Indian, foreign women artists tread common ground
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Malathi Selvam, a rangoli artist from Puducherry, draws patterns in coloured powder. Figures of women, mostly of goddesses and brides, make up her art as she draws at weddings.
Anna Laine from Sweden, an anthropologist by profession, works with laces, which she uses to trace simple patterns on paper and canvas.
Kristina Matousch, a packaging industry employee in Sweden, traces her patterns with old packages, which are folded and scissored to black-and-white linear and rectangular shapes.
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.
Wonderlands of illusion and other miraculous tales
By Vikas Datta, IANS,
Cloaks of invisibility, small bags holding far more than their apparent capacity, appearance-changing potions, spells that can enable you to assume...
At age 135, is he really world’s oldest person?
By IANS,
Dubai : At age 135, the world's oldest person might well be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The identity card of Nasir Al Hazry, a resident of Al Ain in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, shows his age as 135, the Khaleej Times newspaper reported.
Al Hazry's family came to know about it only recently when the Al Ain office of the UAE's department of naturalisation and residency officially mentioned his age in the identity card. His exact date of birth has, however, not been revealed, the Khaleej Times said.
Sarwar Shafique Hannan : Tale of struggle, success and honor
By Anjuman Ara Begum, TwoCircles.net,
Munich filmfest celebrates silver jubilee
By DPA
Munich : Munich's Filmfest Muenchen 2007 celebrates its 25th anniversary later this week with a mixed bag of feature films, glamour and experiments, with the accent on the international including independent movies from Asia and Latin America.
PM Modi gifts miniature painting of Bedil tomb to Tajik Prez
By TwoCircles.net, Staff Reporter
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday presented to President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon a specially commissioned...
Potter first edition fetches magical price
By DPA
London : A rare first edition copy of the first Harry Potter novel, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", was sold for 7,200 pounds ($14,200) at an auction in Britain.
After Saudi Arabia, Kuwait group warns against Valentine’s Day
By IANS
Dubai : Protests against Valentine's Day celebrations are building up with the Saudi Arabian moral police banning the sale of red roses and an Islamic group in Kuwait issuing a stern warning to the media against "glorifying the pagan celebrations".
Thawabet Al Umma, while condemning the Feb 14 celebration, has warned the media against misguiding Muslims "by glorifying such pagan celebrations", according to a report in the Arab Times website.
SC sets aside stay on Salman Khan’s conviction
New Delhi : In a setback to filmstar Salman Khan, the Supreme Court Wednesday set aside the Rajasthan High Court order putting on hold...
Twist and Shout in Beatles’ T-shirt line
By IANS
New Delhi : Rejoice all you Beatles' fans! The Fabulous Four are yours for the asking on a newly launched T-shirt line for men and women.
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.
Line drawing master Samir Biswas captures city on move
By IANS,
New Delhi : Line drawings of cityscapes and old buildings in water colours are now the stuff of school history texts. The ink and water colour series of Kolkata-based master illustrator Samir Biswas, on display in the capital, are documents for posterity.
Biswas, who sticks to art school basics of line drawing and realism, is showing his works at Gallery Windmill, owned by leading architect Pradeep Sachdeva, in Ayanagar, on the outskirts of Delhi. The show closes Oct 25. He is rated as one of the best line drawing artists in the country.
Renowned Bangladeshi instrumentalist dead
By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh's renowned instrumentalist Abinash Chandra Shill is dead. Shill, 54, died here Saturday following a heart attack.
He was a specialist on playing Dotara, a two-bowed instrument of the Sarangi family popular across South Asia.
Belonging to a family of musicians, he was a freedom fighter who used to broadcast on Bangladesh Betar, the radio network that contributed to Bangladesh's separatist movement against Pakistan.
Harry Potter casts his spell – now in Nepali
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Three years after the end of the armed Maoist uprising and with the beginning of an uneasy peace that set back development and even literacy in the Nepali countryside, five women are trying to re-kindle the dying skill of reading and writing in its interior villages - with the magic of Harry Potter.
"Unlike in India or Bangladesh, there are very few books for children in Nepal," Helen Sherpa, one of the five women who formed the Sunbird Publishing House a decade ago to fill that void, told IANS.
Husain exhibition vandalized
By IANS,
New Delhi : A protest exhibition organized in support of painter M.F. Husain, whose portrayal of Hindu goddesses has invited the wrath of Hindu activists, ran into rough weather here Sunday as some people vandalised his paintings.
"The incident took place at around 3.30 p.m. when a group of around 15 people reached the exhibition venue and tried to damage the paintings," said Rajan, one of the organisers.
"They were shouting slogans and holding placards reading 'Bharat Mata ki Jai, Jai Shri Ram'," Rajan added.
‘Gandhi My Father’ impresses New York audience
By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : New Yorkers have enjoyed a Hindi film, "Gandhi My Father", which was recently screened here.
The audience at the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) theatre Friday hardly had any Indian Americans. But they were all glued to the highly emotional drama played out between Mahatma Gandhi and his wayward eldest son Harilal. There were plenty of cheers when the movie ended.
कोरोना के काले अतीत के बाद शानदार तरीके से मनाई गई ईद
स्टाफ रिपोर्टर।twocircles.net
देशभर में ईद-उल-फितर मंगलवार को धूमधाम से मनाई गई। कोरोना महामारी के चलते दो साल बाद ईद की खुशियां नज़र आईं। दो साल...
Mystery over woman’s death in Ghaziabad
By IANS,
Ghaziabad : Police were Wednesday investigating the death of a former air hostess under mysterious circumstances at Ghaziabad.
Some passers-by noticed Jaya Kaushik, a 26-year-old who earlier worked with Deccan airlines, lying critically injured near railway tracks at 11.30 p.m. Tuesday. They rushed her to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
Attending doctors said her left leg and right arm were found broken and there were multiple injuries in her abdomen.
Children’s Film Society India reconstituted
By IANS
New Delhi : The government Friday reconstituted the executive council and general body of the Children's Film Society India (CFSI) retaining actor Nafisa Ali as its chairperson for a three-year term.
Documentary filmmaker Rinki Bhattacharya has been appointed as the vice chairperson.
The other three members of the executive council are eminent theatre personality Jabbar Patel, filmmaker Jahnu Barua and documentary director Raja Dasgupta.
New Delhi : The government Friday reconstituted the executive council and general body of the Children's Film Society India (CFSI) retaining actor Nafisa Ali as its chairperson for a three-year term.
Documentary filmmaker Rinki Bhattacharya has been appointed as the vice chairperson.
The other three members of the executive council are eminent theatre personality Jabbar Patel, filmmaker Jahnu Barua and documentary director Raja Dasgupta.
Archaeologists rebuild Egypt’s 3,000-year-old glass furnace
By IANS
London : A team of archaeologists has rebuilt an ancient glass furnace using local sand near an excavated site in Egypt following the same methods used by Egyptians some 3,000 years ago.
It was previously thought that the ancient Egyptians might have imported their glass from the Near East during that time.
But with reconstructing the glass furnace, the excavation team led by Cardiff University professor Paul Nicholson proved that the ancient Egyptians were not importing glass, rather they were making it by themselves using local sand.
Even Stones Can Speak! An exhibition by Yajanika Arora
An artist ‘finds’ herself while sketching historical ruins
By Bushra Alvi, TwoCircles.net
India’s art fair ropes in big global galleries
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : The second edition of the Indian Modern and Contemporary Art Fair 2009, the sub-continent's official art fair, will be bigger, better and more global this year with 16 international galleries, 64 speakers and 25 media partners from across the globe.
The three-day fair will be held during August 19-22 at the Pragati Maidan, the capital's trade and exhibition hub.
New discovery in Tutankhamun tomb in Egypt
By Xinhua
Cairo : An Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered some 20 intact clay pots sealed with cartouche of boy pharaoh Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Upper Egypt, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) said.
Egyptian Culture Minister Farouq Hosni made the announcement Monday, saying the discovery was unearthed by an Egyptian team under the leadership of SCA secretary general Zahi Hawas, according to a press release of the Egyptian antiquities body.
Apartheid, sea, Kerala colour South African artist’s work in Kochi
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Muslim towns of medieval era discovered in Ethiopia
By Xinhua
Addis Ababa : Some three medieval Muslim towns, now ruins, have been discovered in north Ethiopia's Amhara State.
India’s ancient tribal art adapts to a modern market
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Ethnic art from the tribal heartland of India is trying to strike a balance between modernism and tradition and experimenting with contemporary issues to adapt to a growing market and changing patron bases.
33 artistes to get Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
New Delhi : The Sangeet Natak Akademi, the national academy of music, dance and drama, said Saturday it has selected 33 young artistes for...
Gujarat in festive mood, politics can wait
By Rajeev Khanna, IANS
Ahmedabad : It was not long ago that the Gujarat assembly election schedule was eagerly awaited here, but as soon as the announcement was made the state seems to have put politics aside and picked up dandiyas as the festival season has overshadowed poll preparations.
People and party workers alike are engrossed with the Navaratri festivities that will culminate on Dussehra Sunday, only to pave the way for Diwali next month. Politics will pick up only a week after the festival of lights.
Irrfan Khan, India’s true international star
By Arpana
IANSNew Delhi : Talent unlimited... that's perhaps the apt way to describe the critically acclaimed Irrfan Khan. He is the first Indian actor to receive 'the much wanted' attention while walking the red carpet with Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival.
South Africa opens Freedom Park for public
By IANS
Pretoria : The South African government has opened to visitors a unique Freedom Park that has two heritage themes based on the wall inscriptions of heroes who fought eight great wars and a monument for spiritual enrichment.
The Wall of Names is a series of inter-connecting walls inscribed with the names of men and women who died during the eight conflicts that shaped South Africa, BuaNews reported.
Almost 60 years later, Deekshabhoomi continues to draw Ambedkarites
By Nivedita Khandekar
Nagpur (Maharashtra): Hemlata Sontakke, 60, was too young to remember the epoch making event she had attended with...
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...
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.
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.
No pressure from BJP over Smriti, says Ekta
By Subhash K Jha
IANSMumbai : Televison producer Ekta Kapoor is rubbishing rumours of being pressured by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) to continue Smriti Irani's tenure as Tulsi on "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thii", saying the party is too big to indulge in such trivial issues.
Ban on ‘Aligarh’ doesn’t seem official: Hansal Mehta
New Delhi: Amidst reports that the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer "Aligarh" will not be screened in the city of Aligarh, the film's director Hansal Mehta has...
Disney gets new India chief
By IANS
Mumbai : Walt Disney Television India has got a new chief in Antoine Villeneuve who has been named senior vice president and managing director.
Indian designers on date with Rome’s fashion street
By IANS
New Delhi : Two of India's top designers Neeta Lulla and Pria Kataria Puri will showcase their autumn/winter line in the super chic streets of Rome in its Fashion Week beginning Monday.
Indian bandit queen-inspired dance show a hit in Canberra
By Neena Bhandari, IANS,
Canberra : Blending dance forms, the weeklong Utsav 2008 festival here choreographed by Indian dancer Padma Menon highlights issues of social justice for women. And it includes a sell-out performance inspired by the original Indian bandit queen.
"Utsav 2008 is all about dance, culture and women - about how women have overcome ordeals in their lives to emerge triumphant rather than as victims," Menon told IANS.
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.
Sumptuous dates from the world over in Delhi markets
By Ruwa Shah
New Delhi: This Ramzan, replenish your Iftar delicacies with dates from almost all the countries around the globe.
In the holy month of...
Bengali literature has bright prospects, says Sunil Gangopadhyay
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bengali literature has bright future, with growing readership in both Bangladesh, India and wherever the Bengali-speaking diaspora resides, India's best known Bengali poet and litterateur Sunil Gangopadhyay said.
He visited Madaripur, his birth place in Bangladesh's Faridpur district, to open a three-day "Sunil Mela", a literary fair that ended Sunday, to celebrate his 75th birthday, BSS news agency reported.
Sunil Literature Practice and Research Centre organised the fair in his ancestral home at Purba Maijpara village under Kalkini Upazila (sub-district).
World’s largest book on display in Australian library
Sydney: The world's largest book, a giant atlas weighing 150 kg, has been put on display at the State Library here, media reported on...
My parents were against me getting into films: Aamir Khan
By IANS
Mumbai: Despite hailing from a film background, noted Bollywood actor-director Aamir Khan's parents were against his entering the filmdom.
"My parents looked after us very well... we had a fairly sheltered life. I mean my parents were really against me getting into films. I come from a film family. My father and uncle were both filmmakers. And I faced hell at home. It was like there's no way you're getting into films," Aamir Khan told CNN's special edition "Talk Asia" to be aired Wednesday 6 p.m.
Storytelling encourages reading habits: experts
By IANS
New Delhi : Educators need to be taught the fine art of storytelling as this serves to encourage reading habits, particularly among children, experts say.
"Storytelling fires the imagination of children and makes them thirst for more, which encourages them to read books," said Deepa Agarwal, a Delhi-based writer who was among those who attended a just-concluded international conference here on storytelling for children.
Temporary green light for Tamil Nadu bullfight
By IANS
New Delhi : Bowing to the popular demand for jallikattu or bull-run during Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court Tuesday temporarily allowed the state to hold the traditional sport albeit with heavy security measures.
A bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan temporarily allowed the state government to permit the sport, saying the court will take a final decision on the desirability of continuing with the age-old tradition while adjudicating the petitions seeking a ban on it.
Unique blend of literature, art at Jaipur literary fest
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Jaipur : The Jaipur Literature Festival, whose third edition will begin here Wednesday, will host 116 authors and 30 artistes, including Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, in a unique blend of performing arts and literature.
The festival will celebrate the great diversity of writing and writers as well as music and musicians from the US, Britain, Australia, South Africa, Malaysia, Mali, Sierre Leone, Algeria, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh, said a communiqué issue Monday by the Jaipur Virasat Foundation, which is organising the event.
Have your kitsch art and eat it too – at La Ramblas
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Art and food have come togther in a unique gourmet experience at La Ramblas, the new baby of Delhi-based restaurant magnate A.D. Singh. It offers contemporary Indian kitsch art along with a funky Spanish menu of "tapas and sangria".
The new open air eatery is located at the trendy The Lap Garden at Hotel Samrat in Chanakyapuri in the capital. On offer with 16 different varieties of tapas - Spanish nibbles - are art expositions.
The lively adventures of an Indian diplomat
By Shubha Singh, IANS
Book: "Words, Words, Words - Adventures in Diplomacy"; Author: T.P. Sreenivasan; Publisher: Pearson Longman; Price: Rs.600.
These days, when the Indian government is in the midst of exacting negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to draft a new safeguards agreement with the country, it is worthwhile to recall that an eminent Indian played a major role in shaping the nuclear watchdog at the time of its establishment.
Swedish art academy to sell Rembrandt to raise cash
By DPA
Stockholm : The venerable Swedish Academy of Fine Arts plans to sell a painting by 17th century Dutch master Rembrandt to fund its activities, a news report said Thursday.
The academy said it hoped to cash in 300 million kronor ($48 million) on the sale of 'The Conspiracy of the Batavians under Claudius Civilis' painted in 1661-1662.
"Our funds have not been depleted, we have never had any," academy secretary Olle Granath told the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper.
Get draped in elegant, flowing linen this summer
By Prithwish Ganguly
IANSNew Delhi : Indian fashion designers are experimenting with traditional linen this summer and say its neutral palette will not only beat the heat but also make heads turn with its subdued yet elegant look.
Salman complains to police against false messages
Mumbai: Superstar Salman Khan, who is irked by anti-religious messages being spread in his name regarding his forthcoming release "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", says police are...
Zila Khan to open music schools in Mumbai, Kerala
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Leading Sufi singer Zila Khan, the daughter of late sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, Thursday said she will open music schools called Ustad Gahs for children in Mumbai and Kerala.
Khan, who will hold a concert here Friday, told reporters that children would be taught all forms of classical music at the Ustad Gahs.
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.
English translation of ‘jai ho’
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
Oscan winning song ‘jai ho’ from the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is written by Urdu poet Gulzar. Here is the translation in English. Phrase ‘jai ho’ can be translated as ‘long live’ but not translated below.
Audio:
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...
EU ‘culture weeks’ in Delhi from Wednesday
By IANS
New Delhi : From an exhibition of nature photographs to camera phones, from a fusion music concert to film shows, Delhiites will have an opportunity to delve into the world of European art and culture for 10 days from Wednesday.
The European Commission, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), has organised a series of daily events on paintings, sculptures, films and performing arts as part of the EU Cultural Weeks.
‘India should be proud of its ancient rock art’
By Neena Bhandari, IANS,
Sydney : Indian rock art needs more recognition globally and the country itself has to realise it is a repository of much more than the Indus Valley and Mughal periods, says an Australian expert.
"Indian art is at least 200,000 years old, which is an educated guess and it could be much more. This is of great cultural significance to India, and to the world," rock art expert Robert Bednarik told IANS.
He is the convener, president and editor of the International Federation of Rock Art Organisations (IFRAO).
Sand artist creates Obama’s image on Orissa beach
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik has created the sand image of US president-elect Barack Obama on Orissa's Puri beach.
Pattnaik, a world renowned sand artist, said in a statement that he had created the sand image by using 10 tonnes of sand.
He worked for five hours to create the image, which was appreciated by the people who had gathered at the beach.
"Obama is a popular figure of 2008. So I created his sculpture," he said.
Bollywood stars under house arrest during rains
By Subhash K. Jha, IANS
Mumbai : Incessant rains disrupted normal life in Mumbai yet again last week and film stars weren't spared either. Many were forced to cancel their programmes and sit at home and they feel it's high time the authorities took measures to end the chaos in the city.
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.
Hues of Ladakh through a traveller’s lens
By IANS,
New Delhi : Ladakh has its natural colour scheme. The land of rugged brown hills, windswept plains and remote monasteries shimmering white against the backdrop of an azure sky is a photographer's delight. Shamim Akhtar's ongoing exhibition captures the Buddhist land in all its moods.
The exhibition of photographs, "Rode to Heaven", a biker's account of the colourful state through pictures, opened at the India Habitat Centre Monday. It will close Aug 17.
Firaq Gorakhpuri’s ‘ghazals’ now in Polish
By IANS
Warsaw : After legendary poets Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib, celebrated lyricist Firaq Gorakhpuri's 'ghazals' have been translated from Urdu into Polish.
Polish author Janusz Krzyzowski and Warsaw-based Indian poet Surender Zahid have done the translation, INEP news service reported.
Releasing a book of 'ghazals' last week in the presence of Warsaw literary elite, Indian ambassador Anil Wadhwa congratulated the two.
जानिए, क्या सोचते हैं बनारस के हिन्दू रमज़ान और ईद के बारे में?
सिद्धांत मोहन, TwoCircles.net
वाराणसी: रमज़ान अब ख़त्म हो रहा है. बस एक या दो रोज़ और. फिर ईद. फिर इबादत का यह माह एक साल...
टीसीएन 2021 : साल भर हम उठाते रहे वंचितों और पिछड़ों की आवाज़,पढ़िए...
बीते वर्ष, 2021, में कई तरह की बदलती हुई राजनीतिक और सामाजिक गतिविधियां देखने को मिली। इस बदलती परिस्थिति में, हाशिए पर खड़े...
A swish show: Personalities and their smart Swiss seats
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin represented Mario Bellini and Dieter Thiel's straight-backed chair Persona and Hollywood actress Grace Jones liked to perch on the high-backed AC-2, while Grammy winner Phil Collins preferred the stylish Louis 20 chair that resonated with the intensity of his songs.
Welcome to the world of famous personalities and their seats.
Rare icons on sale at India’s first gemstone art auction
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's love affair with gemstone carvings dates back nearly 5,000 years ago when Alexander the Great invaded the country. They flourished during the reign of the Mughals, though never finding a place in the genre of conventional Indian art - but they will now be available to aficionados.
Jaipur-based Ma Passion, a house of gemstone crafts, is giving this ancient Indian tradition the legitimacy of contemporary Indian miniature art with the country's first-ever auction of gemstone sculptures in Mumbai Oct 22.
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"...
It’d be a pleasure to return to Zee: Gajendra Singh
By Subhash K. Jha
IANSMumbai : TV music show producer Gajendra Singh, who left Zee to join STAR, says he is still attached to the channel and wouldn't mind working for it again.
Shivaji statue proposal welcomed by Mumbaikars
By IANS,
Mumbai : The state government's decision to install a 300-feet statue of Shivaji in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai has been largely welcomed by residents and political parties alike.
Lauding the Democratic Front government's move, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state general secretary Vinod Tawde said that the decision had come late, "but better late than never to honour the memory of the great leader Chhatrapati Shivaji".
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.
Army finally hands over Amritsar’s Gobindgarh fort
By IANS,
Amritsar : Amritsar's Gobindgarh Fort, built in 1760 and associated with the Sikh warrior king Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was Monday formally handed over by the army authorities to the civil administration here.
The fort was in the army's possession from the British times for nearly 150 years.
The British authorities had put the fort under the army possession in 1849. The fort had been named after the 10th Sikh guru, Gobind Singh, by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
PM visit spotlights poor upkeep of INA memorial
By IANS
New Delhi : It took a surprise visit by the prime minister to highlight the poor upkeep of the Indian National Army (INA) memorial that commemorates the deeds of those who fought for the country's freedom under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Bangladeshi, Indian artists focus on Dhaka’s street culture
By IANS,
Dhaka : Artists and photographers from Bangladesh and India have teamed up to focus on what they call "Jhaal Muri Dhaka street culture", capturing the national capital's life on the streets.
Made with puffed rice and a variety of spicy snacks mixed in mustard oil, "jhaal muri" is the quintessential Bengali street food.
The concept was named "jhaal muri" to cover a wide mix of places and people as seen on Dhaka streets, The Daily Star said Thursday.
UTV’s Brand Bindass to find India’s first space tourist
By IANS
New Delhi : All those dreaming of space travel have a rare chance of making their dreams come true. UTV, one of India's leading film production houses, has announced the launch of entertainment channel bouquet Brand Bindass with a campaign to select the lucky Indian who will be the country's first space tourist.
Karnataka’s traditional artisans go green
By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS,
Bangalore : Going green and adopting more eco-friendly measures seem to be the latest mantra of the world-renowned artisan fraternity of Karnataka who are taking their creativity a step further in the process.
Not only have they completely stopped using animal parts like ivory and horns to craft their works but use of toxic chemicals like zinc oxide and lacquer, once an integral part of their work, is a strict no, no now.
The artists now use natural dyes and wood for their products.
Saudi Islamic cleric to attend conference in India
Lucknow : The Imam of the al-Haram Masjid of the holy Kaaba Shareef in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Saleh bin Muhammed bin Ibrahim aal Talib,...
Kathak by Chinese, kathakali by German at global fest
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatnatyam by a Malaysian and a South African, kathak by a Chinese dancer and a German performing the kathakali dance-drama form - eight exponents of Indian classical dance cutting across religious and geographical divides showcase their talent in a three-day international festival here Aug 2-4.
The festival to be presented by the Indian Council For Cultural Relations (ICCR) at the Kamani Auditorium will host dancers from Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, Russia, Germany, China and Mauritius.
Osian aims to recreate cinematic culture
By IANS
New Delhi : Aiming to recreate cinematic culture in the country, the 9th Osian's-Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema - a new name for the capital's prestigious film fest - will focus on Japanese films with a tribute to Kenji Mizoguchi.
Archaeologists find rare fruit, textiles in Greece
By DPA
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.
Picasso works stolen from diplomat’s home in Austria
By IANS
Vienna : A pencil drawing by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso valued at some $250,000 was stolen in Austria from the private collection of a Russian diplomat, Spanish news agency EFE said quoting the police.
Zakir Hussain wins Grammy
By IANS,
Los Angeles : Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has won the Grammy award as part of the winning team that created the "Global Drum" project. The Global Drum was nominated under the Best Contemporary World Music Album category. Hussain shares the honour with Mickey Hart, Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo.
English translation on Sanskrit classic released
By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : Noted Kashmiri writer Kshemendra's 11th century Sanskrit classic about the life and travels of a courtesan has now been translated into English.
Former diplomat A.N.D Haksar has translated the 'Samaya Matrika,' a satirical tale by Kshemendra about a courtesan living thousands of years ago and the social conditions prevailing then.
Tall Gupta sculpture goes on sale in UK
By IANS,
London : A monumental sculptural installation by Indian artist Subodh Gupta - a 10-foot tall tower of copper cooking vessels - is to go under the hammer at London auctioneers Sotheby's.
Gupta's 'Untitled (9 Units)', one of the highlights of Sotheby's series of contemporary art sales Feb 10-11, has been priced at 200,000 to 300,000 pounds.
Gupta stacked traditional Indian copper cooking vessels one on top of the other for his 2006 sculpture that Sotheby's described as "one of the most important works by the Indian artist to come to the market in over a year."
Deep-rooted conspiracy behind Punjab turmoil: Badal
Gurdaspur (Punjab) : Amid tension in many parts of Punjab following the desecration of the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib, Punjab Chief Minister...
Former union minister P.C. Chunder dead
By IANS
Kolkata : Eminent academician, Congress leader and former union education minister Pratap Chandra Chunder died in a city hospital Tuesday afternoon. He was 88.
Chunder was ailing for sometime. He is survived by wife Leena Chunder, four sons and grandchildren. Chunder served as education and social welfare minister in the Morarji Desai ministry between 1977 and 1979.
A family member said the body of the veteran politician and educationist will be brought to his central Kolkata home. His last rites will be performed Wednesday.
In hope for a better tomorrow at Khagrabari camps in Baksa
Even as India celebrated the 69th Independence Day on Saturday, there are many people in the country who have strive hard to understand even...
Voluminous dance: 600 kg of artistic vitality in Cuba
By DPA
Havana : Ana Julia moves across the stage almost in a trance. She jumps, folds, turns to the music to end in perfect splits.
Nothing unusual for a dancer, except that this one - a member of the Cuban company Danza Voluminosa (Voluminous Dance) - weighs over 100 kg and her age is close to 40.
Among them, the eight members of the group created a decade ago by dancer and choreographer Juan Miguel Mas weigh a total of "over 600 kg," as they themselves admit in laughter.
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...
Minorities Rights Day observed in Manipur
By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net
Like in rest of the globe, Minorities Rights Day was observed on Dec. 18 in Manipur. Manipur State Minorities...
Festival of Indian culture in Moscow
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : The festival of Indian culture is being held at the Mir Cinema-Concert Hall here. It is part of the Days of Indian Culture, conducted from Aug 8 to Aug 22 by the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) and the Russian Ethnolife Centre. The events this year are devoted to the 60th anniversary of India's independence.
‘Everyone in uniform is not a hero’: Meet the man behind biopic Haemolymph
In an interview with TwoCircles.net, Abdual Wahid Sheikh, a school teacher from Mumbai who was falsely implicated in 2006 Mumbai train blast and later...
Is India an outlet for Sotheby’s unsold art?
By Uma Nair, IANS,
Did international auction house Sotheby's bring famed contemporary artist Damien Hirst's works to India because a "mountain" of unsold works lies in wait in London? Is Sotheby's looking at India to sell hitherto unsold art?
These are the questions being asked by art critics and collectors in India, but a declaration Friday by the Bloomberg publication announced that Damien Hirst's London dealer White Cube has denied it has a "mountain" of unsold works before a Sotheby's sale that previewed in the Hamptons and New Delhi two days ago.
Pakistan to attend Int’l Tourism exhibition in June
By APP
Beijing : Pakistan has been invited to participate in the 2008 Beijing International Tourism Exhibition (BITE) being held at the first half of this year. Revealing the details of the exhibition the Deputy Director General of Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA) Mrs Xiong Yumei said that the exhibition would be held between June 19 to 21.
Another senior official Mrs. Gu Xiao Yue speaking on the occasion said that invitations for the exhibitions have also been extended to a number of countries and region for their participation.
We hope to have India-China co-productions soon: Asha Swarup
By IANS
New Delhi : With the Bollywood film "Chandni Chowk to China" marking the first step in co-production, India and China are aiming at increased cultural exchanges and are in the process of finalising a co-production agreement, says Information and Broadcasting Ministry secretary Asha Swarup.
"We have said that we would like to co-produce films and they have also shown inertest," Swarup told IANS.
"As of now there is no co-production agreement. We have been in dialogue with the government of China. We have discussed some of the clauses and hope to finalise it soon.
Global tribal film festival to be held in Bhopal
By IANS,
Bhopal : A large number of foreign filmmakers are expected to participate in the International Tribal Film Festival being organised here from March 20 with a view to preserve and promote tribal culture, officials said here Saturday.
The three-day event to be hosted by the state's Tribal Welfare Department would include screening of films on the life of tribal people. The films adjudged best would be awarded.
Presentations of tribal dance and music will be the other highlight of the event.
Historic all-India Mushaira in Riyadh
By TCN News,
Riyadh: Prominent Urdu poets from across India enthralled a huge audience of about 2,000 Indians at a historic All-India Mushaira (poetry session)...
Life studies to abstraction: 60 years of Ram Kumar on canvas
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
कोच आबिद अली के नमाज पढ़ने से आहत हुए हिंदूवादी संगठन,दे दी तहरीर
स्टाफ़ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles.net
उत्तर प्रदेश के पीलीभीत में हिंदूवादी संगठनों ने हाकी कोच आबिद अली पर स्टेडियम में नमाज़ अदा करने का आरोप लगाते...
Bengal to give Rs.750 stipend to 4,000 folk artistes
By IANS,
Kolkata : The West Bengal government would provide monthly stipends of Rs.750 to nearly 4,000 folk artistes across the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here Tuesday.
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.
Her mission: to take classical music to the young
By Azera Rahman, IANS
New Delhi : Vivacious and young, Meeta Pandit is quite a contrast to the typical image of an Indian classical singer. This scion of the Gwalior gharana knows what she wants to do - take classical music to the young generation.
"There have been times when I have been told to wear make-up and look older in order to fit into the image of a classical singer. This so-called typical image of a classical singer is precisely what I have been trying to break in order to reach out to the youth," Meeta told IANS during a chat at her south Delhi home.
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.
Ganesh idol in Mumbai insured for Rs.26.5 mn
By IANS,
Mumbai : For the first time in its 75-year history, Mumbai's popular Ganesh idol known as Lalbaugcha Raja and its massive marquee have been insured for a whopping Rs.26.5 million (nearly $600,000).
Another insurance policy of Rs.10 million has been taken for the 1.5 million devotees likely to visit the venue at Parel in central Mumbai during the 10-day long Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
The festival, marking the birth of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh, started Wednesday.
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...
Eunuchs gather to wash sins in Orissa festival
By IANS
Sambalpur (Orissa) : Hundreds of eunuchs have arrived in Orissa's Sambalpur town to dance in a three-day festival that begins Monday, hoping to wash off their sins.
New York Aligs names Shamsur Rahman Faruqi for Lifetime Achievement Award 2010
By TCN News
New York: The Aligarh Alumni Association of New York has announced that the eminent literary critic, poet and novelist, Mr. Shamsur Rahman Faruqi will be honored with this year's "Sir Syed Day Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Literature, Poetry, Arts or the Sciences.'
This award will be presented at the Association's annual Sir Syed Day Dinner and Mushaira to be held on October 2, 2010 at Akbar Restaurant, Garden City, New York. The award includes the presentation of a plaque and a cash purse of Rupees one lakh.
Indian cine buffs to savour Israeli movies
By IANS
New Delhi : Indian moviegoers will have an opportunity to enjoy eight top Israeli films during a four-day Israeli film festival, which begins in the Indian capital Monday.
Scholars headed for Sri Lanka to study Ramayana sites
By IANS
Patna : A temple trust in Bihar will soon send a team of Sanskrit scholars to Sri Lanka to study sites there associated with the Hindu epic Ramayana, including the place where Lord Rama killed Ravana and the cave in which his wife Sita is believed to have stayed.
The Patna-based Mahavir Mandir Trust will be sending the experts to the island nation "in the next three-four months", said trust secretary Kishore Kunal.
The Sri Lankan government had last month said that religious scholars had identified over 30 places associated with the Ramayana.
Agra Gharana tradition on verge of extinction
By Brij Khandelwal, IANS
Agra : The Agra Gharana, one of the major streams of Hindustani classical music, is on the verge of extinction in the place of its birth. There are few patrons and the number of practitioners of this great musical tradition is dwindling.
Sand-made phoenix displayed on Persian Gulf island
By IRNA,
Bandar Abbas, Hormuzgan prov : Iranian artists put on display on Sunday a colored sand-made design of a phoenix on the Hormuz island in the strategic Straight of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf waters.
Phoenix was selected as the symbol of Iran’s Islamic Revolution this year while Iranians are celebrating the 30th victory anniversary of the 1979 revolution. The celebrations would reach their climax on February 10 by massive ceremonies to be held nationwide.
Four generations a facet of contemporary Indian art: Gulammohammed Sheikh
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
‘Satyameva Jayate’ is for all those who love India: Aamir Khan
By Uma Ramasubramanian,
Mumbai : Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan returns with the second edition of his much appreciated talk show "Satyamev Jayate" and says it...
टीसीएन स्पेशल : मुश्किल है शिवालिक की पहाड़ियों में बसे वन गुर्जरो को...
आसमोहम्मद कैफ।Twocircles.net
स्थान - उत्तर प्रदेश - उत्तराखण्ड सीमा , मोह्नन्द , देहरादून मार्ग,शिवालिक रेंज
शिवालिक क्षेत्र की पहाड़ियों पर बसे हुए इन...
India was Guest of Honour in Saudi Festival “Janadriyah 2018”
By TCN News
Janadriyah is a cultural heritage and folk festival of Saudi-Arabia that is held every year ever since 1985 when it was first...
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).
A burst of art and colour awaits at Bangalore Habba
By IANS,
Bangalore : Around 1,000 Indian and international artists from diverse genres like art, craft, dance, music, theatre and films will celebrate the spirit of this city with the 10-day long 'Bengaluru Habba' from Friday.
The cultural carnival, in its seventh year, is being organised by the Artistes' Foundation for the Arts (AFFA), a city-based voluntary organisation working for the promotion of arts, in association with Bharti Airtel Ltd and Kingfisher.
Mulla Sadra’s Asfar Al-Arbaeh available in English
By IRNA,
Tehran : Mulla Sadra's (Sadr al-Din Muhammad al- Shirazi), famous book, which is a philosophical masterpiece, Asfar Al- Arbaeh (The Four Journeys) has been translated into English for the first time.
The book has been translated into English by an American professor of philosophy.
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has supervised the process of translation and has written the introduction to the book.
Mulla Sadra's other books have also been translated into the Russian, Bulgarian, Bosnian, Chinese, Korean, and Turkish languages.
Italy treats India to cutting age futuristic art
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : For the unaccustomed Indian eye, modern Italian art is a revelation. GenNext art from the country of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael is highly symbolic.
A fortnight-long exhibition of works by 10 Italian artists, "Primavere Del Bianco" (Springs in White), hosted jointly by the embassy of Italy, the Indian Culture Institute and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), was inaugurated at the Lalit Kala Akademi here Friday evening.
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.
Island of gods has red carpet out for Indians
By Joydeep Gupta, IANS
Bali (Indonesia) : Wherever an Indian goes in this island of the gods, the first question is: "Are you a Hindu? I am." From taxi drivers to tour guides to policemen, the question in this crowded little island of 2.5 million people does not vary.
Over 90 percent of the population is Hindu, and you see signs of that everywhere. Every few steps on the pavement, there is a small leaf-plate, with a few flowers and an incense stick in a corner. It is an offering to the family deity, the locals tell you, and you have to watch your step.
Manipur Muslim Students organize Iftar party in Delhi
By TCN News,
Delhi: A large number of Manipur Muslims joined an iftar party held here at the premises of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)...
Dhaka cops shut down exhibition on extra-judicial killings
By IANS,
Dhaka : A photography exhibition on extra-judicial killings carried out by government agencies was shut by police here. Indian writer and human rights activist Mahasweta Devi, however, went ahead and inaugurated it on the road outside the gallery.
Police Monday closed the exhibition "Crossfire" about an hour before it was scheduled to start. A police contingent barred entry and exit of visitors at the exhibition venue.
A tale of how television changed India
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Book: "India on Television"; Author: Nalin Mehta; Publisher: Harper Collins; Price: Rs.495
Television has changed the contours of the Indian psyche. According to former broadcast journalist Nalin Mehta, satellite television news networks have never expanded as they have in India.
Saffron hegemony due to lack of education on diverse practices
By Nazish Hussain for TwoCircles.net,
Over the last two years the topics of debate in the India’s public sphere have been on the issues of...
Birmingham to showcase best of Asian talent
By IANS
London : Come September, and Birmingham will showcase the best of Asian talent in performing arts.
A cultural festival, 'Decibel Performing Arts Showcase', to be held Sep 3-7 is being organised by the Arts Council, to promote ethnic artistes to national and international promoters, decision makers, directors, agents, venue managers and producers.
"It is a must-attend event for any arts professional looking to put on the freshest and most challenging new work in the performing arts," said Samenua Sesher, director of Decibel.
IIFA: Oscar winner Rahman gets best music director award
By Radhika Bhirani, IANS
Macau: Internationally acclaimed and double Oscar winning composer A.R. Rahman was Saturday named the best music director at the IDEA International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards here for his soulful compositions in the historical romance "Jodhaa Akbar".
Rahman couldn't attend the event and director Ashutosh Gowariker received the award on his behalf.
Exhibition recapitulates spiritual master Sohan Qadri’s journey
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
Film festival on Rabindranath Tagore in Tripura
By IANS,
Agartala : A four-day-long festival to screen films based on Rabindranath Tagore's novels began in Tripura Friday.
The film festival along with discussions on Tagore is a part of the year-long celebrations of the Nobel laureate poet's 150th birth anniversary being celebrated in the northeastern state.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, a Tagore fan, inaugurated the festival, jointly organised by the information and cultural affairs department of the Tripura government and Cine Delve, a film society.
Vice President greets people on Christmas eve
New Delhi : Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has greeted countrymen on the eve of the festival of Christmas.
Ansari said the festival reaffirms our...
India doesn’t need nationalism after 70 years of Independence: Nayantara Sahgal
By Milinda Ghosh Roy
Kolkata (IANS): India doesn't need any lessons on nationalism 70 years after Independence, feels eminent writer and member of the Nehru-Gandhi...
Doordarshan marks Tagore’s birthday with special show
By IANS
Agartala : National broadcaster Doordarshan Friday organised a special programme in Tripura to commemorate the 146th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Naqvi to offer chadar at Ajmer Sharif on PM’s behalf
New Delhi: Spreading a message of peace and harmony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday handed over a 'chadar' to Minister of State...
Indian-origin author short-listed for Canadian literary prize
Toronto, Oct 10 (IANS) A Canadian author of Indian origin is among five novelists who have been short-listed for this year's prestigious Scotiabank Giller Prize.
M.G. Vassanji, who has won the Giller Prize twice before -- in 1994 and again in 2003 -- has been short-listed for his work "The Assassin's Song", which chronicles the clash of modernity and tradition in India.
Marathi movie Khwada projects the rebel against upper-caste hegemony
By Yogesh Maitreya, TwoCircles.net
After Fandry, the Marathi movie Khwada, released on Oct 22, 2015, does a brilliant job of depicting lower castes’ struggle...
Art auction to raise money for flood-affected Kashmir
New Delhi : A photograph of Kashmir capturing its picturesque scenery and a beautiful threaded picture of the Valley are two art works that...
IAF Jammu celebrates Durga Puja
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : With religious fervour and gaiety Indian Air Force (IAF) for 28th consecutive year celebrated Durga Puja at Satwari Air Force Station, which culminated today with Sindoor Puja and immersion of Goddess Durga.
Sources told NAK that to mark the occasion a cultural programme by Air warriors and their families was presented.
Group Captain Vishwanath Prakash, who was the chief guest on the occasion, congratulated the artists for their excellent performance.
Seven world wonders contest courts controversy
By DPA
Lisbon : Two millennia after the Greeks listed the seven wonders of the ancient world, a foundation created by a Swiss millionaire is about to announce seven sites elected as the modern world wonders in a global Internet vote.