Archive For The “General” Category
New Delhi, Oct 13 : The University of Cambridge, one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, welcomed five students from the same batch of a Gurugram-based school.
The event, which is unprecedented, marked a new landmark for the Pathways World School, Aravalli.
This exceptional achievement is a matter of great pride for the school, which has an outstanding track record in academics and other related activities.
The common factor among all the five batchmates, who were admitted to the University of Cambridge, ranked 4th as per the QS World University Rankings 2022, was the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
The students undertook IBDP, which is regarded as one of the most balanced, all-encompassing as well as the most challenging pre-university programs.
These days, many students who aim to get into Ivy League institutions pursue IBDP as it helps them develop a deeper perspective, broader outlook, and vast knowledge base towards their respective course program.
The students who made it to the university included Vedika G. Mandapati, Anirudh Bhalekar, Akrit Agarwal, Tushti Hari, and Varushka Bhushan. Out of these, Vedika G. Mandapati scored a perfect 45 in the IBDP and is currently pursuing a Human, Social, and Political Sciences course from the Murray Edward College.
The second-highest scorer, Anirudh Bhalekar, scored 44 in IBDP and is studying Engineering at Peterhouse College.
Akrit Agarwal, who scored 42 in IBDP, is pursuing a bachelor's in Economics from the Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, UK.
Tushti Hari, who scored 42 in IBDP, got accepted for Psychological (and) Behavioral Sciences at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, the UK.
However, being underage, she has deferred her offer for September 2022 joining. Varushka Bhushan, who scored 39 in IBDP, has opted for Political Science from Science Po, The Paris Institute of Political Studies, France.
The school deeply respects and regards how these students have exercised discernment with regard to the respective course selection to suit their learning requirements, personality traits, bent of mind and choice of career.
Besides these five stalwarts, the other students also received offers from the world's most sought-after institutions such as the John Hopkins, New York University, University of Southern California, London School of Economics, King's College London and the University of Warwick.
During the recent submission process of college applications, 139 students of the class of 2021 of Pathways World School, Aravali, received more than 532 offers.
--IANS
san/dpb.
Source: IANS
The event, which is unprecedented, marked a new landmark for the Pathways World School, Aravalli.
This exceptional achievement is a matter of great pride for the school, which has an outstanding track record in academics and other related activities.
The common factor among all the five batchmates, who were admitted to the University of Cambridge, ranked 4th as per the QS World University Rankings 2022, was the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
The students undertook IBDP, which is regarded as one of the most balanced, all-encompassing as well as the most challenging pre-university programs.
These days, many students who aim to get into Ivy League institutions pursue IBDP as it helps them develop a deeper perspective, broader outlook, and vast knowledge base towards their respective course program.
The students who made it to the university included Vedika G. Mandapati, Anirudh Bhalekar, Akrit Agarwal, Tushti Hari, and Varushka Bhushan. Out of these, Vedika G. Mandapati scored a perfect 45 in the IBDP and is currently pursuing a Human, Social, and Political Sciences course from the Murray Edward College.
The second-highest scorer, Anirudh Bhalekar, scored 44 in IBDP and is studying Engineering at Peterhouse College.
Akrit Agarwal, who scored 42 in IBDP, is pursuing a bachelor's in Economics from the Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, UK.
Tushti Hari, who scored 42 in IBDP, got accepted for Psychological (and) Behavioral Sciences at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, the UK.
However, being underage, she has deferred her offer for September 2022 joining. Varushka Bhushan, who scored 39 in IBDP, has opted for Political Science from Science Po, The Paris Institute of Political Studies, France.
The school deeply respects and regards how these students have exercised discernment with regard to the respective course selection to suit their learning requirements, personality traits, bent of mind and choice of career.
Besides these five stalwarts, the other students also received offers from the world's most sought-after institutions such as the John Hopkins, New York University, University of Southern California, London School of Economics, King's College London and the University of Warwick.
During the recent submission process of college applications, 139 students of the class of 2021 of Pathways World School, Aravali, received more than 532 offers.
--IANS
san/dpb.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 13: Emphasising that the current situation in Afghanistan is of grave concern, India today called on the international community to unite against the menace of terrorism, as seriously as it does on issues like climate change and pandemics.
While addressing the 6th Ministerial meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) at Kazakhstan capital Nur-Sultan on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that cross-border terrorism is not statecraft, it is simply another form of terrorism.
"Any calculation that extremism, radicalisation, violence and bigotry can be used to advance interests is a very short-sighted one.
Such forces will come back to haunt those who nurture them. Lack of stability will also undermine our collective efforts to get Covid under control," he said at the joint meeting of CICA foreign ministers with the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The External Affairs minister also made five other important points at the multi-national forum which aims at enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.
As China makes inroads into several nations of the regions through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Jaishankar stressed that connectivity projects to build modern arteries of commerce must adhere to the most basic principle of international relations - respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations rank foremost among them.
It is also important that connectivity building is a participative and consensual exercise, based on financial viability and local ownership.
They must not serve other agendas."
He also highlighted India's internationalism - always seeing the world as a family, expressed in the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - driving the country's highly-successful 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative.
"Our belief is expressed in a variety of ways, including in meeting challenges and finding solutions together.
This was clearly in evidence during the Covid pandemic, when we provided vaccines, medicines and medical supplies, as well as expertise to more than 150 nations," said Jaishankar.
The EAM then stressed on Covid response bringing out the limitations of current multilateralism and the urgent need to reform it.
The limitations of the multilateral response to the Covid pandemic, he said, were starkly evident.
"Eight decades ago, when the current global order was being debated, it was very different world.
The members of the UN have quadrupled since then. Asia especially, but also Africa and Latin America, are inadequately represented in its decision-making.
This only makes a case for reformed multilateralism more urgent with each passing day," he said.
Jaishankar said that sustainable development requires a sustainable lifestyle and the post-pandemic world requires resilient and reliable supply chains, greater trust and transparency and additional engines of growth.
"Both pandemic and climate change require genuine and sincere international collaboration.
They must ensure accessibility and affordability, especially to the most vulnerable. And they are a call for us all to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle," the minister said.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
While addressing the 6th Ministerial meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) at Kazakhstan capital Nur-Sultan on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that cross-border terrorism is not statecraft, it is simply another form of terrorism.
"Any calculation that extremism, radicalisation, violence and bigotry can be used to advance interests is a very short-sighted one.
Such forces will come back to haunt those who nurture them. Lack of stability will also undermine our collective efforts to get Covid under control," he said at the joint meeting of CICA foreign ministers with the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The External Affairs minister also made five other important points at the multi-national forum which aims at enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.
As China makes inroads into several nations of the regions through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Jaishankar stressed that connectivity projects to build modern arteries of commerce must adhere to the most basic principle of international relations - respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations rank foremost among them.
It is also important that connectivity building is a participative and consensual exercise, based on financial viability and local ownership.
They must not serve other agendas."
He also highlighted India's internationalism - always seeing the world as a family, expressed in the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - driving the country's highly-successful 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative.
"Our belief is expressed in a variety of ways, including in meeting challenges and finding solutions together.
This was clearly in evidence during the Covid pandemic, when we provided vaccines, medicines and medical supplies, as well as expertise to more than 150 nations," said Jaishankar.
The EAM then stressed on Covid response bringing out the limitations of current multilateralism and the urgent need to reform it.
The limitations of the multilateral response to the Covid pandemic, he said, were starkly evident.
"Eight decades ago, when the current global order was being debated, it was very different world.
The members of the UN have quadrupled since then. Asia especially, but also Africa and Latin America, are inadequately represented in its decision-making.
This only makes a case for reformed multilateralism more urgent with each passing day," he said.
Jaishankar said that sustainable development requires a sustainable lifestyle and the post-pandemic world requires resilient and reliable supply chains, greater trust and transparency and additional engines of growth.
"Both pandemic and climate change require genuine and sincere international collaboration.
They must ensure accessibility and affordability, especially to the most vulnerable. And they are a call for us all to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle," the minister said.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 13: The Taliban has been realising that governance is a tough nut to crack. To restart the export of fresh and dry fruits, a major revenue earner, they have approached Iran for help.
Iran's Tasnim News is reporting that Tehran has agreed to evaluate Taliban's proposals for the transportation of Afghanistan's trade cargoes and export of fresh and dried fruits to India via the Chabahar route.
The Taliban submitted the detailed plan last week when representatives of both countries signed a comprehensive trade agreement.
Iran and the Taliban have agreed to maintain round-the-clock operation at the Islam Qala-Dogarun border crossing and take practical measures to improve and develop the land routes at the border crossing.
In principle, Iran has agreed to allow Afghan traders to export fresh and dried fruits to India via Dogarun-Chabahar route which was closed after Taliban's capture of Afghanistan.
This year, exporters have to exclusively rely on land routes to ship their products as there are no air cargo flights available yet.
Most of the Afghan traders have been using this route to Afghanistan through the 7200-km long International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which passes through neighbouring Iran.
Cargoes are then shipped from Chabahar port, Iran to western ports such as Mumbai. But that route was closed in July by Iran citing security concerns. After the Taliban came to power, they banned the export and imports to India. But now, under enormous economic pressure, the new regime has decided to rethink its stance. India imports around 85 per cent of its dry fruits from the war-torn country.
Afghanistan has witnessed a bumper dry fruit harvest this year.
As a result, Afghan exporters are in constant touch with Indian buyers despite the current situation in their country.
Generally, exports of dry fruits start in September, just before the beginning of the festival seasons of Durga Puja and Diwali.
Afghan exports to India include dried raisins, walnuts, almonds, figs, pine nuts, pistachios, dried apricot and fresh fruits such as apricot, cherry, watermelon, and a few medicinal herbs.
Earlier, the Afghan fresh fruits traders were using the India and Afghanistan air cargo corridor, which was stopped due to the political uncertainty in the country.
Afghan traders were also using the country's Torkham and Chaman borders routes to Wagah border via Pakistan, but since July, these routes have become not feasible specially for perishable fresh fruits cargo.
The opening of these borders depends on the moods of Pakistani authorities, and they have also raised the bribe money for allowing the trucks to cross the border, says Bias Ibrahim Despite the bumper fruit crops, hundreds of tons of fresh fruits have remained stranded at the border crossing points with Pakistan for eventual exports for weeks and finally got rotten.
As the traders of both countries are also worried about the collapse of the banking system in Afghanistan, which may hamper access to the Indian market.
And on top of that, the Adani group has banned import and export of containerised cargo coming to its Mundra Port coming from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
At present most of the Afghan cargo of dry fruits comes to Nhava Sheva port (JNPT) so there won't be much impact, says Indian Fruit Traders Association and hopes that the Indian government will intervene.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
Iran's Tasnim News is reporting that Tehran has agreed to evaluate Taliban's proposals for the transportation of Afghanistan's trade cargoes and export of fresh and dried fruits to India via the Chabahar route.
The Taliban submitted the detailed plan last week when representatives of both countries signed a comprehensive trade agreement.
Iran and the Taliban have agreed to maintain round-the-clock operation at the Islam Qala-Dogarun border crossing and take practical measures to improve and develop the land routes at the border crossing.
In principle, Iran has agreed to allow Afghan traders to export fresh and dried fruits to India via Dogarun-Chabahar route which was closed after Taliban's capture of Afghanistan.
This year, exporters have to exclusively rely on land routes to ship their products as there are no air cargo flights available yet.
Most of the Afghan traders have been using this route to Afghanistan through the 7200-km long International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which passes through neighbouring Iran.
Cargoes are then shipped from Chabahar port, Iran to western ports such as Mumbai. But that route was closed in July by Iran citing security concerns. After the Taliban came to power, they banned the export and imports to India. But now, under enormous economic pressure, the new regime has decided to rethink its stance. India imports around 85 per cent of its dry fruits from the war-torn country.
Afghanistan has witnessed a bumper dry fruit harvest this year.
As a result, Afghan exporters are in constant touch with Indian buyers despite the current situation in their country.
Generally, exports of dry fruits start in September, just before the beginning of the festival seasons of Durga Puja and Diwali.
Afghan exports to India include dried raisins, walnuts, almonds, figs, pine nuts, pistachios, dried apricot and fresh fruits such as apricot, cherry, watermelon, and a few medicinal herbs.
Earlier, the Afghan fresh fruits traders were using the India and Afghanistan air cargo corridor, which was stopped due to the political uncertainty in the country.
Afghan traders were also using the country's Torkham and Chaman borders routes to Wagah border via Pakistan, but since July, these routes have become not feasible specially for perishable fresh fruits cargo.
The opening of these borders depends on the moods of Pakistani authorities, and they have also raised the bribe money for allowing the trucks to cross the border, says Bias Ibrahim Despite the bumper fruit crops, hundreds of tons of fresh fruits have remained stranded at the border crossing points with Pakistan for eventual exports for weeks and finally got rotten.
As the traders of both countries are also worried about the collapse of the banking system in Afghanistan, which may hamper access to the Indian market.
And on top of that, the Adani group has banned import and export of containerised cargo coming to its Mundra Port coming from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
At present most of the Afghan cargo of dry fruits comes to Nhava Sheva port (JNPT) so there won't be much impact, says Indian Fruit Traders Association and hopes that the Indian government will intervene.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 13 : Historian, author and photographer William Dalrymple believes that it is imperative that political forces do not interfere with either literature, the arts or writing of history -- and that goes for any government in power -- right, left or centrist.
While he does not see anything wrong with re-writing of history as every generation does that and it happens to be an ongoing process, the author of books like 'The Anarchy', 'The Last Mughal', 'The White Mughals' and 'Return of a King' among others, feels that when it done with particular end in mind rather than by impartial looking at the evidence, the same can be very damaging.
"You have to make a fair judgment based on available evidence, and then write as impartially as you can.
Frankly, no one is completely impartial, we all come to any given situation with the biases and ideas we were brought up with.
And so the writing of history will never be 'complete'," he tells IANS.
Talk to him about the dominance of Marxist left in many history departments in the post war period, and he feels that it is inevitable that there be a reaction against that.
"There is a historiography emphasising economical and social forces at the expense of biography and human agency.
Yes, very few biographies have been written by Indian history departments until recently. I support some form of re-balancing, particularly towards more biographically led history and that is what I have been doing in my work already.
It makes history much more interesting and accessible. Many Marxist historians researching early India, often ignored the importance of religion as a motivating force in human history," he says.
Dalrymple, whose latest series of photographs 'In Search of Ancient India' is being exhibited (October 8-November 3) at Vadehra Art Gallery in the capital says it is a byproduct of his new book project - 'The Golden Road'.
"As you know, for the past 20 years I have written about early colonialism in India by the East India Company, and my four books on that, has now appeared as a box set -- 'The Company Quartet'.
Now I am back to my first love which is early Buddhist Art, art history and Archaeology."
Even as a a teenager, the author would spend most of his time at digs.
Most of his summer holidays would be spent at various archaeological sites, first in Scotland and then in England.
"When I left school I wanted to go and dig in Iraq and arranged to take on an ancient Syrian site, but at the last minute the dig was cancelled by Saddam Hussain and I ended up coming to India.
"The stuff that used to interest me in those days was very early history- Indus Valley, Ashoka, Ajanta, Sanchi.
Some of the first things I ever wrote about India was on that very early history. The various travels that I made in the course of researching my book The Anarchy, led me to pick up this subject as my next book.
Stuff that I have been longing to write about for years but never dealt with it at book length."
The book is essentially a story of Indian culture around Asia and has three parts -- the first is the northwards thrust through Pakistan and Afghanistan and Xinhang, Western China.
The route that Buddhism took up through there, to eventually become by the 7th century, the state religion in China.
"Today, when India and China are at loggerheads, it is important to remember that India once culturally colonised China.
When it became the state religion under the emperor Wu Zeitian in the 660's, with it came a bunch of Indian learning -- Indian Geography, ideas of astronomy, astrology and mathematics.
For a brief period there was a very wholesale Indian culture colonization of China. It was never actually complete since Chinese culture is very strong and very ancient, but all sorts of Indian ideas were grafted onto Chinese culture and that was the first part of the book.
The second part of the book is south and eastwards, the story of Buddhism and Hinduism heading through the maritime silk route.
Particularly the Pallava's from Bay of Bengal to Java, Indonesia via Vietnam. The third part of the story is on Indian mathematics and astronomy heading west-wards."
Talk to him about his fascination with photography, and the author says that it goes well with his work, and allows him to see the history that he has read and written about.
It a very satisfactory thing to have a record of travelling. The first thing I do when I arrive at an amazing temple or site, is to photograph it. In a sense it helps you focus. Obviously, the photographs are a wonderful thing in themselves if you get them right."
The author, who has been mostly using mobile phones to photograph, recalls that when he recently met his friend, Don McCullin, considered Britain's greatest living photographer, he too was bowled over by the results.
Just like the current one, even his last exhibition, 'Historian's Eye' boasted of black (and) white photographs.
Ask him why he prefers that over colour, and the author asserts, "Some of the works that I most admire are from Bill Bryant, Cartier-Bresson, Don McCullin and Sebastian Salgago.
These are photographers who have always shown how black to white could be a much stronger medium than color in the hands of a real master.
I think it reduces and it adds to the strangeness. Also, it reduces familiarity. If you can get it right, it makes for much more powerful and moody images. It emphasizes signal, patterns and form."
This author of 'City of Djinns' -- a love letter to Delhi, who made an entire generation rediscover the country with works like 'In the Age of Kali' 'Nine Lives' is not really missing writing in that genre.
"I still do long magazine pieces. However, history is my real love in which I try to channel all my love for archaeology and art history.
It is much more difficult to write about early cities. After all, we are trying to rebuild entire civilizations from a few scripts, archaeological digs and records of a few Chinese pilgrims.
For someone who has written extensively on Afghanistan, it is hard not to ask him about his take on the situation there now.
"A tragedy and completely avoidable situation. There was a folly on the part of the US to withdraw like that. Such a major setback for everyone. Obviously, first and foremost for the Afghans, but also a major setback for America, Britain, Australia and India.
India has lost a lot of influence in that region. The only people who really win from this I think are the Chinese. Obviously, the Pakistanis have been triumphant. I think the real winners are China and Pakistan. There were actually very few American troops in Afghanistan and it was not costing huge amounts of money, by American standards.
There was no anti war movement like with Vietnam. It could easily have been maintained."
(Sukant Deepak can be contacted at sukant.d@ians.in)
--IANS
sukant/pgh.
Source: IANS
While he does not see anything wrong with re-writing of history as every generation does that and it happens to be an ongoing process, the author of books like 'The Anarchy', 'The Last Mughal', 'The White Mughals' and 'Return of a King' among others, feels that when it done with particular end in mind rather than by impartial looking at the evidence, the same can be very damaging.
"You have to make a fair judgment based on available evidence, and then write as impartially as you can.
Frankly, no one is completely impartial, we all come to any given situation with the biases and ideas we were brought up with.
And so the writing of history will never be 'complete'," he tells IANS.
Talk to him about the dominance of Marxist left in many history departments in the post war period, and he feels that it is inevitable that there be a reaction against that.
"There is a historiography emphasising economical and social forces at the expense of biography and human agency.
Yes, very few biographies have been written by Indian history departments until recently. I support some form of re-balancing, particularly towards more biographically led history and that is what I have been doing in my work already.
It makes history much more interesting and accessible. Many Marxist historians researching early India, often ignored the importance of religion as a motivating force in human history," he says.
Dalrymple, whose latest series of photographs 'In Search of Ancient India' is being exhibited (October 8-November 3) at Vadehra Art Gallery in the capital says it is a byproduct of his new book project - 'The Golden Road'.
"As you know, for the past 20 years I have written about early colonialism in India by the East India Company, and my four books on that, has now appeared as a box set -- 'The Company Quartet'.
Now I am back to my first love which is early Buddhist Art, art history and Archaeology."
Even as a a teenager, the author would spend most of his time at digs.
Most of his summer holidays would be spent at various archaeological sites, first in Scotland and then in England.
"When I left school I wanted to go and dig in Iraq and arranged to take on an ancient Syrian site, but at the last minute the dig was cancelled by Saddam Hussain and I ended up coming to India.
"The stuff that used to interest me in those days was very early history- Indus Valley, Ashoka, Ajanta, Sanchi.
Some of the first things I ever wrote about India was on that very early history. The various travels that I made in the course of researching my book The Anarchy, led me to pick up this subject as my next book.
Stuff that I have been longing to write about for years but never dealt with it at book length."
The book is essentially a story of Indian culture around Asia and has three parts -- the first is the northwards thrust through Pakistan and Afghanistan and Xinhang, Western China.
The route that Buddhism took up through there, to eventually become by the 7th century, the state religion in China.
"Today, when India and China are at loggerheads, it is important to remember that India once culturally colonised China.
When it became the state religion under the emperor Wu Zeitian in the 660's, with it came a bunch of Indian learning -- Indian Geography, ideas of astronomy, astrology and mathematics.
For a brief period there was a very wholesale Indian culture colonization of China. It was never actually complete since Chinese culture is very strong and very ancient, but all sorts of Indian ideas were grafted onto Chinese culture and that was the first part of the book.
The second part of the book is south and eastwards, the story of Buddhism and Hinduism heading through the maritime silk route.
Particularly the Pallava's from Bay of Bengal to Java, Indonesia via Vietnam. The third part of the story is on Indian mathematics and astronomy heading west-wards."
Talk to him about his fascination with photography, and the author says that it goes well with his work, and allows him to see the history that he has read and written about.
It a very satisfactory thing to have a record of travelling. The first thing I do when I arrive at an amazing temple or site, is to photograph it. In a sense it helps you focus. Obviously, the photographs are a wonderful thing in themselves if you get them right."
The author, who has been mostly using mobile phones to photograph, recalls that when he recently met his friend, Don McCullin, considered Britain's greatest living photographer, he too was bowled over by the results.
Just like the current one, even his last exhibition, 'Historian's Eye' boasted of black (and) white photographs.
Ask him why he prefers that over colour, and the author asserts, "Some of the works that I most admire are from Bill Bryant, Cartier-Bresson, Don McCullin and Sebastian Salgago.
These are photographers who have always shown how black to white could be a much stronger medium than color in the hands of a real master.
I think it reduces and it adds to the strangeness. Also, it reduces familiarity. If you can get it right, it makes for much more powerful and moody images. It emphasizes signal, patterns and form."
This author of 'City of Djinns' -- a love letter to Delhi, who made an entire generation rediscover the country with works like 'In the Age of Kali' 'Nine Lives' is not really missing writing in that genre.
"I still do long magazine pieces. However, history is my real love in which I try to channel all my love for archaeology and art history.
It is much more difficult to write about early cities. After all, we are trying to rebuild entire civilizations from a few scripts, archaeological digs and records of a few Chinese pilgrims.
For someone who has written extensively on Afghanistan, it is hard not to ask him about his take on the situation there now.
"A tragedy and completely avoidable situation. There was a folly on the part of the US to withdraw like that. Such a major setback for everyone. Obviously, first and foremost for the Afghans, but also a major setback for America, Britain, Australia and India.
India has lost a lot of influence in that region. The only people who really win from this I think are the Chinese. Obviously, the Pakistanis have been triumphant. I think the real winners are China and Pakistan. There were actually very few American troops in Afghanistan and it was not costing huge amounts of money, by American standards.
There was no anti war movement like with Vietnam. It could easily have been maintained."
(Sukant Deepak can be contacted at sukant.d@ians.in)
--IANS
sukant/pgh.
Source: IANS
Srinagar, Oct 12 : Music is deep-rooted in the living paradise of Kashmir. It signifies its cultural glories and not just as means of entertainment and leisure, but as a central part of heritage.
Its divine music is like food for the soul -- birthed in the congregations of Saints and Sufis that would surpass the physical world into the metaphysical through music.
It is a gift of nature -- heard through winds in the trees, countryside calm, willow orchards, and shades of Chinar through seasons.
Trees in Kashmir have granted a natural sense of rhythm to artists; it is said with the changing atmosphere and moods of the Valley, the wind carries emotions passing through a variety of trees, paving way for music that only true artists can hear.
Kashmir also has a history of traditional musical instruments like Tumbaknar, Sarang, Rabab, Noet, Nai, Santoor, Sitar, Saz-e-Kashmir, etc., having a unique sound, importance, and reason.
They were given a center stage in Bollywood movies like 'Fitoor', 'Haider', and 'Raazi'.
Lately, many music studios are coming up in Kashmir.
Kashmiri music is gaining popularity in the mainstream as artists across India are taking interest in Kashmiri folk music and language.
Once again like the early Bollywood era, artists are choosing Kashmir as their video shooting destination.
Perhaps this is the new beginning, the revival of the Kashmiri music and culture that we have been waiting for.
AR Music Studios, a Mumbai-based Music Record Label aims to revive the eternal appeal in music by blending traditional melody with modern demands.
The founder, known by a popular Kashmiri song 'Harmukh Bartal', Jaan Nissar Lone from north Kashmir's Baramulla has created waves in Bollywood for his forte, Sufi tradition meets modern acoustics.
Their Sufi super hit soundtrack 'Allah Teri Kya Shaan Hai' was even chosen as the best Sufi song of the year by Mirchi Music Awards! He has established himself as a Bollywood music director, producer, and singer, lately having composed music and sung for the hit OTT series 'The Family Man' Season-1.
Jaan Nissar has also taken a hands-on initiative, a live project like Coke Studio, the first of its kind in Kashmir where Kashmiri singers will sing in Kashmiri with guests artists from South Asian countries to create fusions with languages like Pashto, Persian, etc.
Such upcoming studios are inspiring the new generation to choose music as their profession.
Many Kashmiri music composers are collaborating with non-Kashmiri singers across India, and are earning international acclamation.
A few of these songs are 'Peer Myanio', 'Khodaya', 'Jugni- Az Rouz Saane', 'Rouvmut Dildar', 'Katyu Chukh Nundbaane', 'Salaam e Wazwane', 'Maenzi Raath', all sung by outsiders, who barely understand the language but are quite keen learners!
Kashmiri being a Dardic language hardly resembles any other Indian language in terms of accent, intonation, vocabulary, etc., but young artists are not shying away from this language barrier.
Rani Hazarika, from the renowned Hazarika Dynasty of singers from Assam, has sung Kashmiri songs: 'Salaam e Wazwane' (a tribute to Wazwan, the Kashmiri cuisine), 'Maenzi Raath', and 'Katyu Chukh Nund baane', among others.
Richa Sharma, a celebrated Bollywood playback and devotional singer is also looking to popularise Kashmir and the Sufi genre that has its soul in the Kashmir valley.
Her latest album 'Mere Ali Maula' displays the true identity of Kashmir, its scenic beauty, and spiritual transcendence.
A huge singing sensation of the Valley, Mehmeet Syed, who topped the charts as a teenager since her music debut in 2004 with her first Kashmir musical 'Chulhama Roshay Roshay' is collaborating with an international group for creating a fusion of Kashmiri and foreign music.
She has earned a household name by holding concerts in cities across the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East.
She is ready to give Kashmiri music a new, global appearance.
Some Kashmiri songs with their contemporary rendition and Hindi translations have taken Bollywood and non-Kashmiri artists by storm.
They have been appreciated worldwide. The perfect example of this is Vibha Saraf's hit song 'Khanmoj Koor' for the film 'Raazi', the Hindi rendition of which is written by Gulzar, and won her an IIFA and Zee Cine award in 2019.
Due to the fame of the song, even the Telugu film industry is looking into songs in the Kashmiri language for their movies!
Few local artists too have been recognised on the National stage.
Singer Rasiq Imtiyaz Khan's solo Kashmiri song 'Lolan' has been released by Zee Music Company, one of the top labels in the country.
Another artist, known as 'Arijit Singh and Bryan Adams of Kashmir' -- Ishfaq Kawa from Bandipora district has redefined Kashmiri music in the last few years, creating a separate niche for himself without receiving any formal music training.
His latest album has been highly regarded on online platforms with his biggest hit 'Nund Bani' crossing 7.3 million views on YouTube alone.
And now he's all set to make his Bollywood debut!
Music Composer Amit Kilam (Band - Indian Ocean) who has composed music for various blockbusters including 'Black Friday', 'Swaraj', 'Peepli Live', 'Masaan', and 'Satyagraha', is also joining the brigade to bringing music of the valley to the limelight.
He is exploring the old folk musicians and young rap artists of Kashmir to bring them under one roof.
Few artists in the valley are doing their bit in helping the youngsters learn of their glorious roots.
Harkishan Singh Sanam, a 20-something Sikh youngster from South Kashmir's Tral region has opened a music academy to teach kids the nuances and style of Kashmiri Sufi and Bollywood music, while simultaneously working on his first Kashmiri recorded album -- a unique blend of Punjabi-Kashmiri music.
With the improving situation in J (and) K and the Prime Minister's inclusive brand of leadership that is changing the direction of winds in the Union Territory, there is a genuine interest among the people to take part in artistic activities because they foresee development and better quality of life.
The music of this 'Paradise on Earth' has given expression to human tendencies, sentiments, and passions with its universal appeal and ability to enlighten the soul and it must be propagated and preserved at all costs.
--IANS
dpb/.
Source: IANS
Its divine music is like food for the soul -- birthed in the congregations of Saints and Sufis that would surpass the physical world into the metaphysical through music.
It is a gift of nature -- heard through winds in the trees, countryside calm, willow orchards, and shades of Chinar through seasons.
Trees in Kashmir have granted a natural sense of rhythm to artists; it is said with the changing atmosphere and moods of the Valley, the wind carries emotions passing through a variety of trees, paving way for music that only true artists can hear.
Kashmir also has a history of traditional musical instruments like Tumbaknar, Sarang, Rabab, Noet, Nai, Santoor, Sitar, Saz-e-Kashmir, etc., having a unique sound, importance, and reason.
They were given a center stage in Bollywood movies like 'Fitoor', 'Haider', and 'Raazi'.
Lately, many music studios are coming up in Kashmir.
Kashmiri music is gaining popularity in the mainstream as artists across India are taking interest in Kashmiri folk music and language.
Once again like the early Bollywood era, artists are choosing Kashmir as their video shooting destination.
Perhaps this is the new beginning, the revival of the Kashmiri music and culture that we have been waiting for.
AR Music Studios, a Mumbai-based Music Record Label aims to revive the eternal appeal in music by blending traditional melody with modern demands.
The founder, known by a popular Kashmiri song 'Harmukh Bartal', Jaan Nissar Lone from north Kashmir's Baramulla has created waves in Bollywood for his forte, Sufi tradition meets modern acoustics.
Their Sufi super hit soundtrack 'Allah Teri Kya Shaan Hai' was even chosen as the best Sufi song of the year by Mirchi Music Awards! He has established himself as a Bollywood music director, producer, and singer, lately having composed music and sung for the hit OTT series 'The Family Man' Season-1.
Jaan Nissar has also taken a hands-on initiative, a live project like Coke Studio, the first of its kind in Kashmir where Kashmiri singers will sing in Kashmiri with guests artists from South Asian countries to create fusions with languages like Pashto, Persian, etc.
Such upcoming studios are inspiring the new generation to choose music as their profession.
Many Kashmiri music composers are collaborating with non-Kashmiri singers across India, and are earning international acclamation.
A few of these songs are 'Peer Myanio', 'Khodaya', 'Jugni- Az Rouz Saane', 'Rouvmut Dildar', 'Katyu Chukh Nundbaane', 'Salaam e Wazwane', 'Maenzi Raath', all sung by outsiders, who barely understand the language but are quite keen learners!
Kashmiri being a Dardic language hardly resembles any other Indian language in terms of accent, intonation, vocabulary, etc., but young artists are not shying away from this language barrier.
Rani Hazarika, from the renowned Hazarika Dynasty of singers from Assam, has sung Kashmiri songs: 'Salaam e Wazwane' (a tribute to Wazwan, the Kashmiri cuisine), 'Maenzi Raath', and 'Katyu Chukh Nund baane', among others.
Richa Sharma, a celebrated Bollywood playback and devotional singer is also looking to popularise Kashmir and the Sufi genre that has its soul in the Kashmir valley.
Her latest album 'Mere Ali Maula' displays the true identity of Kashmir, its scenic beauty, and spiritual transcendence.
A huge singing sensation of the Valley, Mehmeet Syed, who topped the charts as a teenager since her music debut in 2004 with her first Kashmir musical 'Chulhama Roshay Roshay' is collaborating with an international group for creating a fusion of Kashmiri and foreign music.
She has earned a household name by holding concerts in cities across the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East.
She is ready to give Kashmiri music a new, global appearance.
Some Kashmiri songs with their contemporary rendition and Hindi translations have taken Bollywood and non-Kashmiri artists by storm.
They have been appreciated worldwide. The perfect example of this is Vibha Saraf's hit song 'Khanmoj Koor' for the film 'Raazi', the Hindi rendition of which is written by Gulzar, and won her an IIFA and Zee Cine award in 2019.
Due to the fame of the song, even the Telugu film industry is looking into songs in the Kashmiri language for their movies!
Few local artists too have been recognised on the National stage.
Singer Rasiq Imtiyaz Khan's solo Kashmiri song 'Lolan' has been released by Zee Music Company, one of the top labels in the country.
Another artist, known as 'Arijit Singh and Bryan Adams of Kashmir' -- Ishfaq Kawa from Bandipora district has redefined Kashmiri music in the last few years, creating a separate niche for himself without receiving any formal music training.
His latest album has been highly regarded on online platforms with his biggest hit 'Nund Bani' crossing 7.3 million views on YouTube alone.
And now he's all set to make his Bollywood debut!
Music Composer Amit Kilam (Band - Indian Ocean) who has composed music for various blockbusters including 'Black Friday', 'Swaraj', 'Peepli Live', 'Masaan', and 'Satyagraha', is also joining the brigade to bringing music of the valley to the limelight.
He is exploring the old folk musicians and young rap artists of Kashmir to bring them under one roof.
Few artists in the valley are doing their bit in helping the youngsters learn of their glorious roots.
Harkishan Singh Sanam, a 20-something Sikh youngster from South Kashmir's Tral region has opened a music academy to teach kids the nuances and style of Kashmiri Sufi and Bollywood music, while simultaneously working on his first Kashmiri recorded album -- a unique blend of Punjabi-Kashmiri music.
With the improving situation in J (and) K and the Prime Minister's inclusive brand of leadership that is changing the direction of winds in the Union Territory, there is a genuine interest among the people to take part in artistic activities because they foresee development and better quality of life.
The music of this 'Paradise on Earth' has given expression to human tendencies, sentiments, and passions with its universal appeal and ability to enlighten the soul and it must be propagated and preserved at all costs.
--IANS
dpb/.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Despite the restrictions imposed by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Chhath Puja celebrations in the national capital, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has exuded confidence that with the Purvanchal community's support, they will be allowed to observe the festivities in the open in compliance with Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.
"Chhath is celebrated hygienically and while maintaining social distancing as women who fast are not supposed to touch anyone or anything.
It can be celebrated with ease while adhering to all the Covid-19 guidelines in the open," the actor-turned-politician told IANS.
Chhath Puja, a Hindu festival mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, is due on November 10 this year.
As per the fresh Covid-19 guidelines issued by the DDMA earlier this month, Chhath Puja celebrations in the city has been prohibited in public places and people have been advised to celebrate the same in their homes.
The North-East Delhi MP questioned both the DDMA and Delhi government over the order.
"The DDMA comprises people from Delhi government, which has made this proposal of banning the Chhath celebrations in the capital.
We do not think it is fair," Tiwari told IANS.
To garner support of the Purvanchal community, Tiwari has started a 'Rath Yatra' (chariot procession).
"Women in Delhi met me and expressed their desire to celebrate Chhath as usual and I am sure that with the community's support we will achieve our goal," he added.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has condemned the recent press meet on Chhath Puja by the BJP Delhi saying: "The health and lives of people are most important for us.
We feel sad that BJP is playing dirty politics over it. BJP has no concern for the lives of the people."
--IANS
rdk/sukanya/ksk/.
Source: IANS
"Chhath is celebrated hygienically and while maintaining social distancing as women who fast are not supposed to touch anyone or anything.
It can be celebrated with ease while adhering to all the Covid-19 guidelines in the open," the actor-turned-politician told IANS.
Chhath Puja, a Hindu festival mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, is due on November 10 this year.
As per the fresh Covid-19 guidelines issued by the DDMA earlier this month, Chhath Puja celebrations in the city has been prohibited in public places and people have been advised to celebrate the same in their homes.
The North-East Delhi MP questioned both the DDMA and Delhi government over the order.
"The DDMA comprises people from Delhi government, which has made this proposal of banning the Chhath celebrations in the capital.
We do not think it is fair," Tiwari told IANS.
To garner support of the Purvanchal community, Tiwari has started a 'Rath Yatra' (chariot procession).
"Women in Delhi met me and expressed their desire to celebrate Chhath as usual and I am sure that with the community's support we will achieve our goal," he added.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has condemned the recent press meet on Chhath Puja by the BJP Delhi saying: "The health and lives of people are most important for us.
We feel sad that BJP is playing dirty politics over it. BJP has no concern for the lives of the people."
--IANS
rdk/sukanya/ksk/.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 12 : This has been an unforgettable year for filmmaker Ajitpal Singh. While his debut full-length feature film 'Fire in the Mountains, the only Indian film in Sundance 2021, has been winning awards at major festivals across the globe and garnering critical acclaim, his short film 'Rammat-Gammat was picked up by Mubi.
Now, a web series 'Tabbar, directed by Singh is all set to start streaming on October 15 on Sony LIV.
But 2021 was not just about good news.
Diagnosed with throat cancer and undergoing a surgery for the same, Singh was not sure if he would be able to commence shooting for 'Tabbar' just after his operation .
"But I could not let it hold me back. The project was just too exciting for me to give it a miss. I had my surgery in February and we started shooting in March," he tells IANS.
Based in Punjab, multi-lingual 'Tabbar, a family drama/crime thriller boasting of a cast comprising Pawan Malhotra and Supriya Pathak in the lead roles is a homecoming of sorts for the director whose father ran a cinema hall in Bathinda but was forced to migrate to Gujarat after long curfews in face of militancy.
Stressing that it had always been a dream to direct a story set in Punjab, Singh says that initially someone else was occupying the director's chair.
"I kept meeting the producer and told him that if the story is set in Punjab, I want to do it. When the other director left the project, I was invited. That is how it worked out."
While the first draft had already been written when he came aboard, Singh collaborated with the writers to make some changes in the series that was shot in Punjab.
Excited about his first web-series, the director is optimistic that this format will be instrumental in changing the creative landscape of even Hindi films.
"Some of the best stories are being told via the OTT. The digital medium is forcing the creators to re-imagine everything and viewers' expectations have risen phenomenally.
They are refusing to settle for mediocrity. This is bound to have an impact on cinema as well. Everyone will need to up their game. Quite interesting times we are living in."
Talk to him about the success of 'Fire in the Mountains' and he smiles that he has not really got the time to process it.
"As we discussed, it has been a really crazy year. Once the web series is finished, I will take a break, guess I deserve it."
Open to both web content and films, the director says that it is the story of the underdog that has always fascinated him.
And exploring complexities and multiple layers is what fascinates him to the visual medium. "With the kind of background I come from, there is exposure and understanding that even when you are struggling, life is not just about gloom.
There are tender moments full of laughter, friendships and love. A filmmaker coming from a privileged background may conceive poverty a straight line doomsday scenario.
I would like to go deep into the intricacies, the unsaid and the tiny moments of hope that make life worth it.
Thematically, I want to tell stories that explore what makes us so - called good or bad."
While sometimes Singh does miss undergoing formal training in film-making but mostly he feels that it is a blessing of sorts.
"Yes, sometimes it occurs to me that it might be helpful, but then I also realise that there are risks and leaps I take which formal training would have stopped me from doing," says this graduate in Industrial Chemistry who was inspired to make films by the French new wave cinema.
--IANS
sukant/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Now, a web series 'Tabbar, directed by Singh is all set to start streaming on October 15 on Sony LIV.
But 2021 was not just about good news.
Diagnosed with throat cancer and undergoing a surgery for the same, Singh was not sure if he would be able to commence shooting for 'Tabbar' just after his operation .
"But I could not let it hold me back. The project was just too exciting for me to give it a miss. I had my surgery in February and we started shooting in March," he tells IANS.
Based in Punjab, multi-lingual 'Tabbar, a family drama/crime thriller boasting of a cast comprising Pawan Malhotra and Supriya Pathak in the lead roles is a homecoming of sorts for the director whose father ran a cinema hall in Bathinda but was forced to migrate to Gujarat after long curfews in face of militancy.
Stressing that it had always been a dream to direct a story set in Punjab, Singh says that initially someone else was occupying the director's chair.
"I kept meeting the producer and told him that if the story is set in Punjab, I want to do it. When the other director left the project, I was invited. That is how it worked out."
While the first draft had already been written when he came aboard, Singh collaborated with the writers to make some changes in the series that was shot in Punjab.
Excited about his first web-series, the director is optimistic that this format will be instrumental in changing the creative landscape of even Hindi films.
"Some of the best stories are being told via the OTT. The digital medium is forcing the creators to re-imagine everything and viewers' expectations have risen phenomenally.
They are refusing to settle for mediocrity. This is bound to have an impact on cinema as well. Everyone will need to up their game. Quite interesting times we are living in."
Talk to him about the success of 'Fire in the Mountains' and he smiles that he has not really got the time to process it.
"As we discussed, it has been a really crazy year. Once the web series is finished, I will take a break, guess I deserve it."
Open to both web content and films, the director says that it is the story of the underdog that has always fascinated him.
And exploring complexities and multiple layers is what fascinates him to the visual medium. "With the kind of background I come from, there is exposure and understanding that even when you are struggling, life is not just about gloom.
There are tender moments full of laughter, friendships and love. A filmmaker coming from a privileged background may conceive poverty a straight line doomsday scenario.
I would like to go deep into the intricacies, the unsaid and the tiny moments of hope that make life worth it.
Thematically, I want to tell stories that explore what makes us so - called good or bad."
While sometimes Singh does miss undergoing formal training in film-making but mostly he feels that it is a blessing of sorts.
"Yes, sometimes it occurs to me that it might be helpful, but then I also realise that there are risks and leaps I take which formal training would have stopped me from doing," says this graduate in Industrial Chemistry who was inspired to make films by the French new wave cinema.
--IANS
sukant/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Mumbai, Oct 12 : Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede has filed a complaint with Mumbai Police alleging that he and his sleuths are being 'illegally stalked' by some policemen here.
Wankhede said on Monday that he has lodged complaint with Oshiwara Police in this regard, however he did not provide details.
He has claimed that since the past couple of days he and his men are allegedly under unauthorised 'surveillance' by some persons in plain clothes.
However, Mumbai Police did not release any information in the development.
Wankhede and his team are under the spotlight after busting a rave party aboard a luxury cruise ship which sparked off a huge political row with allegations and counter-allegations.
--IANS
qn/shs.
Source: IANS
Wankhede said on Monday that he has lodged complaint with Oshiwara Police in this regard, however he did not provide details.
He has claimed that since the past couple of days he and his men are allegedly under unauthorised 'surveillance' by some persons in plain clothes.
However, Mumbai Police did not release any information in the development.
Wankhede and his team are under the spotlight after busting a rave party aboard a luxury cruise ship which sparked off a huge political row with allegations and counter-allegations.
--IANS
qn/shs.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 11 : She's named after a bird and Parinda Joshi, born and raised in Ahmedabad and now based in the Silicon Valley, is flying high with her fourth novel, "A House full of Men" (HarperCollins), a tale about a loving Indian family that's also dysfunctional, people who can take a bullet for each other but can also be inconsiderate and selfish.
"There are delightful stories of family bonds hidden in there with witty and humorous dialogues.
It also deals with love that is complicated and obsessive and glorious in all its messiness. Not to mention some pertinent issues that have organically made their way into the story such as parent remarriages, gender stereotypes, body shaming, teenage angst, et al related with depth and levity, Joshi told IANS in an interview.
Twenty-five-year-old Kittu has left Lucknow only on two occasions in her life. The first trip involved the last rites of her grandmother. The second involved a wedding, thankfully, but she returned home to her mother's funeral.
She has never forgiven her mother for leaving her alone in a house full of men. Is there anyone at home she can share her deepest thoughts with? Anyone who can lend an ear to her endless relationship issues, manic obsessions and simple aspirations? Who's got the time?
Kittu might live in a full house, but sometimes, she feels like she's all alone in the world.
How did "A House full of Men" come about?
Many years back, in the US she had to make a product pitch to the leadership team.
She walked into the main conference room bright and early one morning and froze.
"There were 14 men seated there; mostly in their 50s and mostly white. It was intimidating. But I took a deep breath and went about my business as usual. That evening when my husband asked me how it went, all I could say was, it was a boardroom full of men.
He asked more questions about my pitch, and I repeated, subconsciously, that it was a boardroom full of men.
My mind had interpreted that situation in a completely different way as if it were a conspiracy, as if I was being set up for failure.
The reality was different; it was just like any other meeting. My own reaction to that situation took me by surprise. And it stayed with me," Joshi elaborated.
Fast forward a few years.
"When I was searching for the topic for my next novel, I realised I loved dysfunctional family dramas.
Hadn't read too many books in this space but watched several shows and movies -- 'Schitt's Creek', 'Two (and) Half Men', 'Everyone Loves Raymond', Woody Allen movies, 'Kapoor (and) Sons'.
And I love Lucknow for its art, architecture, and culinary history. So, I decided to marry the 'room full of men' concept with dysfunctional family genre and Lucknow and made it a fun, feel-good, emotional novel," she added.
The book essays some unforgettable characters -- High BP, Bark Twain and PG Woodhouse.
How did Joshi name them such?
"Bark Twain was named Bittu when he'd been sourced as a puppy.
High BP (the protagonist Kittu's cantankerous grandfather) loved reading spiritual books aloud while seated on the veranda in his rocking chair.
The puppy would hang around with him, playing footsie, jumping over and under the rocking chair and tugging at his starched white pajamas.
High BP took this for a literary bent and thus the puppy was rechristened from Bittu to Bark Twain. Kittu had expressed immense relief that day.
"As for PG Wodehouse, I grew up reading his books. I love the witty banter and the biting sarcasm and the delightful humor in his books. I had many posters of famous personalities in my room during my younger years. I remember talking to them. Of course, they never talked back. But that's where I borrowed the concept from. Kittu goes to the poster of PG Wodehouse in her room with all her issues and even non-issues. Sometimes he gives her quirky advice. Other times it's banal. Sometimes it's life-altering. I even got him to attempt speaking Hindi. It was a lot of fun," Joshi explained.
How did she come to be named Parinda?
"My mother was reading 'Arabian Nights' when she was pregnant with me.
There was a character named Parizade in it. She modified it slightly and voila, I was given a rare name. It wasn't so rare, as I quickly learnt during my childhood when my family would visit various palaces in the neighboring state of Rajasthan and invariably a guide or a security guard would point at large swaths of nets covering the palace and proudly say, "These nets were to keep the parindas (pigeons) away so they wouldn't ruin the space'.
It always left my little self dejected -- but she soldiered on.
She's covered a vast spectrum in her four novels. How has she managed such a wide sweep?
"The first two novels were because of my experience working in the sports and music industry in LA.
My debut novel -- 'Live from London' -- was about a young musician against the backdrop of the British music industry.
My second novel -- 'Powerplay' -- was about the acquisition of a fictional IPL team. My third novel -- 'Made in China' -- was based on a wacky newspaper article I had read about the black-market trade in China.
I'm Gujarati so entrepreneurship stories float all around me. I married those stories to the article, and I had a novel. And my latest novel is about a a genre I'm a big fan of," Joshi elaborated.
"Made In China" has been adapted into a movie starring Rajkumar Rao, Mouni Roy and Boman Irani.
It was Joshi's first exposure to screenwriting, which she describes as an "enriching experience".
"I spent a year along with the director (Mikhil Musale) to translate the book into a screenplay.
From that point on, more writers and even a dialogue writer was brought on and the script took on a life of its own.
It was an enriching experience. Writing a book and writing a screenplay are two entirely different things. Essentially, an entirely new art form needs to be studied for a novelist who wants to venture into the screenwriting space.
"It's not all just about tools and techniques either. It's a personality thing; some people are just better suited for a specific type of craft. Screenwriting, for instance, is more dialogue heavy and requires a knack for it. I really took to it and my new screenplay recently got commissioned by a leading production house in India," Joshi explained.?
Since she lives in a country far away from where her novels are set, how does she manage the authenticity factor?
"The world is now flat and the Internet is a great enabler of it.
Even after years of living away, my disposition is very Indian -- which is why I continue to be drawn to books, movies and other forms of art by Indians.
Additionally, I always joke that Silicon Valley is mini India which continually exposes me to countless fellow Indians and their lives, both here and back home.
Plus, human emotions are universal," she maintained.?
Like "Made in China", is there any possibility of the present book being turned into a movie?
"I hope so.
I'm in talks with a few production houses who've expressed interest in it. I feel like this story has enough meat and varied characters to be converted into a web series," Joshi concluded.
(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
--IANS
vm/dpb.
Source: IANS
"There are delightful stories of family bonds hidden in there with witty and humorous dialogues.
It also deals with love that is complicated and obsessive and glorious in all its messiness. Not to mention some pertinent issues that have organically made their way into the story such as parent remarriages, gender stereotypes, body shaming, teenage angst, et al related with depth and levity, Joshi told IANS in an interview.
Twenty-five-year-old Kittu has left Lucknow only on two occasions in her life. The first trip involved the last rites of her grandmother. The second involved a wedding, thankfully, but she returned home to her mother's funeral.
She has never forgiven her mother for leaving her alone in a house full of men. Is there anyone at home she can share her deepest thoughts with? Anyone who can lend an ear to her endless relationship issues, manic obsessions and simple aspirations? Who's got the time?
Kittu might live in a full house, but sometimes, she feels like she's all alone in the world.
How did "A House full of Men" come about?
Many years back, in the US she had to make a product pitch to the leadership team.
She walked into the main conference room bright and early one morning and froze.
"There were 14 men seated there; mostly in their 50s and mostly white. It was intimidating. But I took a deep breath and went about my business as usual. That evening when my husband asked me how it went, all I could say was, it was a boardroom full of men.
He asked more questions about my pitch, and I repeated, subconsciously, that it was a boardroom full of men.
My mind had interpreted that situation in a completely different way as if it were a conspiracy, as if I was being set up for failure.
The reality was different; it was just like any other meeting. My own reaction to that situation took me by surprise. And it stayed with me," Joshi elaborated.
Fast forward a few years.
"When I was searching for the topic for my next novel, I realised I loved dysfunctional family dramas.
Hadn't read too many books in this space but watched several shows and movies -- 'Schitt's Creek', 'Two (and) Half Men', 'Everyone Loves Raymond', Woody Allen movies, 'Kapoor (and) Sons'.
And I love Lucknow for its art, architecture, and culinary history. So, I decided to marry the 'room full of men' concept with dysfunctional family genre and Lucknow and made it a fun, feel-good, emotional novel," she added.
The book essays some unforgettable characters -- High BP, Bark Twain and PG Woodhouse.
How did Joshi name them such?
"Bark Twain was named Bittu when he'd been sourced as a puppy.
High BP (the protagonist Kittu's cantankerous grandfather) loved reading spiritual books aloud while seated on the veranda in his rocking chair.
The puppy would hang around with him, playing footsie, jumping over and under the rocking chair and tugging at his starched white pajamas.
High BP took this for a literary bent and thus the puppy was rechristened from Bittu to Bark Twain. Kittu had expressed immense relief that day.
"As for PG Wodehouse, I grew up reading his books. I love the witty banter and the biting sarcasm and the delightful humor in his books. I had many posters of famous personalities in my room during my younger years. I remember talking to them. Of course, they never talked back. But that's where I borrowed the concept from. Kittu goes to the poster of PG Wodehouse in her room with all her issues and even non-issues. Sometimes he gives her quirky advice. Other times it's banal. Sometimes it's life-altering. I even got him to attempt speaking Hindi. It was a lot of fun," Joshi explained.
How did she come to be named Parinda?
"My mother was reading 'Arabian Nights' when she was pregnant with me.
There was a character named Parizade in it. She modified it slightly and voila, I was given a rare name. It wasn't so rare, as I quickly learnt during my childhood when my family would visit various palaces in the neighboring state of Rajasthan and invariably a guide or a security guard would point at large swaths of nets covering the palace and proudly say, "These nets were to keep the parindas (pigeons) away so they wouldn't ruin the space'.
It always left my little self dejected -- but she soldiered on.
She's covered a vast spectrum in her four novels. How has she managed such a wide sweep?
"The first two novels were because of my experience working in the sports and music industry in LA.
My debut novel -- 'Live from London' -- was about a young musician against the backdrop of the British music industry.
My second novel -- 'Powerplay' -- was about the acquisition of a fictional IPL team. My third novel -- 'Made in China' -- was based on a wacky newspaper article I had read about the black-market trade in China.
I'm Gujarati so entrepreneurship stories float all around me. I married those stories to the article, and I had a novel. And my latest novel is about a a genre I'm a big fan of," Joshi elaborated.
"Made In China" has been adapted into a movie starring Rajkumar Rao, Mouni Roy and Boman Irani.
It was Joshi's first exposure to screenwriting, which she describes as an "enriching experience".
"I spent a year along with the director (Mikhil Musale) to translate the book into a screenplay.
From that point on, more writers and even a dialogue writer was brought on and the script took on a life of its own.
It was an enriching experience. Writing a book and writing a screenplay are two entirely different things. Essentially, an entirely new art form needs to be studied for a novelist who wants to venture into the screenwriting space.
"It's not all just about tools and techniques either. It's a personality thing; some people are just better suited for a specific type of craft. Screenwriting, for instance, is more dialogue heavy and requires a knack for it. I really took to it and my new screenplay recently got commissioned by a leading production house in India," Joshi explained.?
Since she lives in a country far away from where her novels are set, how does she manage the authenticity factor?
"The world is now flat and the Internet is a great enabler of it.
Even after years of living away, my disposition is very Indian -- which is why I continue to be drawn to books, movies and other forms of art by Indians.
Additionally, I always joke that Silicon Valley is mini India which continually exposes me to countless fellow Indians and their lives, both here and back home.
Plus, human emotions are universal," she maintained.?
Like "Made in China", is there any possibility of the present book being turned into a movie?
"I hope so.
I'm in talks with a few production houses who've expressed interest in it. I feel like this story has enough meat and varied characters to be converted into a web series," Joshi concluded.
(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
--IANS
vm/dpb.
Source: IANS
Jaipur, Oct 11 : The exchange of communication from sign language to symbol to printing press to Internet was discussed in a workshop organised in Jaipur at Jawahar Kala Kendra.
The inaugural session of the workshop on Sunday, organised with an aim to make rural youths skilled in media, was addressed by Amitabh Shrivastav, Director, School of Media and Communication, Manipal University, Jaipur.
Speaking on the occasion, he said, "Mahabharat and Ramayan are research grounds in many other countries.
There is a need to look into our literature which signifies strong grammar, language and literature. There is a new world which needs to be explored in the media, which is sure to bring in seamless opportunities for the people around."
Jitendra Dwivedi from All India Radio speaking on the occasion, said, "We have come a long way from exchanging messages from sign language to the coming of the Internet.
This is the most happening transformational time in India when youths have endless opportunities. They are making their career by making their own YouTube channels and blogging.
Nimisha Gaur from Kanoriya College emphasised on exploring new opportunities in the media for rural students as the segment still remains unexplored.
The workshop was organised by NGO Saksham Sanchar Foundation in which many students from renowned institutes of Rajasthan participated across streams aiming at taking up rural stories to spread the stories on agriculture, tourism, women empowerment and others which lie unexplored, said Nimisha.
--IANS
arc/dpb.
Source: IANS
The inaugural session of the workshop on Sunday, organised with an aim to make rural youths skilled in media, was addressed by Amitabh Shrivastav, Director, School of Media and Communication, Manipal University, Jaipur.
Speaking on the occasion, he said, "Mahabharat and Ramayan are research grounds in many other countries.
There is a need to look into our literature which signifies strong grammar, language and literature. There is a new world which needs to be explored in the media, which is sure to bring in seamless opportunities for the people around."
Jitendra Dwivedi from All India Radio speaking on the occasion, said, "We have come a long way from exchanging messages from sign language to the coming of the Internet.
This is the most happening transformational time in India when youths have endless opportunities. They are making their career by making their own YouTube channels and blogging.
Nimisha Gaur from Kanoriya College emphasised on exploring new opportunities in the media for rural students as the segment still remains unexplored.
The workshop was organised by NGO Saksham Sanchar Foundation in which many students from renowned institutes of Rajasthan participated across streams aiming at taking up rural stories to spread the stories on agriculture, tourism, women empowerment and others which lie unexplored, said Nimisha.
--IANS
arc/dpb.
Source: IANS