World Book Fair ends on high note
New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) The 44th World Book Fair ended here on a high note on Sunday as thousands of bookworms thronged to grab their favourite books in best deals. Organised at Pragati Maidan,…
Culture
Zhou Youguang, who simplified Chinese script, dead
Beijing , Jan 15 (IANS) Zhou Youguang, who simplified Chinese language by introducing Pinyin, died here on Saturday. He was 112. Pinyin is the romanised form of Mandarin characters — one of the most complicated…
The US statesman who out-argued the Devil and his curious career
By Vikas Datta Among the outstanding American statesmen (and one stateswoman) to never become President, Daniel Webster never let ambition, pride or popularity deflect him from his inalienable political principle: his country’s preservation, even by…
Need more satire and humour to build bridges between communities: Modi
New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, lauding political satirist and editor Cho Ramaswamy for having mastered the art of satire and humour, said “both are needed to build bridges betwwen…
Gulzar lauds Shantanu Moitra for modernising Tagore, retaining essence
Kolkata, Jan 14 (IANS) Noted lyricist Gulzar heaped praise on music director Shantanu Moitra for retaining the aura of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry and blending modernism in the non-film album “Gulzar in Conversation…
Over 1.5 million take holy dip at Gangasagar amid chill, security
Sagar Island (West Bengal), Jan 14 (IANS) Ove 1.5 million pilgrims from across India and abroad braved the icy cold water and chilly winds to took a holy dip in the river Ganga on Saturday…
Karan Johar’s memoir lays bare all; reflects Bollywood’s ambiguity
By Saket Suman Title: An Unsuitable Boy; Author: Karan Johar (with Poonam Saxena); Publisher: Penguin India; Pp: 216; Price: Rs 699 This much-anticipated memoir of filmmaker Karan Johar has been creating waves on social media…
Telugu states celebrate Sankranti with gaiety
Hyderabad, Jan 14 (IANS) People in the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Saturday celebrated ‘Makar Sankranti’, the colourful harvest festival, with pomp and gaiety. On the second day of the three-day festival,…
Less demand for regional language books at World Book Fair
By Somrita Ghosh New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) The 44th edition of the World Book Fair might be seeing a good number of footfalls but stalls catering to regional languages are not getting sufficient visitors…
Fiction, non-fiction – Indian authors shine at World Book Fair
New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Giving tough competition to foreign writers are Indian authors who seemed to have emerged as the rulers at the 44th World Book Fair. Fiction, non-fiction, classic novels or children’s books,…
TN celebrates Pongal with traditional fervour
Chennai, Jan 14 (IANS) Tamil Nadu on Saturday celebrated Pongal with traditional fervour with people getting up early, donning new clothes and visiting temples. The festival of Pongal is celebrated to thank the Sun, rain…
Himachal temple to have 1,600 kg butter idol
Kangra, Jan 14 (IANS) Preparations started on Saturday morning for the installation of the idol of Goddess Brajeshwari Devi made of 1,600 kg of clarified butter in the famous Brajeshwari Devi temple here in Himachal…
Over a million take holy dip at Ganga Sagar on Makar Sankranti
Sagar Island (West Bengal), Jan 14 (IANS) Over a million pilgrims from across India and abroad took holy dip in the river Ganges on Saturday braving the icy cold water and chilly winds, at the…
Why are communal riots persisting post-partition
By Somrita Ghosh New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Author Naseera Sharma, named last month for a Sahitya Akademi Award, laments that communal riots are continuing despite the partition of the country in 1947, saying her…
Hundreds take dip in Himachal rivers on Makar Sankranti
Shimla, Jan 14 (IANS) Hundreds of devotees braced the cold across Himachal Pradesh on Saturday and took dips in rivers to mark the holy day of ‘Makar Sankranti’. Large numbers of devotees were seen congregating…
Modi greets nation on harvest festivals
New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings to people of various communities as they celebrate harvest festivals, and said diversity is India’s greatest strength. Modi in a series of…
Sharjah cultural event to showcase young talent
Sharjah, Jan 13 (IANS/WAM) The fifth edition of the highly-anticipated Sharjah Children Biennial (SCB) will begin on Sunday and will showcase 376 artworks created by 785 children from across the world. Held under the banner…
20-hour concert to celebrate Indian classical music ‘ragas’
Mumbai, Jan 13 (IANS) In a unique treat for lovers of Indian classical (Hindustani) music, a mega-concert of 20 hours of non-stop music featuring 16 artistes will open here on Saturday evening, an organiser said…
Online rage over Modi replacing Gandhi on charkha
New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Tweeples and Facebook users have reacted angrily at pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on government calendars and diaries showing him in Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic charkha pose, replacing the man…
Sankranti celebrations begin in Telugu states
Hyderabad/Vijayawada, Jan 13 (IANS) Sankranti festival began on Friday in the Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with pomp and gaiety. The three-day celebrations kicked off with ‘Bhogi’ on the first day. Towns and…