Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Artists remember multi-talented Bhand Ghulam Ali Majboor

February 2, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainmentmpositiveone@gmail.com

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Karam Buland, Khilat-e-Majboor award given to artists, culture activists and officials

Srinagar:

The artist community of Kashmir Saturday united for special performances to remember a talented folk artist Ghulam Ali Majboor and give ‘Khilat-e-Majboor’ awards named after him.

The event was organised by family, friends and artists of National Bhand Theater (NBT) Wathor to pay tribute to Majboor, who was popularly known as ‘Maagun’ (Multi-talented) of Kashmir’s Bhand Theater’.

Majboor was poet, writer, actor, director and folklorist and the founder of National Bhand Theater, well-known association of Bhand performers in Wathor village of central district Budgam.

The event, which starts at 2pm on Saturday, showcases a documentary on the life and times of late Majboor and special performance by musicians and actors of NBT.

On the occasion folk artists presented a satirical play ‘Kahan Gaav Yaad Thav’ written by Ghulam Ali Majboor. The play was directed by his student Shahjahan Bhagat.

The play depicts conflict and confusion in the Kashmiri society due to division among social and culture groups.

On the conclusion NBT also gave away Khilat-e-Majboor and Karam Buland awards to professionals for the promotion of art, culture and theater.

The Karam Buland award was given to artists associated with the Bhand Theater including Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, Abdul Hamid Bhagat, Manzoor-ul-Haq, Fayaz Ahmad Bhagat and Muhammad Ismail Bhat.

‘Khilat-e-Majboor’, which was constituted this year was conferred on well-known artists, culture activists and officials including a known theaterist Mushtaque Ali Ahmad, Academician and writer Dr Farooq Fayaz, Ex Additional Secretary Mehraj ud Din, former Director Doordarshan Dr Rafiq Masoodi, Editor Urdu Cultural Academy Ashraf Tak, Broadcaster and Playwright Nisar Naseem, Theater director Arshad Mushtaq, theater artist Ayash Arif, comedian Talha Jahangir, Dr Shabnum Rafiq, Gulzar Ahmad Ganai, Director Radio Kashmir Syed Humayun Qaiser, RTI activist turned politician Raja Muzaffar and writer Gulshan Badrani, Aijaz Ahmad Kakroo, Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam, Fayaz Ahmad Lone.

source: http://www.risingkashmir.com / Rising Kashmir / Home / by Manzoor-ul-Hassan / Srinagar, February 01st, 2016

Where the Credit Goes to Human Generosity

February 2, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, UncategorizedAurangabad, Haroon Mukati Islamic Centre, Maharashtra, Roti Bank, Yusuf Mukatimpositiveone@gmail.com

This initiative has been launched by 38-year-old Yusuf Mukati, who opened the doors of the bank on 5 December with 250 members. Depositors had to fill out a form with their details and were given a specific code, which is akin to a bank account. The details of the depositor are stored under this number. As the founder of the Haroon Mukati Islamic Centre in Aurangabad, Mukati already had a long list of contacts. So when he bounced the idea of a Roti Bank off them, he found that people were quite keen to contribute. As a rule, this bank only deals in freshly cooked food items.

The Bank is open from 11 am to 11 pm. Each of its members has to deposit two chappatis and either a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian preparation. There is no bar on the number of times this can be done. Once the food comes in, helpers segregate the vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and repack it in plastic bags and containers.

This free food is handed out to all those who come to the Bank’s counters. Leftover food is frozen for reuse the next day. In case there is excess food, Mukati distributes it amongst his staffers.

Mukati grew up in a family of modest means where food was a dear commodity. He says, “Seeing poor and hungry people is a common sight. People feed them, but it is never fresh food. I wanted to create a place where people can get fresh food at no cost. It is not just beggars who go hungry. There are so many among the middle-class who have to forgo meals due to rising costs.”

source: http://www.openthemagazine.com / Open / Home> Open> Shorts / by Haima Deshpande / January 28th, 2016

Flower show in Madikeri today

February 2, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, UncategorizedA.M.Khan, Balayatrie Estate, Boikeri, F.M. Khan, Kodagu, Rajya Sabha member F.M. Khan, Yusuf Ali Khan, Yusuf Ali Khan Memorial Garden Showmpositiveone@gmail.com

Madikeri (Kodagu) , KARNATAKA :

Vibrant:The flower garden at F.M. Khan's home at Boikeri in Kodagu. The annual flower show will be open for public on Saturday and Sunday. — Vibrant:The flower garden at F.M. Khan’s home at Boikeri in Kodagu. The annual flower show will be open for public on Saturday and Sunday.

Madkeri :

The annual flower show being organised at former MP F.M. Khan’s home at the Balayatrie Estate at Boikeri, on the Madikeri-Sunticoppa-Mysore Road, near Madikeri, is sure to become a hit when it opens for the public on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. Khan played host to the presspersons at his home on Friday as they were taken around the flower arrangements made in front of his home in Boikeri. More than 80 varieties of flowers, all swaying to the gentle breeze and glowing in different hues, are bewitching to watch. Flower-lovers will be surely in for this annual treat, an arrangement being steadfastly followed by Mr. Khan and his family members for many years now.

Name them, the varieties are there. Dahlia, daisy, zerbera, anthurium, lady lock, cactus, marigold, chrysanthemum, bougainvillaea, bonsai, geranium, love in mist, orchids, exora, spider flower, rose, zenia, pinks, and keep counting them, there are more than 80 varieties providing a magnificent sight. It is not an easy task unless one gives personal attention, says Mr. Khan, who was once a firebrand politician and a close confidante of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, Mr. Khan says transition from political arena to the kingdom of flowers was not difficult at all.

Mr. Khan had organised flower shows in New Delhi when he was the MP and came under lavish praise from the parliamentarians and flower lovers in the past. Dew drops settled on the flowers on a dewy morning had given a special lustre to the environment. Mr. Khan admits that rearing flowers was a tough task. He rues over the fact that many plants were lost due to unseasonable rains. He has plans to open seed bank in future for the benefit of flower lovers in the district.

Mr. Khan told presspersons that no person in the private sector had opened the flower show for public and he would set his eye on entering the Limca Book of Records in sometime.

A.M. Khan, brother of Mr. Khan, recalled how their father, Yousuf Ali Khan, loved flowers . The show would be open for public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Mysore – January 21st, 2012

Annual Flower Show at Balyatri Estate near Madikeri Today, Tomorrow

February 1, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, UncategorizedA.M.Khan, Balayatrie Estate, Boikeri, F.M. Khan, Former Rajya Sabha Member, Kodagu, Yousuf Ali Khan, Yousuf Ali Khan Memorial Flower Gardenmpositiveone@gmail.com

Madikeri (Kodagu) , KARNATAKA :

F. M. Khan is taking a walk in his home garden. Picture right shows Dahlia in full bloom.

Madikeri :

Former Rajya Sabha member F. M. Khan is holding the annual flower show at his home garden for the public in Boikeri, near Madikeri, on Jan. 30 and 31.

The garden at Khan’s Balyatrie Estate, with more than 100 varieties of flowers — most of them rare — is spread over more than half-an-acre in front of his house.

Multi-hued roses, dahlia, chrysanthemum, jasmine are in full bloom to welcome the visitors.

Addressing media persons here yesterday, he said floriculture helps in the economic progress of the country and urged the government to support floriculture.

Stating that there is a huge demand for flowers at the international market, he said floriculturists should grow flowers in a natural atmosphere.

With the vagaries of nature, one needs to give special emphasis on protection of plants, he added.

Flowers like Jasmine, anthurium, marigold, salvia, Gerbera, Zenia, Dahlia, Cosmos, croton, colin, Plectranthus, Impatiens, Daisy, Gardenia, sun flower, Hollyhocks, Clarkia, Cockscomb, Lupine, Verbena, Fuchsia, pinks, spider flower, oster flower, calendula flowers, cupia, Gazania, Sweet pea, Cineraria, stock flower, love in a mist flower, devil in the bush and others are on display.

The flower show will be open to visitors from 10 am to 5 pm today and tomorrow.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / January 28th, 2016

‘Bengaluru will always be special’

February 1, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, UncategorizedSalman Yusuff Khan, Salman Yusuff Khan winner Dance India Dance Season 1mpositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Salman Yusuff Khan, who was in the city as a judge for the MTV Campus Diaries auditions, opens up about his love for dance and Bengaluru

Salman Yusuff Khan who won the dance reality show Dance India Dance Season 1. made his debut as an actor with the movie, ABCD, directed by Remo D’Souza. In an interview with MetroPlus, he talks about what keeps his passion for dance ticking. Excerpts.

You are regarded as one of the best dancers in the country today. How has the journey been?

It has been amazing. I feel blessed to be an artiste. The love for my work and affection showered by the people is what has kept me going. Dance as a profession didn’t have the respect or importance six years ago as it gets today.

There was a period when I was working continuously for three months, without a day’s break. It was hectic, yet I enjoyed it. When you do something you love, it doesn’t feel like work.

How has the transition from dance to cinema been?

Mumbai has treated me well. I started my career here and the support and encouragement that I’ve received has been enormous and has helped me move forward. I had no uncertainty. I knew this is what I had to do. My only struggle was in Bengaluru when I had to complete my engineering. After that, I started exploring different fields, be it dance, movies or television. It hasn’t been effortless, but it hasn’t been difficult either.

What has the response been for the MTV Campus Diaries auditions in Bengaluru?

I loved the crowd. The energy and enthusiasm shown by the youth here is amazing. Though Mumbai has made me the person I am today, Bengaluru will always be special to me. Back in my time, there was quite a lot of stage fear and we weren’t too professional. I’m astounded by the professionalism shown by the youth here. The confidence shown and the effort they put in their work is inspiring.

I want to thank Amazon and MTV Campus Diaries for giving me the opportunity to experience the beautiful variations in all the four cities in which the auditions took place.

It has been difficult to select the best among the participants. I know I’ve broken many hearts but I want them to know this is not the end, but just another phase and it will help them better themselves.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Mythili S. Bhat / Bengaluru – January 30th, 2016

Indian octogenarian publishes cookery book

February 1, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, UncategorizedChef Hajra Mohammed, Cookbook 'Recipes of Life for Life', Cutchi Memon Food Recipes, Hajra Mohammedmpositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru , KARNATAKA :

The Indian Chef Hajra Mohammed. Abhinav Chawla

Dubai, UAE :

Hajra Mohammed opens her eyes every morning to her one-year-old great-grandson’s videos on her newly acquired iPad. Mohammed, who turned 88 this year, started picking up computer skills recently with her daughter Nighat’s help. She now has a Facebook account in her name where she responds to all recipe requests from friends and relatives all over the world. For a woman of her age who is recovering from an injured back and spending a lot of her time in bed, it is no easy feat.

The Bangalore-based grandma hasn’t allowed age to become a hurdle. She published her first book at 85 and became one of the oldest first-time Indian writers.

“It was my determination and my granddaughter’s persistence that helped me publish the recipes I learnt and practised to perfection over the years,” Mohammed says. Her Dubai-based daughters Tasneem and Nighat Mohammed consider themselves lucky to have grown up on “the world’s best food”. “Mum is a remarkable woman with an amazing zest for learning. She has the courage to motivate herself with her aches and pains and do what she loves,” they say.

Mohammed’s first book, Hajra’s Recipes of Life for Life: Delectable Muslim Cooking, is for those who want a taste of Kutchi Memon cuisine, closely guarded by this Muslim community. A joke that goes about the Kutchi Memons is that even if they are generous enough to share their recipes, they purposely leave out one or two ingredients. Is that why it took Mohammed so long to decide that she could write a book on a cuisine she has mastered?

“I had the idea of a book 15 years before it got published,” she says. It didn’t happen until 2010 because a publisher was hard to find. Some feathers were definitely ruffled on the book’s release. “Several people from my community were shocked that I revealed so many of our secret cooking rituals and masalas,” laughs Mohammed.

But surprisingly, a lot of Kutchi Memons bought her book. Some use it themselves because it is methodically written; others sent it to their children studying abroad because the recipes are easy to follow.

“Our food is not only scrumptious but also healthy. Our biryani, for example, is cooked in minimal oil and spices as opposed to a lot of other Indian biryanis,” says Mohammed.

As a teenager, cooking was not on Mohammed’s mind. When most Indian girls were expected to hone their culinary skills, she enjoyed reading and music. “LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] wasn’t available then and my father didn’t let me cook with firewood.”

Unfortunately for Mohammed, both her parents died when she was still in her teens and she had to move in with her brothers. Her sister-in-law was instrumental in helping her become the expert cook she is today. She got married at 22; when her husband died 10 years later, she was left to bring up three young children all by herself. To eke out a living, she held cooking and baking classes at home and sold handmade dolls to a handicrafts emporium.

Today, she says it is her passion for cooking and learning that has given her the edge.

“The first thing I do is hit a bookshop when I visit a new place, to look at recipe books. An exciting recipe on a TV show finds a way into my diary and is soon tried out in the kitchen,” she says. “Love your cooking – put your heart and soul into it to get the best results.”

She’s excited about publishing her next recipe book, which she plans to call Hajra’s Favourite Recipes.

“This time, I’ll type all the recipes myself,” she says with a smile.

Sukha jhinga (Dry spiced prawns)

Serves 4

Ingredients

500g prawns, sliced and deveined

½ cup oil

Marinade

2 tsp garlic paste

2 tsp cumin powder

3 tsp red chilli powder

8 green chillies, finely chopped

4 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

Juice of one lemon

Salt to taste

Seasoning

4 tbsp oil

¼ tsp cumin seeds

10 curry leaves

Method

1 Wash the prawns and dry them with a clean kitchen towel.

2 Combine the marinade ingredients and rub them into the prawns. Refrigerate for two hours.

3 Heat ½ cup of oil in a pan and fry the marinated prawns for about 3-5 minutes, until they lose their translucency, but remain crunchy.

4 Heat the oil for seasoning in another pan. Add the cumin seeds and curry leaves. Once the cumin seeds crackle, remove from heat and pour the seasoning onto the fried prawns. Serve hot.

source: http://www.thenational.ae / The National / Home> UAE> Arts & Life / by Priti Salian / artslife@thenational.ae / December 08th, 2013

Older than Bengaluru, Stands a Grizzled Guard

January 28, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, UncategorizedBirth of Tipu Sultan, Fatima Fakhr-Un-Nisa, Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, Tipu Sultan's Birthplace, Tipu Sultan's Mothermpositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Bengaluru :

The Devannahalli fort, which stands 35 kms away from Bengaluru, is older than the city itself by 37 years.

The fort has been occupied by different dynasties over time. It was built in 1501 by Kempegowda’s ancestor, Malla Baire Gowda. But in 1747, in a battle led by Nanjarajaiah, the dalwai of Mysore, the clan lost it to the Wadiyar dynasty. Marathas later claimed it and lost it back to the Mysore state, in a siege led by Hyder Ali in 1746.

Arun Prasad, from Discover Bangalore Project, says that though Hyder captured the fort, it was his son Tipu Sultan who was responsible for modelling and building the Pulkad fort.

The town surrounding the fort was meant to be a a centre of learning and arts. “The Devannahalli town was supposed to be a place for learned artisans and intellectuals to inhabit,” says Prasad.

Devannahalli was a town typical of the time, with protected farmlands and fields. A lake, behind the fort and seen from the bastions, was meant to serve the needs of the inhabitants.

Today, the lake is dried up and is a sad sight to notice. Prasad blames it on poor urban planning. Earlier, a highway used to pass through the western part of the town. Now, a road has been built, which passes over the lake. A good portion of the lake was used up for it.

“The lake has always been rain-fed. But the new road cut the lake away from the adjoining canals and channels,” says Prasad. “The rain water could not flow in and the lake dried up. The vast area of 400-500 kms metres has only weeds and little water due to rains. You can also spot some tattered measurement devices, which was a failed attempt to study the level of water in the lake.”

Bastions

Built on a higher ground, the bastions were used to keep a watch out for the enemy. The fort is 30 to 35 feet high and bastions, along the fort, are placed at equal distance from each other. “The bastions have well protected chambers, used by soldiers. The gun points are holes in the wall which can still be seen today. They are built from lime and brick. The holes were used to keep guns during the war,” adds Prasad.

Tipu’s Birthplace

South-west of the fort, there is memorial with a board, which proclaims that Tipu was born here. A six-foot-tall enclosure marks the spot.

When Tipu was born in 1750, his father Hyder Ali was engrossed in a battle. His mother, Fatima Fakhr-Un-Nisa, was secretly ushered into a carriage to give birth at the fort, as it was considered a safe place. However, she ended up giving birth inside the vehicle, right outside the fort. The monument is built over this birth spot.

A pond was built under the administration of Purnaiah, the then Dewan of Mysore. It is a beautiful pond with the stones and excavations intact. “The water is used for rituals and festivals,” says Prasad. “People take baths here as well.”

Temples

Inside the Devannahalli fort, there is the Venugopalswamy temple. The temple, which was built in the Vijaynagara style, has several depictions from the Ramayana on the walls. “At the entrance, the two horsemen are believed to belong to the Western Ganga dynasty (which ruled 350 and 1000 AD),” said Prasad.

There are sculptures of seamstresses, as you enter, from the same era. The north and south walls have sculptures showing Rishyasringa being brought from a forest to Ayodhya accompanied by dancing girls. There is also a scene of Vishwamitra caught in a an archery battle with Rama. The south wall has ten incarnations of Lord Krishna and Rama’s father performing a sacrifice.

The fort gate and the fort walls are crumbling and there are scribblings on the walls. There is no security at the entrance and anyone can walk in. The commercial establishments all around have failed to preserve the authenticity of the past. “An ASI (Archeological Survey of India) office is located at the entrance, which is always closed and does not provide much information,” says Prasad. “The fort area needs to be protected by ASI and does not come under the corporation. The northern gate is crumbling as well.”

How it Began

Refugees on the run from Kancheepuram settled down near the Nandi Hills. Legend has it that Rana Baire Gowda, their leader, was told in a dream that he had to build a settlement in this region. This family goes by the name of Morasu Wokkalu. His son Malla Baire Gowda founded Devanahalli. Kempegowda also belongs to this family.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Seema Prasad / January 28th, 2016

State-Level Milking Contest concludes : Cows from Mysuru and Kolar yield 40.800 Kg of Milk each , Share Prize Money

January 25, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Sports, UncategorizedAnwar Shariff, Lashkar Mohalla, Mysurumpositiveone@gmail.com

Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

Grandchildren of former Mayor win prizes

Former Mayor D. Dhruvakumar (third from left) is seen receiving the prize on behalf of his grandson Dhruvesh, who shared first place along with Venkatesh of Kolar (2nd from left) at the State-level Milking Contest, from Actor Darshan Thoogudeep and Animal Husbandry Minister A. Manju at J.K. Grounds in city yesterday. MLA H.P. Manjunath, Film Director Sandesh and others were present

Mysuru :

The three-day State-level milking competition, organised by Mysuru Nagara Gopalakara Sangha in association with the Department of Animal Husbandry at J.K. Grounds in the city, concluded yesterday.

The cow, owned by Dhruvesh, grandson of former Mayor D. Dhruvakumar and the cow owned by one Venkatesh of Kolar bagged the top prize, with both of them milking 40.800 kg of milk.

As both the cows shared equal honours, the owners were given Rs. 87,500 each (Rupees 1 lakh first prize and rupees seventy five thousand – second prize, divided by two). The third prize was bagged by the cow owned by Anwar Shariff, a resident of Akbar Road, Lashkar Mohalla, which milched 36.350 kg.

Anwar Shariff was given a cash prize of Rs. 50,000.

The fourth prize was bagged by the cow owned by Aishwarya, the grand daughter of former Mayor D. Dhruvakumar, which milched 35.450kg.

Aishwarya was given a cash of Rs. 25,000 as fourth prize.

Speaking after distributing the prizes, Animal Husbandry Minister A. Manju said that dairy farming can be a main source of income for farmers. Pointing out that taking dairy farming will bring happiness in the lives of farmers, he called upon the youth to engage themselves in dairy farming.

Stating that the State was one amongst the top producers of milk in the country with 66 lakh litres of milk production per day, he complimented the role of the Sangha in boosting milk production.

Actor Darshan Thoogudeep was the star attraction during the prize distribution ceremony. Thousands of people, most of them youths, gathered at the venue to have a glimpse of the actor, who has been attending the event for several years.

Minister Manju also presented a cheque of Rs. 1.5 lakh (Rs. 1 lakh donated by the Sangha and Rs.50,000 donated by actor Darshan) to Adarsh, son of the Sangha Founder late B. Paramesh on the occasion.

Former Mayor D. Dhruvakumar presided. Hunsur MLA H.P. Manjunath, KEA Chairman R. Murthy, Cine Producer Sandesh, JD(S) leader G.D. Harish Gowda, Sangha Hon. President Desigowda, President and Corporator D. Nagabhushan and others were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday – January 25th, 2016