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Borneo Post
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Unity and cooperation key to Sarawak's future, says Head of State
Wan Junaidi and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi wish all Sarawakians a blessed Sarawak Day. KUCHING (July 21): Sarawakians are urged to continue staying united and working closely with the government to secure a more glorious future for the state. In making this call, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar noted that Sarawak's economy has shown strong resilience after the pandemic and is now ready to leap onto the global stage in the fields of green energy and digital. 'This progress will not happen without close cooperation between the government, the people and the private sector. The government provides policies and infrastructure, the private sector is the driver of investment and the people are the supporters of development aspirations,' he said in his Sarawak Day 2025 message today. He hailed Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as a capable leader who steers Sarawak toward progress through the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, focusing on digital economic growth, renewable energy development including green hydrogen, bioeconomy, as well as investment in education and innovation. Wan Junaidi described July 22, 1963 as an important symbol of the identity of Sarawakians. He recalled that the British Colonial administration, on that day, agreed to establish 'Self-Government' in Sarawak and appointed the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan as the Chief Minister of Sarawak and formed his own cabinet to take over the administration from the British. 'This event was an important initial step in Sarawak's preparation to join (in) the formation of Malaysia with Sabah, Singapore and Malaya. This handover of power took place before Sarawak officially became part of the Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963. 'This event was the starting point for the formation of Sarawak's identity as a sovereign state within the Federation of Malaysia. We remember the early pioneers such as Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan and Dato Sri Tawi Sli, who played an important roles in shaping our own administration,' he said. He also expressed his appreciation to former chief ministers including the late Tun Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem for their great contributions to the development of Sarawak. Wan Junaidi also called for the spirit of unity and harmony to be maintained, for it is the pillar of Sarawak's stability and progress. 'May this Sarawak Day 2025 further inflame the love for the state, and serve as an encouragement for us to continue moving forward with confidence and unity,' he said. lead Sarawak Day message 2025 Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
India.com
20-06-2025
- India.com
Less Crowd More Magic: 7 Hidden Hill Spots Near Chandigarh You Will Love
Chandigarh is surrounded by beautiful hill stations and is considered as one of the gateways of northern India. The well-known places such as Shimla, Manali and Kasul are often famous, but there are a few lesser known hill stations near Chandigarh that provide natural beauty and solitude. The best part is that these hill stations let you escape from the daily life of the city without consuming long hours of travel. In this article we will highlight seven of them. 1. A Secret Paradise: Morni Hills Morni Hills is one of the nearest hill stations to Chandigarh at around 45 kilometers. This region features abundant greenery, scenic views and calm atmosphere, making it perfect for adventure lovers and nature lovers. Some of the trek paths lead to ancient temples and small villages as well as some unique features like twin lakes of Tikkar Tal and Mansarover. Morni Hills is home to several eco-friendly establishments and resorts. Of course, no trip to Morni Hills is complete without trekking to Morni Fort, which is situated on a hilltop, enabling your eyes to gaze upon the breathtaking beauty of the whole region. 2. Pinjore Gardens: Celebrating Nature and Ancient Culture It may not look like one but Pinjore Gardens or Yadavindra Gardens, is a hill station garden which is part of a historical site with Aravali hills around the place. The garden is located on the southern side of the Shivalik range and is 20 kilometers away from Chandigarh. This beauty was constructed during the rule of Emperor Aurangzeb and contains upper level Mughal style architecture along with steps, fountains, and flower gardens. It is a great place for summer holidays. For families, the place hosts cultural events along with light shows making the location very ideal. 3. Solan: Famous for Mushrooms and Much More Located approximately 70 kilometers away from Chandigarh is Solan. This place is another underrated jewel in the Shivalik range. Solan is well known for its mushroom growing and processing units, hence the name 'The Mushroom Capital of India.' Solan is also famous for its amazing landscapes, ancient colonial buildings, and temples and churches. For people looking for some adventure, there is paragliding and trekking. For the history lovers, Solan also has the Dagshai Jail Museum which showcases British Colonial history. 4. Chail: Host to the Cricket Ground at the Highest Altitude. Chail is well-known for having the highest cricket field which rests at a staggering 90 kilometers away from Chandigarh. It is also famously known as a summer retreat for Maharaja Bhupinder Singh from Patiala which featured breathtaking views of the sky-high Himalayas, Chail consists of a palace which has been converted into a hotel to draw in tourism, dense forests and vast meadows. Alongside the stunning beauty, Chail Palace marks the royal history of the Patiala Palace. Nature Lovers will also appreciate the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary that contains sambars, ghorals, and barking deer. Alongside this high class cricket field, Chail is also restocked with various mountains. 5. Kasauli: The Hidden Colonial Gem. Kasauli is the ideal place to visit when resting while enjoying a stunning view. It is located near Chandigarh and is about 70 kilometers away, making it a perfect tourist attraction. The area is renowned for its ancient feeling with spine streets filled with old churches and other remarkable sights. The best in this town is the Monkey Point Viewpoint from is perfectly located for a calm also features Gilbert Trail along with the famously known Kasauli Baptist Church . The streets are also not packed with a large crowd making it a perfect area for some natural peace and relaxation. 6. Barog: Lovely Detour Along The Kalka-Shimla Railway Barog, a small and beautiful hill station that sits on the UNESCO Kalka-Shimla railway, is about 60 km from Chandigarh. The town is named after Colonel Barog, who played an important role in building the railway line. Barog is surrounded by mesmerizing pine trees and has stunning views of the Valley beneath. Don't miss out on Barog Tunnel, the longest in Kalka Shimla railway track Travelers can relax at Timber Trail Resort, which has cable cars and zip lining too, or go stroll around the area. 7. Naldehra: A Golfing Escape Located Within Hills Naldehra is a beautiful township approximately twenty kilometers away from Shimla, making it one of the top places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. The area is also about 110 kilometers away from Chandigarh. Naldehra is home to the Naldehra Golf Club which is known to be the oldest golf course in India. This nine hole golf course was established in 1905 and is quite popular all over the country. Along with primitive golfing, one can visit the Tattapani Hot Springs that are nearby, or just relax in the calmness of the surroundings. The vibrant slopes and cool mountain breeze makes it one of the best weekend destinations. What Makes An Outstanding Hill Station Different From Others? If you are looking for beauty with substance, these spots standing outside Chandigarh effortlessly blend scenic beauty with opportunities to engage in nature, culture and history all at once but without the throngs of tourists Limiting your experience. Unlike their more renowned counterparts, these places allow travelers to enjoy the destination exactly how it's meant to be enjoyed without losing out on comfort. Also, its closeness to Chandigarh means lesser time spent traveling and greater enjoyment which makes them perfect for both quick getaways and long vacations. To Wrap Up Not only does Chandigarh impress as a beautiful city with much to discover, but a trip to these humble hill stations enhance your travel delight. Chail's peaceful heights, the adventurous spirit of Barog, and the historical charm of Pinjore Gardens are exceptional places which are best String together. These underrated hill stations are overflowing with something for everyone including solo travelers, couples yearning for romance, or even families eager to spend time together. Make new memories that last forever by visiting these places. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your bags, drive along, and immerse yourself in these unsung wonders lying beyond the Chandigarh boundary.
New Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
VP Jagdeep Dhankhar urges States to embrace NEP 2020 at event in Pondicherry University; calls for reforms in the education sector
In a deeply evocative address, the Vice President said that 'Sanatan pride' is rebuilding. "What was lost during the Islamic invasion and British Colonial rule is being rebuilt with stronger determination," he said. He traced India's historical legacy of learning, referencing ancient centers like Takshashila, Nalanda, Mithila, and Vallabhi. He recalled the destruction of Nalanda's famed nine-storey library by the invasion by Bakhtiyar Khilji, around 1190, lamenting the loss of over nine million manuscripts. 'It was not just books that burned -- India's civilizational soul was attacked,' he said. However, he asserted, 'The soul of Bharat is indestructible. What was lost is being rebuilt with stronger determination.' He urged universities to emulate India's ancient tradition of holistic learning and focus on fostering critical thinking, innovation, and skill development. Stressing the need for character-building in students, he said, 'Knowledge without character is incomplete. Education should not be commodified—it must remain a service, not a profit-making venture.' Raising concern over the increasing commercialisation of education, Dhankhar called on corporate leaders to reorient their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts towards building world-class educational institutions. 'Education and health were once the means by which the affluent gave back to society. We must return to that ethos,' he remarked. He also encouraged Pondicherry University to launch an alumni endowment fund, citing examples from global universities whose endowment funds run into billions Calling for a reduction in political polarisation, the Vice President urged the political class to adopt a spirit of dialogue and collaboration. 'We have become too quick to differ instead of making a 'difference'. Disruption and disturbance are not what the framers of our Constitution envisioned. We must embrace debate—Vaad-Vivaad—and uphold the spirit of Anantavad,' he stated. Drawing a parallel with the crisis of climate change, he said, 'Why should we melt the glaciers of our patience with heated political rhetoric? India is rising. The world is looking to us. Let us not undermine our moment with narrow politics.' Puducherry Lt Governor K Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N Rangasamy were among those who also spoke. Speaker R Selvam, Home Minister A Namassivayam also participated in the event.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- South China Morning Post
Wood may just be the next ‘quiet luxury' trend for Hong Kong homes
Building with wood is as much about feelings as aesthetics. Upcycled trees are warm to the touch, pleasant on the nose and, as a biophilic material, psychologically soothing. Advertisement Hong Kong might be bucking a global movement back to timber construction, but inside their concrete towers, some residents are finding that designing with wood transports them to a place of calm. Professional musician Kelvin Leung became so attached to his alma mater, King's College, in Sai Ying Pun , that he had his wedding photos shot there. Not only that but the wooden walls inside the boys' school, a classical declared monument built in 1926, informed the design of his Tai Wai home. Like the rest of Leung's apartment, the bedroom favours rich timber hues for a British colonial touch. Photo: courtesy Win Key Workshop 'In my first year of secondary school, when teachers taught us about the architecture of the building, I was not very interested,' says Leung, a chromatic harmonica player. 'Over time, I started to enjoy the atmosphere around me, which felt warm and cosy. I thought those vintage interior elements would be nice to have in my own apartment.' In his client's preferences, Vincent Leung Tsz-chun, Win Key Workshop's interior designer and project manager, detected a British gentleman's club sensibility. Although this design genre called for dark wood, rather than the lighter, Nordic-style timbers dominant in Hong Kong, Win Key's design made it work. It might even herald a trend , says Leung, who senses a shift back to the depth of classic timbers such as mahogany and walnut, alongside a growing appetite for 'quiet luxury' and appreciation of heritage. In the two-bedroom, two-bathroom 840 sq ft flat, vintage-inspired patterned floor tiles are complemented by walnut wainscoting and a walnut ceiling, the deep chocolate wood tones and ruby ceramics imbuing, Leung says, 'warmth and character with a colonial touch'. 'The colour of this timber also works well with the sunlight coming into the apartment's windows from different directions,' says Studio Adjective's Wilson Lee of this Parkview home. Photo: courtesy Studio Adjective The use of veneer, rather than solid wood, balances sustainability with sensibility, he continues, and avoids vulnerability to expansion and contraction as humidity levels rise and fall. 'Wanting the visitor to feel the richness of the decor, but without the heaviness, we layered the entranceway with floor and ceiling lighting,' he says.
The Wire
29-05-2025
- General
- The Wire
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o: The Kenyan Icon Who Wrote For Freedom Till the Very End
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Culture Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o: The Kenyan Icon Who Wrote For Freedom Till the Very End Nandini C. Sen 36 minutes ago Ngugi chose to write in his mother tongue Gikuyu and argued that his stories need to reach his own people and stir their nationalist consciousness. Ngũgĩ-wa-Thiong'o (1938-2025). Photo: Wikimedia Commons Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now 'The condition of women in a nation is the real measure of its progress.' ― Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o The world of literature and activism lost one of its best with the demise of the Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. Ngugi was that rare writer who stood for everything he preached – respect for women, love for the mother tongue, standing up against the colonial mindset, standing up for one's rights and revising the historical wrongs of the British Colonial regime. This came at a great price – incarceration and banishment from his home country Kenya and a lifelong war with the powers that be. I was introduced to Ngugi's Decolonising the Mind (1986) in my Master's class at JNU and it gave me a whole new way to look at the world as I knew it. I realised that the 'freedom' that I had taken for granted was not something one could take lightly. It was something one had to fight for constantly. One also learnt how the nature of colonialism had changed – it was no longer a story of the White dominance over the Blacks/Browns but an insidious takeover by the corporates who enslaved our minds and held us hostage. This colonisation had a worse stranglehold because it was difficult to identify the coloniser since they now looked like us. Ngugi shot into fame with his debut novel Weep Not, Child (1964), the first novel to be published from East Africa. Ngugi's oeuvre can be compared only to that of Chinua Achebe's who was responsible for reading the manuscripts of The River Between and Weep Not, Child which were published by Heinemann with Achebe as its advisory editor. It was with Achebe that Ngugi's famous 'language debate' gained prominence and became a staple for every student of postcolonial studies. While Achebe chooses to write in English in spite of it being the language of the colonisers, Ngugi argues against it and chooses to write in his mother tongue Gikuyu. Ngugi argues that his stories need to reach his own people and stir their nationalist consciousness. To this effect he and Micere Mugo wrote the famous play on the Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi. The Trial of Dedan Kimathi (1976) taught in Delhi University, until very recently, recreates the indomitable courage of the Mau Mau revolutionary and his right-hand person – a woman warrior. While Kimathi remains in jail, it is 'the woman' – representing Kenyan mothers – who tries to free him and in turn train the next generation for the struggle. The role of Kenyan women in the Mau Mau movement (Kenyan freedom struggle) is a historical reality. Ngugi's female characters are strong, bold and determined – towering over the men in sheer brilliance. In his world view, the mothers of the nation rule supreme, challenging the existing stereotypes of dependent women. These women do not exist merely to take care of their home and hearth; they work towards nation-building. He creates them in the mould of Mother Africa, thus adhering towards the Negritude Movement. In A Grain of Wheat (1967), Ngugi writes about Wambui, who 'believed in the power of women to influence events, especially where men had failed to act, or seemed indecisive… Let therefore such men, she jeered, come forward, wear the women's skirts and aprons and give up their trousers to the women.' Wambui helps the Mau Mau warriors, and it is her conviction that her land can only be free once it is rid of the colonisers. Unlike many men who are seen to be supporting the British policies, Wambui is clear-headed about what is best for her people. About the dual nature of colonialism, Ngugi wrote, 'He carried the Bible; the soldier carried the gun; the administrator and the settler carried the coin. Christianity, Commerce, Civilization: the Bible, the Coin, the Gun: Holy Trinity.' Ngugi spent his entire life exposing this unholy trinity through his powerful writing. Ngugi, christened James Ngugi at birth, was one of the 28 children born to the four wives of his father in precolonial Kenya. Growing up, Ngugi witnessed the forced takeover of lands by the British imperialists; he was witness to multiple arrests and tortures his people were subjected to, and he also witnessed the harassment his own father had to face. It was then that he slowly realised that the colonial forces were there to destroy and not to build. His evolving worldview led him to give up his Christian name, and he started to go by the name of Ngugi Wa Thiong'o. He argued that the English departments in Kenyan Universities should start to focus on the study of indigenous languages of Kenya. Challenging the 'centrality' of London and the 'othering' faced by colonised countries, Ngugi argued in favour of centring Africa and studying other cultures in relation to it. Ngugi was a strong advocate on Fanonist Marxism. 'Language as culture is the collective memory bank of a people's experience in history.' writes Ngugi in Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature where he argues in favour of the indigenous languages because he sees language not merely as a means of communication but as a carrier and repository of culture. To this end, he gave up writing in English and wrote in his mother tongue Gikiyu. His co-authoring of a play in Gikiyu, I Will Marry When I Want (1977), which dealt with the controversial themes of poverty, gender, class and religion in the post-colonial context, led to his incarceration. While in his cell, where he was housed with other political prisoners, he wrote The Devil on The Cross (1980) on prison-issued toilet paper. It was here that he thought more closely about the language question and decided to continue writing only in Gikiyu. Ngugi was the first in his family to be educated, though he spent the better part of his life in exile, where he served as visiting professor of English and comparative literature at Yale University and later a professor of comparative literature and performance studies at New York University where he held the Erich Maria Remarque Chair. He served as distinguished professor of English and comparative literature and was the first director of the International Center for Writing and Translation at the University of California, Irvine. Ngugi will continue to be missed. I was fortunate to be able to meet him in person at the African Literary Association Conference in Accra, Ghana, in 2008. A mild-mannered and unassuming person, he waxed lyrical about the unity of African cultures. Ngugi was deeply interested in India and in his novel The Wizard of the Crow, he mentions The Gita, the Upanishads and the women writers of India. A prolific writer and an activist till the very end, Ngugi was also a perpetual contender for the Nobel. Commenting on the current governments and drawing parallels, Ngugi wrote, 'Our fathers fought bravely. But do you know the biggest weapon unleashed by the enemy against them? It was not the Maxim gun. It was division among them. Why? Because a people united in faith are stronger than the bomb.' His words reflect what we see playing out in our modern societies, which allow for totalitarian regimes at the cost of the divisiveness of their people. Nandini C. Sen is a professor of English at Delhi University who specialises in Anglophone African Literature. 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