Month: March 2022

** Danseuse Geeta Chandran receives Lifetime Achievement Award

The Alumni Association of the Indian Institute of Mass Communications (IIMC) presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned classical dancer and Padmashri awardee Geeta Chandran at its 10th annual meet connections on February 27, 2022.

Sanjay Dwivedi, Director General of IIMC, presented Geeta with the award.

This year marks the sixth year of the IIMCAA Awards, which are given to alumni working in journalism, public relations, advertising and corporate communications. The Lifetime Achievement Awards will also begin this year.

According to the IIMC Alumni Association, after receiving her Masters degree from IIMC in 1984, Geeta Chandran worked as a Course Coordinator at IIMC for a year before joining NAMEDIA Foundation, where she worked alongside renowned media luminaries Nikhil Chakravorty and N.L. Chawla, former IIMC Director. She then worked briefly in NTPC’s public relations department before committing full-time to Bharatanatyam, her passion since the age of five.

Indian classical dancer (Padmashri) Geeta Chandran uses her exceptional skill in Bharatanatyam as a force multiplier for the widest range of dance issues that have captured her attention: exploring linkages between body and mind; forging relationships between solo dancing, group dancing and choreography; actualizing the links between the artist and society; and using dance as a medium for expressing abstract notions of joy, beauty, and values, aspirations, myth and spirituality.

New Delhi

** R. Priya to be first Dalit Mayor of Chennai

R. Priya, a 28-year-old Post Graduate and a Councillor from Mangalapuram is to become the next Mayor of Chennai. She will be the first Dalit Mayor of Chennai corporation after the State government in January 2022 passed an order reserving Chennai Corporation Mayor post to Dalit women.

She is a Post Graduate in Commerce from Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Arts and Science College for Women in George Town, Chennai.

Tamil Nadu

** Indian restaurant Saathiya in Kyiv becomes shelter home; owner wins applause

Gujarat’s Manish Dave, 52, has won hearts for opening his restaurant door to Kyiv residents facing an unprecedented crisis as Russia ups its offensive against Ukraine.

Indian restaurant Saathiya was started for Indian students studying in Ukraine, and now before it could make a full-fledged run, the war broke out and now it is a safehouse for anyone who wants a respite from the airstrike, shelling, and a hot meal.

Gujarat / Ukraine

** Ujjain sets Guinness record by lighting over 11.7 lakh oil lamps on Mahashivratri

Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh broke the record set in Ayodhya last year, officials said. Ujjain is home to Mahakaleshwar, one of the 12 jyotirlingas associated with Shiva.

“You have not only created a record by lighting 11,71,878 lamps, but also written the history of this holy occasion in golden letters,” Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a tweet accompanied by a picture while accepting the certificate from Guinness World Records officials.(ANI)

** Kolkata’s Tiretta Bazaar, called ‘India’s First Chinatown’, among World Monuments Watch list for 2022

The bazaar is understood to be named after one Edward Tiretta, who was an Italian immigrant from Venice.

The place has been identified and included in the World Monuments Watch list for 2022

** Virat Kohli’s 100th Test: A look at his journey in whites so far

In the first 10 years of Test cricket, nobody has amassed as many centuries as Kohli did.

Virat Kohli has come a long way as a Test cricketer since his debut in 2011 against West Indies. The Delhi-lad did not have a good run in the first match as he could only score 19 runs. But after a decade-long journey, Kohli is now all set to play his 100th Test match in Mohali on March 4.

Having donned the white jersey in 99 Test matches, Kohli has scored 7962 runs at a stellar average of 50.39. Kohli led the Indian team in 68 Tests and won 40 matches. He has a wholesome win percentage of 58.82%.

Best five-Test records:

1. Kohli’s record of 20 Test centuries as skipper is the second-most for any player. Only Graeme Smith (25) is ahead of him.

2.  The former Indian captain’s 27 centuries since his debut are only equalled by Australia’s Steve Smith and are more than David Warner , Joe Root and Kane Williamson .

3. Kohli-led Indian team have won 24 Test matches at home.

4. Kohli also holds the record for most Test wins as Indian captain. Kohli led India to win 40 out of 68 matches

** Nearly 8000 Indians have returned from Ukraine: Centre

India is also planning to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine – which would include basic essentials like medicines and food.

The Indian government has taken all measures to ensure the safe evacuation of the remaining Indians stranded there. Since the evacuation process began, a few days back, six evacuation flights have returned to India bringing back 1396 students.

** 1,000 notified monuments to get pvt operators

“We are targeting about 1,000 historical sites or monuments across states to be placed under Monument Mitra schemes or some other variants.

The Union culture ministry is working on a plan to hand over about 1,000 notified heritage sites and monuments to private players or non-government organisations for maintenance under a special arrangement such as the Monument Mitra  (adopt a heritage) scheme.          

“We are targeting about 1,000 historical sites or monuments across states to be placed under Monument Mitra schemes or some other variants. We are working on it. This modal will help to spruce up several monuments such as Purana Quila and Safdarjung Tomb (in Delhi). They are not in very good state. Once improved, we can promote them for tourism promotion,” said a senior official.   

** The number of India’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals increased 11 per cent last year: Study

India reportedly ranked third in billionaire population globally in 2021. The US is number one followed by the Chinese mainland and India.

Nearly 30 per cent wealth of Indian ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) was allocated towards the purchase of principal and second housing properties last year, according to property consultant Knight Frank.

In its attitude survey, part of the Wealth Report 2022, Knight Frank India said that 29 per cent wealth of Indian ultra-wealthy, (those having a net worth of USD 30 million and above), is allocated towards purchase of principal and second homes.

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** Special postal cover on RRK Murthy released

The Vijayawada Division of the postal department has released a special cover featuring Acharya Rayasam Radha Krishna Murthy, founder of Spandana magazine, of Guntur district.

RRK Murthy is known for reciting the bible on the radio for over 25 years.

Postmaster-General, Vijayawada, Syed Rasheed released the special cover in the city on Monday.

Postmaster General, Visakhapatnam Dr. M. Venkateswarlu, Sr. Superintendent of Postoffices K.S. Venkateswara Rao and others were present on the occasion.

Andhra Pradesh