Kanpur (The Hawk): After two long years of passiveness and distress, the much-anticipated cultural festival of IIT Kanpur, Antaragni began in the offline mode with utmost zeal and enthusiasm.The inauguration ceremony was presided over by none other than a man of phenomenal excellence - Mr. Awanish Awasthi, the Additional Chief Secretary under the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The ceremony began at 11:00 am in the Outreach Auditorium with the lighting of the lamp to symbolically mark the beginning of Antaragni. Several memorable speeches were made by the extremely putative panel. The audience was enthralled to hear the words of IIT Kanpur director, Prof. Abhay Karandikar. He hoped that this festival would give people an opportunity to exhibit their talents in fields other than academics and thanked Mr.Awasthi for inaugurating the festival as nobody could’ve been a better fit than this supremely ingenious alumnus of IIT-K.The esteemed chief guest of the event, Mr. Awanish Awasthi concentrated on how the sky's the only limit, sharing memorable stories from his life at IIT Kanpur and how that has shaped him into the person he is now.Further, in the series of line-ups the event had “International Carnival” wherein the celebrated illusionist, Brendon Peel charmed audience with his unique wit and magic tricks. He was followed by the exceptional artist Ekaterina Ermilkina, who welcomed all into the realm of colours and created a piece of beauty in just 15 minutes.The fest stage was then taken over by India's largest Fusion and Eastern Rock Competition- Junoon. The audience was awestruck by the combination of rhythm, dynamics, melody, harmony, timbre, texture, and form displayed by the prelims qualifiers in their final set of performances. These fusion rocks swayed the viewers into a land of music less explored and left them tapping their feet in sync.As a part of India Inspired, organisors were graced with the presence of Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran - the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India. He instilled in the audience learnings from his experiences having taught at several business schools across India and Singapore and a corporate career spanning over seventeen years. His expertise in the economic sector definitely made a lasting impression on young minds.The stage also got to witness a fierce battle of music with Sangam, where varied groups from across different states of the country came together to commemorate the beauty of some rich traditional tunes.Kick-starting the dance competitions under Antaragni’s umbrella was “Dance Battle”- a solo dance tussle that saw overwhelming participation with each one putting their best foot forward, literally. Some of the smoothest dancers of the nation were seen vying for the winning title, mesmerising the judges with their balletic moves.In Nrityangana, the classical solo competition, the judges Bijal Haria and D. Padmakumar claimed to have been blown away by the high standard of the performances and found it very difficult to choose a winner. In the evening, the performances of Sonroopa Vishal, Azhar Iqbal, Sudeep Bhola, and Ekagra Sharma at the Kavi Sammelan became an unexpected success as it was assumed that there won’t be many takers for Poetry and Ghazals in a youth festival. A classic story of negligence turning into a star attraction.The highlight of the day was the first celebrity performance of the fest by India’s leading experimental indie rock band, Delhi Indie Project. The enthralling concert swept the crowd off its feet. The band gave a power-packed performance with the crowd's favourite songs like Rehnuma, Guzaarish, and Yeh Dilli Hai Meri.The first day came to a close with a live poetry slam - a spoken word poetry competition that witnessed several alums pouring their hearts out through literature as they reminisced about their college days. It was indeed heart-warming to see the institute's forebearers of the identity of their college experiencing the jolts of longing, nostalgia, and comradeship. —KA

 After two long years of passiveness and distress, the much-anticipated cultural festival of IIT Kanpur, Antaragni began in the offline mode with utmost zeal and enthusiasm.

IIT-K Cultural Fest 'Antaragni' Kicks Off In Offline Mode

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre (SMCC), Markham, Ontario, Canada on the occasion of inauguration of Sardar Patel’s Statue there via a video message. At the outset, the Prime Minister conveyed his greetings on Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Gujarat Day. He noted that he has felt the positive impact of Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre during his visits to Canada. He remembered the affection and love of Indian origin people during his 2015 visit, in particular. “This statue of Sardar Patel in Sanatan Mandir will not only strengthen our cultural values but will also become a symbol of the relationship between the two countries”, the Prime Minister said. Elaborating on the depth of Indian ethos and values in the diaspora, the Prime Minister said that Indians might live anywhere in the world for any number of generations but their Indianness and loyalty towards India never diminishes. Indians, the Prime Minister said, work with full dedication and integrity for the county of their domicile and carry their democratic values and sense of duty with them. This is because “India is not only a nation but also an idea, it is also a culture. India is that higher level thought- which talks of 'VasudhaivKutumbakam'. India does not dream of its own upliftment at the cost of the detriment of others.” The Prime Minister said that the Sanatan Mandir in Canada or any other country enriches the values of that country also. When Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is celebrated in Canada, that is a celebration of shared democratic values. “I believe, this celebration of the Amrit Mahotsav of India's independence will give an opportunity to the people of Canada to understand India more closely”, he added. Calling the location and statue of Sardar Patel there a broad picture of New India, the Prime Minister said that the freedom fighters dreamt of an India that would be modern and progressive and, also, deeply connected with its thinking, philosophy and its roots. That is why, said the Prime Minister, in newly Independent India, Sardar Patel restored the Somnath temple to commemorate the legacy of thousands of years. “Today, during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we are rededicating ourselves to the pledge of creating a New India of Sardar Patel’s dream and ‘Statue of Unity’ is a major inspiration in that”, the Prime Minister emphasized. Replica of ‘Statue of Unity’ in Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre means that India’s Amrit pledges are not confined to boundaries of India. This pledge is spreading globally connecting the world, he said. The Prime Minister reiterated global dimension of the Amrit pledges and said when we talk of Aatmnirbhar Bharat, we talk of opening new possibilities of progress of the world. Similarly, in Yoga’s propagation, a feeling of everyone being disease-free is inherent. In issues like sustainable development and climate change, India is representing entire humanity. “Our hard work is not just for us. Welfare of entire humanity is linked with India’s progress”, The Prime Minister emphasized and concluded by calling for an enhanced role of Indian diaspora in taking this message forward.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre (SMCC), Markham, Ontario, Canada on the occasion of inauguration of Sardar Patel’s Statue there via a video message.

PM’s address to Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre, Ontario, Canada

Sam Ben-Meir*New York (The Hawk): Charles Ray (b. 1953) – undoubtedly one of the most conceptually and visually breathtaking sculptors alive today – is enjoying something of cultural moment at present, with four exhibitions on two continents, including “Charles Ray: Figure Ground” at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.Throughout his career, Ray has been engaged in a sustained dialogue with the entire history of sculpture, going as far back as ancient Greece; and at the same time, he is immersed in a conversation with America, with its art, and literature, as well as its (homo)social and racial tensions.Bringing together sculptures from every stage of Ray’s career, “Figure Ground” comprises some 19 works, including three photographic editions documenting early work from 1973. Ray has been making art, fashioning sculptures, for roughly fifty years: and in that time has he has produced some 100 works. Ray’s oeuvre reverses the Marxian dictum that quantity is quality: in Ray’s case, quality is quantity.“Chicken” (2007), “Hand holding egg” (2007), and “Handheld bird” (2006) are three pieces that are materially and conceptually linked together – the first being the smallest and undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary pieces of the exhibition. The latter two came about tangentially and in the process of creating “Chicken.” In “Hand holding egg” we find a porcelain rendering of a child’s hand gently cupping an egg that has clearly been evacuated, or as Ray puts it, “the beast is long gone.” An irregularly shaped opening at the top clearly reveals the empty darkness inside. “Handheld bird” is a complete white painted stainless steel avian fetus which is in fact intended to be held by the viewer – a delightful proposition unfortunately rendered impracticable in the context of during a public exhibition.“Chicken” combines both media: the eggshell is stainless steel, while the chick (complete within its shell) is porcelain. A perfectly round hole, in sharp contrast to the cracked opening of hand holding egg, reveals only very little of the animal inside, yet it is wholly there. The choice to create a clearly artificially round opening is a resonant one – it becomes a kind of window: a window into time, the flesh, the hidden, a two-way portal that has been created by leaving a space uncreated.At first glance “Tractor” (2005) and “Chicken” could not be more different, materially, and otherwise. To begin with, the full-sized “Tractor” (an astoundingly ambitious sculpture) is massive; it is also in a state of disrepair: its front fender has dislodged and collapsed on the ground; its tread or continuous track has been severed almost as if it had succumbed to an anti-tank mine. Apparently, “Tractor” has its original impetus in being a child and playing with and on such a machine. Is it then a derelict object of childhood memory that is being reproduced? Or is it the memories of childhood itself that are fragile and liable to decay and fade? Or is Ray consulting the limits of human ingenuity in the face of time and the elements?Yet for all their differences, “Tractor” and “Chicken” share something significant in common: both are complete within themselves. Although their internal structures are for the most part hidden from us, those structures are nevertheless there. The perfectly round opening in the case of “Chicken” reveals little enough of the creature inside (a talon, the tip of a wing perhaps) but the entire bird is there. Similarly, with “Tractor”: all the parts of the machine are there, albeit sealed off from view. When the time came to do the covering, Ray was immediately met with stunned disbelief since of course no one would be able to see inside: Ray’s response was that if left unsealed the audience would not do anything but look inside – the sculpture would be gone.I am reminded of Kurasawa who famously included items in his sets – in drawers and cabinets of the hospital in the film Red Beard (1966) for example – which would never be seen by the viewer. In Kurasawa’s case it is verisimilitude that is the aim and justification for the inclusion of things that do not enter the viewer’s experience. If the actors feel that they are not on a set but in an actual hospital, then their performances will presumably be that much better. But verisimilitude as such is not what is driving Ray: the tractor he originally found has been aesthetically transformed, remade entirely from aluminum. Ray calls it “a tractor in heaven.” If that is so, then it is a tractor not in the heaven of some idyllic afterlife, but the heaven of Plato’s Forms, as it were. He is not offering us a real, or better a found tractor, nor is it the representation of a tractor, rather it is something that breaches the divide between these two, the real and the copy – a gulf which defines the central problem for Plato’s dualistic metaphysics. Ray is doing what artists and philosophers have sought to do for over two millennia (indeed, at least since Aristotle) namely to bring the eternal Forms down to earth; to bridge the gap, and pluck the Forms from their heaven outside time and space; to materialize them, to sensualize the purely intelligible, and embody the eternal.“Archangel” is perhaps the single most monumental work of the show, standing at 13.5 feet tall. The over twice life-sized figure stands atop a wooden block (with which it is continuous), his arms outstretched in a pose somewhat reminiscent of the crucifixion, though he may with greater justification be surfing. In short, this is not Christ. The figure, carved from cypress by Japanese woodworkers, is wearing rolled up jeans and flip flops, his hair done up in a top-know, giving him a contemporary look, as if we could have seen him today on the beach or in the park. He is not Christ, but the title does suggest a kind of supernatural being, and the figure seems to be reveling in a state very nearly that of apotheosis.Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) serves as the impetus for several of Ray’s large-scale sculptures. “Huck and Jim” (2014) feature the boy and runaway slave, nearly twice life-size, as they contemplate where the stars come from. Both figures are completely nude which is not inconsistent with Twain’s novel.&nbsp;Huck leans over collecting something near the ground though we do not see what it is (in fact, it appears he was originally intended to be scooping water). Jim stands tall beside him, with his right hand hovered just above Huck’s lower back.Ray speaks of Huck and Jim as a singular being as it were – they are what the philosopher Deleuze might call an assemblage. Though they do not physically touch they are deeply intertwined, spatially, and ethically, in the deepest sense of the word – where the ethical is not reducible to the moral but references our way of being, our lifeworld, or milieu. In its originary sense, going back to Homer’s Iliad, the ethical is already linked to the drive to break free, to be unfettered and at home in one’s own haunt or habitat. This yearning for freedom is what unites Huck and Jim in friendship: Huck wants to be free of an abusive father, Jim wants to liberate himself from slavery. The river is not simply their road to freedom, it is their freedom; their nakedness is a function of their being at home, in their element as it were.&nbsp;The friendship between Huck and Jim – perhaps the most sublimely subversive friendship in American literature – hits upon the very essence of this ethical dimension, where the ethical is irreducible to conventional morality, or morality as a merely ideological structure.Ray’s sculpture has the merit of raising far more questions than it answers, questions about the perception of scale, the inter-dependence and transformation of figure and ground, the malleability (of our perception) of space, depth, and time. Ray does not simply arrange his pieces in space – rather, the space itself becomes part of the work: “space is the medium with which the sculptor works,” as Ray puts it. But Ray’s conceptual daring and ingenuity is in the service of something that goes beyond the merely conceptual and touches on the ethical in its primordial signification.In Twain’s controversial and much-maligned ending, Huck cannot escape the belief that he will go to hell for attempting to set the captured Jim free. The ethically sublime moment comes when Huck accepts damnation for the sake of Jim’s freedom. While their relationship remains racially fraught and reproduces the hierarchies that form its socially given coordinates, it nevertheless outruns its social determinations. The work of Charles Ray reminds us, among other things, that true friendship, love and art, enjoy a certain autonomy relative to their social-historical context, and therein lies their inherently transgressive and ineliminable emancipatory potential.*Sam Ben-Meir is a professor of philosophy and world religions at Mercy College in New York City.

Charles Ray (b. 1953) – undoubtedly one of the most conceptually and visually breathtaking sculptors alive today – is enjoying something of cultural moment at present, with four exhibitions on two continents, including “Charles Ray: Figure Ground” at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Charles Ray at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The 4th edition of the SPIC MACAY cultural festival Anubhav commenced with the Kashmiri folk recital by the acclaimed folk singer Janaab Gulzar Ahmad Ganaie Khan. Along with his entourage of proficiently adroit instrumentalists, Gulzar Ahmad Ganaie Khan put on a marvelous performance, delighting the audience with his soul-stirring vocal control.

SPIC MACAY's cultural fest 'Anubhav' holds spellbinding performances

Lhasa: China has intensified appropriation of Ti bet's intangible cultural heritage on one hand while trying to Sinicize Tibetan language, culture, education and heritage.Tibet Rights Collective (TRC) reported that attempts to appropriate some aspects of Tibetan culture while destroying others are to be seen as China's attempts to present to the world its narrative while hiding the gross human rights abuses happening in Tibet.Chinese social media handles are replete with posts that glorify elements of Tibet's culture and heritage which have reportedly been "inscribed on the list of national intangible cultural heritage in China".The technique to make Tibetan incense, Junpa village's Cowhide Boat Dance and Pusum's carving art are being showcased as China's Intangible Cultural Heritage, showing how China is trying to appropriate those elements of Tibetan culture that it needs, while silently destroying Buddha statues, imposing Mandarin on Tibetan children and is aiming to cut Tibetans off their ancient traditions. "Junpa village is famous for cowhide boat dance, the unique dance was chosen for the list of National Intangible&nbsp;&nbsp;Cultural Heritage of China in 2008. Quxu County, Lhasa City, Tibet of China", reads one of the several such tweets from the social media handle @BarkhorLhasa.Tweets regarding Puduiba Xuan Dance, an ancient Tibetan art form for self-entertainment and Tibetan kite making could be seen in the profile, whose Twitter bio says, "Welcome to China's Tibet".A Twitter profile, @tibet_online which identifies itself as "A reliable platform to show Tibet" also tweets about the legend of Lhoba ancestors of Tibet, "one of the smallest among China's 56 ethnic groups in terms of the population". Such Twitter profiles, which are created to spread misinformation about Tibet are trying to portray that China is trying to preserve and celebrate Tibetan cultural heritage whereas, on the ground, China is trying to Sinicize Tibetan language, culture, education and heritage, reported TRC. Chinese state-affiliated news media outlets are also pushing out content related to the protection of intangible heritage; reports talk about the launch of region-wide surveys, digitalization of intangible cultural heritage resources, workshops, and formation of Tibet Thangka Association and cultural work conferences. This consciously overlooks the Chinese attempts to appropriate Tibetan culture and destroy Tibetan identity. With the coming of Xi Jinping, the repression in Tibet has become more intensive and China is putting efforts to do every bit to restrain Tibetans from exercising their rights.Chinese authorities have switched Tibetan language schools to Chinese. Chinese colonial schools are imparting propaganda lessons to children who are separated from their parents.The demolitions, which began in late October 2021, resulted in the destruction of three enormous Buddha statues, a row of 45 prayer wheels and a monastic school in the county between October and December 2021, reported TRC.&nbsp;—ANI

China has intensified appropriation of Ti bet's intangible cultural heritage on one hand while trying to Sinicize Tibetan language, culture, education and heritage.

China Promotes Tibet's Intangible Cultural Heritage Amid Intensified Sinicization Process

New Delhi (The Hawk): National Mission on the use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH) collaborated with NTPC and organized a one-day workshop today in Chandigarh, on ex-Situ utilization of agricultural residue for co-firing in thermal power plants.The Government, Ministries, CAQM, MoEFCC, Ministry of Agriculture &amp; farmer welfare, MNRE, Department of Environment &amp; Climate Change-Punjab, Department of Power-Punjab, Department of Agriculture-Punjab, Department of Science &amp; Technology-Punjab, Department of Environment &amp; Climate Change-Haryana, Department of Agriculture-Haryana,&nbsp;Department of Energy-Haryana, SAMARTH Mission, NTPC Ltd, all GENCOs from NCR region, Financial Institutions, Pellet manufacturers, Entrepreneurs, Industries associations, OEMs, Agriculture Universities, KVKs, FPOs, CBBOs and Farmer organizations participated in the workshop.The one-day workshop aimed to promote and facilitate ex-situ utilization of agri-residue in various applications, with a focus on developing an eco-system for aggregation, transportation, manufacturing, supply, and co-firing of biomass in thermal power plants. The workshop has been organized in an area where a lot of potentials is there and to discuss with concerned stakeholders to resolve the issues towards expanding Biomass aggregation &amp; Pellet manufacturing. The Workshop started with a welcome note by Shri Sudip Nag (Mission Director, National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants &amp; Executive Director, NTPC Ltd) describing the importance of Biomass in attaining India’s fuel energy security. Shri Ramesh Babu, Director(Operations), NTPC Ltd. highlighted the potential of Biomass as an untapped resource, additional source of income, high scale of demand &amp; favorable government policies. He also informed about various initiatives taken by NTPC for Biomass utilization in TPPs &amp; mentioned that 14 Plants of NTPC have already started co-firing &amp; approximately 77000 Tons of Biomass have been co-fired to date.Dr. M.M. Kutty, Chairperson, CAQM addressed the burning issue of air pollution, particularly in the NCR region &amp; challenges. He explained about different possible uses of Biomass, the National policy for management of crop residue, the Central Scheme for agricultural mechanization, the policy for Biomass utilization for power generation through co-firing in Thermal power plants &amp; also guided how the agricultural sector can come forward &amp; contribute to control the pollution by converting Stubble waste to wealth applying Scientific &amp; Technological solutions. 09 exhibition stalls were also installed in the workshop venue to demonstrate different technical and financial aspects by Entrepreneurs, Financial Institutions, OEMs, and SAMARTH Mission. The exhibition stalls were well appreciated by all the senior officials present in the workshop.With more than 250 registered participants coming from Government, Ministries, CAQM, MoEFCC, MoA&amp;FW, MNRE, senior government officials from Punjab and Haryana, NTPC Ltd, all GENCOs from NCR region, Financial Institutions, Pellet manufacturers, Entrepreneurs, Industries associations, OEMs, Agriculture Universities, KVKs, FPOs, CBBOs and Farmer organizations the Workshop on Ex-situ utilization of agricultural residue in Thermal Power Plants was one of the biggest bioenergy gatherings ever. Many Companies/budding entrepreneurs/Farmers came to the Workshop to understand &amp; explore new business opportunities.The workshop not only addressed the issue of stubble burning but also provided an ideal platform for all the stakeholders to share their knowledge and experience for the purposeful use of agri-residue and earning potential.Dr. M.M. Kutty, Chairperson, Commission for Air Quality Management inaugurated the workshop along with Shri Ramesh Babu, Director(Operations), NTPC Ltd., Sh Arvind Nautiyal, Member-Secretary(CAQM), Sh. S. Narayanan, Member Secretary(Haryana State Pollution Control Board), Sh. Krunesh Garg, Member Secretary(Punjab Pollution Control Board), Shri Sudip Nag (Mission Director, National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants &amp; Executive Director, NTPC Ltd), and senior Government officials from Punjab and Haryana.

National Mission on the use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH) collaborated with NTPC and organized a one-day workshop today in Chandigarh, on ex-Situ utilization of agricultural residue for co-firing in thermal power plants.

SAMARTH In Collaboration With NTPC Organizes Workshop On Biomass Use In Thermal Power Plants 

New Delhi (The Hawk): India Meteorological Department (IMD) runs an operational Agrometeorological Advisory Services (AAS) viz., Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme for the benefit of farming community in the country. Under the scheme, medium range weather forecasts at district and block level is generated and based on these forecasts, 130 Agromet Field Units (AMFUs), located at State Agricultural Universities, institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) etc., prepare Agrometeorological Advisories on every Tuesday and Friday for the districts under their jurisdiction and for the blocks of the district of their location and communicate to the farmers to take decision on day-to-day agricultural operations. AAS rendered by IMD is a step towards weather-based crop and livestock management strategies and operations dedicated to enhancing crop production and food security besides reducing crop damage and loss due to unusual weather.After successful implementation of district level AAS, District Agromet Units (DAMUs) are being established at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in collaboration with ICAR to implement block level AAS). Till date, 199 District Agromet Units (DAMUs) have been established at KVKs across the country under ICAR network and these DAMUs prepare district and block level Agrometeorological Advisories based on district and block level weather forecasts for their respective districts and communicate to the farmers on every Tuesday and Friday. In addition to that, Impact based forecast (IBFs) for agriculture are also being prepared by AMFUs and DAMUs based on the severe weather warnings for different districts of various States and UTs across the country.IMD also monitors rainfall situation &amp; weather aberrations and issues alerts &amp; warnings to the farmers time to time under GKMS scheme. SMS-based alerts and warnings for extreme weather events along with suitable remedial measures are issued to take timely operations by the farmers. Such alerts and warnings are also shared with State Department of Agriculture for the effective management of calamity. Agrometeorological Advisories are disseminated to the farmers through multichannel dissemination system like print and electronic media, Door Darshan, radio, internet etc. including SMS using mobile phones through Kisan Portal and also through private companies under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The number of farmers receiving SMS varies depending on the population of farming community and area under cultivation.Farmers access the weather information including alerts and related agrometeorological advisories specific to their districts through the mobile App viz., ‘Meghdoot’ launched by Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. These weather details are also accessible by farmers through another App ‘Kisan Suvidha’, launched by Ministry of Agriculture &amp; Farmers Welfare.Social media is also used for quicker dissemination of forecast and advisories to the farmers. At present farmers of 1,19,554 villages in 3,598 Blocks have been covered through 16,140 WhatsApp groups. State Agriculture Department officials of District and Block level are also included in these WhatsApp groups. Continuous efforts are being made to increase the number of farmers and villages covered to disseminate Agrometeorological advisories using WhatsApp.In addition to above, advisories are also being circulated through a number of Facebook pages created by AMFUs and DAMUs. Initiative on collaboration with State Government has been taken up for integration of weather forecast and Agrometeorological advisories with state government mobile apps and websites. The integration has been completed for Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand states and about 6 million farmers of above-mentioned states are getting benefitted from weather forecast and agrometeorological advisories.IMD is also taking continuous efforts to popularize the services among the farming community by organising Farmers’Awareness Programmes (FAPs) in collaboration with AMFUs and DAMUs in various parts of the country. IMD along with the experts from AMFUs and DAMUs also participate in KisanMelas, Farmers’ Day etc. to create awareness about the services, so that more farmers get benefitted. To upgrade the forecasting capabilities and enhancement in Weather &amp; Climate services throughout the country including Agromet Advisory Services various activities are underway in India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the umbrella Central Sector Scheme ACROSS. There are 4 sub-schemes of IMD under ACROSS namely, Atmospheric Observation Network (AON), Upgradation of Forecast System (UFS), Weather &amp; Climate Services (WCS) and Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars (PDWR) aimed at expansion of observational network and improvement in Weather &amp; Climate services. This information was given by the Minister of State (I/C) for M/o Earth Sciences and M/o Science &amp; Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

 India Meteorological Department (IMD) runs an operational Agrometeorological Advisory Services (AAS) viz., Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme for the benefit of farming community in the country. 

Agricultural Weather Forecasting Services 

New Delhi (The Hawk): National Virtual Library of India has been developed and launched as Indian Culture Portal (ICP) on 10.12.2019&nbsp;to showcase all forms of tangible and intangible cultural heritage of India. &nbsp;· It has a total of about 3.04 lakh digital artefacts, with metadata. It also has more than 34.91 lakh bibliographic entries.· The content is presented in 18 curated categories, namely, Rare Books, E-Books, Archives, Gazettes and Gazetteers, Manuscripts, Museum Collections, Paintings, Audios, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Photo Archives, Images, Videos, Content from UNESCO, Research Papers, Indian National Bibliography, Reports &amp; Proceedings, Union Catalogues and Other Catalogues.· It also has 12 categories of created content, namely, Stories, Snippets, Photo Essays, Forts of India, Textiles and Fabrics of India, Historical Cities of India, Musical Instruments of India, Food and Culture, Virtual Walkthroughs, Freedom Archives – Unsung Heroes, Ajanta Caves and The North- East Archive.&nbsp;· The portal is currently available in English and Hindi.· The portal can be accessed through an App called Indian Culture, available on both Android phones and iPhone.· The portal is available through the Umang App.&nbsp;The Ministry ensures that all its Organizations handover both bibliographical and digital resources to the National Virtual Library of India for integration on the Indian Culture Portal on a regular basis.An Outreach team under the National Virtual Library of India has been constituted for promotion of Indian Culture Portal in Educational Institutions across the Country. Presentations, Events etc. are organised on a daily basis at various Educational Institutions for promotion of Indian Culture Portal (NVLI project).This information was given by Union Minister for Culture Shri G.Kishan Reddy in Rajya Sabha today.

National Virtual Library of India has been developed and launched as Indian Culture Portal (ICP) on 10.12.2019 to showcase all forms of tangible and intangible cultural heritage of India. The URL is https://indianculture.gov.in which is available on public domain

NVLI has a total of about 3.04L digital artefacts &  more than 34.91L bibliographic entries

Kabul: Acting Talibani appointed education minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Noorullah Munir said that the schools in the country were closed for girls due to 'cultural constraints', media reports said.
In the month of March, the Taliban administration in Afghanistan has announced that girls' high schools will be closed, hours after they reopened for the first time in nearly seven months. The backtracking by the Taliban led to female students above the sixth grade not being able to attend school.
Munir, during his visit to Khost province, stated that girls' schools had been shut down due to cultural constraints. "People are not sensitive to the education of their girls, but to their girls leaving the house, and the culture of Afghans is quite sensitive in this area. You know better that the Islamic Emirate is attempting to reach an agreement with the people and start this process," he said, reported Tolo News.
However, in stark contrast to what Munir said, the Taliban-appointed Deputy Minister of Education Sayed Ahmad Shahidkhail on Sunday noted that the delay in reopening girls' schools was caused by problems in the curriculum for girls.
Munir denied these reports that the closure of the girls' schools was caused by the change in the curriculum which suggests that even people inside of the so-called department are not on the same page. Munir said that the Afghan curriculum has issues and that there is currently no plan to change it. "We have never said that we would begin working on the curriculum right away. Bringing changes to the curriculum is the right of every nation, people, and every government," he stated.
"Three times work has been done on the available curriculum, still this issue has not been completed. God willing, we are responsible to our people over this issue, whether it is a man or a woman," said Sayed Ahmad Shahidkhail.
Munir admits that more than 5,000 of the 20,000 schools in the country do not have buildings and need reconstruction and renovation, as per the media portal. Earlier, the Taliban claimed that the closing of girls' schools above sixth grade was "temporary" adding that it was not a "permanent ban."
In an interview with CGTN TV, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Abdul Qahar Balkhi said, "this suspension is a temporary suspension, and it is not a permanent ban, it has never been called a ban."
Defending the Taliban, he said that the strict views of most Afghan people on the issue of education and women caused the girls' schools to remain closed, reported Tolo News. "There is a large percentage of society that has very strict ideas of what women can do and what they cannot do, and for that reason, the government is trying to take an approach that is gradual, it takes those people that do not understand some of the basic Islamic rights of Afghan citizens or of any human being, and the human rights, to try to convince them. It is due to lack of knowledge of that part of the society," he said. Balkhi added that they are trying to solve this problem.
Meanwhile, girls who have been prevented from going to school for more than eleven months are asking the Taliban to reopen schools for them, reported Tolo News. "When women are not allowed to see a namhram, then who should treat a woman when she gets sick?" asked Fariha, a student. "It is very disappointing and we ask the Islamic Emirate to reopen our schools," said a student.
"If a government wants to have a progressive and developed society, there is no other way except with education and interaction with the community," said Waheeda Adalatjo, university lecturer.
It has been over 300 days since girls' schools have been closed, Kabul's officials have said that it depends upon the order of the leader of the Taliban. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has drawn heavy criticism across the world for a decree banning girls from school above grade sixth. —ANI

Acting Talibani appointed education minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Noorullah Munir said that the schools in the country were closed for girls due to 'cultural constraints', media reports said.

Talibani Official Dubs Ban On Girls' Education A 'Cultural Constraint'

New Delhi: Rise in the prices of household and kitchen items, including rice, wheat, bajra, pulses, milk, fish, onion and other items led to increase in the All-India Consumer Price Index for agricultural and rural labourers in the month of July. The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for agricultural labourers and rural labourers (Base: 1986-87100) for the month of July, 2022 increased by 6 points each to stand at 1131 and 1143 points respectively. As per the data of Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, the rise in index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 13 points in 20 states. Tamil Nadu with 1301 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 890 points stood at the bottom. In the case of rural labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 13 points in 20 states. Tamil Nadu with 1290 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 942 points stood at the bottom.&nbsp;
Amongst states, the maximum increase in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for both agricultural and rural Labourers was experienced by Assam (13 points each) mainly due to rise in the prices of rice, chillies green, vegetables and fruits, etc.&nbsp;
—IANS

Rise in the prices of household and kitchen items, including rice, wheat, bajra, pulses, milk, fish, onion and other items led to increase in the All-India Consumer Price Index for agricultural and rural labourers in the month of July.

 All-India Consumer Price Index for agricultural, rural labourers rose in July

New Delhi: Vietnam's Deputy Chief of Mission in India Do Thanh Hai on Monday said that stronger connectivity has bolstered trade between the two countries, while pointing out towards having higher trade targets with growth in sectors like electronics, automobiles, computers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products."Trade between India and Vietnam is growing stronger. We should have higher target. We're optimistic about growth in sectors like electronics, automobiles, computers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products," Do Thanh Hai said during a roundtable session on Bilateral Trade Opportunities between India and Neighbouring countries."Trade has been further enhanced by stronger connectivity between the two countries. We also have direct maritime links," Thanh Hai added.The Roundtable session on Bilateral Trade Opportunities between India and Neighbouring countries was held on Monday in New Delhi, with a special focus on the North East Region. The event was hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, North East Council. Ambassador of Myanmar to India, Moe Kyaw Aung, said that India and Myanmar share good relations and a lot has to be done in the field of trade and investment.Speaking at a roundtable session on Bilateral Trade Opportunities between India and Neighbouring countries, Moe Kyaw Aung said, "India and Myanmar enjoy good relations. We've strong cultural ties and share a long land border. A lot has to be done pertaining to trade and investment." "We are happy to be a part of ASEAN as it's a bridge between India and Southeast Asia," the Myanmar envoy added.India and Vietnam have a broad convergence of interest as emerging economies and important countries with respect to creating alternative supply chains in Asia after global disillusionment with the China-centric supply chain during the Covid pandemic.Besides, the two countries are equally concerned about the aggressive and expansionist policies of China in the Indo-Pacific region. The two countries also share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2016 and defence cooperation is a key pillar of this partnership. Bilateral defence engagements have expanded over a period of time to include wide-ranging contacts between the two countries, including Defense Policy Dialogue, military-to-military exchange, high-level visits, capacity building and training programmes.The two countries have also cooperated in UN peacekeeping, ship visits and bilateral exercises.The Indian Defence Minister, during his visit, had a wide-ranging discussion with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, at Hanoi to jointly pursue effective and practical initiatives to further expand bilateral engagements. The relations between the two countries were elevated to the level of "Strategic Partnership" in 2007 when Vietnam's then Prime Minister Nguyan Jan Dung visited India.The relations were further upgraded to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in 2016, as Vietnam serves as an important partner in India's "Act East" Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision. The two countries signed a cultural agreement in 1976 and since then, it has led to the creation of many channels of cultural cooperation. A recent development in this regard is the establishment of the Swami Vivekananda Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi in 2016. Earlier, the Institute of Indian and South-West Asian Studies under the aegis of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences was inaugurated in Hanoi in 2012.Around 1,69,000 Indians visited Vietnam and 31,000 Vietnamese visited India before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam is the 15th largest trade partner of India and India is its 10th largest partner with bilateral trade standing at USD 11.12 billion in 2020-21. There is an upswing in India-Vietnam relations and it is rising up to new heights. —ANI

Vietnam's Deputy Chief of Mission in India Do Thanh Hai on Monday said that stronger connectivity has bolstered trade between the two countries, while pointing out towards having higher trade targets with growth in sectors like electronics, automobiles, computers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products.

India, Vietnam Should Raise Trade Targets: Vietnam's Deputy Chief Of Mission

Chennai (The Hawk): An investigation into a 44-year-old con artist who formed his own bank and robbed multiple people has been begun by the Crime Branch of Tamil Nadu police's Bank Fraud Investigation Wing.
Following Chandrabose's arrest, a high-end vehicle and Rs 56 lakh in cash were found in his possession. Police claimed that Chandrabose was not acting alone, and that several of his comrades had fled the scene. They are being sought after by the crime section special investigation team.
Chandrabose allegedly established his own Rural and Agricultural Farmers Cooperative Bank without a licence, according to Tamil Nadu authorities. In different regions of the state, he established nine branches where he took donations from customers.
In addition to two branches in Chennai city, it opened branches in Madurai, Virudachalam, Kallakurichi, Namakkal, Perambalur, Erode, and Salem.
When the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) informed the police that a bank was being run in Ambattur without a licence, the Chennai municipal police launched an investigation into the operation of the RAFC bank.
The Reserve Bank of India's Assistant General Manager (AGM) also filed an official complaint, on the basis of which the municipal crime section began an inquiry.
The bank's business model, according to the police, was to charge consumers a membership fee of Rs. 700 before giving them credit or debit cards with a Rs. 500 balance and giving their card numbers as their bank account numbers.
The investigative team determined that the bank was doing ordinary business by accepting deposits and disbursing loans. Depositors received higher interest rates, and clients could readily obtain loans.
(Inputs from Agencies)

An investigation into a 44-year-old con artist who formed his own bank and robbed multiple people has been begun by the Crime Branch of Tamil Nadu police's Bank Fraud Investigation Wing.

TN police seek bank fraud accomplices

Dehradun (The Hawk): Lamhe, the annual inter-university techno-cultural extravaganza, kicked off the second day with great pomp and fervor. On the second day of Lamhe 2022 held on November 26, several events and competitions were conducted by the different Schools.
The second and final day of the cultural fest came to an exhilarating end with the live band performance of the renowned Tochi Raina, a Bollywood singer, composer, and philosopher, best known as a playback singer in Hindi films. He transcended the audience into the world of melody with his music and notes. The students danced and swayed to the rhythm of his tune throughout the performance. Two days of fun and frolic embedded with tantalizing, mind blowing events and celebrity performances came to an end in this magical way.
&nbsp;The main events conducted were Nirtya-O-Logy (Solo and group dance), Dance to the Tune, Rang Manch (Nukkad Natak), Live Band Performance.
The second day of Lamhe saw various events by the School of Management like National Business Plan, Adrenaline Rush – Management Simulation, Ad -Mania, Mockstocks. The School of Law conducted Turn Court, Legal Poster Making Competition, Constitution Law Day while School of Hospitality Management conducted fun events like T-shirt Painting and Master Blender. The School of Liberal Arts conducted an Open Mic which kept the festive spirit going in the students. After a successful first day, the School of Media and Communication Design’s National Media Fest (2-day event) kicked off the RJ Hunt and the AD Mad Show with aplomb where students showcased their creativity and ideas.
Cultural events such as Face Painting and Photo Montage ensured that everyone’s interest was covered as part of this inter-collegiate techno-cultural show.
Students from different universities exhibited unique cultural diversity through their submissions and participation in the countless events being conducted as part of the fest. Students from eminent and prestigious universities and colleges like Delhi University, UPES, BFIT Group of Institutions, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Tula’s Institute, DIT University, Shoolini University, Doon Business School, Doon University, Whistling Woods International, IIS University, and many more participated in the events.
In the concluding valedictory session, the esteemed Vice-Chancellor Brigadier (Dr) M Srinivasan appreciated the hard work and sincere efforts of the students to make LAMHE 2022 a grand success. With a leviathan footfall comprising of students from various universities and colleges LAMHE -2022 created lasting memories for all participants and students at the IMS Unison University.
Winners’ Detail of different competition at LAMHE 2022
Title Winners of Grandeur: The Fashion Show:
Mr. Winsome 2022 - Cyrus Lyrikyengbam, IMS Unison
Ms. Winsome 2022 - Khushi Sinha, IMS Unison
Mr. Winsome Runner-up 2022 - Dilpreet Singh, IMS Unison
Ms. Winsome Runner-up 2022 - Suhani Miglani, IMS Unison
Mr. Handsome - Sanchit Upadhyay, BFIT
Ms. Beautiful - Khushi Parmar, Tula’s Institute.
Overall the final winning team of the event was IMS Unison University and the runner-up was Tula’s Institute.
Winners of Sur Sargam:
Solo singing
1st - Shivan Rawat - Graphic Era
2nd – Mihir - SoL, IUU
Duet singing
1st - Ayush Rawat, Shubham Sharma - SoM, IUU
2nd - Aditya Gurung, Aditya Rawat – IUU
Winner of 360 Degree - The Best Manager (School of Management)
1st - Mr. Prince S. Dutt – SoM, IUU
Winners of Mockstocks:
1st - Pratham Singh and Yug Arora of SoM, IUU
2nd - Harsh Chandan and Priyanshu Jain, SoM, IUU
Winners of Vaad Vivad: ( School of Law)
1st – Elma – SoMCD, IUU
2nd - Anavil - DIT
Winners of Legal Camera:
1st - Neelesh Sharma – SoL, IUU
2nd - Chaitanya Srikrishna – SoL, IUU
3rd - Aman Qureshi – SoL, IUU
Winners of the Documentary Making Competition (School of Media and Communication Design)
1st – Sukhan-E-Banaras – UPES
2nd – Ashoka: An Archaic Experience – SoMCD, IUU
3rd – An Accidental Home – SoMCD, IUU
Winners of the Short Film Making Competition:
1st – Memories – SoMCD, IUU
2nd – Happy 23rd – SoMCD, IUU
3rd – Bully Rush – IIS University, Jaipur
Winner of RJ Hunt (School of Media and Communication Design)
1st –Rohit Panwar, SOMCD, IUU
2nd –Rishika Arya, SOMCD, IUU
3rd – Misbah Zaidi, SOMCD, IUU
Winners of AD-MAD (School of Media and Communication Design)
1st –Shifa Meyaji, Ashish Sharma, Gunasri kadaboina, Vanita Sah, SoMCD, IUU
2nd-Paras Chaudhary, Harsh Gupta, Umang Dudeja, SOL, IUU
3rd-Nidhi Panwar, Ishika Agrawal, SOL, IUU
Winners of Master Chef 2022 Culinary Competition: (School of Hospitality Management)
1st - Rahul Chand, Vineet Gaur – UIHMT
2nd – Nidhi, Ishika - SoM, IUU
3rd - Saloni Garg, Ankita – SoLA, SoMCD, IUU
Winners of Master Blender (School of Management)
1st - Madhur Walia and Divyansh, SoHM, IMS Unison University
2nd- Ayush Rawat and Deepak Ran- Uttaranchal Institute of Hotel Management (UIHM)
3rd - Lakshya and Yash Chaudhary, SOM, IMS Unison University
Winners of Best out of Waste (School of Management)
1st – Anchal Dhiman, Rishabh Ramola – UIHM
2nd – Ananya Sah, Tejaswi – SoM, IUU
3rd – Himashu Madhwal, Isha – SoL, IUU&nbsp;
Winners of Creative Writing Competition (School of Liberal Arts)
1st - Swaranjali Upadhyay – SoL, IUU
2nd - Priyanka Lahon – SoLA, IUU
3rd - Isha Kansal, SoLA, IUU
Winners of the quiz (School of Liberal Arts)
1st - Anubhav Kumar Singh, Priyanshi Bhandari - Doon University
2nd - Mayur Rana, Priya Bhandari - IUU
3rd - Arpit Garg, Priyanshu Yadav – IUU
Winners of Open Mic Competition (School of Liberal Arts)
1st - Isha Kansal, SoLA, IUU
2nd- Astha Negi, SoLA, IUU
3rd – Arvind, SoMCD

 Lamhe, the annual inter-university techno-cultural extravaganza, kicked off the second day with great pomp and fervor. On the second day of Lamhe 2022 held on November 26, several events and competitions were conducted by the different Schools.

Two-Days LAMHE-2022’: Inter-University Techno-Cultural Fest Concludes At IMS Unison University, Dehradun

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today visited Tripura and West Bengal, on his maiden tour to the states after assuming the new office.
During his daylong tour, the Vice President inaugurated an exhibition on "Historical &amp; Cultural Heritage of Tripura" and presided over a seminar on "New Horizon of Educational Development in Tripura" at Maharaja Bir Bikram College in Agartala. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Dhankhar complimented the state on its numerous achievements in the field of education, including the steps taken towards implementation of New Education Policy -2020. "It is a well thought out policy aimed at transformation of our education sector and to make India a Vishwa Guru again," he underscored.
Describing his maiden visit to the north eastern state as a memorable one, Shri Dhankhar said that he was touched by the warmth and affection shown by people of Tripura. "I share your aspirations and dreams," he told them. Praising the glorious history and rich cultural heritage of the state, the Vice President said that Tripura and other North Eastern states are the pillars of India's Act East Policy.
Shri Dhankhar also appealed to the students to follow Fundamental Duties as these would help them become better citizens of the country. Earlier in the day, the Vice President along with his spouse, Dr Sudesh Dhankhar visited and performed puja at Mata Tripureswari Temple at Udaipur, Tripura. During the visit, he was briefed about the development work being undertaken at the renowned Shaktipeeth. "The holy Shaktipeeth emanates sublimity and welfare for humanity. Gratifying to note that a well thought out, massive development is taking shape at this revered ancient Temple," he remarked. Shri Dhankhar also held interaction with the Governor, Shri Satyadeo Narain Arya and other dignitaries at Raj Bhawan, Agartala. The Chief Minister of Tripura, Shri Manik Saha accompanied the Vice President during these programs. After his Tripura visit, the Vice President departed for his onward journey to Kolkata from Agartala Airport, where he was bid farewell by the Governor of Tripura, Shri Satyadeo Narain Arya, Chief Minister, Prof (Dr) Manik Saha and other dignitaries.

The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today visited Tripura and West Bengal, on his maiden tour to the states after assuming the new office.cognizable

Vice President Praises Glorious History And Rich Cultural Heritage Of Tripura

The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today visited Tripura and West Bengal, on his maiden tour to the states after assuming the new office.

New Delhi (The Hawk): Union Minister of Information &amp; Broadcasting and Youth Affairs &amp; Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has revived age-old historical,cultural and spiritual connection between Kashi and Tamilnadu on the sidelines of cultural programmes event at Kashi Tamil Sangmam at Banars Hindu University in Varanasi. He thanked the Prime Minister for his initiative of Kashi Tamil Sangamam. He said that on the initiative of the Prime Minister 2500 people from different parts of Tamil Nadu are coming to Kashi. By adding games to this event, he has created enthusiasm among the youth. This shows the importance of sports for Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. He said that losing or winning a game is immaterial, this friendly match will help in getting to know each other. Even if one doesn't know the language, one can communicate and get to know each other.
Shri Thakur highlighted PM's vision during Amrit Kaal that we should not only seek rights but also take responsibility. He said the level of developmental works done in Varanasi in the last eight years has not been seen before. This development is not only in Varanasi but also throughout India. No one thought about Kashi Tamil Sangamam.l before. He said there are a lot of towns in Tamil Nadu like Tenkasi, Sivakasi onnected with Kashi. He said that this is just the beginning. 2500 people who came to Kashi now will bring 25000 tourists back to Kashi. He lauded the efforts of different Ministries who worked together to make this Sangam happen. He urged to make Tamil Nadu's arts, culture, literature popular.
Shri Thakur urged the people of Uttar Pradesh to go to places like Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu which is connected with Kashi. He said there was an age-old connection of Kashi with many towns in Tamil Nadu. He said this was brought to life by the Prime Minister. He said that the Prime Minister had made the temples in Somnath, Kedarnath and Ayodhya magnificent and divine. Similarly he will make the Kashi Vishwa Divya bhavya Kashi. Union Minister of State for Information &amp; Broadcasting Dr L Murugan said that in line with the Bharatiyar's vision of India, Kashi Tamil Sangamam is organized in PM's constituency. He said Kashi and Tamil Nadu has age-old connection. He said that Kanchi and Kashi share commonalities like Silk sarees. He lauded Minister of Railways for announcing a new train service between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. He praised PM for establishing a chair commerating Bharathiyar in BHU.
Governor of Manipur Dr L Ganesan stressed the purpose of Kashi Tamil Sangamam is to highlight India as one country. He said India can never be separated. He said that pilgrimage to Kashi is an age old tradition in Tamil Nadu. He said that pilgrimage is the blood flow of the country. He said Bharathiyar envisioned India as a mother. He detailed Bharathiyar's views on India.
Sports festival:
Union Minister of Information &amp; Broadcasting and Youth Affairs &amp; Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur felicitated the players of the friendship cricket match held in Varanasi today. Dr L Murugan, Minister of State of Information &amp; Broadcasting was also present on the occasion. Shri Anurag Singh Thakur addressed the gathering in Kashi Tamil Sangamam. Governor of Manipur Shri L Ganesan, Dr L Murugan and Former Governor of Meghalaya Shri Shanmuganathan were also present. Sports festival was organized as part of Kashi Tamil Sangamam. On the fourth day a friendship cricket match was held between Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Shri Anurag Singh Thakur felicitated the players and welcomed the Tamil Nadu players to Varanasi.
Dr L Murugan wished the cricket teams from Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for participating in this match. He remembered that today is Tamil poet Bharathiyar's birthday and he used to live in Varanasi. He quoted Bharathiyar's poem where he said Tamil to be the sweetest of all thr languages known to him. He lauded the Prime Minister for his initiative of Kashi Tamil Sangamam which is in line with the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has revived age-old historical,cultural and spiritual connection between Kashi and Tamilnadu on the sidelines of cultural programmes event at Kashi Tamil Sangmam at Banars Hindu University in Varanasi. 

PM Revived Age-Old Historical, Cultural And Spiritual Connection Between Kashi And Tamilnadu: Anurag Thkaur

New Delhi (The Hawk): For conservation and development of art, culture and crafts across the country, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in their member States throughout the year. For conducting various activities/ programmes, ZCCs are provided regular annual grant-in-aid by the Government. However, no State/UT-wise funds are released by the Ministry of Culture for the purpose.
Further, for preservation and development of art, culture and crafts across the country, Ministry of Culture also organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) through these ZCCs where a large number of artists from all over India are engaged to showcase their talents. From November, 2015 onwards, twelve (12) RSMs have been organized by Ministry of Culture across the country.
These ZCCs also organize minimum 42 Regional Festivals for promotion of art and culture every year as per their programme calendar. For proper storage of the treasure of knowledge for posterity, several art forms including the vanishing ones are being documented by these ZCCs. Number of arts forms have been documented in digital format (both audio and video formats). Further, for preservation and promotion of various folk arts &amp; culture of the country, these ZCCs also implement a number of schemes viz. Award to Young Talented Artists, Guru Shishya Parampara, Theatre Rejuvenation, Research and Documentation, Shilpgram, OCTAVE and National Cultural Exchange Programme. This reply was given by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region Shri G. Kishan Reddy in Lok Sabha today.

For conservation and development of art, culture and crafts across the country, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. 

Up Seven Zonal Cultural Centers For The Development Of Arts, Culture & Craft Set Up

Chennai (The Hawk): Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Annual Cultural Festival Saarang will be conducted completely in physical mode this year with a slew of diverse events planned on campus. This year will be the 28th Edition of the Saarang, which is one of the largest student-run festivals.
Saarang 2023 will feature nearly 100 events between the 11th and 15th January 2023 and is expected to attract a footfall of over 80,000 from over 500 colleges across the country. Over 850 students of IIT Madras across various years and departments are working to make this edition a grand success.&nbsp;
The theme for Saarang 2023 is ‘Mystic Hues’ which celebrates how intertwined colours are with culture and traditions.
Appreciating the students on organizing this massive event, Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Very excited to host Saarang 2023 after two years of Covid. We are seeing a very large participation PAN-India and no doubt the week will be a very colorful and festive one and make for an enjoyable time. Wishing the best for all participants and thanking all the sponsors for their generous financial contributions.” For this year’s social cause, Saarang launched ‘Panacea’, a campaign surrounding health and hygiene awareness, aimed at encouraging healthy habits to thwart disease breakouts. The five buckets under the social campaign representing the most important facets of health and hygiene are personal well-being and fitness, environmental hygiene, public and general health awareness, sanitation and sexual health.
Many means of spreading the message of cleanliness and sanitation are underway. Ranging from informative presentations in middle and high schools to ‘fun yet educational’ text-based games, several initiatives were released in the weeks leading up to Saarang 2023. Speaking about Saarang, Prof. Nilesh J Vasa, Dean (Students), IIT Madras, said, “Saarang, the annual cultural festival of IIT Madras, is the largest student-run cultural event in India. Like every year, Saarang 2023 has taken up a social campaign and this time the focus is on health and hygiene.”
Giving participants a wide variety of choices to choose from more than 100-odd events, Saarang 2023 promises to be a hub of cultural talent and a beacon to cultural enthusiasts around the country. The five-day fest will feature the Institute’s many cultural clubs, ranging from oratory and comedy to fine arts and writing and the nascent culinary arts club. These events include competitions, workshops and talented performances from across the world. Highlighting the efforts that have gone into this event, Prof. Arshinder Kaur, Advisor (Cultural), IIT Madras, said, “Saarang 2023, is a student-driven festival where young minds working on social cause and sustainability at one end, and innovative creations on newer events like culinary arts and media confluence on the other end have exhibited their talent in bringing colorful global cultural experience.”
Speaking about the unique aspects of Saarang 2023, Mr. Sri Ram K., Cultural Affairs Secretary, Arts, IIT Madras, said, “Three new verticals are being introduced this year- Nova presents, Media Confluence, Comicals and The Korean Fest, celebrating the fields of Journalism, Comic books and characters and Korean culture, respectively. The fest is looking forward to hosting a Global Village on the KV Grounds bringing with it the WorldFest acts and many other international flavours. Alongside the Global Village, the Adventure Zone makes a comeback, bringing with it the popular Silent Disco, among other favourite rides.”
Further, Ms. Jai Santhoshi S, Cultural Affairs Secretary, Literary, IIT Madras, said, “Another event that definitely promises to be the highlight for many is the ‘Spotlight lectures’. The esteemed lecturers set to grace the event include actress Ms. Suma Kanakala, chef Mr. Sashi Cheliah, Group Art Director of Amar Chitra Katha Mr. Savio Mascarenhas, journalist Ms. Palki Sharma Upadhya, Actress Ms. Revathy. The Professional Shows too boast an impressive line-up of well-established and up and coming artists alike, whose performances are sure to have the crowd singing their hearts out.”
Day 0 on 11th January starts with Classical Night, opened by fusion band Indosoul and headlined by singer Sriranjani Santhanagopalan. Choreo Night on day 1 promises to be filled with stunning performances as the stage is rocked by dance troupes from around the country. EDM Night is opened by the Russian talent DJ Krispie and headlined by Swedish EDM sensation Kaaze. Day 3 ends with the Rock Night, to be graced by bands Girish and the Chronicles and Pineapple Express. The last Proshow Night is the Pop Show, headlined by none other than the playback singer Sunidhi.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Annual Cultural Festival Saarang will be conducted completely in physical mode this year with a slew of diverse events planned on campus. This year will be the 28th Edition of the Saarang, which is one of the largest student-run festivals.

IIT Madras’ Annual Cultural Fest Saarang Comes Back To Complete Physical Mode This Year

Lucknow: The state of Uttar Pradesh has started preparations for hosting the G-20 summit meetings. On the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, special arrangements are being made to introduce the state's culture and heritage to delegations arriving from different countries.
The Tourism department has developed a program to present the state's dance forms, classical music, and other traditional entertainment to G-20 guests. According to this, veteran artists of the state would enthral visitors from abroad with their works, said a press release on Saturday.
The G-20 visitors will land in the state in February and stay for a combined five days in February and August. They will also visit a number of the cities' well-known locations during this period, added the statement. During the first two days of the foreign visitors' stay in Agra, cultural events will be held with Lucknow-based artiste Alka Thakur greeting tourists by playing a 'jugalbandi' of sarangi and flute. On the second day, Mathura's Sanjay Sharma will present Braj's traditional peacock dance, Gitanjali Sharma will present Kathak based on Radha Madhav and Vandana Shri will perform Folk dance and Krishna Radha Raas.
In August, on the first day, a live jugalbandi of flute, tabla, and santoor will be presented by Bhatkhande Sanskrit University. The second day will feature performances of Krishna Raas Leela by Mathura's Vinay Krishna Goswami and Namami Ramam by Lucknow's Kathak Kendra.
On the third day, Mumbai-based Neeraj Arya's Kabir Cafe will perform a live concert while Manoj Kumar Mishra of Lucknow will showcase Taal Vadya, and Mohini of Lalitpur will perform traditional folk dance.
Padmashree Malini Awasthi will present folk songs
During the three-day stay in Lucknow, the city of Nawabs, on the first day, Sheikh Ibrahim of Lucknow will perform a live jugalbandi of the flute, tabla, and santoor, while performers from Kathak Kendra will present a semi-classical dance. The attendees would be mesmerised by Prayagraj's Anand Kishore Awadh's Dandiya dance on the second day. The Awadhi traditional song Holi Khele Raghuveera will be performed by Padmashree Malini Awasthi. The Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy will perform a Kathak performance on Jashn-e-Banaras on the third day.
According to the Cultural Department, Pt. Lalit Kumar will play Vadya Yantra (instrument), Vishal Krishna will perform Shiv Tandav and Acharya Rahul Rohit Mishra will give a classical music performance in Varanasi. Along with this, Rajendra Prasanya will perform a shehnai and flute duet, Amit Srivastava will perform Dharohar Ganga on Maa Ganga and Shobhana Narayan will perform Kathak.
On the other hand, Sheikh Ibrahim of Lucknow will perform a jugalbandi (duet) using the tabla, mridangam, and sarangi, while Gaurav and Saurabh will perform a Kathak dance with a Lord Shri Krishna theme. Bhatkhande Sanskrit University will perform Tabla and Santoor Jugalbandi during Varanasi's final stay, while Kathak based on Maa Ganga will be performed by Pt. Birju Maharaj Kathak Sansthan. Saraswati Vandana based on Kathak will be presented by Kathak Kendra Lucknow while Anuj Mishra from Lucknow will present Kathak on Sita Swayamvar. —ANI

The state of Uttar Pradesh has started preparations for hosting the G-20 summit meetings. On the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, special arrangements are being made to introduce the state's culture and heritage to delegations arriving from different countries.

G-20: Foreign Guests To Get Glimpse Of Cultural Heritage Of Uttar Pradesh

Mumbai News: A picture of Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan holding his girlfriend Saba Azad's stilettoes has been doing the rounds on social media.

Hrithik and Saba were seen attending the star-studded launch of Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai.

In the picture posted by a Twitter user, Hrithik is seen holding Saba's heels.

Several celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood added sparkle to the event including Tom Holland Zendaya, Gigi Hadid, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas and Varun Dhawan.

Hrithik and Saba have remained tight-lipped about their relationship status and recently opened up about it. The two keep making appearances together.

On the work front, Hrithik will next be seen in Siddharth Anand's next directorial 'Fighter' with Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. IANS

A picture of Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan holding his girlfriend Saba Azad's stilettoes has been doing the rounds on social media.

Hrithik Roshan holds girlfriend Saba's heels, pic takes over the internet

Roorkee: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said that the Central government is working to improve the condition of farmers and make agricultural policies farmer-centric. "The central and state governments under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have always been farmer-friendly. The extent of empowerment of the farmers is unprecedented. The Prime Minister is of the opinion that the confidence of the farmers of the country is the biggest strength of the country. The central government is working to improve the condition of farmers and to make agricultural policies farmer-centric", CM Dhami said. The Chief Minister was attending the closing session of the State Working Committee of Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha at Rajwada Farm in Uttarakhand's Roorkee. Speaking on the occasion, CM said, "It is the continuous effort of the government that the farmers of India should also get the modern facilities which are available to the farmers of the big countries of the world. It is the resolve of the Prime Minister that the journey from seed to market should not only be smooth for our farmer but it should also increase his income. In the past years, the traditional problems of farmers like shortage of urea, power cuts and irregular irrigation have been reduced, a protected environment has also been made available to farmers through schemes like Crop Insurance Scheme, Soil Health Card, Kisan Samman Nidhi and Kisan Credit Card." CM Dhami said, "Food is available to us only because of the hard work and dedication of the farmers. Everything else is subtle in front of the hard work and tireless efforts of the farmers. Village, farmer and agriculture are the three pillars of self-reliant India, the stronger they are, the stronger the foundation of self-reliant India will be. For the country's balanced development, it is very necessary that our farmers, our food providers should be empowered. The empowerment of India is incomplete without the empowerment of farmers. The dream of a developed India can also come true only when our farmer is empowered. BJP Kisan Morcha is working towards building a bridge between the government and the farmers." He further added, "India has always been an agricultural country. Our society developed around agriculture, our traditions were nurtured and our festivals were determined. Indian history is so rich on the subject of agriculture that we have ancient texts like Krishi-Parashara and Krishi Sukta." CM said that scientific and advanced agricultural science has made India prosperous for centuries. Many such descriptions are found in history when people who came from abroad were bewildered by seeing the agricultural practices of India. "The farmers of India, who consider the soil as their mother, have always fulfilled their basic duty. Our hardworking farmers have irrigated the earth with their hard work and sweat even when the country is faced with a food crisis. Due to its hardworking farmers, today India is not only self-sufficient in agricultural production but is also feeding other countries", he said. The Chief Minister said that along with making agriculture modern and smart, the farmer is being made technically competent and able to catch the market's pulse. India has emerged as a major global player in organic farming and the scope of organic farming is continuously increasing in the country. "Many farmers in our Uttarakhand are earning profit by cultivating herbs and flowers. Earlier flowers were cultivated in a total of 150 hectares only in the state, whose area has now increased to more than 1600 hectares. New innovative experiments are being done daily in the agriculture sector and innovation is being encouraged at all levels. Today farmers also use drones and artificial intelligence. Empowerment of marginal farmers is our first priority under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While making policies related to agriculture, special care is being taken that there is a minimum risk for small farmers in farming. Unprecedented efforts are being made to ensure that they get a fair and quick price for their crop and hard work", he said. CM Dhami said that the state government has done many works in the last year. "Work on Uniform Civil Code is going on. Change of religion has been banned by enacting a strict conversion law. A strict anti-cheating law has been implemented in the state to make all examinations cheating-free. A new sports policy and a new education policy have also been implemented in the state." "The cases of illegal construction on government land have come to the fore in various places of the state recently. Illegal construction will not be allowed on government land. The places where encroachments have taken place will be removed. Along with this, a special verification drive will be conducted soon in the state. He said that public interest is paramount for the state government. Our government will take the interest of the state on priority and will not back down from taking tough decisions", he added. The CM visited the stalls at the event based on various schemes being run for the farmers by the Central and State Governments and also flagged off the Shobha Yatra. —ANI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said that the Central government is working 

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