Author: oiop

An iconic fashion designer (1929-2020) Born on 28 April 1929, Bhanu Athaiya was a trailblazer Indian costume designer and set decorator with a body of over 100 films in six decades, with Indian filmmakers such as Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, B.R. Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand, Raj Khosla, and Ashutosh Gowariker; and international directors such as Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough. The Maharashtrian Brahmin was among the then few designers properly trained and holding a certificate. Across genres, including romance, period and thrillers, she could contour, draw and show her designs, even when films were sans scripts. She adapted beautifully, understanding the requirements, bringing authenticity and…

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Life devoted to Arts (1928-2020) Adoyenne in the world of art and culture, Kapila Vatsayan was born in Delhi on the 25 December 1928. Academically inclined from a young age, she completed her post-graduation in English Literature from the Delhi University and followed it up with Master of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan eventually completing her doctoral thesis at the Benares Hindu University. Her aptitude for the fine arts led her to established teachers like Rukmini Devi Arundale and Kamladevi Chattopadhyay, both of whom eventually became her mentors in due course. Kapila’s abiding interest in Indian dance…

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Gem in the Baluch Regiment crown (1919-2002) Bhandari Ram was born on 24 July 1919 in village Auhar in Bilaspur State now Bilaspur District, Himachal Pradesh. At 22, he enlisted in the 16th Battalion of 10th Baluch Regiment. The regiment composed two-third Muslims from the North West Frontier Province and one-third Brahmin Dogras from the present day Himachal Pradesh State. After Independence, the Baluch Regiment was allotted to Pakistan and the Dogras were absorbed in the newly raised 8th Battalion of the Dogra Regiment. On the appointment of Lord Mountbatten as Supreme Commander South East Asia Command, the Allies made…

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Forts exemplify much more than the ruins chronicling the past. They epitomise country’s art, culture and architecture and are weaved into history through the rigours of time. In this second of the three-part series on The Forts of India, Akul Tripathi showcases five of them known for their distinctive ethos and majesty and dwells on the tumultuous times they thrived in. Text & Photographs: Akul Tripathi It’s a vast country. And in its vastness, it encompasses an endless history, limited only by the seeker’s urge and determination. The history itself is not unyielding, just particular about who it lets in.…

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The genius of legendary Apu, who teamed up with the cinema giant Satyajit Ray in 14 films, was not restricted to Bengal alone. A multi-talented creator, Soumitra Chatterjee redefined culture and stood as beacon light for meaningful cinema in the country. Shoma Chatterji pays handsome tribute to this titan who was an educationist, elocutionist, racounteur and many things rolled into one.
 Soumitra Chatterjee, who passed away recently of post-Covid -19 complications is one of the best things that could have happened to Indian cinema. Sad that national cinema had never tapped the potential of this great personality. Sadder still that…

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As a very fast growing, renewable and easy-to-grow resource, it is a talented multi-utility material with countless uses including construction, clothes, food and fuel. Hiren Kumar Bose points out that it also promises to generate potential employment and absorb greenhouse gases as part of climate change mitigation. It is a versatile crop. It can be used in 1,500 different ways including as food, a substitute for wood, building and construction material, for handicrafts and paper. Intriguingly, it’s from the grass family and known as Bamboo. India is the world’s second-largest cultivator of bamboo after China, with 136 species and 23 genera…

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Thanks to Jigyasa Giri, the Chennai-based Devaniya Dance School has imbibed and fused seamlessly the northern ethos of Kathak in all its intricate glory into the ‘culture of Madras’. What began as a humble journey in 2009 with just five students is today recognized as cross-cultural synergy that thrives on a committed campaign to draw more seekers, says Rashmi Oberoi. When you love what you do, this can only be counted and seen as a blessing! It sparks interest and develops skills that help to contribute to something beyond yourself. Welcome to the Devaniya Dance School, Chennai whose vision of…

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A jog starts with the first step. A ‘plog’ starts with the very first piece of trash you pick (‘plocka’ in Swedish, from where the ‘pl’ comes in). A forest fire begins with just a small spark. Change starts with an idea, no matter how small it may seem. G Nagraj epitomises the first step, the spark, and the idea in India’s silicon city, earning him the sobriquet ‘Plog Raja’ (though he prefers to call himself Plograj).It took something very banal – the sight of plastic bottles strewn around at a business-meeting to inspire him to become an eco-warrior and…

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With the country’s economy taking a beating along with its attendant setbacks in the wake of Covid 19 crisis, the Prime Minister has heralded a reversal by issuing the call for Atmanirbhar Bharat. The reforms rolled out with economic stimuli will go a long way in making India self-reliant, feels Gauravi Patel. The fear of the Covid-19 pandemic and its adverse economic impact was palpable among Indians. Plummeting economy triggered by the lockdown as also the disrupted supply chains were the main cause for concern in households. Reducing sources of income generation, loss of jobs, health crises and rumours of…

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The positive side of Covid-19 crisis has been the call to promote local products. By pushing and pitching the “Vocal for Local” India has effectively demonstrated that it can withstand and brave the situation with remarkable resilience, asserts Trisha Sharma. 2020 was an extraordinary year in more ways than one. The pandemic sparked off an unprecedented crisis disrupting the lives of billions of Indians. At the risk of jeopardising their own lives, frontline workers put their best foot forward to emerge as heroes in tackling the pandemic and protecting citizens. It could aptly be summed up as unity in diversity…

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