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Hindustan Times
35 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Cabaret in the city
On the evening of November 30, 1919, the premises of the Napier Hotel near Poona Cantonment were thick with anticipation. Men and women dressed in their best attire arrived in horse-drawn carriages and took their seats in the huge dining hall, which was decorated with fancy lamps and flowers. They had booked their seats a month in advance. At 7 pm sharp, Maurice Bandman, the Anglo-American actor and theatre manager, appeared on the stage and the audience rose to their feet. It was his troupe's first performance in Poona. Most European hotels in India denied entry to Indians in the nineteenth century. They organised ballroom dances for their patrons. Eating out for pleasure was still a novelty, and the hotels, considered places for business networking and establishing social hierarchy among the Europeans, were probably not confident enough that patrons would visit their establishment for the pleasure of food and made sure there were other attractions like the billiards table and ballroom dancing. When, in the mid-nineteenth century, hotels converted their private dining rooms into restaurants, 'variety shows' became fashionable. These performances typically comprised magic shows, solo singing, comedy, parody, and acrobatics. Another restaurant famous for its orchestra was F Cornaglia in Bombay and Poona. The orchestra travelled to Poona twice a month and performed for its patrons. During the race season in Poona, Cornaglia organised a special luncheon and a 'Diner Dansant', the combination of a meal and dancing, often with live music. Like the Taj Mahal Palace and Green's, Cornaglia hired resident orchestras until the early 1930s when all three establishments formed their troupes for routine performances. At the Bombay branch, Chris Beard and his Cornaglia's Orchestra performed every night and travelled to Poona once every month. These restaurants hosted American and European musicians once in a while on special occasions. The Poona Hotel was known to invite foreign troupes to the city. It was situated in the former residence of General Valiant near St Mary's Church and was one of the best places to live in the city. On June 9, 1923, the Poona Hotel organised a 'Carnival and Fancy-Dress Ball' that included illuminations, fancy decorations, and confetti fireworks. The Broadway Boy's Jazz Band from Bombay performed jazzy tunes, and an operatic ballet dancer, Miss Patricia Gorman, performed a Waltz from the ballet 'Coppelia' (1870) composed by Leo Delibes. At the Napier Hotel, 'variety entertainment' was organised every Wednesday and Friday, while Mondays and Saturdays were reserved for 'dinner dances'. The practice of live music quickly became popular in smaller restaurants and teashops in the third decade of the twentieth century, as could be seen from advertisements that appeared in Bombay newspapers between 1930 and 1940. Since only the 'lightest kind' was suitable for performance on such occasions, this music was looked down upon by art critics. But restaurants and hotels employed musicians in large numbers, and these performances attracted considerable patronage. An article titled 'Restaurant Music' published in 'The Musical Times' on June 1, 1919, contended that the public appeared to be satisfied with what was offered musically because the majority paid little or no attention and concentrated only on the food in front of them. The popularity of cabaret performances in Indian cities in the early twentieth century could be attributed to better transnational transportation facilities and the opening of commercial avenues. India was a significant market for manufactured goods and raw materials and was a major contributor to the empire's profit-making structure. Commerce, and art crossed boundaries when people migrated from their home countries in search of better economic opportunities. The profits made in lucrative business ventures in India enabled foreign artistes to visit the country. Migrants coming from Europe and America were looking to find a sense of familiarity in this country. They often sought to preserve a sense of British identity overseas, which made the proliferation of Western music easier. Around the same time, there were conscious efforts towards the homogenisation of cultural products that included the programming of Western music. The end of the Victorian Era signalled new norms of acceptability supported by global commerce and international connections. The audience wholeheartedly welcomed cabaret performances. The popularity of jazz in Bombay and Poona was hailed by many. But there were detractors, too. 'The musical fare provided for the Indian public is jazz and selections from musical comedy and tinkling music hall tunes', wrote a Bombay newspaper in September 1920. After some complaints, the Taj Mahal Palace and F Cornaglia started organising chamber orchestras a few times a month. 'The musical fare provided for the Indian public is jazz and selections from musical comedy and tinkling music hall tunes', wrote a Bombay newspaper in September 1920. But there were detractors, too. After some complaints, the Taj Mahal Palace and F Cornaglia started organising chamber orchestras a few times a month. The 'light music' played in the restaurants often came under fire. That these restaurant performances were not selected from any standpoint of real merit was a complaint made frequently. A Bombay newspaper columnist grumbled on February 21, 1932, that one did not ask for concert-room pieces: only for pieces which were tuneful, direct in rhythm, and simple in sentiment. He wrote - 'Considering the vast amount of suitable music in existence from which to choose, there can be no excuse for the performance of such trivial and characterless stuff as is now in vogue. It may be said that there is no good light music being written and that the selection is made from current popular pieces. Of course, a Sullivan, Offenbach, J Strauss, Audran, or Waldeteufel are not to be met with in every generation, but the writings of such men are still available, and surely could be drawn upon more frequently'. However, the cabaret performances remained popular for several decades after they were introduced. The Indian State Broadcasting Service routinely relayed the performances directly from the hotels. Maurice Bandman was one of the first to introduce jazz music in India. The concert in November 1919 at the Napier Hotel was probably the first jazz concert in the city. The musical trade routes established by Bandman and the hotels and restaurants in twentieth-century India have long been forgotten. Their contribution to the growth of cabaret and jazz music in India needs to be remembered, at least once in a while.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sir Graeme Odgers, businessman who brought industry nous to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission
Sir Graeme Odgers, who has died aged 91, was a South African-born public servant and business leader who chaired the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Odgers brought unusually broad industrial and Whitehall experience to the leadership of the MMC – the body which had oversight between 1948 and 1999 of all major corporate mergers and competition issues – in which he succeeded the barrister Sir Godfrey Lequesne. Appointed in 1993 by Michael Heseltine as president of the Board of Trade, Odgers was initially seen, as one profile put it, 'as very much someone in the Heseltine mould – pro-competition, pro-intervention, pro-industry' – and indeed, he acknowledged that he felt 'comfortable with Mr Heseltine's expressed viewpoint about competition'. But like his predecessor, he firmly asserted the Commission's independence, while working to achieve a collegiate approach among its 35 part-time commissioners which minimised the incidence of dissenting 'minority reports'. Areas of controversy ranged from upmarket perfume manufacturers' refusal to supply supermarkets to the allegedly predatory takeover activities of the Stagecoach bus company – but none of the MMC's reports during his tenure were successfully challenged in the courts. When he declined the offer of a second five-year term in 1997, one editorial noted that Odgers had blotted his copybook with ministers on only a handful of occasions and was 'generally reckoned to have made a decent fist of the MMC… It certainly made a pleasant change to have the place run for once by an industrialist rather than a clever lawyer.' Graeme David William Odgers was born on March 10 1934 in a mining town outside Johannesburg to William Odgers, an engineer and mine manager for the Anglo-American mining group, and his wife Elizabeth, née Rennie. During the Second World War the family moved to Northern Rhodesia, where William managed copper production; Graeme returned to complete his schooling at St John's College in Johannesburg before taking ship to England aged 17 to study mechanical sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He returned to South Africa to start work with Anglo-American but left in 1957, shortly after getting married, to take an MBA as a Baker Scholar at Harvard Business School and to become an investment officer for the International Finance Corporation (an arm of the World Bank) in Washington. Moving to the UK in 1962, he worked successively in management consultancy, merchant banking and insurance broking, then in 1970 established his own headhunting firm. But his path was diverted in early 1974 by a call from Peter Walker, the Heath government's secretary of state for trade and industry, to become an industrial adviser in the civil service. Graeme Odgers left the recruitment business (which thrived in the hands of his younger brother Ian and is now Odgers Berndtson) and accepted the Whitehall challenge – only to find himself working after the March 1974 election for the Left-wing Labour firebrand Tony Benn, whom he found charming but 'startlingly naive' in his understanding of companies and markets. Odgers's role, as head of the department's Industrial Development Unit, was to temper with financial realism Benn's political urge to achieve state control and greater trade union power within a succession of failing industrial sectors, including shipbuilding and carmaking. He returned to the private sector in 1978 to work briefly for GEC, and then for eight years with the construction group Tarmac, where he rose to be group managing director. Meanwhile, he had joined the board of British Telecom as a part-time member in preparation for its 1984 privatisation, switching to an executive role as group managing director during a challenging period of technological and cultural change from 1987 to 1990. His final industrial job before joining the MMC was as chief executive of another construction business, Alfred MacAlpine, and he was later a director of Scottish & Southern Energy. But the last phase of his working life was largely devoted to the economic development of his home county of Kent, particularly its less prosperous eastern parts. As chairman of the county council's inward investment agency, Locate in Kent, and later of its economic board, he took a leading role in initiatives which included the redevelopment of the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury and the establishment of the Turner Contemporary gallery at Margate. Recalled by colleagues for a calm and gentlemanly style, combined with steely determination to reach his objectives, he also supported these and other chosen causes by extensive personal philanthropy. He was knighted in 1997 for his MMC work and was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Kent in 2002. He held the freedom of the City of Canterbury and received the Kent Invicta Award in 2009. Graeme Odgers married first, in 1957, Diana Berge, who died in 2012, and secondly, in 2014, Susan Tait, who survives him with two daughters and a son of the first marriage; a third daughter predeceased him. Graeme Odgers, born March 10 1934, died May 8 2025 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Agriland
Whatever has happened to Zetor in recent years?
There needs to be a degree of circumspection when approaching the subject of Zetor and its virtual disappearance from the market here in Ireland, for a previous article addressing the issue stirred a little dissatisfaction within the company. This is quite understandable, as Zetor has a noble history and there is a great deal of pride behind the marque – a pride which is justified, for the company was busy building diesel engines for aeroplanes 90 years ago and that flare for engineering stayed with the company ever since. The Crystal was, in many ways, ahead of its time While it might be common practice to consider Zetors cheap and cheerful imports from a backward eastern Europe, they were often ahead of their time and proved remarkably resilient to the abuse suffered at the hands of disinterested owners. If the Ferguson FE with its three point linkage is considered to be the tractor that has had the greatest influence on Irish agriculture, then there is a case for the Zetor Crystal being second on that list. Contractors' tool It was the Crystal that kick-started many contractors' businesses, who appreciated a powerful tractor for its time, with a four-wheel drive, a safety cab with a passenger seat, air compressor, two speed power takeoff (PTO). and all available on farm at a price that severely undercut the Anglo-American competition. That was back in 1972. If you had gone along to a mainstream dealer at the time, the choice would have been between a Ford 7000 or MF 185, both of which might have been built on this side of the Iron Curtain but possessed none of the virtues listed above. 120hp was a big tractor when the Zetor 12045 was launched back in 1974 Little wonder that so much misinformation was put about concerning Zetor build quality and reliability, neither of which turned out to be a major issue and both of which affected western brands as well. Ford, for instance, felt it prudent to relaunch its 6X range as the 6Y models in 1968, although that was as much due to design as it was manufacturing issues. Zetor in Ireland Fast-forward to today and, while the blue of Ford lives on with New Holland, and Massey Ferguson, International, John Deere. etc., continue to enjoy success, it is difficult to know where to go if looking for a Zetor. Yes, there are a couple of dealers still flying the flag but it is a far cry from having one in nearly every other town, which was the situation 15-20 years ago. The Zetor stand at the 2022 Ploughing Championships was a statement of faith in the company And what of the company itself? Who actually owns and manages it, what is its background, and how is Zetor now being developed? Today the company is owned by HTC Holdings, an investment company based in Slovakia, which was formed in 1998 to identify and manage opportunities within the IT sector. It describes its business as now encompassing agricultural, automotive, railway, textile, energy, and aerospace industries, which has grown to now have a presence in several countries in Europe and North America, as well as India. Turkish rival HTC acquired Zetor in 2002 after winning a bidding war against the Turkish manufacturer Uzel Makina, a close shave for Zetor as disputes within the Uzel family are said to have led to its bankruptcy in 2012. Yet this was not the first attempt by the Czech government to offload Zetor. In 1998, Motokov, the main distributor for Zetor, proposed buying a controlling 34% of the company but this appears to have foundered due to Motokov not having the resources to develop the tractors. Throughout the years Zetor kept up to date with its engineering and design On the other hand, HTC Holdings were reported to have purchased 97.7% of the company shares from the Czech government in 2002 for a price of $9.13m, taking on Zetor's debt of around $117m at the same time – a heavy burden for a company that produced just 3,500 tractors in 2001. Despite this debt level exceeding HTC's income for that same year, the investment company pledged to plough further sums into Zetor, and new models were promised as was the entry into the 175hp+ segment. Sales on the up For a while sales did improve, reaching 4,178 units in 2014, yet since then there has been a steady decline, with 1,026 units being sold in 2023, down from 1,743 in 2022, In 2024, the company management decided to close the production of both engines and transmissions in Brno, buying them in from Germany and Italy instead. The VST Zetor range of tractors utilises Zetor know-how and Indian manufacturing methods However, while it was confirmed that the factory would stay open to produce tractors for the European and US markets, no mention was made of India, where there has been some activity in conjunction with VST Tiller Tractors Ltd. VST are leaders in pedestrian cultivators, which has a production capacity of 60,000 units at its Malur Facility, yet it also has a factory at Hosur for small tractors which can produce 40,000 machines annually. Although it appears that there is no financial tie-in, the Indian company is utilising Zetor technology in its product range and the tractors are being sold under the VST Zetor label in India. Military vehicles by Zetor Back in Slovakia, HTC has formed Zetor Engineering, a design and consultancy company that is a subsidiary of Zetor Engineering CZ . Both have been involved in the design of an armoured fighting vehicle known as the Gerlach 4X4. The Gerlach is to be produced in Slovakia by Zetor Engineering HTC Holdings appear to be in rude health health but its tractor-making subsidiary is reported as being in difficulty with a large debt and poor sales. Yet, the name lives on tractor bonnets, in India at least, and will continue to adorn off-road vehicles of a different sort.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letter: Troubling border strategy demands more attention
One of President Donald Trump's latest acts slipped under media radar. He expanded a 60-foot strip of land that runs through three U.S. states bordering Mexico, turning it into a new 'military base.' This allows the administration to sidestep the Posse Comitatus Act, which prevents the military from acting as a domestic police force. Because it's a 'military base,' soldiers can apprehend, search and detain people who cross the border illegally. As the Brennan Center for Justice states: 'Searching and apprehending migrants would ordinarily run afoul of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits federal armed forces from directly participating in civilian law enforcement activities unless doing so is expressly authorized by Congress or the Constitution. The law stems from an Anglo-American tradition, centuries older than the Constitution, of restraining military interference in civilian affairs. It serves as a critical check on presidential power and a vital safeguard for both personal liberty and democracy.' Activists say this is Trump's first step to blur the line to use military force against civil protest. They note that his last administration sought to use the military against peaceful protesters in Washington. Berks County is represented by two former GOP military officers who should know the law (Rep. Dan Meuser and Sen. Dave McCormick). Do they believe the military could be turned on civilian peaceful protesters? What have they done to push back on this latest scheme of Trump's? Tom Posey Yardley, Bucks County Posey is formerly of Reading.
IOL News
17-05-2025
- IOL News
Why all the bedlam in Verulam?
If you head north on the N3, past Umhlanga, you would literally end up in what could be called a large hamlet. A town which was founded in 1850 by a group of 400 Methodist settlers from St. Albans, United Kingdom, under the patronage of Earl Verulam, led by Thomas Champeon. They established a settlement in Natal and named it Verulam after the English town of Verulamium. If you recall the classic Robert Redford-directed movie, 'A River runs Through it' starring Brad Pitt, Verulam could very well be eligible to qualify for that title. The uMdloti River has basically the banks on which the town lies. Here's another mind-blowing fact: Verulam is the only place in the world where the main street (Wick Street) ends in a river. Go and visit it. It is a splendid piece of serendipity. However, be alert and ever-cautious. Social media these days, especially the crime-alert groups are replete, daily, with criminal activity occurring in the little town. My colleague on this newspaper, journalist Yoshini Perumal wrote a well-researched and thorough analysis of the town and its crime in last week's edition. I will get back to that aspect later in this piece. To me, it was very sad, as Verulam had a huge part and effect on me in my formative years. On Sundays, we had religious meetings in the august Town Hall. It was diagonally opposite to the landmark Green Cat complex, which had been a popular cinema house back in the day. My brother and I spent many school holidays in the town accompanied by my dear grandmom, spending quality time with friends and relatives. The constant allure up to this day, is the sweetest and my favourite fruit of all time. The lychee or litchi, is a small sweet fruit believed to have originated in China. During the annual litchi season, vendors, the length and breadth of KZN, sell the product on the roadside. The magic words that make it irresistible to the public is on the sign displayed: 'Sweet Verulam litchis'. Even as a grown up, I visited the town regularly. Param Singh, son of renown Himalaya Road panel beater Mr Mothi Singh, was in high school with me and we were close buddies. Sadly, the buddy died in a car accident years ago. In the foothills of the magnificent steel bridge over the river was a palatial abode, which belonged to Anglo-American tycoon Mr Harry Oppenheimer. It resembled very much the country estates depicted in Hollywood movies of the old Deep South of the USA. The residence was administered and run by his employee and nurse, Agnes, who was a family friend. The abode had a wrap-around veranda, where if you lounged, it felt like you were in the movie 'Gone with the Wind'. I also had a wonderful gentleman and his family who lived in the town and were huge supporters of my radio show. Every month we were invited to their home in Mount View. The staple menu was my favourite Fresh fowl curry expertly cooked by his gracious wife, Savy. Sadly, Roy passed on a few years ago but he was responsible for magnificent, indelible memories in my life. I am still in contact with his daughter, Saroshni, which I feel is a vital link for me and nostalgia. Now, unfortunately for the negative side of this once resplendent town! My colleague Yoshini's afore-mentioned article was entitled 'Verulam residents live in fear as crime escalates in the CBD'. As she writes: the residents 'are increasingly fearful as crime rates soar, with reports of thefts, stabbings, and armed robberies becoming common place, leaving shoppers and business owners on edge.' My friend, Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit of South Africa (RUSA), said that 'crime was escalating because of the market for stolen goods. The challenging part is that the same people who complain about crime are the very ones purchasing the stolen goods.' I offer no solution to this problem as I know that RUSA has the situation firmly in their radar. According to car guards in the CBD, dozens of attacks on citizens occur daily. The criminals carry on their nefarious deeds with impunity. Rumours are that official police officers witness many of these incidents but refuse to alight from the comfort of their official vehicles. Here is where RUSA has stepped into the breach. Arresting criminals is par for the course for these courageous law enforcement officers. Crime aside, they are known to willingly respond to callouts for animals stuck in awkward places, animal cruelty and more recently, numerous calls to remove deadly black mambas visiting the residents. Intrepid men of action for justice is putting it mildly, I think. I mean it can't be pleasant to try and buy a kilo of Deena's spicy sausages and get pickpocketed. He is a legend and is located in central town.
