COURTS

UP districts: Caveat against appeal filed in HC

Noida: Ever since the quashing of the UP Government’s order denotifying nine districts and four commissionerates by the Allahabad High Court on May 21 people of the district have been celebrating this victory.

Distribution of sweets, singing and dancing in different town and villages of GB Nagar marked the sense of achievement of the people, who had waged a united and prolonged struggle to achieve this result.

The state government, it is suspected, will go in for an appeal against this order of the Allahabad High Court which appears to be the real motive of the state government asking for a fortnight’s time to implement the high court order.

To checkmate such a move by the state government the people of Gautam Budh Nagar have filed two caveats in the Allahabad High Court so that they are not caught unawares.

A third caveat on the same issue is reported to have been filed on behalf of Maha Maya Nagar district, Hathras, in the high court. — OC

CULTURE

artscape
Work of art in exhibition space of human thought
Ravi Bhatia

The Hungarian Cultural Centre hosted a unique exhibition of sound installation by Vladimir Jaksic, titled “Question Mark” on May 26 at 6 pm. Vlaimir Jaksic was born in 1977 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1997, he was awarded with the title fine arts technician of applied sculpturing. Later on, he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, Department of Arts of Painting and graduated with the title of professional painter (BA).

This young artist describes the basic elements of his composition as darkness, sound and break/silence. His work deals with investigating the relationship between real and unreal, conscious and subconscious, concrete and abstract, logical and illogical, construction and deconstruction and micro-context and macro-context.

The main idea of this sound installation is that each sound installation is a work of art in the exhibition space of human thoughts.

Perpetuating traditional arts

Cottage Industries Exposition Ltd (CIE), a group of companies based in New Delhi, is involved in the production, support, procurement and retailing of many of the finest handicrafts the country has to offer to global connoisseurs.

As with traditional crafts the world over, their sustenance was drawn from the patronage of the ruling classes. So also in India, over many centuries, traditional crafts flourished and flowered under the benevolent succour provided by the Maharajas and the Sultans, the nobility and the Emperors who ruled various fiefdoms or entire empires.

However, when these periods of extremely rich development of the arts faded away or came to abrupt ends, depending on how benevolent dynasties met their demise, craftsmen suffered. And so by the turn of the 19th century, almost all forms of royal patronage for the fine arts vanished. Thereafter, it was a matter of survival for the repositories of numerous fabled handicraft and other traditional skills. Now, they used their skill for eking out an existence. Naturally, quality became subservient to the forces of commercialisation.

This is when CIE stepped in as a modern day patron of these dying crafts. We refused to sacrifice our glorious tradition of handicrafts on the altar of modernisation. It is this goal of revival and enhancement of India’s tradition of fabulous craftsmanship and love of art, which is the driving force at CIE.

Incorporated in 1978, following a long period of patronage dating back to the beginning of the century, CIE has the distinction of receiving many of the nations most coveted Outstanding Export Awards (GOLD TROPHY) from various government bodies, such as Carpet Export Promotion Council (GOI) and Indian Silk Export Promotion Council (GOI). In the last two decades, CIE has been awarded the GOLD TROPHY 14 times. It was also awarded the National Award of Merit in 1997-98 by the Prime Minister of India.

The company has a sterling track record in developing, protecting and nurturing various cottage industries most prominently of Kashmir, as well as that of other states like Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Today CIE’s role as an anchor for the Indian artisan entails providing the necessary infrastructure and financial support so that they many continue to create rare works of exquisite beauty in the tranquility required for such creative outpourings. In this manner, CIE today provides sustenance to more than 110,000 artisans all over the country.

Women’s empowerment in perfect synch

The Events India Inc and the Empress Club presented Lushin Dubey’s “Untitled”, (an internationally acclaimed play on women’s empowerment), directed by Arvind Gaur, on May 20, at the India Habitat Centre here.

“Untitled” depicts the marginalisation of women across societies and explores the subjects of child abuse, incest and suppression of women. The play has been directed by veteran playwright Arvind Gaur.

Ms Vandana Luthra, Chairperson VLCC, was the guest of honour for the evening. She is the brain, soul and face behind India’s largest and most successful chain of health, slimming, fitness and beauty centres, VLCC.

The coming together of VLCC and the Empress Club for a powerful women centric play such as “UNTITLED” is in perfect sync with their ideologies of giving women the opportunity to rediscover themselves for achieving their ambitions and aspirations and helping them realise their true potential.

Events India Inc is a complete management company represented by a group of highly qualified professionals having several concerts and shows to their credit. The Empress Club is a unique concept club for women that organises workshops and seminars by the best experts in their fields thereby providing a platform for networking to enhance women’s entrepreneurial skills packed with entertainment in an ideal social environment.