Joining the chorus demanding that the media exercise restraint in covering terror attacks like that in Mumbai Nov 26 last year, Defence Minister A.K. Antony Friday urged the media to be a “little careful” in all aspects.
“During the recent Mumbai terror attacks, the armed forces had to work under extreme pressure. On such occasions, it will be of help if the media performs its role without endangering national security and is a little careful while reporting the events,” Antony said while speaking at the centenary celebrations of the armed forces journal 'Sainik Samachar' here.
“In such crisis situations (Mumbai terror attack), the defence forces and the security agencies must be allowed to work without exerting any pressure. We must ensure that good work is done without endangering national security,” Antony added.
'Sainik Samachar' had started as 'Fauji Akhbar', an Urdu weekly on Jan 2, 1909. Its aim was to provide army personnel with "a summary of news with a military bias". It was re-christened Sainik Samachar on April 4, 1954.
Unveiling a Coffee Table Book 'Soldiering On...' on the centenary celebrations of Sainik Samachar, Antony called upon the editorial team of the publication not to use the magazine only as a chronicler of prominent events and incidents taking place in the armed forces but also to “reflect the hopes and aspirations of jawans”.
“Through the use of journalistic tools such as analytical articles and features, including photo features in Sainik Samachar, your effort must be to further boost the morale of our jawans,” said Antony.
He also asked them to bring out the magazine both in print and its online version in all the Indian languages.
“This is imperative to broad base the overall reach of the publication to cover all corners of the country. The distribution mechanism of Sainik Samachar may also be further toned up, so that it reaches out to our jawans in the remotest corners of the country and even to those engaged in UN peacekeeping missions,” he said.
The book “Soldiering On…” is an anthology of articles, rare photographs and documents relating to the history of the Indian armed forces, spanning the last 100 years.
Air force chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, army chief General Deepak Kapoor, defence secretary Vijay Singh, Navy's vice chief Vice Admiral R.P. Suthan and Deputy NSA Shekhar Dutt were present on the occasion.
The 11th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, marking the beginning of the 51st year of the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD), will open at the Kamani Auditorium on January 7, 2009. The Festival will be inaugurated by Shri. Jawhar Sircar, Union Secretary for Culture, in the presence of guest of honour, Smt. Zohra Sehgal, an eminent theatre personality.
The festival will open with a performance of Awagha Rang Ekachi Zaala (Marathi), directed by Ashok Samel. Awagha Rang Ekachi Zala depicts the story of Appa Velankar, a well-known kirtankaar, and his family. It also highlights the rich culture and music of the kirtan form as juxtaposed against the current musical trend.
The Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) was started a decade ago by the NSD in order to contribute to the growth and development of theatre across the country. The National School of Drama started its annual festival by showcasing plays performed by Indian theatre practitioners, and the same has grown into an international event, catering to theatre companies from around the world. It is today acknowledged as the largest theatre festival of Asia - dedicated only to theatre - and is firmly established on the international theatre festival map.
In Delhi, the festival will feature 63 productions, out of which 51 are from India and 12 are overseas plays, over a span of 12 days. As done in past few years the 11th Bharat Rang Mahotsav will also be showcased in lucknow this year. This year 18 of the productions will travel there for the BRM Festival scheduled from January 11 to 19, 2009.
The NSD, in its effort to nurture talent and encourage upcoming directors, has focused on the productions by young directors. Plays included in the festival are collaborative works, based on rich texts, adaptations and also plays developed through training and workshops. The Festival also includes a work advised by the theatre legend Badal Sircar which is one of the most important classics by Tagore; "Rakto Korobi".
A remake of the everlasting love story of "Laila Majnu" by the famous theatre director Ram Gopal Bajaj is a part of the upcoming festival and also the play is selected to be the inaugural play for the BRM Festival in Lucknow.
With seven venues presenting five to six productions per day through the duration of the festival in Delhi and two venues presenting the productions over a period of 9 days in Lucknow, the NSD will play host about 2,000 theatre people as its participants. As in the past, the festival shows are expected to run to full houses, attracting over 50,000 spectators in Delhi and about 10,000 viewers in Lucknow.
To design, mount and coordinate a festival of this size in two cities in such a short span of time involves a logistical feat that the NSD manages with élan because of its highly trained technical personnel, faculty and staff and the commitment they bring to the cause of theatre worldwide.
International Plays
This year too the there will be many international productions. The Czech play 'The Painted World' is a unique black light show performed by the best black light effects and images in a story of world continents. 'Le Premiere Fois' is a collaboration between the Swiss / French actors and NSD who have come together exclusively for this festival and are performing this play for the first time. The 'Days of Adel' from Israel is set against the background of a psychiatric ward in Jerusalem.
Plays from Japan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Israel, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Nepal and Poland will be showcased at the festival, and will provide an opportunity to interact with directors and theatre groups. This gives an opportunity to learn and understand theatre from a global perspective and the festival becomes a melting pot of different cultures and views.
Exhibitions
NSD would be staging two exhibitions, one based on the work of theatre legend Badal Sircar and the other one which presents the contribution of NSD to the world of theatre in the course of its 51 years.
Performance Venues
The performances will take place at 7 venues - the Kamani Auditorium, the Shri Ram Centre, Meghdoot (open air), the LTG Theatre and the three theatres in the premises of the NSD-Abhimanch, Sammukh and Bahumukh theatres.
BRM Festival in Lucknow
The BRM Festival in collaboration with Dept. of Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, started 4 years ago by taking a part of the Festival repertoire to a second city, and the city selected is Lucknow this time, with 18 productions being performed at the UPSNA and Theatre Bali between 11 and 18 January 2008. Laila Majnu is scheduled to be the inaugural play for the BRM Festival in Lucknow.
Pakistan Friday blocked its hockey and squash teams' tour of India because of the tense relations between the two countries, with Sports Minister Aftab Shah Jilani saying the authorities were concerned about the players' security in India in the current circumstances.
"We sought advice from the foreign ministry and took the decsion that it's not advisable to send the teams to India over security fears," Jilani told reporters here.
Pakistan's hockey team was scheduled to feature in a four-nation tournament at Chandigarh Jan 31-Feb 8 alongside Germany, Holland and hosts India.
The national squash team was readying for the Asian Junior Squash Championships at Chennai Jan 16-23.
The Pakiastani government decision was not surprising, considering the fact that India cancelled its cricket team's tour of Pakistan last month following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. After that decision, Pakistan was expected to retaliate by refusing to let its sportsmen travel to India.
The minister stressed that sporting ties between the countries could be revived if the situation improved.
"Once we have normalcy in the situation, we can review of our participation in sporting events in India," Jilani said.
In 2001 too, Pakistan and India broke off sporting ties in the wake of the terror attack on the Indian parliament. India lifted the ban in October 2003, paving way for its cricket team's visit to Pakistan a year later.