Latest news with #Arun
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: That peculiar Chandni Chowk loneliness
Loneliness, a poet says, is a horror not to be surveyed. But loneliness lurks across Delhi. This is after all a megacity where men come from across the country to make a superior living, leaving behind their families and communities in the village. A loneliness unique to such citizens is markedly discernible in Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk. Rajesh Kumar is sitting alone on a Chandni Chowk bench. (HT) The so-named 'moonlit' avenue is a historic market over-saturated with iconic landmarks. Plus, Chandni Chowk happens to be an unlikely home to multitudes of homeless labourers and rickshaw pullers. Here they work, as well as sleep. Very often at different times of the day and night, these men, when momentarily idle, are seen sitting alone on the avenue's picturesque stone benches—the very benches that were installed some years ago during the area's redevelopment project. Forlorn and solitary, these ubiquitous figures of loneliness form a poignant element of Chandni Chowk's modern-day character. Actually, the Walled City's Chawri Bazar too is home to multitudes of labourers from similar backgrounds. But the men there are rarely seen seated alone. Can it be something to do with the public architecture of these two places? The cramped and crowded Chawri Bazar doesn't have stand-alone utilities, such as benches, that might give the citizen a space to be alone. The Chawri men, when momentarily idle, are in fact often seen packed in bunches of three or four—sitting atop push carts, in the back of mini vans, around pavement chai stalls, etc. Sometimes they are chatting noisily; sometimes they are silent. Now, take Rajesh Kumar. This afternoon, he is sitting alone on a Chandni Chowk bench—see photo. A daily-wage labourer, he has been living in Chandni Chowk for 25 years. Stubbing out his beedi, he says he feels lonely all the time. 'Haven't been to my home in Bihar for yeas. Parents gone. No idea about the brothers. Never married.' Adjust his seating posture, he says, 'I have trouble breathing, it makes laboury harder.' He shows some prescription medicines in the front pocket of his black bag. The bag constitutes Rajesh Kumar's entire possession, he says. 'It contains one pant, two chaddar, my PAN Card and Aadhar card, 300 rupees, a weighing machine—sometimes I earn extra cash by measuring people's weight.' His mobile phone was stolen some months ago, when he was asleep at night in a corridor nearby. 'I'm friendly with a few men in Chandni Chowk, they are beldar like me—Arun, Shiv Kumar, Manoj, Saroj,' Rajesh Kumar says. 'Sometimes I sit with one of them, and pass the time.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Minorities commission flags NOC, cleanliness issues in Madurai
Madurai: The Tamil Nadu State Minorities Commission on Thursday submitted recommendations to the Madurai district administration seeking no objection certificates (NOCs) for the extension of buildings belonging to minority institutions and for improving cleanliness around places of worship and educational institutions. Addressing reporters after holding a review meeting at the Madurai collectorate, chairman of the commission, S J Joe Arun, said the commission inspected 25 districts across the state and received 709 petitions, of which 542 were resolved. "A majority of petitions were related to the need for burial or cremation grounds for minority communities, and several others were linked to land issues concerning minority educational institutions," he said. In most districts, officials resolved nearly 80% of the submitted grievances. One of the key demands put forth by the commission — allocation of land for minority cremation grounds — was accepted by the state govt. Arun said a govt order was issued earlier this week to allocate two acres of land wherever feasible for this purpose. In Madurai, a significant number of complaints pertained to institutions under the Waqf Board and Christian minority managements not being granted NOCs for building extensions. Petitioners also raised concerns about poor sanitation in and around these institutions, particularly those located within the Madurai corporation limits. Among the local issues raised during the meeting was the long-pending demand regarding the Arasaradi Kabarsthan (burial ground) by Muslim community representatives. The Fatima College administration also highlighted the issue of meat waste being dumped near the institution and the lack of proper sanitation. Madurai district collector K J Praveen Kumar and officials from various departments participated in the meeting.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chamanthi: Everything you need to know about the Meghana Lokesh and Aashish Chakravarthi starrer
Popular TV serial Chamanthi has been keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with its compelling storyline and emotional depth. The show has built a loyal fan base, thanks to its vibrant narrative and stellar performances. The plot follows the story of a village girl, Chamanthi, who lives with her father Ramachandraiah and her mother, who works faithfully for a Zamindar family. Her sister Roja, an air hostess with Vaayuputhra Airlines, is exposed to an entirely different lifestyle and harbors a deep dislike for her family and village roots. In contrast, Harshavardhan, the man behind Vaayuputhra Airlines, has close ties with the Zamindari family. His sons, Arun and Prem, are heirs to both the airline and his legacy. Meghana Lokesh shines in the titular role of Chamanthi, portraying a resilient village girl with remarkable grace. Aashish Chakravarthi delivers a powerful performance as Arun, the ambitious son of a politician. Prabhakar impresses as the kind-hearted father Ramachandraiah, while Aishwarya Verma brings complexity to the role of the conflicted air hostess Roja. The drama intensifies when Chamanthi unexpectedly ends up marrying Arun, marking the beginning of a tumultuous journey for acceptance within his family. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo The heartwarming father-daughter moments between Chamanthi and Ramachandraiah add emotional richness to the narrative, while Chamanthi grapples with societal expectations and internal family conflicts. In a recent episode, Chamanthi confronts Roja about her dismissive attitude, leading to an emotional showdown that has left viewers eager to see if Roja's heart might change. Meanwhile, Arun struggles to balance the pressures of his family's business and political responsibilities, which in turn add layers of tension to his evolving relationship with Chamanthi. Chamanthi continues to captivate audiences with its blend of heartfelt storytelling, emotional highs, and intense family dynamics. Viewers can catch the drama unfold every day at 8:30 PM on Zee Telugu, as the story promises more twists, emotional moments, and dramatic revelations in the episodes ahead.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Casagrand makes Dubai debut with 6mn sq ft project on Dubai Islands
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Marking its international debut, Indian real estate major Casagrand has forayed into the UAE market with a flagship residential project on Dubai Islands, one of the emirate's most ambitious waterfront move marks a significant milestone for the Chennai-based developer as it looks to expand its footprint beyond Indian metros into high-growth global real estate firm plans to develop 6 million sq. ft. of premium residential and mixed-use space across the UAE over the next three entry into Dubai is seen as a strategic pivot to tap into the region's booming property market, buoyed by visionary government policies, robust infrastructure, and global investor interest.'Dubai offers the perfect confluence of innovation, lifestyle, and long-term value creation,' said Arun Mn, Founder and Managing Director, Casagrand. 'We see the UAE not just as a market, but as a launchpad for our global aspirations. Our aim is to deliver future-ready, lifestyle-focused communities that resonate with Dubai's cosmopolitan spirit.'The company's first UAE project will be located on Dubai Islands, a new masterplanned waterfront cluster developed by Nakheel that has emerged as a magnet for luxury tourism, residential, and retail investments. The location aligns with Dubai's broader vision under the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, aimed at enhancing livability and long-term residency through sustainable urban which has delivered over 160 residential projects across South Indian cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Coimbatore, brings to Dubai a legacy of 53+ million sq. ft. of development and a customer base of over 55,000 families. Known for its on-time delivery and high design standards, the company plans to replicate its India success formula with a sharp focus on quality, timely execution, and customer-centric innovations in the UAE.'Our Dubai projects will offer resort-style living, intelligent layouts, and top-tier amenities tailored for both end-users and global investors,' Arun added. 'This is not a one-off entry—we are committed to the UAE for the long term.'Casagrand's Dubai expansion is supported by its existing international sales infrastructure in the region and comes at a time when Indian developers are increasingly eyeing overseas markets to diversify and scale. The company also plans to explore land acquisitions in other key UAE masterplans to fuel its next phase of in 2003, Casagrand is one of India's fastest-growing real estate brands, with a diversified portfolio spanning luxury, mid-income, and affordable housing. It has also forayed into commercial and industrial real estate and is planning further expansion into cities such as Pune.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
State Minorities Commission taking efforts to get land for cemeteries, kabristans: Chairman
State Minorities Commission would take efforts to acquire land for setting up cemeteries for Christians and kabristans for Muslims, said its Chairman S.J. Joe Arun. Speaking at an interactive session with members of minority communities here on Wednesday, Mr. Arun, in the presence of Virudhunagar Collector, N.O, Sukhaputra, said that land for cemeteries and kabristans was the major demand from the minorities. He said that participants at the meeting raised several issues like permission and recognition for schools run by minorities, demands from individuals like welfare assistance and bank loans. However, the Collector and the Superintendent of Police found instant solution for more than 70% of the issues on the spot. Mr. Arun said that the commission was mandated to protect the rights of not just the religious minorities, but also linguistic minorities. The Commission was reviewing whether the welfare assistances stipulated under the Constitution reached the minorities. Stating that the commission has so far conducted interactive session at 24 districts, including Virudhunagar district, he said that it would give recommendations to the State Government for protecting the minorities and improve their livelihood based on the demands raised by the people. The commission reviewed the progress made in various welfare schemes meant for the minorities. The content of a booklet on Welfare Schemes and Concessions for Minorities in Tamil Nadu would be accessed through Virudhunagar SP D. Kannan, District Revenue Officer R. Rajendran, Deputy Director, Minorities Welfare Department, Chennai, S. Sharmili, Vice-Chairman of the commission M.M. Abdul Kuthoos and its members were present.
