Guwahati girl becomes 'first Assamese' to graduate in Sanskrit, Classical Hindi from Oxford
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News18
9 hours ago
- News18
Independence Day Special: Meet The Fauji Wives Breaking Barriers And Paving Their Own Path
1/7 3/7 Capt (Dr.) Sunaina Singh 's life reads like a tribute to service—in and out of uniform. A former Indian Army officer from the Intelligence Corps, she now serves as an Assistant Professor at Kamla Nehru College, Delhi University, and continues to dedicate herself to nation-building in her own unique way. A proud Army wife, committed academician, and mentor, her grassroots work includes free guidance to children of martyrs, mental health and parenting sessions for Army families, and initiatives to improve their 'happiness quotient.' Her initiative Mission Join Indian Army has guided countless defence aspirants, especially from rural and underprivileged backgrounds, in developing officer-like qualities and a growth mindset. (Image: Capt (Dr.) Sunaina Singh) Mohini Daljeet Singh started her social service journey by volunteering as a student with Mother Teresa's Home Prem Niwas, in Lucknow, where she learnt her lessons of compassion and selfless social giving. An Army daughter and Army wife, she has spent more than three decades on 'hands-on' social and welfare work to benefit army families in the health, education and personal counselling areas. As founder CEO of Max India Foundation, Mohini has worked for the underprivileged on the health platform benefitting 26 lakh beneficiaries at 704 locations and partnering with 410 NGOs. (Image: Mohini Daljeet Singh) Pooja Chowdhary is a leading voice in development communications, currently serving as the Communications Head at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in India. She has used the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between policy and people—turning complex technical work into compelling, people-centric narratives that influence change on the ground. A recipient of the prestigious 2021 Chevening Scholarship conferred by the UK Government, Pooja leads multi-stakeholder communication strategies rooted in dignity, equity, and sustainability, while mentoring the next generation of ethical communicators. In 2015, she made history as one of the first Assamese women to scale the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world. (Image: Pooja Chowdhary) Chandni Bhardwaj, a self-confessed Army brat, now married to the olive green, serves as the Vice President, Senior Regional Head Private Banking Group, at HDFC Bank. Chandni has held several prestigious positions at leading banks of the country, inlcuding Citibank and Kotak Bank previously. A leading banking professional, she was a University Gold Medalist in Economic Honors. From handling wealth for UNHI clients to supporting the fight on crimes against women, she is truly an inspiring trailblazer. (Image: Chandni Bhardwaj) Harpriya Bains is a mom-turned-comedian, challenging stereotypes with her hilarious take on housewives and societal expectations. Through her comedy, she highlights the absurdity of Indian patriarchy and the pressures faced by women in desi households. Her comedy is inspired by the daily life of mothers and wives. Starting her comedy career at the age of 40, Harpriya's 'Carry on Mummy' solo stand-up show has been a big hit on social media, garnering over 1.5 million views on YouTube alone. A TEDx speaker, Harpriya also has had the opportunity to do gratifying voluntary work for the Army Wives Welfare Association. (Image: Harpriya Bains)
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Develop innovative mind: Addl commissioner
Caption: Additional commissioner of school education and literacy Ishwar Ullagaddi interact with students after inaugurating an exhibition organised at KE Board's High School in Dharwad as part of the Independence Day celebrations on Thursday Dharwad: Additional commissioner of school education and literacy (Belagavi division) Ishwar Ullagaddi called upon the students to develop innovative minds and contribute to the nation's progress through creative works. Inaugurating the exhibition organised as part of the Independence Day celebrations by KE Board's educational institutions in Malamaddi here on Thursday, he said students should make best use of the guidance and facilities provided by the teachers and schools and strive to attain higher goals. The expo focused on Kannada, English, Sanskrit and Hindi. Students from KE Board's High School, KEB English Medium School, KEB Central (CBSE) School, Primary School and PU College displayed models and charts explaining the origin, development, literature of these languages, writers and their books. The expo will be open from 10am to 3pm on Aug 15. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Review of The Buddha's Path to Awakening
The increasing popularity of Buddhism among people who identify themselves as spiritual but not religious has led to a watering down of the life story of the Buddha. The rich narrative literature in Pali that chronicles Siddhattha Gotama's path to awakening does not restrict itself to a single lifetime simply because, according to the Buddhist worldview, it takes countless lifetimes to attain enlightenment. Ideas of karma and rebirth are deeply woven into the fabric of early Buddhism. While these seem problematic to contemporary audiences given the implications for social justice, it is also true that discarding these robs us of the truths contained in the language of myth, miracle and metaphor. The Buddha's Path to Awakening, translated by Sarah Shaw from the Jatakanidana in Pali, is a commentary on the 547 birth stories known as the Jatakas, which underwent numerous adaptations in the centuries after the historical Buddha's lifetime. Composed by an anonymous monk in the 5th or 6th century CE in the region known as present-day Sri Lanka, this text is significant to seekers and scholars alike because it preserves the oral traditions that have emerged and accumulated around the Bodhisatta, a title that is used to refer to a person who takes a vow to attain Buddhahood after which there is no rebirth. This is not a selfish aspiration. It stems from the motivation to be free of suffering in order to help free others. Freedom of enlightenment According to ancient Buddhist lore, there were several Buddhas before the historical Buddha aka Siddhattha Gotama known to contemporary readers. One of them was Dipankara. During his time, Bodhisatta Sumedha took this vow: 'I will fulfil the ten perfections, and a hundred thousand eons and four incalculable epochs from now, I will become a Buddha!' The story of the historical Buddha, who was born in Lumbini and got enlightened in Gaya, goes back to Sumedha who cultivated the perfections of generosity, virtue, renunciation, wisdom, heroic strength, forbearance, truthfulness, resolve, loving kindness, and equanimity over numerous lifetimes. With this book, Shaw, a faculty member in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, has produced a translation that makes the Jatakanidana accessible to people who have no knowledge of Pali but a strong wish to understand and even emulate the Buddha's path. As she notes, 'The taking of the Bodhisatta vow, the key event near the outset of this work, is not simply a narrative linking device. It also serves as a gateway, or an opening, for a heroic search that can be undertaken by anyone.' Oddly, she does not comment on how this seems inconsistent with the Bodhisatta's pronouncement that 'Buddhas are not born in a Vaishya or a Sudra family but come from a Kshatriya or a Brahman family — whichever people think is superior at the time'. This inconsistency makes one wonder if the text that 'dates to... centuries after the formation of the Pali canon' was corrupted by later additions. One of the most poignant sentences in this translation reads: 'The Bodhisatta renounced the kingdom that had been given to him like a glob of spittle, without any hankering for it.' This is a stunning articulation of the freedom that the Buddha's path promises. The Murty Classical Library of India deserves kudos for producing such a fine work with the original Pali and the English translation on facing pages, bringing ancient wisdom to new audiences. The reviewer is a journalist, educator and literary critic.
