Hoil – The Carnival of colours
Holi is one of the most colorful and vibrant festivals celebrated in India. Like many other festivals, Holi has an ancient origin, the tradition of which is being followed since time immemorial. Considering the religious importance of the festival, it is associated with a number of mythological stories. The most popular amongst them is that of Radha and Lord Krishna, wherein, he playfully applied color on Radha’s cheek, as she was fairer than him. This gave rise to the festival of Holi and the tradition of playing with colors. The significance of the festival has not diminished since then and even applies to the cultural, social and biological aspects of our lives.
Cultural Significance.
The cultural significance of Holi can be gauged from the fact that its origin derives reference from various mythological tales. This has led to a deep faith and respect towards the celebration of the festival, as Indians strongly believe in mythology. The moral behind all these stories is victory of good over evil, which is a lesson for the human race. The tales instill the faith of man into the ultimate power of God and his mercy over his devotees. Holi festival is the medium through which people are inspired to lead a virtuous life. Moreover, the festival is organized at the time when the harvest is at full bloom, giving people an opportunity to rejoice
JU VC calls on Governor
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 4: Prof. R.D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, called on Governor N. N. Vohra, Chancellor of the University, at the Raj Bhavan here today.
The Governor discussed several important issues relating to the functioning of the University, including the off-site Campuses, with Prof. Sharma. He re-iterated his concern about the need for devoting sustained devotion to maintain high standards of academic excellence and research by the students and the Faculties through strict adherence to discipline.
Cong Prez polls process open, nothing to hide: Madhusudan Mistry
NEW DELHI, Sept 15:
The Pradesh Congress Committee delegates will pass resolutions authorising the new Congress president to appoint state chiefs and AICC delegates, senior leader Madhusudan Mistry said on Thursday, asserting that this process will have no bearing on the party chief polls.
The Congress’ central election authority chairman also said the entire process of the election of the Congress president was, is and will always be “open” with nothing to hide.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Mistry reiterated that those seeking to file nominations for the post of AICC chief and wanting to select 10 PCC delegates from various states to sign on their form can either check if the person concerned has a QR code-bearing identification card or see the list of the over 9,000 delegates at the AICC’s central election authority office from September 20.
“I had said earlier and I repeat that those who had concerns that if they we want to file nominations and want support of 10 people from other PCCs, then they can check the delegates ID cards bearing a QR code. Or they can can come and see the voters list at AICC headquarters from September 20,” Mistry said.
The chairman of the authority conducting organisational elections said he held a meeting on Wednesday with pradesh returning officers to take stock of the preparations for the polls to elect the new president.
He said the over 9000 PCC delegates are being issued QR code-bearing identity cards.
“The pradesh returning officers will call a meeting of PCC delegates where they will pass resolutions to authorise the incoming president to appoint PCC presidents and AICC delegates,” Mistry said.
He said he wants to clarify that this process will have no bearing on the election of the new Congress president.
The election to the Congress president will be done by the over 9,000 PCC delegates. With the passing of the resolutions by the PCC delegates, the new president will then be able to appoint state chiefs and AICC delegates.
Out of the 23 Congress Working Committee members, 12 are elected while 11 are nominated, Mistry said.
If there are more than 12 contenders for the CWC elected seats then there will be elections, he said, adding that if there is a consensus on the names of 23 members then polls may not be required.
He said the CWC election process takes place after the AICC session which is held following the election of the new Congress president.
Mistry said mostly the PCC delegates have been elected by consensus, but elections and polling were conducted in the party’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands unit.
The notification for the Congress president’s election will be out on September 22 by when all the PCC delegates will be finalised and electoral roll published and the election, if required, will be held on October 17. (PTI)
The over 9,000 PCC delegates will elect the new Congress president to succeed Sonia Gandhi who is holding the top post as interim president since 2019 after Rahul Gandhi resigned as party chief, taking moral responsibility of the Congress drubbing in Lok Sabha polls.
Though efforts are on to request Rahul Gandhi to take over as party chief once again, he is reportedly not keen on the post and wants a non-Gandhi to be elected.
Sources said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is the frontrunner for the top post as he enjoys both proximity and confidence of the Gandhis. However, Shashi Tharoor, who is a member of the G23 which had sought organisational overhaul and reforms in the party in a letter to the Congress president two years ago, may contest in case a non-Gandhi files nomination for the top post.
Nominations for the post of Congress president can be filed from September 24 to September 30 from 11 am to 3 pm everyday.
The last day of filing nomination is Friday, September 30, 2022 and after scrutiny of nomination papers on October 1, the last date of withdrawal of nominations is October 8.
The election campaign can be done between October 8 to 16, and in case there are more than one candidate, polling will be held at all Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters and at AICC on October 17 between 10 am and 4 pm. The counting shall take place on October 19 and the results will be declared the same day. (PTI)
Car plunges off cliff in China: 5 policemen killed
BEIJING, July 19: Five Chinese police officers were killed in the country’s southwest Guizhou Province when their car plunged off a 100-meter-deep cliff, local officials said.
The accident occurred yesterday when the five from a township police station in Zunyi county was driving on a local mountainous road, the county publicity department said in a statement.
Four police officers were killed on the spot and the other died from severe injuries while en route to hospital, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. (PTI)
FRAs hold meet, discuss issues
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: In order to discuss their issues, a meeting of working committee of Federation of Retailers Associations (FRAs) was held here today.
The meeting was held under the supervision of Vijay Gupta, president, FRAs.
During the meeting the members of association, expresses serious concern over the present scenario prevailing in the market.
They also discussed the problem created by the unauthorized hawkers, who were selling unhygienic food items in the market, without obtaining any license from the FSSAI and putting the lives of people in danger.
‘Kitchen Mogul’ TT Jagannathan of TTK Prestige Group awarded Padma Shri posthumously
NEW DELHI, Jan 25 : Late TT Jagannathan, popularly known as ‘Kitchen Mogul’, of TTK Prestige Group, has been awarded Padma Shri posthumously.
Jagannathan, who died in October last year, has been awarded the civilian honour in trade and industry category in recognition for his contribution in the sector.
He invented the GRS safety mechanism for pressure cookers, exported Indian cookware globally and headed the renowned TTK Prestige Group for decades.
Besides, he made significant contributions to healthcare, sanitation and education, a government statement said on Sunday.
He was the chairman emeritus of TTK Prestige when he died at the age of 77.
A man who was on the board of TTK Prestige for 50 years, Jagannathan made the Prestige pressure cooker brand a household name in India. He had played a key role in turning around the TTK Group and making it debt-free.
Later on, he led expansion of Prestige from being just a pressure cooker maker to become a full-service kitchen solutions brand ranging from spanning cookware and electrical appliances, among others.
Jagannathan also authored the popular book ‘Disrupt And Conquer – How TTK Prestige Became A Billion Dollar Company’.
Not just in the domestic market, Prestige expanded in global markets such as the US and the UK under his watch.
A gold medallist from IIT Madras and a PhD in operations from Cornell University, USA, Jagannathan was a man who loved to cook and had remarked that his need to innovate always began in the kitchen. (PTI)