Author: shubhangi

“Typing scatters our fingers and the energy gets divided. To conserve brain energy and concentration, one should practice few pages of handwriting.” Harmohan Singh Batra Mumbai-based Harmohan Singh Batra (66) is a graphologist who determines personality traits by analysing people’s handwriting and suggests corrections that can improve their life pattern. His advice: Use computers only to communicate, try handwriting as a course correction in life. A man of many parts, he also dabbles in Astrology, Numerology, Palmistry, Acupressure, Colour therapy, Aura reading, Magnet therapy, Vastu, Feng Shui and other alternate therapies. Batra in conversation with A.Radhakrishnan. How did you get…

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‘Jabber wockiers’ Author-Rajessh M Iyer Paperback edition Published by Kriscendo Media LLP Pages 208, Price Rs 99 Words can have disastrous effects. They can push one into a bottomless chasm of nothingness. That’s what we realise even as we delve into this book. The first chapter ends with words that not only hit Sid like a thunderbolt but also have a potent impact on the reader, making it difficult not to empathise with him, even to an extent that you start hoping that he does not lose the one person he cherishes the most. The book’s byline: ‘Blood is thicker…

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He laid his life young! Subedar Sanjiv Kumar was born on 5 December 1977 at Dehra (Himachal Pradesh). After completing 12th, he joined the army and was enlisted in the Parachute Regiment on 30 August 1996. The Parachute Regiment has a known reputation for valour. During the course at The Parachute Regiment Training Centre, he excelled in sports and training. He had multiple tenures in J&K. Pakistan keeps on sending small well trained armed personnel into J&K to carry out terror tasks, attempt to kill key personnel, damage installations and establish contact with local bodies. The security forces check such…

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Messenger of Goddess Matarani Narendra Chanchal was a talented Indian singer, writer and poet who specialised in religious songs, hymns and Hindi film songs. Born in Namak Mandi, Amritsar in a religious Punjabi family, a young Chanchal would accompany his mother Kailashvati when she was often called to sing bhajans at neighbourhood functions. As child, he was playful and fickle. He later added Chanchal (meaning fickle in Hindi) to his name. People’s appreciation for his voice, inspired him to sing bhajans and aartis. He then chose to become a professional singer and took music lessons from Sri Prem Tikha in…

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The real pioneer & his legacy A silhouette of a once affluent Hiralal, sitting by the river, trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol…. His accidental walking into the household kitchen to discover his wife eating leftovers for dinner.  Scenes from Hiralal, a 2018 Bengali-language biopic directed by Arun Roy, of a forgotten Indian cinema luminary – Hiralal Sen, reminding one of the fragile and fickle nature of film business. On 28 December 1895 the world’s first movie Lumieres’ 50-second film The Arrival of a Train created waves in Paris. Seventeen years later, in 1913, Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra opened in Bombay…

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Manu Shrivastava feels there has been a tectonic shift in the very concept of Pride and National Pride where India is concerned. The narrative on Pride has, more often than not, been hugely politicised by factions in power and persistently. Referring to the contemporary scene in the light of India’s iconic cultural ambassadors, she says these are the ones who have actually defined the true India. Swami Vivekananda is one of India`s better known cultural ambassadors who introduced Hinduism to America way back in 1893 The definitions of cultural heritage and history have changed drastically over the last decade. As…

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Ruchi Verma explains that in recent times, cultural diplomacy has become an important pillar of Indian foreign policy. PM Modi tweaked Indian diplomacy by incorporating new elements of soft power. These include Samman (dignity), Samvaad (dialogue), Samriddhi (shared prosperity), Suraksha (regional and global security), and Sanskriti evam Sabhayata (cultural and civilisational links) and all are in sync with India’s larger political and economic goals. Dr. Moxraj (in yellow Kurta) was one of the 162 teachers sent on diplomatic missions across the world to create awareness about traditional Indian culture Cultural diplomacy is one of the oldest forms of diplomacy where…

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With more than 1,800 movies a year through major centres of film production, India’s multi-billion dollar industry serves not just as a fan medium but is a global force. Pioneering film-makers like Raj Kapoor followed by many others, occupy a pride of place on the medium’s desktop as great cultural ambassadors. Kriti Kalra asserts that cinema has played a stellar role in keeping the Indian diaspora rooted to its origins. Raj Kapoor, India’s first cultural ambassador from the world of cinema during his visit to Russia Cinema is one of the most effective ways to create change and Indian cinema,…

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Vedika Jain buttresses her point about how the current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the lead in bolstering India’s presence on the world stage and how his sterling contribution as cultural ambassador is intertwined with the country’s growth. From organising to executing, Modi has redefined global leadership and shaping up history, she points out. International Yoga Day celebrations led by PM Modi One of the most charismatic and popular leaders of all times, not just in India but globally, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s every act and decision has been nothing but a step in furthering India’s leadership…

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Pointing out how Gandhi’s beliefs and principles are celebrated across the world, Anushka Singh makes out a case that the Indian ethos essentially is all about the Mahatma’s legacy and how his philosophy has found takers across the world that included luminaries like Martin Luther King and Albert Einstein. The UN bringing out a postal stamp on Gandhi is proof of his universal appeal. Modi paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 th birth anniversary at the Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad in 2019 If there is one person who is synonymous to India, it’s Mahatma Gandhi. It won’t be wrong…

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