Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 29: Former Union Minister and president J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, today addressed a largely attended gathering of artisans drawn from Kashmir valley particularly down town Srinagar and assured them that their problems would be sorted out for early resolution.
Prof Soz was speaking at IMPA Srinagar in a seminar organized by Majestic Voluntary Organization in collaboration with Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The main topic under discussion was ‘Brand Building and Promotion of Copper Wear Craft in J&K State’.
The leaders of the artisans representing various Crafts particularly Copper and Pashmina explained in detail their problems and difficulties which had reduced the community of artisans to extreme poverty. The artisans of various crafts, in one voice, demanded that machines and machine made craft products have to be banned in J&K State, so that the world famous handicrafts are revived to the advantage of the artisans.
The Artisans also demanded the supply of raw materials of proper quality. They further demanded that that a permanent space be provided for production, display and sale of products and this should be done through the Government Department meant for development of Handicrafts in J&K State.
Prof Soz assured them that he would bring their demands to the competent authorities in the department concerned and also invite Minister of Industries for appreciating the difficulties faced by the artisans in Kashmir.
Soz assures early resolution of artisans’ problems
Over 1500 students appear in CET conducted by SKUAST-J
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences (SKUAST) of Jammu conducted Combined Entrance Test (CET) for various Under Graduate programmes viz BSc (Agriculture), BSc (Biotechnology) and BVSc and AH today.
According to University Examination Cell Incharge, Dr V Kaul, of the 1700 candidates, 1556 candidates today appeared in the Combined Entrance Test (CET). The test was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner in 3 examination centres viz SKUAST-J Chatha Campus, SKUAST-J RS Pura Campus and St Peters Higher Secondary School, Jammu where the candidates appeared.
The university examination cell installed CCTVs in examination centres to maintain transparency and to avoid the possibility of use of unfair means during the test.
More than 50 officers and officials were engaged for smooth conducting of CET, on the basis of which students shall be selected for admission in various UG programmes of the University.
The result of the entrance examination will be declared within two weeks to facilitate timely admission.
The CET was conducted under the supervision of Vice Chancellor Dr PK Sharma. Vice Chancellor had also deputed Director Education, Dr RM Bhagat, Registrar, Dr BB Gupta, Dean Agriculture, Dr JP Sharma and Dean Veterinary, Dr SK Gupta to supervise the smooth conduct of the admission test at various centres.
Man missing
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: 48-year-old Sanjay Moza, son of Amar Nath Moza, a resident of 78-Amar Colony, Camp Road, Talab Tillo has been reportedly missing from his residence since June 27.
He is having 4 feet 5 inch height with blackish complexion. He was wearing t-shirt and green colour Capri, when last seen.
Anybody having any clue about the missing man can contact on Mobile numbers 87160-02277, 94191-90689, 94191-91055 and 94196-16083.
Natrang presents new play ‘Tangled Knots’
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, June 29: Natrang in its Sunday Theatre Series presented a new English/Hindi play ‘Tangled Knots’ based on a new ideology derived and conceptualized by Abhishek Bharti who has done Masters in Theatre and Television From Punjabi University, Patiala and pursuing Phd in Dogri folk Theatre form ‘Hern’ from Punjab University, Chandigarh.
The play was a product of the theatre workshop, which Abhishek Bharti conducted for Natrang. He took State Academy Awards continuously for five years from J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for best productions. The idea of ‘Theatre of Cruelty’ and ‘The Theatre of the Poor’ was further analyzed and contemporized in the form of a play ‘Tangled Knots’.
Speaking on the occasion, Natrang Director Balwant Thakur expressed his satisfaction after witnessing the presentation. He said that Natrang is opening its doors for fresh talents and will provide all logistic help and support to new innovators like Abhishek Bharti for exploring new possibilities in Indian Theatre. He termed Abhishek’s work a fresh breath in Indian theatre and hoped his style to find a new identity in days to come. He further informed that Natrang is going to start yet another workshop ‘Discover the Actor in You’ from Monday June 30, 2014, which is being conducted by Neelu Dogra (NSD), who has specially come from Singapore to conduct this workshop.
This play showed the plight of today’s women dealing with the hurdles of life. From a new born to a mother, women in our society have been a victim of domination by men. Even in the 21st century, women have been subjugated by the society. The crime against women has increased over the years and the unfortunate reality is that we have adjusted ourselves across the idea so much so that any news of violence against women does affect us for a little while but with time people move back to their own lives.
The play was derived through a workshop based on body movements. Each crime was shown in the form of images and body movements. There was no use of dialogues in the play. There were just five poems that were written by the artist themselves and were enacted with great enthusiasm. The artists of the play were asked to work on ‘image formations’ and they were conceptualised by the actors on the stage. The performers on the stage were , Ashwani Baali, Uplaksh Singh Kotwal ,Varun Sharma, Namit Dubey, Rohan Kapoor, Shekher Sharma, Susheel Raina, Vrinda Bakshi, Aarushi Thakur, Namrata Chib, Vanshika Gupta, Ruqaya Khatoon Qazi, Sakshi Prakash, Juhi Singh and Mahikshit Singh. The show was coordinated by Mohd. Yaseen.
Prominent among those who graced the occasion included Kumar A. Bharti, Anil Tickoo, Neelu Dogra, Ashok Sharma, Neeraj Kant and Ravindra Sharma.
No intrusion in private life: Anurag
LEH, June 29: Post his separation from wife Kalki Koechlin, much is being written about Anurag Kashyap’s personal life and the filmmaker says he is bothered by the intrusion of privacy.
Kashyap and the 30-year-old actress separated mutually last year after more than two years of marriage, and ever since the ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ helmer has been linked to a couple of women from the film industry.
“I have become too numb to react on the speculations about my personal life. I have to admit that it does bother me… I find it unfair. I feel my personal life is nobody’s business,” Kashyap said.
The 41-year-old director is here to attend the third Ladakh International Film Festival, where his upcoming film ‘Ugly’ had its Asia and India premiere.
Kashyap, who had refused the mandatory anti-tobacco disclaimer for the film and filed a petition in the court, said that all the legal hassles were over and ‘Ugly’ will release on September 19.
“I have lost the case and I have to now put the no-smoking disclaimer in the film. All the legal hassles are over and the film will release in September,” he said.
‘Ugly’ is a psychological thriller and was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The film stars Girish Kulkarni, Ronit Roy, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Vinit Kumar Singh, Surveen Chawla and Vipin Sharma in pivotal roles.
“I wanted to make this film since 2006. I believe that every person has an ugly side and when that side comes out, things become worse,” the director said.
Kashyap’s period drama ‘Bombay Velvet’ will also hit screens this year. The film will feature Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in lead roles while Karan Johar will play the primary antagonist.
“‘Bombay Velvet’ will be more universal and commercial as compared to my earlier films,” he said.
The leading lady of the film, Anushka has been facing backlash for the plumped up appearance of her lips. When asked what he feels about the issue, Kashyap said,” I find all such stories and discussions on this issue intrusive. I don’t understand why people like to interfere in others life.
“But I don’t think the topic would take any attention away from my movie. When my movie will release, people will talk about it. I am not bothered,” he said.
Kashyap, who is the creative director of megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s fiction TV debut ‘Yudh’, is excited to see the audiences reaction for the new venture.
“I always wanted to do something on TV. I don’t like what is on TV right now. One difference between films and TV is that the latter is not time bound and hence one can do more,” he said.
Army jawans were also invited at the Indo-Asian green carpet premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s upcoming film ‘Ugly’ at the third Ladakh International Film Festival here.
The personnel were last evening invited for the screening of the psychological thriller.
“Today is our off. So, we got to watch the film. We all are trainees, joined from October and this is for the first time we are coming to watch any film. I am happy because I like watching films,” said Stezin Urgyan, a jawan from the batch.
Though they did not know much about Kashyap, were more than happy to be the guest at the premiere of the movie.
“I have watched his film, ‘Barfi!’ and liked it,” said a jawan, who mistook Kashyap for director Anurag Basu. (PTI)
ISRO set to launch five foreign satellites today
CHENNAI, June 29:
In an exclusive commercial launch to be witnessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s national space agency ISRO is set to launch five satellites from four countries from the spaceport of Sriharikota.
The 49-hour countdown for the launch was progressing smoothly and preparations for Mobile Service Tower withdrawal to the parking end were also under progress, ISRO said.
PSLV C23 is scheduled to lift off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9.52 am tomorrow.
After an estimated time of 20 minutes, ISRO’s workhorse PSLV is expected to separate all five satellites — one by one into their intended orbit, ISRO officials said.
Besides its main payload of 714 kg weighing French Earth Observation Satellite SPOT-7, PSLV C23 would carry 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) & NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg and the 7 kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.
NLS 7.1 and NLS 7.2 are from the University of Toronto, Institute of Aerospace Studies/ Space Flight Laboratory. Canada. Both payloads would fly in precise formation using differential GPS with centimeter-level accurate position control system.
VELOX-1 from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore is a technology demonstrator for design of image sensor, MEMS-based attitude determination and control system and inter-satellite RF link.
“These five satellites are being launched under commercial arrangements that ANTRIX (ISRO’s commercial arm) has entered with the respective foreign agencies,” they said.
The Mission Readiness Review Committee and the Launch Authorisation Board, which met on Friday, cleared the launch after rescheduling it for 9.52 am.
The launch, originally fixed at 9.49 AM, was rescheduled to 9.52 AM due to the probability of space debris movement during the launch window.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi is reaching here by air this evening on his way to Sriharikota, to witness the launch. This is also Modi’s first visit to the South after becoming the Prime Minister. (PTI)
Drug peddlers attack cops, 4 held
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: Four drug peddlers were arrested for attacking a police party at Dhani Dhar village in Rajouri district in which a police cop also received injuries and was hospitalized.
As per police sources, on specific tip about undesirable activities going on in a house in village Dhani Dhar, police team from Rajouri police station led by DySP Headquarters Hamid Choudhary and SHO Rajouri Yash Jamwal conducted a raid in the house.
On seeing the police team, the persons inside the house including women resorted to stone pelting on the police and later managed to escape from the spot. In the incident, a police cop namely Mohammad Vakil received injuries in his finger.
The police team chased the accused and apprehended four drug peddlers, who have been identified as Ajay Kumar, son of Chander Parkash of Dhangri,
Naseer Ahmed, son of Lal Hussain of Challas, at present Dhani Dhar,
Azeem Ahmed, son of Gulzar Hussain of Gujjar Mandi and Rajan Gupta, son of Raj Kumar Gupta, a resident of Kalakote.
A case under FIR number 331/14 under Section 353, 332, 336, 506, 147 and 148 RPC has been registered against the accused at police station Rajouri and manhunt has been launched to nab their associates including women.
When contacted SP Rajouri, Mubassir Latifi, told Excelsior, locals had reported that some undesirable activities were going on in a house at village Dhani Dhar including smuggling of drugs and on this police conducted raid.
During raid, four drug peddlers were arrested who along with their associates resorted to stone pelting on police team, he said, adding that manhunt has been launched to nab the associates of the accused including women.
SP added that a police cop received injuries in a finger of his hand and was hospitalized.
He informed that Rajan Gupta was earlier arrested by police along with a huge consignment of charas about four months back.
33rd executive body meeting of NIPA held
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: The 33rd executive body meeting of North India Printers Association (NIPA) was held here at Press Club under the presidentship of Padamshree, Vijay Kumar Chopra in which members from Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Karnal and Jammu participated.
All office bearers and executive members of Jammu Printers Association also participated in the meeting as observers. The meeting was held as per agenda of the NIPA already circulated among the members.
Chopra while addressing the participants stressed upon the unity of NIPA members for furthering the cause of NIPA associates.
The meeting was conducted by general secretary Kamal Chopra. Earlier, Joginder Singh, president, Jammu Printers Association, welcomed the delegates of NIPA to the city of temple. The meeting concluded with lunch.
Pillion rider dies in road accident
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 29: A pillion rider was killed when the motorcycle she was riding on along with her son slipped near Rahmati road in Shiv Nagar.
As per police sources, 54-year-old Nirmla Pradhan, wife of Sham Singh Pradhan of Bilan Babli was riding on motorcycle bearing registration number JK14B-1852 with her son, when the vehicle slipped near Rahmati road in Shiv Nagar, causing serious injuries to woman.
The woman was rushed to District Hospital (DH) Udhampur, where doctors declared her as brought dead.
The body has been shifted to mortuary of District Hospital for postmortem, which will be conducted tomorrow.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Udhampur police station and investigation started.
Army distributes furniture to GMS Ponthal
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 29: Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, under Romeo Force distributed school furniture to Government Middle School, Ponthal, district Rajouri, today.
During recent civil-military interaction at Ponthal, local residents from the area had requested Army to assist school authorities in provisioning of basic furniture for the school. Army having taken cognizance of people’s request, took the initiative for the noble cause and presented school with 34 desks double seater, four almirah, five stools during a glittering ceremony held at Ponthal.
The function was attended by various dignitaries from civil administration as well as Army. The programme concluded with vote of thanks from Sarfraz Khan, Sarpanch Ponthal and Mohd Sabbar, School Headmaster wherein efforts of the Indian Army towards bringing a new face lift to the school were highly appreciated.
Government Middle School, Ponthal is the only middle school existing for children from this area.