Jaipur Literature Festival 2013 Begins With Mahasweta Devi’s Speech

Report by Santanu Ganguly, Jaipur: The 2013 edition of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival started with an inauguration speech by eminent author and social activist Mahasweta Devi. She reflected on her long and illustrious life and writing career in a speech laced with references to the rich world of ideas she has imbibed from the tribal and rural cultures that have been the subject of her work. Ashok Gehlot - CM Rajasthan and Margaret Alva - Governor of Rajasthan at the inaugural ceremony of Jaipur Literature Festival 2013

Having written on the “culture of the downtrodden” throughout her life, Mahasweta Devi referred to the simple dreams of simple people in her speech. She called for the “right to dream” to be the first fundamental right of all human beings.

Ashok Gehlot – CM of Rajasthan and Margaret Alva – Governor of Rajasthan

In a speech poignantly titled ‘O to Live Again’ renowned author Mahasweta Devi said “My early years proved to be formative for mu future work as a writer and activist. I also have different approach to my writing process and I mull over the subjects in depth before setting out on the creative journey”

The five-day haven of literature that starts today brings together renowned authors, thinkers, philosophers from around the world to Jaipur. It will have speakers who will bring their thoughts, ideas, journeys and experiences to the Festival through debates, discussions and readings. With her keynote speech, Mahasweta Devi set the tone for a meaningful exchange of ideas through the rest of the festival.

Mahasweta Devi at Jaipur Literature Festival 2013

Commenting on this, Namita Gokhale, Festival Director – DSC Jaipur Literature Festival said “We are delighted to begin the event with Mahasweta Devi’s warm keynote which was not only inspiring but thought provoking. She has been constantly working for Human Rights and Women rights to bring a change in the society.

The other sessions thorough the day to watch out for are – ‘Remembering Sunil Da’ – A session that will mark the tribute to iconic author Sunil Gandopadhyay. It will be a session that will focus on his journey in the Indian Literature. Another session on that will catch the visitors attention will be Colliding Worlds: The Quest for Justice’ will speak across the divides of ideology and conventional identity tags. There would be an intriguing session by musical genius Javed Akhtar and and Ameena Saiyid, managing director, Oxford University Press, Pakistan called ‘Ismat and Annie’. It will be a session where two brilliant minds will discuss literary argument between two Urdu writers Ismat Chughtai and Qurrat-ul-Ain Haider.

The DSC Jaipur Literature Festival is considered to be Asia’s leading literature event, celebrating national and international writers, and encompassing a range of activities including film, music and theatre. The festival has already hosted some of the best-known national and international writers including Orhan Pamuk, J.M. Coetzee, John Berendt, Kiran Desai, Christopher Hampton, Ian McEwan, Vikram Seth, Wole Soyinka, Salman Rushdie, Pico Iyer, Simon Schama, Thomas Keneally, Hanif Kureishi, Vikram Chandra, Anoushka Shankar, Michael Frayn, Stephen Frears, Alexander McCall Smith, Donna Tartt, Tina Brown, Shashi Tharoor, Mohammed Hanif, Paul Zacharia, among many others. The Directors of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festivals are William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale and the festival is produced by Sanjoy K. Roy and Sheuli Sethi of Teamwork Productions. DSC Limited is the principal sponsor of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival.

Teamwork is a highly versatile entertainment company with roots in the performing arts, social action and the corporate world. Our expertise lies in the area of entertainment and includes television, film – documentary and feature, and the creation and development of festivals of contemporary performing arts, visual arts, and literature across the world.

We currently produce 17 performing and visual arts festivals in 21 cities across 11countries, including Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA.

Teamwork produces Asia’s biggest literary gathering – the annual DSC Jaipur Literature Festival – as well as the Hay Festival in Kerala.

‘Celebrating India in Israel’, ‘Indian Summer in Canada’, ‘Eye on India in Chicago’, ‘Kahaani Festival’ and ‘Strings of the World’ are five new annual performing and visual arts festivals that have been launched in 2011-2012.

Continue Reading

Dalai Lama to Grace Jaipur Literature Festival 2013

Report by Santanu Ganguly, New Delhi: This year the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, will honor the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival 2013 with his presence. “Literature has played a major role in my life,” the spiritual leader said. “Since childhood, reading has been of great importance to me and I am often reminded of the immense kindness of the scholars of the past who translated a vast array of Buddhist literature into Tibetan. I look forward to attending the Jaipur Literature Festival and meeting people writing and reading today.”

The Festival is scheduled to take place from January 24–28, 2013 at Diggi Palace, Jaipur.

The Dalai Lama’s visit would be a prelude to discussions and readings on the theme ‘The Buddha in Literature’. Festival Co-Director Namita Gokhale said, “Gautama the Buddha’s impact on humanity lies beyond religion and theology. The entire fabric of Asian society – from Central Asia and Afghanistan to China and Japan – has been deeply influenced by the philosophy of Buddhism. Today Buddhism is a way of life for many people around the world. The internal journey of awakening and personal evolution is mirrored in the literature, art and cultural practice of Buddhism. Our sessions on 'The Buddha in Literature' are a tribute to the way of seeing and knowing taught by the Buddha.”

The session ‘If You Meet the Buddha on the Road’ will include discussions between Victor Chan, Karma Ura, Siddiq Wahid, Ranjini Obeyesekere and Nayanjot Lahiri on their experiences with Buddhism and their explorations of the many paths of the Buddha’s dharma. “The panel will speak simultaneously as scholars from a spectrum of cultures that make up the 2,500 year-long history of Buddhism, and as practitioners whose lives have been shaped by its doctrine and worldview. To explore Buddhism through their lives and work will help comprehend the many elements that mark the encounter between Buddhism and modernity,” said Nayanjot Lahiri.

In the session ‘Women on the Path’, Ranjini Obeyesekere from Sri Lanka, Kunzang Choden from Bhutan, Ani Choying from Nepal and Indian writer Swati Chopra will discuss the place of women within Buddhist theology and the issues they face on the spiritual path.

In ‘The Aesthetics of Impermanence’, cultural historian Benoy Behl will examine the ethical and artistic underpinnings of the Buddhist creative legacy. Ajay Navaria and Kancha Ilaiah will share Dalit perspectives on alternative paths to social justice in the session, ‘God as a Political Philosopher: Dalit Perspectives on Buddhism’.

‘Jataka Readings’, a session with Hindi writer Gagan Gill, Ranjini Obeyesekere and R. Sivapriya, will have readings from poetry and prose, and from the massive collection of Buddhist folklore about the previous incarnations of the Buddha in human and animal form. About her engagement with Buddhism, Ranjini Obeyesekere said, “The Dhamma as the Buddha taught it is not a dogma but a means to an end, which is happiness and peace of mind. Each individual can come to his/her own understanding of it. My own understanding has come from my reading of Buddhist literature. As a translator, I began to read it closely and had an insight into the complexity of the teachings put in such simple terms.’

‘The Buddha in Literature’ will have author and critic Chandrahas Choudhury, Nadeem Aslam and Kunzang Choden presenting an impressionistic medley of writings interpreting the Buddha in literature.

Victor Chan, co-author of The Wisdom of Compassion with the Dalai Lama, will share insights on meditative practice and the importance of humour, optimism and forgiveness in the session, ‘Journeys of the Mind’. “The Dalai Lama is well-known as a champion of compassion and has stated that his religion is kindness. I look forward to talking about the practical life-lessons I learned from observing him, both in public and in private,” he said. In the same session, Kunzang Choden, internationally renowned Bhutanese writer, will read from her books that bring alive the sights and sounds of her mountainous homeland.

Festival Co-Director William Dalrymple said, “I am thrilled by the extraordinary programme on the Buddha and literature put together by my colleague, Namita Gokhale. At Jaipur we have a long tradition of studying the confluence of the two great streams of Indian literature and spirituality. Up to now, we have concentrated on the Sufi and Bhakti traditions; now we have the pleasure of wandering through the rich pastures of Buddhist literature. The presence of the Dalai Lama is a particular honour for the festival and a delight for me personally.”

The mornings at Diggi Palace will witness Buddhist devotional songs by Chukie Tethong and Tenzin Norbu, chants by the Drepung Loseling monks and hymns by Ani Choying.

The DSC Jaipur Literature Festival is considered to be Asia’s leading literature event, celebrating national and international writers, and encompassing a range of activities including film, music and theatre. The festival has already hosted some of the best-known national and international writers including Orhan Pamuk, J.M. Coetzee, John Berendt, Kiran Desai, Christopher Hampton, Ian McEwan, Vikram Seth, Wole Soyinka, Salman Rushdie, Pico Iyer, Simon Schama, Thomas Keneally, Hanif Kureishi, Vikram Chandra, Anoushka Shankar, Michael Frayn, Stephen Frears, Alexander McCall Smith, Donna Tartt, Tina Brown, Shashi Tharoor, Mohammed Hanif, Paul Zacharia, among many others. The Directors of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festivals are William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale and the festival is produced by Sanjoy K. Roy and Sheuli Sethi of Teamwork Productions. DSC Limited is the principal sponsor of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival.

Teamwork is a highly versatile entertainment company with roots in the performing arts, social action and the corporate world. Our expertise lies in the area of entertainment and includes television, film – documentary and feature, and the creation and development of festivals of contemporary performing arts, visual arts, and literature across the world.

We currently produce 17 performing and visual arts festivals in 21 cities across 11countries, including Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA.

Teamwork produces Asia’s biggest literary gathering – the annual DSC Jaipur Literature Festival – as well as the Hay Festival in Kerala.

‘Celebrating India in Israel’, ‘Indian Summer in Canada’, ‘Eye on India in Chicago’, ‘Kahaani Festival’ and ‘Strings of the World’ are five new annual performing and visual arts festivals that have been launched in 2011-2012.

Continue Reading

International Tourism Mart 2013 Inaugurated at Guwahati

EFT Bureau, Guwahati: The International Tourism Mart organized by the Ministry of Tourism was inaugurated at Guwahati on Jan. 19, 2013 amidst cultural fanfare by the Governor of Assam Mr. Janaki Ballav Patnaik.

Speaking on the occasion Union Tourism Minister Mr. K Chiranjeevi said that overwhelming response to the Mart shows the growing interest for travel to the unexplored destinations of the north east. He said India is fast emerging as a as a leading tourist destination. The Minister said, “ Foreign Tourist Arrivals to the country have been increasing over the past years, but we need to accelerate the rate of growth. The Ministry of Tourism has, in fact, set a target of increasing the share of India in world tourist arrivals from the current 0.6 % to 1% in the next five years.” Referring to the various initiatives of his Ministry for the promotion of Tourism in the north east Mr. Chiranjeevi said, “Whereas 10% of the plan budget allocation of the Ministry is earmarked for the north eastern region, the actual expenditure has exceeded the earmarked 10% year after year.” The Tourism Minister urged various stakeholders to have the vision to modernize, to respond to changing trends in the global tourism sector and to partner with the Government to make India realize its true potential in tourism. Mr. Chiranjeevi expressed the hope that the Mart will become a regular event. “Such Marts will help in marketing this region in your respective markets,” the Minister added.

International Tourism Mart 2013 at Guwahati 

The three day mart is being attended by 85 delegates from 23 countries including ASEAN countries, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, U.K. and USA. The overseas delegates include Deputy Tourism Minister from Lao PDR, Executive heads of National Tourism Organisations from Cambodia, Singapore, Bangladesh and Bhutan, 55 tour operators, 9 hoteliers and 14 media representatives.

The delegates from abroad will engage in one-to-one meetings with sellers from the North Eastern Region and West Bengal. This will enable tourism product suppliers from the region to reach out to international and domestic buyers and promote tourism in the region. Besides foreign delegates, there are 70 domestic buyers from other parts of the country and 108 sellers from the nine participating States.

In addition to the business meetings, the three day event will include, presentations, cultural evenings and press meets with the media from India and overseas. Post-Mart familiarization tours to the states in the region have been arranged by the State Governments for the overseas delegates, from the 21st to 28th January 2013 to create awareness about the rich and varied tourism products of the states of the North Eastern region and give them first-hand knowledge and experience of the destination.

The International Tourism Mart, Guwahati 2013 is not only the first ever international tourism event to be organized in the North Eastern region, but also the first international tourism mart to focus on a specific region of India. It is expected to bring together the tourism business fraternity and entrepreneurs from the eight North Eastern States of India and West Bengal. The event has been planned and scheduled to facilitate interaction between buyers, sellers, media, Government agencies and others.

Continue Reading

International Delegates to Visit Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam on Jan. 21

EFT Bureau, Guwahati: The Government of Assam is organizing a one day technical visit on Jan. 21, 2013 to the Pobitora Wild Life Sanctuary near Guwahati for all the hosted International Delegates participating in International Tourism Mart, Guwahati 2013.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve located about 48 km by road from Guwahati. It is a 1-hour drive through a road passing by the River Brahmaputa, and a small portion of the village of Mayong. It has a dense population of the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam

Continue Reading

‘TBZ-The Original’ Opens First Store in Nagpur

Report by Santanu Ganguly, Mumbai: Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Limited (“TBZ–The Original”), the well-known and trusted Mumbai-based jewellery retailer with a pan-India presence and rich legacy of over 150 years, marked its foray into Central India with the opening of its first store in Nagpur to cater to fast-growing local communities of Vidarbha.

TBZ-The Original’s exquisite 2,500 sq. ft. store is located at Dharampeth, opp. Wockhardt Hospital, Nagpur. The key management team of TBZ Ltd. was present on this momentous occasion. The chief guest for the occasion was the city’s Mayor Hon. Shri Anilji Sole.

TBZ–The Original offers 150-year old legacy of design excellence and customer service to the people of Nagpur and Vidarbha region. Special offer of 50% off on making charges of Diamond Jewellery and 35% off on Gold Jewellery Making Charges for Uttarayan and the forthcoming pre-wedding buying season.

‘TBZ-The Original’ First Store in Nagpur

The opening of TBZ-The Original’s store and the display of the all new Bridal Collection is timed well to serve the customers during the auspicious Uttarayan and the pre-wedding buying season. In fact, customers can avail a special offer of 50% discount on Diamond Jewellery making charges and 35% off on Gold Jewellery making charges for Uttarayan and the forthcoming pre-wedding buying season.

Mr. Shrikant Zaveri, Chairman and Managing Director, Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Limited, said, “TBZ-The Original comes to Nagpur & Vidarbha with century-old values of Tradition, Trust and Transparency. We present a vast range of gold and diamond jewellery that no other jeweller has and Nagpur customers will be spoilt for choice! TBZ–The Original caters to all sections of the society and we are confident that the Orange City will warmly embrace our 150-year legacy of trust, superior craftsmanship and innovation as well as fabulous designs, which can never be replicated! TBZ-The Original Collections are a must-have for every occasion – be it wedding, gifting, outings & get-togethers with families/friends.”

TBZ–The Original’s exquisite gold and diamond wedding jewellery collection comprises a thoughtfully curated assortment of mesmerizing engagement and wedding rings, beautiful bangles and fabulous Kangans; attention-grabbing necklaces with intricate work; wonderful waist belts (Kamarbandhs) and tantalizing Tikkas amongst others. TBZ-The Original’s Bridal Collection flatters every bride since it has been lovingly strung together with opulent Indian heritage and contemporary craftsmanship inspired by the needs of today’s brides. The endearing collections connect the east and west in a unique manner, coupled with subtle sensitivity and sensual showmanship. The Bridal Collection consisting of alluring sets in gold and diamonds represents wedding specialist TBZ-The Original’s unmatched prowess in innovative jewellery design, a hallmark that has made this more than a century-old company an institution in the realm of jewellery.

‘TBZ-The Original’ First Store in Nagpur

TBZ-The Original Nagpur also showcases the recently unveiled awe-inspiring Bridal Collection for fulfilling the innate needs of Indian brides, who are constantly seeking to balance tradition with modernism; indulgence with elegance; and style with sophistication. It also offers the new scintillating ‘Showstopper’ jewellery collection in gold and diamonds for all occasions such as social gatherings, get-togethers and parties.

Referring to the Bridal Collection, Mr. Kiran Dixit, Group Head - Advertising and Marketing, TBZ Ltd., commented, “Wedding specialist TBZ–The Original brings to Nagpur the time tested and most appreciated Bridal Collection to meet the multi-facetted needs of brides. TBZ-The Original’s new Bridal Collection is a classic example of design superiority and production innovation that explores many creative possibilities and reflects the deep rooted aspirations of Indian brides.”

Rounding up TBZ-The Original’s exciting various offers during this festive season is the signature collection of TBZ such as The Dohra Collection, the Temple Jewellery Collection, Surprises Collection, Necklace Collection and the Showstoppers Collection! These Collections have always been warmly received by consumers, who have appreciated their originality and exquisite detailing as well as penchant for meeting their diverse needs.

The new TBZ-The Original store in Nagpur has an elegant interior with customer-friendly ambience with amenities such as ergonomic displays, comfortable chairs and ambient lighting all to ensure that customers enjoy a unique experience.

Renowned for its innovative designs & craftsmanship in gold and diamond jewellery, TBZ-The Original has won several Indian and international jewellery design and industry awards. Recently, TBZ-The Original won three prestigious JJS – IJ Jewellers Choice Designs Awards at a glittering event in Jaipur for Diamond and Emerald jewellery.

In the last few months, TBZ-The Original has opened 9 stores in cities of Pune, Mumbai, Vadodara, Kolkata, Vapi, Bhavnagar, Vasai and now in Nagpur. With the opening of this new store, TBZ-The Original now has 22 stores in 16 cities across 6 States including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

TBZ Ltd (BSE: 534369 | NSE: TBZ) has a 150-year old track-record of trust, quality and purity of its products, TBZ-The Original has won several prestigious awards including the Readers Digest Trusted Brand Asia in the category of Jewellery Shop in 2006, 2007 and 2008. TBZ has received other awards for both products and customer service, including the DTC Best Showroom award in 2004 and 2006, the DTC Best Diamond Moments award in 2005 for customer interactions, the DTC Best Showroom and Sales Person award in 2006 and 2007, the Jaipur Jewellery Show Gold Souk Awards 2007, which honoured TBZ-The Original’s contribution to the gem and jewellery industry in India, and the Jamnalal Bajaj Uchit Vyavahar Puraskar 2007 – Council for Fair Business Practices Award.

Continue Reading

DSC Jaipur Literature Fest 2013 to Connect Cricket and Literature

Report by Santanu Ganguly, New Delhi: Asia’s leading literature event, the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival, scheduled to begin in the Rajasthan capital from January 24, encompasses a range of activities in the areas of film, music and theatre, and promises a rare and exciting experience for people from all walks of life. To add to the enthusiasm, a friendly cricket match is being organized between leading authors coming to the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival and the Royals XI, comprising of few players, team management and esteemed personalities. The ‘Authors XI’ versus ‘Royals XI’ match will be held in Jaipur, the home of Rajasthan Royals, on January 23, 2013 between 2 and 5 pm.

Sreesanth, Ashok Menaria, Ajit Chandela, Dishant Yagnik, Raghu Iyer, Shashi Tharoor, Tarun Tejpal and Lakshya Raj Singh Mewar are among the eminent players constituting the Royals XI team. The Authors XI team includes prominent names such as Richard Beard, Sam Carter, Nicholas Hogg, James Holland, Tom Holland, Anthony McGowan, Anosh Irani, Alex Preston and Charlie Campbell, the captain of the team.

Sharing his enthusiasm about the match, Charlie Campbell said, “It is a dream made real for the Authors to play the Royals XI. We feel like cricket's answer to Rocky Balboa. We are all ready, if asked, to turn our backs on books and join the growing ranks of fans of T20 cricket.”

DSC Jaipur Literature Fest 2013

Mr. Raghu Iyer, CEO, Rajasthan Royals, said, “As a team that epitomizes the elegance, royalty and rich heritage of Rajasthan, we are proud and excited to be associated with the DSC Jaipur Literature festival. Other than being a magnificent platform to celebrate the wonderful art of writing, the festival is extraordinary because it is the most prestigious event in the Asia-Pacific region to recognise the works of both national and international writers. We are thrilled to host the friendly match which promises to be as energetic and competitive as the literature festival itself."!”

As a new fixture in the annual event at Jaipur, the match is open to the public at no cost and has been set to keep the festival fervor at the highest levels.

Sanjoy K. Roy, Producer, DSC Jaipur Literature Festival and MD, Teamwork Productions, said, "It is an unusual combination to have authors and cricketers in a match of skill – this new festival fixture will be a delight for audiences from Jaipur and around the world."

The DSC Jaipur Literature Festival is considered to be Asia’s leading literature event, celebrating national and international writers, and encompassing a range of activities including film, music and theatre. The festival has already hosted some of the best-known national and international writers including Orhan Pamuk, J.M. Coetzee, John Berendt, Kiran Desai, Christopher Hampton, Ian McEwan, Vikram Seth, Wole Soyinka, Salman Rushdie, Pico Iyer, Simon Schama, Thomas Keneally, Hanif Kureishi, Vikram Chandra, Anoushka Shankar, Michael Frayn, Stephen Frears, Alexander McCall Smith, Donna Tartt, Tina Brown, Shashi Tharoor, Mohammed Hanif, Paul Zacharia, among many others. The Directors of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festivals are William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale and the festival is produced by Sanjoy K. Roy and Sheuli Sethi of Teamwork Productions. DSC Limited is the principal sponsor of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival.

Teamwork is a highly versatile entertainment company with roots in the performing arts, social action and the corporate world. Our expertise lies in the area of entertainment and includes television, film – documentary and feature, and the creation and development of festivals of contemporary performing arts, visual arts, and literature across the world.

We currently produce 17 performing and visual arts festivals in 21 cities across 11countries, including Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA. Teamwork produces Asia’s biggest literary gathering – the annual DSC Jaipur Literature Festival – as well as the Hay Festival in Kerala.

‘Celebrating India in Israel’,‘Indian Summer in Canada’, ‘Eye on India in Chicago’, ‘Kahaani Festival’ and ‘Strings of the World’ are five new annual performing and visual arts festivals that have been launched in 2011-2012.

Continue Reading

Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 Begins, Millions of Pilgrims Expected

EFT Bureau, New Delhi: The Maha Kumbh Mela began on Monday (Jan. 14, 2013) morning with millions of devotees as well as ascetics and religious leaders of various orders converging on the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati in Allahabad for a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

The inaugural day of the two-month-long congregation, often described as the "greatest show on earth", was marked by the first "Shahi Snan" of 13 "akharas" wherein Naga Sadhus - a martial order of ascetics who move about either naked or scantily clad with matted hair and ash smeared bodies marched to Sangam in processions with their leaders perched atop ornately decorated elephants, horses and chariots and musical bands in attendance in a unique blend of austerity and opulence.

The first to move out were Mahanirvani and Atal Akharas, followed by Niranjani and Anand and then Joona, Awahan and Agni.

Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

They are to be followed by Nirvani Ani, Digambar Ani and Nirmohi and Naya Udasin, Bara Udasin and Nirmal akharas in the same order fixed during the British period following a violent clash among ascetics of different akharas at a kumbh congregation.

The akharas have been allotted fixed time, ranging from 30 minutes to about an hour depending upon the size of their respective procession, for bathing with routes for going to and returning from Sangam so separated as to ward off possibility of members of rival akharas coming in contact with each other.

Devotees from across the country had started pouring in since on Sunday evening and the influx continues despite cold weather and elaborate security arrangements on account of which bathers are being made to park their vehicles several kilometres away from the holy confluence and reach the Sangam on foot.

Vehicular traffic has been banned on most of the roads in the city from Sunday till Tuesday to facilitate movement of people.

The "Shahi Snan", which is a star attraction of the event, began at around 6 AM as curious, awestruck onlookers gathered on both sides of the over-a-kilometre-long road of metallic chequered plates on which the processions of "akharas" proceeded towards the Sangam.

The crowds were separated from the procession with the help of barriers. Security personnel kept a steady, though anxious, watch on the movement of the "Naga sadhus" along the route, from watch towers and by monitoring CCTVs as their processions have sparked off violent clashes in the past.

The Mela, held every 12 years, will go on for next two months and will conclude on Maha Shivaratri on March 10.

The administration is expecting a nearly 10 per cent rise in pilgrims attending the mass Hindu pilgrimage this year compared to the previous Maha Kumbh held in Allahabad in 2001.

Exceptionally large crowds are also expected on Mauni Amavasya (February 10, 3 crore) and Basant Panchmi (February 15, 1.9 crore).

Besides, spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev and Asaram Bapu, also have planned their visits.

The huge turnout of people, visits of high-profile gurus in addition to the presence of naga sanyasis have increased the pressure on police and administration for smooth functioning of the Kumbh Mela.

A lurking fear of terrorist strike has further heightened the challenges in recent years.

"More than 7,000 personnel of central paramilitary forces, including companies of the Rapid Action Force and the National Disaster Response Force, have been pressed into service," IGP (Allahabad) Alok Sharma, designated as the nodal officer for security arrangements during the Maha Kumbh, had said.

Continue Reading

International Tourism Mart at Guwahati From Jan. 18–20; North-East Celebrities to Perform

EFT Bureau, New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Tourism will organize an International Tourism Mart at Guwahati from January 18–20, 2013. Announcing this at a press conference in New Delhi, Union Tourism Minister Mr. K. Chiranjeevi said that this will not only be the first ever International Tourism event to be organized in the north-eastern region, but also the first International Tourism Mart to focus on a specific region of India. He said “It will bring together the tourism business fraternity and entrepreneurs from the eight north eastern States of India and West Bengal. The event has been planned and scheduled to facilitate interaction between buyers, sellers, media, Government agencies and others.”

The Minister informed that about 100 delegates including tourism Ministers, Tourism Secretaries, Tour operators, Hoteliers and Media Representatives from Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Combodia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vietnam will be attending the mart. He said these delegates will engage in one-two-one meetings with sellers from the north eastern region and West Bengal. Mr. Chiranjeevi said this will enable tourism product suppliers from the region to reach out to international and domestic buyers and promote tourism in the region.

Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi 

The Minister said the three day event will include, presentations, cultural evenings and press meets with the media from India and overseas. Post-Mart familiarization tours to the states in the region have been arranged by the State Governments for the overseas delegates, from the January 21–28, 2013 to create awareness about the rich and varied tourism products of the states of the north eastern region and give them first-hand knowledge and experience of the destination.

Mr. Chiranjeevi disclosed that celebrity artistes such as Lou Majaw from Meghalaya, Rubin from Manipur, Mami Varte from Mizoram and Debojit Saha, Dikshu, Priyanka Bharali, Manas Robin, Joy Chakravarty, Simanta Shekhor, Mousam Gogoi and Papori Sharma from Assam will perform at the Mart.

The north east region of India comprising the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, is endowed with diverse tourist attractions and products. The varied topography of the region, its flora and fauna, the ethnic communities with their rich heritage of ancient traditions and lifestyles, festivals, arts and crafts, make it a holiday destination waiting to be explored. Considering the contiguous features of West Bengal with the north east, the state has been included in the Mart.

Continue Reading

Assembly Polls in Tripura on Feb. 14; Meghalaya, Nagaland on Feb. 23; Results on Feb. 28

EFT Bureau, New Delhi: Assembly polls in Tripura will be held on Feb. 14 and in Meghalaya and Nagaland on Feb. 23, 2013. The results of these elections will be out on Feb. 28, the Election Commission (EC) announced on Jan. 11.

The EC also announced bye-elections to nine assembly constituencies in Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab on Feb. 23 and in Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra on Feb. 24, but their results will be out together on Feb. 28.

Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said with the announcement of schedule for the two-phase poll in the north- eastern states and bypolls in various states, the Model Code of Conduct will be in operation with immediate effect and EC will keep a strict vigil on any violation of the Code.

Assembly Polls in Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland

He said electronic voting machines will be used in elections to the three north-eastern states as well as in bye- elections in the seven states.

"The Commission will deploy general observers in adequate number to ensure smooth conduct of elections and appoint adequate number of expenditure observers and assistant expenditure observers to exclusively monitor election expenditure of contesting candidates," the CEC said on Friday.

The notification for Tripura elections will be issued on 21st January and for Meghalaya and Nagaland on Jan. 30.

All the three state assemblies have 60 seats each. While 10 are reserved for SCs and 20 for STs in Tripura, 55 assembly seats are reserved for STs in Meghalaya and 59 in Nagaland.

According to the poll schedule, the last date for filing of nominations in Tripura is January 28 and after scrutiny the next day, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is January 31.

For Meghalaya and Nagaland, the last date for filing of nominations is 6th February and after scrutiny the next day, the last date for withdrawal is February 9.

Polling in the three north-eastern states will take place from 7 am to 4 pm, while that for bye-elections in other states will be held from 8 am to 5 pm.

The tenures of the state assemblies of Tripura expire on March 16 and in Meghalaya and Nagaland on March 10 and March 18 respectively.

The EC will put up 3,018 polling stations in Tripura for 23.52 lakh voters.

In Meghalaya, a total of 2,485 polling stations will be set up for 14,81,473 electors, and another 2,023 in Nagaland where the total number of electors is 11,81,731.

CEC Sampath said the Commission has already visited the three poll-bound states in the North-East and issued strict instructions for conduct of free and fair polls.

The EC in consultation with the Government will deploy adequate central and state forces for smooth conduct of elections, as also micro-observers for keeping a strict vigil on poll proceedings at polling stations.

It will also carry out videography of all critical events during electioneering and during the polls, he said.

Announcing the schedule for the bye-elections, he said polling in Chalfilh (ST) Assembly constituency in Mizoram, Bhatpar in Uttar Pradesh and three assembly seats of Nalhati Birbhum, English Bazar and Rejinagar in West Bengal and Moga seat in Punjab will be held on 23rd February.

Polling in Algapur Assembly constituency in Assam, Kalyanpur (SC) in Bihar and Chandgad in Maharashtra will be held on February 24.

The notification for all bypolls in other states will be issued on January 30 and the last date for making nominations is February 6 and after scrutiny the next day, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is February 9.

Counting for all bypolls will take place on February 28.

The EC directed all candidates to open separate bank accounts and carry out all election expenditure from it and also maintain a record of expenses.

To tackle the phenomenon of paid news, the EC issued instructions to CEOs of the poll-bound states to deal with it strictly.

A three-tier mechanism has been laid out with Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) at district, state and ECI levels, he added.

Continue Reading

An Unforgettable Travel Experience at SAMSARA in Dechu

Report by Santanu Ganguly, Jodhpur: Sometimes you are completely stretched out in the metro life style, when your job or business need your undivided fulltime attention. The chaotic city life, congested surroundings, rush driving or road rage and the polluted atmosphere churning out more and more energy from you. You are not in a position to spend a good quality time to maintain a healthy and prosperous relationship to your immediate family members, relatives and neighbors. You must be eagerly wanting to get out of these situation to spend some time with just for yourself and your family. Spend some quality time over a weekend or preferably during an extended weekend with family or with friend or just only for yourself.

Why don’t you plan your ‘The Unforgettable Experience’ of a classy and luxury holiday without an exuberant budget at the desert at Dechu near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Let’s start from Delhi at night, there are couple of train running regularly, or else by road or by flight up to Jodhpur. Dechu is about 130 Km from Jodhpur. We have reached at Jodhpur railway station by next day around 8 am in the morning. Samsara in Dechu is about two and a half hour journey from here. The journey will be pleasant as just after crossing Jodhpur will be witness of the landscape of the barren lands, hills and endless fields. Though due to the global warming these areas are also getting good rain now a days as a result the whole patch of the barren land also became little green. But I am sure you will be spellbound to see the exotic oasis at the heart of the natural sand dune in Dechu. Yes Samsara is a different world all together. Samsara at Dechu is a complete nation of peace and experience in the difficult, rough and tough terrain of the desert region.

Samsara Dechu Luxury Resort in Jodhpur

On our arrival at Samsara in Dechu the staff greeted us with the welcome drink and then after check in you may start experiencing your dream- luxury-memorable holiday.

Samsara - beautiful haven amidst the endless dunes of the Thar. Beautifully landscaped exteriors compliment creative interiors. Carefully laid out water bodies of moats and fountains around the property provide that restful ambience for the perfect get-away from the pandemonium of the city. This makes Samsara an ideal setting for nuptials or as an official group destination. Or we think, simply a great place to write that book that’s hidden inside of you.

SAMSARA Resort in Dechu

The luxury suites at aim to offer the best amenities to their elite clientele. The two grand luxury suites at the resort are available with a private swimming pool and a sizeable private garden. As guests sit back and relax in the calm deserts of Rajasthan, Samsara ensures that the guest receives the comforts of his home within the premises of the resort. The best of food and hospitable services to pamper your senses befits the term luxury to the core

The Superior Deluxe Villas with a carpet area of 550 sq. ft, have a bed-sitting area, a study, a dressing area, luxurious four fixture toilet and verandah in the rear opening into a private garden. Together with commendable services and delightful surroundings, the Deluxe Superior Villa offer an exclusive experience and a sense of unparalleled peace.

The swimming pool in Samsara, 90 X 45 ft. has a deck and recreation zone with changing rooms, pavilions and other profusely landscaped areas. .It enjoys the view of the dunes with the Guest Rooms in its foreground, and will be an ideal releasing area even at night.

An ideal setting for a focused discussion, the large conference room at furnished with all necessary equipment. It overlooks the beautiful landscaped greens on to the east and is protected from direct sun light, for most part of the day.

Seminar style – 60 people, Round table sitting – 84 people, lecture hall formation – 96 people.

SAMSARA Resort in Dechu

The Pavilion Bar is an exhilarate, inebriate, invigorate, perfect quenchers in torrid dunes. The pavilion bar is stocked with handpicked spirits from the world over. Any connoisseur would be spoilt for choice.

The air conditioned restaurant, with a clear storey roof light in its center, caters to 42 covers. It also has an additional covered / open outdoor sitting with pool view as well as garden view, for 72 covers.

You must experience the Spa at Samsara. A tranquil quarter. Soft rhythms of Rajasthan that lull you into a near alpha state. Expert massages chosen especially for the bone weary traveler escaping the din of the city – if only for a short while.

Block printed interiors with locally crafted furniture and rugs are set amidst pristine dunes. Dinner on the dunes accompanied by the evening entertainment of narratives by the local bards and folk dancers leave you mesmerized and wanting more. It’s no surprise that we often have guests extending their stay.

The Samsara Winter Camp will be another memorable – love with nature experience. Block printed interiors with locally crafted furniture and rugs are set amidst pristine dunes. Dinner on the dunes accompanied by the evening entertainment of narratives by the local bards and folk dancers leave you mesmerized and wanting more. It’s no surprise that we often have guests extending their stay.

Dinner at the private sand dunes will surely make a permanent place in your mind. By 6.30 pm in the evening we have started from Samsara by jeep towards the amazing private sand dune maintain by the staff of Samsara. Once you are on the dune, there is completely clear sky with uncountable numbers of bright stars and on the ground the bonfire and the decorative lantern are the only source of light of your romantic memorable dinner. Some table laid out according to the numbers of the guests. Also for the folk and cultural program there are nice decorated seating arrangement with most comfortable cushions laid out for your royal satisfaction and enjoy the folk song and dances by the local Rajasthani cultural group.

Next day in the early morning you should go for the camel ride to the nearest bushy forested area. The camel keeper will tell you stories and myths of the local area, even he may offer you the special opium from the local field. During the camel ride there is a chance to see some wild animals like- deer, antelope, chinkara, neel gai, wild boar, and various species of wild birds.

Go for the jeep safari in the evening. The jeep will take you to the nearby sand dune, villages and of course and unparallel experience of riding the 60 degree sand dune or may be going down from the same height. The jeep will run through the bushy forest land, where they will make sure that will not only see the wild life but also you will be able to take several photographs of the creatures. During the safari you will witness the rough and tough, though simple lifestyle of the villagers. The typical village house, the rituals, the simplicity of those people will simply make a mark on your heart. At the end of the day the Sunset at the sand dune is the ultimate experience all together.

To visit Samsara, a four days leave or holiday will be good enough. But if you have time you may extend your joy and pleasure of the experience for seven days. But Samsara is a must visit palace. For reservation call +919829091100 or email: reservation@samsaradechu.com .

Continue Reading

Tourism Min. Chiranjeevi to Hold Press Conference in Guwahati From Jan. 18–20

Chiranjeevi

EFT Bureau, New Delhi: Union Tourism Minister Mr. K Chiranjeevi will hold a Press Conference on International Tourism Mart being held at Guwahati, Assam from January 18–20, 2013.

Chiranjeevi will highlight the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international market.

All accredited journalists are invited to cover the event.

Continue Reading

DSC Jaipur Literature Festival 2013 From Jan. 24–28; Keynote Address by Mahasweta Devi

Report by Santanu Ganguly, New Delhi: The sixth annual DSC Jaipur Literature Festival has been scheduled from January 24 to January 28, 2013 at Diggi Palace in Jaipur. The five-day festival will encompass a wide range of activities including debates, discussions, readings, music, and workshops for the audiences.

The surge of national solidarity on women's issues finds echoes and resonances at the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival 2013. Poems, stories, readings, and panels discuss the multifaceted experience of being a woman, and the search for gender equity and justice.

Acclaimed women writers attending the festival include the legendary Diana Eck, the leading Arab novelist Ahdaf Soueif, Aminatta Forna, Anamika, Damayanti Beshra, Jaishree Misra, Deborah Moggach, Elif Batuman, Fahmida Riaz, Ameena Saiyid, Gagan Gill, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Ilina Sen, Ira Pande, Kota Neelima, Kunzang Choden, Kishwar Desai, Kshama Sharma, Lakshmi Holmstrom, Laleh Khadivi, Madeline Miller, Nasreen Munni Kabir, Nayanjot Lahiri, Nirupama Dutt, Rohini Nilekani, Selma Dabbagh, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoi, Sharmila Tagore, Shobhaa De, Smita Tewari Jassal, Sudha Gopalakrishnan, Syeda Hameed, Tania James, Tishani Doshi, Vayu Naidu, Vibha Rani and Yiyun Li.

6th DSC Jaipur Literature Festival

The keynote address “O to live again!” will be delivered by the iconic voice of human rights and women's consciousness Mahasweta Devi. This will set the tone for various sessions where women and men will interrogate gender issues and raise the crucial subject of equity and inclusion in languages including in English, Hindi, Rajasthani, Tamil and Malayalam.

Festival Co-director Namita Gokhale says, "India is a nation of strong women who are socially vulnerable. This years' program at Jaipur addresses a range of women's issues and literary voices from across the world. I am especially looking forward to 'Imagine', a session invoking human strength and solidarity across boundaries."

Some of the highlights of this theme include:

Celebrated Tamil feminist writer Ambai speak’s of her writing and of SPARROW, [Sound and Picture Archives for Research on Women], a trust set up in 1988 in Mumbai to build a national archives for women with print, oral history and pictorial material.

In the session, The Yogini, David White discusses the cult of the Yogini with Diana Eck among others. Shabana Azmi will be in conversation with Prasoon Joshi in a session titled 'Sex and Sensibility', on the important question of representations of women in bollywood.

K R Indira talk’s about a women’s Kamasutra and the feminine right to appreciate their own sensuality without intimidation.

In Festival advisor Urvashi Butalia observes, "JLF 2013's attention to women's voices is an important gesture of solidarity with Indians fighting for a fairer, inclusive India".

A Life Apart, the English translation of Prabha Khaitan’s famed autobiography, Anya se Ananya, we scrutinizes the interior lives of women and the power of testimonial literature to break the ground and open new spaces in women’s narratives.

“Women in the Path” will look at the mismatch between the essence and the theological theory of Buddhist philosophy on the issue of women and ultimate liberation. “Adhura Aadmi, Adhuna Naari” will look at the link between the sexes in the articulation of a human Voice.

Stree Hokar Sawaal Karti Ho? - examines the increasingly vocal questions that women ask and the silences that they receive in reply.

The festival will create an inclusive experience for its visitors with enhanced seating capacity, pre-opening music sessions and a series of book launches. Online press registration closes on 15th January.

The DSC Jaipur Literature Festival is considered to be Asia’s leading literature event, celebrating national and international writers, and encompassing a range of activities including film, music and theatre. The festival has already hosted some of the best-known national and international writers including Orhan Pamuk, J.M. Coetzee, John Berendt, Kiran Desai, Christopher Hampton, Ian McEwan, Vikram Seth, Wole Soyinka, Salman Rushdie, Pico Iyer, Simon Schama, Thomas Keneally, Hanif Kureishi, Vikram Chandra, Anoushka Shankar, Michael Frayn, Stephen Frears, Alexander McCall Smith, Donna Tartt, Tina Brown, Shashi Tharoor, Mohammed Hanif, Paul Zacharia, among many others. The Directors of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festivals are William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale and the festival is produced by Sanjoy K. Roy and Sheuli Sethi of Teamwork Productions. DSC Limited is the principal sponsor of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival.

Teamwork is a highly versatile entertainment company with roots in the performing arts, social action and the corporate world. Our expertise lies in the area of entertainment and includes television, film – documentary and feature, and the creation and development of festivals of contemporary performing arts, visual arts, and literature across the world.

We currently produce 17 performing and visual arts festivals in 21 cities across 11countries, including Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA.

Teamwork produces Asia’s biggest literary gathering – the annual DSC Jaipur Literature Festival – as well as the Hay Festival in Kerala.

‘Celebrating India in Israel’, ‘Indian Summer in Canada’, ‘Eye on India in Chicago’, ‘Kahaani Festival’ and ‘Strings of the World’ are five new annual performing and visual arts festivals that have been launched in 2011-2012.

Continue Reading

Over 1-Crore People in Andhra Sign up to Support Jagan Reddy

Report by Santanu Ganguly: ‘Jagan Kosam Janam Santhakam’ (people’s signature for Jagan), the massive signature campaign launched by the YSR Congress Party on Dec. 22, 2012 to collect one crore signatures highlighting the CBI’s victimization of its president Mr. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has elicited tremendous response from the people.

The campaign kick started and progressed under the personal supervision of Party’s Honorary President Mrs. Vijayamma has been a huge success, primarily because the people of the State fully empathized with the cause. Leaders and activists ranging from the Party’s Political Affairs Committee to the grass root level workers at the villages were committed to reaching the target number of signatures as quickly as possible. The signature campaign, which is still under way at a brisk pace will continue till Jan. 10.

Special camps organized for the campaign - The signatures have been collected at the YSR Congress party headquarters and its offices in the districts and mandals as well. Party leaders also organized special camps in various villages and towns for the purpose.

At many a camp people formed long queues to sign the appeal. Significantly, women, old people and students form major chunk of the signatories. The party cadres have been relentlessly carrying out this campaign with people turning out voluntarily to affix their signatures on the appeal.

Signature Campaign in AP for Jagan Reddy

Given the overwhelming response by the public, the Party has been able to surpass the target within 17 days collecting 1,24, 36,000 individual signatures of people across the State of Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere in the country and even abroad. The figure includes the signatures received through online forms.

These signatures will be appended to an appeal that will be handed over to the President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, according to the Party’s Political Affairs Committee Member Bajireddy Govardhan.

“Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been jailed for more than seven months for the simple reason of his coming out the Congress and launching his own political party. Working under political pressure, the CBI has been going overboard to project him as the culprit in a case foisted on him as part of political vendetta. With biased investigation, the probing officials have been resorting to misusing of their official position and destroying the propriety of the investigating agency. We appeal to you to intervene and stop this political vendetta and victimization of Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy,” says the Party’s appeal to Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

The appeal points out that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy was singled out for victimization by the CBI while the agency has been applying a different yardstick in cases related to Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati in UP and Chandrababu Naidu in AP.

Continue Reading

Kumbh Mela 2013 Photography Workshops by Abbas, Raghu Rai

Report by Santanu Ganguly, Chennai: Travelling Lens facilitates a series of intensive photography workshops against the backdrop of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 with legendary photographers Abbas and Raghu Rai.

Travelling Lens presents you the big daddy of all photography tours at the Kumbh Mela 2013, chaotic, enthralling and vibrant, the Kumbh Mela is a photogenic event, attracting over 75 million pilgrims making it one of the largest human congregations in the world. Travelling Lens renders an opportunity for photography enthusiasts to capture the colors, emotions, sentiments and beliefs; training you to step out of your comfort zone to make images of consequence.

These series of workshops in alliance with world class photographers Abbas from Magnum, Raghu Rai, Prashant Panjiar, Tom Bourdon and Yannick Cormier are conducted in luxury tented-camps near the banks of the confluence in Allahabad, embedding the photographer deep in the milieu of life at the festival from January 24th to February 20th, 2013.

These workshops have been carefully designed for photographers of various skill levels, aiding the enthusiast to select the workshops suited to his/her area of interest. The enthusiast can choose any one workshop or a combination of workshops:

Kumbh Mela 2013 Photography Workshops

Schedule:

24th–30th January 2013
Master Class workshop with Magnum Photographer Abbas

3rd–8th February 2013
Introduction to festival photography by Tom Bourdon

3rd–8th February 2013
Introduction to Documentary Photography by Yannick Cormier

8th–14th February 2013
Master Class with Raghu Rai

14th–20th February 2013
Advanced Photography with Prashant Panjiar

Commenting on the workshops, Mr. Varun Gupta, Founder, Travelling Lens said, “the riveting magnificence of the Maha Kumbh Mela in its grand form comes only once in 12 years, Travelling Lens has upped the ante by roping in two of the greatest photographers of all time, Abbas and Raghu Rai taking this workshop series to an epic magnitude.”

He added, “In the current context, the ease of leisure travel, the connectivity of the internet and the affordability of camera equipment has made photography easily accessible hobby with great personal rewards. Enthusiasts the world over have taken very seriously to their cameras, relentlessly pursuing their passion and seeking self-improvement. Photography has now become a superb outlet for people stuck in 9 to 5 jobs, they have found a legitimate avenue for the self-expression”.

The minimum requirements differ by workshop. There are workshops that cater to beginning photographers, serious amateurs, semi-professional and professional photographers. The technical requirements for all workshops are a Digital SLR camera and a Laptop. Those having a serious intent to learn under the tutelage of legendary photographers and imbibe in their genius can either log on to www.travellinglens.net and register or call the hotline +91 97907 70679 or 044-4230-0478.

Travelling Lens was created by a group of like-minded explorers who share a philosophy of travel that is rooted in three principles: safety, senses and slowness. The company offers customized tours and holidays for groups of 2- 30 people through its affiliates worldwide. The workshops and tours are a beautiful mix of adventure, relaxation, learning and a lot of fun. For more information, log on to www. travellinglens.net

For more information, contact: Suresh Krishnan / Aditya Nagarajan, IPAN Hill and Knowlton, Chennai, Tel: 044 28202548 / 28207005, Mob: +91 9840097045/+91 9677090639.

Email: suresh.krishnan@hkstrategies.com / aditya.nagarajan@hkstrategies.com

Continue Reading

President to Confer Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awards 2013 on Jan. 9

EFT Bureau, New Delhi: President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee will undertake a one day visit to Kochi, Kerala on January 9, 2013 to deliver the Valedictory Address at the 11th edition of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention.

Pranab Mukherjee would also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA), which is the highest honor conferred on overseas Indians.

PBSA is conferred by the President of India as a part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions organized annually since 2003 on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin or an organization or institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin.

President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee

Continue Reading

President Inaugurates 125th Year Celebrations of UP Legislature Today

President of India Pranab Mukherjee

President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee undertakes a one day visit to Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh (UP) on January 8, 2013 to inaugurate the 125th year celebrations of Uttar Pradesh Legislature.

He has also released a Postage Stamp on Vidhan Bhawan on the occasion.

Continue Reading

Haryana CM Lays Foundation of UIDAI Data Center at Manesar

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has laid the foundation stone of Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI) Data Centre at Manesar, Haryana on Jan. 8, 2013.

The Data Centre is estimated to be completed by June 2014. The Data Center would be equipped to provide 24X7 Monitoring and Operation Support. The Data Centre will be reviewed by Uptime Institute, USA for a Tier III certification, while the Indian Green Building Council will review the facility for purpose of awarding a Gold Rating LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for green building.

Other key features that distinguish this Green Data Center are its adherence to the latest design guidelines such as ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) for cooling compliance, NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) for Fire and Security compliances, TIA 942 (Telecommunication Industry Association) for Data Centers and SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors` National Association) guidelines for improved indoor air quality.

Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Being a Green Data Center, the design of the building emphasizes on 100% treatment of waste water for effective utilization in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), horticulture & flushing and rainwater harvesting. Double Glazed Unit and insulated roofing make the building ‘energy efficient.’ Lighting integrated motion sensors, use of LED fittings, variable speed fans on AHU, Heat Recovery, Free cooling, efficient chillers, efficient cooling solutions and UPS, zero use of CFC based refrigerant, use of low VOC materials in interiors & finishes etc. are the some of the other key features of the Data Centre complex. In the future, UIDAI will also look at the possibility of using renewable sources of energy such as solar energy.

Continue Reading