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.
DDA Housing Scheme Results
It's the day Delhi has been waiting for with fingers crossed. Nearly 5,000 new DDA flats will be allotted on Tuesday through a computer lottery.
One of the applicants Ritesh Jain, an entrepreneur, knows the odds are tough. There are 113 people who've applied for the DDA flat he wants.
"It's all about luck. It would be one of the happiest moments in my life if I get a flat," he said.
The 5,000 DDA flats range from Rs 7 to 77 lakhs. They've been built in some of Delhi's most-wanted colonies like Dwarka, Rohini and Vasant Kunj.
The fact that they're 50 per cent cheaper than market rates for these areas makes them priceless. And to avoid any controversy, the lottery is being supervised by IIT teachers.
"It's 100 per cent transparent. The draw is totally computerized; all the application numbers and flat numbers have been fed and both the list would be randomised by the computer. The cut off will be drawn by the judges and the computer will declare all the results," said Neemo Dhar, Director, PRO, Delhi Development Authority.
Anybody who is allotted a house will get a cheaper home loan from a government bank. Loans for upto Rs 20 lakhs have fallen by two per cent.
And half of the new DDA flats cost Rs 20 lakhs or less both the houses Ritesh has applied for fall into this category.
"I have just heard the news about the new home loan rates. I'll be very lucky to get loans at cheap rates," Ritesh said.
The lucky winners will get the keys to their new houses in two months. Those who didn't make it will be refunded the registration fee of Rs 1.5 lakhs by the end of December.
The DDA draw comes at a time when the government has announced capping of interest rates on home loans to their lowest levels in many years. But with one in every 110 applicants standing a chance, this indeed is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the lucky few.
India's Parvathy Omanakuttan was adjudged the first runner-up at the Miss World pageant here Saturday evening, with the crown going to Miss Russia.
Parvathy impressed the jury with her looks and quick wit and was one the five finalists out of the 109 contestants at the Sandton Convention Center. However, she was finally beaten by Miss Russia.
Miss Trinidad and Tobago was named the second runner-up. The others in contention in the final five were Miss South Africa and Miss Angola.
India had high hopes on 21-year-old Parvathy to win the crown that last came to the country in 2000.
India boasts of Miss Worlds like Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000).
Noted Indian music director A.R. Rahman has won a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Score for his music in British director Danny Boyle's uplifting underdog tale "Slumdog Millionaire".
The film has also earned three other nominations for Best Picture-Drama, Best Director for Boyle and Best Screenplay for Simon Beaufoy for the 2008 Golden Globe Awards given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
The film tells the heart warming story of an 18-year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai who goes on to win a staggering Rs.20 million ($420,000) on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" game show.
Earlier this week, "Slumdog Millionaire" won two awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Director for Boyle and Best Music for Rahman. It also won the runner-up prize for Best Cinematography for Anthony Dod Mantle.
The film, set and shot in Mumbai, has also won the Best Cinematography prize from The New York Film Critics' Circle and earned six Critics Choice Award nominations for Picture, Director (Boyle), Writer (Simon Beaufoy), Young Actor (Dev Patel), Composer (Rahman), and Song ("Jai Ho").
Currently playing in several major cities, "Slumdog Millionaire" will open in 87 additional theaters across North America Friday and bring its total theatre count to 165.
New markets where the film will debut this weekend include New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, Houston, Austin, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Ann Arbor, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, St. Louis, Kansas City, Louisville, New Orleans, Portland, Honolulu and Sacramento.
When author Gregory David Roberts wrote an open letter to all his readers asking them not to lose faith in India and Mumbai following the 26/11 attacks, he immediately found adherents in people like Anne Fox, a British tourist.
Braving a fear psychosis Fox took a corner table at the famous Leopold Café - the place Roberts had immortalised in his book "Shantaram" - ordered a beer and got up only after she finished reading it.
One of the city's oldest Irani-run cafes owned by Farzad and Farhang Jehani, Leopold was set up way back in 1871. Aptly wearing the tagline 'Getting better with age', it's a huge hit with foreign backpackers.
Situated on the Colaba Causeway in south Mumbai, Leo's (as the cafe is popularly known) offers you more than one reason to hop in. It has 333 items on its food menu ranging from the humble fish and chips to the royal biryani. But loyal Leodians swear by its chicken tikka masala and beef chilly and fried rice.
Serving hefty portions at reasonable price, what also sets the cafe apart is its ambience. Nothing too fancy for your eyes, but a quaint French cafe look with ever amiable waiters ready to serve you make most prefer it to its nearby look alike Cafe Mondegar.
Rudely interrupting its warm ambience, on the night of Nov 26 terrorists targetted Leo's as their first spot to launch their brazen attacks that claimed at least 179 lives. Seven people, including two tourists and two of the café's waiters, were among those killed.
Two weeks later, tourists like Fox have started trickling in again for what seems to be their favourite pass time at Leo's- read Shantaram.
"It's fascinating to read a book based in a particular place and then relate every little detail mentioned in it to the surroundings here," Fox told IANS, as she turned a page of the thick book.
A 2003 novel by Roberts, "Shantaram" is about an Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escapes from jail and flees to Bombay, as Mumbai was formerly called.
Of all the very typical "Bombay" things and places mentioned in the book is the Leopold Café.
Little wonder that one corner of the manager's counter is stacked with the grey and red covered "Shantaram". And it most definitely is the most read book in the café - especially amongst tourists.
Sitting lazily on her chair, Fox said that she was holidaying at the sun-kissed beaches of Goa when terrorists struck Mumbai. In spite of the outrage, Fox said she decided to continue her journey to Mumbai as per her long-drawn travel itinerary in India and despite her family and friends advising her against it.
"I have been in India for a month now and all this while I have been in Goa. When I heard about the attacks here, my parents back home wanted me to cut short the visit, but I just decided to carry on. It would have been such a waste of a trip had I gone back without visiting all these places," Fox maintained.
She, incidentally, was not the only one sitting in the café with a copy of "Shantaram".
Arthur Davis, a Canadian, sat with his girlfriend close by. Among their cloth shoulder bags and other things lying on their table was a copy of the book.
"This is not the first time that I have come to India and to Leo's. Now, the bullet marks on the ceiling of this place is unnerving.
"Yet seeing the crowd and the smiling faces of the waiters here gives you the confidence and hope to return. There is hardly any place today which has not been a victim to terror and, therefore, running away from India after these attacks is never an option," Davis told IANS.
But ask one of the waiters and he admits that after the Nov 26 attack the number of foreigners thronging the place has come down.
"The number of people coming to Leo's after the attack has not been affected; in fact it has increased. But the number of foreigners among them has come down. Otherwise, at any given time, the lower section of the cafe is generally filled with foreigners," said Avik, one of the waiters.
Nevertheless, this pub-restaurant - with its typical 1980s look and now bullet-riddled window panes - continues to serve loyal customers defiant in the face of depredations it had to endure.
(Azera Rahman can be contacted at azera.p@ians.in)
The Pakistan-based Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), which has been branded a terrorist group by the UN, is writing to the global body to clarify that it has no links with terrorism and the Pakistani government began investigations against it only on the basis of "Indian propaganda", its chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said.
Acceding to Indian and US requests in the aftermath of the Nov 26 Mumbai terror attacks, the UN Security Council Wednesday declared JuD, the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a terrorist group. Four top LeT leaders, including Saeed, have also been branded global terrorists.
However, BBC Urdu website quoted Saeed as saying in an interview that he never headed the LeT. He added that although he was once arrested by the government, he was let off after JuD proved that he had nothing to do with the LeT.
The other LeT leaders whom the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee has branded global terrorists are Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Haji Muhammad Ashraf and Mahmood Muhammad Ahmed.
While insisting that none of the "LeT office holders are members of JuD", Saeed said: "India has failed to provide any evidence of LeT involvement in the Mumbai attacks."
Asked about LeT offices and camps in Pakistan, Saeed said all LeT offices were closed in 2002 after the ban on the organisation.
"Presently, there are no offices or camps (of LeT) in Pakistan," he said.
He said India was pressurising Pakistan through propaganda, adding: "The Pakistani government should investigate the allegations and clear the situation. LeT has already denied all the allegations."
Saeed said that previously India was accusing LeT of the Mumbai attacks but this week its envoy in the UN demanded restrictions on JuD. He demanded that Indian authorities provide evidence of the involvement of either of the two groups in the Mumbai attacks, which left over 170 people dead.
Declaring that the JuD will challenge the sanctions imposed on it in all forums, Saeed said his group will write to the UN explaining that it has no involvement in any terrorist activity.
When asked what he would do if India presented any evidence against JuD, Saeed said in that case his group will abide by the decision of the government of Pakistan.
He said all JuD offices in Pakistani Kashmir and other parts of the country were working as usual and the recent raids in Kashmir were on LeT.
"Pakistan army and security agencies are conducting these raids and they are in a better position to tell you against whom they are taking these actions," he added.
When asked about media reports that one of the Mumbai attackers had visited the JuD office in Muridke, Saeed said he had never met him.
"I have seen a media report that I met him for the first time in Dubai whereas I have never been to Dubai," he added.
Indo-Asian News Service