Archive For The “General” Category
New Delhi, Sep 29 : At this junction, she is figuring out her sound and the kind of stories she wants to share with music.
As 25-year-old Sruthi Dhulipala, India-born, US-based singer and songwriter gets set to release her musical explorations in Sanskrit, Telugu and Hindi for the next three releases, she recalls about her next single 'Madhuram', a semi-classical fusion set in Sanskrit, but with an original spin of English lyrics that she penned.
"I learned Madhurashtakam as a kid and would sing M.S Subbulakshmi's version often in concerts.
It was only recently that I was humming it and suddenly decided to give it an original spin," she tells IANS.
Her upcoming Telugu original, 'Ee Parugu', talks about a city girl engrossed in her nine to five life that she decides to take a breather and experience the world afresh in her hometown/village.
This, the singer says, is a parallel from her own experience as well. "The third one in Hindi, still in production -- is a story of someone who is in the process of coming out of their sheltered cocoon and slowly looking out to realise there's so much out there to explore and live.
That they have to step out of the safe shelter and experience." This she says has been inspired by the moments of apprehension in her own life -- fearing the move to the US, standing up for her passion, starting a new career and stepping into music.
"As you can see, while my work is diverse and in different languages, it has a common string -- taking my background in Carnatic music and the foundation in songwriting and turning my experiences into relatable tunes.
And, I continue to do this in my independent journey -- to share my authentic stories through music."
Stressing that despite working in different languages, Telugu is closest to her heart as she can immediately connect to the lyrics in that language and emote with them effortlessly, Dhulipala recalls, "My mother would always say 'Mathrubaasha Maravakodadhu' - which means that no matter what you do or where you go in the world -- never forget your native language, be proud of it, and don't be afraid to show your cultural streak to the world.
That stuck with me somehow."
Singing has always been a part of this youngster's life. Born in a musical family, and as the daughter of Dr. D.S.R. Murthy, she got the opportunity at an early age to accompany him for concerts and learn by observing stalwarts such as Dr.
L. Subramaniam, Bombay Jayshree and Balamurali Krishna Garu.
"I have been learning Carnatic Vocals since the age of four under the tutelage of Hyderabad Sisters besides completing a Level-5 Carnatic Certification with IndianRaga.
Then, moving on to learn contemporary vocals and playback singing at the Shankar Mahadevan academy."
While through the initial 18 years of her life, she performed extensively across India -- in Hyderabad, Vizag, Chennai and Mumbai, etc., and was part of Indian fusion and pop bands, the move to the US at the age of 20 to pursue a Master's degree in Public Relations did not really put a halt to her passion for music.
One month into a new country, she found herself performing at Boston University's fall concert, and was selected as a fellow at IndianRaga, an international music community that fosters art and cultural representation in the US, where she released two productions with them in 2019, both videos successfully garnering 50,000 and 100,000 views respectively.
Talk to her about a volley of new names in the independent music scene in the past one year and she thanks the empowering social media for the same.
"More artists are now confident that they can take the step with the resources online, and put their music out there for people to listen and love!
"Amidst the pandemic, many communities have emerged in helping the independent artists find the right resources and answering the important questions -- for example, how do you distribute music, how do you compose, how do you find people to collaborate, etc.
These are the major hurdles someone has to become an independent musician."
Agreeing that it is still tough to survive as an independent musician in India, she smiles that it can be tough explaining Indian music or South-Asian music to her circles in Los Angeles, as it is only the typical Bollywood hits that are familiar to them.
"And, it's tough ice to break for an indie artist to make a listener move from a Bollywood playlist to listening to their music.
Bollywood music is in monopoly even to this day and I don't know how we can break that. People prefer Bollywood at the end of the day -- no matter how many sub-genres we have in this country.
And, as a South Indian musician, it's even tougher to choose between composing a Telugu independent original versus keeping up with the trend and sticking to Hindi to keep up with the Bollywood crowd.
That's a question that keeps me in a constant dilemma," says the artist whose music is a balance between Carnatic style singing and interspersion with pop and alternative genres.
She is however confident that independent music will rise as a facet of its own -- with more artists emerging and taking charge of their music careers.
Seeing the growth and success of artists like Raghav Meattle, When Chai Met Toast, Anuv Jain, and many more, she believes all hope is not lost for independent musicians.
--IANS
sukant/dpb.
Source: IANS
As 25-year-old Sruthi Dhulipala, India-born, US-based singer and songwriter gets set to release her musical explorations in Sanskrit, Telugu and Hindi for the next three releases, she recalls about her next single 'Madhuram', a semi-classical fusion set in Sanskrit, but with an original spin of English lyrics that she penned.
"I learned Madhurashtakam as a kid and would sing M.S Subbulakshmi's version often in concerts.
It was only recently that I was humming it and suddenly decided to give it an original spin," she tells IANS.
Her upcoming Telugu original, 'Ee Parugu', talks about a city girl engrossed in her nine to five life that she decides to take a breather and experience the world afresh in her hometown/village.
This, the singer says, is a parallel from her own experience as well. "The third one in Hindi, still in production -- is a story of someone who is in the process of coming out of their sheltered cocoon and slowly looking out to realise there's so much out there to explore and live.
That they have to step out of the safe shelter and experience." This she says has been inspired by the moments of apprehension in her own life -- fearing the move to the US, standing up for her passion, starting a new career and stepping into music.
"As you can see, while my work is diverse and in different languages, it has a common string -- taking my background in Carnatic music and the foundation in songwriting and turning my experiences into relatable tunes.
And, I continue to do this in my independent journey -- to share my authentic stories through music."
Stressing that despite working in different languages, Telugu is closest to her heart as she can immediately connect to the lyrics in that language and emote with them effortlessly, Dhulipala recalls, "My mother would always say 'Mathrubaasha Maravakodadhu' - which means that no matter what you do or where you go in the world -- never forget your native language, be proud of it, and don't be afraid to show your cultural streak to the world.
That stuck with me somehow."
Singing has always been a part of this youngster's life. Born in a musical family, and as the daughter of Dr. D.S.R. Murthy, she got the opportunity at an early age to accompany him for concerts and learn by observing stalwarts such as Dr.
L. Subramaniam, Bombay Jayshree and Balamurali Krishna Garu.
"I have been learning Carnatic Vocals since the age of four under the tutelage of Hyderabad Sisters besides completing a Level-5 Carnatic Certification with IndianRaga.
Then, moving on to learn contemporary vocals and playback singing at the Shankar Mahadevan academy."
While through the initial 18 years of her life, she performed extensively across India -- in Hyderabad, Vizag, Chennai and Mumbai, etc., and was part of Indian fusion and pop bands, the move to the US at the age of 20 to pursue a Master's degree in Public Relations did not really put a halt to her passion for music.
One month into a new country, she found herself performing at Boston University's fall concert, and was selected as a fellow at IndianRaga, an international music community that fosters art and cultural representation in the US, where she released two productions with them in 2019, both videos successfully garnering 50,000 and 100,000 views respectively.
Talk to her about a volley of new names in the independent music scene in the past one year and she thanks the empowering social media for the same.
"More artists are now confident that they can take the step with the resources online, and put their music out there for people to listen and love!
"Amidst the pandemic, many communities have emerged in helping the independent artists find the right resources and answering the important questions -- for example, how do you distribute music, how do you compose, how do you find people to collaborate, etc.
These are the major hurdles someone has to become an independent musician."
Agreeing that it is still tough to survive as an independent musician in India, she smiles that it can be tough explaining Indian music or South-Asian music to her circles in Los Angeles, as it is only the typical Bollywood hits that are familiar to them.
"And, it's tough ice to break for an indie artist to make a listener move from a Bollywood playlist to listening to their music.
Bollywood music is in monopoly even to this day and I don't know how we can break that. People prefer Bollywood at the end of the day -- no matter how many sub-genres we have in this country.
And, as a South Indian musician, it's even tougher to choose between composing a Telugu independent original versus keeping up with the trend and sticking to Hindi to keep up with the Bollywood crowd.
That's a question that keeps me in a constant dilemma," says the artist whose music is a balance between Carnatic style singing and interspersion with pop and alternative genres.
She is however confident that independent music will rise as a facet of its own -- with more artists emerging and taking charge of their music careers.
Seeing the growth and success of artists like Raghav Meattle, When Chai Met Toast, Anuv Jain, and many more, she believes all hope is not lost for independent musicians.
--IANS
sukant/dpb.
Source: IANS
Jaipur, Sep 28 : The colours of Rajasthan's renowned Sojat Mehendi will now be beautifying the world as it is the first in the world to get the GI (Geographical Indication) tag.
The GI tag is covered under a law of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Once a product gets a GI tag, no person or company can sell a similar item under that name.
This tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.
Mehendi is in huge demand in the Gulf nations.
It also has a big market in Mexico and Africa for tattooing. So more possibilities can be explored by the industries department for its export, said Rajasthan's Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mugdha Sinha, adding "This tag means a lot for the holistic socio-economic development of Pali.
Farmers, small traders and women have a chance to earn more with the production of Sojat Mehendi as its demand is sure to rise in the coming days."
Sojat industries are reeling under a slowdown since the last many years and this one initiative can give a major thrust to the dying segment.
The packaging industry too can get a boost, Made in India slogan can be realised and women can benefit a lot at the same time.
Also farmers and small traders can benefit by growing and selling it respectively, she added.
Speaking on the challenges they faced to get this tag, she said, "It was a herculean task taking local people together as a community.
Later, we had to take out gazette proving that this mehendi is a product of Pali and then only we could proceed.
It took around two years to take it forward."
When asked how the idea came up to get the GI tag for Sojat Mehendi, Sinha said, "During my tenure with the industries department, I travelled to different industrial areas in the state and was stunned to see Pali industries dying while Sojat Mehendi was being sold on every handcart.
It was then that I decided to take the task forward."
"I am now happy that Sojat quality has been standardised with this tag, its mark with two leaves has been approved and Sojat Vyapari Sangh is happy to manufacture it."
Next, we want more research students to write on it, about its medicinal properties, about its herbal nature and as a beauty product too, Sinha said.
Mehndi Vyapar Sangh Samiti, Sojat, Rajasthan, and the state's Department of Science and Technology have officially become the registered proprietor of this GI tag.
Sojat Mehendi, originating from mehendi leaves grown in Sojat, is naturally cultivated using rainwater.
The other products of the state to get the GI tag are Bagru Hand Block Printing, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Kathputlis of Rajasthan, Kota Doria, Sanganeri Hand Block Printing.
--IANS
arc/bg.
Source: IANS
The GI tag is covered under a law of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Once a product gets a GI tag, no person or company can sell a similar item under that name.
This tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.
Mehendi is in huge demand in the Gulf nations.
It also has a big market in Mexico and Africa for tattooing. So more possibilities can be explored by the industries department for its export, said Rajasthan's Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mugdha Sinha, adding "This tag means a lot for the holistic socio-economic development of Pali.
Farmers, small traders and women have a chance to earn more with the production of Sojat Mehendi as its demand is sure to rise in the coming days."
Sojat industries are reeling under a slowdown since the last many years and this one initiative can give a major thrust to the dying segment.
The packaging industry too can get a boost, Made in India slogan can be realised and women can benefit a lot at the same time.
Also farmers and small traders can benefit by growing and selling it respectively, she added.
Speaking on the challenges they faced to get this tag, she said, "It was a herculean task taking local people together as a community.
Later, we had to take out gazette proving that this mehendi is a product of Pali and then only we could proceed.
It took around two years to take it forward."
When asked how the idea came up to get the GI tag for Sojat Mehendi, Sinha said, "During my tenure with the industries department, I travelled to different industrial areas in the state and was stunned to see Pali industries dying while Sojat Mehendi was being sold on every handcart.
It was then that I decided to take the task forward."
"I am now happy that Sojat quality has been standardised with this tag, its mark with two leaves has been approved and Sojat Vyapari Sangh is happy to manufacture it."
Next, we want more research students to write on it, about its medicinal properties, about its herbal nature and as a beauty product too, Sinha said.
Mehndi Vyapar Sangh Samiti, Sojat, Rajasthan, and the state's Department of Science and Technology have officially become the registered proprietor of this GI tag.
Sojat Mehendi, originating from mehendi leaves grown in Sojat, is naturally cultivated using rainwater.
The other products of the state to get the GI tag are Bagru Hand Block Printing, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Kathputlis of Rajasthan, Kota Doria, Sanganeri Hand Block Printing.
--IANS
arc/bg.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 28: After taking control of Gwadar port under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, China has now set its eyes on Karachi, a premium port in South Asia.
Gwadar and Karachi will provide China access to the Arabian Sea, reducing its dependence on the US dominated Malacca straits to channel its burgeoning trade.
Besides, by controlling both the key ports, China can influence landlocked countries of Central Asia, which are also looking at the Iranian port of Chabahar, where India has stakes, as a coastal outlet for trade.
China has moved to take control of the Karachi Coastal Comprehensive Development Zone (KCCDZ) under the CPEC framework.
Pakistan's Imran Khan government has decided to 'award' its project of KCCDZ to China. China will be investing (Dollar) 3.5 billion in the project as 'direct Chinese investment' as reported by the Pakistani daily Dawn.
.
Overwhelmed by the Chinese decision, Prime Minister Khan has described the move as another game-changing event.
Khan is apparently pleased that cash-strapped Pakistan will not have to spend a single penny unlike other CPEC projects.
An elated Pakistani Prime Minister announced that the KCCDZ, 'will put Karachi at par with developed port cities.'
'And the best thing of this project is that it's solely based on foreign (Chinese) investment without any loan,' added Pakistan's Minister for Mariiitime Affairs Syed Ali Zaidi, as reported by Dawn.
China has so far declined to restructure (Dollar) 3 billion in loans that Islamabad owes Beijing.
It has, in fact, pleaded Beijing to forgive debt liabilities owed to China-funded energy projects established under the CPEC.
In addition to the (Dollar) 3 billion in principal payments, the dividend payments also stand at (Dollar) 1.5 billion during the next three fiscal years.
As the country continues to struggle to attract investment, policymakers in Pakistan have come increasingly to rely on Chinese capital.
According to the United Nations 2020 World Investment Report China was by far the largest contributor of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Pakistan, most of it through CPEC.
According to Pakistani experts, the Imran Khan government has offered Karachi coastal areas, which include ports to China on the platter.
This multibillion-dollar mega KCCDZ project will be will be undertaken in partnership with Karachi Port Trust (KPT).
'Developed on a reclaimed area of approximately 640 hectares on the western backwaters marsh land of KPT, KCCDZ will be a flagship project for not only Pakistan but the entire region,' said an official statement.
It is believed that with the direct Chinese investment, China aims to overhaul the city's seaboard with new berths for the port, a new fishery port and a majestic harbour bridge connecting it with Manora islands and Sandspit beach.
'The Chinese work so fast and I guess that it would not take more than five or six years to complete the project.
Under the agreed plan, we would relocate some 20,000 to 25,000 families from Machhar Colony and relocate them.
Believe me it's a huge thing for Pakistan,' said the minister Syed Ali Zaidi.
But curiously the decision was made in haste, and even the provincial government of Sindh was taken into confidence.
Last year, the Imran Khan government took control of the twin islands of Bundal and Buddo through a presidential ordinance despite strong objections by the Sindh government and activists.
Jeay Sindh Muttahida Maha (JSMM), a declared terrorist organisation by Pakistan, is an organisation fighting for the rights of Sindhis.
They have feared that these two islands will be given to China and they were proved right. Now these two strategically located islands are part of the KCCDZ plan.
Last year, Baloch and Sindhi pro-freedom organizations announced their union under one umbrella to fight the CPEC project.
Anti-China protests have been taking place across Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan.
The Armed rebel groups have intensified their attacks on Chinese nationals and projects. The Chinese are worried about the CPEC. According to Global Times, analysts have warned that the anti-China forces in Pakistan could provide a hotbed for terrorists targeting China's CPEC projects, 'where enhanced communication and coordination between China and Pakistan is required to tackle potential threats.'
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
Gwadar and Karachi will provide China access to the Arabian Sea, reducing its dependence on the US dominated Malacca straits to channel its burgeoning trade.
Besides, by controlling both the key ports, China can influence landlocked countries of Central Asia, which are also looking at the Iranian port of Chabahar, where India has stakes, as a coastal outlet for trade.
China has moved to take control of the Karachi Coastal Comprehensive Development Zone (KCCDZ) under the CPEC framework.
Pakistan's Imran Khan government has decided to 'award' its project of KCCDZ to China. China will be investing (Dollar) 3.5 billion in the project as 'direct Chinese investment' as reported by the Pakistani daily Dawn.
.
Overwhelmed by the Chinese decision, Prime Minister Khan has described the move as another game-changing event.
Khan is apparently pleased that cash-strapped Pakistan will not have to spend a single penny unlike other CPEC projects.
An elated Pakistani Prime Minister announced that the KCCDZ, 'will put Karachi at par with developed port cities.'
'And the best thing of this project is that it's solely based on foreign (Chinese) investment without any loan,' added Pakistan's Minister for Mariiitime Affairs Syed Ali Zaidi, as reported by Dawn.
China has so far declined to restructure (Dollar) 3 billion in loans that Islamabad owes Beijing.
It has, in fact, pleaded Beijing to forgive debt liabilities owed to China-funded energy projects established under the CPEC.
In addition to the (Dollar) 3 billion in principal payments, the dividend payments also stand at (Dollar) 1.5 billion during the next three fiscal years.
As the country continues to struggle to attract investment, policymakers in Pakistan have come increasingly to rely on Chinese capital.
According to the United Nations 2020 World Investment Report China was by far the largest contributor of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Pakistan, most of it through CPEC.
According to Pakistani experts, the Imran Khan government has offered Karachi coastal areas, which include ports to China on the platter.
This multibillion-dollar mega KCCDZ project will be will be undertaken in partnership with Karachi Port Trust (KPT).
'Developed on a reclaimed area of approximately 640 hectares on the western backwaters marsh land of KPT, KCCDZ will be a flagship project for not only Pakistan but the entire region,' said an official statement.
It is believed that with the direct Chinese investment, China aims to overhaul the city's seaboard with new berths for the port, a new fishery port and a majestic harbour bridge connecting it with Manora islands and Sandspit beach.
'The Chinese work so fast and I guess that it would not take more than five or six years to complete the project.
Under the agreed plan, we would relocate some 20,000 to 25,000 families from Machhar Colony and relocate them.
Believe me it's a huge thing for Pakistan,' said the minister Syed Ali Zaidi.
But curiously the decision was made in haste, and even the provincial government of Sindh was taken into confidence.
Last year, the Imran Khan government took control of the twin islands of Bundal and Buddo through a presidential ordinance despite strong objections by the Sindh government and activists.
Jeay Sindh Muttahida Maha (JSMM), a declared terrorist organisation by Pakistan, is an organisation fighting for the rights of Sindhis.
They have feared that these two islands will be given to China and they were proved right. Now these two strategically located islands are part of the KCCDZ plan.
Last year, Baloch and Sindhi pro-freedom organizations announced their union under one umbrella to fight the CPEC project.
Anti-China protests have been taking place across Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan.
The Armed rebel groups have intensified their attacks on Chinese nationals and projects. The Chinese are worried about the CPEC. According to Global Times, analysts have warned that the anti-China forces in Pakistan could provide a hotbed for terrorists targeting China's CPEC projects, 'where enhanced communication and coordination between China and Pakistan is required to tackle potential threats.'
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 28: The AUKUS deal between the US, Australia and the UK to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines to take on China in the Indo-Pacific has caused rumblings in Japan.
Japanese politicians are debating whether Japan should also possess one.
Japan goes to elections in November and the nuclear submarine for Australia, coupled with Chinese aggression in the region, has become a political issue.
Taro Kono?Japan's administrative reform minister, who is likely to lead the ruling party?Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and may become the Prime Minister after Yoshihide Suga, is in favour of acquiring the submarines.
In a TV debate on Sunday, he said: "As a capability, it is very important for Japan to have nuclear submarines".
Nikkei Asia reports that former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi endorsed the idea.
Talking about the positives of owning a nuclear-powered submarine, she said that Japan would be able to travel longer with such a machine.
These submarines are preferred because these are quieter, have a longer range and remain underwater for long.
Not everyone within the party endorses the idea.
Fumio Kishida, former policy chief of the LDP feels that the country's security needs are not such that it needs to go far out from Tokyo's shores.
He, therefore, does not feel the need for the Japanese Self Defence Forces to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine.
The fast-track geo-political changes in the seas around Japan has given fuel to much debate within the country.
China's rise as an aggressive economic and military power is making Tokyo uncomfortable.
With frequent war cries about annexing Taiwan, Beijing has given much stress to Japan which feels that China might invade Japanese islands as well.
The China factor has forced a worried Japan to rethink its military strategy.
The slow but continuous process through which China has usurped a number of reefs and islands in the South China Sea has made Japan and other countries nervous.
In the last few months Japan has been regularly highlighting Chinese aggression in the region.
A white paper on defence accepted Taiwan as a separate territory from China. Tokyo has gone to the extent of saying that it will join forces with Taiwan against Chinese aggression.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
Japanese politicians are debating whether Japan should also possess one.
Japan goes to elections in November and the nuclear submarine for Australia, coupled with Chinese aggression in the region, has become a political issue.
Taro Kono?Japan's administrative reform minister, who is likely to lead the ruling party?Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and may become the Prime Minister after Yoshihide Suga, is in favour of acquiring the submarines.
In a TV debate on Sunday, he said: "As a capability, it is very important for Japan to have nuclear submarines".
Nikkei Asia reports that former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi endorsed the idea.
Talking about the positives of owning a nuclear-powered submarine, she said that Japan would be able to travel longer with such a machine.
These submarines are preferred because these are quieter, have a longer range and remain underwater for long.
Not everyone within the party endorses the idea.
Fumio Kishida, former policy chief of the LDP feels that the country's security needs are not such that it needs to go far out from Tokyo's shores.
He, therefore, does not feel the need for the Japanese Self Defence Forces to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine.
The fast-track geo-political changes in the seas around Japan has given fuel to much debate within the country.
China's rise as an aggressive economic and military power is making Tokyo uncomfortable.
With frequent war cries about annexing Taiwan, Beijing has given much stress to Japan which feels that China might invade Japanese islands as well.
The China factor has forced a worried Japan to rethink its military strategy.
The slow but continuous process through which China has usurped a number of reefs and islands in the South China Sea has made Japan and other countries nervous.
In the last few months Japan has been regularly highlighting Chinese aggression in the region.
A white paper on defence accepted Taiwan as a separate territory from China. Tokyo has gone to the extent of saying that it will join forces with Taiwan against Chinese aggression.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 28: A four-faced head of a Deva (guardian god) statue has been found in the ground near the northeast corner of the Takav Gate, one of the five entry points to the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom, said to be the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer empire just to the north of Angkor Wat in present-day Cambodia.
The gate is located west of Bayon Temple which stands at the centre of Angkor Thom and is known for its most distinctive feature -- around 200 stone faces which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.
The head of the newly-found statue which has "two faces from the middle of the nose" has been reassembled by a team of archaeologists and, with the assistance of the heritage police, kept on site for further restoration.
The restoration project of Takav Gate was started in May by the APSARA National Authority (ANA) -- which protects one of the largest archaeological sites in the world - and is expected to complete in 2023.
"For this Deva's head statue, the team had an assemble trial with the statue of Deva's shoulder that was found earlier.
As a result, the head statue matched with the body," the authority revealed on Monday.
ANA archaeologist Kim Sengpheakdey said that the restoration and strengthening the Takav Gate is focusing on restoring the statues of the elephants, the Devas and Asuras (the demons) built in the late 12th or early 13th century.
The gate was made of sandstone and laterite with three four-faced Brahma above.
"Some of the challenges that the team encountered were that the elephants or other structures had broken into small pieces.
They were difficult to reassemble and we needed some new stones to replace the missing ones," she said.
In July, the authority had announced that during the first three weeks of the excavation work, some statues and artifacts have been found.
It included six Asura heads, of which three were in good condition, while the other three were only half full, along with four Asura's bodies.
For the three heads of the Devas found, two of them were in good condition, and the other one was only half a shoulder to the lips.
It was the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII (1181-1220), regarded as one of the most fascinating personality in Khmer history, who founded Angkor Thom and built temple-mountain Bayon, around which he developed the entire capital.
The city measures nine square kilometers and homes major temples of the king.
Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and the ravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.
The Bayon Temple remains one of the more famous, popular and beautiful of the structures in the Angkor Wat Archeological Park, the largest religious monument in the world measuring 162.6 hectares.
According to Cambodia's ministry of tourism, the Angkor Wat temple complex was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century.
Between 1986 to 1993, at a time when peace was yet to be restored in Cambodia after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime, the Indian government - responding to an appeal by Phnom Penh - undertook the conservation of the Angkor Wat temple at a cost of US (Dollar) 4 million.
In 1992, the Angkor monument was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a monument of universal value for human being and, at the same time, also as a monument exposed to the crisis.
In 2004, the Angkor site was taken off the World Heritage List in danger.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
The gate is located west of Bayon Temple which stands at the centre of Angkor Thom and is known for its most distinctive feature -- around 200 stone faces which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.
The head of the newly-found statue which has "two faces from the middle of the nose" has been reassembled by a team of archaeologists and, with the assistance of the heritage police, kept on site for further restoration.
The restoration project of Takav Gate was started in May by the APSARA National Authority (ANA) -- which protects one of the largest archaeological sites in the world - and is expected to complete in 2023.
"For this Deva's head statue, the team had an assemble trial with the statue of Deva's shoulder that was found earlier.
As a result, the head statue matched with the body," the authority revealed on Monday.
ANA archaeologist Kim Sengpheakdey said that the restoration and strengthening the Takav Gate is focusing on restoring the statues of the elephants, the Devas and Asuras (the demons) built in the late 12th or early 13th century.
The gate was made of sandstone and laterite with three four-faced Brahma above.
"Some of the challenges that the team encountered were that the elephants or other structures had broken into small pieces.
They were difficult to reassemble and we needed some new stones to replace the missing ones," she said.
In July, the authority had announced that during the first three weeks of the excavation work, some statues and artifacts have been found.
It included six Asura heads, of which three were in good condition, while the other three were only half full, along with four Asura's bodies.
For the three heads of the Devas found, two of them were in good condition, and the other one was only half a shoulder to the lips.
It was the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII (1181-1220), regarded as one of the most fascinating personality in Khmer history, who founded Angkor Thom and built temple-mountain Bayon, around which he developed the entire capital.
The city measures nine square kilometers and homes major temples of the king.
Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and the ravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.
The Bayon Temple remains one of the more famous, popular and beautiful of the structures in the Angkor Wat Archeological Park, the largest religious monument in the world measuring 162.6 hectares.
According to Cambodia's ministry of tourism, the Angkor Wat temple complex was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century.
Between 1986 to 1993, at a time when peace was yet to be restored in Cambodia after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime, the Indian government - responding to an appeal by Phnom Penh - undertook the conservation of the Angkor Wat temple at a cost of US (Dollar) 4 million.
In 1992, the Angkor monument was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a monument of universal value for human being and, at the same time, also as a monument exposed to the crisis.
In 2004, the Angkor site was taken off the World Heritage List in danger.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 28 : A 40-year-old farmer, a native of Ludhiana in Punjab who had been camping at Singhu border along with scores of other farmers protesting against the three new farm laws, has been missing since September 22.
Gurdeep Singh had been visiting and staying at the protest site at Singhu for the last several weeks.
He left for Ludhiana at 12.30 p.m. on September 22 but never reached his home, the complaint filed on Monday at Kundli police station (copy available with IANS) said.
After failing to get any information about Gurdeep's whereabouts since he left Delhi a week ago, his uncle Shamsher Singh, who is also at Singhu, lodged the missing complaint at Kundli police station which falls under Sonepat district of Haryana and is very near the farmers' protest site.
In his complaint, Shamsher Singh has mentioned that Gurdeep is 'slightly mentally disturbed'.
He had come to Singhu to join the protest with him (Shamsher Singh), but he left for home alone.
"He did not even reach the village.
We spoke to several relatives and friends to know if he had visited any of them, but he did not. I suspect he has been kidnapped by someone. Subsequently, I decided to file a missing person complaint here at Kundli itself," Shamsher Singh told IANS.
Raghuveer Singh, a member of Ludhiana based Kirti Kisan Union, under whose leadership Gurdeep Singh and many other farmers came to join the protest at Delhi, said, "It was the third time Gurdeep came here (Singhu) and left for home in the last eight months.
But this time, he did not reach home. Family members, relatives and we all are trying to find him but are unable to get any clue about his whereabouts."
Kundli police said they have launched a search operation in nearby areas and have also sent messages to Ludhiana police to trace Gurdeep Singh.
"We have conducted a search operation in our jurisdiction. We are also in touch with Ludhiana police in this matter and we are hopeful that he will be traced as soon as possible," said the investigating officer of the case.
It has been over ten months since thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against the three farm bills passed last year.
On Monday on the Bharat Bandh day, a 55-year-old farmer died of cardiac arrest at Singhu.
At the Singhu border, there were a large number of tractor-trolleys parked but there were relatively very few people.
This is one of the places where farmers have been sitting on protest since November 2020.
Apart from Singhu, farmers are also protesting at two other borders of the national capital - Tikri and Ghazipur.
--IANS
pd/niv/bg.
Source: IANS
Gurdeep Singh had been visiting and staying at the protest site at Singhu for the last several weeks.
He left for Ludhiana at 12.30 p.m. on September 22 but never reached his home, the complaint filed on Monday at Kundli police station (copy available with IANS) said.
After failing to get any information about Gurdeep's whereabouts since he left Delhi a week ago, his uncle Shamsher Singh, who is also at Singhu, lodged the missing complaint at Kundli police station which falls under Sonepat district of Haryana and is very near the farmers' protest site.
In his complaint, Shamsher Singh has mentioned that Gurdeep is 'slightly mentally disturbed'.
He had come to Singhu to join the protest with him (Shamsher Singh), but he left for home alone.
"He did not even reach the village.
We spoke to several relatives and friends to know if he had visited any of them, but he did not. I suspect he has been kidnapped by someone. Subsequently, I decided to file a missing person complaint here at Kundli itself," Shamsher Singh told IANS.
Raghuveer Singh, a member of Ludhiana based Kirti Kisan Union, under whose leadership Gurdeep Singh and many other farmers came to join the protest at Delhi, said, "It was the third time Gurdeep came here (Singhu) and left for home in the last eight months.
But this time, he did not reach home. Family members, relatives and we all are trying to find him but are unable to get any clue about his whereabouts."
Kundli police said they have launched a search operation in nearby areas and have also sent messages to Ludhiana police to trace Gurdeep Singh.
"We have conducted a search operation in our jurisdiction. We are also in touch with Ludhiana police in this matter and we are hopeful that he will be traced as soon as possible," said the investigating officer of the case.
It has been over ten months since thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against the three farm bills passed last year.
On Monday on the Bharat Bandh day, a 55-year-old farmer died of cardiac arrest at Singhu.
At the Singhu border, there were a large number of tractor-trolleys parked but there were relatively very few people.
This is one of the places where farmers have been sitting on protest since November 2020.
Apart from Singhu, farmers are also protesting at two other borders of the national capital - Tikri and Ghazipur.
--IANS
pd/niv/bg.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 28 : Goldman Sachs has become the latest banking giant to cut its growth forecast for China, as the country struggles with energy shortages, the BBC reported.
It now expects the world's second largest economy to expand by 7.8 per cent this year, down from its previous prediction of 8.2 per cent.
The firm says major industrial output cuts caused by power outages add "significant downside pressures".
It estimates as much as 44 per cent of China's industrial activity has been affected.
The power supply crunch, caused by environmental controls, supply constraints and soaring prices, has left some factories and homes without electricity, the report said.
The energy shortage at first affected manufacturers across the country, many of whom have had to curb or stop production in recent weeks.
A document seen by the BBC shows that the largest port in northern China at Tianjin has been affected by a shortage of electricity.
Power rationing for cranes that lift cargo between ships and the shore is expected to continue until the end of the week.
People living in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces have complained on social media about the lack of heating, and lifts and traffic lights not working.
Provincial authorities have been scrambling to guarantee electricity and heating for residents, the report added.
China remains highly dependent on coal for electricity generation.
Japanese finance giant Nomura, Wall Street investment bank Morgan Stanley and China International Capital Corporation have also either downgraded their economic growth forecasts for China or warned of lower growth because of the power disruptions.
The Chinese economy is already grappling with the impact of tough new regulations of some of the country's biggest industries such as property developers and technology companies.
"Considerable uncertainty remains with respect to the fourth quarter, with both upside and downside risks relating principally to the government's approach to managing the Evergrande stresses, the strictness of environmental target enforcement and the degree of policy easing," Goldman said.
--IANS
san/ksk/.
Source: IANS
It now expects the world's second largest economy to expand by 7.8 per cent this year, down from its previous prediction of 8.2 per cent.
The firm says major industrial output cuts caused by power outages add "significant downside pressures".
It estimates as much as 44 per cent of China's industrial activity has been affected.
The power supply crunch, caused by environmental controls, supply constraints and soaring prices, has left some factories and homes without electricity, the report said.
The energy shortage at first affected manufacturers across the country, many of whom have had to curb or stop production in recent weeks.
A document seen by the BBC shows that the largest port in northern China at Tianjin has been affected by a shortage of electricity.
Power rationing for cranes that lift cargo between ships and the shore is expected to continue until the end of the week.
People living in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces have complained on social media about the lack of heating, and lifts and traffic lights not working.
Provincial authorities have been scrambling to guarantee electricity and heating for residents, the report added.
China remains highly dependent on coal for electricity generation.
Japanese finance giant Nomura, Wall Street investment bank Morgan Stanley and China International Capital Corporation have also either downgraded their economic growth forecasts for China or warned of lower growth because of the power disruptions.
The Chinese economy is already grappling with the impact of tough new regulations of some of the country's biggest industries such as property developers and technology companies.
"Considerable uncertainty remains with respect to the fourth quarter, with both upside and downside risks relating principally to the government's approach to managing the Evergrande stresses, the strictness of environmental target enforcement and the degree of policy easing," Goldman said.
--IANS
san/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Bengaluru, Sep 28 : The department of Animal Husbandry of the Karnataka government will administer vaccines free of cost to pets at all veterinary hospitals across the state on Tuesday on the occasion of World Rabies Day.
World Rabies Day observed on September 28, is a global day of awareness and advocacy to help raise the profile of rabies - Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD).
It is the first and only global day of action and awareness dedicated to rabies prevention.
This year marks the 15th World Rabies Day.
In a statement, Minister for Animal Husbandry Prabhu Chouhan said the free rabies vaccination drive will be carried out for three days from Tuesday in the state.
"An awareness programme on rabies disease is also being organised," he said.
The drive will begin from a polyclinic in Bidar city.
"The people who have pets must visit their nearest veterinary centres to get their pets vaccinated in the interest of the health of pets.
The veterinary doctors also should educate people on this," the Minister added.
--IANS
mka/ksk/.
Source: IANS
World Rabies Day observed on September 28, is a global day of awareness and advocacy to help raise the profile of rabies - Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD).
It is the first and only global day of action and awareness dedicated to rabies prevention.
This year marks the 15th World Rabies Day.
In a statement, Minister for Animal Husbandry Prabhu Chouhan said the free rabies vaccination drive will be carried out for three days from Tuesday in the state.
"An awareness programme on rabies disease is also being organised," he said.
The drive will begin from a polyclinic in Bidar city.
"The people who have pets must visit their nearest veterinary centres to get their pets vaccinated in the interest of the health of pets.
The veterinary doctors also should educate people on this," the Minister added.
--IANS
mka/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Bengaluru, Sep 27 : The Bharat Bandh call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha evoked a mixed response in Karnataka as daily life was not affected, with bus services operating and schools and colleges across the state functioning as usual on Monday.
Barring Kalburgi, life was normal in all north Karnataka districts though the protests and rallies were being taken out, while the protest did not evoke much response in coastal Karnataka, the bastion of the ruling BJP.
Districts such as Ramnagar, Mysuru, Hassan, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, and Kolar where the JD-S has strongholds, did see protests, but normal life has not been affected.
Karnataka Police took hundreds of protestors, who tried to block roads and highways across the state, into custody, ensuring smooth flow of traffic.
In Bengaluru, the driver of a Range Rover vehicle was also taken into custody for injuring DCP, North, Dharmendra Kumar Meena.
The DCP's toes came under the wheel of the car and he suffered injuries on the leg in the incident near Goraguntepalya in Yeshwanthpur.
Meanwhile, traffic was thrown out of gear in Bengaluru as protestors took procession from three different directions and congregated near the Town Hall.
From here, they took a massive rally towards the Mysuru Bank Circle.
The police arrested Sugarcane Growers Association President Kuruburu Shantakumar and his supporters early in the morning as soon as he gave a call to his followers to request shop owners close down their establishments.
The agitators brought a buffalo and a donkey along with them in the protest in Bengaluru and Dharwad.
The police arrested 20 farmers for trying to block the national highway in Davanagere.
The protestors slept in front of shops with joined hands requested the shop owners to close their establishments and support the bandh.
International travellers in Bengaluru reached the Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) early in the morning to avoid any inconvenience due to the protest.
--IANS
mka/vd.
Source: IANS
Barring Kalburgi, life was normal in all north Karnataka districts though the protests and rallies were being taken out, while the protest did not evoke much response in coastal Karnataka, the bastion of the ruling BJP.
Districts such as Ramnagar, Mysuru, Hassan, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, and Kolar where the JD-S has strongholds, did see protests, but normal life has not been affected.
Karnataka Police took hundreds of protestors, who tried to block roads and highways across the state, into custody, ensuring smooth flow of traffic.
In Bengaluru, the driver of a Range Rover vehicle was also taken into custody for injuring DCP, North, Dharmendra Kumar Meena.
The DCP's toes came under the wheel of the car and he suffered injuries on the leg in the incident near Goraguntepalya in Yeshwanthpur.
Meanwhile, traffic was thrown out of gear in Bengaluru as protestors took procession from three different directions and congregated near the Town Hall.
From here, they took a massive rally towards the Mysuru Bank Circle.
The police arrested Sugarcane Growers Association President Kuruburu Shantakumar and his supporters early in the morning as soon as he gave a call to his followers to request shop owners close down their establishments.
The agitators brought a buffalo and a donkey along with them in the protest in Bengaluru and Dharwad.
The police arrested 20 farmers for trying to block the national highway in Davanagere.
The protestors slept in front of shops with joined hands requested the shop owners to close their establishments and support the bandh.
International travellers in Bengaluru reached the Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) early in the morning to avoid any inconvenience due to the protest.
--IANS
mka/vd.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 27: Kamran Faridi, an undercover agent of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is again in the news after he was sent to jail for seven years for threatening his bosses.
Three years ago, Faridi made headlines after the FBI asked the UK security agencies to arrest the Pakistani businessman Jabir Motiwala.
Motiwala is known for handling Dawood Ibrahim's overseas money laundering and drugs business.
But later, in a dramatic turn, Faridi told the UK court that he was asked by the FBI to set a trap and lured Motiwala into it.
He "confessed" that, on the FBI's instructions, he "created evidence" to link Motiwala to Dawood Ibrahim.
But the FBI was jolted when Motiwala was freed on unconditional bail in April this year and is now back in Karachi.
But Faridi had to pay a price, as was "caught" by the FBI who accused him of siding with those he had been tasked to follow and bring them to justice.
He had "gone over to the dark side," and was working for the Pakistani Inter-State Intelligence (ISI) as well.
The FBI had further learnt about Faridi's links with the ISI after his phone was tapped. The FBI terminated his services and charged him on various counts including for threatening his superiors to kill them.
On Saturday, the US court sent him to prison for seven years.
Faridi's riveting story has several twists and turns.
Though born in Karachi, he migrated to the US in the early 1990s where he secured a green card after agreeing to work for the FBI in some of the organisation's most dangerous operations.
Faridi has lived in Florida with his American wife Kelley for more than a decade and had operated as an undercover "confidential informant" in Pakistan for more than 20 years.
According to sources, he was double crossing for the last nine years.
According to Indian intelligence sources, at some point Faridi was "bought" by the Pakistani spy agency, ISI.
Close to the final hearing in the UK court, a leading Pakistani newspaper, part of ISI's game plan, published Faridi's statement wherein he revealed that Dawood's aide was "trapped" by him in a false case.
He also told the Pakistani newspaper that he was forced by FBI bosses to involve D-company in the trap.
But Indian agencies do not buy Faridi's side of the story.
Moti, a 53-year-old Pakistani national also known as Jabir Motiwala and Jabir Siddiq, is a designated terrorist and wanted by the Indian agencies for the horrific 1993 serial bombings in Mumbai.
His links with Dawood Ibrahim, who is among India's top most wanted criminals, is well documented by the Indian intelligence agencies.
He manages Underworld Dawn's investments in the UK, UAE and worldwide.
Interestingly, just one before Moti's arrest in London, the British intelligence agencies had picked up another Pakistani Asif Hafeez, another lieutenant of Dawood Ibrahim, in August 2017 from the same area of London after receiving a tip off from the FBI.
As reported by indianarrative.com earlier, Hafeez's lawyers told the US agents that he knew nothing about the Taliban and Afghanistan, but confirmed knowing Dawood Ibrahim as both of them were involved in gold trading in Dubai at one stage and used to watch cricket, sitting in adjoining boxes.
But he had lost contact in the late 90s when Ibrahim left Dubai for good.
It is an open secret that Dawood Ibrahim resides in Karachi.
According to Pakistani sources, his Karachi house is the most guarded house in the country. But Pakistan had been denying Dawood's presence until last year, when a press release of the Pakistani government listed UN designated terrorists living in Pakistan.
One of them was Dawood Ibrahim.
Pakistan had until now spent years denying that it shelters the D-Company chief, with a reward of (Dollar) 25 million over his head.
Dawood has been wanted on charges of terrorism, murder, extortion, targeted killing, drug trafficking, and various other cases.
According to Pakistani authorities, the list mentions Dawood Ibrahim's address as "White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton" in Karachi, Pakistan.
It also lists several other properties for the mobster and drug dealer, including one "House Nu 37 - 30th Street - defence, Housing Authority, Karachi" and a "palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi".
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
Three years ago, Faridi made headlines after the FBI asked the UK security agencies to arrest the Pakistani businessman Jabir Motiwala.
Motiwala is known for handling Dawood Ibrahim's overseas money laundering and drugs business.
But later, in a dramatic turn, Faridi told the UK court that he was asked by the FBI to set a trap and lured Motiwala into it.
He "confessed" that, on the FBI's instructions, he "created evidence" to link Motiwala to Dawood Ibrahim.
But the FBI was jolted when Motiwala was freed on unconditional bail in April this year and is now back in Karachi.
But Faridi had to pay a price, as was "caught" by the FBI who accused him of siding with those he had been tasked to follow and bring them to justice.
He had "gone over to the dark side," and was working for the Pakistani Inter-State Intelligence (ISI) as well.
The FBI had further learnt about Faridi's links with the ISI after his phone was tapped. The FBI terminated his services and charged him on various counts including for threatening his superiors to kill them.
On Saturday, the US court sent him to prison for seven years.
Faridi's riveting story has several twists and turns.
Though born in Karachi, he migrated to the US in the early 1990s where he secured a green card after agreeing to work for the FBI in some of the organisation's most dangerous operations.
Faridi has lived in Florida with his American wife Kelley for more than a decade and had operated as an undercover "confidential informant" in Pakistan for more than 20 years.
According to sources, he was double crossing for the last nine years.
According to Indian intelligence sources, at some point Faridi was "bought" by the Pakistani spy agency, ISI.
Close to the final hearing in the UK court, a leading Pakistani newspaper, part of ISI's game plan, published Faridi's statement wherein he revealed that Dawood's aide was "trapped" by him in a false case.
He also told the Pakistani newspaper that he was forced by FBI bosses to involve D-company in the trap.
But Indian agencies do not buy Faridi's side of the story.
Moti, a 53-year-old Pakistani national also known as Jabir Motiwala and Jabir Siddiq, is a designated terrorist and wanted by the Indian agencies for the horrific 1993 serial bombings in Mumbai.
His links with Dawood Ibrahim, who is among India's top most wanted criminals, is well documented by the Indian intelligence agencies.
He manages Underworld Dawn's investments in the UK, UAE and worldwide.
Interestingly, just one before Moti's arrest in London, the British intelligence agencies had picked up another Pakistani Asif Hafeez, another lieutenant of Dawood Ibrahim, in August 2017 from the same area of London after receiving a tip off from the FBI.
As reported by indianarrative.com earlier, Hafeez's lawyers told the US agents that he knew nothing about the Taliban and Afghanistan, but confirmed knowing Dawood Ibrahim as both of them were involved in gold trading in Dubai at one stage and used to watch cricket, sitting in adjoining boxes.
But he had lost contact in the late 90s when Ibrahim left Dubai for good.
It is an open secret that Dawood Ibrahim resides in Karachi.
According to Pakistani sources, his Karachi house is the most guarded house in the country. But Pakistan had been denying Dawood's presence until last year, when a press release of the Pakistani government listed UN designated terrorists living in Pakistan.
One of them was Dawood Ibrahim.
Pakistan had until now spent years denying that it shelters the D-Company chief, with a reward of (Dollar) 25 million over his head.
Dawood has been wanted on charges of terrorism, murder, extortion, targeted killing, drug trafficking, and various other cases.
According to Pakistani authorities, the list mentions Dawood Ibrahim's address as "White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton" in Karachi, Pakistan.
It also lists several other properties for the mobster and drug dealer, including one "House Nu 37 - 30th Street - defence, Housing Authority, Karachi" and a "palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi".
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS