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IOL News
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
The Bamboo Virtuoso: A conversation with flautist Rakesh Chaurasia
Grammy Award-winning bansuri master Rakesh Chaurasia brings his breath-taking artistry to Cape Town in a world premiere of orchestral fusion. Image: Supplied There are flautists. And then there's Rakesh Chaurasia - the globally acclaimed Indian classical musician whose artistry on the bansuri, the traditional bamboo flute, has earned him stages, standing ovations, and two Grammy Awards, including the 2024 Best global music performance for the song Pashto and Best contemporary instrumental album for 'As We speak' with Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and the late Ustad Zakir Hussain. The nephew and musical heir of the legendary Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Rakesh has carved a formidable legacy of his own - one marked by technical brilliance, deep emotional expression, and an open-hearted embrace of collaboration. From Indian ragas to global jazz, and now symphonic arrangements, his music defies genre while staying rooted in tradition. As he prepares for the world premiere of Symphony of Bansuri with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) this August, we sat down with Rakesh to explore lineage, innovation, and what it means to find your own voice through breath. Q: Rakesh, you're returning to South Africa with something extraordinary - the world premiere of Symphony of Bansuri. What makes this concert so meaningful to you? Rakesh Chaurasia: This is a very special project. The bansuri has always been a solo instrument in Indian classical music. To now present it in dialogue with a full Western orchestra… it's like giving it a new dimension, a new space to breathe in. And to do this in South Africa - a country with such a deep musical soul and that I have visited several times before - feels very right. Q: Your musical lineage is remarkable. What was it like growing up in the shadow and tutelage of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia? RC: In one word: humbling. I was lucky to have music in the air at home. But it wasn't easy. There was discipline, high expectation, and a deep respect for the tradition. My uncle didn't just teach me notes - he taught me how to listen, how to feel. Over time, I had to find my own tone, my own style. That's the journey of every artist - to honour where you come from, but to speak in your own voice. Q: You've collaborated across borders and genres - from classical to world music and fusion. How do you stay grounded in your classical roots while embracing new forms? RC: It's about intention. If the collaboration is rooted in sincerity, mutual respect, and love for the music - it works. I don't fuse styles just for the sake of it. I try to let the bansuri speak in all these different languages while keeping its soul intact. Music has no passport - only emotion. Q: What excites you about performing with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra? RC: Oh, everything! The lush textures, the expansive sound… and most importantly, the chance to introduce the bansuri to new ears in a new setting. There's something magical when traditions meet without ego - just curiosity and heart. Next Stay Close ✕ Experience the breath-taking artistry of Grammy Award-winning bansuri master Rakesh Chaurasia as he premieres his orchestral fusion in Cape Town Image: Supplied Q: What do you hope audiences take away from this performance? RC: I hope they close their eyes and feel something true - peace, joy, maybe even a memory. The bansuri is an ancient instrument, made of bamboo, breath, and silence. It doesn't shout - it whispers. But if you listen, it can carry you somewhere beautiful. Q: You've reached incredible heights. What still inspires you to keep playing, practising, evolving? RC: The music itself. It's endless. Every note still humbles me. And every time I pick up the flute, I remind myself: I am just a channel. The music flows through me - not from me. Symphony of Bansuri, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, premieres at the Artscape Opera House on 2 August 2025. Presented by Inner Circle Entertainment, it's a rare opportunity to witness a master at the height of his creative power. Tickets via Ticketmaster and the Artscape Box Office from R200 – R1000. IOL
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Jamia Millia Islamia clarifies faculty recruitment details through corrigendum
Jamia Millia Islamia Recruitment 2025: The Registrar's Office of the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has released a corrigendum to its earlier advertisement (No. 04/2025-26 dated July 3, 2025) regarding the engagement of contractual assistant professors and guest faculty for the 2025-26 academic session. The corrigendum, dated July 9, 2025, outlines several modifications in faculty requirements across multiple departments. The last date to register for the positions is July 14. For the department of social work, the corrigendum clarifies that the single Assistant Professor (Contractual) post previously advertised will now be specifically for teaching BA (Hons) Social Work and MA (Social Work). Additionally, of the four Guest Faculty positions earlier listed, three will be designated for MA (Social Work) and for teaching Multidisciplinary Courses (MDC) and Value Added Courses (VAC) at the undergraduate level and one guest faculty member will be appointed to teach Financial Management, particularly for students of MA (Human Resource Management), with subject specialisation required. In the department of Persian, the original notice mentioned one Guest Faculty each for Persian and Pashto (both part-time courses). However, the revised notice now consolidates this to only one Guest Faculty member for Persian/Pashto to serve the part-time course. In the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre (AJK-MCRC), for the MA Convergent Journalism (Self-Financed Scheme) programme, the corrigendum amends the faculty requirement to two Guest Faculty positions, with specific teaching responsibilities – one for Print Media Software and one for Television and Video Journalism. In the department of hospital management and hospice studies, the revised structure includes two assistant professors (contractual), one for MBA Pharmaceutical Management and one guest faculty. The vacancy in the department of Applied Art is now revised to one assistant professor (Contractual) with specialisation in Computer Software-based design, UI/UX Design, or Web-based applications relevant to modern graphic design. Three guest faculty for illustration, packaging, typography, and design for advertising and product. Applicants must be well-versed in 2D/3D animation, digital media, and contemporary design education. 'Other terms and conditions of the said advertisement will remain same,' JMI added while releasing the corrigendum.
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Baloch slams closure of language departments
Former chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch on Wednesday condemned a University of Balochistan directive to close its Balochi, Brahui and Pashto departments, calling the move "a calculated assault on the province's linguistic and cultural identity." Speaking at a press conference, Dr Baloch said the decision — reportedly taken on financial grounds — would silence languages spoken by millions across Balochistan. "Universities are centres of learning, not profit-making enterprises," he argued. "If deficits become the yardstick, half the public institutions in Pakistan would have to shut their doors." The National Party leader warned that repeated fee hikes had already driven enrolment down, while faculty salaries were chronically delayed. "Inflation is soaring, yet educators are told to tighten their belts while billions are diverted to administrative perks," he said, noting that deputy commissioners continue to head development projects despite a court order barring them from those roles. Dr Baloch pointed out the irony of scrapping Balochi courses at home even as the language is taught at universities overseas, including in Sweden. Brahui, he added, is offered at only one institution worldwide — the very department now facing closure in Quetta. Calling the step "an act of cultural vandalism," he urged the provincial government and university syndicate to reverse the directive immediately. "Marginalising native tongues today will rob future generations of their heritage tomorrow," he warned.
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
‘Standing on shifting sand': Afghan refugees in city face business barriers
NEW DELHI: Once a vibrant hub for Afghan refugees rebuilding their lives, the bustling lanes of Lajpat Nagar and Malviya Nagar in the national capital now echo with silence. Familiar Dari and Pashto conversations have almost nearly faded as many Afghan families have left, and those remaining grapple with limited opportunities for livelihood and a sense of security. Mohammad Shakeel, who fled Afghanistan decades ago, recalls a time of cautious optimism. 'All my employees were Afghan. We were friends first, partners later. I ran a supermarket, did currency exchange, and even made handicrafts. We survived together,' he says. For many of the refugees, business partnerships often emerged from necessity and solidarity rather than profit. However, legal and bureaucratic hurdles persist. 'You can run a shop and earn your bread, but you can't buy property with a refugee card. Everything, from property to utilities, must be in an Indian name,' Shakeel says. While some Afghan families have homes, the title deeds are in Indian names, leaving them without permanent security. Shakeel's reflection underscores the broader challenges: 'We live here, but our footing remains temporary.' Despite this, there has been a recent uptick in emergency medical visas for Afghans, offering some hope. 'A few patients have arrived for treatment. At least there's some humanitarian window open again,' he notes, though he has no intention of returning to Kabul. 'My restaurant is still there, but my life is here.' In a conversation with Ashraf, a 17-year-old working at an Afghan restaurant, the uncertainty is palpable. 'Maybe I'll study in the U.S. My uncle said he'll help. But most of my friends are gone—deportations, raids… they vanished overnight,' he says. Small businesses like bakeries, dry fruit shops and tea stalls are common among refugees, but formal business licenses often require Indian citizenship. Refugees operate informally or partner with Indian counterparts to bypass legal restrictions. While the UNHCR offers temporary protection via refugee cards, these do not grant a pathway to permanent residency.
Boston Globe
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Voice of America brings back 75 staffers amid Iran-Israel conflict
'Effective immediately, you are recalled from administrative leave,' Crystal G. Thomas, director of human resources, wrote to staff Friday afternoon in an email, which was obtained by The Washington Post. 'You are expected to report to your duty station immediately.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Voice of America's employees have sued the government to be reinstated at work, restore broadcasting and force the government to uphold the statutory mandate ascribed by Congress. Advertisement Employees told The Post that most of the Persia team was restored to assist with the news out of the Middle East. VOA had already restored 10 Farsi language service journalists previously - along with Dari, Pashto, and Mandarin reporters - to demonstrate to the federal court that it is fulfilling its statutory mandate. The 10 Persian news service reporters have been exclusively publishing on social media and the internet, an employee said, but they are planning to broadcast live on satellite TV into Iran. Related : Advertisement Israel launched attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities late Thursday and killed top military officers, including Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran launched missile strikes on Israel on Friday in retaliation. The conflict has led to new uncertainty for the Trump administration's plan for a nuclear deal with Iran. 'The biggest purpose of the Persian division is to report America's story for Iranian audiences where there's censorship or filtering of the internet there,' one Voice of America journalist told The Post on the condition of anonymity because they fear retaliation from their employer. 'And when something of this magnitude happens like an outright war with Iran's outright nemesis, Israel, we have to have a presence inside Iran.' 'Are they going to bring back a language every time there is a crisis the administration has interest in?' another VOA journalist told The Post. 'This is why you don't smash first and think later.' Steve Herman, chief national correspondent for VOA, called it a welcome but belated move. 'Will all of our Persian Service staff be put back on leave a few weeks from now when hostilities subside? What other crises would compel USAGM to reactivate our other 48 language services?' he said. 'The imagination runs wild.' David Seide, senior counsel at the Government Accountability Project, who represents some of the VOA journalists suing the government, said it's a step in the right direction for the government: 'It's a step - and it's a positive step - but it's only one of many steps that need to be taken.'
