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Left castigates govt for "failure" to check prices
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The Left parties today lashed out at the UPA government for its "failure" to check rising prices saying it stood helpless before the "monster of market forces" which was responsible for this situation.
"The government stands helpless before the monster of market forces," CPI National Secretary D Raja said here. He was joined by CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury who said the Left would go to the people if the government did not take "relevant steps" to control inflation.
Reacting to Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal's statement terming the inflation as a global phenomenon, Raja said "this is a very callous attitude. The government should have anticipated the situation and taken adequate long and short term measures suggested by the Left parties much earlier".
Sibal had said that the government did not have a "magic wand" to bring down inflation, which was a global phenomenon.
Yechury said the Left parties had sent detailed notes to the government on controlling prices. "Of course we shared our concerns (with government) ...The point is to make the government take the relevant steps and that is what we wanted them to do and that is what we conveyed to them." "If they are not heeding, then we will go to the people," he said. PTI
OBC quota issue figures in the Union Cabinet meeting
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court verdict allowing OBC quota in higher education institutions figured at the meeting of the Union Cabinet today with the contentious creamy layer issue being raised.
"The issue was raised but the Cabinet did not discuss it," Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said at the briefing on the Cabinet meeting when asked whether the creamy layer issue came up.
He parried a question on who raised the issue.
Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, HRD Minister Arjun Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood to have briefed him on the apex court verdict on the OBC reservation and the exclusion of creamy layer from its purview.
Arjun Singh said yesterday that the issue of the creamy layer would be addressed by the Cabinet.
Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, whose party PMK is sore over the exclusion of the creamy layer amongst the OBCs from the ambit of reservation, also met the HRD Minister today and congratulated him on the court verdict.
Ramadoss welcomed the Supreme Court ruling upholding 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions and said it was a victory for social justice which has come after a long wait of 60 years. PTI
Pay panel report to be processed by Secy Panel: Govt
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) In the wake of sharp attack from men of the forces, police and employees, the government today announced constitution of a high level official committee to review the report of the sixth pay commission.
The Union Cabinet discussed the pay panel report, that recommended an average 40 per cent high in pay packets, and decided to set up a committee of secretaries.
Considered as 'inadequate' by employees associations, the Panel had suggested a pay packet of Rs 90,000 for the top bureaucrat and Rs 80,000 for secretaries in the recommendations that cost the exchequer over Rs 12,000 crore.
The Empowered Committee of Secretaries will be headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters after the Cabinet meeting today.
The committee will mainly function as a screening committee for the pay panel's report and submit its final recommendations to the Cabinet for approval, Sibal said.
The Government has already constituted a committee headed by Finance Secretary D Subbarao to look into the grievances of armed forces and IPS officers. PTI
AIADMK to contest seven seats in Karnataka
Chennai, Apr 11 (PTI) The much-speculated alliance between BJP and AIADMK for the coming assembly polls in Karnataka failed to materialise with AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa today releasing a list of seven candidates to contest in Tamil- dominated areas of that state.
Her announcement to contest the seven seats in the 224- member assembly comes in the wake of reports of unwillingness of Karnataka BJP unit to allot more than two seats to her party.
The speculation about the alliance in Karnataka was triggered by remarks by leaders of the two parties for a tie-up in next Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu and its possible extension in the adjacent state.
As per the list announced by Jayalalithaa in a statement, AIADMK's Karnataka unit secretary K R Krishnaraj would seek his fortunes from Gandhi Nagar, M C Deiyavasahayam from Samrajpet, S K Ramasamy (Rajaji Nagar), V Pugazendhi (Shanti Nagar), A Aandraj (Kolar Gold fields), T Samraj (Pulikesi Nagar) and K Murthy (Sivaji Nagar). PTI
Harbhajan, Ishant restrict S Africa to 265
M R Mishra
Kanpur, Apr 11 (PTI) Indian bowlers exploited a helpful track to dismiss South Africa for 265 in the first innings but the total appears to be big enough to leave the crucial third and final cricket Test interestingly poised here today.
The visitors frittered away a solid start to be be bundled out at the fag end of the day on a Green Park track which has given enough indication that it will deteriorate rapidly.
For India, Harbhajan Singh (3-52) and Ishant Sharma (3-55) shared six wickets among them to restrict the South Africans.
The hosts could make little headway in the morning session but found more luck midway through the post-lunch session as the Proteas lost one wicket after another to squander the advantage of batting first when the pitch was at its best.
Captain Graeme Smith (69) and Hashim Amla (51) were the notable contributors for the South Africans but none of the other batsmen could hang around for long on a pitch which gave some assistance to the spinners.
The home team's quest for a series-levelling win started on a note of despair as they not only lost a crucial toss but had to go into the match without their captain Anil Kumble, who pulled out because of a groin injury.
Electing to bat, the two South African openers Smith an Neil McKenzie (36) provided a solid start of 61 runs before the young Piyush Chawla celebrated his return to Test cricket by scalping McKenzie in his very first over. PTI
South Africa all out for 265
Kanpur, Apr 11 (PTI) Electing to bat, South Africa were dismissed for 265 in their first innings at close on the first day of the third and final cricket Test against India at Green Park here today.
Brief scores: South Africa: 265 all out in 87.3 overs (G Smith 69, H Amla 51; Harbhajan Singh 3-53, Ishant Sharma 3-55). PTI
India strike back in second session with three wickets
Kanpur, Apr 11 (PTI) India struck three times in quick succession to reduce South Africa to 175 for four at tea on the opening day of the third and final cricket Test here today.
The visitors were comfortably placed at 152 for one before the hosts changed the complexion of the game by getting rid of the dangerous trio of Greame Smith (69), Hashim Amla (51) and Jacques Kallis (1) in the span of five overs.
The second half of the post-lunch session turned out to be productive for the Indians with Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma claiming a wicket each to bring the hosts back into the game.
Ashwell Prince (10) and Ab de Villiers (3) ensured that there were no further setbcks for the South Africans by remaining unseparated till the tea interval.
Resuming at 80 for one after lunch, Smith and Amla continued from where they had left as the duo played cautiously to consolidate the position for the South Africans who are looking to clinch a landmark series triumph on Indian soil.
Just when Smith was starting to look dangerous and had accelerated the pace of scoring by cloberring two sixes, Yuvraj managed to evict him much to the relief of the Indians.
The South African captain came forward for a defensive shot to a flat and quicker delivery from Yuvraj but failed to keep the ball on the ground and Wasim Jaffer took a diving catch at short leg.
Smith's knock of 69 came off 134 balls and contained eight boundaries and two sixes. PTI
South Africa 175 for four at tea
Kanpur, Apr 11 (PTI) Electing to bat, South Africa were 175 for four in their first innings at tea on the first day of the third and final cricket Test against India at Green Park here today.
Ashwell Prince with 10 and A B de Villiers on three were the unbeaten batsmen at the break.
Brief scores: South Africa: 175 for four in 55 overs (G Smith 69, H Amla 51; Yuvraj Singh 1-29). PTI
Market up on IIP data, Sensex ends 113 pts higher
Mumbai, Apr 11 (PTI) With inflation soaring further, IIP data giving a cushioning comfort and Asian indices surging, it was a mixed bag of cues for the stock market, whose benchmark Sensex settled the day 113 points higher.
The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share Sensex ended at 15,807.64, a gain of 112.54 points or 0.72 per cent, over its previous close.
The broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also shot up by 44.80 points or 0.95 per cent to close at 4,777.80 from the last level of 4,733.
"Markets are uncertain and confused and are behaving in an erratic manner. Despite the inflation soaring to a new high the sentiments were positive, as the domestic negative news have already been discounted in the market and stocks have been oversold," SMC Global Vice President Rajesh Jain said.
Brokers said industrial growth of 8.6 in February was better than what was expected by the market. It was higher than 5.3 per cent in January and even reversed the negative output growth witnessed in consumer durables goods.
However, for the first 11 months of last fiscal, industrial growth stood at 8.7 per cent as against 11.2 per cent a year ago.
The growth in industrial production belied apprehensions of major slowdown after disappointing January number, while a high inflation rate raised possibility of the monetary tightening by the government.
The Sensex fell into negative territory after the release of inflation data but bounced back in response to encouraging growth in industrial production. The index touched intra-day low of 15,673.67 before the midsession but bounced back later.
Asian indices ended higher by about 1-3 per cent and European markets were trading nearly one per cent up in early trade. PTI
India confident of over 8 per cent growth in 2008
H S Rao
London, Apr 11 (PTI) India will continue to be the second fastest growing economy in the world with the growth of over 8 per cent in 2008 despite turbulence in the global market, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today.
"India will continue to grow at an average of 8 per cent and there may be turbulence. But for the next 20 to 25 years, the greatest opportunity for investment is in India," he said while inaugurating the operations of off shore subsidiary of India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFC).
Chidambaram's comments coincide with a slight revival witnessed in industry in February as a result of which it recorded 8.7 per cent growth in the first eleven months of the fiscal 2007-08.
Stating that the world output as also the growth in the UK was likely to decline in 2008, Chidambaram said India can still register an 8 per cent growth and will keep its second spot as the rapidly growing economy in the world.
The continuing fast growth of 8 to 9 per cent since 2004 had exposed India's infrastructural weaknesses, be it in power, road, ports or communication, he said, emphasising that the country has now embarked on a major upgradation drive.
"Originally we had planned a second airport in Mumbai and Delhi after 10 years but now we will have to start work next year itself.
"In a way it is a cerebration of India's growth story," he said. PTI
Govt to ban export of cement to check price rise
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) Concerned over the rising inflation, which touched 7.41 per cent, the government today decided to ban export of cement.
The export is being banned to take care of mismatch between supply and demand of cement, Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath told reporters here.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will issue a notification to ban the export later in the day, official sources said.
The cement companies earlier in the month raised prices by 3 to 4 per cent citing reasons such as hike in value added tax, rising demand and soaring fuel prices.
The decision to ban export of cement comes soon after the government, in the annual supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), announced withdrawal of export incentives on cement in addition to rice and primary steel items.
"We are also withdrawing the incentives under promotion schemes on export of cement and primary steel items", he said earlier, while unveiling the annual supplement.
Reacting to the proposal, JK Cement Group Executive President R G Bagla said, "This ban will hardly affect the industry as the country exports less than two per cent of the total production (around 170 million tonnes a year)." The ban on export of cement is aimed at containing inflation, which has more than doubled since January 2008. For the week ended March 29, the annual rate of inflation shot up to 7.41 per cent touching the 40-month high level. PTI
Indo-Pak talks to finalise IPI tariff, transit fee
Islamabad, Apr 11 (PTI) Pakistan and India will soon finalise the bilateral tariff and transit fee for the USD7 billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.
Technical teams of both countries will meet in Islamabad from April 16-18 to firm up recommendations to be discussed by the petroleum ministers of Pakistan and India at their meeting here on April 23.
Both the sides had earlier resolved differences over the transportation fee and will now focus on the issues of tariff and transit fee for Iranian gas to be transported to India via Pakistan, official sources were quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.
A petroleum ministry official said India and Pakistan will also discuss issues related to the six-billion dollar, 2,000-km Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
"Tapi is a parallel project that India and Pakistan are also discussing simultaneously," he said.
The official said the technical and ministerial-level talks were "very important" for the IPI pipeline project.
Following the talks with India, Pakistan will line up further meetings with Iran in May.
"The Iranian side will be briefed next month about the outcome of talks between Pakistan and India," he said, expressing the hope that all lingering issues related to the project will be sorted out this month.
Sources said senior Pakistani officials had been informed by Iran that it had sorted out 40 to 50 per cent of the "logistic issues" for undertaking work on the IPI pipeline. Pakistan has also been told that Iran had asked India to join the project without caring for the opposition of the US to the pipeline. PTI
China, Pak vow to enhance cooperation in energy, defence
Beijing, Apr 11 (PTI) China and Pakistan today pledged to deepen their strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in the fields of energy, trade and defence as President Pervez Musharraf held talks with his counterpart Hu Jintao in the picturesque Sanya city of the southern Hainan province.
In his first high-level engagement as part of his six-day China visit, Musharraf met Hu on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia and said that developing the strategic partnership with China is the "pillar" of Pakistan's foreign policies.
Musharraf noted that China-Pakistan friendship had been "rooted deeply" in the people of both countries and hoped they could explore new ways to further strengthen two-way cooperation in areas including trade, investment, energy, infrastructure construction, youth exchange and culture.
Speaking in glowing terms about their relations, Hu said China and Pakistan were "good neighbours, friends, partners and brothers" and the two countries shared "an all weather friendship and overall cooperation." "The consistent mutual understanding, trust and support between the two countries on the issues concerning each other's core interests are the basis of China-Pakistan relations," he said.
Hu said China "respects, understands and supports" all the measures taken by the Pakistani government to maintain domestic peace and stability and promote economic development.
His remarks came after Musharraf briefed him on the situation in Pakistan, official Xinhua news agency said.
Following their over 30-minute talks, the two leaders witnessed signing of two MoUs and an agreement. These included an MoU between Ministries of Water and Power of the two sides, another on cooperation in sports and the third for cooperation in engineering and science and technology, Pakistan's official APP news agency said. PTI
Dalai Lama begins US visit amid turmoil over Tibet
Washington, Apr 11 (PTI) Amid the raging Tibet issue, the Dalai Lama has arrived in the United States for a visit which is expected to draw much international attention, to the dislike of China, for his quest for "genuine" autonomy and preservation of the unique Tibetan culture.
The exiled 72-year-old saffron-clad Buddhist leader flew into Seattle yesterday to lead a five-day conference on compassion that begins today in the western coastal city of Washington state.
The Dalai Lama, on a 13-day visit, said he supports non- violent demonstrations but was saddened by recent protests against the Beijing Olympic torch in London, Paris and San Francisco, where authorities often had to break or reroute the flame after human rights activists scuffled with pro-Chinese crowds.
This is the Dalai Lama's first visit to the US since the turmoil erupted in mid-March in Lhasa against the Chinese rule in Tibet.
Organisers of the five-day 'Seeds of Compassion' conference in Seattle say the Dalai Lama's visit is expected to draw over 150,000 people, AP reported.
The conference will feature dozens of workshops on various subjects, beginning with a panel discussion with the Dalai Lama on "The Scientific Basis for Compassion: What We Know Now." Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is expected to present the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate with a key to the city, and University of Washington will present him an honorary degree.
Earlier yesterday, during a stopover in Japan, the Dalai Lama said he has always supported China's hosting of the Olympic Games, but said Beijing cannot suppress protests in Tibet with violence or tell those calling for more freedom in his homeland "to shut up." PTI
UN Secy General to skip Beijing Olympics
United Nations, Apr 11 (PTI) United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will not attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics even though invited because of scheduling reasons, a UN official has confirmed.
Not linking it to the worldwide protests against the alleged Chinese repression in Tibet, spokesperson Marie Okabe said Ban is not going to Beijing because of scheduling issues and conveyed his inability to attend the ceremony two months ago.
It was not immediately clear how China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power, would interpret the decision though UN officials said Ban is scheduled to visit Beijing in July, days before the games open.
Ban, a South Korean, would be traveling in Europe and Latin American at the time of games are held.
Several human rights and activist groups have called on the world leaders to boycott the games and diplomats agreed that they could count Ban's inability to attend games as their success which in turn could annoy China.
President George Bush too is under pressure to boycott the ceremony and the latest statement issued by the White House was rather ambiguous. But all three presidential hopefuls Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain favour Bush skipping the ceremony.
However, analysts caution that such a step by Bush, though popular, could have long term political and economic repercussions given the way the economies of the two countries are intertwined.
The European Parliament too has urged the leaders of its 27 member countries to boycott the opening ceremony unless China opens dialogue with the Dalai Lama, a condition unlikely to be met. PTI
Vaiko asks EU to press Sri Lanka on Tamil ethnic issue
Gaurav Dua
Oslo, Apr 11 {PTI} MDMK chief Vaiko has asked the European Union not to turn a blind eye to the "sufferings of Tamils" in Sri Lanka and to pressure Colombo to end its offensive against the LTTE so that an "ancient race" could be prevented from being "totally wiped out".
"The situation today is very bad. A whole ancient race is about to be wiped out. I would appeal to the European Union to put pressure on the Sinhalese government {to end its military offensive on the LTTE}," he said.
The firebrand Tamil politician, who was speaking at a conference organised by the Art of Living foundation of Indian spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar here, asked European nations to "not turn a blind eye to sufferings of Tamils in Sri Lanka" and also urged more active intervention by the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) in the nation.
The government had formally scrapped the four-year long tattered ceasefire with the LTTE in January this year, also thereby terminating the role played by Norway, the main facilitator for talks from the side of the EU, to mediate between the warring groups.
Earlier this week, the LTTE had urged Oslo to exert pressure on Lankan government to stop its military offensive in the island's north.
Rejecting the possibility of a "military solution" to the ethnic problem, Vaiko said that unless Tamils were accepted as a "separate nation" and their inhabited zones were regarded as their "traditional homelands, no negotiation would lead to a solution.
"Their armed struggle is an answer to years-long repression by the country's government. Millions of Tamils have become refugees around the world," he said yesterday. PTI
SC allows Sanjay Dutt to go abroad for film shootings
New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, granted bail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was today allowed by the Supreme Court to go abroad for film shootings.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan directed him to return by September 30 and submit his passport with a court.
The Bench also directed him to file an affidavit stating that he would return to the country after completing his work.
Dutt had approached the apex court on March 13, seeking permission to visit Malaysia, Thailand and the United States.
While granting regular bail to the actor on November 27 last year, the court had directed him to surrender his passport and asked him not to leave the country without its permission.
Dutt was convicted under the Arms Act for possessing illegal weapons in connection with 1993 Mumbai blasts case. He was, however, absolved of the serious offence under the TADA.
The CBI had not opposed his bail maintaining that he was entitled for the relief since he was guilty of a less serious offence.
The Bollywood star, who was sentenced in July last year, had spent 18 months in jail. PTI
Aamir Khan to receive special Dinanath Mangeshkar award
Mumbai, Apr 10 (PTI) Actor-director Aamir Khan will receive a special award from Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratisthan for his services to Indian cinema.
Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar will present the award to the actor in a programme on April 24 on the 66th death anniversary of Master Dinanath Mangeshkar, Pratishthan Trustee Hridaynath Mangeshkar told reporters here last night.
"Aamir has been experimenting a lot in the films he acts in as well as directing and producing. He does not attend any awards functions nor accepts prizes. When we called him to convey our decision, he readily agreed", Mangeshkar said.
The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a memento.
The Pratisthan will also honour noted actor Dr Shriram Lagoo for his contribution to cinema and theatre. The other award winners are Malini Rajurkar (classical music) and Mohan Tondwalkar (best drama in Marathi theatre Shamburaje). Dr K R Toraskar of Ulhas Pratisthan will get Anandmai Puraskar for his social work and Shankar Abhyankar will get the Vagvilasini award for his contribution to literature, he said.
Mangeshkar said the Trust organises various theatre, music and dance programmes in memory of Dinanath Mangeshkar. PTI
Film festival to help boost Indo-UAE ties
Dubai, Apr 9 (PTI) With a view to boost Indo-UAE ties, a festival showcasing nine award-winning Indian films is being organised in Abu Dhabi.
The five-day event which began on Monday has been jointly organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and the Indian embassy in the UAE.
Inaugurating the festival, Indian Ambassador, Talmiz Ahmad, said the screening of award-winning films from India will help deepen the relationship between the two countries by providing an opportunity to UAE nationals to have an insight into the Indian culture.
Mohammed Khalaf Al-Mazroueim, Director-General of the ADACH, described the festival as not only a celebration of cinema but a celebration of the Indo-UAE cultural dialogue. Film directors T V Chandran and Girish Kasaravalli as well as actor Navya Nair were also present at the opening.
The two directors said, India is a multi-lingual and multi-cultural country and some of the regional films seek to capture the nuances of those cultural divergences in an intense manner.
It is important to show those films to the people outside the country so that they will have a better understanding of the life and cultures of the people in different parts of India, they said.
"All films to be screened fall outside of the commercial criteria and reflect the underlying reality of the Indian life at multiple levels, according to the festival director," said B Shamnad.
Some films made by the people from UAE will also be screened during the festival. PTI
Unicef reaches out to rural India with TV serial
Rajeev Ranjan Dwivedi
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) A tele soap opera now aims to make a difference in the lives of those in the rural areas of the country by inspiring them to take life saving actions on sensitive issues like maternal mortality, HIV prevention and gender discrimination.
United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) in collaboration with Prasar Bharati has launched the new tele-serial, 'Kyunki Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai,' that uses entertainment - education format to deliver socially inspiring messages.
Through the serial, that began airing this week, the Unicef says it proposes to reach 40 million women with the story that also addresses the issue of gender discrimination very subtly to make an impact on the "orthodox" Indian mindset.
"We have made such an attempt in South Africa and it was a huge success, so we want to replicate it in India though this serial. Entertainment and drama reaches where the words and facts do not always reach," says Unicef representative to India, Morten Giersing.
He further adds that the serial is built around the concept that 95 per cent is entertainment and should entertain. The concept should be expressive and should be "something that could help people in their life," he feels.
Giersing notes that continued efforts are needed to make India a place better and safer for women and children. "Prasar Bharati makes course corrections and come out with a programming tool, which takes care of the public service broadcasting component unlike other channels," says BS Lalli, CEO Prasar Bharati, which shares with Unicef the credit of launching the serial. PTI
I want a break from serious direction, says Benegal
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) He is the most prolific director among the present lot in Indian film industry, who revived the filmmaking with his serious kind of cinema like 'Ankur', 'Nishant', 'Manthan' and 'Bhumika', but the celebrated director wants to take a break from the serious direction for a while.
Five-time national award winner director, Shyam Benegal, feels that in last few years lots of serious cinema has been done by him and the time has come to do something different.
"For the last few years, I was feeling the urge that I need to take a break from serious direction and try something different. A lot of serious cinema has been done by me in these years and the time is ripe for a change," the noted director told PTI.
So, the director is taking a shot with comedy after a span of almost 25 years and is ready with his soon to be released movie 'Mahadev Ka Sajjanpur' starring Shreyas Talpade and Amrita Rao. But, the director feels that it is very difficult to make a comedy film and it is not an easy job.
This film is based on the letter writers in village post offices and their importance in the rural scenario.
The director is currently busy in giving shape to his new idea- an international film based on the life of Noor Inayat Khan, the courageous Indian woman who was a secret agent in World War II and was awarded the "George Cross" for her bravery. PTI
First verse of Quran, in 6,000 different styles
Wasfia Jalali
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) His inclination towards calligraphy was realized way back in school, when he frequently labelled the notebooks of his classmates with their names written in beautiful artistic forms.
However, for 60-year old Hashim Akhtar Naqvi, an architect by profession and calligrapher by interest, the inclination became a life-long devotion when he took upon the task of writing the first verse of the Holy Quran in as many stylised forms as possible.
At last count, the Lucknow based artist had already written the verse in over 6000 styles. What more! His innovative faculties are still as enthusiastic as they were when he started the work, ensuring that he can smoothly go on to add more to his stock.
Recognised by the Limca Book of records for his unique venture, the collection of the artist was recently displayed in the capital at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, as part of the programme, 'Aqeedat ke Rang', an exhibition of expressions of devotion in Islam.
"When I started blending the verse into artistic designs, I felt I would hardly be able to proceed beyond 8 or 10 forms. But the ideas kept coming and the verse kept repeating itself through my fingers until there was a collection of over 6000 styles, and the venture has not yet ended," says Naqvi.
The Arabic verse, "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim", translated as, "In the Name of Allah, most beneficient, most merciful", which is recited by Muslims before performing any major or minor task is also represented by the number 786. PTI
Responsible tourism, the new buzz
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) With India becoming a hot spot for tourists from across the world, "responsible tourism" is the new buzz that is floating around.
Even as India continues to attract lakhs of tourists because of its splendid historical architecture and rich culture along with beautiful beaches in Goa to reliving the royal experience in Rajhasthan, rural tourism or what now is called 'responsible tourism' is gaining popularity.
On offer is the skilled diversity of art, craft, cultural and natural heritage... Enabling visitor interactions with the local communitys way of life at rural sites across India.
Experts associated with this initiative say that special attention has been given to the community's understanding of visitor needs.
"There is overarching focus on sustainable practices, hygiene and sanitation, and signage, interpretation and local guides to tactfully unveil local history," says Mayura Balasubramanian, UNDP Project Support Officer, Endogenous Tourism.
She adds that packaged programmes will provide insights to rural art and craft imparted by skilled artisans and artistes, together with accommodation created using local material, local style and local skill or in home-stays providing local cuisine.
For entertainment purpose, you have the village entertainment groups who disclose history and culture, natural and oral treasures. PTI
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Sensex: 15807.64, +112.54
The sensex closed at 15807.64, up 112.54
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______Forex_______
1 U.S. $ = 39.875 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0.3942 INR
1 British Pound = 78.715 INR
1 Canadian $ = 39.141 INR
1 Singapore $ = 29.354 INR
1 UAE Dirham = 10.856 INR
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 10.648 INR
1 Euro = 63.136 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 10.961 INR
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