the screening of Aamir Khan starrer...
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.
Kalka-Shimla rail line bags Unesco heritage status
By Vishal Gulati, IANS,
Shimla : The century-old Kalka-Shimla rail line, a 96-km-long narrow gauge railroad built to ferry Europeans to and from this hill town - then the summer capital of British India, has been chosen by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as a world heritage site.
36 Indian women WHO worked as scavengers to walk on ramp
By NNN-PTI,
United Nations : Thirty-six Indian women, rescued by a non governmental organisation from the degrading task of manually cleaning human excreta, are all set to walk on ramp with leading models before representatives from more than 150 countries here.
The women, rescued by Sulabh International Social Service Organisation from Alwar in Rajasthan, yesterday met diplomats and dignitaries at the United Nations and talked about the changes which, they said, had made them for the first time feel like human beings.
Konkani singers sing their way into Guinness book
By IANS
Bangalore : Nearly 1,700 people in 44 groups set a Guinness world record by singing Konkani songs for 40 hours non-stop at Karnataka's coastal town of Mangalore.
The attempt began Saturday morning and ended at 10 p.m. Sunday, during which 645 Konkani songs were sung by the groups from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, the organisers said in a statement.
Keith Pullin, adjudicator of Guinness World Records, presented a certificate acknowledging the record late Sunday night, the statement said.
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.
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.
Bengal pays tribute to Swami Vivekananda
Kolkata : Ceremonial processions and exhibitions on the life and work of Swami Vivekananda were held across West Bengal to mark the monk's 153rd...
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.
Film on Monica Ali’s novel too hot for Prince Charles
By Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Sep 27 (IANS) "Brick Lane", a film based on the controversial novel by the same name by Booker short-listed, Bangladesh-origin writer Monica Ali, has proved too hot for the royal family. Prince Charles has pulled out of attending its screening to avoid the possibility of protests proving an embarrassment.
A Royal Gala screening was scheduled for Oct 29 as part of the annual Royal Film Performance but it has now been scrapped. The film adaptation of the book had faced protests in July last year from some residents of Brick Lane in London.
No country has shown the kind of emergence as has India: Big B
Mumbai: On the occasion of the World Population Day on Saturday, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has "thanked" the world for addressing the world's second largest...
Kashmir-based youth group distributes fruit boxes among patients on 9th Muharram
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCirlces.net,
Srinagar : With an aim to send a message of brotherhood among different Muslim Sects and to...
Mehta, Husain highlights of Sotheby’s New York sale
By IANS,
New Delhi : A rare piece of work by Tyeb Mehta, M.F. Husain's "Bewildered Brown" and a range of miniature Jataka paintings sourced from a private Indian collector will be the highlights of Sotheby's sale of Indian art in New York Sep 17.
"Behind Me Desolation" by Tyeb Mehta, one of India's leading modern artists, who died in February, is estimated at $350,000 while "Bewildered Brown" has a hammer price of $120,000, said a press statement issued by Sotheby's Thursday.
Researchers, academics say Al-Arabi magazine”s journey features unique
By KUNA
Kuwait : Researchers and academics said Wednesday Al-Arabi Magazine has shown a unique style in literature coupled with relentless efforts to show this literature in a creative narrative manner.
The features published by Al-Arabi "belonged to a school that strengthened its foundations over the years," Dr. Khaled Azab, Information Director at Alexandria Library, said in a seminar about "Al-Arabi Magazine ... the Linking Chain with the World" that marked the magazine's 50th anniversary.
Photographs take centrestage at Saffronart winter online auction
By IANS,
New Delhi : Modern art made a comeback and photographs took centrestage at Saffronart's Winter Online Auction of modern and contemporary art that grossed total sales of Rs.140 million (US$ 2.9 million).
Nearly 740 registered bidders from 35 countries vied for the art works on sale.
The auction also saw an interest in Indian photography and world auction records were set for nine photographers - Dayanita Singh, Raghu Rai, Prabuddha Dasgupta, T.S. Nagarajan, T.S. Satyan, Annu P. Matthew, Swapan Nayak, Prashant Panjiar and Ryan Lobo, a release issued by Saffronart said.
Painter Paritosh Sen receives Legends of India award
By IANS,
Kolkata : Eminent painter Paritosh Sen was conferred the Legends of India Lifetime Achievement Award for Fine Arts 2008 by West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi here Friday evening.
Painter Shuvaprasanna accepted the award at the ICCR Centre on behalf of Sen, who could not be present on the occasion for health reasons.
Kerala to pay tributes to Shaikh Zainuddin Makhdoom
Fifty seminars on his book ‘Tuhfat Ul Mujahidin Fee Akhbaril Burthugaliyeen’ to mark the celebrations that start after Ramadan
By Shafeeq Hudavi,...
Painting illusions to blur the real and the surreal
By Azera Rahman, IANS,
New Delhi : Ten steps away from the wall, a woman looks straight at you, her hands resting on a block of wood. Move closer and what seemed so real turns out to be a painting using a technique called trompe l'oeil - a trick of the eye and artist Partha Bhattacharjee's signature style.
Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Dussehra after two decades
By IANS
Srinagar : A towering effigy of demon king Ravana was set afire followed by bursting of crackers as Kashmiri Pandits celebrated the popular festival of Dussehra in this summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of full 20 years.
The Kashmiri Pandit Sagharsh Samiti (KPSS), an organization of the Kashmiri Pandits, this year restarted the celebration of the popular festival in Kashmir as per the "age-old tradition".
The celebrations were held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here.
With 200,000 English titles, it’s a book mall!
By Mukta K. Gupta, IANS
Mysore : So you thought the book-reading habit was on the decline? A bookstore that has opened here with over 200,000 titles in English and 80,000 in the local Kannada language is set to prove you wrong.
Sapna Book House, a multi-level 18,000 sq ft fully air-conditioned mall in Devraja Mohalla of Mysore city of Karnataka, in southern India, claims to be the largest book showroom in the country.
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.
Indian Cinema has lost its tradition: Muzaffar Ali
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Noted film producer and director Muzaffar Ali has said that films are the powerful media to revolutionize the society. Lamenting the present scenario of the film, he said that Indian Cinema has lost its tradition and sub standard films as been being produced.
No question of taking back Sahitya Akademi award: Bengali poet
Kolkata : Bengali poet Mandakranta Sen, who recently gave up her Sahitya Akademi award, on Friday refused to take it back, saying though...
I intend to paint women forever: Suhas Roy
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS
New Delhi : He is one of the biggest and the most enduring names in the genre of Indian modern art. Often dubbed the father of female figurative forms, Suhas Roy says he still draws inspiration from beautiful women at the age of 71.
"It is basic instinct, age has nothing to do with sensuality," Roy told IANS in an interview.
Consequently, his recent body of works, "Drops of Silence", executed in oil, pastels and pen-and-ink etchings on backdrops in watercolours, are all studies of "sad, slightly surreal nude women floating in a void".
A call for revolution, and romance: The poetry of Faiz
By Vikas Datta,
Is there any common ground between revolution and romance, as expressed in poetry and music? Lenin didn't think so, admitting he loved hearing a Beethoven sonata, but couldn't listen to music much since it made him want to pat people's heads, though his "devilishly difficult job" called for him to beat their heads instead. But it is not difficult to identify parallels - for one, both activities call for a great deal of passion. The Indian subcontinent can boast of several people who effortlessly straddled both spheres. One of them was Faiz Ahmed 'Faiz," who even won the Lenin Peace Prize.
Rock paintings reveal species that once roamed India
By Quaid Najmi, IANS,
Mumbai : Sivatherium, a giraffe-like creature with two pairs of horns and extinct for 8,000 years, once roamed central and western India. So did the aardvark, an ant-eating creature now found only in Africa. The stunning finds have emerged from ancient rock paintings found along the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border.
Urdu Litterateur Dr. Khalid Mahmood honoured in Bhopal
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: A litterateur being adored and eulogized in his life time for his literary pursuits and his overall personality when one is alive and kicking is a rare moment. It is certainly a break from the set tradition and trend of praising one to the skies after one is dead and gone.
NDTV Indian of the year: Amjad Ali, Satish Gujral honoured
New Delhi : Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and eminent artist Satish Gujral were Tuesday honoured with the NDTV Indian of the Year...
One more writer returns Sahitya Akademi award
Jaipur/New Delhi : Leading Rajasthani and Hindi writer Nand Bhardwaj on Thursday returned his Sahitya Akademi award to denounce "rising religious intolerance and...
Diwali celebrated in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 27 (IANS) Malaysian Prime Minister Abdulah Ahmed Badawi and his cabinet ministers Monday joined the nationwide celebrations of the Indian festival of Diwali, reinforcing the country's multi-racial traditions.
Heralded by good weather in most parts of the country and coming soon after Hari Raya, the Eid celebrations of the majority Malay people, Diwali celebrations numbed the worries of the economic crisis the prosperous Southeast Asian nation has been facing.