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Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
HC orders fresh look at hijack convict's early release plea
NEW DELHI: Delhi high court has granted relief to a man denied premature release while serving a life term for hijacking an Indian Airlines flight in 1993, saying his conduct in jail bore signs of reformation. A single judge bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula set aside a decision of a Sentence Review Board (SRB) against Hari Singh and asked it to consider his case afresh within eight weeks. "Petitioner's conduct in jail does indicate elements of reformation as even over a long period of incarceration (almost 18 years of actual imprisonment), there is no record of any untoward incident which would indicate that the petitioner still harbours elements of criminality," Justice Narula said in his recent order. According to the prosecution, Singh hijacked the plane because he was not happy with riots that year in the aftermath of Babri Masjid's razing in Dec 1992. He was convicted by a trial court in 2001 under Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982 and several IPC sections. His appeal was rejected by the HC in 2011. His Supreme Court plea was withdrawn. Singh told the HC that his name was periodically taken up for consideration of premature release by SRB, but rejected on grounds of gravity of his offence. Justice Narula held that SRB's reasons to reject Singh's plea were inadequate and did not meet standards of reasonable justification necessary for an executive authority's order.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
HC sets aside board's decision denying premature release to 1993 plane hijack convict
New Delhi, The Delhi High Court has set aside a decision of sentence review board denying premature release to a man, convicted for hijacking an Indian Airlines flight with 192 passengers in 1993. HC sets aside board's decision denying premature release to 1993 plane hijack convict Justice Sanjeev Narula remanded back the matter to the sentence review board fir a fresh consideration and asked it to give its decision within eight weeks. "It is evident that the impugned decision of the SRB suffers from inadequacy of reasoning and non-consideration of relevant materials, including judicial observations bearing upon the petitioner's conduct and reformation. Thus, the said decision cannot be sustained," the high court said in its July 7 order. The court noted that convict Hari Singh's conduct in jail indicated elements of reformation. Singh was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the offences under Section 4 of the Anti-Hijacking Act and Sections 353, 365 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. He was convicted by the trial court in 2001. His appeal was rejected by the high court in 2011, and the special leave petition was withdrawn from the Supreme Court. It was his case that his name was periodically taken up for consideration of premature release by the SRB but it was consistently rejected on the ground of gravity of the offence. As of May 12, Singh had undergone 17 years, 11 months and six days of actual imprisonment and 22 years, six months and 20 days of total imprisonment, including remission. Granting relief to Singh, the court said the reasoning provided by the SRB while rejecting Singh's application was inadequate and did not meet the requisite standards of reasonable justification necessary for an order passed by an executive authority under administrative mandate. "Petitioner's conduct in jail does indicate elements of reformation, as even over a long period of incarceration , there is no record of any untoward incident which would indicate that the petitioner still harbours elements of criminality," the court said. It set aside the latest minutes of the SRB meeting of April 24 this year and asked the board to reconsider the case. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC grants relief to 1993 plane hijack convict in plea against denial of premature release
Delhi High Court on Saturday set aside the decision of the sentence review board (SRB) denying premature release to a man convicted for hijacking an Indian Airlines domestic flight in 1993. Remanding back the matter to SRB for a fresh consideration, Justice Sanjeev Narula observed that the convict's conduct in jail indicated elements of reformation. "It is evident that the impugned decision of the SRB suffers from inadequacy of reasoning and non-consideration of relevant materials, including judicial observations bearing upon the petitioner's conduct and reformation. Thus, the said decision cannot be sustained," the high court said in its July 7 order. The convict, Hari Singh, was given life imprisonment for the offences under Section 4 of the Anti-Hijacking Act, 19821 as well as Sections 353, 365 and 506(II) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Singh had reportedly hijacked the plane to protest against the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the subsequent communal violence that engulfed the country. He was convicted by the trial court in 2001. His appeal was rejected by the high court in 2011, and the special leave petition was withdrawn from the Supreme Court.
Hans India
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Performing arts in the creative economy
The performing arts encompasses dance, theatre, music, puppetry, and folk expression. From the vedic era Bharat has experienced a dynamic mode of communication which was more than entertainment. These were instruments of education, social change, political expression, and cultural continuity. Today, these traditional forms are finding new relevance within the framework of the creative economy, integrating with technology and innovation to open up expansive opportunities for enterprise. What is Creative Economy? The creative economy has created a niche space in new economics which covers interdisciplinary sectors of culture, creativity, and knowledge-based intellectual capital. According to the UNCTAD's Creative Economy Outlook 2024 there is a varied economic contributions of the creative economy across different countries, ranging from 0.5% to 7.3% of GDP and employing between 0.5% to 12.5% of the workforce. The Creative services exports marked 29% increase from 2017 surging to $1.4 trillion in 2022. It's interesting to note that over the past decade (from 2002), the share of creative goods' exports has remained steady around 3% and the creative services' share rose from 12% to 19%. Though the export of creative goods exports reached $713 billion with a 19% increase, the analytics are captivating. The primary export of developing countries is creative goods, while developed countries dominate creative services exports. However, developing countries have significantly increased their share from 10% in 2010 to 20% in 2022. The analysis indicates that the creative economy is driving growth and employment. It includes arts, media, design, film, publishing, fashion, advertising, heritage, and digital innovation. The Performing arts sit at the heart of this ecosystem bridging tradition with technology, emotion with storytelling, and heritage with innovation. Communication Tool From Ancient Times to Airlines The performing arts has been a powerful mode of mass communication. From temple dancers narrating epics through Bharatanatyam or Kathak, to the use of Nautanki and Jatra in rural awareness campaigns, performing arts have served as living newspapers, educators, and catalysts for collective consciousness. A brilliant contemporary example is the Indian Airlines safety demo, choreographed in the classical Bharatanatyam style. This innovative step has communicated safety protocols effectively but celebrated Bharatiya culture in a modern context by demonstrating how performing arts can be meaningfully woven into even the most unexpected sectors. Education and Skill Development The modern pedagogy is increasingly embracing performing arts to enhance comprehension, empathy, and creativity. The concepts in subjects like history, science, language, and even mathematics can be internalised effectively through performance-based learning. For instance: •Puppetry has been used to teach environmental conservation and sanitation in schools. •Street theatre (Nukkad Natak) is used in public health campaigns for behavior change. •Role-play and improvisation are effective in soft skills training, language acquisition, and even corporate leadership modules. This creates scope for enterprising individuals by creating a niche market with high demand to offer experiential learning solutions, workshops, and educational content blending performance with curriculum. Performing Arts as Enterprise Performing arts in the digital age are evolving with new entrepreneurial avenues, particularly when integrated with technology, design, and digital tools. For instance, Classical dance helps logical thinking and also time management by synchronising with the rhythm. Digital Content & Streaming: Artists now use platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and OTT services to create folk-based web series, host virtual performances, and engage audiences through tutorials and storytelling. For instance, Raja Kumari blends Indian classical dance with hip-hop for global reach. VR & AR Integration: Immersive technologies enable virtual performances, AR-based dance tutorials, and interactive theatre. Startups can recreate classics like Shakuntalam or Ramleela using VR for global audiences. Edutainment & Curriculum Integration: Ed-tech ventures are using performing arts to develop school modules, train teachers, and build apps/games rooted in traditional forms. Example: Kahaani Box simplifies learning through theatre. Cultural Tourism & Event Curation: Entrepreneurs curate festivals, community theatre, and cultural cafés to offer immersive cultural experiences. Therapeutic & Wellness Applications: Performing arts are used in mental health, therapy for neurodivergent children, and wellness programs combining dance, music, and yoga. Reviving Traditional Forms with Innovation: Indigenous arts like Baul, Yakshagana, and Therukoothu are being revived through digitisation, AI, animation, and online courses. Youth can become cultural entrepreneurs by fusing tradition with technology and storytelling for global appeal. Performing arts are gaining policy support as a tool for job creation and cultural diplomacy. Schemes like Startup India and UNESCO's Creative Cities offer funding, while institutions can scale arts education. Challenges like digital access and market gaps need public-private partnerships, mentorship, and targeted skill development to unlock full potential. Many artists in the country especially woman dedicated years of energy in learning the art should reimagine as a Creator, Educator, and Innovator. Repurposing performing arts with innovation and technology empowers artists, drives the creative economy, and strengthens Bharat's cultural and economic identity. (The writer is a Creative Economy Expert)
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
S M Datta: A chairman with a heart
By Navroze D Dhondy It was late July 1996. As the Indian Airlines aircraft wobbled a bit and landed in Calcutta's Dum Dum airport, I was welcomed by torrential rain and loud cloudburst. The drive to the Oberoi Grand was a long and torturous one, where the Calcutta traffic truly lived up to its reputation…jams, snarls, water-logging, et al. After checking in to the hotel and doing the customary visit to the main Banquet Hall of the hotel where the SURF Carry-bag launch was to be held in a few weeks, I crossed over to the lobby trying to organise a cab to take me across the Howrah bridge to arrange a supplier of gas for the larger-than-life inflatable Dummy pack of Surf. No cabs were available. No Uber / Ola / Rapido in those days to quickly dial up. It was just my second time in Calcutta (the first as teenager from school) and I had no one to call or check with. Suddenly, I heard a soft-spoken voice in the lobby. He came a little closer and asked 'Is there a problem. Aren't you from Lintas?' It was Mr. S M Datta , who at that time was the Deputy Chairman - Hindustan Lever who saw me scurrying around like a headless chicken, trying to organise the cab. I nodded sheepishly and said, 'Yes, Mr. Datta, there is no cab available to go across to Howrah and check out the gas cylinders we need in the coming fortnight for the SURF conference' I had briefly met Mr. Datta at the HLL BackBay reclamation office when I had gone for a meeting with Mr. Shunu Sen- the then Director Marketing at Levers . The brief introduction and hello while he walked out of Shunu's office must have been hardly a minute or so. I was quite sure he wouldn't recognize me……..but he did! In a flash he raised his hand, beckoned a HLL Regional staffer from the Calcutta office and said, 'My work for the day is done, give the car to Navroze to visit Howrah' After 2 weeks was the grand SURF- CarryBag Launch Conference and it was the very first one I organised for Levers, as I had just got transferred from Lintas Delhi to Lintas Bombay. The high and mighty of Levers were all there. It was the first time that SURF was removing the shackles of the good-ole cardboard carton and moving into a more trendy, contemporary plastic carry bag, with an in-built handle. Besides SMD, there was Shunu, Anju Choudhary, Sanjay Khosla, Vindi Banga and Arun Adhikari who were delighted by what we pulled off at the Oberoi Grand despite the many hurdles that Calcutta could create before such an important launch! At the end of the evening, the ever-gracious SMD walked up to shake my hand, and being a man of few words, said, 'well done'. Many a year passed by, and I had moved on from Lintas. It was around 2002, and I had just set up Creatigies. I was on a late-night flight back from Bombay and while pulling my bag out of the boot of the cab, I landed wrenching my lower back. While I was seated in the aisle seat, SMD walked past me and we both nodded in acquaintance with a smile across both faces. Not a word spoken. When he returned from the visit to the aircraft loo, he saw me sitting in a rather awkward posture, with my lower back fairly stiff. 'What happened?' And I explained my lower back spasm. Without saying another word, he pulled down his briefcase, opened the bag, took out a small medicine pouch, and plonked a pill in my hand. 'Have this, it's a painkiller and a muscle relaxant. Will help you feel better' On landing, with a wave and a smile, he walked out of the aircraft. And that was the last I saw of him. SMD. The affable, gentle, Chairman who guided HLL for over 6 years. A few days ago, Mr. S M Datta crossed over to the other side, leaving behind a legacy of a chairman who was humble, humane and heartwarming. RIP, Sir! (The author is the founder and managing director- Creatigies Communications. Views expressed are personal.)
