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| ‘Magic pencil’ creates wonderful world for children NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Many masterpieces of children’s literature have become immortal as much for the art of their.....more Prime
witness Zaheera MUMBAI, Nov 17: Prime witness in Best Bakery case Zaheera Shaikh did not appear before the trial court here today......more Dharam
Singh seeks BANGALORE, Nov 17: Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh today urged the Planning.....more Industrial
townships in HALDIA, Nov 17: For the first time in India, two industrial townships in West Bengal are going to have an Environmental.....more |
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Police have ‘shocking’ and ‘solid’ information, says CM CHENNAI, Nov 17: Police has "shocking" and "solid" information on Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi’s links with the......more Pranab assures navy adequate funds, cut in procurement delays ON BOARD INS MYSORE, Nov 17: The navy will be given all necessary funds for maintaining an optimum force........more Paswan
upholds action GWALIOR, Nov 17: While Union Fertilisers and Chemicals Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has said that the arrest of Kanchi.......more Nagaland
emerges as KOHIMA, Nov 17: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said the state has emerged as a prominent ‘reforming state’....more |
‘Magic pencil’ creates wonderful world for children NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Many masterpieces of children’s literature have become immortal as much for the art of their author as for the art of their illustrators. Pictures of snow white running through the menacing woods and a wonderstruck gulliver in the land of pygmies have left an indelible imprint on the mind of the readers. More such immortal illustrations can be seen at the ongoing exhibition, ‘magic pencil’ organised by the British Council. It profiles the work of the best contemporary british illustrators of children’s book. The works are a reflection of British creativity, imagination and humour and a guaranteed delight to chidren and adults alike. ‘Magic pencil’ has been organised by world famous illustrator and writer of childrens books quentin blake and includes works of artists like Agela Barrett, Patrick Benson, Stephen Biesty, Raymond Briggs, John Buningham, Emma Chichester Clark, Lauren child, Sara Fanelli Michael foreman, Tony Ross, Posy Simonds and Charlotte Voake. These works are by no means inferior to ‘fine art’. It is an art which, on its own scale, shares characteristics with earlier kinds of western paintings, says Quentin Blake. He said that selecting works for such an exhibition is enjoyable but not easy."This is a rich crowded sea and there is enormous diversity—imagine a shoal in which every fish is different. We have tried to reflect that diversity in the age and gender of the participants and in the way they handle their material and the way they respond to life," says Blake. Patrick Benson who has enhanced Walter De La Mare’s stories with illustrations says,"the most important thing an illustrator has to do is to provide lots of visual clues, bits of information rather like snapshots—that will act as a sort of springboard for the imagination and help the child visualise the surroundings in which the story is happening." However, Benson says that while illustrations enliven a book, they can sometime fail too. "I am well aware of the danger. I know illustrations can literally destroy a dream and however powerful the text, it is images that stick in the mind." Stephen Biesty, whose works are displayed in the exhibition, says that along with imagination, a lot of research work goes into the illustration of a book."When you start including figures, you begin to create a sense of atmosphere, you show how people relate to the space and you can explore the realities, the practicalities of a place and how people live," Sara Fanelli, another illustrator, who has come to conduct workshops for children during the exhibition, says, "I do a lot of drawings from reality. I like to take myself to another city, like barcelona, for example, where I explore the space, visit the museums, keep a sketch book, and then put all these ideas back until I need them." One artist, Tony Ross, besides illustrating contemporary work, has done a lot of re-illustration—just William, Pippi longstocking, the picture of Dorian Gray, Warzel Gummidge, Alice in Winderland and through the looking glass. British Council India Director Edaward Marsden, who inaugurated the exhibition, said the works displayed were among some of the best specimen of contemporary British art. "Illustrations play a great role in making children’s book attractive and interesting. But they are not just decorative additions to the book. They very often help the child visualise the idea an author wants to convey." Britain is fortunate to have so many great illustrators today working at one period. They are enriching the ancient tradition of illustration in the country, he said. The exhibition will be on till November 28. (UNI) |
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Prime witness Zaheera fails to
turn up MUMBAI, Nov 17: Prime witness in Best Bakery case Zaheera Shaikh did not appear before the trial court here today despite summons issued to her, but her counsel assured the judge that she would depose whenever required. This is the second time that Zaheera and her brothers have been summoned by the court. Earlier, the witnesses failed to turn up before the court on November four and the court had issued fresh summons. Her lawyer Harshad Ponda informed the court yesterday that Zaheera is ready to depose but urged the judge to fix a date for recording her statement. The designated judge then suggested him to consult the prosecution on the production of the witness. Prosecutor Manjula Rao told reporters outside the court today that Zaheera had assured to depose but it was the sole discretion of the prosecution when to examine her. "We shall not take any chance now as she is under police security and all precautions have to be taken. But her brothers, Nafitulla and Nasibulla, would be examined soon", she said. On November three, Zaheera had affirmed before the Vadodara Collector saying she was being pressurised by social activist Teesta Setalvad to identify innocent persons as accused in the Mumbai court conducting re-trial in Best Bakery case. She also said that her original testimony before the fast track court in Gujarat was true. Zaheera alleged in the affidavit that she was forcibly taken to Mumbai by some locals at the behest of Setalvad and also made to sign documents in English. Zaheera also claimed Setalvad had "threatened her with dire consequences" if she did not cooperate with developments of the case in the court. Zaheera accused Mumbai police of siding with Setalvad and towing her line. Seeking police protection from Setalvad and also during the ongoing trial in Mumbai court, she had said the judgement passed by the fast track court in Gujarat was correct and blamed the social activists for pressuring her to name innocent persons as accused in the Mumbai court. The Supreme Court had ordered retrial of the case in Mumbai, as Zaheera had claimed that she had deposed before the trial court out of fear. Setalvad and her NGO had then stood behind Zaheera in her fight for justice. (PTI) |
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Dharam Singh seeks Planning
Commission BANGALORE, Nov 17: Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh today urged the Planning Commission to co-finance 50 per cent of the Rs 9600 crore special development plan for nothern Karnataka districts and remove regional disparity. Speaking at the one-day consultation by the Planning Commission with Chief Ministers of southern states on approach to the mid-term appraisal of the tenth five year plan here, he said 12 districts in the northern Karnataka suffered from lack of development due to resource crunch. "The situation is likely to continue in the foreseeable future also. Consequently regional disparities will continue to plague the state’s economy and human development" he added. He said the special development plan was to be implemented over a period of eight years covering the tenth and eleventh five year plans. It was formulated by a high power committee in 2001 covering 59 taluks in northern Karnataka which has been identified as backward. The special development plan sought to focus on agriculture and allied activities, rural roads, rural water supply, housing, irrigation, energy and industries sectors. Mr Singh said though Karnataka witnessed an average growth rate of about seven per cent of the gross state domestic product during the last few years, it continued to be in the league of middle income states, mainly because of the regional disparities. The backwardness in the northern region was mainly because of decades of neglect and recurrent drought and famine in these areas. Mr Singh, listing out steps taken to improve infrastructure in this high tech city, said work on the international airport would begin in January after the state support agreement and land lease agreement were signed in the near future. Similarly Rs 390 crore project had been taken up to set up a high tech city to benefit the it industry. Work would commence in January next year, he added. He also pointed out that the state had signed an Memorandum of Understanding with powergrid for taking works worth Rs 10,000 crore for power distribution system improvement. He said during the last five months, the Government had cleared projects worth Rs 26,000 crore in private investment. This was indicate of the high level of investors confidence in the ability of the State Government to provide world class infrastructure. However to improve the infrastructure the Central Government should come to the aid of the state especially under the asside scheme to promote infrastructure for export oriented units. "If two per cent of the value of software exports from Karnataka could be made available, the state could further enhance its efforts to improve the quality of infrastructure", he added. He also mentioned about the MoU signed with ONGC for investment of Rs 25,000 crore over the next five years to set up 1500 mw gas based power plant besides a LNG terminal and development of coastal special economic zone. He urged deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia to provide necessary support in getting the projects off the ground. He also sought the Planning Commission’s approval for the Rs 4899 crore metro project, the Rs 1025 crore commuter rail project providing connectivity on the north and south besides east and west axis on the existing surface lines. (UNI) Industrial townships in Bengal
to have HALDIA, Nov 17: For the first time in India, two industrial townships in West Bengal are going to have an Environmental Risk Reporting and Information Systems (ERRIS) to mitigate incidents like the Bhopal disaster. Initiated by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) the ERRIS project when functional in the industrial townships of Durgapur and Haldia would disseminate environmental risk related information to the people at large and provide vital assitance to responders to acquire swift control of a contingency situation. After a meeting with the Haldia Development Authority and industrialists with this port township last evening ICC secretary general Naseeb Arif said the ERRIS, a Europeon Council funded project in partnership with the institute for protection and security of citizen, Italy, an international institute of geo-spacial sciences Netherlands, would help in acheiving two goals. "First, precise information on hazardous susbstances used or produced by the industries would help in preventing accidents. Second, the erris will provide critical information to emergency services and administration to take effective measures," Mr Arif said. The ICC secretary general said the ERRIS sought to establish a risk reporting system in which hazardous industrial units would volunteer information in a structured format conforming to the reporting requirements specified in the manufacture, storage, import of hazardous chemical rules 2000, notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. A spatial GIS-based database for risk planning and contingency response comprising digitised maps of the industrial area and location specific data on major accident hazard units and responders like police and fire would be set up. Besides, a virtual library of risk related information would be made available on the public domain through worldwide web. "Every year industrial accidents take their toll on business and communities in terms of lives, injury to workers and financial resources. A chlorine gas leak at Durgapur chemicals in may last caused illness to 60 people while a massive fire broke out in June at the Indian Oil Corporation’s Rajbandh terminal near Durgapur," said Mr Arif, adding, "the multi faceted approach of ERRIS aimed to properly manage the risk and promote both Durgapur and Haldia as favourable industrial destinations." The European Council had sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore for the ERRIS project which will come up by two years from now. The meeting was attended among others by HDA chairman and MP Laxman Seth and representatives from major industrial units like Haldia petrochem, Tata Chem and Exide Industries among others. (UNI) |
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Nagaland emerges as reforming
state with KOHIMA, Nov 17: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said the state has emerged as a prominent ‘reforming state’ in the north east region due to with ‘good governance’ and ‘economic growth’ following the ongoing peace process. Inaugurating the industrial fair, 2004, here yesterday, Mr Rio said there was a visible mood for peace, progress and development following the ceasefire between the Central Government and the NSCN groups. "The peace process, after over fifty years of conflict and violence, has come about due to an overwhelming desire of the Naga people for peace," he said. Mr Rio said the state, with its abundant resources, strategic location and potential for inter-linkages and trade opportunities with neighbouring countries, had innumerable economic possibilities. He said the state was fast emerging both as a national and international business and trade destination with new initiatives like the ‘look east’ policy, the proposed east west corridor road and Asian highway and the rail link to Thailand via Myanmar. "The reality is borne out by the fact that the Indo-Asean motor car rally has identified Kohima as an important venue of the rally. The route followed by this car rally will, in future, form the basic highway and artery of international trade and commerce in the context of the emerging trends of globalisation," Mr Rio remarked. "The implications are indeed tremendous and it now depends on the people to fully exploit the situation for the good of the present generation as also to lay the foundation for the future," he opined. Mr Rio said the industrial fair, 2004, was organized at a time when it coincided with the Indo-Asean car rally, a sporting event designed to promote trade and economic cooperation between India and the south east Asian countries. On the tourism front, the Chief Minister said that the state was ‘tailor made’ for the development of tourism as an industry with picturesque hills and beautiful landscape coupled with the unique culture and customs which offer infinite tourism opportunities. "Traditional crafts of the state, which are unique in design, have widespread appeal and there is substantial demand for the handloom and handicraft products of Nagaland in the domestic as well as offshore markets," he remarked. Floriculture also had enormous scope as a highly profitable industry in the state, he said adding that the state was a treasure trove of medicinal and aromatic herbs and plants. Mr Rio said it was necessary to create awareness to transform the state from a net consuming state to a net producing one, which could once it was learnt how to exploit and make use of the raw materials, manpower and skills locally available. Mr Rio stressed that the need of the hour was for the State Government and the people to join hands in exploiting the inherent strength and natural resources, to make the state of Nagaland one of the most progressive states of the country. (UNI) |
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India, China to set up JT
steering committee NEW DELHI, Nov 17: India and China today decided to set up a joint steering committee to intensify bilateral cooperation in the areas of science and technology, information technology, nuclear energy, science education and traditional medicine. The decision, hailed as "historic," was taken at a meeting between Union Science and Technology Minister Kabil Sibal and Chinese State Councillor Chen Zhili here. It is for the first time that a joint steering committee has been set up between the two Asian neighbours. The basic idea is to identify the areas of collaboration and specific projects so that both the countries are benefitted, Mr Sibal told newspersons later. The steering committee would be co-chaired by the Science and Technology Ministers of both the countries. He said, the first meeting of the committee would take place next year during his proposed visit to China. Mr Sibal said the composition of the committee would be finalised in the next two to three weeks after consultations with the foreign ministries of both the countries. Ms Zhilli said, such a mechanism would be advantageous to both the countries to make use of the strength of the other. China wants to benefit from India in the area of software technology. Mr Sibal said ‘the mechanism would help to synergise China’s strength in hardware and India’s strength in software. Ms Zilli said the committee would also explore collaboration in the areas of traditional medicine, disaster management and ocean development. Replying to a question, Mr Sibal said though several Memoranda of Understand (MoUs) exist between India and China, the new initiative would certainly help to take this collaboration further ahead. He said the committee would meet once in six months. The 30-member Chinese delegation, led by Ms Zhili and comprised of Education Minister Zhou Ji, deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Chen Jinyu and Vice Minister of Science and Technology, had already visited the information technology park and infosys in Bangalore, would leave here tomorrow for South Korea. (UNI) |
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