Category: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

** Amid Ladakh standoff, India inaugurates world’s highest motorable road: 5 points

Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday inaugurated 24 bridges and three roads built by Border Roads Organisation to strengthen strategic capabilities of India. Among these projects is the Chisumle-Demchok road at Umling La Pass.

** How Bengal Heritage Foundation sustains the ‘living bridge’ between India and the UK

“There is no stronger or more important ‘living bridge’ than what the United Kingdom shares with India, and especially Bengal. It has been fantastic to see how the Bengal Heritage Foundation (BHF) has been nourishing and developing this unique bond over the years,” said Nick Low, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, at The Bengal Club on December 27.

Low was speaking at the Bengal Heritage Dinner organised by the BHF — set up by a group of Bengali families in London in 2009 — to shed light on the wide-ranging work that the Foundation does to bolster Indo-British ties, apart from promoting the distinctive qualities of Bengal and Bengalis in the UK.

West Bengal

** Sahitya Akademi award for Tamil writer Ambai

Ambai is the fourth woman writer from Tamil Nadu to get the award.

Tamil feminist writer Ambai, whose writings challenge the stereotyping of women, has won this year’s Sahitya Akademi award. She has been awarded for her short story collection Sivappu Kazhutthudan Oru Patchaiparavai. Ambai is the fourth woman writer from Tamil Nadu to get the award.

Another Tamil writer Mu Murugesh bagged the Bala Sahitya Puraskar for his collection of short stories, ‘Ammavukku Magal Sonna Ulagin Mudhal Kadha

** Srekala pays tribute to freedom fighters

Srekala Bharath’s ‘Veeram Vilayndha Bhoomi’ wasn’t backed by powerful dramatisation

Puli Thevar, Velu Nachiyar, Marudu Sagodharargal, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, V.O. Chidambaram, Bharathiyar and Kodi katha Kumaran are freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, but barring a few popular names, most people may not be much familiar with others. So it was a good idea to present their stories as an ode to these freedom fighters and to commemorate 75 years of Independence.

Tamil Nadu

** Find vintage mopeds and motorcycles at India’s first museum dedicated to two-wheelers

Come 2022, experience vintage mopeds, scooters and motorcycles at India’s first museum dedicated to two-wheelers in Mahabaleshwar by Vinit Kenjale

The museum, Vintage Miles, has been decades in the making. Spread over a large plot in Mahabaleshwar, the impressive collection will be organised in three sheds: one each for mopeds, scooters and motorcycles. “The idea is to have audio-visual aids for visitors, so they can experience what these vehicles sound like on the road. Some vehicles will be available for experiences and rides as well. I want to keep the ticket sales affordable,” adds Kenjale, whose collection has been featured in the Limca Book of Records in 2018.

** Discovery Channel Makes A Feature Film On The First Indian Wildlife Photographer, Yashas Narayan

Yashas Narayan, one of the most reputed wildlife photographers of India. It would be prudent to say that he is one of the best big cat trackers that India has seen. Proudly known for his astonishing and mesmerising portfolio of India’s tigers, leopards, and black panthers, he is now the first Indian wildlife photographer to get a feature film made by the Discovery networks.

Titled “Eye to Eye With a Tiger”, Yashas got an opportunity to lead a team of highly dedicated professionals to capture the serenity amidst the short lives in the modern world. Partnering with the World Wildlife Fund to support Project CAT, Discovery’s collaboration aims to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022 by spreading awareness about deforestation, poaching, and overhunting of the tigers’ prey. Similarly, Samsung has sponsored this film to raise awareness about Project CAT.

** Meet Rajasthan’s Ravi Soni – Guinness World Record holder for largest drawing by an individual

Udaipur-based designer Ravi Soni recently broke the Guinness World Record by creating the World’s Largest Drawing measuring a whopping 629.981 square meters (6781 sq.feet). Soni created his huge painting on November 30, 2021 at Maharana Bhupal Stadium, Udaipur. It took him around 24 hours to complete the drawing spanning across 5 days. 

** Guru Randhawa becomes first Indian male singer to cross 30 million followers on Instagram

Singer-songwriter Guru Randhawa has crossed 30 million followers on his Instagram, making him the first Indian male singer to have amassed such following.

Guru is known for chartbuster tracks like ‘Lahore’, ‘High Rated Gabru’, ‘Ishare Tere’ and the most recent ‘Dance Meri Rani’.

** Journalist Nava Thakuria bags international award

Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has honoured Tehelka journalist for his relentless initiatives to safeguard the rights of media persons in the south Asian country and also for defending the press freedom in the region with an exemplary commitment. 

The Guwahati-based working journalist was awarded on 30th November 2021 remotely as it was difficult for him to reach Geneva because of the Covid-19 restrictions. Even a virtual interaction program with a group of journalists there was also cancelled at the last moment.

“It is the first time that the PEC rewards a journalist from India, the second-most populous country of the world. India has a strong democracy and a vibrant press. Last year however, a record number of 15 journalists were killed in India while six have been killed this year. Journalists are targeted documenting abuses, corruption, criminal activities,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.