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The first-ever painting of the Taj Mahal by any artist (1782).
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
William Hodges was
the first artist whose works introduced the Indian landscape,
architecture and life to the West. Pran Nevile
writes about this pioneer who was smitten with the beauty of our
country
FROM
time immemorial India has attracted adventurers, traders, travellers,
missionaries and scholars, many of whom have left highly informative
and fascinating accounts of the country and its people. They have
described the religious beliefs and rituals as well as social customs
and manners of the diverse communities in different parts of India.
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Climate’s
clarion call
The rising sea level due to
climate change is no theoretical threat to the thousands who live in
the 12 sea-facing islands of West Bengal, writes Joydeep
Gupta
THE
rising sea has drowned two of Jalaluddin Saha’s small homes in
Baliwara in West Bengal and threatens a third. Last monsoon, surging
water ruined his crops and he and his family ran for their lives. His
livestock drank the brine and died.
Sultan
of
Courage
Jassa Singh
Ahluwalia, whose birth anniversary falls on May 3, was a fearless
military general, a shrewd politician and a patriot. Under his
leadership, the Sikhs inflicted heavy defeats on Muslim invaders,
writes Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia
Nawab
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was a legend in his own lifetime, which inspired
people of Punjab to fight against the tyranny and injustice of
invaders and ruthless rulers. He was an embodiment of courage, bravery
and self-sacrifice.
Channel
for the aged
The need of the hour is
to create a special TV channel for the elderly. The anchors will have
to talk about the ailments, legal problems and financial hassles
facing the aged, writes Chaman Ahuja
Loneliness
and passing time are the pivotal problems of the aged. In view of the
handicaps of physical immobility and financial disability that prevent
old people from seeking the company of friends, what is needed is some
kind of surrogate companion at home.
Boxing
queens
Young Muslim girls in the
Khidderpore area of south Kolkata have taken to boxing. The sport not
only earns them recognition but is also a source of income, says Ajitha
Menon
ZAINAB
Fatima (14) shocked an eve-teaser in the busy Khidderpore market area
in south Kolkata by knocking his teeth out with a mighty punch. The
onlookers at this predominantly Muslim locality, however, cheered the
girl and walked on. The eve-teaser was unaware that Zainab and her
three sisters are trained boxers, spending hours in rigorous training
at the Khidderpore School of Physical Culture.
From the timeless tranquillity of the desert to the silvery beaches and lively
bustle of souks, Dubai offers a joyous mix of tradition and modernity, discovers
Nonika Singh
DUBAi,
which has wrongly been dubbed as a safe haven for mafia, is in reality
one of the safest city for tourists. Even close to midnight there is
no danger of being mugged, whether in the city or far away from Dubai
in the sand dunes for a desert safari.
‘Classical
dance in need of young blood’
Worried about the state of
classical dance forms, many experts and maestros feel that there is an
urgent need to make them popular among youth for their preservation,
writes Jayasri Viswanathan
INDIAN
classical dance forms could be a rage among art lovers abroad but
exponents here say much more needs to be done to make the rare
classical forms of art popular with the younger generation.
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A bicycle tree built by a fine arts student out of junk material in front of the Cultural Centre in Manila for the Earth Day celebrations held recently.
— Reuters
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Old
for new
Many Bollywood heroines are
being paired with relative newcomers who are
many years younger to them, writes Derek Bose
THESE
are desperate times for Bollywood heroines. In the absence of work,
they are signing whatever film comes their way, regardless of its
storyline, role, the director, production house, cast or crew.
Notably, many leading women are willing to be paired with relative
newcomers many years younger, just in order to keep themselves busy.
Or so it would seem.
Bharat’s
pride
M. L.
Dhawan on Manoj Kumar, recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award,
2007
ACTOR,
director and producer Manoj Kumar, who is being conferred upon with
the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was born as Hari Krishan Goswami.
He changed his name to Manoj Kumar at the age of nine after watching
his idol Dilip Kumar in Shabnam (1948).
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