Latest news with #FergussonCollege
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2025: Remembering Veer Savarkar Through 10 Powerful Quotes
Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2025: May 28 marks Savarkar Jayanti, observed annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar - a polarising figure in India's freedom movement and the ideological architect of Hindutva. Why is Savarkar Jayanti Observed? Born on May 28, 1883, Savarkar is remembered for his role in India's struggle for independence, his advocacy for Hindu nationalism, and his endurance during years of imprisonment in the Cellular Jail of the Andaman Islands. The day is marked with tributes, speeches, and events, particularly in Maharashtra. Political leaders, especially from right-wing parties, often pay homage to his legacy. Who Was Veer Savarkar? Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883-1966) was a freedom fighter, writer, poet, and political thinker. While at Fergusson College in Pune, he founded the revolutionary group "Abhinav Bharat" in 1904. Later in London, he launched the "Free India Society" and penned The First War of Independence, a reinterpretation of the 1857 revolt. Arrested in 1910 for anti-British activities, he famously attempted an escape in Marseilles but was recaptured and sentenced to 50 years in the Andamans. After his release in 1937, he led the Hindu Mahasabha and worked towards social reform, including the abolition of untouchability. The Ministry of Culture notes that Savarkar later disbanded Abhinav Bharat and dedicated himself to the ideological goals of the Hindu Mahasabha until his death in 1966. 10 Notable Quotes by Veer Savarkar "The sacred soil of Bharat is my home, the blood of her brave is my inspiration, and the triumph of her will is my dream." "The world respects those who can stand up for themselves and fight their own battles." "A country that does not recognise its heroes, its martyrs, and its warriors is doomed to decay." "Independence is never given, it is always taken." "Hindu society must rise above the differences of caste and creed if it wants to see the dawn of freedom." "Cowards never make history, it is the brave who carve their names in the annals of time." "Our only duty is to keep fighting for our nation, come what may." "An educated mind is the greatest weapon in the struggle for freedom." "A nation's past is its foundation; it must be preserved and honoured." "A true leader leads by example, inspires by action, and empowers by vision."
India Gazette
28-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday paid tribute to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his birth anniversary. Rajnath Singh termed Veer Savarkar as a 'great revolutionary' and 'thinker'. He asserted that Savarkar's 'indomitable courage' and 'dedication' to the nation are exemplary to the countrymen. 'On the birth anniversary of the great revolutionary and thinker Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, I remember and salute him with reverence. His indomitable courage, dedication to the nation and his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle are inspiring. His thoughtfulness and patriotism are exemplary for the countrymen', Rajnath Singh's 'X' post said. Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant hailed Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary and considered him a 'fearless revolutionary, fiery nationalist and visionary' leader. 'On the birth anniversary of Shri Vinayak Damodar Savarkar proudly hailed as Veer Savarkar, I salute the fearless revolutionary, fiery nationalist & visionary who lit the spark of independence & selfless sacrifice in India's freedom movement', Pramod Sawant posted on his 'X' handle. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar, was born on May 28, 1883, in Nashik. Savarkar was a freedom fighter, politician, lawyer, and writer and was popularly known for coining the term 'Hindutva'. Savarkar was also a leading figure in the 'Hindu Mahasabha.' Savarkar started participating in the freedom movement while still a high school student and continued doing so while attending Fergusson College in Pune. He was greatly influenced by the Nationalist leader, Lokmanya Tilak. He got active with groups like India House and the Free India Society while studying law in the United Kingdom. He also published books that promoted revolutionary methods for achieving total Indian independence. The British colonial authorities outlawed one of his works, 'The Indian War of Independence', which was about the 1857 'Sepoy Mutiny' or the First War of Independence. (ANI)
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Civil Services, psychology, social work: What arts students aim for in a turbulent field
ALSO BY KAVYAA MASURKAR With the commencement of the admission process for junior colleges in Maharashtra and increasing challenges like the rise of generative AI and a difficult job market, many students opting for Arts are not just following their passion, but also have clear plans about their future paths after junior college. Aarush Jadhav, who scored 79.36%, has applied for admission in the Arts stream at Fergusson College, said, 'I always had a creative side and enjoyed subjects like history and literature more than science or maths. Scoring 79.36% gave me confidence that I can do well in what I actually enjoy. That's why I've decided to try to get Arts at Fergusson College. I've heard a lot about how good the faculty and campus are. In future, I want to prepare for UPSC because civil services really inspire me. I feel Arts will help me build a strong base for subjects like polity, history, and economics. Right now, I just want to explore different areas in the arts and see where my interest grows deeper.' Soham Pawar, who achieved an impressive 87% in SSC, has applied to Symbiosis Junior College for Arts. He believes this path aligns with his interests and future goals, he said 'I got 87% in my SSC boards and I'm really happy with that. I have always loved understanding how society works, how people think, and I enjoy debates and discussions. So Arts felt like the right path for me. I've applied to Symbiosis Junior College because it has a good environment and gives exposure to different extracurriculars too. I plan to pursue psychology in the future, and I'm thinking of preparing for CLAT as well, to keep the option of law open. I believe Arts gives you space to think and grow, not just academically but also personally.' Ayush Pawar, who scored 84.67%, has taken Arts at Pratibha Junior College in Chinchwad. He sees Arts as the right choice for his interest in civil services, said 'My percentage is 84.67% and I've chosen to go for Arts at Pratibha Junior College in Chinchwad. I chose this college because it's close to home and has good teachers in the Arts section. I have always enjoyed reading about history, current affairs, and different cultures. I'm thinking of doing a BA in Political Science later and also preparing for MPSC. I want to become a government officer. Arts will help me get a strong grip on the subjects required for competitive exams. I know some people still question why students with good marks take Arts, but I believe it's not about marks – it's about interest and future goals.' Another student, Meera Kulkarni, who scored 82.45%, is also joining Fergusson College for Arts. She has a passion for writing and aims to enter the media industry, said 'I scored 82.45% in my SSC exams, and I'm really excited to start my journey in Arts at Fergusson College. I chose Fergusson because of its reputation in Arts education and the variety of subjects they offer. I want to major in English Literature and eventually get into journalism or content writing. I'm also planning to give entrance exams for mass communication courses after 12th. I love expressing myself through writing, and Arts will give me that foundation. More than anything, I'm looking forward to learning things that actually interest me.' Rohan Deshmukh, who scored 80.8%, has opted for the Arts stream at MIT Junior College. His interest lies in understanding society and working in fields like teaching or social work, said 'With 80.8% in SSC, I decided to go for Arts at MIT Junior College. MIT has a good mix of academics and activities, which I think is important. I'm very passionate about sociology and want to understand how societies function. My plan is to pursue a career in social work or even teaching. I also want to prepare for competitive exams like NET or even UPSC later. I think Arts gives you that broader perspective and develops your thinking. My parents supported my decision and I'm confident I made the right choice.'
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pune rediscovers its passion for books as literary events and pop culture boost reading
Pune: Last December, Rutuja Kulkarni went to Fergusson College, where the book fair was being held, to see the art installations on the campus and click some photographs with her friends. "But then I passed a stall with book covers that looked like movie posters and ended up buying three paperbacks," she said. Book fairs in the city no longer resemble solemn libraries dragged into exhibition grounds. They now mirror full-blown cultural carnivals with food stalls, theatre acts, live music, children's corners, and panel discussions with celebrities. Manjiri Prabhu, author and founder of the Pune International Literary Festival, said, "When we started in 2013, the aim was to take literature from the elite to the grassroots. We wanted books to be accessible to everyone and for authors to connect directly with their readers. It's an incredible moment when you hear a writer speak and then go buy their books because you're not just reading words, you're able to listen to the mind behind them. The literary events don't just boost reading; they inspire writing, too." Publishers say this vibe shift has been a game changer in terms of book sales, drawing in new readers and reminding citizens what it feels like to read for pleasure. At the Pune Book Festival held in Dec last year, over 1 million visitors bought 2.5 million books, pushing the sales past ₹40 crore — four times more than the previous year. Aisha Koli, an IT professional, said, "People are watching shows like Bridgerton and then rushing to buy original books by Julia Quinn, wanting more insight. Fans of The Queen's Gambit are finding the novel by Walter Tevis." Gen Z readers are picking up the classics they once side-eyed in school and giving them a second chance — this time, minus the exams and moral science essays. Even Marathi literature is having a renaissance, with OTT platforms reintroducing it in bingeable formats. Janhavi Deshpande, a teacher, said, "A friend of mine bought Wuthering Heights after watching a moody reel with violins. Don't even get me started on how many friends I have who finally read The Great Gatsby just to sound profound in Instagram captions. These were the same people who cried in school when they saw paragraphs longer than a tweet. It's a plot twist I didn''t expect." Local publishers are also surfing this wave of demand. Pune-based duo Prashant and Anagha Karhade, who founded APK Publishers in 2008, have seen the local publishing scene turn from sluggish to sizzling. "We used to publish a book a month; now the demand has outpaced our pipeline," said Prashant. Anagha added, "Around 60% of what we publish is fiction, and most buyers still prefer physical books. Even with e-books out there, paperbacks outsell them three to four times over. People have been asking us about audiobooks; we're converting over 350 of our titles right now. The interest is huge." Often blamed for killing reading habits, social media is now driving book sales. Social media influencers are making funny and dramatic reels about their current reads and nudging their followers into reading challenges and book-buying sprees. Books have also crept into gifting culture. "Books make excellent presents across age groups, from my nieces and nephews who are toddlers to grandparents. I only gift books now. Unlike sweets and chocolates, they don't melt, cause cavities, or spike your sugar levels," said Preeti Singh, an unapologetic bibliophile. A bookshelf displays one's personality traits, too. "'A well-stacked shelf reveals a person's taste. Books also have great sentimental value. A friend of mine spent a small fortune to transport her books all the way from Delhi to Pune when she relocated. Though she can find all these titles online, she found comfort in having her books with her in her new flat," said Nitin David, a BPO professional. Gen Z has even turned books into statement pieces. Displaying titles on a shelf, Instagramming annotated pages, or carrying books during their commute or to work has become their version of wearing their hearts on their sleeves. "A book in hand is the new social armour. When I have a book in my hand, it conveys that I'm deep in plot twists and must not be disturbed," said Ajinkya Potdar, a college student.
India.com
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress who studied MBA, left her marketing job to work with Anil Kapoor in superhit movie, later quit Bollywood, got married twice, now looks like this
If you want to make a name in Bollywood, sharing the screen with a big star can be enough to get noticed. If you're an actor, working with a veteran actress can boost your profile, and if you're a heroine, acting alongside the industry's leading men can open doors. However, sustaining that recognition depends entirely on your talent. Today, we're going to talk about one such actress who got the opportunity to work with stars like Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Govinda. Despite these big breaks, she couldn't achieve the stardom she hoped for. The actress from Ludhiana was an athlete and competed in the 200 and 400-meter dash when she was in school. She graduated in Economics from Fergusson College, Pune and completed her MBA in marketing from Symbiosis, Pune. She was approached by many companies, however she always wanted to do get into modelling. She participated at the Miss International beauty pageant and won the runner-up title at the Femina Miss India contest in 1993 and was crowned Femina Miss India International 1993 and represented India at Miss International 1993. We are talking about actress Pooja Batra whose first film was with Anil Kapoor. It was Virasat in 1997. She also appeared in 2001 film Nayak as a reporter. She starred alongside major names such as Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, and Johnny Lever. After working in around 20 movies, Pooja left acting after her first marriage. She chose love over fame and glamour and bid farewell to acting. Sadly, that marriage with US-based Dr. Sonu Ahluwalia also ended in divorce. There were reports that Pooja had received offers for Hollywood films, but her husband was reportedly against it, which eventually led to their divorce. After the separation, Pooja returned to Bollywood, but she didn't find many opportunities. She then married actor Nawab Shah in 2019 in Delhi according to Arya Samaj traditions.
