Category: Arts & Culture
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Sarita’s Manthras To Defeat Lethargy
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Padma Shri recipient Sarita Joshi is a celebrated stage, television and film actress. The veteran of Gujarati theatre and Marathi theatre and Marathi cinema, believes that “Hard work, honesty and punctuality, these three things which should always be maintained in life, because lethargy is something that will not work, and always remember that time is…
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Savya Jain Derives Inspiration From Nature
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With humans locked-in their homes over the past few months, what ran free were nature’s brushstrokes – deepening the sky’s blue, the trees’ green and all the colours in between. Capturing nature’s refreshed aura on canvas, ten on-view abstract artistic impressions by Delhi-based artist Savya Jain derive inspiration from idyllic and bountiful nature. “When I…
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Tale Of Wall Arts
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Painting stories of local communities of cities of Uttar Pradesh on a ‘donated wall’, a new art initiative is bringing together public art, talented artists and socio-cultural ethos to reimagine and reinvent public spaces in a unique way. The ‘Donate a Wall’ initiative by Asian Paints and St+art Foundation asks city dwellers to donate a…
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‘Transforming Narratives’ awards grants to 18 artists
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Eighteen creative and cultural practitioners from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Birmingham have been awarded grants to create new artworks, develop artistic relationships and hold online events as part of the Transforming Narratives Digital Collaborations programme. The successful creative and cultural practitioners will receive grants worth a total of £75,000, after the initial funding pot of…
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Digital Exhibit On Great Maestro
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A founding artist of the Bengal school of art, Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951) has had a profound impact on modern Indian art as we know it today. A virtual tour of his artworks, dedicated to his 150th birth anniversary is currently live on the website of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). The digital exhibit…
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Asian drama to focus on radicalisation
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This July will see the Belgrade Theatre turns a spotlight on radicalisation amongst young British Muslims with the premiere of a provocative new play by Asian Youth Theatre, ‘Somewhere To Belong’ at Coventry ….reports Asian Lite News This brand new collaboration between the Belgrade and Vamos Theatre Company, one of the U.K’s leading producers of masked theatre,…
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Belgrade Theatre To put A Spotlight on Radicalization
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This July will see the Belgrade Theatre shine a spotlight on radicalization amongst young British Muslims living in the UK today with the premiere of a provocative new play by Asian Youth Theatre, Somewhere To Belong….reports Asian Lite News. This brand new collaboration between the Belgrade and Vamos Theatre Company, one of the U.K’s leading…
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Forth Bridge Gets UN Heritage Stamp
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Heritage Sites including Scotland’s Forth Bridge named in Unesco list….reports Asian Lite News Unesco has designated several new World Heritage Sites in Britain, Norway, Germany, Israel, and the US during the 39th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in the western German city of Bonn. Norway’s Rjukan-Notodden industrial site includes a group of hydraulic centers and…
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The Rasta Link with Sadhus
Independent filmmaker Linda Ainouche’s new documentary Dreadlocks Story exploring the link between Hindu tradition and Rasta culture…. reports Asian Lite News Linda, an anthropologist researcher, has lived and travelled extensively within India. She is an expert on Indian culture known for her comprehensive study on Jainism. Dreadlocks Story is the first and only documentary to…
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Without God, Is Everything Permitted?
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Vikas Datta reviews British author Julian Baggini’s Without God, is Everything Permitted? The dilemmas of our lives and times – A way out? Does the study of ethics and morality have any relevance in our contemporary action-oriented, technology-driven materialistic world where philosophy is dismissed as only an academic activity? Yes, it does if we are to make informed,…
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The Tower of Babel at London Museum
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A six metre high ceramic installation created for the V&A by artist Barnaby Barford will be displayed in the Museum’s Medieval & Renaissance Galleries from 8th September to 1st November 2015. The Tower of Babel will be composed of 3,000 individual bone china buildings, each measuring 10 – 13cm tall and depicting a real London…
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Shruthi Launches Carnatic Choir
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For the first-time ever in the UK, a pioneering concept, the British Carnatic Choir, was launched in Birmingham…reports Asian Lite News The British Carnatic Choir is the brainchild of Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan, one of the country’s finest Carnatic vocalists and Artistic Director of Shruthi UK, the Solihull-based South Asian arts and culture organisation. It aims to…
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Pt Ajoy Chakrabarty enthrals Mancunians
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Padmasree Pandit Ajay Chakraborty one of the greatest male Indian classical voices of the 20- 21st Century regaled his audience at a soirée at the FUSE Roc Centre recently held in Manchester ….reports Asian Lite News. The concert was organised by Nrityakunj, a dance & art organisation from Manchester, who once again produced a thoroughly…
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Tributes to Duke Of Wellington
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The longest portrait in national portrait gallery– full 67 foot view of Duke of Wellington’s funeral goes on display for first time for Waterloo anniversary….reports Asian Lite News The National Portrait Gallery has displayed for the first time in its entirety the largest portrait in its Collection, a print showing the complete funeral procession of…
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Bolly flash mob rocks London
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A group London-based dancers thrilled the Londoners with Bollywood flash mob…reports Asian Lite News Just like food is the spice of life, dance is the magic, which transcends cultures and brings together people in a way like never before. So whilst watching a dance reality show, a group of dancers, mainly students from the Shiamak…
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Pankaj Udhas returns to rock UK
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Singer and song writer Pankaj Udhas will perform in UK in a series of concerts to be held in September…reports Asian Lite popular newspaper among British Asians. Gazhal maestro Udhas will perform in Leicester on September 17, followed by London concert on September 18 and concludes his tour on Manchester on September 19. The organisers…
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Umrao Jaan in Barnet
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Property tycoon HS Narula and his philanthropist wife Surina, opened their mansion in Barnet, for the Akademi Charity Gala held recently…reports Asian Lite News The guests were treated to a glimpse from the glorious mogul Lucknow. The story of the immortalized courtesan Umrao Jaan, was narrated by Mirza Muhammad Hadi Ruswa (played by ophthalmologist Dr…
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Jonathan to get Desi version
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Kala Sangam, the Bradford-based cultural organisation, will showcase Flights of Fantasy based on Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingstone Seagull on Saturday, 20th June at 7pm at Ganges Hall….reports Asian Lite News The world’s most famous seagull is getting a Desi version. Kala Sangam, the Bradford-based cultural organisation, will showcase Flights of Fantasy based on Richard Bach’s…
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From US to Himalayas in search of ….
Karan Bajaj, the author of best selling The Seeker, says his journey from New York to Himalayas inspired the book…. Kavita Bajeli-Datt meets Karan He left his cushy job as a top executive in a New York firm to search for that elusive answer about death and suffering. After a year-long sabbatical through a Buddhist retreat in the…
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Nek Chand 1924-2015
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By Jaideep Sarin Nek Chand, who died, was the man who literally ‘rocked’ Chandigarh for the past four decades, bringing India’s first planned city on the international map through his creations from waste material. Nek Chand, the creator of Chandigarh’s famous Rock Garden, died at the ripe age of 90. He suffered a cardiac arrest…
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Carnatic Choir to unite communities
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The British Carnatic Choir, a unique concept based on classical Indian music, is aimed at uniting diverse communities through music, will be officially launched on Friday (June 12)…reports Asian Lite News The concept is the brainchild of Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan, Artistic Director of Shruthi UK, a not-for-profit Midlands-based arts & culture organisation. The launch event, which will take…
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Ruhul gears up for Hason Raja
British Asian film maker Ruhul Amin is now busy with his new release Hason Raja starring Bollywood legend Mithun Chakraborti and music maestro Bappi Lahiri…reports Asian Lite News Ruhul, the director of many documentaries and feature films for BBC and Channel 4 Television, earned critical acclaim through his powerful visions. The new movie revolves around a ruthless…
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‘ I Bow To You Waheguru’
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Multi-talented singer-songwriter Manika Kaur returns with her second album – I Bow to You Waheguru. The album features contributions from Talvin Singh as well as several notable Western and Indian classical performers including Rakesh Chaurasia on bansuri/flute, Jyotsna Srikanth’s sinuous violin and Bernhard Schimpelsberger’s percussion…reports Asian Lite News Multi-talented singer-songwriter Manika Kaur returns with her second…
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Amrita Gill paintings to be auctioned in London
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On 10th of June Christie’s London will offer a 1931 self-portrait by Amrita Sher-Gil in the annual South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art Sale at Christie’s King Street in London on 10th of June with a pre-sale estimate of £1.0-1.8 million reports Asian Lite, UK’s leading newspaper popular among British Asians. This is the first…
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Sangeeta’s Vikraal launched in London
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SOAS, London University, played host to a unique cultural event. Sangeeta Bahadur’s Vikraal, the second book of the Kaal Trilogy, was launched with an array of events – A review by Shaheena Khan, Author’s conversation with Seema Anand, Dramatised readings by the author with Tejinder Sharma and Abhinaya performance by Arunima Kumar….reports Asian Lite News Reminiscent of India in…
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INTERVIEW: Pianist Saleem Ashkar
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Internationally acclaimed Palestinian-Israeli pianist Saleem Ashkar is the Artist in Residence of 2015 Harrogate International Festival. He talks to Sheena Hastings for Asian Lite News HE was born in Nazareth, and his grandfather was a carpenter…Little Saleem Abboud Ashkar spent many happy hours learning to work with chunks of wood in that workshop in the…
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Spriha’s ‘A Splash of Colours’ in London
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Ace journalist Spriha Srivastava is revealing the fruits of her passion at an exhibition entitled ‘A Splash of Colours’ at Nehru Centre in London…writes Asian Lite News Spriha Srivastava, Senior Staff Writer, Money Management at Financial Times, will be exhibiting a range of photographs ranging from wildlife to landscapes and nature at an exhibition entitled…
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NRI digital art explores police gunbattle deaths in US
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An Indian-American digital artist and educator has produced an interactive multimedia installation to explore the problem of killings in police gunbattles in the US which result in at least two deaths every day according to a media estimate. The “Hands Up” digital exhibit is about “generating empathy”, said Roopa Vasudevan, who created it with fellow…
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INTERVIEW: Amitav Ghosh
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Hailed as one of the most accomplished Indian writers, Amitav Ghosh was recently nominated for the Man Booker International Prize. In ‘Flood of Fire’ I feel like I have conquered a mountain, Mr Ghosh told Preetha Nair. Flood of Fire, the last in the Ibis trilogy, where history and fiction interweave and span the years leading…
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Meera unveils ‘The House of Hidden Mothers’
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Meera Syal unveils her new novel The House of Hidden Mothers at a star studded event at Soho’s Union Club. Amongst the guests were Syal’s husband and longtime collaborator Sanjeev Bhaskar, actorsRichard E Grant, Maureen Lipman, Adrian Lester, Kabir Bedi and Nitin Ganatra, author Anthony Horowitz, the High Commissioner of India His Excellency Ranjan Mathai, comedians Jo…
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Help for budding filmmakers in London
Film London is holding a series of events for filmmakers who want to take part in Microwave, a feature film fund supported by the BFI, BBC Films and Creative Skillset…reports Rekha Patel for Asian Lite News Microwave offers support, training and professional mentoring as well as production funding. The roadshows will take place across London, as well…
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Snow White Kathakali
Snow White, Disney’s classic, will be recreated in a traditional Indian dance format – Kathakali….reports Kaliph Anaz for Asian Lite News Kathakali is Kerala’ very own dance drama. It is a wonderful combination of drama, dance, and music. The performer in elaborate costumes and boldly painted face enacts stories of Hindu mythology, through hand signs.…
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No saffronisation: Mahesh Sharma
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By Preetha Nair The controversial changes at the helm of the National Museum and Lalit Kala Akademi are the government’s attempt to bring in new talent and there is no attempt at “saffronisation”, Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma has assserted. “We took the decision to change the heads of institutions in the interest…
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Yes Mr Patel…The Diaspora in Fiction
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Politicians, business magnates, sports stars – the Indian diaspora has done well for itself in its new homes around the world and, on a literary basis, crossed another test of acceptance with their depiction in fiction as regular, non-stereotypical characters. From police inspectors to businessmen to cooks in nearly half a dozen countries across four…
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Indian dance art collection for sale in London
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Asian Lite, Britains largest Asian newspaper reports on the dance inspired art collection owned by The Anglo -Indian great niece of Abanindarnath Tagore the artist and creator of ‘Indian Society of Oriental Art’ and the first major exponent of swadeshi values in Indian art on sale in London. A fascinating art collection from a couple…
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Portrait of an engineer as a novelist
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Vikas Datta profiles Nevil Shute Norway, an aeronautical engineer would be the last person expected to be a successful and long-lasting novelist Immersed in aerodynamics, material science, structural analysis and the like, an aeronautical engineer would be the last person expected to be a successful and long-lasting novelist. But there was one who started writing…
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Indus Valley script numerical
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Contrary to the age-old assumption that the Indus script is a language, a veteran science historian has claimed that it is numerical, as evident from numbers and symbols in the seals and artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilisation (3000-1900 BC)…reports Fakir Balaji for Asian Lite, Britain’s best newspaper for British Asians Contrary to the age-old assumption that…
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The House of Hidden Mothers
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Author, actress, comedian and an impressive three decades into her career, Meera Syal CBE, is gearing up for the exciting release of her new book, The House of Hidden Mothers on 4th June Welcome to Little India, situated in East London: Shyama, aged forty-four, has fallen for a younger man. They want a child together.…
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Sleeping Beauty Seeks Help
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South Asian Arts UK launches fundraising campaign to bring Sleeping Beauty to life Yorkshire based arts charity, South Asian Arts UK (SAA-uk), is asking for help to unite East and West and bring a fairy-tale to life with an Indian inspired performance of Sleeping Beauty. SAA-uk is hoping to raise £5,000 in order to create…
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Shreya to enthral fans in MCR
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Shreya Ghoshal fans will be thrilled to hear their favourite singer LIVE in concert on May 24. The concert takes place at the O2 Apollo Manchester on Sunday from 7:30p.m. (Doors Open 6:45pm) Brought up in a quaint little town called Rawatbhata in Rajasthan where her scientist father was posted, Shreya Ghoshal started learning music at…
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World Premiere of Shivaji Play in London
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London will soon see the exuberant stage show displaying Maratha king Shivaji’s greatness and valour in the play ‘Jaanta Raja’ at SSE Wembley Arena on 20 and 21 June…writes Ragasudha Vinjamuri London will soon see the exuberant stage show displaying Indian king Shivaji’s greatness and valour in the play ‘Jaanta Raja’ at SSE Wembley Arena…
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Kerala’s popular Kathakali in London
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The highly experienced team of Kathakali artistes from Kerala will be in London to deliver an exciting performances. London’s prestigious Southbank Centre will host ‘Kathakali‘, a spectacular and ancient theatre show from South Indian state of Kerala, on Saturday 23 May London’s prestigious Southbank Centre will host ‘Kathakali’, a spectacular and ancient theatre show from South…
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Hungarian wins Man Booker Prize
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Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai has won the biennial Man Booker International Prize 2015. The award ceremony was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and Krasznahorkai was chosen from a list of 10 contenders from around the world. Krasznahorkai, born in 1954, gained considerable recognition with his numerous works, such as “Satantango” and…
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Navia Natrajan at Nehru Centre today
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Indian classical danseuse Navia Natrajan will perform at the Nehru Centre on Thursday 19th May at 6.30 pm. A classicalist through and through, Navia Natarajan, imbues her performances with the elements of theatre, conceptual movement and Yoga. She stays true to the path of the Margam – the prescribed order that Bharatanatyam follows – which…
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Harriet’s Unusual Art at Nehru Centre
Harriet Riddell who practices an amazingly different art – that of a textile performance artist shall present a Talk and Exhibition: In Stitch You India today, May 18 at 6.30 pm She has travelled India with her sewing machine, creating art works in live scenarios. Harriet stitches her observations and creates narrative illustrations of the…
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Husain paintings on display in London
Works of India’s ‘Barefoot Picasso’ will be displayed at Grosvenor Vadehra in London Grosvenor Vadehra in London to showcase M. F. Husain, Paintings and Drawings: Works from a Private Collection. The exhibition opens with a private reception on Friday May 22ndand runs until Tuesday June 9th. There is also another late night event at the Gallery on Friday 5th…
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Inspector Chen and his cases
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Vikas Datta follow up the Chinese Puzzles -Qiu Xiaolong’s Inspector Chen and his cases “When I am satisfied questions of state security are not involved, then you begin,” a secret police operative tells homicide investigator Arkady Renko in Martin Cruz Smith’s “Gorky Park”, stressing order, not justice – the basic objective of policing not only in authoritarian…
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Jaipur Literary Fest Opens in London
The highlight of the first day’s event includes a clash on dais in between India’s leading journalists Rajdeep Sardesai and Swapan Das Gupta and Mrs Nadira Naipual’s allegations against Jnanpith Award winner Dr Kirish Karnad…writes Kaliph Anaz London gets the taste of Jaipur Literary Festival as South Asia’s largest literary event showcased some of its programmes…
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‘Indian diaspora should move beyond culture’
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By Paras Ramoutar The Indian diaspora must move beyond culture, heritage and traditions into present day areas of sustainable development, according to a well-known academic here. Clement Sankat, principal of the St. Augustine Campus, University of the West Indies, said at the opening ceremony of the International Indian Diaspora Conference at the university on Tuesday…
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Gav Sadhra, Shreya unveil Judai
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RISING STAR GAV SADHRA TEAMS UP WITH BOLLYWOOD SINGING SENSATION SHREYA GHOSHAL! May 14th see’s the release date of JUDAI, The new single by UK newcomer Gav Sadhra which features the Bollywood singing sensation Shreya Ghoshal, it’s a tune that will be buzzing around your head for a long while! The song has been produced by one of…