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Karnataka unlikely to get separate flag by this Rajyotsava

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With the state government showing no interest in implementing the Kannada flag proposal — one of the pet projects of former CM Siddaramaiah — it is likely to remain only on paper this Karnataka Rajyotsava on November 1. In June 2017, an order was issued by the Kannada and Culture department to form a committee to look into the new design of the flag for Karnataka and also legalities of the state having its own flag.

Siddaramaiah had held several meetings with Kannada organisations, literary personalities, legal experts and other stakeholders for suggestions. The flag idea was approved by the State cabinet, and in March 2018, the then CM Siddaramaiah had unveiled it.

Kannada Development Authority Chairman S G Siddaramaiah told Express that former CM Siddaramaiah had sent the proposal for the flag to the Union government for final approval. “We sent it in March, but they are yet to approve it,’’ he said. Kannada and Culture Minister Jayamala said the proposal was likely to get approval soon, but did not commit to a date.

Sources from Congress said the coalition government is currently facing many challenges and hence less bothered about it. “There are many other issues, including farm loan waiver, flood and drought,’’ a source said.

In 2012, D V Sadananda Gowda had said that the bi-colour Kannada flag would be hoisted on all government buildings next to the national flag on November 1. A circular was also issued. However, it was challenged in the High Court, forcing them to withdraw the notification. When Jagadish Shettar was CM, his government gave an affidavit that there was no official state flag.

PTI

Film Fest Round Up

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7th Dharamshala International Film Fest To Be Held At Mcleod Ganj From 1st Nov 2018 To 4th Nov 2018

The 7th Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) will take place from 1st Nov, 2018 to 4th Nov 2018 in the beautiful mountain town of McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama & the meeting point of a rich & cosmopolitan mix of people & cultures.

Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) is presented by White Crane Arts & Media, a trust founded by filmmakers Ritu Sarin & Tenzing Sonam to promote contemporary cinema, art & independent media practices in the Himalayan regions of India.

The 1st ever edition of Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) was held in the year 2012. Since then, it has established itself as one of India’s leading independent film fest’s. The Dharamshala International Film Fest’s cutting-edge & eclectic programming, which includes many India premieres, and its policy of inviting as many directors as possible has made it one of the go-to events in any cinephile’s calendar. Last year, the films & side programmes at Dharamshala International (DIFF) attracted a viewership of around 6000, of which at least 60% were from out of town from places as far away as Kerala, Bangalore, Hyderabad & Mumbai. Some of India’s best-known film critics & journalists from leading media houses were on hand to cover the event.

This year, for the 3rd time in a row, the fest will take place in the peaceful environs of the Tibetan Children’s Village, a short distance from McLeod Ganj. Along with the 2 existing auditoriums at the school, this year DIFF is excited to partner with Delhi based PictureTime to set up a mobile digital theatre with state-of-the-art projection facilities at the festival venue.

Festival Director Ritu Sarin says, “We endeavor to bring a slate of unusual & trailblazing narrative, docu & short films from around the world, as well as showcasing some of the best recent Indian independent cinema, making it a rich experience for our audience.”

Fest directors Ritu Sarin & Tenzing are delighted with the way Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) has evolved over the years and are determined to consolidate & improve upon the standards set by previous editions. Ritu Sarin says, “A fest like Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF), taking place in a small town with very few resources & no cinema tradition as such, requires the support & dedication of numerous individuals & organizations, as well as interns & volunteers whose enthusiasm & passion are the engine that drives our fest’s. I am grateful to our long-term collaborators Thyssen-Bornemsiza Art Contemporary, the Himachal Pradesh Government who is supporting us through its Departments of Tourism & Language, Arts & Culture, and our many partners, including the National Film Development Corporation, PictureTime, Wishberry & Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films.

Preliminary highlights from this year’s selection of films include: Boom For Real (Sara Driver, USA, 2018), Sara Driver’s docu drama follows the pre-fame years of celebrated American artist Jean – Michael Basquiat & how New York City, the times, the people & its tectonically shifting arts culture of the late 1970’s & 1980’s shaped his vision, Father To Son (Hsiao Ya-Chuan, Taiwan, 2018), Hsiao Ya-Chuan’s official selection for the 47th International Film Fest Rotterdam (IFFR) takes its viewers through 2 unknown journeys of self-reconciliation, In the Intense Now (João Moreira Salles, Brazil, 2017). A Panorama selection at the 2017 Berlinale Film Festival, In the Intense Now is an immersive retelling of the Paris uprisings, the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia & the Cultural Revolution in China using newsreel clips & home movies found through the late 1960’s, Little Forest (YIM Soon-Rye, South Korea, 2018), YIM Soon-Rye of The Whistleblower & Forever The Moment fame, makes her return to the celluloid silver screen with a coming-of-age story based on the 2002 Japanese manga of the same name, by Daisuke Igarashi, A Long Way Home (Luc Schaedler, Switzerland, 2018), A never-before heard or seen glimpse into the lives of 5 significant representatives of contemporary Chinese counterculture, including the famous Gao Brothers, who shed light on the social problems in their country through their own unique perspective, bravery & wit, Namme (Zaza Khalvashi, Georgia/Lithuania, 2017), Zaza Khalvashi’s art fantasy drama is Georgia’s official entry to the Oscars 2019, Inspired by Georgian literature & folklore, Namme narrates the story of 1 family’s mission to take care of a local healing water & treat fellow sick villagers with it, The Red Phallus (Tashi Gyeltshen, Bhutan, 2018), Bhutanese director Tashi Gyemtshen’s stunning debut, The Red Phallus, takes place in the gloomy & remote central Bhutan valley of Phobjika, where 16-year-old life with her widower father, a traditional painter & craftsman specialized in making wooden phalluses. Her dark secret comes back to haunt her.

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (Stephen Nomura Schible, USA/Japan, 2017), An insight into the life & legacy of the legendary Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda is an intimate portrait of both the artist & the man & movingly captures the creative process.

Balekempa (Ere Gowda, India, 2018)
FIPRESCI award winner at the International Film Fest Rotterdam 2018, Balekempa tells the story of unspoken desires & relationships that cluster around the lives of Kempanna, the bangle seller & his wife set in Karnataka’s close-knit patriarchal community.

Ee.Ma.Yau (Lijo Jose Pellissery, India, 2018), Cult Kerala filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery of Angamaly Diaries fame returns with a black comedy set in the coastal village of Chellanam, Kochi.

Raghu Rai: An Unframed Portrait (Avani Rai, India/Finland, 2018), This intimate portrait of one of the world’s greatest photographers made its world premiere at the International Documentary Film Fest, Amsterdam, in Nov, 2017. The story of Raghu Rai & his India is told through the eyes of his own rebel daughter during their travels in & around Kashmir.

One of Dharamshala International Film Fest primary goals is to promote & encourage filmmaking in Himachal Pradesh. This year’s Spotlight on Himachal includes the North Indian premiere of Ridham Janve’s The Gold-Laden Sheep & the Sacred Mountain, a Gaddi-language feature film set in the Dhauladhar mountains with a cast of non-professional Gaddi shepherds. The director & his cast will present the film in person. Shimla based filmmaker Siddharth Chauhan will also present his much-lauded short film, Pashi.

Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) is proud to announce that this year, the Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) Film Fellows initiative, which was established in the year 2014, will focus specifically on up & coming filmmakers from Himachal Pradesh. This is supported by HP Government’s Department of Language, Arts & Culture. 5 filmmakers will be selected & mentored by renowned National Award-winning filmmaker Gurvinder Singh & award-winning documentary filmmaker Anupama Srinivasan.

This year, Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) is also thrilled to host the 1st ever Dharamshala-PJLF Editing Workshop. This initiative is supported by NFDC. 2 director-editor teams will be selected from across the country & mentored by internationally renowned editor Jacques Comets who co-headed the editing department at France’s leading film school, La Femis, along with editor & Artistic Director of the Kerala International Film Fest, Bina Paul & producer & script/editing mentor Olivia Stewart.

Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) has always recognized the importance of short films as a category in its own right and this year, for the 5th year in a row, filmmaker Umesh Kulkarni has curated a selection of the best of current Indian shorts. In addition, Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) is partnering with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films to present a package of short films. The popular Dharamshala International Film Fest (DIFF) Children’s Film Programme is once again curated by Children’s Media Specialist, Monica Wahi.

Kovind, Naidu, Modi pay tributes to Shastri on his birth anniversary

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President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 114th birth anniversary at Vijay Ghat here.

“Remembering our former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastriji on his birth anniversary. His integrity, wartime leadership and role in the shaping of the Green Revolution remains an inspiration for the entire country,” the President tweeted.

“Paying tributes to the former Prime Minster and great son of our soil, Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth Anniversary at Vijay Ghat in Delhi today,” Naidu tweeted attaching photographs.

Paying tribute to Shastri, Modi said he “epitomised strength and simplicity. He led India at a crucial time and worked hard to make our nation more prosperous”.

Shastri was born in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Sharada Prasad and Ramdulari Devi on October 2, 1904.

On January 11, 1966, he breathed his last in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a day after signing the Tashkent Declaration, reportedly due to cardiac arrest.

Shastri was the first person to be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award in 1966.

IANS

President, PM, Rahul remember Gandhi on his birth anniversary

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Launching a two-year-long celebration marking the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday shared their messages on social media.

“Tribute to Bapu on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Gandhiji’s life was devoted to the ideals of peace, brotherhood and harmony. Today, there is an opportunity to replicate our allegiance and resolve towards these ideals. Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings are relevant to the whole of humanity,” Kovind tweeted early in the day.

Sharing his op-ed to national dailies on the occasion, the Prime Minister said: “From today we are entering Pujya Bapu’s 150th anniversary year. It is a great opportunity for all of us to fulfill their dreams. #Gandhi150.”

In his op-ed he said: “He (the Mahatma) remains a shining beacon of hope for millions of people across the world who seek a life of equality, dignity, inclusion and empowerment. The impact he left on human society has few parallels…

“Let us think about how our actions can contribute to a cleaner and greener environment for the future generations. Almost eight decades ago, when the threats of pollution were not as much, Gandhiji took to cycling…

Modi also tweeted on the “insightful op-ed” by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on “how India and Singapore are united in the pursuit of building a cleaner and better tomorrow for the coming generations”.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi said truth and non-violence — the two beacons of Mahatma Gandhi’s life — that he lived and died for, are India’s foundation and true patriots must protect them.

“Gandhiji, is not an immobile statue, he is a living set of ideas and values flowing through India. Truth and non-violence, which he lived for and was killed for are the foundation of our country. True patriots must protect them,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

IANS

HC dismisses petition against ‘triple talaq’ ordinance

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The Bombay High Court Monday dismissed a petition challenging provisions of an ordinance that makes the practice of instant triple talaq a punishable offence.

Former municipal councillor Masood Ansari, city-based NGO ‘Rising Voice Foundation’ and advocate Devendra Mishra had filed the petition last week.

President Ram Nath Kovind had last month signed the ordinance, according to which giving instant triple talaq has been made illegal and void, and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.

Seeking to allay fears that the law could be misused, the government also included some safeguards in it, such as providing for bail to the accused husband.

A division bench of Justices B R Gavai and A M Dhavale said Monday that it was not inclined to entertain the petition as a similar plea was pending before the Supreme Court.

The petition claimed that the provisions of the ordinance are “illegal, null, void, unreasonable and arbitrary”.

It had sought an interim stay on those sections of the ordinance which criminalise the act of pronouncing talaq by a Muslim husband.

As per the proposed law, it would only be applicable on instant triple talaq or ‘talaq-e-biddat’ and would give power to the victim to approach a magistrate seeking “subsistence allowance” for herself and minor children.

A woman can also seek the custody of her minor children from the magistrate who will take a final call on the issue.

PTI

Fashion Round Up

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Kartik Aaryan Sets The Ramp On Fire

MUFTI, the largest Indian denim brand, unveiled its exceptional Autumn Winter 2018 Collection at its one-of-its-kind fashion show recently. The evening witnessed eclectic designs & creativity which are sure to storm the world of fashion, style & glamour. Letting his statement outfit do all the talking,
Kartik Aaryan, Bollywood actor & MUFTI brand ambassador, walked the ramp in his stunning ensemble comprising of a stylish black leather jacket, paired with an exquisite pair of white jeans and a trendy white T- Shirt.

With this iconic fashion show, MUFTI, celebrated the massive milestone of completing 2 decades in the fashion industry. It personified sophistication, verve & style. Models strutted the ramp showcasing the spectacular range of ensembles that signified exceptional designs, innovation, high-quality fabrics & above all, comfort of being yourself.

Speaking about the grand success of the fashion show, Kamal Khushlani, Founder & Managing Director, MUFTI said, “We are elated to have commemorated 2 decades of MUFTI with a bang. The marquee fashion show & on-boarding Kartik Aryan as our 1st ever brand ambassador was the perfect way to celebrate this glorious occasion. We strongly believe in providing an alternative dressing solution that doesn’t conform to the norm. Our Autumn Winter 2018 Collection is trendy, comfortable & enables our consumers to stand out in the crowd. It is heartening to see the overwhelming response the collection has received. We are confident that our unparalleled design & creativity will enable us to continue delivering breakthrough fashion trends.”
Sharing his experience of gliding the ramp as the showstopper & MUFTI’s 1st ever brand ambassador, Kartik Aryan said, “I’m thrilled to be associated with MUFTI, a brand that inspires youth to be unique & set their own trends.”

After the extraordinary showcase of creativity & style, the evening witnessed a high-octane after-party, attended by the crème-de-la-crème of the fashion world. The MUFTI Autumn Winter 2018 collection is now available across stores.
MUFTI was launched in 1998 by 1st generation entrepreneur Kamal Khushlani with one driving ambition, to provide an alternative dressing solution that didn’t conform to the “uniform” codes of mainstream fashion.
Since its inception, MUFTI has evolved as a denim casual wear brand & band currently retails through 275 EBO’s (Exclusive Brand Outlets) pan India, 1200 MBO’s (Multi-Brand Outlets), 110 LFS’s (Large Format Stores like Shoppers Stop & Central) and is also present on all major e-commerce portals including its own website offering a product portfolio comprising of Shirts, Jeans, Trousers, T -Shirts, Shorts, Blazers & Winterwear/Outerwear.
Looking to provide a holistic lifestyle dressing solution, MUFTI also launched footwear recently with the same ethos, to provide an alternative choice which is young, casual yet comfortable.
The brand has over 600 employees on its direct payroll and indirectly employs over 2000 people.

Progress of nation more important than debates: Kamal Haasan By Sugandha Rawal

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New Delhi Not religion, not culture, progress is what matters, says cine icon Kamal Haasan, who has embarked on a journey in politics. He says people in India are busy debating trivial issues whereas the need of the hour is to rise above them.

Haasan has always been vocal about the need to steer away from the politics of caste and religion. So, how important is it to address the real issues?

“It is very important. We have lost that dialogue. We are talking about everything else… We are trying to prove a point which does not exist. We are debating things that don’t matter at all,” Haasan told IANS in an exclusive interview here while opening up about his decision to enter politics, his aspirations, his vision for the country and about contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

“Yes, keep your religion, keep your culture, but progress as a nation is much more important than these debates. We are giving knee-jerk reactions to things which are not useful in everyday life or for the future generation. We (his party) are making that the focal point and that is what you have to talk about. The younger India is ready to talk about such issues,” he added.

The 63-year-old actor took the political plunge by launching his Makkal Needhi Maiam party on February 21 in Madurai. In just 48 hours, 201,597 people registered to join the Tamil film icon’s party.

Change can only come with unity, feels Haasan.

“Progress can’t be just my vision. It has to be a collective vision. You can take the example of China. Almost 30 years back, China had all the problems that we have, even much worse. And they changed it with will. But then you say it was only dictatorship that responsible for it. I beg to disagree.

“America was not a dictatorship. There were many voices pulling in all directions, and still progress happened.”

The actor, who entered the film industry when he was just three, continued: “(Things change) when people take the onus of building the nation, not just a few contracted people designated by the larger crowd, who are themselves busy going about their everyday chores or trying to reach office on time. They have to spend some time to build the nation.”

Citing an example from India’s long fight for freedom, the actor said: “In the 1940s, people were not ‘bekaar’ (useless). They had their jobs, they had their professions, they had to earn their everyday bread, but they still had time for freedom. Now, the second freedom struggle has started.”

Is he planning to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections?

“Well, anything which is good for Tamil Nadu is the way I see (things). Whichever direction it takes me… I will go and seek the opportunity and seize the day,” he said without dismissing the possibility completely.

The charismatic Tamil cine hero has done over 200 films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam. He is known for projects like “Appu Raja”, “Hey Ram”, “Dashavatar”, “Ek Duuje Ke Liye”, “Sagara Sangamam”, “Sadma”, “Thevar Magan”, “Chachi 420” and “Vishwaroopam” and “Vishwaroop 2”.

The Hindi version of “Vishwaroop 2”, presented by Rohit Shetty and the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Entertainment, released in August.

After spending so many years in the industry, Haasan avers he will be quitting acting for politics. Asked whether he is planning to manage both, he said: “I shouldn’t do both the things.”

“My advice to the actor (in me) is to step aside because there is much more work to do. I loved the actor. I have lived with him for 58 years, but I have to move to people and that is more important.”

(IANS)

Mass Marriage(Nikha) by IMDAD-E-NISA

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By : Husna Rizwan

Imdad-e-nisa in association with World Memon Organization conducted mass marriage(Nikha) of 8 couples from the weaker section of society.

The organiser Mrs Fareeda Azeez speaking to nasheman said that evil of dowry system which has crept in to our society has become a burden for the parents of girl child and many parents are falling in to debt trap because of the dowry system it is unfortunate many girls who are of marriageable age are left sitting at home as parents cannot afford the dowry and hefty charges marriage halls and marriage feast.

In our humble endeavour to help such girls we have organised the mass marriage ceremony to send a message across the society to come forward and help the poor and needy and make it easy for girls from weaker section to get married this will reduce the ills in society. Total Cost of each wedding is Rs 60,000/-. The mass marriage was held on 26/09/2018 at Adam’s Heritage. Benson Town
The Nikha ceremony conducted by : Moulana Maqsood Imran, Imam of Jamia Masjid City
The chief Guest : N A Harris, MLA of Shanthi Nagar .The Main Organisers were : Mrs Fareeda Azeez and Mr Azeez Sait.Mr Adil Sait.

You can’t stop Pakistani women from thinking, dreaming: Author Taha Kehar

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Meet Tanya, the protagonist of a new quick-read from Pakistan, who has “got a pretty good life, working for a Karachi newspaper and smoking-drinking-flirting her way through minor romantic escapades”. The author, Taha Kehar, says that her character is his attempt to cultivate a narrative about what it means to be a woman in Karachi. But are there really many “politically opinionated, liberal, urban women that are both feisty and fearless”, as Tanya is, in Pakistan today?

Kehar, the author of “Typically Tanya”, said that it wasn’t entirely necessary for women in Pakistan (or anywhere else in the world for that matter) to be “liberal” or “urban” in order to have “bold political opinions or take on a fearless, feisty approach to life”.

“Although Pakistan is an inherently patriarchal society where women are subjected to restrictions and excessive surveillance, no measure of constraints can stop them from thinking, dreaming and forging their way in the world. Women in Pakistan have entered the public domain and are reclaiming it by negotiating gender confrontations and challenging archaic norms,” Kehar told IANS in an email interview from Karachi, describing his frame of mind as he shaped Tanya’s character.

He shared that Tanya may epitomise the struggle of Pakistani women, but she belongs to “a privileged segment of Karachi’s elite” that “can operate within a bubble and turn a blind eye to the ground realities”.

“By virtue of her social status, she manages to evade some patriarchal demands and has the freedom to ignore the restrictions imposed by the public sphere. But even then, it would be flawed to assume that she isn’t influenced by patriarchy in her everyday life. While writing ‘Typically Tanya’, I had to remain mindful of these subtle nuances,” he said.

Kehar, himself a journalist, said that he wanted to break away from Western ideas of Karachi as “a battle-hardened, conflict-riddled city” and understand it from the perspective of its citizens.

He also admitted that the male gaze could claw its way into the narrative and possibly even shrink the space for the female perspective. “The primary challenge was to elbow away all male-centric notions to prevent them from distorting Tanya’s perspective,” he said, adding that he discussed his protagonist’s traits with some of his female friends, who spent their days cooped up in newsrooms like Tanya does in the novel.

Maintaining that Tanya’s experiences may not be “entirely representative” of all independent and modern Pakistani women, Kehar, however, asserted that like most of them, Tanya recognises “the importance of making her own choices” and “taking charge of her own life”.

The author, published in both Indian and Pakistani media, said that Indian readers might enjoy Tanya’s humour, her friendship with Inder, an Indian journalist who is reporting from Pakistan. The book might also interest some readers who enjoy political polemics.

Asked to describe his novel for Indian readers, the author obliged, saying: “‘Typically Tanya’ is about Karachi, journalism and relationships between misfits. It is about a woman’s journey in negotiating these minefields. The protagonist isn’t obsessed with marriage and is unwilling to compromise her own dignity at the altar of a groom chosen by a rishta aunty.”

Kehar has previously published a collection of poems and “Typically Tanya” is his debut novel. Published by HarperCollins India, it is priced at Rs 299.

(IANS)

Say ‘namaskar’, not ‘good morning’, says Vice President

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Indians should let go the colonial mindset and greet people with ‘namaskar’ rather than with ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’ and ‘good evening’, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday.

Naidu, speaking at a convocation ceremony organised by the National Institute of Technology (NIT) here, said that while he was not against English language, India should break away from the mindset imposed by British colonial rulers.

“Namaskar is our ‘sanskar’ in India. That is applicable in morning, evening and night too,” he added.

The Vice President said that as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, he had done away with colonial practices which were outdated.

He recalled how, recently, a section of the media misquoted him as calling the English language an illness when he was talking about protecting and encouraging the mother-tongue.

“I did not say it. English is not an illness, English is welcome. You learn (it). But English mind, which we have inherited from the British rule, is an illness. Britishers have gone, their mindset remains,” Naidu said.

Naidu appreciated the institute for not sticking to the customary black convocation gown, routinely worn by students at such ceremonies.

IANS

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