Asian Lite News Archive

Category: Woman

  • ‘Iron Lady’ Sharmila refuses to give up

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    By Ninglun Hanghal    “Iron Lady” Sharmila Chanu completes Sunday 13 years of hunger strike that she began after the massacre of 10 people by Assam Rifles at a bus stand here. Over the years, the “Malom Massacre” memorial at the bus stand in Malom, around six kilometers from Manipur capital Imphal, bears a deserted look,…

  • An assassination recalled

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    By Tarun Basu  Thirty years later, the 90-year-old doctor remembers the event as if it was just the other day. “I had left after chatting with her, like I used to do every morning after a routine check-up,” said Dr K.P. Mathur, of his patient of 18 years, prime minister Indira Gandhi. “But within 20…

  • Kiran short-listed for top award

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    British-Asian professional Kiran Singh,  Croxley, Watford has been short-listed for the Design & Creative category at the inaugural Asian Professional Awards. Over 4,000 nominations and votes were received this year paying tribute to inspirational individuals from the Asian community that contribute in every conceivable sector of national life. Kiran Singh, a Mumpreneur, born and brought up in Norway,…

  • Jaya and her prison diet

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    Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, who was granted bail Friday, spent about three weeks in jail getting up early in the morning and reading newspapers, taking rest in the afternoon after a lunch of curd rice, a stroll in the evening and hitting the bed early. “Jayalalithaa is fine and her health is…

  • Hema Malini @ 66

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    By Subhash K.Jha   After several hectic travel schedules, veteran actress and politician Hema Malini, who turned 66 , is happy to spend a “quiet” birthday in Mumbai with her elder daughter Esha and son-in-law Bharat Takhtani. She says she looks back at her journey with “affection”. “I was supposed to be in my constituency Mathura.…

  • Women under pressure to look young: Survey

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     Youthful, glowing skin is something that women are constantly striving for and this is the reason why one in three women feel pressure to look young, says a survey. New research from cosmetic brand Sanctuary Spa Wonder Oil Serum found that women feel pressure to look young and this is the reason why two-thirds of…

  • Vayalar award for K.R. Meera

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      Former journalist K.R. Meera, 44, has bagged the Vayalar Rama Varma Award, the most prestigious literary award in Kerala. Announcing this here Saturday, M.K. Sanu, a trustee of the Vayalar Rama Varma Trust said that Meera’s novel “Aarachaar” won her the award. “The award carries a cash prize of Rs.25,000 and a citation. The…

  • Queen makes Angelina Honorary Dame

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     Actress Angeline Jolie made her first public appearance after her marriage with actor Brad Pitt when she was made an Honorary Dame by Queen Elizabeth II, for her work to fight sexual violence and for her services to British foreign policy. The “Maleficent” star, who was honoured wduring a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace, however,…

  • NRI activist wins prestigious US food award

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    Indian-American food justice activist Navina Khanna is one of the five winners of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Leadership awards for 2014, considered North America’s highest honour for food and beverage professionals. Khanna, Fellow at Movement Strategy Centre, has won the award “For her work as a food justice activist organizing across communities for equitable…

  • An example of encouragement

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    Nirmalaben C Patel is a hardworking woman; she has been volunteering in the community for 19 long years and is currently the assistant secretary at Krishna Temple in Bolton. She helps out in cultural shows, anchoring, choreographing and performing on stage. Nirmalaben C Patel Nirmalaben received the Inspirational Women’s Award recently for her tireless contribution…

  • Sania Mirza to walk the ramp

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    Tennis star Sania Mirza has been chosen by Ritu Pande as the showstopper for her show on Friday at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) Spring-Summer 2015, starting here Wednesday. The designer will launch a collection titled “Lady in Lace”, inspired by the layered nuances and hidden beauty of quintessential Victoriana. The French and…

  • Where older women beat men voters

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    By Jaideep Sarin  As they grow older, women voters in Haryana get the better of men – numerically speaking. In the 70-years plus age group, it is the women who outnumber men among eligible voters in the state. That is quite an achievement given the fact that Haryana has the worst sex ratio (number of…

  • Factsheet on violence against women

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    A group of experts on preventing rape, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, pornography, FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and other violence against girls and young women has published a new Factsheet for schools providing accurate information on these kinds of abuse and where information and advice on each can be found – and Education Secretary Nicky Morgan…

  • Inspiring people at every step

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    Prabha Halai received the Inspirational Women’s Award recently for her commitment, dedication and initiative to serve the community and set up aerobics and yoga classes at the Swaminarayan Temple and other community hubs in Bolton. Prabha inspires people both physically and mentally. Prabha Halai  “It’s nice to get recognition for the work we do and…

  • ‘Self promote, talk about your achievements’

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    Noor Ali after receiving the Everywoman Retail Ambassador Award in London Coming from a strict Muslim background, university was not an option. However, this did not deter Noor Ali, World Foods Manager at Morrisons, to break the glass ceiling and venture into a ‘male bastion’. Born in Leeds, Noor grew up as part of a…

  • INTERVIEW: Hema Malini

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    Hema Malini and director Ramesh Sippy are working together after almost 40 years and the actress-politician says he is still the same and is very mischievous with her. The duo have given hits like “Andaz”, “Seeta Aur Geeta” and “Sholay” in the 1970s. Would they again generate the same hysteria with their fourth outing together…

  • Priyanka on Mary Kom’s Asiad gold

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    Priyanka Chopra, the reel life M.C. Mary Kom, is ecstatic about the real life boxing champion’s gold winning exploits in the women’s flyweight category (48-51kg) at the 17th Asian Games Wednesday. The actress says it symbolises woman power. Mary Kom, a five-time World Champion, defeated Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova 2-0, with one judge scoring the bout…

  • 12 million girls in India face sexual violence

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    One in five girls in India has experienced physical violence since 15 years of age, according to a report released by UNICEF here . The figure translates into 12 million girls, said the report, which used data from the National Family Health Survey. It said that 4.5 percent of girls aged between 15 and 19…

  • Mary Kom vie for Asiad boxing gold

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    India’s M.C. Mary Kom secured a berth in the gold medal bout of the women’s flyweight (48-51kg) after a convincing win in the semi-final of the 17th Asian Games here Tuesday. The 31-year-old Indian beat Vietnam’s Le Thi Bang by a unanimous 3-0 decision to enter the final. The five-time world champion was in fine…

  • Victoria Beckham appointed UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador

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    Victoria Beckham has been appointed UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador. The announcement was made Thursday at a press conference during the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, which runs from Sep 16 to Oct 1, Xinhua reported. “This is the beginning of an important journey for me. As a woman and a…

  • Hydration vital during pregnancy

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    During pregnancy most women are likely to pay more attention to living healthy and eating a healthy diet, but it is also important to keep a check on the key element during pregnancy – hydration. When pregnant or breastfeeding, a woman’s water requirements are higher than usual and that is why water is needed to…

  • ‘Karnika Kahen’ raises women’s issues

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      Mumbai-based woman cartoonist received numerous threats from followers of Asaram Bapu, who were enraged at the humorous and focused cartoons she drew of his illegal sexual exploits. During this period Kanika Mishra received phone calls from Bapu’s supporters threatening to kill her and her family. When Kanika got word that the self-styled godman had…

  • INTERVIEW: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

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    Waadi Animations pushes Pak films into animation space   After unearthing the horrors of acid attacks and recruitment of child terrorists, Pakistan’s Oscar and Emmy Award winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has put her creative forces behind “3 Bahadur”, said to be the country’s first animated feature film in Urdu. She says her homeland has a pool…

  • Single women hate marriage queries

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    When are you getting married or why aren’t you getting married — these are questions that annoy single Indian women most, according to a survey by personalised matchmaking service Select Shaadi. A total of 7,486 single men and women in the age group of 21 to 34 across the country were surveyed by the service,…

  • Live your life authentically: Karishma

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    Coaching and helping people solve their problems comes to her naturally. Karishma Gill, the Empowerment Coach, tells Anjana Parikh, how important it is to bring self-healing, and living authentically and guiding your life with love and compassion is not just a woman’s issue but it is humanity’s call to action. AL: You are an Empowerment…

  • Air India gets new chief in London

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    Tara Naidu, former Chief of Commercial Air India Express, has arrived in London to take over the new post as Regional Manager UK/Ireland and Europe. Naidu, one of the most successful aviation professional, will spearhead the national carrier’s new ambitious drive to capture a remarkable slice in the global aviation market. Naidu was a key…

  • Indian speaker in Geneva

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    Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said men and women should participate equally for inclusive growth’ Men and women should participate equally in the development process as it contributes to inclusive growth, sustainable development and long-term prosperity, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said at an event in Geneva. Participating in the Ninth Annual Meeting of Women Speakers…

  • Wardrobe & Health Risks

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    Naveen Ram looks in to the link between stylish wardrobes and health issues Do not follow fashion trends blindly. Consider the long and short-term health risks associated with the latest fashion trends, says leading Orthopaedic Surgeon, Simon Moyes. As a specialist sports injury orthopaedic surgeon, Moyes is no stranger to the aches and pains of professional athletes that…

  • Indian girls among the most abused: Unicef

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    Indian mothers and step-mothers are those mostly likely to subject their daughters to “physical violence,” according to a Unicef report that raises the issues of corporal punishment and discipline. Among Indian girls 15 to 19 years of age, 41 percent experienced physical violence at the hands of their mothers or step-mothers, while only 18 percent…

  • ‘Hijab instils positive body image’

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     British Muslim women who wear a hijab (headscarf) generally have a more positive body image, are less reliant on media messages about beauty ideals and place less importance on appearance than those who do not wear a hijab, says an Indian-origin researcher. These effects appear to be driven by use of a hijab specifically, rather…

  • Nominations open for PRECIOUS Awards

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    According to the IPA 2012 Multicultural Britain report, the BME community accounts for around 12%  of the overall population and has a spending power of £300 billion and rising. It raises many  questions as to why women from this section of the community are still under-represented in  boardrooms across the country. With celebrating the achievements…

  • Kalpna’s fame to The Taste

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    Cooking under tremendous pressure was difficult; surroundings including the utensils were not familiar, and she was under the constant watch of TV cameras, but her love and passion for food kept her going. Meet Kalpna Mistry, who stormed the Channel 4 competition –The Taste– with her self-taught culinary skills and Gujarati influence. Another feather on…

  • INTERVIEW: Chanda Kochhar

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    More women’s participation will help increase GDP Greater participation of women in the economy will help raise India’s gross domestic product (GDP), Chanda Kochhar, chief executive officer and managing director of ICICI Bank said. “More women participation in economic growth will help increase the GDP of the country,” Kochhar said during an interactive session on…

  • ‘Never give up your dreams’

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    Oozing out with confidence and the ability to work harder than before, Smita Gadkari tells Anjana Parikh that she never felt challenged as an Asian woman building her career in the UK. The new admissions manager at Anglia Ruskin University, one of the largest universities in the East of England, Smita talks about the changes…

  • Rashmi Anand receives Neerja Bhanot Award 2013

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    In a ceremony held at the auditorium of St Stephens School, Chandigarh, acclaimed actor Shabana Azmi conferred the prestigious Neerja Bhanot Award 2013 on Delhi-based Rashmi Anand. The annual Neerja Bhanot Award was instituted in 1991 in memory of the brave Senior Flight Purser, Neerja Bhanot, who saved hundreds of lives while sacrificing her own,…

  • Heart attacks kill younger women faster

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    Aakriti Gupta, an Indian-origin researcher at the Yale School of Medicine, has found that women have longer hospital stays and are more likely than men to die in the hospital after a heart attack. “Younger women are a vulnerable yet understudied group with worse cardiac risk profiles and worse outcomes after a heart attack as…

  • Every child should be a reader

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    I have always had an interest in politics and had helped the local LibDems over the years.   Cllr Sunita Gordon, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Wallington North Ward In 2010, I was encouraged by my local MP Tom Brake (deputy leader of the house) to stand as a councillor in the London borough of Sutton.…

  • Rise in multicultural brides in Britain

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    The multicultural population in the UK now stands at over 7.5 million, particularly in London areas such as Tower Hamlets and Newham which are booming in popularity. It therefore comes as no surprise that this area of growth is proving big business for a number of niche market operators; particularly those offering services in the…

  • How not to look fat in your clothes

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    Clothes can make you look and feel great, no matter the size of your body, but be wary of adding visible pounds with the style choices you make. Think twice and follow a few guidelines before you opt to experiment with new outfits. From trying out menswear outfits to compromising on fabric at the cost…

  • Priyanka Chopra to promote Indian handlooms

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    Actress Priyanka Chopra will soon be promoting the Indian sari on international platforms, officials said Thursday. A proposal to this effect was being given final touches and the National Film Award winner has given her consent, union Textile Secretary Zohra Chatterjee said during her visit to Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.…

  • Help to reduce menopausal hot flashes

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    For managing your menopausal symptoms, an ancient Chinese method could be an effective alternative as researchers have found that acupuncture can affect the severity and frequency of hot flashes for women in natural menopause. “The review suggests that acupuncture may be an effective alternative for reducing hot flashes, especially for those women seeking non-pharmacologic therapies,”…

  • BIG INTERVIEW: Kashaf Murtaza

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    Having immortalised strong women-oriented roles on TV screens across the border, young and multi-faceted Sanam Saeed, known to Indian audiences as Kashaf Murtaza of “Zindagi Gulzar Hai”, says that while India makes the most of its filmmaking capacity to tell stories, the medium in Pakistan is TV. The 29-year-old is ecstatic and “grateful” that “Zindagi…

  • Living life in the fast lane

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    World’s first woman race engineer to win the Le Mans 24 hours, Leena Gade tells Anjana Parikh that the journey to the top wasn’t a cake walk. In the beginning, the British-born race engineer, worked for free, cleaned cars and helped mechanic build cars. AL: What is it like to live life in the fast…

  • Zohra Sehgal passes away at 102

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    Veteran actress Zohra Sehgal died here Thursday of cardiac arrest at the age of 102, a family member said. A heart patient, Sehgal was admitted to the Max Hospital in south Delhi’s Saket area after being diagnosed with pneumonia Wednesday. She died of a heart attack at 4.30 p.m. Thursday. Born on the April 27,…

  • ‘Dance nourishes mind, body and soul’

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    Shalini Bhalla, the creative director and founder of Just Jhoom! went through a lot of upheaval in life. The recipient of Asian Woman of Achievement in Arts & culture Award 2013, tells Anjana Parikh from Asian Lite, how dance and music helped her to overcome depression and live life with enthusiasm and vigour. AL: How has…

  • Pune hospital celebrates birth of every girl child

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    Quaid Najmi tells about the peace in Pune’s Hadapsar area which was suddenly shattered by a man banging away at a steel plate with a stick and ward boys and nurses running on the street offering “congratulations” and offering local peda sweets to people on the streets. Save The Girl Child Campaign The commotion was…

  • Goa minister wants ban on short skirts

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    Goa’s Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar wants to ban young girls from wearing short skirts to nightclubs of Goa. “Young girls wearing short skirts in nightclubs are a threat to the Goan culture,” Dhavalikar told reporters on the sidelines of an inauguration function in Panaji late Monday. “This habit of young girls wearing short…

  • ‘Women are catalysts for social change’

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    Reena Ranger, the chairman and co-founder of Women Empowered (WE), was enjoying her role as a mother, however, she felt the urge to do something more to help shape the world. Speaking to Anjana Parikh from Asian Lite, Reena talks about the idea behind WE, and how women can bring a new approach to work…

  • Postpone motherhood to live long!

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    Career women who postpone motherhood have reason to cheer as researchers have found that women who have babies later in life are likely to live longer. Older maternal age at birth of the last child is linked with greater odds for surviving to an unusually old age, the findings showed. The study that involved 462…

  • Biokon’s Kiran bags Top Prize

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    India’s biotechnology queen and Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been awarded the coveted Global Economy Prize for business by the Kiel Institute in Germany during its centenary celebrations. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the first Indian woman and fourth Indian to be conferred this prize,” the Bangalore-based biotech company said in a statement. The German institute is…